Most Helpful Customer Reviews
69 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The start of a love affair w/Nora's books!, August 23, 1998
This review is from: Sacred Sins (Mass Market Paperback)
In March of 1997, I asked readers of Nora Roberts & Patricia Cornwell to convince me which author's stories I should try next. I was convinced to try Nora -- with a little nudge from Nora (she posts on boards on AOL). Nora suggested that I pick up a couple of her titles from used bookstores and see if I liked them or not. My first read was SACRED SINS. Now, a year and a half later, my life has completely changed -- all due to reading this WINNER and meeting Nora & her wonderful, wonderful fans (w/them, we created a website in Nora's honor!). I digress. Why should you read SACRED SINS? When I first read it, I could NOT put it down. I wanted to not only read about the developing relationship between Ben & Tess, but I also wanted to find out who was killing these women in Washington, D.C. My initial impression was that it was a good, fast read. Then, in June, I re-read it. It was even BETTER the second time around. In fact, I put it right up there as my favorite romantic/suspense stories of Nora's -- with DIVINE EVIL, MONTANA SKY, CARNAL INNOCENCE, & her DEATH books. Why is SACRED SINS such a great read? First, you have a very believable killer. Second, you have real cops in Ben & in Ed (read BRAZEN VIRTUE for Ed's story) -- their rapport is outstanding. Third, you have a very true-to-heart developing relationship between Tess & Ben. Fourth, Tess is extremely convincing as a psychiatrist. Her attempts to reach Joey were so compelling -- I wanted to reach into the book & slap his parents -- this was as real as it gets. Nora wrenched my heart w/it. This is an excellent story to give to a NON-reader of romances -- who believes that he/she knows what romances are all about. While there is romance in this story, the emphasis is on the suspense -- wondering who the killer really is.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Opposites attract., September 21, 2005
This review is from: Sacred Sins (Mass Market Paperback)
At least they do in Sacred Sins.
A serial killer is on the prowl in D.C., and psychiatrist Tess Court has been asked to help with the investigation over the objections of one of the cops on the case, Ben Paris. Their lifestyles are opposites: Ben's a down-to-earth regular guy, while Tess is from a wealthy family. And Ben has a low opinion of psychiatrists since one failed to help his brother.
Despite their differences and the dangers of the case, attraction blossoms and leads to love.
The good:
The relationship between Ben and his partner Ed. Nora writes men with great understanding and affection, and that's true in this case as well.
The dialogue. It flows naturally.
The humor. Even though it's a more serious, suspenseful story, there are little nuggets of humor to lighten the mood.
The bad:
Tess being apparently more concerned for the killer than the victims made me want to smack her upside the head a few times.
The verdict:
A solidly entertaining romantic suspense. For an older book, it holds up very well.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Oh Yeah!, February 2, 2007
This review is from: Sacred Sins (Mass Market Paperback)
This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for years and I have finally gotten around to reading it. It is, by far, one of the best Nora Roberts books I've ever read. It has everything-suspense, murder and romance and they don't get much better than this. The detective Ben Paris couldn't have been molded any more perfectly and Tess was pretty likeable even given her determination, as a pyschiatrist, to treat the man who ultimately tries to kill her. I loved the relationship between Ed and Ben and the dialogue, again, couldn't have been written any better. This is one of those books that you don't want to start reading unless you have a lot of free time because it's hard to put down. The only complaint I have is that it didn't end with much of a bang. A surprise, but not really a bang. It would have been more exciting, I think, to see Ben lose a little control.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
|