*received for free from netgalley for honest review* This wasn't a bad read, but it did take me a bit to get into it. would recommend but unsure if id read more of the series unless i got it for free

Don't Back Down (Jubilee, Kentucky #1) was a great read by Sharon Sala. Cameron Pope, Army veteran, returns to Jubilee Kentucy. Quickly he ends up in a race to find his little niece and a deadly hunt for human traffickers. His time there has him reunited with Rusty Caldwell, a woman who he never stopped thinking about after their time together. But he finds out that Rusty is a member of one of the richest families in Jubilee. They are the same rich people who scorn the rural families even though they know nothing about them. Cameron and Rusty find themselves having to find a way to end the feuding and take down the human trafficking ring. I enjoyed reading this book and cant wait to read more by the author.

I accessed a digital review copy of this book from the publisher.
The only thing I liked about this was the thriller/mystery section, and that was just average. The romance was beyond "love at first sight", it was "instant soul connection" and that just did not do it for me. Because of this instant connection, every interaction between the two main characters was just sappy and overdone, taking away from the actual story elements.

I've been aware of Sharon Sala as an author for a while, but hadn't read any of her books. Turned out this was a good place for me to start - the first in a new series. Those "first in a new series" books can be tough for me - much as I LOVE a good series, the first book by necessity ends up spending a fair amount of time setting up the series overall - place, characters, etc. But this one starts out quite nicely. I liked the characters, a female FBI agent and a newly retired Army vet and his newly retired Army K-9 partner (who might've been my favorite character - but then again I'm a sucker for dog in a story, especially a military or law enforcement working dog). Back to the human characters...they'd met previously and spent one memorable night together, just before his redeployment overseas. Five years or so later they find themselves in the same small town, and end up working together to solve what appears to be a mystery involving human trafficking. Nice romance, nice mystery that I kept thinking was going one way but then would veer into another. I look forward to reading the next book in this series, and more from Sharon Sala. I did listen to the audio version - the narration was nicely done.
Thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for providing a digital copy for an unbiased review.

Sharon Sala's "Don't Back Down" is a captivating audiobook that blends romance, suspense, and a touch of mystery. The story follows two individuals who are drawn together by a shared tragedy and find solace and love in each other's arms. Sala's storytelling is engrossing, and the audiobook format brings the characters to life, immersing listeners in their emotional journey. With its engaging plot and well-developed characters, "Don't Back Down" is an audiobook that will keep listeners hooked until the very end.

The storyline in Don't Back Down was really good but could've been better. I feel like everything was wrapped up so cookie cutter and there wasn't enough conflict. Also the FMC was this badass chick that could handle punches and hardcore scenarios but acted like a baby when she hits her thumb. Speaking of babies, the two main characters talked to each other like they were talking to children. It was... Icky sweet that I wasn't expecting. Insta love is something that I'm cool with but these two characters just made it cringey. This book could've been so much better without the addition of the love story.

A great crime book. it really draws you in and the narrator was perfect for the character. There was lots of action and the story was fast paced and even has romance thrown in with it. It creates great suspense and has an array of characters mixed in.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book in exchange for an honest review. This is book #1 in the Jubilee, Kentucky series by Sharon Sala. This fast paced thriller was jam packed with action from beginning to end. I listened to an audiobook version narrated by Tim Lounibos. The story and performance is told in third person and flows quickly from romance to suspense and back.

3.5

This was good. I’m not sure about the narrator. He didn’t work for me so I think that may have taken away from story for me. I liked Rusty and Cameron and it started out with a bang.

Sharon Sala is such a fun storyteller.

Don't Back Down by Sharon Sala
Jubilee, Kentucky series book 1.
Contemporary romantic suspense. Second chance troupe. Compelling and involved, the story moves quickly uncovering one suspect after another while also tying extended family together.
Veteran Cameron Pope returns to his home town of Jubilee, KY just in time for he and his trained dog Ghost, to rescue his niece from human traffickers. The FBI gets involved since it wasn't just one child missing and Rusty Caldwell flies in for some undercover investigation. Having met and fallen into each others arms before, Cam and Rusty reunite and work together to track down all the people involved in the kidnappings.
Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Audio, and Sharon Sala for the opportunity to listen to this advanced copy.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for accepting my request to audibly read Don't Back Down.

Narrator: Tim Lounibos
Published: 03/07/23

I'm so excited, this is book one of a series. There were quite a few things I liked: The characters acted in the manner they were titled. A government employee, works undercover and was smart throughout the book. She has a partner, ex-something military who was smart. They worked well together. One said run -- they ran. There was no whining, stomping feet or undermining the story, the educated titles, or the reader. Please keep up the respectful writing. Also impressive was the familial dynamics. Again, well done. The families had issues. I was pleased to see Sala write average families, not extremes. Even the thug roles were well played and positioned.

The narrator did a great job, and I hope he stays with the series.

I found the story just creepy enough to be a good simple psychological mystery without all the gritty details of trafficking. I truly appreciated how Sala addressed the seriousness, and at one point how a person is picked.

I think there was some profanity, but I cannot remember and tossed my notes. I don't recall F words. If memory serves me, they were less offensive.

Overall, I liked this story, thought it was written well and recognize the author wrote a nice classy mystery. I would love for more authors to follow her lead, and if you know of any authors with her style send me their name.

Don't Back Down is a romantic suspense story set in Jubilee Kentucky. This is the first book in a new series by Sharon Sala. The story opens with Cameron Pope getting ready to ship out with the army, when he meets a young woman with red hair that looks like an angel to him. They have one beautiful night together before he ships out, but that night lives on in both their memories. In the present, Cameron is back home in Jubilee, Kentucky with his dog that was an IED sniffer in Afghanistan. He saved Cameron's life more than once. Never officially trained, Cameron was allowed to bring "Ghost" home with him. He is a very talented dog who can follow a trail and defend his loved ones easily. Cameron gets word that his niece has been kidnapped by an escaped convict and he and Ghost set to work. They track the kidnapper and save his niece, but who was responsible for the kidnapping in the first place. It becomes evident that there is human trafficking going on in the area and the FBI have been quietly investigating those crimes trying to find who is at the top. They send an undercover agent to work with Cameron, and guess who it is. When Cameron and Rusty reunite, they are shocked, but quickly pick up where they left off. Will they be able to bring down the trafficking ring before anyone else is killed or disappears?

This was a quick read/listen that kept me entertained. Human trafficking is a very timely topic and this story combined women taken for the sex trade as well as children who were being sold to families. This is one of those stories that drops clues along the way and even though I thought I was following those crumbs, I still didn't figure out who the leader was until just before the reveal. I was sure I knew who the bad guy was, but kept changing my mind as the story went on. I enjoyed the way Cameron and Rusty worked together. They were in sync with one another and this helped to solve the crimes quicker. There were several secondary characters that played a role in this story and I am hoping that some of them will get more of a role in future books in this series. The narration of the audiobook was interesting. Tim Lounibos is identified as the "reader" and if he had read the story with expression that would have been wonderful. He performed the story using voices for the various characters and his female voices left much to be desired, especially the elderly ones. I still enjoyed the audiobook, but it took some getting used to. I recommend this book to those who enjoy Second chance stories and romantic suspense, but next book in this series, I think I will read rather than listen to.

Settle in because you’re fixing to go for a wild ride!!
Don’t Back Down, is a fast pace romantic suspense with bad guys with horrible intentions. Cameron and Rusty are on the case to hunt down the bad guys. I couldn’t help but adore Ghost. He’s Cameron’s dog and makes an amazing side kick. If you don’t mind insta love, suspense and a fun mystery give this one a try!
The narrator, Tim Lounibos did a great job portraying the male characters, however, the tones and inflections used for the women characters was poor.
I was still able to enjoy listening to the audiobook but I would suggest, listening to the sample.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Dreamscape Media for ALC.

3.75⭐️
Book 1, in the Jubilee, Kentucky Series

A tale of romantic suspense in a small Kentucky mountain town.

The first book of this romantic suspense series, an Army veteran is reunited with a woman from his past, but life in Jubilee, Kentucky, is mired with complications.

Not your regular thriller, it's a romance with a slight mystery/suspense.

Generally, i enjoyed listening to this book since it was fast paced, well-written with a labyrinth plot.. different from what im used to. I liked Ghost, the ex-military dog, history, and the bond that was described in this book.

The narrator had a great natural voice during the general narration but i absolutely did not like the voices of the little girl or some of the women’s n men voices at all.

But still it was fairly a good audiobook.

If youre looking for something different, you can give this a try.

Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for this Audiobook

An enjoyable romp in the wilderness covering a variety of aspects of American life, from FBI to mountain homes with deception and human frailties exposed, covered with a great big slice of comfort. Definitely worth the time to explore and understand. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This is my first time reading/listening to anything by this author. It's a nice fast-paced story that definitely doesn't drag. While I enjoyed the story, some of the side characters were a bit annoying to me. The narrator has a nice voice for the most part, but I really didn't care for some of his female characters' voices like Liz and Pat, as well as a couple of the other side male characters that I don't feel come off too well, like Danny's. Maybe that is why they annoyed me.
I really liked the setting and the kinship the people there feel for each other.
I love Cameron and Rusty though and especially love them together as well. This was some good romance thrown into this otherwise gritty story. I liked the way they initially met and finally see each other again so many years later. Maybe fate intervened. Neither of them was ever really able to forget the other despite the one and only night they had together 5 years prior without even giving their names. This is their chance now, despite the circumstances that bring them back together. And Ghost is just an awesome dog! What a great partner to Cameron.
The storyline is good and keeps you guessing for a bit which I liked as well.
Thanks to Netgalley for this enjoyable listen.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for the opportunity to listen to a complimentary copy of this book in return for a review based upon my honest opinion.

I was disappointed in this book. The blurb made it sound like it was a thriller, it was a soppy romance with a slight mystery in the background. The characters were okay and I really liked the dog, Ghost. I also found the narrator, being a male, did not do the voices of the little girl or some of the women’s voices. Well, enough for me. I did enjoy the tone of his voice, though. This book was a miss for me, it was not what I thought it was.

This book was a good mystery that kept you guessing. The relationship between the two main characters was great. I loved that the end told what happened for ALL the characters – even side/small characters. Not all books do that and it was great to know what happened with the side characters too. This book was more about the mystery/ suspense than romance, so it is great for people who want a light romance with their suspense.

Don't back down - Sharon Sala

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher of this book for providing me a copy of this eARC.

I really liked Ghost, the ex-military dog, and I enjoyed the familial bonds described in this novel, as well as the nature and wildlife references.

However, this book was more of a "romance mystery" than my preferred fare.

If romance novels rock your boat, then this novel is definitely worth a listen. This is a well-written book, with a labyrinth plot, so check it out!

Until next time.

This book was great and I don't even like romances! I could not stop listening to this book until; I was done with it. The story roped me in immediately and kept in its hold until the happy ending! I am a little sad Rusty is allegedly retiring b/c I do so love me a good woman in law enforcement that kicks ass! that I can't wait for the next book in the series to come out!

#DontBackDown
#NetGalley