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Dangerous: Risky Business / Storm Warning / The Welcoming
"Risky Business"
She was a maddening combination of mystery and innocence. But Liz was the key to finding his brother's killer, so cynical Jonas Sharpe had to stick closetoo close for comfort.
"Storm Warning"
He had shattered her world once, but when Lucas MacLean reentered Autumn's life, she couldn't deny the love still blazing inside her or the evidence she had that said he could be guilty of murder.
"The Welcoming"
He'd never known the warmth of a home until he found his way to Charity's innand into her arms. But Roman DeWinter had come looking for a criminal mastermind and all evidence pointed to Charity."
She was a maddening combination of mystery and innocence. But Liz was the key to finding his brother's killer, so cynical Jonas Sharpe had to stick closetoo close for comfort.
"Storm Warning"
He had shattered her world once, but when Lucas MacLean reentered Autumn's life, she couldn't deny the love still blazing inside her or the evidence she had that said he could be guilty of murder.
"The Welcoming"
He'd never known the warmth of a home until he found his way to Charity's innand into her arms. But Roman DeWinter had come looking for a criminal mastermind and all evidence pointed to Charity."
688 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
42 people are currently reading
1831 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,209 books59.7k 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 82 reviews
June 9, 2012
Risky Business
This was a decent story. While the plot was predictable and easily resolved (with a little feel-good twist up at the end), it allowed for complex characters with complex motivations. Jonas fancied himself 'not a nice guy' but really he was. His behavior at the beginning wasn't all that bad (standoffish, cold, willing to do whatever is necessary–including using Liz–to find his brother's killer) and really all came from his profound grief. Liz was a good, strong character. I think she let what happened to her at 18 control too much of her life (and kind of had an overreaction in the first place) but I like the determination it gave her. I also really liked when she'd shoot down things Jonas was telling her to do with good points. They had some sweet, romantic scenes together that were nice to read. Though, of course, they fall in insta-love. I also like how sweetly protective Jonas became of Liz (not psycho overprotective). 3 stars.
Storm Warning
This story had a lot of potential when it started. I really liked the fast friendship between the Heroine, Autumn, and movie-star Julia Bond. It was sweet. The pacing of this story was slow and kind of off. It took forever to really get anywhere and then kind of tumbled together. The Hero, Lucas, started off as a jerk for what he did to Autumn three years prior. However, she'd hold her own (mostly) when she went up against him. Even getting in some good, and well deserved digs. Then, because she keeps rebuffing him pretty nicely, he quite clearly threatens to rape her if she keeps pushing him. She runs from him but doesn't think of it that way, she's more afraid of her feelings. But then literally two freaking pages later someone destroys her camera and she says, "The mutilation was rape." The first time that word is used and THAT'S why? Are you kidding me? RAGE. Cut to later on in the book and she does, in fact, What in the bloody hell '80s Romance Novels? Honestly what some people find acceptable just blows my mind.
Autumn proved to be even more stupid though. It took her forever (I mean like the entire book) for her to realize that he was at the inn in the first place because of her. (That's not a spoiler, it seriously only takes like two seconds of deductive reasoning to figure it out.) She couldn't tell when she was in danger, when to keep her mouth shut, or really any basic sense of self-preservation (). Then she decides, even with everything Lucas done and said to . IDIOT.
The premise of the mystery was pretty ridiculous. Not particularly worth suffering through all that other B.S. to get to the end. 1 star.
*The "male-lead-who-needs-a-junk-punch" and "pathetic-and-or-stupid-female-lead" tags were for this book only.
The Welcoming
I really enjoyed this one. It was a great palate cleanser after the second book. I really liked the characters. Roman DeWinter was the sweetest man. Contrary to what he thought of himself there wasn't an ounce of roughness, cruelty, or anything horrible about him. He was an alpha male that treated the people around him and his love interest with care and respect. The only times he got controlling/demanding with Charity I actually thought were nice because she was overworking herself and being blasé with her health. Charity Ford was smart and very strong. She was a sweet woman, it's no wonder everyone loved her. But she wouldn't take anyone's shit either. She could be ridiculous about doing what she needed to do if it meant slowing down or relinquishing control, but that was by virtue of the fact that she was dedicated to the inn and her grandfather's legacy.
Roman didn't think he could be romantic but once he got going he seemed to have a lot of it in him. They had such loving, romantic scenes. It was like a big puffy heart over them.
I really only have two complaints. First, even though there are small clues it took forever to lay out the story – the exact reason for Roman being at the inn. Meanwhile, their attraction to each other was almost a constant in the first part of the narrative. Second, insta-everything. She was in love in something like two days, he followed soon after. Then, It was really difficult to buy into.
Once Roman's purpose was laid out there wasn't a mystery, but the end had decent suspense. I liked the way it all played out. Even though Charity did pull a boneheaded move, even if it was with a pure heart of concern for someone else. 3.5 stars.
This was a decent story. While the plot was predictable and easily resolved (with a little feel-good twist up at the end), it allowed for complex characters with complex motivations. Jonas fancied himself 'not a nice guy' but really he was. His behavior at the beginning wasn't all that bad (standoffish, cold, willing to do whatever is necessary–including using Liz–to find his brother's killer) and really all came from his profound grief. Liz was a good, strong character. I think she let what happened to her at 18 control too much of her life (and kind of had an overreaction in the first place) but I like the determination it gave her. I also really liked when she'd shoot down things Jonas was telling her to do with good points. They had some sweet, romantic scenes together that were nice to read. Though, of course, they fall in insta-love. I also like how sweetly protective Jonas became of Liz (not psycho overprotective). 3 stars.
Storm Warning
This story had a lot of potential when it started. I really liked the fast friendship between the Heroine, Autumn, and movie-star Julia Bond. It was sweet. The pacing of this story was slow and kind of off. It took forever to really get anywhere and then kind of tumbled together. The Hero, Lucas, started off as a jerk for what he did to Autumn three years prior. However, she'd hold her own (mostly) when she went up against him. Even getting in some good, and well deserved digs. Then, because she keeps rebuffing him pretty nicely, he quite clearly threatens to rape her if she keeps pushing him. She runs from him but doesn't think of it that way, she's more afraid of her feelings. But then literally two freaking pages later someone destroys her camera and she says, "The mutilation was rape." The first time that word is used and THAT'S why? Are you kidding me? RAGE. Cut to later on in the book and she does, in fact, What in the bloody hell '80s Romance Novels? Honestly what some people find acceptable just blows my mind.
Autumn proved to be even more stupid though. It took her forever (I mean like the entire book) for her to realize that he was at the inn in the first place because of her. (That's not a spoiler, it seriously only takes like two seconds of deductive reasoning to figure it out.) She couldn't tell when she was in danger, when to keep her mouth shut, or really any basic sense of self-preservation (). Then she decides, even with everything Lucas done and said to . IDIOT.
The premise of the mystery was pretty ridiculous. Not particularly worth suffering through all that other B.S. to get to the end. 1 star.
*The "male-lead-who-needs-a-junk-punch" and "pathetic-and-or-stupid-female-lead" tags were for this book only.
The Welcoming
I really enjoyed this one. It was a great palate cleanser after the second book. I really liked the characters. Roman DeWinter was the sweetest man. Contrary to what he thought of himself there wasn't an ounce of roughness, cruelty, or anything horrible about him. He was an alpha male that treated the people around him and his love interest with care and respect. The only times he got controlling/demanding with Charity I actually thought were nice because she was overworking herself and being blasé with her health. Charity Ford was smart and very strong. She was a sweet woman, it's no wonder everyone loved her. But she wouldn't take anyone's shit either. She could be ridiculous about doing what she needed to do if it meant slowing down or relinquishing control, but that was by virtue of the fact that she was dedicated to the inn and her grandfather's legacy.
Roman didn't think he could be romantic but once he got going he seemed to have a lot of it in him. They had such loving, romantic scenes. It was like a big puffy heart over them.
I really only have two complaints. First, even though there are small clues it took forever to lay out the story – the exact reason for Roman being at the inn. Meanwhile, their attraction to each other was almost a constant in the first part of the narrative. Second, insta-everything. She was in love in something like two days, he followed soon after. Then, It was really difficult to buy into.
Once Roman's purpose was laid out there wasn't a mystery, but the end had decent suspense. I liked the way it all played out. Even though Charity did pull a boneheaded move, even if it was with a pure heart of concern for someone else. 3.5 stars.
August 22, 2021
This was three different books combined in one trade paperback. They were all very well written, full of suspense, murder, mayhem and lots of delightful romance. I loved all the characters, especially the resourceful women in each book. The last novel, The Welcoming was the best of the three.
July 10, 2017
Risky Business was a 2 stars, Storm Warning was a -1 and The Welcoming was a 1 so the average rating was 1. I will probably never read another Nora Roberts.
April 21, 2011
I love the way Nora Roberts creates her heroes in that feel like you know them. Her books however seem to follow the same pace, same formula, same out there heroines. It's like she has a database of heroines and she simply changes their occupations and it's always something off the wall, like a trapeze artist or boat company owner or yep Wedding cake maker. The romance is always delicious, the chemistry always divine, but three books of Nora later and I'm sated. Won't be reading anymore. Just not exciting enough, feels too much like a longer Mills & Boons...
August 4, 2020
I liked the short reads but I much prefer her trilogies!
July 4, 2020
Enjoyed only the first story. 2nd one didnt feel like Roberts at all. And third one had the insta love angle. Not a keeper
July 12, 2024
Another three books from the 1980's, these deal with murder and suspense. Nora Roberts crafts a good story in each. The first, Risky Business, is set with scuba diving in the background. It's the third book I've read where she uses it, but the first where it rings true. The equipment checks, the shark baton, the description of underwater wildlife, all bring back past underwater adventures in my own life. The second book, Storm Warning, is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. I was delighted with Aunt Tabby and wished she had a bigger part since Autumn and Lucas were somewhat hard to take. Not that Lucas had all that big a part either. He seemed to be side-lined for much of the book, a strange way to write a romance. Still, if I were Autumn, I would never have anything to do with Lucas again. It's a trust issue. The last book, The Welcoming, is set in the San Juans on Orcas Island, somewhere I have also been, although I can't say I recognized it as well. It is not the Orcas I have seen, but the setting was not the main thrust of the book, so that seems reasonable. The story line was good, and the main characters, Roman and Charity, if not loveable, are easy to get involved with.
February 26, 2012
Three from the 1980's. Re-read.
Risky Business: a woman fled to Mexico because of her illegitimate child (yes, it's that old). Gets mixed up in drug smuggling ring. Hero is identical twin brother of man who is killed to set off the book.
Storm Warning: Didn't realize how similar this is to Mary Stewart's "Wildfire at Midnight" until now. Heroine is photographer, not model (but shares similar physical characteristics), hero is tortured writer in both, bad guy is the nicest of the rest. Small cast of characters trapped by a storm in an Inn. Even the sex bomb actress with heart of gold in both. There is almost a rape/forced submission scene, which I wouldn't have even noticed except for reading "Beyond Heaving Bosoms".
The Welcoming: My favourite of the three. Set in San Juan Islands, mystery involves smuggling Canadian conterfeit money into states. Really like the hero in this one...reluctant to love, but once does, makes a good job of it.
Risky Business: a woman fled to Mexico because of her illegitimate child (yes, it's that old). Gets mixed up in drug smuggling ring. Hero is identical twin brother of man who is killed to set off the book.
Storm Warning: Didn't realize how similar this is to Mary Stewart's "Wildfire at Midnight" until now. Heroine is photographer, not model (but shares similar physical characteristics), hero is tortured writer in both, bad guy is the nicest of the rest. Small cast of characters trapped by a storm in an Inn. Even the sex bomb actress with heart of gold in both. There is almost a rape/forced submission scene, which I wouldn't have even noticed except for reading "Beyond Heaving Bosoms".
The Welcoming: My favourite of the three. Set in San Juan Islands, mystery involves smuggling Canadian conterfeit money into states. Really like the hero in this one...reluctant to love, but once does, makes a good job of it.
November 2, 2016
Finally was able to finish these stories. I read others reviews before reading, which is something I don't usually do. I enjoyed all three of these. They were more short stories, rather than the normal stories. But still enjoyed.
December 25, 2016
Please see individual stories for review.
February 3, 2014
Nora Roberts is a good author. I've read all of her books and read this one several years ago.
December 26, 2016
though I had already read these books I enjoyed reading them again
September 10, 2020
A great mystery, three different ones.
July 1, 2020
Great book!!!!
February 18, 2025
This review is a work in progress for now. Upon finished all three stories on 2-18-25, whole book is a 1.5 star rating. Just pass on these. Don’t waste your time like I did.
As of 2-14-25 I have finished the first story, Risky Business. This wasn’t the greatest or worst of Roberts’ stories. It’s predictable, quite slow at times, the FMC is obnoxious at times. The intimate scenes are meh. It’s hard to feel the love between these two main characters. Liz is stubborn and hurt from her past so she pushes everyone away and has walls. At times unpleasant to read because of her. I just kept wishing for the story to be over. It’s too long. Not very satisfying story overall. The setting for this story is Cozumel if that matters to anyone. On to Storm Warning now.
2-15-25-Storm Warning update. I’m in Chapter 5. So far I’m waiting on the action. Like any moment this will be captivating? Interesting? Anything? I’m struggling. It seems like an experiment by Roberts if she can write a la Agatha Christie. It’s failing. As I don’t find the story compelling and the characters are uninteresting/flat. I don’t have feelings for anyone. No one to root for. I’m not sure I’ll make it to the end of this one. Update 2-16-25: finished and this is garbage. I skipped from Chapter 7 to chapter 11 because the pacing sucks, story sucks, characters suck and well I don’t care for this anymore. Chapter 8 holds the sexual assault and rape attempt by Lucas. He gets a hand under her shirt and unsnaps her pants. There is rough kissing, hand on throat but no choking, strong hair pulling/holding. Lucas stops because she starts tears up. At this point has only told him to leave her room and has tried to push him away. No verbal “no.” Anyway, he later apologizes for what he calls attempted rape.
The ending was gross and terrible. Didn’t feel any love between these weirdos. I don’t want anyone to show me this kind of “love.” No. I don’t want to read this either. Would not recommend this story and hope this experiment by Roberts is never reproduced. And A. Christie she is not. Setting is Virginia. Onto the next one, The Welcoming.
2-18-25: Finished The Welcoming. I made it to Chapter 6 and was bored. I skipped intimate scenes, even the back and forth between the mains. They were very uninteresting. I skimmed and ended up at the chapter where all starts to be revealed. The “villains” were very obvious, but remained the only interesting bit of this story. Each of these characters is flat and Charity’s naïveté is grating and irritating. This story also was too long. I just realized I disliked every single main female character in these. Huh. Ending for the characters was blah and it didn’t leave me satisfied or with warm and fuzzies. Setting of story is Washington state, an island in Puget Sound called Orca Island. No idea if that’s a real island there.
Would not recommend any of these stories to anyone, especially if the reader has never read any of Roberts before.
As of 2-14-25 I have finished the first story, Risky Business. This wasn’t the greatest or worst of Roberts’ stories. It’s predictable, quite slow at times, the FMC is obnoxious at times. The intimate scenes are meh. It’s hard to feel the love between these two main characters. Liz is stubborn and hurt from her past so she pushes everyone away and has walls. At times unpleasant to read because of her. I just kept wishing for the story to be over. It’s too long. Not very satisfying story overall. The setting for this story is Cozumel if that matters to anyone. On to Storm Warning now.
2-15-25-Storm Warning update. I’m in Chapter 5. So far I’m waiting on the action. Like any moment this will be captivating? Interesting? Anything? I’m struggling. It seems like an experiment by Roberts if she can write a la Agatha Christie. It’s failing. As I don’t find the story compelling and the characters are uninteresting/flat. I don’t have feelings for anyone. No one to root for. I’m not sure I’ll make it to the end of this one. Update 2-16-25: finished and this is garbage. I skipped from Chapter 7 to chapter 11 because the pacing sucks, story sucks, characters suck and well I don’t care for this anymore. Chapter 8 holds the sexual assault and rape attempt by Lucas. He gets a hand under her shirt and unsnaps her pants. There is rough kissing, hand on throat but no choking, strong hair pulling/holding. Lucas stops because she starts tears up. At this point has only told him to leave her room and has tried to push him away. No verbal “no.” Anyway, he later apologizes for what he calls attempted rape.
The ending was gross and terrible. Didn’t feel any love between these weirdos. I don’t want anyone to show me this kind of “love.” No. I don’t want to read this either. Would not recommend this story and hope this experiment by Roberts is never reproduced. And A. Christie she is not. Setting is Virginia. Onto the next one, The Welcoming.
2-18-25: Finished The Welcoming. I made it to Chapter 6 and was bored. I skipped intimate scenes, even the back and forth between the mains. They were very uninteresting. I skimmed and ended up at the chapter where all starts to be revealed. The “villains” were very obvious, but remained the only interesting bit of this story. Each of these characters is flat and Charity’s naïveté is grating and irritating. This story also was too long. I just realized I disliked every single main female character in these. Huh. Ending for the characters was blah and it didn’t leave me satisfied or with warm and fuzzies. Setting of story is Washington state, an island in Puget Sound called Orca Island. No idea if that’s a real island there.
Would not recommend any of these stories to anyone, especially if the reader has never read any of Roberts before.
April 18, 2025
risky business: 2☆
this was some awesome bullshit. I've got to say that I fairly expected this to not be actually good, seeing the reviews on this app warned me so.
I have to compromise on admitting to myself and everyone else that I do kinda understand why Nora Roberts got all the hype that she did have with her books, but at the same time I can't get my head around it.
I do not understand why her main focus was aimed towards something she can't work with. she doesn't know how to make a respectable pace with this romance to seem remotely believable.
the characters past were interesting, were appealing; the mystery and plots were a catch; even her writing could be so much as a poetic compelling thing. but the romance... it was unbelievably bad. the male mc was a fucking pain in the ass, creepy much; not likable at all. and the smut scenes... oh my god everything written in metaphors, I could almost die of laughter.
in reality this whole story is about a random man who ends up taking some kind of advantage on a woman in a poor state of mind cause of everything she had to go through.
it had it's potential, unfortunately it was kinds ruined by a bad romance. at least I had my fun reading it.
storm warning: 3'5☆
this was SO much better than the firts book. i actively enjoyed this and didn't want to put it down. the mistery and aura created throughout the whole book kept me on my toes and really feeling the need to crawl back in bed to continue reading.
again, the romance was the ONLY THING that made this trashy. how come the author literally ruined the whole story with the two last pages is out of my levels of understanding.
the male mc did NOT have an actual redemption to be forgiven that way, he didn't improve at any moment. i hated it kk.
that aside, it was a great fun story with great funny and cartoon characters.
DNFed the last one
this was some awesome bullshit. I've got to say that I fairly expected this to not be actually good, seeing the reviews on this app warned me so.
I have to compromise on admitting to myself and everyone else that I do kinda understand why Nora Roberts got all the hype that she did have with her books, but at the same time I can't get my head around it.
I do not understand why her main focus was aimed towards something she can't work with. she doesn't know how to make a respectable pace with this romance to seem remotely believable.
the characters past were interesting, were appealing; the mystery and plots were a catch; even her writing could be so much as a poetic compelling thing. but the romance... it was unbelievably bad. the male mc was a fucking pain in the ass, creepy much; not likable at all. and the smut scenes... oh my god everything written in metaphors, I could almost die of laughter.
in reality this whole story is about a random man who ends up taking some kind of advantage on a woman in a poor state of mind cause of everything she had to go through.
it had it's potential, unfortunately it was kinds ruined by a bad romance. at least I had my fun reading it.
storm warning: 3'5☆
this was SO much better than the firts book. i actively enjoyed this and didn't want to put it down. the mistery and aura created throughout the whole book kept me on my toes and really feeling the need to crawl back in bed to continue reading.
again, the romance was the ONLY THING that made this trashy. how come the author literally ruined the whole story with the two last pages is out of my levels of understanding.
the male mc did NOT have an actual redemption to be forgiven that way, he didn't improve at any moment. i hated it kk.
that aside, it was a great fun story with great funny and cartoon characters.
DNFed the last one
January 2, 2015
Risky Business - 3/5 - So this isn't the worst of Nora's early books by any stretch of the imagination. Compared to some of her other early works this was very readable. The suspense was pretty good, as the Hero and the heroine try to work out who killed the Hero's twin brother, Jerry. I didn't suspect the bad guy until right before the reveal. The Hero was not my favorite - Jonas was something of a selfish ass coming in planning to use the heroine however he had to in order to get his revenge for his brother's murder. He just inserts himself into her life, bosses her around, demands she take him places (for her own safety supposedly) and he comes across for much of the book as cold and unfeeling. So imagine my surprise when after days of the hero being an ass the heroine realizes she's falling in love with him. Why? Later in the book he kinda becomes a different character... And yes, even I think he's too pushy/creepy there at the end.
The heroine was even more annoying. Set aside by her daughter's father and left to have her baby alone, Liz is basically an emotional coward who hides and runs from her feelings and stubbornly insists on being independent in everything - despite times when it would make sense to ask for help. She frustrated me more than she earned my sympathy. And Nora Roberts sucks at writing kids. Faith, who we meet briefly at the end of the book is supposed to be nearly 11 years old. Yet when we meet her, she's just lost two teeth in an obvious location revealed by her smile (at her age she should be losing molars..). But that's kind of nitpicky. It's when they get around to her dialogue - she speaks in simple baby sentences, talks about how she tried to run really fast in her new sneakers, fell down and skinned her knee and didn't cry. She leaps into Jonas's arms when he comes to visit. I'm telling you, I know kids this age and they're a touch more mature. She's written like a six-year-old...not a girl on the verge of adolescence. Other than the characters, the book was pretty good.
Storm Warning - 3/5 - So normally I get really frustrated at Nora Roberts early stuff where she has only the heroine's POV and the hero is a complete asshole - but let me tell you that it worked so well here! And not because it made a better romance. But it absolutely made the mystery! Because we don't get to see any other POV we have absolutely no idea who the villain might be. And because the hero is an absolute jackass, we are actually tempted to believe that it's him! Awesome! Where this story loses its stars is in the romance. Years ago, Lucas, the hero, tossed aside the heroine like she was some cheap trash or something. He destroyed her. And he doesn't seem to be much nicer of a guy...calling her malleable and what not. Not once in this whole book does he kiss her in tenderness - only in anger. He very nearly rapes her and only stops when she's in tears. This guy is so not romantic. And I'll tell you what really made me mad... So yeah, this really flops as a romance because I wanted the heroine to end up alone...confident, healed and alone.
The Welcoming - 3/5 - This is a pretty decent little book - nothing earth shattering or spectacular but it kept me entertained and I enjoyed reading it. The story focuses on FBI Agent Roman DeWinter who has come to Charity's inn on the Orcas Islands to investigate something...only he's undercover, since Charity is also under suspicion. So he poses as a handyman and as surly as Roman is, Charity starts falling in love with him. What I enjoyed about Roman though is that, despite his gruff and sometimes rude behavior, once he realizes he's in love, he embraces it. There was a great deal of foreshadowing regarding the angst potential in this relationship. Charity ended up having to fire one of her employees for calling in sick when she wasn't, and Charity kept crying about how upset she was that her employee LIED to her. Well, that says it right there. Charity is going to have a pisser of a conniption when she finds out Roman is lying...I'm surprised he didn't see it coming to that degree. And she was really frustrating about it, refusing to use any logic or common sense when looking at it. So she was beyond irrational and it frustrated me. There were other times when her behavior was somewhat aggravating too, but it by no means ruined the story for me. Overall, it was a fun read.
The heroine was even more annoying. Set aside by her daughter's father and left to have her baby alone, Liz is basically an emotional coward who hides and runs from her feelings and stubbornly insists on being independent in everything - despite times when it would make sense to ask for help. She frustrated me more than she earned my sympathy. And Nora Roberts sucks at writing kids. Faith, who we meet briefly at the end of the book is supposed to be nearly 11 years old. Yet when we meet her, she's just lost two teeth in an obvious location revealed by her smile (at her age she should be losing molars..). But that's kind of nitpicky. It's when they get around to her dialogue - she speaks in simple baby sentences, talks about how she tried to run really fast in her new sneakers, fell down and skinned her knee and didn't cry. She leaps into Jonas's arms when he comes to visit. I'm telling you, I know kids this age and they're a touch more mature. She's written like a six-year-old...not a girl on the verge of adolescence. Other than the characters, the book was pretty good.
Storm Warning - 3/5 - So normally I get really frustrated at Nora Roberts early stuff where she has only the heroine's POV and the hero is a complete asshole - but let me tell you that it worked so well here! And not because it made a better romance. But it absolutely made the mystery! Because we don't get to see any other POV we have absolutely no idea who the villain might be. And because the hero is an absolute jackass, we are actually tempted to believe that it's him! Awesome! Where this story loses its stars is in the romance. Years ago, Lucas, the hero, tossed aside the heroine like she was some cheap trash or something. He destroyed her. And he doesn't seem to be much nicer of a guy...calling her malleable and what not. Not once in this whole book does he kiss her in tenderness - only in anger. He very nearly rapes her and only stops when she's in tears. This guy is so not romantic. And I'll tell you what really made me mad... So yeah, this really flops as a romance because I wanted the heroine to end up alone...confident, healed and alone.
The Welcoming - 3/5 - This is a pretty decent little book - nothing earth shattering or spectacular but it kept me entertained and I enjoyed reading it. The story focuses on FBI Agent Roman DeWinter who has come to Charity's inn on the Orcas Islands to investigate something...only he's undercover, since Charity is also under suspicion. So he poses as a handyman and as surly as Roman is, Charity starts falling in love with him. What I enjoyed about Roman though is that, despite his gruff and sometimes rude behavior, once he realizes he's in love, he embraces it. There was a great deal of foreshadowing regarding the angst potential in this relationship. Charity ended up having to fire one of her employees for calling in sick when she wasn't, and Charity kept crying about how upset she was that her employee LIED to her. Well, that says it right there. Charity is going to have a pisser of a conniption when she finds out Roman is lying...I'm surprised he didn't see it coming to that degree. And she was really frustrating about it, refusing to use any logic or common sense when looking at it. So she was beyond irrational and it frustrated me. There were other times when her behavior was somewhat aggravating too, but it by no means ruined the story for me. Overall, it was a fun read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2017
The only reason why I rated this lower than I normally would is because of the middle story “Storm Warning” because while it was an interesting read it was a terrible reconnection.
Spoiler: In the middle story the main characters are violent and almost have a rape scene - which he apologizes later for almost raping her (yay?) and then she agrees she loved him all along even when she was terrified of him being so verbally threatening and violent with her. So she agrees to marry him - which is a terrible reaffirmation that “oh maybe if I stick it out long enough the violent tendencies would be worth it” after all - he apologized right ? happy ending 😑. Nope not for me. Don’t romanticize violent people.
The other two stories however, I liked them a lot - particularly the last one.
Spoiler: In the middle story the main characters are violent and almost have a rape scene - which he apologizes later for almost raping her (yay?) and then she agrees she loved him all along even when she was terrified of him being so verbally threatening and violent with her. So she agrees to marry him - which is a terrible reaffirmation that “oh maybe if I stick it out long enough the violent tendencies would be worth it” after all - he apologized right ? happy ending 😑. Nope not for me. Don’t romanticize violent people.
The other two stories however, I liked them a lot - particularly the last one.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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March 13, 20253 stories in 1 book. 1st takes place in Cozumel. Romance / murder mystery. 2nd story takes place at a bed & breakfast in the mountains. Almost like Clue, who done it mystery. Which one of the occupants did it? 3rd story takes place at a Bed & breakfast that a single lady owns. Small town on the water. It's a romance with a small crime mystery.
June 22, 2020
Liked the first story the best but all three is worth the read. Nice, comfy and to a large degree predictable. Perfect to take your mind off of things.
June 29, 2020
Although, I realised I had read this book before, I still enjoyed it second time round.
July 29, 2020
These books might have been good when first published but now they are horribly dated.
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July 30, 20210
January 3, 2022
This book had 3 different stories and they were all great. Recommend this book for reading!!
May 20, 2024
I liked the books but the middle one was slow reading.
August 30, 2025
Combination of three stories. They are all good, but I loved the first best. Can't really remember any book written by Nora Roberts that I haven't loved
January 17, 2022
These stories are definitely dated and at some points a little problematic but all in all they're pretty decent and entertaining romance stories.
January 21, 2021
3 stories.
Just for enjoyment.
Just for enjoyment.
January 2, 2016
This is a collection of three stories:
1. Risky Business: 1 star
2. Storm Warning: 1/2 star
3. The Welcoming: 2 1/2 stars
The truth is, they were all too short to be fulfilling in the suspense department; 150 pages just is not enough time to create a truly scary villain and suspense and romance at the same time. Also, the romance in "Risky Business" and especially "Storm Warning" was just really off, with two thoroughly unsatisfying male leads. Lucas in "Storm Warning" is just an absolute jerk and comes close to raping Autumn at one point, and I didn't find that romantic at all. Roberts slightly redeems herself with the last story, "The Welcoming," which had just a really sweet cast of characters and a touch of humor in it that the others were lacking. However, it still was just too short to be really fulfilling and do the storyline justice; I don't know why Roberts does these little short vignettes when they have enough storyline and meat to be full tales. Borrow it for "The Welcoming," but certainly don't spend money on this one--not up to Roberts' usual standards. I recommend Blue Smoke or the O'Hurley series (Born O'Hurley) and O'Hurley's Return) for the best of Nora Roberts.
1. Risky Business: 1 star
2. Storm Warning: 1/2 star
3. The Welcoming: 2 1/2 stars
The truth is, they were all too short to be fulfilling in the suspense department; 150 pages just is not enough time to create a truly scary villain and suspense and romance at the same time. Also, the romance in "Risky Business" and especially "Storm Warning" was just really off, with two thoroughly unsatisfying male leads. Lucas in "Storm Warning" is just an absolute jerk and comes close to raping Autumn at one point, and I didn't find that romantic at all. Roberts slightly redeems herself with the last story, "The Welcoming," which had just a really sweet cast of characters and a touch of humor in it that the others were lacking. However, it still was just too short to be really fulfilling and do the storyline justice; I don't know why Roberts does these little short vignettes when they have enough storyline and meat to be full tales. Borrow it for "The Welcoming," but certainly don't spend money on this one--not up to Roberts' usual standards. I recommend Blue Smoke or the O'Hurley series (Born O'Hurley) and O'Hurley's Return) for the best of Nora Roberts.
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