8/14/2021

Nach Dem Sturm by Nora Roberts

Hideaway is a wonderful novel about being true to yourself, defining life, and making dreams come true. Despite all odds. The mix of family drama, hate, passion, and courage in young people, all brought together in a wonderful and very entertaining way, is great to read.

Nach Dem Sturm*

by Nora Roberts
Translation Margarethe van Pée
Original Title Hideaway
Publisher Blanvalet on April 26, 2021
Genre Contemporary Romance
Pages 624
Format Hardcover
Source Blanvalet
Goodreads
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Caitlyn Sullivan came from a family of famous actors. She was already a star as a child, but like every normal girl, Caitlyn loves to romp around the garden and play hide and seek with her cousins. But then she disappears without a trace during one of these games – she was kidnapped. And creates what nobody expected: With a lot of courage, she escapes her tormentors and seeks help from Dillon Cooper and his family, who bring her back together with her loved ones. But even years later, Cate is shaken by the terrible events of the past and has to realize: This long-forgotten night was only the beginning – the beginning of a great love and that of a terrible vengeance … (Personal translation by ©Vi at Inkvotary).

Story

Caitlyn wants to live her life as normal as possible. After her kidnapping, she is no longer willing to give them the power over the rest of her life. And with her father and grandparents by her side, she enjoys a quiet and protected childhood. But she knows that one day she will do what she inherited. The talent to be other people. And her voice is the key to a bright and happy future.

Style

Nora Robert´s style is unmistakable. Gentle, sensitive, and with a touch of thriller in the story. Well, the tension is not as outstanding this time as usual, but you will be rewarded with the life of a great main character, who bravely and without hesitation literally throws herself into her life.

Over several parts, the author shows how Caitlyn builds her own life, how she follows her dreams and longings, and conquers her place in the glittering world of Hollywood. But also, how she struggles with her nightmares, has to defend herself against paparazzi and intrusive fans, and still clearly follows her principles.

Characters

Aside from the fact that the characters couldn´t be more different, Caitlyn is an excellent created main character. Her courage, her determination, and that she will not just take things like that and not let them get her down impressed me from the start. She wants to find her place in life, assert herself and still not forego the security and love of her family. And gets everything, even if not always in a straight line. Her way of seeing the world has been just great for me as a reader.

Conclusion

A great novel, the small weaknesses of which are not particularly significant. Well, the ending was a bit too flat and cheesy for me, but the story is just wonderful until then. The kidnapping, with which it all begins, is more of a backstory, but that doesn´t diminish the enjoyment of the rest of the plot. Recommendable.

Happy reading

*This book was kindly provided to me by Blanvalet in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.

Deutsche Rezension

Stil

Der Stil von Nora Roberts ist unverkennbar. Sanft, feinfühlig und mit einem Hauch Thriller in der Geschichte. Gut, die Spannung ist diesmal nicht so herausragend wie sonst, aber dafür wird man mit dem Leben einer großartigen Hauptfigur belohnt, die sich mutig und ohne zu zögern, ihrem Leben buchstäblich entgegenwirft.

Über mehrere Teile zeigt die Autorin, wie sich Caitlyn ihr eigenes Leben aufbaut, wie sie ihren Träumen und Sehnsüchten folgt und ihren Platz in der Glitzerwelt Hollywoods erobert. Aber auch, wie sie mit ihren Albträumen kämpft, sich gegen Paparazzi und aufdringliche Fans wehren muss und trotzdem immer klar ihren Prinzipien folgt.

Charaktere

Abgesehen davon, dass die Figuren unterschiedlicher nicht sein könnten, ist Caitlyn eine hervorragend kreierte Hauptfigur. Ihr Mut, ihre Entschlossenheit und ihr Wille, Dinge nicht einfach so hinzunehmen und sich nicht unterkriegen zu lassen, hat mich von Anfang an begeistert. Sie will ihren Platz im Leben finden, sich behaupten und trotzdem nicht auf die Geborgenheit und Liebe ihrer Familie verzichten. Und bekommt alles, wenn auch nicht immer auf geradem Wege. Ihre Art, die Welt zu sehen, ist für mich als Leser einfach nur klasse gewesen.

Resultat

Ein toller Roman, dessen kleine Schwächen nicht sonderlich ins Gewicht fallen. Gut, das Ende war mir eine Spur zu flach und kitschig, aber die Geschichte ist bis dahin einfach nur wundervoll. Zwar ist die Entführung, mit der alles beginnt, eher als Hintergrundgeschichte angelegt, das schmälert das Vergnügen über den Rest der Handlung aber nicht. Empfehlenswert.

*This book was published in the English language by St. Martin´s Press on May 26, 2020 

Nora Roberts

Nora Roberts, born in Silver Spring, Maryland is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels. During the now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and notebook and began to write. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts has a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she’s been quoted as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming. Nora is a member of several writers' groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her “America’s favorite novelist.” She is also the author of the bestselling futuristic suspense series written under the pen name J. D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.

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