Good book! This book had a bit of everything! It had suspense, Action, intrigue, mystery, revenge, murder, serial killer, great who done it, great plot twist, some really steamy romance, and some crazy twists and turns! The storyline was very interesting and kept me glued to my Kindle! I definitely recommend reading this book as it was well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me

Out of Nowhere by Sandra Brown is a book that grabs your attention early and you hold on for dear life throughout the story. It is a good book on a difficult subject. A mass shooting that brings Elle and Calder together in dealing with the aftermath. The book was paced well and kept me guessing till the end. I enjoyed reading it.
I want to thank Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC of the book for the honest review.

4.5/5

I loved this book Sandra Brown doesn’t disappoint.

The subject matter was hard to read at times. Elle and Calder make the perfect duo. The twists and turns are great.

Fast paced and couldn’t put it down!
Highly recommend!

From the first page, you cannot put this book down! Elle Portman is taking 2-year-old Charlie to the Texas fair as an outing, Caldor Hudson is going to the fair to see his girlfriend, a reporter. Their lives intersect in tragedy and mayhem. From this first page, you must empathize with Elle, and are confused by Caldor who plays the part of the hero.

In this age of mass shootings in the news, you can't help but feel the fear and pain of these people. Why did this happen? Who/what was the target and the message? Who committed this atrocity?

So as not to provide any spoilers, I say grab this book ASAP by one of my favorite authors!! and prepare yourself for a marathon reading session, have your preferred beverage and comfy spot and enjoy!!

A well written, emotional book that tugged at the heartstrings. A senseless tragedy that took a two year old’s life at a county fair didn’t seem like a book that I would enjoy but I did. Brown makes you feel the heartbreak the characters are feeling. A good book that could, unfortunately, become a true story.

One of the best Sandra Brown books I have ever read. I have read them all and this is in the top three. It has romance, drama and action all rolled up into a fast paced thriller you won’t want to put down. Calder and Elle met under tragic circumstances and vow to find the person who wronged them. They thought their horrible ordeal was behind them until one night they realized they were being stalked by a killer who wanted them dead. I enjoyed the side steamy love story as well as the explosive action throughout the book. I found this to be a pulse pounding thriller that never lets up.

I received a free copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing through netgalley.com I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I tore through this book in a day. I loved it. I was in the mood for a good faced paced thriller and this fit the bill. There is a bit of a love story in there as well. While Elle's reactions to losing her son aren't quite accurate, in my opinion watching my wife and her best friend both go through the pain of losing a child I understand why it was done the way it was. Elle also gets closure and someone to which she can blame, which none of the people I know did.

I loved that the characters were changed by their experiences and the trauma wasn't just brushed aside. I was particularly creeped out by the chapters or little tidbits that were written as if by the actual killer. Definitely a book that hooks you from the beginning, takes you on a journey but doesn't leave you hanging which I appreciate. I forgot how much I've enjoyed Brown's other books which were also quick fun reads. Definitely recommend this read.

Sandra Brown has delved into dangerous fictional territory with this novel. Th story opens with a mass shooting at a county fair: a difficult subject in any setting.

Two people are brought together by this tragedy, as police desperately search for the shooter and a motive. But can their relationship survive the very thing that created it? And can they survive the shooter still out there, lurking in he shadows? Recommended. #OutOfNowhere #NetGalley #SaltMarshAuthorSeries

Out of Nowhere is a book that will squeeze your heart with the emotion you'll feel and you'll be reading it way too fast to find out what happens! Somehow this is the first book I've read by Sandra Brown and I absolutely was blown away by it. Elle Portman is a children's author and single mother of Charlie, her 2 year old son. She finishes working for the day and decides to take Charlie to the Texas fair. Glenda, Elle's best friend, is also there and they hang out and ride on fair rides with Charlie. Glenda has to go to meet other friends that are going to the big concert at the fair that evening. Once Glenda leaves, Elle decides she and Charlie are tired, and starts pushing his stroller towards the exit. Unfortunately, that's when a big crowd of people are arriving for the concert and it's very slow going.

Calder Hudson has just finished a consulting job with a big company and got paid a 6 figure amount on his way out. He's very excited and wants to celebrate with his girlfriend Shauna. Shauna is a tv anchor and is currently at the Texas fair covering the big concert. When Calder calls her, he forgot that he was supposed to meet her at the fair, and is bummed she's there and not home. Calder envisioned them opening champagne and having a steamy night in the apartment to celebrate his big pay day! Shauna asks where he is and when he'll be there, but Calder tells her he's not coming. He wants to know when she'll be home? Shauna is very disappointed as Calder promised to be at the fair with her. She lays a guilt trip on him and hangs up. As Calder is driving home he has second thoughts and turns the car around to head to the Texas fair.

Calder becomes part of the huge crowd headed into the fair as Elle and Charlie are going against the crowd trying to leave. An older man next to Elle starts talking to her while they're waiting to inch their way out. Elle likes him immediately and enjoys chatting with him. The next thing you know there's a loud bang and everyone is running. Was it fireworks? Was it part of the concert prep? As Elle goes to ask the man next to her she sees blood on her shirt and looks up to see the man's throat has been blown open and he's bleeding all over. He begins to fall towards Elle and pushes her down. Elle loses her grip on the stroller and she yells for Charlie. It's as if she's living in slow motion as she's lying on the ground with a man on her while she watches Charlie's stroller head into the massive crowd running for their lives. It's a gunman who has opened fire on the crowd of people. Calder sees the stroller rolling and lunges to catch it, but as he does, he is shot in the arm. What happens to the stroller now? Will Elle be able to get up and grab it? Will Charlie be okay? Will Elle survive the mass shooting?

Calder wakes up hours later in the recovery room after having surgery on his arm. He can't remember why he's there as he banged his head hard on the ground when he was shot. The doctor tells him his arm will be okay once it heals and Calder does physical therapy. The doctor tells Calder that he was lucky as many others didn't make out so well. Calder remembers the panic now but can't remember what happened after that. Shauna comes in to Calder's room. once he's out of recovery, and wants to interview him. Calder refuses to be interviewed as he feels like a failure for not saving more people and getting shot himself. Shauna tells him that people are calling him a hero for yelling at them to get down and for trying to get to the stroller. Calder doesn't feel like that and tells Shauna no.

As the police investigate the shooting they announce that the shooter is dead by suicide. They also state that they have no idea why he opened fire as they can't find anything on social media or at his house. He was working at the fair and waiting for the perfect time to open fire, they suspect. The police bring witnesses to the station that were at the fair when the horrific shooting took place. Calder is sitting in a chair in the hall when Elle arrives. She recognizes Calder as the man who tried to get to Charlie's stroller. She feels terrible that he got shot in the process. As Calder looks up, he recognizes Elle too. They lock eyes and something passes between them. There's a pull between the two. As the police question them, they remember most of the same things. They both remember a person running out that knocked into the stroller as they ran by. Who was this person and why were they running so fast?

There are twists throughout the investigation that have Elle, Calder, and other witnesses being threatened. Are they in danger? Will the police be able to protect them? Will Elle, Calder and the others ever be okay again? Will they move on and start living again? Out of Nowhere does a tremendous job of putting you in this situation as you will live through the characters dealing with the horrific outcome of a mass shooting? The book will have you feeling happy, sad, angry, wanting revenge, emotional, and hopeful. It's unlike any book I've ever read and I will be thinking about this book a long time. The characters of Elle and Calder will stick with me well into the future. I give Out of Nowhere 5 stars and my highest recommendation. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an advanced copy of Out of Nowhere in exchange for a fair review. #OutOfNowhere

I won’t deny a certain amount of reticence in reading the newest crime novel by one of my all-time favorite authors, Sandra Brown. It tackles an issue that is too real and candidly frightening. The entire concept that people enjoying an event or concert might become the target for an evil sick or deranged person has candidly kept many of us out of the audience. However, I immediately got caught up in the story even fully aware of what was going to happen.

The story is about the aftermath and the lingering effects of an unthought of evil. These events stay in your mind for years, if not forever. Who can forget those images of the Ill-fated Boston Marathon. Certainly not those maimed or those left behind. And neither will we and we shouldn’t. But neither should we inadvertently create a martyr of the assailant.

One television station has chosen not to broadcast the face of these evil doers. And Sandra Brown reminds us that although some may leave behind writings to support the idea that they were mad, as in deranged, others were simply mad, as in angry.

So welcome to OUT OF NOWHERE bravely tackled by Sandra Brown.

Calder Hudson is the first character that we meet. Prior to meeting Calder we have seen inside the mind of the shooter. He or she actually the first character. Calder is a survivor. Wounded, will recover and when offered help with his emotional recovery is quite adamant that he just wants to forget it all. Next in the lineup of cast is Elle Porter and her son Charlie. They, along with Calder are central to the script. The cast of supporting characters is equally impressive, as you will see.

This is a difficult book to review. Compelling and at the same time sad and heart rendering. I am purposely glossing over the plot and story line. That is for you, the reader, to experience.

Now I’m going to say something that may sound horrible considering the topic of OUT OF NOWHERE, but considering the considerable talent of the author must be noted. We are on team find the shooter, identify this evil person and so we are immediately swept into the investigation. Which means when the investigators tell us something they have found or believe, it is up to us whether we buy it. And my face breaking out in a smile told me this was going to be an interesting ride and I for one was glad to be along for it.

Sandra Brown has done her homework, diligence in researching aspects that would never occur to most folks. With each step this commitment to truthful, factual reporting is awe inspiring. Sandra Brown has been a long time favorite of mine. Her older novels are dog eared from repeated reads. From time to time I like to sort through my older books and declutter my teeming bookshelves. When I come across a Sandra Brown book I invariably sit down and start reading it all over again. Like visiting an old friend.
OUT OF NOWHERE is going to be a blockbuster. You heard it here first.

Sandra Brown has been an auto-read for me for decades. She is masterful at blending romance and suspense. The romance in this felt a bit off. I don't know why exactly--the characters didn't have much time alone to learn each other's personalities so maybe their connection felt superficial. The suspense and mystery was very good. Mass shootings are extremely upsetting so be prepared to process this event. Brown does not get political (thank goodness) which is a rarity these days. Great twist at the end. This is definitely worth reading. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC

I have loved all of Sandra Browns books and Out of Nowhere didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed this book though at times it was hard because of subject matter. It was a roller coaster of a ride that I could not put down and did not see the twist coming. Thanks to Netgalley for this arc.

Totally obsessed with this story!

This is a TOP read for me this year! EPIC mystery that kept me on my toes from page one! This book gave me all the feels! An emotional ride!

You know a book has you hooked when you are thinking about it when your not reading it and can’t get back to reading it quick enough! Well, this is that book 💯.

The character development which is so important was absolutely on point. I feel in love with both of these characters! I don’t want to give too much away or spoil this book for anyone!

Well done Sandra Brown!

This is a must read for 2023!

Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for an ARC of “Out of Nowhere “ in exchange for my honest review.
The heartbreaking beginning of this novel is a tragic mass shooting that affects both Elle and Calder. In the aftermath, both Calder and Elle find themselves brought together.
Sandra Brown is an author that I have read before, she handles this devastating subject delicately. I was really impressed with her writing, her character development, and the plot as it navigated through the police investigation, manhunt, and the romantic development.

Thank you to Sandra Brown, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Aspects of this novel might fall short for some readers; they may feel it's more romance than thriller or mystery, the mass shooting was blink and miss it, the characters were a bit off, Shawna was a cliche, the villain one-dimensional. And to a degree I agree with some of those complaints, but none of them particularly bothered me or diminished my enjoyment of the novel.

It may feel more like a romance in the beginning, until the cops receive that first break in the case that heightens the tension, but I feel it was a well-balanced mix of genres. The circumstances may feel inappropriate for the cultivation of a romance, but the novel tries to address that, and overall it didn't bother me. I'm sure there are romances out there that bring couples together in equally unlikely circumstances.

The mass shooting was written in a rather confusing way, in my opinion. Granted, it was from Elle's POV, so perhaps it was intentionally confusing. But if I hadn't known the scene was a mass shooting, I wouldn't have guessed it, because I only recall the first gunshot and victim being described, then just chaos and people running and screaming, then suddenly we're in the hospital. Elle's focus was on the stroller, understandably--so was mine--but... I don't know, it just felt like the scene was abbreviated and misleading.

I liked Calder and Elle well enough. Calder had a clear arc, but I can't think that Elle did. She might come off as a little cardboard, a little too stoic in the face of her tragedy, but it might just seem that way due to a slight jump in time that skips over the worst of her grieving. Toward the end, though, I would have thought she'd express a little more rage, but she took the final revelations in stride and kept her head.

I got really sick of Calder skipping out without communicating, but I suppose a self-centered person doesn't just stop being self-centered. He became less so, per his arc, but leopards and spots. He wasn't the most endearing of Brown's heroes, and there were moments when he was more annoying than alluring, but overall he was a decent hero.

Shawna was rather a cliche hungry do-anything-for-the-story journalist, and the villain was as psycho as expected, though her plan struck me as actually quite clever.

But as I said, none of these complaints truly bothered me, nor did they detract from my enjoyment of the novel. Overall it was a good Brown novel, though I doubt I'll revisit it.

I just barely finished this one. I should have gone with my first mind to stop after a plot point that I don't want to read anymore was revealed. I haven't read a Sandra Brown in some time... remembering now why. It is not terribly written...I'm just tired of reading some things. My fault, really should have read the blurb.

A riveting 5 star read from Sandra Brown. I was hooked from the start even though I wasn't looking forward to reading the book, given the subject matter. She gave a believable portrayal without gory details and accurately portrayed the victims. There's always a surprise in a Sandra Brown book and the shooter in this was a surprise.

Can Calder forgive himself for not saving Charlie? Is love possible when born from tragedy? You're going to want to read this book to find out . It's worth it.

Although I received a free ARC ebook from Net Galley and the publisher, all thoughts and opinions are the honest truth.

Very good book. Typical Sandra Brown always a twist or turn that you don’t expect. A hard topic to write about but a real good read.

Calder Hudson, a consultant, just got a big paycheck and heads for home with thoughts of celebrating with his girlfriend, Shauna, a reporter. When he realizes that she's at the county fair doing an interview and expects him to be there too, he vehemently declines. He has a change of heart and decides to surprise Shauna after all.

Elle Portman, a children's book author, with her two-year-old son, Charlie, met up with a friend at the fair. Elle decides Charlie has had enough fun for the day, bids her friend goodbye, and heads for the exit.

Suddenly chaos ensues when a shooter opens fire, and people scramble. This event will change so many lives.

As witnesses are called in to get an update, Calder and Elle meet. They are shocked at the news, and both want justice.

I was absorbed into the story from page one, and I read this in two days. Highly recommend!

I received an advanced reader's copy and voluntarily read and reviewed this book!

Calder and Elle have never met but their lives are both changed forever by a random event that takes the life of Elle's young son and puts Calder in her life. As the two are continually called for questioning, they build an unlikely relationship. They are drawn to each other but the circumstance of the investigation brings a lot of questions to the surface, which leaves Elle to wonder if she can trust him and frankly as a reader, I wondered the same. There are many twists to this story which keep you guessing who the culprit is, true Sandra Brown style! No disappointments with this book, I couldn't put it down and had to stay up way too late to finish! I received an ARC from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.