Sanctuary [Paperback]

Nora Roberts (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 31, 2004

Jo Ellen Hathaway knows you can't go home again-but to discover the truth behind her mother's mysterious death, she has no choice...

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

There's no looking back for Roberts, who made the break to hardcover with the best-selling Montana Sky (LJ 2/1/96). Her latest tells of a young woman who finds danger and love when she returns to her childhood home.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Following the success of Montana Sky , Roberts bases another story on the three siblings in that novel: Jo Ellen, Brian, and Lexy Hathaway of Sanctuary Inn, a B & B on Lost Desert Island, off the coast of Savannah, Georgia. Jo Ellen is a successful photographer who collapses under the mental anguish of seeing a picture in which her mother is young, beautiful, naked, and unmistakably dead. Her mother disappeared 20 years before, shattering a close-knit family. When the photo disappears while Jo Ellen is in the hospital, she returns to Sanctuary to recover her sanity and mend her relationships with Brian, the chef for the inn, and Lexy, an aspiring actress. The arrival of Nathan Delaney, whose family stayed on the island the summer her mother disappeared, further complicates Jo Ellen's life. Nathan wants Jo Ellen, but he is tormented by a secret that has lured a killer to Sanctuary and to Jo Ellen. Putnam has planned national publicity, including television ads; Sanctuary is also a Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club main selection. Roberts has produced an engrossing novel to thrill her fans. Highly recommended. Melanie Duncan --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Jove (August 31, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0515122734
• ISBN-13: 978-0515122732
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (81 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #664,707 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Returning Home is not so safe..., October 10, 2001

By 

Sharon Knutson "chinamomma" (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sanctuary (Paperback)

Sanctuary is a safe haven for Jo Ellen Hathaway. It is her family's island home off the coast of Georgia, where she grew up with her brother Brian and sister Alexa. Although Sanctuary also carries emotional burdens for Jo Ellen. Her beloved mother disappeared 20 years ago never to be heard from again. Her father withdrew from his family in mourning, Jo Ellen escaped the island and became a successful photographer. Suddenly she is being stalked by someone sending her pictures of her mother, Jo Ellen realizes her mother is dead. After suffering an emotional breakdown, Jo Ellen retreats to Sanctuary. There she finds love after meeting Nathan Delaney, who visited the island with his family the summer of Jo Ellen's mom disappeared. The mystery is fast paced and intriguing, the one complaint I have is there were so many characters and love stories for each of the sibilings, they sometimes felt rushed, or maybe I wanted more stories on each of the siblings...I recommend reading Sanctuary...it speeds up as the book progresses until you can't turn the pages fast enough!

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Picture perfect..., July 17, 2000

By 

Kelly - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sanctuary (Paperback)

I have been wanting to read Nora Roberts for a long time, but I never really got around to it. Finally, _Sanctuary_ caught my eye, and I started reading it. Let me tell you right now, if you want to read this book, clear your day so you can sit back and read for hours. You will not be able to do anything until you find out what happens next.

Jo Ellen Hathaway is being stalked. In her mail, she keeps recieving pictures of her eyes. Once when they're closed, once half open, and the latest installment to the collection... one with her eyes open and showing stark terror. She thinks she can handle it. She's a famos photographer, this guy's just sending her pictures to check out his work, right? Wrong. The morning after Jo gets the last picture of her eyes, an envelope comes in the mail. She opens it, and out come tons of pictures of her doing her everyday things. At the grocery store, at work, walking on the streets. He knows everywhere she's been, what she's been doing, and how she did it. But there's one picture in the pile that isn't of Jo. She single's it out and looks at it in mounting horror. It's not a picture of her, it's of her mother. The mother who left her and her family on the island they own twenty years ago. Annabelle is naked on the beach, her hair splayed. But, her eyes are glassy and it is obvious she's dead. This pushes Jo over the edge and she has a breakdown. Meanwhile, on Desire, the family island, her family is going on it's disfunctional way. Sanctuary, the house Jo grew up in, has been turned into an inn, and everything is going along it's merry way. Jo decides, after she is let out of the hospital, to return to Sanctuary and find her sanctuary there from the stalker. At home, things are a little rough, but she connects with her brother, sister, and father. And a man is introduced to her. A man who can make her feel like a woman again. But something is wrong. Jo's stalker followed her home. Will she be able to survive? And what really happened to Annabelle those twenty years ago?

Like I said, this was my first book by Nora Roberts and I was completely blown away. I am a fan of Jayne Ann Krentz, and usually turn to her books when I want a mystery/suspense/romance. Could it be that my favorite suspense author is being pushed aside? It could be! I was guessing at "who dun it" for the entire book. When you think you've got it figured out, guess again, for Nora's got another ace up her sleave. The characters were three dimensional, witty, spunky, loveable, flawed, everything I look for in a book with good character development. In the beginging, I was a little bored with the plot, but as I got into it, there was no way I would do anything else but read this book. Nathan and Jo's relationship was totally believable, and I loved the role reversal at the begining when they first meet (Jo fixes Nathan's car while he has no idea what to do or what is wrong with it). I was impressed with Nora Robert's sense of family, and it shines through in this book. One minute I was on the edge of my seat, the next I was sitting back on the couch sighing. _Sanctuary_ sends a storm of emetion through you, and it is such a wonderful read. So, for any romance fan, _Sanctuary_ is highly recomended.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect mix of Romance and Suspense, December 12, 2001

By 

Sophie (Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sanctuary (Paperback)

"Sanctuary" by Nora Roberts is a truly enjoyable and worth-while read. The story is absorbing and well-written and contains a mix of fabulous, complex characters.
"Sanctuary" is the story of three siblings, Jo Ellen, Brian and Lexy Hathaway. Jo Ellen is a successful photographer and a workaholic. She suffers a nervous breakdown when she receives a photo from an anonymous sender of her mother, thought to have abandoned her family and run away with another man 20 years ago, looking young and beautiful, naked, and unmistakably dead.
When Jo Ellen is released from hospital she returns to Sanctuary Inn, her family home on an island off the coast of Georgia. Jo Ellen sets about rebuilding her relationships with her brother Brian, the inn's chef, and her ever-jealous sister Lexy, an aspiring actress working as Sanctuary's waitress. She is also looking for some stability and a place to regain her sanity.
Enter Nathan Delaney, who was with his family on the island the summer that Jo Ellen's mother disappeared. Jo Ellen and Nathan are drawn to each other and develop a relationship. But Nathan is tormented by a dark secret that has attracted a killer to the island and has put Jo Ellen in more danger than anyone suspects.
Add to the mix a romance between Brian and the pretty island doctor, Kirby, and a romance between Lexy and her long-time friend Griff, and you have the recipe for a highly entertaining book. The suspense builds effectively and the clues provided will keep the reader guessing. Jo Ellen and Nathan's romance, which is the main focus, is by turns sexy and moving.
I have noticed some complaints from reviewers who thought there were too many characters and storylines, but I personally never felt this was a problem. Each storyline is fully developed and all of the characters have their motivations well explained. I really enjoyed watching all three of the Hathaway siblings finding someone to love and depend on in the midst of the disturbing events taking place on their island.
"Sanctuary" is a fabulous, fun read, containing well-written romances and an exciting and suspenseful mystery. So pick this book up today and enjoy!