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Race Against Time

Sharon Sala (Goodreads Author)

4.01 · Rating details · 1,227 ratings · 138 reviews

Sometimes fate brings you together...only to tear you apart

Growing up in the foster system, Quinn O'Meara made a point of never getting involved. But when she discovers a crying baby amid a fiery crime scene, she knows she has no choice. Suddenly in way over her head, Quinn turns to the police, unintentionally positioning herself in the crosshairs of a deadly human-traffi ...more

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Mass Market Paperback, 384 pages

Published June 27th 2017 by MIRA

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Troubled Beginnings-Romance With Hero Or Heroine Who Had A Troubled Childhood

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· 1,227 ratings · 138 reviews

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Apr 01, 2017 Betül rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2017, arc, romantic-suspense, netgalley, reviewed

**ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review**

description

"Finding you again feels like an apology from the Universe for separating us the first time."

This book started out really strong, I was really excited for all the action and suspense. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than I did the second. I was looking forward to seeing how two kids who shared a foster home would reconnect again. I liked Nick and Quinn's personalities a lot, I especially loved when they realized they knew each other. Nick is protective and sweet. Quinn is independent and always been on her own. Nobody but Nick had her back, and when they were reunited she finally had someone who cared about her again. This book is told from multiple POVs and it worked pretty well in my opinion. There were a couple of subplots that were important to the story, and it flowed well with the main plot. The suspense was done really well, and it was unpredictable so that was a huge plus for me. I really loved the ladies in this book, they were very strong and brave and took action in very difficult times.

However there were a couple of things that didn't add up:
At 29% the main character Nicks mentions that his aunt and uncle who adopted him have four kids including him (so that is three kids). At 85% there are only two kids left. The same goes for the grandkids, at 29% there are four of them and at 85% NONE. As for Quinn, something very traumatic happened to her which still affects her to this day, however the thing that freaked her out (BIG TIME), doesn't really bother her a day or two later. As a reader these things stand out, and makes it harder for us to fully connect with the characters. I am not a nitpicky reader at all, especially with ARCs, however I assume authors to have gone through their books a couple of times when they are writing it. I hope these things will be corrected before the book is released. Also Nick and Quinn's relationship developed very fast, and came across as a bit unbelievable. ...more

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Apr 04, 2017 Anita rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, romantic-supense

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

First off I want to say that I do not like romantic-suspense books centered around human trafficking, it is nothing less than slavery and unless and until everyone views it that way it will continue to exist unimpeded. I chose this book from NetGalley because I really like the author, Sharon Sala. I especially like her books featuring the Appalachian part of the county. This se Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

First off I want to say that I do not like romantic-suspense books centered around human trafficking, it is nothing less than slavery and unless and until everyone views it that way it will continue to exist unimpeded. I chose this book from NetGalley because I really like the author, Sharon Sala. I especially like her books featuring the Appalachian part of the county. This setting in Las Vegas, NV seems a bit off for her. She can write a location so it almost seems like another character. That aspect isn't present here.

In this story we really have four main characters but the plot doesn't start on the night their lives all intersect in a fiery crash in the desert outside Las Vegas, NV. It starts seven years earlier when a 17 year old girl meets up with a man she met on the internet. If Starla Davis could have that decision back she would, in a heartbeat. For the next seven years she is a slave to a very powerful, nasty piece of work, Anton Baba. When the chance presents itself she takes FBI protection and flees with her two year old son, Sammy. That ends with the fiery crash in the desert. She and her son survive but she is recaptured by Anton's goons. She has hidden Sammy and he is rescued by Good Samaritan Quinn O'Meara who is shot but saves Sammy.

Quinn is a complex character who has not had a lot of good breaks in her life. It would almost seen that this is just business as usual for her, but this is actually the day that the universe is making something right for her. Quinn is reunited with Nick Saldano, her Knight in Shining Armor from a foster care home. Nick is a Las Vegas cop and it is his arms she passes out in. Nick is a born protector and had always protected Quinn in the home, until he wasn't there any longer. He can't believe she is back in his life.

The first half of the book is fantastic and gripping. When the plot moves to the cat and mouse, time to get the baddie part, it bogs a bit. Starla and Quinn are both strong, resourceful, determined women. When the red-headed Quinn finally reaches her limit, watch out as she is determined to bring Anton Baba to justice. ...more

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Sep 02, 2018 Maria V. Snyder rated it liked it

I met Sharon at RWA last summer and she was super nice. She was honored for writing over 100 books! I sat next to her during one of the signings and when I found out she wrote romantic suspense I got this book. Overall it was pretty good if you didn't question the logic too much. The story went in unexpected ways and that was refreshing! But there was also quite a bit of "head hopping." I don't think the book is supposed to be omniscient POV (I could be wrong), but the POV kept switching to anot ...more

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May 22, 2017 Lisa Richards rated it really liked it

Shelves: romantic-suspense

I thought this book started out with a bang but the last half of it seemed to drag some. There were a couple of inconsistencies that kind of bothered me but the whole human trafficking aspect of it was heart breaking and so sad that it almost had me in tears.
I'm generally not a fan of a book that is from different POVs but it definitely worked here. There is a lot of suspense and I found myself gripping my Kindle for dear life on numerous occasions. I loved the romance between Quinn and Nick an ...more

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Jul 02, 2017 Tonya Lucas rated it it was amazing

When I pick up a Sharon Sala book I always know my love for reading will be satisfied, tenfold. Her books are so intriguing and her characters become so real, that I believe I'm reading a true life story, not fiction. Sharon Sala has a talent that few authors conquer, the ability to draw you in immediately and keep you in suspense until the end.
Race Against Time is definitely one of those type of books. Nail biting until the shocking conclusion.
Abducted as a teenager, in a deadly human- traffic ...more

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Nov 24, 2017 Jennifer Argotsinger rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Great concept, but poor execution - SPOILERS

The only thing that kept me going to the end was that in the wide scope it's a great concept for a romantic suspense story which is my fave kind of novel. However, this is very poorly written in my opinion. The characters were not consistent throughout and while some overcame issues it wasn't realistic the way they did. Someone who has such a visceral reaction to water like in the hospital scene to then be fine with it only a few showers later is just ...more

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Aug 31, 2017 Vikki Vaught rated it really liked it

Shelves: american, vikki-s-musings, stand-alone, contemporary, women-s-fiction, audio, hea, sensual, romantic-suspense, romantic-elements

Great story with plenty of suspenseful scenes that will keep you grabbing the edge of your seat. I really enjoyed the characters, but I would love to see a story for Starla. Happy reading!

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Jul 01, 2017 Jess Schira rated it really liked it

It’s been a few years since I’ve read anything by Sharon Sala, but I remember loving them. I’m particularly fond of Shades of Desperado. So, Race Against Tim popped up on one of Amazon’s recommended upcoming release lists, I decided to give it a whirl.
The good news is that the tight plot and engaging characters kept me turning pages and I finished the book in just a little over 12 hours.
The down side was that while the author is clearly trying to find the balance between both romance and suspen ...more

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Feb 04, 2020 Ariel rated it did not like it

Shelves: contemporary, adult, romantic-suspense, are-you-freakin-kidding-me

Didn't care for the prose.
The subject matter was fine, but the manner in which it was handled...meh.
The characters were inconsistent.

Not for me. ...more

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Jul 04, 2017 Lyndi W. rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 4-star

Not Sala's best, but not bad at all. I'm feeling generous with four stars because this story reminded me a lot of my favorite Sala story: Next of Kin. Quite a few similarities. But I didn't love this one, mainly because page time was split between three different parties - the victims, the bad guy, and the good guys. Also, the romance happened way too quick. I mean, everything about it just moved too fast.

Still, Sala rarely lets me down and even though I have complaints, I still really enjoyed ...more

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Aug 19, 2017 Jo Anne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-2017

Another excellent effort by Sharon Sala. Quinn is a kick-ass heroine, doing what’s right and saving a child’s life in the process. Nick is a lovable hero, strong and caring. Their backstory makes them perfect for each other. And I liked that one POV is that of a victim of the trafficking ring. This was a suspenseful, scary story. I couldn’t put it down.

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Sep 29, 2018 AG Reads rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: rom-sus

Maybe 3.5 stars. Not one of this author's best, but not terrible either. I found it difficult to connect with the main couple romance becuse there was too much else going on. Too many other characters and stories too up page time to the detriment of developing Nick and Quinn.

In a way I can't fully explain, it felt like the author had a bone to pick and some of it came out in the various divergent incidents of this book. Maybe I'm wrong, but that was a feeling I got off and on throughout and it ...more

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May 28, 2017 Bec rated it really liked it

Shelves: book-magic-reviews

Quinn O'Meara finds it hard to trust people after experiencing tough times while growing up in the foster system. However, the moment she comes upon a fiery car crash, and finds a crying baby, she's determined to get the baby to safety. Except she never imagined she'd find herself hunted by a bad man involved in human trafficking. Luckily, her long-lost friend, Detective Nick Saldano, is determined to protect her at all costs. Will Nick be able to win Quinn over, so they can have a second chance
Quinn O'Meara finds it hard to trust people after experiencing tough times while growing up in the foster system. However, the moment she comes upon a fiery car crash, and finds a crying baby, she's determined to get the baby to safety. Except she never imagined she'd find herself hunted by a bad man involved in human trafficking. Luckily, her long-lost friend, Detective Nick Saldano, is determined to protect her at all costs. Will Nick be able to win Quinn over, so they can have a second chance at happy ever after?

What a wild ride Ms. Sala takes readers on this story, which encompasses several characters points-of-view in both the good guys and the bad guys, the second chance romance trope, plot twists that will leave readers determined to discover what else happens and a prologue that will have readers hooked from the very beginning. The way this story started had me feeling sorry for the victims of the human trafficking ring, as the treatment was rough and horrible. How can people be so cruel?

As for the dialogue, it was powerful, emotional and takes readers on a thrilling journey into the devastation human trafficking rings create for loved ones of kidnapped victims, the hope that a family will be reunited with said loved ones, how far the bad guys are willing to go to escape capture and what the cops are willing to do to protect witnesses and take down the bad guys. Moreover, the dialogue was also intense due to the main characters back stories, especially that of the heroine. She had it rough growing up, and I could understand why she finds it hard to trust people. Although, Nick is completely different, because of the tight bond they shared years ago. I also liked how strong and brave she was, as it shows she's a fighter who has managed to survive all she's suffered during her time in the foster system.

While Nick, I loved him. He's strong, smart, protective and I liked how determined he was to win the heroine over to make her realize that she doesn't have to keep running from her past. I also liked the tight bond he shared with his relatives, as it showed he had a good life; a life filled with love and laughter after he and the heroine were separated when they were younger. Luckily, there's a lot of love to go around and that Nick's family was so accepting of Quinn.

Overall, Ms. Sala has penned a really good read in this romantic suspense where the chemistry was strong and palpable and revealed how right these two are for each other. The way this story ended had me on the edge-of-my-seat due to the danger the main characters face. Will they get the head bad guy that is determined to rob Quinn of her life? Will Nick be able to protect Quinn? Moreover, I liked how Quinn handles herself, as it proves she's determined to see justice served. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped everything up nicely, as we discover how far Nick and Quinn have come in their relationship and what happened to the bad guy. I would recommend Race Against Time by Sharon Sala, if you enjoy romantic suspense, second chance romances, the sexy protector trope or books by authors Alison Brennan, Karen Rose, Melinda Leigh or Pamela Clare. ...more

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Jul 08, 2017 TL marked it as dnf

Shelves: goodreads-giveaways

I received this via Goodreads Giveaways in exchange for an honest review. All my opinions are my own:).
---

Good plot idea but ultimately not for me.. maybe I'm just a more critical reader and/or I've outgrown these types of stories. *shrugs*

Not you book, its me. ...more

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Sep 12, 2017 Lauren rated it liked it

3.5 this book was interesting and i will read the author again. but i felt like it was light on suspense.

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Oct 27, 2019 Ellen Anderson rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Race Against Time

While I very much enjoyed this book and the reconnection of Nick and Quinn, would have loved a meet between Quinn and Starla.

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Jun 11, 2017 Mary rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley, contemporary-fiction

3.5 stars - Race Against Time is a stand-alone romantic suspense novel that kept me on the edge of my seat as the story progressed. It started out very fast and kept that pace for most of the book.

The seedy underbelly of Las Vegas is explored in the world of Anton Baba, a casino kingpin with his hand in assorted related ventures (not the least being human trafficking). When Baba decides to make some changes his world begins to collapse in ways he’d never imagined. He won’t rest until he takes do ...more

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Apr 05, 2017 Flora rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

3 and a half stars.
Human trafficking is very much a tragic and horrifying fact of life. That’s why I found Sharon Sala’s description of how Starla was abducted and sold into sex slavery so hard to read because she made it sound so real! I had to check the book summary to make sure that I was not reading a non-fiction.

Race against Time is very fast-moving and very well written. I could not put my Kindle down till I reached about 60 percent! Then, surprisingly, I couldn’t get into the slow and rom ...more

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Jun 30, 2017 Elizabeth Neal rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: safety-gang-approved, h-h-in-life-before-romance

Starla, as a lot of seventeen-year-olds do, felt guilty about lying to her parents regarding where she was going, but she did it anyway. Instead of hanging out with her friend as believed, she was meeting a guy she'd met online. Seven years later, Star as she is now called, has outlived her "usefulness" to her owner, Anton, and he is trying to find a new buyer for her. However, their two-year-old son, Sammy, will not be going anywhere. Star, overhearing Anton's plans, knows she needs to escape, Starla, as a lot of seventeen-year-olds do, felt guilty about lying to her parents regarding where she was going, but she did it anyway. Instead of hanging out with her friend as believed, she was meeting a guy she'd met online. Seven years later, Star as she is now called, has outlived her "usefulness" to her owner, Anton, and he is trying to find a new buyer for her. However, their two-year-old son, Sammy, will not be going anywhere. Star, overhearing Anton's plans, knows she needs to escape, her obedience for the sake of her family's survival has been overtaken by the need to protect Sammy at all costs. Unfortunately, it doesn't go well and the two people helping Star getaway, with the promise to testify, perish in a car accident and she herself is injured, both from the crash and Anton's men, as they were responsible for causing it. Thankfully, she was able to hide Sammy first. She refused to let Anton get his hands on her son.

Quinn, a wanderer, is out riding, having just finished a favor for a friend, when she comes upon a fiery crash, and shockingly a toddler by himself. Knowing she needs to ensure the boy's safety, especially as she's now being shot at, she takes off, heading for the nearest police station. Upon arriving, a few detectives, including one named Nick who swears the woman looks familiar, sees her, the child, and the blood covering her. Quinn is able to share a scant amount of information before passing out from her injury. At the hospital, before she's taken into surgery, Nick is able to get a few more details from the woman, Quinn as she was able to tell the nurse her name. Nick also realizes that Quinn is a witness, one that's probably in danger of being silenced for good.

Nick learns from his boss that the Feds are involved and why, plus, that the witness will more than likely not be protected, leaving her vulnerable, as she wasn't able to supply "helpful" information. Nick, guaranteed guards in the form of fellow cops, at least short-term, informs his boss he plans on watching her overnight. As he waits, Nick is still struggling to remember why she looks familiar. All it takes is one name from Quinn, mumbled in her sleep, one he hasn't heard in almost twenty years. He knows who she is now, the background check only confirms it, and he can't help, after witnessing her tears while she's asking for him, the child version that is, while asleep, wondering what she endured after he was taken away from the foster home they shared, reunited with family he didn't know existed.

"Where is he? Where's my Nicks?" - Quinn
"Oh, my God, my little Queenie! What happened to you after they took me away?" - Nick

Nick and Quinn shared a strong bond as children, him filling the role of something like a big brother, always her protector, her safe place. After he left, Quinn's situation wasn't as pleasant, and she eventually lived with the devil incarnate until she ran away. As adults, Nick and Quinn's childhood bond is still there, yet it's obvious to both a different sort of a bond, one potentially even stronger, is growing between them.

"I'm not afraid of the dark. Besides, you're light enough for me." - Quinn

As Nick watches over Quinn, he loves seeing her in his home, feeling the rightness of having her there, while they share what's happened since they were separated, the loving family Nick was blessed to have and the terrifying reality of Quinn's life. They also start falling for one another, for the people they've become over the years. However, when it's discovered that Quinn's eyewitness account will help, they both know their situation is suddenly more dangerous. Anton will stop at nothing to take out anyone that could implicate him, and that includes the redhead that rescued his son, as well as Star.

Can Nick keep Quinn safe? Is Star finally free? Will she and Sammy be reunited? Will her parents and brother finally get their loved one back? Will Nick and Quinn explore the intense feelings rapidly growing between them? Will Anton get what he deserves? Is there a HEA for everyone?

One-click now and follow along as one young woman's attempt to escape the tragedy her life has become, desperate to save the only bright spot in it, her son, has her crossing paths with and reuniting the lives of two people separated as kids. This journey will not only reconnect a family who thought they lost a beloved member, and in fact end up gaining another one, but also will result in a new one beginning as childhood confidants discover their love for one another is merging into so much more than they ever expected.

I really liked this book. My intention was to start it, reading a few chapters before going to bed (that's what we all say, right? LOL), however, that did not happen. I had to know and continued reading until I did so. There were some dark moments in regards to what Star lived through, and knowing others in real life are forced into this horrible existence, as well as Quinn's childhood in the foster care system. Yes, there are wonderful people helping to care for the children facing this situation, and some, thankfully, find loving homes, but we also know the alternative is sadly true and that's the side we see through Quinn's memories. I enjoyed watching the love grow between Nick and Quinn, and Star finding freedom, starting a new and safer life for her and Sammy. I highly recommend it. I do wish we could see Star find happiness in the future as well. I'd love to see her have her own book, even if it's a novella. *hint hint* ;-)

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.** ...more

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Jun 28, 2017 Books and Spoons rated it really liked it

Shelves: netgalley

Race Against Time is inspiring, heartbreaking, hope springing story that kept me on my toes. It has a well-balanced mix of heartening human connections and deadly, savage suspense. The story is told from several different points of view, giving a panoramic, layered picture of the events and a portal to the evil, disturbing thoughts of the criminals.

The story starts off with a point of the matter type of telling of the tragic tale of human trafficking. While it broke my heart, and the ease of it Race Against Time is inspiring, heartbreaking, hope springing story that kept me on my toes. It has a well-balanced mix of heartening human connections and deadly, savage suspense. The story is told from several different points of view, giving a panoramic, layered picture of the events and a portal to the evil, disturbing thoughts of the criminals.

The story starts off with a point of the matter type of telling of the tragic tale of human trafficking. While it broke my heart, and the ease of it happening is as frustrating as it always is in these cases, the way it was told - and then, and then, and then - it took me by surprise. But after the scene is set, and the characters are introduced, the story started to flow, and the style of telling came smoother and enjoyable.

While at times the story was a bit confusing (inconsistent) or moving on slowly, there are elements in this story that I enjoyed and found intriguing.
One of them was the developing relationship between Quinn O'Meara and Nick Saldano. I loved the connection they had from their foster care years. Their memories from the time together were emotional, delightful and sweet. The spark that now was in between them was convincing. Their childhood years gave them a good foundation to get to know each other more, something that was easy for them to build upon. They both are strong, heroic characters who are able and willing to step up and take care of business. I loved it how tough Quinn was, truly a survivor and a heroine, she is the woman we all inspire to be.
There are other survivors and champions in the story as well, but to point them out could give something away of the riveting, danger-filled, action packed plot.
The empire of the crime lord and his power and reach was intriguing in the scary kind of way. The human trafficking and its consequences are interesting as we should know more about it, we should be more aware of it, and how easy it is for them to come and sweep the victim away.

In the mix of all the life-threatening danger and death, the book tells inspiring stories of people who managed to turn around their circumstances, their destiny, and make a difference in their own lives. The stories of these survivors - heroes and heroines of their own lives - have uplifting, encourages messages of hope, love, and faith. Race Against Time is a story that made me think, it is a story that will stay with me because of the compelling characters it introduced. I do wish there would have been room to get a deeper look at all the different players of the story, yet the vulnerability of the survivors and the constant, deadly threat to them took the tale to an enthralling spin of peril and risk to their lives.
Both the danger and the beauty of life took my breath away with this engaging tale
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side ...more

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Aug 12, 2017 Siany rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-2017

2.5 stars!

I am sooooo disappointed with this.

It started off so strong with such a brilliant storyline. I found myself not wanting to put it down and then around the 45% mark it just stopped being brilliant and I found myself contemplating about giving up with it.

There is no shortage of characters in this, the main being Star who starts off as a young girl who is kidnapped and sold off within the human trafficking system. Then it fast tracks a few years and we see Star as an adult, still in her h 2.5 stars!

I am sooooo disappointed with this.

It started off so strong with such a brilliant storyline. I found myself not wanting to put it down and then around the 45% mark it just stopped being brilliant and I found myself contemplating about giving up with it.

There is no shortage of characters in this, the main being Star who starts off as a young girl who is kidnapped and sold off within the human trafficking system. Then it fast tracks a few years and we see Star as an adult, still in her horrendous situation but wanting to get out. Some FBI agents help her escape in return for her testimony. It goes badly wrong, she gets taken back to her owner but someone comes upon the wreck and gets caught up in all it, this is Quinn and she ends up at the police station with a bullet wound and rushed to hospital. The cop protecting her turns out to be an old childhood friend who protects her throughout the whole book and they fall in love etc.

The characters all started off so interesting and by half way I was bored and they were in turn boring. Star being the most interesting of characters who then ended up so unbelievable it was hard to follow. I don't pretend to know a lot about human trafficking etc but shouldn't she have been even a little bit traumatised? she still seemed completely naive and gullible despite all she had gone through. I feel like after years of what she had experienced she would be a bit more savvy. She was more savvy in the beginning but then the second half she just wasn't.
Quinn and Nick were seriously one of the least interesting characters I have encountered in a book for quite a while. I honestly didn't feel their connection or chemistry and they moved so fast it was unrealistic for a character like Quinn who didn't trust anyone.
They were so sappy together pretty much for the beginning and it was off putting tbh. One line from around 60% into the book was "Finding you again feels like an apology from the Universe for separating us the first time" . It felt like there was dialogue like this in nearly all of their scenes. I don't mind sappy but it was too much and over the top.

There were also inconsistencies in the beginning Nick's adoptive family had 4 kids including him as well as grandchildren....second half of the book there were 3 adult children and no grandchildren. Like an entire family was completely forgotten about and disappeared..? I feel like this was a very amateur mistake Sharon Sala made and she isn't a new author and this should have been picked up.

I normally really enjoy this authors work but I am not sure what happened with this one.
I will read more from her in the future but if you are a fan I would recommend giving this one a miss.

ARC received by Netgalley for a honest and non biased review. Thank you ...more

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Jul 31, 2017 Lisa rated it it was amazing

I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Net Galley, and I am leaving a voluntarily review.

This is the story of two women, Quinn O’Meara and Starla Davis. Starla Davis was kidnapped by human traffickers when she was a teenager. Seven years later, she escapes from her captor with her young son and some federal agents. Unfortunately, the captor’s men overpower them and the car blows up in flames. The agents die, but Starla and her daughter are thrown out of the car and live.

Without the federal agen I received an Advanced Reader Copy from Net Galley, and I am leaving a voluntarily review.

This is the story of two women, Quinn O’Meara and Starla Davis. Starla Davis was kidnapped by human traffickers when she was a teenager. Seven years later, she escapes from her captor with her young son and some federal agents. Unfortunately, the captor’s men overpower them and the car blows up in flames. The agents die, but Starla and her daughter are thrown out of the car and live.

Without the federal agents, Starla fears she will be recaptured. However, since she knows the Feds are onto her, she leaves her young son in the bushes to be discovered, and she goes it alone.

This is where Quinn becomes involved. Quinn is an orphan who has been in foster care her whole life. Now she is on her own and travels from place to place without getting involved. She sees the car on fire and rides closer to help. Quinn spots the movement of Starla’s young boy, and decides to take the boy to the police. Unfortunately, the “bad guys” see her and begin to shoot at her. Quinn, in spite of a couple of gunshot wounds, manages to get Starla’s boy to the police station and deliver him to freedom.

Meanwhile, while in the hospital, she meets Nick Saldano who realizes that he knew her from a foster home when they were both very young. They became close friends and the only bright spot in the home. However, he left the home, and hurt Quinn, when family members found him and took him into their home.

Nick, now a homicide detective, recognizes Quinn, and refuses to lose her again. Together, they work on keeping Quinn safe so she can identify the criminals when they are found. And the two of them fall in love.

Meanwhile, Starla calls her family and they happily bring her back into their family. Her story is also a happy one because Starla discovers that her parents and brother take her and her son in unconditionally without being judgmental about where she has been.

This author is a well-loved author.There are very few authors that write with the experience, skill and creativity of Sharon Sala. Her books are always well-written with well-developed, very interesting and realistic characters. Her plots also are well-developed with lots of twists and turns. This story is full of intrigue and adventure that keeps the reader, thoroughly, engrossed in this story and the characters.

This book is a stand-alone with no cliffhanger. Since most of the books I have read lately do not fall under this category, I was very excited to find one that was different. Even Starla’s story is not a cliffhanger. We know that she is safe at home with her family. However, I do hope that Ms. Sala has a written a story around this loveable character!!

I highly recommend this book!!
...more

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Oct 27, 2018 Victoria rated it it was ok

Shelves: disappointment

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Semi-Spoilers

The premise of this story is very exciting, the characters had potential- unfortunately the execution left me underwhelmed and slightly cold. As a fan and owner of several books from Sharon Sala, I was looking forward to reading this, especially after reading the back cover. Like most of her books, it's a easy read with a mix romance and drama. I wanted to root for the female characters, and mostly I did, but I never connected with them. Overall, this did not feel like a story from Semi-Spoilers

The premise of this story is very exciting, the characters had potential- unfortunately the execution left me underwhelmed and slightly cold. As a fan and owner of several books from Sharon Sala, I was looking forward to reading this, especially after reading the back cover. Like most of her books, it's a easy read with a mix romance and drama. I wanted to root for the female characters, and mostly I did, but I never connected with them. Overall, this did not feel like a story from Sharon Sala.

We have two main female characters here: Quinn and Starla. Both female characters have devastating pasts and endured more pain than they should. However, I felt like there was more growth with Starla. She went from gullible teenager to quick-witted, protective mother. In some ways, I wanted more from/about her. Especially when she is reunited with her family. When her brother finds her, that was special. It actually made me tear up. Sadly I couldn't say the same when she is reunited with her parents.

I assumed Quinn was supposed to be our main heroine, but other than being told her story I didn't feel it. She comes along a crime scene, saves a toddler (who feels more like a plot device than anything), gets shot, goes to the hospital, is reunited with an old friend who she quickly falls in love with, goes into hiding, waits in panic and fear and then ends up being the big badass at the end of the story. She didn't feel consistent. Her characterization ping-ponged between damsel in distress and mysterious loner. Also the love story between Quinn and Nick felt very circumstantial and a byproduct of their shared past. I mean, they first don't recognize each other but because she talks in her sleep, he finds out that she is the little girl he was friends with back in foster care - SMALL WORLD! (speaking of small world, how is it that Starla's brother is now a cop in Las Vegas, where she is being held when their family is from across the country - but I digress). All of sudden, they cannot live without one another. Relationships built under intense situations is normal in romance stories, yet the sizzle and spark between them just felt manufactured.

Overall, it was not a horrible read. I finished it in a weekend. The premise was interesting. I guess I just expected more. ...more

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Jun 28, 2017 Lisa Gibbs rated it it was amazing

This was quite a story and there were two very strong female characters, Quinn and Starla who battled they way from being victims to being warriors. Quinn saves a baby from the dessert when she stops at the scene of a firey car crash. Unbeknownst to her the baby's father is a wanted criminal with connections everywhere. He will stop at nothing to destroy Quinn and Starla, the baby's mother. Both need help and Quinn finds help when she rides away from the dessert with a bad guy on her tail, a 2 y ...more

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Aug 11, 2019 Malanie rated it it was ok

Shelves: orange

The book started well but the second half felt flat, with little action except the FBI and Anton running around in circles and no big character development except the instalove between Quinn and Nick (Aside from the first chapter flashback, the entire book happens over about a week). It was only in the last three chapters were it picked the pace back up, when the villain finally realised that "now it was time to get serious" (p.346).
Plus I had a BIG issue with a main character's water phobia inc ...more

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Jun 03, 2018 1-Click Addict Support Group rated it it was amazing

Top-notch romantic suspense…

My heart is always pummeled a little when I read a new title by this author and this read seemed to have more than the average amount of pangs to the heart. I’m a sucker for a second chance story and this ended up being that, in more ways than I could have imagined…

Quinn’s act of bravery brought her more danger than she could have dreamed of but it also brought her back to Nick Saldano. They had bonded when they were in foster care together but their paths went in ver ...more

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Oct 02, 2017 Allyson Abu-Hajar rated it it was amazing

Very intriguing story!

Starla Davis doesn't want her parents to know about her plans, so she lies to them about where she'll be. Then sets off to met a boy she'd been chatting with online. Starla didn't make it home that evening. Little did she know, she was going to become a target for human trafficking.

Starla, now known as Star, was bought by Anton Baba. Star learned that she was pregnant, something that Anton didn't permit, but she convinced him by his ego that a son would be a good idea. Whe ...more

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Oct 19, 2017 Shental Henrie rated it really liked it

RACE AGAINST TIME is a stand-alone romantic suspense novel by Sharon Sala! This story is actually 2 stories in one.
*
This story starts out with us meeting Starla. She is a typical teenager sneaking out of the house to meet a boy. Only in her case, it goes horribly wrong and she is kidnapped and sold. She knows that she won't rescued as her parents have no idea what she's up to or where she is going. She is on her own!! It is up to her to survive.
*
Starla, whose name gets changed to Star, is sold ...more

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Aug 19, 2018 Tina rated it liked it

Shelves: z2018-reads, audiobook, romance-suspense

This follows the story of Starla Davis, a young girl who meets her dream guy on the internet only to learn to late that he is a predator/sex trafficker.

The meat of the story kicks in seven years later when Starla finally gets the opportunity to escape and does so. But the escape attempt goes tits up real quick.

Into this comes Quinn and innocent bystander who thinks she is doing a solid as a good samaritan. But ends up in the crosshairs of a crime lord.

The blurb of the book makes it seem like i ...more

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May 29, 2017 Cheryl rated it really liked it

Fate will find a way. - Virgil

Starla Davis was a young, virgin 17 year-old girl who made a bad choice and she's ending up having to live with the consequences of that mistake for the rest of her life. She finds herself put on an auction block and sold to the highest bidder - a Las Vegas crime boss. And for the next seven years she lives at his bidding.

But she finds she does have reasons to want to stay alive, and with help, escapes his clutches.

Because of her escape, others get pulled into the n ...more

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About Sharon Sala

Sharon Sala

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Biography

Sharon Sala is a long-time member of RWA, as well as a member of OKRWA. She has 100 plus books in print, published in five different genres – Romance, Young Adult, Western, Fiction, and Women’s Fiction. First published in 1991, she’s an eight-time RITA finalist, winner of the Janet Dailey Award, five-time Career Achievement winner from RT Magazine, five time winner of the National Reader ...more