Never disappointing. Never duplicated. Creatively penned by Sharon Sala DON’T BACK DOWN gets right down to business. The business of federal investigation, kidnapping, money laundering, human trafficking. And the list grows exponentially with each turn of the page.

I often skim over a book after I have read it to get ideas for my review. After reentering the world of DON’T BACK DOWN I was immediately flooded with images. That’s the kind of story it is. Images, people, dialog, and circumstances.

Federal investigation of a possible kidnapping, child selling ring hits home in DON’T BACK DOWN. The main characters have lived in Jubilee Kentucky for generations making these hills and forests their home. When Cameron Pope is discharged from the military, he went to live in his family’s home with his ever-faithful companion Ghost. Ghost is a monster of a dog and had helped keep Cameron alive during his tours of duty, still always alert for dangers.

Living in a mountainous community seems an unlikely place for this kind of crime, but crime is insidious. And when Cameron’s three years old niece Lili is taken from her crib by a man who escaped from jail it candidly surprised everyone. This man was in jail for raping Rachel Cameron’s sister.

But the FBI has been keeping an eye on these seemingly random events. Sent to help with the investigation is Agent Rusty Caldwell. As fate would have it Rusty and Cameron already met once before for a very brief interlude. The kind where you only know nothing about each other. Rusty demanded that. And now that we know what she does it makes sense. Rusty goes undercover to seek out potential victims of crimes. She just barely escaped alive from her last assignment. And now she is in Jubilee.

Pope, Glass, and Cauley families abound in these mountains. They are bound together and when needed they are a force of nature. It was natural to rush to help and become part of the search for Lili.

Next up is the arrival of men in black suits, the FBI have come to Jubilee. They are tracking down suspects in a kidnapping ring. We get to know all the particulars, I guess so we can now play amateur detectives. Rusty is sent as a lure for this kidnapping ring that targets single women to ferret out young men to do the dirty work. Nab and grab. Kill the parents, get the young girls, young boys, and babies. Human trafficking it seems has touched down somewhere in Jubilee.

As for PCG Inc., some may think that is a huge stretch of the imagination but there is a basis in fact for those that are curious. In NJ there is a community of homes whose owners lease the land from the church that owns it. The lease is about 100 years or so. You buy the house; you lease the land. And you are required to follow their guidelines. Art imitating life.

Sharon Sala once again pulls out all the stops in DON’T BACK DOWN. Teaches an important lesson, no place is safe and secure. Her characters are larger than life, including a huge dog named Ghost, but so realistic that they appear alive. Through situational events and dialog Sharon Sala puts the reader right in the middle of all the drama. Plenty of ah ha moments as the culprits are uncovered. Fans of Sharon Sala are going to love DON’T BACK DOWN, which just may be my favorite. This author has command of words and events and page by page includes the reader searching for the leader of this horrific kidnapping ring. DON’T BACK DOWN is a crime adventure written by the master.

Romantic Suspense is one of my types of story and this book had a nice mix of romance and suspense for me. Rusty is sent to Jubillee undercover and discovers her contact in town is the man she spent one amazing night with 5 years ago and she has never forgotten him. Cameron has never forgotten her either and is delighted to find his angel again. They work together to bring down a trafficking ring. There are plenty of twists and turns along the way and lots of viable suspects. I loved how good Rusty was at her job and that Cameron supported her in every way possible, His dog Ghost was a great addition to the story. I’m not usually a big fan of instant love, but did enjoy it in this story. I was a little confused by how much of the story was spent on Rusty’s family. Maybe the author wanted to show her family as Cameron’s large extended family are probably going to feature in further books? It was a little lovey/dove for me at times, but on the whole I really enjoyed the story.

Rusty is assigned to go undercover on a case involving human trafficking. She discovers that a man she had a one night stand with 5 years ago lives in the town. She hasn’t been able to forget him. They end up working together. Their investigation takes them down many paths that all seem to lead to dead ends. The book was a solid read with plenty of suspense. My only problem was the romance, it moved way too quickly for me. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Sala writes a fine tale of romantic suspense in a small Kentucky mountain town where tight-laced clans abound, and outsiders are looked upon with suspicion. Five years ago, two strangers, 24-year-old Rusty Caldwell and 29-year-old departing soldier Cameron Pope share a night of passion before he ships out to Afghanistan without sharing names. The author would have you believe that for the next five years, they are both ruined for other people, but it is a romance novel so the reader must suspend belief and accept this truth.

Now five years later Cameron has returned home from the war to Jubilee, Kentucky. Along with his trusty dog Ghost, he’s thrown into a manhunt for his kidnapped young niece and right into the search for human traffickers. When the FBI sends help, he is suddenly reunited with the beautiful redhead he has not been able to forget for the last five years. Now they must put aside their strong feelings for each other and work to find the traffickers before they kidnap someone else.

For the most point, I enjoyed the book, the mystery, and the suspense. I did have a bit of trouble buying into the instant romance, however, if a Cameron Pope came into my life, I might throw all caution to the wind and go for it!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest opinion. I gave it three stars.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Cameron who has ben i the military will uw al his skills to find his neice who has been kidnapped. He later meets a one night stand from his past who works for the fbi. I have read most of Sharon Sala's book and enjoyed this one too. I cant wait to read your next book.

This is easily Sharon Sala’s best so far, in my humble opinion. I was quite engrossed and the Kindle followed me around the house so that I could sneak in a read whenever I could. It’s very well written!

My one complaint is the way the romance started. Not very romantic nor realistic.

I liked that the theme of human trafficking was highlighted as we know that it is a real and very serious evil in our sick world today.

I hope this is the start of a new series. I look forward to reading more.

Content: A few instances of intimacy and rough language.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for providing a copy of Don’t Back Down for review.

In Don’t Back Down, an army veteran from a small Kentucky mountain town doesn’t know how he’ll find the spectacular woman he spent a night with again until five years later he discovers she’s a dedicated FBI agent, niece of one of the wealthiest families in town. Cameron and Rusty partner together to take down a human trafficking ring, and to rekindle the flame of their original meeting.

I enjoyed the concept of this book. The thought of women and children being snatched from a benign mountain town and being sold to human traffickers is terrifying and we all want someone like Rusty, Cameron and his amazing German Shepherd Ghost hunting down the bad guys. I enjoyed looking into rural life in the mountains, and the dynamic of a small tourist town. The plot for the thriller portion of the novel was well thought out and the characterizations of all involved were vivid.. I was cheering for Rusty and Cam the entire time and enjoyed watching their relationship develop. Their was a strong balance between the romance and thriller plot lines throughout.

I was a little surprised, that the narrative followed the plot points of the crime more than it followed Cameron and Rusty. For someone who’s used to reading romantic suspense with single or dual POV’s, I was quite surprised by the amount of point of views in this book. All of them were relevant to the storyline, but I didn’t feel like I was able to get to know Rusty and Cam as deeply as I’ve liked. While I thought the premise for the book was excellent, it didn’t deliver the compulsive page turning result I hope for from thrillers. It felt like the crime would get solved in it’s own due time, and especially after the first 25% of the book, I never had a strong sense of impending danger in relation to the crime or the romance. Overall an entertaining read. 4/5 stars.

They never forgot their one night stand. Now, they must work together to bring a human trafficking ring down.

Army veteran Cameron Pope has returned home to Jubilee, Kentucky, with his canine former partner at his side. He enjoys the peace of his family’s mountainside home until the night his sister is attacked in her home and her young daughter is taken. He and the rest of his extended family immediately start to search, not having much faith that the local police will act in time. Cameron and his dog Ghost are able to track down the kidnapper and rescue his niece, but that is just the beginning. The FBI, meanwhile, suspects that the disappearance of several women in that part of the country may be connected, and want to imbed one of their agents to quietly look into things. Agent Rusty Caldwell, known for her keen investigatory skills and her aggressive pursuit of justice, is the perfect candidate. Her uncle and his family own a hotel in Jubilee, so she has the perfect cover. It also just so happens that years ago, when Cameron was about to ship out for overseas duty, he and Rusty met in a hotel lobby and shared a night together. They purposefully didn’t exchange names, knowing that this was a one-night thing, but both have regretted not being able to reconnect ever since. With Cameron tapped by the FBI to support their agent, will he and Rusty have the chance for which both have spent years wishing? Can Rusty, with Cameron’s help, figure out what has happened to the missing women? Is their disappearance related to the thwarted kidnapping attempt? Author Sharon Sala’s new book, the first in a new series, features two strong and appealing characters, an intriguing mystery, and more than a few plot twists to keep things interesting. Fans of her other books, as well as those who enjoy the Catherine Coulter FBI series, will enjoy this quick read. Many thanks to NetGalley and to Sourcebooks Casablanca for the advanced reader’s copy

I really enjoyed this novel. This is a romantic thriller. It is an exciting read with many twists and turns. The characters are well developed and likeable. My only issue was that the romance moved too quickly for me.
Overall an enjoyable, quick read!

Do you believe in love at first sight? That's what happened the first time Cameron and Rusty laid eyes on each other. One magic night together before Cameron shipped out and their fates were sealed. Neither could ever think of anyone else. Both believed they could never recreate that magic with anyone else so why try. They accepted they would be alone forever. 5 years late, Cameron was brought in to assist with an FBI investigation on his mountain. The Agent in Charge - his dream girl, Rusty. Ahh, destiny. This book has mystery, intrigue, and romance. I have been a fan of Sharon Sala's since the beginning of her career and have read every book. Each one is different. Each better than the one before although I don't know how that is possible. Her creativity is remarkable. She is truly a master of words. She creates closeknit communities that you wish you were a part of. Her towns are scenic, and you want to live there or at least visit. And her love stories? Every girl dreams of a real-life Sharon Sala romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this advanced review copy. In return, I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Cameron and Rusty meet one night before Cameron ships out to serve his country. Their chance meet leaves each with beautiful memories as they never even exchanged names and never in their wildest dreams did they think they’d get to meet up again. Fast forward a few years when much to his surprise Cameron meets Rusty again in her FBI liaison role while working a case in his hometown. Their reunion comes about for a heart wrenching reason, but it’s as if they never left each other and the heat starts to build instantly. Cameron and his service dog Ghost are highly skilled thanks to Uncle Sam and they are the support and back up that Rusty needs during her investigation into human traffickers. I’ll be honest there were many a moments where my eyes were tearing but the beauty of the characters, especially the two leads is so amazing that you’ll be racing through the book at lightening speed as you try to figure out who are “the bad guys.” This is another great suspenseful romance by this author. For those new to Ms Sala’s books she never fails to create such wonderful and inviting characters that leave you wanting to meet them in real life. This is definitely more suspenseful and action packed than steamy but the intensity between Cameron and Rusty is amazing, with lots of amazing supporting characters ( I’ll be honest in the beginning there are a lot of people that you’ll meet so don’t get overwhelmed ), and Ghost, well he’s a character in his own right. I highly recommend this story but be aware the trafficking subject matter, while beautifully written may be too much for some. Still 5 stars, must read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an arc copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Oh my gosh, this book is amazing. The start of the book makes you want to continue. Then, the danger of what Rusty is doing and that she is an FBI agent draws you in. But it's not until her second mission that the book has you totally sucked in. This book has mystery, thriller, suspense, love, and romance. I cried, I laughed, I had oh my gosh moments where I had to stop and take a second to get my bearings. I had moments where I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to know what next. Let's just say I didn't see who was responsible coming at all, and I was totally shocked. I absolutely loved the ending and how everything was wrapped up. It doesn't make you sit and wonder what happened to everyone they give you the facts and finish the book beautifully. I'm so in love with this book. Thank you to Netgalley and Sharon Sala for allowing me to read it early. I'm so impressed.

I just loved Cameron and Rusty.They are both fierce, determined, and have huge hearts. Ghost is awesome too. The book is chock full of suspense. The writing is incredible. I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

I really like Sharon's books. The stories she weaves with characters and families across generations is always really well done with every intricate detail thought of. I look forward to more in this series,

This book will keep you guessing. It kept me guessing for sure. The book hit the ground running. Kept me invested every step of the way. The beginning got a little confusing introducing all the characters but made mouth transitions between them. Once that was established it was much easier to read. A long lost romance was found again. And the way Cameron treated his woman is every woman’s dream!!! Loved this book!!! This was a new author for me but will definitely be reading more and following this new series and the author introduces new books!

So much happened in, Don't Back Down. There is constantly changes with who is talking that I really had to concentrate to keep it straight. Never a dull chapter, there was always something happening.

I am a longtime fan of Sharon Sala. I saw her name I knew I had to dive in and read her new book. Her writing is just that good . She does such an amazing good of luring you in and making you send the entire day head first in an adventure. Her writing style is one of my all time favorites!

Soldier Boy and Angel connect for one night and don’t see each other again for 5 years. A child is kidnapped and it’s sets off the mystery. I suspected all the wrong people and was surprised at the villain. Loved all the characters and I hope this is just the beginning of a new series. I love all Sharon Sala’s books and this was no exception. Great read that I didn’t want to put down.

Rusty and Cameron meet and connect and then don't see each other for five years. When they meet again Rusty, an FBI agent, visits relatives while recuperating and finds herself in the middle of a case. She never expected that the case would involve Cameron though. Lots of twists and turns, mixed with a beautiful love story.

Fast paced. Gritting and gripping, this one delivers!

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca, for the advance reading copy.

This is the first book of a new romance suspense series which I feel would go a long way!

This is the story of Rusty and Cameron, an army veteran. Cameron’s little niece gets kidnapped and he’s got to save her. However, things don’t end there. He has to stop and take down a human trafficking ring that gets revealed when he tries saving his niece.

I would tell you not to expect the book to start with the romance right away (which I regretted doing so!). The romance is good when it happens. It’s the second half that has all the best parts of the book. I would say you can read this as a standalone as the ending wraps up pretty well.

Trigger warnings for assault and violence.

The writing is so good and the characters are quite realistic.