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Blood Stains (The Searchers #1)
by
Sharon Sala (Goodreads Author)
At the reading of her father's will, Maria Slade receives shocking news--as a four-year-old, she'd witnessed her prostitute mother's murder and been taken into hiding by the well-meaning preacher who'd raised her as his own.
Maria remembers none of that. But now she's determined to flush her mother's killer out of hiding and discover the identity of her birth father. She h...more
ebook, 368 pages
Published
February 1st 2011
by Mira Books
(first published January 17th 2011)
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Sharon Sala is generally a good author of her genre. In this one she seemes to have regressed to the '80's in style and formula. The characters are likeable enough,but there just isn't enough sizzle between them. You can tell this is to be just one of a trilogy.
Maria has found out that she is not who she thought she was and goes out to seek her past of which she has no memory. Seems her hooker mother had been murdered and Maria is angry with her for her lifestyle and "deathstyle". Since no one s...more
Maria has found out that she is not who she thought she was and goes out to seek her past of which she has no memory. Seems her hooker mother had been murdered and Maria is angry with her for her lifestyle and "deathstyle". Since no one s...more
Well, I think this maybe in the wrong category. I had a very difficult time staying focused on this one. I really wanted to get into it but it just didn't come together for me. The main characters Bodie and Maria didn't seem to have any fire or passion. I could not connect with them at all. There wasn't really enough suspense or romance.
Maria's father just passed and her sisters and her learn that they were not his biological children. That they were all sent to him by their mothers because they...more
Maria's father just passed and her sisters and her learn that they were not his biological children. That they were all sent to him by their mothers because they...more
Jan 25, 2011
Jane Stewart
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
romantic-suspense-thriller
Talented author but the plot and characters were ordinary. This was ok but nothing special or different.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
It was too smooth. It felt like the author was churning out another romantic suspense book - like a short order cook. She followed a recipe with good guys doing intelligent good things, and bad guys doing intelligent bad things. But luck is on the good guys’ side, and they survive several events and win in the end. It was too easy. The characters were what you’d expect. They...more
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
It was too smooth. It felt like the author was churning out another romantic suspense book - like a short order cook. She followed a recipe with good guys doing intelligent good things, and bad guys doing intelligent bad things. But luck is on the good guys’ side, and they survive several events and win in the end. It was too easy. The characters were what you’d expect. They...more
2 likes · like · see review
view all 7 comments
This was a solid story from Sharon Sala. It was easy to read and quite enjoyable. It was not one of her best though. She can write a more edge of your seat, tense, page turning sort of novel. She can also write a story with more intense characterization. Because I expected more from the writing of Ms. Sala, I gave it 3 stars instead of 4. This is apparently going to be another 3 book series where all the stories take place simultaneously. The last such series started off with the weakest story a...more
2 likes · like · see review
I would give this 3 1/2.
This book is the start of a trilogy. I did enjoy reading it although I can't define the genre. It's not pure romance but it's not really suspense either as it didn't take much for the plot to unfold. I would say it's action.
I liked that the storyline is a little different from her other books. It talks about 3 sisters who upon the death of their father, realized they aren't blood related and the father who brought them up wasn't their biological father. Each sister had a...more
This book is the start of a trilogy. I did enjoy reading it although I can't define the genre. It's not pure romance but it's not really suspense either as it didn't take much for the plot to unfold. I would say it's action.
I liked that the storyline is a little different from her other books. It talks about 3 sisters who upon the death of their father, realized they aren't blood related and the father who brought them up wasn't their biological father. Each sister had a...more
Apr 13, 2011
Cherise
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
arc-or-review-copy,
romantic-suspense
3.5 stars
I had a really hard time when rating this book. While for the most part I liked the book, I had a few issues with it as well. My first gripe is with the dialogue. Some of the conversations and word choices were downright hokey. They tended to take away from the seriousness of the situation or what I feel the characters personas were. There were a lot of references to the Lord in the dialogue. I am not a religious person in the traditional sense, so maybe that’s why it stood out so much...more
I had a really hard time when rating this book. While for the most part I liked the book, I had a few issues with it as well. My first gripe is with the dialogue. Some of the conversations and word choices were downright hokey. They tended to take away from the seriousness of the situation or what I feel the characters personas were. There were a lot of references to the Lord in the dialogue. I am not a religious person in the traditional sense, so maybe that’s why it stood out so much...more
Maria Slade is at the reading of her fathers will when
she receives shocking news. She finds that she has two
sisters who are not her real sisters and a father who is
not her real father. Her father leaves each of the girls
a diary explaining all he knows about them. Maria's mother
had been a prostitute who was murdered. Maria remembers none
of this but she is determined to flush out who killed her
and find her real father. According to the diary she is from
Tulsa, OK so she heads there and meets Dt...more
she receives shocking news. She finds that she has two
sisters who are not her real sisters and a father who is
not her real father. Her father leaves each of the girls
a diary explaining all he knows about them. Maria's mother
had been a prostitute who was murdered. Maria remembers none
of this but she is determined to flush out who killed her
and find her real father. According to the diary she is from
Tulsa, OK so she heads there and meets Dt...more
At the reading of her fathers will Maria Slade finds out - that as a four year old she witnessed her mothers murder. and had been taken into hiding by a well meaning preacher . Who raised her as his own. She also finds out that her sisters are not really her sisters by blood they each came to the preacher in different circumstances. They are each given a dairy written by the preacher that tells what he knows of there lives. Up until the time they came to live with him.Maria is determined to flus...more
I wasn't too sure about this book when I read the back cover. Seemed all too cliche. Maria's mother is a dead prostitute and Bodie is the cop who will investigate. I was doubting my selection even more when I read the first few pages, which had all the makings of a badly written soap opera. Reading of the will: check. Cheesy video from deceased played at the reading: check. Amnesia victim: check.
However once I got past that point, I ended up finishing the book in one day. While it's not Sala's b...more
However once I got past that point, I ended up finishing the book in one day. While it's not Sala's b...more
This is the first of what promises to be a trilogy. I suggest going to Amazon or another sight that gives a good synopsis of the plot, as there is much revealed at the very beginning of the first book that sounds like it would have to be spoilers. When I read the cover, I wondered how much more there could be to tell! Then I fell in love with the heroine of this one (I always seem to do this with Sharon Sala's books) and couldn't wait to see how she was going to handle the information the three...more
1 like · like · see review
Three young women find out when Andrew Slade,their father dies, that he is not their father nor did he adopt them. The women have different mothers who gave them to him. The women have no memories of their life before they became Slades. Andrew kept journals for each of the women concerning the circumstances of how he got them, their bits of memories, and where they came from. The women go to find their history. This is Maria's story. As a four year-old she saw her mother murdered. The murderer...more
Blood Stains was a pretty quick read. Bodie's character is strong willed and not afraid to go after what he wants, especially when it comes to Maria. I really believed his side of the romance, but I wasn't too sold on Maria's side. While I liked her character, I didn't buy her falling for Brodie.
This is supposed to be a romantic suspense, but the suspense part wasn't really there. You know who the killer is pretty early on and the "twist" at the end was pretty apparent halfway through the book....more
This is supposed to be a romantic suspense, but the suspense part wasn't really there. You know who the killer is pretty early on and the "twist" at the end was pretty apparent halfway through the book....more
I've been a fan of Sharon Sala for years, including her alter ego, Dinah McCall. This just fell flat for me in most places. On the copyright page I noticed it was printed under McCall before, but didn't have the year. I wonder is this is a reprint of her earlier work?
In any event, the book did a lot of head hopping. Normally this would not bother me, but it felt overdone in this case, and mostly unneccessary. I had to reread several areas to grasp who was thinking/talking. The dialog also felt...more
In any event, the book did a lot of head hopping. Normally this would not bother me, but it felt overdone in this case, and mostly unneccessary. I had to reread several areas to grasp who was thinking/talking. The dialog also felt...more
Hello well i got the book form f f well this book is one of the series and i will be glad to read the rest for Sharon the 3 girl in the book are strangers but they are sisters. The girl are raised by a preacher and his wife.Did they now that dad would die and leave a journal for the 3 girls
well the father is not there real father and each journal tell the girls what happen in the
live of there the girl are on a quest to find the real family mary but wsa call marie find
out her mom was murder by a...more
well the father is not there real father and each journal tell the girls what happen in the
live of there the girl are on a quest to find the real family mary but wsa call marie find
out her mom was murder by a...more
Did not finish...and I don't care. Seriously. I don't give a hoot what happens. I've been at this book for almost a week, and I find that I would rather do a multitude of unpleasant tasks (clean the oven, sweep cobwebs from the basement...) than continue on with this book. I'm not quite sure what irks me about it, but it's just not hitting the right spot. The main characters are odd. The storyline is odd. The chronic over description of unimportant things (mall food court food)...odd. And the ma...more
Blood Stains (Sharon Sala)
Murder/romance/suspense
Maria Slade finds out a shocking truth at the reading of her fathers will. Her and sisters are not related, this isn't even her father. Maria's mother was a prostitute and at age 4, she witness her death. maria suppressed these memories and is shocked when she hears this. Living on a ranch in Montana, Maria decides to pack her bags and head to Tulsa, Oklahoma to investigate her biological mothers death. Once arriving in Tulsa she meets up with det...more
Murder/romance/suspense
Maria Slade finds out a shocking truth at the reading of her fathers will. Her and sisters are not related, this isn't even her father. Maria's mother was a prostitute and at age 4, she witness her death. maria suppressed these memories and is shocked when she hears this. Living on a ranch in Montana, Maria decides to pack her bags and head to Tulsa, Oklahoma to investigate her biological mothers death. Once arriving in Tulsa she meets up with det...more
Mar 14, 2011
Isis FG
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Isis FG by:
favorite author
Rating: 3.5 / 5
I generally enjoy Sharon Sala's books. They're easy reads that entertain. I did enjoy this one, but not anywhere near as much as some of her other books.
Series Note:
First book in Sala's new "The Searchers" trilogy.
Summary:
Maria Slade grew up with 2 wonderful sisters and a loving father. So it comes as a shock after father dies and the will is read that she finds out her father was not really her father. He took her in and secreted her away at her mother's request as she lay dying...more
I generally enjoy Sharon Sala's books. They're easy reads that entertain. I did enjoy this one, but not anywhere near as much as some of her other books.
Series Note:
First book in Sala's new "The Searchers" trilogy.
Summary:
Maria Slade grew up with 2 wonderful sisters and a loving father. So it comes as a shock after father dies and the will is read that she finds out her father was not really her father. He took her in and secreted her away at her mother's request as she lay dying...more
rating: 3.5
My Thoughts: This series is about a set of sisters that find out they were each "adopted" under extreme circumstances and their journey to find out who they really are. This book is about Maria, who witnessed the murder of her mother but cannot remember anything from the time before she was brought to her family's ranch.
While some may not, I enjoyed the fact that it seemed to be more suspense than romance. You can tell there is something building between the Maria and Bodie but it see...more
My Thoughts: This series is about a set of sisters that find out they were each "adopted" under extreme circumstances and their journey to find out who they really are. This book is about Maria, who witnessed the murder of her mother but cannot remember anything from the time before she was brought to her family's ranch.
While some may not, I enjoyed the fact that it seemed to be more suspense than romance. You can tell there is something building between the Maria and Bodie but it see...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
After their father’s funeral they buried him near dear Momma’s grave. Maria,Savannah and Holly expected to inherit the ranch in Montana. What they did not expect was the video Andrew Slade
left for the three of them. In it, the trio learned that not only were the parents they had known not their actual parents,but they had never officially been adopted and that they were not sisters
either!
What they just learned was made clearer by the diary their father kept for each of them detailing the reasons...more
left for the three of them. In it, the trio learned that not only were the parents they had known not their actual parents,but they had never officially been adopted and that they were not sisters
either!
What they just learned was made clearer by the diary their father kept for each of them detailing the reasons...more
Blood Stains is book one in a trilogy about three sisters investigating their traumatic pasts. In the first book we are introduced to the middle daughter, Maria.
Maria leaves the security of her Montana ranch for answers in the big city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Once there she contacts homicide detective Brodie Scott about reopening her mother’s cold case.
Blood Stains is a romance story about Brodie and Maria, but I think at times the secondary characters stole the show. They are well rounded and I exp...more
Maria leaves the security of her Montana ranch for answers in the big city of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Once there she contacts homicide detective Brodie Scott about reopening her mother’s cold case.
Blood Stains is a romance story about Brodie and Maria, but I think at times the secondary characters stole the show. They are well rounded and I exp...more
The first in a new series by Sharon Sala about 3 sisters who aren't really sisters after all. Maria is the "middle" child who discovers she was a witness to her mother's murder. So naturally she goes to Tulsa to reopen the cold case and get justice for her mother. Bodie is the homicide cop who takes the case. A pleasant, comfortable read. There is no big WOW factor but it holds your attention enough to get through it. And now I have to wait for the other sisters' stories :(
A decent read although the story has been told quite a few times before. Maria finds out she was adopted when her father dies and learns that she was adopted after her prostitue mother was murdered, leading her to return to her birthplace searching for answers. This of course draws the killer out and Maria ends up forming a partnership with a detective, Bodie. The plot's a little played out but it's still a good read.
Loved it, imagine growing up and thinking the person who raised you is your biological family. Death in a family is rough on everyone and finding out at a will reading that you are someone else with another identity. Maria Slade travels around trying to figure out who she really is, join her in this mystery, find out who she meets and whom wants her dead or alive. This is a trilogy... looking forward to number 2
This is the first in "The Searchers" trilogy. After Andrew Slade passes away, his daughters, Holly, Maria and Savannah attend the reading of his will. There they learn that they were not really Andrew Slade's daughters, and in truth, are not even related. From here, each sister goes out "into the world" to discover her past.
This is Maria's story and it's not pretty.
This is Maria's story and it's not pretty.
A suspenseful romance about family secrets, faith in God, and compassion. The plot is loose and coincidental, the number of dead bodies and injuries seems inordinantly high, and the romantic relationship is under-developed.
I read the series in order, in one weekend. It was like reading the same book over and over. Certain phrasing was the same, situations repeated from book to book. One book could have covered the entire series.
Maria Slade finds that the man who raised her was not her real father. Now she tries to find who killed her mother in front of a young four-year-old Maria who surpressed her memories.
Apr 22, 2012
Lesli
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
fiction,
contemporary,
romance,
suspense,
ebook,
kindle,
library-borrowed,
the-searchers,
sharon-sala,
52-us-2012-alt,
2012
Good book. First of three. Typical Sharon Sala/Dinah McCall fare. Fast paced. The story is a little convoluted and unbelievable; but doesn't detract from the book.
A straight-forward romance thriller with enough twists and turns to keep me interested! The plotting and writing kept me turning the pages, late into the night.
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Sharon Sala has been a published author since 1991, and has also written under the pseudonym Dinah McCall, although the last McCall book was released in March of 2007.
Her 76th book, THE HEALER, was released in April 2008. She's a member of Romance Writers of America and writes mostly romantic suspense and paranormal romantic suspense for Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Books, and at one time, a...more
More about Sharon Sala...
Her 76th book, THE HEALER, was released in April 2008. She's a member of Romance Writers of America and writes mostly romantic suspense and paranormal romantic suspense for Harlequin Enterprises, Silhouette Books, and at one time, a...more
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