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Dare Valley #1
Nora Roberts Land
Librarian Note: An alternate cover edition of ASIN B00DP64BN8 can be found here
Journalist Meredith Hale’s ex-husband claimed her Nora Roberts addiction gave her unrealistic expectations about marriage, and she believed him. All dreams of happily ever after—or Nora Roberts Land as her mother calls it—went up in smoke. But when her family asks her to temporarily help their Dare Valley, Colorado newspaper, she decides it’s time to change her life and prove her ex wrong. She’s determined to find her own small-town Nora Roberts hero, prove that true love exists, and publish a story about her quest.
War correspondent Tanner McBride has just returned stateside to work for a major newspaper, and the last thing he expects is blackmail. Yet, before he can even unpack, he’s headed to Colorado. His assignment? Make his boss’s ex-wife fall for him and then break her heart. Her article about discovering love à la Nora might air dirty laundry about her marriage to the media mogul, threatening his senate run. The mogul wants Meredith stopped, and he makes sure Tanner has no choice in the matter.
When the two meet, the sparks between them are undeniable. Meredith, who vowed never to date another journalist, begins to succumb. Could Tanner be her Nora Roberts hero? As they work together to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death, the depth of their feelings unfolds and both realize they’ve kept their secrets for far too long. But before the truth can be revealed, their investigation takes a deadly turn, one that might make Meredith’s personal Nora Roberts Land go up in flames.
Journalist Meredith Hale’s ex-husband claimed her Nora Roberts addiction gave her unrealistic expectations about marriage, and she believed him. All dreams of happily ever after—or Nora Roberts Land as her mother calls it—went up in smoke. But when her family asks her to temporarily help their Dare Valley, Colorado newspaper, she decides it’s time to change her life and prove her ex wrong. She’s determined to find her own small-town Nora Roberts hero, prove that true love exists, and publish a story about her quest.
War correspondent Tanner McBride has just returned stateside to work for a major newspaper, and the last thing he expects is blackmail. Yet, before he can even unpack, he’s headed to Colorado. His assignment? Make his boss’s ex-wife fall for him and then break her heart. Her article about discovering love à la Nora might air dirty laundry about her marriage to the media mogul, threatening his senate run. The mogul wants Meredith stopped, and he makes sure Tanner has no choice in the matter.
When the two meet, the sparks between them are undeniable. Meredith, who vowed never to date another journalist, begins to succumb. Could Tanner be her Nora Roberts hero? As they work together to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death, the depth of their feelings unfolds and both realize they’ve kept their secrets for far too long. But before the truth can be revealed, their investigation takes a deadly turn, one that might make Meredith’s personal Nora Roberts Land go up in flames.
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2013
13589 people are currently reading
11067 people want to read
About the author
Ava Miles
101 books1,138 followersMillions of readers have discovered International Bestselling Author Ava Miles and her powerful fiction and non-fiction books about love, happiness, and transformation. Her novels have received praise and accolades from USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and People Magazine in addition to being chosen as Best Books of the Year and Top Editor’s picks. Translated into multiple languages, Ava’s strongest praise comes directly from her readers, who call her books and characters unforgettable.
Ava is a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones to foster peaceful and prosperous communities, and has helped people live their best life as a life coach, energy healer, and self-help expert. She is never happier than when she’s formulating skin care and wellness products, gardening, or creating a new work of art. Hanging with her friends and loved ones is pretty great too.
After years of residing in the States, she decided to follow her dream of living in Europe. She recently finished a magical stint in Ireland where she was inspired to write her acclaimed Unexpected Prince Charming series. Now, she’s splitting her time between Paris and Provence, learning to speak French, immersing herself in cooking à la provençal, and planning more page-turning novels for readers to binge.
Ava is a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones to foster peaceful and prosperous communities, and has helped people live their best life as a life coach, energy healer, and self-help expert. She is never happier than when she’s formulating skin care and wellness products, gardening, or creating a new work of art. Hanging with her friends and loved ones is pretty great too.
After years of residing in the States, she decided to follow her dream of living in Europe. She recently finished a magical stint in Ireland where she was inspired to write her acclaimed Unexpected Prince Charming series. Now, she’s splitting her time between Paris and Provence, learning to speak French, immersing herself in cooking à la provençal, and planning more page-turning novels for readers to binge.
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May 24, 2014
Nora Roberts Land is book one in the Dare Valley series by Ava Miles. Country Heaven was the first book I read by Ava Miles, and I completely fell in love with it. So, when I decided to start this series by her, I knew I would enjoy it. But, I got so much more than that. If you are a fan of Nora Roberts you will enjoy this book with its frequent references to the many books written by Nora Roberts and the characters within. But if you have never read a book by Nora Roberts, you will still enjoy this. Ava’s characters are full of life, complex, and so easy to relate to.
Meredith Hale, granddaughter of the acclaimed Arthur Hale, founder of The Western Independent, followed in her grandfather and father’s footsteps and became a journalist. She married journalist Richard Sommerville, thinking he was “the one.” But he wasn’t. It has been one year since her divorce. Richard convinced Meredith that her obsession with Nora Roberts books and the idea of finding that Happily Ever After is what ruined their marriage. That she has an unrealistic idea of what love is. Meredith’s family needs her to come home for a few months to help with her family’s newspaper so she decides that this is the time. She will go home and help out and also write her own story. She will begin dating again in Dare Valley and prove that there really is a “Nora Roberts Land.” That there really can be a Happily Ever After.”
“You deserve a wonderful guy, Mere. You deserve a hero from Nora Roberts Land.”
Tanner McBride is a wartime journalist and has just returned to New York. He needs a rest. And New York is just the place for him. He has a meeting with Richard Sommerville, thinking this is his chance to work for his newspaper. What he didn’t realize is that he was about to become a pawn in Richard’s scheme to control his ex-wife. He has something on Tanner and will use it to get Tanner to do his bidding. He wants Tanner to go to Dare Valley and make Meredith fall in love with him, then break her heart, so that Meredith can’t write her article about Nora Roberts Land. Richard is afraid that Meredith will paint him in a negative light casting a shadow on his potential run for Senate.
Neither Tanner or Meredith had any idea what they were in for in Dare Valley. They both realize the importance of family and friendship. And neither were expecting the instant electrical connection between them. They began by meeting each morning at the swimming pool, both having been college competitive swimmers and going for coffee afterwards at Meredith’s sister Jill’s coffee shop. A slow trust develops. Small town life is not what Tanner had planned for. But he slowly grows to love this community. He even gave in and took in a stray dog that was hanging around his house and named him Hugo. Hugo became his protector and companion for life.
Things take a sinister turn, though, in Dare Valley. There have been several young people inexplicably ending up in the ER, seemingly from too much alcohol. But Arthur is convinced there is more to it then that. Then, the tragic death of someone close to them confirms that something rotten is going on. Meredith and Tanner are dedicating themselves to figuring out what it is. But the deeper they delve, the more danger they are in.
"He was a hero. A no-frills, rough-and-tumble hero...just like in Nora's books."
There was so much more to Nora Roberts Land than I anticipated. I thought it would be a fun romantic tale but it turned out to be that and also, a suspenseful page turner, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very last minute. And not only did I fall in love with Meredith and Tanner, but all the secondary characters as well. I plan to go directly into the next book about Jill, Meredith’s sister and continue my adventure in Dare Valley, Colorado.
Meredith Hale, granddaughter of the acclaimed Arthur Hale, founder of The Western Independent, followed in her grandfather and father’s footsteps and became a journalist. She married journalist Richard Sommerville, thinking he was “the one.” But he wasn’t. It has been one year since her divorce. Richard convinced Meredith that her obsession with Nora Roberts books and the idea of finding that Happily Ever After is what ruined their marriage. That she has an unrealistic idea of what love is. Meredith’s family needs her to come home for a few months to help with her family’s newspaper so she decides that this is the time. She will go home and help out and also write her own story. She will begin dating again in Dare Valley and prove that there really is a “Nora Roberts Land.” That there really can be a Happily Ever After.”
“You deserve a wonderful guy, Mere. You deserve a hero from Nora Roberts Land.”
Tanner McBride is a wartime journalist and has just returned to New York. He needs a rest. And New York is just the place for him. He has a meeting with Richard Sommerville, thinking this is his chance to work for his newspaper. What he didn’t realize is that he was about to become a pawn in Richard’s scheme to control his ex-wife. He has something on Tanner and will use it to get Tanner to do his bidding. He wants Tanner to go to Dare Valley and make Meredith fall in love with him, then break her heart, so that Meredith can’t write her article about Nora Roberts Land. Richard is afraid that Meredith will paint him in a negative light casting a shadow on his potential run for Senate.
Neither Tanner or Meredith had any idea what they were in for in Dare Valley. They both realize the importance of family and friendship. And neither were expecting the instant electrical connection between them. They began by meeting each morning at the swimming pool, both having been college competitive swimmers and going for coffee afterwards at Meredith’s sister Jill’s coffee shop. A slow trust develops. Small town life is not what Tanner had planned for. But he slowly grows to love this community. He even gave in and took in a stray dog that was hanging around his house and named him Hugo. Hugo became his protector and companion for life.
Things take a sinister turn, though, in Dare Valley. There have been several young people inexplicably ending up in the ER, seemingly from too much alcohol. But Arthur is convinced there is more to it then that. Then, the tragic death of someone close to them confirms that something rotten is going on. Meredith and Tanner are dedicating themselves to figuring out what it is. But the deeper they delve, the more danger they are in.
"He was a hero. A no-frills, rough-and-tumble hero...just like in Nora's books."
There was so much more to Nora Roberts Land than I anticipated. I thought it would be a fun romantic tale but it turned out to be that and also, a suspenseful page turner, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very last minute. And not only did I fall in love with Meredith and Tanner, but all the secondary characters as well. I plan to go directly into the next book about Jill, Meredith’s sister and continue my adventure in Dare Valley, Colorado.
June 13, 2018
Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles is a 2013 publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the author and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Meredith's husband, " Rick the Dick", told her that reading Nora Roberts novels gave her unrealistic expectations about love and marriage. When she finds herself divorced, she thinks maybe her ex- husband was right. There was no happy ever after in real life.
When her family needs some help running the Dare Valley newspaper in Colorado, Meredith gets an idea. Maybe she can prove Rick was wrong about Nora Roberts and "happily ever afters". Meredith decides to do an article on the subject which makes Rick mighty nervous. Why? Well, Rick is running for a seat in the Senate and if Meredith's article comes out it could make him look bad and even expose some dark secrets that would ruin his political career. The solution? Tanner McBride.
Tanner has returned to the states after being a war correspondent.. His first assignment upon returning home? To seduce his boss's ex-wife, make her fall in love with him, and then dump her, proving once and for all that true love only happens in fairy tales... or in Nora Roberts Land.
Why would a seasoned journalist like Tanner take on such an assignment? Blackmail of course. It seems Rick has some sordid information on Tanner's brother that he will make public if Tanner doesn't follow through. So, Tanner finds himself in Dare Valley, Colorado. When he meets his target, he knows his heart is in big trouble. So, will Tanner be able to find a way out of this situation or will he have to break Meredith's heart to protect his family?
While Tanner is laying the groundwork for getting to know Merideth, a suspicious death occurs which has some people thinking a coverup is underway. When Merideth and Tanner begin asking questions they find themselves in danger.
Now, if the name of this book doesn't grab you, I don't know what will. Ava Miles takes a page from the modern queen of romance authors and creates her very own masterpiece while paying homage to true love and happy ever after.
Meredith really took her divorce hard. She vowed never to become involved with a journalist again. When Tanner arrives in Dare Valley, Meredith is dating every man she can, looking for her very own 'book boyfriend". While her sister, Jill, and her grandfather all insist Tanner is perfect for her, she still holds out... well as long as she can anyway.
While Tanner is trying to protect his family by going along with this farce, I think deep down in his soul he knows he can't really crush Merideth like her ex husband wants him to. He just doesn't know now to extricate himself from the situation without someone getting hurt.
The secondary characters help to round out the novel and set up the scenario for the next book in the series which will feature Meredith's sister, Jill, and her best friend, Brian.
I really, really, really, enjoyed this book! Meredith went from panic attacks to taking on 'Rick the Dick', with dignity, intelligence and grace, all while proving that even if Prince Charming is just a fairytale, true love is real and not just in Nora Roberts Land.
5 stars
Meredith's husband, " Rick the Dick", told her that reading Nora Roberts novels gave her unrealistic expectations about love and marriage. When she finds herself divorced, she thinks maybe her ex- husband was right. There was no happy ever after in real life.
When her family needs some help running the Dare Valley newspaper in Colorado, Meredith gets an idea. Maybe she can prove Rick was wrong about Nora Roberts and "happily ever afters". Meredith decides to do an article on the subject which makes Rick mighty nervous. Why? Well, Rick is running for a seat in the Senate and if Meredith's article comes out it could make him look bad and even expose some dark secrets that would ruin his political career. The solution? Tanner McBride.
Tanner has returned to the states after being a war correspondent.. His first assignment upon returning home? To seduce his boss's ex-wife, make her fall in love with him, and then dump her, proving once and for all that true love only happens in fairy tales... or in Nora Roberts Land.
Why would a seasoned journalist like Tanner take on such an assignment? Blackmail of course. It seems Rick has some sordid information on Tanner's brother that he will make public if Tanner doesn't follow through. So, Tanner finds himself in Dare Valley, Colorado. When he meets his target, he knows his heart is in big trouble. So, will Tanner be able to find a way out of this situation or will he have to break Meredith's heart to protect his family?
While Tanner is laying the groundwork for getting to know Merideth, a suspicious death occurs which has some people thinking a coverup is underway. When Merideth and Tanner begin asking questions they find themselves in danger.
Now, if the name of this book doesn't grab you, I don't know what will. Ava Miles takes a page from the modern queen of romance authors and creates her very own masterpiece while paying homage to true love and happy ever after.
Meredith really took her divorce hard. She vowed never to become involved with a journalist again. When Tanner arrives in Dare Valley, Meredith is dating every man she can, looking for her very own 'book boyfriend". While her sister, Jill, and her grandfather all insist Tanner is perfect for her, she still holds out... well as long as she can anyway.
While Tanner is trying to protect his family by going along with this farce, I think deep down in his soul he knows he can't really crush Merideth like her ex husband wants him to. He just doesn't know now to extricate himself from the situation without someone getting hurt.
The secondary characters help to round out the novel and set up the scenario for the next book in the series which will feature Meredith's sister, Jill, and her best friend, Brian.
I really, really, really, enjoyed this book! Meredith went from panic attacks to taking on 'Rick the Dick', with dignity, intelligence and grace, all while proving that even if Prince Charming is just a fairytale, true love is real and not just in Nora Roberts Land.
5 stars
September 16, 2023
3.5 good feeling stars
Authors writing books based on their love for other authors and the fictional characters created are quickly become some of my fave reads( see K.C. Dyer's Finding Fraser, Shannon Hale's Austenland and Catherine McKenzie's Arranged). Nora Roberts is a gal that tends to receive her share of her lovers and haters. Personally, I tend to find them fluffy and fun and good palate cleansers, especially after a heavy read. When I saw this advertised freebie, I was fairly intrigued to see for myself what Ava Miles would bring to the table.
The premise is well described in the Goodreads synopsis and so I won't rehash it here. First of all, the setting of Dare Valley was absolutely marvelous and seemed as enchanting as the landscapes often depicted in NR's books. Second, the characters were well established and not just romance book stereotypes. Their backstories really made me want to see them through to the end. From main protagonists Meredith and Tanner, to their loveable family members Jill, Peggy, Keith, and patriarch, Arthur Hale. I knew within a few chapters that they had become my new favorite fictional peeps! Third, there was an actual plot that not only played homage to Nora Roberts, but also to her J.D. Robb books as well. So not only do readers get the fairytale romance, we also get the intriguing premise of our two journalists trying to solve the baffling death of a few locals.
Of course, there is also many references to NR's books and characters which Meredith and her sister, Jill use as a guideline for her "man bender" to find their own Nora hero. If I have any complaints, it probably might be that what I find irritating in a Nora Roberts ' book(like constantly talking about what the characters are wearing) is exactly appropriate in this book because Meredith and Tanner are archetypes that walk straight off the pages into Ava Miles ' story. So, well done on that score!
There are 11 books in this series and while I am not sure if I can really commit myself to another series on my TBR right now. I cannot help but confess an interest in finding out if Jill and Brian will work through their complicated past or if Tanner's police officer sister, Peggy will meet a man who will be good to her and her son, Keith. Oh and there is also going to be a story about Meredith and Jill's grandfather....
Oops, I've done it again!
Authors writing books based on their love for other authors and the fictional characters created are quickly become some of my fave reads( see K.C. Dyer's Finding Fraser, Shannon Hale's Austenland and Catherine McKenzie's Arranged). Nora Roberts is a gal that tends to receive her share of her lovers and haters. Personally, I tend to find them fluffy and fun and good palate cleansers, especially after a heavy read. When I saw this advertised freebie, I was fairly intrigued to see for myself what Ava Miles would bring to the table.
The premise is well described in the Goodreads synopsis and so I won't rehash it here. First of all, the setting of Dare Valley was absolutely marvelous and seemed as enchanting as the landscapes often depicted in NR's books. Second, the characters were well established and not just romance book stereotypes. Their backstories really made me want to see them through to the end. From main protagonists Meredith and Tanner, to their loveable family members Jill, Peggy, Keith, and patriarch, Arthur Hale. I knew within a few chapters that they had become my new favorite fictional peeps! Third, there was an actual plot that not only played homage to Nora Roberts, but also to her J.D. Robb books as well. So not only do readers get the fairytale romance, we also get the intriguing premise of our two journalists trying to solve the baffling death of a few locals.
Of course, there is also many references to NR's books and characters which Meredith and her sister, Jill use as a guideline for her "man bender" to find their own Nora hero. If I have any complaints, it probably might be that what I find irritating in a Nora Roberts ' book(like constantly talking about what the characters are wearing) is exactly appropriate in this book because Meredith and Tanner are archetypes that walk straight off the pages into Ava Miles ' story. So, well done on that score!
There are 11 books in this series and while I am not sure if I can really commit myself to another series on my TBR right now. I cannot help but confess an interest in finding out if Jill and Brian will work through their complicated past or if Tanner's police officer sister, Peggy will meet a man who will be good to her and her son, Keith. Oh and there is also going to be a story about Meredith and Jill's grandfather....
Oops, I've done it again!
July 6, 2018
I quite enjoyed this one. I have read quite a few Nora Roberts books, especially her Romantic Suspense books.
3.5.
Don't have much time to review. Work is busy and I am just back from Edinburgh, where my son received his First Class Honours Degree in History!. LOL. I am such a bragger.
Lots of references to Nora's books and also to JD Robb books. I ADORE the IN DEATH series. I love Roarke .... and Eve.
3.5.
Don't have much time to review. Work is busy and I am just back from Edinburgh, where my son received his First Class Honours Degree in History!. LOL. I am such a bragger.
Lots of references to Nora's books and also to JD Robb books. I ADORE the IN DEATH series. I love Roarke .... and Eve.
September 26, 2015
If you've read a Nora Roberts book, you know how romantic they are, with hearts healed by love and that ever popular "Happily Ever After" ending, and the book fades to a rosy glow. The heroes are swoon-worthy, larger than life and-well, you get the picture, a "dream guy!" For journalist Meredith Hale, these books were like an addiction, she longed for "that man," a hero, someone who would love her as she is, sweep her off her feet and they would have the storybook ending. When Mere's cheating, self-centered, power-hungry, husband divorced her, he blamed everything on her Nora Roberts Land fantasies. Crushed, demoralized and totally beaten down, Mere actually begins to believe that the bulk of the failure of her marriage rested on her shoulders. when a family emergency brings her home from the big city back to her roots in Dare, population just a few thousand, she decides to test her belief in Nora Roberts land and is determined to find her Mr. Right and garner a story our of it in the process. Proving her ex wrong is like icing on a muffin, it becomes a deliciously sweet cupcake to be savored. One problem, her ex, AKA "Rick the Dick" found out about her plans, thought she was trying to ruin him and blackmailed freelance writer Tanner McBride into going undercover in Dare and making Meredith fall in love with him, then dumping her and ruining both her story, and crushing her spirit even more. And here the story takes a wild turn on the highway of life, danger, death and drugs bring these two together as a team, sparks fly between them and... grab the fire extinguisher, because the story heats up from there!
Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles starts out fluffy but builds into a nice, solid romantic read with a hint of danger! (Okay, more than a hint, lots of danger!) Her characters are completely believable, some are larger than life, some are sweetly cliched, some are totally lovable, especially Grandpa, the wise old newspaperman, and Meredith's sister, Jill, who appoints herself as Mere's "pimp!" Ms. Miles has created a love story where REAL love can triumph over all! A perfect summer read!
This ARC edition was provided as part of the Release Day Post and Giveaway at Tome Tender on July 2, 2013!
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Series: Dare Valley, #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: Adult
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles starts out fluffy but builds into a nice, solid romantic read with a hint of danger! (Okay, more than a hint, lots of danger!) Her characters are completely believable, some are larger than life, some are sweetly cliched, some are totally lovable, especially Grandpa, the wise old newspaperman, and Meredith's sister, Jill, who appoints herself as Mere's "pimp!" Ms. Miles has created a love story where REAL love can triumph over all! A perfect summer read!
This ARC edition was provided as part of the Release Day Post and Giveaway at Tome Tender on July 2, 2013!
Publication Date: July 2, 2013
Series: Dare Valley, #1
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Recommendation: Adult
My Rating: 4.5 Stars
For more reviews check out Tome Tender's Book Blog or find us on Facebook.
December 4, 2013
The set up
Meredith Hale is still reeling from her recent divorce. Her slimy ex-husband accused her of having unrealistic expectations from their marriage because of her "obsession" with Nora Roberts romance books. She hasn't read any since the divorce, her confidence shaken and believing maybe he was right. Now he's planning a U. S. Senate run and wants her to keep quiet about the details of their split, insinuating publicly that she was the problem. Now she's out to prove her romance novels aren't fantasy and she's going to publish an article about her experience in her high profile newspaper.
The issues
Tanner McBride, an international correspondent who just returned from Afghanistan, is hired by Meredith's husband and blackmailed into wooing her and then dumping her. Problem is Tanner is really falling for Meredith and the two of them are also working closely together to uncover a drug ring in Dare Valley. It's dangerous business and Tanner is caught in a vicious situation.
What works about this story
The story takes place in Dare Valley, Colorado, Meredith's home town, and the small city dynamics work well (she decides her chances of finding her HEA are better there than New York City). Her grandfather, a nationally renowned newspaperman, and her younger sister, Jill, are strong personalities that make things even livelier. The family presence is important to the story and not just props or window dressing.
When I started this book, I was unaware of the suspense element and it was a very nice surprise. It added lots of tension and was woven very well with the romance and the mystery surrounding the drug ring. Tanner and Meredith worked as a couple, not lacking for steam or sensuality, and she made him work hard. And, the payoff was excellent.
Of course, there were many references to Nora Roberts titles and characters so if you're a fan, as I am, it's a pretty nice trip down memory lane.
Why not 5 stars?
Meredith drove me a bit nuts with her insecurities, considering she was an accomplished journalist in a high profile job and from a well known newspaper family. I had a tough time seeing her in that role given how easily she lost confidence and fell prone to panics. Not a big nit, but it was there.
The bottom line
I loved this story! Honestly, I thought it might be a little cheesy (NOT) and couldn't be happier to have discovered this gem. It's well written with strong character development, an interesting plot and plenty of emotional tension. I am so utterly addicted to this series and am almost finished with the second book. And, I plan to jump right into the third.
Meredith Hale is still reeling from her recent divorce. Her slimy ex-husband accused her of having unrealistic expectations from their marriage because of her "obsession" with Nora Roberts romance books. She hasn't read any since the divorce, her confidence shaken and believing maybe he was right. Now he's planning a U. S. Senate run and wants her to keep quiet about the details of their split, insinuating publicly that she was the problem. Now she's out to prove her romance novels aren't fantasy and she's going to publish an article about her experience in her high profile newspaper.
The issues
Tanner McBride, an international correspondent who just returned from Afghanistan, is hired by Meredith's husband and blackmailed into wooing her and then dumping her. Problem is Tanner is really falling for Meredith and the two of them are also working closely together to uncover a drug ring in Dare Valley. It's dangerous business and Tanner is caught in a vicious situation.
What works about this story
The story takes place in Dare Valley, Colorado, Meredith's home town, and the small city dynamics work well (she decides her chances of finding her HEA are better there than New York City). Her grandfather, a nationally renowned newspaperman, and her younger sister, Jill, are strong personalities that make things even livelier. The family presence is important to the story and not just props or window dressing.
When I started this book, I was unaware of the suspense element and it was a very nice surprise. It added lots of tension and was woven very well with the romance and the mystery surrounding the drug ring. Tanner and Meredith worked as a couple, not lacking for steam or sensuality, and she made him work hard. And, the payoff was excellent.
Of course, there were many references to Nora Roberts titles and characters so if you're a fan, as I am, it's a pretty nice trip down memory lane.
Why not 5 stars?
Meredith drove me a bit nuts with her insecurities, considering she was an accomplished journalist in a high profile job and from a well known newspaper family. I had a tough time seeing her in that role given how easily she lost confidence and fell prone to panics. Not a big nit, but it was there.
The bottom line
I loved this story! Honestly, I thought it might be a little cheesy (NOT) and couldn't be happier to have discovered this gem. It's well written with strong character development, an interesting plot and plenty of emotional tension. I am so utterly addicted to this series and am almost finished with the second book. And, I plan to jump right into the third.
August 20, 2017
While this isn't the best book I've ever read, I did thoroughly enjoy it nonetheless! Nora Roberts books have always been a guilty pleasure of mine so when my aunt gave me this book, I knew I had to read it.
And I'm glad I did because it was exactly how I expected it to be, a fun and entertaining story that didn't require me to think too much. It was a tad bit predictable at times but let's be serious, pretty much all books of this type are a bit predictable because they kind of all follow the same formula.
But I did still enjoy it very much! Especially the elements of mystery and mayhem that were thrown in, they definitely spiced up the story a bit and intrigued me. And I thought the ending was perfect and just the happy ending I was rooting for to happen!
And I'm glad I did because it was exactly how I expected it to be, a fun and entertaining story that didn't require me to think too much. It was a tad bit predictable at times but let's be serious, pretty much all books of this type are a bit predictable because they kind of all follow the same formula.
But I did still enjoy it very much! Especially the elements of mystery and mayhem that were thrown in, they definitely spiced up the story a bit and intrigued me. And I thought the ending was perfect and just the happy ending I was rooting for to happen!
September 21, 2014
Book seemed like it would be cute, but its definitely meh. Way too many Nora Robert's references. Did the girls in this book never read any other romance novels? She's not the only good author out there!
Meredith has super high standards too - no wonder she can't find a man. I found her serial dating and how they made fun of the guys behind their back insulting instead of funny. For example, Meredith can't date guys who weigh less than her, because she 'has principles'. I guess someone should have told me about that rule before I married my husband. She won't date an ob-gyn, because he 'has his face in girls hoo-hahs all day'. They make fun of this guy and call him the cheese-man, because he owns a cheese shop and really likes cheese. He seemed perfectly nice. Very unfair. Of course, this new journalist man is just soooo sexy and perfect and such a nice and great guy. He didn't seem very nice to me, he was coming on ridiculously strong. The language too was odd. They hugged like long lost pretzels? And she kept using , 'her skin felt stretched' to describe when they were turned on. That doesn't sound sexy to me, it sounds uncomfortable.
So, if you really really love Nora Roberts, you MIGHT like this book. If not, don't bother reading it, it's just okay.
Meredith has super high standards too - no wonder she can't find a man. I found her serial dating and how they made fun of the guys behind their back insulting instead of funny. For example, Meredith can't date guys who weigh less than her, because she 'has principles'. I guess someone should have told me about that rule before I married my husband. She won't date an ob-gyn, because he 'has his face in girls hoo-hahs all day'. They make fun of this guy and call him the cheese-man, because he owns a cheese shop and really likes cheese. He seemed perfectly nice. Very unfair. Of course, this new journalist man is just soooo sexy and perfect and such a nice and great guy. He didn't seem very nice to me, he was coming on ridiculously strong. The language too was odd. They hugged like long lost pretzels? And she kept using , 'her skin felt stretched' to describe when they were turned on. That doesn't sound sexy to me, it sounds uncomfortable.
So, if you really really love Nora Roberts, you MIGHT like this book. If not, don't bother reading it, it's just okay.
September 15, 2013
3.5★'s - Being a fan of Nora Roberts, of course this book caught my attention. What a great set up to a story. Nora Roberts books killed a marriage. Funny. As an avid reader, well, obsessive reader, I think I have had something very similar happen to me. I've been told a time or two that "it is just fiction" so I loved where this was coming from. I enjoyed the story and the characters. It was a lot more heavy in the suspense part then I anticipated and that was welcome. All of the references to Nora's books was also well done. Overall I really enjoyed the book. It seemed way too long though and getting to the real meat of the story seemed to take forever. I would have preferred a real epilogue instead of the article but there are more books so I am sure we will get to see where our couple is now. Not disappointed I read it at all and would consider continuing the series.
**ARC provided by Aspendawn Books via NetGalley for an honest review**
**ARC provided by Aspendawn Books via NetGalley for an honest review**
December 30, 2014
2.5 Stars
I feel like I don't know what to think of this book. Obviously, reading a book called 'Nora Roberts Land' suggests that there are going to be some references to Nora's books and since I'm a big fan of Nora's writing I figured that would be fine.....but it just rubbed me the wrong way. I think it's because of the sheer number of times a book/character of Nora's were mentioned - it was too much. I just felt like it crossed the line from being 'similar to Nora' ( a good thing) to 'trying to BE Nora' (not a good thing).
For example - and keep in mind that I'm a big Nora fan and know all of her characters by name - if I saw a man who for some reason reminded me of a Nora charcter, I might think to myself "huh, that guy kinda reminds me of Bradley Vane". I would not think to myself "huh, that guy kind of reminds me of Bradley Vane, the home improvement chain mogul from the third book of Nora Roberts' Key Trilogy". I'm thinking these thoughts. In my head. I KNOW what book he's from and what his profession was so why would I need to stick in a long-winded explanation TO MYSELF about something I already know? Meredith, and to a lesser extent Jill, did this allllll the time and it got really irritating. Logically, I know it was probably for the benefit of any readers who don't know the characters being mentioned, but the way it was done just didn't flow naturally for me.
Furthermore, because I do know all the characters that Meredith and Jill referenced in this book, I felt like I was constantly being distracted from the book in my hands by the mentions of Nora's books. As soon as she would start making comparisons to one of Nora's books/characters/plot lines I immediately started thinking back to what happened in that book and lost my focus on what was happening in this one. It's kinda sad because I feel like Ava's characters would have been interesting enough on their own and they didn't need the constant comparisons to Nora's characters.
So at the end of the day, even though I actually did like some of the characters in this book, it just ended up feeling too much like Nora Roberts fan fiction to make me respect it as its own thing. Having said that, if Jill and Brian's book spends less time talking about another authors work and more time focusing on its own story it might actually be really good.
Also - I do know that most people here have rated this book 4-5 stars so it goes without saying that this is just my opinion and clearly many people really enjoyed this book :)
I feel like I don't know what to think of this book. Obviously, reading a book called 'Nora Roberts Land' suggests that there are going to be some references to Nora's books and since I'm a big fan of Nora's writing I figured that would be fine.....but it just rubbed me the wrong way. I think it's because of the sheer number of times a book/character of Nora's were mentioned - it was too much. I just felt like it crossed the line from being 'similar to Nora' ( a good thing) to 'trying to BE Nora' (not a good thing).
For example - and keep in mind that I'm a big Nora fan and know all of her characters by name - if I saw a man who for some reason reminded me of a Nora charcter, I might think to myself "huh, that guy kinda reminds me of Bradley Vane". I would not think to myself "huh, that guy kind of reminds me of Bradley Vane, the home improvement chain mogul from the third book of Nora Roberts' Key Trilogy". I'm thinking these thoughts. In my head. I KNOW what book he's from and what his profession was so why would I need to stick in a long-winded explanation TO MYSELF about something I already know? Meredith, and to a lesser extent Jill, did this allllll the time and it got really irritating. Logically, I know it was probably for the benefit of any readers who don't know the characters being mentioned, but the way it was done just didn't flow naturally for me.
Furthermore, because I do know all the characters that Meredith and Jill referenced in this book, I felt like I was constantly being distracted from the book in my hands by the mentions of Nora's books. As soon as she would start making comparisons to one of Nora's books/characters/plot lines I immediately started thinking back to what happened in that book and lost my focus on what was happening in this one. It's kinda sad because I feel like Ava's characters would have been interesting enough on their own and they didn't need the constant comparisons to Nora's characters.
So at the end of the day, even though I actually did like some of the characters in this book, it just ended up feeling too much like Nora Roberts fan fiction to make me respect it as its own thing. Having said that, if Jill and Brian's book spends less time talking about another authors work and more time focusing on its own story it might actually be really good.
Also - I do know that most people here have rated this book 4-5 stars so it goes without saying that this is just my opinion and clearly many people really enjoyed this book :)
March 30, 2020
I loved this. It was perfect. I cannot believe I had this on my Kindle for so long. Nora Roberts Land, indeed! The epilogue summed it up perfectly! Now, I have to re-read some of my Nora Roberts books. Always a good thing! ;)
July 9, 2018
Another liked it but didn't love it book for me. It was a nice enough read and I did enjoy the Nora Roberts and J D Robb references as I do love her books. I found myself skimming in the middle as it was starting to fall flat for me.
Thankfully it did pick up towards the end though. The author did a nice job wrapping everything up.
The setting for the story was in Colorado. I have a soft spot for the state. ❤ Its beauty is breathtaking. Here is one of my favorite spots. Maroon Bells. If you every have a chance to go there it is worth the steep drive up the mountain to see it. :)
September 16, 2013
OMG!! If you love Nora Roberts you will love Ava Miles. For being her first book you'd never know it. Her writing style is great and easy to get into. Loved the setting of the book, Loved the characters so much was sad and happy when the book ended. Looking forward to the next book in the Dare Valley series.
It reminded me of Nora's small town romances you read about in her books. Definitely a author to look for great things to come.
It reminded me of Nora's small town romances you read about in her books. Definitely a author to look for great things to come.
September 17, 2013
Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles
Let me begin by saying that I am a major J.D. Robb fan. I have read all the In Death books more than once. The only other Nora Roberts’s books I have read are the Boonsboro Inn Trilogy. For those that do not know, that amounts to over thirty books! So when I saw this book and read the cover write upm I was instantly in. What fan wouldn’t be? The premise is cute and trying to find a Nora love is what many hope for in life.
Meredith is dealing with an ass of an ex and is trying to rebuild herself after a divorce. She has finally admitted to herself that it was never really love, and as he puts it, “reality and not some romance book”. He just wanted her for her family name and connections.
But Meredith has a plan; she is going to find herself real romance - just like a Nora Roberts book heroine does. Armed with her confidence booster (expensive undergarments), she will become her very own super woman.
Her ex, however, has other ideas of what will happen. Scared that Meredith will use her knowledge of his past misdeeds against him in his bid for political gain, he devises a plan: find a guy to make her fall in love and then break her heart. I won’t go on as you can read the cover write up and get the rest from there.
So, my real thoughts and feelings after I have read it…. meh. I liked Meredith, but her sister annoyed me to no end. Not every sentence spoken has to be a funny one and it just seemed forced to me. After the third joke in a row, it’s not fun anymore. All the stores in town had to have a play on words…it just seemed like overkill.
There are MANY references to Nora Roberts’s books throughout. But if you are like me and haven’t read them all you won’t get the references. I was left confused at times with all the comparisons. But if you are an avid fan I am sure you’ll get it.
The story also unexpectedly changes directions. I didn’t go in expecting a mystery to solve, but I got one. It was a bit predictable yet fun none the less.
To sum it up: diehard fans will more than likely love it. I myself give it a respectable three stars; wasn’t blown out of the water, but I did enjoy it. I won’t be following the series to come though.
3 STARS
T~
*Given via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
www.ktbookreviews.com
Let me begin by saying that I am a major J.D. Robb fan. I have read all the In Death books more than once. The only other Nora Roberts’s books I have read are the Boonsboro Inn Trilogy. For those that do not know, that amounts to over thirty books! So when I saw this book and read the cover write upm I was instantly in. What fan wouldn’t be? The premise is cute and trying to find a Nora love is what many hope for in life.
Meredith is dealing with an ass of an ex and is trying to rebuild herself after a divorce. She has finally admitted to herself that it was never really love, and as he puts it, “reality and not some romance book”. He just wanted her for her family name and connections.
But Meredith has a plan; she is going to find herself real romance - just like a Nora Roberts book heroine does. Armed with her confidence booster (expensive undergarments), she will become her very own super woman.
Her ex, however, has other ideas of what will happen. Scared that Meredith will use her knowledge of his past misdeeds against him in his bid for political gain, he devises a plan: find a guy to make her fall in love and then break her heart. I won’t go on as you can read the cover write up and get the rest from there.
So, my real thoughts and feelings after I have read it…. meh. I liked Meredith, but her sister annoyed me to no end. Not every sentence spoken has to be a funny one and it just seemed forced to me. After the third joke in a row, it’s not fun anymore. All the stores in town had to have a play on words…it just seemed like overkill.
There are MANY references to Nora Roberts’s books throughout. But if you are like me and haven’t read them all you won’t get the references. I was left confused at times with all the comparisons. But if you are an avid fan I am sure you’ll get it.
The story also unexpectedly changes directions. I didn’t go in expecting a mystery to solve, but I got one. It was a bit predictable yet fun none the less.
To sum it up: diehard fans will more than likely love it. I myself give it a respectable three stars; wasn’t blown out of the water, but I did enjoy it. I won’t be following the series to come though.
3 STARS
T~
*Given via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
www.ktbookreviews.com
April 8, 2014
I like this book very much.
The author has a similar writing style to Nora what is a very great plus of the book.
It is possible not to like heroes. The inner voice of the heroine introduced the humour.
As its title indicates author and heroine are fans of the work of Nora Roberts. Mentioned in the book are the names and titles of her books. I will admit that as Nora's fan I had a problem with assigning the surname to the title sometimes. Evidently time for a re-read.
With pleasure I will read next books from Dare Valley series.
The author has a similar writing style to Nora what is a very great plus of the book.
It is possible not to like heroes. The inner voice of the heroine introduced the humour.
As its title indicates author and heroine are fans of the work of Nora Roberts. Mentioned in the book are the names and titles of her books. I will admit that as Nora's fan I had a problem with assigning the surname to the title sometimes. Evidently time for a re-read.
With pleasure I will read next books from Dare Valley series.
July 15, 2013
This book is so well written and heart warming! It has everything you look for in a romance novel... great writing, strong characters, hot men, great dialogue and did I mention hot men?! Ms. Miles is an incredibly talented writer and this being her 1st book, well I just can't wait for the rest! A MUST read for all!!
February 11, 2014
I loved this book! In fact, it made my list of top reads of 2013. Using Nora Roberts' books and characters as touch stones in this book brought a smile to my face. It was a clever premise, but Ava didn't really need any help. Her book is a great read.
July 6, 2013
Journalist Meredith Hale’s ex-husband, Rick, claimed her love for Nora Roberts novels caused their marriage to fall apart. True love and happily ever after — aka Nora Roberts Land — simply don’t exist, or so he said. Meredith’s not so sure. Now single and armed with La Perla lingerie, Meredith trades in Manhattan for her hometown of Dare Valley. Ostensibly, she’s helping out her father and grandfather by temporarily taking a position at her family’s newspaper. But Meredith has a secret story in mind; she’s going to prove that Nora Roberts Land is real by finding her own small-town Nora Roberts hero.
Tanner McBride has finally come home after years working as a war correspondent. But his new job at a Manhattan newspaper isn’t at all what he expected. In fact, it’s not a job for a journalist at all. Rick Sommerville, his new employer, wants Tanner to travel to Dare Valley, Colorado and ruin his ex-wife’s story. Rick’s worried some of his past bad deeds will come out in Meredith’s article, so his solution is to have Tanner make Meredith fall in love with him and then break her heart. If Tanner doesn’t do as Rick says, his brother’s life will be ruined. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Tanner travels to Dare Valley, determined to find a way out of the mess he finds himself in. What he doesn’t expect is to fall for the woman who’s supposed to be his target.
After her horrendous marriage, Meredith has no desire to date another journalist. But when she and Tanner begin to investigate a suspicious death, the pull they feel toward one another becomes impossible to deny. Could it be that Tanner is her real-life Nora Roberts hero?
Enter the world of Dare Valley with Nora Roberts Land. Ava Miles’s debut novel is warm, funny, and wholly entertaining.
Meredith is a divorcée who’s been burned by love once and isn’t altogether sure how to start over when it comes to dating. It was wonderful to watch Meredith learn how to put herself out there and open her heart once more. It’s hard for her to trust Tanner in the beginning — even not knowing what his true reason for being in Dare Valley is — but I can’t blame her for falling for the sexy journalist. Tanner’s handsome, caring, and intelligent; he’s definitely a good Nora Roberts-type hero and every bit the perfect man for Meredith. As a pair, Meredith and Tanner are excellent and I was charmed by their romance. Equally compelling was the plotline involving Meredith and Tanner’s investigation into a suspicious death. Ms. Miles wove in an interesting suspense storyline here, one filled with twists and turns, some of which are sure to surprise readers as much as they shocked Meredith and Tanner.
It’d be impossible for me to write about Nora Roberts Land without mentioning the titular author. I’ll admit the reason I picked up the book was because of the title. I’m a huge Nora Roberts fan and fortunately Ms. Miles is as well. I’d feel cheated if the title was simply a gimmick, but it’s not. Ms. Miles shows true respect and affection for Ms. Roberts’s work and I absolutely loved all the references to Ms. Roberts’s characters and stories. While Ms. Roberts is referenced often in Nora Roberts Land, make no mistake that this book is very much its own story. Ms. Miles has created a fascinating and fun town in Dare Valley and I’m very much looking forward to continuing the series with Jill Hale’s book.
So if you’re looking to be spirited away by a lovely romance, take a trip to Ava Miles Land — you won’t regret it.
Reviewed by Shayna for Joyfully Reviewed
Tanner McBride has finally come home after years working as a war correspondent. But his new job at a Manhattan newspaper isn’t at all what he expected. In fact, it’s not a job for a journalist at all. Rick Sommerville, his new employer, wants Tanner to travel to Dare Valley, Colorado and ruin his ex-wife’s story. Rick’s worried some of his past bad deeds will come out in Meredith’s article, so his solution is to have Tanner make Meredith fall in love with him and then break her heart. If Tanner doesn’t do as Rick says, his brother’s life will be ruined. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Tanner travels to Dare Valley, determined to find a way out of the mess he finds himself in. What he doesn’t expect is to fall for the woman who’s supposed to be his target.
After her horrendous marriage, Meredith has no desire to date another journalist. But when she and Tanner begin to investigate a suspicious death, the pull they feel toward one another becomes impossible to deny. Could it be that Tanner is her real-life Nora Roberts hero?
Enter the world of Dare Valley with Nora Roberts Land. Ava Miles’s debut novel is warm, funny, and wholly entertaining.
Meredith is a divorcée who’s been burned by love once and isn’t altogether sure how to start over when it comes to dating. It was wonderful to watch Meredith learn how to put herself out there and open her heart once more. It’s hard for her to trust Tanner in the beginning — even not knowing what his true reason for being in Dare Valley is — but I can’t blame her for falling for the sexy journalist. Tanner’s handsome, caring, and intelligent; he’s definitely a good Nora Roberts-type hero and every bit the perfect man for Meredith. As a pair, Meredith and Tanner are excellent and I was charmed by their romance. Equally compelling was the plotline involving Meredith and Tanner’s investigation into a suspicious death. Ms. Miles wove in an interesting suspense storyline here, one filled with twists and turns, some of which are sure to surprise readers as much as they shocked Meredith and Tanner.
It’d be impossible for me to write about Nora Roberts Land without mentioning the titular author. I’ll admit the reason I picked up the book was because of the title. I’m a huge Nora Roberts fan and fortunately Ms. Miles is as well. I’d feel cheated if the title was simply a gimmick, but it’s not. Ms. Miles shows true respect and affection for Ms. Roberts’s work and I absolutely loved all the references to Ms. Roberts’s characters and stories. While Ms. Roberts is referenced often in Nora Roberts Land, make no mistake that this book is very much its own story. Ms. Miles has created a fascinating and fun town in Dare Valley and I’m very much looking forward to continuing the series with Jill Hale’s book.
So if you’re looking to be spirited away by a lovely romance, take a trip to Ava Miles Land — you won’t regret it.
Reviewed by Shayna for Joyfully Reviewed
November 2, 2015
Okay, so I was loving this book to the moon and back in the beginning. I only gave it 3 stars, why is that? I'll get to it.
My pros were as follows. I got my hands on this book because I am a huge Nora Roberts fan. Guilty pleasure and all that. I saw her name and of course I had to get it!
From the beginning I was already itching to find out exactly how Meredith and Tanner would meet. Their circumstances were pretty unique. I was seriously almost biting my nails here, which is something I never do.
As I mentioned, I love Nora and it was ridiculously fun and exciting to read about the titles I have already read and could automatically say, "yup, I know what she's talking about!" I've never related to a book so much!
I felt like the article at the end was the best way to finish this and it earned this book another star for it.
I like the journalist Meredith more than the actual book Meredith. Also, Tanner is my favorite character in this book, everybody else didn't really cut it for me.
Now, for my cons, which is what knocked off some stars. I started losing interest around the middle of the book which is why it took me more than a day to read. This book drove me into a mini slump, I can't say that has happened to me before. I didn't like the fact that a grown woman talked to herself, or her alter ego as she calls it.
Now, to my main con. I HATE forced first kisses. When the hero of the book says (not particularly this book), "You know what? Screw it." and just forcefully grabs the heroine...it's annoying, not swoon worthy. Nora Roberts has a reputation for these too and I honestly don't find that romantic at all. It robs me of my romantic experience. It's not genuine to me, if a man forced himself on me I would be turned off not melt in his arms like their heroines. Once is fine, but twice and two different couples??? No, thank you. Glad I gave it a shot though.
My pros were as follows. I got my hands on this book because I am a huge Nora Roberts fan. Guilty pleasure and all that. I saw her name and of course I had to get it!
From the beginning I was already itching to find out exactly how Meredith and Tanner would meet. Their circumstances were pretty unique. I was seriously almost biting my nails here, which is something I never do.
As I mentioned, I love Nora and it was ridiculously fun and exciting to read about the titles I have already read and could automatically say, "yup, I know what she's talking about!" I've never related to a book so much!
I felt like the article at the end was the best way to finish this and it earned this book another star for it.
I like the journalist Meredith more than the actual book Meredith. Also, Tanner is my favorite character in this book, everybody else didn't really cut it for me.
Now, for my cons, which is what knocked off some stars. I started losing interest around the middle of the book which is why it took me more than a day to read. This book drove me into a mini slump, I can't say that has happened to me before. I didn't like the fact that a grown woman talked to herself, or her alter ego as she calls it.
Now, to my main con. I HATE forced first kisses. When the hero of the book says (not particularly this book), "You know what? Screw it." and just forcefully grabs the heroine...it's annoying, not swoon worthy. Nora Roberts has a reputation for these too and I honestly don't find that romantic at all. It robs me of my romantic experience. It's not genuine to me, if a man forced himself on me I would be turned off not melt in his arms like their heroines. Once is fine, but twice and two different couples??? No, thank you. Glad I gave it a shot though.
August 4, 2014
So I only got about 25% in to this book and I was bored brainless. I don't mind a Nora Roberts romance but this reads like a catalogue - the number of titles, characters, places, etc. that are mentioned makes this one big advertorial. And it is BIG about 550 pages on ibooks. The setup for the story feels really predictable, the characters are formulaic, and quite frankly it is just wordy - GET AN EDITOR!! One that is not scared to use a giant red pen to cross out all the unnecessary words.
June 19, 2016
This review was originally posted to Jen in Bookland
Nora Roberts Land was just an eh read. It was...well first off maybe I should say I have only ever read one Nora Roberts book. So the plethora of references to her books and characters didn't do anything for me. There were times when it was large chunks of text just naming characters from different books and it just didn't work for me especially because I did not know the characters. Even if I did I don't know that it would have been much better.
Then we have the story. It was just...I am not sure what would make this "Nora Roberts" like instead of just a romance. Plus the people made stupid decisions that didn't make a lot of sense at time, add in a kind of lame "mystery" where you know who did it from the beginning (not in a I think it is this person, but in a this is the person who is doing it, now let's see if we can catch him kind of way) and you have just an eh read.
Meredith has gotten out of a bad marriage. Her husband was cheating on her and blamed her reading these Nora Roberts book for their issues. According to him they put these fancy ideas in her head that don't actually exist in the real world so nothing could live up to her books. Sure okay, but he is a horrible person regardless. She is a bit shaky, a bit unsure of herself, but trying to move on. When she has to go back home to help out her family paper she decides that she will find her own Nora Roberts hero there, fall in love, and prove that it does exist in real life. Plus she is going to write about her adventures. And her evil ex can't have that because...well I don't really know why he would care that much, but he does.
Tanner is a war correspondent who has just come back to the states. His brother had some missteps in his past, and Meredith's ex is using that to blackmail him into making her fall in love with him so he can break her heart. Now here is where I really don't understand the story. Tanner meets Meredith before he knows it is her and wants to get to know her better. But then he finds out she is the one he is supposed to hurt and he is conflicted. He likes her, so he doesn't want to hurt her, but his brother...how can he fail to protect his brother? Now why Tanner didn't just immediately go to Meredith and tell her what her jerk ex was doing I have no idea. She hates her ex so...wouldn't she then just help him out and they could figure out a way to thwart him together? Probably, but he doesn't say anything because...I have no idea why he doesn't. So of course you have them falling in love and Tanner all worrying about telling her so then she finds out in a bad way and there is conflict. Boo.
Through this all there is a subplot of a murder mystery. They know who is supplying kids with tainted drugs that has killed at least one person and then they need to find a way to prove that they did it so they can be put away. It was...I was not a fan of that subplot. Especially since they knew who did it the whole time. Overall it was just an average okay romance with plenty of Nora Roberts references. I didn't really understand why what happened proved that romance like in her books was in real life. It was just...two people fell in love. Isn't that what always happens, in books or in real life? I didn't really see anything special so...I didn't see the whole premise actually being played out. It was just an eh read for me.
Nora Roberts Land was just an eh read. It was...well first off maybe I should say I have only ever read one Nora Roberts book. So the plethora of references to her books and characters didn't do anything for me. There were times when it was large chunks of text just naming characters from different books and it just didn't work for me especially because I did not know the characters. Even if I did I don't know that it would have been much better.
Then we have the story. It was just...I am not sure what would make this "Nora Roberts" like instead of just a romance. Plus the people made stupid decisions that didn't make a lot of sense at time, add in a kind of lame "mystery" where you know who did it from the beginning (not in a I think it is this person, but in a this is the person who is doing it, now let's see if we can catch him kind of way) and you have just an eh read.
Meredith has gotten out of a bad marriage. Her husband was cheating on her and blamed her reading these Nora Roberts book for their issues. According to him they put these fancy ideas in her head that don't actually exist in the real world so nothing could live up to her books. Sure okay, but he is a horrible person regardless. She is a bit shaky, a bit unsure of herself, but trying to move on. When she has to go back home to help out her family paper she decides that she will find her own Nora Roberts hero there, fall in love, and prove that it does exist in real life. Plus she is going to write about her adventures. And her evil ex can't have that because...well I don't really know why he would care that much, but he does.
Tanner is a war correspondent who has just come back to the states. His brother had some missteps in his past, and Meredith's ex is using that to blackmail him into making her fall in love with him so he can break her heart. Now here is where I really don't understand the story. Tanner meets Meredith before he knows it is her and wants to get to know her better. But then he finds out she is the one he is supposed to hurt and he is conflicted. He likes her, so he doesn't want to hurt her, but his brother...how can he fail to protect his brother? Now why Tanner didn't just immediately go to Meredith and tell her what her jerk ex was doing I have no idea. She hates her ex so...wouldn't she then just help him out and they could figure out a way to thwart him together? Probably, but he doesn't say anything because...I have no idea why he doesn't. So of course you have them falling in love and Tanner all worrying about telling her so then she finds out in a bad way and there is conflict. Boo.
Through this all there is a subplot of a murder mystery. They know who is supplying kids with tainted drugs that has killed at least one person and then they need to find a way to prove that they did it so they can be put away. It was...I was not a fan of that subplot. Especially since they knew who did it the whole time. Overall it was just an average okay romance with plenty of Nora Roberts references. I didn't really understand why what happened proved that romance like in her books was in real life. It was just...two people fell in love. Isn't that what always happens, in books or in real life? I didn't really see anything special so...I didn't see the whole premise actually being played out. It was just an eh read for me.
June 12, 2014
I loved "NORA ROBERTS LAND" by Ava Miles. It is witty, intriguing, suspenseful and romantic. It's about love lost, hope and love found. It's about courage, heartbreak, relationships and family. The writing is excellent. The book grabbed my attention from the first, it's a hard book to put down once started so make sure you have time to read the whole book ASAP. It is also action filled with surprises and twists, the ending resolves in an unexpected way which makes it even more fun. For those of you who sensor your reading know that there is some foul language and explicit sex/love scenes. I was happy to see that a full relationship developed over time before "sex." Personally I choose to overlook the bad language which was used rarely and in content to the situation and character(s) involved, and I skim the "sex scenes" until the story line resumes. I cannot understand why Romance authors think they need to be so graphic during sex/love scenes. I personally like knowing they have engaged in a physical relationship and leave them at the bedroom (or whatever) door, then resume the story line. But that's just me. Should you choose to read this book you won't be disappointed. I rate Ava Miles right up there with Nora Roberts, I think she is a real contender and HIGHLY RECOMMEND "NORA ROBERTS LAND." I can't wait to read the sequel to the "Dare Valley Series" "FRENCH TOAST."
January 10, 2014
It is easy to tell that Ava has a love for writing, and is a true fan of Nora Roberts. I am also a Nora Roberts enthusiast, and I felt this book did great justice to her! This was a wonderfully written suspense novel that I think will make Nora proud. You loved all of the characters (except those you weren't supposed too). I can't wait for the other books in this series, and revisit Dare Valley. If you love a good suspense romance, then you will love this book!
Ava took us on a wonderful journey from the busy streets of New York City, the war torn Middle East, to a small town in Colorado. Meredith Hale had always loved reading Nora Robert's books. But her ex-husband had blamed her reading them for the cause of their divorce. Now that she had been divorced for a year she decided to reclaim that part of herself, and do something that she enjoyed. Meredith was going back to her small home town in Colorado to help with her family's business. She would only be there for a few months while her father took some much needed vacation time for his health. Tanner is a war correspondent who was just given an assignment. He must go to Colorado and make an innocent woman fall in love with him and then break her heart. It was a terrible job but he was given no choice but to take it. Sometimes love isn't always perfect, but if it's with the right person then it is worth it all in the end.
Ava took us on a wonderful journey from the busy streets of New York City, the war torn Middle East, to a small town in Colorado. Meredith Hale had always loved reading Nora Robert's books. But her ex-husband had blamed her reading them for the cause of their divorce. Now that she had been divorced for a year she decided to reclaim that part of herself, and do something that she enjoyed. Meredith was going back to her small home town in Colorado to help with her family's business. She would only be there for a few months while her father took some much needed vacation time for his health. Tanner is a war correspondent who was just given an assignment. He must go to Colorado and make an innocent woman fall in love with him and then break her heart. It was a terrible job but he was given no choice but to take it. Sometimes love isn't always perfect, but if it's with the right person then it is worth it all in the end.
February 15, 2016
I wanted to love this story, but I just didn't like the main character. She just got out of a bad relationship, and she looks at every man she meets as a piece of meat. She's starting a new job and needs to focus on it, but instead she's focused on the men. I had to put it down when I was a quarter of the way into the book and discovered that I just didn't really want to read it.
March 12, 2025
I liked all the Nora Roberts references (love me some Nora), but, overall the story was just 'ok'.
August 3, 2016
It's definitely meah :/
Not even as good as the worst Nora Robert's book.
Not even as good as the worst Nora Robert's book.
April 5, 2016
terrible.
February 9, 2017
~2.5 stars~
This made for an "ok" romance. It was a predictable and pretty simple, but for a freebie I cant complain much.
This made for an "ok" romance. It was a predictable and pretty simple, but for a freebie I cant complain much.
June 16, 2016
This review first appeared on Romance With a Book.
I have had ‘Nora Roberts Land’ by Ava Miles on my TBR pile for a while now, and finally got the chance to read it. I also downloaded the audible audiobook to alternate between listening and reading. I mostly listened. I gave this book 3.5 hearts.
I liked the story, the town, the characters, and the plot.Meredith Hale is a recently divorced woman set on empowering herself, and NEVER letting another man get too close to her. So she invented an alter ego for herself, Divorcee Woman, and went out and bought herself a slew of La Perla under garments. Armed with silk and lace, Wonder Woman has nothing on her.
Meredith is an investigative journalist, and goes back to her home town, Dare Valley, to watch over her grandfather, and help with the family paper. She also plans on proving her ex-husband wrong by finding her own, Nora Roberts, hero. Rick blames Nora Roberts for their divorce. Claiming Nora’s books give women unrealistic expectations about love and marriages. Ha, right!
Tanner McBride is a War Correspondent, and his new boss (Rick) has given him a new assignment, seduce his ex-wife. He is supposed to make Meredith fall in love with him, and keep her from writing a story, and airing all his dirty laundry to the world. He didn’t plan on falling in love with her.
I liked Meredith, and she said some really funny things throughout the book that made me laugh out loud. I liked the fact that she was moving on after her divorce, and not crying in a corner somewhere. She was a funny, smart, and strong heroine. I also liked the fact that this story was full of more than just romance. There is suspense, and crime solving in this book too. The first half of the book moved a little slow, but after that the plot moved along nicely. The action in the book is not ‘edge of your set, biting your nails’ kind, but it did the job nicely.
I liked Tanner as the hero. Meredith compares Tanner to ‘Roarke’ (the hero in J.D. Robb’s novels) throughout the book, and he measures up nicely. Jill, Meredith’s sister was likeable, and I can’t wait to see what happens with her in the next book. I enjoy stories that are set in small towns, and Dare Valley fit that bill.
The author did a good job of showing what was going on throughout the story, and not just telling. There are a few hot sexual encounters in this book between the H & H, but they are not vulgar or nasty in any way.
There were a few things that did drive me a little crazy about this book. Meredith and Jill kept referring to her ex-husband as ‘Rick the D*ck’. He was a d*ck, but it was said many, many times in the first half of the book. Too many times in fact. In the first half of the book there was also quite a bit of breast tightening when Meredith looked at Tanner. It was just said way too many times. With those things aside I enjoyed Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles, and will be giving book 2 in the ‘Dare Valley’ series a try.
The narrator of the Audible audiobook did a wonderful job narrating this story. I could tell the differences between each character . She gave them each their own voice. She narrated with expression in her voice, and not a flat, monotone. I would definitely listen to other books she narrates in the future if the occasion should arise.
I was given a free eCopy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
I have had ‘Nora Roberts Land’ by Ava Miles on my TBR pile for a while now, and finally got the chance to read it. I also downloaded the audible audiobook to alternate between listening and reading. I mostly listened. I gave this book 3.5 hearts.
I liked the story, the town, the characters, and the plot.Meredith Hale is a recently divorced woman set on empowering herself, and NEVER letting another man get too close to her. So she invented an alter ego for herself, Divorcee Woman, and went out and bought herself a slew of La Perla under garments. Armed with silk and lace, Wonder Woman has nothing on her.
Meredith is an investigative journalist, and goes back to her home town, Dare Valley, to watch over her grandfather, and help with the family paper. She also plans on proving her ex-husband wrong by finding her own, Nora Roberts, hero. Rick blames Nora Roberts for their divorce. Claiming Nora’s books give women unrealistic expectations about love and marriages. Ha, right!
Tanner McBride is a War Correspondent, and his new boss (Rick) has given him a new assignment, seduce his ex-wife. He is supposed to make Meredith fall in love with him, and keep her from writing a story, and airing all his dirty laundry to the world. He didn’t plan on falling in love with her.
I liked Meredith, and she said some really funny things throughout the book that made me laugh out loud. I liked the fact that she was moving on after her divorce, and not crying in a corner somewhere. She was a funny, smart, and strong heroine. I also liked the fact that this story was full of more than just romance. There is suspense, and crime solving in this book too. The first half of the book moved a little slow, but after that the plot moved along nicely. The action in the book is not ‘edge of your set, biting your nails’ kind, but it did the job nicely.
I liked Tanner as the hero. Meredith compares Tanner to ‘Roarke’ (the hero in J.D. Robb’s novels) throughout the book, and he measures up nicely. Jill, Meredith’s sister was likeable, and I can’t wait to see what happens with her in the next book. I enjoy stories that are set in small towns, and Dare Valley fit that bill.
The author did a good job of showing what was going on throughout the story, and not just telling. There are a few hot sexual encounters in this book between the H & H, but they are not vulgar or nasty in any way.
There were a few things that did drive me a little crazy about this book. Meredith and Jill kept referring to her ex-husband as ‘Rick the D*ck’. He was a d*ck, but it was said many, many times in the first half of the book. Too many times in fact. In the first half of the book there was also quite a bit of breast tightening when Meredith looked at Tanner. It was just said way too many times. With those things aside I enjoyed Nora Roberts Land by Ava Miles, and will be giving book 2 in the ‘Dare Valley’ series a try.
The narrator of the Audible audiobook did a wonderful job narrating this story. I could tell the differences between each character . She gave them each their own voice. She narrated with expression in her voice, and not a flat, monotone. I would definitely listen to other books she narrates in the future if the occasion should arise.
I was given a free eCopy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.
November 3, 2015
I love stories that take place in small town communities. So I looked forward to be introduced to a new series of romantic novels that took me to Dare, a small town in the Rocky Mountains, CO. We follow Meredith Hale, a young former journalist who, still suffering from a nasty divorce, returns from NYC to her home town to help out in their family-owned very reputed newspaper. In the past, Meredith had spunk but she lost all her confidence when her ex-husband betrayed her.
Let me get to the point: I didn’t particularly grow warm for the romance between Meredith and newcomer Tanner McBride. In the sense that I am not a fan of the fluttering, stuttering, heart-palpitating scenarios in romance. It’s too cookie-cutter, and should I say, it was also a bit silly at times. Meredith trying to go on dates with all the single men in the town, was not even funny.
As for the secondary cast, I enjoyed the pages where grandpa Hale was featured. Not sure about sister Jill though. She seems a bit flaky. Wish more townspeople were introduced to set their place in the community - and other normal town folks had more dialogue to give it more authenticity. Now it felt that there were only the Hales, Tanner, some students, and of course the bad guys.
What I’m saying overall, is that I missed some common sense and depth. Nonetheless, I think I will try some other books in the series, when I feel a craving for fairy-tale light romance, because there were cute moments, so there’s still hope. – Overall 2,5 rating.
Let me get to the point: I didn’t particularly grow warm for the romance between Meredith and newcomer Tanner McBride. In the sense that I am not a fan of the fluttering, stuttering, heart-palpitating scenarios in romance. It’s too cookie-cutter, and should I say, it was also a bit silly at times. Meredith trying to go on dates with all the single men in the town, was not even funny.
As for the secondary cast, I enjoyed the pages where grandpa Hale was featured. Not sure about sister Jill though. She seems a bit flaky. Wish more townspeople were introduced to set their place in the community - and other normal town folks had more dialogue to give it more authenticity. Now it felt that there were only the Hales, Tanner, some students, and of course the bad guys.
What I’m saying overall, is that I missed some common sense and depth. Nonetheless, I think I will try some other books in the series, when I feel a craving for fairy-tale light romance, because there were cute moments, so there’s still hope. – Overall 2,5 rating.
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