The Witness

"It's an unfortunate by-product of a patriarchal society that women are deemed sluttish or cheap for engaging in sex for pleasure while men are considered vital. Virginity shouldn't be a prize to be won, or withheld. The hymen has no rewarding properties, grants no powers. Women should – no must – be allowed to pursue their own sexual gratification, whether or not procreation is the goal or the relationship is a monagamous one, just as a man is free to do so."

'A lanky redhead fluffed her hair, then gave Elizabeth a dazzling smile as she walked by. "Sing it, sister."'

Heyo everybody! Today's review is going to be **drumroll** **drumroll** The Witness by Nora Roberts! I know what you're thinking, "Kaya why review this old book when you could be reading the new ACOTAR novel?". Whelp, my dear readers I have a confession. . . I love old shit. My entire goal in life is to live amongst old artifacts and if I can't maybe pull an Athena Edgeworth from Darkest Night, and become a thief of ancient artifacts with pinches of danger, an enticing rivalry, and exotic men. YUM!!!

**DETOUR: After rereading what I wrote, I have confirmed that option B sounds SOOOOO much better than option A. I mean who wants to be a square when you can be a pear!!

**DETOUR II: Is the expression 'don't be a square be a pear' or 'who wants to be a square when you can be a circle'??? I know for sure the square is in the reference. #HELP

Return. Reason number two of me choosing this book is because I am in LOVE with ANNE STUART!! Have been ever since I picked up Fire and Ice. The Yakuza, the personalities, the circumstances that she creates enchants me. Now the downside to being enchanted is that you always want it to happen again. Little hint, I haven't been able to make it happen AGAIN!! Technically, Stuart was my sequal enchantment to Sandra Brown but I am susceptible to addiction and am in need of my third fix! So this is how Nora came along.

**DETOUR III: If anyone knows of an author that can give me my next hit LET ME KNOW!! P.s. I prefer FMCs rather than MMCs, thanks ;)

Goodreads' Blurb

Daughter of a controlling mother, Elizabeth finally let loose one night, drinking at a nightclub and allowing a strange man's seductive Russian accent lure her to a house on Lake Shore Drive. The events that followed changed her life forever.

Twelve years later, the woman known as Abigail Lowery lives on the outskirts of a small town in the Ozarks. A freelance programmer, she designs sophisticated security systems -- and supplements her own security with a fierce dog and an assortment of firearms. She keeps to herself, saying little, revealing nothing. But Abigail's reserve only intrigues police chief Brooks Gleason.

Her logical mind, her secretive nature, and her unromantic viewpoints leave him fascinated but frustrated. He suspects that Abigail needs protection from something -- and that her elaborate defenses hide a story that must be revealed.

With a quirky, unforgettable heroine and a pulse-pounding plotline, Nora Roberts presents a riveting new read that cements her place as today's most reliably entertaining thriller -- and will leave people hungering for more.

Book Review

Right off the bat I knew this novel was going to be interesting. Any book beginning with a backstory full of youth and angst is bound to have substance and I was right on point with 'The Witness'. So many details helped make the story more relatable and intriguing, like Liz's social obstacles, her brillance, steady mindset, and patience. She has patience for years, a quality not many people have. It made me admire her resilence and preserverance to her survival and later revenge on the Bratva.

The Bratva was a welcomed element to a cliche story. Usually older authors when writing about crimes and the police they stay near local killers. You know stalker/ future murderer Candance, that lived next to the her future victims since she was twelve. Or Billie Bob the serial rapist that terroized the smalltown of Agusta only for his last victim to escape, become a cop, then avenge her late sister. All good cliches but you get tired of the cop/small town/revenge/trauma/etc. concept. Nora created a thriller that involves a small town but the crimes weren't committed there. It gave volume to the story and evolved the interest of Liz's escape of the Bratva. I loved Nora's take on intigrating cop life into her novel. She needed something that would offer the Liz a little overshadow from the trauma, Brook was perfect. The nosey cop turned lover. His nosiness add a nice light to the storyline not that it really need the extra shine, but it was funny to see Abigail so worked up on the audacity of Brook. He became a staple of Abigail's life fairly quickly. He was the best rock for Liz.

**DETOUR: If you haven't guess I am obsessed with cliche phrase and topes this week :)

Besides the run-ins with the Bratva, I want to warn you there isn't much action, if at all besides the first few chapters, the end, and a handfull of backstories. That is the reason I gave this book four stars, I prefer a little blood and terror in my thrillers ;). The Witness is very much a love story, the amount of lovey content would be about 76% with 24% spice (not sexual). I wouldn't say Nora Roberts is like Sandra or Stuart but she does remind me of Linda Howard. I do recomend this book for when you want to lazily toe the line between a thriller romance and a sweet one. I