I used to live for the stories in books but lately I don't seem to be able to concentrate. Part of it of course is that many of the authors I once enjoyed are not writing or passing on sad to say. Then comes along a story like this that reassures me that I do still love reading.  The story is compelling and will keep you glued to the seat of your chair as it plays on all your emotions especially the nail-biting suspense. 
Dani has a stalker, a guy she dated once who didn't take rejection lightly and now, she's being stalked by two of them, identical twins. When her suspicions are proved true, she decides to flee the scene of the crime and gets a job as far away as she can. Lo and behold she hasn't even settled in when she spots a suspicious guy who leaves behind a mysterious package. She's too good a citizen not to take it to the local police even though she wants nothing better than to live in obscurity. 
Aaron is the newest police officer on the block. He and his family have moved to Pope Mountain after his mother killer her abusive husband, his father. He is tasked with the job of being the liaison with Dani on this case which seems to be tied in with a young boy, a distant cousin of Aaron's who's been shot and left for dead on the mountain. 
It seems that Dani isn't out of danger herself as a phone call from her past warns her. Aaron appoints himself her protector both from the stalking situation as well as in helping her stay undercover on the near murder on Pope Mountain. The story plays out a thrilling merging of the past and the current and of course romance with a capital R.  
No one writes small town communities better than Ms. Sala. The plot is so well crafted that it gets it teeth into you and doesn't let go until the happily ever after. An absolute winner that I thoroughly enjoyed.

When a family is treated like outcasts, a call with both sad news and a chance for new beginnings leads Shirley Wallace and her four sons to move back to Jubilee, Kentucky, where Shirley grew up among her kin.

Jubilee is also where Dani has decided to start over and heal from her trauma.

Dani's discovery of a discarded object and her decision to hand it over to the police sets off a series of events, that will alter the course of her life and ultimately unveil the hidden history of the Pope family.

This story is about having courage in the face of adversity, a sweet romance, leaning on community, and most of all family. I enjoyed the subplots, along with the mystery.

I received an advance reader copy and voluntarily read and reviewed this book.

Having finally escaped an abusive husband, Shirley Pope Wallace and her four sons return to the family home in Jubilee. Ready to start over again, they find themselves wrapped in the warmth of extended family. Aaron, the oldest son, is excited to once again be serving as a police officer when he is offered a job with the Jubilee police department.

Dani Owens is looking for a fresh start of her own. Though she wants nothing more than to quietly live her life, she unwittingly finds herself in the middle of a police investigation. Aaron is intrigued by Dani. He can tell she’s keeping a secret. But that won’t stop him when the threat she was running from jeopardizes the new life she’s building.

I’ve been reading Sharon Sala for years. I admire the way the ways she crafts well rounded, compelling characters that draw the reader into the story. Here, the family ties forge automatic bonds between the characters, driving the emotion and action. The author skillfully blends a series of intertwined storylines to create a suspenseful tale that starts with an attempted murder and ends with a long unsolved mystery the family is determined to solve. The rapid pace of the story just carried me along until the end came much too soon.

The family ties that bind the Pope family are tight, very tight and when something tragic happens to one, they all pitch in to help and solve the problem. Family is what is at the heart of this series and what drives this book. That and a sweet romance between two people who have been scared by their pasts. Throw in a treasure hunt and the story told in an old family journal you have a book that holds your interest and more.

When Shirley Wallace and her son's lives are upended by her husband's actions, she and her four adult sons move to the resort town of Jubilee, Kentucky (think Branson, MO) and change their names to Shirley's maiden name of Pope, leaving the tragedy in Arkansas behind them. Her son Aaron's wife left him, he was fired from his job, and he is looking for a new start without the taint of his father's actions. The Pope family welcomes them to Pope Mountain, and Aaron is hired as a police officer in Jubilee. Then a teen Pope cousin, is shot on the mountain at the Big Falls and left. Aaron, as a law officer, is determined that the case be investigated properly and justice.

Daniella “Dani” Owens is a teacher with secrets of her own. She sees a man fall in the creek parking lot, quickly gather his scattered things and leave in a hurry. Dani finds what turns out to be a very old journal and gives it to the police requesting that her name not be disclosed, not wanting to be tracked to Jubilee. Too late. Dani's past has followed her to Jubilee and Aaron is smitten by the beautiful, cautious teacher who found a piece of Pope Family history and is now in danger.

My thanks to the Publisher and Author for providing a complimentary digital Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this novel via NetGalley. This is my fair, honest and personal review. All opinions are mine alone and were not biased in any way.

This story got me in its grip and I could not put it down. Aaron and Dani just fit together and the way Sharon Sala brings this story together is amazing. I love revisiting past characters and towns and no one writes them better! I can’t wait for the next story!

This is an interesting book, I'd categorize it as a romantic family drama/suspense? There are lots of plot points, many side characters with their own storylines, with the central arc of family running between them all. I found the romance to be sweet, albeit a little stereotypical. I liked the small town aspect particularly, and how all the characters intertwined. It was action packed enough to keep the pages flipping quickly. I enjoyed the read and would absolutely read another installment in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

"Last Rites" by Sharon Sala is a book that immediately captivated me, assuring me that it would be a worthwhile and engrossing story. From the start, I was drawn into the Pope family's world, and this book, with its action, heartbreak, and deep emotions, did not disappoint. The book takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, evoking a range of feelings. I found myself shedding tears, swooning, and laughing throughout the pages. While "Last Rites" can be read as a stand-alone novel, I would highly recommend reading the books in order to fully appreciate the background and dynamics of the Pope family. Doing so adds an extra layer of richness to the story and enhances the overall reading experience.

Small town with big heart….

I am hooked on this author’s stories! This is the second visit to Jubilee and I was thrilled to know the Pope family was back! Newcomers Aaron and his family went through he$$ to get there and what they found was a fresh start and supportive kin to help them along the way… Just what they, and it turns out newcomer Dani, needed so much….

The drama was high, as usual, yet it always felt so real. Not reality show real but wild situations with common sense solutions – or at least tackling of the problems. Aaron and Dani were at the center of a crazy storm but they came together out of protectiveness and a healthy dose of attraction. Not the perfect time to find each other with shootings and stalkers afoot. I will say one thing, if they could survive this, their relationship could survive anything! And I was sure cheering them on….

Do I admit I’ve read this already three times? The perfect pick me up with great characters and a straight-forward approach to life with a healthy splash of love thrown in.

There are more Pope brothers and I really hope they have stories of their own!

Last Rites by Sharon Sala was an excellent book that I highly enjoyed reading. It was the story of Aaron Pope and Dani Owen’s and how two people who have lived through really messed up past find each other and find a way to heal together with all some craziness going on around them.
Even though this book is told in a ton of people’s perspectives and you know who all the bad guys are and there really is not that much of a mystery going on this is a very good book by Sala that keeps the reader’s attention and is just an overall feel good book.
I am giving Last Rites five out of five stars.

Shirley Wallace and her 4 sons are at last free of her ex-husband. They move to Pope Mountain after her mother dies; and change their last name to Pope. Aaron is the oldest and lost his job and wife after his father went to prison.
Dani has moved to Jubilee after her Ex-boyfriend went to prison for trying to murder her. She is a 1st grade teacher. She sees a man coming up from the creek and he falls and drops a gun, shovel, and a journal. She takes the journal to the police department. She meets Aaron at the police station.
There is a story of a shooting; treasure hunting; stalking and looking for a missing woman. This is book two and it would help if you read it first. I loved this book and Sharon ties all the people together and solves all the question in this book.

There is a lot that is happening in this book. Danie moves to Kentucky after a harrowing situation with an ex, who began stalking her, and while she isn't aware of it, someone else is after her. She meets Aaron when she finds some lost property, an integral part of a current investigation. There are a few other mysteries and action-packed moments that aren't mentioned in the synopsis so I don't want to get too detailed, but Aarons and Dani's relationship is super sweet, there was tension and suspense and I would definitely be interested in seeing who the next book is going to follow.

Sharon Sala takes us back to Jubilee Kentucky for the second book in this series and it was just as wonderful as the first book, but with Ms. Sala’s book, each is a standalone. Known for writing small town romances, this series has more of a romantic suspense element to it. Aaron has moved back to his grandmother’s house along with his mother and 3 brothers to live on the Pope mountain outside Jubilee where most of the clan lives. They are all starting a new life and Aaron has become a Jubilee policeman. He meets first grade teacher, Dani, who has also moved to Jubilee to escape her past. A great romance and a fun story to read with an interesting storyline. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

Another thrilling visit to Jubilee, Kentucky. Shirley Wallace Pope returns to the mountains with her four sons, after her husband nearly killed her. Inheriting her family home will be a new beginning for a family who was destroyed by their father’s actions. Her son Aaron is able to continue his career when he is hired by the Jubilee Police Department. Dani Owens left Louisiana for a teaching job in Jubilee after surviving death threats from a man she had dated. Barely arriving in town, she learns that a young boy has been shot and she may have seen the shooter. A man fled from town leaving behind a journal that fell to the ground. The journal is a history of the Pope family which will lead them on a search to find out what happened to one of their ancestors. As the search for the shooter continues, Aaron pledges to protect Dani and the fear for her life is compounded when she learns that the man who tried to kill her has a twin…a twin who plans on finishing the job. As a slow attraction develops between Aaron and Dani, will she ever be safe again? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

Last Rites by Sharon Sala, book two in the Jubilee, Kentucky series, is a wonderful heartwarming and heartbreaking romantic suspense in a small Kentucky mountain town, where tight-laced clans abound, and outsiders are looked upon with suspicion. Shirley Pope Wallace and her four adult sons leave a life of hate and persecution after her abusive husband is convicted for murdering two store employees in their Arkansas town. All of them lost their jobs in Arkansas due to her husband’s misdeeds, and Aaron’s wife of a few months leaves him. Shirley inherited her late mother’s house in Jubilee, Kentucky and hoping to start again they decide to return to their familial roots on Pope Mountain. To further distance themselves from the scandal, they all legally change their last name to her maiden name, Pope. After a grand welcome by the Pope family, the boys start looking for employment; Aaron is once again a police officer, and his brothers are finding their own ways as well.

A young boy is shot on the mountain and left for dead. A short time later, Daniella “Dani” Owens, a second-grade teacher who relocated to Jubilee from Louisiana, sees a man stumble into the town parking lot and fall. He seems to be in a big hurry to leave; gathering the dropped belongings as gets in his car and drives away. Dani notices something on the ground where the car was parked and goes to see what it is. Finding a Civil War-era journal she turns it over to the police. Dani wants to remain anonymous if possible, especially after traumatic events that caused her move to Jubilee. It turns out the journal is telling of the history of the Pope family on the mountain. While a young boy fights for his life in the hospital, the search is on for the shooter, Dani’s life is in danger from a stalker from the life she left behind, and mysteries involving the first Pope family are brought to light. Aaron becomes involved in the investigation of hisyoung cousin’s shooting and meets the attractive Dani. Once he realizes that she may be in danger, he sets himself up as her protector. Chance, fate or destiny, Aaron and Dani find the love and acceptance they both deserved while they assist the police in tracking down the shooter and solving the old mystery surrounding the Pope matriarch; all while the danger that followed Dani to Kentucky finds a deserving end. Cameron Pope, Rusty, and Ghost and his large extended family were introduced in Don’t Back Down and served as minor characters throughout this story.

Sharon Sala has a gift for entwining multiple characters and storylines while still keeping the main plot the center focus of the book. Somehow she is able to blend and connect all of the characters, provide a back-story and share enough information to know what's going on and where each character is coming from. I highly recommend Last Rites, a must read, to other readers and look forward to more stories featuring the Pope brothers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

So I guess it is okay to wonder why Sharon Sala would author a book entitled LAST RITES. The story is about Shirley Pope and her sons who return to Jubilee after the husband and father is put away for killing two people. This man was not a good man. Shirley had been dealt a bad hand when she married him, but she was left with the gift of four fabulous sons. Oldest son Aaron had left behind his career as a policeman when the family relocated to Jubilee. Now in Jubilee Aaron is jumpstarting his life by joining the local police department.

In a small town like Jubilee you would not expect a robust police force, but the town is a tourist magnet. And so crime is not as rare as they would like it.

LAST RITES is the newest installment in a series that concentrates on member of three close families that basically own Jubilee. Their goal is to keep control of the land and maintain the family core values. Jubilee is owned and operated by a corporation, at least that what none family members think.

Now there seems to be an element of some violent crimes that have popped up. First a young boy Charlie is shot while innocently running to the creek to cool off. Charlie is basically left for dead. The population of Jubilee is bristling over this fact. Then a young woman Dani relocates to Jubilee for a teaching position. But Dani is escaping possible vengeance from the twin of a man in jail. Dani was attached by one brother and now stalked by the twin. Jubilee was to be her safe harbor. Dani innocently witnessed some events connected to Charlie’s shooting.

Dani had instantly caught the attention of Aaron who realized there was some deep-rooted issue. Perhaps it was his cop instinct or maybe an ill-timed attraction. Either case Aaron became Dani’s protector.

Throughout LAST RITES we are part of an investigation that searches deep to connect the dots. No motive for the shooting. No clear identity of the shooter. Except we, the reader, know exactly who it is. Now it is up to Aaron and the various crime investigators to figure out this puzzle. The ultimate goal is finding who shot Charlie and why. But along the way Sharon Sala brings to the forefront the possibility of another crime that occurred generations past in the Pope family.

Its why that is part of the genius of Sharon Sala. But you know I am not going to shed any light on that. Suffice it to say LAST RITES is a doozy of a book that provides many amazing moments. Glorious insight into the building of this town from it’s beginning as a way west for travelers. Good deal of native American folklore thrown in for good measure. In short LAST RITES is classic Sharon Sala and a wondrous addition to her already vast book list.

LAST RITES – Sharon Sala
Sourcebooks Casablanca
ISBN: 978-1-7282-5857-7
July 11, 2023
Romantic Suspense

Jubilee, Kentucky – Present Day

First off, reading a Sharon Sala book is like a spoked wheel. There are several stories that are interlinked to the central plot. In LAST RITES, the center is the legend of the crying woman on Pope Mountain. Who is she, and why is she haunting the mountain?

Shirley Pope and her four adult sons left Arkansas and settled in her late mother’s home on Pope Mountain. Shirley’s now ex-husband had beat her up and then killed two people He is now sitting in prison but she and her boys plan to start a new life in Jubilee. The mountain is inhabited by several generations of Popes, and they support each other. The town of Jubilee sits below Pope Mountain, and unknown to the general population is that the Popes own the land the town sits on and collects the rent that goes to the Pope Family corporation.

Aaron Pope gets hired by the local police department. After a little boy is shot on Pope Mountain and left for dead, everyone is determined to find the mysterious shooter. A woman, Dani, comes to the police station shortly afterward and tells them about a man in a backpack with a metal detector who dropped a gun and a book. Unfortunately, he left the book behind when he fled, and Dani, who witnessed the man falling, brings the book to the police. Because this all happened in the vicinity of the shooting, they suspect it is connected.

Dani has a harrowing past of her own. Her ex-boyfriend tried to kill her, and though he is in prison, she decided to relocate to a new town. Jubilee needed a teacher and here she is. Then Dani gets a phone call from her ex’s mother. Her other son is in Jubilee, and she suspects that he is there to cause harm to Dani. After telling Aaron about it, he decides to move in with her while they wait for the man to make his move.

The book that was found is determined to be an old diary belonging to Brenden Pope, the long-dead head of the family. In 1864, his wife, Meg, mysteriously disappeared. Legend has it that she was likely killed by Confederate soldiers who were on the mountain to hide gold they had in their possession. The gold—and Meg—was never found. The man who shot the little boy had apparently read the book while at his job at the Library of Congress and decided to try and find the gold. Now he is scared that he will be arrested for attempted murder.

All the plots tie into each other as it leads to the mystery of what happened to Meg. Aaron and Dani soon fall in love as they spend more time together. She is the one who found the diary and is fearful that the mysterious man who shot the boy will come after her. Then add in that there is someone actually out there who might hurt her—her ex’s brother—she is right to feel jumpy. But Aaron will be by her side to protect her.

Aaron’s three brothers are also part of LAST RITES but for the most part, they only play small roles in the background. There are also numerous characters with their own point of view, but it would be too many to list. The author jumps around from viewpoint to viewpoint, but it isn’t too difficult to follow. The main theme is family, love, and allowing God into your life. By the end of LAST RITES, there will be many storylines completed satisfactorily and a happily-ever-after for most.

While the suspense is low on the scare scale, readers will keep wanting to read to find out how everything is resolved. An entertaining and intriguing tale, you won’t want to miss LAST RITES.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

A near tragedy brings two wounded people together and reveals a family mystery. Inheriting the family home on Pope Mountain was a blessing for Aaron and his family. A new start they desperately needed. After surviving a stalker, Dani moves to Jubilee for a fresh start but is immediately caught in the middle of a crime which brings her and Aaron together. Protecting Dani draws them closer together and their feelings for each other grow.

They are both strong characters who do not allow the tragedies of their pasts to define them. The story is about relationships, not just Dani and Aaron but of the entire Pope family. The solving of a family mystery takes up as much of the story and the relationship between Dani and Aaron.

Wow! I loved this latest journey to Pope mountain. These characters are fantastic. There's mystery, action, suspense, romance, and so much heart in this story. I was hooked from the first page and read it in one sitting. I can't wait to visit this community again!

Captivating storyline. Secrets of the past are present in the current world as the Pope family tries to find what happened to Meg, Brendon Pope's wife. She went missing during the Confederate era and it has been an unsolved mystery ever since. An attempted murder in the exact spot where Meg disappeared leads to clues that may help solve the centuries old mystery. Aaron Pope agrees to go undercover and protect Dani Owens from a deranged madman. But Dani may be the key to solving the current murder and Meg's long-ago disappearance if Aaron can keep her alive.
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.

Dani moved to Jubilee to start over after a relationship that had gone wrong, in a most horrifying manner. Aaron moved “home” with his family for a fresh start. Both had horrible experiences and neither was looking or a relationship but somehow they just clicked. This is book two in the author’s Pope Mountain series ( I highly, highly recommend reading book one) and another sweet romance by this author. Those of you familiar with her stories know it’s more than just the two leads involved and her supporting character list is immense but they seem so real life that you’ll feel like you really know them. While the romance aspect is soft there is a lot of drama, a bit of mystery and some action in the story that has you wanting to read it all in one sitting and they way these intense story arcs are written is so sensitive and beautifully crafted that you may need a tissue close at hand. My only complaint is that in some sections it seemed like it was more about the family stories than Dani and Aaron. Overall a great read and I can’t wait to see who’s next. 4.25 stars. I received and arc copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.