The Bodine Ranch and Resort is a family business where vacationers can live like a cowboy for a few days while visiting in Western Montana. Bodine Longbow runs the resort side of the business while her older brother, Chase, takes care of the ranch. Chase's best friend, Callen Skinner, has returned after a long absence and is hired to help out at the ranch. As Bodine and Cal renew their friendship, they stumble across the battered body of one of the resort workers. While many people wander why anyone would kill this young woman, a few speculate that the murder didn't happen until Cal came back to the area.
This book opens with a flashback to 1991. Twenty-year-old Alice Bodine (Bodine Longbow's aunt) is returning home after chasing her dream of stardom in Hollywood for the past three years. Since her vehicle broke down a few miles back, she's happy when a truck pulls up to offer her a ride. Alice is kidnapped and locked in a cellar. Her story of the beatings and rapes she endures are peppered throughout the first half of the book until her story catches up to the present day. I thought Alice's portions of the book were the highlight of the story. The awful circumstances she overcame showed the kind of person she was before the kidnapping.
This was billed as romantic suspense, but I didn't find it very romantic or suspenseful. I liked both Bodine and Callen, along with Chase and Jessica, but thought the book was light on romance. The Montana ranch backdrop was nice, but there were way too many mundane details about the running of the resort and ranch. The mystery of the murders that were currently taking place was obvious. The author really didn't try to disguise who was behind the murders.
My favorite part of the book was Alice's story. I also enjoyed the interesting secondary characters like "the grannies" and Callen's horse, Sundance, who could have a book of his own. My rating: 4 Stars.
This book opens with a flashback to 1991. Twenty-year-old Alice Bodine (Bodine Longbow's aunt) is returning home after chasing her dream of stardom in Hollywood for the past three years. Since her vehicle broke down a few miles back, she's happy when a truck pulls up to offer her a ride. Alice is kidnapped and locked in a cellar. Her story of the beatings and rapes she endures are peppered throughout the first half of the book until her story catches up to the present day. I thought Alice's portions of the book were the highlight of the story. The awful circumstances she overcame showed the kind of person she was before the kidnapping.
This was billed as romantic suspense, but I didn't find it very romantic or suspenseful. I liked both Bodine and Callen, along with Chase and Jessica, but thought the book was light on romance. The Montana ranch backdrop was nice, but there were way too many mundane details about the running of the resort and ranch. The mystery of the murders that were currently taking place was obvious. The author really didn't try to disguise who was behind the murders.
My favorite part of the book was Alice's story. I also enjoyed the interesting secondary characters like "the grannies" and Callen's horse, Sundance, who could have a book of his own. My rating: 4 Stars.
First of all- what can I say that hasn't already been said? It's a Nora Robert's book, which face it- is always a good read. It wasn't great but it was more than acceptable. It could have used some reduction as I found myself skimming after too many day to day details. But hey, I never want NR's books to end once starting one. While it was not one of her books that I read cover to cover in one or two sittings, it definitely had it's moments. It reminded me a bit of an extended version of Criminal Minds (without Shemar Moore though Sundown had a lot of the same personality) with plenty of romance sprinkled in. One thing that it didn't have that I've always loved about NR's books was that twist that I've come to expect from her books. Would I recommend it? Hell yeah! but rather than fork out the dough, get it from the library or as I did, wait several months after release and purchase it as a used book for less than $5. One thing about NR's books, she sells so many that if you're patient you can always pick them up used at a reasonable price.
When the most original characters are the horse and the kidnap victim - in a Nora Roberts novel - then you know they've started on the bottom third of her barrel. NR pounded out too many books out for her publisher to print every year, so there's a backlog somewhere.
One star is for the writing and the plot - at least you can tell it's actually NR writing the words.
One star for Alice's narrative - which is real enough to deserve her own short story or novella.
One and a half for Sundown, because he's a major personality who made the story funnier and provided some of the plot points.
Yes. I enjoyed it. But I was happy to return the library book.
Kuzu
One star is for the writing and the plot - at least you can tell it's actually NR writing the words.
One star for Alice's narrative - which is real enough to deserve her own short story or novella.
One and a half for Sundown, because he's a major personality who made the story funnier and provided some of the plot points.
Yes. I enjoyed it. But I was happy to return the library book.
Kuzu
Started a little slow then got very good
Nora Roberts stand-alone books are an automatic read for me. However I would say the first 200 pages nothing much happened except the evolving of many interesting lovable characters.
For generations, the affluent Bodine family ran a successful ranch and resort in Montana.
Callen Skinner returns home with his amazing horse Sundown, my favorite character in this story and falls in love with the fiery Bodine, who runs the resort. Well, the story does a complete 180 degree turn and the unexpected twists and turns kept me reading non stop. The story of Alice who disappeared over 20 years ago and thought dead by the family, was found half dead in the snowy mountains by Bo and Cal . Her story was dark and hard to imagine, but fascinating as her past twenty years of torture and abuse came to light.
As usual, Nora Roberts has written another unforgettable tale.
For generations, the affluent Bodine family ran a successful ranch and resort in Montana.
Callen Skinner returns home with his amazing horse Sundown, my favorite character in this story and falls in love with the fiery Bodine, who runs the resort. Well, the story does a complete 180 degree turn and the unexpected twists and turns kept me reading non stop. The story of Alice who disappeared over 20 years ago and thought dead by the family, was found half dead in the snowy mountains by Bo and Cal . Her story was dark and hard to imagine, but fascinating as her past twenty years of torture and abuse came to light.
As usual, Nora Roberts has written another unforgettable tale.
The seriously evil villain had me second-guessing this book at first, but watching the survivor's strength after she escapes brought tears to my eyes. A hunky hero with a horse, a loving extended family, and a strong heroine made this a great read.
