Publishers Weekly
03/27/2017
Roberts takes the reader on a journey to western Montana to a family ranch and the story of how one of their own disappeared. Over two decades ago, rebellious Alice Bodine ran away from her Montana home to make her fortune in Hollywood—only to head back three years later. But her return was derailed when she was captured and made prisoner. Fast forward to the present day, when the Bodine estate is a thriving dude ranch and luxury resort. Bodine Longbow, Alice’s niece, works hard ensuring that the day-to-day operations at the resort run smoothly, even as she comes face-to-face with her childhood crush, Callen Skinner, who has returned to Montana from California. As the attraction builds between Callen and Bodine, Alice miraculously escapes her captor and is welcomed back into the family fold. Her tale of abuse and torture at the hands of her captor coincides with the recent brutal murder of two young women. The suspense continues to rise as law enforcement searches for the killer and Alice’s kidnapper. Yet what makes this novel most engaging is Roberts’s ability to suffuse her story with rich details of one family’s life, as well as sizzling doses of romance and mystery. 1,000,000-copy announced first printing. (June)
From the Publisher
Roberts always tells a good story that balances romance and suspense, but in this title, the narrative is deeper, the mystery is more layered, and with Alice, Roberts moves into another level of exploring physical and emotional trauma and the powerful balm of family and love. [Roberts] is moving into more complex and darker storytelling, to terrific effect.” —Kirkus Starred Review
"With its take-no-guff heroine, who understands the importance of family and friends, and a compelling plot peppered with domestic details and composed of equal measures of spine-tingling suspense and sexy romance, this is quintessential Roberts."—Booklist Rave Review
“What makes this novel most engaging is Roberts’s ability to suffuse her story with rich details of one family’s life, as well as sizzling doses of romance and mystery.”—Publishers Weekly
Library Journal
06/15/2017
Years before Bodine Longbow was born, her rebellious Aunt Alice left home to seek her fortune and, except for a few postcards, has not been heard from since. But the long-lost Alice is closer to home than anyone realizes, and while Alice is merely an unsettling family legend for Bodine, her startling return stuns everyone and brings danger to light. As the dots begin to connect, Bodine and ranch manager Callen Skinner deal with their growing attraction as they work to solve a knotty puzzle and thwart a villain who has Bodine in his sights. VERDICT Drawing on current events, Roberts has penned a horrifying tale of abduction, abuse, and resilience intertwined with a sweet romance that will keep the night-lights burning. Roberts (Island of Glass) lives in Keedysville, MD.
JUNE 2017 - AudioFile
Narrator Elisabeth Rodgers and author Nora Roberts create a gripping romantic suspense set in western Montana. In the audiobook’s opening, young Alice Bodine has a terrifying encounter with a stranger when she runs away from home. When she doesn’t return, her family believes her to be dead. Flashing forward to the present, Alice’s niece, Bodine, is running the family dude ranch. Sparks fly between Bodine and a new ranch hand, Callen Skinner. The listener can easily envision the ranch setting, and Rodgers masterfully provides a unique voice for each character. When a murder on the ranch complicates things, Rodgers’s voice reflects the story’s increasing tension. Also noteworthy is her portrayal of Alice. S.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2017, Portland, Maine
Kirkus Reviews
★ 2017-03-21
Bodine Longbow runs her family's Montana resort with an unfailing can-do attitude, but nothing can prepare her or the family for the return of her long-lost—and brutalized—aunt or an unexpected rash of violence in the area.Four generations of women have a hand in the Longbow family businesses, consisting of a ranch and a popular resort. Bodine loves her family's Montana legacy and working with her great-grandmother, grandmother, parents, and brothers. She's getting used to having Callen Skinner, her teen crush, back in town, especially since he's great with horses and she needs a new manager. Hiring Cal makes sense, though she's a little worried about becoming his boss given their obvious mutual attraction. When two women are murdered in the area, suspicion falls on Cal thanks to a deputy sheriff who holds a grudge. Then Alice, an aunt who disappeared before Bodine was born, shows up with a chilling story of having been captured and held for 20-plus years by a violent psychopath. Bodine, Cal, and the family laser in on taking care of the fragile woman but wonder if the events could be connected. Questions mount and tensions ratchet even higher when Cal and his horse are shot at during a ride. Suddenly no one seems safe, and the Longbows circle the wagons, but will it be enough to save the family and their loved ones? Roberts always tells a good story that balances romance and suspense, but in this title, the narrative is deeper, the mystery is more layered, and with Alice, Roberts moves into another level of exploring physical and emotional trauma and the powerful balm of family and love.With her past couple of titles, Roberts (as opposed to her typically grittier moniker, J.D. Robb) is moving into more complex and darker storytelling, to terrific effect.
