REVIEW: Wild Hearts by Sharon Sala

In Wild Hearts (Secrets & Lies #1) by Sharon Sala, when Dallas’s father dies in an apparent suicide, she is convinced that is not what happened. Rushing back to her small home town from her big city life, she is filled with grief and disbelief. There, she learns things aren’t always how they seemed, but she is determined to find out the truth and starts to dig deeper.

An ally forms with her teenage love and now police chief Trey. Old feelings and hurts are quickly put aside because Trey believes her. As they come together again, getting to know each other again and delving into her father’s life, it also soon becomes apparent the feelings they had for each other never died…they were just buried under a thin layer of past regrets.

As they being to investigate, more possibilities and mysteries arise, making the situation not an easy on to solve. Soon Dallas’s peaceful life on the farm is not so peaceful, and Trey is determined not only to keep her safe, but to help her find out the truth. They all need that closure…no matter what it is. As Dallas slowly picks up the pieces of her life and starts carrying on on her father’s ranch, her and Trey also start picking up the pieces of each other as if there had never been a painful break up all those years ago. Eventually there will be decisions to make, but now is not the time. There is a killer on the loose, one who will stop at nothing to keep his secret secret.

First of all I want to say that Sharon’s dedication in Wild Hearts was from the heart and very touching!

Wow, Wild Hearts is a wild, thrilling adventure that Sharon pulled me into for the ride! I honestly had trouble putting this book down! The prologue sets up the main plot very well. In the beginning there are some gruesome scenes that Sharon spares no details with. These were heart wrenching and a little difficult to get through (because of the intensity), but they were a necessary part of the plot.

I loved Dallas and Trey. They are the perfect people for main characters in Wild Hearts. In their past they had such different goals, and such strong feelings for each other that parting was difficult. I really liked how their relationship picked up and moved in Wild Hearts. There was no blame or laying guilt on anyone, no grudges. It just was what it was and I liked this about these two mature characters. Dallas is brave, independent, and is handling what’s been thrown at her the best way she can. I like that she’s not someone who feels the need to do everything on her own and can accept help. Trey is responsible, protective, and believes in Dallas. He is a strong, believable hero in Wild Hearts. They have always loved each other, but their lives took different paths. I couldn’t wait to see if this second chance romance stood a chance!

The many twists and turns of the suspense kept me on edge and very interested…there are so many possibilities. Sharon perfectly blends a unique tale of romance and suspense in Wild Hearts. I like how she takes the main plot and branches off to a few sub plots that work well and all intensify the over all story line. Sharon really kept me guessing with a plot where both the past and present threaten the future.

I liked all the secondary characters and how they fit in. I like the small town feel I got in Wild Hearts, how the community pulls together. It’s hard to believe one of them could be a killer.

I wouldn’t consider Wild Hearts a cliff hanger, Sharon ties some things up but at the same time a lot is left unresolved to carry over into future books in this series. I was satisfied with how she ended Wild Hearts, and can’t wait for the next book in this series to come out!

I’d highly recommend Wild Hearts to any romantic suspense reader!

Book Info:

March 31st 2015 by Mira | (Secrets & Lies #1)

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.