Familiar Stranger

A Year of Loving Dangerously #12

by Sharon Sala

THE AGENT: SPEAR's top gun, a man deeply shrouded in mystery?
THE MISSION: To find his heart again before he fights his last battle?
THE SOUL-WRENCHING REUNION:Once he holds Cara Justice in his arms, will he ever let her go?

He was the only man she had ever loved. The father of her child. The soldier Cara Justice believed dead. Now he was back, older, yet just as ruggedly handsome as he'd been years ago, when they'd said goodbye. Passion drove them together again, though duty tore them apart. For he had one final battle, and he would either fight to the death or return home a hero, ready to claim his woman once and for all?

a year of loving dangerously
Where passion rules and nothing is what it seems .

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

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published June 1, 2001

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

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

The twelfth book in the A Year of Loving Dangerously series. The last book in the series. I read the first and didn't feel like trying to do the whole series so I skipped to the last. David Wilson visits his high school sweetheart, Cara Justice, that he left behind when he went to Vietnam. Unknown to him at the time, Cara was pregnant with his child. David has a nemesis that wants him dead. Did David make a mistake in coming home, just to put Cara in the crosshairs?

An older couple in their 50s. That is one thing that made the story unique. I didn't agree with all their actions at times and felt Cara was exceptionally forgiving. But it was a good story and I liked it.

[Ellen Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Familiar Stranger

I like the fact that I remembered David from a previous book that told about the relationship between him and Frank. Cara was a terrific character. I really enjoyed this book.

[Tia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yet another great read but for very different reasons than the last novel. The heroine believed the father of her child to be dead, so when he reappears again, it's quite an emotional ordeal. I was shocked by some of the revelations in the novel and while I couldn't 'read into' it as well as other novels, it was still an amazing read. Sharon Sala has some amazing talent out of what I have seen so far.

[MsB · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW!!! I read this in a day. To be honest I do not know if I am giving a book 5 stars because the characters are older, or if I'm giving this book 5 stars because I think it would be a FABULOUS movie. Normally I prefer the book to a movie but honestly I think this would make a better movie. I'm surprised I haven't seen this happen yet. Think Kevin Costner and Renee Russo. Honestly, this would make a really great movie. For those who have read it, the part I wasn't crazy about was the front hall scene. Sorry, but at 50 even in the best of shape you are going to look for at least a rug on the floor :). It makes me so happy to see authors writing about lovers over 50. We all age.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first Sharon Sala book I have read and based on this book, will definitely be reading more by this author. Well-written with an overall credible story line. Nicely paced. Though I have to agree with another reviewer that the location of the first sex scene was just a bit hard to believe given the ages of the two main characters - Cara and David. Other than that, kudos to this romance author for giving us a great story about two people finding, or rather re-finding, their HEA and second chance in their 50s. I picked up this book particularly because of the cover showing two mature characters. Would love to see more romance authors give us stories with both primary characters at "middle-age" when couples can indeed have strong sexual drive and great chemistry.

[Dexter · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Loved It

I found this book by Sharon Sala by accident and I'm so glad I did. It has everything. Love, loyalty, patriotism and the couple who found each other after forty years. I seldom find a book where the h\h are older. But in the final analysis I read anything S\S writes.

[Suze · Rating 5 out of 5]

FAMILIAR STRANGER

I love this author's books, each one is a sweet surprise to be explored. As I read this book I could picture the men who protect us, the way David, the hero did in this book. Lovely story.

[Carol Jarrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this one!

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have read a lot of Sharon Sala's books and have yet to find one I didn't like! Her stories are great. She is a master storyteller! I highly recommend this book!

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

She thought he died in battle but here he is.

[Harlequin Books]

Contemporary Romance, Military Romance, Suspense
Miniseries
A Year of Loving Dangerously (Book #12)

[Kat]

library ebook 11 3 2024

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jonah’s ( David) last battle for the USA.
Setting: Cara Justice lives in finger lakes area of NY state.

[Donna Kale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

You don't need to have read the other books in the series to read this one. It is special.

[Diah Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sempet tidak percaya di beberapa halaman awal. Sempet maju mundur untuk memastikan aku nggak salah baca.
OMG, hero dan heroine-nya udah umur 50an akhir! Bahkan heroine-nya udah punya cucu! Is this for real?? Langsung ngecek ke goodreads, dan begitu ngeliat covernya, barulah aku yakin. :p

Tapi karena udah terlanjur mulai, dan kayaknya menarik, saya teruskanlah membaca. If you're expecting hot scenes, forget it. Di sini malah aku berasa kesan manis dan damai. Karena itulah yang Cara dan David rasakan ketika akhirnya mereka bisa berdua lagi. Terutama buat David, yang akhirnya bisa menemukan rumah dan keluarga untuk pulang.

Tidak bisa menahan air mata di adegan waktu Bethany tau bahwa David itu ternyata bapaknya. Huhuhuhu ... terharu aku. Kasian juga ama Om David yang begitu kesepian. Nggak kebayang juga kalo jadi Cara, tau bahwa orangtuanya sengaja nahan surat-surat David dan ngirim artikel pernikahannya dia dan kelahirannya Bethany ke David, pesan terselubung buat David bahwa nggak ada tempat lagi buat dia di kehidupan Cara. Dan David, memutuskan mundur dan membiarkan orang-orang berpikir dia udah mati.
40 tahun terbuang sia-sia! 40 tahun!

Sempet berharap permusuhan David dan kakaknya, Frank, akan berakhir indah, dalam arti Frank melupakan dendamnya dan tobat. Tapi itu bakal klise banget. Meskipun agak deg-degan juga, I know si Frank nggak bakal ngapa-ngapain Cara dan Bethany, dua orang terpenting dalam hidup David. Agak syok juga bahwa akhirnya Frank mati di tangan adiknya sendiri.

Fiuh! Meskipun tokoh-tokohnya udah umur 50 akhir, nggak ada kesan tua banget di sini. Malah dari cara Sharon Sala menggambarkan keduanya, saya jadi berharap saya bisa punya hubungan seperti itu nantinya dengan suami saya. Agak lucu juga sih ngebayangin tokoh-tokohnya udah seumuran orangtua saya dan masih heboh soal performa di 'tempat itu'. Hahahaha ... rasanya geli sendiri.
Agak dipertanyakan sih bagaimana bisa mereka tetap berhubungan badan segitu hotnya mengingat biasanya umur-umur segitu kan udah menopause. Tapi jadi inget kata-kata teman saya, bahwa sebetulnya itu nggak ada halangan umur. Mental manusianya aja yang kadang menghalangi kemampuan manusia. :)

Setelah baca Jackson's Rule, Amber by Night dan ini (Familiar Stranger), jadi makin pengen baca buku-bukunya Sharon Sala. Kayaknya dia sukses bikin cerita yang (menurutku) biasa dan simpel tapi sekaligus juga nggak biasa.

[Charlee Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cara Justice is a widow, with a grown daughter and grand-children. She is content in her life and not looking for anything more. Until the man who was reported as dead 40 years ago, walks back into her life. David Wilson, has come back to Cara, tired or his hidden service to the US and wanting more in his life. He wonders if he can reconnect with the only woman he ever loved. He only has to complete one more assignment and he can start living the life he really wants. … Just one more job and he can retire...

[charmaine White · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow

Sharon Salas always writes such wonderful stories.I try to read them as soon as they come out.Waiting for the next one.

[Monie_11 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Whew.

It's the first that I've read a romance story that revolves around two oldies. When I got to the part when they got all hot and steamy, I almost stopped reading the book because it's like I'm imagining my parents doing the deed. (urgh)

But aside from that, what i like about it is that after how many years that they have been separated and the heroine having been married and had children, they still gave themselves a chance at happiness. A second chance.

[Becky · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF'd (can't remember when I actually tried to read this, I'm updating this much later). The h thinks the H died and almost 20 or so years later realized her family kept them apart, while he thought she stopped loving him (if I'm remembering correctly), so she had a whole life and a kid (or two?) first. I enjoy second chance romance but not one with this many years separating them.

[Erotic Horizon]

Familiar Stranger (A Year Of Loving Dangerously) (Silhouette Intimate Moments) by Sharon Sala (2001)

[Lesli · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Sharon Sala fare.

[Sheila Pantino]

great storyline

[Sue Ann Creech · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read it again. I just needed a kick back and relax book. The similar age thing fit well also. Exactly what I needed this weekend.

[Phylisha Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

Picked this book up to donate then started to read it. Finished it and enjoyed it just as much as the first time. Highly recommend!!!