Delayed Justice by Cara C. Putman deals with a tough subject – but I was not connected to any of the characters, the story, the message, or the outcome.

[image error]Summary:

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.

My Review:

My expectations for this book were high, as I know Ms. Putman is a well respected author. Maybe that is why I was so disappointed. I wanted to like this book and I tried hard to connect with the characters, but I couldn’t.

As I read, I felt very detached. The story drags with long unneeded descriptions that do not move the story forward or provide a means of pulling you into the story or the characters. There is one exception: when Tiffany was on the stand and her feet were moving over Aslan – that was the first time I felt pulled in. I could see her, feel her hesitation. That felt real. Unfortunately, it was near the end.

The military aspects of the book were well done. As a military spouse, I’m really irritated when someone does not accurately depict and research military life. The author did well on this aspect.

I was not deeply moved by the faith message either. Maybe that is because I wasn’t invested in the characters. It felt detached as well and lacked depth.

Overall, I wouldn’t recommend the book. Maybe if you are a fan of her writing and read the rest of the series, it would be a good buy for you. However, I cannot give the book more than two stars.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.