The Final Target

by Nora Roberts

A young author becomes the object of a fan’s desire―and rage―in the gripping new thriller by the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Hidden Nature.

He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that.

Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake…

An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude―but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility.

Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden's purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?

Genres: Romance, Thriller, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook

Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 26, 2026

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

[Maven_Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Final Target by Nora Roberts swept me into a taut, psychologically charged thriller about how the cost of creativity and personal safety can be impossibly high. Arden Bowie, a young author whose introversion and love of solitude shape her life, finds herself stalked by a fan whose praise quickly curdles into obsession and violence after her debut novel events. Shaken and assaulted, Arden retreats to a tiny Oregon town to rebuild her world, finding unexpected friendship and steadiness with ex‑LAPD detective Gideon, even as the man who once threatened her quietly festers with delusion and rage, convinced she exists to serve him.

What struck me most was how this story isn’t just about danger, but about reclaiming autonomy, carving out safety, and finding hope after trauma. Arden’s journey from fear to fragile strength felt truly human, and Gideon’s steady presence brought warmth and grounding. The suspense was steady and unsettling without overpowering the emotional heart of the book, though parts read familiar if you know romantic suspense tropes well.

Rating: 4 out of 5, because its blend of character depth, quiet resilience, and taut thriller tension left me thinking long after the last page.

[Marta · Rating 5 out of 5]

9.5/10 : 4.75⭐️‘s.

Thoughts immediately after finishing:
I loved these characters. I am so sad the book is over. The only thing that prevented this from being a full 5⭐️’s is that I would have loved an epilogue or some such thing. I wanted a little bit more.

other thoughts:
In recent reviews I have stated that I could have done with (sorry Marilyn if you read this, I know you don’t like this word) an abridged version of some of the books because they were so wordy, long winded etc. This book, bring on all of the words and be more long winded because I ADORED these characters. They are the kind of characters that I want to know. Want to have real people like them in my life. I didn’t want their story to end. I would have happily listened (January LaVoy did another outstanding job as narrator, she is so fantastic) to another 14 hours of the day to day lives of these characters. Even if nothing spectacular or eventful occurs, I would enjoy it.

If you loved Undercurrents and Hideaway (two of my favorites) by Nora Roberts, definitely definitely definitely add The Final Target to your reading/listening list.

Read the summary provided for a synopsis of this book, since I didn’t exactly provide that.

I could go on and on about how much I loved the characters. But you may as well just read or listen to the book and love them yourself! I feel a bit cliche saying this, but I think this is a must read/listen for fans of Nora Roberts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the alc of this book. All thoughts are my own.

And Ms. Roberts, if you would for some crazy reason see this, feel free to write another book with these characters, nothing fancy, I don’t need anything exciting, just their day to day lives because they are so fabulous. Also, you gave me a huge case of house envy! And sandwich envy. Holy buckets of broccoli they sounded delicious!

Rating and thoughts posted: 2/19/26
Expected publication date: May 26, 2026

Side note added a few minutes later: I did not adore Dustin. Just want to be clear on that😂

[Corina · Rating 4 out of 5]

As so often with books by Nora Roberts, it was a one-sitting read for me. I picked a day with no plans or interruptions and devoured it from morning to afternoon. Her standalones are usually my favourites. There’s a formula, but it works for me. In a sea of mediocrity and disappointments, I appreciate knowing I can pick up a Nora Roberts book and trust it to deliver something enjoyable.

The Final Target didn’t disappoint. It wasn’t destined to become one of my all-time favourites, but it absolutely entertained. I often wish her couples had more time on the page together; I really enjoy watching relationships breathe and develop. I understand the pacing choices, but it meant I had to be patient.

At its heart it was a story about family, support, love, and a bit of angst — themes I always gravitate toward. As I already mentioned I would have liked a touch more couple time to deepen the emotional connection, and that’s what I found myself missing. Still, it delivered exactly what I hoped for: an enjoyable, satisfying escape.

I deeply appreciate what Nora Roberts continues to create. Her books may follow a recognisable rhythm, but that rhythm feels comforting and dependable to me in a world where so much reading ends up disappointing.

___________________________________
Thank you to the publisher for providing a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are entirely my own.

[Tara]

I want to express my sincere gratitude to Kejana Ayala from the Marketing team at St. Martin's Press for sending me a widget for an advance reader copy (ARC) of the highly anticipated romantic thriller, The Final Target by Nora Roberts. I am excited to pair it with an advance listener's copy (ALC) for an engaging and immersive reading experience! Roberts consistently delivers compelling characters and masterful storytelling, skillfully weaving together immersive, atmospheric settings, emotional depth, suspense, and strong, independent female characters.

[Jess Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.75/5.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. I have read several Nora romantic suspense novels, so I knew what to expect with the structure of the story. I am also aware that Nora loves some renovation and so do I. I do have some complaints but mostly it was a positive experience.

I loved our cast of characters, especially Arden and her family. Their dynamic was such a pleasure to read and made me all warm and fuzzy. I love how close knit they were and always enjoyed when they were on the page. I also loved her neighbors, especially the humor Jamie added, and the baking element from his husband Nick. Oh, and Joe? Bless him, I loved him so. Arden’s love interest was fine but I didn’t love the way his speech was written. It felt choppy and I often had to reread sentences because I missed what was said.

The suspense element was good, the bad guy was truly the worst. Being in his head was interesting but also frustrating. Whew I hated him so much. I do think towards the end, the plot was being stretched a bit, but I was still very invested to see how the story unfolded.

Now back to the love interest. Sadly, it was the least favorite part of this story. They had some cute moments but again with how she wrote his dialogue, I couldn’t really enjoy it. He was so unromantic and I just found that so disappointing because this is a ROMANTIC suspense. Like home girl has been through enough, she deserves romance!

Anyway, I had a good time. Sure, some of this could’ve been trimmed, and I wish she had written the love interest differently, but still a mostly enjoyable read.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little predictable but oh, what a wonderful journey to get to the end. Beautifully descriptive places, people and relationships. In depth character development of not just the main characters but all their families and friends and even the protagonist. I enjoyed the characters, plot, and the mystery.

Thanks to Edelweiss, the publisher, and the author for the ARC.

[Cherie · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!! Talk about edge of your seat!! Nora has done it again, a mystery/ romance/ thriller. This book kept me up past my usual bedtime many nights. The characters are well developed and I felt like they were my good friends by the time I had finished it. I will miss them! I also need to visit the PNW. I’m not going to go to in depth with details so just take my word for it and get this book! But be prepared for some late nights!!! I was gifted an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Beth Menendez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Does Nora Roberts continue to be my favorite comfort read author? Yes, and this book will be one of my favorites when stacked with her others. Does it have flavors I’m familiar with in her work? It does, and clearly I like what I’m reading. Loved these characters, loved the tension throughout the book, loved the dialogue and love all the dogs in the book. Perfect read for the holidays and even though I’ve finished it and it won’t come out until May I look forward to reading it again. If you liked Mind Games, Night Work, The Liar or Whiskey Beach this is another of her greats!

[Kelly (the book hussy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3.75 stars)

I really enjoyed this suspenseful thriller by Nora Roberts. One of my favorite aspects was getting chapters from the villain’s POV—there’s something oddly compelling about being inside his head… even when that head belongs to a homicidal sociopath. The story is packed with side characters, many of whom I genuinely liked, and the character development overall was strong.

The romance, unfortunately, didn’t fully work for me. I wanted to love it, but Gideon just didn’t quite do it for me. His feelings for Arden felt reluctant and inconsistent—he repeatedly insisted she wasn’t his type, only for that to suddenly change without enough buildup. Because of that, the romantic arc felt a bit forced.

The pacing could have been tighter in places, but the ending, while predictable, was still satisfying. Overall, a solid and enjoyable read, especially for fans of suspense, even if the romance didn’t quite land for me.


ARC provided by NetGalley

[Queenie2023 aka Rita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Omg this book was so good !! I definitely will need a shelf trophy of this one since I read this originally on my kindle. I absolutely love Nora and always have. First time I’ve read one of her books for about 2 years and so happy to have dived back into her work. FREAKING AMAZING!

[Erica Binges Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars. RTC. Thank you so much to Nora Roberts, SMP, and Netgalley for the early copy in exchange for my review.

If you're a lower of romantic suspense, then Nora Roberts (or JD Robb, who is also Nora Roberts) has to be on your must read list). I'm a huge fan of hers, and her new releases are at the top of my tbr. The Final Target is one of my favorite new releases from Nora Roberts in a while. After reading the blurb, I was really intrigued by the plot of this one. And maybe I skimmed the blurb a bit, but the Final Target wasn't what I expected, but also was 100% in alignment with blurb. And what I mean by that is that I thought it was going to be like a single white female type of thing, with the burgeoning writer becoming obsessed with the seasoned author. And yes, there was a burgeoning writer obsessed with a new author, but it was so much more than that. And the bad guy was even creepier. As with a lot of Nora's other new releases, we get the POV from the bad guy, which I honestly always appreciate. Also as is the case with a lot of Nora's other releases, the book has multiple parts, where the first part sort of sets the stage, and the second part involves the FMC meeting what will become her love interest (which is often accompanied by a change in local). In this case, the FMC moves to a small town, and the case of secondary characters really has a lot to do with my love for this one. The Final Target has a great plot, great secondary characters, interesting family dynamics, fast-paced, creepy bad guy, a romance, and an amazing dog companion. Honestly, all of that is exactly why I read romantic suspense. I highly recommend this one, especially for fans of Nora's work.

[Christina C · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Final Target by Nora Roberts is a suspenseful, character-driven thriller that kept me fully invested from start to finish.

The story follows Arden as she finds herself trapped in a terrifying game of cat and mouse with her stalker, Dustin. Roberts does an excellent job building tension throughout the novel, showing not only the external danger Arden faces but also the emotional toll of being constantly watched and pursued. The dynamic between Arden and Dustin is chilling, and the psychological elements add depth to the suspense.

As always, Roberts’ writing is polished and engaging. The pacing is steady, with enough twists and heightened moments to keep you wanting to read just one more chapter. I especially appreciated how vividly the characters were drawn — Arden feels strong yet vulnerable, making her journey compelling and realistic.

Overall, this was a well-written, gripping read that blends suspense and emotion seamlessly. A solid four-star thriller that will definitely keep you turning the pages!

[Tahseen Hussain · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big shoutout to St. Martin’s Press Group for an advance reader copy of this book!
This book is a really good thriller. It definitely made my skin crawl whenever it changed perspectives.
This was such an interesting read. Throughout the book, we follow the story of a survivor of violence and assault. We watch her grow as a character and make the changes necessary to move on from this traumatic event and we get to see how it affects her life. The book also provides the sociopathic perspective of the abuser which was a pretty terrifying thing to read.
Overall, i enjoyed the book but there were some parts that i thought were unnecessary or not realistic. The author goes into detail at a lot of things that i don’t think the audience would care much for. We go through the main character’s daily life and it goes into so much detail into the things she does that it can get boring at times. It was also not too realistic as to how one of the characters got reinstated at their job. Other than those critiques, the book had a pretty good ending and was a good story throughout.

[Danielle B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come soon.

[Georgia Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Final Target by Nora Roberts is another best seller book! This book has something for everyone. The Final Target includes: mystery, romance, thriller, fiction which will keep you trying to figure out the final outcome. The character development is exceptional, which is true of all of Nora Roberts books. The main characters are Arden, an author and Dustin, an aspiring writer. Dustin has been released from a psychiatric hospital and his motives are questionable. There are so many twists and turns that will keep you reading for hours! Again, this is another good book from Nora Roberts! I highly recommend reading this book! I received an advanced copy from Goodreads!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been a while since a thriller truly got under my skin, but The Final Target by Nora Roberts absolutely did it.

What starts as every author's dream slowly twists into something dark, obsessive, and deeply unsettling. Watching Arden's world shrink after the attack — the fear, the locked doors, the constant tension — was chilling in the most realistic way. Dustin is the kind of villain that lingers: calm, convinced, and terrifying in the way he truly believes he's the hero of his own story. That psychological element made this feel less like fiction and more like a nightmare that could happen to anyone.

The romance is just as strong as the suspense. The banter feels genuine, the attraction isn't forced, and Roberts has a way of writing capable, independent characters who still allow themselves to fall in love without losing who they are. Atmospheric, suspenseful, and completely satisfying — this is Nora Roberts at her thriller best.

Get this book on your to-read list. It just gets better as it goes.

Thank you to #NoraRoberts, #NetGalley, and #StMartinsPress for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Jada · Rating 2 out of 5]

Arden Bowie is a debut author who catches the attention of Dustin, an aspiring writer. He sees her at her first book signing. And the second book signing. Also the third book signing. His interest is much more sinister than it initially appears, and Arden must learn to live with her newfound fears and trauma.

I really wanted to like this book. The crazed fan is something that many celebrities/influencers have to be wary of, and it's interesting to explore parasocial relationships, delusion, etc.

The beginning was interesting! I loved Arden and her circle of support. Dustin was just the right amount of creepy for a thriller. But around 30% in, I became very bored. Descriptions of doorknobs, choosing paint colors, and decorating just kept coming. It felt more like a Hallmark movie than a thriller during the middle half of the book.

Due to this, the thrill was abruptly halted, and I never got the momentum back. I skimmed a few chapters before skipping whole pages and eventually whole chapters to make it to the end. I also found Dustin as a character to go from interesting to a caricature of the most misogynistic man alive.

Overall, The Final Target started off as an interesting thriller but lost steam around a quarter of the way through.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Stacy40pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Final Target by Nora Roberts ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Arden is a new successful author when she meets Dustin who wants advice writing. She makes a major mistake by ignoring her warning bells. Her ends up with a short sentence due to a wealthy family and Arden is left to pick up the pieces.

I love a stalker thriller and this was no exception. The stalker in this case was truly terrifying because he was absolutely insane and out of touch, which almost seemed a bit unrealistic but it was entertaining. The book is pretty long and some of the conversations were probably longer than they needed to be, but it would get right back into the action. I loved the sub plot of a little romance and was happy with how Arden didn’t necessarily need to be saved as she could protect herself.

“Something in him is missing, or turned wrong, but he’s not sane.”

Read this if you like:
-Stalker thrillers
-Mental health thrillers
-Insane, wealthy misogynistic characters
-Light romance sub plots

The Final Target comes out 5/26.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Macmillan Audio for the ALC of The Final Target by Nora Roberts

🎤 Narrated by January LaVoy
🗓 Release Date: May 26, 2026
📚 Thriller/Romantic Suspense

~~

I LOVE Nora Roberts and January LaVoy! I could listen to January LaVoy all day.

I was so excited about this book. The thriller/suspense aspect was great! Arden's a great FMC and I felt like she was exceptionally strong and brave despite dealing with a crazed stalker.

I also really liked all of the family scenes in this book. They were very heartwarming and Arden was surrounded by a wonderful family.

The romance was a little "meh" to me. Gideon was protective of Arden, but they didn't seem to have much chemistry. There was no pining and their interactions were very forced.

Overall, I thought this was classic Nora. I enjoyed the plot and I thought it was a great audiobook. If you enjoy murder mysteries and thrillers, I do recommend The Final Target. 🙂

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This. Book. That. Villain. I. Can't. Even.

I'm not sure the last time I was so disgusted, so enraged by a villain before. Probably not since Umbridge in the Harry Potter series have I wanted someone so badly, to get what was coming to them.

This book brought out so many emotions. I can't even tell you the number of times I smiled, teared up, and, yes, was seriously pissed off.

The characters, the settings, all of it, will grab you and refuse to let go. This is by far one of my most favorite Nora books yet. I just couldn't get enough, and yet, I had to pause and take breaks too because...the emotions were all over the place. Fabulously done!

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Hannah Burke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for an ARC of this book!

This was such a gripping thriller! I loved getting to learn about all of these characters connected to Arden. Nora Roberts did a fantastic job developing side characters as well as main characters throughout this book. There were parts that were more predictable than others, but I loved the journey to the end! Arden was an easy character to relate to throughout her traumatic experiences. As an Oregonian, I loved the descriptions of the landscapes and the weather. This was so well done!

January LaVoy does such a great job narrating thrillers! 🎧

[Katie Henry · Rating 4 out of 5]

My first Nora Roberts novel, but, certainly not my last. This book has a little bit of everything for everyone. The thriller aspects, romance, suspense. I really enjoyed the POV of Dustin! Thank you to the publishing team and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Sadie]

Another solid romantic suspense from Nora! Reading Nora Roberts is always nostalgic for me as she was the author that introduced high school me to the romance genre. Her style is definitely different than most other contemporary romance authors and it just brings me back to earlier times. I really enjoyed this one. Arden gets a stalker at her first book event as an author and things quickly escalate from there. Definitely check the TWs bc there is on page assault. We then jump ahead 5 years and catch up with Arden as she moves across the country to be closer to family. I enjoyed Arden and Gideon, and especially Gideon’s grandpa Joe! There are so many great secondary characters in this book. Actual family, found family, I enjoyed them all. Dustin’s povs are disturbing as one would expect from the character. This was a solid read!

[Cheri Sitton · Rating 5 out of 5]

“…it’s all so layered. You need that solid script, and actors who can make you believe it’s real, but you have to have someone with the vision and the skill to put it all together.”—Nora Roberts, The Final Target.

This quote from the book was about a movie director. By the time I reached it (page 208) I was already completely invested in the books’ characters. Change the word actors to characters and this perfectly describes Nora Roberts and this, her best book out of hundreds!

The depth of the characters, the background tidbits about interior design, woodworking, scene descriptions across multiple states, all of it just melds together to become one unforgettable book! The book writing lead character is delightful and inspiring. “It’s a tremendous gift to be able to do what you love, what you want and wanted. It makes me want to be good at it, do it right.” (Page 239) yes!

Thanks to St Martins Press for my ARC! I received the book in the mail yesterday at 5 pm and finished it today at noon. 419 pages. It’s THAT good!

@StMartinsPress

[Kelly - Words We Love By · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t care how many Nora Roberts books I read, or whether they’re rooted in reality, the supernatural, or somewhere in the future, I will always love her stories. This one instantly gave me Identity vibes, a book that lives rent-free in my brain and heart (like most of hers 🤭).
Arden Bowie is a debut author whose success attracts the wrong kind of attention. What starts as an eager fan quickly turns into something far more dangerous. When Arden uproots her life and moves halfway across the country to start over, she hopes distance will finally give her peace. Instead, she finds herself crossing paths with Gideon, an ex-cop who may be her safest place… if she lets him in. But when the past refuses to stay buried, the question isn’t just who Arden can trust but who will truly protect her.
🖤 Thank you to NetGalley, Nora Roberts, and St. Martin’s Press for the amazing opportunity to read this early.
✨ Full review coming closer to publication date (May 26, 2026)!

[Kayla Willis · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Final Target by Nora Roberts

Let me start by saying I am a huge Nora fan.

I started this one as soon as I was approved. I was drawn in from the beginning. One thing about Nora's characters, they always have an interesting career or working towards a fun career. Arden has just published her first book when she is approached multiple times by a fan who wants advice on writing his own novel. This fan does not have good intentions. Bad things happen. He gets locked up in an institution. Fast forward five years and he is out. On the hunt. But during that time Arden has moved, has multiple books, and living life as best as she can.

Nora has a way of drawing you into the character's world. And the anticipation - she is so good at feeding you just enough that you kind of know what will happen, but no idea exactly how it will happen with surprises thrown in there.

This one is very similar to Identity, but that didn't bother me as I just love the in between and the romance that is always thrown in.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Netgalley, and Nora Roberts for an eARC.

[Gwen Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t wait. Start “The Final Target” today
If Nora Roberts’ name is on the cover, I know I’m going to read the book. After nearly 40 years of following this maxim, I have to say that “The Final Target” is Roberts’ best book yet, in my humble opinion.
I am grateful that St. Martin’s Press provided an ARC of this title via NetGalley. All opinions are mine.
Arden Bowie is a young woman I would enjoy in my own life. I appreciate her sheer joy at becoming a published author. I admire her resiliency through life’s hard knocks. And I am amazed at how she rebuilt her life after the assault.
Much of her success is owed to her family — both of blood and the family she makes. This is another place where Roberts shines in her works… building supporting characters that are every bit as defined as the main characters. The many scenes that show Arden interacting with her family, her neighbors, Joe and Gideon don’t weigh the book down while we wait for the third act. Rather these scenes pulled me in and invested me in the tale.
Even seeing scenes from Dustin’s POV during and afte her serves his sentence are illuminating. After first meeting Dustin as an “odd duck,” Roberts clearly me the delusional world in which he lives.
As the third act began, I truly questioned how Roberts would pull everything together. I won’t share my theories because I don’t want to spoil anything. But there were some situations from earlier in the book that I thought might be key in the end. (Some were, and some weren’t, so I was kept guessing.)
In fact, as the cat-and-mouse positioning of alternating POVs drew the final resolution closer, I kept having to stop reading and play a game on my phone to draw out my enjoyment. I know that when I race through a climactic ending, I miss the nuances.
“The Final Target” is perfect for readers who enjoy romantic suspense. In my mind that means the book is mostly suspense with an enjoyable romance woven in.

Why Nora Roberts is a go-to author for me
I discovered books by Nora Roberts about 10 years after she started writing. I quickly devoured her backlist and kept reading her new titles. Along the way, I’ve watched her move from the quick-paced romances with less-complicated plots in which action takes place in a week — or a month at the most — to full-scale novels where the action takes longer, calendar-wise, to play out.
This doesn’t mean the books are slow to read. Rather there is more detail provided for the characters, and we see them build relationships. The romance is slow-burn and the mysteries are built so that they don’t fall apart if you look a little too closely.
I have some authors I quickly discovered were writing the same book over and over. Same plot with only the names and locations changing. I’ve always been amazed that I am guaranteed a new story every time I pick up a Nora Roberts title. Who has that much imagination?
If you are a reader who has not tried Nora Roberts, then “The Final Target” will be a treat for you.

[Barbara Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: The Final Target
Format: 🎧
Author: Nora Roberts
Narrators: January LaVoy
Publisher: Macmillan Audio/St, Martin’s Press
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Audiobook Pub Date: May 26, 2026
My Rating: 4.5
Pages: 432

Story starts when Arden Bowie a debut author makes an appearance at the Book Store “The Next Chapter” for a book signing. Dustin Dubecki is there with her debut novel “Whispers” and wants her autograph. He tells her he is an aspiring writer and hopes they can have a chance to meet as he would love her advice. However he shows up at her next event as well as others.
He asks if he can buy her a coffee. She has run out of excuses so goes.
Yikes a major mistake!
I thought of Stephen King’s Misery and was expecting
Dustin to say “I am your #1 fan!”

Yes Dustin stalks her and he is terrifying. When he attacked her and she ended up in the hospital, Dustin was arrested and put through psyche evaluations – which we find out he has had before as well as treatment. It was ruled he has to attend a rehab psyche facility because he has no judgement as to what is right or wrong and felt he had a ‘right’ to attach.

Story switches to four years later when Arden moves from Columbus to River Bend, Oregon. Arden’s best friend cousin Zoey and her young family moved there. Arden has visited River Bend many rimes so new it would work especially for writing.
Arden lost both her parents when she was fourteen and went to live with her Aunt and Uncle-she really considers Cousin Zoey a sister.
She had visited River Bend many rimes so new it would work especially for writing. The house she bought has a room with a stunning view of the ocean so provides relaxation as well as inspiration. Her new home needs a lot of decorating/-paint and “new door knobs’- actually23 sets- I thought ‘Really’? So did a mental count of our home and came up with 30 sets -as we have several sets of French doors.
Arden quickly made new friends and loves her new environment.
When she went shopping at the hardware store for the door knobs, the hardware store owner volunteers his grandson Gillian to install them. Gillian is an ex LA police office and is gorgeous. We expect sparks to fly between these two and they do!

I loved this section of the story. Getting to know Arden’s family, the romance, and the neighbors was so enjoyable! The family all getting together as well as the prep for Christmas had me smiling the entire time.

My negative of the story is how horrible Dustin is and his foul mouth chapters were awful - had me wanting to skip his chapters.
(However since I have read Ms. Roberts before I know she’ typically uses a lot of profanity!)

Although the ending wasn’t a big surprise - it certainly was action packed!!

January LaVoy is my favorite audiobook narrators- so knew she would give a fabulous performance of all the character and she did!

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio/ St. Martin’s Press for granting me this audiobook.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 26, 2026.

[Alyssa Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice level: 🌶🌶🌶 (check TWs)
Format: 📱 Kindle
TW: ⚠ Check the TW list
Publication date: May 26, 2026

💭 "...don't give up. If it's something you want, something you love, you don't quit. Quitters don't win, even if it's just doing something you love for yourself. That's a win."

💭 "Death flattens us, then pisses us off."

This was such an intense book. If I can be so bold as to say the most intense book Nora has written? At least the most intense I've read from hers. I know a lot of her books have SA, but I believe this was the first I've read of hers with detailed non-con.

That being said - what a wild ride this was. You start off getting to know Arden as a blooming author. Then Dustin shows up on the scene and he starts to give you the ick, but WOW do you not know how badly that escalates until it's already escalated. Hot damn.

I loved that Nora wrote this in a way that it wasn't the FMC being stupid and getting herself caught because she put herself in a bad place. It was her being chased and stalked and not even knowing the extent of it until she was lying on the floor covered in blood and bruises with a pain between her legs.

When she moved to her house and started to get to know the townspeople, I fell in love with the setting of the story. And we all know Gideon is going to eventually fall for Arden, it's typical Nora fashion. But man... the way he fell? Perfection.

The only problem I had with this story was how long it dragged for Dustin to get across the country to her new home. I feel like the scenes with friends and family are good to get to see the characters, but I was just so ready for the book to wrap up that I felt myself getting antsy. I know authors do that intentionally, but this felt a bit much.

Overall, absolutely loved this book. And the fact it's a Nora Roberts standalone had me even MORE excited.

👍I will definitely be recommending this book to others, but CHECK YOUR TRIGGER WARNINGS

This was an ARC. Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Indra · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Final Target
by Nora Roberts

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC 💛

This was my first time reading this particular Nora Roberts arc, and she absolutely knows how to make you feel unsafe in the quietest ways.

Arden’s story begins with something that feels almost harmless. A fan. A few events. A coffee meeting. Then the shift happens. The unease creeps in. The moment where you realize she should have trusted her instincts hits hard. The assault and aftermath are written with restraint but weight, and what really stayed with me was not just the danger, but the long tail of fear that follows.

When Arden relocates to Oregon to rebuild, the book slows down in a way that feels intentional. There is healing here. Renovation. Community. Found family energy. Nora Roberts loves her home projects and small town dynamics, and honestly, I did not mind it. It gave Arden space to breathe again 🌲🏡

Dustin’s POV chapters are chilling. Being inside his head is uncomfortable in the right way. He is delusional, entitled, and deeply unsettling. That element of obsession feels disturbingly real, and it keeps the tension humming even during quieter chapters.

The romance was the part that worked the least for me. Gideon is steady and protective, but his emotional shift toward Arden felt a bit abrupt. Some of his dialogue read clipped and slightly stiff, which made it harder for me to fully sink into their chemistry. There are sweet moments, but I wanted a little more depth and warmth given everything Arden endured.

What I Loved
• The exploration of trauma and rebuilding autonomy
• The small town setting and strong side characters
• The unsettling villain POV chapters
• The theme of carving out safety on your own terms

What Didn’t Fully Work for Me
• The romance felt slightly underdeveloped
• Some pacing in the middle could have been tighter

⭐ Star Rating: 3.5 stars ⭐⭐⭐✨

Predictable in places, yes. But still compelling, atmospheric, and emotionally grounded. If you love romantic suspense with heavy small town vibes and a truly unhinged antagonist, this will absolutely hit the spot 🔒📖