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Storm Front #2
Torn Apart
The twister that touches down in Bordelaise, Louisiana, not only destroys the calm of a summer Sunday, it pierces the soul of Katie Earle, whose young son Bobby goes missing...and it wasn't the storm that took him.Katie's first thought is that her estranged husband, J.R., saw his chance and grabbed Bobby to spite her. But the reality goes beyond that to truly horrifying, and now her nightmare is only just beginning. The real terror will begin when the tornado's wreckage is cleared away and the kidnapper can escape with his prize.
The agony of uncertainty grows with every passing hour as Katie and J.R. reunite with a single, desperate purpose: to find their son before he slips from their grasp...forever.
The agony of uncertainty grows with every passing hour as Katie and J.R. reunite with a single, desperate purpose: to find their son before he slips from their grasp...forever.
418 pages, Hardcover
First published June 22, 2010
238 people are currently reading
487 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Sala
281 books2,312 followersBiography
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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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
February 24, 2018
My first SS book and it was great reading. The subject matter is a little disturbing,so beware of it. To assure you I will say it was only in one man's thoughts and never acted out. I didn't realize this was #2 of a series when I grabbed it off the shelf. It could read as a standalone. All 3 books are centered around one town and one helluva storm. Sala's writing will haul you inside the story and not let you go until the end. I have #1 on order and am going to read #3 next.
February 20, 2019
While the subject matter is disturbing in this book, it is well-written. I had to finish it on the same day that I started it so the situation could be resolved. It kept me hooked all of the way through the novel. While you know the protagonist early in the novel, you don't know how or if the situation will be satisfactorily resolved.
January 13, 2023
Difficult subject matter.
July 5, 2010
Rating: 4.5 / 5
Man, what a brutally disturbing book. I literally HAD to keep reading, HAD to get to the HEA before I could even think of stopping. I HAD to have the happy thoughts from the ending in my head before I went to sleep. That's how disturbing this story is.
Series Note:
Second book in Sala's "Storm Front" series about a small Louisiana town that is rocked by a tornado. This book can probably be read as a standalone despite the fact that all three books are connected by a single event.
Summary:
Katie Earle is in the church kitchen, her son playing out on the playground with friends when the tornado siren went off. By the time the chaos slows, young Bobby Earle is nowhere to be found. At first, everyone, including Katie believe Bobby was sucked up and killed by the tornado, but then a report surfaces leading them to believe her was abducted just before the tornado.
The initial suspect is Katie's estranged husband and Bobby's father, J.R. Earle. But before long, he's cleared and they begin to fear the worst, the Bobby is in the hands of a predator. As Katie and J.R. frantically search for their son, they also realize their problems mean nothing. All that matters is finding Bobby and putting their family back together once and for all.
Review:
This story is just so disturbing since it is all about a little seven year old boy who is kidnapped by a child molester. And Sala doesn't keep things vague. She dives right into the heart of this story and gives you not only the POVs for the devastated parents - Katie's initial agony and mental breakdown, J.R.s heartbreak when he finds out - but you also get up close and personal POVs for the kidnapper and little Bobby.
It's a truly disturbing look into the mind of someone who would kidnap a child for sexual purposes, and it breaks your heart to read Bobby's scenes. And the scary part is, is that it could have been much much worse. Everything that happened once the kidnapper had Bobby was pretty mild. Bobby is never actually molested...circumstances prevent it. So yeah, things could have been so much worse.
Once I got going on this story last night, I just had to keep reading. I didn't want to go to bed with the thought in my head that poor Bobby was still tied up in that bastards home. So I had to keep reading till the end, till Bobby was home with his family and J.R. and Katie were back together. I wanted the happy thoughts in my head, not the disturbing ones. That how chilling this story was for me.
Now, aside from all that, I'm a little unsure how to rate this book. I'm a romance reader and this book is labeled as a romantic suspense. But really, this is Bobby's story. The story of his kidnapping and the devastation it caused his parents. The romance is a small element and very much a sidenote. And that was a little disappointing, but honestly, I'm not sure the story could have been done in any other way. Plus, it was just such a powerful story that kept me reading and tore my heart out, I can't really fault Sala for how she wrote the book.
On a series note, I did feel like there were some inconsistencies between this book and the first one. And like the first book, I wish the book-to-book connection was stronger. Those are really the only two complaints I had about this book. I'm sure there was other stuff, but this story was just so disturbing and emotional that it overwhelmed any other faults it might have had.
Those of you looking for romance probably won't get what you're looking for in this book. But if you want to read a story with a little bit of romance and a storyline that tears your heart out then rips it to pieces before giving you a happy ending, then maybe you want to give this one a try.
WARNING, this book contains: a storyline about a little boy being kidnapped by a child molester...the boy is never actually molested but you get a first hand look at the kidnapper's sick, twisted thoughts, and the poor boy's fear as he's held captive.
Man, what a brutally disturbing book. I literally HAD to keep reading, HAD to get to the HEA before I could even think of stopping. I HAD to have the happy thoughts from the ending in my head before I went to sleep. That's how disturbing this story is.
Series Note:
Second book in Sala's "Storm Front" series about a small Louisiana town that is rocked by a tornado. This book can probably be read as a standalone despite the fact that all three books are connected by a single event.
Summary:
Katie Earle is in the church kitchen, her son playing out on the playground with friends when the tornado siren went off. By the time the chaos slows, young Bobby Earle is nowhere to be found. At first, everyone, including Katie believe Bobby was sucked up and killed by the tornado, but then a report surfaces leading them to believe her was abducted just before the tornado.
The initial suspect is Katie's estranged husband and Bobby's father, J.R. Earle. But before long, he's cleared and they begin to fear the worst, the Bobby is in the hands of a predator. As Katie and J.R. frantically search for their son, they also realize their problems mean nothing. All that matters is finding Bobby and putting their family back together once and for all.
Review:
This story is just so disturbing since it is all about a little seven year old boy who is kidnapped by a child molester. And Sala doesn't keep things vague. She dives right into the heart of this story and gives you not only the POVs for the devastated parents - Katie's initial agony and mental breakdown, J.R.s heartbreak when he finds out - but you also get up close and personal POVs for the kidnapper and little Bobby.
It's a truly disturbing look into the mind of someone who would kidnap a child for sexual purposes, and it breaks your heart to read Bobby's scenes. And the scary part is, is that it could have been much much worse. Everything that happened once the kidnapper had Bobby was pretty mild. Bobby is never actually molested...circumstances prevent it. So yeah, things could have been so much worse.
Once I got going on this story last night, I just had to keep reading. I didn't want to go to bed with the thought in my head that poor Bobby was still tied up in that bastards home. So I had to keep reading till the end, till Bobby was home with his family and J.R. and Katie were back together. I wanted the happy thoughts in my head, not the disturbing ones. That how chilling this story was for me.
Now, aside from all that, I'm a little unsure how to rate this book. I'm a romance reader and this book is labeled as a romantic suspense. But really, this is Bobby's story. The story of his kidnapping and the devastation it caused his parents. The romance is a small element and very much a sidenote. And that was a little disappointing, but honestly, I'm not sure the story could have been done in any other way. Plus, it was just such a powerful story that kept me reading and tore my heart out, I can't really fault Sala for how she wrote the book.
On a series note, I did feel like there were some inconsistencies between this book and the first one. And like the first book, I wish the book-to-book connection was stronger. Those are really the only two complaints I had about this book. I'm sure there was other stuff, but this story was just so disturbing and emotional that it overwhelmed any other faults it might have had.
Those of you looking for romance probably won't get what you're looking for in this book. But if you want to read a story with a little bit of romance and a storyline that tears your heart out then rips it to pieces before giving you a happy ending, then maybe you want to give this one a try.
WARNING, this book contains: a storyline about a little boy being kidnapped by a child molester...the boy is never actually molested but you get a first hand look at the kidnapper's sick, twisted thoughts, and the poor boy's fear as he's held captive.
July 1, 2010
This book was much better than the first in the trilogy. So much so that it almost seems like 2 different authors. Sharon Sala does seem to be either a big hit or a big miss for me. The suspense was high
throughout the book. It is not often that I wish over and over again that a character would just die. But in this one I did. At first I was not sure that I would be able to read a book about a young boy being kidnapped by a pedophile since I have 2 young boys myself. For those who might feel as I do, the boy is never actually molested. That made it bearable for me. The boy is well written and I think responds appropriately for a child his age, not seeming older than he was, which is a problem in many books .
The love story was not really a main element in the book. The hero and heroine were separated at the time of the kidnapping but they still loved each other. As soon as the hero gets back to the heroine all their romantic type problems are over. So if you're looking for a traditional romance here, you're not really going to get it. It is sweet when they get back together and become stronger than each is alone, but the thrust of the story is finding and saving Bobby.
The author winds the story through the POVs of several characters showing the trail that eventually leads to Bobby's rescue. It is very well done and never intrusive or abrupt when the POV changes.
I'm glad I stuck with the series after the much weaker first volume.
throughout the book. It is not often that I wish over and over again that a character would just die. But in this one I did. At first I was not sure that I would be able to read a book about a young boy being kidnapped by a pedophile since I have 2 young boys myself. For those who might feel as I do, the boy is never actually molested. That made it bearable for me. The boy is well written and I think responds appropriately for a child his age, not seeming older than he was, which is a problem in many books .
The love story was not really a main element in the book. The hero and heroine were separated at the time of the kidnapping but they still loved each other. As soon as the hero gets back to the heroine all their romantic type problems are over. So if you're looking for a traditional romance here, you're not really going to get it. It is sweet when they get back together and become stronger than each is alone, but the thrust of the story is finding and saving Bobby.
The author winds the story through the POVs of several characters showing the trail that eventually leads to Bobby's rescue. It is very well done and never intrusive or abrupt when the POV changes.
I'm glad I stuck with the series after the much weaker first volume.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 17, 2012
I would advise that if you don't care for book that involve children being taken, then this is not the book for you. For the rest who can read this as a work of fiction you'll enjoy this well written book. From the first page you can't stop reading it. The way that Sala puts you in both Bobby thoughts (the little boy) and Newts (the kidnapper) is down right scary. You spend the whole book praying he'll be fine. I also thought what the parents had to face is heart wrenching and at times--being a parent--hard to read. This is the second book in the Storm Front series and starts up right from the last. Even with the touchy story plot this is one of the best written romances I've read in a long time. Please read these books in order to really understand the continual story that goes from book to book.
August 26, 2016
The second book in the Storm Front trilogy. Katie Earle's son, Bobby is missing in the aftermath of the tornado. At first she believed that her ex-husband, J.R. was responsible but soon discovers that wasn't the case. Very heart wrenching and fast paced. Each story is a story on its own but also has glimpses into the other stories in the trilogy.
October 13, 2011
this book was very interesting to read and I never got bored with it though the child molestation part was freaking me out abit but the main character gets hurt (burned) on a job and never touches the boy at least so that was a relief. Sharon Sala writes an awesome story. Other than that I really enjoyed this book.
February 20, 2020
This time around we’re in the bayou, old family, serous small town world. A twister hits and three tales commence.
#2
-This woman is not very strong or brave. Most of the drama is from her insecurities.
-The male character is a good match for her.
-The premise was very hard to read. The subject of an abducted child was very stressful.
-The bad guy was simply a sick F#ck.
-Sala is a strong writer when it comes to action scenes. She is also masterful at writing three storylines that happen simultaneously.
-The ending was a bit sappy but whatever.
#2
-This woman is not very strong or brave. Most of the drama is from her insecurities.
-The male character is a good match for her.
-The premise was very hard to read. The subject of an abducted child was very stressful.
-The bad guy was simply a sick F#ck.
-Sala is a strong writer when it comes to action scenes. She is also masterful at writing three storylines that happen simultaneously.
-The ending was a bit sappy but whatever.
December 28, 2024
5⭐️
AHHHH WHERE DO I START???
1. This book has very strong mature themes… so check the TW
2. THIS BOOK ATE DOWN!!!
3. Can’t wait to read my next Sharon sala book!!!
AHHHH WHERE DO I START???
1. This book has very strong mature themes… so check the TW
2. THIS BOOK ATE DOWN!!!
3. Can’t wait to read my next Sharon sala book!!!
March 28, 2011
It would be difficult for me to say that I liked this book....a lot of it was quite disturbing. JR and Katie's little boy Bobby was abducted during the big Bordelaise tornado by a child molester. There was quite a bit of the book that was told from the child molester's POV. It eeked me out so much hearing him talk about Bobby and his lust for the little boy. Luckily, he is injured and can't physically do anything to the kid before he's found, but being in his head just made me feel dirty.
JR and Katie were estranged for 3 months before this because of a really inconsequential argument. I suppose it seemed important to them at the time, but as the book goes on they realize just how stupid it was. Katie's fears and JR's hurt were things I think the couple would have eventually overcome because you could tell how much they really loved each other. They were high school sweethearts, and I found their relationship to be sweet and true. A lot of the book is spent with the two of them apart due to circumstances beyond their control. The real magic of the book is when they come back together. Of course there was a happy ending...I just wish the bad guy would've died in this situation. He didn't deserve to take another breath.
Looking forward to the next book which has been set up as taking place the same time as this book and book 1!
JR and Katie were estranged for 3 months before this because of a really inconsequential argument. I suppose it seemed important to them at the time, but as the book goes on they realize just how stupid it was. Katie's fears and JR's hurt were things I think the couple would have eventually overcome because you could tell how much they really loved each other. They were high school sweethearts, and I found their relationship to be sweet and true. A lot of the book is spent with the two of them apart due to circumstances beyond their control. The real magic of the book is when they come back together. Of course there was a happy ending...I just wish the bad guy would've died in this situation. He didn't deserve to take another breath.
Looking forward to the next book which has been set up as taking place the same time as this book and book 1!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 5, 2017
This book was very good but it was also very hard for me to read. This book dealt with a child kidnapped by a child molester. There was a lot from the molester's POV and it made me sick to read all his thoughts about poor little Bobby. Thank God the molester got hurt and couldn't molest Bobby.
Poor Bobby! There were so many times during his POV that I was teary-eyed, and reading his POV just about broke my heart every time.
I really wish J.R. had killed that sick pervert, but I am soooo glad that he saved Bobby. I'm glad, too, that he and Katie are getting back together but hate that it took the kidnapping of their son to bring them back together. I hate that he was the first suspect and that everyone believed he could actually do that to Katie and Bobby.
I cried when Katie was first at the debris of her house and was screaming because she couldn't find Bobby anywhere. I hated that she had doubts about J.R. and whether or not he could have done it or not, but I'm glad she went back to J.R.
One of the saddest parts was when Katie told J.R. what happened and he threw up. I definitely cried.
I had a major freak out when that perverted child molester was actually getting away with Bobby!
Poor Bobby! There were so many times during his POV that I was teary-eyed, and reading his POV just about broke my heart every time.
I really wish J.R. had killed that sick pervert, but I am soooo glad that he saved Bobby. I'm glad, too, that he and Katie are getting back together but hate that it took the kidnapping of their son to bring them back together. I hate that he was the first suspect and that everyone believed he could actually do that to Katie and Bobby.
I cried when Katie was first at the debris of her house and was screaming because she couldn't find Bobby anywhere. I hated that she had doubts about J.R. and whether or not he could have done it or not, but I'm glad she went back to J.R.
One of the saddest parts was when Katie told J.R. what happened and he threw up. I definitely cried.
I had a major freak out when that perverted child molester was actually getting away with Bobby!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 20, 2017
This was a very disturbing but good book. Katie and JR and their son Bobby live in Louisiana when things start going wrong for them all! Bobby starts seeing the monster outside his window at night , JR gets a promotion and Katie doesn’t want to uproot her family and leave. At a standoff JR buys a house in New Orleans ,where his new job is, but it is to no avail , Katie will not go.
A twister lands in Louisiana and wreaks havoc on the town including the disappearance of her son Bobby . Now another nightmare begins, where is Bobby , is he alive, was he killed in the tornado or is the monster lurking? Can JR and Katie reunite to find their son before it’s too late? An excellent read!
A twister lands in Louisiana and wreaks havoc on the town including the disappearance of her son Bobby . Now another nightmare begins, where is Bobby , is he alive, was he killed in the tornado or is the monster lurking? Can JR and Katie reunite to find their son before it’s too late? An excellent read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2011
The two main characters were very flat and I felt no investment in them getting together. The fact that when the book starts they are already married, and have the perfect marriage and then the next chapter they're separated didn't give me any reason to want them back together.
The story line of their son and the kidnapper was done much better but I found it very disturbing to get that much detail into the mind and actions of a child molester. Not what I look for from a romance, even if it is a suspense.
The story line of their son and the kidnapper was done much better but I found it very disturbing to get that much detail into the mind and actions of a child molester. Not what I look for from a romance, even if it is a suspense.
April 17, 2018
A very intense story! A tornado has torn through Bordelaise, Louisiana leaving so much destruction. Katie and J.R. are living a parents worst nightmare, their seven year old son Bobby has been snatched by a child predator. This book had me at the edge of my seat and wanting to save Bobby from this sick man! A real page turner!
March 28, 2012
The second book in The Storm Front trilogy. Good book except I didn't like that a small child was abducted and all of the thought going thru Newt's head and the only reason he couldn't follow thru on them was because he got injured. Glad the ending turned out OK.
January 24, 2016
2nd installment of the Storm Front Series - A couple separated but still in love reconnect while trying to find their kidnapped son. This story is fast paced but deals with strong hard issues of child endangerment. I like how Sala continues this story from installment 1-3.
February 2, 2017
This one really kept me on the edge of my seat up until the very end.
June 20, 2023
Hard subject matter for sure but such a great story. A young boy is kidnapped by a pedophile (he was one sick puppy) and held captive. The freak though burnt himself badly so he could not sexually abuse him because he was incapacitated. The guys thoughts were disgusting. That is hard to read but thank heavens he never touched him. He did give him black eyes by hitting him in the back of the head and he fell straight on his face and he terrorized the kid. It was awful so please be warned not to read if you have abuse triggers. Its very hard to read. The parents have been separated for three months because she was afraid to move to New Orleans because her parents were killed in the storm. They drowned in their own house. It was traumatic and she definitely had PTSD I think. I didn't think she was a whiner at all. But she did let her fear dictate her actions and she knew she was wrong to let her husband and family down by refusing to move. It was very well presented and there is just something about Sharon Salas writing that just tugs at my heart strings. I cried so hard several times in the story. And the epilogue was just priceless. I really loved this book in spite of the disturbing content. Mainly because he wasn't molested and the parents were reunited and it totally had an HEA. With a puppy and a Christmas tree, and laughter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2023
Powerful read
As usual, Sharon Sala ripped my heart out. She grabbed me by the throat and slowly ripped into my chest, yanking, tugging on my heart until I couldn't take it anymore. I felt Katie's pain as deeply as if it were my own. I felt as if I were caught up in that storm along with the people of Bordelaise, Louisiana. This book is not for the faint of heart. There is a bit of child abuse, but it has a happy ending,, a good happy ending.
Ms. Sala is one of my favorite authors. Her characters and stories are so realistic, I wish I could meet them in real life. I would highly recommend this book!
As usual, Sharon Sala ripped my heart out. She grabbed me by the throat and slowly ripped into my chest, yanking, tugging on my heart until I couldn't take it anymore. I felt Katie's pain as deeply as if it were my own. I felt as if I were caught up in that storm along with the people of Bordelaise, Louisiana. This book is not for the faint of heart. There is a bit of child abuse, but it has a happy ending,, a good happy ending.
Ms. Sala is one of my favorite authors. Her characters and stories are so realistic, I wish I could meet them in real life. I would highly recommend this book!
October 12, 2024
This is my least favorite title in the trilogy. Too hard to read about child abduction, especially by a child molester. Thankfully, Bobbie is never sexually abused, but he is certainly physically abused. The story goes from Bobbie's POV to his mother's and his father's, who spends the first part of the story on an oil rig with no clue about what is going on in his home town. There is plenty of suspense as Bobby tries to escape, JR finally makes it back home, and he and Katie work together to find their son. The final chase scene is a nail-biter. Thankfully, all ends happily, though not so much for Newt. I don't envy his future.
February 19, 2023
This is the second book in the Storm Front novel and the subject matter is a difficult thing to read about. I wasn’t sure if I could handle the story after reading the first page giving a recap about child molesters. The author did a very good job telling her story with decorum and it turned out to be a great book. Some times you can’t tell a book by its cover.
January 24, 2025
Good ending
This is another good book by Sharon Sala. The subject matter is a little dark, but the strength of the characters and the way the storyline was handled had me sitting on the edge of my seat and not wanting to put the book down. I have to say the ending was great and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.
This is another good book by Sharon Sala. The subject matter is a little dark, but the strength of the characters and the way the storyline was handled had me sitting on the edge of my seat and not wanting to put the book down. I have to say the ending was great and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the trilogy.
December 12, 2020
Blown Away was good; this 2nd book in the series was also good, though initially it made me sick to think of what might happen. I managed to continue and was so glad I did. Now on to book 3; Swept Aside! Luv me some Sharon Sala!
August 12, 2023
This is the second book in the series and I have read the first and the second book does not disappoint. I love the author in the way she writes her books and the feeling she puts in her characters. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and could hardly put it down. Thanks again to the author
April 24, 2024
Favourite Author
I gave a five star rating for Sharon Sala as she is my favourite author. I have read most of her books and she never disappoints. Her books are ones that you start reading and you don’t want to put it down till you finish it.
I gave a five star rating for Sharon Sala as she is my favourite author. I have read most of her books and she never disappoints. Her books are ones that you start reading and you don’t want to put it down till you finish it.
May 3, 2025
That perspective totally creaped me out! The scariest two things in the world, a tornado, and a sick, evil sexual predator! Lots of suspense to keep the pages turning as fast as I could read it! Great ending!
September 4, 2025
I could only read the first couple of pages because of the bad formatting. For example, instead of an apostrophe there were about 4 other symbols. There were several of those per page. I found that too distracting and annoying.
consider
January 2, 2020 Have a free pbk copy but just finished a very angsty suspense regarding a kidnapped child and won’t read this probably ever so returning it. 1/1/20
June 23, 2022
Love this author
This is one of my favorite series from this author. I haven't not enjoyed a story I've read by her, but this series is an all time favorite.
This is one of my favorite series from this author. I haven't not enjoyed a story I've read by her, but this series is an all time favorite.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews