Romance and suspense entwine at a sprawling ranch and upscale resort in Come Sundown by Nora Roberts. Bodine Longbow's family has lived and worked in western Montana for generations, and she currently runs their luxurious resort. When old friend Callen Skinner returns to the area and gets a job at the resort's ranch, he and Bodine start circling each other. Romance is in the air, but so is danger. ­Twenty-five years ago, Bodine's aunt ran off and never returned. Now young women in the area are disappearing—and then turning up dead. Bodine, her family and Callen continue providing leisure activities for their guests, but the beautiful countryside now contains a new menace. Roberts' latest is an engrossing read that celebrates family ties, Western landscapes and, as always, the love between a man and a woman.

PUPPY LOVE
Going home again means new romance in About a Dog, the first book in Jenn McKinlay's new Bluff Point series. Mackenzie "Mac" Harris takes a two-week break from her job in Chicago to attend the festivities of her best friend's wedding in their Maine hometown. Reconnecting with the past means facing up to being left at the altar seven years before—and trying to forget her unhappiness in the arms of her best friend's younger brother, Gavin Tolliver. He's now the town vet, and while Mac thinks seeing him again might be awkward, she can't deny the attraction running between them. She battles succumbing to it as they attend several prenuptial events, but soon they are enjoying each other's company and that of a rescued dog, Tulip. Gavin's the first to declare his love, but before Mac can reciprocate, the wedding day is upon them. There are more obstacles to happiness following the vows, and Mac must work for her forever. About a Dog is a cozy yet sexy romance with a puppy on the side—what's not to enjoy?

TOP PICK IN ROMANCE
A brooding aristocrat ponders revenge in the first tale of Madeline Hunter's Decadent Dukes Society, The Most Dangerous Duke in London. Adam Penrose, Duke of Stratton, returns to London from Paris after dueling to uphold his family's honor. Called back to England by the king, he faces more gossip but doesn't let it deter him from investigating the source of rumors about his father's disloyalty. He visits a neighboring estate at the matriarch's request and is offered her granddaughter in marriage as a way to settle an old feud. Unfortunately, his interest is instantly captured when he sees her other granddaughter. In pursuing the spirited Lady Clara Cheswick, he gets closer and closer to the truth he seeks, but will vengeance smother the burgeoning, fiery love he feels for the beauty? Can Clara trust that Adam wants her enough to allow her the independence she craves? This is a historical romance to savor, and readers will root for the pair of lovers and the justice they seek.

This article was originally published in the June 2017 issue of BookPage. Download the entire issue for the Kindle or Nook.

Rawhide-tough Bodine Longbow, who runs the family ranch in Montana, always thought the aunt who ran off before her birth was dead. But when two women are found murdered, and then Aunt Alice herself reappears with a fantastical story, Bodine realizes that something really bad is lurking in the mountains. That's when she decides to trust recent hire Callen Skinner. With a national one-day laydown.

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.

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)