The Search
by Nora Roberts

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 rescues. Not to mention her three intensely loyal Labs. But Fiona got to this point by surviving a nightmare…

Several years ago, Fiona was the only survivor of the Red Scarf serial killer, who shot and killed Fiona’s cop fiancé and his K-9 partner.

On Orcas Island, Fiona found the peace and solitude she needed to rebuild her life. But all that changes on the day Simon Doyle barrels up her drive, desperate for her help. He’s the reluctant owner of an out-of-control puppy, foisted upon him by his mother. Jaws has eaten through Simon’s house, and he’s at his wit’s end.

To Fiona, Jaws is nothing she can’t handle. Simon, however, is another matter. A newcomer to Orcas, he’s a rugged and in-tensely private artist, known for the exquisite furniture he creates from wood. Simon never wanted a puppy-and he most definitely doesn’t want a woman. Besides, the lanky redhead is not his type. But tell that to his hormones.

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… (goodreads.com)

I do not read Nora Roberts. Or, rather, will not admit to it. This would actually make my 4th ever book by Nora Roberts under her real name (is it her real name?). I am an extreme J.D. Robb fan, but those books are more serial killer and mystery than romance and I hate romance books. Hate.

So when I was cc’d on an email from Penguin Group Canada about this book I almost deleted it automatically but there was a line about a puppy and dog training and a serial killer. I wrote back to my rep and said “puppies and serial killers! I cannot resist those two things (though not together)!” and agreed to receive a review copy of the book.

The one thing this woman can do is write a good character. A character so real and fun you want to have them over for tea and be BFFs with. The J.D. Robb books have the same characters in all books and the one Nora Roberts trilogy I was “forced” to read was just as brilliant in characterization. So I thought this book would at least have enjoyable characters and then there would be dogs and a serial killer and it would be fine.

Sadly, no.

I started reading the book in the morning and thought immediately, “This reads like an Iris Johansen book and I think I’ve read this book before”. Sure it had awesome puppy-related dialogue but the feel of the story and the pacing of said dialogue and the dialogue itself seemed so familiar. I kept reading and the Iris Johansen-ness of the story just lept out at me and so I checked amazon to make sure my memory was correct and yes, not only is this a very similar story to one of Johansen’s it also has the same name. I used to be a huge Johansen fan until all of her books started to sound alike and plot alike. And sadly, this Nora Roberts book falls into that category. I almost feel like Roberts read the Johansen book in 2001 and thought, “Hmm, this is an interesting idea” and then proceeded to change location, names and number of dogs to sort of make it her own.

And I hate to say something like that because even though I hate romance books I have come to love and respect Roberts’ writing style. She writes a meaty, meaningful story normally. Whether mystery or romance. But it just didn’t catch with The Search. This book felt empty and disappointing and very un-Roberts. And it was LONG. This hard cover clocks in at 485 pages and there was no need for the story to be that long except to build up a relationship with the characters which I have seen her do in a normal 300 page story. Sure the first part of the book was all cute puppy antics and successful search & rescue missions and a battle between independent dog-trainer lady and “gruff, sexy wood craftsman” guy but their dialogue was  nothing like I have come to know from Roberts and everything I have come to expect from Johansen (whose books I have stopped reading by the way).

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did. It had it’s moments, but it didn’t quite reach the level of awesome that I expect from Nora Roberts – under any name. I think a lot of people will like it though. It’s light, it’s funny and it is suspenseful all at the same time. There’s romance and sex scenes (unnecessary to this prude ) and there’s the typical “I hate you, no! I love you!” push and pull between the protagonists. I loved the scenes with Simon and his puppy Jaws more than I liked any with Fiona, but I’m always going to prioritize dogs over people anyhow. I thought Simon and Jaws were well written together and I think the dog training bits were ok even if slightly preachy (it was like the book went from romantic thriller to Cesar Millan Dog Whisperer quotes at times) but I thought it was helpful and might try some of those things with my own dogs. (ha!)

I’ll say again, I truly think many people will love this book as it has a little of everything in it, I just wasn’t as impressed with the writing myself.

Oh, also, I’m supposed to be writing this review under a pen name so I don’t have to admit to reading a Nora Roberts book. So, um, Cat didn’t write this, ok?

– NotCat

* Thank you to Penguin Group Canada for this opportunity to have someone other than Cat (because she doesn’t read Nora Roberts) review this book.