Amazon writingsbyclaudia.com Category:  Romance Publisher: iUniverse ISBN-10:  0595414028 Type: Fiction Pages: 257 Copyright: 2007 ISBN-13: 9780595414024 A retired U.S. Army Ranger thinks that facing death was a thing of his past until confronted with his own mortality and that of the woman he loves. Mikayla is intelligent, headstrong, and loving with an unwavering devotion to family and friends.    A man by nature, a soldier by design, and a hero at heart—that’s Jesse Daulton.  After a twenty-year career as a “high speed, low drag” U.S. Army Airborne Ranger, this soldier is looking forward to going home in search of a more normal lifestyle.    Mikayla and Jesse are brought together by an act of kindness on his part, and within hours of meeting, the two form an unlikely union as they are drawn to one another by an undeniable attraction that neither can deny.   When a sadistic killer, know only as the “Night Crawler,” unwittingly crosses the Ranger’s path, Jesse proves that acts of heroism are a part of the man…not the job.   What ensues is a captivating lesson in life, love and courage, providing absolute proof of the human spirit’s ability to triumph over all types of adversity. Excerpt Hidden amidst the desolate woods, void of any signs of life or humanity, the rustic log cabin stood nestled deep within the forest. It was as much a part of the trees as they were of it. Through the eye of any photographer it would be a rare and intriguing subject, lending itself to an image of serene beauty from the outside, with absolutely no indication of the unspeakable horror to be found on the inside. The events unfolding within this dwelling were anything but picturesque, giving credence to the age-old saying that looks can be deceiving. What remained of the sane and vibrant young woman who had been abducted and forcibly brought here three weeks earlier, appeared emotionless and defeated, tightly bound to a rigid wooden chair. The unthinkable physical and emotional torment she had been subjected to during her captivity was more than enough to strip away any and all desire to continue living. She closed her eyes as if relinquishing all hope of ever being rescued. Her will to live seemed to be ebbing away with each reluctant breath she took. The captor observed his prisoner from across the room. Once captivated by her resiliency, he found her belated, but peaceful surrender equally as mesmerizing. Although her physical body was obviously fighting the prospect of dying, her spiritual body seemed to be welcoming it. He wondered … could she possibly see death as a blessing? Her despondency caused a foreign, albeit fleeting, pang of remorse to course speedily through his demented mind, an almost inconceivable amount of regret for what he was about to do to her. He had grown quite fond of her, more so than with any of her six predecessors. He indulged himself in his deranged fantasy of their love affair, even permitting himself to call her by name, something he had never done with any of the others. But Sallie was different. She was quiet and submissive, cooperative and more than willing to satisfy his every desire. But she wasn’t fooling him, nor was he fooling himself. Though she was flatteringly convincing at times, he knew full well that her efforts were not born of pleasure or affection, but merely to prolong her own life. Still, he had become emotionally attached to her, going so far as to allow this misguided fondness to precipitate his decision to end her suffering now, well ahead of the appointed time of death in his otherwise inflexible transformation ritual. As he walked toward her, she remained still and resigned, as if waiting patiently for the inevitable, but praying that it would come soon. Standing directly behind her chair, the sound of his deep, menacing voice disrupted the silence. Although spoken at a startling volume, his words failed to induce so much as a flinch from his captive. She no longer feared him—that was obvious. Although he had complete control of her fleshly body, mentally she was far and forever removed from his grasp. The winsome smile on her face bared evidence to her blissful absence from reality. “Sallie, I’m going to put the gag back on now,” he told her solemnly, knowing as the words exited his mouth that they were a lie. He had no intentions of replacing the thinly folded fabric between her dutifully parted lips. The fact that he lied to her about his intentions puzzled him. He had never before lied to protect a person—only to lure or hurt her in some fashion.

Midwest Book Review
First-time author Claudia Pemberton has written a credible and interesting crime novel, set in the Alabama mountain background of a retiring Army Ranger and the lady he learns to love. As heroine Mykayla Mitchell leaves her hometown for a new job in California, she is devastated by the death of her beloved grandmother, Granny Mae. A chance set of circumstances leads her to meet Army Ranger Jesse Daulton, and it is their budding relationship, intertwined amongst the horror of a serial killer, that makes her book so interesting. Pemberton's deft writing combines violence - patriotism - sexual tension - love- and some old-fashioned Alabama backwoods wisdom in her well-written novel.

Andrew Lubin
Reviewer

Milityary Writers Society of America
I began author Claudia Pemberton’s novel “Love Leaves No One Behind” expecting more or less to find some light weight typical women’s romance mystery book. That notion was soon kicked right out of me after reading “The Prologue” entitled “A Glimpse of Evil”. If the reader can get past the real creepy and downright evil stuff that lurks in those opening pages (Which stopped me dead cold for a week before preceding deeper into the story) then you will be richly rewarded with a special reading experience. Pemberton opens up her book unlike any romantic love story I have ever read before. Just be prepared for the gory details and a horrific accounting of things most of us would rather not read; but it all sets the stage for the rest of a great story.

My book came with a most wonderful music CD based on the novel and preformed by Julie Reeves and Danny Craig. It is a real treat. I recommend that if you can get a copy of this CD that you listen to it as you read the book for a real reading journey. I cannot remember getting a music CD with any novel before--but since I've gotten this one I love the idea. It gives the story another way to attack your emotions. The CD's are available as a marketing and promotional gift at some book signings by author.

The professional craftsmanship of the author is evident; phrasing and narratives are well done with a nice mix of dialog. The book is truly gripping. This book will appeal to many people for different reasons. It has an adult themed story that may make some people feel uncomfortable. It will have a profound and powerful impact on the reader. You cannot just read this book and walk away untouched emotionally in some way. This book cannot be ignored and it will find a readership base that will love it!

Bill McDonald