Identity by Nora Roberts #NoraRoberts @justjanuary @MacmillanAudio

the setup…
Morgan Albright is finally living her best life. She’s put down roots in a small, friendly town outside of Baltimore and that’s extremely important given the vagabond life she led as an Army brat. Her best friend Nina Ramos is also her roommate, helping with the mortgage, and Morgan loves both of her jobs. She works for a wonderful family-owned home construction business and loves her part time job as a bartender. But it all shatters when the handsome IT expert Luke Hudson inserts himself into her life, leaving death, destruction and heartbreak in his wake. He’s actually Gavin Rozwell, a con artist who first charms his intended victim, steals her identity and then kills her as he leaves town. But, he had to leave before he could murder Morgan who remains the one who got away, forced to retreat to her mother’s home in Vermont, broken and destitute.

the heart of the story…
What happened to Morgan was not only heartbreaking but maddening. The financial destruction Gavin wreaked felt unfair and vicious. You’d think in this day and age we’d have the technological expertise to quickly capture a serial killer and identity thief like Gavin but he was exceptionally skilled and cagey. Morgan’s return home was therapeutic on many levels but mostly her reconnecting with her mother and grandmother, two extraordinary women who knew exactly what she needed. Her new job as the manager of a resort bar gave her purpose, new direction and unexpected romance with the owner’s grandson, Miles Jameson. It was uplifting to see Morgan not only regain her sense of self but become stronger because of the journey. Her relationship with Miles was a slow burn but that felt right.

the narration…
Anytime I see January LaVoy listed as the narrator, I’m more than interested. She always makes it seem like there are multiple narrators, skillfully handling a host of characters, delivering an outstanding performance on every level including great storytelling. FYI, she’s tied for the #1 spot on my list of favorite narrators.

the bottom line…
I enjoyed this story, which was quite the saga as Morgan tumbled down a mountain and clawed her way back to take control of her life, all with Gavin lurking in the background, continuing his murderous pursuits all over the country. You knew there would be a reckoning so that kept the tension high. I liked how it didn’t overshadow the romance even though the threat was real. This was a story of resilience as well as a cautionary tale about who we allow entry into our inner sanctums before that right is earned. I loved Morgan, one of Roberts’ more well developed characters, complete with strengths and flaws that made her authentic. The ending was so very satisfying and listening to the story made it the best of reading experiences.

Book Info

• Release Date: May 23, 2023
• Narrator: January LaVoy
• Audio Length: 15 hours, 4 minutes
• Publisher: Macmillan Audio

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