Northern Lights

Author: Nora Roberts
Published: October 2004 (Putnam)
Category: Romance
Rating: 8/10

This is my first Nora Roberts book that revolves around the hero, and I thought it was different, but in a good way.

Lunacy was Nate Burke's last chance. As a Baltimore cop, he'd watched his partner die on the street - and the guilt still haunts him. With nowhere else to go, he accepts the job as Chief of Police in this tiny, remote Alaskan town. Aside from sorting out a run-in between a couple of motor vehicles and a moose, he finds his first few weeks on the job are relatively quiet. But just as he wonders whether this has been all a big mistake, an unexpected kiss on New Year's Eve under the brilliant Northern Lights of the Alaska sky lifts his spirit and convinces him to stay just a little longer.

Meg Galloway, born and raised in Lunacy, is used to being alone. She was a young girl when her father disappeared, and she has learned to be independent, flying her small plane, living on the outskirts of town with just her huskies for company. After her New Year's kiss with the Chief of Police, she allows herself to give in to passion - while remaining determined to keep things as simple as possible. But there's something about Nate's sad eyes that gets under her skin and warms her frozen heart.

And now, things in Lunacy are heating up. Years ago, on one of the majestic mountains shadowing the town, a crime occurred that is unsolved to this day - and Nate suspects that a killer still walks the snowy streets. His investigation will unearth the secrets and suspicions that lurk beneath the placid surface, as well as bring out the big-city survival instincts that made him a cop in the first place. And his discovery will threaten the new life - and the new love - that he has finally found for himself.

I was annoyed by the stupid townsfolk who were worried about how the murder investigation would affect tourism. At one point, the murderer sets up one of the witnesses of the long-ago crime in a suicide. Nate knows deep down that it wasn't a suicide, but the mayor and other townspeople say he's just trying to stir up trouble because he misses the city cop life. This was one of those books where I wanted to grab characters and shake the stupid out of them.

I loved Nate. He falls into the vein of Roberts' Roarke (Born In...), Rogan (Born in Fire), and Ben (Montana Sky) heroes. He's a strong man who's secure enough in his manliness to own up to his feelings of love to a woman who'd rather use him for some sweaty sex and throw his womanly feelings in his face. Thankfully Meg has less screentime than Nate.

Northern Lights was good, but it still doesn't top Montana Sky.