In this episode, we review “Remember When.” As we’ve said before, this books was meant to be a “cross pollinator” for Nora Roberts fans to possibly bring them to the Dark Side of J.D. Robb.

The book is split into two sections…the first being the Nora Roberts story, and the second being the J.D. Robb Story. Later, these would be broken up into two paperbacks: “Hot Rocks” and “Big Jack.” This was a huge controversy at the time because people ended up buying the paperbacks thinking they were new, but they were not.

Anyway…

The story starts out with Laine Tavish who is the daughter of a con man and thief, “Big” Jack O’Hara. She’s made a new life for herself with a new name and now owns an antique store. Her father’s old partner, Willy, walks into the store and says he needs to speak with her immediately. Laine does not recognize him. He leaves his phone number and leaves, then immediately gets hit by a car. Laine runs out to help Willy, and then realizes who he is. Willy tells her to “Hide the pooch.” Then he dies.

Later, an insurance investigator, Max Gannon comes to town. He has been following Willy because Willy and Jack O’Hara have pulled off a diamond heist, and Max is working to get the diamonds back. He and Laine become involved (after less than a day) and then work together to recover the diamonds.

We all generally love this story. It moves pretty quickly for a typical Nora romance, but we’re here for it. We absolutely love all the characters, especially Laine’s best friend Jenny and her husband, Chief of Police Vince Berger.

The second part of the story is 50 years in the future. Laine and Max’s granddaughter, Samantha Gannon, has written a book all about the story of her grandparents and the diamonds. She comes home after a book tour, and finds that her friend, Andrea who was housesitting for her, is dead in her home. Eve is called in to investigate that murder.