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Secrets and Lies #1
Wild Hearts
Past Sins Cast a Long Shadow
Dallas Phillips refuses to believe her father committed suicide, even though things were tough on his farm and he was deeply in debt. When she hears he'd told a neighbor about an upcoming windfall, she grows suspicious, and her suspicion only deepens when she realizes someone is lurking in the nearby mountains after dark.
For help, she turns to Trey Jakes, local police chief—and her former lover. As they begin to investigate, another mystery comes to light. Trey's mother is beginning to remember events from thirty years ago, something shadowy that happened in the mountains, and Dallas's father was there, too. Is what happened that night connected to his "suicide"? As they search for the truth, Trey and Dallas struggle to fight their attraction, but they may not be able to fend off another force—a killer who's more than willing to kill again to make sure old secrets stay buried.
Dallas Phillips refuses to believe her father committed suicide, even though things were tough on his farm and he was deeply in debt. When she hears he'd told a neighbor about an upcoming windfall, she grows suspicious, and her suspicion only deepens when she realizes someone is lurking in the nearby mountains after dark.
For help, she turns to Trey Jakes, local police chief—and her former lover. As they begin to investigate, another mystery comes to light. Trey's mother is beginning to remember events from thirty years ago, something shadowy that happened in the mountains, and Dallas's father was there, too. Is what happened that night connected to his "suicide"? As they search for the truth, Trey and Dallas struggle to fight their attraction, but they may not be able to fend off another force—a killer who's more than willing to kill again to make sure old secrets stay buried.
378 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 31, 2015
386 people are currently reading
737 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Sala
279 books2,301 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 135 reviews
January 7, 2016
The first book in Sharon Sala's Secrets and Lies series. Dallas Phillips comes home when she is informed that her father is dead in an apparent suicide. But Dallas is sure that her father would never kill himself. Once there she sees her high school boyfriend and now police chief, Trey Jakes.
Okay, yes, there is a cliffhanger in this. It was closed in regards to the romance of Dallas and Trey and certain other issues but the cliffhanger is undeniable. I HATE cliffhangers! And I have to wait way too long for the next book:( Darnnit!
But the story was good and I loved the characters. I will continue this series but I still protest the cliffhanger!
Okay, yes, there is a cliffhanger in this. It was closed in regards to the romance of Dallas and Trey and certain other issues but the cliffhanger is undeniable. I HATE cliffhangers! And I have to wait way too long for the next book:( Darnnit!
But the story was good and I loved the characters. I will continue this series but I still protest the cliffhanger!
August 22, 2016
A really good romantic suspense with lots of fast paced exciting action. The steadfast hero was so lovable and the heroine's strength was noticeable. I could even buy into the reasons for her actions. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. News reporter Dallas returns home after her father's death and has to interact with her old love, police chief Trey.
September 21, 2020
What an amazing story! Kept me guessing what would happen next. Love the characters. Looking forward to the next book!
April 1, 2015
Wild Hearts, the first book in Sharon Sala's new Secrets and Lies series, is a thrilling romantic suspense packed with emotion!
Thirty years ago four friends were enjoying a night out celebrating when tragedy struck, one friend ended up loosing their life. Now those friends are grown and enjoying their prime...but when one ends up taking his life memories from the past begin to emerge. Memories that one person will do anything to keep buried.
Dallas Phillips left her small town life for a big city job. When she receives a phone call that her father is dead though, Dallas not only has to face the possibility of his suicide, but the man she left behind as well. While Trey Jakes, local police chief, helps Dallas prove that her father's apparent suicide was a murder, he also sets out to prove that this small town has everything that Dallas needs. And he isn't letting her leave it, or him, again.
But as Dallas and Trey dig deeper into the mystery of her father's murder, more questions rise and another threat looms in the towering mountains behind them.
Sharon Sala is an author filled with talent and heart, and that comes through in her writing every time! Wild Hearts is an exciting, gripping, and passionate page turner with the perfect balance of romance and suspense. Trey and Dallas make for a wonderful pair of main characters and a lovely second chance romance. Dallas is a very independent woman who is determined to prove that her father's death was a murder, and not the suicide everyone believes. But when Trey comes back into her life, Dallas realizes that even though she can get along well on her own doesn't mean that she wants to do it without Trey anymore. Trey, I loved to pieces. He was such a straight shooter and I adored how he told Dallas how it was going to be! These two were sizzling, sexy and sweet together.
As the suspense side of the story played out I quickly came to realize that the blurb was a bit misleading. There is a mystery throughout the story-line that includes Trey's mother and Dallas' father, we even get glimpses of the past through Trey's mother's dreams. But it is part of a continuing plot arc in the trilogy so while there is a happily-ever-after in the end for Dallas and Trey, the mystery of the chilling killer and his or her reasonings is left up in the air for the future installments. Despite that though, Sharon Sala delivered a pulse-pounding romance that kept me on the edge of my seat and I am looking forward to the next book in the Secrets and Lies series!
Thirty years ago four friends were enjoying a night out celebrating when tragedy struck, one friend ended up loosing their life. Now those friends are grown and enjoying their prime...but when one ends up taking his life memories from the past begin to emerge. Memories that one person will do anything to keep buried.
Dallas Phillips left her small town life for a big city job. When she receives a phone call that her father is dead though, Dallas not only has to face the possibility of his suicide, but the man she left behind as well. While Trey Jakes, local police chief, helps Dallas prove that her father's apparent suicide was a murder, he also sets out to prove that this small town has everything that Dallas needs. And he isn't letting her leave it, or him, again.
But as Dallas and Trey dig deeper into the mystery of her father's murder, more questions rise and another threat looms in the towering mountains behind them.
Sharon Sala is an author filled with talent and heart, and that comes through in her writing every time! Wild Hearts is an exciting, gripping, and passionate page turner with the perfect balance of romance and suspense. Trey and Dallas make for a wonderful pair of main characters and a lovely second chance romance. Dallas is a very independent woman who is determined to prove that her father's death was a murder, and not the suicide everyone believes. But when Trey comes back into her life, Dallas realizes that even though she can get along well on her own doesn't mean that she wants to do it without Trey anymore. Trey, I loved to pieces. He was such a straight shooter and I adored how he told Dallas how it was going to be! These two were sizzling, sexy and sweet together.
As the suspense side of the story played out I quickly came to realize that the blurb was a bit misleading. There is a mystery throughout the story-line that includes Trey's mother and Dallas' father, we even get glimpses of the past through Trey's mother's dreams. But it is part of a continuing plot arc in the trilogy so while there is a happily-ever-after in the end for Dallas and Trey, the mystery of the chilling killer and his or her reasonings is left up in the air for the future installments. Despite that though, Sharon Sala delivered a pulse-pounding romance that kept me on the edge of my seat and I am looking forward to the next book in the Secrets and Lies series!
April 7, 2016
Two-haiku review:
Her father found hung
She comes home to care for farm
Her first love helps her
Only partly solved
No final resolution
Must read on to know
Her father found hung
She comes home to care for farm
Her first love helps her
Only partly solved
No final resolution
Must read on to know
November 21, 2017
Wild Hearts is another great read by Sharon Sala and I can't wait to see what happens in the other two books to this series, Secrets and Lies.
Mystic police chief, Trey Jake's has been in love with Dallas Phillips since the first day of First grade, but she does not know that. Dallas left Trey broken hearted 6 years ago to chase her dream of a big city life and a career that would give her fame. A college graduate, she is now one of the hottest new on-the-spot reporters at WOML news in Charleston when she receives a cal that her father has committed suicide. Dallas refuses to believe her father would do so a thing so she heads home to Mystic to prove him innocent of suicide and she won't leave until she accomplishes it. Jake and his mother, Bonnie, are determined she will not go through this alone. As they begin to investigate another mystery begins to unfold. Bonnie is beginning to remember events from 30 years ago that just might be involved with the death of Dick Phillips. There just might be a killer around Mystic that wants the past to stay in the past.
Secrets and Lies series is very intriguing and I can't imagine having to wait for the second book in this series. I'm happy I have book 2 and 3 to read now. I'm dying to see where this plot is headed and how the different mysteries of Mystic might fit together.
Mystic police chief, Trey Jake's has been in love with Dallas Phillips since the first day of First grade, but she does not know that. Dallas left Trey broken hearted 6 years ago to chase her dream of a big city life and a career that would give her fame. A college graduate, she is now one of the hottest new on-the-spot reporters at WOML news in Charleston when she receives a cal that her father has committed suicide. Dallas refuses to believe her father would do so a thing so she heads home to Mystic to prove him innocent of suicide and she won't leave until she accomplishes it. Jake and his mother, Bonnie, are determined she will not go through this alone. As they begin to investigate another mystery begins to unfold. Bonnie is beginning to remember events from 30 years ago that just might be involved with the death of Dick Phillips. There just might be a killer around Mystic that wants the past to stay in the past.
Secrets and Lies series is very intriguing and I can't imagine having to wait for the second book in this series. I'm happy I have book 2 and 3 to read now. I'm dying to see where this plot is headed and how the different mysteries of Mystic might fit together.
November 23, 2018
Wild Hearts ~ Sharon Sala ⭐⭐⭐⭐
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buku pertama dari Trilogi yang sukses membuat penasaran hingga lembar terakhir.
Adalah Dallas Phillips yg kembali ke Mystic setelah mendapat kabar bahwa Ayahnya meninggal dunia. Kejutan yg menanti Dallas ternyata lebih dahsyat dr perkiraannya. Trey Jakes, kepala polisi sekaligus mantan pacar Dallas telah menunggunya plus gosip yg beredar bahwa Ayahnya tewas bunuh diri.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dallas tak percaya bunuh diri. Hingga ia meminta bantuan Trey untuk menyelidiki kasus Ayahnya. Hidup Dallas juga terancam bahaya karena diserang anjing liar. Ditambah lagi buronan polisi yg berkeliaran di gunung.
Pelan tp pasti Trey dan Dallas berhubungan kembali. Trey jg pindah dan tinggal bersama Dallas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Setelah hasil autopsi ayah Dallas keluar, terbukti bahwa Ayah Dallas dibunuh. Kota kecil di pegunungan itupun geger. Siapakah pembunuh di antara penduduk kota tsb?
Hingga endingpun tak ketahuan, karena berhubungan dgn buku kelanjutannya. Dan kasus pembunuhan ini berhubungan secara tidak langsung dgn kasus kecelakaan yg melibatkan ayah Dallas dan Ibu Trey beserta 2 tmn SMA mereka 30 thn yg lalu. Ga sabar tunggu kelanjutannya diterjemahkan deh..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Buku pertama dari Trilogi yang sukses membuat penasaran hingga lembar terakhir.
Adalah Dallas Phillips yg kembali ke Mystic setelah mendapat kabar bahwa Ayahnya meninggal dunia. Kejutan yg menanti Dallas ternyata lebih dahsyat dr perkiraannya. Trey Jakes, kepala polisi sekaligus mantan pacar Dallas telah menunggunya plus gosip yg beredar bahwa Ayahnya tewas bunuh diri.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dallas tak percaya bunuh diri. Hingga ia meminta bantuan Trey untuk menyelidiki kasus Ayahnya. Hidup Dallas juga terancam bahaya karena diserang anjing liar. Ditambah lagi buronan polisi yg berkeliaran di gunung.
Pelan tp pasti Trey dan Dallas berhubungan kembali. Trey jg pindah dan tinggal bersama Dallas.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Setelah hasil autopsi ayah Dallas keluar, terbukti bahwa Ayah Dallas dibunuh. Kota kecil di pegunungan itupun geger. Siapakah pembunuh di antara penduduk kota tsb?
Hingga endingpun tak ketahuan, karena berhubungan dgn buku kelanjutannya. Dan kasus pembunuhan ini berhubungan secara tidak langsung dgn kasus kecelakaan yg melibatkan ayah Dallas dan Ibu Trey beserta 2 tmn SMA mereka 30 thn yg lalu. Ga sabar tunggu kelanjutannya diterjemahkan deh..
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
January 14, 2021
3.50 / 3 Stars - Hoopla audio
Although I do prefer standalones, I went into this book knowing there would be a cliffhanger. Since all 3 books in the series have already been written I can move on to the next 2 books smoothly.
I wrestled whether to rate this book 3 or 4 stars. It's not a "deep" book, but the mystery behind what happened 25 year earlier and why the murderer decided now was the time to cover up his past has me wanting to find out why. In Wild Hearts there is a second mystery that does get solved.
At times the characters were a bit too saccharinely sweet, and the story did drag a bit . Even though the ending was predictable I did like there was a strong community bond in Mystic, WV. With that said I'm still going on to the next book because I need to know more. 🤨
Although I do prefer standalones, I went into this book knowing there would be a cliffhanger. Since all 3 books in the series have already been written I can move on to the next 2 books smoothly.
I wrestled whether to rate this book 3 or 4 stars. It's not a "deep" book, but the mystery behind what happened 25 year earlier and why the murderer decided now was the time to cover up his past has me wanting to find out why. In Wild Hearts there is a second mystery that does get solved.
At times the characters were a bit too saccharinely sweet, and the story did drag a bit . Even though the ending was predictable I did like there was a strong community bond in Mystic, WV. With that said I'm still going on to the next book because I need to know more. 🤨
June 1, 2021
I always enjoy a Sharon Sala book and this one did not disappoint. The first in a trilogy “Wild Hearts” is gripping and the suspense is balanced with the romance of Dallas Phillips and Trey Jakes. Sharon Sala manages to keep the pace of the novel moving but still gives time to develop the other characters, both major and minor. While this is the first of a trilogy and it is a cliff-hanger, there is still another mystery in this book. I did like the fact that Sharon Sala did not paint small town life as being idyllic, she has captured the good and bad of small town life very well. We get glimpses of other people and their story throughout the book and Sharon Sala gives us tantalising glimpses of the killer, but not even to spoil the plot of the this and the subsequent books. We get the view point of other characters and Sharon Sala has managed to keep the novel flowing even when the view point changes. You will need to read them in order to keep the suspense and make sense of the story. This is another series of books that have been sitting on my bookshelf just waiting for me to read. The anticipation of a house move in the very near future has promoted me to get them down and read them. I was lucky to have all three to read in succession.
June 23, 2019
Amazing suspense! All the plot twists kept me engaged. There's a bit of a cliffhanger which I can't wait to find out more about.
June 20, 2025
Interesting book.. a little racy. Story was good. I didn't like one element of the story, but that is okay.. Sharon Sala is a great author.
July 19, 2022
Sharon Sala writes the best suspense books ever! 5 ⭐️ isn’t enough for this book,can’t wait to start the second one 💕
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October 13, 2020Wild Hearts
This is the second time I have read and loved this book. Trey and Dallas were a couple until she left Mystic for college. They meet back up after she returns home when her father dies. A very good mystery series. There is part of the story that will not be answered in this book or the next, but definitely worth the read.
This is the second time I have read and loved this book. Trey and Dallas were a couple until she left Mystic for college. They meet back up after she returns home when her father dies. A very good mystery series. There is part of the story that will not be answered in this book or the next, but definitely worth the read.
September 5, 2024
Good, easy read. Grabbed my attention quickly. Interesting ending. Suspenseful with a mostly happy ending. Really liked how all the women in the mountain came together for a solution.
February 17, 2015
WILD HEARTS
Sharon Sala
Mira
April 2015
Graduation night, May 1980 in Mystic, West Virginia and four very intoxicated teenagers are driving over one hundred miles per hour trying to outrun a killer. The pink Cadillac that was a graduation gift to Connie Bartlett’s ends its life, and also Connie’s, when it leaves the road and lands head-on into a tree. The killer checked the wreckage site to make certain there were no survivors and then walked away. Unbelievably Connie was the only fatality; her boyfriend, Dick Phillips and her best friend, Betsy Parr and Betsy’s boyfriend, Paul Jackson, all survived, but not a single one of them has any memory of that night; the killer remains free.
Thirty-five years later Dick Phillips’s body is found hanging from the rafters in his barn. It is originally deemed a suicide, but too many people, including his daughter Dallas, refuse to accept that verdict. Dallas is an on air television reporter in Charlotte, and flies home immediately after getting the call about her father’s death. Betsy Parr Jakes found the body when she stopped by Dick’s farm to buy some fresh egg and calls her son, Trey, the Chief of Police. However, the crime scene is in the jurisdiction of the Sheriff Osmond, but he welcomes Trey’s help.
Trey has been in love with Dallas Phillips since he was eleven and she was six. They share a romantic history, but she couldn’t wait to leave Mystic six years ago, and he didn’t want to leave. Dallas uncovers some important documents while cleaning out her father’s belongings, and gets the first clue that Dick didn’t kill himself. Meanwhile, someone is camping on the Phillips’ mountain top property and burning campfires at night. Could this be the killer?
Sharon Sala vividly composes a page-turning menacing tale that keeps the reader on the edge of their chairs. Ms. Sala’s characters are brilliant; the good guys are very good, and you don’t really know who the bad guys are. The romance between Dallas and Trey is rekindled and treated with loving care by the author. WILD HEARTS is held together with finely entwined story threads and a narrative that thrills and chills. This book comes highly recommended.
Betty Cox for ReaderToReader.com
March 21, 2015
Sharon Sala writes some real interesting stories. They have an aura of timeless mystery to them and add Sharon’s style of narration and writing, you get one great heck of a story.
The first book “Wild Hearts” in her new series Secrets And Lies kick starts the story with a mysterious incident shadowed by dark hazy memories and a death thirty years ago. And thirty years later, looks like reckoning is not far off.
The death of her father brings home Dallas Phillips from her city job. Shocked and in grief, she does not believe that her father committed suicide and she turns to her childhood friend and lover Trey Jakes for her help.
Thirty years ago Trey’s mother and Dallas’s father have been a witness to an incident that they don’t remember anymore, yet Trey’s mother seems to be getting back some memories that may open a can of worms and the killer wants to keep it buried.
As Dallas and Jake try to uncover the truth behind Dallas’s father murder, old feelings of love and passion reignite the relationship between them. Dallas is an amazingly resilient lady, kind and with a good heart. All she wants is to find the truth behind her father’s murder. Jake as the local police chief is just Dallas needs to compliment her. Years ago her job caused a rift between them, but now Jake the protector is not letting Dallas get away a second time. Two wonderful people meant to be together.
Sharon Sala weaves another fabulous mystery that keeps the interest going, and the minds guessing. I love her knack of creating characters with depth and individuality, and her play of emotions and feelings between characters.
This is no cliffhanger to the love story of Dallas and Jake, but the mystery will continue into the next book of her series, as the killer wants an old secret to be kept buried, forever and is willing to kill again to do so.
Received an ARC from Harlequin via NetGalley for an honest review.
The first book “Wild Hearts” in her new series Secrets And Lies kick starts the story with a mysterious incident shadowed by dark hazy memories and a death thirty years ago. And thirty years later, looks like reckoning is not far off.
The death of her father brings home Dallas Phillips from her city job. Shocked and in grief, she does not believe that her father committed suicide and she turns to her childhood friend and lover Trey Jakes for her help.
Thirty years ago Trey’s mother and Dallas’s father have been a witness to an incident that they don’t remember anymore, yet Trey’s mother seems to be getting back some memories that may open a can of worms and the killer wants to keep it buried.
As Dallas and Jake try to uncover the truth behind Dallas’s father murder, old feelings of love and passion reignite the relationship between them. Dallas is an amazingly resilient lady, kind and with a good heart. All she wants is to find the truth behind her father’s murder. Jake as the local police chief is just Dallas needs to compliment her. Years ago her job caused a rift between them, but now Jake the protector is not letting Dallas get away a second time. Two wonderful people meant to be together.
Sharon Sala weaves another fabulous mystery that keeps the interest going, and the minds guessing. I love her knack of creating characters with depth and individuality, and her play of emotions and feelings between characters.
This is no cliffhanger to the love story of Dallas and Jake, but the mystery will continue into the next book of her series, as the killer wants an old secret to be kept buried, forever and is willing to kill again to do so.
Received an ARC from Harlequin via NetGalley for an honest review.
June 5, 2015
Wild Hearts is another great book by Sharon Sala! I loved the two main characters, and enjoyed watching them rekindle their relationship. I liked the suspense storyline a great deal, and the book held my attention all the way through.
Dallas and Trey were sweethearts who were separated when Dallas left their small town to pursue a career. Years later, she returns after the supposed suicide of her father, and soon realizes all is not as it seems. Trey is there for Dallas, and as they search for what really happened, they realize they still have feelings for one another. While they search for answers, there is someone who will do anything to keep the truth hidden.
This book has a very nice balance of suspense and romance. I loved the interactions between Trey and Dallas. I thought they were both great characters, and I loved the way Trey was so upfront with his feelings. The suspenseful storyline kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. This one was a winner for me, and I can't wait for the next book!
Dallas and Trey were sweethearts who were separated when Dallas left their small town to pursue a career. Years later, she returns after the supposed suicide of her father, and soon realizes all is not as it seems. Trey is there for Dallas, and as they search for what really happened, they realize they still have feelings for one another. While they search for answers, there is someone who will do anything to keep the truth hidden.
This book has a very nice balance of suspense and romance. I loved the interactions between Trey and Dallas. I thought they were both great characters, and I loved the way Trey was so upfront with his feelings. The suspenseful storyline kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next. This one was a winner for me, and I can't wait for the next book!
September 3, 2018
Major Cliffhanger alert!
This is the first book in a trilogy. It starts with a flashback of four kids on the night of their high school graduation. They have a horrific accident where one of the kids die, but three survive having witnessed something. But in the aftermath of the accident with their injuries the three remaining surviviors have no memory of what they saw.
Flash forward to present day where one of those survivors is now an older man with a grown up daughter who is the heroine of this story. He is murdered and obviously it has something to do with what he witnessed as a teenager. But why now since he has shown no evidence of recalling anything of that night.
To find out who the murderer is you have to read the entire trilogy since the murderer and the motive are not revealed until the third book.
In the meantime this book features a fairly easy romance and a side suspense plot regarding a dog fighting group. Nice enough read, good audio but to get a resolution to the overarching mystery you need to read the other two books.
This is the first book in a trilogy. It starts with a flashback of four kids on the night of their high school graduation. They have a horrific accident where one of the kids die, but three survive having witnessed something. But in the aftermath of the accident with their injuries the three remaining surviviors have no memory of what they saw.
Flash forward to present day where one of those survivors is now an older man with a grown up daughter who is the heroine of this story. He is murdered and obviously it has something to do with what he witnessed as a teenager. But why now since he has shown no evidence of recalling anything of that night.
To find out who the murderer is you have to read the entire trilogy since the murderer and the motive are not revealed until the third book.
In the meantime this book features a fairly easy romance and a side suspense plot regarding a dog fighting group. Nice enough read, good audio but to get a resolution to the overarching mystery you need to read the other two books.
April 5, 2015
I am so excited to review Book 1 in the Secrets and Lies Series by Sharon Sala. While reading the first chapter I knew that I was getting on a ride of suspense, and mystery and the ride just kept getting better with each new page.
Sharon Sala always has the wonderful gift of storytelling in her blood and weaves a story that takes you right into the lives of the people involved. I always feel like I know the people involved and they are old friends.
I laugh, I cry and I scream when the bad guys come out of the woodwork.
I can't wait to see how things turn out in book two and who will show up to add to the tale.
Sharon Sala always has the wonderful gift of storytelling in her blood and weaves a story that takes you right into the lives of the people involved. I always feel like I know the people involved and they are old friends.
I laugh, I cry and I scream when the bad guys come out of the woodwork.
I can't wait to see how things turn out in book two and who will show up to add to the tale.
November 23, 2015
Dallas Phillips refuses to believe her father committed suicide. she asks local police chief, Trey for help. whom she dated years ago before she moved. 30 years ago. Trey ' s mom (Betsy) , Connie(who died from drinking and driving), Dick Phillips and Paul were in an accident. will Betsy remember what happened that day?
with her dad dead, a large dog who almost bit her, almost being kidnapped what more can Dallas take? how will she handle her dad's death. will she fulfill what he wanted find out. I look forward to reading cold hearts next
with her dad dead, a large dog who almost bit her, almost being kidnapped what more can Dallas take? how will she handle her dad's death. will she fulfill what he wanted find out. I look forward to reading cold hearts next
November 28, 2017
Started out interesting then veered to a new topic. Original mystery left unsolved. One has to read sequel.
January 11, 2018
Wild Hearts is the first novel in Sharon Sala's, Secrets and Lies series, and it begins with a Prologue in which 4 high school friends in Mystic, West Virginia, are celebrating their high school graduation by getting drunk and joyriding along the local roads. Behind the wheel is Connie Bartlett, they're all piled into the new pink Cadillac she got for graduation that day, and all four of them are drunk--never a smart move, and, as you'd expect, they crash head-on into a tree. Connie, goes through the windshield and is found dead at the scene, and her three passengers, Dick Phillips, Betsy Pass and Paul Jackson, are all severely wounded, yet somehow manage to survive their injuries.
Fast forward several decades and we now meet Dick Phillips as an adult and a widower, as he's tending to his late wife's chickens for the eggs he sells. When someone he knows stops in to buy a couple of dozen, that same person, still unnamed, attacks him, knocks him to the ground, throws a noose around his neck, and hangs him from the barn rafters, and that single event is what triggers the events in this intriguing novel, and probably the ones to follow it, since the identity of the killer is still unknown as this novel concludes. This fascinating tale of intrigue, murder and love gets 4.5 stars from this reader.
Dallas Phillips, Dick's daughter, moved away from home to the big city more than 6 years earlier to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, and she's been quite successful at it. When she receives a call telling her that her father has been found dead, an apparent suicide, she can't get home fast enough. To add to her stress, there's the realization that she'll also be seeing the wonderful man she loved and left behind when she set out for the big city to pursue her goals. That man is Trey Jakes, who is now the small town's Police Chief, and he's been in love with Dallas since he was six years old. Although her father's death is a terrible reason for Dallas to return home, it's also the opportunity Trey has long been awaiting, a chance to reconnect with the only woman he's ever loved.
But this is more than just a second-chance at love novel, and more than a simple whodunit murder mystery too. There are feral former dogfighting dogs roaming the area to deal with, plus the fact that Dallas learns that her father was all too close to losing the farm that has been in the family for well over a century, and her strong belief that there is no way on earth that her father would take his own life. After Dallas is attacked and injured by one of those feral dogs, Trey moves into her house to care for her and hopefully to rekindle their former relationship, but there's no shortage of reasons for him to be out doing his job, and for Dallas to end up as the lone target for more than one evil-doer.
What I've always found so special about Sharon Sala's novels is the heartwarming way in which she draws you into small town life, and into the hearts and minds of the characters in those towns. She always imbues her stories with a sense of homecoming, no matter where that might be, and the goodness, kindness, caring, and sense of community that hearkens back to an earlier time when small town life was far more common than it is today, and a time in which people in those small towns were more willing to help one another in good times and bad.
As is also the case in Ms. Sala's novels, she hooks you into her novels from the very first page, and the intrigue, suspense, murder, and romance she writes so well, make her books impossible to put down page-turners right through to the end. In Wild Hearts, Trey and Dallas are strong, honest and so well-drawn that in short order they begin to feel like your next-door neighbors and family as well. The heat these two generate together isn't overly graphic, but instead, their relationship and feelings for one another are genuine, caring and heartwarming.
If you're in the mood for a great read, one with suspense, mystery, intrigue, and a great second chance at love trope, look no further. This novel gets high marks for the all of the aforementioned. Yes, it ends in an HEA, but there's also that cliffhanger ending I mentioned earlier, but this story and these characters are so well-defined, compelling, and multi-dimensional rather than being upset at the cliffhanger, I'm eagerly awaiting a return to this town and it's cast of characters in the upcoming novels in this series.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
Fast forward several decades and we now meet Dick Phillips as an adult and a widower, as he's tending to his late wife's chickens for the eggs he sells. When someone he knows stops in to buy a couple of dozen, that same person, still unnamed, attacks him, knocks him to the ground, throws a noose around his neck, and hangs him from the barn rafters, and that single event is what triggers the events in this intriguing novel, and probably the ones to follow it, since the identity of the killer is still unknown as this novel concludes. This fascinating tale of intrigue, murder and love gets 4.5 stars from this reader.
Dallas Phillips, Dick's daughter, moved away from home to the big city more than 6 years earlier to pursue a career in broadcast journalism, and she's been quite successful at it. When she receives a call telling her that her father has been found dead, an apparent suicide, she can't get home fast enough. To add to her stress, there's the realization that she'll also be seeing the wonderful man she loved and left behind when she set out for the big city to pursue her goals. That man is Trey Jakes, who is now the small town's Police Chief, and he's been in love with Dallas since he was six years old. Although her father's death is a terrible reason for Dallas to return home, it's also the opportunity Trey has long been awaiting, a chance to reconnect with the only woman he's ever loved.
But this is more than just a second-chance at love novel, and more than a simple whodunit murder mystery too. There are feral former dogfighting dogs roaming the area to deal with, plus the fact that Dallas learns that her father was all too close to losing the farm that has been in the family for well over a century, and her strong belief that there is no way on earth that her father would take his own life. After Dallas is attacked and injured by one of those feral dogs, Trey moves into her house to care for her and hopefully to rekindle their former relationship, but there's no shortage of reasons for him to be out doing his job, and for Dallas to end up as the lone target for more than one evil-doer.
What I've always found so special about Sharon Sala's novels is the heartwarming way in which she draws you into small town life, and into the hearts and minds of the characters in those towns. She always imbues her stories with a sense of homecoming, no matter where that might be, and the goodness, kindness, caring, and sense of community that hearkens back to an earlier time when small town life was far more common than it is today, and a time in which people in those small towns were more willing to help one another in good times and bad.
As is also the case in Ms. Sala's novels, she hooks you into her novels from the very first page, and the intrigue, suspense, murder, and romance she writes so well, make her books impossible to put down page-turners right through to the end. In Wild Hearts, Trey and Dallas are strong, honest and so well-drawn that in short order they begin to feel like your next-door neighbors and family as well. The heat these two generate together isn't overly graphic, but instead, their relationship and feelings for one another are genuine, caring and heartwarming.
If you're in the mood for a great read, one with suspense, mystery, intrigue, and a great second chance at love trope, look no further. This novel gets high marks for the all of the aforementioned. Yes, it ends in an HEA, but there's also that cliffhanger ending I mentioned earlier, but this story and these characters are so well-defined, compelling, and multi-dimensional rather than being upset at the cliffhanger, I'm eagerly awaiting a return to this town and it's cast of characters in the upcoming novels in this series.
I voluntarily read an advance reader copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own.
February 15, 2019
Cerita dibuka dgn 2 pasangan muda-mudi yg mabuk setelah pesta kelulusan SMA mereka. Kemudian cerita berlanjut 30 thn kemudian saat 2 dari 4 org tsb sudah memiliki anak-anak yg dewasa.
Dick Phillips mengalami kematian yg mengenaskan. Dia digantung dan awalnya disangka bunuh diri. Lewat otopsi baru ketahuan bhw dia dibunuh. Dallas, putrinya langsung pulkam dan bertemu kembali dgn pacar lamanya, Trey, yg menjadi polisi di kota tsb.
Dallas berusaha menyelidiki apa penyebab kematian ayahnya, kecuali meninggalkan utang bank yg sangat besar, penyelidikan Dallas boleh dikatakan nihil. Dallas malah ketiban sial digigit anjing pemburu, yg belakangan diketahui bhw anjing tsb adalah anjing aduan milik penjahat besar. Dan sejak kecelakaan tsb, Dallas CLBK dgn Trey dan lengket hingga akhir buku.
Masalahnya, ini plot ceritanya melenceng dari yg awal cerita. Awalnya adalah cerita suspense, eh makin ke tengah dan akhir cerita, bukannya jadi penyelidikan intensif utk menemukan pembunuh ayahnya, Dallas malah jadi petani yg mau memanen ginseng. Alamak!!!! Jadi udah ky acara gotong-royong kekeluargaan ala pedesaan. Mau cerita bersambung tapi plot gak nyambung begini ya gimana iki???? Gak nyambungnya kelewat jauh kalau menurut saya. Lebih baik satu buku masalah diselesaikan, bukan digantung sbg misteri pembunuhan.
Oya, main characters dua-duanya biasa aja. Gak ada istimewanya.
Dick Phillips mengalami kematian yg mengenaskan. Dia digantung dan awalnya disangka bunuh diri. Lewat otopsi baru ketahuan bhw dia dibunuh. Dallas, putrinya langsung pulkam dan bertemu kembali dgn pacar lamanya, Trey, yg menjadi polisi di kota tsb.
Dallas berusaha menyelidiki apa penyebab kematian ayahnya, kecuali meninggalkan utang bank yg sangat besar, penyelidikan Dallas boleh dikatakan nihil. Dallas malah ketiban sial digigit anjing pemburu, yg belakangan diketahui bhw anjing tsb adalah anjing aduan milik penjahat besar. Dan sejak kecelakaan tsb, Dallas CLBK dgn Trey dan lengket hingga akhir buku.
Masalahnya, ini plot ceritanya melenceng dari yg awal cerita. Awalnya adalah cerita suspense, eh makin ke tengah dan akhir cerita, bukannya jadi penyelidikan intensif utk menemukan pembunuh ayahnya, Dallas malah jadi petani yg mau memanen ginseng. Alamak!!!! Jadi udah ky acara gotong-royong kekeluargaan ala pedesaan. Mau cerita bersambung tapi plot gak nyambung begini ya gimana iki???? Gak nyambungnya kelewat jauh kalau menurut saya. Lebih baik satu buku masalah diselesaikan, bukan digantung sbg misteri pembunuhan.
Oya, main characters dua-duanya biasa aja. Gak ada istimewanya.
March 14, 2020
I want to start by saying that I love all of Sharon Sala's books and series. This one is no different. The Secrets and Lies series starts with Dallas and Trey. Dallas learns that her father has committed suicide but doesn't believe that he would. She starts looking into things but grows suspicious after something that a neighbor tells her about a night long ago. She enlist old friend, former lover and now local police chief Trey to help her investigate more, then Treys mother starts to also remember about the night from long ago . So Trey and Dallas search for a killer but also fight their growing attraction.
The book starts with the fathers suicide and goes from there without slowing. Sala does a great job with making you want to see what happens, believing the main character that her father didn't do this and may have been murdered. She weaves details in and out about the town and the people in it. She makes you want the growing rerelationship between Dallas and Trey as there is a obvious connection there. Its a good read with a good ending and you wont be disappointed.
The book starts with the fathers suicide and goes from there without slowing. Sala does a great job with making you want to see what happens, believing the main character that her father didn't do this and may have been murdered. She weaves details in and out about the town and the people in it. She makes you want the growing rerelationship between Dallas and Trey as there is a obvious connection there. Its a good read with a good ending and you wont be disappointed.
February 4, 2021
This was a great book and mostly kept my attention. It was a little disorienting to get used to since it started out almost 40 years in the past. But once you get your bearings, it’s easy to follow and a very good read. I think the big moneymaker surprise that Dallas father was holding was very interesting. I had never heard of that! Who knew that stuff could generate that kind of income. I found the love story just a bit implausible. I mean Dallas and Trey basically took up where they left off with maybe a couple of bumps here in there. Pretty sure that doesn’t happen after six years or so. I thought it was interesting to watch Dallas find her self and realize that where she left is where she belongs. I don’t feel like I’m giving up a secret there. Anyway I’m pleasantly surprised to see this is a series. I think I’ve got the identity of the killer pretty much narrow down but who knows there might be some thing in the next installment that makes me rethink my conclusions. Only one way to find out!
April 6, 2019
Just finished this book. Compaaaare to Defending Jacob, buku ini gada apa2nya, lah.
Defending Jacob cliffhanger juga, intens juga tp bisa selesai dlm 1 buku. Kenapa buku ini nggak? Tebelnya sama.
Thriller? Serem juga enggak. Romance 80%, sangat intim dalam arti kata kenceng braw adegannya.
Padahal aku pikir yg mau ditonjolkan soal proses pembunuhan Ayahnya Dallas.
Mau ditonjolkan neighborhood e Dallas? Kaga juga. Kaga standout kayak pedesaan di The Dry atau lingkungan di novel The Hate You Give.
Membosankan karena apa ya, mungkin karena dibikin sekuel. Jadinya narasi dipanjang-panjangin.
Terlalu biasa, terlalu banyak karakter, apa karena sekuel juga? Jd pengen dikembangin di buku kedua? Idk. Semoga semua terjawab. Tidak ada yg bisa bikin aku pengen lanjut dan beli sekuelnya walopun aku penasaran siapa pembunuhnya. Well, belum tahu siapa pembunuhnya sih.. but atleast kita tahu Dallas and Trey live happily ever after.
Defending Jacob cliffhanger juga, intens juga tp bisa selesai dlm 1 buku. Kenapa buku ini nggak? Tebelnya sama.
Thriller? Serem juga enggak. Romance 80%, sangat intim dalam arti kata kenceng braw adegannya.
Padahal aku pikir yg mau ditonjolkan soal proses pembunuhan Ayahnya Dallas.
Mau ditonjolkan neighborhood e Dallas? Kaga juga. Kaga standout kayak pedesaan di The Dry atau lingkungan di novel The Hate You Give.
Membosankan karena apa ya, mungkin karena dibikin sekuel. Jadinya narasi dipanjang-panjangin.
Terlalu biasa, terlalu banyak karakter, apa karena sekuel juga? Jd pengen dikembangin di buku kedua? Idk. Semoga semua terjawab. Tidak ada yg bisa bikin aku pengen lanjut dan beli sekuelnya walopun aku penasaran siapa pembunuhnya. Well, belum tahu siapa pembunuhnya sih.. but atleast kita tahu Dallas and Trey live happily ever after.
April 23, 2020
Sharon Sala somehow became a favorite author of mine. This is another of her rock solid trilogies. There is a mystery that spans over all three books but at no time was I upset by the cliffhanger-ish endings.
#1
She is a smart, tough, determined woman. She loved her father and will do anything to do right by him. She never became that 'silly woman' that appears in some romance stories. Thank Goodness!
He is equally smart, kind and respectful of her, his family and the law.
The mystery is intriguing but not to over-the-top.
The secondary characters are on point.
I just plain enjoyed this read and I can't wait to see where Sala goes with this trilogy.
#1
She is a smart, tough, determined woman. She loved her father and will do anything to do right by him. She never became that 'silly woman' that appears in some romance stories. Thank Goodness!
He is equally smart, kind and respectful of her, his family and the law.
The mystery is intriguing but not to over-the-top.
The secondary characters are on point.
I just plain enjoyed this read and I can't wait to see where Sala goes with this trilogy.
July 27, 2023
An easy read that going nowhere
I know I know, Ms. Sala saved the murder solving for the last book, but I thought we should be given something to fire up the curiosity in this first book.
The romance was sweet but not exciting and Dallas was given up her so-called loved job too soon when she could stay away for 6 years without feeling any regret.
The people were nice and the country life was told in an interesting way. Trey's job seemed colorful and lively as well. But that just not enough, IMO
I will still read the second book, hope it will give more sparks that this one
I know I know, Ms. Sala saved the murder solving for the last book, but I thought we should be given something to fire up the curiosity in this first book.
The romance was sweet but not exciting and Dallas was given up her so-called loved job too soon when she could stay away for 6 years without feeling any regret.
The people were nice and the country life was told in an interesting way. Trey's job seemed colorful and lively as well. But that just not enough, IMO
I will still read the second book, hope it will give more sparks that this one
May 24, 2023
This is a very good romance and mystery that will keep you reading. Dallas Phillips came home to bury her father and to try and convince her old boyfriend, Police Chief Trey Jakes, that her father would not commit suicide but Trey had already decided that something was not right so the two of them work together to try and solve this murder. Lots of side stories that really keep your interest. Great book
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