Hidden Riches

by Nora Roberts, Sandra Burr (Narrator)

RITA Award Winner, Best Romantic Suspense, 1995
🎧Run Time = 14 hours and 24 minutes

This “sure winner for aficionados of contemporary romantic suspense” (Library Journal) garnered a RITA Award. When Dora Conroy purchases a few antiques at an auction, she has no idea they will pull her into a high-stakes chase led by a dangerous smuggler! From a #1 New York Times bestselling author who “delivers the goods with panache and wit” (Publishers Weekly).

#1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts unveils the intriguing world of antiques dealing, where an independent woman discovers the price of breathless desire - and the schemes of an obsessed killer...

Dora Conroy has a passion for antiques - and any other rarities she can acquire for her quaint Philadelphia shop. A seasoned dealer, she knows all the tricks of the trade. But she is unprepared for the deadly consequences when she purchases a few curiosities at an auction - and unknowingly brings home a priceless cache that makes her the target of an international criminal. Entwined in a reckless chase, Dora turns to her new neighbor, Jed Skimmerhorn, a cop who’s turned in his badge - and whose desire for lovely Dora puts him back in the line of fire. Fighting their attraction while falling in love, they find that hidden riches can have a most ordinary façade. And that possession can be a lethal obsession...

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Mystery, Suspense

Audible Audio

First published July 13, 1994

About the author

Nora 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.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isadora (Dora) Conroy is a Philadelphia antiques dealer with thespian roots as her parents and brother are seasoned actors and performers. When she travels to Virginia and buys a specific lot of items from a local dealer, she unwittingly places herself in the crosshairs of some extremely dangerous smugglers. Meanwhile, she’s rented the unit next to hers to prickly Jed Kimmerhorn, a former Philadelphia Police Department captain who comes in handy in a number of ways, especially when trouble comes to town.

I’m a collector and for years visited local antique shops wherever I traveled so I liked Dora almost immediately. There’s so much to learn from dealers and Roberts did her homework, as usual, in developing this character who was a fantastic collector. Her theatrical family added a lightness to balance the brutality of the villains in this story and provided context for her personality. Jed is also a multilayered character, coming from two blue blood families but choosing law enforcement as a career choice. A tragic event had him voluntarily leave a force that desperately wants him back. These two weren’t the perfect match and their sparring made things more interesting.

I enjoyed the story but the romance aspect showed its age, somewhat. Jed was a little too rough for my sensibilities, reflecting what was popular in the genre during that timeframe but no longer something you want to see. However, I loved their banter and combined sleuthing, which really advanced their relationship. I also chose to listen to the story but this was one I should have read. The narrator’s depiction of Dora made her sound silly and frivolous, which diminished a woman I found extraordinary. While her performance was otherwise compelling, every time she took up Dora’s voice, she threw me out of the story. My recommendation is to opt for the printed or ebook version as this was a good and suspenseful story with great crop of characters. 3.5 stars

Posted on Blue Mood Café

[Katerina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I finished reading this book a few days back, but some difficulties kept me from writing a review.

I liked the story, but it didn't capture me completely like other stories by Nora Roberts!
The two main characters were frustrating but also quite enjoyable.

The mystery was decent, and the supporting characters formed by the family of Dora and friends of Jed added a nice atmosphere around murders and romantic tension between the two!

Two completely different personalities are brought together, and through danger and differences in viewing matters must fight for survival against a ruthless enemy who stops at nothing to get what he considers his ans against themselves if they want to have a future together!

[Jacob Proffitt]

A very early Roberts and her talent is on display. Remarkable as a period piece as well (smoking as a shared habit was oddly off-putting). The heroine trying to internalize the conflicting messaging to women (like being responsible for outcomes even in situations with a physically aggressive male) felt broken, even as I recognized it as common for the time, too.

I liked the protagonists quite a lot. Yeah, Jed has some issues to deal with and it's clear he's going to find the right kind of soothing in Dora. But I didn't mind so much because he's going to provide the support and trust she needs in return. So it's reciprocal and means that each contributes their best to compliment the other. And I like that in relationships, particularly when they build trust through failure and recovery over time. Well-done.

But what's tanking it for me is the suspense aspects. I have a hard time with romantic suspense because I don't like the lurking danger to people I care about. And that's ramped up when there's villain PoV because you see dangers that are hidden from the protagonists and that makes me extra tense. But this one doubles all that by having so much villain PoV and a truly unpleasant guy who just doesn't work as an actual person. By the time I stopped (nearly exactly the middle), we've had nearly a third of the page count (by my completely subjective estimate) be from bad guys. We see burglary and killing and even torture. And a scene of sexual assault against Dora where we're head-hopping (like Roberts does) between victim and perpetrator. Which was just ugly.

And the big-bad is a despicable rich guy who hoards treasures, kills without compunction, and is a psychopathic loner. Which doesn't really work at all. I mean, he's so megalomaniacal that he doesn't bother hiding his psychotic behavior, even from those who have similar power positions (like a romantic partner who is rich, beautiful and nearly as accomplished a collector as he is where he puts his full crazy on display like that's not going to play negatively for him at all).

I don't think it works. But then, I'm not a fan of the suspense subgenre so I'm a poor judge. Which is why I'm going to dnf this without a rating. I'm not a fan of this type of romance and I'm bowing out because of the parts that make it this particular type of romance. The romance parts were great. It's clear why Roberts had such a long and stellar career because she nails all the things that make romance great. Fortunately, I got far enough to get most of the payoff of Jed and Dora finding each other. So I'm content with that.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The suspense is great but the frustration of not being able to warn the characters about something the reader has already read is awesome - and painful. I had a few issues with things that are pet peeves for me, like ignoring a hot meal so the main characters can have sex and ripping a sweatshirt in two to get at a woman - really, who lets their food go cold for sex when you can always have sex later and has anyone tried ripping apart a sweatshirt? You might be able to enlarge a hole that's already there, but I guarantee you it would be almost impossible to get through the ribbing at neck and waist, no matter how old and frail the sweatshirt, even for a strong man. He might be successful but only after having jerked the woman's neck unmercifully. Once I got past those two things, I thoroughly enjoyed the rest. The suspense at the end was great and the villain really gruesome. Jed was a great hero - rude, standoffish, and impossible. Dora was a great heroine - warm, coherent, and an amusing conversationalist. Her take on things was slightly off the normal and was therefore always entertaining. And I loved the names - Jedidiah, Ophelia, Isadora - great names. Well worth reading a second and even a fifth time.

[Ann Lou · Rating 4 out of 5]

Isadora runs an antique and collectibles shop.  Her family is into theater acting and she used to be an actress.  She is undaunted, persistent, beautiful and bright.  After bidding some collectibles in Virginia, she had no idea about the trouble those things would bring her. 

Jedidiah (love the name) is an ex cop who turned in his badge after his sister died.  He is a rude boar, closed off, has a temper and wants to be left alone.  But Dora got under his skin and gradually breaks down the wall he erected. 

I love Dora's family.  They are so open with their affections for each other.  They love the flair and the drama. Also, I love the banter between Jed and Dora.  It was funny. 

[Anita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this oldie Nora romance with suspense. I loved Dora, her humor and tenacity in dealing with Jed. Jed, his stern façade that hides an emotional damaged little boy and his inability to resist the irresistible Dora. And, Dora's wonderful family.

Dora Conroy is an antiques and collectables dealer with a small shop in Philadelphia. She lives above her shop and rents the other apartment. On a buying trip she buys several one-of-a-kind items and her dad rents the vacant apartment to the very hot, very taciturn Jed Skimmerhorn. It seems that some of those items were not at all what they seemed to be. When the shop is broken into not long after her return, Dora needs help and Jed, a cop who turned in his badge, is exactly the answer.

Jed wants nothing to do with Dora, but when she attacked every protective instinct he has is aroused. Well, not just his protective instincts. He has been alone his whole life. The poor little rich boy was continually mentally and physically abused so he shut up all his feelings and channeled all his energy into his job, and he was good at it. Dora opens a part of his heart he had locked and thrown away to key to. He won't rest until Dora is safe and he gets to the bottom of why someone wants something she has so badly, they will kill for it.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the flipside of my previous read: an earlier work that demonstrates exactly why an author had a career spanning the decades. It’s definitely formula, but it’s on repeat because it works.

[Angela James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-reading. Made the time on the elliptical and treadmill pass quickly this morning, which is always nice! this is still one of my favorite old-skool Nora books. Her non JD Robb books are always hit and miss for me, but I always enjoy this one.

[Paige Bookdragon]

Nora Roberts is just not for me..

[mina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first and probably the only book by Nora Roberts that I finished and enjoyed. I was so surprised when I found out this book was first published in 1994! I was sure it was somewhere in the early 2000s. I wasn’t that interested in the crime part of the book, but I loved Dora’s family, and I absolutely enjoyed the sarcastic banter between her and Jed.

[Jeanne Adamek · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Bridget · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not going to review every Nora Roberts book that I have read in the past because she is quite prolific and it would get redundant and I honestly cannot remember all the plots. I think someone finds someone else attractive but at least one cannot admit it so there is sexual tension, then lots of sex, and then they live happily ever after? Sometimes there is some magic , a family legacy, or a mystery. Certainly not great works of literature (however still 100% better than “the grapes of wrath”). I think I have read every one of her books to date because despite the cheesy nature, the ending is always happy and the read is easy. Frankly, I like these books and will continue to read each one that comes out. I am going to post this same review for each of her books that I have read in the past.

[Teri-K · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this romantic suspense novel from '94. I found it at the bookstore - I'm happy for an author's earlier books to be re-released, as long as they're clearly marked, as this one was.

I think my favorite part of this was the contrast between the really nice heroine and the truly nasty bad guys. Our heroine isn't a push over or bland, but she is someone who cares about others, tries to do the right thing, and is all around likable. The baddies are selfish, mean, and enjoy killing. There were some times in the book that I really worried about Dora, even though you know she has to be all right in the end.

The hero was fine, I didn't love him but I liked him just fine. Add in some antiques and occasional quote from Tennyson, and you get a story I had fun reading.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have so been missing my romance. This was just a breath of fresh air.

[Vani (Por Amor a los Libros) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Me costó un poco terminar de leerlo porque no andaba en un buen momento con las lecturas, aun así me gusto y por eso mi calificación final es 6.

[Alejandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

[Ligaro · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nota:8
Ha sido una relectura muy interesante, había pasado bastante tiempo desde la última vez que lo había releído.
Dora me gusta mucho como personaje principal. Es divertida, sensible, dramática... Y su familia es genial. Los personajes secundarios son excelentes, como caí siempre con Nora Roberts.
Jed le va a la zaga. Tiene mucho para superar y ves como va cambiando a lo largo del libro.
Para mí, el mayor defecto del libro es que no haya misterio en cuanto a quién es el malo. Aunque me gusta como está creado este villano y muestra esa codicia llevada al extremo, claramente, de un coleccionista, le falta el misterio en torno al personaje.

Apuntados para leer tras recomendarlos la protagonista, Dora Conroy: "El zoo de cristal" de Tennessee Williams y "La feria de las tinieblas" de Ray Bradbury

[Maria FantastikaRomance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Isadora, or Dora, gets to be an unwilling participant in art smuggling when she buys a few things at an auction. A trail of corpses leads directly to Dora and a rich art collector that stops at nothing to get a painting back.

Jed is a cop on personal leave since he brought down a drug lord who killed his sister. He is very angry at the world and have a big problem letting people under his skin. Especially a hot landlady.

The story of Dora and Jed is, as usual with Nora Roberts, filled with witty dialogue and suspended feelings. I found myself chuckling quite often.
The problem with the book is that it is to long. It doesn´t hold your interest all the way. I have to confess I skipped the chapters with the villains, they were so boring, and I fully understood the story anyway. No it would really have benefited from harsh editing to get it maybe 100 pages shorter.

[Cc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an early work of Roberts that reads like the Collector. Except the Collector is far superior too me. I'm working my way through my charity find box of N.R's and finding that her earlier work, while very well written, just doesn't work as well for me.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mystery plot was patently obvious, but enjoyed entering into the world of collectibles, old books, and antiques.

[Ewa ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love again <3

[Serena Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Como he disfrutado de este libro. Me encantan los protagonistas, con sus ironías y sus puyas. Dora es genial y su familia es maravillosa. La verdad es que este libro se ha convertido en uno de mis favoritos de esta autora
10/10

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars (c'mon GoodReads! Give us half stars!)

I was pretty surprised that I liked this one as I tend to not like her earlier works as much. I believe this was originally written in 1995.

I liked the characters. Jed was sometimes a bit too not nice. But I liked Dora's character a lot. Very fun and relaxed and didn't let his attitude bring hers down.

This was a really fun read. Sometimes there was a tad too much focus on the villains but overall I loved this one. NR really knows how to draw the emotions out of her readers. About 74% of the way through I was so anxious because Dora let it slip that she was in love with Jed. Omg. I was so anxious because he immediately closed off from her. She was so hurt but trying to be strong and defend herself. And then again at the end. At 92% when Dora was basically breaking up with Jed and you can just feel his panic. He was scared and didn't like it one bit. Didn't know what to say. And then he realizes he loves her too but won't say it and just pretends everything is fine. And she is just not having a bit of his shit lol. And finally the scene where Finley is attacking her. I was so scared. So scared. And poor Jed is just terrified.

That actually happened a lot in this book for me. I was often scared, twice actually terrified for Dora, and nervous or laughing along with the witty dialogue. The relationship between Jed and Dora, however reluctant it was, was entertaining to read about. He liked her despite how irritating she made him, and he was often shocked to realize how comfortable he was around her.

The ending was awesome too. (Wish someone would get me a complete set of first editions of Nancy Drew.)

4.5 stars.

[Thenia · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting story about Jed, a traumatized cop who's handed in his badge, Dora, an antique and rarities shop owner from a theatrical family, and a man who will to go any length to acquire the rare things he covets and whose actions will affect all of them.

Jed rents Dora's neighboring apartment and plans to keep to himself, but she gives as good as she gets and piques his interest and he ends up spending more and more time with her. Dora enjoys needling the prickly man who hasn't really quit being a cop, and is in love with him before she realizes it.

In the meantime, danger approaches as the ruthless bad guy sends his minions to take back what he considers his, leaving a trail of bodies behind.

Colorful characters, a couple that enjoys antagonizing and teasing each other, and danger that brings them closer when their issues would have driven them apart.

[Zubee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sexy, funny, fast paced book. I absolutely loved the h and her quirky family while H was suitably tortured. I loved their interactions. She was smart, self-admittedly mercenary and liked to collect pretty things. She 'chased' H in the sweetest and funniest way.
And I loved the way they called each other by their surnames; I can imagine this couple being best friends, regularly bickering and loving each other.
The intimate scenes packed a punch; in a world of generic sex scenes, the scenes in this book highlighted their passion, need for each other and the growing love between them as well as the humour interspersed.
I must say this; some authors of old have a gift for making the most out of intimate scenes without using erotic words or even specific terms to name body parts; Nora Roberts conveyed the passion between this couple beautifully

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read.

Original Review Still Happily Stands: This one was first published in 1994 (no handy cellphones in this book). Even though it is an oldie, it is a GOODIE! The dialogue between the two main characters was smart, fast and terrific. I really enjoyed it. A lot!

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

No sé si hay una edición en español de este libro pero lo disfruté bastante, tiene un aire de "El guardaespaldas" : El tipo duro, policía, con pasado oscuro, héroe renuente y la chica es de una familia de artistas aunque ella ha tomado otro camino que la lleva a necesitar la experiencia de Jed como policía cuando adquiere un objeto en una subasta que la convierte en el blanco del villano. El final de éste me pareció un poco apresurado pero no molestó mucho. El romance estuvo super entretenido.

Not a huge fan of Roberts (at least not yet) but i enojyed this book. It has a vibe that reminded me of "The bodyguard": The tough guy, police, with dark past, reluctant hero and the girl is from a family of artists although she has taken another path that leads her to need the experience of Jed as a cop when she acquires an object in an auction that makes her the target of the villain. The end of the later seemed a bit rushed to me but it didn't bother me much. The romance was super entertaining and the steamy scenes were great.

[Paraphrodite · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

A good romantic suspense from NR. I enjoyed Dora's theatrical family. Jed's character, on the other hand, is not as appealing. The finale was a bit more violent than I anticipated but all in all, a satisfactory read.

[Gwen Liston · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Nora is good at what she does, and while I did get into the story, the characters lacked depth and the plot didn't move me. I don't care about a hunky, oafish man with no personality

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Una trama de suspenso en donde Nora utiliza un recurso que suele usar, donde relata a la par la historia de la pareja protagonista y también del villano de la historia; como si fueran dos hilos conductores en polos opuestos hasta que inevitablemente se encuentran y se desencadena el desastre. Es un recurso un poco raro porque uno ya sabe quien es el malo, no tiene que andar adivinando, pero efectivo ya que el lector sigue leyendo para ver en que momento la vida de todos se cruza.

Dora Conroy es una anticuaria con su propia tienda de antigüedades, lleva una vida tranquila y tiene una familia muy efusiva y teatral. Después de una subasta en Nueva York donde adquiere nueva antigüedades para su tienda cosas desafortunadas comienzan a pasar... lógico considerando que el lote vendido en la subasta llegó allí por equivocación y el verdadero "propietario" quiere sus obras de vuelta a como de lugar. Jed Skimmerholm es el capital de policía de Filadelfia, o lo era hasta que entregó su arma y su placa luego de que un criminal matara a su hermana antes de ser atrapado, Jed se siente culpable y esta lleno de ira, es como una bomba a punto de estallar y no considera apropiado llevar una placa en esas circunstancias. Para escapar de su mundo alquila el departamento al lado del de Dora, arriba de la Tienda de Antigüedades, su vecina y casera lo intriga y lo saca de quicio a la vez, tienen personalidades totalmente opuestas y aquí es donde comienza la atracción.

La historia está muy buen narrada metiéndose en la cabeza de cada uno de los personajes, Dora con su constante optimismo y testarudez, Jed con su culpa y sus demonios y el villano con su complejo de Dios. La historia me gustó, la trama es atrapante mi problema fue con los personajes... Jed está en un momento oscuro de su vida, a parte de eso su niñez fue un asco y el es resultado de eso, es tosco e irascible rallando en el borde de lo agresivo, si bien lo entendía a veces creo que se le pasaba la mano con Dora. Dora por su lado es optimista pero presiona a Jed a reaccionar y volver a la policía, volver a ser el que era, a veces es tan obstinada y testaruda que también me sacaba de quicio, y el hecho de que se aguantara los tratos de Jed por "sus sentimientos" a veces me volvía loca.

Una buena historia, no es lo mejor que he leído de Nora Roberts pero la historia es atrapante y a pesar de todo lo que se discute y sufre sabemos que va a terminar bien.