BookAwards.com
Award-Winning Books from Today's Best Authors
A Free Resource for Book Lovers, Authors, Agents, Publishers and Journalists
Search Results for: the
Recommend this book:
Above the Walls
Steve Physioc
2019 Gold Medal
473 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Military
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
Above The Walls is a dramatic work of historical fiction penned by author Steve Physioc, and is the sequel to the novel The Walls Of Lucca. Following a secret affair that preceded the events of the Second World War, the fascist politician Alfredo Obizzi is now developing his powers in 1938, ready for the shift that is yet to come. Obizzi is embittered by his experience at the Martellino vineyard, and ready to exact revenge on the family dynasty which own it. Meanwhile, the young generation of the families there are discovering new things for themselves, as childhood friends DeAngelo and Lily grow into a war-torn world that encourages them to cling together.
Having read The Walls Of Lucca last year, it was a delight to step back into the Martellino vineyard and to author Steve Physioc’s unique blend of romantic drama and harrowingly austere pre-war conditions. The research into the lives of 1930s Italian people is stellar, bringing to life both the intricate processes of vineyard living and the wider arc of political oppression in the growing climate of fascism. DeAngelo and Lily are innocents in a world they didn’t ask for, and their tender story plays out well alongside matriarch Susanna’s more complex and dark affair with Obizzi. Viciously drawn but without resorting to cartoons or stereotypes, Obizzi is a powerful villain who makes a chilling impact on the plot overall, and that’s before the real war draws in. Above The Walls will appeal to all readers looking for realistic and emotive historical drama.
Above The Walls is a dramatic work of historical fiction penned by author Steve Physioc, and is the sequel to the novel The Walls Of Lucca. Following a secret affair that preceded the events of the Second World War, the fascist politician Alfredo Obizzi is now developing his powers in 1938, ready for the shift that is yet to come. Obizzi is embittered by his experience at the Martellino vineyard, and ready to exact revenge on the family dynasty which own it. Meanwhile, the young generation of the families there are discovering new things for themselves, as childhood friends DeAngelo and Lily grow into a war-torn world that encourages them to cling together.
Having read The Walls Of Lucca last year, it was a delight to step back into the Martellino vineyard and to author Steve Physioc’s unique blend of romantic drama and harrowingly austere pre-war conditions. The research into the lives of 1930s Italian people is stellar, bringing to life both the intricate processes of vineyard living and the wider arc of political oppression in the growing climate of fascism. DeAngelo and Lily are innocents in a world they didn’t ask for, and their tender story plays out well alongside matriarch Susanna’s more complex and dark affair with Obizzi. Viciously drawn but without resorting to cartoons or stereotypes, Obizzi is a powerful villain who makes a chilling impact on the plot overall, and that’s before the real war draws in. Above The Walls will appeal to all readers looking for realistic and emotive historical drama.
Recommend this book:
The Departing
The End Time Saga Book 4
Daniel Greene
2019 Silver Medal
453 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Military
Reviewed by K.C. Finn for Readers' Favorite
The Departing is a work of dystopian science fiction and military-style action fiction penned by author Daniel Greene. In the fourth book in The End Time Saga, we find ourselves immersed already in the apocalyptic world of Mark Steele and the ever-increasing risk of contagion, death, and war that surrounds him. When Steele’s forces are beaten back by a rogue unit, he has to seek refuge and outlast their onslaught whilst he figures out a plan to regroup. But old enemies and new threats lie around every bend, and those who still remain loyal to the original military are dwindling, relying on the civilian population to prepare for all-out war.
Written for adults due to its graphic violent content, this is a war story and a science fiction epic like no other. It wasn’t difficult to enter the world of Steele and his team mid-series. Daniel Greene has a great sense of detail and being able to convey important reminders of facts without detracting from the immediate narrative. What results is an immersive world filled with information, but even the quiet moments loom with tension thanks to the explosive and sudden twists that pepper the plot. The expanding cast of characters is grizzled and powerful, but also realistic, and the monsters which come out to play are originally drawn, staying away from old stereotypes of zombies and the like. Overall, The Departing provides a really exciting and tense continuation to a well-developed series that fans of action, adventure, war, and dystopia are all certain to adore.
The Departing is a work of dystopian science fiction and military-style action fiction penned by author Daniel Greene. In the fourth book in The End Time Saga, we find ourselves immersed already in the apocalyptic world of Mark Steele and the ever-increasing risk of contagion, death, and war that surrounds him. When Steele’s forces are beaten back by a rogue unit, he has to seek refuge and outlast their onslaught whilst he figures out a plan to regroup. But old enemies and new threats lie around every bend, and those who still remain loyal to the original military are dwindling, relying on the civilian population to prepare for all-out war.
Written for adults due to its graphic violent content, this is a war story and a science fiction epic like no other. It wasn’t difficult to enter the world of Steele and his team mid-series. Daniel Greene has a great sense of detail and being able to convey important reminders of facts without detracting from the immediate narrative. What results is an immersive world filled with information, but even the quiet moments loom with tension thanks to the explosive and sudden twists that pepper the plot. The expanding cast of characters is grizzled and powerful, but also realistic, and the monsters which come out to play are originally drawn, staying away from old stereotypes of zombies and the like. Overall, The Departing provides a really exciting and tense continuation to a well-developed series that fans of action, adventure, war, and dystopia are all certain to adore.
Recommend this book:
Lions of the Desert
A True Story of WWII Heroes in North Africa
Samuel Marquis
2019 Honorable Mention
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Fiction - Military
Reviewed by Ray Simmons for Readers' Favorite
There are a lot of books and movies about the gigantic event simply known as World War II. I have read many of these books. I have seen most of the movies. When I read a book about World War II, it is hard not to become bored simply because I have read so many versions of those events and battles before. Stories about World War II are intrinsically dramatic because the stakes are always so high. When I read a book about World War II these days, I look for something new. Some points of history that others may have missed. I want something that others have gotten wrong, maybe because the information has been classified until recently. That’s what I look for in books about World War II now and Lions of the Desert by Samuel Marquis delivered this in spectacular fashion.
Lions of the Desert is the story of the war in North Africa. It is volume four of the World War Two series by Samuel Marquis, which has been praised lavishly by readers and critics everywhere. I am going to heap my praise onto theirs because I loved this book. I was expecting to read about the exploits and genius of Erwin Rommel because he is one of my favorite German officers. What surprised me was learning the origins of the SAS and its founder David Sterling. That is the kind of information I love to discover. But what surprised me most were the segments on Hekmat Fahmy. Reading about her and how much officers on both sides adored her was a pleasure. Samuel Marquis has written another great book about the war that we should never forget.
There are a lot of books and movies about the gigantic event simply known as World War II. I have read many of these books. I have seen most of the movies. When I read a book about World War II, it is hard not to become bored simply because I have read so many versions of those events and battles before. Stories about World War II are intrinsically dramatic because the stakes are always so high. When I read a book about World War II these days, I look for something new. Some points of history that others may have missed. I want something that others have gotten wrong, maybe because the information has been classified until recently. That’s what I look for in books about World War II now and Lions of the Desert by Samuel Marquis delivered this in spectacular fashion.
Lions of the Desert is the story of the war in North Africa. It is volume four of the World War Two series by Samuel Marquis, which has been praised lavishly by readers and critics everywhere. I am going to heap my praise onto theirs because I loved this book. I was expecting to read about the exploits and genius of Erwin Rommel because he is one of my favorite German officers. What surprised me was learning the origins of the SAS and its founder David Sterling. That is the kind of information I love to discover. But what surprised me most were the segments on Hekmat Fahmy. Reading about her and how much officers on both sides adored her was a pleasure. Samuel Marquis has written another great book about the war that we should never forget.
Recommend this book:
The Last Van Gogh
Will Ottinger
2019 Bronze Medal
285 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Emily-Jane Hills Orford for Readers' Favorite
Adam is a struggling art dealer in Chicago. His most recent show promises to bring him some luck and fame, but the artist, Vasily Sorokin, is murdered outside the gallery. To make matters worse, Vasily’s uncle is part of the Russian mob. Adam’s brother, Wes, shows up with some letters and an unlikely story that their father had smuggled an unknown Van Gogh painting, a rather large one, out of France at the beginning of the Second World War. A hidden and undocumented painting. Adam hesitates to believe it. Their father, after all, was a drunk and a con man. But, with people all around Adam being killed and the Russian mob boss interested in financing a search, Adam begins an adventure that reads like a James Bond exclusive. In the end, though, he wonders if this painting, or any work of art for that matter, is worth so many deaths.
Will Ottinger’s thriller mystery novel, The Last Van Gogh, takes the reader on an exciting adventure that spans two continents and two centuries. Written primarily in the first person, from Adam’s point of view, the author also incorporates multiple points of view in the third person, including the famed artist himself. The action-packed plot develops with rising tension and sporadic looks into Van Gogh’s troubled life from the artist’s perspective. The painting captures the attention of multiple evil powers and the plot thickens. The author uses powerful descriptive passages to set the scene and develop the characters with efficiency. Not only are the notations on Van Gogh credible and well researched, but the author has created a very plausible situation that will make the reader wonder what other missing masterpieces are hidden around the world. A fascinating read.
Adam is a struggling art dealer in Chicago. His most recent show promises to bring him some luck and fame, but the artist, Vasily Sorokin, is murdered outside the gallery. To make matters worse, Vasily’s uncle is part of the Russian mob. Adam’s brother, Wes, shows up with some letters and an unlikely story that their father had smuggled an unknown Van Gogh painting, a rather large one, out of France at the beginning of the Second World War. A hidden and undocumented painting. Adam hesitates to believe it. Their father, after all, was a drunk and a con man. But, with people all around Adam being killed and the Russian mob boss interested in financing a search, Adam begins an adventure that reads like a James Bond exclusive. In the end, though, he wonders if this painting, or any work of art for that matter, is worth so many deaths.
Will Ottinger’s thriller mystery novel, The Last Van Gogh, takes the reader on an exciting adventure that spans two continents and two centuries. Written primarily in the first person, from Adam’s point of view, the author also incorporates multiple points of view in the third person, including the famed artist himself. The action-packed plot develops with rising tension and sporadic looks into Van Gogh’s troubled life from the artist’s perspective. The painting captures the attention of multiple evil powers and the plot thickens. The author uses powerful descriptive passages to set the scene and develop the characters with efficiency. Not only are the notations on Van Gogh credible and well researched, but the author has created a very plausible situation that will make the reader wonder what other missing masterpieces are hidden around the world. A fascinating read.
Recommend this book:
The Broadcast
A Mystery Thriller
Liam Fialkov
2019 Bronze Medal
379 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Asher Syed for Readers' Favorite
The Broadcast by Liam Fialkov is a suspenseful mystery that follows multiple points of view of characters as they witness a newly televised broadcast that is as confounding as it is captivating. Somehow, a network is able to obtain footage of past events that, until the time of broadcast, had been unsolved crimes. The timelines vary, as does the content, but what appears to be satellite feed—despite much of the footage being from a time when no such thing could have possibly existed—has a mixed effect on the general population, both good and bad as crimes are unquestionably solved...but at what cost? Meanwhile, a middle-aged couple with their own tragic pasts finds themselves affected by the broadcast in ways nobody could have predicted or ever imagined.
Liam Fialkov has developed a really unique and tantalizing narrative with The Broadcast. This is an exceptional piece of fiction. I found the premise to be wholly original, which is like a breath of fresh air at a time when many new releases come from the same stagnant plotlines. The story, at least initially, dances between past and present as Fialkov weaves together a backstory. It then plows forward at full speed, unrelenting as new broadcasts are released and the mystery begins to entwine the characters and the reader. It's uncommon for me to read a book and not have any inkling where the next page might take me, but The Broadcast was able to thread the suspense until the very end. I loved this book and would recommend it to all who enjoy excellent speculative, transcendental fiction in the same spirit as Philip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury.
The Broadcast by Liam Fialkov is a suspenseful mystery that follows multiple points of view of characters as they witness a newly televised broadcast that is as confounding as it is captivating. Somehow, a network is able to obtain footage of past events that, until the time of broadcast, had been unsolved crimes. The timelines vary, as does the content, but what appears to be satellite feed—despite much of the footage being from a time when no such thing could have possibly existed—has a mixed effect on the general population, both good and bad as crimes are unquestionably solved...but at what cost? Meanwhile, a middle-aged couple with their own tragic pasts finds themselves affected by the broadcast in ways nobody could have predicted or ever imagined.
Liam Fialkov has developed a really unique and tantalizing narrative with The Broadcast. This is an exceptional piece of fiction. I found the premise to be wholly original, which is like a breath of fresh air at a time when many new releases come from the same stagnant plotlines. The story, at least initially, dances between past and present as Fialkov weaves together a backstory. It then plows forward at full speed, unrelenting as new broadcasts are released and the mystery begins to entwine the characters and the reader. It's uncommon for me to read a book and not have any inkling where the next page might take me, but The Broadcast was able to thread the suspense until the very end. I loved this book and would recommend it to all who enjoy excellent speculative, transcendental fiction in the same spirit as Philip K. Dick and Ray Bradbury.
Recommend this book:
The Sleeping Lady
Bonnie C. Monte
2019 Finalist
246 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Mystery - General
Reviewed by Anne-Marie Reynolds for Readers' Favorite
The Sleeping Lady by Bonnie C. Monte is a thrilling mystery story. Rae Sullivan runs a home décor shop with her friend and business partner Thalia, right next to The Sleeping Lady, or Mt. Tamalpais. Thalia is being blackmailed because of an affair in France and, insisting on facing up to the blackmailer, is found murdered in Golden Gate Park. The police think it was a mugging gone wrong and won’t listen to Rae so she decides to do their job for them. Heading to France, Rae and Luc, Thalia’s half-brother, go on the trail of a blackmailer and killer who is coming after Rae, all the while fighting off the spark of attraction between them. Can Rae solve the murder and will she remember that she has a husband she adores?
The Sleeping Lady by Bonnie C. Monte is a great amateur detective story, a nice light read to while away a few hours. It isn’t complicated and you probably will guess who did it before you officially find out, but that doesn’t make it any less of a good story. It’s all go and there are a few red herrings thrown in for good measure, just to try to throw you off the scent. The characters are believable, very likable and solid, well developed throughout the story. The Sleeping Lady is a page-turner; when you get to the end of one chapter you’ll just want to keep on reading to see where the story takes you next. Good story, well-paced and fun to read.
The Sleeping Lady by Bonnie C. Monte is a thrilling mystery story. Rae Sullivan runs a home décor shop with her friend and business partner Thalia, right next to The Sleeping Lady, or Mt. Tamalpais. Thalia is being blackmailed because of an affair in France and, insisting on facing up to the blackmailer, is found murdered in Golden Gate Park. The police think it was a mugging gone wrong and won’t listen to Rae so she decides to do their job for them. Heading to France, Rae and Luc, Thalia’s half-brother, go on the trail of a blackmailer and killer who is coming after Rae, all the while fighting off the spark of attraction between them. Can Rae solve the murder and will she remember that she has a husband she adores?
The Sleeping Lady by Bonnie C. Monte is a great amateur detective story, a nice light read to while away a few hours. It isn’t complicated and you probably will guess who did it before you officially find out, but that doesn’t make it any less of a good story. It’s all go and there are a few red herrings thrown in for good measure, just to try to throw you off the scent. The characters are believable, very likable and solid, well developed throughout the story. The Sleeping Lady is a page-turner; when you get to the end of one chapter you’ll just want to keep on reading to see where the story takes you next. Good story, well-paced and fun to read.
Recommend this book:
 an enticing read. Laura Beers masters the mystique in British historical romance and adds this to her portfolio of books in the genre. Miss Josette is fulfilling a passion in her life, helping the girls who live in the slums of London. As the headmistress in a g...){kind=link}
The Baron's Daughter
The Beckett Files, Book 6
Laura Beers
2019 Silver Medal
364 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Reviewed by Peggy Jo Wipf for Readers' Favorite
Espionage, treason, and romance make The Baron’s Daughter (The Beckett Files, Book 6) an enticing read. Laura Beers masters the mystique in British historical romance and adds this to her portfolio of books in the genre. Miss Josette is fulfilling a passion in her life, helping the girls who live in the slums of London. As the headmistress in a girls' school, she can give them skills that enable them to support themselves. Lord Morgan Easton is a British spy and is commissioned to identify and arrest the French spy, Genet. His first assignment is to convince Josette to pose as his wife and to accompany him to a house party, which they confirm Genet will attend. Morgan and Josette already have a history of working together, but their attraction commonly causes sparks that threaten to end their friendship, the mission, and the safety of their country.
Laura Beers created a unique series around spies that walked among the noble gentry in The Beckett Files. The sixth book in this series, The Baron’s Daughter is centered on an evil plot to unseat the king, kill the prince, and prepare the way for an exiled emperor to step in to reign. As the story unfolds, the complexity of Morgan and Josette’s relationship is tested, adding an intricate level to the plot. The author amazingly adds one dilemma after another, while keeping the identity of the French spy a mystery. As the plot develops, the author skillfully draws all the threads together, creating an exceptional novel. After finishing this impressive book, I found several more from this author that sounded just as enticing.
Espionage, treason, and romance make The Baron’s Daughter (The Beckett Files, Book 6) an enticing read. Laura Beers masters the mystique in British historical romance and adds this to her portfolio of books in the genre. Miss Josette is fulfilling a passion in her life, helping the girls who live in the slums of London. As the headmistress in a girls' school, she can give them skills that enable them to support themselves. Lord Morgan Easton is a British spy and is commissioned to identify and arrest the French spy, Genet. His first assignment is to convince Josette to pose as his wife and to accompany him to a house party, which they confirm Genet will attend. Morgan and Josette already have a history of working together, but their attraction commonly causes sparks that threaten to end their friendship, the mission, and the safety of their country.
Laura Beers created a unique series around spies that walked among the noble gentry in The Beckett Files. The sixth book in this series, The Baron’s Daughter is centered on an evil plot to unseat the king, kill the prince, and prepare the way for an exiled emperor to step in to reign. As the story unfolds, the complexity of Morgan and Josette’s relationship is tested, adding an intricate level to the plot. The author amazingly adds one dilemma after another, while keeping the identity of the French spy a mystery. As the plot develops, the author skillfully draws all the threads together, creating an exceptional novel. After finishing this impressive book, I found several more from this author that sounded just as enticing.
Recommend this book:
The Portrait
Cassandra Austen
2019 Bronze Medal
344 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Reviewed by Heather Stockard for Readers' Favorite
Captain Jocelyn Avebury and Lady Catherine Claverton have absolutely nothing in common. He is a sailor in the Royal Navy and is of dubious parentage. She is the bitter daughter of an earl who needed a son but only got a crippled girl. Her mother died when she was young and her father, denied an heir and repulsed by Catherine’s badly twisted leg, sent her away to live on her own at age ten. Consequently, Catherine has grown up strong and independent and, against her father’s wishes, joined society in Bath. It is there she meets Avebury, a handsome sea captain with a mysterious past. The death of Catherine’s father brings to light a secret inheritance left to her by her mother. Catherine is the heir to an earldom in Wales. If she marries and bears a son, he will be an earl. Determined to save her mother’s family line, she proposes marriage to the wealthy Avebury. But suspicion, lies, and a murder investigation come between them. Love may not be enough to save them from the ghosts of the past.
The Portrait is beautifully written with interesting, intelligent characters and a captivating storyline. Catherine is a fascinating leading lady, quite unlike most romantic heroines. She is all contradictions: crippled but independent, strong but insecure, bitter but vulnerable. Avebury too is a well-rounded character. Cassandra Austen captures the atmosphere of eighteenth-century England quite brilliantly. Her descriptions of the people and the places are evocative, bringing to life her characters and settings. This book is a must-read for lovers of historical romance.
Captain Jocelyn Avebury and Lady Catherine Claverton have absolutely nothing in common. He is a sailor in the Royal Navy and is of dubious parentage. She is the bitter daughter of an earl who needed a son but only got a crippled girl. Her mother died when she was young and her father, denied an heir and repulsed by Catherine’s badly twisted leg, sent her away to live on her own at age ten. Consequently, Catherine has grown up strong and independent and, against her father’s wishes, joined society in Bath. It is there she meets Avebury, a handsome sea captain with a mysterious past. The death of Catherine’s father brings to light a secret inheritance left to her by her mother. Catherine is the heir to an earldom in Wales. If she marries and bears a son, he will be an earl. Determined to save her mother’s family line, she proposes marriage to the wealthy Avebury. But suspicion, lies, and a murder investigation come between them. Love may not be enough to save them from the ghosts of the past.
The Portrait is beautifully written with interesting, intelligent characters and a captivating storyline. Catherine is a fascinating leading lady, quite unlike most romantic heroines. She is all contradictions: crippled but independent, strong but insecure, bitter but vulnerable. Avebury too is a well-rounded character. Cassandra Austen captures the atmosphere of eighteenth-century England quite brilliantly. Her descriptions of the people and the places are evocative, bringing to life her characters and settings. This book is a must-read for lovers of historical romance.
Recommend this book:
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampire Invasion
The Great Detective in Love Book 4
Suzette Hollingsworth
2019 Finalist
Kindle Edition
Check current price
Fiction - Mystery - Historical
Reviewed by Steve Leshin for Readers' Favorite
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampire Invasion by Suzette Hollingsworth brings a whole new perspective to the Holmes narrative with a romantic twist for the Great Detective. Mirabella Hudson, Sherlock Holmes' ‘detective in training’ is an inquisitive and resourceful young woman graced with intelligence and scientific curiosity in many ways equal to our favorite Victorian era detective. A younger Sherlock, not quite famous as yet, and Dr. Watson are called upon by older brother Mycroft Holmes to investigate the gruesome murder of Lord Percival. It seems Percival’s dead body had fang marks at the neck and his blood is completely drained. Holmes and Watson are on the case, despite Scotland Yard’s Police Constable Jones’s constant objections.
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampire Invasion is book four of The Great Detective In Love series. Author Suzette Hollingsworth manages to stay true to the classic characters in a manner that any Holmes fan can appreciate. The dialogue is witty in fine tradition with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s style. However, it is the dynamic between Miss Mirabella Hudson, the 19-year-old relative of housekeeper Mrs. Hudson, and Sherlock Holmes that is fun and exciting. There is also a curious relationship between the Napoleon of Crime, Professor Moriarty, and Miss Hudson that sets this adventure apart from traditional Holmes mysteries. The story is a page-turner with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. Miss Mirabella Hudson is a worthy addition, adding a layer of sexual tension for our consulting detective. A fun read. As Holmes would say, “Precisely.”
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampire Invasion by Suzette Hollingsworth brings a whole new perspective to the Holmes narrative with a romantic twist for the Great Detective. Mirabella Hudson, Sherlock Holmes' ‘detective in training’ is an inquisitive and resourceful young woman graced with intelligence and scientific curiosity in many ways equal to our favorite Victorian era detective. A younger Sherlock, not quite famous as yet, and Dr. Watson are called upon by older brother Mycroft Holmes to investigate the gruesome murder of Lord Percival. It seems Percival’s dead body had fang marks at the neck and his blood is completely drained. Holmes and Watson are on the case, despite Scotland Yard’s Police Constable Jones’s constant objections.
Sherlock Holmes and the Vampire Invasion is book four of The Great Detective In Love series. Author Suzette Hollingsworth manages to stay true to the classic characters in a manner that any Holmes fan can appreciate. The dialogue is witty in fine tradition with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s style. However, it is the dynamic between Miss Mirabella Hudson, the 19-year-old relative of housekeeper Mrs. Hudson, and Sherlock Holmes that is fun and exciting. There is also a curious relationship between the Napoleon of Crime, Professor Moriarty, and Miss Hudson that sets this adventure apart from traditional Holmes mysteries. The story is a page-turner with enough twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. Miss Mirabella Hudson is a worthy addition, adding a layer of sexual tension for our consulting detective. A fun read. As Holmes would say, “Precisely.”
Recommend this book:
The Advocate's Illusion
The Advocate Series Volume 9
Teresa Burrell
2019 Gold Medal
315 Pages
Check current price
Fiction - Mystery - Legal
Reviewed by Lucinda E Clarke for Readers' Favorite
The Advocate’s Illusion by Teresa Burrell is the ninth in a series featuring the feisty and loveable Sabre Brown together with her long-suffering boyfriend JP, who doubles up as her private investigator. Ron, her brother, is also a part time member of the team. An interesting twist on the more common legal thriller, Sabre’s speciality is working for juveniles often when Social Services are involved, and in this book there are three such cases. Nine-year-old Sarah Parker is reported as being in danger living with her drug-addicted mother. In the Lynch case, the father, Tod, whose ex-wife with full custody moved away, cannot visit them and is incensed when he hears she is back on the drugs. He blames Sabre for the situation and threatens her. In the third case, the head of a small church marries his 12-year-old daughter to a forty-year-old member of his congregation. Does he have the legal right under the First Amendment? The stage is set for some interesting reading as Sabre attempts to get to the truth and argue in court for the best interests of the children she represents.
I can give no better praise for The Advocate’s Illusion by Teresa Burrell than to say I shall be looking out for the earlier books in the series, as I would like to read all of them. This was an easy read which kept me turning the pages. The characters – the heroine has a rather unbelievable name – come to life and I was particularly impressed with the natural dialogue which flowed seamlessly. I admit to guessing the end a little early but I had to read on to see if I was right. All the loose ends were neatly tied up with a satisfactory ending. A great book with a twist on the usual court room drama genre and recommended. I loved this book.
The Advocate’s Illusion by Teresa Burrell is the ninth in a series featuring the feisty and loveable Sabre Brown together with her long-suffering boyfriend JP, who doubles up as her private investigator. Ron, her brother, is also a part time member of the team. An interesting twist on the more common legal thriller, Sabre’s speciality is working for juveniles often when Social Services are involved, and in this book there are three such cases. Nine-year-old Sarah Parker is reported as being in danger living with her drug-addicted mother. In the Lynch case, the father, Tod, whose ex-wife with full custody moved away, cannot visit them and is incensed when he hears she is back on the drugs. He blames Sabre for the situation and threatens her. In the third case, the head of a small church marries his 12-year-old daughter to a forty-year-old member of his congregation. Does he have the legal right under the First Amendment? The stage is set for some interesting reading as Sabre attempts to get to the truth and argue in court for the best interests of the children she represents.
I can give no better praise for The Advocate’s Illusion by Teresa Burrell than to say I shall be looking out for the earlier books in the series, as I would like to read all of them. This was an easy read which kept me turning the pages. The characters – the heroine has a rather unbelievable name – come to life and I was particularly impressed with the natural dialogue which flowed seamlessly. I admit to guessing the end a little early but I had to read on to see if I was right. All the loose ends were neatly tied up with a satisfactory ending. A great book with a twist on the usual court room drama genre and recommended. I loved this book.
Contact Author -
