As usual with Ms. Roberts’ books, the characters and location are very vivid. In this novel she gives us the strong, independent, and smart women of the Longbow/Bodine Montana ranching family.
The first 45% or so of this book was very slow. Maybe it was just the constant flashbacks or the too detailed descriptions of everyday life that had me checking the percentage of how much I had left to read. I pushed through and found the suspense wasn’t very suspenseful.
That said, this book was not for me. The love story between the main characters felt flat to me. I didn’t like the kidnapping & hostage underlying thread we continually revisited. Also Alice’s’ quick recovery from PTSD after being held prisoner for 25+ years, rang false to me.
Nora Roberts’ books will still be my go to reads & my auto buy. This one just didn’t hit the mark for me.
Thank you NetGalley for an advanced review copy of this book.

While the writing and character building was excellent, this novel was far too dark for me. - so dark that I could not read it before bed without having nightmares. Roberts' Obsession struck a balance between the romance and the grisly murders, but Come Sundown didn't have that. Additionally, the modern-day story was so vanilla that it bordered on uninteresting.

Nora Roberts has always been an auto-buy for me, and while in no way am I going to stop reading her books, I might take her off auto-buy.

Horrific, inspiring, sad, dark - this book was a sad/happy/crying/inspiring, emotional ride. Make sure you have a few hours as you will want to read this book in one sitting.

Nora Roberts never disappoints! She's a writer I can always count on for amazing characters and a great story. I never miss one of her novels!

I haven't had the chance to read a Nora Roberts book in a while, and I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't syrupy romantic - just the right combination of mystery, romance, and family connections!

Right off the bat I have to say the horse stole every scene he was in! Sundown just decided he needed to be one of the main characters if not THE main character.

Nora Roberts does such a great job at storytelling. She will draw real life events into her stories in such a way that rivets you. This particular story focuses on family and how they cope with tragedy and how to start healing from a horrific crime. She also describes the setting in such a way that you are transported to Montana and walking around the ranch and resort. As always there's some mystery with some romance thrown in. I always look forward to reading the newest novel from Nora Roberts and am never disappointed.

I've been a Nora Roberts fan for decades. At the end of this book I looked over the list of titles she has written and was amazed how many I remember. This was a suspenseful mystery with lots of psychological twists. It even disturbed me a little that this could probably be a true story ripped from the news. The characters were so real, I felt so sorry for Alice. She portrays a strong woman who endured circumstances that many could not. The setting of the Bodine ranch was beautiful and such a normal resort that the evil nearby was even more intense. A good read but not for late night.

Thank you for the opportunity to read an advance copy of Come Sundown. The book had an old-school Nora Roberts feel to me which is something that I really enjoyed. It was like a wonderful visit with an old friend! It really reminded me of many of my favorite Nora books with the interwoven stories centered around a strong family. I really enjoyed Bodine and Callen's story, but Sundown was my favorite character! The darker, suspense aspect with Bodine's aunt was also really well written and kept me wanting to know more. The only thing I wished for was a stronger story for the secondary romance in the book. I think both lifelong and new Nora Roberts fans will be really pleased with Come Sundown!

I kept guessing the whole way through the book. I could not figure things out until just before I read it. There was a lot of imagination in this book. Lots of things in here that many people can relate to it. It seemed...real. It was really good. Intriguing

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!

Nora Roberts Come Sundown
I have read Nora Roberts books for years and enjoyed them, no matter which subgenre she is writing in. My favorites are the stand-alone thriller/romantic suspense. Come Sundown is her latest and very suspenseful. The story is told from various character viewpoints including the “bad guy” which gives us a complete picture of what is happening. The main character is Bodine Longbow who runs a family resort that’s part of the Bodine ranch. Callen Skinner comes back to town and they begin a friendship that moves to romance which is a nice thread throughout the story. The suspense comes in when first a bartender that worked at the resort is found dead and then other girls begin to disappear. While the police are trying to determine what is happening, there is a second storyline with Bodine’s Aunt who disappeared many years ago never to be heard from again. As it turns out, she is alive but that is all I will say as I don’t want to spoil the suspense for you.
Nora is great at character development. It was interesting to read how the characters changed throughout the novel reacting to what they were going through. This was truly an enjoyable read. As they say, hard to put down. If you like her last book The Obsession you will love Come Sundown!

Nora Roberts returns with a new romantic suspense. I enjoyed the mystery and the main characters. This is a great read even if you have never read any of her books before.

Fantastic. Started out with a back story that was heartbreaking and terrible to endure. Then switched to present time and I fell in love with these characters. Each is developed in a way that lets you feel as one with the family and friends. There is love as well as mystery, separate but somewhat intertwined. When parts of the back story are told through the years in small measure, they are easier to read though no less horrible for the person involved. When the back story meshes with the present, it is believable and uplifting. As the picture gets rosier, you know something is about to happen, and you know to whom. But that doesn't mean there isn't a twist and a surprise revealed. I was glad that part was quickly told and resolved. This book never loses your interest and is a satisfying read.

This story is set on the Bodine ranch in Montana. It is a family run resort and vacation site. Bodine Longbow is in charge of the resort side of the ranch. Callen Skinner returns to the area and is hired to work on the ranch. Bodine's Aunt Alice ran away before Bodine was born and they don't talk about her much anymore. Now Alice is on her way back home but is intercepted on the way that leads to horrific consequences for her. Their are also two women who disappear from the area and tragically murdered.

This is a story about family bonds, the strength and loyalty a family has when they need to pull together. There is a mystery in this book along with several romances. I liked the family dynamics of the Bodine family.
I have to admit the twist at the end caught me totally off guard. Another great story by Nora. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Nora Roberts blew my socks off with this book. Such a great story of past and present. Then she makes them meet in the here and now. Roberts use of language in this book fascinated me. These folks just talk differently than anyone I've ever met...I liked it! If you're a fan I know you won't miss this book, but if you've never read Nora Roberts I would highly recommend that you pick this one up!

The latest stand-alone novel from Nora Roberts focuses on the Bodine/Longbow clan and their family-run Bodine Ranch/Resort in Montana. The most interesting and haunting part of this book was the long-term mystery focusing on the fate of long-lost Alice Bodine. Told largely in flashbacks from Alice's point-of-view, these scenes were harrowing and affecting. A present-day mystery is introduced when the bodies of two murdered young women are discovered near the resort. Unfortunately, there really wasn't much mystery to figure out. There was really only one character who made sense as the present-day killer. This was disappointing, as Roberts usually introduces at least a few decoys to throw you off the scent.

The main romantic pairing is that of Alice's niece, Bodine Longbow, and Cal Skinner. Cal grew up with Bodine's brother, Chase, but fled Montana at 18 and became a Hollywood horse trainer. Bodine and Cal's romance was tepid and, frankly, not that interesting. I was more interested in Chase and Events Manager Jessica's romance, even though it was only touched on briefly. There were so many characters that very few were developed very well. One of my favorite characters in the book was actually Cal's horse, Sundown.

Bottom line: If you like Nora Roberts books, you will likely enjoy this one. It was worth reading for Alice's story alone.

I'm going to preface this by saying: I love Nora Roberts. Nora Roberts books are very important to me, and I want nothing more than for her to keep writing them forever.

That said, this book was a mess.

As an author Nora has been delving into more serious topics than the romance genre typically covers, and I'm a fan of that. I've written papers about the evolution of the romance genre, and I think Nora Roberts exemplifies that. However, this story took it a little too far. When I read romance novels it is because I like to feel safe, I like to be reminded that sometimes things don't have to hurt, that love can triumph. I don't read them so I can learn in explicit detail about rape. I don't need the reminder that life is unsafe.

A consequence of Roberts' storytelling is that while telling two stories, one of Alice's kidnapping and incarceration, another of Bodine falling in love, only one of the stories is actively compelling. It is hard to engage with Bodine and Callen while I am wondering what is happening with Alice. While I am desperately hoping for her to escape. While I am worried about Alice's recovery. There is no urgency to Bodine, and no happy ending for Alice.

Nora Roberts does it again, she continues to excellently balance romance and mystery. Her characters come to life and are easy to fall in love with. I would recommend this title to romance and mystery fans alike.

I was impressed with Come Sundown. For one thing, the writing and storytelling was a perfect mix between Robert's romance novels and her mystery novels (written under her pseudonym J.D. Robb). Alternating between a family saga and a horrific mystery, I was hooked. The Bodine Ranch and Resort is an idyllic sounding place in beautiful Montana and I loved reading about the day-to-day activities and the large range of people who work there. The mystery of what happened to Alice Bodine is chilling and kept me guessing right up until the big reveal. This was my first romantic suspense novel by Roberts but it definitely won't be my last.