What do you think?
Rate this book
Next Best Hope
ABOUT NEXT BEST A tightly crafted legal thriller written by an attorney who knows the law. A national coalition known as the Christian Militants attempts to overthrow the United States government and all hell breaks loose. As the rebellion threatens to divide the nation, two unlikely leaders arise in the opposing camps. Will they save the Union, usher in the Kingdom of God or plunge the United States into all-out civil war? You can follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenwoodfin and at venturegalleries.com
- GenresThriller
254 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2012
10 people are currently reading
85 people want to read
About the author
Stephen Woodfin
22 books39 followersStephen Woodfin is an attorney and author of twelve legal thrillers. The first book in his Revelation Trilogy, Last One Chosen, was a Top Five Finalist for Best Indie Book of 2012 in the thriller genre. His book The Warrior with Alzheimer's was named by Kirkus Reviews as one of the best books of 2013.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
March 8, 2017
++Minor SPOILERS++
Not as good as "The Last One Chosen" (which is the first book in the series)but a good lead-in book to what I hope will be a great part three.
I would not read this without reading the first book and this book makes you have to read the next to find out what happens, but I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger exactly.
I wont rehash the story since the summary here should suffice. What I will say is that this one didn't grab me as much as the first, but still kept me rivited.
What was lacking was the emotional attachment to the characters that I had with book one. Here the characters did not have as much depth or complexity. I wanted more of Ert and Billy and judge McNeil..but they were not such critical players here. Even Bass should have been more developed. I just didn't love him as much as I did Josh. Maybe some more background info would have helped.
The action was good, but I felt lost at times.
Overall it was good, I bought it so I can share with my mom who LOVED "The Last One Chosen" and I am going to read the last book right now.
Triggers: violence, reference of torture (not detailed)
Not as good as "The Last One Chosen" (which is the first book in the series)but a good lead-in book to what I hope will be a great part three.
I would not read this without reading the first book and this book makes you have to read the next to find out what happens, but I wouldn't call it a cliffhanger exactly.
I wont rehash the story since the summary here should suffice. What I will say is that this one didn't grab me as much as the first, but still kept me rivited.
What was lacking was the emotional attachment to the characters that I had with book one. Here the characters did not have as much depth or complexity. I wanted more of Ert and Billy and judge McNeil..but they were not such critical players here. Even Bass should have been more developed. I just didn't love him as much as I did Josh. Maybe some more background info would have helped.
The action was good, but I felt lost at times.
Overall it was good, I bought it so I can share with my mom who LOVED "The Last One Chosen" and I am going to read the last book right now.
Triggers: violence, reference of torture (not detailed)
June 8, 2012
I am the author.
A national coalition known as the Christian Militants attempts to overthrow the United States government and all hell breaks loose. As the rebellion threatens to divide the nation, two unlikely leaders arise in the opposing camps. Will they save the Union, usher in the Kingdom of God or plunge the United States into all-out civil war?
A national coalition known as the Christian Militants attempts to overthrow the United States government and all hell breaks loose. As the rebellion threatens to divide the nation, two unlikely leaders arise in the opposing camps. Will they save the Union, usher in the Kingdom of God or plunge the United States into all-out civil war?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2012
What a chilling and realistic portrait of our country this is. As the book opens, the President and the next seven people in the line of succession are assassinated. The country is thrown into turmoil as the ninth in line, a Texan named Bass Whitfield, who happens to be the Secretary of Agriculture, is sworn in to be President.
A political party called CM for Christian Militants is on the ascendant, and the chaos at the top gives the CM leaders the catalyst they need to seek support from the people. An unholy cabal of a megachurch pastor, a dirty Senator and a religious Secret Service agent seize the moment and convince several U.S. states to secede from the Union and form a new country called New Israel.
What I liked about Next Best Hope is that there is far more to the book than its plot, gripping as it is. The characters are living, breathing human beings with strong feelings and the occasional philosophical brainwave. They are leaders of one kind or another, and the advisors of leaders, and they compare their own crisis with the Civil War. One important scene takes place on the battlefield at Shiloh. This gives the story gravitas.
The courts set up by the new government of New Israel, and the punishments carried out against thieves, drunk drivers and others make you think of Sharia Law and punishments we do not normally associate with the American Midwest. Yet there it is in Next Best Hope, summary executions and chopping off people's hands for stealing. I found this totally believable in the context of the story, and the story made me imagine these things really happening in our country, and how it could come to pass.
Next Best Hope is a first class thriller with all the elements of a great read -- good writing, a fantastic plot, and a very cool ending that completely surprised me. I'd definitely recommend this book if you like thrillers.
A political party called CM for Christian Militants is on the ascendant, and the chaos at the top gives the CM leaders the catalyst they need to seek support from the people. An unholy cabal of a megachurch pastor, a dirty Senator and a religious Secret Service agent seize the moment and convince several U.S. states to secede from the Union and form a new country called New Israel.
What I liked about Next Best Hope is that there is far more to the book than its plot, gripping as it is. The characters are living, breathing human beings with strong feelings and the occasional philosophical brainwave. They are leaders of one kind or another, and the advisors of leaders, and they compare their own crisis with the Civil War. One important scene takes place on the battlefield at Shiloh. This gives the story gravitas.
The courts set up by the new government of New Israel, and the punishments carried out against thieves, drunk drivers and others make you think of Sharia Law and punishments we do not normally associate with the American Midwest. Yet there it is in Next Best Hope, summary executions and chopping off people's hands for stealing. I found this totally believable in the context of the story, and the story made me imagine these things really happening in our country, and how it could come to pass.
Next Best Hope is a first class thriller with all the elements of a great read -- good writing, a fantastic plot, and a very cool ending that completely surprised me. I'd definitely recommend this book if you like thrillers.
July 5, 2012
Stephen Woodfin delivers a fascinating tale of one religious group's desire to take over the U.S., and leaves the reader wondering if the broader scenario he creates is all that far from reality. In NEXT BEST HOPE, Woodfin weaves a layered story of assassination, deception, and elitism - all driven by a fanatical faith that pits the deeply religious Christian Militants against those whose faith might rest in God, but also in the U.S. Constitution.
Woodfin's cast of characters is far-reaching and the story takes off with a bang! Hang on tight because NEXT BEST HOPE never slows down, but Woodfin manages the action skillfully and does a great job of helping you understand the purity (or lack thereof) of each character's motivations and the ferocity with which they'll fight for their beliefs. The possibilities for life in a Christian Militant-type state are frightening as drawn by Woodfin; another reviewer likens the justice system to that under Sharia law and the parallels are eerie.
NEXT BEST HOPE is a timely, engrossing thriller. It takes the ongoing battle over how far religiosity should be allowed to dominate American life, and gives that battle room to breathe and grow. Prepare to enjoy this book when you sit down to read it, and prepare to think about the possibilities Woodfin opens up long after you're done.
Woodfin's cast of characters is far-reaching and the story takes off with a bang! Hang on tight because NEXT BEST HOPE never slows down, but Woodfin manages the action skillfully and does a great job of helping you understand the purity (or lack thereof) of each character's motivations and the ferocity with which they'll fight for their beliefs. The possibilities for life in a Christian Militant-type state are frightening as drawn by Woodfin; another reviewer likens the justice system to that under Sharia law and the parallels are eerie.
NEXT BEST HOPE is a timely, engrossing thriller. It takes the ongoing battle over how far religiosity should be allowed to dominate American life, and gives that battle room to breathe and grow. Prepare to enjoy this book when you sit down to read it, and prepare to think about the possibilities Woodfin opens up long after you're done.
September 11, 2012
I liked it. It was an interesting concept, a new idea in a book for a change. I would give it 3.5 stars. Good idea and solid characters. I didn't love the ending though.
May 27, 2013
I was a little disappointed as I liked the first book in the trilogy so much....this was ok but now I wonder if I should bother with number 3.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews