Delayed Justice (Cara Putman) – Review + Giveaway

Posted 30 September 2018 by Katie in Christian Fiction, Contemporary, New Releases, Review, Romance, Suspense / 0 Comments

~ About the Book ~

She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard.

Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jaime, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart.

Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.

This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.

Genre: Romantic Suspense (Legal)
Series:  #3 Hidden Justice (each book stands alone)
Release date:  16 October 2018
Pages:  368
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Amazon US // Amazon AU // iTunes // Goodreads // Koorong

~ Excerpt ~

“You’re not listening to me,” Caroline pouted as she played with her maple scone.
“I am.”
“Really?” Her friend arched an eyebrow in that precise way of all truly Southern women. “Then tell me what I was saying.”
“How worried you are about your apartment.”
She huffed. “Good guess.”
Jaime laughed, then leaned back against the overstuffed chair. “You’re easy to read.”
“Here I thought it was that beautiful man that had your attention.”
“What?” Jaime startled and looked around. “I wasn’t looking at a guy.”
“Too bad, because he’s staring at you. If I were his girlfriend I’d be jealous.”
“Then he certainly wasn’t looking at me. That doesn’t happen.”
“Happens all the time, but you choose not to see.” Caroline shook her head. “Don’t look now, but he’s coming our way.”
Jaime froze as her gaze connected with her neighbor with the out-of-control dog. What was his name? Yeah, like she’d forget the name of a man who looked like a modern Steve Rogers. She found herself drawn into Chandler’s slightly questioning gaze.
“Don’t even pretend to tell me you don’t know him,” Caroline murmured.
“Let’s, um . . .” Jaime licked her suddenly dry lips and wished she could guzzle her coffee to knock the dryness from her parched throat. “Don’t be ridiculous, Caroline.”
“Whatever.” She all but rolled her eyes and stuck out her tongue. So juvenile, and yet somehow so perfect.
Jaime tried to glance away from Chandler, but he had arrested her attention. Maybe she’d been too frustrated at their first encounter to notice the way he didn’t threaten her like most tall, powerful men with a military bearing. Instead there was something friendly in the air as he ambled her way. Not good. She needed to take control from the start.
“Where’s your lion?” she snapped.
Confusion flashed across his face and tightened the skin around those perfect blue eyes. “You mean my dog? As I recall you were the one with the wimpy lion.”
She shook her head as Caroline looked between them with her mouth hanging open. Jaime gave her friend a look. “You might want to be careful or you’ll catch flies.”
“Whatever.” Caroline smiled her dazzling perfect smile and extended her hand. “I’m Caroline Bragg. You are?”
“Chandler Bolton.” He shook her hand.
“It’s a pleasure.”

Taken from “Delayed Justice” by Cara Putman
Copyright © 2018 by Cara Putman
Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/

~ Review ~

I think this third book in Cara Putman’s Hidden Justice series is my favourite so far, offering an engrossing and emotionally charged story as the two main characters not only struggle to overcome their own demons, but help a young girl battle hers. And it includes the bonus element of Chandler’s therapy dog Aslan, who has a special role to play in helping this young girl find her voice—and a somewhat less serious role in introducing Chandler and Jaime to one another!

While the legal element was definitely still here, this story dealt a lot more with the emotional impact of abuse and preparing to confront an abuser in court. In some ways I felt this overshadowed Chandler’s personal story a little bit, but overall, I felt the characterisation in this novel was the strongest of the three books in the series so far. Jaime, in particular, had quite a lot going on, not only finding the courage to speak up about her abuse, but also taking tentative steps towards a romantic relationship and discovering a God she had long resented for not saving her from abuse. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Chandler and Jaime—her mix of spunk, sass, and guardedness, and his determined but cautious pursuit.

The suspense element to these stories simmered in the background for the most part, occasionally increasing a little in heat, but never quite reaching boiling point until the last chapters of the book. But when it hit boiling, boy did it hit boiling!

A great choice for readers looking for a strong emotional element to their romantic suspense!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

~ Previous Books in the Series ~

~ Guest Post by Cara Putman ~

Delayed Justice was a hard story to write.

I’d known from Beyond Justice that Jaime had a hard story, but I wasn’t sure exactly what it was. She tried to hide from her past. She tried hard, but in the end it slowly spilled out. A young girl wounded deeply by someone who should protect her. And now as a professional young woman, Jaime is still fighting the shadows.

She believes she’s okay, or as okay as she’ll ever be.

Instead, she has to learn that there’s so much more waiting for her. Freedom from the chains of a past she didn’t choose. A love that will never end. And a God who has always loved her even when she questions His existence because of her past.

I think we’ve all lived that. There’s a place in our hearts that seems beyond His reach. For some of us, it’s a barrier to knowing Him. To others of us, it makes us question what we thought we knew about God. And for others of us, it presses us deeply into Him. Jaime’s book, Delayed Justice, explores this space. The space where some days we scream at the heavens Where are you, God? And the days we just curl into ourselves because life is too hard.

And in that space of shadow and light, God ultimately shines brightest. This is a truth that is slowly revealed through friends and The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe.

~ About the Author ~

Since the time I could read Nancy Drew, I have wanted to write mysteries. In 2005 I attended a book signing at my local Christian bookstore. The rest, as they say, is history. There I met Colleen Coble. With prompting from my husband, I shared my dream with Colleen. Since those infamous words, I’ve been writing books.

In addition to writing, I am an attorney, lecturer at a Big Ten university, active in women’s ministry, and all around crazy woman. Crazy about God, my husband and my kids. I graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (Go Huskers!), George Mason Law School (JD), and Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management (MBA).

Connect with Cara: Website // Facebook // Twitter // Instagram // Pinterest

~ Giveaway ~

To celebrate her tour, Cara is giving away a grand prize package that includes a Courage Dear Heart bracelet, a The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe print, a copy of Delayed Justice, and a box of Turkish Delight!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d5c4/delayed-justice-celebration-tour-giveaway