The Final Target by Nora Roberts

The Final Target by Nora Roberts
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!
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He showed up at Arden Bowie’s debut author appearance with a copy of her novel and an eager smile. He showered her with compliments and got her autograph. Then he came to her next event. And the one after that.

Dustin was just an aspiring writer who wanted advice, Arden reassured herself. But after giving in to one of his incessant invitations and chatting with him over coffee, she discovered that ignoring her inner alarm bell had been a terrible mistake…

An introvert at heart, Arden had long craved solitude—but now, after a harrowing assault, she finds herself hiding behind locked doors and startling at every sound. And her relief at his imprisonment is tempered by anxiety when Dustin’s wealthy mother helps to get him a paltry five-year sentence at a psychiatric facility.

Arden decides to write a new story for herself, moving to a tiny Oregon town and befriending Gideon, an ex-LAPD detective. But while she learns to thrive, Dustin remains his delusional, twisted self, as fixated as ever and now seething with anger. He still believes Arden's purpose on earth is to serve and please him. And his job is to protect her. But who will protect her from him?
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No one does romantic suspense like Nora Roberts, and over the last several years, these standalone books she releases each year have become one of the highlights of my early summer reading list. Books like Mind Games and Identity still live rent-free in my head several years after I have read them. Well, they are going to have to make room for The Final Target because this is another memorable thriller from an author who continues write hits year after year.

Arden is the strong female protagonist that we can always expect in Roberts's books, and she finds herself up against a "fan" who initially appears unassuming but quickly becomes terrifying. She rebuilds her life and finds happiness, but is her foe waiting in the wings, just waiting for another chance with his favorite author?

The level of suspense in this book was perfect. It kept me on the edge of my seat, and the twists and turns had me reading straight through the day until I made it to the last page. The romance story that was interwoven throughout had a nice slow burn that did not fall into the trap of a hero rescuing a lady in distress (even though there were times that Arden was definitely in distress). I was left completely satisfied, which is exactly what I have come to expect from Nora Roberts's standalone novels and what keeps me coming back to read them year after year. This was an easy 5-star rating for me.

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