Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts / incredibly timely and one of her best

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts

Shelter in Place was so much more than I expected. I must admit I don’t read blurbs for Nora Roberts books anymore. The author’s books are on my auto-buy list and her standalone signature novels are highly anticipated and always, always immediately devoured. Shelter in Place was a touching and emotionally raw story that was as timely as it was chilling.

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Sometimes, there is nowhere safe to hide.

It was a typical evening at a mall outside Portland, Maine. Three teenage friends waited for the movie to start. A boy flirted with the girl selling sunglasses. Mothers and children shopped together, and the manager at the video-game store tended to customers. Then the shooters arrived.

The chaos and carnage lasted only eight minutes before the killers were taken down. But for those who lived through it, the effects would last forever. In the years that followed, one would dedicate himself to a law enforcement career. Another would close herself off, trying to bury the memory of huddling in a ladies’ room, hopelessly clutching her cell phone–until she finally found a way to pour her emotions into her art.

But one person wasn’t satisfied with the shockingly high death toll at the DownEast Mall. And as the survivors slowly heal, find shelter, and rebuild, they will discover that another conspirator is lying in wait–and this time, there might be nowhere safe to hide.

Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts

MY THOUGHTS

Nora Roberts chose a topic that gives me goose bumps every single time I hear of it in the news. Mass shootings. She took this topic and spun a story that was utterly fascinating as well as captivating from beginning to end. Her impeccable storytelling and incredible skill to spin an enthralling tale produced an UNPUTDOWNABLE novel for me.

REED AND SIMONE WERE A COUPLE THAT CLICKED in every way. 

Both hero and heroine were genuine and likable characters. Reed Quartermaine and Simone Knox were mature and level-headed, something Nora Roberts excels at. Both were survivors of the DownEast Mall shooting and teenagers at the time of the event. Naturally they were molted by the horrific incident and coped with it in different ways. Years later their life intersected again.

They made it look easy. For them, meeting each other was like finding a piece that had been missing. They connected on a level that felt right and their relationship and interactions literally felt like the calm before the storm. Reed was a darling. His dry humor, and his never-ending appreciation for his colleagues and friends warmed my heart. His genuine and reciprocal connection with Simone’s grandmother was a highlight of this book. Additionally, Simone’s journey was as interesting as her personality – colorful, and deeply layered. There were so many parts in this book that made me smile and happy – and than there was the suspense.

I honestly couldn’t put the book down.

This story gave me chills. I think the reason why I was so invested in this story was because of its topic. In the end Shelter in Place was a piece of fiction, but it was also based on events that unfortunately happen all over America, in schools, malls, and outdoor functions, multiple times a year. It wasn’t just the realism and horror that the author so masterfully wove through the story that kept me turning the pages, but it’s partially why this book is as good as it is.

So, if you love reading romantic suspense, an utterly suspenseful story that had such an authentic feel that will chill you to the bone, especially the opening scene, this is a MUST READ in my opinion. It’s one of her best books so far. BONUS it also had an adorable puppy as a sidekick.

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Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts