Shirley Wallace and her four sons return to her childhood home on Pope Mountain in Jubilee, Kentucky, where she has a lot of family, hoping to start new lives. They all legally change their last names to Pope. Aaron has once again become 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. Who could have done such a thing? A short time later, Dani Owens, a new resident, sees a man stumble into the parking lot and fall. He seems to be in a big hurry to leave. He gathers the belongings he dropped, 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. She finds an old journal and decides to turn it over to the police. Dani wants to remain anonymous if possible after traumatic events she left behind before moving to Jubilee.

It turns out the journal is a part 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 Pope family are brought to light.

Loved this story!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

It's the first I read in this series and it can be read as a stand alone. It's a well plotted romantic suspence: there's the right mix of heartwarming story and thriller.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine

Shirley Wallace left her home on Pope Mountain years before, and life hadn't been easy for her and her 4 sons. Now, with her husband in prison, and divorced she is so ready to leave the past behind. They find their way to Jubilee, Kentucky to move back to Shirley's old family homestead and back into the loving arms of the very large Pope Mountain family. At the same time, Dani Owens, the new first grade teacher, also arrives in Jubilee. She too left behind a very unsettling experience and is looking to start anew. Events occur which involve Dani, an attempted murder, a journal, and a threat on Dani's life. This brings Dani and Aaron Wallace together as he looks out for her while also, as a police officer, works on solving who was behind the attempted murder of a Pope family member. Sala, as always, does so well bringing in a family's heritage and respect for each other, as I've seen in past novels. Anyone would want to be taken in as a member of the loving Pope family. With the Wallace family's stories, along with plenty of suspense and action until the resolution of several story lines, your interest will keep you wondering how things will come together in the end. I hope Sala has more stories of Wallace and Pope family members as there are surely more stories to tell. Definitely Last Rites is a must read.

Shirley and her sons are looking for a fresh start. When Shirley’s Mother dies she leaves them the family home on Pope Mountain. The mountain is full of Pope relatives who welcome them with open arms. This is part of a series but could be read as a stand alone. The characters are likable and the story will hold your interest. This is a perfect vacation book. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

Sharon Sala delivers another outstanding story.

Last Rites takes us back to Pope Mountain, where everyone living there is family and no matter what happens they’ve got each others backs.

In this story you get stalking, murder, and old mystery, putting the past to rest and of course family and finding love.

I cannot get enough of this authors writing. She writes exceptional characters and thrilling storylines.

Last Rites is the second book in the Jubilee, Kentucky series, but can be read as a standalone. However, I recommend reading the first book Don’t Back Down because it was excellent.

Years of abuse and no hope, lives shattered - but the love of family and friends, new life and love, and family secrets revealed all come together. A good vacation read.

Shirley Pope Wallace and her sons have had a rough go of things recently and now that her mother has passed away and left them the family home they are going to restart their lives on Pope Mountain in Jubilee. Aaron has lost his wife and career through no fault of his own and doesn't have much hope anymore but he doesn't realize what Pope Mountain and all of his distant relatives are going to do to help his family get not only their lives back but a better life than any of them could imagine! At the same time elementary school teacher Dani Owens needs a fresh start for her life. She has had a relationship turn all kinds of awful and needs to get as far away from the city she lives in and the horrible memories attached to it

. She takes a job in Jubilee but a new kind of trouble falls into her lap. Dani and Aaron's paths cross and it truly is what they both need and deserve. I really like this series and it is not necessary to read the first book Don't Back Down but there are many supporting characters that are featured in both books so I do recommend reading it to get the most enjoyment out of the series. Last Rites was told from multiple POV and was funny, sweet, inspirational and full of love.

This is the second book of the Jubilee Kentucky series but can be read as a stand alone.

I loved the story of Aaron and Dani, bringing two people with trust issues together while solving the old mystery of a Pope ancestor. Some old characters from the previous book make a welcome appearance, especially continuing the story of Cameron and Rusty. I love this series, the tempo and pacing of the books are fast, while the story is complex. I can't wait to continue to read more!!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

I am loving this new Jubilee series by Sharon Sala more than I can describe! Shirley Pope Wallace and her sons have had a rough go of things recently and now that her mother has passed away and left them the family home they are going to restart their lives on Pope Mountain in Jubilee. Aaron has lost his wife and career through no fault of his own and doesn't have much hope anymore but he doesn't realize what Pope Mountain and all of his distant relatives are going to do to help his family get not only their lives back but a better life than any of them could imagine! At the same time elementary school teacher Dani Owens needs a fresh start for her life. She has had a relationship turn all kinds of awful and needs to get as far away from the city she lives in and the horrible memories attached to it. She takes a job in Jubilee but a new kind of trouble falls into her lap. Dani and Aaron's paths cross and it truly is what they both need and deserve. I really like this series and it is not necessary to read the first book Don't Back Down but there are many supporting characters that are featured in both books so I do recommend reading it to get the most enjoyment out of the series. Last Rites was told from multiple POV and was funny, sweet, inspirational and full of love.

The second book in the new Jubilee series introduces a new family to the mountain. I loved all the new characters and how they connected with ones from the first book. I loved Aaron and Dani’s stories, and hope this series continues for a long time. Highly recommended.

Jubilee, Kentucky is home to the Pope family for many generations. Shirley Pope Wallace faces tragedy in her life and decides to move her and her sons back to Pope Mountain where she grew up. Shirley and her four sons thrive in the community. Oldest son Aaron resumes his career as a police officer and comes to the aid of a new resident, Dani Owens. Dani is the only witness to a crime that shakes the foundation of the close knit community. Through determination and family courage, past hurts are finally put to rest.

Highly enjoyed this riveting story! Susan Sala's stories draw me in and the time flies until the story is over.

This book is the second in a series but it also works well as a stand alone book. This book has lovable characters including a dog named Ghost. This book is heartwarming and comes full circle. Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Thank you for the ARC Copy

Aaron and his family have move home to Pope Mountain. After living with the stigma of their fathers last name when he went to prison they have taken back their moms maiden name and made a life in her family home. Being welcomed by all of the family members has made them all feel whole again. When Dani sees someone acting strange and takes an old journal to the police she found when the man left she is put right in the middle of a crime. Dani has her own traumatic past she is trying to escape and this has left her smack in the middle of something she wants no part of but knows it is the right thing to do.
I loved this book and hope that Ms. Sala continues the saga of the Pope family.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Aaron and his family have had a rough year. When his grandmother passes, they decide to move to Kentucky. While their they meet family they never met. When a child is shot, Aaron and the police department have their hands full. Dani cones to the police station, to drop off something she1 found a1nd unknowingly saw the man shot the child. I enjoyed this book an1d can't wait to read her next one.

4.25/5 stars! I didn't realize this was the second book in the series, and I would have benefited from reading them in order. But the pacing was awesome in this story and I loved that I got both a crime mystery element and a romantic one. Will definitely be going back to read book one.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

Dani comes to Kentucky to escape her past at the same time as Aaron Pope and his family seek family. The two come together for protection. Trademark Sharon Sala. ARC from NetGalley

I have never read a Sharon Sala book I didn’t love and this book is no different. From the first page I was hooked. I fell in love with the new Pope additions. There are a lot of highs and lows. There’s always hope and love in these novels. It’s a very busy book. I love that it centers around family and community. I really loved this book. 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.

Another fantastic book by Sharon Sala. The story of Pope Mountain and all the people that live there. Shirley Pope and her 4 sons were outcasts because her husband and their father was a murderer. But when her Mother died she inherited a home on Pope Mountain. This was a story of how they all settled in there. Lots of romance, mystery and murder. I highly recommend this book it was fantastic.

Usually Sala has series about siblings from one family. In these books so far we meet a new family and have new characters, as well as some of the previous. It was good, they still have the same last name and are related but we are getting bigger and better, meeting new people and catching up with the old ones as well. I look forward to book number 3 and seeing who we meet then.

Who doesn’t love a fast pace story with interconnected characters, a cop on a case, a stalker, and town history. If you haven’t read Don’t Back Down I highly encourage you do. Because I absolutely love how she interconnects all of her characters. Ghost is back! Honestly, you give me a good dog side story and I’m there. Overall I loved it, i can’t wait for the next from Sharon Sala!