Secrets & Sunsets: Risky Business / Mind Over Matter

by Nora Roberts

Risky BusinessLiz Palmer had found home—and a refuge—in Cozumel for the past ten years. But everything changed when her employee and boarder was murdered and his twin brother stormed into Liz's well-ordered life with grief in his eyes and revenge in his heart. Liz refused to be sucked in by his quiet words and intense eyes. She had a life to lead, a business to run, a daughter to raise—and Jonas Sharpe was an unwanted intrusion. But soon Jonas had plunged them both into the shady world of drug smugglers… and the dangerous depths of passion.

Mind Over Matter

Aurora Fields protected her clients like a mother tigress—especially when one was her own mother! So it was going to take a lot more than charm to get her on side with David Brady's plans. Aurora could see he was a smooth operator, used to getting what he wanted, and she was usually immune. What was it about him that left her uncomfortably vulnerable? As for David, he'd always considered himself a good judge of people. So why did each moment with Aurora leave his head and heart reeling? She was an enigma, and he was determined to find the key.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

464 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Nora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

Reviews

[Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

These books made for an interesting pairing. Honestly, I'm still trying to figure out what it is that they have in common that would make them suitable for going into one physical book with each other. I don't even know if there's supposed to be a rhyme or reason they were put together for this book or if it was just an arbitrary selection or if it was a removed decision based on some non-story related aspect (such as publishing dates or popularity). One of the books is in a tropical environment, the other is not. One book includes danger and suspense while the other does not. One book involves something beyond regular human perception (a sixth sense, so to speak), the other contains just plain humans that think like humans. The only connection I can think to make is that they both included a beach (one very prominantly, one more sparsely). All of that being said, I did love both of the books. Nora Roberts' writing is enthralling as always and I didn't want to put the books down I just wish they had been a little bit more closely related in theme or enironment or subject matter or something of the sort. Below I have reviewed each book individually.

Risky Business

Just before reading this book, I read The Reef by Nora Roberts. I hadn't realized that this too would be a book that revolved heavily around scuba diving and the ocean (with both female protagonists have a passion for both). I'd describe both of them as romantic suspense. It was interesting to see the contrasts between the two books. Despite having a very large similar aspect, the two were very different books in content. They took place in places on opposite sides of the ocean, featured different and unique characters, and had different story lines and scenarios (though they both did involve the female protagonist being held at gunpoint on a boat).

Liz left the US ten years ago during her freshmen year in college after a particularly negative romantic experience. Since then, life has been about her daughter and succeeding in her business (largely for her daughter). She has kept herself closed off and protected and believes herself to be happy. She worked hard and he life was relatively straight-forward. That is until she finds one of her employees at the bottom of the ocean having met an unfortunate demise. The employee, Jerry, has a twin brother, Jonas, who is a lawyer with his own practice in Philadelphia. He, like Liz, is a work-a-holic. He is also now out to avenge his brother's murder. He doesn't care what he has to do or who he has to use to get the justice he seeks. The murder of Jerry Sharpe quickly throws the lives of two orderly, self-sufficient, stubborn people into chaos. Where Liz wants nothing to do with the mystery, Jonas is determined to have her help in finding his brother's killer. By the time he starts feeling guilty over this, Liz's life has been threatened and he realizes she's in it now, whether or not either of them likes it, and determines to protect her. The book includes danger and suspense and romance and all ends with a HEA ending (which I absolutely adored) and no cliffhanger. As with any of Roberts' books, I would definitely recommend this one.

Mind Over matter

I found the sixth sense aspect of this story very interesting, both Clarissa's openness with it and A.J.'s determination to supress it. Where Clarissa views it as a gift to be used to help peoplle, A.J. views it more akin to a curse. Nothing good has ever come from the ability for A.J.. As a result, she has two different personas: A.J. the competent, ruthless business woman and Aurora in her personal life (though she won't admit it). Clarissa has had negative experiences, but she doesn't let those stop her from continuing to be who she is to its full extent. This wasn't my absolute favorite of the Roberts books I've read (of which there are many), but it was still a great story and a great book. It had real emotion and depth. A.J. is so much more than she shows the world. The fact that David is able to see that and tries to dig deeper into those layers scares A.J.. It was a very interesting book and I absolutely loved Clarissa's character and her whirlwind romance with Alex. He is a good man who truly cares for Clarissa with no ultieror motives (something difficult for A.J. to recognize and accept). I would have loved it the story continued past where it did and we got to see more of A.J.'s personal reckoning and emotional growth and how David plays into it and helps her and loves her unconditionally. As it is, the book features a HEA ending with no cliffhanger.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought these stories were more recent because the copyright of the book is 2010. Then in Mind Over Matter A.J. considers pulling off the freeway to use a phone booth and I realized the stories were a bit older than that.

I enjoyed Risky Business (despite it being a bit unrealistic). There is a scene at the end that still doesn't make sense to me - people and boats appearing at precise times, presumably without detection.

I didn't enjoy Mind Over Matter - it was too different than other Roberts' books I've read. lThere seemed to be more sex, and more in depth descriptions of sex, in Mind Over Matter than in other novels by Roberts. I found myself scanning over these scenes in the book.

[Lori Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Risky Business. The descriptions of the sand, sea, flora, fauna, deep sea fishing were marvelously detailed. I found myself wrapped in the quickly unfolding plot: so I could barely put the book down.
Contrastingly, I kept reading all of Mind Over Matter even though I'm sure I've read it before..... it was a sweet love story.

[Julie Vettraino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

[Victoria · Rating 2 out of 5]

Typical 80's Nora Roberts fare. I have no doubt that these stories were more compelling when they were written, but they seem pretty dated now.

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both of the stories in this book are really good. They are both stand-a-lone.

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Risky Business - 3/5 - So this isn't the worst of Nora's early books by any stretch of the imagination. Compared to some of her other early works this was very readable. The suspense was pretty good, as the Hero and the heroine try to work out who killed the Hero's twin brother, Jerry. I didn't suspect the bad guy until right before the reveal. The Hero was not my favorite - Jonas was something of a selfish ass coming in planning to use the heroine however he had to in order to get his revenge for his brother's murder. He just inserts himself into her life, bosses her around, demands she take him places (for her own safety supposedly) and he comes across for much of the book as cold and unfeeling. So imagine my surprise when after days of the hero being an ass the heroine realizes she's falling in love with him. Why? Later in the book he kinda becomes a different character... And yes, even I think he's too pushy/creepy there at the end. He leaves per the heroine's request but goes off to woo the heroine's 10 year old daughter, admitting that the way to get to the heroine is through her daughter. What kind of grandparents let a strange man take their granddaughter to the zoo? Then he brooks no argument when he says they will marry, puts the ring onto her finger and tells her to get used to the idea. Not very romantic.

The heroine was even more annoying. Set aside by her daughter's father and left to have her baby alone, Liz is basically an emotional coward who hides and runs from her feelings and stubbornly insists on being independent in everything - despite times when it would make sense to ask for help. She frustrated me more than she earned my sympathy. And Nora Roberts sucks at writing kids. Faith, who we meet briefly at the end of the book is supposed to be nearly 11 years old. Yet when we meet her, she's just lost two teeth in an obvious location revealed by her smile (at her age she should be losing molars..). But that's kind of nitpicky. It's when they get around to her dialogue - she speaks in simple baby sentences, talks about how she tried to run really fast in her new sneakers, fell down and skinned her knee and didn't cry. She leaps into Jonas's arms when he comes to visit. I'm telling you, I know kids this age and they're a touch more mature. She's written like a six-year-old...not a girl on the verge of adolescence. Other than the characters, the book was pretty good.

Mind Over Matter - 2/5 - David Brady is doing a documentary on psychics and wants to use Clarisse...only in order to do so, he must go through her formidable agent, A.J. Fields...who also happens to be her daughter. Both of these characters are insanely stubborn, pretty blind about each other's feelings and quick to anger. They frustrated. But it provided a pretty good amount of angst. Despite the character's flaws, this might have been a pretty good book if it had simply ended at the 60-70% mark. Instead it dragged on with little to no point. I began wondering where it was going. All they had to do was say the "I Love You"s. It shouldn't take 30% of the book to get that out once all the secrets have been revealed. But misunderstanding after misunderstanding of these two frustrating characters becoming even more frustrating by avoiding talking and not saying what needs to be said and letting their pride get in the way had me actually not caring whether they ever worked it out.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed both of these books, the first (Risky Business) a little bit more than the other. They were fairly standard Nora Roberts’ books and both moved well. The first was a mystery romance, which I tend to enjoy a bit more, where the second was a fairly standard romance novel. Both books were easy read, which can be a nice change of pace because you can pick it up and put it down as needed.

If you’re looking for additional Nora Roberts’ novels, I recommend Homeport, which is one of my all time favorites from her, River’s End, and Black Hills.

[JoAnne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a 2 novels in one book. I enjoyed Risky Business more that Mind Over Matter since the second was a paranormal theme which I am usually not a fan of. Both had romance, intrigue (more in the first), some tears and of course happy endings. I would recommend if a fan of Nora Roberts or if you'd like an easy beach read.

[Noel Benedetto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a year or so ago but picked it up again recently. I realized I had read it about 50-60 pages in. It was still a good read the second time. I put it down and didn't continue to reread it because there are so many other stories waiting to be read. I recommend this book for a light, fun read for romance with a little action.

[Adele · Rating 5 out of 5]

Risky Business:
A typical Nora Roberts suspense novel. Once you've read one, you've pretty much got the general plot outline. However the characters and scenarios do change, and that's why I love to pick one up for a quick read. This was no exception. Very good plot and I was surprised by the way certain events went, but overall a very enjoyable read.

[Cheryl Hendricks · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked both these stories. The first one about scuba diving was the best. It always amazes me how much Nora knows about different subjects. Her books always have interesting characters and these are no different. ESP was the other stories subject.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I honestly cant put into words how much of loved this!

[Bonnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Included "Risky Business" & "Mind over Matter"

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My read in the car book. It is really two different books but with the way it is put together I only get to count it as one!

[Cherie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Risky Business much better than Mind over Matter.

[S Miller]

Used - Very good

[Melinda Rollings]

Ok. Nothing earth shattering.

[Vickie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Risky Business ended before I was ready for it!