Nine Lives

I don't "normally" read books by women authors. But, one of my senior citizens, whom I drive for gave me "Nine Lives" to read and thought I would enjoy it. I read it in less than three days; it was a great book, a real page turner. I would love to know if the author is going to write a sequeal to it? 'Cause I would really like to see her "catch" her Father's killer, Solomen Tutuola. Of course, Cat would have to "do it" with Wilson's help/assistance. If anyone knows of the sequeal, please email me: [email protected] Thank You!!!

Cat Dupree's life has taken many downward turns, starting with surviving an accident that killed her mother, followed by the murder of her father with the assailant slashing her throat and leaving a thirteen year old child to die. Now Cat is all grown up and has taken a job in bounty hunting to search for the man that haunts her nightmares, the man who killed her childhood, the man with the tattoos covering his face. Mimi is the only person in Cat's life that she trusts and loves wholeheartedly, now she has gone missing. Cat suspects Mimi has been met with an untimely death following the information that she is expecting a child with her adulterous boss Mark Presley. No one is taking Cat seriously that her friend is dead until she comes across rival bounty hunter Wilson McKay. Unexplainably attracted to the tough rough edged Cat Dupree he will stop at nothing to keep her safe this time. Cat is a very strong character that has faced so many hardships and yet has only been pushed forward by them. Her inability for emotional attachment has both been her safety net and her curse and for her to let someone in is a major stepping stone. Wilson McKay is a very persistent and very thoughtful man , the type you want by your side through thick and thin. The combination of the two characters sends an emotional charge that transcends the pages. Nine Lives is a great read by a master of romantic suspense, while this one is not this reviewer's favorite it is still highly recommended. Sharon Sala has a way of connecting to her readers on a personal and emotional level that is unlike many other authors. It has been a rough time for literature without her novels lately, and am very pleased to see her return. She starts the book with her dedication that brings tears to the eyes, anyone who is a fan will understand how devastating life can be and for that reason it is inspiring to see her persevere. Reviewed by Joyce Copyright © 2006-2007 CK2S Kwips and Kritiques. All rights reserved.

I would first like to say be warned. The blurb on the back of this book is EXTREMELY misleading. Not that it's a bad thing. On the contrary, this book is one of Sala's best, in my opinion. Cat Dupree has a mission in life. That mission is to find the tattooed man that killed her father, slashed her throat, and left her for dead. She was eight years old. Becoming a Bounty Hunter is a means to an end for Cat. While she enjoys getting scum off the streets, it was the entry into the criminal world that she needed. When her best friend and sister at heart, Marsha (Mimi) Benton goes missing, Cat knows something bad happened. She knows who did it and she knows why. It's only a matter of proving it. Wilson McKay has heard about the legendary Cat Dupree, he just had never met her. When their paths cross, Wilson is charmed, infuriated, and frustrated by Cat. She is unlike any woman he has ever known. Impossible to get close to, all he can do is try to stay a part of Cat's life. When she asks him for help in locating her missing friend, he can do nothing other than help. While it's never a secret who the killer is, it doesn't take away from the book. We get a peek into the killer's head and he is one sick puppy. Cat and Wilson's chase eventually leads them to something they least expected: the man who killed Cat's father. Sala left the end of the book wide open for a sequel where Cat will finally get to hunt down the man that destroyed her childhood.

Cat Dupree is an emotionally-charged character in NINE LIVES. She lost her mother to a drunken driver when she was a child. Then, when she was barely a teen, a man with a tattooed face killed her father in front of her and cut Cat's throat. After surviving the attack and her years as a ward of the state in the foster care system, Cat became a bounty hunter, choosing to live and work in the same environment she believed had spawned her father's murderer. Unfortunately, Cat hasn't found her father's killer yet. But her sole friend through all her teen years has just been killed by her married boyfriend. Now Cat Dupree is on the trail of justice. Sharon Sala is a bestselling author of romantic suspense. As Dinah McCall she writes romantic suspense with a paranormal flavor. The thing I've always enjoyed about a Sharon Sala book is the quick pacing. No matter what your intentions are, you just keep flipping pages, trying to keep up with the charactes and with the plot. Sala brings enough emotional depth to her leads, Cat Dupree and Wilson McKay, to ground the book. But the villain, Mark Presley, even has a lot of stage presence. You can almost feel sorry for the guy -- for a few momentary flashes because he's a sleazy, self-centered sleazeball. NINE LIVES is the first of a projected trilogy, and the conclusion puts Cat on the trail of her father's murderer. It's going to be interesting to watch the paces Sala puts her characters and her readers through. Sharon Sala's writing is lightning-quick. Nora Roberts on amphetamines. Even at 432 pages, NINE LIVES can be read in a few sittings (and probably will be whether you want to or not!). She establishes her characters and her stories in eyeblinks, while the movie credits are still rolling, then you're part of the chase. People who want to be yanked out of an everyday world and propelled through one filled with excitement and danger are going to love this one.

Once again Sharon Sala has proved herself to be a wonderful writer with a great insight into the folibles of humanity. Her characters not only seem to be real but many times touch the inner darkness of the human condition. That is so with this one. A lonely heart that seems to hunger for companionship and yet fears the agony of loss, this seems to sum up the lead character, Catherine (Cat) Dupree. Cat lost her mother in a car accident at age 6, then her father is murdered at age 13, and she is left for dead with a slit throat. Tossed into the foster care system she finds another girl alone like her, and the bond is forever and family. Each is alone in the world. Marsha Benton is a secretary for a powerful man. Cat is a bounty hunter, she is determined to find and punish the man who killed her father, and thinks that her work will help her find him. Marsha tells Cat that she is pregnant and the father is her boss who is also married. When Marsha disappears Cat knows who to blame, but the police are not willing to start anything until they are sure, because Marsha's boss is a very important man. Cat is not willing or able to leave it to the police, they have never found the man who murdered her father. Wilson McKay is also a bounty hunter, he owns his own bonding company. Although they both are bounty hunters they have never met until they are caught in an apartment fire togather. Wilson senses her desire to distant herself from others and the pain in her life. Nevertheless he finds he is very attracted to her. When Cat finally goes to report Marsha's disappearance to the police, Wilson is there in the station and comes over to offer his help. After Cat leaves and turns him down he becomes more determined to get to know her and then offers his help to gather information on Mark Presley, Marsha's boss. Marsha has left an intreging phone message on Cat's machine. Three minutes of the sound of the inside of a helicopter. With the tenacity of a bulldog and the help of Wilson, Cat is soon deep into the mystery. The pace is fast and the plot is great. Cat is weaving and bobbing but Wilson is as close as she will let him get. I loved the book and while it leaves us at a good stopping place, we also know there will be a sequel. I can hardly wait. I recommend this one highly.