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The Obsession
The Obsession
The Obsession
Audiobook (abridged)7 hours

The Obsession

Written by Nora Roberts

Narrated by Shannon McManus

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

4/5

()

About this audiobook

The riveting novel from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Liar.

“She stood in the deep, dark woods, breath shallow and cold prickling over her skin despite the hot, heavy air. She took a step back, then two, as the urge to run fell over her.”

Naomi Bowes lost her innocence the night she followed her father into the woods. In freeing the girl trapped in the root cellar, Naomi revealed the horrible extent of her father’s crimes and made him infamous. No matter how close she gets to happiness, she can’t outrun the sins of Thomas David Bowes.

Now a successful photographer living under the name Naomi Carson, she has found a place that calls to her, a rambling old house in need of repair, thousands of miles away from everything she’s ever known. Naomi wants to embrace the solitude, but the kindly residents of Sunrise Cove keep forcing her to open up—especially the determined Xander Keaton.

Naomi can feel her defenses failing, and knows that the connection her new life offers is something she’s always secretly craved. But the sins of her father can become an obsession, and, as she’s learned time and again, her past is never more than a nightmare away.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateApr 12, 2016
ISBN9781501223792
The Obsession
Author

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts is the bestselling author of more than two hundred romance novels. She was the first author to be inducted into the Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Since her first bestseller in 1991, Nora’s books have spent more than two hundred weeks in the number one spot on the New York Times bestseller list. There are more than five hundred million copies of her books in print, published in over thirty-four countries.

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Reviews for The Obsession

Rating: 4.0454545381818185 out of 5 stars
4/5

220 ratings28 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    My Review

    If anyone asks who's my favorite author it will always be: Nora Roberts. Romance, mystery, family and action, all in one story. I can never get enough of you, Nora Roberts!❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another great suspenseful story from Nora. I prefer these books to her mystical novels.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is a good book with just enough intrigue and romance.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    It is integrating for the most of the story line and fine way to end with the right places for the main character.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was fantastic. It has been one of my favorite Nora Roberts stories. How does one continue on with your life after you discover something bad about one of your family. Naomi Bowes must learn to deal with just this dilemma. I look forward to many more Nora Roberts books. I received an ebook copy of this from First to Read for a fair and honest opinion.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    One and a half stars just because the narrator is good.
    This first 50/60 pages (or half an hour) are petty good but the rest are full with endless house ronovation's details, furniture styles and dinnerware colors.
    IT was suppouse to be a thriller!!

    I swear NOthing happened between pages 60 and 400. NOTHING
    It was dull, predictableand long. I'm really glad I didn't pay for it
    I read Nora Roberts before and I enjoyed myself but this was painfully boring
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I truly enjoyed this story... if one can enjoy a book about serial killers.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I enjoyed this quite a bit, and a lot of my enjoyment was Naomi's reluctant adoption of the dog. He's found his human pack and he's not going to let them get away, no matter what she thinks about it. I find myself picking this book up and flipping to the page where she finds the pooch on the side of the road then reading the next 10-15 pages just because it's so familiar to anyone who's had a stray animal walk into his or her life.The rest of the book was standard Nora Roberts. Strong stubborn woman, strong obstinate man, both fighting the obvious attraction. If that's formulaic, so be it.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    This started out as an interesting story, but becomes less so as the book goes on. The ending is painfully predictable.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    This book is a shocker. Whoever gave it 3 or 4 stars should be introduced to good literature. The intro looked promising which is why I purchased it. Then it was filled with 20 pages about the dog and about forty or fifty to do with food or furniture. Another 50 pages of innocuous fill re decorating the house and irrelevant characters and conversation. I gave it 2 stars for the beginning and the effort of writing.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This was almost like two books in one! The first part of it was very suspenseful, the middle was more of a contemporary romance then for the last part it went back to being a suspense novel. I love both types of books by this author but trying to combine them didn't work out very well and threw off the vibe of the book a bit. It would have been better if it was a little more seamless. If able I would give 4 1/2 stars for this reason. While her character was a little predictable I did enjoy reading Naomi's story especially because Xander calls her out for having such ridiculous, predictable, pity me emotions.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I don't like it when someone tries to push their "beliefs" down my throat.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Obsession by Nora Roberts; (4*)I have not read much of Roberts' work in the past as I am 'mind-stuck' with her in the romance genre. While this is indeed a romance it is also a psychological thriller and a really good one at that!I appreciated Roberts' characters (yes, even the villainous ones) and was immediately sucked into this story. Many times while reading it I had to take a deep breath before continuing on. I wish it had taken longer than a couple of hours to read.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    When I start to read a Nora Roberts’ novel I have very high expectations. The Obsession does not disappoint. Just when I have settled into a nice romance the tension is kicked up a notch and I am gripping the book with two hands. Then that settles until it goes a bit higher on the next ledge. The characters are people I would like to know and join to chat over coffee or dinner out. Her descriptions of the place make me feel like I have been there at some time. I enjoyed reading this novel and look forward to her next one!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I keep being amased by Norra's ability to trance you into her stories. Nora. if you read this thank you for using this media. It allows me to be able to afford your books. This story like so many had me spell bond. You are truly gifted.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The Obsession is a wonderful romantic thriller- one of the most enjoyable of Nora Roberts offerings in my opinion. I loved that the story started so early in Naomi's life given how formative those experiences were. I felt great affection for Naomi, Mason, Seth and Harry (I would love to see Mason star in a later book) in ways that truly vested me in the story. Xander too is a great hero- strong, smart, and real in a way few romance heroes really are. Watching he and Naomi carve out a relationship while past and present crashed around them made for an extremely satisfying read. Add in the photography and home renovation elements, and this is basically my perfect romantic thriller. 5 stars!
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Nora Roberts has a way of bringing her characters to life like no other author I've read. The dialogue seems real and the emotions are spot on. She is also impeccable at research, giving her characters occupations and lifestyles that are true to real life. Her stories always manage to draw me in. I find myself reading so quickly, that the story is over before I want it to be. In The Obsession, twelve-year-old Naomi discovers that her father has been raping and murdering women in a cellar located in the woods near their home. When she saves Ashley from a similar fate and brings her to the police, her father is arrested and Naomi's world is changed forever. Paparazzi, a true crime book, and a movie make life impossible for Naomi and her family, so they move to New York. Naomi finds a career as a photographer and travels the world until she discovers a house near Seattle where she makes the decision to finally settle down. When she meets Xander and falls in love, Naomi thinks that maybe she has found what she has been searching for her entire life until women start turning up dead, and the nightmare her father brought her has a child seems to have returned to her life. I never tire of reading books by Nora Roberts, and I enjoyed this one a great deal. I'll be looking forward to her next story.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Very good with exceptional characters. You get emotionally involved...
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Another solid romantic suspense novel from Roberts. As a girl, Naomi discovered a serial killer and rescued his last victim. The repercussions upended her life, and she spent her adolescence avoiding the publicity. After college, she spent years drifting from one place to another, never quite ready to settle down. Until, to her surprise, she falls in love with a house, a small town--and the town mechanic.Appealing characters with solid and believable backstories, and a supportive romance. The suspense plot feels almost superfluous, however. The childhood incident is important for explaing who Naomi is and why. But the romance would work--does work--just fine without any outside forces.Not one of Roberts's best, but thoroughly enjoyable.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Every now and then I like to step out of my comfort zone and read a book I would not ordinarily choose. This practice has unearthed some gems over the years and this novel is certainly in that category. Well conceived, Well paced, well told... Just plain well done.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    The Obsession
    4 Stars

    A good mix of romance and suspense. Naomi and Xander are both appealing characters and their connection is both sweet and sexy. The other residents of Sunrise Cove are charming, but it is Tag, the lovable mutt, who steals the show.

    The serial killer aspects are intense although the identity of the killer is fairly obvious and the final showdown a little anti-climactic.

    In terms of the writing, the first and last 3rds of the book grab on and don't let go. That said, the middle is somewhat drawn out with a little too much detail on the house renovations and the photography elements, but even these have their moments.

    All in all, a highly enjoyable read from the Queen of Romantic Suspense.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    There are moments of suspense, moments of intrigue, moments when I was riveted, and then...there are moments -particularly through the middle- when I thought this book was never going to end. The edition I read was 390 pages. The quote "less is more" comes to mind.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I bought this book on a whim about 3 years ago, not really thinking I liked reading all that much, but just wanted to give it a try. Not only did I fall in love with the book, but I fell in love with this whole genre of reading and reading in general.

    The story is engaging and leaves the reader entwined in the action searching for more information and not being able to put the book down until the next mystery is unveiled! Who is Katharine Lawrence? Why doesn't she recognize herself? What is going on with the mysterious hunky neighbor/Dr? Is someone trying to kill her? Who can be trusted?

    This romantic thriller is a must read for book lovers and novice readers a like! I am very grateful for Karen Robards amazing works which made me fall in love not just with the characters, but with reading!
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    I LOVED this book! I felt as though it was very well-written, lots of twists, and I especially enjoyed how you got to discover the truth with the character without anything being given away by narratives from other characters.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Starts out great then went downhill Fast!I'm glad this novel was given to me by good friend to read. I'm still wondering how this mediocre story got published. Well, maybe I shouldn't wonder because there are some real dozzies (hope I spelled that word correctly) out there being promoted as bestsellers. When I started reading Obsession the plot unfolded and kept my interest and I felt really excited and I was very intrigued with the story. I read on and then my senses started to sour and then they turned off. At the very end I got a brief thrill. But overall the story was big let down. I don't understand why, because Ms. Robards is certainly capable of writing a decent romance/mystery novel. I won't say it's a terrible book, but if you have enjoyed all of Robards novel I would think that you will enjoy Obsession.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    It's extremely difficult to write a book in which the heroine is unsure of her own identity. Karen Robards shouldn't have tried it. This is a frustrating mess for the reader, who gets as much of a headache as the character has.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    This is a page turner. Woman suffers a home invasion and roller coaster ride of who do you trust and tries to work through her own shaky amnesia. The ending was disappointing and very implausible.
  • Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
    2/5
    The novel started out well, but simply dragged on too long. Plus, the ending didn't make much sense. I'd give this one a pass.