This is an unusual love story and mystery that mixes modern times with the past. The book takes pace place in modern time. However, the actual story takes place in the past. It is about the marriage of Brendan Pope, founder of Pope Mountain and his wife Meg. Readers will find this book to be very thought-provoking and unusual. It describes how Brendan met his wife Meg and how they founded the mountain.

When Shirley Wallace is severely beaten by her husband, the community persecutes her and her four sons because they are related to her imprisoned husband. Since all of them lose their jobs, Shirley decides to move back to her home town in Jubilee, Kentucky. She changes her name back to Pope, her maiden name, because her entire family lives there.

Dani comes to Pope Mountain when she finds a diary many miles away, behind a shelf in her library. It was written by Brendan and recounts his life with Meg. The diary ends with Brendan sorrowfully commiserate about the
disappearance of his wife.

Shirley’s oldest son, Aaron, who was a policeman before they moved to Pope Mountain, he manages to get a job with the Jubilee police department.

Dani brings the diary to Pope Mountain because she believes that the town will want to preserve their founder’s diary and keep it for everyone to read. Dani meets Aaron when she brings it to the police. The entire town believes that Meg was murdered and hidden somewhere so no one can ever find her. Thus, they decide to look for her so they can bury her near her husband.

This story is a page-turner with non-stop action and intense suspense. Readers will become fascinated with the two beautiful love stories. One is between Meg and her Brendan, and the other one is between Aaron and Dani. Readers will also find themselves sitting on the edge-of-their-seats as they become engrossed in waiting to find out what actually happened to Meg and why.

Shirley and her sons are after a fresh start and they return to their hometown supported by family to safety and new beginnings. Sharon Sala is my number one favourite author as I always enjoy her books and will buy them before even knowing what they are about. This one was suspenseful drama packed to keep you turning the pages. I love how it feels like real life and you feel like you are apart of the book.

What do you do when you go back to a town that knows your secrets you find yourself falling for someone that could help put the pieces together. Aaron and Dani, work to put the pieces together; but at what cost? What will happen to the Pope family?

Aaron Pope and his family have just returned to his mother’s hometown of Jubilee Kentucky. His job as a police officer was taken away when his father went to prison. In Jubilee. Kentucky family is everything, So Aaron and his family hopefully get the new start they’ve needed. Daniella Marie ‘’Dani’’ Owens has moved to Jubilee to start over and be a teacher. While getting the lay of the land she finds a journal that is connected to a shooting. Her past is about to follow her to her new life. Dani needs protection and the new Jubilee police officer will be the one for the job. Aaron and Dani may come together to face a danger that leads to possibility of Last Rites.

Sharon Sala’s second book in the Jubilee, Kentucky series is Last Rites. A continuation of the Pope family and their lives as it takes on the complications of love, danger and tourist. A woman and a man looking to separately start over are brought together when a young boy is shot and left for dead. Danger follows Dani Owens as she starts over after her ex-boyfriend stalked and tried to kill her. Aaron Pope lost his job as a police officer when his drug addicted father went on a rampage. Wanting a change his family moves to his mother’s hometown of Jubilee, Kentucky where family is everything. Last Rites brings a troubled family home and a new resident to town. One is an educator the other a policer officer. They’re brought together when she becomes a witness after the fact of a shooting. But when trying to leave her past behind doesn’t work it’ll take a man and his family with their own trails to protect her. Lives are on the line as danger tries to find its way into their lives. Scandal and passion along with fresh starts bring two strangers together. Sharon Sala takes her fans back to her tourist town of Jubilee, Kentucky in Last Rites and the familiar Pope family the reader met in the first book. These Pope family members have been away for years and after a scandal decide it’s time to start over where they have family. When a stranger with the same idea decided to start over in Jubilee, Kentucky as well gets pulled into a local shooting as a witness it’ll take the newest police officer to keep her safe. Last Rites by Sharon Sala has suspense, drama, bad guys, and a fight for life. The story show the closeness of family and the welcoming of a new resident. Lives are put on the line as the Pope family work to find an old mystery while trying to solve the attempted murder of one of their own. If you’re a Sharon Sala fan it's a must read and you get a deeper look into the families of Pope Mountain. Sharon Sala’s second book in the Jubilee, Kentucky Last Rites took this reader on a journey into the past with a family mystery and the drama of a unique stalker situation and a shooting. She brings them all together into a happy ending that will warm the readers heart. A fan of her stories for years I can’t wait for her next in the Jubilee, Kentucky series to see her is next in the Pope family to get their story told.

I've been reading this author for decades now and never disappointed. I sunk into this story like coming home and putting on my slippers. Each of the beginning chapters gave us an insight into different characters in different places and I knew somehow their stories would intertwine.
Such a great story, characters whose lives were not easy and get good people who just needed a new beginning and what better place than Jubilee. The Pope family ties were strong, generations lived on the mountain above the town and were all part of the community.
A treasure hunter, stalking, more than one attempted murder and an old mystery going back over 150 years made this story such an eventful tale of intrigue. This was a story of family, emotional strength and love and love it I did.

Last Rites by Sharon Sala (Jubilee, Kentucky #2) 4 Stars

This is a start of a new series for Sharon Sala after retiring her long running Blessings, Georgia series. While this the second in the series, this book could almost be considered a start since this book and the ones after will focus on a set of brothers (Aaron, Sean, Wiley and BJ). This book focuses on Aaron Pope and Dani Owens, an elementary school teacher with her own problems. Like Ms. Sala’s other books, there is the encounter, a sense of danger, a mystery or crime solved and a happy ending.

I really enjoyed the small town feel and the sense of community in Ms. Sala’s book. Like a mug of hot cocoa and blanket, this book provides a sense of comfort and escape for a short amount of time. I look forward to the next book – Heart Beat (February 2024)

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this ARC.

What do you do when you go back to a town that knows your secrets? And find yourself falling for someone that could help put the pieces together. Well for Aaron and Dani, they work to out the pieces together; but will the pieces have an impact on their relationship. With some shocking news comes out, what will happen to the Pope family. A good mystery to read curled up under a blanket.

Highly entertaining, emotionally thrilling, sweetly sexy and action-packed adventure filled with witty and engaging charters, heart racing twists and thrilling passion. An edge of your seat exciting journey from beginning to end.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book for an honest review.

This is the second book in the Pope Family trilogy.

I honestly did not read the first book but I enjoyed the this book enough to go back and rea the first one. I look forward to the next one as well.

I found the characters interesting and enjoyable.

Definately give this one a try.

Sala always a delivers a good story.
This one has murder, family history, and stalking.
Kentucky is the setting for a family of brothers with eldest Aaron who is the protector.
Dani has gone through hell and just wants to start over, but will Jubilee allow that rejuvenation?
I liked Aaron immensely and thought Dani was tough as nails.
The perps get what they deserve and the ending is good.

Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for an advanced copy of this ebook.
* out now

Shirley and her 4 adult sons return to her birthplace of Jubilee, Kentucky after a tragedy through their world in turmoil and their friends and community turned their backs on them.

They are all assimilating well into life on the mountain surrounded by family and a close knit town of locals. Eldest brother, Aaron gets a job as a police officer and meets Dani when she comes to the station as a witness to a local crime. Dani has her own past and she quickly learns she wasn’t able to outrun it fast enough. She confides in Aaron who will stop at nothing to help her feel safe.

This is a heartwarming book about new beginnings, family and community that rallies together. I really enjoyed it and can’t wait to read the next in the series.
Note: while this is #2 in the series, I never read the first book and it can most definitely be read a stand alone.

The romance between Dani and Aaron was a strong plot point to this book. I don’t usually pick up romance books but this was still bearable. The dialogue between the two was too cheesy for my taste but I did enjoy their relationship and found myself rooting for them.

I volunteered to read and review an advanced readers copy through Net Galley of Last Rites . This is a story I will not soon forget . It's an outstanding suspense romance . It's full of wonderful characters, heartbreak but heartfelt also a very suspenseful and intriguing story . Aaron (Wallace )Pope and his mother and brothers moved back to where she was raised on Pope Mountain in Jubilee Kentucky . As they settled in Aaron gets a job as a police officer . Dani Owens is starting over in Jubilee as a school teacher . she witnesses a man carrying a backpack and crying he trips the backpack slips over his head as he falls and he hits his head on the concrete and stuff falls out .he managed to get up opens trunk throws things in the trunk before she can go to help she sees he has a gun . He jumps in the car and takes off . Dani looks to where he fell and finds he dropped something . The item is a very old journal belonging to Brendan Pope 1833 . She decides to take it to the police station . She meets Aaron Pope at the station while turning in the journal Dani has no idea what chain of events it has started and the journey Aaron and she will take . This story is absolutely amazing . I could not put it down . I highly recommend taking the time to read .

Kentucky is my home state. That was one of the reasons I was so excited to see this book! I got to go back home without ever leaving the comfort of my own home.
I loved loved this novel!
I was happy to see all the characters from the previous story, especially Ghost! Hi Ghost! Hi Cameron and Rusty!
Sala does a wonderful job in bringing these new characters to life! I loved getting to know each of Shirley's sons. They made me laugh out loud at times.
The mystery took off right from the get go which is why I love this author's novels. She kept me intrigued since page one. I frantically turned the pages to see what happened next! She didn't disappoint me at all!
This book also holds many secrets another favorite thing that I like in a story. Secrets are always found out no matter what!
You can run but never hide! God always knows where you're at and eventually so will the police.
Before I knew this exceptional novel was over! It was that exciting!
I didn't want this book to end!
I've come to think of Pope Mountain and it's citizens like home and family.

This is book 2 in the Jubilee, Kentucky series and it's an excellent addition. Shirley Wallace and her 4 adult sons return to Pope Mountain in Kentucky after her husband is sent to prison for various crimes. Aaron, the oldest get hired as a police officer and soon meets Dani, a new resident and teacher hired for the local school. Since Shirley is a Pope, most of the towns population is related to her and the boys. When a neighbor boy is shot and left for dead by a treasure hunter the entire population of the town wants the man found and they search for the treasurer to ensure more strangers don't come looking. I enjoy Sharon Sala's books. The romance and mystery are a nice blend. I did find some of the conversation stilted and wordy. Good story, looking forward to book 3.

I've been reading this author for years & I'm never disappointed. Aaron Pope and his family move to his mother's hometown after a tragic event, not of their making, and are welcomed by their Jubilee family. Dani moves to Jubilee after being terrorized by an ex-boyfriend. When Dani see something unexpected and reports it to the local police Aaron becomes a fixture in her life, just in time. But then the real mystery begins, what did Dani see and what happened years ago in Jubilee.

As always, the author mixes romance and suspense with a well-written story and plot with lovable characters. I look forward to reading the next book by Ms. Sala.

I received this advance review copy from from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

"Last Rites" by Sharon Sala is a gripping mystery novel that weaves together elements of suspense and romance. The story follows a determined protagonist on a quest for justice and closure. Sala's writing is emotionally charged and keeps readers engrossed until the final page. With its well-crafted plot and engaging characters, "Last Rites" is a satisfying read for fans of romantic suspense.

It has been a long while since I read one of this author's books, but once again, Sharon Sala proved to be one of my favorite authors. Last Rites is 400+ pages and I read every word. There was no superfluous filler that is often used to increase word count. Every word had purpose; each one carried the reader further into the world of Last Rite. There was plenty of suspense and romance. While there was an open door to the intimate scenes, there were no vulgarity nor crudeness, just a sweet encounter.
Last Rite had several things going on. There was the stalker, a senseless shooting and the treasure hunt. The author wove each thread into the novel with a precision honed through her prolific writing. Sharon Sala moved me to tears and provided comic relief, I absolutely loved it!
10 stars (although only 5 stars count)

In a search to read more romantic suspense, a friend recommended I try Sharon Sala as an author. I was thrilled to receive Last Rites from Sourcebooks and NetGalley in exchange for my honest feedback.

This book is ultimately about family ties, community, and healing from trauma. I really liked the small town feel of Jubilee Kentucky and the mysteries/threat to safety aspect for the FMC, Dani Owens. The MMC, Aaron Pope, was a police officer who ends up falling for Dani during an investigation. There was a perfect balance between thrills/twists, and sweet/sensual romance that had me flipping pages to the end! I did not know this was book 2 in the Jubilee series, and it was a standalone book, but I believe readers will appreciate the added context of the first book.

Sharon Sala is a sure thing for me, because her characters and her plots are always believable and so satisfying. LAST RITES is a solid romantic suspense with equal parts sweet romance and cozy mystery -- the story was neither overly sexy nor gasping suspense, but it was just a solid, good book.

What a gripping and riveting story. Run out and grab this one. I couldn't put it down.

Dani and Aaron are both recovering from the effects of trauma in their lives and end up on Pope Mountain in Jubilee, Kentucky. It seems like they were destined to meet and a kinship develops quickly. Evil invades their lives and they rebound to discover a life they never imagined.

Although I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher all thoughts and opinions are my own.