"Out of Nowhere" by Sandra Brown is a gripping tale of tragedy and resilience set against the backdrop of a Texas county fair. Children's book author Elle Portman and corporate consultant Calder Hudson are brought together by a horrifying shooting, sparking a quest for justice and an unexpected connection. Brown's masterful storytelling keeps readers on the edge of their seats with its fast-paced plot, well-developed characters, and thought-provoking themes of redemption and the human spirit. ( )

This was a great page turner that I could totally become immersed in. There's sex, suspense, mystery and a traumatic shooter event that sparks it all. But not really very believable if given much thought. Not something to read right before bed. ( )

Out of Bounds by Sandra Brown
Romantic thriller. Trigger warnings: mass shooter scenario with several deaths including a child.
Elle Portman brings her son to the Texas county fair, where unfortunately, there is a mass shooting. Calder Hudson goes to the fair as a way to apologize to his girlfriend but doesn’t make it to her once the shooting starts. He tries to protect people and grab the runaway stroller but it’s crowded and confusion reins. Calder is lucky. He is hit by a bullet in he arm and survives.
Others aren’t so lucky.
Elle and Calder are key witnesses when it’s found the shooter actually got away.

High level suspense and horrifying consequences precede the police investigation and danger for Elle and Calder. Twists, and turns ramp up the danger and drama. Elle and Calder grow close as they depend on each other for survival.
Elle is, of course, heartbroken and the book is told over months, perhaps lessening the grief but I found her well adjusted. Perhaps that’s not the right description. She will never forget but is able to move forward into a relationship with Calder.
Overall it’s a difficult to read book in the current environment. But I enjoyed the suspense, mystery and reveal. ( )

This was really good! I have been a fan of Sandra Brown’s writing for a very long time and look forward to each new release so I was excited to have the chance to read her latest book. I was surprised to learn that this book dealt with a mass shooting but Sandra Brown handled the topic well as I trusted she would. The story took me on a bit of an emotional roller coaster since it was heartbreaking at times, and exciting at others, with just enough romance worked in to keep things very interesting.

My heart broke for some of the characters quickly after starting the book. Elle and Calder were both at the county fair when the shooting occurred and the danger may not be over. Everyone present when the shooting occurred lost something but Elle’s loss felt incredibly profound. Both Elle and Calder are committed to finding out who is responsible for everything that has happened. The story got very exciting as they encountered one dangerous situation after another while the police tried to find who was responsible for the tragedy. I liked the chemistry between Elle and Caulder and thought that they worked well as a couple.

I listened to the audiobook and thought that Kyf Brewer did a great job with the story. I believe that this is the first time that I have listened to this narrator’s work and wouldn’t hesitate to pick up other books that he narrates. I found his voice to be very pleasant and thought that he was able to add just the right amount of emotion to his reading.

I would recommend this book to others. I found this to be quite the page-turner and I loved that the mystery kept me guessing until the very end. The story ended on a hopeful note which I also appreciated. I cannot wait to read more of this talented author’s work in the future.

I received a review copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing. ( )

After her infant son is killed during a mass shooting at a local fair, Elle Portman tries to pick up the pieces of her life, but she is also determined to get justice for Charlie. When he wakes up in the hospital, Calder Hudson doesn't remember trying to save Elle's son or anyone else but is consumed with guilt once he finds out that the bullet that went through his arm is what killed Charlie. The time that Calder and Elle spend together helping the police brings them closer together and exposes an attraction that neither of them wants but can't resist.

I have mixed feelings about the subject matter in Out of Nowhere. The author's note at the beginning of the story makes it clear that Sandra Brown felt a bit inadequate describing the feelings of the characters using only her words. Mass shootings are a difficult topic, but in the first part of the book, Ms. Brown does a good job bringing the reader into the story, detailing the emotions of the characters rather well. However, after a two month time jump that doesn't show any of the anguish suffered by the characters, the plot becomes formulaic and loses much of the realism that could have made this an outstanding romantic suspense story. Overall, Out of Nowhere is a decent romantic suspense novel that could have been so much more. ( )