Justifiable Means

by Shannon Guymon

Nikki Truman triumphed over a childhood of abuse with her spirit intact. She has a happy disposition and an incredible determination to make her and her brother’s lives as normal as she possibly can. Hired on as Rory McNiel’s housekeeper and cook, she’s well on her way to making that happen. Changing Rory’s "couch potato" ways and his unhealthy eating habits are a snap compared to over-hauling his damaged self-esteem. However, when Rory’s mother sees Nikki cooking her way into her son’s heart, battle lines are drawn. Nikki knows a dark secret stands in the way of her bright future and her growing love for Rory. That secret doesn’t want to be kept in the closet—in fact, it’s practically on her doorstep. It won’t rest until it has claimed her brother, but Nikki will do anything to protect Casey. Anything by justifiable means.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Lds, Fiction, Adult Fiction

188 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2003

About the author

I live in the Rocky Mountains with my husband and children and love my home when it’s not snowing. I’m the author of 37 books so far. I also write YA Paranormal Romance under my pen name, Katie Lee O’Guinn. I enjoy the outdoors, reading and being with my family. To find out the latest on my books, check out my blog. You can purchase all of my books at Amazon.com. I’m also a huge supporter of Operation Underground Railroad. Check out their website to learn more.

Reviews

[Debby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short, sweet, clean. 23-year-old Nikki Truman was badly abused by her drug addict mom and boyfriend as a child. Fostered to an LDS black family, she joined the church, was adopted and sealed to the Stones (stretches the imagination black family taking white child). At 18, she goes to tell her mom and finds a 3-year-old brother instead, alone in a meth lab. She takes him and goes on the run for 5 years thinking she's a kidnapper. Then she lands a housekeeping/cook job for rich, injured, ex-baseball player Rory McNiel. He's holed up in his amazing house up the canyon (Alpine, UT area?) that he designed and built. She feeds him great, healthy food, inspires him to no longer be a couch potato and they fall in love. However, Mom is now looking for Casey so she can sell him for body parts to the man who used to beat Nikki up. Rory's mom isn't thrilled that her "perfect" son has fallen for the cook either. When the bad guys come after Nikki and Casey everyone pulls together though, clear Nikki, save Casey and get married. Fun, clean, easy read. Reasonably well written.

[Danni · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book.

[Heidi · Rating 1 out of 5]

July 14, 21 Review - 1 Star
So... a decade ago I found this cute. Today, I do not.

First off, the writing was hard to get through. Overuse of a lot of cliche phrases, like "jaw dropped" and "gasped in surprise," etc. It felt a bit mellow dramatic and simplistic. The story might have gotten 2 stars but the repeativeness was so irksome I had to lower it.

Personal side note, I hate that they made the "bad guy" from West Valley. As I've lived in the area this is based, I hate that people always pin any crime in Salt Lake Valley as West Valley. Reinforcing an untrue stereotype.

Overall, if you are looking for a clean, Christian romance, technically this hits that but there are certainly better ones out there.



Mar 15, 2011 Review - 3 Stars
Very predictable, I had it figured out from the first chapter... but it was cute anyway

[Kathryn Class · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story subject was really good and I think Mrs. Guymon had much more realism in this book than any of the others. The characters were interesting and I wish she had made the book longer to really develop the characters. There were a few negatives... Typos and editing errors that I have a difficult time ignoring. I would just get into the story and then notice a mistake. Also, the author made too much mention of how partially hydrogenated oils were like poison and she constantly stated that Nikki could cook a meal that made everyone who tasted it become completely enamored with her. It wasn't a can't put it down book, but I definitely couldn't let a day pass without reading, at least, a few chapters.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read. Tells of a girl who has had a rough beginning with a drug addict mom who finally gives her up at age 11 and goes to foster care. She is adopted by a LDS family and life is going good till she goes back to tell her biological mom that she forgives her and finds she has a 3 year old brother who is in the same mess that she was in. She decides at age 18 that she will take him and love him even though this is kidnapping. She does odd jobs with cleaning until she finds a job with Rory McNeil a retired pitcher for the big leagues. Everything seems too good to be true. The ideal job, house, and private LDS school for Casey her brother. Will it last or will trouble come calling?

[Margo Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another enjoyable book from Guymon.

I am really enjoying her books, however this one was too short (184 pages) and the characters weren't developed enough for me AND she repeats several ideas/concepts/settings from other books she's written. So, while I like her books, it might be a good idea to wait awhile before reading another by her, to forget some of the repetitive ideas she uses.

Other than that, it was a fun and easy read.

It is very much an LDS book with religious references, prayer, church attendance, and more. I found it all very uplifting.

[Kristyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book needs a new title. It makes it sound like a murder mystery or something when really, it's a cute little LDS romance. I thought it was a great story with interesting characters and a cool house as the setting.

She could have upped the romance level quite a bit though (even for an LDS romance) and then I would have given it 5 stars for being such a fun book to read. I would have really enjoyed more chapters with just interaction between the main characters because I liked them and wanted more of their relationship to develop, especially at the end.

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was amazing and really inspirational. It is about think girl named Nikki that was abused when she was a child. She was put into a home where she was taught about the LDS church. In this book she tries to escape from her past, but will it catch up to her?
I thought this book was well written and I think it was great and it had a great message behind it. It is one of my new favorite books.

[Catherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was short, but it took me awhile to finish it. I just wasn't getting into it. I was planning on giving this book two stars for that reason, but the last 50 pages or so made me change my mind. I liked how everything turned out in the end. Shannon Guymon is one of my favorite authors, but this has been my least favorite book of hers. My favorites are the ones where the characters live in Alpine, UT.

[Valerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is more like 3.5, but that isn't an option. It was an okay book. Seriously though, if she talked about health foods and the "poison" in every day food, I was going to scream. It doesn't need to be said every 2 pages. The story line wasn't really believable but it was a cute story that ended good.

[Kaylynn Johnsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one more than most in the slew I've been reading, but then again Shannon Guymon is one of my favorites.

The story was interesting and the only distressing parts were her fondness for tofu and her over the top dislike of trans-fatty acids and partially hydrogenated oils. Oreos rules! And I'll beat up anyone who says otherwise.

[Sandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I personally found the perkiness of this book a little too much. But that is probably just me. I do think that Nikki's personality didn't fit together well. She thought like a rich person but had lived all of her life poor. It just didn't feel cohesive to me.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable book! Nikki takes a job as housekeeper to the rich Rory, ex pro baseball player, to provide a settled home for her and her little brother.

[Dena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It was a great romance.

[Dianna · Rating 3 out of 5]

knowing that life throws out interesting experiences which make us draw from our inner strength...this is a book that shows the gutsy drive for survival.

[Nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It was hard to put it down.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give it 3 1/2 stars. It was a good book.

[Natalie · Rating 5 out of 5]

AWESOME BOOK!!!!

[Saralyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

To continue my Shannon Guymon reading, picked up this book. Fun little story. Not my favorite of hers, but enjoyable all the same.

[Louise E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good story.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun story-quick read.

[Karijean31 · Rating 5 out of 5]

fun to read