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Sonoma #4.1
Necessary Proof
A romantic suspense novella originally published in the Inspy Kisses anthology, FIRST KISSES with Linda Goodnight, Janet Tronstad, Debra Clopton, Margaret Daley, and Lacy Williams.
After opening his heart to Jesus in prison, Alex Villa has left his criminal past behind him. However, his efforts to take down a gang producing meth in Sonoma have made him a target. Set up to look like he’s being bribed by the gang, the police blame him for the death of a cop. Only the evidence on an encrypted laptop can prove he’s innocent.
Software engineer Jane Lawton has been betrayed by the men closest to her, including a God she thought would protect her. She won’t let Alex down, because she knows what it feels like to be disbelieved and abandoned.
However, the men after them have orders to repossess the evidence and make sure Jane and Alex take their knowledge to the grave. Can they prove Alex’s innocence before time runs out for them both?
(Those of you who have read my Love Inspired Suspense, FORMULA FOR DANGER, will have met Jane and Alex as minor characters in that book. I'm so excited to finally write their own love story!)
Camy Tang's Sonoma series:
#1: Deadly Intent
#2: Formula for Danger
#3: Stalker in the Shadows
#4: Narrow Escape
#4.1: Necessary Proof (novella)
#4.2: Unshakeable Pursuit (novella)
#5: Treacherous Intent (coming December 2014)
Excerpt:
Jane Lawton nearly dropped her steaming pot of Mac-N-Cheese at the sound of a powerful fist knocking at her apartment door. "Coming!" She spooned the gooey, bad-for-you goodness into a bowl, then ran some water in the pot in the sink.
The urgent knocking sounded again. Somehow it didn't sound like one of her neighbors, wanting Jane's help with a computer problem. She looked through the peephole.
She felt a sharp pulse at the base of her throat. "Alex?" She opened the door.
Normally a walking Calvin Klein ad, he now had a grim, serious cast to his face as he hurriedly entered her apartment with a messenger bag slung across one broad shoulder. "Quick, close the door."
"What's going on?" She locked the deadbolt.
It frightened her that he looked so different now, lacking his usual smile and dimples. "I need your help, Jane."
She couldn't control the bitterness that burned the back of her throat. It seemed that was the only thing she was good for, helping the men in her life so they could leave her and move on. She swallowed and said carefully, "Doing what?"
He pulled a laptop from his messenger bag. "There's information on this that I need, but I'm not sure if there's any type of security protecting it."
"Whoa." Jane took a step back. "You're saying that's not your laptop, and you want me to get into it? What's going on?" She knew he had been in prison for a few years, but she thought he'd put his illegal past behind him.
He scrubbed his hand over his high forehead. "It's not what it looks like."
"That makes it sound even worse."
He exhaled and seemed to study her. His intent, dark eyes made her squirm. She knew she'd changed a lot in the past year. She'd only spoken to him once in all that time, a few months ago at the party celebrating his brother's engagement to Rachel, Jane's second cousin but as close as a sister. After a minute or two of chit-chat, he had been quick to leave her to speak to Detective Carter, which had given her a pang even though she hadn't been in a sociable mood. What a difference from when she and Alex had first met years ago. He had seemed interested in her, but she'd been ...
She shoved the memories aside. "I'm only going to ask this one more time. What's going on?"
"I just ... I can trust you, right?"
"Trust me with what?"
After opening his heart to Jesus in prison, Alex Villa has left his criminal past behind him. However, his efforts to take down a gang producing meth in Sonoma have made him a target. Set up to look like he’s being bribed by the gang, the police blame him for the death of a cop. Only the evidence on an encrypted laptop can prove he’s innocent.
Software engineer Jane Lawton has been betrayed by the men closest to her, including a God she thought would protect her. She won’t let Alex down, because she knows what it feels like to be disbelieved and abandoned.
However, the men after them have orders to repossess the evidence and make sure Jane and Alex take their knowledge to the grave. Can they prove Alex’s innocence before time runs out for them both?
(Those of you who have read my Love Inspired Suspense, FORMULA FOR DANGER, will have met Jane and Alex as minor characters in that book. I'm so excited to finally write their own love story!)
Camy Tang's Sonoma series:
#1: Deadly Intent
#2: Formula for Danger
#3: Stalker in the Shadows
#4: Narrow Escape
#4.1: Necessary Proof (novella)
#4.2: Unshakeable Pursuit (novella)
#5: Treacherous Intent (coming December 2014)
Excerpt:
Jane Lawton nearly dropped her steaming pot of Mac-N-Cheese at the sound of a powerful fist knocking at her apartment door. "Coming!" She spooned the gooey, bad-for-you goodness into a bowl, then ran some water in the pot in the sink.
The urgent knocking sounded again. Somehow it didn't sound like one of her neighbors, wanting Jane's help with a computer problem. She looked through the peephole.
She felt a sharp pulse at the base of her throat. "Alex?" She opened the door.
Normally a walking Calvin Klein ad, he now had a grim, serious cast to his face as he hurriedly entered her apartment with a messenger bag slung across one broad shoulder. "Quick, close the door."
"What's going on?" She locked the deadbolt.
It frightened her that he looked so different now, lacking his usual smile and dimples. "I need your help, Jane."
She couldn't control the bitterness that burned the back of her throat. It seemed that was the only thing she was good for, helping the men in her life so they could leave her and move on. She swallowed and said carefully, "Doing what?"
He pulled a laptop from his messenger bag. "There's information on this that I need, but I'm not sure if there's any type of security protecting it."
"Whoa." Jane took a step back. "You're saying that's not your laptop, and you want me to get into it? What's going on?" She knew he had been in prison for a few years, but she thought he'd put his illegal past behind him.
He scrubbed his hand over his high forehead. "It's not what it looks like."
"That makes it sound even worse."
He exhaled and seemed to study her. His intent, dark eyes made her squirm. She knew she'd changed a lot in the past year. She'd only spoken to him once in all that time, a few months ago at the party celebrating his brother's engagement to Rachel, Jane's second cousin but as close as a sister. After a minute or two of chit-chat, he had been quick to leave her to speak to Detective Carter, which had given her a pang even though she hadn't been in a sociable mood. What a difference from when she and Alex had first met years ago. He had seemed interested in her, but she'd been ...
She shoved the memories aside. "I'm only going to ask this one more time. What's going on?"
"I just ... I can trust you, right?"
"Trust me with what?"
74 pages, ebook
First published February 27, 2014
56 people are currently reading
211 people want to read
About the author
Camy Tang
63 books534 followersCamy writes Christian romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and cozy mystery as Camy Tang and Regency romance under her pen name, Camille Elliot. She grew up in Hawaii but now lives in northern California with her engineer husband and rambunctious dog. She graduated from Stanford University in psychology with a focus on biology, but for nine years she worked as a biologist researcher. Then God guided her path in a completely different direction and now she’s writing full time, using her original psychology degree as she creates the characters in her novels. In her free time, she’s a staff worker for her church youth group and leads one of her church’s Sunday worship teams. She also loves to knit, spin wool into yarn, and is training to (very slowly) run a marathon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
October 14, 2015
I really enjoyed this short story a lot! It is my first Camy Tang suspense (I've previously enjoyed her Regency "Prelude For a Lord") and I was quite impressed. The details were great–the eggs with soy sauce, the scent of basil...they added a whole new level to the story. And it doesn't shy away from a good Christian message, either.
January 1, 2016
SUMMARY: After opening his heart to Jesus in prison, Alex Villa has left his criminal past behind him. However, his efforts to take down a gang producing meth in Sonoma have made him a target. Set up to look like he’s being bribed by the gang, the police blame him for the death of a cop. Only the evidence on an encrypted laptop can prove he’s innocent.
Software engineer Jane Lawton has been betrayed by the men closest to her, including a God she thought would protect her. She won’t let Alex down, because she knows what it feels like to be disbelieved and abandoned.
However, the men after them have orders to repossess the evidence and make sure Jane and Alex take their knowledge to the grave. Can they prove Alex’s innocence before time runs out for them both?
REVIEW: This novella is part of the Sonoma series. I have loved both the setting and the characters in this series. Alex and Jane were minor characters in "Formula For Danger" and now get their own story. This short story was full of action and suspense. Good characters who were dealing with personal problems and trying to determine where God fit into their lives after feeling He had deserted them. Camy does an excellent job of maintaining the Christian thread throughout this novella. Looking forward to reading the final books in this well written series.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Sometimes when we feel alone, we're really not. We just can't see Him (God) behind us."
Software engineer Jane Lawton has been betrayed by the men closest to her, including a God she thought would protect her. She won’t let Alex down, because she knows what it feels like to be disbelieved and abandoned.
However, the men after them have orders to repossess the evidence and make sure Jane and Alex take their knowledge to the grave. Can they prove Alex’s innocence before time runs out for them both?
REVIEW: This novella is part of the Sonoma series. I have loved both the setting and the characters in this series. Alex and Jane were minor characters in "Formula For Danger" and now get their own story. This short story was full of action and suspense. Good characters who were dealing with personal problems and trying to determine where God fit into their lives after feeling He had deserted them. Camy does an excellent job of maintaining the Christian thread throughout this novella. Looking forward to reading the final books in this well written series.
FAVORITE QUOTES: "Sometimes when we feel alone, we're really not. We just can't see Him (God) behind us."
December 31, 2015
This was my first book by Camy Tang, but it won't be my last. I really enjoyed the story. The characters were very likable and the story action packed.
Alex is framed for a police set up where a cop got killed. He stole the laptop of one of the guys he suspects who framed it and needs Jane's help to get into the laptop. Jane is dealing with her own hurts from the past.
The friendship between the two was enjoyable to watch especially how caring and protective Alex is over Jane. I liked Jane's character a lot. I don't think any girl is able to throw a guy against the knee with a hammer.
Love this quote:
"Sometimes when we feel alone, we're really not. We just can't see Him behind us."
Alex is framed for a police set up where a cop got killed. He stole the laptop of one of the guys he suspects who framed it and needs Jane's help to get into the laptop. Jane is dealing with her own hurts from the past.
The friendship between the two was enjoyable to watch especially how caring and protective Alex is over Jane. I liked Jane's character a lot. I don't think any girl is able to throw a guy against the knee with a hammer.
Love this quote:
"Sometimes when we feel alone, we're really not. We just can't see Him behind us."
April 7, 2014
Necessary Proof by Camy Tang
Alex Villa had spent time in prison, he has since become a Christian and changed his ways but someone is setting him up. He is determined to clear his name and to continue fighting against the drug dealers in Sonoma.
Jane Lawton has felt alone this past year. She's tired of being used, now Alex appears at her door and needs her computer skills. And as she always does for anyone, she helps him. Who knew what danger it would bring to her doorstep? And also how much healing would come from it.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Alex Villa had spent time in prison, he has since become a Christian and changed his ways but someone is setting him up. He is determined to clear his name and to continue fighting against the drug dealers in Sonoma.
Jane Lawton has felt alone this past year. She's tired of being used, now Alex appears at her door and needs her computer skills. And as she always does for anyone, she helps him. Who knew what danger it would bring to her doorstep? And also how much healing would come from it.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
December 27, 2014
A quick read, filled with suspense and a unique plot. I loved the characters and how they were redeemed in Christ, which was portrayed throughout the novella. I got this novella for free on Amazon, and really just picked it up because I had some spare time on a car trip, and wanted a quick read that I could finish that day. Even though I've never read this author before, I enjoyed this novella. At first I was hesitant about reading this novella, as it's not what I normally read, and the cover looked like it might be heavy on romance. However it was very clean, and was glad I read it.
May 12, 2014
Alex Villa was accused of a crime for the second time in his life. Except this time he didn't do it. Prison was a brutal place, as Alex remember where ghosts hovered his vision. But he found peace and love, he found Christ. Alex, was following a man in the foothills of California, that he was sure would lead him to the one in charge of having the police officer shot and was framing him. The man was headed for the meth-lab. They were the Filipino gang. Alex could go to Detective Carter because he had evidence against Alex. Alex got close enough that he could see their laptop, so he grab the computer and ran, he looked back and they were shooting at him. Alex made it to Jane Lawton, who was a computer expert. The gang follow Alex to Jane's apartment, so they had to leave. They made it to her mom and dad home, the gang follow them there. They went to other places and the gang keep following them. They made it to Jane's office and some funny things happen there! You really need to read the book to see if they every got away from the gang ! Also did Alex , have to go to jail! Did Jane and Alex get together! If you don't read it you will be sorry. Blessings to you. A really good suspense and romance with funny spots.
August 29, 2016
This was my first read by Camy Tang and now I've found a new author! Alex and Jane were minor characters in a previous book, Formula for Danger (Love Inspired Suspense). This story shines the spotlight on Alex and Jane as he enlists Jane's help to clear his name. There is a lot of action packed into this novella as they are on the run from a meth-producing Filipino gang. I'd say this story was more suspense with some romance included. Even though this was a novella, the author did a good job of developing the characters and I think it helped that they knew each other before (and Alex had been attracted to her in the past). Some of the technical computer-related speak was a little confusing for me but might be fine for others. I enjoyed the Christian content, especially when Jane realizes she doesn't need to earn God's love like she felt she had to with her own father. Good story and execution, I look forward to more of Camy Tang's work!
April 4, 2014
Alex Villa is being set up!! How can he prove it…Alex takes
a laptop from the Filipino gang. The gang runs meth labs
and has set up Alex for murder. Alex goes for help from a
friend, Jane Lawton. She is a computer expert who needs to
find evidence from the laptop to save him.
Alex had spent time in prison where he found Jesus. He has
been working with the Sonoma Police Department as a
confidential informant. Will Jane be able to help him?
Will both survive the gang’s violence? Will they be able
to devise a plan to prove his innocence?
Go along with Alex & Jane on their hair raising adventure.
It is a good suspense story with a well written plot and
well developed characters.
a laptop from the Filipino gang. The gang runs meth labs
and has set up Alex for murder. Alex goes for help from a
friend, Jane Lawton. She is a computer expert who needs to
find evidence from the laptop to save him.
Alex had spent time in prison where he found Jesus. He has
been working with the Sonoma Police Department as a
confidential informant. Will Jane be able to help him?
Will both survive the gang’s violence? Will they be able
to devise a plan to prove his innocence?
Go along with Alex & Jane on their hair raising adventure.
It is a good suspense story with a well written plot and
well developed characters.
April 7, 2014
Camy Tang brings us a suspense interlaced with romance. I enjoyed this book. She introduces us to Alex Villa and Jan Lawton. Alex is a Christian who has paid for his youthful indiscretions and is trying to help his community's fight against drugs. Unfortunately that lands him set up in a murder investigation. He decides to find out who has set him up, but ends up needing computer help to unravel the clues. He turns to a friend, Jan Lawton, for assistance. Jan is a whiz with computers and when enlisted to help Alex is more than glad to help, but when certain factors come to light they find themselves literally running for their lives.
August 9, 2016
Alex is being framed and now he and his friend, Jane are running for their lives. In this exciting romantic suspense novella, Jane and Alex will have to fight for their lives by outwitting those who are after them. But will Jane truly be able to trust Alex with her life and her heart after having experienced more than her fair share of hurt? These are great characters. The compassion and understanding that Alex shows toward Jane really endeared him to my heart.
April 5, 2014
Necessary Proof by Camy Tang finds Alex out of prison. His life changed while he was in prison after finding a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, so when he is framed for being responsible for a police officer’s murder he is determined to clear his name. He gets his computer savvy friend, Jane involved and the adventure begins! In this novella you'll find forgiveness, putting the past behind, learning from mistakes and moving toward a brighter future. You will enjoy the adventure!
April 5, 2014
Necessary Proof by Camy Tang
Alex Villa was in prison and while he was there he became a Christian. Someone is trying to frame him , he is being set up for the death of a cop. He goes to a computer expert, Jane Lawton to get her to help him find the evidence he needed to prove he is innocence . Now he is also putting Jane's life on the line too. Can they find what they need to help Alex?
Alex Villa was in prison and while he was there he became a Christian. Someone is trying to frame him , he is being set up for the death of a cop. He goes to a computer expert, Jane Lawton to get her to help him find the evidence he needed to prove he is innocence . Now he is also putting Jane's life on the line too. Can they find what they need to help Alex?
May 27, 2014
Alex and Jane have been acquainted for a while but when Alex wanted to ask her out she was interested in someone else. Now he's in need of some computer help and Jane is the one he goes to. It's a pretty wild ride but they finally get the bad guys figured out and Jane finally figures out that she's not alone and never has been. Fun to reconnect with previous characters.
June 18, 2015
The whole novella had the action and suspense I wanted, and it was a short read so it kept me hooked the whole time.
If you have a spare forty minutes, Necessary Proof is a good read to fill your time with. ;)
If you have a spare forty minutes, Necessary Proof is a good read to fill your time with. ;)
January 2, 2016
Thoroughly enjoyed this novella. This is the second story I've read my Camy Tang and enjoy the fact that you can read the series without it being in order and still enjoy it. Great Christian suspense...clean! Looking forward to reading more by this author!
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April 4, 2014like
September 15, 2014
Love her suspense books. Interesting characters & plot with no gore, language or graphics. Recommended. TTS-enabled eBook © 2014
October 28, 2014
I enjoyed this novella so much I wished it was a novel.
January 25, 2015
All the elements of a novel packed into an action-filled novella, from wounds to healing, suspense to romance. If all the author's books are like this one, I'm up for more!
March 14, 2020
Loved this wild ride!
October 8, 2020
Alex has gone after a meth-producing gang, and now he's being framed for the death of a cop. The evidence on an encrypted laptop can prove his innocence, but he'll need the help of a software engineer, Jane, before the gang can take back the laptop—and possibly take Alex's and Jane's lives in the process—in Necessary Proof by author Camy Tang.
Nope, I haven't read any of the other books in this ChristFic romantic suspense series. Though there was some background that might have made more sense and some names mentioned I might have cared about if I'd read some of the preceding books, the main story here made quite enough sense on its own for me to appreciate it.
While some of the events and emotional development felt rushed, I found the story intriguing, with a fitting mix of dialogue and action, and a journey of faith runs through it. An enjoyable way to spend a relatively short amount of time.
Nope, I haven't read any of the other books in this ChristFic romantic suspense series. Though there was some background that might have made more sense and some names mentioned I might have cared about if I'd read some of the preceding books, the main story here made quite enough sense on its own for me to appreciate it.
While some of the events and emotional development felt rushed, I found the story intriguing, with a fitting mix of dialogue and action, and a journey of faith runs through it. An enjoyable way to spend a relatively short amount of time.
August 11, 2023
It was a good fast read. It's a novella after all. Pacing was good, fast action. When I read there are Filipino characters, I become wary. Not because I'd be defensive if they write them as caricature of evil bad guys, nah, I couldn't care less. I'm wary if the Filipino characters are actually Filipinos.
The good thing here is the author got the names right, but the part where Facebook is supposedly in Filipino language and had to be translated had me cracked up. Not everyone in the Philippines understands and speaks Tagalog/Filipino (like me, I speak Cebuano/Bisaya). Everything that comes via the internet is default English. English is everywhere and used everyday. I just find it amusing that after all that research about the culture, this is one thing that was missed.
But, really, though, I'm just being nit-picky when it comes to Filipino characters. It didn't deter the fast paced action or the message about God's love. I recommend you try this book.
The good thing here is the author got the names right, but the part where Facebook is supposedly in Filipino language and had to be translated had me cracked up. Not everyone in the Philippines understands and speaks Tagalog/Filipino (like me, I speak Cebuano/Bisaya). Everything that comes via the internet is default English. English is everywhere and used everyday. I just find it amusing that after all that research about the culture, this is one thing that was missed.
But, really, though, I'm just being nit-picky when it comes to Filipino characters. It didn't deter the fast paced action or the message about God's love. I recommend you try this book.
December 10, 2020
This was my first Camy Tang book. I'm not sure it's a good introduction to her writing because it is a novella that is set in the middle of a series. I felt like the novella length didn't give time to develop the relationship with her parents and ex-boyfriend which are key to who she is and what she yearns for. I had also hoped to find cultural differences playing a bigger part since Camy would have good insight into this world because of her multi-cultural background. But I appreciated the theme of living for God's approval first and foremost. Jane and Alex are appealing characters and it lives up to its label of "romantic suspense." I know today authors are doing more "head hopping" than in the past, writing multiple points of view in any given scene, but I found this confusing at times in this novella. But this is a nice novella I enjoyed reading.
April 11, 2021
A very engaging and tension filled story that grabs you immediately and keeps you riveted until the final page. The characters are excellently portrayed and it's easy to imagine the smells, heart pounding experiences, and demeaning words from the vivid descriptions the author gives. Alex is being framed for a crime he didn't commit and he turns to Jane to help him by getting into the laptop he has stolen from a meth lab in Sonoma. This is definitely a Christian based story, but it is done without being preachy or offensive. Alex has found the Lord when he was in prison and Jane had turned away from her faith believing the Lord had turned His back on her. This is my first book by this author, but it promises to be a good series. I did receive a free copy of this book, but this is my voluntary, honest and completely personal review.
VICKI FROM WYOMING
VICKI FROM WYOMING
December 29, 2025
Get Ready for a Wild Ride!
The first story has non-stop action and a couple with chemistry! I enjoyed it a lot. I especially enjoyed the fun story with a reminder of what God’s love really means and how different it is than human love. The book is well-written and keeps to a recognizable theme while entertaining with a little humor, a little romance, and a lot of excitement.
I am currently listening to the second book which has a good start so far. I generally like books by Camy Tang. It is interesting to hear a little about various Asian cultures in the suspense genre. Family is very important in these novels. Faith is important as well. That said, the characters are not stuffy nor is the dialogue preachy. They are always entertaining.
The first story has non-stop action and a couple with chemistry! I enjoyed it a lot. I especially enjoyed the fun story with a reminder of what God’s love really means and how different it is than human love. The book is well-written and keeps to a recognizable theme while entertaining with a little humor, a little romance, and a lot of excitement.
I am currently listening to the second book which has a good start so far. I generally like books by Camy Tang. It is interesting to hear a little about various Asian cultures in the suspense genre. Family is very important in these novels. Faith is important as well. That said, the characters are not stuffy nor is the dialogue preachy. They are always entertaining.
December 5, 2024
Alex Villa has turned his life around after leaving his criminal life behind. Alex tries to take down a drug gang producing meth in Sonoma which makes him a target. Alex is being blamed for a cop’s death after he was set up. Jane Lawton is a software engineer who was betrayed by men she worked with. Jane blames God for not protecting her. Jane finds evidence on an encrypted computer which can prove Alex’s innocence. As Alex and Jane uncover the truth their power of faith and trust in God grow and their romance begins to blossom. I really enjoyed this wonderful Christian romance novel.
January 24, 2022
Clean but violent novella
Camy Tang pulls the reader in with suspense and thrilling action.
'Necessary Proof' ended quite quickly because I raced through it.
I simply couldn't put it down.
Guns, gangs, drugs and a love story.
Lots of potential in this thriller. The last bit was terrifying and ended with a twist.
I want more.
Camy Tang pulls the reader in with suspense and thrilling action.
'Necessary Proof' ended quite quickly because I raced through it.
I simply couldn't put it down.
Guns, gangs, drugs and a love story.
Lots of potential in this thriller. The last bit was terrifying and ended with a twist.
I want more.
September 4, 2023
Proof of Quality
This was my first read by Camy Tang, and it did not disappoint. Well-paced, clean, tightly written, original short story with room for God's grace. I loved it and can't wait to read more by Ms. Tang.
This was my first read by Camy Tang, and it did not disappoint. Well-paced, clean, tightly written, original short story with room for God's grace. I loved it and can't wait to read more by Ms. Tang.
December 1, 2020
I loved reading the book.
January 10, 2021
Well done
This is my first book by Camy Yang but not my last ! 😁 Clean, suspenseful and faith based .
This is my first book by Camy Yang but not my last ! 😁 Clean, suspenseful and faith based .
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews