Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

Come Sundown is the story of the Bodine family and is part romance and part thriller. The story opens twenty-five years ago when Alice, the prodigal daughter, who ran off to California to become a movie star, is returning home. Just miles from her family home she is abducted by a stranger known only as “Sir”.

Skip forward to the present and Bodine Longbow, she is the fourth generation, now runs the Bodine resort which sits on a sprawling thirty thousand acre ranch in Montana. Vacationers and honeymooners alike come to the resort to experience the cowboy life and Bodine runs the show seamlessly with the help of a large staff.

Callen “Cal” Skinner has recently returned to Montana and has taken a position on the ranch side of the operation. He is living in the small cottage adjacent to the main house. As a teenager, Bodine had a huge crush on Cal who was her brother’s best friend growing up. Now that Cal is back things are heating up between them.

The ranch and resort are running smoothly and business has never been better. All seems perfect until one morning on a ride in to the resort, on horseback, Bodine and Cal discover the body of a resort employee. The local deputy, who has been an enemy of Cal’s since childhood, has accused Cal of the murder. Not long after there is a second murder and the biggest surprise of all is when Alice returns.

It is obvious that Alice has lived a tough life and is no longer the same person. With the help of family, friends her horrifying story slowly emerges. The murders and Alice’s return will test the family bonds like never before.

This is a great story of family and the things people do to protect the ones they love. As always, Nora Roberts does a superb job of giving the reader characters to fall in love with. The story line is excellently crafted and the back stories filled out the plot nicely. This book would make a great beach read.

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.