Meredith Hale has divorced and wants to get on with her life. She'd started to think that there were no happy ever afters, that life didn't bring real love the way it does in books by Nora Roberts. To test out the theory she returns to her favourite author's books, and brings the ideas home with her to Colorado when her journalism experience is needed to help with the family newspaper. Her ex, another journalist, meanwhile is about to step on a political bandwagon and wants to ensure Meredith doesn't come out with any embarrassing revelations - as she might.
NORA ROBERTS LAND contrasts busy New York with Colorado. Tanner McBride, recently returned from covering a conflict zone, is recruited by Sommerville, Meredith's controlling ex, to sabotage her story about finding a happy ever after with a real man. Tanner initially thinks Sommerville is certifiable, but his arm is twisted and he reluctantly agrees. His cover is teaching journalism in the college at Dare Valley, and he's supposed to make Meredith fall for him and then dump her. The lady in question is readapting to the relaxed atmosphere, caring family, fall colours and lack of city panic attacks. Her sister helpfully introduces her to eligible men, but when Meredith meets Tanner, her mental barrier against dating another journalist stops her in her tracks. Pity, because it seems like they have some chemistry....
Interspersed is a serious story on students and drugtaking to show that modern life catches up even with small towns, and to highlight the work of Meredith's profession. The town paper established by Meredith's grandfather has been put on line to keep it current and relevant. I was interested to see that home cooking includes asparagus with nacho cheese sauce, and caramel apple pie. Maybe author Ava Miles should bring out a recipe book.
While this could be a light and amusing tale of returning to dating, in Meredith we see a woman whose self-confidence has been destroyed. We quickly start to care about her and to applaud the small changes and boosts she makes in this adult romance. Life is short, her grandfather tells her; don't squander your time. Ava Miles has a family history much like her heroine's in a small newspaper, and has written two more books about Dare Valley.
Journalist Meredith Hale's ex-husband claimed her Nora
Roberts addiction gave her unrealistic expectations about
marriage, and she believed him. All dreams of happily ever
after or Nora Roberts Land as her mother calls it-went up in
smoke. But when her family asks her to temporarily help
their Dare Valley, Colorado newspaper, she decides it's time
to change her life and prove her ex wrong. She's determined
to find her own small-town Nora Roberts hero, prove that
true love exists, and publish a story about her quest.
War correspondent Tanner McBride has just returned stateside
to work for a major newspaper, and the last thing he expects
is blackmail. Yet, before he can even unpack, he's headed to
Colorado. His assignment? Make his boss's ex-wife fall for
him and then break her heart. Her article about discovering
love Γ la Nora might air dirty laundry about her marriage to
the media mogul, threatening his senate run. The mogul wants
Meredith stopped, and he makes sure Tanner has no choice in
the matter.
When the two meet, the sparks between them are undeniable.
Meredith, who vowed never to date another journalist, begins
to succumb. Could Tanner be her Nora Roberts hero? As they
work together to uncover the truth behind a suspicious
death, the depth of their feelings unfolds and both realize
they've kept their secrets for far too long. But before the
truth can be revealed, their investigation takes a deadly
turn, one that might make Meredith's personal Nora Roberts
Land go up in flames.
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