Want a NOOK? Explore Now
The past is never over. It just gets dusty.
Lisa Grant was a rising star in a prestigious law firm in Lexington, Kentucky, when the firm went bankrupt and she lost her job. With an ailing mother to care for, she takes the first job she can find: research assistant to District Attorney Scott Buchanan. Scott is as disagreeable as he is sexy, and Lisa suspects the only reason she got the job was Scott’s fond feelings for her mother, who treated him well when he was just a farmhand on the Grants’ large horse farm while Lisa was growing up.
After she misses an important court date, Lisa doesn’t get any special treatment from Scott. As punishment, he sends her to organize cold-case files in the basement of the courthouse. What Lisa expects to be a mind-numbingly boring task turns into anything but that when a missing-persons case draws her attention. The details of the case are engrossing: an entire family — father, mother, and two children — disappeared without a trace more than twenty-eight years ago. Except that’s not all: the mother in a photo Lisa finds could be her own twin.
Before Lisa can learn more, a series of catastrophes strikes close to home, and she realizes that finding the photo has put her in terrible danger. Determined to uncover the truth, she confides in Scott, and their relationship develops into something beyond that of employer and employee. Together they unravel a terrifying web of criminal connections that could shatter what Lisa knows of her past. And it’s clear someone will go to shocking lengths to make sure certain secrets stay hidden.
Having lost her position at a law firm that went bankrupt, Lisa Grant) leaves Lexington, Kentucky to go home to the family horse ranch Grayson Springs. Lisa does not feel bad about losing her job as she needs to care for her mom who is dying from ALS.
Lisa obtains work at the Fayette County District Attorney's office working as a research assistant to DA Scott Buchanan, whom she once loved. His attitude makes her realize he hired her under pressure due to her connections to her mom. Lisa looks into the files of a cold case in which Michael and Angela Garcia and their two children (Tony and Marisa) vanished without a trace in 1981. However, the case shakes her to her bone marrow when she sees the picture of Marisa and a doll the child clings to; she is looking at herself as a little girl and the doll is identical to one she had. Her inquiry with Scott's help turns ugly when an arsonist tries to kill her and her mom
This is a fast-paced legal thriller that after a prologue has Scott cursing out Lisa for failing to do her job; setting the tone of their relationship. The action never slows down as someone is out to harm Lisa and her mom although the younger has no idea why. Although the climax is over the top of Black Mountain with an incredulous denouement, fans will enjoy Karen Robards taut romantic suspense.
Harriet Klausner
7 out of 11 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.FranTX
Posted April 26, 2010
Good characters and great plot delving into the past. Always a favorite theme for me. Would recommend it to anyone to read. Lots of mystery and a little love mixed in never hurts!!
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2010
Every time I read a book by Karen Robards I think this is her best book yet. It happened once again with Shattered! The characters in this book were well defined, while maybe not totally realistic. The two main characters both have strong personalities, but neither overwhelms the other. What motivated them was revealed slowly, in a riveting way. There were two plots going on, the solving of a mystery from years ago and a romance. Both were equally engrossing and each complimented the other nicely. I also enjoyed the setting. I find contemporary novels set in the south especially appealing and this one, set in Kentucky (part of it on a horse farm) was no exception (I now find myself looking forward to watching the Kentucky Derby).
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.kjb192
Posted April 12, 2010
I have read every book this author has written and never been disappointed until now. I started it at the beach and put it down half way through because it was awful. There were so many run on sentences and parenthesis and dashes that it was too distracting to follow. She went on and on about things that had absolutely nothing to do with the plot. Speaking of the plot, it was pretty shaky at the start and no real action until the very end. Ms. Robards earlier works are worth your time. This one is not.
2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.christy7410
Posted August 9, 2011
This story was a real page turner. I loved the characters and was hooked from the begining. However, the author spends too much time describing the scenery. I would highly recommend this book, but be prepared to skip lengthy descriptions of places and clothing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Amanda15
Posted August 4, 2011
I usually love all Karen Robards' books, from her historical romances to her contemporary romance/suspense novels. This novel, however, was lacking in several of the aspects I've come to count on from her work. It dragged and was too detailed in many places throughout the first half. Inconsequential and uninteresting information caused me to lose interest. I didn't feel a strong enough bond between Lisa and Scott either. Also, we never got a satisfying update on the Scott-Ryan-Chase relationship? If you love Karen Robards' past novels, you might be disappointed in this one.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted June 10, 2011
I love Karen Robards and "Shattered" was yet again another great read!
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.love2readKB
Posted March 22, 2011
Karen Robards has done it again. The book was awesome. Scott is a hunk. The chemistry between Scoot and Lisa makes the book sizzle. How can someone Lisa has never met or heard of look so much like her. It is a mystery that she must solve. Along the way to sloving the mystery another mystery is solved, the one of Scott and Lisa. This book is a must read. It kept me awake till the wee hours of the morning because I couldn't put it down.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.The idea of an attorney review a cold case file of a family that disappeared 28 years ago and the striking resemblance that this attorney and that mother had me intrigued. But after reading this novel, I felt that I was betrayed. The mystery didn't hold throughout the story and the ending seemed contrived and fast. As a romantic thriller, I can see, since the relationship between Lisa and Scott develops more than the mystery. It was a lovely piece of fluff.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted September 16, 2010
I have read all of her suspense books and cannot believe she was the writer of most of this book. The run on and on sentences seemed like an amateur was writing it and not her style of writing at all. They were so distracting that I gave up after the 2nd chapter and went to the last chapter to find out how it ended. Check this book out from the library instead of buying it.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 5, 2010
Same old story, unfortunately. Two people who don't like each other, have a crisis, fall in love, man saves woman, happy ever after. Disappointing. The underlying plot was what drew me to purchase this book, and I finished the book to find out how it all played out, but the steamy love scenes made it just another romance novel. I'm not likely to recommend.
1 out of 3 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.diamondrj
Posted May 5, 2010
This was one you could not put down once you started it.
Really enjoyable.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.neclem1935
Posted April 24, 2010
This books was so good, I could not put it down.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.JewelDragon
Posted April 20, 2010
I liked the premise. Unfortunately I must not have read the description very well. I did not realize this was a romance novel, a very predictable romance novel. I found the book formulaic and flat.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Jwlw
Posted February 2, 2013
Really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down!
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted February 1, 2013
Keeps you on the edge of your seat, very exciting action.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Avalonldy5
Posted January 9, 2013
I must say that I loved the premise of this book! I got in audiobook, because I am on the road a lot and need something to keep me company. OMG! Why did I choose this one. Our heroine is too stupid to live and there is so much descriptive verbiage that I started to get bored really quickly. Seriously, who cares if the blue stripe on his underwear matches his shirt? I'm still trying to figure out how we got to the end and figured out the 'mystery". The story just meandered along until I couldn't take anymore. I stopped listening about midway through and skipped to the end. The whole plot was contrived and sort of made up. I've only ever read one of Ms Robards historical works and I rather enjoyed it. and thought I'd try a contemporary. I think I picked the wrong book to start with. My view is now tainted and I won't be trying another. I'd rather not waste the money.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 6, 2012
Sobs and feels betrayed
0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 6, 2012
Dude...you dont even talk like me.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 6, 2012
Not to intured but i have one thing to say even tho i might get locked out....BOOBIES
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
Overview
The past is never over. It just gets dusty.
Lisa Grant was a rising star in a prestigious law firm in Lexington, Kentucky, when the firm went bankrupt and she lost her job. With an ailing mother to care for, she takes the first job she can find: research assistant to District Attorney Scott Buchanan. Scott is as disagreeable as he is sexy, and Lisa suspects the only reason she got the job was Scott’s fond feelings for her mother, who treated ...