High Noon by Nora Roberts

Title: High Noon
Author: Nora Roberts
Type: Novel
Genre: Romance
Series: No
Copyright: 2007
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Rating: 3.5 out of 5


Summary: From Good Reads.
Police Lieutenant Phoebe MacNamara found her calling at an early age when an unstable man broke into her family's home, trapping and terrorizing them for hours. Now she's Savannah's top hostage negotiator, defusing powderkeg situations with a talent for knowing when to give in-and when to jump in and take action. It's satisfying work-and sometimes those skills come in handy at home dealing with her agoraphobic mother, still traumatized by the break-in after all these years, and her precocious seven-year-old, Carly.

It's exactly that heady combination of steely courage and sensitivity that first attracts Duncan Swift to Phoebe. After observing her coax one of his employees down from a roof ledge, he is committed to keeping this intriguing, take-charge woman in his life. She's used to working solo, but Phoebe's discovering that no amount of negotiation can keep Duncan at arm's length.

And when she's grabbed by a man who throws a hood over her head and brutally assaults her-in her own precinct house-Phoebe can't help but be deeply shaken. Then threatening messages show up on her doorstep, and she's not just alarmed but frustrated. How do you go face-to-face with an opponent who refuses to look you in the eye?

Now, with Duncan backing her up every step of the way, she must establish contact with the faceless tormentor who is determined to make her a hostage to fear . . . before she becomes the final showdown.

Feelings: 
Like all Nora Roberts books this is ultimately a love story. Some of her older books used to be only a love story, more recently the books have become more about the interactions between characters on the job as well as about finding love. I like having characters that are strong and have a purpose other than finding love. That being sad there are lots of similarity between this book and her other books. The characters have a hard past to get over they lack something that they didn't know they lacked and they are challenged in their work in such a way that they must come together with the romantic interest to make it through. The books all end the same way with a marriage proposal as well. That being said I don't think I'm giving anything away because anyone familiar with Nora Roberts should have noticed this pattern.

High Noon was an enjoyable read even knowing all that because of the fact that characters and the work they did. Having a job that is action packed is what makes Phoebe and interesting character and worth spending some time reading about. Duncan is also an intriguing character but a little more unlikely than is Phoebe who didn't win a lottery. He is a dynamic character though so it is less irritating and easier to get over the improbability of the lottery win. Together the interactions between Phoebe and Duncan can be funny and sweet.

"I started to Google you." She sat back now, raised her eyebrows. " I thought, sure it's a shortcut, a curiosity-satisfying one. But sometimes you want to go the long way around. You get to find out about somebody from the source, maybe over some type of food or drink. And if you're wondering, yes, I'm hitting on you." "I'm a trained observer. I don't have to wonder when I know. I appreciate the honesty, and the interest, but--" (p.23)

After accepting the half hour date she wonders if she should have made the time for a mistake with a man but her mother and live in family friend, Ava convince her she must go for them and every other dateless woman she find she enjoys herself and the time away from work and family responsibilities.

"Oh, Duncan, you're awfully cute, and you're rich, and you've got a very sexy car. I'm just not in a position to start a relationship." "Are you in a position to eat dinner?" She laughed, shook her head as he walked with her up to the parlor level. "Several nights a week, depending." ..."Saturday." He leaned in. It was smooth, but she saw the move. Still, it felt fussy and foolish to stop it. So she let his lips brush over hers. Sweet, she thought. Then his hands ran down from her shoulders to her wrists, his mouth moved on hers. And she couldn't think at all. Deep, penetrating warmth, quick, hard flutters, a leap and gallop of pulse. (p. 47)

The love interest is started early but develops slowly as the book progresses.

The book is well written and fun to read which is what I look for in a good romance. So far Nora Roberts hasn't let me down.