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In Death #17.5
Remember When
Part 1: Hot Rocks
Part 2: Big Jack
She's one author - with two number-one New York Times-bestselling careers. As Nora Roberts, her novels include Three Fates and Birthright. As J. D. Robb, she offers such novels as Portrait in Death. Now she unites her separate identities in a riveting two-part novel that combines edgy suspense and romantic passion - and journeys through past, present, and future.
In Part One, Nora Roberts introduces us to Laine Tavish, known to the folks in Angel's Gap, Maryland, as the proprietor of Remember When, an antique treasures and gift shop. They have no idea that she used to be Elaine O'Hara, daughter of the notorious con man Big Jack O'Hara ... or that she grew up moving from place to place, one step ahead of the law. But Laine's past has just caught up with her. Her long-lost uncle has visited her shop, leaving a cryptic warning before dying in the street, run down by a car. Soon afterward, Laine's home is ransacked. Now it's up to her, and an enigmatic stranger named Max Gannon, to find out who's chasing her, and why. The answer lies in a hidden fortune - a fortune that will change Laine's life.
In Part Two, J. D. Robb takes us to New York City in 2059, and puts Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas on the case. The treasure that Laine and Max sought has never been fully recovered. And now someone else is pursuing the missing gems ... someone who's willing to kill for them. Sharp-witted and sexy, Eve is used to traveling in the shadowy corners outside the law, in a future where crime meets cutting-edge technology. She will attempt to track down the diamonds once and for all - and stop the danger and death that have surrounded them for decades.
Part 2: Big Jack
She's one author - with two number-one New York Times-bestselling careers. As Nora Roberts, her novels include Three Fates and Birthright. As J. D. Robb, she offers such novels as Portrait in Death. Now she unites her separate identities in a riveting two-part novel that combines edgy suspense and romantic passion - and journeys through past, present, and future.
In Part One, Nora Roberts introduces us to Laine Tavish, known to the folks in Angel's Gap, Maryland, as the proprietor of Remember When, an antique treasures and gift shop. They have no idea that she used to be Elaine O'Hara, daughter of the notorious con man Big Jack O'Hara ... or that she grew up moving from place to place, one step ahead of the law. But Laine's past has just caught up with her. Her long-lost uncle has visited her shop, leaving a cryptic warning before dying in the street, run down by a car. Soon afterward, Laine's home is ransacked. Now it's up to her, and an enigmatic stranger named Max Gannon, to find out who's chasing her, and why. The answer lies in a hidden fortune - a fortune that will change Laine's life.
In Part Two, J. D. Robb takes us to New York City in 2059, and puts Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas on the case. The treasure that Laine and Max sought has never been fully recovered. And now someone else is pursuing the missing gems ... someone who's willing to kill for them. Sharp-witted and sexy, Eve is used to traveling in the shadowy corners outside the law, in a future where crime meets cutting-edge technology. She will attempt to track down the diamonds once and for all - and stop the danger and death that have surrounded them for decades.
440 pages, Hardcover
First published September 15, 2003
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,770 books55k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 783 reviews
August 14, 2014
The first time I read this book I was already a Nora Roberts fan, but had not read any J. D. Robb books. I normally don't get into futuristic or murder mysteries much.
After reading this book I was hooked. I began aquiring all the JD books and promptly turned my daughter onto them. We are now in the process of completing her collection, as I already own them all.
I Would recommend this series (...in death) to anyone who likes a) a good 'who done it'
b) a REALLY good love story
c) ongoing series stories
check them out. You won't be sorry.
After reading this book I was hooked. I began aquiring all the JD books and promptly turned my daughter onto them. We are now in the process of completing her collection, as I already own them all.
I Would recommend this series (...in death) to anyone who likes a) a good 'who done it'
b) a REALLY good love story
c) ongoing series stories
check them out. You won't be sorry.
June 14, 2016
The book “Remember When,” originally published in 2003, is listed as a work by Nora Roberts. It actually contains two novellas, whose titles are founts of great originality: Part One and Part Two. Part One is written by Nora Roberts and contains a romantic suspense that takes place in 2003. Part Two of the omnibus picks up the story fifty-six years later, in 2059, as a novella written by Roberts using her pseudonym, J. D. Robb. Robb takes the conclusion of Part One and has its consequences fall upon the lives and jobs of Eve Dallas and Roarke, the main protagonists of Robb’s In Death series.
And then, in 2010, Roberts/Robb’s publisher separated “Remember When” into two independently published stories. When separated, Part One became “Hot Rocks,” published under the author Nora Roberts; Part Two became “Big Jack,” published under the author J. D. Robb. And suddenly, confusion reigned in reader-land, a confusion that still exists today.
The first level of confusion is the construction of “Remember When” itself. Part One can be read by anyone who enjoys contemporary romantic suspense at any time they choose. It is complete, in and of itself. However, the same cannot be said for Part Two. The events in that part fall almost in the middle of Robb’s well-established In Death series. In fact, it falls chronologically, in storyline, right after Robb’s seventeenth book, “Imitation in Death,” as it picks up barely a day after Peabody makes detective. Thus, a great deal of backstory and character inter-dynamics are already in play and they are essential to understanding events that occur within this plotline. To read Part Two independently would likely be a mistake.
The second level of confusion occurs when a reader likes one of the author’s pseudonyms better than the other, or really doesn’t care for one of them at all. For instance, I am not a heavy reader of Nora Roberts’ books, not like I am with her J. D. Robb pseudonym. However, whether I like Nora Roberts or not, Part One contains the entire circumstances that lead to Part Two. So, if you don’t read Nora Roberts’ part of the omnibus, you will not understand the intimate connection of the murderer in Part Two to the original crime in Part One. Nor will you truly understand the correlation Robb makes, in Part Two, between Eve and the murderer in regards to Eve’s ongoing question of nature versus nurture, genetics versus choice. In other words, Part Two is not the place to start if you have never read J. D. Robb before.
Finally, a third level of confusion exists that has nothing to do with storylines and everything to do with publisher misrepresentation and with poor personal responsibility. When the omnibus was split into two separate stories, that omnibus was not taken off the market nor was there clear truth-in-advertising about the two stories not being new products. Hence, readers with poor tracking systems for documenting what they have or have not read have become and still do become incensed when they purchase “Hot Rocks” and “Big Jack,” only to realize that they have already read both when they read “Remember When.” And the usual outcome of that realization is that the reader angrily gives one or all three of the books a one-star review, while still saying how great they are, instead of taking responsibility for their own decision to buy a book they have already read.
Now, the set-up for Nora Roberts’ Part One:
By the age of ten, Elaine O’Hara was already an accomplished pickpocket and a well-trained beard for her con-man father, Big Jack O’Hara. Realizing that Elaine was on the same path to prison as her husband, her mother divorces Big Jack and flees. It takes years, but Elaine’s mother finally gets their lives straight.
Elaine, now legally known as Laine Tavish, is the owner of an antique shop called “Remember When,” Laine likes what she does, likes where she lives and doesn’t want her friends in her new small hometown of Angel’s Gap to know who she used to be.
As you can imagine, this whole new-start idea falls apart. And it begins unraveling when her father’s best friend of thirty years visits her at the shop and is immediately killed when he steps out the door, dying in Laine’s arms. Enter Max Gannon, an adept PI from New York. It seems that Big Jack and his friend helped steal $28M in diamonds, and the company that insured those gems, to recover them, has retained Max. When Max’s background investigation on Laine Tavish turns up the facts of her parentage, the story really takes off.
At first glance, this set-up is superficially formulaic, based on the idea of “I’ve-Got-A-Secret-And-My-Life-Will-Be-Over-If-It’s-Found-Out.” But under that well-worn and oft-used premise lies a tense thriller and an engaging romance. And it comes without the incessant whining and the hair shirt that many authors believe must accompany such a plotline.
It also comes written in third person and primarily from the viewpoint of Laine, although quite a few scenes are told from Max’s standpoint. To ratchet up the tension, we are also given glimpses into the thoughts and actions of Big Jack O’Hara, Laine’s fugitive thief of a father. And then Roberts slips in a few snippets from the standpoint of Alex Crew, the psychopathic homicidal thief who sets all the events of the novella in motion. And believe me, these bare snippets into Alex Crew’s thoughts are all we need to fuel our fears and ratchet that level of tension right through the roof.
At over 220 pages, this “novella” is of sufficient length to make virtually all the fine points and literary devices believable. The main characters are fleshed out and well grounded, mature and realistic in both speech and action. And the action rarely flags. While there is no cliffhanger at the end and an HEA is clearly in the picture, a few loose ends remain – and Nora Roberts meant it to be that way. Let’s just say that Roberts’ alter ego, J. D. Robb, is very interested in those loose ends.
So, now we enter J. D. Robb’s Part Two:
Fifty-six years after the diamond heist, one-fourth of the “hot rocks” have never been recovered. Samantha Gannon, the granddaughter of Laine Tavish and Max Gannon, writes a book about the heist, called, confusingly, “Hot Rocks.” Shortly after its publication, it becomes a “hot ticket,” and Samantha goes on tour all over the U.S. The day she returns from that tour, she finds her house sitter with her throat slit. The next day, her maid is found immolated in a vacant lot. Someone apparently thinks Samantha knows a whole lot more about the missing diamonds than she has published in the book.
Eve Dallas is the primary on the house sitter’s murder while Baxter is the primary for the maid. When they make the connection between the victims and then the book, the hunt for a human connection to one of the original thieves is mounted. And the hunt is conducted by all our regular In Death characters – Eve, Roarke, Peabody, McNab, Feeney, Baxter and Trueheart.
As I said earlier, I am not a heavy reader of Nora Roberts’ books, not like I am with J. D. Robb’s works. But reading this particular crossover package was not only intriguing, it was necessary for me to continue the In Death series with the best understanding.
However, I did have one problem with the writing style. It appears that the two parts were written back-to-back and that it took the author a bit of time to get out of the “Nora Roberts” mode of Part One and into the persona of J. D. Robb for Part Two. But once the transition was made, the 287-page long novella called Part Two was just as strong an entry for the In Death series as any standalone book with those two words in its title.
And then, in 2010, Roberts/Robb’s publisher separated “Remember When” into two independently published stories. When separated, Part One became “Hot Rocks,” published under the author Nora Roberts; Part Two became “Big Jack,” published under the author J. D. Robb. And suddenly, confusion reigned in reader-land, a confusion that still exists today.
The first level of confusion is the construction of “Remember When” itself. Part One can be read by anyone who enjoys contemporary romantic suspense at any time they choose. It is complete, in and of itself. However, the same cannot be said for Part Two. The events in that part fall almost in the middle of Robb’s well-established In Death series. In fact, it falls chronologically, in storyline, right after Robb’s seventeenth book, “Imitation in Death,” as it picks up barely a day after Peabody makes detective. Thus, a great deal of backstory and character inter-dynamics are already in play and they are essential to understanding events that occur within this plotline. To read Part Two independently would likely be a mistake.
The second level of confusion occurs when a reader likes one of the author’s pseudonyms better than the other, or really doesn’t care for one of them at all. For instance, I am not a heavy reader of Nora Roberts’ books, not like I am with her J. D. Robb pseudonym. However, whether I like Nora Roberts or not, Part One contains the entire circumstances that lead to Part Two. So, if you don’t read Nora Roberts’ part of the omnibus, you will not understand the intimate connection of the murderer in Part Two to the original crime in Part One. Nor will you truly understand the correlation Robb makes, in Part Two, between Eve and the murderer in regards to Eve’s ongoing question of nature versus nurture, genetics versus choice. In other words, Part Two is not the place to start if you have never read J. D. Robb before.
Finally, a third level of confusion exists that has nothing to do with storylines and everything to do with publisher misrepresentation and with poor personal responsibility. When the omnibus was split into two separate stories, that omnibus was not taken off the market nor was there clear truth-in-advertising about the two stories not being new products. Hence, readers with poor tracking systems for documenting what they have or have not read have become and still do become incensed when they purchase “Hot Rocks” and “Big Jack,” only to realize that they have already read both when they read “Remember When.” And the usual outcome of that realization is that the reader angrily gives one or all three of the books a one-star review, while still saying how great they are, instead of taking responsibility for their own decision to buy a book they have already read.
Now, the set-up for Nora Roberts’ Part One:
By the age of ten, Elaine O’Hara was already an accomplished pickpocket and a well-trained beard for her con-man father, Big Jack O’Hara. Realizing that Elaine was on the same path to prison as her husband, her mother divorces Big Jack and flees. It takes years, but Elaine’s mother finally gets their lives straight.
Elaine, now legally known as Laine Tavish, is the owner of an antique shop called “Remember When,” Laine likes what she does, likes where she lives and doesn’t want her friends in her new small hometown of Angel’s Gap to know who she used to be.
As you can imagine, this whole new-start idea falls apart. And it begins unraveling when her father’s best friend of thirty years visits her at the shop and is immediately killed when he steps out the door, dying in Laine’s arms. Enter Max Gannon, an adept PI from New York. It seems that Big Jack and his friend helped steal $28M in diamonds, and the company that insured those gems, to recover them, has retained Max. When Max’s background investigation on Laine Tavish turns up the facts of her parentage, the story really takes off.
At first glance, this set-up is superficially formulaic, based on the idea of “I’ve-Got-A-Secret-And-My-Life-Will-Be-Over-If-It’s-Found-Out.” But under that well-worn and oft-used premise lies a tense thriller and an engaging romance. And it comes without the incessant whining and the hair shirt that many authors believe must accompany such a plotline.
It also comes written in third person and primarily from the viewpoint of Laine, although quite a few scenes are told from Max’s standpoint. To ratchet up the tension, we are also given glimpses into the thoughts and actions of Big Jack O’Hara, Laine’s fugitive thief of a father. And then Roberts slips in a few snippets from the standpoint of Alex Crew, the psychopathic homicidal thief who sets all the events of the novella in motion. And believe me, these bare snippets into Alex Crew’s thoughts are all we need to fuel our fears and ratchet that level of tension right through the roof.
At over 220 pages, this “novella” is of sufficient length to make virtually all the fine points and literary devices believable. The main characters are fleshed out and well grounded, mature and realistic in both speech and action. And the action rarely flags. While there is no cliffhanger at the end and an HEA is clearly in the picture, a few loose ends remain – and Nora Roberts meant it to be that way. Let’s just say that Roberts’ alter ego, J. D. Robb, is very interested in those loose ends.
So, now we enter J. D. Robb’s Part Two:
Fifty-six years after the diamond heist, one-fourth of the “hot rocks” have never been recovered. Samantha Gannon, the granddaughter of Laine Tavish and Max Gannon, writes a book about the heist, called, confusingly, “Hot Rocks.” Shortly after its publication, it becomes a “hot ticket,” and Samantha goes on tour all over the U.S. The day she returns from that tour, she finds her house sitter with her throat slit. The next day, her maid is found immolated in a vacant lot. Someone apparently thinks Samantha knows a whole lot more about the missing diamonds than she has published in the book.
Eve Dallas is the primary on the house sitter’s murder while Baxter is the primary for the maid. When they make the connection between the victims and then the book, the hunt for a human connection to one of the original thieves is mounted. And the hunt is conducted by all our regular In Death characters – Eve, Roarke, Peabody, McNab, Feeney, Baxter and Trueheart.
As I said earlier, I am not a heavy reader of Nora Roberts’ books, not like I am with J. D. Robb’s works. But reading this particular crossover package was not only intriguing, it was necessary for me to continue the In Death series with the best understanding.
However, I did have one problem with the writing style. It appears that the two parts were written back-to-back and that it took the author a bit of time to get out of the “Nora Roberts” mode of Part One and into the persona of J. D. Robb for Part Two. But once the transition was made, the 287-page long novella called Part Two was just as strong an entry for the In Death series as any standalone book with those two words in its title.
June 23, 2023
I wanted to end my reading challenge the way I started it... With a J.D. Robb story and Nora Roberts!
Remember when is a good story but I had some issues...
The editing was poor, especially in the first part of the story, since the names got mixed up a lot!
In the second part, which follows the events that took place in Imitation In Death, there is an inconsistency as to Summerset's whereabouts!
I know I'm biased towards the In Death series because I adore Eve and Roarke!
Now about the stories...
It was well executed and past and present nicely entwined!
Fast paced with occasional moments of humour and romance!
Through Laine and Max, we get a glimpse of how the future will be relationship wise for Eve and Roarke and it's heartwarming!
This story has Eve wonder one more time about parents and children, and if a person can escape its origins and become something different!
Max and Laine were likeable and worked great as a team! Their first connection, similar to that of Eve and Roarke a bit less complicated though!
Apart from the mystery, I enjoyed various parts of the story, especially Peabody trying to find her clothing style without the uniform!
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Remember when is a good story but I had some issues...
The editing was poor, especially in the first part of the story, since the names got mixed up a lot!
In the second part, which follows the events that took place in Imitation In Death, there is an inconsistency as to Summerset's whereabouts!
I know I'm biased towards the In Death series because I adore Eve and Roarke!
Now about the stories...
It was well executed and past and present nicely entwined!
Fast paced with occasional moments of humour and romance!
Through Laine and Max, we get a glimpse of how the future will be relationship wise for Eve and Roarke and it's heartwarming!
This story has Eve wonder one more time about parents and children, and if a person can escape its origins and become something different!
Max and Laine were likeable and worked great as a team! Their first connection, similar to that of Eve and Roarke a bit less complicated though!
Apart from the mystery, I enjoyed various parts of the story, especially Peabody trying to find her clothing style without the uniform!
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
February 14, 2022
I love how Nora Roberts intertwined these two stories. I love the story of the diamonds. I love the characters, especially Laine and Max in Hot Rocks and then Samantha Gannon and Steven Whittier in Big Jack. This is definitely one of my favorite In Death stories and I love how you get the backstory first.
October 31, 2021
great story!!
June 4, 2024
3 stars for the first part "Hot Rocks" by Nora Roberts
5 stars for the secong part "Big Jack" by J.D. Robb
5 stars for the secong part "Big Jack" by J.D. Robb
June 22, 2021
I think this is the book where Roberts announced that she is J.D. Robb, but I really feel that it could have been better done. This book has since been split into two separate books: Hot Rocks and Big Jack, but I think that splitting the book has done it a disservice as it really needs to be read as a whole to capture the nuances completely.
The first half of this book is the Hot Rocks half, and I have to say, I wasn't that impressed with this plot! Lainie and Max had nothing of the courtship or romance, they just have sex a couple of times and it's insta-love! I had a hard time believing it, as I had a hard time believing that Lainie's friends would just totally accept that she's been lying to them for years! I would have hard feelings over it, and it just was hard for me to suspend disbelief there. The heist story was interesting, but the villains actions were very predictable. 1.5 stars for this half.
The second half is Big Jack, and it is much better done! The villain is again predictable here, but their crimes were not. It was interesting to see where everyone had ended up and get Eve's look at the now 50 year old crime. The pacing was faster, and there was more excitement overall. Just a much smoother story, and we didn't have the messy entanglements of a new romance to deal with! 3.5 stars for this half.
All things considered, this was an interesting addition to the series, and one definitely worth checking out!
The first half of this book is the Hot Rocks half, and I have to say, I wasn't that impressed with this plot! Lainie and Max had nothing of the courtship or romance, they just have sex a couple of times and it's insta-love! I had a hard time believing it, as I had a hard time believing that Lainie's friends would just totally accept that she's been lying to them for years! I would have hard feelings over it, and it just was hard for me to suspend disbelief there. The heist story was interesting, but the villains actions were very predictable. 1.5 stars for this half.
The second half is Big Jack, and it is much better done! The villain is again predictable here, but their crimes were not. It was interesting to see where everyone had ended up and get Eve's look at the now 50 year old crime. The pacing was faster, and there was more excitement overall. Just a much smoother story, and we didn't have the messy entanglements of a new romance to deal with! 3.5 stars for this half.
All things considered, this was an interesting addition to the series, and one definitely worth checking out!
May 24, 2019
Remember When is a really clever anthology with two interlinked stories written by Nora Roberts under both of her pen names. First you have Hot Rocks, a contemporary romance with a hint of suspense written as Nora and secondly, set 50 years into the future, you have Big Jack, a futuristic suspense written with Nora's J.D. Robb hat on. Both stories have been sold separately and they can each be read as stand alone stories (although Big Jack is part of the In Death world and will particularly appeal to Eve and Roarke fans!) but I highly recommend reading the two together as it's really fun to see how they entwine despite occurring at very different times.
Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts:
Laine Tavish has worked hard to put her past behind her and get away from her father's criminal roots. She's made a nice life for herself as an antiques dealer in the small town of Angel's Gap, she owns a small but successful store, has great friends and has a good relationship with her mother and step-father. She's kept the fact that her real Dad is a criminal a secret but since she's not seen him for years she figures it's a small white lie that isn't going to harm anyone. Things get a lot more complicated when one of her father's oldest friends comes into the shop, gives her a cryptic warning and then is immediately killed in a hit and run right outside her door. Now it looks like Laine's past has caught up with her but she has absolutely no idea what is really going on.
Max Gannon is an investigator who is trying to track down millions of pounds worth of missing diamonds that were stolen in a heist believed to have been pulled off by Laine's father Big Jack. He's come to Angel's Gap looking for Laine because he believes she might be fencing stolen goods for her father but it doesn't take him too long to realise that she isn't involved. He's not the only person who came looking for and someone believes that Laine has the diamonds in her possession which means her life is in danger. Max vows to keep her safe while also trying to track down the diamonds but it isn't going to be easy.
Hot Rocks was a really enjoyable read, the romance develops quite quickly, especially since Max was lying to Laine when they first met, but it wasn't so fast that it bothered me. I did like that Max admitted his lies and apologised to Laine, it was understandable why he acted the way he had but at least he was willing to own up to his actions. Laine was able to forgive him because she knew he had very good reasons for everything he'd done and I appreciated them talking things through like adults rather than letting a big misunderstanding cause huge arguments and lots of unnecessary drama. The mystery side of the story was good and although I didn't love Big Jack's character (he was far too selfish for my liking) he was charismatic and I could see why Laine had worshipped him as a child. Even though it's part of a series we still get a decent ending to the story so you're not forced to read the second book just to get answers.
Big Jack by J.D. Robb:
Set approximately 50 years into the future from the end of Hot Rocks, Big Jack focuses on Laine and Max's granddaughter. Sam is an author who has recently published the story of how her grandparents met, including details of the diamond heist and the fact that not all of the diamonds were recovered. She comes home from her book tour to discover her home has been trashed and her house sitter has been murdered. It looks like someone believes that Sam and her family kept the missing diamonds for themselves and now they're willing to do whatever it takes to steal the jackpot. Of course Eve Dallas has been called in to investigate the murders but she quickly realises the key to finding a murderer is to locate the missing diamonds herself.
It's no secret I love the In Death series (that's the whole reason I read these two stories in the first place!) and Big Jack is just as good as you'd expect from a book in this series. You have all the banter between Eve, Peabody and the rest of the team, the swoon worthy romance between Eve and Roarke and of course a murder to solve and diamonds to find. I will never get enough of this series and, as always, this story definitely left me wanting to dive straight into the next one.
Hot Rocks by Nora Roberts:
Laine Tavish has worked hard to put her past behind her and get away from her father's criminal roots. She's made a nice life for herself as an antiques dealer in the small town of Angel's Gap, she owns a small but successful store, has great friends and has a good relationship with her mother and step-father. She's kept the fact that her real Dad is a criminal a secret but since she's not seen him for years she figures it's a small white lie that isn't going to harm anyone. Things get a lot more complicated when one of her father's oldest friends comes into the shop, gives her a cryptic warning and then is immediately killed in a hit and run right outside her door. Now it looks like Laine's past has caught up with her but she has absolutely no idea what is really going on.
Max Gannon is an investigator who is trying to track down millions of pounds worth of missing diamonds that were stolen in a heist believed to have been pulled off by Laine's father Big Jack. He's come to Angel's Gap looking for Laine because he believes she might be fencing stolen goods for her father but it doesn't take him too long to realise that she isn't involved. He's not the only person who came looking for and someone believes that Laine has the diamonds in her possession which means her life is in danger. Max vows to keep her safe while also trying to track down the diamonds but it isn't going to be easy.
Hot Rocks was a really enjoyable read, the romance develops quite quickly, especially since Max was lying to Laine when they first met, but it wasn't so fast that it bothered me. I did like that Max admitted his lies and apologised to Laine, it was understandable why he acted the way he had but at least he was willing to own up to his actions. Laine was able to forgive him because she knew he had very good reasons for everything he'd done and I appreciated them talking things through like adults rather than letting a big misunderstanding cause huge arguments and lots of unnecessary drama. The mystery side of the story was good and although I didn't love Big Jack's character (he was far too selfish for my liking) he was charismatic and I could see why Laine had worshipped him as a child. Even though it's part of a series we still get a decent ending to the story so you're not forced to read the second book just to get answers.
Big Jack by J.D. Robb:
Set approximately 50 years into the future from the end of Hot Rocks, Big Jack focuses on Laine and Max's granddaughter. Sam is an author who has recently published the story of how her grandparents met, including details of the diamond heist and the fact that not all of the diamonds were recovered. She comes home from her book tour to discover her home has been trashed and her house sitter has been murdered. It looks like someone believes that Sam and her family kept the missing diamonds for themselves and now they're willing to do whatever it takes to steal the jackpot. Of course Eve Dallas has been called in to investigate the murders but she quickly realises the key to finding a murderer is to locate the missing diamonds herself.
It's no secret I love the In Death series (that's the whole reason I read these two stories in the first place!) and Big Jack is just as good as you'd expect from a book in this series. You have all the banter between Eve, Peabody and the rest of the team, the swoon worthy romance between Eve and Roarke and of course a murder to solve and diamonds to find. I will never get enough of this series and, as always, this story definitely left me wanting to dive straight into the next one.
January 24, 2012
Comprei este livro como prenda de Natal para a minha mãe. Ela nunca tinha lido nada da Nora Roberts e como este junta os dois estilos (o romance da NR e o policial da JD Robb, que foi dos aspectos que me chamou mais a atenção) pensei que lhe podia dar um "2 em 1". Ela devorou e adorou o livro... e eu também!
O livro encontra-se dividido em duas partes. A primeira parte (escrita como Nora Roberts) traz-nos a história de Laine Tavish (ou Elaine O'Hara) e Max Gannon. Achei que neste livro o romance aconteceu muito depressa, demasiado depressa, mesmo assim foi uma boa história, com pés e cabeça, com bons momentos (alguns dos quais arrancaram-me uma ou duas gargalhadas) e um vilão cruel. Adorei o Big Jack O’Hara, ladrão descontraído, carismático e subtil, sempre a tentar dar o golpe mas que tem valores e ama a filha acima de tudo.
A segunda parte (escrita como JD Robb) leva-nos ao futuro, à investigação de mais um crime levada a cabo pela Tenente Eve Dallas. Dallas continua a ser uma Tenente tenaz, focada, determinada em levar o criminoso à justiça e mais uma vez não parará até o conseguir. O criminoso foi um bocado óbvio, porém foi interessante ler as partes que se referem aos pensamentos deste, porque permite ao leitor saber exactamente como ele é e o que o motiva. Nunca me canso do casal Eve/Roarke e a cada livro que leio fico mais e mais convencida que eles são simplesmente perfeitos um para o outro.
No geral um bom livro, como todos os que já li desta autora até agora.
O livro encontra-se dividido em duas partes. A primeira parte (escrita como Nora Roberts) traz-nos a história de Laine Tavish (ou Elaine O'Hara) e Max Gannon. Achei que neste livro o romance aconteceu muito depressa, demasiado depressa, mesmo assim foi uma boa história, com pés e cabeça, com bons momentos (alguns dos quais arrancaram-me uma ou duas gargalhadas) e um vilão cruel. Adorei o Big Jack O’Hara, ladrão descontraído, carismático e subtil, sempre a tentar dar o golpe mas que tem valores e ama a filha acima de tudo.
A segunda parte (escrita como JD Robb) leva-nos ao futuro, à investigação de mais um crime levada a cabo pela Tenente Eve Dallas. Dallas continua a ser uma Tenente tenaz, focada, determinada em levar o criminoso à justiça e mais uma vez não parará até o conseguir. O criminoso foi um bocado óbvio, porém foi interessante ler as partes que se referem aos pensamentos deste, porque permite ao leitor saber exactamente como ele é e o que o motiva. Nunca me canso do casal Eve/Roarke e a cada livro que leio fico mais e mais convencida que eles são simplesmente perfeitos um para o outro.
No geral um bom livro, como todos os que já li desta autora até agora.
February 22, 2019
For some reason I had trouble with the first two chapters but after that... holy moly I loved this book! Laine and Max were absolutely great and damnnnn Eve and Roarke know how to use a staircase when Summerset isn’t around 😍 Also loved that this was Peabody’s first case as a detective! Proud of my girl!
January 5, 2015
A book of 2 halves. The first set in the present day - the second in the land of "In Death". I could have done without the first half really.
A diamond heist is the basis of both stories. Laine runs an antiques store in the middle of nowhere - an old family friend visits and ends up dead. She doesn't know what he wanted but it seems some people think she's hiding something. Her house is burgled etc. A smoking hot PI (Max) becomes interested in her (love at first sight). Laine isn't who everyone thinks she is. She's changed her name - tried to break the link to her father - a man who loves the con - Big Jack.
Yes, unknown to Laine she's in possession of diamonds and a very bad man is looking for them. The story was harmless enough - the problem was I just wanted to get it over and done with, so I could get to Roarke.
Many years later Laine and Max's grand-daughter writes a book about how they met and the diamond heist that brought them together. Not long after - a friend ends up dead while house sitting for her - because some of the diamonds were never recovered and they think Samantha knows where they are.
The villain was a nasty piece of work who took after his grandfather (I twigged that very early on and the story doesn't try to hide it anyway).
Roarke was very interested in the story - there's something magical about diamonds and it brought back some memories for him. But again this story re-inforces just how perfect Roarke and Eve are for each other. They will do everything they can to protect each other, be there for each other. I just love them to death.
A diamond heist is the basis of both stories. Laine runs an antiques store in the middle of nowhere - an old family friend visits and ends up dead. She doesn't know what he wanted but it seems some people think she's hiding something. Her house is burgled etc. A smoking hot PI (Max) becomes interested in her (love at first sight). Laine isn't who everyone thinks she is. She's changed her name - tried to break the link to her father - a man who loves the con - Big Jack.
Yes, unknown to Laine she's in possession of diamonds and a very bad man is looking for them. The story was harmless enough - the problem was I just wanted to get it over and done with, so I could get to Roarke.
Many years later Laine and Max's grand-daughter writes a book about how they met and the diamond heist that brought them together. Not long after - a friend ends up dead while house sitting for her - because some of the diamonds were never recovered and they think Samantha knows where they are.
The villain was a nasty piece of work who took after his grandfather (I twigged that very early on and the story doesn't try to hide it anyway).
Roarke was very interested in the story - there's something magical about diamonds and it brought back some memories for him. But again this story re-inforces just how perfect Roarke and Eve are for each other. They will do everything they can to protect each other, be there for each other. I just love them to death.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 18, 2019
I have mainly read J. D. Robb books versus Nora Roberts books. I am a huge fan of the Robb "In Death" series. This book contains two parts. The first is a romantic suspense/mystery set in 2003 and the second part is a mystery that takes place in 2059 and fits into the "In Death" series. The two parts are related which we find out as the second part unfolds. The writing styles are different so be prepared for that.
The first part of the book has a great plot and strong, likeable characters. Despite some darker happenings, it is a relatively uplifting mystery with a strong romance component. The second part of the book is typical "In Death". It is much darker and the main character is one that some will not like. This falls chronologically after the 17th In Death book so it helps to have read others in this series to better understand the main character and the interactions and backstories of her and the supporting cast. The supporting cast of characters was fantastic as always. Mystery, suspense, romance, strong characters and some advanced technology. This is a good addition to the "In Death" series.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read.
The first part of the book has a great plot and strong, likeable characters. Despite some darker happenings, it is a relatively uplifting mystery with a strong romance component. The second part of the book is typical "In Death". It is much darker and the main character is one that some will not like. This falls chronologically after the 17th In Death book so it helps to have read others in this series to better understand the main character and the interactions and backstories of her and the supporting cast. The supporting cast of characters was fantastic as always. Mystery, suspense, romance, strong characters and some advanced technology. This is a good addition to the "In Death" series.
All in all, this was an enjoyable read.
March 2, 2018
Antes de mais, uma curiosidade em relação a este livro: comprei-o em 2008. Ou seja, estava há dez anos (10!) na minha estante à espera de ser lido, e não era o que tenho há mais tempo por ler. Ainda assim, ao contrário de outros, tenho uma explicação completamente plausível para o tempo que o demorei a ler: Naquele Tempo junta duas histórias relacionadas escritas por Nora Roberts, uma em nome próprio e outra com o seu pseudónimo J.D. Robb, dentro da série In Death; ora, como estou a ler esta série, decidi que só iria pegar no livro quando lesse os 17 livros anteriores. Confesso que houve uma altura em que pensei que isso nunca ia acontecer, mas não devia ter duvidado das minhas capacidades.
Naquele Tempo foi o primeiro livro que a Saída de Emergência publicou com algo escrito pela autora com o seu pseudónimo, por ter achado que seria um bom ponto de partida para os fãs de Nora Roberts seguirem uma história começada ao estilo mais tradicional da autora, passando então para o seu pseudónimo que, para quem não sabe, escreve uma série de contornos policiais num ambiente futurista, com um núcleo mais ou menos fixo de personagens, no qual se destaca a protagonista Eve Dallas. E a verdade é que, dessa perspetiva, este livro funciona bem. Ainda que exista toda uma história anterior na vida de Eve, a metade do livro em que ela aparece nunca deixa a sensação de faltar muita informação; pelo contrário, deixa num leitor desconhecedor a curiosidade para saber mais.
Como já referi, as duas histórias do livro estão relacionadas. A que a autora escreve em nome próprio decorre em 2003 e apresenta-nos Laine Tavish, uma mulher que foge do seu passado e do pai ladrão, tentando reconstruir a sua vida ao gerir uma loja de antiguidades numa pequena localidade. Mas o seu pai vê-se envolvido num roubo de diamantes e toda esta trama acaba por vir ter com Laine, ainda que contra a sua vontade. Foi uma história engraçada, com os contornos românticos habituais, mas sinceramente não a achei suficientemente entusiasmante. Das personagens apresentadas, só gostei realmente de Big Jack O’Hara, o pai de Laine, um homem carismático apesar da profissão que escolheu.
A diferença para a segunda história, situada em 2057 e que ocupa mais algumas páginas, é que, nesta, eu já conhecia as personagens e estava investida na sua história pessoal. Não há grandes desenvolvimentos em termos da sua vida, mas é sempre bom reencontrar Eve Dallas e companhia, como se fossem velhos amigos. Adorei ver as tentativas de Peabody em encontrar o seu estilo, agora que já é detetive, e o sentido de humor presente nos diálogos é delicioso. A ligação com a primeira história é interessante, ainda que o caso policial não tenha sido nada de extraordinário.
No final do livro, uma certeza e uma dúvida: vou continuar alegremente a acompanhar a série In Death, mas não sei se tenho interesse em ler mais livros da Nora Roberts escritos em nome próprio.
Naquele Tempo foi o primeiro livro que a Saída de Emergência publicou com algo escrito pela autora com o seu pseudónimo, por ter achado que seria um bom ponto de partida para os fãs de Nora Roberts seguirem uma história começada ao estilo mais tradicional da autora, passando então para o seu pseudónimo que, para quem não sabe, escreve uma série de contornos policiais num ambiente futurista, com um núcleo mais ou menos fixo de personagens, no qual se destaca a protagonista Eve Dallas. E a verdade é que, dessa perspetiva, este livro funciona bem. Ainda que exista toda uma história anterior na vida de Eve, a metade do livro em que ela aparece nunca deixa a sensação de faltar muita informação; pelo contrário, deixa num leitor desconhecedor a curiosidade para saber mais.
Como já referi, as duas histórias do livro estão relacionadas. A que a autora escreve em nome próprio decorre em 2003 e apresenta-nos Laine Tavish, uma mulher que foge do seu passado e do pai ladrão, tentando reconstruir a sua vida ao gerir uma loja de antiguidades numa pequena localidade. Mas o seu pai vê-se envolvido num roubo de diamantes e toda esta trama acaba por vir ter com Laine, ainda que contra a sua vontade. Foi uma história engraçada, com os contornos românticos habituais, mas sinceramente não a achei suficientemente entusiasmante. Das personagens apresentadas, só gostei realmente de Big Jack O’Hara, o pai de Laine, um homem carismático apesar da profissão que escolheu.
A diferença para a segunda história, situada em 2057 e que ocupa mais algumas páginas, é que, nesta, eu já conhecia as personagens e estava investida na sua história pessoal. Não há grandes desenvolvimentos em termos da sua vida, mas é sempre bom reencontrar Eve Dallas e companhia, como se fossem velhos amigos. Adorei ver as tentativas de Peabody em encontrar o seu estilo, agora que já é detetive, e o sentido de humor presente nos diálogos é delicioso. A ligação com a primeira história é interessante, ainda que o caso policial não tenha sido nada de extraordinário.
No final do livro, uma certeza e uma dúvida: vou continuar alegremente a acompanhar a série In Death, mas não sei se tenho interesse em ler mais livros da Nora Roberts escritos em nome próprio.
March 31, 2023
Mein erster Nora Roberts Roman.
Ich arbeite in einer Bibliothek und hier ist die Gute ein absoluter Dauerbrenner. Wir haben ein ganzes Regal nur mit ihrem Büchern. Keine Ahnung, wie man so viele Bücher schreiben kann. Ich frage mich jedes Mal, ob man nach ein paar Büchern nicht direkt alle von ihr kennt oder ob ihr wirklich immer was originelles einfällt.
Naja, also "Im Sturm der Erinnerung" war generell nicht besonders originell.
Das erste Wort, das mir dafür einfällt, wäre eher "langweilig". Danach kommt "vorhersehbar" und einfallslos" und "enttäuschend".
Die beiden Protagonisten fand ich eigentlich recht sympathisch. Auch wenn mir Laine etwas überdramatisch war. Die Story war wie gesagt langweilig und vorhersehbar, ohne plot twists o.Ä.
Laines Vater, der grooooße böse Wolf, war super lahm als er dann endlich auf der Bildfläche erschien nachdem er so lange beschrien wurde. Und das Ende war viel zu schnell und einfach abgehandelt. Gähn.
Das Schönste an dem Buch war doch echt die Szene, als von Autor oder Übersetzer der Name des Mannes mit dem Namen des Hundes verwechselt wurde. Da lag der Mann dann mal in der offenen Haustür auf dem Boden um sich den Bauch kraulen zu lassen und Laine seinen Schwanz in die Kniekehlen zu schlagen. Ah ja. Gut. Lass ich mal so stehen.
Ich arbeite in einer Bibliothek und hier ist die Gute ein absoluter Dauerbrenner. Wir haben ein ganzes Regal nur mit ihrem Büchern. Keine Ahnung, wie man so viele Bücher schreiben kann. Ich frage mich jedes Mal, ob man nach ein paar Büchern nicht direkt alle von ihr kennt oder ob ihr wirklich immer was originelles einfällt.
Naja, also "Im Sturm der Erinnerung" war generell nicht besonders originell.
Das erste Wort, das mir dafür einfällt, wäre eher "langweilig". Danach kommt "vorhersehbar" und einfallslos" und "enttäuschend".
Die beiden Protagonisten fand ich eigentlich recht sympathisch. Auch wenn mir Laine etwas überdramatisch war. Die Story war wie gesagt langweilig und vorhersehbar, ohne plot twists o.Ä.
Laines Vater, der grooooße böse Wolf, war super lahm als er dann endlich auf der Bildfläche erschien nachdem er so lange beschrien wurde. Und das Ende war viel zu schnell und einfach abgehandelt. Gähn.
Das Schönste an dem Buch war doch echt die Szene, als von Autor oder Übersetzer der Name des Mannes mit dem Namen des Hundes verwechselt wurde. Da lag der Mann dann mal in der offenen Haustür auf dem Boden um sich den Bauch kraulen zu lassen und Laine seinen Schwanz in die Kniekehlen zu schlagen. Ah ja. Gut. Lass ich mal so stehen.
September 23, 2022
This was a lot of fun.
It is basically two novellas, with the first (Part 1) taking place circa 2003, where we meet Laine and Max, and they fall in love while dealing with an awesome diamond heist. Max is the cop (basically - he's a PI hired by the insurance company) trying to find the jewels, and Laine is the daughter of one of the guys responsible for the heist. It moves fast, as all novellas do, but was compelling and I liked the characters very much.
Part 2 jumps ahead to 2059. Some of the diamonds were never recovered, and a new slate of murders seems to tie back to that old case. It lands on the lap of Eve Dallas, who works with her fabulous In Death team (as well as her husband Roarke, who is her partner in all ways) to close the loop on this old case.
It was a great idea, and it was fun to watch it all play out. I enjoyed the heck out of it.
It is basically two novellas, with the first (Part 1) taking place circa 2003, where we meet Laine and Max, and they fall in love while dealing with an awesome diamond heist. Max is the cop (basically - he's a PI hired by the insurance company) trying to find the jewels, and Laine is the daughter of one of the guys responsible for the heist. It moves fast, as all novellas do, but was compelling and I liked the characters very much.
Part 2 jumps ahead to 2059. Some of the diamonds were never recovered, and a new slate of murders seems to tie back to that old case. It lands on the lap of Eve Dallas, who works with her fabulous In Death team (as well as her husband Roarke, who is her partner in all ways) to close the loop on this old case.
It was a great idea, and it was fun to watch it all play out. I enjoyed the heck out of it.
May 29, 2023
Releitura.
1.ª parte 3⭐️
2.ª parte 5⭐️
Fica entre a 3,5⭐️ e 4⭐️
1.ª parte 3⭐️
2.ª parte 5⭐️
Fica entre a 3,5⭐️ e 4⭐️
January 22, 2009
Take note:
This is the only Nora Roberts book I have ever liked
I think it was the combining of the two stories and the two styles that Nora Roberts/JD Robb uses in her writings. Clever. It will probably be a long time before you hear me use clever or like regarding Nora Roberts again-- even though three people I adore tend to find her books what they need at a certain time.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
She's one author - with two number-one New York Times-bestselling careers. As Nora Roberts, her novels include Three Fates and Birthright. As J. D. Robb, she offers such novels as Portrait in Death. Now she unites her separate identities in a riveting two-part novel that combines edgy suspense and romantic passion - and journeys through past, present, and future.
In Part One, Nora Roberts introduces us to Laine Tavish, known to the folks in Angel's Gap, Maryland, as the proprietor of Remember When, an antique treasures and gift shop. They have no idea that she used to be Elaine O'Hara, daughter of the notorious con man Big Jack O'Hara ... or that she grew up moving from place to place, one step ahead of the law. But Laine's past has just caught up with her. Her long-lost uncle has visited her shop, leaving a cryptic warning before dying in the street, run down by a car. Soon afterward, Laine's home is ransacked. Now it's up to her, and an enigmatic stranger named Max Gannon, to find out who's chasing her, and why. The answer lies in a hidden fortune - a fortune that will change Laine's life.
In Part Two, J. D. Robb takes us to New York City in 2059, and puts Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas on the case. The treasure that Laine and Max sought has never been fully recovered. And now someone else is pursuing the missing gems ... someone who's willing to kill for them. Sharp-witted and sexy, Eve is used to traveling in the shadowy corners outside the law, in a future where crime meets cutting-edge technology. She will attempt to track down the diamonds once and for all - and stop the danger and death that have surrounded them for decades.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
She's one author - with two number-one New York Times-bestselling careers. As Nora Roberts, her novels include Three Fates and Birthright. As J. D. Robb, she offers such novels as Portrait in Death. Now she unites her separate identities in a riveting two-part novel that combines edgy suspense and romantic passion - and journeys through past, present, and future.
In Part One, Nora Roberts introduces us to Laine Tavish, known to the folks in Angel's Gap, Maryland, as the proprietor of Remember When, an antique treasures and gift shop. They have no idea that she used to be Elaine O'Hara, daughter of the notorious con man Big Jack O'Hara ... or that she grew up moving from place to place, one step ahead of the law. But Laine's past has just caught up with her. Her long-lost uncle has visited her shop, leaving a cryptic warning before dying in the street, run down by a car. Soon afterward, Laine's home is ransacked. Now it's up to her, and an enigmatic stranger named Max Gannon, to find out who's chasing her, and why. The answer lies in a hidden fortune - a fortune that will change Laine's life.
In Part Two, J. D. Robb takes us to New York City in 2059, and puts Detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas on the case. The treasure that Laine and Max sought has never been fully recovered. And now someone else is pursuing the missing gems ... someone who's willing to kill for them. Sharp-witted and sexy, Eve is used to traveling in the shadowy corners outside the law, in a future where crime meets cutting-edge technology. She will attempt to track down the diamonds once and for all - and stop the danger and death that have surrounded them for decades.
December 18, 2019
A heroic belch of thunder followed the strange little man into the shop.
This book is written in two parts. The first is written by Nora Roberts and is set in 2003. The second part is written by J.D. Robb and is set in 2059. The two books are connected by family and a diamond heist.
Laine is the daughter of Big Jack O'Hara who stolen over twenty eight million dollars worth of diamonds. The insurance company focuses on Laine in order to recover the diamonds. Private investigator, Max arrives in Angel Gap determined to close the case particularly after Big Jack's best friend of thirty plus years is killed as he leaves Laine's antique shop.
This was a very well written suspenseful romance. I loved the characters and enjoyed learning about Laine and her family. I really liked that Max and Laine had a mature relationship that ended happily.
Part two of the book opens in 2059. Laine's granddaughter, Samantha has written a book about Big Jack and the diamonds. Returning from a book tour she finds her house sitter dead. Eve is the lead on the case and begins to delve into the mystery of Samantha's family.
There is simply no part of Eve that I don't love. These books keep me engaged and entertained. I love the teamwork of Peabody, McNabb, Feeney and of course Roarke. i like how Eve looks beyond the surface to find and apprehend murderers.
Everything about this book is solid. It makes me want to pick up more books written as Nora. Everyone can use a bit of romance now and then. Until then I will hang out with Eve and her hardcore work and romance.
I highly recommend this series!
*Note: Yes, I wrote this review months after I read the book. Thank goodness I keep a journal!*
This book is written in two parts. The first is written by Nora Roberts and is set in 2003. The second part is written by J.D. Robb and is set in 2059. The two books are connected by family and a diamond heist.
Laine is the daughter of Big Jack O'Hara who stolen over twenty eight million dollars worth of diamonds. The insurance company focuses on Laine in order to recover the diamonds. Private investigator, Max arrives in Angel Gap determined to close the case particularly after Big Jack's best friend of thirty plus years is killed as he leaves Laine's antique shop.
This was a very well written suspenseful romance. I loved the characters and enjoyed learning about Laine and her family. I really liked that Max and Laine had a mature relationship that ended happily.
Part two of the book opens in 2059. Laine's granddaughter, Samantha has written a book about Big Jack and the diamonds. Returning from a book tour she finds her house sitter dead. Eve is the lead on the case and begins to delve into the mystery of Samantha's family.
There is simply no part of Eve that I don't love. These books keep me engaged and entertained. I love the teamwork of Peabody, McNabb, Feeney and of course Roarke. i like how Eve looks beyond the surface to find and apprehend murderers.
Everything about this book is solid. It makes me want to pick up more books written as Nora. Everyone can use a bit of romance now and then. Until then I will hang out with Eve and her hardcore work and romance.
I highly recommend this series!
*Note: Yes, I wrote this review months after I read the book. Thank goodness I keep a journal!*
December 19, 2010
I just finished listening the audio, and what a great book. The audio cd consists of 14 discs, evenly divided between the back story Nora writes under her own name and the "In Death" section. What I especially love is the connection breaching the time barrier and the length of the Robb portion is twice as long as her shorter novelettes.
There's a lot of substance to each story, and in the Robb story, we get a lot of Peabody humor as this is the first book after she passes her detective exam. We get to try out a couple of her new outfits as she searches for just the right detective look, and of course, she has to throw in the word detective as often as humanly possible.
The first part of the story describing the diamond heist is classic Nora Roberts romantic suspense. Lots of colorful rich characters in a small town setting, romance and intrigue.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes J.D. Robb or Nora Roberts. I think reading them together gives a real feeling for the author and her two styles.
There's a lot of substance to each story, and in the Robb story, we get a lot of Peabody humor as this is the first book after she passes her detective exam. We get to try out a couple of her new outfits as she searches for just the right detective look, and of course, she has to throw in the word detective as often as humanly possible.
The first part of the story describing the diamond heist is classic Nora Roberts romantic suspense. Lots of colorful rich characters in a small town setting, romance and intrigue.
I recommend this book to anyone who likes J.D. Robb or Nora Roberts. I think reading them together gives a real feeling for the author and her two styles.
July 11, 2017
I wasn't about to read this book just because I'm usually not interested in spin-offs. But I've discovered that it fulfils some of my challenges, so I gave it a chance. I wasn't disappointed.
These are two stories in one book. Both are connected by stolen diamonds. The first one is about Laine and Max, she is a daughter of one of the thieves and he is a privet eye looking for the jewels for the insurance company. They find most of the diamonds but not all of them. The second story is one of the Eve and Roarke series. The granddaughter of Laine and Max, Samantha, wrote a book telling her grandparents story and now somebody is looking for the remaining diamonds.
I really enjoyed both stories. Laine and Max one is strongly on a love at the first sight idea which I usually don't like. But Nora Roberts makes it in such a great manner that I totally didn't mind it. And I had no doubts that Laine and Max love each other. The only thing I can complain a bit about is that Eve isn't as thoughtful as always in my opinion.
Anyway, I definitely don't regret reading this story.
These are two stories in one book. Both are connected by stolen diamonds. The first one is about Laine and Max, she is a daughter of one of the thieves and he is a privet eye looking for the jewels for the insurance company. They find most of the diamonds but not all of them. The second story is one of the Eve and Roarke series. The granddaughter of Laine and Max, Samantha, wrote a book telling her grandparents story and now somebody is looking for the remaining diamonds.
I really enjoyed both stories. Laine and Max one is strongly on a love at the first sight idea which I usually don't like. But Nora Roberts makes it in such a great manner that I totally didn't mind it. And I had no doubts that Laine and Max love each other. The only thing I can complain a bit about is that Eve isn't as thoughtful as always in my opinion.
Anyway, I definitely don't regret reading this story.
October 12, 2007
Combination Eve Dallas story with a present day story. 18th in the "In Death" series. I liked the Eve Dallas (second) half best, but the first half was enjoyable too.
January 17, 2014
Loved it...it started out in our life time and then years in the future Eve Dallas and peabody take over !! Loved the switch over :)
September 9, 2018
This is the version you want, fellow In Death readers. You can get Big Jack without the accompanying story, but they are two halves of a whole. Don’t skip.
September 4, 2020
HOT ROCKS - 5-Stars
I loved this book!!! It is everything that NR's current bestseller wasn't - Suspense, Hot Romance and H/h that you really like. No current affairs issues, no angst, just a really great Romantic-Suspense story. And humor! The humor is laugh out loud fantastic. This book just became one of my favorite Nora Roberts.
Laine Tavish, has a great life she has worked hard for. She owns her own business, an antique shop, Remember When, has her own home complete with an adorable dog. Life is really, really good for her. Then a face from her past shows up to shatter her well ordered life. Her father was a master con artist and now Laine is neck deep in a heist of epic proportions. Then along comes a tall, dark and handsome stranger and he is interested in more than the lovely Laine, but all she sees is the hot, handsome Max.
Max Gannon, ex-cop and currently a PI is out to recover a fortune in stolen gems. He is convinced that Lane is the key to the gems. As he sets out to woo the information out of her, he finds himself falling in love and willing to make compromises to keep Laine and recover the gems, but one thing he will not compromise is Laine safety. Not for anything.
BIG JACK - 4-Stars
Loved this ending to the mystery left in Hot Rocks. What happened to the last 1/4th of the stolen diamonds?
In 2059 Samantha Gannon has just written a bestseller about a diamond heist that took place more than 50 years ago. The book has become an instant best seller but when Sam returns home from a successful book tour she finds her best friend and house sitter dead. Eve Dallas now has not only a murder to solve, but a decades old robbery.
I loved this book!!! It is everything that NR's current bestseller wasn't - Suspense, Hot Romance and H/h that you really like. No current affairs issues, no angst, just a really great Romantic-Suspense story. And humor! The humor is laugh out loud fantastic. This book just became one of my favorite Nora Roberts.
Laine Tavish, has a great life she has worked hard for. She owns her own business, an antique shop, Remember When, has her own home complete with an adorable dog. Life is really, really good for her. Then a face from her past shows up to shatter her well ordered life. Her father was a master con artist and now Laine is neck deep in a heist of epic proportions. Then along comes a tall, dark and handsome stranger and he is interested in more than the lovely Laine, but all she sees is the hot, handsome Max.
Max Gannon, ex-cop and currently a PI is out to recover a fortune in stolen gems. He is convinced that Lane is the key to the gems. As he sets out to woo the information out of her, he finds himself falling in love and willing to make compromises to keep Laine and recover the gems, but one thing he will not compromise is Laine safety. Not for anything.
BIG JACK - 4-Stars
Loved this ending to the mystery left in Hot Rocks. What happened to the last 1/4th of the stolen diamonds?
In 2059 Samantha Gannon has just written a bestseller about a diamond heist that took place more than 50 years ago. The book has become an instant best seller but when Sam returns home from a successful book tour she finds her best friend and house sitter dead. Eve Dallas now has not only a murder to solve, but a decades old robbery.
April 7, 2024
I absolutely loved this book! Not just the story (which is positively great), but the whole idea of how this story is told. Ever since I first discovered this book I have been fascinated by the concept that made this book what it is and I just became even more obsessed with it as I read. I normally do not enjoy a book when there is a huge gap in the timeline because it leaves me with too many questions about what happened to the main characters and stuff like that. But since this book is “written by two different authors” each part of the book brings you in from a different timeframe to begin with, and instead of leaving me with the feeling of having missed out on information that I needed I actually felt like I had been given a flashback to gain extra information. The book starts with Nora Roberts telling her part of the story in her classic writing style in what is basically the current day, and then, in what I felt like was more of a shift than a skip, JD Rob comes in and tells her part of the story in the future. However, for anybody reading the In Death series it’s not the future, it’s the same timeline you’ve already been dwelling in! As a fan of the In Death series in particular, I thought it was handled fantastically!! And then the author (or should I say authors?) finished up by tying the whole thing up in a nice pretty bow that brought it all together start to finish in one amazing story! I feel like this book is a have to for any In Death fan, but I highly recommend it for Nora Roberts fans as well, and if a person wanted to, it could be read as a standalone by itself without leaving the reader wishing for more. I was so captivated by this book that I can go on and on, definitely recommend it wholeheartedly!!
March 19, 2021
Such a great way to blend two different series. I think this was my first JD Robb and it led to my obsession!
February 5, 2011
Nora Roberts is one of those writers who produces such a large volume of work it was necessary to use several names so as not to dilute the brand. Now that she is a famous best-selling author all these connections can be made public, hence JD Robb is in fact Nora Roberts. Now I knew all this when I began the JD Robb series – future NYC cop Eve Dallas and her band of friends solve gruesome murders in the 2050’s – but was okay with it. Even though I have read all 28 of the regular books I have since learned that she wrote a joint book as both authors, the first half takes place in the past, and the finale involving the grandkids in the future.
This took me about two weeks to finish mainly because I couldn’t bring myself to carry a Nora Roberts book into my work break room. So I just read it a little bit at a time at night. Anyways, it was very good asusual and the basic plot involves stolen diamonds and the murder and mayhem used in an attempt to retrieve them. The Robb series is great and can be read independently, but for best results in understanding all the relationships start at the beginning, Naked in Death.
Best part is the Author’s note on the back cover. Nora Roberts and JD Robb share a house in Maryland, a husband, and a website
This took me about two weeks to finish mainly because I couldn’t bring myself to carry a Nora Roberts book into my work break room. So I just read it a little bit at a time at night. Anyways, it was very good asusual and the basic plot involves stolen diamonds and the murder and mayhem used in an attempt to retrieve them. The Robb series is great and can be read independently, but for best results in understanding all the relationships start at the beginning, Naked in Death.
Best part is the Author’s note on the back cover. Nora Roberts and JD Robb share a house in Maryland, a husband, and a website
December 21, 2021
2020
Honestly, it took me a lot longer to read through this one than it should have.
The first part of the book was just damned boring. Plus, it didn't have any of the key players that I read this series for; I was missing Dallas, Roarke, Peabody, McNab, everybody. The entire crew didn't make a single appearance. And, once again, it was boring to me. I didn't care about the players that were involved in the first half of the story. They weren't enough to keep my attention.
Thankfully, the second part of the book was an actual Dallas story with all of the crew. It was much easier and much more fun to read the second half. Peabody was struggling to find her detectives clothes. Wearing silly, uncomfortable shoes in the name of fashion. Dallas was getting twitchy when Peabody mentioned sex with McNab. Or after she and Roarke did the mattress mambo and Feeney realized it. Baxter and Trueheart joining forces with Dallas while they were tracking a double murder.
The first half of the book was definitely not worth the read to me, but I really did enjoy the second half.
Honestly, it took me a lot longer to read through this one than it should have.
The first part of the book was just damned boring. Plus, it didn't have any of the key players that I read this series for; I was missing Dallas, Roarke, Peabody, McNab, everybody. The entire crew didn't make a single appearance. And, once again, it was boring to me. I didn't care about the players that were involved in the first half of the story. They weren't enough to keep my attention.
Thankfully, the second part of the book was an actual Dallas story with all of the crew. It was much easier and much more fun to read the second half. Peabody was struggling to find her detectives clothes. Wearing silly, uncomfortable shoes in the name of fashion. Dallas was getting twitchy when Peabody mentioned sex with McNab. Or after she and Roarke did the mattress mambo and Feeney realized it. Baxter and Trueheart joining forces with Dallas while they were tracking a double murder.
The first half of the book was definitely not worth the read to me, but I really did enjoy the second half.
May 26, 2013
This book contains two stories.
Laine Tavish is a small town antique store owner. She has escaped a life on the run with her father, Big Jack O'Hara. Jack was a con man and thief. Laine has settled down to a nice rural life when her long-lost uncle comes into her store, gives her a cryptic message and runs outside to die from a car accident. Soon afterwards Laine's house is ransacked.
Max Gannon is working with the insurance company to find some diamonds which have been stolen. Max and Laine team up to find her father and the diamonds.
The second story is an In Death one.
Samantha Gannon arrives home to find her home-sitter and best friend dead. Samantha was on a book tour promoting her book about her grandparents, Laine and Max Gannon.
Was the murder because someone was looking for the diamonds that weren't recovered?
This was an interesting concept for a book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt it was not at all like reading two short stories. It was intriguing how the two stories even though written by the same person had slightly different styles.
Laine Tavish is a small town antique store owner. She has escaped a life on the run with her father, Big Jack O'Hara. Jack was a con man and thief. Laine has settled down to a nice rural life when her long-lost uncle comes into her store, gives her a cryptic message and runs outside to die from a car accident. Soon afterwards Laine's house is ransacked.
Max Gannon is working with the insurance company to find some diamonds which have been stolen. Max and Laine team up to find her father and the diamonds.
The second story is an In Death one.
Samantha Gannon arrives home to find her home-sitter and best friend dead. Samantha was on a book tour promoting her book about her grandparents, Laine and Max Gannon.
Was the murder because someone was looking for the diamonds that weren't recovered?
This was an interesting concept for a book. I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt it was not at all like reading two short stories. It was intriguing how the two stories even though written by the same person had slightly different styles.
February 17, 2012
Loved this one when I read it... Perfect mix of romance and mystery, even though it's as cheesy as romance novel get (love it!):) ...
Am I the only one that got confused by the fact that this book was published under a different name "Hot Rocks"
only a few years later (2005)... Nowhere does it mention that this is a reprint of the SAME book... I was excited about "Hot Rocks" and started reading it with enthusiasm, only to realize that I have already read it under a different name - "Remember When"!!!
Am I the only one that got confused by the fact that this book was published under a different name "Hot Rocks"
only a few years later (2005)... Nowhere does it mention that this is a reprint of the SAME book... I was excited about "Hot Rocks" and started reading it with enthusiasm, only to realize that I have already read it under a different name - "Remember When"!!! Displaying 1 - 30 of 783 reviews