The MacGregors: Serena & Caine: An Anthology

I adore Nora Roberts books, particularly the Key Trilogy and Montana Sky, which even my husband enjoyed, but Sanctuary is by far my favorite, and has been for years. I do, however, prefer audio CD's and MP3's because of a long commute to work (and an absolute loathing of morning radio shows), neither of which are available in this title. I can't figure that one out - books published earlier are available in both CD and MP3, but not this one. Big time disappointment, I wish the publisher would rethink that. But, all petty complaints aside, this book has it all! It's set on a Barrier Island and revolves around a family tragedy 20 years before that left the family in total disarray. Let's just say they all end up back home and have to work at becoming a family again while trying to work through some new thing that comes along. Sorry if that's lame, I don't want to give anything away. Great storyline, romance, suspense, surprises, everything you'd expect from Nora Roberts!

I like Nora Roberts writing - usually. This is one of the good ones. Suspense that out-weighs romance. Excellent character development of all the main characters. This one explores sibling relationships, which, just as in real life can certainly add complications. One mark for me of a good book, is that six months after you read it, you still remember the plot and characters. If you are a Roberts fan, you will love this one. If you are new to her work, this one will turn you into a fan.

If you are interested in the Templars, then you may enjoy this book. I am a Christian, and one of the threads of this account brings much so called evidence against Jesus ever even being a man in history, no crucifixion, no resurrection, only a means by which the Catholic church could rule western civilization. I am not a Catholic, but I do believe in Jesus Christ, as apparently a great many of the Templars did. Their purpose was to protect people attempting to make a journey to Jerusalem and back, especially those who were involved in trying to take Jerusalem back from the Muslims.

Jo Ellen Hathaway left her home on Desire Island, a private resort off the Georgia coast, two years ago. She's now living in Charlotte, North Carolina but travels the world as a successful photographer. Jo recently began receiving odd photographs of her, close-ups that point to someone having followed her to many locations. She becomes haunted by them and hits her wall when she receives one that appears to be of her mother Annabelle, dead, and who disappeared 20 years ago. Jo returns home to the house called Sanctuary, to restore herself and hopefully put her demons to rest.

When Jo's mother disappeared, her father shut down and left the care of her, her older brother Brian and younger sister Lexy, to her Aunt Kate. Calling this family dysfunctional is an understatement. When Nathan Delaney arrives at the island where he spent a memorable summer the year Annabelle disappeared, he is immediately drawn to Jo and is determined to tear down her emotional barriers and forge a relationship. It also becomes apparent that the person stalking Jo has followed her to the island.

I enjoyed this story but it took me about 100 pages to get interested. There was a bit too much descriptive detail about the setting of Sanctuary, bogging it down and detracting from the really interesting characters of the story. Maybe this was done because the main character was a photographer and it was important to create visual interest for her subjects but it bored me silly. Once I got past the initial staging, I fell for the characters...the distant brother, the dramatic younger sister, the lovely and well-meaning doctor, Kirby who is crushing on Brian and the childhood friend who has always had a crush on Lexy. There were three romances in play and that was a real treat. I guessed the answer to the mystery pretty early on, which took some of the zing out of the suspense but didn't lessen my enjoyment.

I'm rating the book 3.5 stars because the beginning was just too long and the impetus behind Annabelle's disappearance was a bit flawed in my opinion. Still, I enjoyed the book but would recommend some serious skimming of the beginning if you're not into reading about the topography of a southern resort.

An easier read than many of Faulkner's works, Sanctuary's plot and characters are engrossing and occasionally humorous. Anyone who has read and liked To Kill a Mockingbird will see similarities in this work's theme.

I give the story four stars because I skipped several chapters and read the last. I liked the story line but I felt it was not one of Robert's best. I thought it should have been shorter and not so drawn out. I understand character building but it centered too long on Jo and her family's hangs. Yes, the mystery death of their mother was traumatic but perhaps more attention should have lingered on Jo in a better telling.

Sanctuary is a hard-boiled, in-your-face novel that explores human ambivalence and the slippery slope it paves to evil. Reads well so many decades since release and remains relevant. No doubt: A classic.

This was the first Roberts book I read years ago. I came across it and thought I'd read it again. Second time through, it's still one of my favorites. The characters are fully developed, complex, people with whom you want to invest your time. The atmosphere of this southern island is claustrophobic and grows more so as you build toward the climatic finish. It's romance, it's mystery. It's a great read.