Nora Roberts Groupies discussion

From #1 New York Times-bestselling author Nora Roberts comes a novel of a woman who needs nothing, a man who sees everything, and the web of deceit, greed, and danger that brings them together—and could tear them apart . . .

When professional house-sitter Lila Emerson witnesses a murder/suicide from her current apartment-sitting job, life as she knows it takes a dramatic turn. Suddenly, the woman with no permanent ties finds herself almost wishing for one. . . .

Artist Ashton Archer knows his brother isn’t capable of violence—against himself or others. He recruits Lila, the only eyewitness, to help him uncover what happened. Ash longs to paint her as intensely as he hungers to touch her. But their investigation draws them into a rarified circle where priceless antiques are bought, sold, gambled away, and stolen, where what you possess is who you are, and where what you desire becomes a deadly obsession. . . .

The Collector? Really? One of the few book from Nora that I didn't re-read. Time to take it out of the shelf...

I haven't re-read this one either Teresa Miranda. It has only been out for a couple of years, though. I'm going to re-read it this month, too.

This will be a new read for me. Really excited as it sounds pretty interesting.

I actually bought it last month but postponed reading it in case it got chosen as this month's BOTM. Planning on starting it right now.

New read for me too. I have it on hold at the library.

Sheery wrote: "I haven't re-read this one either Teresa Miranda. It has only been out for a couple of years, though. I'm going to re-read it this month, too."

Not one I can discuss on a badly read one time that's for certain :)

I like Nora Roberts but what gets me about books and this very much includes The Collector is the lack of detail. Has Nora ever been to Florence? If so she should know that cars are not allowed all over the city and only cars with certain permits can even enter and they don't speed because they'll lose their permit or kill a whole tour group. Same for motor cycles which can only be couriers with permits.

And then there is the phone thing. US phones do not work in Europe. For a heroine that is so into technology, there isn't even the slightest mention of getting a new SIM for Europe or a new phone and Ash has the money.

So as I'm reading it I'm cringing at the brush over of things vital to the plot. And it takes away from the story.

A bit of research and reality would certainly help.

Carol wrote: "I like Nora Roberts but what gets me about books and this very much includes The Collector is the lack of detail. Has Nora ever been to Florence? If so she should know that cars are not allowed all..."

I think that some things can just be assumed - like the new sim card for Italy - my SO gets a new sim card when he goes to the Netherlands each year (or reuses the last one he had) - or that they would need an unlocked phone to even be able to get a sim card for the country.

As a child we went to Florence and the Italians were zipping all over the place, they were crazy drivers - now it's been years since I was 12, so things may have changed, but again that type of detail wasn't necessary for my enjoyment of the book.

I think that "factual" detail is only required if the book is to be based on fact, I think literary freedom has a place in contemporary romance or romantic suspense books

I lived in Italy many years ago (many!) and my recollection of Florence is the same as yours, Paris. Because it was so long ago, I wasn't sure if it was still relevant.

I don't think "factual" detail are of minus importance at all.
Like Carol says it's distracting because if you know the places - and Nora's novels reach worldwide and there's big chances of reaching people that know the places - you can't really put the scene on it. It's distracting and frustrating if scenes are important. In me it is. The mind wants to keep reading but "back there" there are lights bleeping over this and that detail and it distracts.

I just wanted to continue with my cross stitch project and didn't want to 'loose' reading time and just browsed my online library Friday night and wanted something RS (really difficult in Germany) by chance I got the German audiobook of the Collector and listend to it last weekend.
Somehow I didn't remember it was also the BOTM so when I just seen the thread I was really amazed and glad about the timing.

I struggled more with the fact it was an audiobook. Even after listening to four of those I still don't like them. When I wanted to enter the page number into another challenge and realised it is an abridged edition I wanted to cry - I just hate that kind of surprises. Now I understand why I was missing some typical Nora Roberts elements end will only know after I'll be able to read the book how much of it was part of cutting due to the audiobook. Perhaps I'll read it even this month - if it's available at my (online) library.

I'll do my best to join the discussion as often as I can.

I agree with the story arc of the book being the most important but I still want some detail that affects that storyline. I am not Italian but I spent last week in Northern Italy and Florence and so to me and lots of others the thing that makes the city move and groove are in the details.

Only certain cars with permits are allowed in the city now. And the same with bikes. There is no parking or driving at all for anyone not permitted. And that's the same with most of the Italian old cities now. And Italians don't speed except on Autostradas. There are speed cameras every few hundred metres and the fines are huge.

That's a huge shift from when I lived in the country. We lived in southern Italy and traffic "management" was a joke. It wasn't much better at that time in Northern Italy so I'm happy to hear of that positive change.

Got my book from the library...finally. I'm really enjoying this one already (25% in). I also have the audio and really like the narrator.

I loved listening to this one!

This book was fantastic! I loved it! Romance, friendship, suspense...it had everything.

I was so angry the audio book was an abridged edition I got looked if any of my libraries has an unabridged edition and got a few days ago from the online library the ebook. I started it yesterday and I'm really glad I did since some of my confusion wasn't caused by the lack of concentration due to the audiobook but missing content.

They just took out the entire first scene with our ' dear friend' Jai Maddok grrrrrr.

I really don't understand the whole idea of abridged books. I mistakenly downloaded an abridged version of one of Harlan Coben's books. Because I've read so many of his stories, it didn't take long for me to figure out something was wrong because much of his typical deep dives into characters were missing. Two hours in and I was just lost. Glad I figured it out early.

Unfortunatelly I only find out after I was looking for a page number and Amazon only stated abridged adition no indication about lenght of the audio or estimated page number equivalent - really bad for all my challenges I need the page count :-(
I'm really glad I was able to get the ebook more or less immediatelly. I only had to wait two week (1 person in line). So it means if I realised the issue one or two days earlier I most likely didn't have to wait at all :-) Though comparing to all the other NR books I wanted from the library it's really a short waiting period so I don't complain.

Amazon/Audible has both the abridged and unabridged editions of the book.

Jonetta wrote: "Amazon/Audible has both the abridged and unabridged editions of the book."

unfortunatelly not in Germany :-(

Oh, that's a shame.

Is there a July 2016 book yet? Would like to join in and hopefully have time to buy it. Seeing as it's the 27th now, would be best to wait until July's book.

Still voting until June 29. Here's the link to the poll:

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/4...

Thank you!, Sorry, took me a little to figure things out. Should be done The Liar in a couple of days, so the timing is good.

No need to apologize!

We're also continuing the Bay of Sighs group read through July.

I haven't read the first from the Bay of Sighs trilogy yet, but might be able to knock them both out by the end of July, plus the July book also. The Liar is actually my first book from her that I've read, now I'm hooked.

You picked a great one to start with!

I read this when it first came out, but I'm up for a re-read.

CD, we finished this one for June. We're continuing with Bay of Sighs for July as well as Born in Fire.

Jonetta wrote: "CD, we finished this one for June. We're continuing with Bay of Sighs for July as well as Born in Fire."

Thanks - Looks like I need to pay more attention...

Nah, you're fine!

This one is my favorite of Nora Robert's stand-alone books. I love Lila and Ash. I have this good as a hardcover, e-book, and audio book.

I enjoyed it, too. I listened to it and also have the eBook:)