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Nächtliches Schweigen
Emma lebt mit einem schrecklichen Trauma. Als Kind musste sie mit ansehen, wie ihr kleiner Bruder ermordet wurde. Inzwischen ist sie zu einer schönen jungen Frau herangewachsen, doch solange die Mörder noch frei herumlaufen, schwebt auch sie in Lebensgefahr. Nur der Mann, den sie einmal geliebt hat, kann ihr noch helfen.
480 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
3030 people are currently reading
7170 people want to read
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,217 books60k 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 965 reviews
August 15, 2008
Public Secrets isn't one of Nora Roberts most popular books. It's not one that gets mentioned much and I know a lot of her readers don't particularly care for it. But there's something about this book that thoroughly captures me. It's one of my all-time favorite books. I think I've read it about 6 times now.
It's a rather atypical romance novel (semi-romantic suspense) because the romance doesn't really come into play seriously until the last 150 pages. This book is more about the heroine, Emma, and her life. It's one of NR's "time progression" stories (like Honest Illusions, River's End and Blue Smoke) where the book starts out when Emma is almost 3 years old, living with her neglectful, abusive mother and then rescued by her rising-star father, Brian McAvoy, lead singer for the band Devastation. It moves through periods of her life - adjusting to her new family, a little brother she adored, her brother's death when she was 6, the destruction that followed, growing up in the spotlight, being exposed to the rock and roll lifestyle, an abusive marriage, and finally love. The story goes through it all, the good, the bad, and the in between. And scattered throughout she has several encounters with Michael Kesselring, the son of the detective who investigated her brother's death. But it isn't until she's 26 that they finally have a chance.
So this book is rather different. It's not one to read if you're looking for pure romance. This is a story about people and triumph and tragedy, and then finally about love and peace. A lot of the book deals with how Emma's life is affected by being the daughter of a hugely popular rock band - the things she saw, the isolation, the media, the excesses. And it's about how those experiences shaped her and the needs that led her into an abusive marriage.
It's fascinating to read. Whenever I read it, I'm always completely sucked into the story. The characters are so real. I loved how Roberts wrote all the relationships between the characters. They're so fitting to the story.
And the romance is fantastic. Even though it's a relatively small part of the story, I absolutely loved it. Emma and Michael have a hit and miss relationship, first meeting when she was 6, he 11. Then again when she was 12, he 17, where the first seeds of romance are planted. They have several more encounters, but fate keeps them apart. Then finally they get to be together. It's touching to read. And when I finished the book, I felt completely satisfied and like they were in it for the long haul.
I've read some comments about this book that it's cliched and reliant on rockstar stereotypes and that its a copy of other rockstar fiction. Which is true, to a certain extent. But I think several things should be taken into consideration when thinking that.
For one, it's not like the situations in the book were exaggerations or anything. That's what things were often like with bands - the parties, the drugs, the sex and all that. If Roberts had written a wholesome band, people would have been complaining that the book was completely unrealistic. I just don't see any other way she could have written the band.
Two - the book was published in 1990. Written before then, before a lot of the big movies, biopics, tv specials, true confessions, etc. If you read it in 2008 for the first time, it does seem like a lot of what's already out there. But back in 1990, that storyline wasn't nearly as played out.
And lastly, the book isn't really about the band and all they did, exactly. It's about a little girl dropped into the bands lifestyle and how it affected her life. Which is a very valid and interesting storyline.
It's that part that sucks me into the story. Half the time Emma comes across as this really strong woman who is in control of her life, and the other half the time, she's the scared little girl, afraid of the monsters in the dark and blaming herself for not protecting her little brother. The way Roberts wrote the storyline - how Emma's past continually affected her life - was really well done. She drags every emotion out of you at some point during the book - happiness, anger, despair, pity. I got a little teary-eyed a couple of times.
Whatever it is about this book, it's one that I just really, really enjoyed. It's a story that stuck with me. But like I said, it's not really for someone who wants all romance because it's a long time coming in this book. If you like to read a good dramatic story, though, with a solid dose of romance, then I highly recommend this one.
It's a rather atypical romance novel (semi-romantic suspense) because the romance doesn't really come into play seriously until the last 150 pages. This book is more about the heroine, Emma, and her life. It's one of NR's "time progression" stories (like Honest Illusions, River's End and Blue Smoke) where the book starts out when Emma is almost 3 years old, living with her neglectful, abusive mother and then rescued by her rising-star father, Brian McAvoy, lead singer for the band Devastation. It moves through periods of her life - adjusting to her new family, a little brother she adored, her brother's death when she was 6, the destruction that followed, growing up in the spotlight, being exposed to the rock and roll lifestyle, an abusive marriage, and finally love. The story goes through it all, the good, the bad, and the in between. And scattered throughout she has several encounters with Michael Kesselring, the son of the detective who investigated her brother's death. But it isn't until she's 26 that they finally have a chance.
So this book is rather different. It's not one to read if you're looking for pure romance. This is a story about people and triumph and tragedy, and then finally about love and peace. A lot of the book deals with how Emma's life is affected by being the daughter of a hugely popular rock band - the things she saw, the isolation, the media, the excesses. And it's about how those experiences shaped her and the needs that led her into an abusive marriage.
It's fascinating to read. Whenever I read it, I'm always completely sucked into the story. The characters are so real. I loved how Roberts wrote all the relationships between the characters. They're so fitting to the story.
And the romance is fantastic. Even though it's a relatively small part of the story, I absolutely loved it. Emma and Michael have a hit and miss relationship, first meeting when she was 6, he 11. Then again when she was 12, he 17, where the first seeds of romance are planted. They have several more encounters, but fate keeps them apart. Then finally they get to be together. It's touching to read. And when I finished the book, I felt completely satisfied and like they were in it for the long haul.
I've read some comments about this book that it's cliched and reliant on rockstar stereotypes and that its a copy of other rockstar fiction. Which is true, to a certain extent. But I think several things should be taken into consideration when thinking that.
For one, it's not like the situations in the book were exaggerations or anything. That's what things were often like with bands - the parties, the drugs, the sex and all that. If Roberts had written a wholesome band, people would have been complaining that the book was completely unrealistic. I just don't see any other way she could have written the band.
Two - the book was published in 1990. Written before then, before a lot of the big movies, biopics, tv specials, true confessions, etc. If you read it in 2008 for the first time, it does seem like a lot of what's already out there. But back in 1990, that storyline wasn't nearly as played out.
And lastly, the book isn't really about the band and all they did, exactly. It's about a little girl dropped into the bands lifestyle and how it affected her life. Which is a very valid and interesting storyline.
It's that part that sucks me into the story. Half the time Emma comes across as this really strong woman who is in control of her life, and the other half the time, she's the scared little girl, afraid of the monsters in the dark and blaming herself for not protecting her little brother. The way Roberts wrote the storyline - how Emma's past continually affected her life - was really well done. She drags every emotion out of you at some point during the book - happiness, anger, despair, pity. I got a little teary-eyed a couple of times.
Whatever it is about this book, it's one that I just really, really enjoyed. It's a story that stuck with me. But like I said, it's not really for someone who wants all romance because it's a long time coming in this book. If you like to read a good dramatic story, though, with a solid dose of romance, then I highly recommend this one.
June 10, 2022
Public Secrets tells the story of Emma from when she begins her life with an abusive mother and is taken in to the care of her father through to her mid twenties. Along the way she lives through a myriad of the type of events most of us hope never to experience. Of course she is emotionally damaged and makes some really poor life choices as a result.
This being a Nora Roberts book we can count on a reliable man to come along and Emma's is Michael Kesselrigg. They meet as children but he is a recurring presence throughout the book. However this book is far from being just a romance and the author introduces a number of unhappy characters and unpleasant scenarios. Maybe too many for me as I occasionally found myself wishing things would speed up and move on.
The last part of the book takes off in true Nora fashion and there are happy tears and sad tears and a whole lot of drama. This left me feeling on a high and if I had written my review immediately I would have given it five stars. A day later though and a bit more consideration and I am going to make it four.
This being a Nora Roberts book we can count on a reliable man to come along and Emma's is Michael Kesselrigg. They meet as children but he is a recurring presence throughout the book. However this book is far from being just a romance and the author introduces a number of unhappy characters and unpleasant scenarios. Maybe too many for me as I occasionally found myself wishing things would speed up and move on.
The last part of the book takes off in true Nora fashion and there are happy tears and sad tears and a whole lot of drama. This left me feeling on a high and if I had written my review immediately I would have given it five stars. A day later though and a bit more consideration and I am going to make it four.
March 21, 2012
Emma McAvoy met her rock star father for the first time at the age of three when her mother, a pitiful but vengeful mess, forced the interaction. Brian McAvoy had no idea of her existence and fell in love with his daughter, his spitting image, at first sight. From here on out, the tale unfolds about their lives, a saga of heartache, betrayal, love and commitment.
It's hard to capsulize this book into a one-paragraph summary as it chronicles the lives of this family over a 20-year time span. Events occur throughout that impact the family over a lifetime. There are a hosts of secondary characters that make this story so rich, including Emma's love interests and the other members of Brian's band, who are included as family. Unlike many stories that cover such a wide range of events, this book is well paced and there are no lulls. Roberts takes her time to get it right without being overly descriptive but also not omitting those details that help you capture the mood and tone of the characters, time and events.
This book now ranks as my most favorite of all of Roberts' standalone novels and is competing very closely with my most favorite of her series. It's superbly written and kept me up all night because I couldn't put the book down. The book is a definite must for your NR collection.
It's hard to capsulize this book into a one-paragraph summary as it chronicles the lives of this family over a 20-year time span. Events occur throughout that impact the family over a lifetime. There are a hosts of secondary characters that make this story so rich, including Emma's love interests and the other members of Brian's band, who are included as family. Unlike many stories that cover such a wide range of events, this book is well paced and there are no lulls. Roberts takes her time to get it right without being overly descriptive but also not omitting those details that help you capture the mood and tone of the characters, time and events.
This book now ranks as my most favorite of all of Roberts' standalone novels and is competing very closely with my most favorite of her series. It's superbly written and kept me up all night because I couldn't put the book down. The book is a definite must for your NR collection.
March 28, 2010
When I purchased the book last year, it looked vaguely familiar. Let me be clear; I have read a LOT of Nora Roberts. Between haunting the library shelves in Germany for her books and purchasing almost all of the rest, I do believe that I have read most of her books. There are only a few I have not gotten around to reading. When I bought Public Secrets, I thought this was one of those that remained unread. After reading the first page, I remembered the story. It turns out I did read it more than ten years ago and just forgot that I had. Big time #michellefail, but I figured this was a good one for the Flashback Challenge. There is nothing wrong with re-read!
The best part about this story is that it is not, in my opinion, a typical Nora Roberts novel. She breaks away from her formula and gives us something a bit different. Yes, there is a romantic lead and a murder mystery, but the romance and the mystery itself play as the backstory to the overarching plot of Emma's development and growth as a strong female character. Rather than flashing back to Emma's past in the first few chapters, the book actually starts out when Emma is three years old, and we follow her progression as she ages. In addition, Emma is not the sole focus. At times, the reader is able to get more insight into her father, at times the narrator focuses on her mother and stepmother. The reader watches Emma grow, make poor decisions, and face the consequences. It is a break from the formula, but it definitely works.
If my daughter were to come to me, in future years, and ask me which one Nora Roberts book should she read, I would almost have to say Public Secrets. As a mother and a female, there are some very strong moral messages delivered in such a way that it is palatable to the reader. Throughout the novel, Ms. Roberts shows us the damage that sex, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse can wring on a person (no, not the same person). She shows us that to be popular, you can find ways to avoid drugs and alcohol when offered to you, that it is okay to wait, and more importantly, that you can and should stand up for yourself and your beliefs. The most important message of all that Ms. Roberts passes along is the idea that it is okay, and sometimes necessary, to admit mistakes and ask for help. These are ideas that some would argue need to be shared and discussed a bit more these days.
I am and always will be a Nora Roberts fan. There may be books of hers which I would not call favorites, but I almost always enjoy her work. Public Secrets is no exception. Reading it again helped me understand just what a gem this book is, and reading it after having read so many of her other works made me realize how unique it is in the Roberts canon. Ms. Roberts is not one to shy away from interesting or controversial topics, but I believe she outdid herself with this one. Her tackling of domestic violence is spot on, from the emotional and mental abuse escalating to physical violence to the shame and guilt a person feels when in that situation. Emma McAvoy is a character every woman should come to respect and admire for battling her personal demons and winning. For those of you Nora Roberts fans who have not had the pleasure, I highly suggest picking up this selection as soon as possible so that you too can discover what a gem it is!
The best part about this story is that it is not, in my opinion, a typical Nora Roberts novel. She breaks away from her formula and gives us something a bit different. Yes, there is a romantic lead and a murder mystery, but the romance and the mystery itself play as the backstory to the overarching plot of Emma's development and growth as a strong female character. Rather than flashing back to Emma's past in the first few chapters, the book actually starts out when Emma is three years old, and we follow her progression as she ages. In addition, Emma is not the sole focus. At times, the reader is able to get more insight into her father, at times the narrator focuses on her mother and stepmother. The reader watches Emma grow, make poor decisions, and face the consequences. It is a break from the formula, but it definitely works.
If my daughter were to come to me, in future years, and ask me which one Nora Roberts book should she read, I would almost have to say Public Secrets. As a mother and a female, there are some very strong moral messages delivered in such a way that it is palatable to the reader. Throughout the novel, Ms. Roberts shows us the damage that sex, drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, and child abuse can wring on a person (no, not the same person). She shows us that to be popular, you can find ways to avoid drugs and alcohol when offered to you, that it is okay to wait, and more importantly, that you can and should stand up for yourself and your beliefs. The most important message of all that Ms. Roberts passes along is the idea that it is okay, and sometimes necessary, to admit mistakes and ask for help. These are ideas that some would argue need to be shared and discussed a bit more these days.
I am and always will be a Nora Roberts fan. There may be books of hers which I would not call favorites, but I almost always enjoy her work. Public Secrets is no exception. Reading it again helped me understand just what a gem this book is, and reading it after having read so many of her other works made me realize how unique it is in the Roberts canon. Ms. Roberts is not one to shy away from interesting or controversial topics, but I believe she outdid herself with this one. Her tackling of domestic violence is spot on, from the emotional and mental abuse escalating to physical violence to the shame and guilt a person feels when in that situation. Emma McAvoy is a character every woman should come to respect and admire for battling her personal demons and winning. For those of you Nora Roberts fans who have not had the pleasure, I highly suggest picking up this selection as soon as possible so that you too can discover what a gem it is!
September 4, 2016
I have really mixed feelings about this book. I generally love all the books by Nora Roberts and this one is really well written. But I haven't enjoyed it as much as some of her other books.
First, I was definitely expecting something completely different. I was thinking about a good romantic suspense with nice developed characters and a bit of this rock star glitter. Instead it is a story more into woman's fiction genre or even a very well-written biography of a non-existing person, Emma. Really, Emma's life is written with so many details and insights that I could almost believe she is actually a living person and not just the product of Mrs Roberts' imagination.
And here is also a problem. Actually, two problems. First, I was waiting for the suspense plot and what I got was a very, very detailed biography of Emma. Eighty percent of the book is about Emma's life from her early childhood to her relationship with Michael. And second, the story of her life is rather dark and disturbing. There is lot of violence, death and tragedy. It wasn't an easy read. And it isn't what I'm looking for in my books.
So, yeah, I definitely have mixed feelings about this book. The story is undoubtedly very well-written but it was too sombre for my taste.
First, I was definitely expecting something completely different. I was thinking about a good romantic suspense with nice developed characters and a bit of this rock star glitter. Instead it is a story more into woman's fiction genre or even a very well-written biography of a non-existing person, Emma. Really, Emma's life is written with so many details and insights that I could almost believe she is actually a living person and not just the product of Mrs Roberts' imagination.
And here is also a problem. Actually, two problems. First, I was waiting for the suspense plot and what I got was a very, very detailed biography of Emma. Eighty percent of the book is about Emma's life from her early childhood to her relationship with Michael. And second, the story of her life is rather dark and disturbing. There is lot of violence, death and tragedy. It wasn't an easy read. And it isn't what I'm looking for in my books.
So, yeah, I definitely have mixed feelings about this book. The story is undoubtedly very well-written but it was too sombre for my taste.
May 3, 2015
Wow, this is... intense. I want to say it reminds me of Coming Home, a little bit, because they've both got this - atmosphere, I guess - that conveys such a sense of reality. As if the story is already known and is simply being transcribed. Not the sort of work where you think about plot and pacing, just about the inexorable march of time. The almost inevitability of the ending, something hard-won after years of work put into making it from day to day. The courage of everyday living.
I wish there'd been more of Emma and Michael, but this isn't that type of story. This isn't shiny escapism. It's sensationalist at the surface, but ultimately it's gritty and difficult and real.
I wish there'd been more of Emma and Michael, but this isn't that type of story. This isn't shiny escapism. It's sensationalist at the surface, but ultimately it's gritty and difficult and real.
March 3, 2019
For some reason I've just started to get into Nora Robert's books and I have zero regrets. Bring them all to me!
Public Secrets was a pretty good audiobook if I do say so myself. Now this book is basically all about Emma and her life. At the beginning, I believe she's about 3 years old? Which is adorable nonetheless but her life was complete shit. Her mother was neglecting her but at the same time being abusive as shit. Ugh, abusive parents are the absolute WORST and it pains me that people actually live like this.
Well, her 3 year old life gets a bit better because her dad is there to rescue her! Now at this point in my life I'm thinking.. will her life really get that much better? He's in a band so does that me she's going to be neglected still? Have no fear - her life gets much worse.
When she's about 6 years old, her beloved brother dies suddenly. However, that's not the cherry on top of her life.. nope. We also get to see how growing up in the spotlight affected her and shit. Which in today's world, you see all kinds of kids who grew up in the hollywood industry either on drugs, in jail, dead, drinking and driving, or who knows what. I'm looking at you Disney Kids..
Then there's her own abusive marriage, which tug at my heart. From seeing her go from an abusive parent to that.. oh lord, the tears are starting to form guys. BUT it's all good and gravy because she finds love at last! The whole romance part of this book was good but we don't get it until it's nearly the end of the book. I was so happy for Emma that I didn't even care about that little fact. I, of course, love a good romance every now and then. What human doesn't?
Overall, oh lord, this book was so good! I loved it from beginning to the very end. I had happy tears when I got to the end of this thing too.. my family probably thinks I'm insane crying to an audiobook BUT WHATEVER GUYS! I loved this and I can't wait to dive into another book by Nora!!
Public Secrets was a pretty good audiobook if I do say so myself. Now this book is basically all about Emma and her life. At the beginning, I believe she's about 3 years old? Which is adorable nonetheless but her life was complete shit. Her mother was neglecting her but at the same time being abusive as shit. Ugh, abusive parents are the absolute WORST and it pains me that people actually live like this.
Well, her 3 year old life gets a bit better because her dad is there to rescue her! Now at this point in my life I'm thinking.. will her life really get that much better? He's in a band so does that me she's going to be neglected still? Have no fear - her life gets much worse.
When she's about 6 years old, her beloved brother dies suddenly. However, that's not the cherry on top of her life.. nope. We also get to see how growing up in the spotlight affected her and shit. Which in today's world, you see all kinds of kids who grew up in the hollywood industry either on drugs, in jail, dead, drinking and driving, or who knows what. I'm looking at you Disney Kids..
Then there's her own abusive marriage, which tug at my heart. From seeing her go from an abusive parent to that.. oh lord, the tears are starting to form guys. BUT it's all good and gravy because she finds love at last! The whole romance part of this book was good but we don't get it until it's nearly the end of the book. I was so happy for Emma that I didn't even care about that little fact. I, of course, love a good romance every now and then. What human doesn't?
Overall, oh lord, this book was so good! I loved it from beginning to the very end. I had happy tears when I got to the end of this thing too.. my family probably thinks I'm insane crying to an audiobook BUT WHATEVER GUYS! I loved this and I can't wait to dive into another book by Nora!!
October 23, 2024
5/5⭐
“ Algunas cosas nos están predestinadas. Por mucho que intentemos esquivarlas, terminaremos estando allí donde debemos estar.”
El libro es EXCELENTE pero hay dos cosas con las que yo no… me llevo bien:
1-Los protas son músicos.
2-El maltrato y las desgracias en los niños.
“Un secreto a voces” es un novelón de aquellos, que desde su sinopsis te dice que se narrará desde su infancia hasta su adultez todo lo que vivirá nuestra protagonista Emma. Publicada en el 2012 (en inglés en 1990), con 576 páginas en digital, ésta novela es…TREMENDA. Es la primera obra de Nora Roberts que me resulta tan dura de leer por el contexto tan realista. Es un suspenso con muy poco romance. Tal vez porque venía leyendo sus obras anteriores, donde siempre de una manera u otra, te enamoras del protagonista masculino, y se dan escenas románticas, pero en ésta historia es casi secundario.
Lectoras amigas que ya han leído a Nora Roberts y conocen mejor que yo su carrera literaria, me cuentan que éste fue el primer libro de Norita que trata la violencia de género.
Este libro es un homenaje al rock de los años 70 y 80. La ambientación es brillante, todo lo relacionado con la música en aquel tiempo, las drogas, las fans, la conciencia que se tenía en esa época, sobre todo con el SIDA, el desprecio absoluto para con aquellos que tenían la enfermedad y la sentencia de muerte, el ambiente que se vivía en Londres, en Nueva York y en Los Ángeles, el interés acerca de la guerra en Asia y los disturbios raciales en Estados Unidos, lo que lleva a Brian McAvoy, papá de Emma, un músico irlandés que no sólo cuestionaba la autoridad, sino que además escribe canciones para desafiarla y hablarle a los líderes del mundo. A Brian la guerra del sudeste asiático no lo dejaba dormir. El horrible e inútil conflicto en su Irlanda natal lo desgarra, como así también los asesinatos a los hermanos Kennedy y las muertes de Hendrix y Joplin.
Pero es también la historia de una mujer como Emma McAvoy que desde su niñez es criada a bofetadas algo que repetirá hasta su matrimonio. Es muy muy triste. Y tan real porque hoy hombres como Drew Latimer que “actúan” de amables y son monstruos en la intimidad. Las escenas de maltrato físico y psicológico que se dan… Es que sentí mucha impotencia y lo peor es que nadie sabe de los golpes 😭.
Nora Roberts ha escrito una novela que describe a la perfección el ambiente eufórico por el efecto de las drogas que se conseguían sin la menor dificultad, acuciado por el miedo de comprobar adónde lleva el éxito. La cocaína es el único combustible de ésta banda de rock.
Y Emma se mezclará en todo este mundo, donde la música suena a todo volumen, con drogas en cantidad y variedad que ella JAMÁS toca porque no deja de ser una auténtica princesa del rock y logra mantener su inocencia en medio de tanto caos… Cocaína, marihuana, hachís turco, speed y anfetaminas.
Seremos testigos del éxito de Brian y de su banda, la relación de éste con su hija, con su ex esposa y mamá de Emma, luego con su segunda esposa y madre de Darren, que es el elemento trágico del libro. La novela parte desde los años sesenta hasta los años noventa y vemos crecer a Emma hasta convertirse en una mujer valiente y fuerte. Es lo que convierte al libro en adictivo.
¿Lo recomiendo? Claro que sí. Esto va de sexo, drogas y rock and roll.
“ Algunas cosas nos están predestinadas. Por mucho que intentemos esquivarlas, terminaremos estando allí donde debemos estar.”
El libro es EXCELENTE pero hay dos cosas con las que yo no… me llevo bien:
1-Los protas son músicos.
2-El maltrato y las desgracias en los niños.
“Un secreto a voces” es un novelón de aquellos, que desde su sinopsis te dice que se narrará desde su infancia hasta su adultez todo lo que vivirá nuestra protagonista Emma. Publicada en el 2012 (en inglés en 1990), con 576 páginas en digital, ésta novela es…TREMENDA. Es la primera obra de Nora Roberts que me resulta tan dura de leer por el contexto tan realista. Es un suspenso con muy poco romance. Tal vez porque venía leyendo sus obras anteriores, donde siempre de una manera u otra, te enamoras del protagonista masculino, y se dan escenas románticas, pero en ésta historia es casi secundario.
Lectoras amigas que ya han leído a Nora Roberts y conocen mejor que yo su carrera literaria, me cuentan que éste fue el primer libro de Norita que trata la violencia de género.
Este libro es un homenaje al rock de los años 70 y 80. La ambientación es brillante, todo lo relacionado con la música en aquel tiempo, las drogas, las fans, la conciencia que se tenía en esa época, sobre todo con el SIDA, el desprecio absoluto para con aquellos que tenían la enfermedad y la sentencia de muerte, el ambiente que se vivía en Londres, en Nueva York y en Los Ángeles, el interés acerca de la guerra en Asia y los disturbios raciales en Estados Unidos, lo que lleva a Brian McAvoy, papá de Emma, un músico irlandés que no sólo cuestionaba la autoridad, sino que además escribe canciones para desafiarla y hablarle a los líderes del mundo. A Brian la guerra del sudeste asiático no lo dejaba dormir. El horrible e inútil conflicto en su Irlanda natal lo desgarra, como así también los asesinatos a los hermanos Kennedy y las muertes de Hendrix y Joplin.
Pero es también la historia de una mujer como Emma McAvoy que desde su niñez es criada a bofetadas algo que repetirá hasta su matrimonio. Es muy muy triste. Y tan real porque hoy hombres como Drew Latimer que “actúan” de amables y son monstruos en la intimidad. Las escenas de maltrato físico y psicológico que se dan… Es que sentí mucha impotencia y lo peor es que nadie sabe de los golpes 😭.
Nora Roberts ha escrito una novela que describe a la perfección el ambiente eufórico por el efecto de las drogas que se conseguían sin la menor dificultad, acuciado por el miedo de comprobar adónde lleva el éxito. La cocaína es el único combustible de ésta banda de rock.
Y Emma se mezclará en todo este mundo, donde la música suena a todo volumen, con drogas en cantidad y variedad que ella JAMÁS toca porque no deja de ser una auténtica princesa del rock y logra mantener su inocencia en medio de tanto caos… Cocaína, marihuana, hachís turco, speed y anfetaminas.
Seremos testigos del éxito de Brian y de su banda, la relación de éste con su hija, con su ex esposa y mamá de Emma, luego con su segunda esposa y madre de Darren, que es el elemento trágico del libro. La novela parte desde los años sesenta hasta los años noventa y vemos crecer a Emma hasta convertirse en una mujer valiente y fuerte. Es lo que convierte al libro en adictivo.
¿Lo recomiendo? Claro que sí. Esto va de sexo, drogas y rock and roll.
January 25, 2020
So this book was a LOT. Not in a bad way, but I wasn't prepared, especially given my copy has one of the most misleading backcover summaries ever. (I'll put in behind a spoiler cut, but it basically just describes the last 50 pages of the book . . . with incorrect information.)
But that said, I was really into it! It's one of those sprawling books that you can just sink into. And it's about famous people in a way that's not really about their fame, which is something I'm really into. And just . . . a million good stories! Overall, probably the best Nora Roberts I've read.
But uh, content warnings:
Edit: I forgot to include my stats!
Owned physical book 1/2 for the month
Overall owned book 3/5 for the month
But that said, I was really into it! It's one of those sprawling books that you can just sink into. And it's about famous people in a way that's not really about their fame, which is something I'm really into. And just . . . a million good stories! Overall, probably the best Nora Roberts I've read.
But uh, content warnings:
Edit: I forgot to include my stats!
Owned physical book 1/2 for the month
Overall owned book 3/5 for the month
August 23, 2016
4,5
Nora Roberts não desilude
Neste livro acompanhamos a vida de Emma desde os três anos e vamos acompanhando as histórias de todos as seu redor.
Só não dou 5 porque achei que no fim o relacionamento de Emma e de ..... (Não quero fazer spoiler) Devia ter sido diferente...
Ele merecia mais!!
Nora Roberts não desilude
Neste livro acompanhamos a vida de Emma desde os três anos e vamos acompanhando as histórias de todos as seu redor.
Só não dou 5 porque achei que no fim o relacionamento de Emma e de ..... (Não quero fazer spoiler) Devia ter sido diferente...
Ele merecia mais!!
March 15, 2015
Un secreto a voces, también conocido como Alegrías y desgracias en la vida de Emma McAvoy
Definitivamente, este es un libro de la época en la que Nora no sabía resumir. ¿Eran necesarias QUINIENTAS páginas para profundizar en el pasado de un personaje?
Con un capítulo YO hubiera estado igual de tranqui. Pequeños flashbacks, qué se yo. No entiendo porqué tuvo que ser tan minuciosa para describir toda la infancia, adolescencia de Emma.
La parte interesante (el romance) llega en la página 450/600. Y ni tampoco. Para las 500 ya están juntos y en la 550 ya no tienen mucho más qué hacer porque son "estables".
Para ser un libro tan largo, difícilmente conecté con algún personaje. Se supone que tengo que cogerle cariño a Emma, porque well, es la protagonista, pero la chica ni me moquea.
Lo que más me molesta es la sinopsis. Te spoilea todo el maldito libro. Hay cosa que no pasan hasta las últimas hojas y está ahí, en la sinopsis. Arruina definitivamente la lectura. Estoy constantemente esperando que X cosa pase. Y lo peor, es que esas cosas pasan en las páginas 300, 400, 500.
Otro mal es el prólogo, que comienza en 1990, y el primer cap remonta a 1967. ¿Saben cuánto tiempo pasa para que lleguemos a los noventa? QUINIENTAS PÁGINAS .
¿El romance? Michael me gusta, mucho. Pero no entiendo cómo pudo hacer un romance tan mal desarrollado. Michael y Emma, se conocen desde niños. Cuando él tenía 11 y ella 6. Se vieron esa sola vez. Luego vuelven a encontrarse cuando ella tiene 12/13 y él 17. Y él ya queda medio fascinado por la cría. Se vieron esa sola vez. Vuelven a encontrarse cuando él tiene 23 y ella 18. Se dan su primer beso, pero ella desaparece ese mismo día. Se han visto en tres ocasiones fugaces en casi 10 años. Y oh, milagros, de los milagros, Él queda enamorado de ella desde que tiene 17. (wtf)
Es inverosímil. No se conocen de nada, y ya está, amor, amor amor. Y tuvo 600 páginas para ofrecerme eso? ¿ESO? ¿Es lo mejorcito que le salió? Y lo peor de lo peor, es que no le dedicó ni cien páginas al romance, habrán sido 75 como mucho y a duras penas.
Tampoco me gustó que Michael tuviera esa relación con esa chica.
No entiendo el propósito de remontar tanto tiempo atrás. Y hacerlo tan lentamente. Contaba los años y la cría no crecía. Y las páginas pasaban y no llegabamos a ningún lado.
¿Y la intriga? O, ¿este secreto a voces? Yo supe quién había sido antes de que lo hicieran.
¿Qué rescato? A Conroy. El perro de Michael, que chucho más mono. Y a Johnno, un amor, amor, amor de criatura.
Definitivamente, este es un libro de la época en la que Nora no sabía resumir. ¿Eran necesarias QUINIENTAS páginas para profundizar en el pasado de un personaje?
Con un capítulo YO hubiera estado igual de tranqui. Pequeños flashbacks, qué se yo. No entiendo porqué tuvo que ser tan minuciosa para describir toda la infancia, adolescencia de Emma.
La parte interesante (el romance) llega en la página 450/600. Y ni tampoco. Para las 500 ya están juntos y en la 550 ya no tienen mucho más qué hacer porque son "estables".
Para ser un libro tan largo, difícilmente conecté con algún personaje. Se supone que tengo que cogerle cariño a Emma, porque well, es la protagonista, pero la chica ni me moquea.
Lo que más me molesta es la sinopsis. Te spoilea todo el maldito libro. Hay cosa que no pasan hasta las últimas hojas y está ahí, en la sinopsis. Arruina definitivamente la lectura. Estoy constantemente esperando que X cosa pase. Y lo peor, es que esas cosas pasan en las páginas 300, 400, 500.
Otro mal es el prólogo, que comienza en 1990, y el primer cap remonta a 1967. ¿Saben cuánto tiempo pasa para que lleguemos a los noventa? QUINIENTAS PÁGINAS .
¿El romance? Michael me gusta, mucho. Pero no entiendo cómo pudo hacer un romance tan mal desarrollado. Michael y Emma, se conocen desde niños. Cuando él tenía 11 y ella 6. Se vieron esa sola vez. Luego vuelven a encontrarse cuando ella tiene 12/13 y él 17. Y él ya queda medio fascinado por la cría. Se vieron esa sola vez. Vuelven a encontrarse cuando él tiene 23 y ella 18. Se dan su primer beso, pero ella desaparece ese mismo día. Se han visto en tres ocasiones fugaces en casi 10 años. Y oh, milagros, de los milagros, Él queda enamorado de ella desde que tiene 17. (wtf)
Es inverosímil. No se conocen de nada, y ya está, amor, amor amor. Y tuvo 600 páginas para ofrecerme eso? ¿ESO? ¿Es lo mejorcito que le salió? Y lo peor de lo peor, es que no le dedicó ni cien páginas al romance, habrán sido 75 como mucho y a duras penas.
Tampoco me gustó que Michael tuviera esa relación con esa chica.
No entiendo el propósito de remontar tanto tiempo atrás. Y hacerlo tan lentamente. Contaba los años y la cría no crecía. Y las páginas pasaban y no llegabamos a ningún lado.
¿Y la intriga? O, ¿este secreto a voces? Yo supe quién había sido antes de que lo hicieran.
¿Qué rescato? A Conroy. El perro de Michael, que chucho más mono. Y a Johnno, un amor, amor, amor de criatura.
April 29, 2013
This is an oldie but a goodie. I first read Public Secrets over 15 years ago and since then I continually pick it back up for a reread. I just finished rereading the story after a good 7 or 8 year break and I am so happy to say that it's still as compelling, intriguing, and delightful as it was the first time I read it.
This story in particular is a favorite of mine as it follow the story of not just the main character Emma, but an entire cast of characters that you love to love and love to hate. This story takes you through 30 years worth of character development and growth not to mention 30 years worth of history. The story starts in the 1960s and Nora paints a vivid picture of the time then. I wasn't alive at that time but her portrayal was so alive and real that I feel almost like I had lived it. The new wave of music, the British Invasion, sex, drugs, the changing shape of society and youth - it's all there. You grow up with Emma and at the same time you grow with her family. Learning to love them as she loves them, despair over them, root for them. They become your family too. For me, it's impossible not become invested in them. The other component I love about this story, is that Emma's love interest is introduced to you from the very beginning - when he's a pre-teen. You see how their relationship develops, the mistakes they make and in the end its beautiful when they finally come together. Nora tackles some heavy topics in this book too - sex, drugs, rape, AIDS, abuse, addiction, love, despair - and she does it with aplomb, grace, wit, and honesty. I feel that out of the entire Nora Robert's collection this book blows the other stand alone mystery/romance stories out of the water. By far the most complex and developed story line; fully engaging and relatable characters- Public Secrets has it all. I cannot recommend this book enough to others.
This story in particular is a favorite of mine as it follow the story of not just the main character Emma, but an entire cast of characters that you love to love and love to hate. This story takes you through 30 years worth of character development and growth not to mention 30 years worth of history. The story starts in the 1960s and Nora paints a vivid picture of the time then. I wasn't alive at that time but her portrayal was so alive and real that I feel almost like I had lived it. The new wave of music, the British Invasion, sex, drugs, the changing shape of society and youth - it's all there. You grow up with Emma and at the same time you grow with her family. Learning to love them as she loves them, despair over them, root for them. They become your family too. For me, it's impossible not become invested in them. The other component I love about this story, is that Emma's love interest is introduced to you from the very beginning - when he's a pre-teen. You see how their relationship develops, the mistakes they make and in the end its beautiful when they finally come together. Nora tackles some heavy topics in this book too - sex, drugs, rape, AIDS, abuse, addiction, love, despair - and she does it with aplomb, grace, wit, and honesty. I feel that out of the entire Nora Robert's collection this book blows the other stand alone mystery/romance stories out of the water. By far the most complex and developed story line; fully engaging and relatable characters- Public Secrets has it all. I cannot recommend this book enough to others.
July 4, 2020
Este libro tiene un error muy grave y es su SINOPSIS, NO LA LEAN, SE VAN A SPOILEAR MUCHAS COSAS.
Dicho esto, voy a decir que el libro me encantó. La autora describe todos los sentimientos de Emma muy detallados, y llegas a sentir, y mucho, lo que ella esta pasando y viviendo en cada etapa de su vida.
No voy a negar que el libro tiene varios baches donde mucho no pasa, pero bueno, la autora debería aprender a sintetizar y ser puntual con los relatos. Creo que es un punto en contra para la autora, el resto me saco el sombrero.
Me encantaría poder leer algo más de ella, su forma de escribir me gustó mucho.
No voy a contar mucho de la historia porque si no, spoilearía. Pasan muchas cosas y siempre hay algo que pasa y va cambiando el rumbo de la historia aunque el eje de todo esto sea Emma y su dolor por no poder salvar a su hermano.
P.d: Quiero un Michael en mi vida.
Dicho esto, voy a decir que el libro me encantó. La autora describe todos los sentimientos de Emma muy detallados, y llegas a sentir, y mucho, lo que ella esta pasando y viviendo en cada etapa de su vida.
No voy a negar que el libro tiene varios baches donde mucho no pasa, pero bueno, la autora debería aprender a sintetizar y ser puntual con los relatos. Creo que es un punto en contra para la autora, el resto me saco el sombrero.
Me encantaría poder leer algo más de ella, su forma de escribir me gustó mucho.
No voy a contar mucho de la historia porque si no, spoilearía. Pasan muchas cosas y siempre hay algo que pasa y va cambiando el rumbo de la historia aunque el eje de todo esto sea Emma y su dolor por no poder salvar a su hermano.
P.d: Quiero un Michael en mi vida.
August 24, 2024
Re-read. I forgot how good this one is! Definite re-read material. :)
December 6, 2018
I am torn between 3.5 and 4 STARS...UGH. I've waited a week and still can't decide how I truly feel.
I've read quite a few NR books, and this is hands down the most intense. It spans multiple years and addresses some dark storylines. Even though Emma is the MC, I felt she was too often overshadowed by Brian. Also, due to the large time span, it felt like key events were not sufficiently covered. Despite that, it was an engaging read, and I could't put it down.
I've read quite a few NR books, and this is hands down the most intense. It spans multiple years and addresses some dark storylines. Even though Emma is the MC, I felt she was too often overshadowed by Brian. Also, due to the large time span, it felt like key events were not sufficiently covered. Despite that, it was an engaging read, and I could't put it down.
August 27, 2008
I really enjoy the Nora Roberts novels that follow an individual person or group of persons over a long path of their life. It really allows for me to learn the characters better than a novel that packs all the action to a span of a few months or perhaps a few years. This novel spanned decades, and the characters grew and developed in believable ways as the plot moved forward.
My main gripes with the novel are that some of the circumstances seemed somewhat contrived and unrealistic. For example, [spoiler warning] Emma's first husband only married her because he thought she could help him move ahead in his music career. That's an issue enough to be broached, but instead of leaving Emma in simply an unloving union, her husband's character was reduced to that of an emotional and physical abuser. Absolutely believable - and such situations certainly do happen.
This is a gripe I've had with other novels and movies/television shows. They feel such a need to make it clear that one character is not Mr. Right that they go to the extreme and make him the worst option possible. I would have preferred it, personally, if Emma had had to make a hard choice - to leave a loveless yet not abusive relationship - because she believed that she could do better (and deserved better). This setup felt like lazy characterization to me, which was disappointing.
Still, overall, the novel is solid. Emma's father and stepmother (as well as her father's bandmates) feel like real people with real problems - and their reactions to tragedy are saddening but very realistic.
My main gripes with the novel are that some of the circumstances seemed somewhat contrived and unrealistic. For example, [spoiler warning] Emma's first husband only married her because he thought she could help him move ahead in his music career. That's an issue enough to be broached, but instead of leaving Emma in simply an unloving union, her husband's character was reduced to that of an emotional and physical abuser. Absolutely believable - and such situations certainly do happen.
This is a gripe I've had with other novels and movies/television shows. They feel such a need to make it clear that one character is not Mr. Right that they go to the extreme and make him the worst option possible. I would have preferred it, personally, if Emma had had to make a hard choice - to leave a loveless yet not abusive relationship - because she believed that she could do better (and deserved better). This setup felt like lazy characterization to me, which was disappointing.
Still, overall, the novel is solid. Emma's father and stepmother (as well as her father's bandmates) feel like real people with real problems - and their reactions to tragedy are saddening but very realistic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 12, 2016
A Filha das Estrelas é um bom exemplar do trabalho de Nora Roberts. Gostei especialmente que o livro fosse tão completo em relação à protagonista, Emma, que acompanhamos ao longo da sua vida, desde pequenina, passando pelos diversos episódios que, para o bem ou para o mal, a moldaram. A escritora levou-me a criar genuína afeição por Emma, uma ligação fortificada pelo sofrimento da personagem.
Ao mesmo tempo, Roberts conseguiu que todas as personagens tivessem o seu espaço na narrativa, mas sem que o livro se torne confuso ou aborrecido. Estes personagens não existem apenas para coadjuvar a protagonista, têm as suas próprias histórias e objectivos, o que as torna realistas e uma mais-valia para o livro.
Gostei tanto do desenvolvimento da relação romântica entre Emma e Michael (que vai sento lentamente construído e consolidado. A ligação entre ambos estabelece-se logo quando se conheceram em crianças e mantém-se até à idade adulta) como do mistério que envolve o homicídio do irmão de Emma (embora a identidade dos assassinos dificilmente seja uma surpresa para o leitor, é na mesma interessante acompanhar o seu desenvolvimento).
Embora próximo da conclusão me tenha parecido que a escritora empatou um bocadinho, não foi por isso que perdi interesse na leitura - gostei muito!
Ao mesmo tempo, Roberts conseguiu que todas as personagens tivessem o seu espaço na narrativa, mas sem que o livro se torne confuso ou aborrecido. Estes personagens não existem apenas para coadjuvar a protagonista, têm as suas próprias histórias e objectivos, o que as torna realistas e uma mais-valia para o livro.
Gostei tanto do desenvolvimento da relação romântica entre Emma e Michael (que vai sento lentamente construído e consolidado. A ligação entre ambos estabelece-se logo quando se conheceram em crianças e mantém-se até à idade adulta) como do mistério que envolve o homicídio do irmão de Emma (embora a identidade dos assassinos dificilmente seja uma surpresa para o leitor, é na mesma interessante acompanhar o seu desenvolvimento).
Embora próximo da conclusão me tenha parecido que a escritora empatou um bocadinho, não foi por isso que perdi interesse na leitura - gostei muito!
July 6, 2023
Más que la historia de amor de la londinense Emma McAvoy y el californiano Michael Kesselring, que ocupa poco espacio, esto va de... (algo de) Sexo, (bastantes) drogas y (ante todo) rock’n’roll.
Del Londres de 1967 hasta la California de 1990, la vida de Emma se entrelaza con la de padre Brian y su grupo de rock. Es un repaso a toda una época, rollos sexuales, consumo de drogas blandas y duras sin pestañear, beben alcohol como cosacos y fuman como carreteros. Contando la parte mala, pero sin moralina. A veces me parece un canto al rocanrol, a la música como algo que los redime a pesar de sus defectos como personas. El misterio gira en torno a la muerte violenta de un bebé, medio hermano de Emma, cuando ella tenía seis años, algo que arrastra emocionalmente durante el resto del libro.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
Del Londres de 1967 hasta la California de 1990, la vida de Emma se entrelaza con la de padre Brian y su grupo de rock. Es un repaso a toda una época, rollos sexuales, consumo de drogas blandas y duras sin pestañear, beben alcohol como cosacos y fuman como carreteros. Contando la parte mala, pero sin moralina. A veces me parece un canto al rocanrol, a la música como algo que los redime a pesar de sus defectos como personas. El misterio gira en torno a la muerte violenta de un bebé, medio hermano de Emma, cuando ella tenía seis años, algo que arrastra emocionalmente durante el resto del libro.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
May 26, 2020
I picked this up wanting a basic Nora Roberts comfort read, forgetting that her stand alones are...not that comforting lmao. This one definitely had some dark shit I wasn’t anticipating (child death, spousal abuse, lotta drugs, etc.). But honestly the thing that bugged me the most was the side plot where a recovering addict becomes romantically involved with their therapist that they met in rehab? NORA! THIS IS UNETHICAL! I KNOW IT WAS THE NINETIES BUT SHEESH!
May 20, 2021
Audiobook. Book 5 stars; narration 2 (accents were *dreadful*)
Published in 1990, it's a great slice of 1960s-80s life, with some murder and mayhem mixed in.
Published in 1990, it's a great slice of 1960s-80s life, with some murder and mayhem mixed in.
April 10, 2020
Partiendo de la base de que Nora Roberts es de mis escritoras favoritas, el libro está muy bien. Problema; le sobra la mitad.
Se aprecia que es un libro de los antiguos de esta autora sobre todo porque no hay resumen, todo está detallado; demasiado.
Nos narra la vida y desgracias de Emma, la hija de un cantante famoso. Por esta parte me ha encantado la historia del grupo y la historia de Emma pero considero que la mitad del libro se podría haber reducido a apenas dos o tres capítulos para ponernos en situación.
Respecto a la relación amorosa, está bien pero no es memorable. Se queda en la superficie y creo que la autora debería haber profundizado más en la historia de superación de la protagonista, no obstante, todo se limita a unas pocas páginas.
Por último, estoy totalmente decepcionada con el resumen que hace Random House ya que destripa todo el argumente de una manera que nunca he visto.
Por lo demás.... Nora Roberts tiene libros muchísimo mejores con menos páginas. Este en la primera mitad se hace aburrido y en la segunda se queda corto.
Se aprecia que es un libro de los antiguos de esta autora sobre todo porque no hay resumen, todo está detallado; demasiado.
Nos narra la vida y desgracias de Emma, la hija de un cantante famoso. Por esta parte me ha encantado la historia del grupo y la historia de Emma pero considero que la mitad del libro se podría haber reducido a apenas dos o tres capítulos para ponernos en situación.
Respecto a la relación amorosa, está bien pero no es memorable. Se queda en la superficie y creo que la autora debería haber profundizado más en la historia de superación de la protagonista, no obstante, todo se limita a unas pocas páginas.
Por último, estoy totalmente decepcionada con el resumen que hace Random House ya que destripa todo el argumente de una manera que nunca he visto.
Por lo demás.... Nora Roberts tiene libros muchísimo mejores con menos páginas. Este en la primera mitad se hace aburrido y en la segunda se queda corto.
September 11, 2018
A saga unfolds...
There were times I hated this book. Not the story, but the characters and their actions. It made me a lot uncomfortable and queasy.
Everyone was so selfishness and the one redeemable character became a weak reflection.
Talk about a soap opera, this book most certainly was.
Though there is a happy ending, for the most part, I hated how they got there, which took the sweetness out of it.
As much as I hated it, the plot, the writing, the storyline were all engaging. So despite all of the hate, I can’t give the book less than it deserves because I couldn’t stop reading.
Part of me thinks I might have read this one before as well. But I can’t remember.
The narrator was fantastic.
There were times I hated this book. Not the story, but the characters and their actions. It made me a lot uncomfortable and queasy.
Everyone was so selfishness and the one redeemable character became a weak reflection.
Talk about a soap opera, this book most certainly was.
Though there is a happy ending, for the most part, I hated how they got there, which took the sweetness out of it.
As much as I hated it, the plot, the writing, the storyline were all engaging. So despite all of the hate, I can’t give the book less than it deserves because I couldn’t stop reading.
Part of me thinks I might have read this one before as well. But I can’t remember.
The narrator was fantastic.
November 18, 2017
tuve mis dudas sobre este libro cuando comencé a leerlo y descubrí que nos narraba la historia desde que la protagonista, Emma, era una niñita. Eso me hizo recordar otro libro, no de Nora sino de Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Fancy pants), que es un aburrimiento y despropósito total en sus 500 páginas, de las cuales regala mucho a la infancia de la prota; no obstante, seguí adelante con la lectura y ¿qué creen? Que Nora Roberts logró regalarme una novela muy buena.
Este es un libro que debería leerse o comprarse sin leer la sinopsis porque ya desde ahí te spoilean cañón. No sé quién tuvo la idea de hacer esa sinopsis pero QUÉ MAL que te cuenten cosas vitales de la trama ya desde ahí, sobre todo cuando muchas de esas cosas no suceden sino hasta ya muy avanzado el libro.
Si están buscando mucho amor y un romance súper desarrollado pues no, no lo hay. Y a partir de aquí mi reseña puede contener spoilers menores, así que lean bajo su propio riesgo.
Si están buscando una novela contemporánea, con un romance ligerito y bastante drama, ésta es su novela.
Este es un libro que debería leerse o comprarse sin leer la sinopsis porque ya desde ahí te spoilean cañón. No sé quién tuvo la idea de hacer esa sinopsis pero QUÉ MAL que te cuenten cosas vitales de la trama ya desde ahí, sobre todo cuando muchas de esas cosas no suceden sino hasta ya muy avanzado el libro.
Si están buscando mucho amor y un romance súper desarrollado pues no, no lo hay. Y a partir de aquí mi reseña puede contener spoilers menores, así que lean bajo su propio riesgo.
Si están buscando una novela contemporánea, con un romance ligerito y bastante drama, ésta es su novela.
September 18, 2019
4.5 stars
Wow, if that wasn't one roller coaster of life I don't know what is.... This is one of those stories that passes a LOT of time. You become deeply involved in every character, who they are, what they are dealing with, their thoughts, feelings- get ready to become overly attached to all of them. There is abuse, love, addiction, loss- in every way imaginable, emotional manipulation, murder, attraction, lust, turmoil, fear, devastation, joy, heartache, redemption, healing, you seriously go through EVERY emotion. It's hard a lot of the time, but it is SO DANG GOOD. I couldn't stop reading this one from start to finish.
I loved Emma, and most of the story is about her dealing with her childhood, not just from her abusive mother, but what it was like growing up with a father who is a rock star...what happens when she gets a beautiful baby brother and how loving him affects her life. The aftermath of loss, grief, growing up and meeting new friends, boys, falling in love, getting into an abusive relationship and having to escape that...I feel like Roberts doesn't shy away from hard things. Those scenes where she is being beaten were HARD to read. But I felt like her thoughts and feelings were so real. I could easily see someone in that situation reacting and thinking the same way she did. I couldn't believe the many levels of hatred I could feel for that guy, seriously. His emotional manipulation not only in his regular abuse but torturing her with one particular incident from her childhood and trying to make her even crazier and under his control was almost too much to bear. Man, as I said, I felt EVERY emotion reading this story.
One of my absolute favorite things about this book was the relationship Emma had with each member of her father's band. They were truly a family in every sense of the word and their love for her and her love for them were so powerful. There is a scene where she is trying to help Stevie, one of the band members, with his addiction and she's yelling and screaming at him and it's just WOW.
Anyway, I could go on and on but if this even kind of sounds good to you you should pick it up. It's not a simple traditional love story, but it's a story of love in so many senses of the word. I really liked this one.
Wow, if that wasn't one roller coaster of life I don't know what is.... This is one of those stories that passes a LOT of time. You become deeply involved in every character, who they are, what they are dealing with, their thoughts, feelings- get ready to become overly attached to all of them. There is abuse, love, addiction, loss- in every way imaginable, emotional manipulation, murder, attraction, lust, turmoil, fear, devastation, joy, heartache, redemption, healing, you seriously go through EVERY emotion. It's hard a lot of the time, but it is SO DANG GOOD. I couldn't stop reading this one from start to finish.
I loved Emma, and most of the story is about her dealing with her childhood, not just from her abusive mother, but what it was like growing up with a father who is a rock star...what happens when she gets a beautiful baby brother and how loving him affects her life. The aftermath of loss, grief, growing up and meeting new friends, boys, falling in love, getting into an abusive relationship and having to escape that...I feel like Roberts doesn't shy away from hard things. Those scenes where she is being beaten were HARD to read. But I felt like her thoughts and feelings were so real. I could easily see someone in that situation reacting and thinking the same way she did. I couldn't believe the many levels of hatred I could feel for that guy, seriously. His emotional manipulation not only in his regular abuse but torturing her with one particular incident from her childhood and trying to make her even crazier and under his control was almost too much to bear. Man, as I said, I felt EVERY emotion reading this story.
One of my absolute favorite things about this book was the relationship Emma had with each member of her father's band. They were truly a family in every sense of the word and their love for her and her love for them were so powerful. There is a scene where she is trying to help Stevie, one of the band members, with his addiction and she's yelling and screaming at him and it's just WOW.
Anyway, I could go on and on but if this even kind of sounds good to you you should pick it up. It's not a simple traditional love story, but it's a story of love in so many senses of the word. I really liked this one.
August 29, 2016
Op basis van bovenstaande samenvatting zou je als lezer een uiterst spannend boek verwachten. Dat zou ik zelf ook doen mocht dit mijn allereerste Nora Roberts-boek zijn. Er zit zeker enige mate van spanning – of eerder mysterie – door dit verhaal heen verweven maar … het vormt zeker niet de belangrijkste factor.
Eén van de zaken die er voor zorgen dat ik de boeken van deze schrijfster zo graag lees is de manier waarop en de mate waarin ze haar personages uitwerkt. Binnen de kortste keren leef je met hen mee en stoort het je zelfs niet wanneer je opnieuw vrij snel doorhebt hoe de ontknoping aan het einde er zal uitzien.
Ik hou van haar personages. Van de manier waarop je meteen van hen gaat houden of er een afkeer van krijgt. Maar ook haar vlotte schrijfstijl en haar bekwaamheid als verhalenverteler spreken me aan. Oh en het feit dat ze je als lezer in elk boek een nieuwe wereld leert kennen. Zo neemt ze ons in Publiek geheim mee achter de schermen van de muziekwereld.
...
Mijn volledige recensie kan je hier terugvinden.
Eén van de zaken die er voor zorgen dat ik de boeken van deze schrijfster zo graag lees is de manier waarop en de mate waarin ze haar personages uitwerkt. Binnen de kortste keren leef je met hen mee en stoort het je zelfs niet wanneer je opnieuw vrij snel doorhebt hoe de ontknoping aan het einde er zal uitzien.
Ik hou van haar personages. Van de manier waarop je meteen van hen gaat houden of er een afkeer van krijgt. Maar ook haar vlotte schrijfstijl en haar bekwaamheid als verhalenverteler spreken me aan. Oh en het feit dat ze je als lezer in elk boek een nieuwe wereld leert kennen. Zo neemt ze ons in Publiek geheim mee achter de schermen van de muziekwereld.
...
Mijn volledige recensie kan je hier terugvinden.
June 16, 2016
Quando comecei hoje a ler, faltavam 265 páginas para terminar e tencionava dividir a leitura por 3 dias mas estava a gostar tanto, mas tanto que tirei a tarde para o despachar. A sério, nunca pensei que fosse possível gostar tanto. Afinal, este livro tem elementos que me fazem desprezar uma leitura, como seja passar-se há umas décadas atrás, a ação estender-se por diversos anos, não é apenas um romance de amor + um mistério como é mais usual em NR mas sim a vida de Emma durante 20 anos.
Confesso que apenas passei uma rápida vista de olhos por diversas páginas relacionadas com o casamento de Emma referido na sinopse.
Já Michael é outra história; as cenas dele li-as todas! E o cão dele, Conroy? Oh que máximo! :)
Quanto ao assassino do irmão de Emma - Tive sempre muitas suspeitas e vacilei bastante até me fixar definitivamente numa pessoa, que se revelou ser a correta. Nunca imaginei foi o motivo para o ter feito...
Do melhor que já li de NR, sem dúvida. Completamente cativante!
Confesso que apenas passei uma rápida vista de olhos por diversas páginas relacionadas com o casamento de Emma referido na sinopse.
Já Michael é outra história; as cenas dele li-as todas! E o cão dele, Conroy? Oh que máximo! :)
Quanto ao assassino do irmão de Emma - Tive sempre muitas suspeitas e vacilei bastante até me fixar definitivamente numa pessoa, que se revelou ser a correta. Nunca imaginei foi o motivo para o ter feito...
Do melhor que já li de NR, sem dúvida. Completamente cativante!
August 31, 2012
This was not one of my favorites from Roberts, but it was well written and a good read. Most of the reasoning for my rating has to do with pacing. It's not that the story ever lags, but there was a section I felt lasted too many chapters. That being said, it's more of my personal distaste for the subject matter going on in the story--brutal domestic abuse and violence against children. It makes me sick to even read about such things and know they exist in reality. So, though it may be a bit unfair, my rating is a little lower, in part, because of that. Still, if you are a Roberts fan, you should definitely read this book.
November 9, 2017
Very emotional book from start to finish but I loved every minute of it and think this is probably one of the best NR book I have read.
August 29, 2020
Este libro me ha demostrado en pocas palabras lo absolutamente absurdo que es tener prejuicios e ideas infundadas de una autora. Ya me pasó con los Highlanders, me pasé años pensando que eso era ‘basura’ literalmente, y mira, algunas sagas se han convertido en mis preferidas. Y bueno, también me pasó con la novela romántica y especialmente la victoriana, con 16 años nunca pensé que leería ese tipo de libros que consideraba pastelosos y malos. Y ahora, con 23, pensando que la señora Roberts era la típica cansina, resulta que escribe maravillosamente bien y que este libro es precioso.
“—No tienen cara. Uno de ellos lo tenía cogido con fuerza y lo hacía llorar. Darren me llamó, pero yo escapé corriendo. Escapé y lo dejé con los monstruos. Y ellos lo mataron. Lo mataron porque yo escapé.
—No. —Lou abrazó a la desdichada niña y le permitió llorar sobre su pecho mientras le acariciaba el cabello—. No, tú corriste a pedir ayuda. ¿No es así, Emma?
—Quería que viniera mi papá.
—Era lo mejor que podías hacer. No eran monstruos, Emma. Eran hombres,hombres malos, y tú no podrías haberlos detenido.
—Prometí que cuidaría a Darren, que jamás dejaría que le ocurriera nada.
—Intentaste cumplir tu promesa. Nadie te culpa de nada, querida.”
El libro es duro ya desde un comienzo. Primero con la madre biológica de Emma, que es para echarle de comer a parte, pero es que luego con el secuestro y muerte de Darren, empieza a ser todo bastante duro. Eso tiene muchas consecuencias, y además, queda bastante claro que ahí hay mucha tela que cortar. ¿Quién ha sido?
“—Te he dejado en paz. Te he dejado en paz aquí sentada, hora tras hora. Te he dejado en paz cuando necesitaba tu apoyo más que nunca en la vida. Y todas las noches te dejo en paz, aunque espero que no me des la espalda. Que solo por una vez no me des la espalda. Maldita sea, Bev. También era mi hijo.
—No me toques. No soporto que me toques. —Brian retrocedió. Bev se levantó de la mecedora y fue hacia la cuna.
—No soportas que te toque. —Brian estaba a punto de estallar de furia—. No soportas que te mire. No soportas que te hable. Hora tras hora, día tras día te quedas aquí sentada como si fueras la única que sufre. Esto tiene que acabar, Bev.
—Para ti es muy fácil, ¿verdad? —Sacó la sábana de la cuna y la apretó contra su pecho—. Te sientas a beber y a componer tu música como si nada hubiera ocurrido. Es tan fácil para ti que da asco.
—No. —Extenuado, se llevó las manos a los ojos y apretó—. No es fácil, pero no puedo dejar de vivir. Darren está muerto, y yo no puedo hacer nada para cambiar las cosas.
—No; no puedes hacer nada. —El dolor impotente era como ácido sobre una herida abierta—. Tenías que dar una fiesta esa noche. Tenías que meter a toda esa gente en nuestra casa. Tu familia nunca fue suficiente para ti... y ahora Darren está muerto. Necesitabas tener más, más gente, más música. Siempre más. Y una de las personas que dejaste entrar en nuestra casa mató a mi hijo.”
Me cabreé mucho con Bev tras esta conversación. En mi propia familia esto se ha vivido, ya que cuando mi tío murió mi abuela estaba siempre fatal porque “su hijo” había muerto. ¿Y mi abuelo qué? Siempre he dicho que debe ser devastador perder a un hijo, pero sea como fuere, echarle la culpa a tu pareja no va a hacer que vuelva. Está muerto, lo último que necesitas es romper y destruir aquello que te queda y que puede ayudarte a superarlo y aprender a vivir con ello.
“Tener una relación sexual con alguien es fácil... y vacío. Por muy excitante que sea cuando lo estás haciendo. Pero hacer el amor con alguien es una experiencia completamente distinta. Tú misma lo descubrirás cuando llegue el momento. Podría decirse que, cuando hay sentimientos de por medio, es una experiencia sagrada.”
Me ha encantado que un cantante de rock con tanta fama dijera esto. Un hombre, con mucha experiencia, con una vida vivida, que sea capaz de decirle eso a una chica joven que es como su hija: me ha gustado. Sobre todo porque huye del tópico de: folla y bebe, vive tu vida y sé happy. No. Tienen más cabeza que eso.
“—Jamás volveré a hacerte daño, Emma. Lo juro. Me iré si quieres. Puedes divorciarte de mí. Solo Dios sabe qué haré sin ti, pero no te pediré que me permitas quedarme. Es solo que... joder, todo parece salir mal. El disco no se está vendiendo tan bien como esperábamos. No conseguimos el Grammy. Y... y deseo tanto tener un hijo.
Se echó a llorar, sosteniéndose la cabeza con las manos. Emma estiró los dedos tímidamente y le tocó el brazo. Drew estuvo a punto de lanzar una carcajada, pero aferró la mano de su esposa y cayó de rodillas junto a la cama.
—Por favor, Emma. Sé que el hecho de que me estuvieras acosando y te pusieras en mi contra no justifica lo que hice. Perdóname. Dame otra oportunidad. Haré lo que sea para compensarte.
—Lo superaremos juntos —murmuró ella.
Drew hundió la cara en el cobertor y sonrió.”
“—No, Drew. Por favor. ¿Qué he hecho?
El la aferró del cabello y volvió a golpearla antes de que pudiera gritar.
—Lo sabes muy bien, ramera. —Le dio un puñetazo en el pecho y Emma cayóal suelo—. Toda la noche, toda la maldita noche he tenido que estar a tu lado, sonriendo, fingiendo que tus estúpidas fotos me importan. ¿Acaso crees que alguien, uno solo de los presentes, fue a verlas? —La levantó por los hombros. Sus dedos furibundos le dejaron marcas rojas en la piel—. ¿Acaso crees que interesas a alguien? ¡No! Fueron a ver a la hijita de Brian McAvoy. Fueron a ver a la esposa de Drew Latimer. Tú no eres nadie. —La soltó.”
No había manera. En el libro no sabía si cogerla a ella y darle de hostias, de matarlo a él, de matarlos a ambos… las escenas de maltrato tanto psicológico como físico se sucedían. Ya se veía venir desde un primer momento que Drew no era trigo limpio, con toda esa suficiencia y la manera en que celebran su boda… no, no me gustaba. Pero es que cada paso que daban, y cada escena… era aún peor. Me lo ha hecho pasar mal, pero a la vez también me ha puesto rabiosa. Y sé de lo que hablo, he vivido 18 años de mi vida con un maltratador como padre, y no cambian, con el tiempo van a peor.
“—Y que lo digas —murmuró él—. Póntelo y ya está.
Emma ahogó una carcajada.
—Es la propuesta más romántica que podría soñar una mujer.
—Ya te lo he pedido demasiadas veces. —Le puso las manos en la nuca—. ¿Qué te parece esto? —Le dio un beso suave, amoroso y prometedor—. Nadie te amará más que yo. Solo quiero toda una vida para demostrarlo.
—Eso está muy bien. —Emma parpadeó para contener las lágrimas—. Muy bien. —Sacó el anillo del estuche y lo miró—. ¿Por qué tiene tres círculos? —Pasó la yema del índice por las tres esferas de diamantes enlazadas.
—Uno es tu vida, otro es la mía. —Michael tomó el anillo y se lo puso con delicadeza en el anular—. Y el otro es la vida que haremos juntos. Hace mucho tiempo que estamos conectados.
Emma asintió y lo estrechó en sus brazos.
—Quiero comenzar ese tercer círculo, Michael. Ahora mismo.”
De principio a fin. Lleno de tópicos de novela romántica, y con ciertos tópicos también de la música, pero pausado, con un argumento lógico, coherente, personajes interesantes, secundarios a la altura y el punto justo de amor, pasión y humor.
“—No tienen cara. Uno de ellos lo tenía cogido con fuerza y lo hacía llorar. Darren me llamó, pero yo escapé corriendo. Escapé y lo dejé con los monstruos. Y ellos lo mataron. Lo mataron porque yo escapé.
—No. —Lou abrazó a la desdichada niña y le permitió llorar sobre su pecho mientras le acariciaba el cabello—. No, tú corriste a pedir ayuda. ¿No es así, Emma?
—Quería que viniera mi papá.
—Era lo mejor que podías hacer. No eran monstruos, Emma. Eran hombres,hombres malos, y tú no podrías haberlos detenido.
—Prometí que cuidaría a Darren, que jamás dejaría que le ocurriera nada.
—Intentaste cumplir tu promesa. Nadie te culpa de nada, querida.”
El libro es duro ya desde un comienzo. Primero con la madre biológica de Emma, que es para echarle de comer a parte, pero es que luego con el secuestro y muerte de Darren, empieza a ser todo bastante duro. Eso tiene muchas consecuencias, y además, queda bastante claro que ahí hay mucha tela que cortar. ¿Quién ha sido?
“—Te he dejado en paz. Te he dejado en paz aquí sentada, hora tras hora. Te he dejado en paz cuando necesitaba tu apoyo más que nunca en la vida. Y todas las noches te dejo en paz, aunque espero que no me des la espalda. Que solo por una vez no me des la espalda. Maldita sea, Bev. También era mi hijo.
—No me toques. No soporto que me toques. —Brian retrocedió. Bev se levantó de la mecedora y fue hacia la cuna.
—No soportas que te toque. —Brian estaba a punto de estallar de furia—. No soportas que te mire. No soportas que te hable. Hora tras hora, día tras día te quedas aquí sentada como si fueras la única que sufre. Esto tiene que acabar, Bev.
—Para ti es muy fácil, ¿verdad? —Sacó la sábana de la cuna y la apretó contra su pecho—. Te sientas a beber y a componer tu música como si nada hubiera ocurrido. Es tan fácil para ti que da asco.
—No. —Extenuado, se llevó las manos a los ojos y apretó—. No es fácil, pero no puedo dejar de vivir. Darren está muerto, y yo no puedo hacer nada para cambiar las cosas.
—No; no puedes hacer nada. —El dolor impotente era como ácido sobre una herida abierta—. Tenías que dar una fiesta esa noche. Tenías que meter a toda esa gente en nuestra casa. Tu familia nunca fue suficiente para ti... y ahora Darren está muerto. Necesitabas tener más, más gente, más música. Siempre más. Y una de las personas que dejaste entrar en nuestra casa mató a mi hijo.”
Me cabreé mucho con Bev tras esta conversación. En mi propia familia esto se ha vivido, ya que cuando mi tío murió mi abuela estaba siempre fatal porque “su hijo” había muerto. ¿Y mi abuelo qué? Siempre he dicho que debe ser devastador perder a un hijo, pero sea como fuere, echarle la culpa a tu pareja no va a hacer que vuelva. Está muerto, lo último que necesitas es romper y destruir aquello que te queda y que puede ayudarte a superarlo y aprender a vivir con ello.
“Tener una relación sexual con alguien es fácil... y vacío. Por muy excitante que sea cuando lo estás haciendo. Pero hacer el amor con alguien es una experiencia completamente distinta. Tú misma lo descubrirás cuando llegue el momento. Podría decirse que, cuando hay sentimientos de por medio, es una experiencia sagrada.”
Me ha encantado que un cantante de rock con tanta fama dijera esto. Un hombre, con mucha experiencia, con una vida vivida, que sea capaz de decirle eso a una chica joven que es como su hija: me ha gustado. Sobre todo porque huye del tópico de: folla y bebe, vive tu vida y sé happy. No. Tienen más cabeza que eso.
“—Jamás volveré a hacerte daño, Emma. Lo juro. Me iré si quieres. Puedes divorciarte de mí. Solo Dios sabe qué haré sin ti, pero no te pediré que me permitas quedarme. Es solo que... joder, todo parece salir mal. El disco no se está vendiendo tan bien como esperábamos. No conseguimos el Grammy. Y... y deseo tanto tener un hijo.
Se echó a llorar, sosteniéndose la cabeza con las manos. Emma estiró los dedos tímidamente y le tocó el brazo. Drew estuvo a punto de lanzar una carcajada, pero aferró la mano de su esposa y cayó de rodillas junto a la cama.
—Por favor, Emma. Sé que el hecho de que me estuvieras acosando y te pusieras en mi contra no justifica lo que hice. Perdóname. Dame otra oportunidad. Haré lo que sea para compensarte.
—Lo superaremos juntos —murmuró ella.
Drew hundió la cara en el cobertor y sonrió.”
“—No, Drew. Por favor. ¿Qué he hecho?
El la aferró del cabello y volvió a golpearla antes de que pudiera gritar.
—Lo sabes muy bien, ramera. —Le dio un puñetazo en el pecho y Emma cayóal suelo—. Toda la noche, toda la maldita noche he tenido que estar a tu lado, sonriendo, fingiendo que tus estúpidas fotos me importan. ¿Acaso crees que alguien, uno solo de los presentes, fue a verlas? —La levantó por los hombros. Sus dedos furibundos le dejaron marcas rojas en la piel—. ¿Acaso crees que interesas a alguien? ¡No! Fueron a ver a la hijita de Brian McAvoy. Fueron a ver a la esposa de Drew Latimer. Tú no eres nadie. —La soltó.”
No había manera. En el libro no sabía si cogerla a ella y darle de hostias, de matarlo a él, de matarlos a ambos… las escenas de maltrato tanto psicológico como físico se sucedían. Ya se veía venir desde un primer momento que Drew no era trigo limpio, con toda esa suficiencia y la manera en que celebran su boda… no, no me gustaba. Pero es que cada paso que daban, y cada escena… era aún peor. Me lo ha hecho pasar mal, pero a la vez también me ha puesto rabiosa. Y sé de lo que hablo, he vivido 18 años de mi vida con un maltratador como padre, y no cambian, con el tiempo van a peor.
“—Y que lo digas —murmuró él—. Póntelo y ya está.
Emma ahogó una carcajada.
—Es la propuesta más romántica que podría soñar una mujer.
—Ya te lo he pedido demasiadas veces. —Le puso las manos en la nuca—. ¿Qué te parece esto? —Le dio un beso suave, amoroso y prometedor—. Nadie te amará más que yo. Solo quiero toda una vida para demostrarlo.
—Eso está muy bien. —Emma parpadeó para contener las lágrimas—. Muy bien. —Sacó el anillo del estuche y lo miró—. ¿Por qué tiene tres círculos? —Pasó la yema del índice por las tres esferas de diamantes enlazadas.
—Uno es tu vida, otro es la mía. —Michael tomó el anillo y se lo puso con delicadeza en el anular—. Y el otro es la vida que haremos juntos. Hace mucho tiempo que estamos conectados.
Emma asintió y lo estrechó en sus brazos.
—Quiero comenzar ese tercer círculo, Michael. Ahora mismo.”
De principio a fin. Lleno de tópicos de novela romántica, y con ciertos tópicos también de la música, pero pausado, con un argumento lógico, coherente, personajes interesantes, secundarios a la altura y el punto justo de amor, pasión y humor.
June 23, 2024
Rating: 2.5 Stars!!
Review:
For the most part I liked this book until Chapter 4 then I felt it got away from the storyline which is why I could only give it 2 Stars.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. Beverly, Brian and Emma were my favorites. I loved how they all cared for each other especially after everything Emma went through for the first 3 years of her life.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in England while reading especially when the scenery was described.
Overall an OK Mystery Novel but could of been better. I will read more by Nora in the future but I hope her other Mystery Books arent like this one was.
Review:
For the most part I liked this book until Chapter 4 then I felt it got away from the storyline which is why I could only give it 2 Stars.
The Characters were fun and enjoyable to read about. Beverly, Brian and Emma were my favorites. I loved how they all cared for each other especially after everything Emma went through for the first 3 years of her life.
The Setting was beautifully described which made me feel like I was actually in England while reading especially when the scenery was described.
Overall an OK Mystery Novel but could of been better. I will read more by Nora in the future but I hope her other Mystery Books arent like this one was.
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