No Regrets

September 29, 1997
Ben Whalen, who looks like a younger Harrison Ford, and Maggie Spencer, who looks like "Michelle Pfeiffer at her most vulnerable," meet at her father's funeral. Like other heroes of his kind, Ben is an ex-cop who has the requisite battle scars, facial and emotional: several years earlier, someone raped and killed his pregnant wife. Now, he is an insurance investigator sent to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to find out if Maggie's father's death was accidental. Someone, it appears, is out to kill the now middle-aged members of a group of college boys once called the Sexy Six. As Ben and Maggie fall in love, they search for the killer. As usual, the villain is a psychiatrically challenged serial killer who lurks in the shadows spying on the hero and heroine and has a series of whacked-out, italicized monologues. Ben's scars, and the killer's, are supposed to add depth and interest to their characters, but most readers will find them tiresomely familiar.

April 1, 2015
As Sorensen continues the Nova series, Quinton is living in Seattle, finally sober, and trying to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. Nova is worlds away, continuing with school and playing drums in her band. These star-crossed lovers have faced suicide, death, drug addiction, and a crushing separation, but they haven't lost the feelings they have for each other. Quinton knows that Nova saved him, but he isn't sure if he is ready to see her. Slowly, the two begin to rebuild their relationship as friends. By texting and talking on the phone, they become closer than they ever have been, but Quinton is filled with guilt. When tragedy strikes Nova yet again, it is his turn to be her rock, if only he can find the strength. This is a slow-paced novel with ample character and relationship development occurring almost exclusively within texts and phone calls. Sorensen delivers an emotional chapter in this powerful series about personal tragedy and overcoming drug addiction.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)