A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

I'm a huge Robert Whitlow fan. I normally shy away from this genre of books, but I have absolutely loved every single book that I've read by him. My mom likes John Grisham and when I told her to read this book, she said he wrote very similar. I've converted a new reader!

A Time to Stand did a fantastic job balancing a topic that has become of conversation (and should) in our society. In A Time to Stand, a policeman of character find himself in a situation that he never dreamed. An African-American boy is in a coma after being shot by a white policeman. It's a small town so news of a "racist cop" shooting an African-American is the headliner in most conversations. Suddenely, the police officer finds himself in the line of fire and his family and his own life is threatened by the very same people he has spent his life trying to protect.

He's almost certain he heard a shot ring out before he shot, but maybe he really didn't. Maybe his mind played a trick on him....if only he could remember each moment clearly.

Adisa Johnson is a lawyer who lost her job and has come back to the small town in Georgia to help take care of her grandmother who raised her. Initially, she hears about this case and sides against the policeman. However, after some time, she begins to feel like she is supposed to help the police officer. This doesn't sit well in the small town that is full of racial tension.  Her community can't understand why she would help this white police officer. She can't explain it either, except she feels deep down that it's what she's supposed to do.

The truth eventually comes out, thanks to Adisa. A Time to Stand focuses on this small community and how things can look when we set aside our differences and love each other for who they are....no matter or race, language, etc. Let us all be people who stand for our friends of different races and fight for unity amongst each other.

_____________

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

Critical Reaction by Todd M. Johnson

I am rather new to the whole legal thriller book genre.  I was first introduced to one a few years ago and ever since then, I've been keeping my ears out for those lawyers-turned-authors who write from experience.  When this one came up with the biography of Todd M. Johnson, I knew this was one I had to review.  I haven't read his first book, yet, but I did download it after reading this one.  I've even recommended it to several of my friends who like these kind of books and have trouble finding them in the Christian bookstores.

The plot is very solid and the characters are built into the story well.  I'll admit that I don't do suspense well, even though I like it.  I did find myself turning to the end to make sure certain characters were okay.  I hate liking a character so much and then something happening to them!  

I learned a lot about the nuclear field.  I have had a lot of questions concerning the nuclear plants and have had a hard time understanding certain things about them.  I appreciated the explanations on a simple, but not demeaning, level.  The courtroom scenes were intense and very interesting.  I am always fascinated on what goes on in the courtroom...just plan to never be in there for a reason other than jury duty!  

I can't wait for another book to come out by Johnson.  Since one came out last year and another this year, I'm really hoping he has another one set to release next year!

____________

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Todd M. Johnson has practiced as an attorney for over 30 years, specializing as a trial lawyer. Todd's career experience blends with his passion for writing in his novels published through Bethany House. 

A graduate of Princeton University and the University of Minnesota Law School, he also taught for two years as an adjunct professor of International Law, and served as a US diplomat in Hong Kong. 

The Deposit Slip, Mr. Johnson's first novel, debuted in 2012. Todd's second novel, Critical Reaction, will be released in November 2013. 

Todd lives outside Minneapolis, Minnesota, with his wife Cathy and children Ian and Libby. 

ABOUT THE BOOK 

After decades of turning out plutonium for the arms race, the Hanford Nuclear Facility has long been shuttered, though its deadly legacy cannot be fully contained. The men who guard the facility from sabotage or monitor its buildings for radiation leaks are told the risks are under control. They believe it, until the worst happens: a thunderous explosion in the dead of night. 

Two workers, lifer Poppy Martin and new hire Kieran Mullaney, believe themselves lucky to survive the blast. But as the debris is cleared, they discover their safety is not assured. Dead ends and closed doors halt their efforts to discover what really happened--and what radiation may have poisoned them. When stalling and threats force them into the hands of experienced trial lawyer Ryan Hart, they learn that theirs is no ordinary lawsuit. There is something still hidden in the desert of eastern Washington, and someone is willing to go to extreme lengths to make sure it never sees the light of day. 

If you would like to read the first chapter of Critical Reaction, go HERE. 

______________

I received this book free from Bethany House Publishers and CFBA in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.

The Choice by Robert Whitlow

I like John Grisham novels because he is a lawyer and you can tell that he approaches his stories from a lawyer point of view and can make the criminal side and courtroom seem so real.  I have seen the name "Robert Whitlow" on several books, but had never stopped to read his books because I knew nothing about him, and well...I have my favorites that I tend to always read.  Let's just say that I'm adding his name to the list because he writes in the style of John Grisham and in fact, he is a practicing attorney.  The knowledge that he has about his topics (in this book it is abortion) legally makes the book so intense and very informative.  I've already "dropped" his name to a few fellow John Grisham lovers.

Teen pregnancy hasn't always held the glamour that today's culture has made it.  Back in 1974, Sandy found herself pregnant and her boyfriend pressured her to have an abortion.  He told her that he loved her and that they could still get married, but they didn't need a baby interfering with their lives and their future plans.  When Sandy decided that she could in no way kill her baby through an abortion, he told her that it's either him or the baby.  Sandy chose the baby, which meant the now ex-boyfriend began his next move----dating other girls.

At that time, pregnant girls weren't allowed to be in school, so Sandy had to move to live with her aunt in Atlanta and go to a school that many juvenile delinquents and pregnant teens went to.  Sandy did well in school and made a friend, who was a fellow teen mom.  On one of her trips back to Atlanta, she stopped at a grocery store and a lady looked at her and told her that she would be having twins and that if they ever met each other, then one of them would be killed.  Knowing this prophecy, she looks into having two separate families adopt the twins and decides not to share with each family that their babies are twins.  That's a fact only a few people know.  It was the hardest thing she's ever had to do...to give up her babies...but she knew that it was for the best.

Fast forward to 30 years and Sandy finds herself helping a teenage girl.  Who knew that meeting her might change her life forever.  Faced with a life and death decision, Sandy has to make a quick decision.  Whatever did happen to her precious babies and did they ever meet?  Was the prophecy fulfilled, just as the old lady said it would be?

I think the thing that I loved most about this book was seeing how deliberate she was in the adoption process. She thought about her children, how often the father and mother would be home, and if they would be taught about the Lord at all.  You could tell she loved them so much that she tried to think of every detail because this was the only way she would ever be involved in their life.  I loved seeing her choices played out and her decisions as well as consequences.

____________________

I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for my honest opinion of this book.