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From New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala comes a story of reignited passion set amidst a town reeling from disaster and the long shadow of a killer...

As raging floodwaters engulf her Louisiana hometown Nola Landry is stranded on high ground, the unwitting witness to the brutal murder of three fellow survivors. Finally rescued in the aftermath of the storm, no one is willing to believe a story as horrific as hers — until three FBI agents arrive on the scene...one of whom Nola knows very well.

Tate Benton has been tracking the so-called Stormchaser serial killer for months, never expecting the trail might lead him home, or to the woman he cannot forget. Home is now a ravaged town full of memories - of love, of disappointment, of past mistakes. The investigation brings Nola back into his life. Long-buried feelings resurface, and the former lovers try to pick up the pieces in the wake of the disaster.

Amid the relief effort the killer lingers, determined to silence Nola forever. In the Stormchaser's twisted mind the pain is far from over...and hers is just beginning.

345 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

326 people are currently reading
1301 people want to read

About the author

Sharon Sala

279 books2,286 followers

Biography



Sharon Sala is a Native Oklahoman and still lives within a two hour drive of where she was born.
First published in 1991, she is a New York Times/USA Today, best-selling author with a 135 plus books published in seven different genres, including Romantic suspense, Mystery, Young Adult, Western, Fiction, Women’s Fiction and Non-Fiction.

Industry Awards include:
Eight-time RITA finalist. (Romance Industry award)
The Janet Dailey Award.
Five-time Career Achievement winner from RT Magazine.
Five time winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award.
Five time winner of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence.
Heart of Excellence Award.,
Booksellers Best Award.
Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award RITA, presented by RWA.
Centennial Award from RWA for recognition of her 100th published novel.


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5 stars
743 (39%)
4 stars
684 (36%)
3 stars
358 (19%)
2 stars
75 (3%)
1 star
22 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews
Profile Image for fleurette.
1,534 reviews161 followers
July 30, 2018
I generally like this story. It is a quick read but, I'm afraid, not really memorable.

Tate, the FBI agent, is after the serial killer Stormchaser who is killing the survivors of the natural disasters. The investigation leads him to his hometown and the only witness of the killer turns out to be Nola, his ex-girlfriend who he never stopped loving. Nola has just lost everything and to her horror she was also a witness of a murder. To protect her Tate will have to stop the killer and do it fast.

The whole idea of the serial killer connected to the natural disasters is pretty refreshing and innovative. What I didn't like are the references to God. There are no loads of them but still, there are some. And I didn't like the way the situation between Tate and his father ended. Also, the story slows down a bit in the middle after the very nice beginning.

I like Tate's friends Wade and Cameron and I will gladly read their books one day.
Profile Image for Jane Stewart.
2,462 reviews963 followers
August 22, 2015
Good romantic suspense. I was engaged and interested all the way through.

Each time I put it down I was eager to get back to it. It’s FBI chasing a serial killer who is after the heroine. It’s not unusual or different, but it’s well done. Some reviewers complained that not enough feeling was put into the Nola and Tate characters. Maybe so, but I still liked it.

The Series:
This is book 1 in the Forces of Nature series. The same bad guy Hershel is in all three books. He is after a different woman in each book. The three women are the love interests of the three FBI agents trying to catch Hershel. The bad guy finally gets caught in book 3, so there is a cliffhanger in the first two books. Each book has a happy ending for the couple. Book 1 was good, but I was disappointed with books 2 and 3 - Going Twice and Going Gone.

Minor complaint: Cover guy does not match character. Page 178: “His short dark hair was standing up in spikes.” Cover picture shows Tate having long hair near his chin.

I received this book at the RT Convention.

Sharon Sala has been pretty good for me. I gave 4 stars to The Warrior, Swept Aside, and The Healer. I gave 3 ½ stars to Remember Me.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 339 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Setting: current day mostly Louisiana. Copyright: 2013. Genre: romantic suspense.
Profile Image for Pamela(AllHoney).
2,657 reviews378 followers
May 29, 2015
The first book in Sharon Sala's Forces of Nature series. Nola Landry is home sick, running a fever and barely able to get out of bed, when she dreams her dead mother is calling her and telling her to get food and water and leave the house. So she does and discovers the flood waters are here and she needs to get to higher ground. She manages to get herself up a tree a short distance from her home and hangs on hoping to be rescued soon. When a potential rescue boat does arrive, it comes with death instead and Nola witnesses her neighbors' murder.

The love interest in this book is Nola's old boyfriend, Tate, who is now a FBI agent, who left town 8 years ago with no explanation. I felt Nola gave in to Tate Benton's long delayed explanation too quickly. But that just meant there wasn't the extra drama on that issue. The story had flaws but it was still gripping and intense at times and the romance was satisfying, even if a bit too convenient. I should also mention that there is a cliffhanger at the end but it didn't destroy the story for me like some do.
Profile Image for Sara Gerhold.
33 reviews3 followers
October 17, 2013
Going Once is the first book of a new trilogy, and it was a wonderful start! With each book Ms. Sala only gets better. Bleary eyed from reading it, I can promise that it is a real page turner!! I can't wait for the next two books!
Profile Image for Janet.
3,242 reviews24 followers
September 30, 2019
The first chapter hooked me. I really enjoyed the suspense. The killer is known to you early on but it doesn't make it any less creepy. The Louisiana setting was perfect for this.
Profile Image for Andria Potter.
Author 2 books95 followers
June 10, 2021
Too much praying/religion, too depressingly close to all I went through in terms of flooding, losing a (grand) parent and I didn't connect with the characters at all. Louisiana was accurate and I don't miss it at all. 2 ⭐
Profile Image for Leslie Mesmer.
339 reviews5 followers
October 12, 2013

Actually this should be a 4-1/2 but alas no half stars. I received this as a first read but to be honest, I am always looking for books by Sharon Sala. I have read her Ruby Ridge trilogy and a few single books and loved them.
I finished this book in a day and a half. Would have been one day but life kept interfering. :-)
I loved that this book took it's time building the story. It did not keep jumping from one crisis to another but allowed things to build. It was also nice not only following the search but also to know what was driving the killer and his thinking process.
The 1/2 star deducted was because I did not feel a lot was put into the 2 main characters. I felt more was put into the three FBI partners...Tate,Cameron, and Wade than with Tate and Nola.
The other reason was I hate not having things resolved and tied up nice and neat with a bow.
I WILL be waiting anxiously for the next book in this series. I hope we will get to read Cameron and Wade's stories.
Profile Image for Jennifer.
2,896 reviews6 followers
February 27, 2021
I’m sorry to say that this one wasn’t very engaging. I kept putting it down to do other things. A couple things didn’t work for me.

The first, and to me maybe the most important, was the romance. The H was shocked that the h had not been with anybody since he left town eight years ago. He didn’t agree that he hadn’t been either so I’m just assuming that he did. No details were given but still. At least the author said that he didn’t date but who knows what that means. It didn’t seem like he was a manho so I guess that’s something. Eight years is just honestly too long in my book.

Other that that, the author somehow managed to make the search for a serial killer diminished somehow. She didn’t trivialize it, but she added enough details to almost make it farcical. Maybe it was all the different inner monologues or the concurrent plots, but I’m not sure I’m going to continue on with this series.
Profile Image for Harlequin Books.
18.4k reviews2,799 followers
Read
December 29, 2014
"Don't blink, or you"ll miss some of the action in this fast-paced series-starter. There's no extended estrangement between the two leads, and this makes the story more engaging. There are some underlying, and very current, issues about caring for an aging parent, but this does not detract from readers enjoying the suspense and romance. Even against the back-drop of murder, this easy read still leads to a happy ending with the promise of future adventures." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars
Profile Image for Caro.
1,776 reviews42 followers
April 20, 2015
A super great book that definitely pulls you in and has you holding your breath! I really liked this plot and the characters were great. The personalities, perspectives, suspense, some action, emotions, steaminess, and overall great (if somewhat not completely finished) ending. I can't wait to read more in this series and this most definitely whetted the appetite for more. The story was written well and had me turning pages faster than I should and had me so deep into the book time didn't even register. Time does fly when your having fun...or trying to stay alive. ;) Ready and willing for the next...Enjoy!
Profile Image for Sarah.
418 reviews2 followers
October 10, 2013
I was a little disappointed with this one. I'm a huge Sharon Sala fan but this story seemed a little flat, the characters were underdeveloped, there was very little suspense. The romance seemed contrived. If this had been written by anyone else, I probably would have stopped reading before page 100, but I kept going because I have learned to expect great things from Mrs. Sala. Hopefully she can return to her previous glory with the next installment of the series.
Profile Image for Vfields Don't touch my happy! .
3,459 reviews
July 11, 2020
3.5 stars
Sharon Sala made some good choices in this trilogy. Now upfront it is an arc story that comes to its completion during the last installment. So there’s a bit of a cliffhanger but it doesn’t affect the relationships and lives of the characters. So I’m not complaining.
Nola was an acceptable female character with only a few ’silly little woman’ moments, thank goodness. Tate was a cool dude but then Sala’s male leads are usually high quality men. I also enjoyed his partners, a lot. The bad guy was an evil, crazy bag*of*nuts but he never got gross.
This was a fast intriguing mystery.
Profile Image for CD {Boulder Blvd}.
963 reviews95 followers
January 15, 2020
Fairly good read, it started off a lot stronger than it finished. In some ways it seemed like the author made the three FBI guys not just young and inexperienced, but inept enough to keep the plot going into book 2 and I see there's a 3rd book so it doesn't look good that they'll get the bad guy.

There were a lot of omits, poorly done investigation efforts and slowly done efforts which left them unable to catch the serial killer. For a major serial killer investigation, it felt like they sent the Frat Club versus a real team.
Profile Image for Ellen Anderson.
1,251 reviews
July 28, 2019
Exciting

This book reminds me of some of my favorite crime investigating TV series. After Nola witnessed a murder, when the FBI shows up, one of the Agents is her ex boyfriend Tate.
Profile Image for John.
168 reviews32 followers
October 24, 2025
This was the second book I’ve read by Sharon Sala! I read The Warrior last year and thoroughly enjoyed it! It had a fantastic opening, it held my interest, the characters were likable and the overall story was really good even if it was a romantic suspense novel! Last year I learned that those novels typically have some damn good mysteries that keep you in the dark until the very end. Luckily, Going Once fit the bill for all of that!

I’m also a sucker for books with descriptive weather moments. Rain, thunder, lightning, tornadoes, hurricanes, high winds, you name it. When I found this book at my public library’s used bookstore not only did the familiar author name catch my eye but the description totally sealed the deal for me! The story starts in Queens Crossing, Louisiana where our main character Nola Landry is doing nothing but sleeping due to being sick. Fighting a fever and night sweats she sleeps with the sound of nonstop rain until she dreams of her mother who is yelling at her to leave and run but not before grabbing some food and water. She goes outside and is shocked by what she sees. She steps off the porch into the unrelenting rain and finds the water up to her ankles. With no way out via car she manages to get to a big group of trees and climbs up.

As the water level rises she goes higher and higher into the foliage of the tree. A helicopter flies overhead but they don’t see her nor her neighbors who are on their own roof thanks to their house still being intact. Nola’s house was ripped off the foundation and all her belongings were swept away. Family memories, art, cherished items are long gone. She thinks about flagging down the neighbors but she knows neither party will be able to do anything for the other. In time they hear a boat approaching! He heads for the neighbors on the roof. Nora is as hopeful as her neighbors until the man raises a handgun and shoots the three neighbors dead.

Nola scurries even further up the tree to hide and manages to get a brief glimpse of the man in the boat but not enough of one to identify him. Having run out of food and water, now scared out of her wits and the water continuing to rise she ties the string from her hoodie around one wrist, around the tree, and then around the other wrist to keep her in place in case she loses consciousness. The Louisiana National Guard manages to see her in the tree and rescues her. Days later in the hospital she wakes up and asks for the police.

She tells a police lieutenant what she witnessed. That a man dressed in a parish police uniform drove up on a boat and shot her three neighbors. It turns out that the man is a notorious serial killer dubbed the Stormchaser. Three special agents of the FBI have been attempting to track him down after the killer had murdered other people who needed rescuing at other locations where dangerous storms took place. They know it’s him because of his trademark single bullet to the head.

We’re introduced to Tate Benton, Cameron Winger and Wade Luckett when they get word of seven bodies found in Queens Crossing, Tate’s hometown. The romance aspect gets rekindled here as Nola and Tate were in a relationship eight years ago. They were happy as could be until one night Tate came over in a panic, saying he was leaving town and wanted her to come with him. At the time, and in that moment, she was confused and didn’t understand what this panic was stemming from and he wasn’t wanting to explain. So he left, she stayed, and now, years later, they’re seeing one another again.

It turns out that they have never had a witness for the Stormchaser killer so Nola is incredibly important in this case. The agents fear that the killer may have been using a disguise. Nonetheless they want to keep an eye on Nola so they stay at the same gym where the Red Cross has set up a shelter for those who have been displaced by the storms. They reckon that due to the Stormchaser being able to bounce around to various locations when storms flare up he may be in a traveling trailer and possibly even a volunteer. While in the POV of the antagonist we find that he occasionally speaks with his deceased wife who lives on in his head, frequently asking him to stop what he’s doing. He repeatedly refuses, stating that what he’s doing must be done.

After some investigating and a dangerously close attack in the gymnasium the four change locations. All the while, the renewed friendship and relationship between Nola and Tate is very well written. It felt genuine, as if these two characters really hadn’t seen each other in quite a long time. They’re having to sort through all that happened and was unsaid years ago. The camaraderie between Nola, Tate, Cameron and Wade grows to be something really special. The humor infused with the side characters helping out at the gym and even with the main characters was fantastic. From chili that’s in need of more salt to a haunted travel trailer it added some great lightness to the story! The classic, dare I say obligatory, intimate moments passed by fairly quickly. Like another book I read recently in the same genre, the romance aspect was put more on the back burner thus allowing the mystery to take precedence.

These types of stories go by at a great pace. This one was easy to read and the story progressed in a good way that it kept me enthralled and had me wondering what was going to happen next. It never really had a chance to lull. As for the ending I won’t say exactly what happened but going into this book I knew it was the first in a series. I didn’t expect the other two installments to be those kind where the main character focus is shifted to the other two FBI agents. I’m certainly curious to see how such killings around disaster sites starts up again. I’d have been happy with a different ending but I can see why Sharon Sala approached it this way. By the time we really get a chance to be super familiar with the characters and how close they have all gotten we’re getting closer and closer to the end. If all of the same main characters, referring to Nola in this case, make appearances in the second and third books that’ll be a treat!

You really can’t go wrong with a book written by Sharon Sala! The big reveal, whether it’s for the reader first, or the characters, or at the same time, and the way the connections all fit together and characters having their own revelation-like realizations is always super satisfying!
Profile Image for Bigedsgirl1.
345 reviews49 followers
June 15, 2017
This was my first read by Sharon Sala and what a thrill ride it was! I was drawn into this suspenseful story from the very first page and could not stop reading until the end. The characters of Tate and Nola are well defined and emotionally engaging. The backdrop of the story is a small town enduring the ravages of flooding because of a raging storm and the villain is a serial killer taking advantage of the chaos caused by the circumstances. All of these elements make for a gripping, dramatic, and memorable story. This is the first book in a three book series and I am looking forward to reading the next two. Needless to say, I am now a Sharon Sala fan.
6 reviews
October 10, 2013
I got this book from a First Reads giveaway.

I've never read a Sharon Sala book before, but I have to say I totally enjoyed "Going Once". In fact, I couldn't put it down. The storm, flood, and bayou seemed so real. This book has made me want to read more by Sharon Sala.
Profile Image for Cris.
88 reviews
July 21, 2019
It was an ok book, but I had a real problem with the three FBI dudes...was it just me or did they seem inept? I guess the way they were portrayed (professionally) wasn't what I imagine FBI agents to be like, but what do I know?
Profile Image for Gail.
Author 25 books216 followers
July 17, 2014
Well written, good story. I enjoyed it a lot, but creepy serial killers don't do it for me. If you like them, though, you'll like this one.
Profile Image for Danielle  Gypsy Soul.
3,165 reviews79 followers
August 13, 2021
2.5 Stars I liked the concept of hunting a serial killer that uses natural disasters a lot however there were some issues I had with the book. First of all, the FBI team of 3 agents seemed a little bit inept when it came to the investigation side of the story. I also had a serious problem with the relationship between Tate and Nola. The reason he left was realistic enough but I don't understand why he refused to tell Nola (that made no sense to me). Then he said he never stopped loving her and no other woman measured up but yet he did absolutely nothing to get her back or even make contact with her for 8 years! In fact, one is lead to believe if he hadn't been sent to catch a serial killer in his old home town he never would have done anything about it. That is not romantic to me - it seems if it isn't easy for him then it isn't worth it. I also thought Nola got over his leaving for 8 years incredibly quickly. Then their was my HUGE PET PEEVE: Nola never has another relationship and doesn't have sex with anyone since Tate left. Of course, Tate can't say the same. WHY or WHY do author's do this? I find it so unrealistic and quite frankly irritating that it's written as if it's imperative that the woman hasn't had sex with anyone else in EIGHT YEARS but it's fine for the guy.

Okay so besides that I was still basically enjoying the book except then the FBI agents made some really dumb decisions and the villain didn't even get caught at the end of the book. I suppose this is so the other 2 agents can get their books while chasing the EXACT SAME VILLAIN. I'd be more interested if the villain was diabolical and super smart and just outwitted the agents but really he just got super lucky and the agents made some stupid mistakes. It was all just a bit too convenient so I'm out.
Profile Image for Emily E..
63 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2018
I've read all three books in this series and I remember when I read them they were very intriguing and I finished each one in about a day. I consider them page turners. Unfortunately, its been a few years since I've read them and I don't recall much from the actual story outside of the premise and some of the important transitions between the books. The one thing that bothered me about all 3 books is that the 3 romances seemed very rushed and forced. In this book Tate and Nola rekindle their relationship after years of being apart and although this can happen in real life, it just seemed extremely artificial.
Profile Image for Niki.
3,653 reviews8 followers
May 17, 2019
This is the first book in the Forces of Nature series. The series is a romance but I think even more a suspense series. The story starts with Nola a single lady stranded in a tree due to flood waters. While on her roof she sees a man pull up to her neighbors down the street to help them but then actually kills them. The story starts there and then continues for three books while they try to figure out who the killer is. During the three books there are three different romances that bloom amounts the three investigators. Fun and suspenseful to read.
Profile Image for Linda George.
673 reviews3 followers
February 9, 2024
As Nola Landry clings to a tree during a flood, she witnesses the murder of her nearest neighbors by a serial killer named Stormchaser by the media. When the FBI arrives, they are thrilled to find a witness even if she cannot remember much. One of the investigators is Nola's ex-boyfriend. As the killer tries again and again to kill Nola, their attraction flares again and Tate Benton swears to keep her safe as they work through their second chance at a life together. I'd definitely recommend this romantic suspense novel.
181 reviews2 followers
March 11, 2019
Tate returned home to Louisiana with his two fellow FBI agents, chasing a serial killer

People who had survived the horrid flood, stranded on their roofs or elsewhere had been found shot in the head, the “Stormchaser” aptly named as he showed up at disasters for his mode of finality.
Learning of a possible witness, they rushed to the hospital where she was, only to find the girlfriend he left behind.
I can’t wait to read book two.
Profile Image for Yogi Rogers.
625 reviews2 followers
July 25, 2019
I was hoping this would be the 1st of many wonderful books but it wasn't. The story sounds great so why wasn't I enjoying it? Maybe because the narrator was bland. She read the words without knowing the characters. Her narration of the couple depicted them as older than they are especially the female voice. Also, the romance and intimacy was just not interesting.
Meh.....not sure if I want to move on to the next book. Nope, just decided, I have other more interesting books to read.
Profile Image for Sheila.
387 reviews13 followers
August 8, 2020
Nola Landry wakes up to her dead mom’s voice telling her to get out of the house now and get to higher ground fast! She goes to a grove of trees and climbs up the highest one and while there waiting out the storm to be rescued she witnesses three of her neighbors getting shot and killed. Later she finds out that it is the work of a man called the “Stormchaser” and now he is after her! Continue reading to see what happens next.....
Profile Image for Linda.
1,636 reviews
March 26, 2023
This is the first book in a series of three that must be read together. Even though it was one of the author’s older books, it was filled with suspense and murder. FBI Agent Tate Benton was following the trail of a serial killer who murdered survivors of natural disasters and discovered that the only witness ever left behind was in his hometown and the one true love he had left behind. This was a very good read.
Profile Image for Anne OK.
4,062 reviews549 followers
June 25, 2025


A new series from Sharon Sala that coulda-shoulda been better. Had all the makings for a much stronger storyline but fell short with a rush and hurried ending that fell flat and disappointing.

Because I really liked each of the main cast of characters and the building murder mystery, I want to know how these cases turns out so I'll continue with the next two books. I have high hopes that they'll bring stronger and more effective outcomes.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 149 reviews

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