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Going Home: Unfinished Business / Island of Flowers / Mind over Matter
Three women must rediscover the love of family before they can give their hearts to others. . . .
Unfinished Business
She wanted answers from her estranged mother and went home to find them. But Vanessa Sexton also found Brady Tucker, the man who'd once broken her heart ... and still left her breathless.
Island of Flowers
Innocent Laine Simmons hardly expected the father she barely knew to welcome her. However, she was completely unprepared for the suspicion of her father's sexy partner Dillon O'Brian -- or for his intense passion.
Mind over Matter
Protecting her mother's interests pitted no-nonsense agent Aurora Fields against ruthlessly determined David Brady. But there were few David couldn't charm if he set his mind to it -- and this time it really mattered.
608 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
42 people are currently reading
1760 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,212 books59.9k 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 126 reviews
August 7, 2012
Unfinished Business
Good little story about a world renowned musician, Vanessa Sexton, who returns home after her father's death to the mother she hasn't seen or heard from in 12 years. Not only does she have to deal with understanding why her mother let her go and didn't go after her, she has to deal with her high school love, Brady, who she thought unceremoniously dumped her the night of his senior prom. I'm glad there was time spent on Vanessa's relationship with her mother. I just didn't like her mother much. I really liked her relationship with Brady. The pacing was somewhat fast but for the most part the way they came together, got to know each other again, and reignited their love was well done and sweet. Vanessa's internal conflict was understandable and not overdrawn. Although I did kind of want to smack her around every time she denied her health issues. I ended up buying this twice, once in ebook form for twenty-five cents and in this compilation and I enjoyed the story enough that doesn't bother me (not that $1.25 truly would, haha.) 3.5 stars.
Island of Flowers
This one was a rage-fest from beginning to end. And super similar to the premise of Unfinished Business (down to similar actions by the deceased parent). Laine's mother took her from her father when she was seven. He never heard from her again even though he had been writing and sending presents. Cut to 15 years later and Laine goes to visit her father to get to know him and get some answers after her mother's death. From the second she gets there she was treated like a gold digging scam artist. Everyone told her 'it was about time she showed up'. And she got a ridiculous amount of hate from Dillion, her father's business partner. He acted as though she used her father for money while never contacting him, and money was the only reason she showed up there. I was livid throughout most of this book because who in their right fucking mind thinks it's the child's responsibility to maintain and salvage a relationship with her parent? No one tried to understand what she had been through. No one questioned why her father (a man with an airport, by the way) didn't jump on a plane to Paris to find her and find out why his seven-year-old child was angry with him (if that's what he thought). Why did she have to gain his trust and love? I started throttling the book on this one it was angering me so much.
The whole point of Laine's trip was to get to know her father but for some reason very little time was spent with him. Most of it was her getting kicked like a puppy by Dillion yet falling in love with him within a couple of days even though he treated her like absolute crap. It was ridiculous.
Even though he performed a couple of assaulting kisses early in the book I was still blindsided by Dillion being rapey in the end. I'm not sure why he made the assumptions he did but I especially don't understand why that prompted him to get incredibly close to raping her. And of course the resolution in the end was way too easy and an info dump that didn't feel like it resolved anything.
Actually, I amend my $1.25 statement above. If I had ended up buying this book twice, even for such cheap prices, I would have been angry. 1 star.
Mind over Matter
I really liked this story. Even with the paranormal elements. I felt all of the characters were well drawn and likable even when they were being frustratingly stubborn. The pacing of the story was damn near perfect. We got to see the evolution of David and A.J.'s relationship and I could easily buy their feelings for each other. It was so easy to root for them. The super eighties settings and clothing notwithstanding, I wouldn't mind reading this again. 3.5 stars.
Good little story about a world renowned musician, Vanessa Sexton, who returns home after her father's death to the mother she hasn't seen or heard from in 12 years. Not only does she have to deal with understanding why her mother let her go and didn't go after her, she has to deal with her high school love, Brady, who she thought unceremoniously dumped her the night of his senior prom. I'm glad there was time spent on Vanessa's relationship with her mother. I just didn't like her mother much. I really liked her relationship with Brady. The pacing was somewhat fast but for the most part the way they came together, got to know each other again, and reignited their love was well done and sweet. Vanessa's internal conflict was understandable and not overdrawn. Although I did kind of want to smack her around every time she denied her health issues. I ended up buying this twice, once in ebook form for twenty-five cents and in this compilation and I enjoyed the story enough that doesn't bother me (not that $1.25 truly would, haha.) 3.5 stars.
Island of Flowers
This one was a rage-fest from beginning to end. And super similar to the premise of Unfinished Business (down to similar actions by the deceased parent). Laine's mother took her from her father when she was seven. He never heard from her again even though he had been writing and sending presents. Cut to 15 years later and Laine goes to visit her father to get to know him and get some answers after her mother's death. From the second she gets there she was treated like a gold digging scam artist. Everyone told her 'it was about time she showed up'. And she got a ridiculous amount of hate from Dillion, her father's business partner. He acted as though she used her father for money while never contacting him, and money was the only reason she showed up there. I was livid throughout most of this book because who in their right fucking mind thinks it's the child's responsibility to maintain and salvage a relationship with her parent? No one tried to understand what she had been through. No one questioned why her father (a man with an airport, by the way) didn't jump on a plane to Paris to find her and find out why his seven-year-old child was angry with him (if that's what he thought). Why did she have to gain his trust and love? I started throttling the book on this one it was angering me so much.
The whole point of Laine's trip was to get to know her father but for some reason very little time was spent with him. Most of it was her getting kicked like a puppy by Dillion yet falling in love with him within a couple of days even though he treated her like absolute crap. It was ridiculous.
Even though he performed a couple of assaulting kisses early in the book I was still blindsided by Dillion being rapey in the end. I'm not sure why he made the assumptions he did but I especially don't understand why that prompted him to get incredibly close to raping her. And of course the resolution in the end was way too easy and an info dump that didn't feel like it resolved anything.
Actually, I amend my $1.25 statement above. If I had ended up buying this book twice, even for such cheap prices, I would have been angry. 1 star.
Mind over Matter
I really liked this story. Even with the paranormal elements. I felt all of the characters were well drawn and likable even when they were being frustratingly stubborn. The pacing of the story was damn near perfect. We got to see the evolution of David and A.J.'s relationship and I could easily buy their feelings for each other. It was so easy to root for them. The super eighties settings and clothing notwithstanding, I wouldn't mind reading this again. 3.5 stars.
February 22, 2011
2.5 stars for Unfinished Business; 1.5 for Island of Flowers; 2 for Mind over Matter
I really need to stop reading Nora Roberts stories from the 80s and early 90s. Leading men who smoke, not-quite-rape scenes, women who (so help me) flutter.
KMN!
I really need to stop reading Nora Roberts stories from the 80s and early 90s. Leading men who smoke, not-quite-rape scenes, women who (so help me) flutter.
KMN!
September 22, 2015
All three were just bleh. Okay for quick, warm-fuzzy-and-cheesy reads, but not up to full NR caliber. Especially not after reading Devoted in Death.
June 11, 2021
Three books together, the first two were about women trying to return home and find what they had missed for years for one reason or another. The first was excellent (three stars) and the second so-so (two stars), but it was the last book which was the best (five stars). Ms. Roberts knows how to make people and situations come alive to the point that it is hard to put the book down before finding out what happens to them.
Unfinished Business: Vanessa returns home after the death of her father to find the mother she hasn't seen since she was sixteen. She also finds the boyfriend who she had thought she was in love with but who stood her up for the prom . Nothing is as she had thought as she discovers that the past twelve years of honing her talent as a concert pianist under her father's unrelenting pressure covers a lot of misconceptions of what she had left behind.
Island of Flowers: Laine has just buried her mother and settled her debts, leaving her with little to no money. In her mother's papers she has found an address for the father she hasn't seen since she was seven. Impulsively she flies to Kuaui to find if he is still there and why he just dropped contact when she was his child. She has no illusions about her mother, but what she finds in Kuaui changes even that. I found the dialogue in this one a bit stilted and not at all what I have come to expect from Ms. Roberts.
Mind Over Matter: A well-researched book featuring supernormal gifts, the characters are well-drawn and involving. AJ, the agent for a well-known psychic, Clarissa DeBasse, as well as for numerous Hollywood stars, comes into conflict with David, the producer who wants to make a documentary on supernormal gifts, featuring Clarissa. They go head to head repeatedly as they make their way into a stormy relationship. All the characters are delightful.
Unfinished Business: Vanessa returns home after the death of her father to find the mother she hasn't seen since she was sixteen. She also finds the boyfriend who she had thought she was in love with but who stood her up for the prom . Nothing is as she had thought as she discovers that the past twelve years of honing her talent as a concert pianist under her father's unrelenting pressure covers a lot of misconceptions of what she had left behind.
Island of Flowers: Laine has just buried her mother and settled her debts, leaving her with little to no money. In her mother's papers she has found an address for the father she hasn't seen since she was seven. Impulsively she flies to Kuaui to find if he is still there and why he just dropped contact when she was his child. She has no illusions about her mother, but what she finds in Kuaui changes even that. I found the dialogue in this one a bit stilted and not at all what I have come to expect from Ms. Roberts.
Mind Over Matter: A well-researched book featuring supernormal gifts, the characters are well-drawn and involving. AJ, the agent for a well-known psychic, Clarissa DeBasse, as well as for numerous Hollywood stars, comes into conflict with David, the producer who wants to make a documentary on supernormal gifts, featuring Clarissa. They go head to head repeatedly as they make their way into a stormy relationship. All the characters are delightful.
October 11, 2012
I loved reading "Unfinished Business". I'm glad she was able to find the answers she was looking for. So sweet that high school sweethearts end up together later in life. ........ In "Island Of Flowers" I was disappointed that Nora didn't tell the story involving more of the Father with the Daughter while she was visiting him. ...... Then in "Mind Over Matter" I just wanted to hurry up & get to the end to actually know how the characters ended up together. I was like come on just say it & be done with it, lol. I got out of this story to just SAY what you are thinking, feeling, wanting & you don't have to keep guessing or needing.
July 25, 2007
I read this book because my mother left it at my house. After a while all of her books seem the same, with a select few standing out. Basically three stories of strong headed women trying to avoid love at all costs...who are eventually married off to the men of their dreams. I could have written this book in my sleep and would only recommend it for light reading to pass the time.
April 19, 2008
I've only read the first story in this 3 pack of books and it was just alright. Nothing too exciting..typical Nora Roberts material.
Read
July 8, 2010Total fluffy crap. 3 in 1 book, the 1st was okay, just got worse from there.
February 5, 2023
I hate Island of Flowers, Dillon is the worst kind of man but I enjoy the other two stories
October 6, 2020
First story 1.5 *s
Second story 0 *s, negative 5 *s, I hated it.
Third story 3*s
Not entirely sure how this ended up being a collection? The first story is about going home, the second is about returning to a father, but I don't know about home; loose connection at best, and the third has nothing to do with going home.
The third story on it's own was not so bad. I actually enjoyed it, I like when Nora Roberts does fantastical stories. It's the only reason I gave the collection 2 stars.
I was extremely frustrated with the leading men, especially in the second story. My own fault for reading an 80's romance novel but the unprompted grabbing was extremely triggering. Seriously, was this how the 80's really was? Just don't touch people unless you're invited to. I know it's a fictional story but it got me heated and not in a fun way. Why was he so angry all the time? Literally no reason. Awful.
Second story 0 *s, negative 5 *s, I hated it.
Third story 3*s
Not entirely sure how this ended up being a collection? The first story is about going home, the second is about returning to a father, but I don't know about home; loose connection at best, and the third has nothing to do with going home.
The third story on it's own was not so bad. I actually enjoyed it, I like when Nora Roberts does fantastical stories. It's the only reason I gave the collection 2 stars.
I was extremely frustrated with the leading men, especially in the second story. My own fault for reading an 80's romance novel but the unprompted grabbing was extremely triggering. Seriously, was this how the 80's really was? Just don't touch people unless you're invited to. I know it's a fictional story but it got me heated and not in a fun way. Why was he so angry all the time? Literally no reason. Awful.
February 22, 2024
Quick mindless reading. More of a 3.5 stars really but I enjoyed Unfinished Business way more than the other 2 so gave it 4. If your feeling blah and need a little escape- this book is perfect for you. Cheesy, predictable- and very 80s/90s esc. I especially love the part when the main love interest completely berates, insults and ultimately comes close to forcing himself on the heroine in Island Flower... that one was a rough read and I actually laughed out loud at the ending. But hey- I read it in a few days and didn't go to sleep all gloomy- so mission accomplished :)
February 8, 2017
I'm basically rating the book based as a quick read altogether. If it were to be based on individual stories then the rating would probably a star less. Overall, I enjoyed reading all three stories especially when I needed something to pass the time when I'm waiting either at the doctor's or so forth. I prefer the first story out of them all due to the fact it had a bit more happening within the plot itself.
January 21, 2024
Capped by two 4 star stories, it loses a star for the horrible middle story. Written in the early 80s, Island of Flowers is the typical old school romance, where the heroine falls in love with the jerk for no reason, and the jerk is a jerk the whole story, until the denouement, of course. Unbelievable and uncomfortable, with several moments bordering on abuse/SA. I don't blame the writer, as that's what sold at the time, but it definitely shouldn't have been republished.
June 9, 2025
This is the first book of Robert's that I didn't absolutely love. First, it was three different stories and when I picked it up, I thought they all tied together somehow. But no. Then I thought they were too formulaic, more like Danielle Steel.
I've read several of her series and they are so much better. I can't say I didn't like these because clearly I read it, but I think I'll stick to her series from now on.
I've read several of her series and they are so much better. I can't say I didn't like these because clearly I read it, but I think I'll stick to her series from now on.
December 22, 2017
"Going Home" is really 3 of Nora Roberts's books--"Unfinished Business", "Island of Flowers" and "Mind Over Matter". The stories are of 3 couples that have their problems in trying to fall in love. My personal favorite was "Unfinished Business". The plots are predictable but make for cozy reading.
February 5, 2023
I was wanting a light read after finishing some heavier sci-fi/fantasy and this didn't disappoint. The repetition of character names between stories (Brady, Vanessa) was a bit silly to me. The story lines are so flimsy though, it really is ready the same story over and over again, just names and places have changed. This is my first book I've read from Nora Roberts.
June 27, 2018
The first two stories were fairly entertaining and I quite enjoyed Vanessa's character. The last story had a few interesting points as I am a fan of supernatural qualities but the love story felt forced and it ultimately fell flat.
May 7, 2019
Demorei um ano a acabar este livro, foi ao Nepal vomigo e voltou...três histórias fofinhas muitos anis 80 como a Nora já nos habituou! Gostei menos desta última, as duas primeiras são mais engraçadas!
June 21, 2019
I loved the first novel in this book containing 3 books in one. I am a sucker for teenage romances that rekindle in later years. I loved the title for the third book Mind over Matter it was so appropriate for the content.
December 11, 2020
This was three short stories each unique in their own way. I can tell Christmas is upon us since it took me more that two days to finish.
NOw on to Gabriel's Angel - good holiday read and #100 for this year!!!
NOw on to Gabriel's Angel - good holiday read and #100 for this year!!!
April 29, 2023
I really loved the first story in this book. It made me impatient waiting for them to get together. However, the second story seemed a little fragmented with details and backstory. The third story was good, because for once, it was the woman struggling with falling for her man
Read
March 30, 2024Unfinished- Vanessa returns to question her mother she has not seen in 12 yrs. Her father kept her away.
Island- Laine returns to the US after her mother dies you try to reconnect with her father.
Mind- AJ tries to protect her mother from being exploited!
Island- Laine returns to the US after her mother dies you try to reconnect with her father.
Mind- AJ tries to protect her mother from being exploited!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2018
Only liked 1st and 2nd story. Third not worth reading.
January 22, 2019
I didn't like very much. There are 3 stories. I could't read the last one.
November 1, 2019
Three nice stories. A nice light, feel good reading, typical Nora Roberts!
April 13, 2020
Three love stories. Very contrived. Unrealistic and ridiculous amounts of details describing the physical activity. My least favorite Nora Roberts book.
May 7, 2020
(3.5 ⭐️’s) for the whole book
Review to come...
Review to come...
October 8, 2020
All three stories were different even though the common thread of a love story ran through each.
November 2, 2020
It was such a relaxing read. It has been a long time since I read a book by Nora Roberts and then to have three in one book. All were great stories.
November 21, 2020
Just a nice cheesy read. Nothing to talk about
Displaying 1 - 30 of 126 reviews