Undone: Night Shield / Night Moves

Night Tales #5

by Nora Roberts

Two reader-favorite stories that show us how love can shine a light through the darkness

Night Shield

Jonah Blackhawk knows trouble when he sees it, and Ally Fletcher definitely falls into that category. The lanky blonde isn't just a cop, she's also the police commissioner's daughter, which makes her doubly off-limits. The day that she finishes her case and gets out of his life forever can't come soon enough for Jonah. But in the meantime, the memory of their passionate embrace threatens to consume him…

Night Moves

Maggie Fitzgerald has retreated from her former fast-paced life, seeking solitude to heal her broken heart. But her new landscaper, Cliff Delaney, is gruff and abrupt—and somehow irresistible. And when a body is found too close to home, shattering her peace entirely, Maggie is forced into the arms of the very man she finds so aggravating. The trouble is, Cliff is the prime suspect in the investigation. Has Maggie fallen for a good man with a rough exterior…or a coldhearted killer?

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

475 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published September 1, 2000

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

[Danielle · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really liked the first story Night Shield because the main characters were well developed. In no way were they perfect, they both had their own issues and I think that made the story and surrounding mystery interesting to read about. They both came from different worlds but you could see how they complemented each other and fit together. He sought the need to protect her, eventhough as a detective she could protect herself. She sought to show him that he was more than good enough for her, despite his upbringing and criminal activities during his youth. Their love for one another was something they could not fight and as a reader. I felt that from the beginning we could see the connection between the two characters and therefore garnered a great understooding on how their love blossomed.

However, the second story was a disappointment. I felt as if the story was rushed and I did not get to learn enough about the male main character. All I could garn from the story was that Cliff Delaney viewed Maggie Fitzgerald as an outsider who would not "cut it" in the country and he did not like outsiders who tried to change the country to suit their city lifestyle. Cliff seemed to have strong feeling against Maggie's purchase of the Morgan House in Morganville. But he decided to over look all of that because he wanted sex from her. Can anyone say FICKLE to the tenth power!!! This couple fell into bed, eventhough they did not like each other, and while in bed they learn nothing significantly new about each other but in the end they fell in love. Huh? I felt as if an essential part of the romance was missing from this story. We all love it in romance books where the couple begins to develop feelings for one another, outside the bedroom and how these feelings manifests its self in their attitudes and treatment of each other. However, this book glossed over all of that and rushed through it all in maybe one scene, which left me wholy unsatisfied.

[Cassandra Doon · Rating 3 out of 5]

My beautiful late nan owned every single one of Nora’s books.
So when she moved in with us for her last few years we spent the time reading our way through every single one together.
Granted they are not the type of books I like to read, but they were still really good and sweet.

[Sheila Samuelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 5 Stars (Wish i could rate it 10 stars!!)
Review:
These 2 stories in this series was so fun and fast paced to read that i was sad when the stories ending!!

Can't wait to read more in this series in the future!!

[Rachel O’Mara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m sorry, couldn’t finish

[book snob (and proud of it, babe) · Rating 3 out of 5]

These were both interesting reads, but as with the previous novels in this series, I wanted more-suspense, action, little moments between the two main characters, etc. The passion that each had for the other was evident, but I wanted more to their relationship. I wanted more everything.

[Liza · Rating 3 out of 5]

OMG! This one is BAD! Don't even get it at the bargain store! It's taken me around four days to read this book and it never takes me that long to read a book of hers. This is just bad don't get it!

[Noelle Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora Roberts is one of my mother's favorite authors, and she really wants me to like her books as much as she (my mother) does. I don't think it's going to happen, as she writes books that just aren't my thing. I'm not really a fan of crime stories, nor am I a big fan of the way NR writes women. They're feisty, sassy, tough, but they don't seem to have any softness or vulnerability. Maggie, in the 2nd story, comes close, but I don't like the way the 2nd story was written, with both characters constantly reading into what they other wasn't saying, and me having no idea what was going on between them (because neither one of them was saying anything because they didn't like each other). It was annoying.

I do, however, like the way she writes men, as her men are alphas with big ol' soft spots for their women, which I'm a fan of.

4 stars because the books are well written, even if I'm not a fan of them.

[Julie Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

BOOK 5 in the Night Tales Series NIGHT SHIELD ****** 6/5 The former pickpocket and the young police detective. The similarities to Eve and Roark are only at the beginning of this book then Allison and Jonah develop into very different personalities. Robert’s characters are so well developed. I also love series where you can think back to the recurring characters as she has them pop up again in this book.

NIGHT MOVES. Fun read. I enjoy the detail Roberts includes about the development of a musical score or writing a song. An early 1985 book so Maggie as a character is not quite believable to me. Composer doing her own renovation work. I get the skipping around on projects, but the progress on those projects in my mind is unrealistic. I enjoyed her character otherwise.

[aeryn · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a two for one book and neither were particularly good nor were they noteworthy. I’ve always been a romantic at heart but while I do love a good romance I prefer a bit more plot and storyline to them. The first book (Night Shield) was pretty decent compared to Night Moves. I enjoyed what little plot there was much better and the love story was enough to make up for everything it lacked. I didn’t enjoy Night Moves much at all and thought I wouldn’t even be able to finish it. Not the sort of book I’d pick up again but I’m glad I gave it a go at least. If you’re looking for a quick and easy to read romance I think there are plenty of other, much better options to go with.

[Kshydog · Rating 3 out of 5]

Night Shield : Allison, the daughter created by a romance from an earlier book in series, is a detective with talent and guts. Jonah, nightclub owner, likes her style. Weird Jonah doesn’t know her better since he is best friends with her father Boyd, or has never gone to his house. To keep her safe Allison stays at his place. The burglary guys are mad Allison has figured out their scheme of getting info from customers. Solution involves slight help from previous series characters. Story moves at good pace with more action than sex scenes. Night Moves : not part of series. Just a story about someone bothering during the night. Was very impressed with Maggie feeling the desire to do her own thing. After such a rich, pampered life her determination to do her own remodeling was good. Her musical abilities seemed too good. Cliff the landscaper was too forward and really initially was only for sex.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Night Shield separately before picking up this duology, so I’ll just talk about Night Moves. I love when Nora Roberts starts with prejudice keeping a couple apart. Maggie is full of character but weird. Cliff is salt of the earth and drawn to her. They sort of have insta-love but I liked it.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Night Shield Lady Detective tries to solve string of robberies and falls in love.
Night Moves famous composer buys house in a small town. Old murder is being investigated.
First story okay. Second one not so much

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my keep in the car paperback that I read while I am waiting for my granddaughter. The stories were good but I didn't sit and read them in one sitting.

[Dominique Bebbington · Rating 3 out of 5]

First book was really good, second one seemed to lag

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was quite addicted to this book series. Sorry to see it end.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Night Shield: 5 stars
Night Moves: 2 stars

[Jenny Lesko · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed both stories a lot. I loved how fast paced both were.

[Mildred Rupert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading all these Night Tales books.

[Ashley Molloy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two romances in one: a crime case and a mystery. Fun reads to pass the time.

[bexbooklover · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the previous stories in the series these two were very intriguing romantic suspense tales. I like how in the first one you get the daughter of the couple from the very first story in a series.

[Maddie Singleton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two of my favorite Nora Robert’s books. I could not put them down. Somewhat cheesy, but 10/10 storyline

[Connie Glasgow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both of these mysteries were delightful.
Wonderful summer reads!

[Marta · Rating 4 out of 5]

3,75/5
Jednak byli zajebiste xd

[sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

very enjoyable lots of romance and intimacy

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains 2 separate stories by Nora Roberts-- "Night Shield" and "Night Moves". My first instinct was give this book a rating of 2 but actually Night Shield was a 3 and Night Moves a 2.

"Night Shield" is a cop story which involves Ally, a cop and daughter of a cop, and Jonah, owner of a casino and friend of Ally's father. When Ally is stationed at the casino to investigate a rash of burglaries, magic happens between her and Jonah--whether they want it to or not.

"Night Moves" involves a famous musician from L.A. who moves East to live in Morganville, population 142, to get away from the glamour and bustle of the big city and just be alone. No one seems to believe that she really wants to do this. Cliff, the head of the landscape company that Maggie hired, who know everyone in town, is interested in Maggie but doesn't believe she is going to stay. This causes a lot of tension between the 2 of them and also turned me away from the story. He wanted the sex but acted like it wouldn't bother him if their relationship went anywhere or not. This behavior bothered me a lot. The story itself was interesting and I really could identify with Maggie who just wanted to be alone on her property and plant flowers and make her music. Her relationship with Cliff didn't do anything for me at all.

I definitely recommend the first story but the 2nd story had elements that just didn't sit well with me.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a bind up edition containing two story’s by the talented Nora Roberts.



In night shield book five of night tales is focused on Boyd and Cilla’s daughter Allison Fletcher who followed in her father’s footsteps and became a cop. Jonah Blackhawk was a troubled child until
Boyd helped him get his life in order something that Johan feels like he owes Boyd for life for. Jonah is a successful businessman who has several successful businesses including clubs. A string of burgalaries leads Allison and Jonah to work together because the robbers are targeting people who have been in Jonahs club, since he owes Boyd in his mind he agrees to work with cops even though he doesn’t really like cops with the exception of Boyd. There is an instant attraction between the two as he struggles to overcome his feelings for her and the debts he feels he owes Boyd. But things get complicated when they discover who is behind the robberies, Madeline her husband Richard, her brother Matthew Kyle and Jan one of Jonahs waitresses. Richard is shot and Madeline is shot and killed while they were trying to rob a house a deadly manhunt unfolds with Matthew looking for revenge on his sisters death. He kills Jan because she wasn’t useful anymore to him. The dangerous situation forces Jonah and Allison to embrace their attraction which leads to love for each other and a deadly confrontation with Matthew. I loved this book it was extremely entertaining and enjoyable book to read. I loved that the characters from the previous books were back and reading more about what has happened in their lives since their books. Captain Boyd became the police commissioner of Denver, Natalie and Ryan have three kids aged 14, 12 and, Deborah and Gage have four kids Addy 16, 14,12,10 one of them is a son named Mick. Althea and Colt have two kids aged 15 and 12. Allisons brothers Bryant went into Fletcher industries and Keenan became a firefighter. It was awesome to read about them and their big family barbecue. This series was awesome to read i highly recommend reading them.




In night moves introduces award winning songwriter Maggie Fitzgerald, she has had quite a bit tragedy in her life, her parents died in a plane crash when she was eighteen, her husband killed him self in a car accident. Looking for some peace and quiet and get out of Los Angeles she buys a three story house in a small town Maryland called Morganville. She hires local landscaper Cliff Delaney he is quite a judgemental character he judges her but her rich upbringing and successful career judging her to be a snob and doesn’t expect her to stay longer than six weeks, I find this extremely hilarious in an ironic sort of way he thinks she’s going to be a snob but he really is the snob out if them. Despite her successful career and rich upbringing Maggie is a pretty down to earth character who isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty with the indoor renovation and has hired Cliff to take care of her garden but things get a little hectic when human remains are exposed and a decade long mystery dissolves into something darker. The body of William Morgan is identified.Cliff and Maggie have a deep attraction and are drawn to each other but Cliff still acts like a massive jerk. He remains very judgemental about her being a rich city girl, he is very condensending of her, but she’s good enough to sleep with but not really respect and ignores her when she says she doesn’t want anything between them. I did like her calling him out on double standards though. I loved the pace of the mystery unfolding when it’s discovered the Sheriff Stan the killer he killed William because he was threatening Joyce his fiancee and Williams daughter. I loved the mystery if it. The romance of Maggie and Cliff fell kinda flat for me for the reasons above, the fact that she forgives him too easy at times when he brings her a tree instead of just saying sorry, even when he has fallen in love with her he tells her once at the end of the book that he loves her, it’s kinda hilarious throughout the book he judges her character as a snob before getting to know her, he deliberately goes out of his way to annoy her because he likes to see her react because he isn’t happy with his attraction very childish behaviour and when she tells him she’s going back to Los Angelos he demands her to marry him but doesn’t even say I love you to her until the end of the book after she rejects him harshly, he forces himself into staying in her home because of the threat but he doesn’t even ask her I’m a sucker for a happy ending don’t get me wrong I just feel with these two that it fell a little flat, and too fast paced at the end with him suddenly proposing to her twice after only knowing her a few weeks or so and most of the time he was unpleasant to her, but regardless I rather enjoyed reading this book. Nora Roberts is a talented storyteller and I enjoy her books immensely.

[Kristen H · Rating 1 out of 5]

Bleh

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

This compilation contained the 5th and 6th books in the sextet of Nora Roberts' intriguing series entitled Night Tales.

Night Shield takes us through Detective Fletcher and Cilla O'Roarke's daughter who has become a cop like her father. Ally Fletcher works hard at being the best cop on her beat and is trying to make a name for herself without the benefit of her dad's "name" and fame as a great detective. The character development is well-portrayed as the pages keep the reader wanting the story to never end. When Jonah Blackhawk, a night club owner that climbed his way into legitimate business from the street life he led, she is puzzled and yet also strangely attracted to him. Ally is assigned to find out who is committing robberies that she believes originate from tips obtained at Blackhawk's club. The ensuing adventures they endure lead them into peril as well as intimacy. This part of the series also has mom and dad visiting and playing small roles in the crime wave's conclusion as well as promoting the storyline from books one and two.

Night Moves introduces us to an old friend from previous books in this series, Maggie Fitzgerald. She leaves behind a miserable loss in the big city, trying to find solace in a small town of less than 200 people. She begins work on her little cottage and has some trouble acclimating to the local townspeople, but continues to be hopeful of a new beginning. Odd visits from road workers, contractors, and previous owners set her teeth on edge, but still she works on her musical scores for her publisher back East. Hearing sounds in the old building at night, she confides in the main contractor, Cliff Delaney, who knows a lot of town history ... including bits and pieces about the house she has purchased. When a body is found on her property, Delaney shows up to help her get through not only the remodeling and reshaping of her little cottage and its surrounding land, but to help her rebuild her broken heart while solving the mystery.

Both of these books are definitely up to Nora's usual standards, even though they were written back in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Unerring attention to detail as well as setting information keeps the reader wanting more. Quick-moving action interlaced with love scenes moves the character and plot development along nicely to a powerful, yet perhaps predictable, conclusion.

The other Night Tales include Night Shift, Night Shadow, Nightshade, and Night Smoke. Luckily, I was able to procure all 6 books from my local library and read them in order. I would recommend this series to anyone who enjoys Nora Roberts' work.

[JP · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely, interesting, action packed and page turning. The first story "Night Shield" continues to be just like all the other ones. It is also the last one in this 5 piece series. This time we meet the Daugther of Police Chief Boyd Fletcher, Allison Fletcher. She is one of the youngest detectives in the squad, having gotten Boyd's sharp instincts and Mother Cilla's witty temperament. On the other side is Jonah Blackhawk, a very successful entrepreneur, running a lot of different clubs, and also a friend of Allison's Father. When someone starts robbing unsuspecting club visitors, Allison is head of the case and is thrown into Jonah's hands, to find out and catch the bad guys. But who would have thought that both are being targeted...

The second story, though very lovely, is still a little different. The story about music composer Maggie Fitzgerald and her landscaper Cliff Delaney kept me sighing, but didn't fascinate me quite as much. When they find a sceleton in Maggies new garden, everything turns up-side-down, but she is determinded to live her life here in the country side. Sceletons, police investigations and Cliff Delaney, and all.

What avid readers of the Night Tales stories might have noticed is the different writing style the autor used in those two stories, but some might not have noticed that the second story is one of the autor's very early ones, back from 1985, while Night Shield was from 2000. There is a slight difference in style and overall atmosphere, but nevertheless is the old story really catchy. I like the tune of it, even if it is not as page-turning as the other stories.
I'm glad for the autor, that she got the change to incooperate one of her older stories into this collection. It really shows how much she has improved over the years.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

another of Nora Roberts 2 books in 1. Never thought I would enjoy romance novels but these have romance and suspense in both stories. They both kept you guessing till the end of the story. which is what I enjoy cause I don't like knowing before the end.