Black Hills, 2009

     Last night I finished reading Black Hills by Nora Roberts and wrote about it first thing in the morning. But blame it on my laziness; it took me a while to post it. Nevertheless, it is finally here. Yaay! Before I start voicing my opinions about this particular book let me get you acquainted with it first. I will be nice and try to give out as less spoilers as possible. But, I warn thee! The story is set in Black Hills, South Dakota, North America. It begins in the summer of 1989 and follows a span of 20 years. We meet the protagonists when they are kids and best friends (1989), teenagers and lovers (1997) and finally when they are adults having figured out everything for themselves except each other (2009). The love has always been there. No candies for guessing that! Dr.Lillian Chance is now the proud owner of Chance Wild Refuge, what she has always wanted and Cooper Sullivan is, well, back after making a mark for himself in New York. Coop faced a troubled childhood and Lil has the best parents in the world (that's her own statement!). For Coop, Black Hills has always been the Home. They have a relationship then for a decade there is no contact but yes, they definitely end up together. After all, Roberts is all about Happy-Ever-After. No prizes for guessing about the love but treat yourself with an ice-cream if you think you can figure out the stalker of Lil who also happens to be a serial killer.

Image Courtesy - Google Images

     Now, my opinions! Lil is smart, independent and I like it when she makes it difficult for Coop because Coop is an idiot who thinks he has the right to make all the decisions in the relationship. He is an idiot for not trusting Lil enough and giving himself undue importance. He justifies his actions, alright! But for a better part of the book I did not like him. He is definitely not the signature Nora Roberts hero. He is also confused and often needs a drastic event to push himself to do what he actually wants. As for the stalker, he has his motive which is disturbing. He doesn't kill, he hunts. In his pursuit of hunting Lil, he kills 3 women, 2 men and 3 animals. The other kills have been hinted at but not talked about much. He is a psycho and claims to be a descendant of Crazy Horse. Yeah yeah! Pure bullshit. But what else to expect from a psycho? Why is he after Lil? Okay! One piece of information, Lil has got some Sioux blood. Now, go read the book and figure it out! :D

Black Hills, South Dakota
(Image Courtesy - Google Images)

     You can't help yourself but love Farley. In the midst of chaos, he is one stable character. He is a contrast to our Serial Killer as they both had it rough as children. You also have to laud for Willie for not getting his ego in the way and letting Coop help him. Read this book and you will know a great deal about the Native American tribes, about the controversy over Black Hills and about how a Wildlife Refuge works. You also get a chance to brush up your historical knowledge as well. Considering this is written by Roberts, there's is not much romance but if you have a spot in your heart for camping and trekking this is worth a read. But, as far as my opinion goes, it gets a bit slow in the middle and a little more action at the end would definitely have been better. Nonetheless, it makes a good read.