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Unexpected: Local Hero / Unfinished Business
Local Hero
Comic-book writer Mitch Dempsey creates heroes, but he's never seen himself as one — until Hester Wallace moves into the apartment upstairs, that is. When Hester's son, Radley, finds out his new neighbour is the brain behind his favourite superhero...well, Mitch might as well be Commander Zark. He can do no wrong as far as Radley is concerned, but Hester isn't as easy to win over. Still, there's something about the shy, single mum that intrigues Mitch...and makes him long to love, honour and protect her forever.
Unfinished Business
Hyattown had changed very little in the years Vanessa Sexton had been away. In some ways her high school sweetheart, Brady Tucker, hadn't changed much either — he was still lean, athletic, rugged...But the once reckless boy had become a solid, dependable man. He'd stood her up on the most important night of her life; could she ever trust him again?
Vanessa had finally come home! She could still turn Brady inside out with one of her sultry looks. He couldn't believe she hadn't forgiven him for that night twelve years ago — but he'd had his reasons for not showing up. He'd let her leave town then — but he wasn't going to let her get away this time...
Comic-book writer Mitch Dempsey creates heroes, but he's never seen himself as one — until Hester Wallace moves into the apartment upstairs, that is. When Hester's son, Radley, finds out his new neighbour is the brain behind his favourite superhero...well, Mitch might as well be Commander Zark. He can do no wrong as far as Radley is concerned, but Hester isn't as easy to win over. Still, there's something about the shy, single mum that intrigues Mitch...and makes him long to love, honour and protect her forever.
Unfinished Business
Hyattown had changed very little in the years Vanessa Sexton had been away. In some ways her high school sweetheart, Brady Tucker, hadn't changed much either — he was still lean, athletic, rugged...But the once reckless boy had become a solid, dependable man. He'd stood her up on the most important night of her life; could she ever trust him again?
Vanessa had finally come home! She could still turn Brady inside out with one of her sultry looks. He couldn't believe she hadn't forgiven him for that night twelve years ago — but he'd had his reasons for not showing up. He'd let her leave town then — but he wasn't going to let her get away this time...
400 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
21 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,209 books59.7k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
July 6, 2012
Nora Roberts is one of the only authors whose novellas I enjoy. While they are obvious in how they will turn out and formulatic, she manages to give the characters some depth. This is a good, quick read for a trip or the beach.
July 15, 2011
Two stories being re-released in this volume. I realized once I started that I had read the stories before but long enough ago that I was happy to re-read them. Both really good, early Nora.
February 13, 2012
I did enjoy this story, just thought maybe it was a little too unrealistic; they didn't even have any time to get to know each other - things just went too fast. While his career as a comic book writer was entertaining, there just wasn't enough time to create a good chemistry between the two main characters.
February 5, 2012
I like Nora Roberts. As always, I liked the storyline, the development and interaction of the characters. I just found this particular story to be predictable and in some ways similar to another of her stories.
June 20, 2016
Pretty predictable. Brady is such a well-developed character, though. Loved him! Vanessa, in the other hand, is pretty boring to me. But I enjoyed this novel. It's good but it doesn't take my breath away.
July 2, 2014
I really enjoyed both stories in this book! Both stories were very interesting and hard to put down. I really enjoy romance stories by Nora Roberts, I highly recommend this book!
January 9, 2012
I was kinda surprised to know that Nora Roberts write this kind of novel before she became a suspense writer. Anyway, It's a good story but kinda typical that I've already predicted the ending.
July 8, 2012
Love Nora Roberts and all of her books they are fast, easy, fun romances.
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November 28, 2014just started this book... we'll see how it goes,it sounds familiar, like I've read it before... Maybe I did!! lol I have so many!
May 2, 2013
Predictable. Boring. Expected. Nora Efron could do better. Seems like it was written just to be written and without any real thought about story or plot or character
October 9, 2020
Two stories in one book.
1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Vanessa Sexton returns to her hometown after the death of her father to get some answers to some questions from her mother. She has been gone for twelve years and doesn’t really know her mother. She is an accomplished piano prodigy, who her father took away from her mother at the age of 16 to play in concert halls all over the world. Now she is back at home to get the answers she needs from her mother and her old boyfriend, Brady Tucker.
2. LOCAL HERO: Hester Wallace is a single mom with a nine year old son, Ridley, who just moved into a new apartment in New York City and is starting a new job at a bank on Monday. After she finishes unpacking, she calls and orders pizza. The pizza happens to be delivered to the wrong apartment but the guy at that apartment decides to deliver the pizza himself since he had seen Hester earlier in the day and was intrigued by her. Meanwhile, her son, Ridley, is in love with his favorite comic book character, Commander Zark, Defender of the Universe, Leader of Perth. So read on in this story to see how these worlds collide!
1. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Vanessa Sexton returns to her hometown after the death of her father to get some answers to some questions from her mother. She has been gone for twelve years and doesn’t really know her mother. She is an accomplished piano prodigy, who her father took away from her mother at the age of 16 to play in concert halls all over the world. Now she is back at home to get the answers she needs from her mother and her old boyfriend, Brady Tucker.
2. LOCAL HERO: Hester Wallace is a single mom with a nine year old son, Ridley, who just moved into a new apartment in New York City and is starting a new job at a bank on Monday. After she finishes unpacking, she calls and orders pizza. The pizza happens to be delivered to the wrong apartment but the guy at that apartment decides to deliver the pizza himself since he had seen Hester earlier in the day and was intrigued by her. Meanwhile, her son, Ridley, is in love with his favorite comic book character, Commander Zark, Defender of the Universe, Leader of Perth. So read on in this story to see how these worlds collide!
May 28, 2019
I absolutely loved Vanessa in Unfinished Business. Roberts did a wonderful job of creating tension between 'Van' and her mother Loretta, using her deceased father as a pivotal tool in the tensions between the rest of the characters. Even when Vanessa's health is in jeopardy, due to a stomach ulcer created by her rigorous pianist touring schedule and her grief over her father's death and the unexpected reasons why her mother and father's marriage did not work out, she is not trying too hard to play upon the reader's sympathy. Instead, she created a character that was strong enough to not need pity but was human enough to eventually admit that she needed help. And let's not forget Brady, the hunky, mischievous doctor of our dreams.
This was the second time I've read Local Hero and I still loved it. Of course, any grown adult whose kid enough to love writing comic books and bonding with a ten year old is a keeper. And the fact that the kid is such a big part of the story is truly endearing.
This was the second time I've read Local Hero and I still loved it. Of course, any grown adult whose kid enough to love writing comic books and bonding with a ten year old is a keeper. And the fact that the kid is such a big part of the story is truly endearing.
April 11, 2021
The title of this one is a slight misnomer as the book was almost exactly what I have come to expect from Roberts.
'Unexpected' provides two easy to read, comforting romance stories which are remarkably satisfying and perfect for when you want to escape from life's stresses and strains. The only surprise was that this is two novellas in one volume rather than a longer single story.
Both stories had a similar plot (think romantic second chances) but they were different enough to keep my interest all the way through.
Fans of Roberts won't be disappointed, provided they don't mind the 'same stuff, different day' vibe.
'Unexpected' provides two easy to read, comforting romance stories which are remarkably satisfying and perfect for when you want to escape from life's stresses and strains. The only surprise was that this is two novellas in one volume rather than a longer single story.
Both stories had a similar plot (think romantic second chances) but they were different enough to keep my interest all the way through.
Fans of Roberts won't be disappointed, provided they don't mind the 'same stuff, different day' vibe.
August 26, 2018
Good quick read for the typical “romance” novel happily ever after ending, which are my favorite! The first story was a lot better than the second, but both good reads for something light hearted and fun.
September 3, 2021
I didn’t know this one was 2 books in 1. So I’m counting this as 2 books for my reading challenge. I liked the first story better. I found the second one the guy was to forceful/bold in some of the parts.
September 16, 2017
Good light read in Nora Roberts usual "happy-ever-after" style. These novellas also published under title Unexpected
July 24, 2018
Two really great stories in one book by a really great author. I always did enjoy reading books done by Nora Roberts.
August 3, 2020
Two books in one. Enjoyed them both, very much. Good, easy, romance!
August 29, 2020
2011 - Had It - Read It - Local Hero - comic book writer & artist
August 17, 2023
Very entertaining read
July 30, 2025
good read
August 4, 2025
Great read. I often forget how old/ unique Nova Robert’s books are. I tend to like the second book in the book. It fun and interesting then the first one.
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August 4, 2025brainless read for a busy time
January 7, 2015
Unfinished Business - 3/5 - Another Nora Roberts that frustrates me...she seems to have this theme in some of her early stories where the long lost child comes home after years without contact and instead of a round of explanations, the characters evade. Vanessa, a piano player, has not seen or heard from her mother in 12 years...after her father took her on a concert piano tour and her mother never fought to keep her with her or stay in touch. For that matter, there's Brady (the hero) who stood her up for the prom, 2 days before she left, and never kept in touch either. Now most people, I would think, would come back and start searching for answers. Vanessa, does not. Instead, she decides she's not ready for the answers, or she hears part of an explanation and gets so emotionally worked up that she can't hear anymore. She puts off knowing why her mother let her go for over a month! How realistic is that? Instead of a demanding an explanation from Brady, she tells herself that it was so long in the past that it hardly matters - which is bullshit since she rails about it at least twice in the first 30% of the book. We're 50% in before we learn the real reason Brady didn't show up for prom. But I guess we can't have full explanations within a month of returning, or the book wouldn't actually work.
The romance is slightly better, but no less frustrating. Vanessa needs to find herself and learn about who she is and what she wants, and that's great. But then she has no business getting into a relationship with a guy when she doesn't know what she wants. Her actions IMHO were a bit selfish - especially And why is it so difficult for him to understand that she needs to figure things out before she can offer him anything? I just didn't understand these two very well. And honestly, despite all the complaints listed, my inability to understand the characters or their behavior, the story was engaging and I enjoyed reading it. I liked it, but found myself with a lot of questions after reading.
Local Hero - 2/5 - Hester and her son, Radley (awful name!) move into a Manhattan apartment building and find themselves making friends with the downstairs neighbor, Mitch who happens to draw and write the Captain Zark comics that Radley loves so much. Hester is reluctant to consider a relationship, but Mitch is pretty adamant. This is the story of that struggle. The book starts out from Radley's POV and I nearly put it back down again - Nora Roberts does not write kids very well...they're too sickeningly sweet when she does and it bothers me. Thank goodness she didn't resume his POV again. Instead, we hop back and forth between Hester and Mitch. Mitch is the highlight of the entire story! That and his relationship with Radley. Mitch is the perfect slob and has a delightfully lazy dog named Taz. He is kindhearted and he really delights in spending time with 9-year old Radley. He also, for some inexplicable reason decides he likes Hester. She is the lowpoint of this story and the reason it got 2 stars. Having been hurt or failed in marriage many years ago, Hester has made a promise to herself that she will never need or depend on another. And it killed me how much she hurt Mitch with sticking to that promise. She was whiny, she was irrational, she was uptight and she was constantly terrified of her relationship with Mitch. (In her defense, he did sort of insist on marriage after knowing her for 3 weeks...I too would have probably insisted on some time, but she didn't need to be so adamant that she would NEVER marry him). It was so irrational that she has this incredible guy who is devoting his time and love for her and she keeps telling herself that she won't depend on him because he'll eventually leave. This is really a story about a great guy who has a fantastic relationship with a cute kid and an awesome dog and the insignificant woman who is afraid of his love and keeps rejecting it. Eh.
The romance is slightly better, but no less frustrating. Vanessa needs to find herself and learn about who she is and what she wants, and that's great. But then she has no business getting into a relationship with a guy when she doesn't know what she wants. Her actions IMHO were a bit selfish - especially And why is it so difficult for him to understand that she needs to figure things out before she can offer him anything? I just didn't understand these two very well. And honestly, despite all the complaints listed, my inability to understand the characters or their behavior, the story was engaging and I enjoyed reading it. I liked it, but found myself with a lot of questions after reading.
Local Hero - 2/5 - Hester and her son, Radley (awful name!) move into a Manhattan apartment building and find themselves making friends with the downstairs neighbor, Mitch who happens to draw and write the Captain Zark comics that Radley loves so much. Hester is reluctant to consider a relationship, but Mitch is pretty adamant. This is the story of that struggle. The book starts out from Radley's POV and I nearly put it back down again - Nora Roberts does not write kids very well...they're too sickeningly sweet when she does and it bothers me. Thank goodness she didn't resume his POV again. Instead, we hop back and forth between Hester and Mitch. Mitch is the highlight of the entire story! That and his relationship with Radley. Mitch is the perfect slob and has a delightfully lazy dog named Taz. He is kindhearted and he really delights in spending time with 9-year old Radley. He also, for some inexplicable reason decides he likes Hester. She is the lowpoint of this story and the reason it got 2 stars. Having been hurt or failed in marriage many years ago, Hester has made a promise to herself that she will never need or depend on another. And it killed me how much she hurt Mitch with sticking to that promise. She was whiny, she was irrational, she was uptight and she was constantly terrified of her relationship with Mitch. (In her defense, he did sort of insist on marriage after knowing her for 3 weeks...I too would have probably insisted on some time, but she didn't need to be so adamant that she would NEVER marry him). It was so irrational that she has this incredible guy who is devoting his time and love for her and she keeps telling herself that she won't depend on him because he'll eventually leave. This is really a story about a great guy who has a fantastic relationship with a cute kid and an awesome dog and the insignificant woman who is afraid of his love and keeps rejecting it. Eh.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 9, 2021
this is a bind up edition that collects two tales from the amazing author Nora Roberts Local Hero and Unfinished Business. both wonderfully written tales of love, loss and second chances. a definite must have for any Nora Roberts fans out there.
In Local Hero Mitch Dempsey comes from a wealthy family but chose to live his life his own way as a comic book writer for the popular superhero commander Zark series. Ten year old Radley and his mother Hester Wallace move into the upstairs apartment making them neighbours after first meeting them both he’s hooked on them, it amazes Radley that he gets to meet the creator of his favourite superhero comic commander Zark. Too bad Hester isn’t as impressed with Mitch as her delightful son is. Hester still emotionally hurt by her husband Allan abandoning her and their son seven years prior because he was tired of adult responsibilities. Mitch is desperate to prove to her that he isn’t going anywhere that their mutual attraction to each other can be deeper if she lets go of the past and moves on. They are polar opposites he’s disorganised and she is all about organising and order well she’s a bank loan officer. As Mitch grows closer to them he wants to give Hester her dream home. This was a beautiful and heartwarming story to read about second chances of love.
In unfinished business we meet highly successful pianist Vanessa Sexton after the death of her father and needing a break from her hectic life decides to head back to her hometown in a small Maryland town of Hyattown to get answers from her mother about the past. She feels abandoned by her mother when her father took her away to help build a successful career when she was sixteen and now twelve years later has returned home. She bumps into her old flame Brady Tucker the boy who stood her up at prom a few weeks before she left. Not ready to forgive either of them she soon discovers the shocking truth her mother had an affair with another man because of her miserable marriage due to his resentments of failing to become a successful musician. That’s why her father took her away, her father never let her see any of the letters her mother or best friend Joanne sent to her, including her best friends wedding invitation and invitation to meet her goddaughter Lara. Brady also confronts her with the truth that her father had him arrested the night of her prom for rape which he didn’t do. Brady has always loved Vanessa he wants her back he wants a life a family everything with her he just needs to prove to her marriages can work. This was a lovely book about second chances and healing from past wounds.
I really enjoyed reading this book with these two wonderful stories by the talented storyteller Nora Roberts. I highly recommend reading this book for lovers of Nora Roberts books you won’t be disappointed.
In Local Hero Mitch Dempsey comes from a wealthy family but chose to live his life his own way as a comic book writer for the popular superhero commander Zark series. Ten year old Radley and his mother Hester Wallace move into the upstairs apartment making them neighbours after first meeting them both he’s hooked on them, it amazes Radley that he gets to meet the creator of his favourite superhero comic commander Zark. Too bad Hester isn’t as impressed with Mitch as her delightful son is. Hester still emotionally hurt by her husband Allan abandoning her and their son seven years prior because he was tired of adult responsibilities. Mitch is desperate to prove to her that he isn’t going anywhere that their mutual attraction to each other can be deeper if she lets go of the past and moves on. They are polar opposites he’s disorganised and she is all about organising and order well she’s a bank loan officer. As Mitch grows closer to them he wants to give Hester her dream home. This was a beautiful and heartwarming story to read about second chances of love.
In unfinished business we meet highly successful pianist Vanessa Sexton after the death of her father and needing a break from her hectic life decides to head back to her hometown in a small Maryland town of Hyattown to get answers from her mother about the past. She feels abandoned by her mother when her father took her away to help build a successful career when she was sixteen and now twelve years later has returned home. She bumps into her old flame Brady Tucker the boy who stood her up at prom a few weeks before she left. Not ready to forgive either of them she soon discovers the shocking truth her mother had an affair with another man because of her miserable marriage due to his resentments of failing to become a successful musician. That’s why her father took her away, her father never let her see any of the letters her mother or best friend Joanne sent to her, including her best friends wedding invitation and invitation to meet her goddaughter Lara. Brady also confronts her with the truth that her father had him arrested the night of her prom for rape which he didn’t do. Brady has always loved Vanessa he wants her back he wants a life a family everything with her he just needs to prove to her marriages can work. This was a lovely book about second chances and healing from past wounds.
I really enjoyed reading this book with these two wonderful stories by the talented storyteller Nora Roberts. I highly recommend reading this book for lovers of Nora Roberts books you won’t be disappointed.
October 5, 2015
Perfect Harmony by Nora Roberts
Unfinished Business
World-renowned pianist, Vanessa Sexton, returns to her hometown after 10 years after her father/agent passes away. She has to rebuild her relationship with her mother whom she feels abandoned her when her father spirited her off for her career. She also has to face her unresolved feelings for her former fiance, Brady Tucker, now a doctor like his kindhearted dad, whom she thought left her at the altar back when they were teens.
Local Hero
Hester Wallace has finally got things settled in her life with her 9-year-old son, Radley. She's worked her way up to a job she's proud of that pays her a good salary, she has recently moved into an apartment overlooking Central Park, and she's come to terms with the fact that she'll never risk being abandoned again like she was when her ex-husband took off shortly after Rad was born. Then she meets her neighbor, Mitch Dempsey, who is a successful comic book creator for a series that just happens to be Radley's favorite hero. This story is kind of tiresome in waiting for her to see the light and learn to trust again, but Radley and Mitch's characters are really terrific and keep the story flowing nicely.
Unfinished Business
World-renowned pianist, Vanessa Sexton, returns to her hometown after 10 years after her father/agent passes away. She has to rebuild her relationship with her mother whom she feels abandoned her when her father spirited her off for her career. She also has to face her unresolved feelings for her former fiance, Brady Tucker, now a doctor like his kindhearted dad, whom she thought left her at the altar back when they were teens.
Local Hero
Hester Wallace has finally got things settled in her life with her 9-year-old son, Radley. She's worked her way up to a job she's proud of that pays her a good salary, she has recently moved into an apartment overlooking Central Park, and she's come to terms with the fact that she'll never risk being abandoned again like she was when her ex-husband took off shortly after Rad was born. Then she meets her neighbor, Mitch Dempsey, who is a successful comic book creator for a series that just happens to be Radley's favorite hero. This story is kind of tiresome in waiting for her to see the light and learn to trust again, but Radley and Mitch's characters are really terrific and keep the story flowing nicely.
September 23, 2015
I absolutely loved the first story in this book, and found myself really drawn to the characters and couldn't put it down. It was a very predictable story, but also a very quick read, so it was just a pleasant break from life.
The second story, however, left me really bored. I don't know if it was the names of the characters or what, but when I read a story, I like to be able to visualize the characters, and I just couldn't picture them in my head, so it was hard to let myself visualize them as people. While the first story took me all of about a week (which says a lot, since I'm a working Mom of 2 little boys), this one took me the better part of 2 months to finish.
The second story, however, left me really bored. I don't know if it was the names of the characters or what, but when I read a story, I like to be able to visualize the characters, and I just couldn't picture them in my head, so it was hard to let myself visualize them as people. While the first story took me all of about a week (which says a lot, since I'm a working Mom of 2 little boys), this one took me the better part of 2 months to finish.
April 2, 2013
Read these two a looong time ago and decided to pick them up again as a quick beach read.
I remembered and enjoyed Unfinished Business. The hero and heroine are both likable, and the family dynamics are fun.
I don't remember having read Local Hero. I don't like it as much. It feels rushed and the heroine especially feels just a little too cold.
Still, worth picking up in the grocery store aisle.
I remembered and enjoyed Unfinished Business. The hero and heroine are both likable, and the family dynamics are fun.
I don't remember having read Local Hero. I don't like it as much. It feels rushed and the heroine especially feels just a little too cold.
Still, worth picking up in the grocery store aisle.
August 15, 2011
I enjoyed both of these books for what they were - something to help me pass the time while traveling. It wasn't a book that I couldn't put down or one that I minded picking back up when I had a free moment. Ultimately, both novels failed to reel me in and make me care about the characters. I am typically a Roberts fan, but this is one book I won't be picking back up for a reread.
February 11, 2013
I am a long time Nora Roberts fan so I do not think twice about picking up one of her books. They are always well written. I liked it, it was an good read,;) a pleasant way to spend the afternoon. Not a book I stayed up in the wee hours finishing but as always her characters are interesting and I am a sucker for a good happy ending romance.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews