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Rebel Ridge #2
Don't Cry for Me
Mariah Conrad has come home. Badly wounded on active duty in Afghanistan and finally released stateside, she has no family to call on and nowhere to go-until Quinn Walker arrives at her bedside. Quinn...her brother-in-arms, ex-lover and now maybe her future.
Quinn brings Mariah to his log cabin in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky to rest and recuperate both physically and emotionally. While she's incredibly grateful, Mariah is also confused and frustrated. She's always stood on her own two feet, but now even that can literally be torture. She's having flashbacks and blackouts, hearing helicopter noises in the night. She wants to push Quinn away-and hold him closer than ever.
But will she get the chance? Those helicopters are more than just post-traumatic stress; they're real-and dangerous. Bad things are happening on the mountain. Suddenly there's a battle to be fought on the home front, and no guarantee of survival.
Quinn brings Mariah to his log cabin in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky to rest and recuperate both physically and emotionally. While she's incredibly grateful, Mariah is also confused and frustrated. She's always stood on her own two feet, but now even that can literally be torture. She's having flashbacks and blackouts, hearing helicopter noises in the night. She wants to push Quinn away-and hold him closer than ever.
But will she get the chance? Those helicopters are more than just post-traumatic stress; they're real-and dangerous. Bad things are happening on the mountain. Suddenly there's a battle to be fought on the home front, and no guarantee of survival.
399 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 18, 2012
269 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Sala
280 books2,305 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 140 reviews
November 1, 2019
I hadn’t read Sharon Sala’s work in many years and was kind of excited to get this audiobook started for the Armchair Audie Awards. I was once a big fan of Sharon Sala’s writing. Tallchief? Sweet Baby? Annie and the Outlaw? Now those were some romantic, emotion filled books and were one of the reasons I gorged myself on romances back in the 90’s. Haven’t read them? I recommend seeking them out instead of this one.
Anything but this one . . .
Quinn is a former soldier with PTSD. He’s been home for three years and is living a quiet life near his family way out in the mountains. He works as a ranger, a job he enjoys because he rarely has to deal with people. One day he gets a phone call and learns that a former comrade, one without a family or place to call home, is being released from the VA Hospital. He drives for hours to pick up this old friend who once saved his life and he plans to help out with the healing in any way he can. Quinn’s a pretty nice guy, right?
But wait, I thought he didn’t like dealing with people? Now he has one living with him? Color me a little confused.
Ahhh, hang on. The friend is a she. A beautiful she named Mariah. They used to have lots of sex while stationed in Afghanistan together.
And now it’s starting to make a little more sense. He’s a guy alone in the woods and she has no one in her life. He becomes her entire world. This sort of bugged me and creeped me out just a wee bit, if I’m being honest, but I was willing to play along. It is fiction after all. But you can only push me so far. When a crazed bear, a drug dealer with a gross mommy sexual kink, and a nasty poacher are mixed into the story for pizazz and given their own point of view I wanted to hit the delete key in ITunes. Actually, let me back up and offer up a warning first. There are dog deaths! Nasty, unnecessarily descriptive dog deaths of seven or eight redbone coonhounds (for the record I am biased, I own a redbone mix and he is the sweetest, silliest dog ever). BUT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A ROMANCE NOT A HORROR NOVEL and I was not ready! Not ready at all. It was at this point, which is kind of early on, that I wanted to delete the audiobook from my Ipod and bleach my brain of the horrid images. But I couldn’t because I promised to see it through. And see it through I did.
It turned out to be mostly boring for me. But remember I don’t like suspense much at all and if I don’t love the characters I lose interest and that’s what happened here. Because so much emphasis was put on the suspense, I didn’t feel them falling in love, you know what I mean? The heroine also suffered from an unforgivable (at least to me) too stupid to live episode. I know, I know, she had some sort of head injury but seriously there is a ravenous, killer bear roaming about and she says something like, “Sure let’s let the puppy out to play unsupervised. Why the heck not? He’ll be fine.” Gah, I hate it when a character is setup to look like a moron in order to plot a nail biting scene.
Despite all of that I DID enjoy the fact that Mariah wasn’t a weak “save me” type and took initiative to go out and save the day herself when necessary.
I can’t give this book any more than two stars. I will admit that I am completely biased on many levels when it comes to this story. I miss the good old days when romances were actually romantic and didn’t have to rely on disjointed suspense plots to fill out the book.
Narration Notes: The audio was read capably but completely without emotion by Kathe Mazur. Her voice was dead, as dead as those poor doggies (and no I am not letting that go). Seriously, that’s the only way I can describe it. She read it okay but added absolutely no life to the story. I’m a bit surprised this production is up for an Audie Award, but what do I know?
Anything but this one . . .
Quinn is a former soldier with PTSD. He’s been home for three years and is living a quiet life near his family way out in the mountains. He works as a ranger, a job he enjoys because he rarely has to deal with people. One day he gets a phone call and learns that a former comrade, one without a family or place to call home, is being released from the VA Hospital. He drives for hours to pick up this old friend who once saved his life and he plans to help out with the healing in any way he can. Quinn’s a pretty nice guy, right?
But wait, I thought he didn’t like dealing with people? Now he has one living with him? Color me a little confused.
Ahhh, hang on. The friend is a she. A beautiful she named Mariah. They used to have lots of sex while stationed in Afghanistan together.
And now it’s starting to make a little more sense. He’s a guy alone in the woods and she has no one in her life. He becomes her entire world. This sort of bugged me and creeped me out just a wee bit, if I’m being honest, but I was willing to play along. It is fiction after all. But you can only push me so far. When a crazed bear, a drug dealer with a gross mommy sexual kink, and a nasty poacher are mixed into the story for pizazz and given their own point of view I wanted to hit the delete key in ITunes. Actually, let me back up and offer up a warning first. There are dog deaths! Nasty, unnecessarily descriptive dog deaths of seven or eight redbone coonhounds (for the record I am biased, I own a redbone mix and he is the sweetest, silliest dog ever). BUT THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE A ROMANCE NOT A HORROR NOVEL and I was not ready! Not ready at all. It was at this point, which is kind of early on, that I wanted to delete the audiobook from my Ipod and bleach my brain of the horrid images. But I couldn’t because I promised to see it through. And see it through I did.
It turned out to be mostly boring for me. But remember I don’t like suspense much at all and if I don’t love the characters I lose interest and that’s what happened here. Because so much emphasis was put on the suspense, I didn’t feel them falling in love, you know what I mean? The heroine also suffered from an unforgivable (at least to me) too stupid to live episode. I know, I know, she had some sort of head injury but seriously there is a ravenous, killer bear roaming about and she says something like, “Sure let’s let the puppy out to play unsupervised. Why the heck not? He’ll be fine.” Gah, I hate it when a character is setup to look like a moron in order to plot a nail biting scene.
Despite all of that I DID enjoy the fact that Mariah wasn’t a weak “save me” type and took initiative to go out and save the day herself when necessary.
I can’t give this book any more than two stars. I will admit that I am completely biased on many levels when it comes to this story. I miss the good old days when romances were actually romantic and didn’t have to rely on disjointed suspense plots to fill out the book.
Narration Notes: The audio was read capably but completely without emotion by Kathe Mazur. Her voice was dead, as dead as those poor doggies (and no I am not letting that go). Seriously, that’s the only way I can describe it. She read it okay but added absolutely no life to the story. I’m a bit surprised this production is up for an Audie Award, but what do I know?
February 1, 2016
4.5 Stars. Very good read. We met Quinn in the first Rebel Ridge book. He was suffering from extreme PSTD symptons. He is finally getting on his feet when he hears from an old buddy that a person from his past is about to get out of the VA. She has been hit by an IED months earlier. Mariah, didn't know what she was going to do once she got out of the hospital as she didn't have a family or home to go to. Could have knocked her over with a feather when she saw her old flame Quinn walk into her room and let her know she was going home with him. Back to Rebel Ridge to heal and rekindle the love that they each never forgot, but got lost in the aftermath of war. This book was much stronger than the first one, IMO. I just wish that we wouldn't have given so much page time to the bad man of the book, but on the other hand, his family ended up being victims as well and deserved it. I am really looking forward to Meg's book.
April 1, 2018
I loved Quinn from the 1st book in this series. Enjoyin this series!
February 5, 2019
I love this entire series, but this one was exceptional and Mariah was one of Sharon Sala's best heroines ever. I reread this pretty periodically.
September 22, 2021
This is simply outstanding. Great characters in a terrific story. Another book where the author, with great sensitivity and insight, delved into what our young soldiers returning from war all too often suffer from and grapple with - PTSD.
April 25, 2020
Another heart stopping mystery. I love Rebel Ridge and all of their residents. A story that will keep you guessing to what will happen next. I loved every minute and hated to see it end.
June 21, 2018
This seems to be my year for books with amazingly strong women vets. Mariah is astonishing. She and Quinn make a tremendous statement about resilience.
March 17, 2013
I loved Mariah and Quinn. I absolutely enjoyed watching Mariah mostly work through her history in the war. PTSD and injuries. It's not an easy thing and I always enjoy a story about a war vet coming to terms with being back in the regular world and finding their way to happiness with the person they are after that experience. This should have been a great book for me. I loved that this was a female vet and that the two main characters had a history. The situation of them having a relationship in a war zone and losing touch while Quinn came home to deal with his own after war issues even worked for me. I loved that even injured Mariah was kinda a bad ass. She didn't need to be saved in the way most lead females do especially in a suspense. She kicked but and saved the day a couple of times herself. I love that the author went this direction.
The story as a whole was okay, but the suspense aspect felt forced. It didn't flow at all with the amazing potential of this story. The suspense had almost nothing to do with the story at all until about 60% in. The author randomly put us in the head of this bad guy early in the book and he had nothing to do with the story at that time. It felt abrupt and forced every time. Add in this so cookie cutter stereotype bad guy and it began to ruin a really good story for me. Make that worse by the bad guy who has obvious mommy issues from the start. Yeah I got that before we end up in a creepy sex scene with him and a prostitute pretending to be his mom. I'm sorry I'm not a prude about sex scenes and I've even read some that are bad guys and even the kind that are scaring to the character, but this one did nothing for the story. It was so unnecessary and added absolutely nothing but a creep factor to the story for me.
I really wanted to like this story more. But the constant abrupt changes to this irrelevant bad guy felt forced and ruined the story for me.
The story as a whole was okay, but the suspense aspect felt forced. It didn't flow at all with the amazing potential of this story. The suspense had almost nothing to do with the story at all until about 60% in. The author randomly put us in the head of this bad guy early in the book and he had nothing to do with the story at that time. It felt abrupt and forced every time. Add in this so cookie cutter stereotype bad guy and it began to ruin a really good story for me. Make that worse by the bad guy who has obvious mommy issues from the start. Yeah I got that before we end up in a creepy sex scene with him and a prostitute pretending to be his mom. I'm sorry I'm not a prude about sex scenes and I've even read some that are bad guys and even the kind that are scaring to the character, but this one did nothing for the story. It was so unnecessary and added absolutely nothing but a creep factor to the story for me.
I really wanted to like this story more. But the constant abrupt changes to this irrelevant bad guy felt forced and ruined the story for me.
June 28, 2015
The second book in the Rebel Ridge series by Sharon Sala. I was a little disappointed in the first book so I was hesitate about buying this one but I did. I liked it more than the first book in the series but I didn't feel it was Ms Sala's best by any means.
Quinn Walker was discharged from the military and was recuperating at home in Rebel Ridge, Kentucky when he learns a fellow soldier and ex-lover, Mariah Conrad, has been injured in the line of duty and needs a place to recuperate herself. Both are dealing with PTSD.
I wasn't fond of getting so much of the villain's POV. I didn't mind some but not as much as we got. I would have prefer to focus more on the main couple. But it wasn't bad and the story flowed nice and smooth to the end.
I did have one other slight issue. Every time I picked up the book and saw the name of the book, I found myself singing "Don't cry for me, Argentina..." at the top of my lungs. My family was not appreciative of this.
Quinn Walker was discharged from the military and was recuperating at home in Rebel Ridge, Kentucky when he learns a fellow soldier and ex-lover, Mariah Conrad, has been injured in the line of duty and needs a place to recuperate herself. Both are dealing with PTSD.
I wasn't fond of getting so much of the villain's POV. I didn't mind some but not as much as we got. I would have prefer to focus more on the main couple. But it wasn't bad and the story flowed nice and smooth to the end.
I did have one other slight issue. Every time I picked up the book and saw the name of the book, I found myself singing "Don't cry for me, Argentina..." at the top of my lungs. My family was not appreciative of this.
October 4, 2013
This was my first Sharon Sala book. Probably my last, too. Though I usually like a good romantic suspense, and I have soft spot for military heroes (thanks to Suzanne Brockmann), this book did not do it for me.
Let's start with the hero, Quinn. He was a good guy, but kind of old fashioned. If my grandma was trying to be hip, she'd really like Quinn. He cooked (but also encouraged the heroine to cook and become better at it), he was protective of the heroine (but kind of paternalistic, like having her sit on his lap a lot), and he complimented her often (but did so by calling her "pretty girl," which, I'm sorry, totally creeped me out--though Gram would probably like it--like, "No pretty girl, that's not true...." YUCK. I think if someone called me that I'd think they were a serial killer, not bf material).
Quinn's motivation in the story got off to a rocky start for me. Quinn gets a call a few chapters into the book notifying him that a former fellow soldier, Conrad, who's been wounded and rehabbing at a facilty a few hours from him, is being released, but has no family or money. Without hesitation, Quinn decides to step in, so he arrives on discharge day to bring his fellow soldier home to live with him. It's a big surprise to the reader that That did not ring true for me so it seemed like more of a quick and dirty plot device than careful character development. So I wasn't that impressed with good ol' paternalistic Quinn.
The heroine, Mariah, is pretty kick-ass. She is suffering from PTSD, and she thinks she's going crazy (which bugged me because that could've been cleared up with a conversation--I hate that), but on the up side, she saves the day twice with no help from Quinn. In fact, she single-handedly saves the day in the end, so I have to give this author points for that. That's where she got two stars instead of one.
The villian is totally cardboard and one-dimensional. Completely, utterly without complexity. His motivation to be a bad guy is super-creepy, too. Super creepy, based in a violent experience that is not problemetized nearly enough in the story. In fact, we're sort of encouraged to have more sympathy for the perpetrator of that violence than for the villian/victim himself. He's completely "bad" with no redeeming qualitities. He's a super-asshat, sure, but the "reason" for that is presented clumsily and not convincing. In fact, it's downright unsettling--not in the way where you're like, "wow, this author dealt with this super-creepy topic by skillfully taking me to places that were really uncomfortable"--I'm usually okay with that kind of read because it's clear the author understands how disturbing it is. That's the point. But this author was not skilled in doing that, so much so that it made me wonder whether she even knew how disturbing this situation is. Like, does she get that I just thought the way she handled that was ignorant and insensitive and clueless. Total turn-off.
Speaking of one-dimensional and stereotypical characters, Quinn's family was too Mary-Sue for me. "Don't you worry your pretty little head none, Mariah, you're one of us now. We's take care of our own, up here on the mountain. Ay-uh." Basically the hero's family is salt-of-the-earth poor people--the kind that "ain't got nuthin' but luv, an' that's good 'nuff for our simple hearts, girl." And the villian's family serves as a clunky, amateur version of the foil: Poor, lazy, good-for-nuthin' mountain-folk trash. Zero complexity.
Overall I did not connect to the characters in this story. At all. Part of the reason--and it's a really big part--was the head-hopping. I've read books where it's not my favorite. Nora does it--and does it well--and Susan Anderson does it, which I can also live with. Still not my favorite, but the reason they do it well is that they change heads once or maybe twice in a scene and they make it really clear who's got the POV now. I've also read books where the authors do this poorly and that's annoying. But this book! OMG, this book had absolutely no regard for consistent POV. NONE. So in some scenes, literally from line to line you'd be in a different character's head. I guess I'm thankful to this author for showing me that, wow, I don't connect at all to any of the characters when this technique is used. I suppose in the grand scheme of things this could be considered an omnicient POV, which is rarely used in genre fiction these days because--hello--it's so much less engaging! I just hadn't known how bad it could be until reading this book.
One unfortunate by-product of this omniciant POV was that the rogue bear, who causes trouble for Forest Ranger Quinn in the beginning of the book, HAS A POV! Seriously, we're inside of the bear's head--and not like Dean Koontz takes you into the head of a golden retriever (read that in the 80s at some point, and clearly it was so well done I still remember the book!)--but we are in the head of an injured bear. Talk about distancing the reader. Bleh. I felt like it was lazy writing because the author tried to up the suspense by showing us the bear moving more toward people....Ready to kill! (da-da-dunnnnnn....) Kind of like a movie. But for whatever reason, books can't use the same techniques as movies, at least for this reader. I need to experience the scene from one character's POV to connect with her or him. (I just couldn't connect with the bear.)
One last thing, which also made me think of my grandma: There was like all this god and praying stuff in the climactic scene. I was literally flipping back to previous sections of the book going, "Jeez, is this book an inspirational?? How did I miss that??" So I don't think it was, but there was sure a lot of faith-testing in the end. The problem with that is there was no discussion of a faith conflict in the rest of the book, so from a story persepctive, it was an element from out of left field and didn't work at all in the overall story- or character-arcs.
So all in all, the book was very marginal. I kept reading...I really don't know why. I won't read another one, though I do find it at least mildly informative to read poorly written books because you can see the skill that talented authors employ seamlessly. So that's worth something.
Let's start with the hero, Quinn. He was a good guy, but kind of old fashioned. If my grandma was trying to be hip, she'd really like Quinn. He cooked (but also encouraged the heroine to cook and become better at it), he was protective of the heroine (but kind of paternalistic, like having her sit on his lap a lot), and he complimented her often (but did so by calling her "pretty girl," which, I'm sorry, totally creeped me out--though Gram would probably like it--like, "No pretty girl, that's not true...." YUCK. I think if someone called me that I'd think they were a serial killer, not bf material).
Quinn's motivation in the story got off to a rocky start for me. Quinn gets a call a few chapters into the book notifying him that a former fellow soldier, Conrad, who's been wounded and rehabbing at a facilty a few hours from him, is being released, but has no family or money. Without hesitation, Quinn decides to step in, so he arrives on discharge day to bring his fellow soldier home to live with him. It's a big surprise to the reader that That did not ring true for me so it seemed like more of a quick and dirty plot device than careful character development. So I wasn't that impressed with good ol' paternalistic Quinn.
The heroine, Mariah, is pretty kick-ass. She is suffering from PTSD, and she thinks she's going crazy (which bugged me because that could've been cleared up with a conversation--I hate that), but on the up side, she saves the day twice with no help from Quinn. In fact, she single-handedly saves the day in the end, so I have to give this author points for that. That's where she got two stars instead of one.
The villian is totally cardboard and one-dimensional. Completely, utterly without complexity. His motivation to be a bad guy is super-creepy, too. Super creepy, based in a violent experience that is not problemetized nearly enough in the story. In fact, we're sort of encouraged to have more sympathy for the perpetrator of that violence than for the villian/victim himself. He's completely "bad" with no redeeming qualitities. He's a super-asshat, sure, but the "reason" for that is presented clumsily and not convincing. In fact, it's downright unsettling--not in the way where you're like, "wow, this author dealt with this super-creepy topic by skillfully taking me to places that were really uncomfortable"--I'm usually okay with that kind of read because it's clear the author understands how disturbing it is. That's the point. But this author was not skilled in doing that, so much so that it made me wonder whether she even knew how disturbing this situation is. Like, does she get that I just thought the way she handled that was ignorant and insensitive and clueless. Total turn-off.
Speaking of one-dimensional and stereotypical characters, Quinn's family was too Mary-Sue for me. "Don't you worry your pretty little head none, Mariah, you're one of us now. We's take care of our own, up here on the mountain. Ay-uh." Basically the hero's family is salt-of-the-earth poor people--the kind that "ain't got nuthin' but luv, an' that's good 'nuff for our simple hearts, girl." And the villian's family serves as a clunky, amateur version of the foil: Poor, lazy, good-for-nuthin' mountain-folk trash. Zero complexity.
Overall I did not connect to the characters in this story. At all. Part of the reason--and it's a really big part--was the head-hopping. I've read books where it's not my favorite. Nora does it--and does it well--and Susan Anderson does it, which I can also live with. Still not my favorite, but the reason they do it well is that they change heads once or maybe twice in a scene and they make it really clear who's got the POV now. I've also read books where the authors do this poorly and that's annoying. But this book! OMG, this book had absolutely no regard for consistent POV. NONE. So in some scenes, literally from line to line you'd be in a different character's head. I guess I'm thankful to this author for showing me that, wow, I don't connect at all to any of the characters when this technique is used. I suppose in the grand scheme of things this could be considered an omnicient POV, which is rarely used in genre fiction these days because--hello--it's so much less engaging! I just hadn't known how bad it could be until reading this book.
One unfortunate by-product of this omniciant POV was that the rogue bear, who causes trouble for Forest Ranger Quinn in the beginning of the book, HAS A POV! Seriously, we're inside of the bear's head--and not like Dean Koontz takes you into the head of a golden retriever (read that in the 80s at some point, and clearly it was so well done I still remember the book!)--but we are in the head of an injured bear. Talk about distancing the reader. Bleh. I felt like it was lazy writing because the author tried to up the suspense by showing us the bear moving more toward people....Ready to kill! (da-da-dunnnnnn....) Kind of like a movie. But for whatever reason, books can't use the same techniques as movies, at least for this reader. I need to experience the scene from one character's POV to connect with her or him. (I just couldn't connect with the bear.)
One last thing, which also made me think of my grandma: There was like all this god and praying stuff in the climactic scene. I was literally flipping back to previous sections of the book going, "Jeez, is this book an inspirational?? How did I miss that??" So I don't think it was, but there was sure a lot of faith-testing in the end. The problem with that is there was no discussion of a faith conflict in the rest of the book, so from a story persepctive, it was an element from out of left field and didn't work at all in the overall story- or character-arcs.
So all in all, the book was very marginal. I kept reading...I really don't know why. I won't read another one, though I do find it at least mildly informative to read poorly written books because you can see the skill that talented authors employ seamlessly. So that's worth something.
February 11, 2019
This was just OK. Even though this series takes place in a small town, the small town feel is missing for me. Ms. Sala always manages to grab my attention right away, but unfortunately also usually loses it somewhere along the way. I appreciate her heroes who aren't manhos, but I just can't seem to get into the plots of either Rebel Ridge stories I've read so far.
Trigger warning
Trigger warning
June 21, 2017
Good romance of two vets with PTSD and their life on a ridge in Kentucky surrounded by mean bears, drugs and missing hikers.
March 19, 2014
I didn't like the first half of the book, so I would give that a 3 star. I loved the last half and would give it a 5 star. So, overall this is a 4 star read. I especially love the depiction of the Walker family. In so many books the family just doesn't exist. In these books they show what a support a real family is.
Quinn Walker is a vet who came home broken 3 years ago. He has had a difficult time putting his body and mind back together and prefers his own company or that of his family. A very strong supportive family. He gets a call from a guy in his old unit that Conrad is going to be released from the hospital and has no where to go. He immediately volunteers his home. Mariah Conrad has a busted leg and PTSD. She also has deep feelings for Quinn, who was her lover during their tour, but didn't contact her after he returned. Her head is just not right and she can't let this time together turn into what it was before.
As Mariah works hard to overcome her physical challenges, Quinn works to renew their old relationship. Mariah is enveloped by Quinn's family and for the first time in her life feels what a family really means. Her feelings for Quinn are too much to resist and they become lovers again. Mariah had flashbacks, one that was triggered by shooting a rogue bear. She also hears voices in the cave and a ghost helicopter in the night and fears she may be losing her mind.
Bad guys are on Rebel Ridge also. Someone is poaching and there is a new owner of the old mine up to no good. Quinn is taken prisoner and Mariah rescues him in a really great last half of the book.
Quinn Walker is a vet who came home broken 3 years ago. He has had a difficult time putting his body and mind back together and prefers his own company or that of his family. A very strong supportive family. He gets a call from a guy in his old unit that Conrad is going to be released from the hospital and has no where to go. He immediately volunteers his home. Mariah Conrad has a busted leg and PTSD. She also has deep feelings for Quinn, who was her lover during their tour, but didn't contact her after he returned. Her head is just not right and she can't let this time together turn into what it was before.
As Mariah works hard to overcome her physical challenges, Quinn works to renew their old relationship. Mariah is enveloped by Quinn's family and for the first time in her life feels what a family really means. Her feelings for Quinn are too much to resist and they become lovers again. Mariah had flashbacks, one that was triggered by shooting a rogue bear. She also hears voices in the cave and a ghost helicopter in the night and fears she may be losing her mind.
Bad guys are on Rebel Ridge also. Someone is poaching and there is a new owner of the old mine up to no good. Quinn is taken prisoner and Mariah rescues him in a really great last half of the book.
July 29, 2013
Narrated by Kathe Mazur
It’s been years since I last read a Sharon Sala book but I do recall enjoying her writing style. Starting up Don’t Cry for Me, I was eager to hear my first Sala audio, especially after reading the synopsis.
My one experience with narrator Kathe Mazur wasn’t all that favorable. Listening to Rachel Gibson’s Any Man of Mine, I found her performance adequate but not good enough to inspire a relisten. When I choose to experience Any Man of Mine again (which I will – Gibson is always good enough for at least one reread), it will be in print. But I was determined to listen to Don’t Cry for Me without preconceptions and started listening expecting to be wowed as it was up for an Audie award.
As for book content, the first two hours held great promise. Quinn was a hero I wanted to know and the more I discovered about him, the stronger my feeling that he held great hero potential. Mariah’s character’s favorably caught my attention as well. I wanted to hear what was sure to be a mature love story between two sensible characters with appealing personalities...
Read the rest of the review at AudioGals http://www.audiogals.net/2013/05/audi...
It’s been years since I last read a Sharon Sala book but I do recall enjoying her writing style. Starting up Don’t Cry for Me, I was eager to hear my first Sala audio, especially after reading the synopsis.
My one experience with narrator Kathe Mazur wasn’t all that favorable. Listening to Rachel Gibson’s Any Man of Mine, I found her performance adequate but not good enough to inspire a relisten. When I choose to experience Any Man of Mine again (which I will – Gibson is always good enough for at least one reread), it will be in print. But I was determined to listen to Don’t Cry for Me without preconceptions and started listening expecting to be wowed as it was up for an Audie award.
As for book content, the first two hours held great promise. Quinn was a hero I wanted to know and the more I discovered about him, the stronger my feeling that he held great hero potential. Mariah’s character’s favorably caught my attention as well. I wanted to hear what was sure to be a mature love story between two sensible characters with appealing personalities...
Read the rest of the review at AudioGals http://www.audiogals.net/2013/05/audi...
October 7, 2016
The constant change in the POV is really annoying. Quinn, Mariah, Ryal, beth, Quinn's mother, the bad guy drug dealer, the woman that sold the land and so on. Even the bear has his voice in the story. I just read Quinn and Mariah parts and skipped everyone else, they weren't important anyway.
June 28, 2020
Quinn is the Walker brother who was once in the army and came back from Afghanistan with PTSD. He still struggles, but mostly he's better now. So when he gets work that the soldier that saved his life, Conrad, was hurt and has nowhere to go after physical recovery, he heads off to bring Conrad back to stay in Rebel Ridge. We soon learn that Conrad is, in fact, Mariah Conrad and not only a woman, but also Quinn's former lover. (Nice job playing off our gender stereotypes Sala). Mariah is seriously struggling with her PTSD and an injured leg and seriously appreciates the chance to recover with someone she trusts...and if it gives her the first taste she's ever had of what family could be like, all the better. But danger looms on the mountain once again as a "prodigal son" establishes a new business and tricks his workers into the drug business. And Quinn's search for a poacher on federal land brings him right into their path.
This is another excellent story from this author. Another second chance romance lite...not really any bitterness between Mariah and Quinn, since they never made any promises to each other, but they did miss one another. And Quinn, after his survival, wasn't in any shape to go after her and she had no idea where he was. So it wasn't until after she was injured that he realized he was ready to start a life with the woman he was already half in love with. And Mariah is definitely loveable (as is Quinn for that matter). Both characters are kinda proof that vulnerability and strength can coexist in one person. Quinn is sensitive and patient with Mariah, never pushing her for what she can't give and yet he's protective and strong for her...kind of by example. He's a calm and steady force that she can anchor to. Mariah is just balls to the wall bad ass. She's definitely vulnerable as she struggles with her limitations and fears, but when push comes to shove and she needs to rescue Quinn - DAMN. This is one strong ass heroine. Interspersed with these moments of strength and vulnerability are wonderfully written scenes with the Walker family and the way they connect.
The suspense aspect here was really good too. We spend a lot of time in the villain's mind and can see exactly why and how he's as evil as he is...not that it's an excuse. The other villains are less evil and more pushed by circumstances to follow a bad man...I like that they're of a more ambiguous morality. Also like the at the villain got his comeuppance the way he did. Will be tuning in for the next episode shortly!
This is another excellent story from this author. Another second chance romance lite...not really any bitterness between Mariah and Quinn, since they never made any promises to each other, but they did miss one another. And Quinn, after his survival, wasn't in any shape to go after her and she had no idea where he was. So it wasn't until after she was injured that he realized he was ready to start a life with the woman he was already half in love with. And Mariah is definitely loveable (as is Quinn for that matter). Both characters are kinda proof that vulnerability and strength can coexist in one person. Quinn is sensitive and patient with Mariah, never pushing her for what she can't give and yet he's protective and strong for her...kind of by example. He's a calm and steady force that she can anchor to. Mariah is just balls to the wall bad ass. She's definitely vulnerable as she struggles with her limitations and fears, but when push comes to shove and she needs to rescue Quinn - DAMN. This is one strong ass heroine. Interspersed with these moments of strength and vulnerability are wonderfully written scenes with the Walker family and the way they connect.
The suspense aspect here was really good too. We spend a lot of time in the villain's mind and can see exactly why and how he's as evil as he is...not that it's an excuse. The other villains are less evil and more pushed by circumstances to follow a bad man...I like that they're of a more ambiguous morality. Also like the at the villain got his comeuppance the way he did. Will be tuning in for the next episode shortly!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 19, 2020
What a gripping story! This one kept me on the edge of my seat. The author does a fantastic job of addressing PTSD and the horrible effects it can have. The characters were believable and I immediately fell in love with Quinn - an ex-soldier, a forest ranger and one of the good guys. He loves family and has values that run as deep as the Kentucky mines. When he offers a place to recover and recuperate to a fellow soldier, I loved the surprise to find that it was a female who had saved his life in Afghanistan - a female with a history with Quinn. The struggles these two endured on her way to healing often triggered his own issues. The plot is complex as it weaves other families into the story with stakes as high as they can get - life and death. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a compelling and well-written story!
June 9, 2019
This was just as great as the first book. I'm really enjoying this series. All the characters are crafted so well that I couldn't wait to read more. Quinn and Mariah's book is a helluva ride.
October 16, 2017
I am surprised by how much I like this little trilogy.
September 24, 2012
Don't Cry for Me by Sharon Sala
5 STARS Don't Cry for Me is a A REBEL RIDGE NOVEL. I could not put the book down. Stayed up till 2:00am till I had finshed. Warning thier are a few sex scenes but by far thier was a full engaging story in Don't Cry for Me. I did not obey the title, I cried a little. Quinn Walker has shown up in a previous book helping to save his brother's future wife Beth. Quinn has been home from the war three years and still has nightmares. He works as a Ranger in the back country in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. He lives at the top of a mountain in a new small house. The land was his grandparents home. The old home was destroyed by hired killers trying to kill Beth so she would not testify. Quinn got a call from a friend from his unit about another friend that was hurt bad and does not have family or any place to go when the milatry releases her from the hospital. Quinn said he would take care of it. Mariah Conrad has spent her whole life before Afghanistan in foster care. She is afraid to be homeless again. She has a lot of recovery time before she will be well enough to hold a job. Mariah is surprised when Quinn comes to take her home with him to his small cabin with no neighbors for miles. Mariah has had a brain injury and some of her memories are not thier. She is not in a good place to start up a relationship again with Quinn. Quinn's family is welcoming her back and are grateful because over in Afghanistan she had helped save Quinn's life. Quinn now that he sees Mariah wants to help her like his family was thier for him when he came home imjured. Quinn has lots of reasons why he brought Mariah home to heal. Sharon spins a dramatic story that draws you into her stories and makes you care what happens to the characters. It is also nice to see what the characters from a earlier book are up to now. Mariah is in a fragil state but she is a fighter,caring women, stubbern and not used to seeing a family working together. She is still saving lives on the mountain. I enjoy reading Sharon's novels and will continue reading them in the future. I was given this book to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley. 09/25/2012 PUB Harlequin Imprint HarlequinMIRA
5 STARS Don't Cry for Me is a A REBEL RIDGE NOVEL. I could not put the book down. Stayed up till 2:00am till I had finshed. Warning thier are a few sex scenes but by far thier was a full engaging story in Don't Cry for Me. I did not obey the title, I cried a little. Quinn Walker has shown up in a previous book helping to save his brother's future wife Beth. Quinn has been home from the war three years and still has nightmares. He works as a Ranger in the back country in the Appalachian Mountains of Kentucky. He lives at the top of a mountain in a new small house. The land was his grandparents home. The old home was destroyed by hired killers trying to kill Beth so she would not testify. Quinn got a call from a friend from his unit about another friend that was hurt bad and does not have family or any place to go when the milatry releases her from the hospital. Quinn said he would take care of it. Mariah Conrad has spent her whole life before Afghanistan in foster care. She is afraid to be homeless again. She has a lot of recovery time before she will be well enough to hold a job. Mariah is surprised when Quinn comes to take her home with him to his small cabin with no neighbors for miles. Mariah has had a brain injury and some of her memories are not thier. She is not in a good place to start up a relationship again with Quinn. Quinn's family is welcoming her back and are grateful because over in Afghanistan she had helped save Quinn's life. Quinn now that he sees Mariah wants to help her like his family was thier for him when he came home imjured. Quinn has lots of reasons why he brought Mariah home to heal. Sharon spins a dramatic story that draws you into her stories and makes you care what happens to the characters. It is also nice to see what the characters from a earlier book are up to now. Mariah is in a fragil state but she is a fighter,caring women, stubbern and not used to seeing a family working together. She is still saving lives on the mountain. I enjoy reading Sharon's novels and will continue reading them in the future. I was given this book to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley. 09/25/2012 PUB Harlequin Imprint HarlequinMIRA
July 22, 2012
Don't Cry for Me is an excellent romantic suspense novel. I thoroughly enjoyed the first book in Sala's Rebel Ridge Series, but I liked this one even better. The main characters, Quinn Walker and Mariah Conrad, both veterans who were severely wounded in active combat duty, were very sympathetic and likeable. Quinn's family made a great group of secondary characters, and the puppy, Moses, was a delight. The book was very fast moving and had lots of action. It kept me interested, and I didn't want to put the book down.
Although he still sufferes from PTSD, many of the physical and mental wounds Quinn Walker suffered in Afghanistan have healed. When he finds out that another member of his former unit has been severely wounded and has no place to go when she is released, Quinn picks Mariah Conrad up from the military hospital and takes her home with him. Although they were involved together while deployed and cared deeply for one another, the nature of their relationship was never talked about. When Quinn takes Mariah to his home, they quickly realize that they both have deep feelings for each other. Mariah is suffering terribly from PTSD, and she doesn't feel that she can resume a relationship with Quinn until she is better. As she begins to heal and they enjoy one another's company, treacherous events start to occur on Rebel Ridge that put them in danger. If they can survive the danger, they might be able to have a future together.
I loved this story, and thought it had great characters and an intriguing storyline. For me, this was one of Sala's best, and I am hoping to read more from Rebel Ridge. I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley.
Although he still sufferes from PTSD, many of the physical and mental wounds Quinn Walker suffered in Afghanistan have healed. When he finds out that another member of his former unit has been severely wounded and has no place to go when she is released, Quinn picks Mariah Conrad up from the military hospital and takes her home with him. Although they were involved together while deployed and cared deeply for one another, the nature of their relationship was never talked about. When Quinn takes Mariah to his home, they quickly realize that they both have deep feelings for each other. Mariah is suffering terribly from PTSD, and she doesn't feel that she can resume a relationship with Quinn until she is better. As she begins to heal and they enjoy one another's company, treacherous events start to occur on Rebel Ridge that put them in danger. If they can survive the danger, they might be able to have a future together.
I loved this story, and thought it had great characters and an intriguing storyline. For me, this was one of Sala's best, and I am hoping to read more from Rebel Ridge. I received this book as an ARC through Netgalley.
September 24, 2012
My prevailing thought while reading this? Ms. Sala is BACK! This book tugged on my heart strings almost from page 1 ~ we have wounded warrior Quinn, whom we met in Book 1 in the Rebel Ridge series, Next of Kin, as pretty much a recluse. He's come pretty far, but he's still a loner up in his isolated cabin, working his job as a parks ranger, where he spends the majority of his time alone, with only himself & the wild animals. But when he hears that a former platoon mate, Conrad, has been wounded and needs a place to stay, he immediatly begins to make preparations for Conrad to come to Rebel Ridge to heal. Not only is the best place for a person to heal...but Conrad had saved his life.
When Quinn brings Mariah Conrad back to Rebel Ridge, it quickly becomes apparent that his feelings for this woman run much deeper than gratitude. But she's suffering from PTSD, and is wounded on top it. For this moment, all Quinn wants is to help her heal, both her body and her soul.
While Quinn and Mariah are getting to know on another again and dealing with her PTSD & wounds, a storm is brewing on the mountain top of Rebel Ridge...a poacher wounding a bear results in the death of a man, and long time loser returns home to set up a new buisness...at the same time a few suspicious death occurs.
In true Sala fashion, the tension builds throughout the story with the suspense, and the love story between Marian & Quinn is filled with poignant and sweetly painful moments. Quinn's family & community of Rebel Ridge are very loving and accepting of Mariah ~ making this the best Sala I've read in some time!
When Quinn brings Mariah Conrad back to Rebel Ridge, it quickly becomes apparent that his feelings for this woman run much deeper than gratitude. But she's suffering from PTSD, and is wounded on top it. For this moment, all Quinn wants is to help her heal, both her body and her soul.
While Quinn and Mariah are getting to know on another again and dealing with her PTSD & wounds, a storm is brewing on the mountain top of Rebel Ridge...a poacher wounding a bear results in the death of a man, and long time loser returns home to set up a new buisness...at the same time a few suspicious death occurs.
In true Sala fashion, the tension builds throughout the story with the suspense, and the love story between Marian & Quinn is filled with poignant and sweetly painful moments. Quinn's family & community of Rebel Ridge are very loving and accepting of Mariah ~ making this the best Sala I've read in some time!
October 22, 2017
This book was reviewed for Musings of a bookworm
OMG I loved this book!! it took me on an emotional journey that had me smiling the whole time. I really enjoyed how the treads of the plot came together and that the obvious routes were not always taken in the plot. I read the first book in this series and it left a very high bench mark for this one and boy did this one not only reach it but surpass it.
Mariah was the kind of women you want to be, strong and capable but soft too. Quinn was the kind of alpha male that get you a little hot and a little scared it all the right ways so together they were just explosive and the icing on this very luscious cake was we got to catch up with all the friends we made in book 1 and I will be first in the cue for book 3.
OMG I loved this book!! it took me on an emotional journey that had me smiling the whole time. I really enjoyed how the treads of the plot came together and that the obvious routes were not always taken in the plot. I read the first book in this series and it left a very high bench mark for this one and boy did this one not only reach it but surpass it.
Mariah was the kind of women you want to be, strong and capable but soft too. Quinn was the kind of alpha male that get you a little hot and a little scared it all the right ways so together they were just explosive and the icing on this very luscious cake was we got to catch up with all the friends we made in book 1 and I will be first in the cue for book 3.
April 24, 2013
Recovering from injuries sustained in Afghanistan, Mariah Conrad finds a place to heal when Quinn Walker takes her to Rebel Ridge. They'd served together and fooled around before Quinn's injuries sent him home early. Familiar with the trauma of PTSD, Quinn hopes he can help the girl he loves . . . and convince her they have more between them than just a wartime fling.
Of course, things aren't going smoothly on Rebel Ridge. A poacher's causing problems. A drug operation moves in. The two run together, pulling Quinn and Mariah into dangerous situations which will test them physically and psychologically.
Reads a bit slow to begin, but moves along at the end. I like how Sala gives the bad guys a background, too, so even though you detest them, you feel kind of bad for them at the same time. Some "but for the grace of God" at play.
Of course, things aren't going smoothly on Rebel Ridge. A poacher's causing problems. A drug operation moves in. The two run together, pulling Quinn and Mariah into dangerous situations which will test them physically and psychologically.
Reads a bit slow to begin, but moves along at the end. I like how Sala gives the bad guys a background, too, so even though you detest them, you feel kind of bad for them at the same time. Some "but for the grace of God" at play.
February 21, 2017
Another great book in the Rebel Ridge series! Quinn Walker brings home Mariah Conrad to help her heal from the trama she suffered both mentally and physically after active duty in Afghanistan. They were in the military together and are both trying to heal. Many bad things start happening on the mountain and they both find themselves in the middle of the chaos. This book was fast paced and kept me glued!
July 26, 2013
Great romantic suspense! Ms. Sala surprised the heck out of me with the heroine. It's hard to surprise me because I'm a writer too, but she did it, much to my delight. Loved the setting because it reminded me of growing up in WV (although this is set in Kentucky). The heroine is a strong woman who made me cry. Read it!
December 18, 2025
This is the second in the Rebel Ridge series and it’s so nice for Quinn to find his true love. I feel for his and Mariah’s characters as I do most men (and woman) who come home from war in worse shape than they left. It’s so wonderful to read and see the characters evolve into happy and well adjusted individuals. Sharon Sala really brings them to life, as well as the tracking dogs in the story.
July 19, 2019
DNF
I had to recheck the release date and was shocked to see 2012. This is a SUPER boring “romance” that I could NOT trudge through any longer. I thought the book was just really dated and it’s era of being relevant was over making it a hard book to enjoy in 2019. It’s only 7 years old, therefore the book is just mind numbingly bad.
I am apparently in the minority with my assessment, but I stick by my 1 Star.
The two main characters and “love birds” were not relatable or captivating. I need at least one or the other. They hooked up a LOT once upon a time when doing tours together in the military. Now they’re both out and surviving traumatic war injuries. The h was a foster kid and has no one, so our H takes her in to recover in his isolated cabin-home.
This all sounds mostly fine except... the two main characters are terrible! The h whines about foster care, but quick to throw out don’t pity me, and is in her head about the H most of the book, and is just as dudly as can be. She brings NOTHING to the table. Her only unique quality is being an orphan.
The H isn’t much better! He’s a mountain hillbilly who likes to hike and be alone. He’s obsessed with capturing an injured bear and has night terrors. That’s the extent of his interestingness!!
Now we have two weak characters who circle each other on “does he/she love me? Or is he just being nice because I’m an orphan/is she just here bc she literally would be living in the streets otherwise? This dance goes on and on and the chemistry is as hot as a blown out candle.
I do not regret saying ENOUGH and returning this quickly to the library.
I had to recheck the release date and was shocked to see 2012. This is a SUPER boring “romance” that I could NOT trudge through any longer. I thought the book was just really dated and it’s era of being relevant was over making it a hard book to enjoy in 2019. It’s only 7 years old, therefore the book is just mind numbingly bad.
I am apparently in the minority with my assessment, but I stick by my 1 Star.
The two main characters and “love birds” were not relatable or captivating. I need at least one or the other. They hooked up a LOT once upon a time when doing tours together in the military. Now they’re both out and surviving traumatic war injuries. The h was a foster kid and has no one, so our H takes her in to recover in his isolated cabin-home.
This all sounds mostly fine except... the two main characters are terrible! The h whines about foster care, but quick to throw out don’t pity me, and is in her head about the H most of the book, and is just as dudly as can be. She brings NOTHING to the table. Her only unique quality is being an orphan.
The H isn’t much better! He’s a mountain hillbilly who likes to hike and be alone. He’s obsessed with capturing an injured bear and has night terrors. That’s the extent of his interestingness!!
Now we have two weak characters who circle each other on “does he/she love me? Or is he just being nice because I’m an orphan/is she just here bc she literally would be living in the streets otherwise? This dance goes on and on and the chemistry is as hot as a blown out candle.
I do not regret saying ENOUGH and returning this quickly to the library.
February 5, 2024
Wow, Mariah is one tough soldier I would not want to meet as my enemy. Quinn fondly remembers the relationship they had as comrades and lovers while in Afghanistan so when he hears she's injured and recuperating at an Army hospital at Fort Campbell , and soon to be released, I signs up to care for her. She knows she can't resume a physical relationship until both her mental health returns and she can rely on her body. In the meantime they become friends and she bonds with his family.
But as something evil invades their mountain community, they fight for everything to reclaim their home and each other. There is non-stop action, with a bit of romance as Mariah heals and she and Quinn work on her he let me they imagine.
I can't wait to read Meg's story as the third book in Sala's Rebel Ridge series.
But as something evil invades their mountain community, they fight for everything to reclaim their home and each other. There is non-stop action, with a bit of romance as Mariah heals and she and Quinn work on her he let me they imagine.
I can't wait to read Meg's story as the third book in Sala's Rebel Ridge series.
March 23, 2024
i so enjoy reading the novels written by Sharon Sala. she writes alot like one of my favorite authors Heather Graham. this novel takes place in a mountain where the people are so many related, and very close to helping each other. A man who lives there is a veteran who came home from war and is slowly healing. He gets a phone call about another vet that served with him and is being released from the vet hospital and has no where to go and will be homeless. He goes and brings the vet, which happens to be a female vet that was in his platoon. she was suffering mentally greatly from the war. Back in the mountains in an abandoned mine one of the mountain people has come from Chicago to grew mushrooms. hmmmm . or is he and every thing starts going wrong. people are dying from bear attacks etc and the male vet disappears and she is determined to find him and bring him home at any cost.
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