Nora Roberts Groupies discussion

To most people, Fiona Bristow seems to have an idyllic life—a quaint house on an island off Seattle’s coast, a thriving dog-training school and a challenging volunteer job performing Canine Search and Rescue. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare: an encounter with the Red Scarf Killer, who shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.

On Orcas Island, Fiona has found the peace and solitude necessary to rebuild her life with her three loyal Labs. But all that changes on the day intensely private wood artist Simon Doyle barrels up her drive with an out-of-control puppy, desperate for her help.

As Fiona embarks on training Jaws, and Simon begins to appreciate both dog and trainer, the past tears back into Fiona’s life. A copycat killer has emerged out of the shadows, a man whose bloodlust has been channeled by a master with one motive: to reclaim the woman who slipped out of his hands...

Character List
(view spoiler)[
Fiona Bristow: Dog trainer. Female lead and love interest of Simon. She is called 'Fee' by those who know her. Heads and trains Canine Search and Rescue teams
Simon Doyle: Wood artist and furniture designer; has an irrepressible puppy needing training. Strange and blunt man. Thirty-three years old.
Sylvia Bristow: Fiona's stepmother who runs Island Art, a boutique which carries Simon's work among other artists work
Peck: Fiona's dog, trained for search and rescue dog, chocolate lab
Newman: Fiona's dog, trained for search and rescue, yellow lab
Bogart: Fiona's dog, Trained for search and rescue, black lab
Jaws: Simon's lab/retriever puppy - boundless energy, enthusiasm, curiosity and courage
Agent Don Tawney: FBI Special Agent assigned to the Perry case
Agent Erin Mantz: FBI Agent working with Tawney
Kati Starr: reporter
George Perry: Incarcerated serial killer - The Red Scarf Killer
Francis Xavier Eckle: Former teacher and Perry's student protege
Ben Tyson: Sheriff of San Juan Island
Julie Doyle: Simon's mother
Davey: Orcas Island police officer and friend of Fiona
Chuck: Orcas Island resident, friend of Fiona and married to Meg. Both part of Fiona's Canine Search and rescue team.
Devin Cauldwell: Father of missing child, Hugh
Rosie Cauldwell: Mother of missing child, Hugh
Hugh Caldwell: Missing child lost in the woods
Mai Funaki: Veterinarian and close friend of Fiona, the field director of Fiona's Canine Search and rescue team.
James: Fiona's friend from childhood, part of Fiona's Canine Search and rescue team as is Lori, his friend
Meg: Orcas Island resident, friend of Fiona and married to Chuck, both part of Fiona's Canine Search and rescue team. (hide spoiler)]

This is one of my favorites!

I agree Jonetta. It is one of my top 10 favorites of hers

I also enjoyed this one although I had a couple of issues with it primarily the fact that (view spoiler)[the killer's identity is revealed too early which undermines the suspense and his motivations were too nebulous and ill-defined (hide spoiler)]

I don’t remember this one. I will read it

This is a great one! Jaws is probably my favorite Nora book pet.

I'm in for this one.

YAY, I'm looking forward to re-read this one.

I am reading this one now it’s much different from the last NR I read. My amazement with this author is the command she has of words and the variety of storylines, scenarios and character development she is able to achieve with her gifts.

She gets better with every book.

I'm in.

I do have a question. There are two audio books on Audible. One is more expensive, does anyone know the difference. Since I'll use a credit it doesn't matter, just curious.

I answered my own question. One is a longer book. 14+ hours vs 6.5 hours.

Yeah, one is abridged. Flee!

Just finished love it and did remember after the first two chapter

I read it when it first came out. I’m very excited to read it again and remember this book.

Done. One minute one paragraph I am laughing out loud the next minute I am gasping in disbelief.

Listening to this one right now and loving it!

Yay!

Cool, I was able to borrow it from my library. Most of her books are on hold lol.

I'm starting to re-read the book tomorrow and look forward to the discussion.

I finished this one last night and loved the search and rescue portions of the book.

I finished this Wednesday. I really liked the story. Simon Doyle was ok but he’s not my favorite NR hero. I did enjoy Fiona & Sylvia though & all the furry characters of course!
I also listened to the audiobook. I liked the narrator

Simon isn’t easy to warm up to. So many have had issues with him.

I finished the book today and have to admit I didn't like it as much as I've done the first time around. I liked very much all the different aspects of dog training and how much it translated into Fiona's life and helped her to deal with Perry and the entire RSK situation in the end, especially to get closure and a solid feeling of separation for the trauma.

I was surprised that the book had 31 chapters. Usually there's such a symetry in NR's books I started to depend on it and expect it, so I didn't even check out the number of chapters. Somewhere in the middle of chapter 30 I got rather unsettled as there was no feeling of completion and was even somehow shocked to realise there's another chapter coming *grins*

The relationship between the two MCs rubbed me wrong in the beginning, though I got used to it (again) and it worked - even if I can't really fathom how it did (I admit I'm not very well at understanding people living in sitations I've never experienced or that are outside what I can imagine works)

Looks like I mixed up the stories of two books and was waiting the entire time for one specific scene that never came - a really new and weird experience for me. I know its caused by the depression I'm battling for many years now, but I still don't like it one bit.

Jonetta, I was wondering, will you'll post discussion questions like in the previous BOTM - or did I mix up groups for a change?

I’ve posted questions when I’ve created them in the past. I didn’t reread this one so can’t do it this time. I’ll see if I can find any earlier ones.

I did find the character list, though!

Agnieszka wrote: "I finished the book today and have to admit I didn't like it as much as I've done the first time around. I liked very much all the different aspects of dog training and how much it translated into ..."

I am opposite of you, because I enjoyed this reread more the second time than I did the first time. I think the first time I was more frustrated with Simon, and I see that a lot of people are that way. This time around I seemed to get him more. I enjoyed his grumpiness, and I thought that Fiona and he worked well together.

I also loved the dog training information and the S and R insights. It did make me feel as thought I'm a bad dog owner, because I can barely get my dog to sit. He is definitely no S and R pup in training. lol I love the point you made about how her work helped give her closure and a separation between her trauma and current life.

All around an enjoyable reread for me.

This is one of my favorites. I love Fiona and Simon together. Many don’t care for Simon but I think Simon is what Fiona needs. He reminds me a little of Brody from Angels Fall. Both men have an outwardly gruff personality but they are really very caring. Simon does a lot of sweet things for Fiona he just does them his way. The way his love for Jaws develops adds so much fun to the story.

Fiona and Simon don't have the typical romance, which makes this fun and enjoyable. He's prickly, grumpy and blunt. She's airy and attainable. They are not complete opposites but the differences make it work.

I found the dog training segments enlightening and illuminating....it told you a lot about Fiona and gave you insight as to why she's a survivor. And, a lot of the stories were just plain funny. Fiona's dogs were loving and typical of the breed. Jaws was perfect for his grumpy owner.

I think many who objected to Simon didn’t like the level of his grumpiness. Sometimes his comments felt just mean. Maybe. I’m just guessing as I didn’t have strong issues against him.

I loved this story. I love Fiona and Simon too. I think I relate to Simon because I tend to be a little gruff and say what I mean. I'm grumpy too. (My kids are always getting me t-shirts with Grumpy on the front when we go to Orlando/Disney World.)

I get his apprehension about the relationship; it is a big adjustment for him. I like when opposites attract.