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Come Sundown
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Best Romance (2017)Love. Lies. Murder. A lot can happen... COME SUNDOWN
Bodine Longbow loves to rise with the dawn. As the manager of her family's resort in Western Montana, there just aren't enough hours in the day - for life, for work, for loved ones. She certainly doesn't have time for love, not even in the gorgeous shape of her childhood crush Callen Skinner, all grown up and returned to the ranch. Then again, maybe Callen can change her mind, given time...
But when a young woman's body is discovered on resort land, everything changes. Callen falls under the suspicion of a deputy sheriff with a grudge. And for Bodine's family, the murder is a shocking reminder of an old loss. Twenty-five years ago, Bodine's Aunt Alice vanished, never to be heard of again. Could this new tragedy be connected to Alice's mysterious disappearance?
As events take a dramatic and deadly turn, Bodine and Callen must race to uncover the truth - before the sun sets on their future together.
480 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 30, 2017
About the author
Nora Roberts
1,786 books55k followersNora Roberts is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of more than 200 novels, including Hideaway, Under Currents, Come Sundown, The Awakening, Legacy, and coming in November 2021 -- The Becoming -- the second book in The Dragon Heart Legacy. She is also the author of the futuristic suspense In Death series written under the pen name J.D. Robb. There are more than 500 million copies of her books in print.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,656 reviews
May 6, 2017
I finally popped my Nora Roberts cherry! :) I'm not sure why it's taken me so many years to pick up one of her books, but I'm sure glad I won this one, otherwise I may never have gotten around to reading it. Come Sundown is a perfect way to ease into her books; it's a standalone, so no worrying about committing to a series with 92 entries to date, and it is completely captivating with a fast pace alongside a dark, mysterious overtone. The thing that set this book apart from others of romantic suspense was the life she breathed into these deep, realistic characters. Roberts clearly knows how to produce a novel that is full of everything you want in domestic suspense, but her characters are what stole the show in my humble opinion. There were a few spots that felt a little fluffed up and I felt maybe 50 pages or so could have been shaved off, but otherwise this was a near perfect read. Highly recommended for fans of romantic suspense that don't want to sacrifice on characterization!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via Goodreads Giveaway!
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my copy via Goodreads Giveaway!
March 4, 2019
My reaction to this book is very mixed. On one hand I could be really immersed in the story line of Alice and on the other hand I would get really bored by the day to day minutia of running the Bodine Resort. Still sorting out my thoughts...
Even though it was dark, I really liked the story line of Alice and that's the part of the story that I was really pulled into.
The trilogy aspect of NR gets old but I did like each of the characters within the 3 couples. I agree with a couple of other readers that a little more development around them would have been good. Each of the three romances were fairly tepid and there wasn't really any conflict to create interest around. I think I would have preferred more about the characters and less on the day to day running of the resort. The resort itself was only a backdrop to the plot so the pages and pages on running it didn't seem necessary.
And the killer and the relationship was way too easy to figure out. And since it was so obvious, I almost would have preferred seeing more of his story so that he would have been more fleshed out.
February 25, 2019
I'm mostly writing this review to remind myself that I have tried to read this book twice now and keep putting it down. I need to give it up, man. It's not happening between me and this book.
Why? It's depressing, and then boring, and then depressing again. If I wanted to experience something like that, I would go bathing suit shopping, then toaster shopping, and then bathing suit shopping again. And, I don't want to do that. I really don't want to do that.
The struggle is real.
So, what do I mean? Okay, the book goes back and forth between the everyday life of a very unlikable, bland character, and the story of another woman who was kidnapped and lives in captivity. So, one chapter has our main character, who, by the way, has the stupid name syndrome: Bodine Longbow, going to meetings, hiring a waiter, and reheating her dinner in the oven. *shoot me now* Then, we have a chapter of some poor girl being repeatedly raped, beaten, and tortured. It's horrible. Followed by a chapter of Bodine riding her horse around.
Just getting ready for the next chapter....
Yeah, so, I decided that maybe this book isn't exactly what my psychiatrist meant when he said to take it easy and learn a new hobby. I mean, sure, that knot-tying lesson was instructional, but I might try painting instead next time. Happy little trees, here I come!
Why? It's depressing, and then boring, and then depressing again. If I wanted to experience something like that, I would go bathing suit shopping, then toaster shopping, and then bathing suit shopping again. And, I don't want to do that. I really don't want to do that.
The struggle is real.
So, what do I mean? Okay, the book goes back and forth between the everyday life of a very unlikable, bland character, and the story of another woman who was kidnapped and lives in captivity. So, one chapter has our main character, who, by the way, has the stupid name syndrome: Bodine Longbow, going to meetings, hiring a waiter, and reheating her dinner in the oven. *shoot me now* Then, we have a chapter of some poor girl being repeatedly raped, beaten, and tortured. It's horrible. Followed by a chapter of Bodine riding her horse around.
Just getting ready for the next chapter....
Yeah, so, I decided that maybe this book isn't exactly what my psychiatrist meant when he said to take it easy and learn a new hobby. I mean, sure, that knot-tying lesson was instructional, but I might try painting instead next time. Happy little trees, here I come!
September 15, 2019
This path has already been heavily tread
*sigh*
This is a Nora Roberts, so of course I bought and read it—or tried to. Many people I’m sure do the same, and that’s why Roberts can afford to toss out this kind of crap. Brand recognition is priceless in marketing.
Roberts wrote this story years ago, except it was titled Montana Sky, and it was so much better.
Let me tell you what happened the first quarter—or “part” as Roberts likes to section it unnecessarily. We jump back and forth from past to present between a young woman who was abducted and forced to experience unspeakable horrors—I mean, been there, done that, in Roberts’ books alone—and the heroine, who does the most truly fascinating thing I’ve ever read—she goes through her morning routine, then goes to work, puts together agendas, and attends meetings.
Yeah. Seriously.
This book was so boring that at one point, maybe about a third of the way through, I got sick of spacing off and having to reread passages that I just shook my head and started flipping through pages, trying to find something exciting or even just interesting. So many scenes were irrelevant to any plot, whether it was the thriller or the romances. Some scenes were fluffy bits of nonsense with one important line thrown in. What a tangled, tedious mess of tones and points of view. Just a mess.
I knew Bo and Cal were supposed to be the main characters, but honestly, this wasn’t their book. If it was anyone’s, it was Alice’s, though we got to spend time with just about everyone, which annoyed the crap out of me. There was no focus. The book wanted to be too many things at once, and ultimately didn’t manage any of them. I didn’t care about the characters. Cal’s horse, Sundown, had more personality than he and Bo combined. And “Bodine Longbow”? Really? Did Roberts find a name generator website, select the categories of ‘hick’ and ‘western,’ and go with the first random name it threw at her? She’s used the name Bodine in at least two other books (Carolina Moon and Born in Shame, though in the former it was spelled “Bodeen”).
(Apologies to anyone named Bodine Longbow.)
It was just such a retread of many of Roberts' books. The Bodine name, a ranch in Montana, all the siblings in the same family falling in love at the same time, a religious fanatic villain who takes the Bible literally, a not-so-unexpected family connection to the villain (I suspected him the moment I met him), and an obvious misdirect. There was even a wedding and the planning thereof. It's not identical to Montana Sky or any other book, but it's far too similar for its own good.
So yeah, I didn’t read the whole thing; I just read the parts that included Alice, because she was the most interesting character out of the lot, the only one with an arc. And honestly, I don’t feel I missed anything.
To be fair, though, the writing style was pretty good, even if the story crafted in that style was crap. Roberts is exceptionally talented—if only she would write a story that isn’t a waste of her time and ours. If I had any complaints about the writing itself, it would be that there wasn’t enough action or physical description with dialogue, like mannerisms or facial expressions. We were largely left to assume the tone implied, and sometimes I had to stop and puzzle over the nuances within a conversation. If you aren’t accustomed to how Roberts speaks/writes, you might get confused.
noapologybookreviews.com
keeneyeediting.com
*sigh*
This is a Nora Roberts, so of course I bought and read it—or tried to. Many people I’m sure do the same, and that’s why Roberts can afford to toss out this kind of crap. Brand recognition is priceless in marketing.
Roberts wrote this story years ago, except it was titled Montana Sky, and it was so much better.
Let me tell you what happened the first quarter—or “part” as Roberts likes to section it unnecessarily. We jump back and forth from past to present between a young woman who was abducted and forced to experience unspeakable horrors—I mean, been there, done that, in Roberts’ books alone—and the heroine, who does the most truly fascinating thing I’ve ever read—she goes through her morning routine, then goes to work, puts together agendas, and attends meetings.
Yeah. Seriously.
This book was so boring that at one point, maybe about a third of the way through, I got sick of spacing off and having to reread passages that I just shook my head and started flipping through pages, trying to find something exciting or even just interesting. So many scenes were irrelevant to any plot, whether it was the thriller or the romances. Some scenes were fluffy bits of nonsense with one important line thrown in. What a tangled, tedious mess of tones and points of view. Just a mess.
I knew Bo and Cal were supposed to be the main characters, but honestly, this wasn’t their book. If it was anyone’s, it was Alice’s, though we got to spend time with just about everyone, which annoyed the crap out of me. There was no focus. The book wanted to be too many things at once, and ultimately didn’t manage any of them. I didn’t care about the characters. Cal’s horse, Sundown, had more personality than he and Bo combined. And “Bodine Longbow”? Really? Did Roberts find a name generator website, select the categories of ‘hick’ and ‘western,’ and go with the first random name it threw at her? She’s used the name Bodine in at least two other books (Carolina Moon and Born in Shame, though in the former it was spelled “Bodeen”).
(Apologies to anyone named Bodine Longbow.)
It was just such a retread of many of Roberts' books. The Bodine name, a ranch in Montana, all the siblings in the same family falling in love at the same time, a religious fanatic villain who takes the Bible literally, a not-so-unexpected family connection to the villain (I suspected him the moment I met him), and an obvious misdirect. There was even a wedding and the planning thereof. It's not identical to Montana Sky or any other book, but it's far too similar for its own good.
So yeah, I didn’t read the whole thing; I just read the parts that included Alice, because she was the most interesting character out of the lot, the only one with an arc. And honestly, I don’t feel I missed anything.
To be fair, though, the writing style was pretty good, even if the story crafted in that style was crap. Roberts is exceptionally talented—if only she would write a story that isn’t a waste of her time and ours. If I had any complaints about the writing itself, it would be that there wasn’t enough action or physical description with dialogue, like mannerisms or facial expressions. We were largely left to assume the tone implied, and sometimes I had to stop and puzzle over the nuances within a conversation. If you aren’t accustomed to how Roberts speaks/writes, you might get confused.
noapologybookreviews.com
keeneyeediting.com
June 18, 2017
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
I listened to this story without reading the book blurb and highly recommend doing it this way as I think too much is revealed in the setup. It's enough to know that this story involves the Bodine family of Western Montana, which includes four generations of women. The main character is Bodine Longbow, the youngest who runs the family's high-end resort. Her older brother runs the adjacent family ranch. Her childhood crush, Callen (Cal) Skinner returns back to the area following a stint in Hollywood and begins working for the family.
The span of the story begins in 1991 and transitions to the present day for the first half of the book. It begins with the 1991 disappearance of Alice Bodine, Bodine's maternal aunt. It is a terrifying event and readers should be forewarned that there is a sexual assault though not graphic. In the present day, the bodies of two young women are discovered right around the time Cal returns so suspicion is cast his way. Therein lies the main conflict of the story.
This was more of a mystery than suspense as I was challenged to figure out how the past influences the present, which I found more compelling. Even though my main hypothesis was correct, there were still some details I didn't get right. And, the characters were so well developed, typical of a Nora Roberts story, my early discovery didn't lessen my pleasure. The romances (there were a couple) took a back seat to the mystery element but were pleasant enough, also fine by me.
What I found outstanding was the narration. This was my first time listening to Elisabeth Rodgers and I was extremely pleased. There were a LOT of characters, accents and ages she had to accommodate and I always knew who was talking. The voices of the primary characters were so distinctive and consistent. Well done!
I liked this story and decided some time ago that I'd only listen to Nora's single titles, which are all romantic suspense. Best decision I ever made as her narrators are always really, really good and elevate the reading experience. That was definitely the case with this story, one that I very much enjoyed.
I listened to this story without reading the book blurb and highly recommend doing it this way as I think too much is revealed in the setup. It's enough to know that this story involves the Bodine family of Western Montana, which includes four generations of women. The main character is Bodine Longbow, the youngest who runs the family's high-end resort. Her older brother runs the adjacent family ranch. Her childhood crush, Callen (Cal) Skinner returns back to the area following a stint in Hollywood and begins working for the family.
The span of the story begins in 1991 and transitions to the present day for the first half of the book. It begins with the 1991 disappearance of Alice Bodine, Bodine's maternal aunt. It is a terrifying event and readers should be forewarned that there is a sexual assault though not graphic. In the present day, the bodies of two young women are discovered right around the time Cal returns so suspicion is cast his way. Therein lies the main conflict of the story.
This was more of a mystery than suspense as I was challenged to figure out how the past influences the present, which I found more compelling. Even though my main hypothesis was correct, there were still some details I didn't get right. And, the characters were so well developed, typical of a Nora Roberts story, my early discovery didn't lessen my pleasure. The romances (there were a couple) took a back seat to the mystery element but were pleasant enough, also fine by me.
What I found outstanding was the narration. This was my first time listening to Elisabeth Rodgers and I was extremely pleased. There were a LOT of characters, accents and ages she had to accommodate and I always knew who was talking. The voices of the primary characters were so distinctive and consistent. Well done!
I liked this story and decided some time ago that I'd only listen to Nora's single titles, which are all romantic suspense. Best decision I ever made as her narrators are always really, really good and elevate the reading experience. That was definitely the case with this story, one that I very much enjoyed.
May 30, 2017
*Reviewed at Cross My Heart Writings and Reviews
**Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.
Come Sundown is a powerful, compelling story showcasing the healing power of love and the amazing ability of the human soul and spirit to survive and recover from unimaginable, mind altering pain and sadistic evil. It’s also the story of family doing what family does . . . loving unconditionally, making and cherishing memories, surviving loss and pain, building a future on hopes and dreams. Nora Roberts is a master at writing about close-knit families bound by strong emotional ties whether related by blood, friendship, or romance, and we see that once again in this book. Four generations of Bodine women, working together with the heart, gut, and grit of the pioneer women who first came west, lay the foundation for this story. A strong, rich support cast including family, friends, and co-workers cements this epic saga of perseverance and triumph, with the added bonus of a friends to lovers romance (times 3).
Two stories play out in Come Sundown with one revealed through a series of flashbacks up until the point where the stories and timelines merge. Two stories - One family - A span of twenty-five years. The stories become one later in the book when prayers are finally answered, but is it too little, too late? Alice Bodine was only eighteen the night she slipped away from home heading toward California. After brief, spotty correspondence, she vanished like a ghost in the night and was later presumed dead. But readers know that after three long years away, a weary, homesick Alice was homeward bound toting a backpack full of broken dreams when she made a fatal mistake. Now she fears she'll never go home again as there's no escape route from hell.
I won't reveal any spoilers, but I have to say that Alice's story was the big draw for me in Come Sundown. Brilliantly written, her plight is what takes this story to another level as it unfolds in tragic bits and pieces - so horrific, so raw and graphic, so physically and mentally devastating that it left me reeling time and time again. Roberts's villains are often sadistically evil and cruel and this one is no exception, ranking high on the depraved, psychotic killer list. The theme of nature vs. nurture often used by this author is prevalent as true identities are revealed near the end.
After the opening flashback introducing Alice and cueing readers into her fate, the story moves to the present where we meet Bodine Longbow who runs the upscale Bodine Resort and her brothers who operate the Bodine Ranch - both offering guests an exclusive western cowboy experience. This part of the story moved a little slow for me as it centers on the day to day operations while introducing readers to all the players. It took me awhile to settle in and feel the connection between Bodine and Callen (her childhood crush and now love interest) who has returned home to work at Bodine Ranch. The pace is slow and easy as the couple flirts around each other, exploring the sparks flying between them while figuring out where they're headed in the future. The discovery of two brutally murdered women raises the stakes and intensity as the town now knows there's a serial killer in their midst. From this point forward, I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages trying to figure out the "who" and "why". And after a connection is made to Alice - I couldn't put the book down.
Come Sundown is a heart-wrenching story of devastating loss and unbearable pain, but at the same time it's a story of hope, perseverance, unlimited love and faith and like the awe-inspiring sundown that appears again and again - the promise of another day.�� The vast western Montana landscape, rich in gorgeous sunsets and cold, snowy winters adds a beautiful yet harsh element vital to this story. Like a curvy backroad, Come Sundown unfolds through a series of twists and bends before ending on a shocking reveal that I didn't see coming. Another intense, spellbinding Romance/Suspense story by Nora Roberts. A Must Read!
**Many thanks to St. Martin's Press for an arc of this book.
Come Sundown is a powerful, compelling story showcasing the healing power of love and the amazing ability of the human soul and spirit to survive and recover from unimaginable, mind altering pain and sadistic evil. It’s also the story of family doing what family does . . . loving unconditionally, making and cherishing memories, surviving loss and pain, building a future on hopes and dreams. Nora Roberts is a master at writing about close-knit families bound by strong emotional ties whether related by blood, friendship, or romance, and we see that once again in this book. Four generations of Bodine women, working together with the heart, gut, and grit of the pioneer women who first came west, lay the foundation for this story. A strong, rich support cast including family, friends, and co-workers cements this epic saga of perseverance and triumph, with the added bonus of a friends to lovers romance (times 3).
Two stories play out in Come Sundown with one revealed through a series of flashbacks up until the point where the stories and timelines merge. Two stories - One family - A span of twenty-five years. The stories become one later in the book when prayers are finally answered, but is it too little, too late? Alice Bodine was only eighteen the night she slipped away from home heading toward California. After brief, spotty correspondence, she vanished like a ghost in the night and was later presumed dead. But readers know that after three long years away, a weary, homesick Alice was homeward bound toting a backpack full of broken dreams when she made a fatal mistake. Now she fears she'll never go home again as there's no escape route from hell.
I won't reveal any spoilers, but I have to say that Alice's story was the big draw for me in Come Sundown. Brilliantly written, her plight is what takes this story to another level as it unfolds in tragic bits and pieces - so horrific, so raw and graphic, so physically and mentally devastating that it left me reeling time and time again. Roberts's villains are often sadistically evil and cruel and this one is no exception, ranking high on the depraved, psychotic killer list. The theme of nature vs. nurture often used by this author is prevalent as true identities are revealed near the end.
After the opening flashback introducing Alice and cueing readers into her fate, the story moves to the present where we meet Bodine Longbow who runs the upscale Bodine Resort and her brothers who operate the Bodine Ranch - both offering guests an exclusive western cowboy experience. This part of the story moved a little slow for me as it centers on the day to day operations while introducing readers to all the players. It took me awhile to settle in and feel the connection between Bodine and Callen (her childhood crush and now love interest) who has returned home to work at Bodine Ranch. The pace is slow and easy as the couple flirts around each other, exploring the sparks flying between them while figuring out where they're headed in the future. The discovery of two brutally murdered women raises the stakes and intensity as the town now knows there's a serial killer in their midst. From this point forward, I was on the edge of my seat, flipping pages trying to figure out the "who" and "why". And after a connection is made to Alice - I couldn't put the book down.
Come Sundown is a heart-wrenching story of devastating loss and unbearable pain, but at the same time it's a story of hope, perseverance, unlimited love and faith and like the awe-inspiring sundown that appears again and again - the promise of another day.�� The vast western Montana landscape, rich in gorgeous sunsets and cold, snowy winters adds a beautiful yet harsh element vital to this story. Like a curvy backroad, Come Sundown unfolds through a series of twists and bends before ending on a shocking reveal that I didn't see coming. Another intense, spellbinding Romance/Suspense story by Nora Roberts. A Must Read!
May 31, 2017
Full review now posted!
This review and more can be found on Booknest.
For years, Nora Roberts has been my feel-good author. If I’m sick or depressed or just stressed, she’s my go-to fiction author. She’s my literary popcorn. Her books are a bubblebath for my brain. There’s something about her writing that just absorbs me from the first page, and her characters always feel like family. The work ethic of Nora Roberts astounds me. Every year, she puts out at least three (often four) new books. These are books that have never before been published. And no, she doesn’t have a team of writers working under her name. If a book says it’s written by Nora Roberts or her pen name, J.D. Robb, then she wrote it herself. And she’s not doing this for money; with over two hundred books published, the woman is set for life. No, she writes because it’s her passion, and I respect her immensely. Yes, her work is formulaic, but it’s supposed to be!! I don’t pick up her books to be surprised; I pick them up for their familiarity and the comfort that brings.
Okay, end my gush-session over Nora. On to this actual book!
Come Sundown is, like all of Nora’s books, a story with family at its core. Whether borne of blood or forged by friendship, family is always the central theme of Nora’s novels. This book takes place on the Bodine Ranch and Resort in the heart of Big Sky Country, otherwise known as Montana. Bodine Longbow is our female main character and manager of the resort side of her namesake. Callen Skinner, her brother’s best friend and her own childhood crush, has returned home after leaving at eighteen to make a name for himself in Hollywood. He’s the best horseman around, and owner of the most unique horse around, Sundown. This trick horse is more than just a horse to Cal; he’s Cal’s brother and friend. The relationship between the two is so sweet to read about, but the relationship between Cal and Bo is even more fun to watch blossom. As always, Nora is the queen of romance, and in this book we have one central romance, with two more budding romances on the periphery.
But as stated previously, the core of this book isn’t romance; it’s family. And this family has a skeleton in their closet, one that reasserts itself in a brutal and heartbreaking way as the story progresses. I won’t get into what this skeleton is, as it’s a central plot point that I don’t want to spoil, but it was harsh. I know terrible things happen in life, and that those terrible things can (and should) make their way into fiction. But at times, the experiences of one character were incredibly hard to read about. There should be a couple of trigger warnings with this book (especially for rape). But, though there were aspects of this book that were uncomfortably realistic, I knew that everything was going to be okay. The best part of Nora’s books are the happy endings, and this book definitely delivered that.
All in all, this was a great standalone offering from one of my favorite authors. It had romance and horse and gorgeous sunsets and family dinners filled with laughter. It had love conquering all and good triumphing over evil. If you’re in the market for a romance with a surprising amount of substance but a guaranteed happy ending, I highly recommend this book.
This review and more can be found on Booknest.
For years, Nora Roberts has been my feel-good author. If I’m sick or depressed or just stressed, she’s my go-to fiction author. She’s my literary popcorn. Her books are a bubblebath for my brain. There’s something about her writing that just absorbs me from the first page, and her characters always feel like family. The work ethic of Nora Roberts astounds me. Every year, she puts out at least three (often four) new books. These are books that have never before been published. And no, she doesn’t have a team of writers working under her name. If a book says it’s written by Nora Roberts or her pen name, J.D. Robb, then she wrote it herself. And she’s not doing this for money; with over two hundred books published, the woman is set for life. No, she writes because it’s her passion, and I respect her immensely. Yes, her work is formulaic, but it’s supposed to be!! I don’t pick up her books to be surprised; I pick them up for their familiarity and the comfort that brings.
Okay, end my gush-session over Nora. On to this actual book!
Come Sundown is, like all of Nora’s books, a story with family at its core. Whether borne of blood or forged by friendship, family is always the central theme of Nora’s novels. This book takes place on the Bodine Ranch and Resort in the heart of Big Sky Country, otherwise known as Montana. Bodine Longbow is our female main character and manager of the resort side of her namesake. Callen Skinner, her brother’s best friend and her own childhood crush, has returned home after leaving at eighteen to make a name for himself in Hollywood. He’s the best horseman around, and owner of the most unique horse around, Sundown. This trick horse is more than just a horse to Cal; he’s Cal’s brother and friend. The relationship between the two is so sweet to read about, but the relationship between Cal and Bo is even more fun to watch blossom. As always, Nora is the queen of romance, and in this book we have one central romance, with two more budding romances on the periphery.
But as stated previously, the core of this book isn’t romance; it’s family. And this family has a skeleton in their closet, one that reasserts itself in a brutal and heartbreaking way as the story progresses. I won’t get into what this skeleton is, as it’s a central plot point that I don’t want to spoil, but it was harsh. I know terrible things happen in life, and that those terrible things can (and should) make their way into fiction. But at times, the experiences of one character were incredibly hard to read about. There should be a couple of trigger warnings with this book (especially for rape). But, though there were aspects of this book that were uncomfortably realistic, I knew that everything was going to be okay. The best part of Nora’s books are the happy endings, and this book definitely delivered that.
All in all, this was a great standalone offering from one of my favorite authors. It had romance and horse and gorgeous sunsets and family dinners filled with laughter. It had love conquering all and good triumphing over evil. If you’re in the market for a romance with a surprising amount of substance but a guaranteed happy ending, I highly recommend this book.
June 9, 2024
I love Nora Robert's books. In this romantic suspense novel, Alice is returning home along a deserted road after having run away years before. When a stranger offers her a ride, she gets in his truck.
Twenty-five years later, Bodine runs the family ranch and commercial tourist properties. I loved the descriptions of horses and life in a rural part of Montana. Bodine and Callen, a friend of her brother’s, who she had a crush on way back when, may have a chance at romance now that they’re all grown up. But when women begin turning up dead on the side of the highway, it becomes clear danger lurks nearby. And is it connected to Alice’s disappearance?
I found the family piece of this well written as always. I confess that I was most interested to see how the suspense piece of the story would play out—that part of the story was riveting and well developed and well-paced. Information was offered up in dribs and drabs. No one could really be identified from one timeline to the next as they used different names and all of Alice/Esther’s babies were taken away (and presumably renamed.) Who is who in the present-day timeline? And who is “Sir”?
One or two things confused me. This was a multi-generational story with characters naming children after grandparents… understandable in real life, but at one point we had three separate characters named “Rory”, which admittedly left me confused. I guessed who one of the villains was early on, though Alice’s story was so captivating, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the novel. The suspense at the end was riveting!
Twenty-five years later, Bodine runs the family ranch and commercial tourist properties. I loved the descriptions of horses and life in a rural part of Montana. Bodine and Callen, a friend of her brother’s, who she had a crush on way back when, may have a chance at romance now that they’re all grown up. But when women begin turning up dead on the side of the highway, it becomes clear danger lurks nearby. And is it connected to Alice’s disappearance?
I found the family piece of this well written as always. I confess that I was most interested to see how the suspense piece of the story would play out—that part of the story was riveting and well developed and well-paced. Information was offered up in dribs and drabs. No one could really be identified from one timeline to the next as they used different names and all of Alice/Esther’s babies were taken away (and presumably renamed.) Who is who in the present-day timeline? And who is “Sir”?
One or two things confused me. This was a multi-generational story with characters naming children after grandparents… understandable in real life, but at one point we had three separate characters named “Rory”, which admittedly left me confused. I guessed who one of the villains was early on, though Alice’s story was so captivating, it didn’t spoil my enjoyment of the novel. The suspense at the end was riveting!
February 27, 2023
Every year I'm waiting impatiently for the the standalone hardcover by Nora Roberts. Every year the topic delves into something new and different. This author excels at researching new themes to such a depth that I finish the book with a sense of accomplishment and enrichment.
Some of these books have been all time favorite novels and have earned a spot on my keeper shelf, others have been wonderfully entertaining - but every single one of them stood out because of the authors impeccable writing and unsurpassed storytelling.
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts was no exception.
This time the author took her novel to a Montana Dude Ranch/Resort. I've always wanted to go and spend a week at a Dude Ranch, so the topic couldn't have been more perfect for me.
As it has been with many of her other books, the suspense kept me guessing until the very end. She has a talent of keeping the tension high and me on the edge of my seat. But the suspense alone wasn't what kept me turning the pages like crazy. Come Sundown had an overflowing amount of fantastic characters. From close family to friends, employees and most of all an incredibly smart and well trained horse - the characters were the gems in this book. All of them were fantastic and lovable personalities that enriched my reading experience and left me wanting more. And even though the novel was 466 pages long, time flew by and I never once felt bored or wished it to be over - rather the opposite.
The only thing I would have changed was the amount of time that Bodine and Callen spent together - it wasn't enough for my taste. Because of the all encompassing storyline that spanned generations, and truly had the feel of a saga, their relationship felt almost like an afterthought. I needed more Bo and Cal.
That was especially hard to swallow since I truly enjoyed both Bodine and Callen. Bodine was an incredibly strong woman. She ran the family resort with efficiency, dedication and devotion. I was in AWE!!!
And Callen was awesome in a very understated way. I loved his silent but strong demeanor and found his confidence sexy and incredibly attractive. And his way of standing behind a strong woman and supporting her in every way was unbelievably HOT!!!!
Add a truly amazing and spellbinding storyline and Come Sundown easily kept me glued to the pages and I had a hard time putting it down.
But that's something that can be expected from a Nora Roberts novel. She is one of the only authors I can rely on to deliver thrilling and captivating novels again and again.
Some of these books have been all time favorite novels and have earned a spot on my keeper shelf, others have been wonderfully entertaining - but every single one of them stood out because of the authors impeccable writing and unsurpassed storytelling.
Come Sundown by Nora Roberts was no exception.
This time the author took her novel to a Montana Dude Ranch/Resort. I've always wanted to go and spend a week at a Dude Ranch, so the topic couldn't have been more perfect for me.
As it has been with many of her other books, the suspense kept me guessing until the very end. She has a talent of keeping the tension high and me on the edge of my seat. But the suspense alone wasn't what kept me turning the pages like crazy. Come Sundown had an overflowing amount of fantastic characters. From close family to friends, employees and most of all an incredibly smart and well trained horse - the characters were the gems in this book. All of them were fantastic and lovable personalities that enriched my reading experience and left me wanting more. And even though the novel was 466 pages long, time flew by and I never once felt bored or wished it to be over - rather the opposite.
The only thing I would have changed was the amount of time that Bodine and Callen spent together - it wasn't enough for my taste. Because of the all encompassing storyline that spanned generations, and truly had the feel of a saga, their relationship felt almost like an afterthought. I needed more Bo and Cal.
That was especially hard to swallow since I truly enjoyed both Bodine and Callen. Bodine was an incredibly strong woman. She ran the family resort with efficiency, dedication and devotion. I was in AWE!!!
And Callen was awesome in a very understated way. I loved his silent but strong demeanor and found his confidence sexy and incredibly attractive. And his way of standing behind a strong woman and supporting her in every way was unbelievably HOT!!!!
Add a truly amazing and spellbinding storyline and Come Sundown easily kept me glued to the pages and I had a hard time putting it down.
But that's something that can be expected from a Nora Roberts novel. She is one of the only authors I can rely on to deliver thrilling and captivating novels again and again.
April 29, 2018
Por fin mi primer libro de Nora Roberts. Con lo productiva que ha sido esta señora, y lo que he tardado en leerla...
Pues me ha gustado mucho. Su comienzo y la historia que se cuenta del pasado es muy potente, además de dura. Yo lo he pasado mal {la primera noche hasta soñé con el tema}, pero es tan dura que inmediatamente entras en la historia y la vives.
La parte actual es más "light", supongo que para compensar la del pasado, pero igualmente terminas encariñandote con algunos personajes. La "parejita" principal: agradable, moderna, pero sin más; de las que se olvidan.
¿Qué hace que te enganche tanto el libro? Además del ritmazo que impone la autora, LA TENSIÓN. He temido una y mil veces que pasasen determinadas cosas, menos mal que "la Roberts"se ha portado bien la mayoría de las veces. Imposible contar más, hay que leerlo.
Reseña en el blog: http://unablogueraeventual.com/al-ata...
Pues me ha gustado mucho. Su comienzo y la historia que se cuenta del pasado es muy potente, además de dura. Yo lo he pasado mal {la primera noche hasta soñé con el tema}, pero es tan dura que inmediatamente entras en la historia y la vives.
La parte actual es más "light", supongo que para compensar la del pasado, pero igualmente terminas encariñandote con algunos personajes. La "parejita" principal: agradable, moderna, pero sin más; de las que se olvidan.
¿Qué hace que te enganche tanto el libro? Además del ritmazo que impone la autora, LA TENSIÓN. He temido una y mil veces que pasasen determinadas cosas, menos mal que "la Roberts"se ha portado bien la mayoría de las veces. Imposible contar más, hay que leerlo.
Reseña en el blog: http://unablogueraeventual.com/al-ata...
June 4, 2017
I won an Advance Readers Copy of this book from the publisher, St. Martin's Press. Thank you!
Another wonderful Nora Roberts read! A suspenseful and intriguing saga involving twisted passions and based upon family ties.
Set in Montana on a ranch/resort owned by the Longbow/Bodine family this is the story of a family coming together to settle issues of the past and to protect their own when a madman is on the loose abducting women to become his wives.
In typical Nora Roberts fashion this romantic suspense will captivate you throughout.
Another wonderful Nora Roberts read! A suspenseful and intriguing saga involving twisted passions and based upon family ties.
Set in Montana on a ranch/resort owned by the Longbow/Bodine family this is the story of a family coming together to settle issues of the past and to protect their own when a madman is on the loose abducting women to become his wives.
In typical Nora Roberts fashion this romantic suspense will captivate you throughout.
November 21, 2017
I know I’m in the minority here but this book did not hold my interest. By 48% I should like it. I don’t care for either storyline and the one storyline is so disturbing, I just have to quit and move onto something else.
June 24, 2017
Nora Roberts’ books are like cookies made with Grandma’s recipe: sweet, satisfying, and positively foolproof. There is no more surefire pick-me-up or slump buster. Her books sell like hotcakes because she knows how to give people what they want, and she somehow manages to crank out more than one a year. I guess it’s no wonder she’s so good, with that much practice under her belt.
Come Sundown is the perfect escapist read, set on a Montana ranch and resort owned by the kind of family you wish you were a part of. Multiple generations live and work on the grounds, and everybody has a role that fits their nature perfectly. They’re joined by a handful of outsiders who quickly become like family as well. Sound like too much of a lovefest to be believable? Enter the second storyline: Aunt Alice left home years ago in a fit of teenage rebellion, but ends up being held captive by a kidnapping sadist just a few miles away from the family that alternately misses and resents her. The descriptions of Alice’s captivity and her treatment at the hands of her tormentor are hard to read (trigger warning for sure), but I could deal with it because I knew Roberts wouldn’t leave a girl hanging. That bastard would get what was coming to him, and I couldn’t wait to see it happen. In the meantime, there are delightful, gentlemanly cowboys to swoon over, the tough but feminine gals they fall for, and one very talented horse who steals the show.
This was my first time trying Nora Roberts in audio, and I highly recommend it, with one caveat: the family only has about three or four ideas as far as names for their children, and they just keep using those names over and over, generation after generation. Thus you get multiple characters (I counted at least three) named Rory, some characters for whom Bodine is a last name and another for whom it’s a first name, etc. It’s confusing, but if you focus up a little bit when each character is introduced, you’ll be fine.
As an aside, I never thought I’d find a barfight sexy, but Nora Roberts knows there’s something deeply attractive about righteous anger. Right on, girl.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
Come Sundown is the perfect escapist read, set on a Montana ranch and resort owned by the kind of family you wish you were a part of. Multiple generations live and work on the grounds, and everybody has a role that fits their nature perfectly. They’re joined by a handful of outsiders who quickly become like family as well. Sound like too much of a lovefest to be believable? Enter the second storyline: Aunt Alice left home years ago in a fit of teenage rebellion, but ends up being held captive by a kidnapping sadist just a few miles away from the family that alternately misses and resents her. The descriptions of Alice’s captivity and her treatment at the hands of her tormentor are hard to read (trigger warning for sure), but I could deal with it because I knew Roberts wouldn’t leave a girl hanging. That bastard would get what was coming to him, and I couldn’t wait to see it happen. In the meantime, there are delightful, gentlemanly cowboys to swoon over, the tough but feminine gals they fall for, and one very talented horse who steals the show.
This was my first time trying Nora Roberts in audio, and I highly recommend it, with one caveat: the family only has about three or four ideas as far as names for their children, and they just keep using those names over and over, generation after generation. Thus you get multiple characters (I counted at least three) named Rory, some characters for whom Bodine is a last name and another for whom it’s a first name, etc. It’s confusing, but if you focus up a little bit when each character is introduced, you’ll be fine.
As an aside, I never thought I’d find a barfight sexy, but Nora Roberts knows there’s something deeply attractive about righteous anger. Right on, girl.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
June 13, 2017
4.5 stars. All I can say is Nora Roberts does it again with Come Sundown. There is mystery and crime, strong women, a beautiful ranch and resort in Montana, family and friends, romance - all of which combine into making a downright good read.
Bodine - the heroine is a strong, feisty woman and boss, she runs the resort side of the family business really well. She comes from a strong line of women - there's Miss Fancy her great grandmother of 89 years, Cora her grandmother and Maureen her mother. And don't think Miss Fancy sits all day in a rocking chair, don't offend her with that. She can still ride out when she wants over the ranch. One of the laughs I got from this book was a tee shirt she turned out in one time with a really apt and clever slogan on the front. Not going to spoil it for you though, you just need to come across it.
There is darkness in this novel, Bodine's Aunt Alice went missing, she was a little of the black sheep of the family and had left home to do her thing. However she is taken hostage by a very bad guy and lost to the family. Bodine and her two brothers have never met her or seen her. At times we get the viewpoint of this evil, ugly man and for some that could be off putting. But so far one thing I can say is, Nora Roberts never lets the bad guy win - so hang in there.
These dark spots are juxtaposed against family, life on the ranch and resort. Family bonds are so strong and when Callen rides in on his amazing horse life gets even better. He is a long time friend of Bodine's brother Chase, returning to his place of birth after time in Hollywood training horses. Soon he is very much involved in life on the ranch and resort. And dang it. That horse of his, there is something magical about it.
I love the title of this book and how it relates to the story, won't give it away, but its perfect. At times during the reading I shied away from the ugly, caught my breath at the very emotional points and chuckled at some of the humour that sprang out in places.
Bodine - the heroine is a strong, feisty woman and boss, she runs the resort side of the family business really well. She comes from a strong line of women - there's Miss Fancy her great grandmother of 89 years, Cora her grandmother and Maureen her mother. And don't think Miss Fancy sits all day in a rocking chair, don't offend her with that. She can still ride out when she wants over the ranch. One of the laughs I got from this book was a tee shirt she turned out in one time with a really apt and clever slogan on the front. Not going to spoil it for you though, you just need to come across it.
There is darkness in this novel, Bodine's Aunt Alice went missing, she was a little of the black sheep of the family and had left home to do her thing. However she is taken hostage by a very bad guy and lost to the family. Bodine and her two brothers have never met her or seen her. At times we get the viewpoint of this evil, ugly man and for some that could be off putting. But so far one thing I can say is, Nora Roberts never lets the bad guy win - so hang in there.
These dark spots are juxtaposed against family, life on the ranch and resort. Family bonds are so strong and when Callen rides in on his amazing horse life gets even better. He is a long time friend of Bodine's brother Chase, returning to his place of birth after time in Hollywood training horses. Soon he is very much involved in life on the ranch and resort. And dang it. That horse of his, there is something magical about it.
I love the title of this book and how it relates to the story, won't give it away, but its perfect. At times during the reading I shied away from the ugly, caught my breath at the very emotional points and chuckled at some of the humour that sprang out in places.
December 3, 2017
So intriguing! It was a bit slow at first but once you warm up to the characters and the plot, you get pulled right into it. My grandmother gave me a ton of Danielle Steel and Nora Roberts books so I figured I would get to reading them this weekend. This was the first of the box I got so here's hoping I continue to like them as much as this one!
Overall, slow burn with some fiery characters, mystery, and action!
Overall, slow burn with some fiery characters, mystery, and action!
June 14, 2017
A bit muddled with a lot of characters to keep track of, but little desire to do so, if I'm honest.
I was far more interested in the side story about the aunt, Alice, who had been taken over twenty years earlier, beaten, raped, and held against her will. I kept wanting to skip Bodine's story and get back to Alice.
All in all, for me, this wasn't one of Roberts' better stories. I don't see this getting a re-read at any point.
I was far more interested in the side story about the aunt, Alice, who had been taken over twenty years earlier, beaten, raped, and held against her will. I kept wanting to skip Bodine's story and get back to Alice.
All in all, for me, this wasn't one of Roberts' better stories. I don't see this getting a re-read at any point.
May 8, 2017
Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author, Nora Roberts and Publisher, St. Martin's Press, in exchange for an fair and honest review.
I have always loved the romantic-suspense books by Nora Roberts and I don't expect anything but the best from "Come Sundown". With her new publisher, NR is finally getting the kind of treatment that the Queen of Romantic-Suspense deserves. St. Martin's Press is going all out to insure that this book has to best launch possible, something that was sadly lacking from her last publisher. This is not your usual NR romantic-suspense there are some very heavy Women's Fiction subjects in this one. If you are expecting a hot, torrid romance with edge of your seat suspense, this isn’t that book. Come Sundown is a sweet romance and slow suspense makes for a low-key romantic-suspense. NR is a superb writer and she shows her chops with the slow building and merging of her story lines, her character development and how she can make you feel like you are right there in the place with her.
The story begins with the abduction of Alice Bodine in 1991 as she makes her way home after running away from the Bodine Ranch in Montana three years before. What happens to her is the stuff of nightmares. Her story is told interspersed with what is happening currently at the Bodine Ranch and the Bodine Resort.
The Bodine-Longbow family is wonderful, loving and strong. They have survived and thrived in the wide open spaces of Montana and built a world class ranch and resort. The whole family takes part in the operation, Bodine runs the resort, and her life, with military precision. Riding back into her life is Callen “Cal”Skinner on his wonderful horse, Sundown. Bodine had her first teen crush on Cal. Now she is his boss.
Bodine is a kick-a** heroine who doesn’t suffer fools or Cal at all:
“When he walked out, Bodine snatched the coffee off the table, dumped it down the sink “Male, dick-measuring, ball-swinging, chest-puffing bullshit.””
When Alice returns, 26 years after she disappeared, their carefully organized lives are thrown into disarray, but the family pulls together and everyone helps Alice heal and recover herself. But, now the family and Cal are thrust into situations that will endanger them, put them at risk and deepen the love they have for each other.
I have always loved the romantic-suspense books by Nora Roberts and I don't expect anything but the best from "Come Sundown". With her new publisher, NR is finally getting the kind of treatment that the Queen of Romantic-Suspense deserves. St. Martin's Press is going all out to insure that this book has to best launch possible, something that was sadly lacking from her last publisher. This is not your usual NR romantic-suspense there are some very heavy Women's Fiction subjects in this one. If you are expecting a hot, torrid romance with edge of your seat suspense, this isn’t that book. Come Sundown is a sweet romance and slow suspense makes for a low-key romantic-suspense. NR is a superb writer and she shows her chops with the slow building and merging of her story lines, her character development and how she can make you feel like you are right there in the place with her.
The story begins with the abduction of Alice Bodine in 1991 as she makes her way home after running away from the Bodine Ranch in Montana three years before. What happens to her is the stuff of nightmares. Her story is told interspersed with what is happening currently at the Bodine Ranch and the Bodine Resort.
The Bodine-Longbow family is wonderful, loving and strong. They have survived and thrived in the wide open spaces of Montana and built a world class ranch and resort. The whole family takes part in the operation, Bodine runs the resort, and her life, with military precision. Riding back into her life is Callen “Cal”Skinner on his wonderful horse, Sundown. Bodine had her first teen crush on Cal. Now she is his boss.
Bodine is a kick-a** heroine who doesn’t suffer fools or Cal at all:
“When he walked out, Bodine snatched the coffee off the table, dumped it down the sink “Male, dick-measuring, ball-swinging, chest-puffing bullshit.””
When Alice returns, 26 years after she disappeared, their carefully organized lives are thrown into disarray, but the family pulls together and everyone helps Alice heal and recover herself. But, now the family and Cal are thrust into situations that will endanger them, put them at risk and deepen the love they have for each other.
May 23, 2017
I have read Nora Roberts books before and enjoyed them.
I never find them too demanding but with the best concoction of spices to get your mouth watering to read more.
This one was with no exception.
We have back and forward events which are not difficult to keep abreast of.
Nora Roberts once again shows us the ability of human nature.
Love, patience and healing despite the hurt, pain and sadistic happenings.
This is told over four generations so quite an expanse of time.
It's a wonderfully captivating read.
Thank you to Little brown book group via Net Galley
I never find them too demanding but with the best concoction of spices to get your mouth watering to read more.
This one was with no exception.
We have back and forward events which are not difficult to keep abreast of.
Nora Roberts once again shows us the ability of human nature.
Love, patience and healing despite the hurt, pain and sadistic happenings.
This is told over four generations so quite an expanse of time.
It's a wonderfully captivating read.
Thank you to Little brown book group via Net Galley
September 13, 2018
What a weird book. Someone commented yesterday that this was like a Nora Roberts book if JD Robb wrote it, and it's true. Switching back and forth between a woman who was abducted, raped, and forced to give birth multiple times over with the romance portion of the book did not gel well with me at all. I also think this book was overly long (we get way too many descriptions about how to run a ranch, about horses, etc.) and I thought that the ending wasn't very well thought out in my opinion. It made no sense and made me scratch my head for a bit.
"Come Sundown" is about the Bodine/Longbow family. A highly successful family who all love each other and work at the family ranch/resort they are going about their day to day lives when an old family friend returns to the area. When he shows back up, women start turning up murdered. And in between wondering who is murdering these women, a long lost relative of the Bodine family's reappears.
One of the main characters, Bodine Longbow (named Bodine for her mother's side of the family) runs her family's ranch and resort in Montana. She has two brothers (Chase and Rory). When one of her local horse guides ends up not being able to work, she decides to hire an old family friend, Callen Skinner. Of course Bodine and Callen (Cal) start to fall for each other. While that is all going on, Bodine's brothers start romances of their own. When women start showing up murdered though, a local deputy starts to circle in on Cal thinking he must have something to do with it. And when Bodine's Aunt Alice is found 25 years after she left home, her story about being abducted and raped repeatedly has the family doing what it can to keep her safe from a man that she rightfully fears.
I liked the character of Bodine okay. She definitely knew how to do her job. I will say that it made no sense that she was put in charge of the family business though at her age. I don't think that Roberts tells us how old anyone is really in this book, but I hazarded a guess there. I discussed the age/timeline thing further down below.
I am also going to say that Bodine's romance with Cal didn't ring true at all. They had absolutely no chemistry with each other. If anything, it would have made more sense for these two to just be friends. Maybe a deputy or someone else could have been the one to romance Bodine.
I didn't find the other romances that her brothers had in this book to be believable either. I just don't think Roberts had enough "room" so to speak to include all of these people and make you think that they all somehow found true love at the same time. It's typical Roberts though, she does love her 6 couples in most of her romance books, so I don't know why I was surprised at Bodine/Cal, Chase/Jessica, and Rory/Chelsea. Also I didn't need dialogue between Jessica and Bodine with Jessica telling Bodine how great her brother was in bed. I think that happened. I maybe went la, la, la at some point. The three women and men don't really make sense to me in a friendship type of way either. There is a terrible scene where they all show up to watch Cal fight someone (yes that happened) and at that point I wondered why I was reading this mess.
There are other characters in this one. Alice and her story was heartbreaking. I really think that Roberts should have made this two separate books. Maybe the main reason that I couldn't get into the romance was reading about the things done to Alice in the past and then seeing her struggle so much in the future. And it was weird how Roberts showed her being selfish in the present and the two sisters fighting. I don't know, everyone acted like it was normal and I thought once again it was odd.
We hear about Sir (the man who abducted Alice) but you are able to put two and two together and realize who must have been behind abducting and killing the other women in this story.
The writing was just okay in this one. I think the biggest issue is that the majority of the book is taken up about business and the day to day running of the ranch. You get that broken up with descriptions of what Alice had to endure. So you get present events mixed up with past events and I still have to wonder how old some of the characters were in this book since we find out that Alice was abducted 25 years ago. Does that mean that Bodine is somehow running a ranch and being a highly successful businesswoman in her early 20s? She's not the oldest member of the siblings so I had to hard pause at that point and do some math and then just gave up. After reading the JD Robb books for many years, I am just resigned to the face that Roberts doesn't pay much attention to dates/timelines.
The flow was not good at all. The first 1/3 of this book drags. The 2/3 picks up a bit, but the final 1/3 of the book drags again until the very end when all is revealed in a ham-fisted way.
The setting of Montana is one that Roberts has written about before. I was curious about this book, since I initially thought it may be a sequel to Montana Sky. Of course it's not a sequel, but the character of Willa in that book reminded me of Bodine a lot.
The ending goes from murderous rampage and death to a happily ever after that still felt weird to me. I wonder if the book would have worked better if we had Chase/Jessica as the main romantic leads or what.
"Come Sundown" is about the Bodine/Longbow family. A highly successful family who all love each other and work at the family ranch/resort they are going about their day to day lives when an old family friend returns to the area. When he shows back up, women start turning up murdered. And in between wondering who is murdering these women, a long lost relative of the Bodine family's reappears.
One of the main characters, Bodine Longbow (named Bodine for her mother's side of the family) runs her family's ranch and resort in Montana. She has two brothers (Chase and Rory). When one of her local horse guides ends up not being able to work, she decides to hire an old family friend, Callen Skinner. Of course Bodine and Callen (Cal) start to fall for each other. While that is all going on, Bodine's brothers start romances of their own. When women start showing up murdered though, a local deputy starts to circle in on Cal thinking he must have something to do with it. And when Bodine's Aunt Alice is found 25 years after she left home, her story about being abducted and raped repeatedly has the family doing what it can to keep her safe from a man that she rightfully fears.
I liked the character of Bodine okay. She definitely knew how to do her job. I will say that it made no sense that she was put in charge of the family business though at her age. I don't think that Roberts tells us how old anyone is really in this book, but I hazarded a guess there. I discussed the age/timeline thing further down below.
I am also going to say that Bodine's romance with Cal didn't ring true at all. They had absolutely no chemistry with each other. If anything, it would have made more sense for these two to just be friends. Maybe a deputy or someone else could have been the one to romance Bodine.
I didn't find the other romances that her brothers had in this book to be believable either. I just don't think Roberts had enough "room" so to speak to include all of these people and make you think that they all somehow found true love at the same time. It's typical Roberts though, she does love her 6 couples in most of her romance books, so I don't know why I was surprised at Bodine/Cal, Chase/Jessica, and Rory/Chelsea. Also I didn't need dialogue between Jessica and Bodine with Jessica telling Bodine how great her brother was in bed. I think that happened. I maybe went la, la, la at some point. The three women and men don't really make sense to me in a friendship type of way either. There is a terrible scene where they all show up to watch Cal fight someone (yes that happened) and at that point I wondered why I was reading this mess.
There are other characters in this one. Alice and her story was heartbreaking. I really think that Roberts should have made this two separate books. Maybe the main reason that I couldn't get into the romance was reading about the things done to Alice in the past and then seeing her struggle so much in the future. And it was weird how Roberts showed her being selfish in the present and the two sisters fighting. I don't know, everyone acted like it was normal and I thought once again it was odd.
We hear about Sir (the man who abducted Alice) but you are able to put two and two together and realize who must have been behind abducting and killing the other women in this story.
The writing was just okay in this one. I think the biggest issue is that the majority of the book is taken up about business and the day to day running of the ranch. You get that broken up with descriptions of what Alice had to endure. So you get present events mixed up with past events and I still have to wonder how old some of the characters were in this book since we find out that Alice was abducted 25 years ago. Does that mean that Bodine is somehow running a ranch and being a highly successful businesswoman in her early 20s? She's not the oldest member of the siblings so I had to hard pause at that point and do some math and then just gave up. After reading the JD Robb books for many years, I am just resigned to the face that Roberts doesn't pay much attention to dates/timelines.
The flow was not good at all. The first 1/3 of this book drags. The 2/3 picks up a bit, but the final 1/3 of the book drags again until the very end when all is revealed in a ham-fisted way.
The setting of Montana is one that Roberts has written about before. I was curious about this book, since I initially thought it may be a sequel to Montana Sky. Of course it's not a sequel, but the character of Willa in that book reminded me of Bodine a lot.
The ending goes from murderous rampage and death to a happily ever after that still felt weird to me. I wonder if the book would have worked better if we had Chase/Jessica as the main romantic leads or what.
October 25, 2017
The one thing I believe Nora Roberts is absolutely capable of, is keeping a person entertained with her storytelling ability. Be it a fantasy, hardcore romance or romantic suspense, this talented author sure knows how to keep the readers engaged. Come Sundown is another one of her captivating romantic suspense standalone that was fast paced and hard to put down.
It all starts in 1991 with twenty one year old Alice Bodine making her way back home to the family ranch in Montana after having run away to California at eighteen. Due to some unfortunate turn of events Alice doesn't make it back and her family has no idea that she was returning home. The story then transitions into the present day life at the Bodine Ranch and Resort, and we are introduced to Bodine Langbow. Smart, strong and self-reliant, Bo runs the resort along with her younger brother Rory, while her parents and elder brother Chase manage the ranch. They are all living a peaceful, happy and busy life in the mountains managing the four generation old family business.
Things start getting interesting when Bo's childhood crush and Chase's best friend, Callen Skinner returns back home after making a small fortune in Hollywood and starts working for the family. Soon after, two back to back murders take place in the otherwise peaceful town with no obvious suspect. Meanwhile, there are occasional flashbacks, unraveling the heartbreaking and painful incidents that occur in Alice's life, the abuse and torture that she is forced to endure in the clutches of a maniac and psychopath.
With another turn of events and some luck Alice manages to escape her captor and returns back to her family after nearly three decades. But she is left a fragile and broken version of her former self, given to the years of suffering and torment. The two mysteries of figuring out the dangerous serial killer on loose in present day Bodine Ranch and the unwinding of Alice's dark twisted past along with the family dynamics of this close knit kin is what constitutes the major chunk of the story. Combined with excellent writing and lush descriptions of the beautiful Montana backdrop, Come Sundown is a satisfying read.
Although, it falls under the category of romantic suspense, I felt it weighed more towards the suspense and familial ties with romance as just an added treat. It focuses heavily on the strong bonds of family and the trust and support for one's own. The characters are extremely well defined and seem like people one might know in real life, but then that is one of the many specialties of Nora Roberts.
It does include considerable amount of darkness and graphic violence, but if you can get past the dark and gritty, Come Sundown is an engaging read with a fluid pace, excellent characterization and enjoyable writing with an absorbing mystery surrounding it.
It all starts in 1991 with twenty one year old Alice Bodine making her way back home to the family ranch in Montana after having run away to California at eighteen. Due to some unfortunate turn of events Alice doesn't make it back and her family has no idea that she was returning home. The story then transitions into the present day life at the Bodine Ranch and Resort, and we are introduced to Bodine Langbow. Smart, strong and self-reliant, Bo runs the resort along with her younger brother Rory, while her parents and elder brother Chase manage the ranch. They are all living a peaceful, happy and busy life in the mountains managing the four generation old family business.
Things start getting interesting when Bo's childhood crush and Chase's best friend, Callen Skinner returns back home after making a small fortune in Hollywood and starts working for the family. Soon after, two back to back murders take place in the otherwise peaceful town with no obvious suspect. Meanwhile, there are occasional flashbacks, unraveling the heartbreaking and painful incidents that occur in Alice's life, the abuse and torture that she is forced to endure in the clutches of a maniac and psychopath.
With another turn of events and some luck Alice manages to escape her captor and returns back to her family after nearly three decades. But she is left a fragile and broken version of her former self, given to the years of suffering and torment. The two mysteries of figuring out the dangerous serial killer on loose in present day Bodine Ranch and the unwinding of Alice's dark twisted past along with the family dynamics of this close knit kin is what constitutes the major chunk of the story. Combined with excellent writing and lush descriptions of the beautiful Montana backdrop, Come Sundown is a satisfying read.
Although, it falls under the category of romantic suspense, I felt it weighed more towards the suspense and familial ties with romance as just an added treat. It focuses heavily on the strong bonds of family and the trust and support for one's own. The characters are extremely well defined and seem like people one might know in real life, but then that is one of the many specialties of Nora Roberts.
It does include considerable amount of darkness and graphic violence, but if you can get past the dark and gritty, Come Sundown is an engaging read with a fluid pace, excellent characterization and enjoyable writing with an absorbing mystery surrounding it.
June 1, 2017
Come Sundown
Nora Roberts
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for my ARC........
It's been a long time since I read a Nora Roberts book. I have no excuses as to why, just too many books to read I suppose. Once I started COME SUNDOWN I was kicking myself for waiting so long to revisit one of my longtime favorite authors.
COME SUNDOWN is a stand alone which is rare nowadays so no long term commitment! The story starts in 1991. Alice Bodine ran away to Hollywood a few years ago and after a few postcards, her family never heard from her again. That was twenty five years ago and her family doesn't really talk about her. It's too painful and too much for her Momma to talk about. But not a day goes by when her mom doesn't think about her.
COME SUNDOWN is written outlining two different times in the Bodine family. The past and the present. Once I started reading, it was hard to put this heart pounding story down. Alice Bodine ran away from Montana in 1989 and three years later, she is making her way home. She never makes it because she takes a ride from a stranger and life as she knew it is now over. What she endures at the hands of this monster broke my heart over and over again.
In the present day, you meet Bodine Longbow who runs the Bodine resort. She is always busy and always on the go, but always has time for her friends and employees. She had a child hood crush on Callen Skinner but that was years ago. He moved away years ago to go to California as well. Well, guess who is back at the ranch/resort? That's right, Callen! When two young women are found dead, his arch enemy from when he was a kid thinks right away that Cal is the suspect! Oh his accuser is also a deputy! Oh yeah, it doesn't get any better than that right?
COME SUNDOWN is filled with love, patience, healing, and just the right amount of suspense. Without giving the whole story away, Alice comes back after 26 years and her family rallies around her to help her heal. You can't even begin to imagine all that she went through and wonder if her mind can ever begin to heal. Your heart will break over and over again for Alice and all that she dealt with from the man she called Sir. Hold on to your seats my reading friends........this is one hell of a wild ride!
Nora Roberts
Thank you so much to St. Martins Press for my ARC........
It's been a long time since I read a Nora Roberts book. I have no excuses as to why, just too many books to read I suppose. Once I started COME SUNDOWN I was kicking myself for waiting so long to revisit one of my longtime favorite authors.
COME SUNDOWN is a stand alone which is rare nowadays so no long term commitment! The story starts in 1991. Alice Bodine ran away to Hollywood a few years ago and after a few postcards, her family never heard from her again. That was twenty five years ago and her family doesn't really talk about her. It's too painful and too much for her Momma to talk about. But not a day goes by when her mom doesn't think about her.
COME SUNDOWN is written outlining two different times in the Bodine family. The past and the present. Once I started reading, it was hard to put this heart pounding story down. Alice Bodine ran away from Montana in 1989 and three years later, she is making her way home. She never makes it because she takes a ride from a stranger and life as she knew it is now over. What she endures at the hands of this monster broke my heart over and over again.
In the present day, you meet Bodine Longbow who runs the Bodine resort. She is always busy and always on the go, but always has time for her friends and employees. She had a child hood crush on Callen Skinner but that was years ago. He moved away years ago to go to California as well. Well, guess who is back at the ranch/resort? That's right, Callen! When two young women are found dead, his arch enemy from when he was a kid thinks right away that Cal is the suspect! Oh his accuser is also a deputy! Oh yeah, it doesn't get any better than that right?
COME SUNDOWN is filled with love, patience, healing, and just the right amount of suspense. Without giving the whole story away, Alice comes back after 26 years and her family rallies around her to help her heal. You can't even begin to imagine all that she went through and wonder if her mind can ever begin to heal. Your heart will break over and over again for Alice and all that she dealt with from the man she called Sir. Hold on to your seats my reading friends........this is one hell of a wild ride!
June 9, 2017
On a cold, snowy day in 1991 Alice Bodine decided to return home, after upping and leaving three years earlier. Making a decision between cutting across the wildness in the snow, or going the longer way round, Alice decided to stick to the road, which seemed like the safer option of the two. How wrong could Alice have been?
Back in present-day Montana, Bodine Longbow (Alice’s niece), is the manager of her family’s, four-generation run holiday ranch. She is hard-working and has little time for herself. So when an ex-lover, Callum, comes back into her life, taking up work on the ranch, she decides she doesn’t have time for a relationships.
At the same time as Callum re-appears, women start being murdered. Is this just a coincidence or is Callum involved? Events take an even darker twist when Alice suddenly makes an appearance in a distressed state, 25 years after she disappeared.
Firstly time for a confession. Although I have known about Nora Robert’s work for a long time, this is the first book that I have read by her, and I can assure you, it won’t be the last.
This book is dark, sinister at times. There are some brutal scenes, and horrifying events, especially regarding Alice, who has been kept as a slave/baby-maker for the last 25 years, repeatedly battered, and raped by her captor.
We as readers are taken back and forth between Alice’s horrific world and present-day Montana. The characters, and there are quite a few of them, are all well thought out, and wonderfully-constructed. The family has such a strong bond between them, that it’s hard not to like each and everyone of them.
There are some lighter, more at ease scenes, including a few romances and fun events occurring between the family members, so it’s not all heart-wrenching.
I love a good book that absorbs me into the plot and hooks me to the page, gets my pulse racing, and my emotions in a tither. This book did all of those things.
Ms. Roberts keeps us guessing as to what is going to happen next. With plenty of twists, turns and mystery, this book is a definite 2017 must-read.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
Back in present-day Montana, Bodine Longbow (Alice’s niece), is the manager of her family’s, four-generation run holiday ranch. She is hard-working and has little time for herself. So when an ex-lover, Callum, comes back into her life, taking up work on the ranch, she decides she doesn’t have time for a relationships.
At the same time as Callum re-appears, women start being murdered. Is this just a coincidence or is Callum involved? Events take an even darker twist when Alice suddenly makes an appearance in a distressed state, 25 years after she disappeared.
Firstly time for a confession. Although I have known about Nora Robert’s work for a long time, this is the first book that I have read by her, and I can assure you, it won’t be the last.
This book is dark, sinister at times. There are some brutal scenes, and horrifying events, especially regarding Alice, who has been kept as a slave/baby-maker for the last 25 years, repeatedly battered, and raped by her captor.
We as readers are taken back and forth between Alice’s horrific world and present-day Montana. The characters, and there are quite a few of them, are all well thought out, and wonderfully-constructed. The family has such a strong bond between them, that it’s hard not to like each and everyone of them.
There are some lighter, more at ease scenes, including a few romances and fun events occurring between the family members, so it’s not all heart-wrenching.
I love a good book that absorbs me into the plot and hooks me to the page, gets my pulse racing, and my emotions in a tither. This book did all of those things.
Ms. Roberts keeps us guessing as to what is going to happen next. With plenty of twists, turns and mystery, this book is a definite 2017 must-read.
Reviewed by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com
July 13, 2017
3.75, but I'll round up to 4 stars.
I won an Advance Reader's Edition of this book from the publisher through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to both.
I have to be honest, this one took me a while to get into the story. I found the present day storyline a little plodding and the story that initially kept me reading were the small bits of flashbacks to Alice and what happens to her in the past.
But, somewhere along the way, I got pulled into the entire saga of this family and each character's storyline, whether a large part or small. I think that was what threw me off in the beginning: you're introduced to a lot of characters in a short amount of time and it took me a bit to warm up to them.
I felt the glimpses into the past were handled well and did not take away from the overall flow of the story. Honestly, the parts with Alice (past and present) I found to be much more interesting than any of the "romances" taking place in the book. My heart just broke for her at so many moments in the story.
Overall this was a good, solid read, but at 468 pages it lost some suspense along the way, and there were a few times I found my mind wandering. I just feel it could have been a little shorter, maybe by eliminating a side story or two.
I won an Advance Reader's Edition of this book from the publisher through a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to both.
I have to be honest, this one took me a while to get into the story. I found the present day storyline a little plodding and the story that initially kept me reading were the small bits of flashbacks to Alice and what happens to her in the past.
But, somewhere along the way, I got pulled into the entire saga of this family and each character's storyline, whether a large part or small. I think that was what threw me off in the beginning: you're introduced to a lot of characters in a short amount of time and it took me a bit to warm up to them.
I felt the glimpses into the past were handled well and did not take away from the overall flow of the story. Honestly, the parts with Alice (past and present) I found to be much more interesting than any of the "romances" taking place in the book. My heart just broke for her at so many moments in the story.
Overall this was a good, solid read, but at 468 pages it lost some suspense along the way, and there were a few times I found my mind wandering. I just feel it could have been a little shorter, maybe by eliminating a side story or two.
Read
June 9, 2017Reading pause. I am having a hard time connecting to keep going and some parts were depressing. I will have to try again when my mind is better for this type of read.
June 12, 2017
I really like Ms. Roberts' style!
This book is hard to review because while the pace is slow and there're a lot of details about every day life, about managing the resort (and marginally the ranch), there's a lot of internal thoughts from all the characters, not only the main.
At the same time, the crime part is very difficult: the unraveling of a woman in the hands of a truly mad monsert! The worst part is that that unraveling lasts... 26 years!!! O_O
It was truly chilling to read that part and I wished often for that man to suffer something equally painful and awful!!! Unfortunately he got it easy!!! So not fair!!!
There're several love stories going on very, very slowly, but sweetly all the same.
There's just a tiny, teeny bit that I was doubious about: the family/friendship dinamics very unbelievably perfect! Everybody would wish for that kind of family! While, in real life there's a lot of bickering, angry discussions, etc.... Here there's nothing of that: everybody love everybody else to bit and is ready to do everything and anything to help! Just too perfect!
Still, I think this books deserves 4,5 stars rounded to 5!
This book is hard to review because while the pace is slow and there're a lot of details about every day life, about managing the resort (and marginally the ranch), there's a lot of internal thoughts from all the characters, not only the main.
At the same time, the crime part is very difficult: the unraveling of a woman in the hands of a truly mad monsert! The worst part is that that unraveling lasts... 26 years!!! O_O
It was truly chilling to read that part and I wished often for that man to suffer something equally painful and awful!!! Unfortunately he got it easy!!! So not fair!!!
There're several love stories going on very, very slowly, but sweetly all the same.
There's just a tiny, teeny bit that I was doubious about: the family/friendship dinamics very unbelievably perfect! Everybody would wish for that kind of family! While, in real life there's a lot of bickering, angry discussions, etc.... Here there's nothing of that: everybody love everybody else to bit and is ready to do everything and anything to help! Just too perfect!
Still, I think this books deserves 4,5 stars rounded to 5!
November 8, 2018
As usual, Nora Roberts does not disappoint! I’ve always been a fan of her books but her most recent ones, this one included, really are on a whole other level than her earlier works. I love how she combines family histories with romance and crime and mysteries, it makes for such interesting and intriguing reads. I really loved the darker side of this one, it was both heartbreaking and beautiful and completely sucked me in!
September 21, 2017
Come Sundown is about love, loyalty, family and friends. The Bodine Ranch Resort in Montana was large working rural restore run by the Bodine Family and managed by Bodine Longbow Granddaughter of the original owners. Callen Skinner came back to the ranch after many years away in California after his father died. However, when bodies began to turn up on the resort grounds, Callen and Bodine were reunited again to find the truth before more people die. The readers of Come Sundown will follow Bodine's and Callen investigation into the death of the young girls and start to wonder if they will fall in love.
I enjoyed reading Come Sundown. I like authors who can entwine two plots and combine them at the end of the book. I do not know how Nora Roberts comes up with her plots and provides her readers with so many fantastic stories without using co-writer. The love the beautiful Sundown and the way Nora Roberts portrayed him. I also like Nora Roberts writing style and the way she describes her plots and adding a twist that the readers of Come Sundown never knew was coming. Nora Roberts knows how to keep her readers engaged with the story with the fantastic portrayals of her characters.
Readers of Come Sundown will learn about running a large rural resort in Montana. Also, the consequences of family violence on everyone involved. Reading Come Sundown started me thinking that you should not always take things at face value. Readers of Come Sundown will learn about running a large rural resort and the problems that curtail. "Come Sundown" also highlights the importance of horses in helping people to heal from trauma.
I recommend this book.
I enjoyed reading Come Sundown. I like authors who can entwine two plots and combine them at the end of the book. I do not know how Nora Roberts comes up with her plots and provides her readers with so many fantastic stories without using co-writer. The love the beautiful Sundown and the way Nora Roberts portrayed him. I also like Nora Roberts writing style and the way she describes her plots and adding a twist that the readers of Come Sundown never knew was coming. Nora Roberts knows how to keep her readers engaged with the story with the fantastic portrayals of her characters.
Readers of Come Sundown will learn about running a large rural resort in Montana. Also, the consequences of family violence on everyone involved. Reading Come Sundown started me thinking that you should not always take things at face value. Readers of Come Sundown will learn about running a large rural resort and the problems that curtail. "Come Sundown" also highlights the importance of horses in helping people to heal from trauma.
I recommend this book.
October 5, 2022
I enjoyed reading Come Sundown as all other stories I've read so far from Nora Roberts!
Come Sundown is a highly emotional and also disturbing story!
What Alice went through for so many years was hard to read! The emotional and physical torture in the hands of her captor made me feel sick!
As always the descriptions of the scenery was one of my favorite parts! The nature of Montana, the ranch, the resort and the horses added a colorful touch to the drama and also the romance between Bodine, her brothers and their significant others!
What was very touching to read about was the strong bonds between family members and the friends around them!
My only complaint is that once again it was easy for me to guess the perpetrator and wished the plot around the mystery was more intense!
Three generations of women so strong and also so emotional was a delight to read about their struggles and success! Also the men, Callen, Chase, Rory and Sam each strong but each with his vulnerabilities complemented nicely their partners!
Come Sundown is a highly emotional and also disturbing story!
What Alice went through for so many years was hard to read! The emotional and physical torture in the hands of her captor made me feel sick!
As always the descriptions of the scenery was one of my favorite parts! The nature of Montana, the ranch, the resort and the horses added a colorful touch to the drama and also the romance between Bodine, her brothers and their significant others!
What was very touching to read about was the strong bonds between family members and the friends around them!
My only complaint is that once again it was easy for me to guess the perpetrator and wished the plot around the mystery was more intense!
Three generations of women so strong and also so emotional was a delight to read about their struggles and success! Also the men, Callen, Chase, Rory and Sam each strong but each with his vulnerabilities complemented nicely their partners!
July 29, 2017
Good story about two main women--one, Alice, is abducted by an evil man who frequently beats and rapes her. The second woman, Bodine, runs a ranch and resort in western Montana. I really liked this one.
April 4, 2018
Mi estreno con Nora Roberts no ha estado mal, me ha gustado la historia y su narración, así como el género, que últimamente me atrae mucho el suspense romántico, continuaré leyendo más libros suyos, lo difícil será decidirme por uno u otro...
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