Rating: 
Summary: Great Small Town Murder Plot!
Review: This one really had me guessing, I must say. I usually don't have much problem guessing the killer's identity, but this time I was truly baffled and honestly shocked when the person was revealed! Impressed too, cause Ms. Roberts used a most unusual person and I admire her for trying this approach! Who would've thought?! Also my first book by this author and I will certainly start reading all by her!~In a small Southern town called Innocence in the middle of the swamps of Mississippi, evil is lurking. A brutal and merciless killer is claiming the lives of the town's most beautiful women. People are scared for in their mist lurks a killer, a killer so vile and evil that the town is left second guessing each other's personalities. Is it their own next-door neighbor? A world-famous concert violinist, Caroline Waverly is trying to find some peace and quiet in her hectic life when she decides to leave her secure life in Philadelphia and stroll into her grandmother's house in Innocence, Mississippi after she has died. Caroline doesn't expect to be caught up in a horrible manhunt for a serial killer! Or to be seduced by the town 'playboy' the infamous Tucker Longstreet! Tucker is used to fast women and even faster cars, he has no time for dallying with 'good girls' until he nearly crashes his 'fast car' into the new neighbor down the road, a cute blonde by the name of Caroline Waverly. He knew her grandmother since he was a boy and cannot believe his eyes! 'Caro,' as she was known in town as, had grown into a stunningly sexy blonde that seemed to take his breath away until she opened her mouth...she hated 'men like him.' 'Playboys,' 'Rakes', that sort of men. But Tucker wasn't to be daunted, he wanted her and he would do anything to get her. He would use his infamous Longstreet charm to woo her, except Tucker realized, it wasn't working on her... Caroline has her hands full of this man when she is horribly broguth back to earth with the discovery of yet another body, this time on her land and in her lake. Tucker's latest girlfriend...was the roguish man she had started to find attractive the serial killer? Weird that all the women were ex-lovers of his... I truly did not realize who the killer was and was honestly in shock at the realization! WOW! A definate twist on this neatly done story that kept you guessing and on edge! The small-town aspect was the thing that kept you wondering in anxiety of who the person was. When you think you figured the person out, you are proved wrong and then you have to start over and find yourself wondering who in the world it could be! Is it the person you LEAST expected??? Truly gripping and different! The romance was great and the chemistry was real. I love the way Ms. Roberts wrote the dialog as it would really have been between the townsfolk and the things they really do behind closed doors. I am in awe of her talent, she brought this story to life for me. A real clincher, read it on a cold and snowy night with a hot cup of chocolate...but keep a notepad for your suspects and make sure you haven't dismissed anyone before REALLY thinking about it.... :) Tracy Talley~@
Rating: 
Summary: A new Nora Roberts Fan!
Review: I absolutely loved this book. Nora Roberts managed to write a fantastic romance, which, by itself was great, but then wove in a murder mystery and came up with a real winner. The story takes place in a small town in Mississippi called Innocence. A serial murderer is killing women and they are all connected to the Longstreet family, especially Tucker. He is a laid back, kind of lazy, womanizer who had dated the first 3 women killed. The new girl in town, Caroline, has moved into her grandmother's house to recuperate from her hectic life as a concert violinist. Of course she is right in the thick of things from the time she arrives. The mystery is well written and had me guessing from one person to the next. It is such a good story and Nora Roberts has added lots of humor, and has a good talent for writing southern dialogue. I am anxious to find other books written by her as this was my first. I listened to it on Audio-book and was so impressed with the narrator, he sure had alot of characters to portray and did a fantastic job with all of them. If you happen to get the Recorded Books version on audio there is also a whole tape interviewing Nora Roberts that was fun to listen to. I would recommend this to anyone who likes either romance, mystery or a good combination of both.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic!!
Review: I liked this novel because it held my interest throughout the entire book. I thought Tucker and Caroline were great, very realistic and fun to read about. I liked Caroline's frustration with Tucker on those occasions when she thought he was just a lazy guy with no brain.
I wasn't thrilled with the actual killer, as it didn't seem plausible. I would think a vicious killer would at least show SOME type of unusual behavior, but this one did not. This killer seemed to genuinely love most people.
Rating: 
Summary: carnal innocence
Review: i have to admit, i expected more from this. even though i'm not a huge nora roberts fan, i've read a couple of her books, and i think others, like *montana sky* and the *born in...* trilogy, were much better written. for one thing, i had the biggest problem getting the characters straight in this book. Roberts should work on developing her characters more and giving each one their own personality. Major characters were developed as much as minor characters were. It would make distinguishing each character much easier. Tucker and Caroline were basically molds that weren't filled up with nearly enough emotion, personality or character traits. Furthermore, Roberts doesn't develop the plots and twists in this novel as well as she does in her others. Caroline's parents were mentioned in bits and pieces, and with the influence they had in her career, one would think that her parents would play a bigger role in the novel. However, it is as if they don't exist after the first introduction of them. Also, her career is not mentioned at all regardless of its impact on her life prior to the time of this story. As for Tucker, there's nothing even hinting at his feelings beyond lust towards Caroline. We never see that transition from lust to "something more." Overall, you'd be much better off reading another of Roberts' novels, like *Montana sky*.
Rating:
Summary: A Goodie
Review: A great read from Nora Roberts. This story was anything but sleepy (like the town Innocence). When Caroline comes to town, she doesn't know that there is a seriel killet on the loose. The suspense and action was great keeping me turning the pages eagerly, and giving me a GREAT surprise at the end of the story. The plot and sub-plots where nicely interwined so that story was more than about just Caro & Tucker. There relationship developed nicely with a nice sensitive touch to it. You got to know the other characters nicely, without owerpowering the main story. I enjoyed the setting of this book as much as the story. This is the second book I have read from NR set in the south (Carolina Moon) and now have a wonderful visual picture of the area, despite not living in the US. I am looking forward to reading more of your books Nora.
Rating:
Summary: Murder, Romance & Southern Hospitality!
Review: In a hurry, I picked up "Carnal Innocence" for a light read on a long train trip. Not expecting much, (maybe it was the title?), I was surprised to find this Nora Roberts' novel very entertaining. Carolyn Waverly, a world-class concert violinist takes a much needed break from her high pressured tours and a romance gone sour. She visits her deceased grandparents' home in Innocence, Mississippi, hoping to find the tranquillity she experienced there as a child. As she begins to settle-in and get to know the friendly locals, a murder victim is found on her property - the third victim in a series of serial killings. Apparently the town's most attractive women are being targeted for death. The sheriff and FBI do not know if the murderer is a stranger lurking in the bayou or a lifelong inhabitant of Innocence. To complicate matters for the lovely Caroline, her new beau, (he works fast!), the irresistibly charming, handsome, Tucker Longstreet, is a suspect. There are a few surprises in the plot and Ms. Roberts' characters are wonderful. Caroline Waverly, who has lead a lonely life on the road, with constant concert tours, is immediately taken into the bosom of the townsfolk. Many remember her as a child and begin to treat her like extended family. The southern warmth and hospitality, along with some local history and characters' foibles, liven up the novel as much as the mystery and romance. A fun, light read - perfect for long train or plane trips!
JANA
Rating:
Summary: A real page-turner!
Review: Nora weaves her magic spell again with this novel. I was hooked with the first paragraph and didn't put it down until I read the last paragraph. I really felt for Caroline, but it took a while to warm up to Tucker. I'm usually very good at guessing "who-dunnit" but this one surprised me! A keeper.
Rating: 
Summary: Hey Jethro, stop doing that in the SEEment pond!
Review: .... ... I like a sexy murder mystery as much as anyone (on the other hand, I guess not), but I kept doing double takes as I kept going through the book. I found I was reading a story about a bunch of characters that make "Hee Haw" and "The Dukes of Hazzard" look like high-brow art. Every woman has two first names, everybody carries a gun, everybody has a Jack Daniels intravenous tube attached. You would think there would be no place to move around in Mississippi, as everyone's activities during all their waking hours are enough to populate every square inch of the state. I was doing the double takes because at first I thought it was a satire. I like the stories of Carl Hiassen, who writes about characters like this all the time, but with a devilish style that lets you in on the joke. But no such tone here, as this is meant to be a serious novel. I always liked the works of Southern authors like Pat Conroy and Carl Hiassen, and thought the people they wrote about were representations of that area of the country. Reading this book, one does indeed get the impression that all the women down there DO have two first names, everyone DOES carry a gun, the corn likker comes out of the drinking fountains, and the folks make the mating habits of rabbits look downright reserved! Forgive me if this book brings out my cynical streak.
Rating:
Summary: Eh.
Review: This book was pretty good. It didn't really fully satisfy any one genre, however. . .if you're looking for a mystery you'll be left feeling unsatisfied, and if you're looking for a romance novel it also comes up short. Visually, Roberts does an excellent job of setting up characters and settings, but the characters, while likable, seem an unlikely match and I found myself never truly rooting too strongly for either of them.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite!
Review: This is the best Nora Roberts book! I loved the characters! Tucker with his laid back, sexy charm who was a whole lot more substantial than he seemed! Caroline who had been mistreated by the ones she loved but still managed to show a solid strength and independence. And the humour! The funeral scene had me in stitches! Great suspense and an unexpected ending twist!!
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