Kuni surm meid lahutab

Rebel Ridge #3

by Sharon Sala, Aive Lauriste (Translator), Marje Mändsalu (Editor)

Ta lahkus, käed raudus. Nüüd on aeg end vabastada. Ligi kakskümmend aastat pärast seda, kui ta oma isa tapnud tulekahju süütamises ebaõiglaselt süüdi mõisteti, naaseb Lincoln Fox Kentuckysse Rebel Ridgeʼile. Sinna, Apalatši mägede sügavusse on maetud tõde selle kohutava õhtu kohta – ja ta on tõotanud selle paljastada. Tema plaanidesse tuleb ootamatu pööre, kui ta päästab keset tuisku autovrakist Meg Walkeri. Korraga on Lincil uus põhjus oma aus nimi taastada. Meg, tema koolipõlvekallim, on alati tema süütusesse uskunud ja kui mees soovib neile ühist tulevikku, peab ta maailmale tõestama, et naisel oli õigus. Sellal kui kogukond pooli valib, peavad need, kes teismelisel poisil kuritöö eest vangi minna lasid, panuseid tõstma. Neist ühe eest põgeneb Meg mäele, kus temaga juhtub õnnetus. Ja tema teine päästmine võib isegi Linci jaoks olla liiga raske...

Genres: Romantic Suspense, Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Contemporary, Fiction, Contemporary Romance

326 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

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

[boogenhagen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Second chance reconciliation romance and I loved Lincoln and Meg, they stayed true to each other for years and there was lot of evil slime slurpers who got justice in the end. Sharon Sala writes very nice heroes and her heroines are pretty awesome on the calcium intake too.

This entire series is very well done and if you like sweet love stories with some pretty well done suspense, this is a good series to look into.

[Alp · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5

I was impressed with my first Sharon Sala's book. There were plenty of things I liked in this story.
- A fast paced and exciting plot.
- Fascinating characters.
- A beautiful romantic relationship between Lincoln and Meg.
- Strong family bonds.
- Honey, Meg’s very brave and smart dog.

I'm glad I picked up this book.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was terrific!

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book was safe and sweet, with a slightly more interesting mystery and plot than the other books of this series. I do wish that the MCs weren’t separated for so long. The H didn’t seem like a manho, but there were really no details about what he was up to during almost two decades, so who knows?

I liked that the angst didn’t drag on and there was no miscommunication. The rest of the family (namely Beth) wasn’t stupid this time and that made me happy too. I’m glad I read this one and finished the series. However, it really isn’t Sharon Sala’s best work.

[Jacqueline J · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another solid book from Sharon Sala. This is the third in a trilogy. Here is the sister's story. Her high school sweetheart who went to prison for killing his father comes home after 18 years to clear his name and find out who really did it. This one like the other two in the series is full of the goings on on Rebel Ridge. There is a lot of unemployment which gives the author plenty of scope for lazy and/or desperate people to get up to all kinds of mischief.

This book works well as a suspense story. We're along for the ride to find out who killed Lincoln's father. SS is particularly adept at making everyone well rounded. Some of the villains are very villainous, some are weak and fall into mischief, some show signs of redemption. A lot of the time in this series I really enjoyed the secondary characters who were teetering on the edge more than the upright and totally righteous hero. Another thing that SS does well is include people from previous books in a natural and effective way. These people are not shoe horned in, but rather are integral to the story.


What you won't get much of here is romance. They were childhood sweethearts who immediately fell back in love. No conflict there at all and in fact very little heat.

This story succeeds best as a illustration of how people in a isolated and insular society become all tangled up together. Add in great characterization and it is totally worth the read. Just don't read it for the romance.

[Maura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lincoln Fox was wrongly accused and convicted of his father's murder when he was 17 and it cost him his high school sweetheart and his home. Now, 18 years later, Lincoln is compelled to return to Rebel Ridge to clear his name and find his father's murderer. He rightly expects all kinds of conflict and drama as he goes about it, but he does not expect to find his former love, Meg Walker (now Lewis) to be single and believing in him. Meg never forgot Lincoln and had always believed in his innocence, but having two relationships fail because the men were sent to jail has kind ofput her off relationships. Now, she's being stalked by someone who wants to kill her. Fortunately, Linc and her dog Honey are around to protect her. As Lincoln investigates the case of his father's murder, he and Meg also explore their lost relationship and a potential future together.

Very sweet, but also suspenseful romance. The suspense is fast-paced and action-packed with insight into the villains and their betrayals and back-stabbings, as well as confrontations and chases. And Meg, dang...hard as nails but also very vulnerable. I love a heroine who can chase an intruder off her property while firing a rifle as the back of his head. And Linc is a wonderful hero as well. He's sensitive and protective of those he loves, but has that tough, growly bear exterior and is a force to be reckoned with. Not to mention all the fun-to-read interactions with secondary characters who are also very much likeable. And, believe it or not, I enjoyed reading about the villains and what they were going through.

And the romance between Linc and Meg is very sweet. They never really fell out of love, so despite having "moved on" they never really got over that first love. I now trust this author's second-chance romances because she doesn't leave a lot of bitterness and anger between them that can't be overcome...and the reunion always involves a confirmation of that commitment without a constant dredging up of the negatives. I did have some concerns/questions about this one a bit tho...I was kinda wondering how it was that Meg never kept in touch with Linc while he'd been in juvenile detention (correspondence and visitation is usually allowed, right?), or why she didn't wait for his release, knowing that he'd be out of juvie in 4 years. Actually, she married 2 years into his sentence. So that gave me some doubts about how much they loved each other back when they were 17, but I absolutely didn't doubt the love the second time around. Will be looking for more by this author in the future as these were some enjoyable stories with safe, comfortable romance. Not superbly angsty, but the suspense definitely makes up for that.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written story and interesting characters that draw you into the story.
It will keep you guessing and wondering what will happen next.
So sad this is the last book in the series.

[Vfields Don't touch my happy! · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good way to end a trilogy. I’m struck how much I enjoy Sharon Sala’s men. Good, bad, or otherwise they are captivating. The women aren’t bad they just don’t have the fullness for the male characters.
The pace was on point.
The past characters were true to form.
The action was fun and logical.
The dogs were a pleasure.
The mountain is safe.

[Cheri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great series! I wish she would have kept going with this series but this was the last Walker of the siblings.

[Lori (on hiatus, life is crazy busy)) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last book in The Rebel Ridge series. I loved all the books! But I think this one was the best! High school sweetheart's Meg and Lincoln were separated by Lincoln being charged with murdering his father when he was seventeen. Eighteen years later, Lincoln return's to Rebel Ridge to prove his innocence and find out who really murdered his father. I love what strong people Meg and Lincoln have become due to various stages of their lives. Lincoln is ever so hot and romantic! Meg is simple and strong! I loved their story!

[Kerry sullivan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Rebel Ridge the people another place and I loved this visit. This story was thrilling and sweet, I loved Linc and Meg the love between them was easy and felt old and timeless. The suspense element was cleverly thought out and weaved in beautifully, I am hoping this is not the last rebel ridge book.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful suspense in the Rebel Ridge series! The plot flowed smoothly, and kept me reading. Each book can be read on its own.

[Mustang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sharon Sala gives us the third book in the Rebel Ridge Series. This is the Walker's sister story. Meg Walker is a woman who has made mistakes when she was younger. The town is like any other small town and does not agree with the choices she has made. While her family has all moved on she is finally living alone in the old family home. And her quilting business has taken off. Life seems to be getting better for Meg when small things begin happening around the house.

Meg is awaken one morning with the creak of the only creaking board in the kitchen, she jumps up, takes the shotgun down and shoots at the stalker. Enter the Sexy Walker brothers from the first 2 books in the series.

Also we are introduced to Linc, who arrives the late night to come home to find the killer for which he was charged with the murder, and he was innocent, and he notices a motorcycle leaving his property. The thing with Linc, is he needs a second chance on love with his high school sweetheart, Meg who believed in his innocence long ago. He is back for her and the truth.

Story is awesomely told and Sharon Sala weaves another great story to which kept me up all night reading. There is only one thing I didn't like about the story, it had to end. Sharon tells the best stories and you find yourself embedded in the story and your feel everything that is happening. A must read story and series for someone who loves suspense stories with a great cold case in it, solve the mystery, get this series. Til Death is a solid book.

[Kelly Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twenty years before, Lincoln Fox was wrongfully railroaded and convicted in the murder of his father. Now, he returns to Rebel Ridge, Kentucky, deep in the Appalachian Mountains, to uncover what really happened and bring the real culprit to justice. A task he knows could put him in danger and anger the close knit community. Plans take a crazy turn when he finds Meg Walker's wrecked car at the side of a snow-covered road. Meg was his high school sweetheart and first love. She always believed in his innocence, but a lot of time has passed since they crossed paths. In a twisted game of revenge and lies, secrets are unveiled and now Linc's mission is putting them both at risk. Someone/s wants the truth to stay buried, at any cost.

Sala is one of my go-to authors. I know I can pick up any of her books and be happy. It's refreshing to read a romance that's not as invested in the heat as it is in the heart. Thrilling suspense and three dimensional characters, packed with detailed setting and an array of secondary characters only add to the books intensity and charm. This was no exception. This is a Rebel Ridge novel (I believe book two) and not to be missed. Most impressive about this book was the uncovering of lies and lengths people will go to in order to escape their past or bury their secrets. The ending was excellent in its realism. Recommended!

[Aure 'the Dark' · Rating 4 out of 5]

* ARC received from NetGalley for a review!



4 Stars!

It's a third installment in Rebel Ridge series.

Meg Walker is an independent, strong woman who endured lost of hurt in her life!

Linc, her one true love, was wrongly convicted and sent to prison for a sin he claims he haven't done.

This story had me biting my lips and then my nails raw. Ah, all the mystery of who done what was truly enticing!
You just cant stop reading it!
There's action, there's mystery, there's true friendship and love!
So what's not to love about a book like this?

And it was so refreshing from everything that I read lately.
So I want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin MIRA for providing me with a copy to read and review(and enjoy!).

[Pamela(AllHoney) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The third book in Sharon Sala's Rebel Ridge series. Meg Walker and Linc Fox were high school sweethearts until tragedy strikes. Linc's father was murdered and he was arrested and convicted of it. So now, 18 years later he is back. He is determined to investigate and find the true killer. Meg has had bad luck with guys. Her first boyfriend is imprisoned for murder. And then her husband kills a man and is sent to prison. But now it seems she has a stalker...

I have enjoyed this series and this was a good addition. It wasn't without flaws but they were so minor and didn't bother me enough to even mention. It flows nicely and I would certainly feel good recommending this to Romantic Suspense lovers.

[Dana Delamar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Solid romantic suspense with two very sympathetic leads. I liked both Meg and Linc; he especially had a compelling story.

The only thing that bugged me about this book was a significant degree of repetition; there literally were times when one character is repeating something to another character that happened in the last few pages. I would have liked a lot more summarizing. (I also would have liked some more steaminess and a bit more romance, but that's my personal preference.)

The story has some good twists, the mystery takes a while to unravel, and many of the characters are well-drawn. The author describes the settings well, and I felt at times like I was in the mountains along with the characters. Nicely done.

[Deb Julienne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great exciting read. I loved the characters, the situations, the description of Lincoln Fox, growing up to be larger than life and scaring the daylights out of the people who dared to screwe with him. I'm glad Meg never got over him. Seeing them together was like a "coming home" moment. Great descriptions, very visual. Another great read from Sharon Sala.

[Deb Kastner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been highly invested in the Walker family since the first book of this trilogy, and it was lovely to see Meg get her happily-ever-after. Loved the hero, Lincoln Fox. Yum. Just Yum. Ms. Sala writes the kind of story I enjoy reading, and I'm never disappointed. Thank you, Sharon!

[Cyndi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Sala books never disappoint me. I know whenever I pick up one of her books, I'm going to have a good read. This was the 3rd in the Rebel Ridge Trilogy. I wonder what she'll come up with next? Good character development, and I like the family tie-in with all three books.

[Lyndi W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like Sharon Sala's heroines... they're tough shit without all the "I'm an independent woman and don't need no stinkin' man!" attitude.

Wish we found out what happened to that damn money, though!

[Jennifer Robb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lincoln Fox and Meg Walker were friends and lovers until he was falsely accused and convicted of killing his father. Lincoln did his time and then stayed away from his former hometown until an accident brings visions of his father telling him to return.

Meanwhile, Meg married another man then divorced him when he went to jail for murder. On his deathbed, he confesses to the brother of the man he killed that he buried money he took from his victim and that Meg can tell him where to find it. Rather than just ask Meg, the man stalks and terrorizes her.

The characters are well done. The Walker family is a close knit clan that can count on each other in times of trouble. Lincoln comes across as a man doing his best to "do unto others" and help them out, even if he is a bit too infallible to be realistic. The story follows Lincoln's efforts to prove himself innocent and find out who really did the deed as well as trying to find out who is stalking Meg. I normally do not like sex scenes and particularly not those outside of marriage, but there was only one in this book and considering that if Lincoln hadn't been framed, the two might have been married long ago . . . I didn't downgrade my rating for this book.

[Darlene Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

He left in handcuffs. Now it's time to set himself free. Nearly twenty years after he was wrongly convicted of setting the fire that killed his father, Lincoln Fox returns to Rebel Ridge, Kentucky. There, deep in the Appalachians, the truth of that terrible night lies buried-and he's sworn to uncover it. His plans take an unexpected turn when, in the midst of a blizzard, he rescues Meg Walker from her wrecked car. Suddenly Linc discovers another reason to clear his name. Meg, his high school sweetheart, had always believed in his innocence, and if he wants a future with her, he has to show the world proof that she was right.
As the community chooses sides, those who once let a teenage boy take the fall for their crime are forced to raise the stakes. They kidnap Meg, leaving her to the mercy of the mountain. And a second rescue may be more than even Linc can manage....

[Elaine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I normally like Sharon Sala's romantic suspense novels a lot, but this one is not my favorite. The mystery plot was interesting and the evil people were truly evil. The main characters were well developed and I liked the fact that Linc had been in prison as a teenager and was working to clear his name. It took guts for him to come back to his old town and win people over. But there were many errors (a shotgun becomes a pistol, a truck becomes a jeep etc.) and some things were not totally believable. The book was overly long, with details on mundane things like eating and dressing and driving.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lincoln and Megs story was absolutely amazing. accused and convicted of his father's murder 18 years ago, Lincoln comes back to Rebel Ridge to clear his name and find the real murderers. Meg and Lincoln were in love when he was sent to jail at 17. true love never really dies! a great, great story!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this 4&1/2 stars if I could. This is the final book in the Rebel Ridge trilogy. It can stand alone but I recommend reading the whole trilogy. Ms. Sala just can't write a bad book. She makes you laugh and cry. Her stories will break your heart but in the end all is well. Highly recommended!

[Donna Hulsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this book in one day. An easy read about a man convicted of his father's murder and sent away when he was 17. He comes back to the Kentucky mountains after a near death experience to clear his name. Of course there's a romance here too. Also a stalker, hidden treasure, mountains and dogs, blizzards and high drama. Many twists and turns before the inevitable happy ending.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read a lot of this author’s books but this one was one of the best. It is an older book but full of mystery, murder, lies and family shame with twists and turns that will surprise you. Lincoln Fox came back to Rebel Ridge to prove his innocence and to find out who killed his father but finding that Meg Walker still believed in him was the most important fact. Great read

[P Gem · Rating 5 out of 5]

A little slower paced then the last two with an intriguing mystery of sorting out all the guilty townspeople who lied and sent a 17 year old to prison for the murder of his much loved father. As Linc exacts his revenge, more unsolved mysteries are being revealed. Lots of emotions and a very suspenseful ending. The story was still a great page turner.

[Susan Krich · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great suspense romance novel.
From chapter 10 on, I didn't want to put the book aside until I had finished it.
This was the first book that I have read by this author and I look forward to reading more of her books.