Come Sundown
Nora Roberts
Piatkus
June 2017
Rating 5/5
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.
Despite having Nora Roberts recommended to me on various occaions, I've yet to have read one of her novels... until now.
I was offered the chance to read and review Nora's latest book, Come Sundown, as part of her blog tour, and wow - what a book to start with!
Come Sundown starts off with Alice Bodine, a young girl who ran away from home but has corrected her ways and is heading back to make peace with her family. When her truck breaks down she is offered a lift by a passerby going that way. Said passerby is later known throughout the story by Alice as Sir. She is locked up in a basement and, well, lets just say isn't treated nicely or with much respect.
Moving on, the main focus of the book is set in the present day and around the Bodine/Longbow Ranch and Resort.
Bodine Longbow is head boss of the family business, she lives for her family and the success of the job which doesn't leave much time for love.
That is until Callen Skinner returns!
Cal was Bo's crush when they were younger but being her brothers best friend, she never went there and kept her feelings hidden.
Each of them have now grown up and Callen has returned from his working time away in Hollywood - the the attraction between the pair is very obvious!
Although Come Sundown heavily features Bo, Cal and the rest of the Bodine/Longbow clan and ranch as the main focus of the story, there are two murders and a cop with a grudge from years back lands Cal in the firing line as the prime suspect.
Throughout the book at the end of various chapters we are thrown back to Alice and Sir and when Alice eventually escapes the two worlds collide and the ranch is thrown in turmoil as it is more than 25 years since Alice was last seen by her family.
Come Sundown quite simply had me gripped - it was a complete page turner!
I will be honest though, the first chapter or two I found a bit difficult to get into - all of the Bodine/Longbow family members were introduced and it was a long list of characters to get to know, not only that but some of their names were repeated as it took a few pages to get ton know who was related to who and how!
Once I'd worked this out though the only other thing that I struggled with was the odd 'cowboy phrase' but this is just my personal opinion and to be honest, the story and book were so good I could put up with these!
Some of the story line was tough going at times - particularly the scenes with Alice and Sir but the way that Roberts wrote them meant that as much as I was not wanting to read, I was wanting to read on!
The present day characters were likeable and there was an incredible sense of family loyalty - both with blood and non-blood relatives. Once Alice had been found I thought that the story and narrative especially was brilliantly done and very well thought out with Alice almost reverting back to being a child.
Come Sundown is a gripping read that will have you hooked right from page one...
