Remember When

Starred review from August 25, 2003
A perfect marriage of sensuality and suspense, this sparkling new offering from Roberts (Birthright, etc.) and her alter ego, Robb (Imitation in Death, etc.) takes readers on a two-part journey—first to the quaint burg of Angel's Gap, Md., and then to New York City, 56 years in the future. A multimillion-dollar diamond heist connects the two halves and fuels the first story, which focuses on the romance between sexy PI Max Gannon, who's working for the company that insured the diamonds, and smalltown antiques dealer Laine Tavish, daughter of a notorious thief. Laine has worked hard to overcome her heritage, but when her father's best friend is killed outside her shop, she becomes the target of a ruthless killer who thinks she has her father's share of the take. Because the story skips ahead in time, Max and Laine have little time to explore their affection for each other, but Roberts still manages to make their whirlwind romance both believable and charming. A nerve-shattering encounter between Laine and the villain shows Laine to be as capable and crafty as Lt. Eve Dallas, who's the driving force behind the novel's second half. Set in the year 2059, the continuation finds Eve on the trail of a murderer who's after the diamonds that were never recovered from the decades-old heist. Though the identity of the criminal is apparent midway through, Eve's charismatic personality and colorful crew—including her former thief husband, Roarke, and her partner, Peabody—keep the energy level high. A true master of her craft, Roberts has penned an exceptional tale that burns with all the brilliance and fire of a finely cut diamond. (Sept. 15)Forecast:Putnam is supporting this book with a $3-million marketing campaign, which will give it plenty of muscle to fight for the #1 spot with big September releases from Mitch Albom and John Grisham.

July 1, 2003
Someone's chasing Laine Tavish-and why not? She used to be Elaine O'Hara, daughter of a dangerous con man, and now she needs the help of a seductive stranger to save herself. Roberts and alter ego Robb join forces.

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2003
Part 1 of this engaging novel (written by Roberts) offers a typical Roberts heroine. Attractive and quirky, Laine Tavish owns a small antique gift shop called Remember When. After a man is accidentally killed outside her shop, Laine is dismayed to realize he was her uncle. She has spent a good deal of energy keeping her family's unsavory criminal history a secret and is unsure and more than a little uneasy about why her uncle was coming to her shop. Hunky insurance investigator Max Gannon, who had been tailing the uncle for his own reasons, soon switches his attention to Laine. An engaging dog named Henry, Laine's heart-of-gold con-man father, Max, and a stash of diamonds, all intertwine with just the right amount of humor and snappy one-liners to propel the story to an ending with just a few loose ends. Part 2 of this novel (written by alter ego Robb) pushes us into the future. New York City police detective Eve Dallas is investigating a case with ties all the way back to Laine and Max, now grandparents, married some 50 years. It's their granddaughter Samantha who is involved with the same disappearing gemstones. Roberts's gimmick of combining these two stories works fairly well. Readers of Roberts's contemporary stories and fans of her futuristic Eve and Roarke novels will love getting two books for the price of one. Essential for all public libraries. [Previewed in Prepub Alert, LJ 7/03.]-Margaret Hanes, Sterling Heights P.L., MI

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.