What do you think?
Rate this book
Sığınak
“Bir gün, bir an, bir masum oyun, diye düşündü.
O gün, o an ve o oyun neden bir türlü sona ermiyordu?”
Hollywood yıldızlarından oluşan bir aileden gelen Caitlyn Sullivan küçücük bir çocukken film yıldızı olmuştur. Big Sur’deki bir aile buluşmasında, yeşil tepelerin denizle buluştuğu malikânelerinin bahçesinde saklambaç oynarken tüm yaşamı sonsuza dek değiştiğinde sadece on yaşındadır.
Maruz kaldığı ihanet Caitlyn’in hayatını şekillendirir. Travmanın etkisi ve ailesinin üzerine titremesiyle yıllarca İrlanda’da gözlerden uzak, kendi halinde bir hayat sürer. Yeteneğinin peşinden tekrar New York’a gitmeye karar verdiğinde on yedi yaşındadır. Geçmişinde yaşananlar peşini bırakmaz ve bir kez daha aile evine geri döner.
Caitlyn yeni bir sayfa açıp, kendi hayatını inşa etmeye çalışırken iki tohum filizlenir: aşk ve intikam.
Sığınak, ilk sayfadan itibaren gerilim ve romantizm dolu anlatımıyla okuru güçlü bir serüvene davet ediyor.
“Nora Roberts, okurları kendine hayran bırakmaya devam ediyor.”
-Booklist
O gün, o an ve o oyun neden bir türlü sona ermiyordu?”
Hollywood yıldızlarından oluşan bir aileden gelen Caitlyn Sullivan küçücük bir çocukken film yıldızı olmuştur. Big Sur’deki bir aile buluşmasında, yeşil tepelerin denizle buluştuğu malikânelerinin bahçesinde saklambaç oynarken tüm yaşamı sonsuza dek değiştiğinde sadece on yaşındadır.
Maruz kaldığı ihanet Caitlyn’in hayatını şekillendirir. Travmanın etkisi ve ailesinin üzerine titremesiyle yıllarca İrlanda’da gözlerden uzak, kendi halinde bir hayat sürer. Yeteneğinin peşinden tekrar New York’a gitmeye karar verdiğinde on yedi yaşındadır. Geçmişinde yaşananlar peşini bırakmaz ve bir kez daha aile evine geri döner.
Caitlyn yeni bir sayfa açıp, kendi hayatını inşa etmeye çalışırken iki tohum filizlenir: aşk ve intikam.
Sığınak, ilk sayfadan itibaren gerilim ve romantizm dolu anlatımıyla okuru güçlü bir serüvene davet ediyor.
“Nora Roberts, okurları kendine hayran bırakmaya devam ediyor.”
-Booklist
550 pages, Paperback
First published May 26, 2020
12540 people are currently reading
26502 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,217 books60k 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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,613 reviews
March 5, 2020
When Caitlyn Sullivan was ten years old, she was kidnapped from her family's home in Big Sur. Due to her scrappy and tenacious nature, she was able to escape and was found by Dillon and Callan Cooper in their kitchen. From that day on, it became clear who loved her and who was willing to use her for financial gain.
Even after being whisked away to Ireland, she returns to the states to resume her acting career. Have things changed since she was last in California? Will her return be met with happiness or something else?
Love, Family and Vengeance are the themes of this book.
I enjoyed this book and found it to be a fast yet predictable read. This is labeled as suspense, but the reader is told early on who the bad guys are so for me this wasn't suspenseful at all. A strong point is the closeness of the Sullivan family and their love for one another. The romance element is nice but again predictable. This is a book that I would label a good airplane or relax by the beach type of book. It doesn't require much thought but is enjoyable.
I received a copy of this book from Piatkus and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Even after being whisked away to Ireland, she returns to the states to resume her acting career. Have things changed since she was last in California? Will her return be met with happiness or something else?
Love, Family and Vengeance are the themes of this book.
I enjoyed this book and found it to be a fast yet predictable read. This is labeled as suspense, but the reader is told early on who the bad guys are so for me this wasn't suspenseful at all. A strong point is the closeness of the Sullivan family and their love for one another. The romance element is nice but again predictable. This is a book that I would label a good airplane or relax by the beach type of book. It doesn't require much thought but is enjoyable.
I received a copy of this book from Piatkus and Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
December 16, 2022
Hideaway feels very much like a family saga in the first half, and a romance in the second half, with minor romantic suspense elements.
DILLON WAS MY KIND OF HERO.
SWOON!! Dillon was down to earth, kind, hard-working, protective and someone who wanted to take care of his woman but knew when to let go and step back. There was this amazing balance between Dillon and Cate. A give and take. Support, understanding, love, but also friendship. The whole enchilada. On top of that Dillon had the most amazing relationship with the two other women in his life, every time he called them his ladies I swooned.
AND I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THE SULLIVANS.
Big families, like the Sullivan’s enchant me. The entire Sullivan clan (minus ONE) was charming, charismatic, and loving, so very loving. They stole my heart with their level of support, love and understanding and most of all the willingness to let people be themselves, and love them for who they were.
The book was filled with amazing characters, and amazing friendships. It was filled to the brim with laughter, banter, and dialogues that made me smile. My heart was full of love for the Sullivans and everyone they called family.
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSING…
Although there was no doubt about the couples feelings towards each other, I needed more time with them. Slow but steady their relationship built to a palpable crescendo. But compared to some of the author’s other books, the couple didn’t spend as much time together as I would have liked. And I think that’s mainly because the story focused on the Sullivan family, and Cate’s personal journey.
But all in all, this novel was a solid performance by the author. Captivating, especially the part about the career Cate eventually settled on, it couldn’t have been more fitting. Heartwarming, thanks to the many amazing relationships. And charming – my heart belongs to the Sullivan men.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
DILLON WAS MY KIND OF HERO.
SWOON!! Dillon was down to earth, kind, hard-working, protective and someone who wanted to take care of his woman but knew when to let go and step back. There was this amazing balance between Dillon and Cate. A give and take. Support, understanding, love, but also friendship. The whole enchilada. On top of that Dillon had the most amazing relationship with the two other women in his life, every time he called them his ladies I swooned.
AND I ABSOLUTELY ADORED THE SULLIVANS.
Big families, like the Sullivan’s enchant me. The entire Sullivan clan (minus ONE) was charming, charismatic, and loving, so very loving. They stole my heart with their level of support, love and understanding and most of all the willingness to let people be themselves, and love them for who they were.
The book was filled with amazing characters, and amazing friendships. It was filled to the brim with laughter, banter, and dialogues that made me smile. My heart was full of love for the Sullivans and everyone they called family.
BUT THERE WAS SOMETHING MISSING…
Although there was no doubt about the couples feelings towards each other, I needed more time with them. Slow but steady their relationship built to a palpable crescendo. But compared to some of the author’s other books, the couple didn’t spend as much time together as I would have liked. And I think that’s mainly because the story focused on the Sullivan family, and Cate’s personal journey.
But all in all, this novel was a solid performance by the author. Captivating, especially the part about the career Cate eventually settled on, it couldn’t have been more fitting. Heartwarming, thanks to the many amazing relationships. And charming – my heart belongs to the Sullivan men.
___________________________________
I received a copy of this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review. My opinions have not been influenced by the publisher or the author.
May 27, 2020
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
Over the years I’ve enjoyed many books by Nora Roberts. Her last two novels, Undercurrents and Shelter in Place were both very good reads. After reading the description for Hideaway, I was excited to get started.
The Sullivan’s were a talented family. Liam Sullivan was an icon whose career spanned decades. Liam’s great-granddaughter, Caitlyn Ryan Sullivan (Cate) made her movie debut at just 21 months old. She starred in another movie at age six, delivering her lines with ease. That movie had been her great-grandfather's last film. At age 92, Liam died in his sleep with his beloved wife of sixty-five years next to him.
Three weeks after Liam’s death everyone gathered at his Big Sur estate to celebrate his life. It was a large affair with music and laughter. Ten-year-old, Cate was organizing a game of hide and seek with her cousins. She knew the perfect spot to hide. She’s on her way to her hiding spot when she sees a man in a server’s uniform. She tells him she’s playing hide and seek. He moves quickly and she doesn’t see the needle coming.
It isn't long before Cat's family realizes she’s gone. They are terrified. Where could she be?
Then the phone rings…
Cate wakes up in a strange room. Although she is scared, she manages to escape. Her family is relieved she’s safe. But who was responsible for her kidnapping?
Cate changes after the incident. She used to be very independent but now she’s afraid to be alone. The ramifications of what happened that day, will stay with her for many years to come.
Time passes and just when things seem to be going well for Cate, something happens that brings the nightmares and anxiety flooding back.
Then the phone calls start, taunting and terrifying. A voice tells her it's far from over...
Someone wants vengeance against Cate and her family.
Will Cate ever have the life and love she wants and deserves?
I thought this was a good read, though it wasn't my favorite novel by Nora Roberts. The story is broken into four parts and takes place over many years. I found part one and part four most enjoyable, but I thought the middle parts were long-winded. There was some suspense though I did find it a bit predictable. However, I still liked the story, many of the characters, and I wanted to see how things turned out for all of them.
Overall, I thought this was an interesting story about family, betrayal, vengeance, and love.
I'd like to thank the publisher for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
July 9, 2023
**SPOILERS**
I hate when I have to give a Nora Roberts book a 1-star review but, this one was well deserved. Hideaway was bad and not in a good way. It was boring, anticlimactic, and predictable. I figured out Charlotte was in on the kidnapping early on and it didn’t take a genius to know Grant was playing puppet master from behind bars. The first 20 chapters of the book was about Cate’s childhood. Nora took entirely too long to get us to the present and, once we got there, the book fell flat. There were no excitable moments that stood out. I kept waiting for it to pick up but, it just didn’t happen. I thought the entire storyline was ridiculous. Who holds a 20 year grudge against a 10 year old kidnapping victim?!!! That just didn’t make sense! Even the romance was unintriguing and boring. Out of all her stand alone novels, Cate and Dillon are my least favorite couple. There was absolutely no passion between them at all. There were only two sex scenes and they were lukewarm at best. Even January LaVoy did a bad job. I usually love when she narrates but, I did not like her performance in this book. All of the characteristics that make up a great Nora Roberts book just wasn’t present in Hideaway. I don’t understand how she could go from a book as phenomenal as Under Currents to this. If I didn’t recognize her signature tell tale signs, I would think this book was written by someone else. Nora Roberts is my favorite author so, I expect better from her. Hideaway definitely missed the mark.
I hate when I have to give a Nora Roberts book a 1-star review but, this one was well deserved. Hideaway was bad and not in a good way. It was boring, anticlimactic, and predictable. I figured out Charlotte was in on the kidnapping early on and it didn’t take a genius to know Grant was playing puppet master from behind bars. The first 20 chapters of the book was about Cate’s childhood. Nora took entirely too long to get us to the present and, once we got there, the book fell flat. There were no excitable moments that stood out. I kept waiting for it to pick up but, it just didn’t happen. I thought the entire storyline was ridiculous. Who holds a 20 year grudge against a 10 year old kidnapping victim?!!! That just didn’t make sense! Even the romance was unintriguing and boring. Out of all her stand alone novels, Cate and Dillon are my least favorite couple. There was absolutely no passion between them at all. There were only two sex scenes and they were lukewarm at best. Even January LaVoy did a bad job. I usually love when she narrates but, I did not like her performance in this book. All of the characteristics that make up a great Nora Roberts book just wasn’t present in Hideaway. I don’t understand how she could go from a book as phenomenal as Under Currents to this. If I didn’t recognize her signature tell tale signs, I would think this book was written by someone else. Nora Roberts is my favorite author so, I expect better from her. Hideaway definitely missed the mark.
June 1, 2020
2.5 Sullivan Stars. (Again, I wish Goodreads would let us put half stars in our ratings ... as it wasn't exactly a two star read and it didn't quite make the three star rating but I am feeling a bit generous so will up it to three ... (I can be nice (sometimes))!!
Talk about a letdown. I know some of you might think I choose books with Irish themes just to slate them but that is not true... I have read and enjoyed many books by Nora Roberts (granted, some I have not enjoyed). But this is a new release ... not one of her earlier books which were usually a "miss" for me! I do sometimes feel she is just churning out stuff to make a deadline ... she puts out one or two IN DEATH books per year plus a standalone (usually Romantic Suspense). I know she was in Ireland last summer so maybe that sort of egged her on to have a bit of an Irish theme with this book but, c'mon, don't just put in every fucking Irish stereotype you can just to appease an audience that is looking for that, as I am sure there is such an audience. I, for one, am not one. I am Irish, I visit Ireland regularly, I hate the stage Irish shite that is thrown out there by some authors. Characters with red hair, Irish soda bread, every Irish person drinks alcohol! It does my head in ....
I couldn't even warm to Dillon, our hero.
The setting was nice, Monterey. Spent some time there. Would love to revisit.
My last few books have been duds. Maybe it's me, not the book. It will get plenty of great reviews and folks will love it. I didn't. Even the ending felt a bit rushed and a bit silly, to be honest. I just couldn't buy the characterisation of Jessica. I did roll my eyes a few times ...
My review isn't going to affect the sales of this book or any of her other books. Good for her for being able to write at least three books per year. I wish some of my favourite authors could/would do that. Then again, if they did, the standard might not be very high!
Sorry to be a Negative Nora (excuse the pun) but, you know me, I will tell it as I see it ... or should I say "read" it!
Talk about a letdown. I know some of you might think I choose books with Irish themes just to slate them but that is not true... I have read and enjoyed many books by Nora Roberts (granted, some I have not enjoyed). But this is a new release ... not one of her earlier books which were usually a "miss" for me! I do sometimes feel she is just churning out stuff to make a deadline ... she puts out one or two IN DEATH books per year plus a standalone (usually Romantic Suspense). I know she was in Ireland last summer so maybe that sort of egged her on to have a bit of an Irish theme with this book but, c'mon, don't just put in every fucking Irish stereotype you can just to appease an audience that is looking for that, as I am sure there is such an audience. I, for one, am not one. I am Irish, I visit Ireland regularly, I hate the stage Irish shite that is thrown out there by some authors. Characters with red hair, Irish soda bread, every Irish person drinks alcohol! It does my head in ....
I couldn't even warm to Dillon, our hero.
The setting was nice, Monterey. Spent some time there. Would love to revisit.
My last few books have been duds. Maybe it's me, not the book. It will get plenty of great reviews and folks will love it. I didn't. Even the ending felt a bit rushed and a bit silly, to be honest. I just couldn't buy the characterisation of Jessica. I did roll my eyes a few times ...
My review isn't going to affect the sales of this book or any of her other books. Good for her for being able to write at least three books per year. I wish some of my favourite authors could/would do that. Then again, if they did, the standard might not be very high!
Sorry to be a Negative Nora (excuse the pun) but, you know me, I will tell it as I see it ... or should I say "read" it!
March 12, 2020
It’s 2001 and on the Big Sur the family of recently deceased Hollywood icon Liam Sullivan (92) are holding a memorial. The day goes well although there are tensions between his grandson Aidan and his high maintenance wife Charlotte who wants to get away from ‘Sullivan’s Nest’ as fast as possible. The great grandchildren are playing in the large, secure grounds and the final game is hide and seek. Aidan’s daughter, Caitlyn Ryan Sullivan knows just the place to hide and win the game with her cousins. The unthinkable happens and Caitlyn is kidnapped and a ransom of ten million is demanded. As the site is so secure it becomes clear this is an inside job ..... The story is told principally by Caitlyn and takes us from 2001 to the present day.
There are a number of elements I like about this book. The Sullivan family with one exception are very likeable and they all have a lovely bond which is heartwarming. The care and devotion they show to Caitlyn comes across well. There is another family that are important characters too. Caitlyn is helped after the kidnap by the Cooper family - grandma Maggie, mother Julia and son Dillon who is close in age to Caitlyn. They are all delightful characters and I love their lifestyle on their farm. The characters are the strongest element in the book in my opinion. The locations are wonderful too and the book brought back lovely memories especially of the Big Sur.
However, although I like the book I didn’t love it for the following reasons. It’s all a bit predictable, the insider for the kidnapping is obvious from the get go and these characters feel stereotypical. There isn’t enough suspense or fear created and to me it’s more a love story between the families and Caitlyn and Dillon than a suspense novel. The elements of hate, revenge and greed are not strong enough either in my opinion. The ending should have been much more dramatic and I think it sort of fizzles out.
Overall, very good characters and a heartwarming story of Caitlyn's survival and love but unfortunately it’s not very memorable.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the ARC.
There are a number of elements I like about this book. The Sullivan family with one exception are very likeable and they all have a lovely bond which is heartwarming. The care and devotion they show to Caitlyn comes across well. There is another family that are important characters too. Caitlyn is helped after the kidnap by the Cooper family - grandma Maggie, mother Julia and son Dillon who is close in age to Caitlyn. They are all delightful characters and I love their lifestyle on their farm. The characters are the strongest element in the book in my opinion. The locations are wonderful too and the book brought back lovely memories especially of the Big Sur.
However, although I like the book I didn’t love it for the following reasons. It’s all a bit predictable, the insider for the kidnapping is obvious from the get go and these characters feel stereotypical. There isn’t enough suspense or fear created and to me it’s more a love story between the families and Caitlyn and Dillon than a suspense novel. The elements of hate, revenge and greed are not strong enough either in my opinion. The ending should have been much more dramatic and I think it sort of fizzles out.
Overall, very good characters and a heartwarming story of Caitlyn's survival and love but unfortunately it’s not very memorable.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for the ARC.
August 27, 2023
Caitlyn Sullivan was only ten years old when she was kidnapped by two men, taken from the security of the family home and hidden in a room, drugged by the men who were after money from her wealthy and well known family. But Cate was smart and things didn't go to plan for the kidnappers. When it was discovered who was behind it, people went to jail - and Cate had nightmares for a long time.
The Sullivan family were a dynasty of actors, actresses and stars. Cate was always in the public eye, but she needed to remain hidden so the press didn't hound her continually. Her father, Aiden, took her to Ireland, to his family home, where they stayed for some years. Back in LA, it was more of the same. Cate went to New York to work, and found peace for awhile, but eventually she returned to Big Sur, the place where it all began. The family home was a comfort to her. But would she ever get away from that terrible time all those years ago? She was determined to...
Hideaway by Nora Roberts is another breathtaking read from someone who is a master of her game. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, from the first page to the last. The characters - as always - are well written, likeable and easy to root for while the bad guys are very bad! I was intrigued by the industry the Sullivans were in, and their combined talents. The original Sullivan came from Ireland to the US, making the draw to Ireland by the family, real and true. An excellent and suspenseful read which I highly recommend.
The Sullivan family were a dynasty of actors, actresses and stars. Cate was always in the public eye, but she needed to remain hidden so the press didn't hound her continually. Her father, Aiden, took her to Ireland, to his family home, where they stayed for some years. Back in LA, it was more of the same. Cate went to New York to work, and found peace for awhile, but eventually she returned to Big Sur, the place where it all began. The family home was a comfort to her. But would she ever get away from that terrible time all those years ago? She was determined to...
Hideaway by Nora Roberts is another breathtaking read from someone who is a master of her game. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, from the first page to the last. The characters - as always - are well written, likeable and easy to root for while the bad guys are very bad! I was intrigued by the industry the Sullivans were in, and their combined talents. The original Sullivan came from Ireland to the US, making the draw to Ireland by the family, real and true. An excellent and suspenseful read which I highly recommend.
June 29, 2020
Caitlyn Sullivan comes from acting royalty, beginning with her great grandfather Liam Sullivan, a Hollywood legend. She began her own acting career young and became a child star in her own right. However, her abduction at age ten during a family celebration in Big Sur permanently changed the course of her life. As she matured, Cate’s path led her in a myriad of directions and relationships until she settled into her true calling as a voice actress, which led her back to the home where she was taken and to the family and boy (now man) that once provided her refuge.
In recent years, Roberts seems to be drifting more towards contemporary fiction with elements of romance and suspense. I’m one of those fans whose loving the shift as no one writes these kind of stories better. I was only a few moments into the book when it started to captivate me, pulling me into the warmth and strength of the Sullivan family and its strong ties and history. Cate was surrounded by love, tradition and multigenerational family members so her abduction disrupted a life that was predestined for success. The impact was portrayed subtly and with authenticity, not going down any dramatic tracks but showing how that trauma influenced her personal and career choices.
I’m being deliberately vague about the details as this book covers Cate’s life as a child through adulthood. One aspect I will elaborate on, though, is her career as a voice actress. If you entertained thoughts of what that entails you might want to reconsider. Much is shared not only about the business but the creative art of the performances. It was illuminating and fascinating, made even more exciting because it was being delivered by one of the best voice actresses in the business, January LaVoy, my personal choice as most favorite. She delivered her “typical” great performance but I have a new level of respect for her artistry.
Despite the story having a low level of suspense (except at the beginning which had my heart racing), I very much enjoyed being in a Nora Roberts world that spanned a couple of decades. The richness of the characterizations, settings and storytelling is always a staple and I loved being in it. If ever there was a time to choose the audio version, this is it given that the main character is a voice actress and it’s narrated by one of the best. Cate’s romance with Dillon Cooper is a slow burn but in today’s market of instalove, it was a welcome change. And, she took a circuitous route to get back to him. This one really worked for me and I was sad when I reached the end.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
In recent years, Roberts seems to be drifting more towards contemporary fiction with elements of romance and suspense. I’m one of those fans whose loving the shift as no one writes these kind of stories better. I was only a few moments into the book when it started to captivate me, pulling me into the warmth and strength of the Sullivan family and its strong ties and history. Cate was surrounded by love, tradition and multigenerational family members so her abduction disrupted a life that was predestined for success. The impact was portrayed subtly and with authenticity, not going down any dramatic tracks but showing how that trauma influenced her personal and career choices.
I’m being deliberately vague about the details as this book covers Cate’s life as a child through adulthood. One aspect I will elaborate on, though, is her career as a voice actress. If you entertained thoughts of what that entails you might want to reconsider. Much is shared not only about the business but the creative art of the performances. It was illuminating and fascinating, made even more exciting because it was being delivered by one of the best voice actresses in the business, January LaVoy, my personal choice as most favorite. She delivered her “typical” great performance but I have a new level of respect for her artistry.
Despite the story having a low level of suspense (except at the beginning which had my heart racing), I very much enjoyed being in a Nora Roberts world that spanned a couple of decades. The richness of the characterizations, settings and storytelling is always a staple and I loved being in it. If ever there was a time to choose the audio version, this is it given that the main character is a voice actress and it’s narrated by one of the best. Cate’s romance with Dillon Cooper is a slow burn but in today’s market of instalove, it was a welcome change. And, she took a circuitous route to get back to him. This one really worked for me and I was sad when I reached the end.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Macmillan Audio for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
September 11, 2024
I love getting lost in a good Nora Roberts book. This one was a delicious romantic suspense. Cate has grown up in a huge epic Hollywood family with generations of success in filmmaking. They’re rich, privileged, kind and loving, and when she goes to her great grandparents’ property in Big Sur for her great grandfather’s funeral, she isn’t expecting the worse to happen.
Since it’s revealed in the blurb, it isn’t really a spoiler, but Cate is kidnapped and someone close to her is involved. This was deliciously dramatic, poignant and hard to read in places, and also had all the soft, romantic spots I love in a good NR novel. Dogs. Horses. Time on a ranch. Movie stuff. All sorts of wonderful tidbits.
Since it’s revealed in the blurb, it isn’t really a spoiler, but Cate is kidnapped and someone close to her is involved. This was deliciously dramatic, poignant and hard to read in places, and also had all the soft, romantic spots I love in a good NR novel. Dogs. Horses. Time on a ranch. Movie stuff. All sorts of wonderful tidbits.
May 27, 2020
Hideaway was my first Nora Roberts read. I thoroughly enjoyed it and will be reading more from her. This was a family drama with plenty of suspense. I loved the beautifully descriptive narrative, the settings of LA, Big Sur and New York so clear in my mind. This would make a great movie.
This story had something for everybody, greed, love, family, betrayal, fame and fortune. It kept me hooked from the beginning.
Caitlyn Sullivan is just 9 years old when her life changes forever. Her family are Hollywood royalty, her dad, grandfather and great grandfather all screen actors. At a family function at the family ranch she is kidnapped and held for ransom. But she is not your typical 9 year old and she manages to escape and get back to her family. If that isn’t bad enough the people behind it all are very close to home.
The events of that evening shape her future. She can never escape from it and struggles with relationships and finding her career path. But she is smart, and she is a survivor and won’t let anything get in her way. Can she return to the family home and make a life for herself or will the ghosts of the past haunt her forever?
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy of this book.
This story had something for everybody, greed, love, family, betrayal, fame and fortune. It kept me hooked from the beginning.
Caitlyn Sullivan is just 9 years old when her life changes forever. Her family are Hollywood royalty, her dad, grandfather and great grandfather all screen actors. At a family function at the family ranch she is kidnapped and held for ransom. But she is not your typical 9 year old and she manages to escape and get back to her family. If that isn’t bad enough the people behind it all are very close to home.
The events of that evening shape her future. She can never escape from it and struggles with relationships and finding her career path. But she is smart, and she is a survivor and won’t let anything get in her way. Can she return to the family home and make a life for herself or will the ghosts of the past haunt her forever?
Thanks to Hachette Australia for my advanced copy of this book.
February 21, 2020
2.5 stars rounded up.
I went into this book with high hopes and I was happy and I stayed that way for maybe the first 1/4 of the book. The crime itself was clever and the reason's for it, well, cliched but they are cliches for a good reason sometimes!
After that Hideaway became an over-cliched mess of repetition, oh poor me's, underdeveloped characters and overstuffed with useless descriptions (of land, house, clothes, etc.) that didn't help the story along one little bit -it was just filler. And did I mention the repetition in this book? I felt this was used to pad the book as I felt this book was dragged out to the nth degree. I feel like the book would have been wonderful had they cut it by about 100 pages.
I did learn a lot about voice acting though and that was interesting.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
I went into this book with high hopes and I was happy and I stayed that way for maybe the first 1/4 of the book. The crime itself was clever and the reason's for it, well, cliched but they are cliches for a good reason sometimes!
After that Hideaway became an over-cliched mess of repetition, oh poor me's, underdeveloped characters and overstuffed with useless descriptions (of land, house, clothes, etc.) that didn't help the story along one little bit -it was just filler. And did I mention the repetition in this book? I felt this was used to pad the book as I felt this book was dragged out to the nth degree. I feel like the book would have been wonderful had they cut it by about 100 pages.
I did learn a lot about voice acting though and that was interesting.
*ARC supplied by the publisher.
May 18, 2020
Cold, calculating, rather sterile. No passion, no hot, steamy emotion. Prodding story line from the beginning with Cate's great grandparents to Cate's kidnapping, which was great early in the book action, taking her along through her life to bring her back to Big Sur almost twenty years later. At twenty-eight Cate has become a voice over actor and is thinking about the boy, now a man, who found her when she escaped from the kidnappers when she was ten. Like I said, no passion there, not much more than curiosity.
Based on the recent past NR romantic-suspense books, I'm wasn't sure there is going to be any red-hot passion. Half-way through the book and you've got no romance and no suspense, just 250 pages of background. Interesting, for sure, but the last 150 pages are the pay off. Nora Roberts needs to go back to her Bantam roots of the late 1980's to 1990's and relearn how to craft an awesome Romantic-Suspense plot. This one just doesn't cut it.
Based on the recent past NR romantic-suspense books, I'm wasn't sure there is going to be any red-hot passion. Half-way through the book and you've got no romance and no suspense, just 250 pages of background. Interesting, for sure, but the last 150 pages are the pay off. Nora Roberts needs to go back to her Bantam roots of the late 1980's to 1990's and relearn how to craft an awesome Romantic-Suspense plot. This one just doesn't cut it.
June 28, 2020
This is a weird one to try to review, because there are parts of this book I loved and parts of this book that just did not work at all. The beginning half was far more successful than the back half, and it took me ages to slog through that back half. This isn't really a suspense or romance, though it has those elements- really, it's a slice of life contemporary that kind of meanders between the first kidnapping and the final denouement. Because it's La Nora, I did enjoy myself, but this is one only for her fans, not for a newbie CW: child harm, racial hate crime
May 26, 2020
Hideaway is the latest standalone novel from bestseller Nora Roberts; I didn't realise it was romantic suspense but I enjoyed it despite not being into anything romance-based. Caitlyn Sullivan, a daughter of Hollywood royalty, was already a star at ten, but still loved to play hide-and-seek with her cousins at the family home in Big Sur. It was during one of those games that she disappeared. Despite her glamorous background, Cate was a shrewd, scrappy survivor, and she managed to escape her abductors. Dillon Cooper was shocked to find the bruised and terrified girl huddled in his ranch house kitchen—but when the teenager and his family heard her story they provided refuge and comfort, reuniting her with her loved ones. Cate’s ordeal, though, was far from over. First came the discovery of a betrayal that would send someone she’d trusted to prison. Then there were years away in Ireland, sheltered and protected but with restlessness growing in her soul. Then, finally, she returned to Los Angeles, hoping to act again and get past the trauma that had derailed her life. What she didn’t yet know was that two seeds had been planted that long-ago night—one of a great love, and one of a terrible vengeance…
This is a high-stakes contemporary love story with lots of action and a decent pace. Cate is an interesting protagonist who is gritty with a strong and charismatic personality, even at the tender age on ten, and as the book unfolds the more intense it becomes; it has you hanging on every word desperate to know what happens. I loved that I immediately felt a subtle darkness and sinister atmosphere and it is so sophisticatedly done that it puts those "opposite to subtle” thrillers to shame; this is what Ms Roberts excels at. It addresses the issues of family ties, the unremitting desire for revenge, and the complications of love. This is the perfect escapist read for those looking for something easy and unchallenging as it requires no thinking at all. The cast of characters, however, do feel a little cliche or stereotypical, which was a shame. I will pick up her next book written under this nom de plume as so many people rave about them but I think my favourites will always be the ones written as JD Robb. This will appeal mostly to those who enjoy women's fiction/chick-lit and/or those into lighter suspense novels rather than those that are full-on. Many thanks to Piatkus for an ARC.
This is a high-stakes contemporary love story with lots of action and a decent pace. Cate is an interesting protagonist who is gritty with a strong and charismatic personality, even at the tender age on ten, and as the book unfolds the more intense it becomes; it has you hanging on every word desperate to know what happens. I loved that I immediately felt a subtle darkness and sinister atmosphere and it is so sophisticatedly done that it puts those "opposite to subtle” thrillers to shame; this is what Ms Roberts excels at. It addresses the issues of family ties, the unremitting desire for revenge, and the complications of love. This is the perfect escapist read for those looking for something easy and unchallenging as it requires no thinking at all. The cast of characters, however, do feel a little cliche or stereotypical, which was a shame. I will pick up her next book written under this nom de plume as so many people rave about them but I think my favourites will always be the ones written as JD Robb. This will appeal mostly to those who enjoy women's fiction/chick-lit and/or those into lighter suspense novels rather than those that are full-on. Many thanks to Piatkus for an ARC.
June 1, 2020
4.5 Stars
May 27, 2020
HIDEAWAY was a rich melding of a family saga with suspense and a gentle romance. It was also only my second stroll with Nora Roberts. The story started with an almighty thrilling bang and then the rest of the tale played out over decades. This growth of the readers knowledge and affection for the family was facilitated by great writing and a solid plot.
Caitlyn (Cate) was at the centre of a kidnapping plot, age ten, all due to the fact she was from a famous family of actors. The Sullivans as a family made for great reading even though I got confused with the many names and who was who in the first quarter of the book. The whole kidnapping plot made for tense reading and this tension ebbed and flowed through the years as the crime was never really put to rest.
The characterisation was the key strength in this read, all the characters, good and bad, had great depth. I loved to read about Cate’s mother, Noah, Dillon, Red, Michaela and of course Cate herself. There were a few niggles for me, some of the ‘darling world’ and privileged life of the Sullivans was a little irritating at times and I didn’t like Dillon’s consistent reference to his mother and grams as ‘my ladies’.
The plot was interesting, I wanted to get back to the book and although there were some unexpected twists, many of the twists were pretty predictable. I can’t say that aspect spoilt the read at all. The wrap up at the end was a little too swift and I would have liked a bit of the calm after.
HIDEAWAY has definitely made me want to read more of this genre from Nora Roberts and this family saga is likely to appeal widely.
Thank you Piatkus/Little Brown UK for the early review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.
Caitlyn (Cate) was at the centre of a kidnapping plot, age ten, all due to the fact she was from a famous family of actors. The Sullivans as a family made for great reading even though I got confused with the many names and who was who in the first quarter of the book. The whole kidnapping plot made for tense reading and this tension ebbed and flowed through the years as the crime was never really put to rest.
The characterisation was the key strength in this read, all the characters, good and bad, had great depth. I loved to read about Cate’s mother, Noah, Dillon, Red, Michaela and of course Cate herself. There were a few niggles for me, some of the ‘darling world’ and privileged life of the Sullivans was a little irritating at times and I didn’t like Dillon’s consistent reference to his mother and grams as ‘my ladies’.
The plot was interesting, I wanted to get back to the book and although there were some unexpected twists, many of the twists were pretty predictable. I can’t say that aspect spoilt the read at all. The wrap up at the end was a little too swift and I would have liked a bit of the calm after.
HIDEAWAY has definitely made me want to read more of this genre from Nora Roberts and this family saga is likely to appeal widely.
Thank you Piatkus/Little Brown UK for the early review copy.
This review can be found on A Take From Two Cities Blog.
July 23, 2021
I don't think this is a romance. A romantic subplot? Yeah. But romantic suspense altogether? Nah.
It's more of a contemporary fiction with a little bit of suspense element to it, accompanied with a romantic relationship that isn't even fleshed out that well.
It kinda made me mad though. Not the book's fault, it's mine. Because I thought this was a normal NR romance. I would've been okay with it if I was forewarned before about the lack of romance in this.
Eh.
Plus, I'm not that into the whole acting and Hollywood stars stuffs. Then having to read a book chokeful with it just TURNS. ME. OFF. SO. FAST.
It's more of a contemporary fiction with a little bit of suspense element to it, accompanied with a romantic relationship that isn't even fleshed out that well.
It kinda made me mad though. Not the book's fault, it's mine. Because I thought this was a normal NR romance. I would've been okay with it if I was forewarned before about the lack of romance in this.
Eh.
Plus, I'm not that into the whole acting and Hollywood stars stuffs. Then having to read a book chokeful with it just TURNS. ME. OFF. SO. FAST.
May 16, 2020
The Sullivans of Hollywood fame have all returned home to Big Sur to celebrate the life of their patriarch Liam Sullivan who has passed. Nine year old Caitlyn is playing with her cousins out back when she's kidnapped. Authorities believe it's an inside job because of the tight security in place on the estate. Cate manages to escape her captors, running through the woods until stumbling upon a house with a light. Little does Cate know this harrowing ordeal and the after shocks will follow her the rest of her life. Hideaway is her story of living with the ultimate betrayal and eventually, over the years, finding her way to overcome it.
Nora Roberts excels at writing family sagas - the complicated relationships, family dynamics, love, betrayal. Her books have a comforting familiarity to them that I find enjoyable. While I found Hideaway a bit predictable, it is a good, solid read that unfolds at a steady pace. The suspense and angst are low key as is the romance. It's a story of deceit, manipulation, and vengeance, but even more . . . a story of strength and the ability to move beyond adversity to find true happiness. Characters are well-fleshed out as relationships develop slowly making them more believable. I will say that the reveal of the villain early on dampened the suspense a little more than I would have liked. I missed not having a last minute surprise or shocker at the end. Having said that, Hideaway is an engaging, enjoyable read that reminded me of some of Roberts earlier works. It will be a great summer read, maybe on the beach. Highly Recommended!
3.5 Stars
*A special thank you to St. Martins Press for a paperback arc of this book.
**Review at: Cross My Heart Reviews
Nora Roberts excels at writing family sagas - the complicated relationships, family dynamics, love, betrayal. Her books have a comforting familiarity to them that I find enjoyable. While I found Hideaway a bit predictable, it is a good, solid read that unfolds at a steady pace. The suspense and angst are low key as is the romance. It's a story of deceit, manipulation, and vengeance, but even more . . . a story of strength and the ability to move beyond adversity to find true happiness. Characters are well-fleshed out as relationships develop slowly making them more believable. I will say that the reveal of the villain early on dampened the suspense a little more than I would have liked. I missed not having a last minute surprise or shocker at the end. Having said that, Hideaway is an engaging, enjoyable read that reminded me of some of Roberts earlier works. It will be a great summer read, maybe on the beach. Highly Recommended!
3.5 Stars
*A special thank you to St. Martins Press for a paperback arc of this book.
**Review at: Cross My Heart Reviews
May 26, 2022
Caitlyn Sullivan belongs to a family of actors of the silver screen . The Sullivans are a close family. A kidnapping when she is ten years old, leaves Caitlyn with fear and distrust issues. No matter how many years go by, it seems every time she tries to move on, to try and live her life the past comes back again and again to haunt, to threaten. This affects her relationships with the opposite sex. Will the past ever let go? Or is she destined to never break free of it? Who can she trust?
Then she reconnects with a man from the family who helped her when she was a child. Dare she commit to him? Or will the past once again ruin things for her and her family? And how do the murders that occur over time connect to Caitlyn and her past? Will she ever feel safe?
This story had the potential to be an enthralling read, yet it never quite achieved that for me. I really liked Dillon and his mother and grandmother. To me they were the best characters, although I also liked Red and Michaela, both members of the police. Some of the others seemed rather one dimensional, especially Caitlyn’s mother Charlotte. A very mixed read. Some parts worked. Others had me thinking, just get on with it. Needed a severe edit which led to quite a bit of skimming from me. Yet, this author has had over 200 books published so what would I know? Having read two of this author's other books which didn't particularly grab me either, I can only conclude maybe we are just not a good match? Some motivations and incidents came across as far fetched.
I’m not prepared to give it more than 3 stars. It just never grabbed me the way I expected it to. But I am equally sure others will love it. So best give it a go and make up your own mind on this one.
Then she reconnects with a man from the family who helped her when she was a child. Dare she commit to him? Or will the past once again ruin things for her and her family? And how do the murders that occur over time connect to Caitlyn and her past? Will she ever feel safe?
This story had the potential to be an enthralling read, yet it never quite achieved that for me. I really liked Dillon and his mother and grandmother. To me they were the best characters, although I also liked Red and Michaela, both members of the police. Some of the others seemed rather one dimensional, especially Caitlyn’s mother Charlotte. A very mixed read. Some parts worked. Others had me thinking, just get on with it. Needed a severe edit which led to quite a bit of skimming from me. Yet, this author has had over 200 books published so what would I know? Having read two of this author's other books which didn't particularly grab me either, I can only conclude maybe we are just not a good match? Some motivations and incidents came across as far fetched.
I’m not prepared to give it more than 3 stars. It just never grabbed me the way I expected it to. But I am equally sure others will love it. So best give it a go and make up your own mind on this one.
June 21, 2020
Hideaway introduces us to the Sullivan family – a Hollywood dynasty. In 2001, the death of the family patriarch Liam Sullivan brings the family to Big Sur to celebrate his life. His 10-year old great granddaughter Caitlyn (Cate) is kidnapped and held for a ransom of $10 million. The police quickly determine that this was an inside job. The kidnapping and those responsible impact Cate throughout her young life. The majority of the book takes place when Cate is in her late twenties and is trying to establish herself in her career and establish long term relationships while still dealing with old fears and new threats.
While there are some elements of suspense in Hideaway, this is a story about family and relationships. The strong support of the Sullivan family and the Moore family, who own a nearby ranch/farm, offer appealing and well developed characters.
The mystery of the book is not hard to solve but the warmth of the families is what I liked about the book. The romance comes late in the book and is not the primary focus although it’s a sweet one. Hideaway is a light, fast-paced read that was relaxing and enjoyable.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, St. Martin's Press and Nora Roberts for an advance copy.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
While there are some elements of suspense in Hideaway, this is a story about family and relationships. The strong support of the Sullivan family and the Moore family, who own a nearby ranch/farm, offer appealing and well developed characters.
The mystery of the book is not hard to solve but the warmth of the families is what I liked about the book. The romance comes late in the book and is not the primary focus although it’s a sweet one. Hideaway is a light, fast-paced read that was relaxing and enjoyable.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, St. Martin's Press and Nora Roberts for an advance copy.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
May 27, 2020
I didn't hate the latest from Nora Roberts -- but it certainly wasn't up-to-par with her books from days gone by. In the last few years, I've ran hot and cold in regards to her newer releases. From the book blurb, I really felt this one might be a hit. There was plenty of potential for a great family saga, including romance and suspense, but ended up feeling more like a low-budget Hollywood B-film. Disappointing to say the least, and that's why I'm going to wait a few days, and give myself time to tone down my rant before posting a full review.
FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW SOON
FULL REVIEW TO FOLLOW SOON
July 12, 2025
4th read: wish I could get all the first time feels all over again.
3rd read: still a good story though I wish I could get all the first time feels all over again.
Hideaway is the story of Cate Sullivan, the prodigy of a famous Hollywood family. She is kidnapped as a child and that trauma, with its underlying hurtful revelations, ripples throughout her life, re-shaping it from what could have to what can be, disrupting her set path, affecting not just her but her entire family and that of Dillon Cooper’s and forcing her to turn into a new direction.
I have to say upfront, I couldn’t believe it when I was lucky enough to get approved for the ARC of this book. Nora Roberts is my favorite author in the world. Her books saved my life, shaped my future and I can’t thank her enough for her stories. So I was over the moon when I got the ARC. My first ever Nora Roberts ARC! I was both excited and terrified to read Hideaway. The excited part is easy to understand but dread because, what if I hated the book? Or what if the story didn’t speak to me? My principles wouldn’t allow me to give a less than honest opinion. I can’t in good faith ever fake a positive review when I don’t like the book. But thankfully, my fears turned out to be groundless.
This book! This book was such a treat for me. So many good feels from it. So many strong emotions it evoked in me. That’s what most of Nora Roberts’ books do to me. They make me feel so much, such a depth of emotion and for a person with apathy, that is a treasure beyond any price.
Hideaway was filled with strong characters, not just Cate and Dillon but also the side characters were so good, well-crafted, each one with their own unique voice and personality. I admired Cate a lot, everything she went through, the courage it took to face her fears, to build up a different future for herself than the one she’d planned. Facing an unknown, not knowing where you’ll end up, who you’ll become, what you want to do with your life, finding your purpose can hold so much fear and dread. It takes a lot of strength to keep going, keep fighting for who you want to be.
Ah, Dillon! What is it about Nora Roberts, that her heroes always sneak in your heart and make a place for themselves? I loved the teen Dillon and the college-bound one. The adult Dillon was irresistible. He made a good contrast to Cate. He knew exactly what he wanted from his life and he was content and happy with his path.
I loved both families and all the side-characters were a delightful addition to the whole story. The plot-line had a simplicity that made it easy to read and the ending was kind of fast but interesting. This book was about the value of family holding together and friends being there for you. There was the heartbreak of hurt but it all fit in with the story.
Writing this review makes me want to re-read the book all over again and that says it all, doesn’t it? I think it’s the incredible measure of an author’s talent when the story she crafted leaves you with a wonderful sense of contentment and the urge to re-read the book right after you finished reading it.
https://nomadicworlds.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/arc-book-review-hideaway-nora-roberts/
3rd read: still a good story though I wish I could get all the first time feels all over again.
Hideaway is the story of Cate Sullivan, the prodigy of a famous Hollywood family. She is kidnapped as a child and that trauma, with its underlying hurtful revelations, ripples throughout her life, re-shaping it from what could have to what can be, disrupting her set path, affecting not just her but her entire family and that of Dillon Cooper’s and forcing her to turn into a new direction.
I have to say upfront, I couldn’t believe it when I was lucky enough to get approved for the ARC of this book. Nora Roberts is my favorite author in the world. Her books saved my life, shaped my future and I can’t thank her enough for her stories. So I was over the moon when I got the ARC. My first ever Nora Roberts ARC! I was both excited and terrified to read Hideaway. The excited part is easy to understand but dread because, what if I hated the book? Or what if the story didn’t speak to me? My principles wouldn’t allow me to give a less than honest opinion. I can’t in good faith ever fake a positive review when I don’t like the book. But thankfully, my fears turned out to be groundless.
This book! This book was such a treat for me. So many good feels from it. So many strong emotions it evoked in me. That’s what most of Nora Roberts’ books do to me. They make me feel so much, such a depth of emotion and for a person with apathy, that is a treasure beyond any price.
Hideaway was filled with strong characters, not just Cate and Dillon but also the side characters were so good, well-crafted, each one with their own unique voice and personality. I admired Cate a lot, everything she went through, the courage it took to face her fears, to build up a different future for herself than the one she’d planned. Facing an unknown, not knowing where you’ll end up, who you’ll become, what you want to do with your life, finding your purpose can hold so much fear and dread. It takes a lot of strength to keep going, keep fighting for who you want to be.
Ah, Dillon! What is it about Nora Roberts, that her heroes always sneak in your heart and make a place for themselves? I loved the teen Dillon and the college-bound one. The adult Dillon was irresistible. He made a good contrast to Cate. He knew exactly what he wanted from his life and he was content and happy with his path.
I loved both families and all the side-characters were a delightful addition to the whole story. The plot-line had a simplicity that made it easy to read and the ending was kind of fast but interesting. This book was about the value of family holding together and friends being there for you. There was the heartbreak of hurt but it all fit in with the story.
Writing this review makes me want to re-read the book all over again and that says it all, doesn’t it? I think it’s the incredible measure of an author’s talent when the story she crafted leaves you with a wonderful sense of contentment and the urge to re-read the book right after you finished reading it.
https://nomadicworlds.wordpress.com/2020/05/19/arc-book-review-hideaway-nora-roberts/
October 5, 2020
Did Not Finish-25 percent.
I got to 25 percent and had to quit this one. Nothing is happening. Reading about one family and how they became "Hollywood royalty" was too much. This book read like a mish-mash of older Nora Roberts books and trying to tie into her new style of writing romantic suspense. It did not work and I was not in the mood to keep trying to plod through this. This is such a disappointment to me because I absolutely loved Under Currents. I was hoping for more of the same here.
"Hideaway" follows 10 year old Caitlyn Sullivan (have fun reading the whole family history and who begat who) who during a memorial service for her grandfather is kidnapped. Caitlyn's family is the Sullivan family of Hollywood fame. The kidnappers demand $10 million dollars and the whole family is left in turmoil. Especially when they realize that an insider must have been behind the kidnapping. FYI, it's pretty obvious who did it by the way (at least it was to me) and I skipped forward to make sure I was right and to the end too. Caitlyn meets the Cooper family who end up helping her when she manages to get away from the kidnappers. The book jumps forward (think of how Under Currents did it) and then I just gave up reading anymore.
I don't know what to say. No one felt very solid in this one. I think that Roberts wanted to have a book taking place in Ireland and it reminded me a bit of her old books taking place in that country. Maybe that's why I couldn't get a feel for this one. I didn't even get the idea that Caitlyn or her family were really good actors. There's just a lot of tell for the first part of this book. It was so boring reading about the Sullivan family. I think that Roberts took too long to set things up. And based on other reader's reviews, a lot of people felt the romance in this one was boring. Maybe if Roberts had just did a straight romance without the whole kidnapping and betrayal part this would have worked better.
I got to 25 percent and had to quit this one. Nothing is happening. Reading about one family and how they became "Hollywood royalty" was too much. This book read like a mish-mash of older Nora Roberts books and trying to tie into her new style of writing romantic suspense. It did not work and I was not in the mood to keep trying to plod through this. This is such a disappointment to me because I absolutely loved Under Currents. I was hoping for more of the same here.
"Hideaway" follows 10 year old Caitlyn Sullivan (have fun reading the whole family history and who begat who) who during a memorial service for her grandfather is kidnapped. Caitlyn's family is the Sullivan family of Hollywood fame. The kidnappers demand $10 million dollars and the whole family is left in turmoil. Especially when they realize that an insider must have been behind the kidnapping. FYI, it's pretty obvious who did it by the way (at least it was to me) and I skipped forward to make sure I was right and to the end too. Caitlyn meets the Cooper family who end up helping her when she manages to get away from the kidnappers. The book jumps forward (think of how Under Currents did it) and then I just gave up reading anymore.
I don't know what to say. No one felt very solid in this one. I think that Roberts wanted to have a book taking place in Ireland and it reminded me a bit of her old books taking place in that country. Maybe that's why I couldn't get a feel for this one. I didn't even get the idea that Caitlyn or her family were really good actors. There's just a lot of tell for the first part of this book. It was so boring reading about the Sullivan family. I think that Roberts took too long to set things up. And based on other reader's reviews, a lot of people felt the romance in this one was boring. Maybe if Roberts had just did a straight romance without the whole kidnapping and betrayal part this would have worked better.
July 17, 2025
3,5 estrellas. Me gusten más o me gusten menos, los libros de Nora Roberts siempre son un sí para mí, ya que siempre me entretienen. Este lo tenía desde que se publicó, pero con tanto pendiente tengo varios de la autora en mi TBR y aprovechando un LC era el momento para tachar este de la lista. Y aunque por la sinopsis pintaba muy bien, me ha faltado un poquito más de todo.
La historia empezó muy bien. Cate, una niña de 10 años y de una familia de grandes actores, es secuestrada en su propia casa, y aunque consiguió escapar, lo que ocurrió marcó toda su vida.
Gracias a ella conocí a los personajes que la rodean y en general todos me gustaron mucho. Su familia me encantó al igual que los miembros de familia de un rancho cercano a su hogar que también tuvieron mucha importancia en el desarrollo de la historia.
Por momentos sentí un poco de tensión por cosas que le sucedían a Cate, pero al terminar el libro sentí que toda esa parte de tensión se quedó a medio gas. Y es que la autora se centró más en contarnos la vida de Cate, que me gustó, por cierto, que toda la parte más centrada en el thriller.
Y lo mismo pasó con la parte romántica. Para mi gusto empezó esta muy tarde y pasó demasiado rápido. Sinceramente, leyendo otros libros de la autora en que ha mezclado tan bien la parte romántica con el thriller, eché de menos esa mezcla en este libro.
Con la parte del conflicto pasó un poco de lo mismo, empezó casi cuando el libro se estaba acabando y se revolvió muy rápido.
Siento que con la premisa que tenía este libro se podría haber sacado mucho más juego, y seguramente con otro autor o historia le habría puesto menos de un 3,5, pero en este caso se lo lleva porque, aun esperando más de todo, consiguió entretenerme y engancharme.
La historia empezó muy bien. Cate, una niña de 10 años y de una familia de grandes actores, es secuestrada en su propia casa, y aunque consiguió escapar, lo que ocurrió marcó toda su vida.
Gracias a ella conocí a los personajes que la rodean y en general todos me gustaron mucho. Su familia me encantó al igual que los miembros de familia de un rancho cercano a su hogar que también tuvieron mucha importancia en el desarrollo de la historia.
Por momentos sentí un poco de tensión por cosas que le sucedían a Cate, pero al terminar el libro sentí que toda esa parte de tensión se quedó a medio gas. Y es que la autora se centró más en contarnos la vida de Cate, que me gustó, por cierto, que toda la parte más centrada en el thriller.
Y lo mismo pasó con la parte romántica. Para mi gusto empezó esta muy tarde y pasó demasiado rápido. Sinceramente, leyendo otros libros de la autora en que ha mezclado tan bien la parte romántica con el thriller, eché de menos esa mezcla en este libro.
Con la parte del conflicto pasó un poco de lo mismo, empezó casi cuando el libro se estaba acabando y se revolvió muy rápido.
Siento que con la premisa que tenía este libro se podría haber sacado mucho más juego, y seguramente con otro autor o historia le habría puesto menos de un 3,5, pero en este caso se lo lleva porque, aun esperando más de todo, consiguió entretenerme y engancharme.
July 7, 2021
You know, I used to be a NR fan, and have read I don't know how many books by her. For the last, I don't know how many years, her books have been lackluster and and uninspired and downright snooze-fests. This one was not an exception.
March 3, 2020
2-2.5 stars. First let me start off by saying that I was absolutely thrilled to win my very first Goodreads giveaway and for it be a Nora Roberts book. I read Shelter in Place last year and absolutely loved it. With that said, I did NOT like this book at all. I have to be honest and say that I only finished it BECAUSE it was a giveaway win and I felt like I couldn’t leave an honest review without reading the whole thing. My friend also had a copy and we attempted to do a buddy read but she only made it through 50 pages and couldn’t continue. It takes a lot for me to quit a book. I read 85 books last year and only quit 5. If this had not been a goodreads win I would have quit with my friend. But to get back to the book let me start with what I liked. Two things...the cover, it was very pretty and Dillon’s character....other than those two things I’ve got nothing else good to say. The storyline to me was just really dumb most of the time. The drawn out dialogue between the characters with so many unnecessary lines...it felt like the author must have had a goal of no less than 450 pages and just kept throwing stuff in there to make the book longer. So much repetition and absolutely nothing exciting!! I thought MAYBE the ending would be good but even that was a boring, predictable disappointment. I hate to leave such a negative review for a best selling author but I really feel like this one did not hit the mark at all. I won’t give up yet on Nora Roberts since I really did enjoy Shelter in Place but I have to be completely honest when I say that I would not recommend this one at all.
Thank you to Goodreads and St. Martin’s press for an advanced copy of this book.
Thank you to Goodreads and St. Martin’s press for an advanced copy of this book.
August 28, 2025
4.5 stars
I was so pleasantly surprised with this one! I'm not normally one who likes more fiction-leaning books over romance, but this was definitely one that was more fiction-heavy for Nora, but I was still hooked! I really loved how the beginning hooked me straight away, but that I also got so invested in the heroine and her life. She was so interesting and it was fun watching her navigating life as a teen actor, then going to college, and then finding her passion. There was a looming stalker you know would come into play at some point, and you knew that she'd have a romance that didn't actually flesh out until the last 20ish% of the book, but I was invested! The ending did slow down a bit too much for me, which is why this wasn't a full five stars, but I really enjoyed this story!
I was so pleasantly surprised with this one! I'm not normally one who likes more fiction-leaning books over romance, but this was definitely one that was more fiction-heavy for Nora, but I was still hooked! I really loved how the beginning hooked me straight away, but that I also got so invested in the heroine and her life. She was so interesting and it was fun watching her navigating life as a teen actor, then going to college, and then finding her passion. There was a looming stalker you know would come into play at some point, and you knew that she'd have a romance that didn't actually flesh out until the last 20ish% of the book, but I was invested! The ending did slow down a bit too much for me, which is why this wasn't a full five stars, but I really enjoyed this story!
May 28, 2020
4.5 stars
An early trauma changes the course of one family’s trajectory in Hideaway—the latest domestic drama from author Nora Roberts.
Nine-year-old Caitlyn (Cate) Sullivan came from a long line of Hollywood royalty, a family who adored her. But while at the family home in Big Sur, California, Cate was abducted while she and her cousins played hide-and-seek.
Cate was no delicate flower, however. She was smart, resourceful and quick thinking, managing to escape her captors and finding refuge in a nearby farmhouse. There she collided with a young Dillon Cooper and his family, who gave her a safe space and beckoned for help.
That terrifying night would shape the course of all their lives—Cate, her family, the Coopers, and those involved—and years later, would come to a final, frightening culmination.
We follow Cate throughout the years, as she fled to Ireland with her grandmother to find comfort, to New York to explore her identity and seek new opportunities, and eventually back to Los Angeles and Big Sur, to confront the memories that haunted her since childhood.
But wherever she went, those whose sought revenge followed, threatening to derail her life once again.
Because the novel takes place over the course of many years, we really get to know Cate, Dillon, the Sullivans, and the Coopers. The characters come alive vividly through Roberts’ expert hand, making it easy to feel connected to them. The narrative had echoes of Come Sundown, where we have runway to see how characters evolve over time as Roberts simultaneously explores the deep scars of emotional trauma.
This is a story about the families we’re born into and the families that are forged. About betrayal, vengeance and love. And in true (and wonderful) Nora Roberts fashion, it’s a story brimming with ratcheting suspense and heartwarming romance.
Hideaway is another binge-worthy hit by an author who always delivers.
An early trauma changes the course of one family’s trajectory in Hideaway—the latest domestic drama from author Nora Roberts.
Nine-year-old Caitlyn (Cate) Sullivan came from a long line of Hollywood royalty, a family who adored her. But while at the family home in Big Sur, California, Cate was abducted while she and her cousins played hide-and-seek.
Cate was no delicate flower, however. She was smart, resourceful and quick thinking, managing to escape her captors and finding refuge in a nearby farmhouse. There she collided with a young Dillon Cooper and his family, who gave her a safe space and beckoned for help.
That terrifying night would shape the course of all their lives—Cate, her family, the Coopers, and those involved—and years later, would come to a final, frightening culmination.
We follow Cate throughout the years, as she fled to Ireland with her grandmother to find comfort, to New York to explore her identity and seek new opportunities, and eventually back to Los Angeles and Big Sur, to confront the memories that haunted her since childhood.
But wherever she went, those whose sought revenge followed, threatening to derail her life once again.
Because the novel takes place over the course of many years, we really get to know Cate, Dillon, the Sullivans, and the Coopers. The characters come alive vividly through Roberts’ expert hand, making it easy to feel connected to them. The narrative had echoes of Come Sundown, where we have runway to see how characters evolve over time as Roberts simultaneously explores the deep scars of emotional trauma.
This is a story about the families we’re born into and the families that are forged. About betrayal, vengeance and love. And in true (and wonderful) Nora Roberts fashion, it’s a story brimming with ratcheting suspense and heartwarming romance.
Hideaway is another binge-worthy hit by an author who always delivers.
October 21, 2020
Unfortunately, I had a feeling this was coming. And it pains me, literally PAINS me, to rate a Nora book at 1 star. But wow, wow, wow, wow, WOW... was I bored through this or what?! Part one was the only part worth reading, honestly. That's where the drama was - a staged kidnapping, a cold mother, a resourceful child who escapes back to freedom... This part of the book had the makings of a good story. But then.... ouch.
The rest of this book (literally, like 400 more pages), was just plain dull. We sifted in and out of day-to-day operations. Conversations, breakfasts, work, literally every mundane detail of 28 peoples' lives... none of which were remotely interesting or offered anything substantial to the story line. Whenever we got a glimpse into the "suspenseful" element of the book, it was lackluster to say the least - not to mention unbelievable. We already knew who the bad guys were from the first couple of chapters. Guess what - they're STILL the bad guys! And they're holding a grudge about a kidnapping-gone-wrong 15(ish) years ago? Please. I know Nora can come up with something better than this.
I love Nora. Anyone who's ever followed my reviews on Goodreads knows that to be true... but lately her standalone novels of the last several years have trended downward in my opinion. I've said it 100 times and I'll say it once more - the Nora of the 90s and early 2000s is gone. She's moved on to a different style of storytelling... perhaps a more formulaic and certainly less unique plot... and it's not working for me.
I'm going to go back to her older stuff and find comfort in her writing there, but this present-day Nora is not for me, I'm sorry to say. I wouldn't recommend this book AT ALL.
The rest of this book (literally, like 400 more pages), was just plain dull. We sifted in and out of day-to-day operations. Conversations, breakfasts, work, literally every mundane detail of 28 peoples' lives... none of which were remotely interesting or offered anything substantial to the story line. Whenever we got a glimpse into the "suspenseful" element of the book, it was lackluster to say the least - not to mention unbelievable. We already knew who the bad guys were from the first couple of chapters. Guess what - they're STILL the bad guys! And they're holding a grudge about a kidnapping-gone-wrong 15(ish) years ago? Please. I know Nora can come up with something better than this.
I love Nora. Anyone who's ever followed my reviews on Goodreads knows that to be true... but lately her standalone novels of the last several years have trended downward in my opinion. I've said it 100 times and I'll say it once more - the Nora of the 90s and early 2000s is gone. She's moved on to a different style of storytelling... perhaps a more formulaic and certainly less unique plot... and it's not working for me.
I'm going to go back to her older stuff and find comfort in her writing there, but this present-day Nora is not for me, I'm sorry to say. I wouldn't recommend this book AT ALL.
July 4, 2020
2.5 stars, rounded up. This book is just too long for what it accomplishes; it's some 450 pages, and could have been 300.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,613 reviews