Nora Roberts Land

Dare Valley

By: Ava Miles

Narrated by: Em Eldridge

Length: 11 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's Summary

International best-selling sensation Ava Miles treats you to a binge-your-heart-out blockbuster series, starting with this number one national best seller and Best Book of the Year (USA Today). Welcome to Dare Valley, the small-town with big heart—where romance, family, suspense, and happily ever after are the way of life.

"Ava's story is witty and charming." (Barbara Freethy, number one New York Times best-selling author)

Her ex blamed their break-up on her reading too many romance novels.

She set out to prove him wrong.

When journalist Meredith Hale's dreams of happily ever after—or Nora Roberts Land as she calls it—go up in smoke, she leaves the big city to return to her family and their small-town newspaper. A new start? Yes please! Not to mention that it’s a chance to prove her ex wrong. She will find her own romantic hero, prove that true love exists, and publish a story about her quest—even if it kills her.

Tanner McBride has just returned stateside to work for a major newspaper. The last thing he expects is blackmail. His assignment? Make his boss’ ex-wife fall for him and then break her heart. Her article about discovering love à la Nora might air dirty laundry about her marriage to the media mogul, threatening his senate run.

When the two meet, the sparks between them are undeniable. Could Tanner be her Roarke? As they work together to uncover the truth behind a suspicious death, the depth of their feelings unfolds and both realize they've kept their secrets for far too long. But before the truth can be revealed, their investigation takes a deadly turn, one that might make Meredith's personal Nora Roberts Land go up in flames.

Nora Roberts gave her blessing to Ava for the use of her name in both the title and the premise in Nora Roberts Land.

©2013 Ava Miles (P)2022 Ava Miles

Couldn't Finish

The plot was the problem for me with this book. I actually liked the main plot points, the execution, however, left a lot to be desired. I've been trying to find a way to explain this without giving away any of the story - but I can't do it. So, I'll just say the characters have to become stupid, forget their journalism training and do things that just do not fit the way the author describes them in order to make the plot work. I won't be reading this author again.

Nora Roberts Land Is an Homage of the Best Kind!

Where does Nora Roberts Land rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top Ten!

I am an avid romance novel reader and a huge Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb fan. I'm talking I may have recorded all of the movies that come on Lifetime just so I can watch them repeatedly. I've also listened to favorites such as Blue Smoke and Northern Lights on long car rides and vacations. In addition to that, she's actually one of the few writers whose paperbacks I buy and keep. If you drop one of her books in my house, chances are you'll land on a favorite *sigh* scene. Girl loves some Nora. So you can imagine my excitement and hesitation when a new author actually used her named in the title and got approval to do so. Two things: either she knew some people or she had gotten the Nora stamp of approval.

I had previously read the novel, so I was apprehensive. I mean a narrator can MAKE or BREAK a novel on Audible, but Em Eldridge did NOT disappoint. The story was also just as delectable as the first two times I read it.

Where to start? Ok, we'll start with the Nora references which are many but well played (to the true Roberts fan) enough not to overshadow the actual story being told. Miles did a good job of paying homage without BECOMING Nora Roberts which is difficult to do when you've put her name in the title.

Meredith was completely down on her luck after a failed marriage to the sleaziest man child ever, Richard Sommerville. She decides to go back home to Dare Valley to help out the family newspaper and to find her very own hero (THE ONE), straight out of a Nora book. Sommerville, who in addition to increasing my hate for him, decides to blackmail the delicious Tanner McBride to entice Meredith to give up on her article about true love that could shed some negative light on him. Tanner agrees and before you know it, you are IN IT. I'm talking swiping (flipping) from page to page to see what will happen next. Will Jill forgive Brian? Is there something nefarious going on at the University? How does Grandpa (Arthur Hale) stay single at Bingo? and so on and so forth.

Although my questions do not shed light on the mystery and fun hidden in the book they are the kind of questions that pop into your mind because of the way Miles draws you into her characters. You just want to know.

I can't wait for French Roast (Jill's story!!!) It's my favorite in the entire bunch!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jill. She's so sassy and fun! I like to think I have a little of Jill in me, as I can totally see myself helping my sisters find a guy, while also putting them in cringeworthy situations.

Have you listened to any of Em Eldridge’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No. She got better as the story went on. Because I had read the book before, I had to get rid of my notions of how the characters "sounded". Also, it's always hard for women to do a good male voice without sounding whispery and stalker like. She did a pretty good job.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Sometimes happily ever after comes at a price.

Any additional comments?

I received this audible for an honest review.

"F"

I am very disappointed that another book that had a good story line and characters had to have so many "F" bombs in it. Young people have become so desensitized to the word they don't even notice it anymore. I have missed quite a few movies after hearing that there are a plethora of the "word" in it.
Once in a while isn't too bad - in print or on the screen - but the use is so common anymore, it seems to go unnoticed. I find that very sad for our youth. One of the reasons I stopped driving school bus after 43 years was because I could no longer accept the every day language of the students, although I didn't accept it on my bus.
I just hope that common decency will find it's way back into the every day vocabulary. Although I'm a dinosaur in my thinking, I still have hope that people with similar views will eventually prevail.

Loved this!

Im a Nora Roberts fan so this story caught my attention because of her. However it held my attention because of the skilled way it was written. I look forward to the rest of the series.

Story is Good.. bothered by narration editing

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

The story its self was great. I would have enjoyed it better in print I think

How could the performance have been better?

The performance its self was good. Not excellent by any means, but definitely good. The problem is the background noises. For a good portion of the book you can hear what sounds like a fire monitor that needs a new battery. It beeps every few seconds. I got to the point where i was just listening for the next beep instead of the narration. I kept finding that I'd have to rewind to try to pay attention again.

Outstanding!

As a Nora Roberts fan, I was immediately intrigued with this book. I was not disappointed. I had a hard time putting this recorded book on pause. This is a book I will listen to again!

Not bad, but really relies on the premise

Some really good parts - but by invoking Nora Roberts you are setting a really high bar that the story and the characters just don't quite make it over.

The title pulled me in!

I'll have to admit that the title pulled me in. but after listening to the audio book, I was glad. I love Nora Robert's books and think it was great of her to let the author use her in this book. Little references to Ms. Roberts' stories were fun and the author wove her stories in and around the plot. I will definitely be reading the rest of the series!

Made me smile, laugh and want to visit La Perla.

I liked the story, the homage to Nora Roberts (who deserves every praise) and the narrator! The audible trifecta. I will definitely buy Ava's next book with pleasure.

Great Story!!

Very good story!! Was very entertained and engrossed in this novel. Will be reading the sequel soon!! Love Ava Miles

Good plot, awful characters...

I love Nora, I though a book she allowed her name to be used on would be up to her standards. The storyline is good, but the love story - relationship really jarred with me. They would say things at the wrong time or the wrong thing and I'm not sure how many times her nippels needed to go hard just looking at him... definitely not my kind of book...

Fun book as long as you've read NR first

If you could sum up Nora Roberts Land in three words, what would they be?

Comfortable, fun, likeable

Who was your favorite character and why?

I liked the lead character. She made me laugh and I appreciated the way she went out to get what she wanted.

What does Em Eldridge bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

I love audible books because they enable me to listen whilst I potter about sewing my latest project. Em Eldridge didn't annoy me which I think is probably high praise. I have heard a couple of narrators (luckily only 2) who have caused me to return books. Em Eldridge is certainly not one of those. I intend to listen to more of her as I go through the series.

If you made a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Fun Chick flick

Any additional comments?

As a total Nora Roberts/JD Robb fan I'm very glad I'd read/listened to most of her books before I picked this one up. There are so many references through the book to Nora Roberts' characters that I appreciated them all the more knowing who was being spoken about.