Never Come Down [Paperback]

Michelle Black (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1997

This award-winning first novel takes place in the Colorado High Country. For anyone who has ever dreamed of chucking civilization and running away to the remote beauty of the Colorado Rockies, this irreverant romantic mystery story should bring delight.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A young woman inherits a remote ghost town in the Colorado Rockies and uncovers a mysterious connection to a distant mining ancestor in this lightly entertaining first novel. When her Aunt Grady leaves the entire ghost town of Leap Year to Darcy Close, she moves there and soon comes to love the peculiar place and her unusual neighbors whose bumper stickers read: "There are no rules above 10,000 feet." It's not long before she develops a relationship with Evan Allender, an attractive sometime carpenter and full-time hippie with two children. Through details in Aunt Grady's letter, Darcy begins to discover something of their common ancestor, Conor McAllister, who came to the Tenmile Canyon a century ago when the area bustled with gold and silver mines. Darcy's first-person account runs parallel with Conor's third-person story of seduction and treachery. In the flashback portions, Conor is horrified when he discovers that his beloved, Elodie Kelly, murdered her husband. As Darcy unearths Conor and Elodie's story, she is involved in a mine excavation that brings her unexpected riches. Black almost spoils the tale with her canned ending; but, despite digressions into the lives and thoughts of minor characters and too many serendipitous coincidences, she manages to fashion a mildly romantic western mystery. (Oct.) FYI: This first fiction title issued by Wolf Moon Press had a limited distribution in the Rocky Mountain states in 1996. It won the Colorado Independent Publisher Award for Fiction in 1997.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Black has created some interesting and charming characters for this novel, especially the members of her distant family. This first novel is filled with romance, lost treasures, family secrets, happy endings and the wonder of life in the High Country." END -- Great Divide Magazine

"In this fast-moving first story, the writer combines an intimate knowledge of the locale she has selected with an ability to fuse some memorable characters into an innovative plot." END -- Topeka Capital-Journal

"This regional bestseller deserves national attention for both an innovative story and a fresh new voice in the craft of writing. Michelle Black has penned a winner in this rollicking mountain romance....An interesting and effective use of two time periods without the conventions of time travel. Both storylines hold the attention in a vise grip." END -- Romance Communications.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: Wintersun Pr (July 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965801403
• ISBN-13: 978-0965801409
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,060,925 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Michelle Black is the author of six historical novels, including the bestselling AN UNCOMMON ENEMY. Her latest novel of historical suspense, SEANCE IN SEPIA, features real life feminist firebrand Victoria Woodhull as its protagonist.

Michelle lives in a Queen Anne Victorian home just outside Boulder, Colorado. In addition to writing, she has been known to practice law, own a bookstore, and snowboard. She can often be found where ever Steampunks gather and her motto is: "Have bustle, will travel."

Michelle loves to hear from readers. They can contact her through her website: www.michelleblack.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars no rules above 10,000 ft, January 24, 2000

By 

"ronplus3" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Never Come Down (Paperback)

excellent book! bought it on a whim, 3 years ago and i read it again every winter. the characters are delightful and very believable, the story will pull you along through the book, and the setting (colorado) is very accurate. i just loved it. michelle black is a great storyteller.

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!, August 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Never Come Down (Paperback)

A wonderful blend of mystery, romance, entertaining characters, and accurate locale portrayal. What a treat to be privy to the real reasons behind the facts of ancestors' lives--something the present-day heroine isn't even totally privy to, as we can never know the real stories of our parents, grandparents, etc. And, like the main characters, I moved from the Philadelphia area to a small old goldmining town (pop. 270) in the Colorado Rocky Mts. five years ago. If you're drawn to this area, read this book!! It is an accurate representation of living "at altitude" and in a small town filled with "characters"!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a different world above 10,000 feet-and you'll love it, January 24, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Never Come Down (Paperback)

Mingling the past and the present makes for an intriguing tale of murder, deceit, survival and love. Pure Rocky Mountain Magic!