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Homeport
After an assault at her family home in Maine, Dr. Miranda Jones is determined to put the experience behind her. Distraction comes when she is summoned to Italy—to verify the authenticity of a Renaissance bronze of a Medici courtesan known as The Dark Lady.
But instead of cementing Miranda’s reputation as the leading expert in the field, the job nearly destroys it when her professional judgment is called into question. Emotionally estranged from her mother, with a brother immersed in his own troubles, Miranda has no one to turn to...except Ryan Boldari, a seductive art thief whose own agenda forces them into a reluctant alliance.
Now it becomes clear that the incident in Maine was not a simple mugging—and that The Dark Lady may possess as many secrets as its beautiful namesake once did. For Miranda, forced to rely on herself—and a partner who offers her both unnerving suspicion and intoxicating passion—the only way home is filled with deception, treachery, and a danger that threatens them all.
But instead of cementing Miranda’s reputation as the leading expert in the field, the job nearly destroys it when her professional judgment is called into question. Emotionally estranged from her mother, with a brother immersed in his own troubles, Miranda has no one to turn to...except Ryan Boldari, a seductive art thief whose own agenda forces them into a reluctant alliance.
Now it becomes clear that the incident in Maine was not a simple mugging—and that The Dark Lady may possess as many secrets as its beautiful namesake once did. For Miranda, forced to rely on herself—and a partner who offers her both unnerving suspicion and intoxicating passion—the only way home is filled with deception, treachery, and a danger that threatens them all.
484 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 16, 1998
1118 people are currently reading
5385 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 623 reviews
February 10, 2014
This book takes forever to get to the good stuff and once it gets there, the stuff is only so-so. It doesn't help that Ryan, the main guy, is a jerk nor that I figured out the main villain from the first time we meet him/her.
So a thin plot and a main guy I didn't like coupled with a heroine who was more than a little bland but with moments of truly stupid naiveté. So yeah, not my favorite.
That said, I stayed up late to finish the book even if I can't really tell you why...
A note about Steamy: On the low side and not very convincing at that. I mean, Miranda has no real reason to trust this guy, let alone be intimate with him. And that isn't helped by their first time being while she's extremely drunk and him telling himself "there's rules about that" before deciding rules be damned. Like I said above, jerk.
So a thin plot and a main guy I didn't like coupled with a heroine who was more than a little bland but with moments of truly stupid naiveté. So yeah, not my favorite.
That said, I stayed up late to finish the book even if I can't really tell you why...
A note about Steamy: On the low side and not very convincing at that. I mean, Miranda has no real reason to trust this guy, let alone be intimate with him. And that isn't helped by their first time being while she's extremely drunk and him telling himself "there's rules about that" before deciding rules be damned. Like I said above, jerk.
February 18, 2020
It's hard to believe this book is 20 years old. Sometimes the oldies are the besties. There are simply no others who can craft a story like Nora Roberts and her older Romantic-Suspense titles are simply the best in the genre. "Homeport" draws you in from the first page and holds you through the heroine and hero and how they discover each other and their hidden motives. I think Nora has a special love for her scoundrel hero and her repressed heroine, I know I do.
Dr. Miranda Jones has been out of town on business and is grateful to arrive at her big old cliff top home in Jones Point, Maine, until she is brutally assaulted and robbed right in her front yard. The experience leaves her stunned and shaken. When she is summoned by her autocratic mother to the Stanford-Jones facility in Florence, Italy, she is grateful for a project that will put the experience out of her mind, for a time anyway, and what a project it is. She is tasked with the authentication of a Renaissance bronze, possibly by the greatest of the old masters. What should have made her career and reputation, turns into her worst nightmare as doubt about the origin of The Dark Lady swirls and Miranda is sent home.
Arriving back in Maine, she is introduced to the handsome, charismatic Ryan Boldari, a New York gallery owner with ulterior motives for his trip to the family art institute she and her brother, Andrew, run. Ryan is a seductive thief and when his plans are crashed, he wants a pound of flesh from Miranda. They form an uneasy partnership to get the object Ryan wants and to salvage Miranda's reputation. Win-Win. With passion, intrigue, vengeance and dead bodies in the world of art Miranda and Ryan must outwit a forger and find the real Dark Lady.
Dr. Miranda Jones has been out of town on business and is grateful to arrive at her big old cliff top home in Jones Point, Maine, until she is brutally assaulted and robbed right in her front yard. The experience leaves her stunned and shaken. When she is summoned by her autocratic mother to the Stanford-Jones facility in Florence, Italy, she is grateful for a project that will put the experience out of her mind, for a time anyway, and what a project it is. She is tasked with the authentication of a Renaissance bronze, possibly by the greatest of the old masters. What should have made her career and reputation, turns into her worst nightmare as doubt about the origin of The Dark Lady swirls and Miranda is sent home.
Arriving back in Maine, she is introduced to the handsome, charismatic Ryan Boldari, a New York gallery owner with ulterior motives for his trip to the family art institute she and her brother, Andrew, run. Ryan is a seductive thief and when his plans are crashed, he wants a pound of flesh from Miranda. They form an uneasy partnership to get the object Ryan wants and to salvage Miranda's reputation. Win-Win. With passion, intrigue, vengeance and dead bodies in the world of art Miranda and Ryan must outwit a forger and find the real Dark Lady.
January 29, 2021
Konusu tam benlikti,kitabın başladı ehhti baya sıkıcı ilerledi ama sonra iyi açıldı 🤭 karakterler de çok iyiydi kurguda iyiydi başta katili anladım ama sonra yazar beni çelişkiye düşürdü acaba o mu bu mu dedim ki bu çok hoşuma gitti 😄
November 1, 2019
I haven't read a Nora Roberts book that I’ve disliked as much as Homeport. Okay, that’s not true. Daring to Dream was awful too. Well, as awful as a book by Nora Roberts can be. Readers with better taste than me love it but I thought Josh was spoiled and Margo was whiny and spoiled. Together they were insufferable. But this sort of thing is atypical of a Nora Roberts book. She almost always excels at creating likable characters and I usually love them but not-so-much this time around. Actually, not at all this time around.
I listened to this as an unabridged audiobook on 16 discs and I rarely stop an audio unfinished. It’s just a thing with me. Trap me in a car and I will listen to anything even if it’s boring and annoying. I guess this book is proof of that.
Homeport starts out well enough. Miranda is accosted by a knife wielding cretin wearing a mask. She can only see his scary brown eyes. He bangs her around, stabs her tires and steals her briefcase and pocketbook. She dies but returns as a vengeful spirit bent on ridding the world of gorgeous, lying thieves; after she seduces them, of course.
If only.
Sadly she lives, the thief escapes and the tedium begins. Her mother demands she fly to Italy to verify the authenticity of a newly discovered artifact. It’s real, she gleefully declares! It’s the find of a lifetime and will make her career. But alas, bad things happen, the brass is declared a fake and she is ruined. Whoops. Her own mother (who owns the company) sends her home to Maine with her tail between her legs. Miranda is determined to ferret out the truth because she suspects something fishy is going on. She knows she did not make a mistake. She is too awesome for that and she will be avenged! Unfortunately she meets a cute but bossy as hell thief named Ryan and her brains fly out of her head. She allows him to call her an idiot (it’s true, but still . . .) and tell her what to do and when to do it and somewhere along the line they fall into bed and discover the truth behind the “mystery”. But only after many innocent people die because of their ineptitude.
I'll just come out and say it. I did not like Ryan or Miranda. Miranda is a doormat of a woman who holds a doctorate in something fancy but has absolutely no mind or spine of her own when it comes to real life matters. She has spent her life trying to please a mother who seems to despise her. She doesn’t stand up to her parents because “it hurts me” and “I do what I’m told.” Yes, this really is what the dolt says. I rewound to be certain because I thought my ears might've been fooling me.
Though Miranda’s ego is enormous when it comes to her career; her common sense is non-existent. She is being stalked and sent threatening faxes but doesn’t think to tell anyone. People attached to her are dropping dead and she doesn’t stop to consider that she might be a target? WTH? She allows slimy Ryan who fully intends to steal from her after they’ve gotten all lovey-dovey, to boss her around and take charge and she just follows his lead. She and everyone else in the story find him charming but he doesn’t fool me. He is a shifty, selfish and often rude scoundrel who gets by on his good looks and is only out for himself. If he falls in love (I still don’t believe he does) it’s totally by accident and I had zero faith he wouldn’t stray as soon as something pretty caught his eye.
This story was a dismal failure for me. The mystery was “meh” and the romance was not believable. The only things going for it were Miranda’s brother Andrew (messed up but sympathetic) and Ryan’s interactions with his large family. Those were bright spots but they were far from the focus of the book, which is a shame.
The narration was decent, if a little remote at times, with the exception of any characters with an accent. Ryan’s mom sounds like a silly Italian stereotype and the Maine characters were voiced strangely. Did this narrator never hear a Maine accent before attempting one? She gives them a weird almost Irish brogue. This makes Annie, a secondary character in her early 30’s, sound like a matronly Irishwoman transplanted to Maine. It was disconcerting.
In the end, a feeling of ennui has washed over me and I'm dreading the start of another audiobook. Is it me, is it the book?
I listened to this as an unabridged audiobook on 16 discs and I rarely stop an audio unfinished. It’s just a thing with me. Trap me in a car and I will listen to anything even if it’s boring and annoying. I guess this book is proof of that.
Homeport starts out well enough. Miranda is accosted by a knife wielding cretin wearing a mask. She can only see his scary brown eyes. He bangs her around, stabs her tires and steals her briefcase and pocketbook. She dies but returns as a vengeful spirit bent on ridding the world of gorgeous, lying thieves; after she seduces them, of course.
If only.
Sadly she lives, the thief escapes and the tedium begins. Her mother demands she fly to Italy to verify the authenticity of a newly discovered artifact. It’s real, she gleefully declares! It’s the find of a lifetime and will make her career. But alas, bad things happen, the brass is declared a fake and she is ruined. Whoops. Her own mother (who owns the company) sends her home to Maine with her tail between her legs. Miranda is determined to ferret out the truth because she suspects something fishy is going on. She knows she did not make a mistake. She is too awesome for that and she will be avenged! Unfortunately she meets a cute but bossy as hell thief named Ryan and her brains fly out of her head. She allows him to call her an idiot (it’s true, but still . . .) and tell her what to do and when to do it and somewhere along the line they fall into bed and discover the truth behind the “mystery”. But only after many innocent people die because of their ineptitude.
I'll just come out and say it. I did not like Ryan or Miranda. Miranda is a doormat of a woman who holds a doctorate in something fancy but has absolutely no mind or spine of her own when it comes to real life matters. She has spent her life trying to please a mother who seems to despise her. She doesn’t stand up to her parents because “it hurts me” and “I do what I’m told.” Yes, this really is what the dolt says. I rewound to be certain because I thought my ears might've been fooling me.
Though Miranda’s ego is enormous when it comes to her career; her common sense is non-existent. She is being stalked and sent threatening faxes but doesn’t think to tell anyone. People attached to her are dropping dead and she doesn’t stop to consider that she might be a target? WTH? She allows slimy Ryan who fully intends to steal from her after they’ve gotten all lovey-dovey, to boss her around and take charge and she just follows his lead. She and everyone else in the story find him charming but he doesn’t fool me. He is a shifty, selfish and often rude scoundrel who gets by on his good looks and is only out for himself. If he falls in love (I still don’t believe he does) it’s totally by accident and I had zero faith he wouldn’t stray as soon as something pretty caught his eye.
This story was a dismal failure for me. The mystery was “meh” and the romance was not believable. The only things going for it were Miranda’s brother Andrew (messed up but sympathetic) and Ryan’s interactions with his large family. Those were bright spots but they were far from the focus of the book, which is a shame.
The narration was decent, if a little remote at times, with the exception of any characters with an accent. Ryan’s mom sounds like a silly Italian stereotype and the Maine characters were voiced strangely. Did this narrator never hear a Maine accent before attempting one? She gives them a weird almost Irish brogue. This makes Annie, a secondary character in her early 30’s, sound like a matronly Irishwoman transplanted to Maine. It was disconcerting.
In the end, a feeling of ennui has washed over me and I'm dreading the start of another audiobook. Is it me, is it the book?
December 8, 2025
4 Estrellitas. He quedado muy satisfecha con éste libro. No es muy distinto en cuanto a suspense a otras novelas de Nora Roberts, pero sí ha tenido algo distinto que me ha gustado mucho, y es un protagonista encantador al otro lado de la ley.
Miranda Jones proviene de una prestigiosa familia de Maine ligada al mundo del arte. Tienen un museo familiar en su localidad y su propio laboratorio donde estudian piezas artísticas. Su madre dirige una sucursal en Florencia y esta vez le ha exigido que se presente allí para examinar el bronce La Dama Oscura, una pequeña estatua de un joven Miguel Ángel, que representó a una de las amantes de Lorenzo el Magnífico.
Una vez estudiada la pieza, Miranda dicta sentencia, es auténtica, y su allazgo traerá mucho prestigio a su carrera. Pero de un día para otro, su vida da una vuelta de tuerca. El bronce resulta ser una falsificación y su madre la expulsa de Florencia.
De vuelta en Maine, Miranda conocerá al enigmático Ryan Boldari, dueño de una galería de Nueva York, cuyo trabajo es pura fachada, pues en realidad Ryan es un ladrón de guante blanco, el mejor. Nunca le han pillado y siempre ha ido a por un objetivo claro. Esta vez su objetivo es Miranda, o más bien un bronce que posee el museo de su familia. Pero al igual que ha ocurrido con La Dama Oscura, ése otro bronce también es una falsificación.
Aquí comenzará una carrera en la que se verán envueltos ambos protagonistas. Miranda está segura de que sus bronces son auténticos ¿Quién quiere acabar con su carrera? o más bien ¿quién quiere acabar con ella? Después de esos mensajes amenazantes que le envían, y tras haber sido atacada, Miranda ata dos más dos y sabe que alguien va a por ella.
En cuanto a Ryan, él lo tiene claro. Sabe que alguien está intentando acabar con la reputación de Miranda, ha visto lo suficiente en ella como para saber que es realmente buena en su trabajo y jamás cometería un error garrafal. Además, Miranda tiene algo que le vuelve loco.
El suyo es un romance tempestuoso que va de menos a más. La historia comienza de manera muy inocente, al menos por parte de Miranda, porque de él sabes que va a ir a robarla. Pero la segunda mitad del libro comienza con un romance más claro, cuando ambos aceptan lo que sienten, pese a las circunstancias y ése círculo vicioso de que hay alguien dispuesto a destruir a Miranda.
Me ha gustado mucho, no me ha parecido el mejor libro de Nora Roberts, pero me ha gustado la historia y el suspense. Estudié Historia del Arte, así que ver en una novela reflejada mi objeto de estudio le ha dado un plus para que me guste más. También que he podido dedicarle más tiempo a la lectura gracias a que he dispuesto de varios días libres para ello.
De modo que tenemos otra historia de suspense contemporáneo de Nora Roberts, que nunca decepciona, pues sus libros se leen solos y son muy entretenidos, al igual que son hombres Roberts, Ryan es tan encantador como todos, pero ha tenido algo que lo hace muy distinto a los demás, y eso me ha gustado.
Miranda Jones proviene de una prestigiosa familia de Maine ligada al mundo del arte. Tienen un museo familiar en su localidad y su propio laboratorio donde estudian piezas artísticas. Su madre dirige una sucursal en Florencia y esta vez le ha exigido que se presente allí para examinar el bronce La Dama Oscura, una pequeña estatua de un joven Miguel Ángel, que representó a una de las amantes de Lorenzo el Magnífico.
Una vez estudiada la pieza, Miranda dicta sentencia, es auténtica, y su allazgo traerá mucho prestigio a su carrera. Pero de un día para otro, su vida da una vuelta de tuerca. El bronce resulta ser una falsificación y su madre la expulsa de Florencia.
De vuelta en Maine, Miranda conocerá al enigmático Ryan Boldari, dueño de una galería de Nueva York, cuyo trabajo es pura fachada, pues en realidad Ryan es un ladrón de guante blanco, el mejor. Nunca le han pillado y siempre ha ido a por un objetivo claro. Esta vez su objetivo es Miranda, o más bien un bronce que posee el museo de su familia. Pero al igual que ha ocurrido con La Dama Oscura, ése otro bronce también es una falsificación.
Aquí comenzará una carrera en la que se verán envueltos ambos protagonistas. Miranda está segura de que sus bronces son auténticos ¿Quién quiere acabar con su carrera? o más bien ¿quién quiere acabar con ella? Después de esos mensajes amenazantes que le envían, y tras haber sido atacada, Miranda ata dos más dos y sabe que alguien va a por ella.
En cuanto a Ryan, él lo tiene claro. Sabe que alguien está intentando acabar con la reputación de Miranda, ha visto lo suficiente en ella como para saber que es realmente buena en su trabajo y jamás cometería un error garrafal. Además, Miranda tiene algo que le vuelve loco.
El suyo es un romance tempestuoso que va de menos a más. La historia comienza de manera muy inocente, al menos por parte de Miranda, porque de él sabes que va a ir a robarla. Pero la segunda mitad del libro comienza con un romance más claro, cuando ambos aceptan lo que sienten, pese a las circunstancias y ése círculo vicioso de que hay alguien dispuesto a destruir a Miranda.
Me ha gustado mucho, no me ha parecido el mejor libro de Nora Roberts, pero me ha gustado la historia y el suspense. Estudié Historia del Arte, así que ver en una novela reflejada mi objeto de estudio le ha dado un plus para que me guste más. También que he podido dedicarle más tiempo a la lectura gracias a que he dispuesto de varios días libres para ello.
De modo que tenemos otra historia de suspense contemporáneo de Nora Roberts, que nunca decepciona, pues sus libros se leen solos y son muy entretenidos, al igual que son hombres Roberts, Ryan es tan encantador como todos, pero ha tenido algo que lo hace muy distinto a los demás, y eso me ha gustado.
June 13, 2015
Style and Language
Nora Roberts wrote with Homeport an enthralling and very absorbing novel, that I count to one of her best works ever.
Miranda is an expert of art and has the once in a lifetime opportunity to examine a bronze nobody thought would really exist. The family´s institute is famous and her mother very demanding when it comes to the institutes reputation. Mother feelings aren´t on her list and so Miranda has to do her job with a more than 1000% profession and leaving her feelings aside.
But she knows that her mother needs the best to do the job and Miranda is the best. But her results don´t play along with the plans others have with her family or the institute and soon Miranda finds herself of her mother’s trust bereft ´cause another institute declared the bronze to be a fraud. Something Miranda can´t believe. Together with the thief Ryan she starts to search for answers and finds herself right in the middle of a deadly intrigue and a hunt and she has to discover, that passion isn´t so bad after all.
Characters
Parents without any loving feelings for their children, a mother who hates her daughter more than anything else and a long kept family secret turn the characters in this novel into figures that are eager to discover the truth. Even when they have to change allegiance and one in particular has to see things from a different perspective.
All her life Miranda was taught, that feelings aren´t necessary. She never felt awkward that her mother wasn´t the caring and loving mother other children had. She wondered sometimes, yes, but it was nothing out of the ordinary. The reputation and heritage of the family was everything, and had to be as clean as an operation room. So as grownups Miranda and her brother believe their neither worth being loved nor that they´ ll ever find the real love – the one and only.
The author created characters with style, sensibility and a sense of humor. Miranda does everything with dignity, a clear view and has a lucid mind. Work and feelings don´t go well together. But when Ryan shows up at her office and turns her routine upside down, she soon discovers that not everything is black and white - and that´s when the real fun comes in.
Result
A beautiful novel with a fantastic story and some outstanding characters – you´ll be surprised. A must read for every Nora Roberts fan and those who want to become one.
March 24, 2019
Me costó muchísimo engancharme al libro porque no he empatizado ni con Miranda ni con Ryan. Me Ha resultado lento y tedioso. Realmente, me ha empezado a enganchar casi al 60%del libro. Me ha sorprendido mucho el malo y es que no me lo esperaba para nada
6.5/10
6.5/10
August 28, 2017
A suspense by Nora. Gotta tell ya, not among my favs. Although, it's Nora so it's still great, I stumbled a few times over the characters. Miranda is a very complicated woman. To the world she is a brilliant ice queen. But, Ryan sees through her icy exterior to the troubled warm soul...when he robs her.
Yep, he's an art thief and a con man. His is the character I had problems with. He lies to her continuously. I hate that!! His inner dialogue shows he's playing her, so when their romance heats up I keep wanting her to get away from him.
Meanwhile, Miranda, who is dealing with a lot of crap professionally, personally and romantically has someone stalking her and killing people.
It's a good story, and Ryan does finally come around, but this is another example of how if I was a character in a romance book, I'd dump the guy long before we reached the end and I'd never get my HEA. 🤷♀️
Yep, he's an art thief and a con man. His is the character I had problems with. He lies to her continuously. I hate that!! His inner dialogue shows he's playing her, so when their romance heats up I keep wanting her to get away from him.
Meanwhile, Miranda, who is dealing with a lot of crap professionally, personally and romantically has someone stalking her and killing people.
It's a good story, and Ryan does finally come around, but this is another example of how if I was a character in a romance book, I'd dump the guy long before we reached the end and I'd never get my HEA. 🤷♀️
April 23, 2017
Çok beğendim, bu ara aradığım her şey vardı bu kitapta. Nora nın daha eski kitapları bana her zaman ayrı bir tat veriyor. Gözümden kaçmasına inanamıyorum ama şimdi okumak baya iyi geldi.
August 31, 2018
De um início pouco auspicioso passei a entusiasmada. O que era expectável redundou em algo diferente e a surpresa acutilou a minha curiosidade.
Quando me deparo com escritores que escrevem dúzias e dúzias de livros sinto-me como um cliente nas grandes superfícies, ou seja, com expectativas medianas. Considero difícil não caírem no erro, de a dada altura, banalizarem a escrita. Quase sem tempo para qualquer aprofundamento, receio que instigados a produzirem mais e mais, acabem talvez por pecar pela superficialidade. A verdade é que há quem aprecie o género e casos há que serão leituras bem vindas para descomplicar os nós das nossas próprias vidas e a aligeirar...
Tendo em conta as opiniões do Goodreads decidi aproveitar uma promoção e adquiri o livro.
Ryan é uma personagem peculiar, cativante, com um ótimo sentido de humor. A sua família de origem italiana está muito bem conseguida, retratada com os apontamentos certos e/ou desconcertantes. A verdade é que fazem sentir ainda mais as diferenças relativamente à família de Miranda. Gostei das personagens no seu cômputo geral, vi bem explorado as suas qualidades e fraquezas, a ambição do querer/poder, das complicações de uma vida somadas a um mistério que se vai avolumando até se tornar sangrento.
Apesar de ter desconfiado desde cedo do vilão, tive dúvidas até ao fim, onde são revelados aspectos dos quais não estávamos à espera.
Leitura agradável. Vale a pena!
Quando me deparo com escritores que escrevem dúzias e dúzias de livros sinto-me como um cliente nas grandes superfícies, ou seja, com expectativas medianas. Considero difícil não caírem no erro, de a dada altura, banalizarem a escrita. Quase sem tempo para qualquer aprofundamento, receio que instigados a produzirem mais e mais, acabem talvez por pecar pela superficialidade. A verdade é que há quem aprecie o género e casos há que serão leituras bem vindas para descomplicar os nós das nossas próprias vidas e a aligeirar...
Tendo em conta as opiniões do Goodreads decidi aproveitar uma promoção e adquiri o livro.
Ryan é uma personagem peculiar, cativante, com um ótimo sentido de humor. A sua família de origem italiana está muito bem conseguida, retratada com os apontamentos certos e/ou desconcertantes. A verdade é que fazem sentir ainda mais as diferenças relativamente à família de Miranda. Gostei das personagens no seu cômputo geral, vi bem explorado as suas qualidades e fraquezas, a ambição do querer/poder, das complicações de uma vida somadas a um mistério que se vai avolumando até se tornar sangrento.
Apesar de ter desconfiado desde cedo do vilão, tive dúvidas até ao fim, onde são revelados aspectos dos quais não estávamos à espera.
Leitura agradável. Vale a pena!
April 22, 2012
I feel like I need to keep checking the book and the book page to make absolutely sure this was Nora Roberts. I've never disliked one of her books as much as I disliked this one.
The plot itself was intriguing and for the most part done well (outside of my major issue with the book). I liked the unusual view into the art world, and the build up of the central mystery. I mostly liked the reveal of who was behind everything. I thought I had the situation pegged after a somewhat out-of-left-field revelation, but there was yet another change-up that kept it somewhat surprising. However, there was a part of it that is so skeevy and the real weight of what it meant seemed to not register with the characters at all. (Really no one else had a reaction to that? What is going on? I was cringing and screeching a little and I'm seeing no mentions in other reviews. Really?).
In the end it was the execution of the characters that made this book painful for me and ultimately ruined the story.
The worst of them was Ryan Boldari. I'm sure the "thief with a heart of gold" has been done and done well, but here it wasn't. He was insufferably arrogant, selfish, and mentally unbalanced. From thinking his profession was perfectly fine because it was a "god-given talent" (an insipid notion supported by his entire family who I think was actually a breeding ground for mental instability), to him truly believing what he stole belonged to him. He acted like there was a warranty of merchantability on the items he stole, and that Miranda "owed" him because he didn't take what he thought he did. If it weren't for his love of his family I would have thought he was a sociopath. I'm still not entirely convinced he knows how to love anything but himself. Then for the first time in any romance novel I've ever read he sleeps with her after she gets so plastered that nothing she said sounded like it was coming from her. And in the morning he lets her apologize and says he's glad she's not silly enough to blame him for taking advantage. Uh, excuse me, she was drunk, you were not, and you kept pointing that and the fact she wasn't acting anything like herself out. That would be taking advantage, man. And I'm supposed to buy this guy as a romantic Hero? Even when it came to him falling for Miranda – he continued to maintain he was going to steal from her, and that he'd rather steal from and betray her than love her. It ruins the effect. But he's supposed to be so charming that none of this matters. Yeah, that doesn't work for me.
Miranda Jones was an idiot. Her intelligence was pretty much limited to her doctorate field. She had to be lead by the hand the entire time and never put anything together herself. She was given countless information, clues and too many coincidences to be believed and not once did she put anything together herself. One of the men around her had to do it. She was getting threatening letters the entire book and never thought it was a relevant enough fact to mention to anyone. She had enough information on Ryan in the beginning to ruin him and yet she kept letting him outsmart her at every turn with no response. She went along with his insanity, and let him keep raving like a lunatic at her. One second she'd be ranting about getting justice for the murdered characters, then flipping out because someone would have to go to jail for it. For all her ethics and upstanding morals she still put aside what Ryan does (and did to her) when he was lavishing her with attention. Even though he was incredibly condescending, rude, dismissive, calculating, etc. while doing so. She would show flashes of backbone and then it'd be gone just as quickly and she'd fall all over him. While I wanted to feel bad for her due to her family, and I did understand why she was desperate for love, I just didn't care about them getting together or being together. I didn't like or respect what they thought they had.
Annie needed to get over it. It happened fifteen years ago – let it freaking go. I started skimming any scenes with her because it was the same thing over and over. What she did at seventeen doesn't relate to anything that's happening in the present yet she was always comparing. I just wanted her to shut up.
Andrew was the only character I liked. He was the most sympathetic of the bunch. He was the sweetest brother (I did like the brother/sister relationship he and Miranda had going), and didn't act like a complete moron (except when it came to his addiction). It's too bad he was stuck with a bunch of twitch-inducing women (his mother, his sister, his love interest, and his ex-wife). Though after what's revealed in the end I wanted to give him a bottle of Jack and tell him to have fun. Unfortunately, this wasn't really his story. So we didn't get a good deal of him, though more than could be expected.
The rest of the Jones family – their mother, Elizabeth, their father, and Andrew's ex-wife, Elise – rounded out the character face-palming. The rest of the secondary characters were too far in the background to make much of a difference.
It really is too bad that what could have been a great story was marred by such awful characters.
The plot itself was intriguing and for the most part done well (outside of my major issue with the book). I liked the unusual view into the art world, and the build up of the central mystery. I mostly liked the reveal of who was behind everything. I thought I had the situation pegged after a somewhat out-of-left-field revelation, but there was yet another change-up that kept it somewhat surprising. However, there was a part of it that is so skeevy and the real weight of what it meant seemed to not register with the characters at all. (Really no one else had a reaction to that? What is going on? I was cringing and screeching a little and I'm seeing no mentions in other reviews. Really?).
In the end it was the execution of the characters that made this book painful for me and ultimately ruined the story.
The worst of them was Ryan Boldari. I'm sure the "thief with a heart of gold" has been done and done well, but here it wasn't. He was insufferably arrogant, selfish, and mentally unbalanced. From thinking his profession was perfectly fine because it was a "god-given talent" (an insipid notion supported by his entire family who I think was actually a breeding ground for mental instability), to him truly believing what he stole belonged to him. He acted like there was a warranty of merchantability on the items he stole, and that Miranda "owed" him because he didn't take what he thought he did. If it weren't for his love of his family I would have thought he was a sociopath. I'm still not entirely convinced he knows how to love anything but himself. Then for the first time in any romance novel I've ever read he sleeps with her after she gets so plastered that nothing she said sounded like it was coming from her. And in the morning he lets her apologize and says he's glad she's not silly enough to blame him for taking advantage. Uh, excuse me, she was drunk, you were not, and you kept pointing that and the fact she wasn't acting anything like herself out. That would be taking advantage, man. And I'm supposed to buy this guy as a romantic Hero? Even when it came to him falling for Miranda – he continued to maintain he was going to steal from her, and that he'd rather steal from and betray her than love her. It ruins the effect. But he's supposed to be so charming that none of this matters. Yeah, that doesn't work for me.
Miranda Jones was an idiot. Her intelligence was pretty much limited to her doctorate field. She had to be lead by the hand the entire time and never put anything together herself. She was given countless information, clues and too many coincidences to be believed and not once did she put anything together herself. One of the men around her had to do it. She was getting threatening letters the entire book and never thought it was a relevant enough fact to mention to anyone. She had enough information on Ryan in the beginning to ruin him and yet she kept letting him outsmart her at every turn with no response. She went along with his insanity, and let him keep raving like a lunatic at her. One second she'd be ranting about getting justice for the murdered characters, then flipping out because someone would have to go to jail for it. For all her ethics and upstanding morals she still put aside what Ryan does (and did to her) when he was lavishing her with attention. Even though he was incredibly condescending, rude, dismissive, calculating, etc. while doing so. She would show flashes of backbone and then it'd be gone just as quickly and she'd fall all over him. While I wanted to feel bad for her due to her family, and I did understand why she was desperate for love, I just didn't care about them getting together or being together. I didn't like or respect what they thought they had.
Annie needed to get over it. It happened fifteen years ago – let it freaking go. I started skimming any scenes with her because it was the same thing over and over. What she did at seventeen doesn't relate to anything that's happening in the present yet she was always comparing. I just wanted her to shut up.
Andrew was the only character I liked. He was the most sympathetic of the bunch. He was the sweetest brother (I did like the brother/sister relationship he and Miranda had going), and didn't act like a complete moron (except when it came to his addiction). It's too bad he was stuck with a bunch of twitch-inducing women (his mother, his sister, his love interest, and his ex-wife). Though after what's revealed in the end I wanted to give him a bottle of Jack and tell him to have fun. Unfortunately, this wasn't really his story. So we didn't get a good deal of him, though more than could be expected.
The rest of the Jones family – their mother, Elizabeth, their father, and Andrew's ex-wife, Elise – rounded out the character face-palming. The rest of the secondary characters were too far in the background to make much of a difference.
It really is too bad that what could have been a great story was marred by such awful characters.
November 3, 2014
Me encanto!!! *-* Al inicio pense en que seria aburrido y no me gustaría pero me gusto muchisimo. Es una novela con un trama llena de intriga, suspenso y romance. Además te mantiene interesado con situaciones que no esperabas como los asesinatos y los robos. También esta muy documentada y los protagonistas son increibles.
Ryan y Miranda han sido perfectos. La forma en que se conocieron, el desenvolvimiento de su relación es adecuado. Son tan diferentes pero aun asi se aman tanto. Los he encontrado divertidos y agradables. Como siempre el es hombre perfecto (a pesar de ser ladron jajaja) y ella es inteligente y una mujer decidida. A pesar de sus conflictos ella se pudo reponer y finalmente aceptar el amor en su vida.
En cuanto a la historia paralela y la relación de Andrew y Annie.. LOS ADOREEE *-* estaba desesperada por que el pudiera superar au adicción por el alcohol y asi pudieran estar juntos. Su historia de amor fue perfecta. Ella me encanto cuando fue a la fiesta, me emocione y supe que se quedarían juntos.
Los padres de Ryan, su familia, han sido perfectos, los ame mientras que los padres de Miranda y Andrew los odie. A la madre la deteste muchisimo que fue los mismo que hice con los malos. A pesar de que ya tenia la idea de quien era aun asi la odie muchisimo. Se merecia el final que tuvo y me siento contenta que todos los demas tuvieran un final feliz :)
Ryan y Miranda han sido perfectos. La forma en que se conocieron, el desenvolvimiento de su relación es adecuado. Son tan diferentes pero aun asi se aman tanto. Los he encontrado divertidos y agradables. Como siempre el es hombre perfecto (a pesar de ser ladron jajaja) y ella es inteligente y una mujer decidida. A pesar de sus conflictos ella se pudo reponer y finalmente aceptar el amor en su vida.
En cuanto a la historia paralela y la relación de Andrew y Annie.. LOS ADOREEE *-* estaba desesperada por que el pudiera superar au adicción por el alcohol y asi pudieran estar juntos. Su historia de amor fue perfecta. Ella me encanto cuando fue a la fiesta, me emocione y supe que se quedarían juntos.
Los padres de Ryan, su familia, han sido perfectos, los ame mientras que los padres de Miranda y Andrew los odie. A la madre la deteste muchisimo que fue los mismo que hice con los malos. A pesar de que ya tenia la idea de quien era aun asi la odie muchisimo. Se merecia el final que tuvo y me siento contenta que todos los demas tuvieran un final feliz :)
May 14, 2019
The new year brought with it a dreaded reading slump and even Nora Roberts wasn't much help this time around.
This is the story of Miranda, art expert and part of a prestigious wealthy family with history, and Ryan, art gallery owner and thief. The two meet when Ryan is casing Miranda's family's art institute for his very last job, and sparks fly between them. Then life gets complicated when .
Ryan is a version of what Roarke could possibly have turned out to be under different circumstances, his ruthless streak and selfishness a lot more pronounced, while Miranda is a ball of insecurities who barely does anything useful in the whole book.
I didn't like her and the fact that she kept the threatening letters and emails she received secret, not even considering that they might actually be useful clues to either their own amateur investigation or that of the police, among other things.
In the end it turns out that the one behind everything was .
I wasn't particularly interested in the story in general, partly because of the art backstory that's not really my cup of tea, partly because of my annoyance with Miranda's passive behavior and probably in biggest part because the romance gave me no warm and fuzzies.
And after struggling through finishing this one, the reading slump continues...
This is the story of Miranda, art expert and part of a prestigious wealthy family with history, and Ryan, art gallery owner and thief. The two meet when Ryan is casing Miranda's family's art institute for his very last job, and sparks fly between them. Then life gets complicated when .
Ryan is a version of what Roarke could possibly have turned out to be under different circumstances, his ruthless streak and selfishness a lot more pronounced, while Miranda is a ball of insecurities who barely does anything useful in the whole book.
I didn't like her and the fact that she kept the threatening letters and emails she received secret, not even considering that they might actually be useful clues to either their own amateur investigation or that of the police, among other things.
In the end it turns out that the one behind everything was .
I wasn't particularly interested in the story in general, partly because of the art backstory that's not really my cup of tea, partly because of my annoyance with Miranda's passive behavior and probably in biggest part because the romance gave me no warm and fuzzies.
And after struggling through finishing this one, the reading slump continues...
November 1, 2017
I am not a romance fan but loved my first Nora Roberts novel that delved into the mystical. Although “Homeport” turned out to be a crime mystery, it kept planted in romance and, like “The Reef”; demonstrates why I would rather stick to her ethereal fare. You would also think a romance-authoress would weave inspiring liaisons. I was disgusted in both these 1998 novels, that anyone would depict a woman accepting physical or verbal aggression. Both of the male characters for whom she hoped readers would cheer, had moments of unacceptable temper: grasping angrily and threatening violence if the woman didn't comply. Neither apologized or improved their character. They predictably declared being in love with each story's heroine and she was pleased.
Accepting flack from relatives was weak too. Well before thirty, most youths confront cold-hearted “Bs”. You don't loyally work with parents if you have no bond. Loving your dependent has nothing to do with blood. Ask adopters if they have trouble loving their children. I could not respect or buy a parent being unable to love them, especially kids who took after their interests and surpassed their expertise professionally and I cannot believe in a thirty year-old allowing anyone to order her about. It was an interesting touch that a thief introduced a fun, gregarious family but being an open thief was silly.
Secrets connected to the Grandfather could be fantastic, if only Nora had made a lovely revelation and reunion of it, instead of the weak, villainous motive it attempted. The same goes with diminishing the exultant discovery of a new Michelangelo creation. This in itself would be fascinating. The forgery chase should have played second fiddle, just as the protagonist's brother shouldn't have had a sex scene. Most books should have one narrative, for the protagonist.
Accepting flack from relatives was weak too. Well before thirty, most youths confront cold-hearted “Bs”. You don't loyally work with parents if you have no bond. Loving your dependent has nothing to do with blood. Ask adopters if they have trouble loving their children. I could not respect or buy a parent being unable to love them, especially kids who took after their interests and surpassed their expertise professionally and I cannot believe in a thirty year-old allowing anyone to order her about. It was an interesting touch that a thief introduced a fun, gregarious family but being an open thief was silly.
Secrets connected to the Grandfather could be fantastic, if only Nora had made a lovely revelation and reunion of it, instead of the weak, villainous motive it attempted. The same goes with diminishing the exultant discovery of a new Michelangelo creation. This in itself would be fascinating. The forgery chase should have played second fiddle, just as the protagonist's brother shouldn't have had a sex scene. Most books should have one narrative, for the protagonist.
August 9, 2012
Klasik Nora kitabı,gene polisiyeyle aşkı çok güzel harmanlamış.Ama bu seferkinde polisiye cidden yoğun,özellikle kitabın başı Ryan gelene kadar sıkıcıydı.
Miranda annesi tarafından bronz bir heykelin dönemini,özelliklerini öğrenmesi için İtalyaya çağrılıyor,alanında en iyilerden biri kızımız ve heykeli inceleyip bir rapor halinde sunuyor,ancak çok geçmeden heykelin sahte olduğu ortaya çıkınca kızımızın kariyeri tehlikeye giriyor.Bu arada kendisine ortaklık teklif eden Ryan boldariyle tanışıp,ondan hoşlanmaya başlıyor.
Miranda aynı zamanda bir sanat enstitüsü işletiyor,bir enstitüye hırsız giriyor ve bir heykel çalınıyor, daha sonra kızımızın yatak odasına adamın biri giriyor ve sahte heykeli çalmasına neden olduğu için Miranda'ya kızıyor :D Tabiki hırsızımız Ryan boldari :D
O sahneye bayıldım,adam hem suçlu hem güçlü :D
O zaman her şey Miranda'nın kafasına dank ediyor,heykellerin değiştirildiğini hata yapmadığını söylüyor ve Ryan'la birlikte asıl heykelleri bulmak,sicilini temizlemek için İtalya'ya gidiyor :D
Miranda sıkıcı,soğuk bir karakter bunda ailesiyle ilişkisinin de payı var,o anası olacak zilliyi öldürebilirim yani.Ama Ryan şahane bir adam,komik,zeki,hazırcevap :D Zaten söz konusu Nora ise,gerisi teferruat :D
Miranda annesi tarafından bronz bir heykelin dönemini,özelliklerini öğrenmesi için İtalyaya çağrılıyor,alanında en iyilerden biri kızımız ve heykeli inceleyip bir rapor halinde sunuyor,ancak çok geçmeden heykelin sahte olduğu ortaya çıkınca kızımızın kariyeri tehlikeye giriyor.Bu arada kendisine ortaklık teklif eden Ryan boldariyle tanışıp,ondan hoşlanmaya başlıyor.
Miranda aynı zamanda bir sanat enstitüsü işletiyor,bir enstitüye hırsız giriyor ve bir heykel çalınıyor, daha sonra kızımızın yatak odasına adamın biri giriyor ve sahte heykeli çalmasına neden olduğu için Miranda'ya kızıyor :D Tabiki hırsızımız Ryan boldari :D
O sahneye bayıldım,adam hem suçlu hem güçlü :D
O zaman her şey Miranda'nın kafasına dank ediyor,heykellerin değiştirildiğini hata yapmadığını söylüyor ve Ryan'la birlikte asıl heykelleri bulmak,sicilini temizlemek için İtalya'ya gidiyor :D
Miranda sıkıcı,soğuk bir karakter bunda ailesiyle ilişkisinin de payı var,o anası olacak zilliyi öldürebilirim yani.Ama Ryan şahane bir adam,komik,zeki,hazırcevap :D Zaten söz konusu Nora ise,gerisi teferruat :D
January 14, 2020
In the grand Nora read, Homeport ranks in at just okay. The characters never really popped, and I didn't like the romances, but I was totally into the art history mystery. Mostly, this completely pushed past believability. No way would rule-follower Miranda agree to work with an art thief, and omg everything was so incredibly, highly illegal, but somehow the cops weren't upset at the end? Suuuuuuuuuuuuuure.
Two stars because, while I liked a fair amount of it, there just was not enough characterization to justify 432 outsize trade paperback pages.
Two stars because, while I liked a fair amount of it, there just was not enough characterization to justify 432 outsize trade paperback pages.
April 23, 2019
Her information regarding art history and conservation was excellent, informative, and exciting. When Miranda's love interest turned out to be a thief, I mentally checked out. Things rapidly slid from bad to worse to "You MUST be joking."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 28, 2013
Não sou muito fã de Nora Roberts mas este é sem dúvida um dos melhores romances dela, tem tudo o que um bom leitor aprecia, romance, acção, mistério, crime, traição... É só escolher!
October 24, 2020
WOW! A Nora Roberts book I did not like. I did not like the characters nor the story. Shocking.
April 7, 2021
İlk 100 sayfa falan baya sıkıcıydı sonradan da yavaşça açıldı son 200 sayfası akıcıydı.. Ryana aşık oldum ya offf nora roberts ve İrlanda kökenli erkek karakterleri 🤤🤤🤤🤤 öldürüyo beni
February 3, 2016
Miranda Jones se me hacía caladita a esta mujer de White Collar...
Bien, ¿qué tenemos aquí? No tiene sentido contar el argumento con o sin spoilers, porque la contratapa de este libro se encarga perfectamente de contar toda la historia. Así que ¿qué pienso de ello? Entretiene pero me deja fría. Miranda es linda y todo, vemos que en realidad es más compleja de lo que aparenta ya que la indiferencia de sus padres y la relación con su hermano la tienen marcada. Se complica al querer relacionarse y confiar en otras personas. Se entiende. Por otro lado está Ryan y no me gustó demasiado. No me siento muy fan de esas personas que engañan mienten, roban deliberadamente. No sentí nada entre ellos, porque él tiene una posición muy dominante en la relación y Miranda es un segundo plano (apenas se entera de nada). En sí, no entra en mi "zona segura" en relación al romance.
Con respecto a Nora Roberts no pude evitar notar que este es el tercer libro que trata sobre ladrones de guantes blanco (Magos, Amantes Y Ladrones, Deseo y Venganza)
Bien, ¿qué tenemos aquí? No tiene sentido contar el argumento con o sin spoilers, porque la contratapa de este libro se encarga perfectamente de contar toda la historia. Así que ¿qué pienso de ello? Entretiene pero me deja fría. Miranda es linda y todo, vemos que en realidad es más compleja de lo que aparenta ya que la indiferencia de sus padres y la relación con su hermano la tienen marcada. Se complica al querer relacionarse y confiar en otras personas. Se entiende. Por otro lado está Ryan y no me gustó demasiado. No me siento muy fan de esas personas que engañan mienten, roban deliberadamente. No sentí nada entre ellos, porque él tiene una posición muy dominante en la relación y Miranda es un segundo plano (apenas se entera de nada). En sí, no entra en mi "zona segura" en relación al romance.
Con respecto a Nora Roberts no pude evitar notar que este es el tercer libro que trata sobre ladrones de guantes blanco (Magos, Amantes Y Ladrones, Deseo y Venganza)
February 8, 2011
O melhor livro alguma vez escrito por NR.
March 3, 2017
Fed up with main female characters who fall for guys that treat them badly.
December 27, 2018
3.5 stars.
Ryan keeps reminding me of Roarke, getting rich with his sticky fingers and with an Irish/Italian background. Miranda, on the other hand, is a very controlled New England blueblood. It's an interesting pairing, although I didn't like the way Ryan blew hot and cold, especially since we are given to understand he can see Miranda's vulnerabilities.
The mystery was quite well done. Although when the number of suspects keeps dwindling, it wasn't hard to figure out who the villain was towards the end. An enjoyable RS overall.
P.S. I found the fact that Miranda's family were all Dr. Jones quite amusing. And also when she exclaimed "It belongs in a museum!" … makes me wonder if they are related to Indiana Jones. :)
Ryan keeps reminding me of Roarke, getting rich with his sticky fingers and with an Irish/Italian background. Miranda, on the other hand, is a very controlled New England blueblood. It's an interesting pairing, although I didn't like the way Ryan blew hot and cold, especially since we are given to understand he can see Miranda's vulnerabilities.
The mystery was quite well done. Although when the number of suspects keeps dwindling, it wasn't hard to figure out who the villain was towards the end. An enjoyable RS overall.
P.S. I found the fact that Miranda's family were all Dr. Jones quite amusing. And also when she exclaimed "It belongs in a museum!" … makes me wonder if they are related to Indiana Jones. :)
July 18, 2025
Maybe like for sure don’t judge this book based on its cover LOL. I bought this one a couple years ago while visiting Maine because it was located in the “local authors” section, but I feel like it barely took place in Maine (the lighthouse on the cover is hella misleading and doesn’t make sense till the end of the book).
This book was obviously not what I was expecting, and it took me forever to get through BUT it was not bad. And it was fairly interesting. So, solid 3 stars.
This book was obviously not what I was expecting, and it took me forever to get through BUT it was not bad. And it was fairly interesting. So, solid 3 stars.
August 6, 2025
3,25 stars. A pretty enjoyable mystery romance. I didn't really like the main male character, he was too controlling and sometimes mean. I could guess who the bad guy was about half way point. I did, however, really like the main character Miranda. Also Nora once again writes family relationships very well.
February 17, 2025
Took me a minute to get into the story, as it started off slow. This turned out to be a great read. I adore Nora Roberts’ books♥️
June 3, 2022
I enjoyed it though I didn't care for either Miranda or Ryan! Good twists at the end!
April 4, 2011
This was one of my first Nora Roberts and I loved it the first time I read it... and I still love it now, perhaps even more now that I've read it in English LOL :) I have to admit that I have a fondness for cat burgler/art thief plot :)
So what do I love about this book? Basically everything :) I love Miranda and Ryan's chemistry and relationship :) They are so different and Ryan definitively makes Miranda happier. Miranda is a great heroine... strong, but at the same time, vulnerable. Ms Roberts did a great job at writing the different layers of Miranda. I also love her relationship with her older brother, Andrew. It's cute and touching, these two siblings clinging to each other while growing up in a cold and sterile environment, always seeking for love and acceptance from their parents.
Ryan is slick and smooth... and a real good guy :) I liked how he drew out a different side of Miranda and made her stronger and able to face her fears. He had great insight and a quick mind. I especially like his love for his family :)
Speaking of family, I have to say, family dynamics - whether they are happy or dysfunctional - are really one of Ms Roberts writing strengths. She is able to portray relationships in such a believable way, even though they are complex. This book is no exception. I liked the contrast shown between Ryan and Miranda's families.
In addition to love the characters, I enjoyed the plot as well. I thought the pacing was really interesting. Ms Roberts took her time setting up the story and didn't rush through thing... There are a lot of things going on, but it's well handled and everything ties in well. The whole story was interesting and got me hooked :)
If I have any complaint, it would be that I wished Andrew's story would be a bit more developed. However, it was still well written and handled :) I just like his character and wished to read more :)
I also have to admit though that knowing the ending - who the real culprit was, it did take away a bit of the excitment and punch at the end. In most books/romantic suspenses, this is not a problem for me... because the villain is just a villain to be caught... but in Homeport, the whole conspiracy is an attack at Miranda... it's all very personal and the ending was quite a surprise. So of course, knowing who did it, well you take away this surprise. Aside from this, my feelings towards Homeport didn't change. Homeport is definitively a great book and a winner. Rarely will a Nora Roberts' stand-alone book disappointed... and Homeport, to me, is a fine example of why Nora Roberts is the queen of romance :D
So what do I love about this book? Basically everything :) I love Miranda and Ryan's chemistry and relationship :) They are so different and Ryan definitively makes Miranda happier. Miranda is a great heroine... strong, but at the same time, vulnerable. Ms Roberts did a great job at writing the different layers of Miranda. I also love her relationship with her older brother, Andrew. It's cute and touching, these two siblings clinging to each other while growing up in a cold and sterile environment, always seeking for love and acceptance from their parents.
Ryan is slick and smooth... and a real good guy :) I liked how he drew out a different side of Miranda and made her stronger and able to face her fears. He had great insight and a quick mind. I especially like his love for his family :)
Speaking of family, I have to say, family dynamics - whether they are happy or dysfunctional - are really one of Ms Roberts writing strengths. She is able to portray relationships in such a believable way, even though they are complex. This book is no exception. I liked the contrast shown between Ryan and Miranda's families.
In addition to love the characters, I enjoyed the plot as well. I thought the pacing was really interesting. Ms Roberts took her time setting up the story and didn't rush through thing... There are a lot of things going on, but it's well handled and everything ties in well. The whole story was interesting and got me hooked :)
If I have any complaint, it would be that I wished Andrew's story would be a bit more developed. However, it was still well written and handled :) I just like his character and wished to read more :)
I also have to admit though that knowing the ending - who the real culprit was, it did take away a bit of the excitment and punch at the end. In most books/romantic suspenses, this is not a problem for me... because the villain is just a villain to be caught... but in Homeport, the whole conspiracy is an attack at Miranda... it's all very personal and the ending was quite a surprise. So of course, knowing who did it, well you take away this surprise. Aside from this, my feelings towards Homeport didn't change. Homeport is definitively a great book and a winner. Rarely will a Nora Roberts' stand-alone book disappointed... and Homeport, to me, is a fine example of why Nora Roberts is the queen of romance :D
March 12, 2013
Opinião no blog http://howtoliveathousandlives.blogsp...
Este é um romance misterioso e arrebatador, com uma abordagem ao mundo da arte fascinante, em que acompanhamos a vida dos artistas, agentes e galeristas, uma ode brilhante às obras de arte. A ação alterna entre o Maine e Florença, com descrições vívidas de ambos os locais.
A personagem principal, Miranda, é uma mulher de carácter forte e independente, fruto da negligência familiar e sentimental que sofreu. Quando se apaixona por Ryan, um ladrão de arte impulsivo e carismático, a sua vida nunca mais será a mesma. Adorei as técnicas de Ryan para roubar peças de arte nas circunstâncias mais incríveis e a maneira como seduz Miranda. Também foi muito interessante observar o contraste entre a família de Miranda, rica mas fria, sem emoção, e a família de Ryan, calorosa e com raízes italianas e irlandesas.
Os mistérios em redor do Bronze da Dama Negra são fantásticos e daí surgem momentos de adrenalina absolutamente viciantes. Mais um livro de Nora Roberts que se devora com avidez!
Este é um romance misterioso e arrebatador, com uma abordagem ao mundo da arte fascinante, em que acompanhamos a vida dos artistas, agentes e galeristas, uma ode brilhante às obras de arte. A ação alterna entre o Maine e Florença, com descrições vívidas de ambos os locais.
A personagem principal, Miranda, é uma mulher de carácter forte e independente, fruto da negligência familiar e sentimental que sofreu. Quando se apaixona por Ryan, um ladrão de arte impulsivo e carismático, a sua vida nunca mais será a mesma. Adorei as técnicas de Ryan para roubar peças de arte nas circunstâncias mais incríveis e a maneira como seduz Miranda. Também foi muito interessante observar o contraste entre a família de Miranda, rica mas fria, sem emoção, e a família de Ryan, calorosa e com raízes italianas e irlandesas.
Os mistérios em redor do Bronze da Dama Negra são fantásticos e daí surgem momentos de adrenalina absolutamente viciantes. Mais um livro de Nora Roberts que se devora com avidez!
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