New York Times bestselling author Sharon Sala enters the eye of the maelstrom as death and disaster stalk Tornado Alley—aided by an obsessive madman.
As bodies pile up in the wake of a storm—stripped, tortured and grimly posed—authorities must admit the unthinkable. The serial killer dubbed the Stormchaser has returned following a tornado and taken it upon himself to bring the death toll up to where he believes it belongs.
FBI investigator Wade Luckett is back on the case, assisted by an agent Wade knows professionally and personally: his ex-wife, Jo. Neither time nor the tragedy that tore them apart have blunted the ache Wade feels for brave, beautiful Jo. And though she tries to deny it, she feels the same. But the stirrings of renewed romance will have to wait until they catch a killer.
The Stormchaser has no intention of getting caught. He's set his sights on a new victim. Jo can forget about the lifetime she dreams of spending with Wade. She'll be lucky to see another day.
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.
2 ½ stars. Not that good. And the ending did not feel good.
The Series: This is book 2 in the Forces of Nature series. The same bad guy Hershel is in all three books. He is after a different woman in each book. The three women are the love interests of the three FBI agents trying to catch Hershel. The bad guy finally gets caught in book 3, so there is a cliffhanger in the first two books. Each book has a happy ending for the couple. The first book was good, but I was disappointed with books 2 and 3.
Going Twice (Book #2): The back story: Jo and Wade are FBI agents. They were married. She was pregnant and lost the baby when she was shot on the job. Due to grief she divorced Wade three years ago. Wade still loves her. This book starts with Jo and Wade working together on the Hershel case. It’s the story of them getting together again. The “re-uniting love stories” are not as good for me as “first time meeting and falling in love stories.”
I was bored when the author spent a bunch of time on their past grief over the death of the baby and marriage break up. Talking about their grief helps them to reconcile. So that’s the romantic development.
Jo did something stupid which bothered me. She knows the killer is after her. So why does she go off alone to sight see? She is walking alone in a parking lot.
The last six pages of book 2 were called “Epilogue” but they should have been called “Excerpts from Book 3." I don’t mind excerpts if that is what they are called. But when I was in the middle of book 3, I was annoyed. I was having deja’vu’s of wait a minute where have I read that before?
DATA: Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 371 pages. Swearing language: strong but not often used. Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: 2. Setting: current day mostly Texas and Missouri, plus other locations. Copyright: 2014. Genre: romantic suspense.
The second book in the Forces of Nature series by Sharon Sala. This is a continuing story from book one. Book one introduced the three FBI agents working on the Stormchaser case. The villain managed to escape and it was hoped that he didn't survive but he did. Wade Luckett's ex-wife, also a FBI agent, Jo, is assigned to help with the case. Wade and Jo are forced to face each other and realize they still had feelings for each other.
Another story where the romance was a bit too easy and convenient but I did enjoy it. I did feel the villain had too much page time for the most part. I got tired of hearing how messed up he was. I would have preferred to have more time with the hero/heroine. But overall it was a satisfying read.
This serial killer plot should have been resolved in book 1. Dragging the plot into 3 books creates the necessity of creating unbelievable situations for the killer and leaving the FBI frat crew to twiddle their thumbs and look incompetent. I could not suspend disbelief.
The addition of Jo made no sense. What she was brought on to do should have been done in book 1. The fact that the Director of the FBI calls her personally to assign her to the team (is this even a task force?) is ludicrous. She would have been contacted by her ASAC or SAC. These characters didn't even feel like the FBI. Plus after the situation in the first book and with the large number of skilled analysts and agents, the bureau would never have chosen an ex of one of the 3 agents. Plus she decides to go site seeing on her own with a serial killer targeting her. V-8 slap to the forehead and labeled TSTL.
The ex situation was quickly resolved with almost no tension or reconciliation. Ok, we're back together.
The author's actual writing is good, I just wished she had added a more believable plot and better developed characters and investigation efforts.
This book has no conclusion. It's a book about a serial killer who isn't caught - and wasn't caught in the previous book, either. Genre fiction has some "rules" authors should follow in order to create a decent book. This author violated them. One star.
I enjoyed this romantic suspense with plenty of action that moved right along. I liked the gradual rebuilding of the relationship between the main characters. I also liked how the team worked together. Switching back and forth with the bad guys thoughts was interesting. FBI agent Wade's ex-wife Jo is assigned to work on a case with him.
I thought this was another great addition to the series. It's definitely recommended these be read in order. The plot and characters kept me reading to the end.
3.5 stars Sharon Sala made some good choices in this trilogy. Now upfront it is an arc story that comes to its completion during the last installment. So there’s a bit of a cliffhanger but it doesn’t affect the relationships and lives of the characters. So I’m not complaining.
# 2 He’s baaack and crazier than a bedbug! We find out about Wade. He made a cryptic statement about his ex-wife in the first installment and we find out what it meant. He’s a standup guy and I was instantly rooting for him. How can I not like a man who will eat everyone’s leftovers with gusto. Jo was a good agent. I liked her work side but I didn’t totally get her personally. She was strong, smart and will to fight to survive, so, yeah! I was all in during the action and chase scenes. I’m happy with the ending.
3.5 stars. I am enjoying this series. This book had some errors in continuity and editing, though, compared to the first book. I expect Harlequin editors to do a better job.
It wasn't a complete surprise to FBI agent, Wade Luckett, when after a few years of silence the activities of the infamous "Stormchaser" started up again. When the butchered bodies were found after this last devastating tornado, Wade and the two other members of his investigative team were called in to once again head up the investigation to bring down this elusive serial killer. The unexpected addition of a fourth member to their team is causing some distraction, and not just for the killer. After their painful history, Wade was less than prepared for the impact his ex-wife, FBI agent, Jo Luckett still had on him.
Work had been the only thing that had kept Jo going after suffering through an attack and the resulting tragedy a few years ago. Although guilt and regret at the way she shut herself off after ate away at her, she was determined to focus on her job and not let the fact that she still loved her ex-husband get in the way of them working together. Yet one foot in the door and one minute in his presence and already she had messed things up. The last thing she wanted was to hurt him more than she already had.
With a killer on the loose, both Wade and Jo have to deal with their personal issues sooner than later. Especially when the Stormchaser, rattled by the added 'player' in his chess game, attempts to take out the newest threat. But he has grossly underestimated this newest opponent, who is able to ward him off, forcing him to retreat and plan to finish his task at a later time.
Jo's addition to the team has proven to be very beneficial to their investigation, but when the threat becomes personal against her, the team rallies to protect her. None more so than Wade, who makes sure he is never far from Jo's side. Spending time together allows them to clear up some deep rooted misunderstandings that seem to have opened a path to new beginnings. But before that can be given any serious consideration, they have a killer to stop.....
****
A fantastic mature, romantic suspense read!!! And I mean mature in the sense that we are not dealing with childish game-playing, or emotional antics the equivalent of high school lunchroom bitchery.... No, I soaked up some 'normal' adult emotional responses and behaviours (other than the serial killer's....clearly!) and felt totally satisfied with the outcome, without reservation!!
Of course, I do have to mention, that although this is part of a series of books, the stories are in principal self-contained. So you will get your HEA, even though you might not get a full conclusion to the suspense portion of the tale....... That part is a 'TO BE CONTINUED' element, and for sure, I will keep my eyes peeled for the next instalment!
As main characters, Jo and Wade make such a tragic pair. From the start you can see where things must have gone off the rails, and it is one of those cases where there really is no blame to lay. Life sucks hard sometimes and coping with what comes along isn't always the easiest and means different things to different people. Blinded by their individual emotions, neither could be open to the other's needs. Now focused on bringing down a killer, they seem to have found that little sliver of common ground that was all that was needed to gain a better perspective on each other. And what a revaluation that turns out to be.
Sharon Sala had been one of my go-to writers, before I started focusing on all forms of romance and limited myself to suspense only. THAT goes to show how incredibly talented she is on both fronts, since both the suspense AND the romantic sides of her writing deserve lots of credit. Although perhaps not as explicit as some of the books I review, the sexual chemistry and heat between the protagonists comes across loud and clear and things steam up pretty well here and there.
It's funny, how after a few years of not reading her books, I approach Sharon's writing from a different direction and find myself just as engrossed as I have always been. Multi-dimensional, and therefore I highly recommend this book to readers of a variety of genres. Drama, contemporary romance, suspense and action. GOING TWICE has all of that to offer, and then some.....
✨A haunting, sinister yet touching novel of fresh opportunities.✨
**ARC provided by NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA in return for an honest review.**
Another great book by Sharon Sala, this author has a way with words she weaves descriptions like a spider weaves a web; with true perfection. This is book two in the series "Forces of Nature". Book one in the series is called "Going Once". A great series with a thrilling aspect in each one.
FBI investigators are trying to figure out who the serial killer "StormChaser" is. A conniving killer who kills survivors from natural disasters. Agent Wade was onc4e married to Agent Jo and they are thrown together to investigate the crimes being committed during and after the devastating storms. The killer changes his MO when things do not go his way and all becomes a guessing game.
This was a thrilling read and I love reading any book that describe people who are surviving natural disasters and no writes books about natural disasters as well as Sharon Sala. She describe each scene in perfect detail.
It's tough to rate Going Twice because the story rolls along at an engaging pace with an entertaining mesh of crime-solving and personal drama until around page 318. That's when Jo, Wade and their previously smart team suffer group amnesia and forget that Jo's got a bull's-eye on her back courtesy of the Stormchaser serial killer who's already assaulted her once. They not only act like Jo's no longer in danger, Wade encourages her to go sightseeing--by herself. That's ridiculous.
Sharon Sala's storytelling talents make Going Twice a solid 3 until the group's I.Q. nosedives at the end.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I became a fan of Ms. Sala's writing after reading the 1st book in her Forces of Nature trilogy, Going Once, and I was equally impressed with this 2nd addition, Going Twice. Wade Luckett and his ex-wife Jo Luckett, both FBI agents, are assigned to the same case and the serial killer they are tracking, targets Jo. The backstory given for the reason behind the breakup of their marriage, adds a poignant aspect to this action packed romantic suspense story. I heartily recommend books 1 and 2 of this thrilling trio and I'm looking forward to reading book 3, Going Gone.
Sharon Sala is one of my favorite authors. This series featuring FBI agents, Wade and Jo, is very violent and intense. If you like thrillers this is the perfect read for you. The characters are very real and the killer is very believable. This is the second in the series and by the ending it's obvious there is a third on the way.
I guess I had hope that this would finish the story, but as I kept going I realized that it was going into book 3. I liked this book just fine, but felt that the bad guy should have been taken down at the end of this book. He was not. That set up the next book. I felt that three books on this guy was one too many. I'll probably read the third too, because I just need to know the end...
This book follows FBI investigates Wade Luckett and the others on his team - lead investigator, Tate Benton, and Cameron Winger. Only this time the FBI director has added a new team member to the team - agent Jolene Luckett, ex-wife of Wade, because her skill is tracking perps with the latest technology and he wants her to find the Stormchaser’s money trail and to catch him once and for all! The Stormchaser is fixated on Jolene because he believes she doesn’t belong on the FBI team and therefore changes the dynamics of the team and so he changes his MO. Read on to see if the team manages to catch him this time......
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
I didn’t want to compare, but I couldn’t help it. I just love book one (Going Once) better. This second installment was still good, yet it lacked the element of surprise. And honestly, I just didn’t find it convincing when the ex-wife and ex-husband got back together. Well, I was happy that they did, but it was just too fast. One more thing that made me rate this 4 stars instead of 5 was how weak the female agent was. She was an FBI, for Pete’s Sake, yet she was careless and got attacked twice?! It just didn’t make sense.
Nevertheless, I love the overall story! So I’m gonna pursue to the last book of the trilogy!
This is the 2nd book in the Forces of Nature series. The series is a romance but I think even more a suspense series. The story starts with Nola a single lady stranded in a tree due to flood waters. While on her roof she sees a man pull up to her neighbors down the street to help them but then actually kills them. The story starts there and then continues for three books while they try to figure out who the killer is. During the three books there are three different romances that bloom amounts the three investigators. Fun and suspenseful to read.
I normally enjoy anything she writes. That said, she hit my one of my weather pet peeves! Lightning does NOT make any sound. That is the work of THUNDER, always. Hail makes sounds, as do rain, wind and to be redundant tornadoes. When the lightning thing happens once in a book I just cringe and move on. Unfortunately this book would not leave it alone, so I stopped enjoying he book. Since there must be a book three, the villain must somehow survive.
The Storrmchaser strikes again. This time he is in the Midwest following the tracks of tornadoes and picking victims in the ruins. The FBI team rushes to the scene hoping this time they will be able to catch him. Added to the team is Jo Luckett, Wade's ex-wife. There past is unsettled and there are still feelings for each other, but the Stormchaser doesn't like change to his team and decides that Jo has to go.
Very Suspenseful! Non-stop page turner as the Stormchaser Serial Killer continues on his psychotic killing spree! This time, the FBI Director sends the team a 4th agent to follow the money! It was a major shock to one, if not all. As the leads disappear in the aftermath of the tornado ravaged neighborhoods, the killer changes his M.O. to make things interesting and keeps the FBI team apprised of his brilliance. Very emotional and scary. Another great read by Sharon Sala.
This is the 2nd book of the series, although it can be read alone. I enjoyed reading this book. It flowed together well and I finished quickly. only downside was that nothing was really settled. But I suppose that's the reason for sequels. Lol. I loved the book and I would recommend this book to others.
The serial killer was still alive and he had his next target
Laura was one happy bride, her FBI fiancé Connor was all she had dreamed of. She had no idea that the team who been chasing the Stormchaser thought him dead, and that he wanted to take out some one the team loved. I am eagerly anticipating the last book.
I feel like both the author and Hershel went on really different paths for this second installment. I wanted more development of Wade and Jo’s relationship, it all remained very superficial, and like they were only one convo away from reconciliation after three years apart - there should have been more to it than that.
Book two in the Force of Nature series and we find the FBI still trying to stop the Stormchaser. Great storyline with mystery and suspense and lots of drama. I am anxious to read the third and final book. This story proves that not all killers are easy to catch and it does takes the FBI agents’ persistence in solving crimes.
I didn’t realize it was part of a series when I started, but felt like it was easy enough to follow along missing those details. The romance in the book wasn’t at the top, and I appreciated that it still seemed to have focus on the case and not push that off to the side. Killer seemed a little predictable, but not an annoying predictable.
Aaahhh! The Stormchaser is a slippery as they come. It's as if he literally rides the wind of the storm and lets it throw him where ever his serial killer mind thinks he should be. I can't put these books down!
I really enjoyed reading this second book in the series. Sharon Sala is one of my must read authors. She doesn’t disappoint in this book. Plenty of action and a little romance.
I almost enjoyed this one better than the first book. There was more psychological baggage that the agents were dealing with, which made the characters seem more three dimensional and believable!