Save Me

by Sharon Sala

Tragedy separated them.
Now he’s her only hope.

Hunter Gray and Lainie Mayes were each other’s first, last and only love. Until tragedy and their feuding families drove them apart. Eleven years vanish, then Hunter learns that Lainie has gone missing in the Colorado mountains. Now the former army pilot must pull off his most perilous mission. Can he rescue Lainie and uncover the truth before the woman he loves is once again lost to him…this time forever?

Genres: Romance, Romantic Suspense, Contemporary Romance, Mystery Thriller, Second Chance, Suspense, Harlequin

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 6, 2024

About the author

Biography



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

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

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Sala can craft a story unlike any other author. Her unique voice is clear, and her characters are memorable. From the very beginning we are drawn into the lives of two doomed lovers and come to care deeply for the tragedy they endured at the hands of vengeful, viscous parents who literally broke them to keep them apart.

First love is so sweet and when they are torn apart, it usually dies. But for Hunter Gray and Lainie Mayes it endured. Having lost each other Lainie became a Radiology Technologist and settles in Denver. Hunter went into the Army and served for 10 years. When Lainie goes missing her story goes viral and Hunter finally knows where she is, but is it too late?

[TinaNoir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read. Very tightly written story of a young couple who are kept apart by their feuding parents.
The rich girl (Lainie) and poor boy (Hunter) start the story as seniors in HS , ready to run away together once they turn 18.

But cottoning onto their scheme, Lainie's parents spirit her away (basically kidnap her) to keep her away from Hunter. And since her father is super powerful he adds insult to injury by getting Hunter's college scholarship revoked (somehow...). Unable to find Lainie and now unable to afford college and knowing his parents were aware of Lainie's kidnapping before it happening, Hunter leaves his parents' home in disgust and enlists in the army. He doesn't tell them where he is going, so he basically disappears from their life. Lots of anger and rage.

Lainie manages to escape her parents' luxurious prison to run to Hunter, but she is too late and no one knows where he went. Taking a page out of Hunter's book, she leaves town never to speak to her parent sagain. Lots of tears and sorrow.

Fast forward 1o years later, Lainie is now an EMT and Hunter has finished his final tour and is working stateside as a pilot. It is sheer chance he sees a report about a female hiker gone missing and realizes it is Lainie. He rushes to join the rescue effort.

And the rest is how these two crazy kids reunite, spill some secrets and finally have a long overdue reckoning with their parents.

The author packed a LOT of story in a 187 page book. The writing was very spare, not super descriptive, but very fast paced and action oriented. And with a central romance that remained front and center.

[Bridget Vollmer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was way too cheesy for me. I'm apparently a minority in this opinion.

[Patrizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Whow! Questo libro mi è proprio piaciuto sebbene il primo capitolo sia davvero tosto... Ci sono più punti in cui mi sono commossa e ho sempre tifato per i due protagonisti. Credo che questo sia il primo libro che leggo di questa autrice: mi sa che andrò a vedere se ce ne sono altri che mi ispirano, fra l'altro mi sembra che molti siano anche stati tradotti in italiano.

[Alisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love every single book Sharon writes. I don’t even read what the book is about. If Sharon Sala’s has her name on it I’m reading it!

[Tessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise of this book was pretty awesome. The actual book not so much..

[Kathy Blanton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two feuding families refuse let their children date each other. Hunt is in love Laine Mayes. They plan to go to the same college and get married once they are there. Laine gets pregnant and is planning on telling Hunt but her mother interfers. Her parents take her to her grandmother's house, in hope she would miscarry. She finally escapes her parents but her father tracks her down and causes her to crash. She loses the baby and refuses to speak to her parents. Hunt meanwhile loses his scholarship because of Laine's father. Hunt leaves his parents home and joins the army. He becomes an Apache Helecopter gunner. He becomes a hero but after 10 years he leaves the service and moves to Arizonia. Laine took her inheritance from her grandmother and moves to Colorado. She becomes an x-ray technologist. She buys a house and is very content to stay single. A nurse at the hospital she works at is stalking her and won't take no for an answer. He follows her to a hiking area and follows her so he can rape her. She fights him off and gets lost in the forest. Hunt hears about the missing person, Laine Mayes. He goes to Colorado to find her.

[Carla Bickel · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not one to give less than 3 stars ever, but this book left a lot to be desired. When I was about 75% of the way through it, I almost quit reading. Story idea wasn't bad but it was rushed. Also, this is the corniest book I've ever read.

[Kari · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't care for this one. With all of social media and the internet, there is no way they couldn't have found each other. The entire story was so far-fetched. At least it was quick.

[Paula Brandon · Rating 1 out of 5]

Plotless, pointless garbage.

Hunter Gray and Lainie Mayes are teenagers in an illicit love affair. Their fathers are stepbrothers who hate each other. When Lainie falls pregnant, all sorts of soap opera lunacy follows (the only interesting part of the book), and the two are separated. Hunter joins the army. They don't see each other for 11 years. When Lainie gets lost in the woods after faking her death to escape a co-worker who is stalking her and assaults her, Hunter hears about it on the news. He drops everything to go save her.

I don't have the words to describe how awful this book is. Hunter actually finds Lainie about halfway through the book. The antagonist is quickly found guilty. The rest of the book is Lainie recovering in hospital, and then her and Hunter setting up a new life together, properly mourning their lost baby and getting married. There are no conflicts in the relationship. The story has zero stakes - because there is no story! It's a long prologue, a bit of a rescue and then a way over-extended happy ever after. There are absolutely no suspense, mystery or thriller elements to be found here! Why on earth is it in the Intrigue line?

If Lainie is going to fake her death, why not just hide and wait it out instead of wondering off into the woods? We learn that Lainie has an Instagram account - did these two even try to look for each other in the ensuing 11 years?

Save your sanity and don't read this pile of utter shit.

[Sharon Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HAVE never read anything Sharon Sala writes and not loved it. She is unique. I never feel like she is following a a script nor feel like she is filling in the blanks. Every story she writes is different and outstanding. I know that when starting her books, I will need to plan for a marathon read. When I finish reading I will have to wait and wait until the next one comes out. If a 6 star rating would be possible, I'd go for 7 stars. Keep them coming Sharon
An enthusiastic reader.
Sharon Baker

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you get ready to read this book, there some preparations you need to think about. Be ready to feel anger, maybe a little touch of hatred, grief, disgust, fear, pride, and a great deal of love between two people.

The underlying message is what can happen when there is stive in a family.

Be sure you have a box of Kleenex handy.

[Ash · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was fine but it was a romance book. There wasnt any intrigue or really a villain.
Leads get separated due to their parents when they were young and meet again when the heroine goes missing and the hero finds her.They resume where they left off and settle into domestic bliss.

[Jennifer Cronk · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always Sharon Sala delivers

While this is a quick read, Sharon Sala definitely delivers. If you’re new to this author, I highly recommend reading this book. If you follow this author, then enjoy.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I'm writing this, tears are running down my face. This was definitely a little sappy romance, BUT I really enjoy it none the less. I love all Sharon Sala books & was not disappointed in this one.

[Katrina Alexander · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the first story by Sharon Sala (one of my favorite authors), but I couldn't get into the second story by the other author. It seemed like she was trying too hard to convince the reader of their instant attraction. I read six chapters and decided I didn't need to finish the story.

[Lindsey Ruppe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Sala can write a book! So well . She is a national treasure and I adore every novel she's written. Save Me was a joy. Reunited first love, the bad guy gets his. Everything you expect in a Sala novel. I love Lanie and Hunter and their love. They make you believe in love

[Karen Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a sweet book about love lost and then re-found. I’m not sure why it is an Intrigue as there isn’t a mystery but I still enjoyed it.

[Stacey Wise · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Love Sharon Sala!

I have been reading her books for years. Her books always have wisdom and insight weaved in. This is a beautiful story about second chances. Don't miss it!

[Lynda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Face paced exciting and full of never-ending hope!

I loved this book! Sharon Sala has hit a home run!!! I couldn't stop reading it until I finished it! Wonderful and uplifting!!

[Sandy Trudeau · Rating 2 out of 5]

I listened to this and thought it was corny!

[carole martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Never Dies!

What a great story, heartbreaking, tear jerker, horror & fabulous! A great story needs to be a movie! Loved it!

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

[Jai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful!

I just love the characters Ms. Sala gifts us with. Great hero, wonderful heroine, tragedy, drama and a happily ever after. Well done!

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

sweet

This was a heartbreaking but sweet story. The characters are so real, their feelings so well articulated. I appreciate that the story is carried out to a complete conclusion.

[Gwen Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

BUy a new box of tissues

If you are feeling down or just want a smile. Dead this book and pass the tissues. I totally recommend this book.

[Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Always an excellent read.

[Diane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Vivian · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5-star read

[Donna Kale · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a sweet story!