Carolina Moon

Victoria “Tory” Bodeen has had what her grandmother called the Sight since she was very little. She tried to keep things to herself because her father, Hannibal, would beat her near to death, all the while quoting the bible. Of course, he never really needed a reason to beat her. Tory had been around the age of eight when her only friend, Hope, died. Tory was supposed to sneak out and meet up with her friend, but her father had beaten her that night. When people went searching for Hope, Tory told exactly where Hope’s body was. Hannibal eventually moved his family away from Progress.Of course, Tory fled home as soon as she could. Now an adult, Tory is moving back to Progress. She even rented the house where she had grown up. Tory would open a stylish home-design shop called Southern Comfort. She would finally face her past and, hopefully, find closure by figuring out who raped and murdered Hope eighteen years ago. Kincade “Cade” Lavelle, Hope’s brother, is still around and he is determined to make Tory see him as lover potential. Faith, Hope’s twin sister, is still there too. Faith and Hope have always been opposites in all but looks. Several others still remain as well – including Hope’s killer.**** FOUR STARS! This story is so well written that I found myself a bit unsettled at times. Nora Roberts manages to show readers that down home Southern charm, as well as the not so charming parts. A gripping story that may keep you up reading too long into the night. ****Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

This book is for those who like a little paranormal. The protagonist has "the sight". Since I'm not a believer in such things I did not like the book. Nora Roberts seems to write three types of novels. Most follow a romantic formula where a woman who has been betrayed moves to a small town and meets a man there who has a great deal of baggage of his own. After some struggles they manage to trust and love each other. These are okay occasionally for a beach read. Her next category has some great novels which obviously required research. The Witness, Tribute, Nigh Noon, The Search, Northern Lights, and Blue Smoke, to name a few. I re-read these books and enjoy the talent that Roberts truly has.

This is one of Nora Roberts' best books. It just sucks you right in. Ms. Roberts is fantastic at painting a picture with her writing and she always has a good mix of serious, comical and menacing characters. This story takes place in the deep South and her descriptions of the town and its surroundings and the people of the town make you feel like you're right there. The suspense is right there all along; you feel it there but it doesn't hit you full blast until later in the book. It's good stuff. One word of caution, however: beware the Audible version of Carolina Moon. The narrator is simply awful. She reads way too quickly in some places, her sentences tend to run on, and because she doesn't differentiate the characters' voices, you don't always know who's speaking and you don't always realize when she's stopped dialogue and gone back to the narrative. I had to stop eight chapters in and I returned the audiobook. It's a good thing I'd read this before. Better you should just read the book or the Kindle version.

Tory was abused as child, she had a gift that her father said was devil's work after tragedy they left. She going back home after 18 years, knowing and expecting looks , stares, and a whole lot of gossip. She was going back to to say goodbye to her friend Hope who she lost in the most brutal way. What was wasn't expecting was Cade and Faith, Hope's brother and sister, they came in and blew everything out of the water and slowly made her fall him and Faith and her started to become friends, but there is a secret that's been hiding and when Tory uses her gift and things start to come to light will she be able to figure out who it is before it's too late? Will she be able to open her heart up after it's been broken and fall for Cade or will she stay closed off to everything? An amazing read that had so many twist, turn, a whole of suspense that will pull you right in and keep you glued to you seat wanting to know more. Each page will give a little bit more, and by the end your mind will be blown when everything finally comes out. I so can't wait to read what she has next.

When I want an engaging romantic suspense, I look to Nora Roberts. Yep, she has a formula and she uses it with wit, style and charm. A great mix of suspense, humor, sorrow, and love -- with family, with secondary characters, with the bad ones -- is usual in these books. The focus here is Tory and her psychic gift that has tormented her all her life. She returns to her hometown to set some old, sad, bad memories to rest. Along the way comes Cade bringing love and acceptance to Tory who wants none of it. And then there is the very bad guy -- enough said. Fully satisfying read.

There is mystery and suspense due to a serial killer. There is one rape-murder scene with not much detail. There is child abuse. Tory was repeatedly beaten by her father throughout her life until she left home at 18. There is romance for two different couples. I liked both romances. Although I wondered why Cade fell in love so immediately with Tory. But I could go with it. I liked the character development. I liked the paranormal. Tory has psychic ability. She could read anyone’s mind except the killer’s. So that was “convenient” for the author to keep the mystery going. But I could go with it because the rest of the story was good. I would have liked more done with Cade’s mother at the end. That was left dangling.DATA:Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 468 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words, but not often used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 7. Setting: around 2000 South Carolina. Copyright: 2000. Genre: romantic suspense with paranormal.

This remains an enjoyable read for me. There are some dark themes in the book such as violence and murder, and yet the book is gentle in tone and smoothly written.The main character, Victoria (Tory) Bodeen, has come back to her South Carolina hometown after various tragedies, and in doing so comes face to face with her past and its legacy. The murder of her best friend Hope Lavelle, when Tory was a child led to her being forced out of her hometown, and now that she is back old wounds open, and Hope’s unknown killer remains closer than anyone realises. Tory also has to confront the personal horrors and abuse of her childhood, as her father re-emerges.Tory is a strong character, despite the discrimination and horror she has faced and seen, she’s not hiding away. Cade Lavelle, Hope’s brother and heir to the family fortunes is Tory’s love interest in this book, he is resolute in his interest for Tory, something his mother is not too happy about. Cade was a nice character, who worked well for Tory, but truth be told he isn’t my favourite of the leading men Roberts has created.Overall, Character development was well done, there were characters I really liked, disliked and pitied, and there were some characters such as Faith who grew on me.Carolina Moon has also been made into a Lifetime movie – not the best in the TV adaptations of Roberts’ books but if you want you could do what I did, snuggle up with a hot drink and with my sister compare it and the characters to what is found in the book.

This is the eighth of Nora Roberts' novels I have read and I very much liked this one. I guessed who the 'villain' was and I really loved Faith the best, she reminds me of Veronica from Riverdale, Archie comics. I loved her relationship with Cade. I really liked Tory too but I liked that she's not perfect and I found her and Faith's connection, really interesting and funny. Tory can be bitchy too, slightly unpredictable and very self contained, understandable but she seemed to forget that other people grieved for the same person too. SLIGHT SPOILER HERE: I don't like what happened with Cade's mother but its realistic I suppose. Even though she is cold, I felt sorry for her and then to be coldly let go. I was hoping there would a bond found with Tory over grief and gardening.

I love Nora Roberts, and also her other incarnation jd robb. Since discovering her a few years ago I have made it my mission to read all of nora's books. This was not quite what I expected, with the lovely twist of Tory having psychic abilities. Nora mixes romance with thriller well in this story, keeping the reader guessing till the last few pages. I think anybody who enjoys a good mystery /thriller with a healthy dose of sex would like this book. Just have to choose which one I'm reading next!...

Loved this book ! Nora is so good at drawing you in keeping you hooked and guessing and leaving you exhausted but we'll and truly satisfied by the end . No I didn't guess the ending which is why I never feel dissatisfied with any Nora Roberts books.She is spectacular for imagination, characters plots and suspense. Long may she continue to entertain us!

I have got to give 5 🌟 as this book has you gripped from the start, just did not want to put it down. Loved all the characters and their stories, Nora has you thinking you know who is and then there is a twist and you have it all wrong. I was just sorry it had to end. This is another one of Nora Roberts book I can highly recommend, can't wait to start her next book.