Sharon Sala is, in this reviewer's opinion, a true marvel. It doesn't matter whether she's writing sweet, homespun romances like her Blessings, Georgia series, or gritty, romantic suspense with plenty of triggers, as in Don't Back Down, she has a true gift for creating characters with depth, characters you care about, and characters you root for--every single book of hers I've read over the past 35+ years has been an addictive read, and although I not a fan of "love at first sight" or insta-love, Ms. Sala had me buying it hook, line and sinker in this novel, and it gets 4.5 stars

First, the triggers. If you have issues with rape, child abduction, forced prostitution, on-screen violence, and human trafficking, this is not the book for you. From the prologue, you'd never even see it coming. As the prologue opens, two strangers meet in a hotel lobby--a tall, dark and handsome soldier on his last night before shipping out for his second tour in Iraq, and a strikingly lovely redheaded woman. After a few short words, and agreeing to just the one night, with no holds barred, no names, no further contact, they head for a room and sparks fly, both wishing in the morning that they had exchanged at least their first and last names.

Five years later, the redhead, Rusty Caldwell, an undercover FBI agent has a harrowing escape from sea pirates, and after recovering from her injuries, and still dreaming of her one night with Soldier Boy, is next sent to the tiny town of Jubilee, Kentucky, where there's been a child abduction, and numerous cases of women going missing.

When Rusty is sent the file on the home invasion and abduction of 3-year-old Lili, by the same rapist Lili's mother's testified against in court, Danny Biggers, who's just escaped from prison, imagine her surprise when within the file, she sees the photo of Lili's rescuer--her uncle, Cameron Pope, aka her Soldier Boy. Neither has forgotten their one night together, and their reunion and romance is just the backdrop for a taut, multi-layered, thriller/suspense novel with many suspects, and a lot of action. All are woven together seamlessly by Ms. Sala, without any issues as to who is who. While I generally get lost when there are this many suspects, and this many trails to follow, it didn't happen here, and in the end this was one very satisfying, suspenseful and addictive read, with just the perfect amount of romance between the two main characters, an HEA ending, and, even better, it's the first novel in a new series. I'm hooked, and I can't wait to read the next novel in this series.

I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this novel. The opinions stated are my own.

I really enjoyed Cameron and Rusty. Their romance is sweet, sexy, and swoon worthy. Both are strong lead characters. There's a gripping mystery with surprises that keep you guessing. I didn't figure it out before the reveal. I think my favorite part is that you get the perspective of several characters. This was an excellent kick off to a new series. I'm excited to see what happens next.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for an advanced copy of Don't back down by Sharon Sala. The first book in a new romantic suspense series Jubilee, Kentucky. Rusty and Cameron meet the night before he deploys to Afghanistan, and though they did not exchange names, neither of them have forgotten each other. 5 years later, Cameron's niece is kidnapped by an escaped convict, but when the manhunt uncovers a human trafficking ring, the FBI become involved. He is stunned when the FBI agent turns out to be the beautiful woman he never forgot. Rusty and Cameron must work together to discover all who are involved before they can have a chance at happiness. This was the perfect book to read after several extreme thrillers. I enjoyed the fast paced action, the chemistry between Rusty and Cameron, and Cameron's dog Ghost. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author. Mystery and intrigue. Love and romance. A man and his dog, Ghost, are the main characters, along with Rusty, the beautiful woman. After a chance meeting, the couple meets again, five years later. This book, written by a talented and gifted author,, is difficult to put down. The mystery is there…trying to find the culprits in the human trafficking horrible crime is at the center of the story.

Two of my favorite books are by Sharon Sala. Sweet Baby and Tallchief continue to be in my top 20 and I always reread them periodically. The writing in Don't Back Down has some "Sweet Baby" moments for me, meaning there are some points that I was riveted to the page. What kept this book from being a 5 star read for me is that there were too many characters to really keep track of. I don't like having to look back in a book (which is way harder with a Kindle) to see what was previously said about the Sheriff is the Police Chief, one of the characters was dating more than one woman and I was confused by the which woman was which. These are just a couple of times where I got "lost" and had to go back for reference. It broke up the flow of the book for me and therefore I have to knock off one star. Other than that I loved the FBI part of the story and the actual love story. Both main characters were absolutely perfect! Thanks NetGalley for a great read.

*4.5 stars*

Heart-racing romantic suspense…

Rusty was a no-holds barred, fearless lead and she deserved the steadiness and devotedness of Cameron. From their first meeting to their unexpected second chance, they each clung to the memory of the other. They didn’t miss a beat in their reunion and dove head-first, together, into a mystery…

This author’s words are always from the heart and having so many character’s point of view meant there were no secrets from the reader. Instead, all the feelings, thoughts and emotions were laid bare and made for an exciting plot and emotional delivery. So many likable characters it was hard to pick a favourite though Ghost probably nudged to the top by a nose…

I’ve already re-read their story and look forward to doing it again and again.

Fast burn all the way! I could not put this book down. Loved everything about it, except that it ended!!! I would love to see more of these characters.

Thank you #netgalley and #sourcebookscasablanca for the eARC.

Second chance romantic suspense! Cameron has come back home to help find his niece Lily who has been kidnapped and finds, to his surprise, that Rusty has been assigned to her case. They shared a night of passion five years ago but he never really learned much about her, especially the fact that she's from a wealthy family. Now, though, they're working together and the heat grows slowly. This has topical elements- the issue of trafficking- as well as the feels. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This has good storytelling and characters you'll root for (including the dog). I'm looking forward to the next one in the series.

Army Veteran Cameron Pope, on his last night before going off to war, falls in bed with a woman he can’t get out of his mind for years to come. They didn’t exchange names, but had one amazing night together. Rusty Caldwell is a FBI hotshot who arrives back in Jubilee, KY to investigate a human trafficking ring and gets paired with her soldier boy, Cameron Pope, to help with the investigation. This story is well written, and kept me at the edge of my seat throughout the whole book. I had a hard time putting it down. Sharon Sala has once again written a solid 5 star book!

Yes! The start of a new series! Totally sucked into the mystery and suspense. Thought for sure I knew who the perps were a time or two but I was wrong. Cameron Pope is ex special forces he is back in Jubilee along with Ghost, the dog from his deployment. His niece goes missing and he and Ghost take off to search/rescue her.. The FBI reaches out to enlist his help with the trafficking. and surprise, the FBI agent who he is partnered with is Rusty. The woman he never forgot after one glorious night.. Loved the integrity of Cameron and Rusty. Am addicted to Ghost. Enjoy the growth and insight to some of the other characters. Sharon had me going down the wrong path so many times, I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was wrong. Thank you for the arc. I freely volunteer my thoughts and opinions. #don'tbackdown #sharonsala #sourcebookscasablanca #netgalley

Don’t Back Down is a love at first sight, instant love, and second chance romance all rolled in one. Cameron Pope is shipping out and sees Rusty Caldwell across the hotel. He instantly falls for the fiery red head and they spend the most imaginable perfect night together ruined both ruined for anyone else. Five years later, Rusty is sent in undercover for the FBI and is supposed to work with a local boy retired from Special Forces enter Cam. Cam never thought saving his niece from a kidnapping would bring the love of his life back but here she is. Falling together like they never parted and totally like they know each other better than they do, the couple take on a ring of human traffickers in the mountains of Kentucky. The characters are interesting by themselves but together the love is syrupy sweet without any conflicts for people who knew each other for a very short time and are planning forever after. The geography of this book irked me fiercely for me being a western Kentucky girl and I felt more research was needed on the region. Kentucky is not near as small as imagined by this novel. Overall the case is interesting, the characters have their moments but it is definitely heavy on the instant, easy love with a sweetness that will rot the teeth. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy from NetGalley.

Five years ago Cameron and Rusty had a wonderful night together. No names just one perfect night. Cameron has thought of that one night for 5 years if he had just asked her name but they had a pack no names no regret just that one perfect night. When Cameron's niece is kidnapped and the FBI asks him to help with a trafficking ring on his mountain the solider in him cannot refuse. When he encounters the partner he will be working with the past lonely 5yrs come rushing back. Rusty cannot believe she has finally found the man she has dreamed about for 5 lonely yrs all she ever knew about him was he was being shipped out and she prayed everyday that he came back her Soldier Boy.

The first book in a new series! Loved it as all her books. Army veteran Cameron Pope moves back to Jubilee. Kentucky after the military to be near his sister and live peacefully. When his niece is kidnapped , it is discovered that the town is being used for human trafficking. He is reunited with Rusty Pope a woman from his past that he has never forgotten. Rusty is a FBI agent sent to uncover the people involved in the trafficking and enlists his help. They work together to solve the case and and plan for a future together.




Thanks to Sharon Sala and Sourcebooks Casablanca

The romance was more sweet than steam and for some reason I was expecting steam. But the sweet works, even if the terms of endearment are a little awkward.
Ghost is the start of this book. Big German Shepherd with a puppy's heart.
The mystery kept me guessing right til the end.
I enjoyed this a lot.
I received a copy from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Sharon Sala truly has a gift for weaving multiple characters and storylines while still keeping the main plot the center focus of the book. It's a true gift. One that, in many cases, would have me losing interest. But somehow Sharon is able to blend and connect all of the characters. You still get a backstory and you get enough information to know what's going on and where each character is coming from. But it's never just two main characters. There is always more. And then there are the side characters that play more important roles than they would in a typical novel. Sharon finds a way to get every character enough paragraphs on the page to understand who they are and give them just as much depth as any main character.

In this case, the focus is on Cameron and Rusty. But Cameron's sister Rachel is a large part of the novel as well. Along with her husband Louis and their daughter Lily. And then Rusty's family comes into play when Cameron discovers who she is and who her family is. Instead of the girl from the wrong side of the tracks, she's the girl from the rich side of the mountain. There are also a lot of other major players and situations that are guaranteed to have you riveted to the page. But the love story between Cameron and Rusty never stops being one of the primary focuses of the story. It never feels as if it isn't delved into enough or given enough focus. It's a beautiful and unique talent that never fails to have me hooked on a Sharon Sala novel.

One of my favorite tropes is second-chance romance. And while you may not be able to call what Cameron and Rusty had when they first met romance, you can certainly call it hot and steamy. While it seemed like a love at first sight kind of situation, it was really intended to be a one-and-done, never see each other again, don't even know one another's last name kind of situation. So you just knew that when they did inevitably see each other again, the sparks were going to be flying even hotter between them. Because they already knew what it was like to be with the other person and now they've realized they are within reach of each other. So I knew it was going to be passionate and steamy. And it certainly didn't disappoint.

While Cameron's past career in the military was useful when it came to teaming up with Rusty to save his niece, Lily's life, Rusty's current career with the FBI also comes in handy. Especially since they aren't just after kidnappers but human traffickers. Along with dealing with the difficulties of their mountain town and the beliefs so many residents have. Rusty and Cameron have to work hard to not let their dueling community get in the way of their investigation. Or the two of them being together. And it takes every skill the two of them possess, along with the need to work together in order for them to figure out their next move. And bring these human traffickers down!

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

I loved the suspense and mystery in this book and the author had me guessing all the way through. A very intriguing romantic suspense.

Rusty is sent by the FBI to Jubilee for an undercover assignment where she finds a one night stand from her past who meant a lot to her but was sent off to war. They team up together to solve a human trafficking ring and find forever love in the process.

While I enjoyed the suspense of the book the storyline of a one night stand being your forever love after only spending hours together was sort of unrealistic. The overuse of terms of endearment was a little overboard as well.

Romantic suspense. My first Sharon Sala book and I really enjoyed it! Small town vibes in Jubilee, Kentucky where Cameron Pope lives on a mountain side surrounded by extended family members. A blast from his past, Rusty Caldwell, who he could never forget their one night together shows up in town to work her most recent case involving human trafficking. Cameron is an army veteran who has returned with his service dog Ghost in tow. Together Cameron and Rusty team up to capture the bad guys and stop the human kidnapping. I liked how you were introduced to a character with their own paragraph of what was currently happening and then just continued to rotate through everyone. Never guessed who the bad guys were and their relation to the town so I kept turning the pages to see the end result.

I have always enjoyed books by Sharon Sala and this latest one certainly didn’t disappoint. It hit the ground running and kept me engaged throughout. Rusty Caldwell and Cameron Pope meet in a hotel and share a night of passion. They don’t ever forget each other but don’t even know each others names. When Rusty gets sent to Jubilee, Kentucky to help with the hunt for human traffickers she meets up with Cameron and the their feelings for each other are well and truly reignited. I love the style of writing, the sense of community and how nothing is what it seems. Great characters and storylines. This is a great suspense story with a romantic thread. Looking forward to the next one in this new series. Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Sharon Sala has done it again and given us another fantastic small town romantic thriller! Five years ago two people met at a hotel by fate. He was a soldier getting ready to ship out. She was a mysterious beauty that he couldn't keep his eyes off. After one amazing night they each went on their life's journey yet wondered and hoped that fate would bring them together again. Enter the small town of Jubilee, Kentucky. Cameron Pope has returned from his time in the service and lives a quiet and somewhat lonely life even though he is surrounded by family. When a man kidnaps his niece, he jumps into action to bring her safely home. That case ties into something that the FBI has been looking into so Special Agent Rusty Caldwell is sent in to investigate if this abducted child has anything to do with the many missing women from that area. Rusty often wondered about her "Soldier Boy" and is thrilled to find him in Jubilee. These two pair up and go undercover to see what is going on in this mountainside resort town. I loved the characters, action, suspense and heart of Don't Back Down. I hope that there are more stories to tell in Jubilee because I don't want this to be the end! It was told from dual POV and I recommend this to all fans of romantic suspense.

Don't back down takes you into the life of a FBI undercover agent. The characters will enchant you as she reunites with a man from her past. They find themselves involved in a case and their love deepens.