Sharon Carter

Tennessee author Sharon Carter is a successful entrepreneur, founding and operating with her husband an HVAC company (Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning), and now she turns to her early (and persistent) love of writing. LOVE AUCTION: TOO RISKY TO LOVE AGAIN is her debut novel.

Sharon’s writing is not only top of the line in style, but it also shows extraordinary sensitivity to such issues as response to grief of losing a loved one, dysfunctionality, incipient but challenged romance, show more and suspense, all wrapped into a novel that defies categorization. Yes, it is a romance story, but one challenged by so many issues that it never loses the reader’s attention or commitment.

The opening pages set the plot in motion: ‘Sage Sullivan yelled across the room, trying to get Cindy’s attention. It was crowded and chaotic at the center on a warm, sunny Saturday morning. McMorris Community Center – MCC – was a nonprofit organization that helped financially distressed people. They provided food for homeless families, job programs, counseling, assisted financially, and helped orphaned children. The job program assessed people’s skills to help place them in a suitable job, paving the way to their financial independence. Cindy Robinson had founded the center. Her staff put together marathons, bake sales, and auctions to help raise money. The center was hosting an auction the following month and would be auctioning some of Bayville’s most beautiful women and handsome men…’ Sage notices a man, a benefactor (Nick) and an unlikely romance opens.

Searching Sharon’s website a very fine synopsis is discovered. The three main characters of the story are Sage, Nick, and a young girl Sage adopts (Nikki). ‘After her husband’s accidental death, Sage withdraws her heart in protective armor while Nick falls into a loveless cycle of casual relationships after catching his wife in an affair. The two characters meet each other at a fundraiser, and Nick immediately falls for Sage. But the widow, still devastated from losing her greatest love, refuses the benefactor despite her attraction. Nick finds an opportunity to sweep her off her feet when Sage agrees to be auctioned off for a date to raise funs for a local organization. Sage accepts a foster child, Nikki, who witnessed her mother’s murder, into her life. The killer sets his eyes on Sage, determined to make her his.’

This novel is excellent – on all fronts – the initial bow from an author of great promise. Very highly recommended. show less

This was a great thrilling romance. The opening absolutely grabs you and pulls you in, making you want to read more. Savanna and Aiden start off with quite a bit of tension - and not necessarily the romantic kind, but you can’t help but hope they’ll manage to work past their animosity and admit what they both can feel is true - they’re the perfect fit for each other. I love the added tension of a serial killer on the loose - it adds some heart pounding moments of a different kind. The show more characters are great with a lot of depth, and the plot flows smoothly and has plenty of tension, both romantic and otherwise. Perfect for romantic thriller fans! show less

First, let me say, this book is hard to put down once you start. Sage is a great character, and you love her from the start. She has a tragic past, and has devoted her time to helping those in need. It was refreshing that Carter didn’t shy away from Sage’s sad past, and used it instead to give her character depth and wove it seamlessly into the story. You get so wrapped up in following Sage’s journey of loss, healing, and maybe another chance at romance, that you quickly find yourself show more several chapters into the story before you come up for air. A great romance, and I’m eager to see what book two has in store. show less

I read genres all over the place, but romance stories are usually at the bottom of my “read next list”; however, this book has me eagerly getting into the second book. Carter does a great job weaving loss and uncertainty into this romance tale, something we do see in the genre but very rarely done with the feeling of genuine humanity.
Sage, our main character, has so much going on in her life. The internal emotional turmoil coupled with significant life changes are trouble enough but show more navigating new relationships with it is hard to do; Carter writes as if she’s been through each of these situations. Being the target of a psychopath heats things up. The book is cleaned up nicely and paced well. I can't wait to crack the second book open! show less