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  • Black Hills

  • Written by: Nora Roberts
  • Narrated by: Nick Podehl
  • Length: 16 hrs and 51 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (150 ratings)

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Black Hills

Written by: Nora Roberts
Narrated by: Nick Podehl
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Publisher's Summary

In this #1 New York Times bestseller, Nora Roberts takes listeners deep into the rugged Black Hills of South Dakota, where the shadows keep secrets, hunters stalk the land, and a childhood friendship matures into an adult passion.

Cooper Sullivan spent the summers of his youth on his grandparents’ South Dakota ranch, sharing innocent games and stolen kisses with the neighbor girl, Lil Chance. Now, twelve years after they last walked together hand in hand, fate has brought them back to the Black Hills. 

Coop has left his fast-paced life as an investigator in New York to take care of his aging grandparents and the ranch he has come to call home. Though the memory of his touch still haunts her, Lil has let nothing stop her dream of opening the Chance Wildlife Refuge, but something...or someone...has been keeping a close watch. When small pranks and acts of destruction escalate into a heartless attack on Lil’s beloved cougar, memories of an unsolved murder in these very hills have Coop springing to action to keep Lil safe.

Lil and Coop know the natural dangers that lurk in the wild landscape of the Black Hills. But a killer of twisted and unnatural instincts has singled them out as prey...

©2009 Nora Roberts (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

What listeners say about Black Hills

Average Customer Ratings
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    2 out of 5 stars
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Not great

Would have been better if lil wasn’t such a whiny biotch. This went in too long.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Nice "read"

This was an entertaining book that I enjoyed from the start. When the book was done I felt very satisfied - something tha I appreciate in a good book.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Another brilliant book from Nora Roberts.

I had trouble putting this down. I learned some things about big cats I didn't know. Thanks Nora Roberts and Audible books.

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1 person found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it

I couldn’t stop listening!
Excellent!
Narration was great!
The way it was written made you feel like you knew these people by the end of the book!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Will not be disappointed

Another excellent book by Nora Roberts. Found the characters and plot line very spell binding.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Black Hills

Another excellent book by Nora Roberts. Enjoyable always. I look forward to the next book.

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Great listen

Enjoyed the narrator and the story... Etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc etc

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

too whiney

the female lead is too whiney. I am a big fan of the author but this wasn't her best.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A very enjoyable story!

Really well narrated! The characters voices were distinguishable and the story line was interesting. The beginning seemed slow at first but it's necessary to lay the foundation of the story. The ending could've been tied up a bit more though, not that it was unfinished... I guess you could just put 2 and 2 together or use your imagination! Overall a very good listen!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Enjoyable Romance with Mystery/Thriller elements

I'm not a Romance guy. I have tried reading this genre before and couldn't get through those novels. This book showed up as a Daily Deal and the reviews looked good..so I gave it a try. It was a good choice. 'Black Hills' is actually better described as a Mystery/Thriller with elements of Romance. The evolving up and down relationship of Lil Chase and Coop Sullivan is certainly central, but the plot revolves around stalking and murder. Roberts is quite good at building suspense in this well-researched tale that includes elements of crime-solving and animal conservation. Unfortunately, she's not a Mystery writer and the lack of Red Herrings and false leads is glaring. The dialogue is over-the-top at times, too..sometimes with mind-boggling melodramatics. And there are some inconceivable scenes. At one point I asked my adult daughter, with some consternation, "Is that how women think? Strong, intelligent, and independent but secretly okay with some dude showing up in their bed naked or climbing in the shower with them? Can men just take passionate kisses from women (as they clandestinely long for while feigning disinterest)? Do women have quasi-rape fantasies?" "Hell, no" she laughed. "It's a Romance Novel!!" Crazy stuff. I don't think "Romance" is for me ..but the characters are likable and mostly realistic ..and there is the occasional flash of wisdom: (After hearing about a murder): "I had thought that people are basically good, but there are too many of these monsters that destroy everything they touch." "You're right, Grandma..on both counts."

Nick Podehl is a consummate professional. He injects the appropriate amount of emotion into the dialogue. Podehl is as comfortable reading intimate scenes as he is reading rules for using Magic in an MMORPG novel ..a big reason why I took a chance on this purchase is the reader. But his chosen accents and female character intonations are god-awful. The reader is the weakest part of this product.

I am happy with the decision to take a chance - and can honestly recommend this overall average book. This recording is worth 5 stars out of 10.

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  • Lorraine
  • 2009-07-09

black hills

I think this is one of NOra Roberts best novels. The characters are defined so that you feel you know them and are part of their lives. Action packed...great read.

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92 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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  • Lynne Phelps
  • 2009-07-26

Great Read but a Poor Listen - a Wasted Credit

I always like to read the book first to form my own impression of the story and the characters. I was glad that I read Black Hills before I listened to it; had I done it in the reverse order I never would have bought the book.

The narrator spoke with almost no inflection. Dramatic scenes became boring. I was constantly having to back up to try and figure out who was speaking. My mind kept wandering - NOT a normal occurance during a Nora Roberts adventure!

I wish Audible had a "satisfaction guaranteed or your credit back" policy! This would be at the top of my list for return. I was so disappointed in the quality of the reading that I actually emailed Brilliance to vent.

As is, I feel sad and cheated after listening to the audiobook, as it was mediocre at best and it could have been GREAT with a more dynamic performance.

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46 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Michelle
  • 2010-01-12

Excellent!

One of the best books I've listened to! Kept me very engaged and interested!

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38 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • D. A. Tyler
  • 2009-07-12

Love it

This is classic Nora Roberts. She has done a few books along this line, but can still may the story fresh and new make you feel for the people. You have a feeling how it will end, but you have to keep reading/listening. You need to know every twist and turn of the plot. It is a great job on her part and i think this will be one of here lifetime movies. lol The narrater is great too giving life to the people. Drawing you in with a smooth voice, making for easy listen.

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20 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Donna A
  • 2009-10-09

Very predicable

This was a typical Nora Roberts book, it actual reminded me of Blue Smoke. The "he broke my heart but I will sleep with him anyways" went on too long. I actually thought the book was too long period and I guessed how the book was going to end way before it happened. Unlike the others I do not think the narrator was right for the book; he made all the woman sound like they were 13 year old teenage girls or dumb blonds; does he really think all women get screechy when they are a little excited? Would I recommend it - if you like Nora Roberts you probably will like it.

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19 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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  • Scotti Brooks
  • 2009-07-12

SO SAD!

I have listened to EVERY ONE of Nora Roberts books! I am sooo disapointed with the reading of this new book! He has ruined the velosity of this book! There is no descrepancy to either person that is talking! Sandra Burr, Dick Hill, Joyce Bean, Phil Gigane.... and the others have made her books so enjoyable. I have never written a review, but the TRUTH must be told about this really good book and not so great narrator!

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17 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Ed
  • 2009-07-16

Good Story

The narrator is the weak link to this story. Perhaps she should consider someone like Christian Rummel on her next book.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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  • Lia
  • 2011-02-17

Great Nora Roberts

Although we have the normal NR storyline of heroine, somehow unavailable man and psychotic looming in the distance, it's still a compelling read. It's clear that NR did her research about wildlife refuges. Agree with other reviewers that the narrator wasn't the best; at times I had difficulty figuring out who was talking and I was embarassed FOR him during the sex scenes- I kept giggling as I wondered how m any takes it took for him to get through it. Def. distracted me from my reading! Ending was good if predictable- while up to this point it seemed believable in terms of the animal behavior, the climax made me skeptical. Overall a good story, but if this narrator does more of her books again I'll read them instead.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
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  • TEP
  • 2009-07-30

Terrible Narrator

In the 19 years that I have been listening to audio books, this narrator is at the top of my "worst narrators" list. He seems to excell at making a book boring. I will never purchase another book with this narrator.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
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  • SaintsFan
  • 2009-07-26

Slow moving.

Started out really good, but I'm not even finished Part 1 and I'm not sure if I can handle another 9 hours. Story is interesting, characters well developed, but it really drags. I don't have a problem with the narrator - he's fine for me. But at times I feel like I'm listening to a lecture about wildlife preservation. Where was the editor for this book? It's way too long for the storyline. I'm having trouble staying interested. I never listened to abridged books, but this time I'm wishing I had purchased the shorter version just to get things moving.

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6 people found this helpful