Reviewed by Kati Dancy
Publisher: Penguin
4 stars out of 5
Lillian Chance has always known what she wanted. A gifted and eminent wildlife biologist with a specialty in big cats, she has traveled the earth studying the creatures and writing books and articles about her work. She has fulfilled a lifelong dream by founding the Chance Wildlife Reserve on a small plot of land near her parents’ home in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Lil had a wonderful and charmed childhood spent growing up on her parents’ beef farm. Her dad taught her to ride and track and appreciate all things wild.
Cooper Sullivan is furious to be shipped off to spend two months with his grandparents in Deadwood, South Dakota. His parents are yet again trying to save their doomed marriage and he deeply resents the fact that he’s been foisted off on his grandparents with no TV, nothing to do but horrible chores around their home, and worst of all, no baseball. When his grandmother tells him they’ll be visiting their friends the Chances for dinner, he rolls his eyes, but does as he’s asked and goes along. There he meets Lil Chance. She’s scrawny, younger than him, and insult of all insults, she’s a girl. They strike an uneasy truce until they realize their mutual love of baseball. Little do they know then that they are forging a lifelong bond.
Cooper returns to Deadwood whenever he can, and he and Lil pick up as if they’d seen each other the day before. That is, until one day Coop really looks at Lil and realizes that she’s grown into a gorgeous woman. Soon their deep friendship has become a mutual attraction, and after that a full blown first love affair. But Lil has always known what she wanted, and Coop has no idea what he wants, except to know without a doubt that he will never do as his father wants and become an attorney and carry on the family profession. He decides that he must leave Lil behind and make his way in the world, which he jump-starts by joining the policy academy in New York. He leaves Lil, promising that they’ll see each other again. But years go by, and he elects not to keep his promise, knowing that Lil needs to make her way in the world.
But now Cooper is back in Deadwood. He’s come home to care for his ailing grandfather and keep his grandparents’ business running. Soon he’s decided to sell his successful private investigation company in New York, and buy into his heritage, breeding horses and running a guide service in Deadwood. Lil, just returned from a six month expedition in Peru, is back at Chance Wildlife Preserve and ready to get back to business. But strange and threatening things are happening near Lil’s home. And when one of her beloved cougars is shot and maliciously killed, she realizes that her life might be in danger and Cooper may be the only one who can help her discover who hates her enough to kill her. But will she be able to put aside her bitterness with Coop and work with him? Or will the danger remind them of the love they always felt for each other?
One of the things I so admire about Nora Roberts’ work is her tremendous ability to build a sense of place. I’ve never been to the Black Hills, but her loving and detailed description of the land, the vegetation and the wildlife built a vista-like visual for me. Black Hills is, as always, precisely researched, and it touched on a topic very near to my heart, conservation. The story itself is well written and entertaining, although I never completely understood the motivations of the killer. And while I understood Lil’s reluctance to allow Cooper back into her life, I got to the point where mentally all I could think was, “Come on, woman! He’s amazing and he loves you!” The book built to an exciting crescendo, pitting Lil against the killer and the hero of the piece is an unexpected one. Overall, Black Hills, while not my favorite Nora Roberts book ever, is a fast paced and exciting romantic suspense novel that draws a lovely picture of a part of the country I’ve never visited.
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Stacy ~
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 6:14 am:
Sounds interesting. Nora does create some memorable heroes, doesn’t she? And I do love getting a feel of a place because I think it makes the story more interesting. Great review Kati.
Marisa
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 8:22 am:
Hey Kati – I just started reading this book and you are absolutely right – Nora definitely has a way with creating/describing a world that is so clear you can almost feel it.
Thus far I’m enjoying the young vs. older Cooper and Lil – for me, Nora’s books are always about the characters and the action seems to be secondary. Their interactions are what capture and keep my attention.
Dorthy
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 1:17 pm:
Wow. That cover drew me in right away, and after reading the blurb on it I’ve added it to my TBB (to be bought) list. I hope I find it soon so I can read it.
orannia
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 4:34 pm:
Great review Kati – thank you! I just love how vividly NR can describe a scene
Laura
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 8:38 pm:
I have never read a Nora Roberts book! There, I said it. I just might try this one though. Would you recommend it as a first read of hers?
Gannon
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 8:43 pm:
Great review, Kati! Nora is a master at making the setting seem like another character. Can’t wait to read this one.
Marisa
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 9:05 pm:
Laura – there are just so many Nora Roberts books to choose from!
I’m a huge fan of her trilogies – personally I would recommend :
Seven Signs Trilogy
Three Sisters Island Trilogy
Irish Jewels Trilogy
Or one of my absolute favorites: The Quinn Brothers Series
Just my 2 cents. In the world of Nora Roberts there is just so much to choose from and when you’re done with those try J.D.Robb.
Angie G
on Jun 24th, 2009
@ 10:31 pm:
Now I’m even more eager for Black Hills! It’s going to be such a great summer for books!
Laura, you should really give Nora her a try. Her trilogies are great. Definitely try the Chesapeake Bay Series (Quinn Brothers). Make sure you read them in order. Another fave of mine is Montana Sky. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
corinne
on Jul 16th, 2009
@ 4:22 am:
I just started reading the Nora Roberts series of the Quinn Brothers. Great reading. Good review, Katie!
I will be reading Black Hills soon.
Leslie
on Jul 25th, 2009
@ 5:31 am:
I’m reading Black Hills now and I’m loving it! I’m a big fan of Nora Roberts and am looking forward to reading many more NR books.
Beth
on Nov 13th, 2009
@ 11:08 am:
Laura, like someone else said there are so many Nora Roberts books and I’ve read a lot of them, Some of my favorites were the Chesapeake Bay series, Loved those books, I’m from that area and it felt like I knew these characters, I could not put the books down and now I’m reading Black Hills and it’s the same way. If I have to put it down, I can’t wait to get back to reading. she has a way of bringing everything to life and making it so real. I love all her books, and there are so many out there. Just grab one and read and you’ll be a life long fan of Nora Roberts.
Beth
on Nov 13th, 2009
@ 11:11 am:
I would love to see more movies made from her books. Montana skies was great. I said before I loved the Chesapeake Bay series (Quinn Brothers) I just read Chesapeake Blue about the youngest brother, Seth. What wonderful books. I’ll be reading them again in a few months.
Mary Smith
on Dec 27th, 2009
@ 3:42 pm:
Ms. Roberts’ 472 page The Black Hills should have been edited down to 250 pages to remove all of the redundant prose that dragged the book down.
And all of the “bathroom” vulgarities should have also been removed–it’s not what I read a book for and it takes away from the maturity of the characters.
Nor do I care for descriptive sex scenes, which takes out the “romance.”
So, Laura, No–don’t start with Roberts’ The Black Hills. Surely she has better stuff out there.
Dayli
on Feb 15th, 2010
@ 1:31 pm:
I absolutely loved Black Hills this was my first time to read one of Nora Roberts book and i loved it! i couldn’t put the book down i read it in 2 days! i thought it was sweet, romantic, super sexy, and very entertaining. i just finished it yesterday and thinking of reading it again! so Laura you can start with Black Hills.