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Warm Transfer
IN HONOR OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH, FREE DOWNLOAD OCTOBER 15-19! For any woman who has sought to reinvent herself comes a story of courage, potential and finding joy. Tamsen Peel has lost all hope. Devastated by the challenges in her marriage, she struggles desperately to find herself, and in doing so, she discovers a warm transfer. WARM TRANSFER /warm ˈtrænsfər/ (noun) The act of a customer service representative remaining on the line with their caller until that caller is successfully transferred to another agent. Metaphorically speaking, a warm transfer happens any time we help others find safe passage to their destination. Warm transfers move us forward, and they are at the heart of Tamsen’s journey. In a romantic and sometimes humorous story, Warm Transfer drops us into an affluent world of scandals and secrets. Tamsen’s husband Victor owns a successful advertising agency, and his income supports the Peel’s lavish lifestyle in the uppermost echelon of Chicago society. Inside the clutch of Victor’s controlling ways, however, Tamsen has misplaced her sense of identity. Just as she has given up the dream she could ever have more, Whit, a handsome young musician, leans his beat-up bike against the iron fence of the Peel’s Astor Street brownstone. Quickly, Tamsen finds an unlikely companion in his kindred, tortured soul. Despite their age difference, the two discover common ground in hot tea and their mutual love for the French novel The Count of Monte Cristo. It’s only a matter of time before their friendship intensifies, and Tamsen must face the questions that haunt can she reclaim the woman she was in her life before Victor? Is the detriment to her children worth it? Is she worth it?
- GenresAbuse
416 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2018
20 people are currently reading
56 people want to read
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September 9, 2018
She was imploding from within. Marriage to Victor was a slice of Hell that Tamsen hid from the world of upscale “Keeping up with the Joneses.” He was controlling, deceitful and brutal, both physically and mentally and Tamsen allowed herself to become an enabler and a victim of spousal abuse. It took a young musician who had survived deep pain and the burdens of life to show her both her value as a woman and mother, and her value as a human.
WARM TRANSFER Laura Holtz is not a pretty read. It isn’t chipper and sunny, it’s a gut-wrenching saga of one woman drowning in fear of both staying with her monster of a husband and leaving him, losing the creature comforts she had been surrounded with.
Throughout, I found myself wanting to sit Tamsen down and tell her to suck it up, for both her children and herself. This is an edgy, dark read with moments of humor, page after page of jagged edged detail and a very heavy, very dark atmosphere as we witness Tamsen struggle to find both herself and her sense of self-worth. Will Tamsen finally leave her controlling, dictator of a husband who will stop at nothing to have his way? Can she do it with little to no support in a world that has become her emotional Hell??
Difficult to read, sometimes almost overpowering one’s own sense of self-value, WARM TRANSFER is thought-provoking, off-putting and explosive as we watch one woman’s life and death struggle to find her personal redemption as she learns to feel worthy to be part of the human race.
I received a complimentary copy from Laura Holtz!
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press (May 29, 2018)
Publication Date: May 29, 2018
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 416 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
WARM TRANSFER Laura Holtz is not a pretty read. It isn’t chipper and sunny, it’s a gut-wrenching saga of one woman drowning in fear of both staying with her monster of a husband and leaving him, losing the creature comforts she had been surrounded with.
Throughout, I found myself wanting to sit Tamsen down and tell her to suck it up, for both her children and herself. This is an edgy, dark read with moments of humor, page after page of jagged edged detail and a very heavy, very dark atmosphere as we witness Tamsen struggle to find both herself and her sense of self-worth. Will Tamsen finally leave her controlling, dictator of a husband who will stop at nothing to have his way? Can she do it with little to no support in a world that has become her emotional Hell??
Difficult to read, sometimes almost overpowering one’s own sense of self-value, WARM TRANSFER is thought-provoking, off-putting and explosive as we watch one woman’s life and death struggle to find her personal redemption as she learns to feel worthy to be part of the human race.
I received a complimentary copy from Laura Holtz!
Publisher: Gatekeeper Press (May 29, 2018)
Publication Date: May 29, 2018
Genre: Women's Fiction
Print Length: 416 pages
Available from: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
For Reviews, Giveaways, Fabulous Book News, follow: http://tometender.blogspot.com
October 23, 2018
It has been a long time since I hated a book.
There is a good idea behind this book: being rich does not preclude one from being abused, and it can be emotional rather than physical. A woman can feel like a prisoner in her marriage just as much when she is rich. I was intrigued.
Not much happens except we follow Tamsen, our heroine in her mundane life. I didn't see much abuse. There was a lot of Tamsen telling how trapped she felt and how critical her husband was. Yes, the husband was a jerk but people on the brink of divorce have hurled worse insults and have controlled the joint finances. I wanted to see how they interacted before they separated.
Then at 90%, there is this weird scene
The book brings up too many topics without really exploring them fully. This means we don't really know if Tamsen brushes them aside because she is judgmental or accepting of those. It offends, unintentionally.
_____________________
I wrote more:
There is a good idea behind this book: being rich does not preclude one from being abused, and it can be emotional rather than physical. A woman can feel like a prisoner in her marriage just as much when she is rich. I was intrigued.
Not much happens except we follow Tamsen, our heroine in her mundane life. I didn't see much abuse. There was a lot of Tamsen telling how trapped she felt and how critical her husband was. Yes, the husband was a jerk but people on the brink of divorce have hurled worse insults and have controlled the joint finances. I wanted to see how they interacted before they separated.
Then at 90%, there is this weird scene
The book brings up too many topics without really exploring them fully. This means we don't really know if Tamsen brushes them aside because she is judgmental or accepting of those. It offends, unintentionally.
_____________________
I wrote more:
Read
October 28, 2018If I was to give this review a title, it would be 'Uncomfortable' because that is how I felt reading the book and also how I feel writing this review.
This is a difficult review to write, possibly because I have no real experience of the lifestyle that Tamsen leads and a LOT of the 'corporate' and 'social' stuff went way over my head. Though frankly, anyone who can spend $2500 on a dress she never wears and then expect the retailer to take it back over 9 months later, is sadly lacking in common sense.
I expected to feel sympathy for Tamsen but I didn't. She comes across as vapid, shallow, totally selfish and utterly unaware of 'real life' and there was no hint of any previous romance between her and Victor. We are supposed to believe she is a victim of emotional abuse, but to be honest, I didn't see much, if any, evidence. Yes, her husband controls her money, but wouldn't you if you had a wife who spent $2,500 on a dress that she never wore? And she drives around in a top-of-the-range Audi. AND she pays $450 for a haircut.
Part of my problem with this novel so far is that the 'abuse' isn't clear. And there is NO love between these two. I don't even know why Tamsen married him unless it was for his money. And that's no basis for any marriage. The part about her 'hiding' money was pretty stupid and implies that she's trapped in the marriage because she can't afford to leave. Trust me, girl. You can leave whenever you want. Take the Audi and your jewels. You might have to have your hair cut somewhere they charge $5, but if you are really that 'abused' it's worth it.
She has the wealth and she has the intelligence- though sometimes I query that - which is more than a LOT of abused women have.
I was also very uncomfortable about her badmouthing people. Her comment to Whit was quite, quite rude:
"You named your bike after a Dumas character?" Tamsen couldnt believe it - the cellist was also a reader.
Well, DUH! Being musical doesn't stop one from being literate as well. That was SUCH a horrid comment to make - as was this (Tamsen is saying goodbye to a friend who is described as having a 'diminutive stature' and the author writes:)
He was as ambitious as ever, and he had a big heart, but Tamsen still had to bend down to hug him goodbye.
Sorry, but that is so wrong.
I have read past the part where the therapist (on the very first meeting and after only a few minutes conversation) instantly diagnoses her problem and describes Victor as an abuser.
She tells Tamsen about the traits of an abuser - without knowing much about Victor, other than what Tamsen has said over the phone.
That gave me the creeps actually. A therapist coming to a more or less instant conclusion about someone she has never met?
And then (I got a bit confused at one stage) Tamsen - who is supposed to be terrified of her husband, invites the guitar/cello player to a party at a gay night club, where Tamsen is going dressed as a man. That doesn't ring true. She wouldn't DARE do that if she was that scared of Victor??
And there were further rather 'offensive' comments about an elderly lady.
...emaciated, wrinkled arms......
...claw shaped hand, knobby with arthritis and spotted with age...
...cataracted eyes... drooping creped lids.....
Those sorts of comments do NOT make Tasman likeable. And I am not wildly keen on authors who mock elderly people. One day she will be old as well.
I just think the author didn't really have a solid character in mind. Tamsen is too 'unformed' to be believable or engaging. Some aspects of the writing made me very uncomfortable - her lack of respect for old people etc.
The ending was pretty weird. I'm not going into details, but it came across as farcical really and Tamsen's 'miracle' remembering of what happened (at an exercise class) didnt ring true, especially as her 'therapist' had conveniently told her straight off in the first session that she was an 'abused' woman. I had the uncomfortable feeling that Tamsen - having been given 'permission' to think of herself as abused - might have remembered an incident differently. The inclusion of quite acceptable bedroom toys (handcuffs, nipple clamps etc) had no purpose and was yet another thing that made me feel very uncomfortable.
I DID have a snigger though at the 'Discussion Prompts' at the end - would YOU - 'discuss' the factors that influence the way you express your sexuality and femininity?' Or maybe this: 'Is money power in your relationship?' Nah.....
And why did I feel uncomfortable writing this review? I've known women (and men) who've been abused. I have some awareness of the hell some of them go through and the miserable lives they can lead. Any book that makes readers more aware of the (hidden) damage emotional abuse can cause, has to be a good thing, but sadly, for me, this book failed.
I am not rating this at the current time.
This is a difficult review to write, possibly because I have no real experience of the lifestyle that Tamsen leads and a LOT of the 'corporate' and 'social' stuff went way over my head. Though frankly, anyone who can spend $2500 on a dress she never wears and then expect the retailer to take it back over 9 months later, is sadly lacking in common sense.
I expected to feel sympathy for Tamsen but I didn't. She comes across as vapid, shallow, totally selfish and utterly unaware of 'real life' and there was no hint of any previous romance between her and Victor. We are supposed to believe she is a victim of emotional abuse, but to be honest, I didn't see much, if any, evidence. Yes, her husband controls her money, but wouldn't you if you had a wife who spent $2,500 on a dress that she never wore? And she drives around in a top-of-the-range Audi. AND she pays $450 for a haircut.
Part of my problem with this novel so far is that the 'abuse' isn't clear. And there is NO love between these two. I don't even know why Tamsen married him unless it was for his money. And that's no basis for any marriage. The part about her 'hiding' money was pretty stupid and implies that she's trapped in the marriage because she can't afford to leave. Trust me, girl. You can leave whenever you want. Take the Audi and your jewels. You might have to have your hair cut somewhere they charge $5, but if you are really that 'abused' it's worth it.
She has the wealth and she has the intelligence- though sometimes I query that - which is more than a LOT of abused women have.
I was also very uncomfortable about her badmouthing people. Her comment to Whit was quite, quite rude:
"You named your bike after a Dumas character?" Tamsen couldnt believe it - the cellist was also a reader.
Well, DUH! Being musical doesn't stop one from being literate as well. That was SUCH a horrid comment to make - as was this (Tamsen is saying goodbye to a friend who is described as having a 'diminutive stature' and the author writes:)
He was as ambitious as ever, and he had a big heart, but Tamsen still had to bend down to hug him goodbye.
Sorry, but that is so wrong.
I have read past the part where the therapist (on the very first meeting and after only a few minutes conversation) instantly diagnoses her problem and describes Victor as an abuser.
She tells Tamsen about the traits of an abuser - without knowing much about Victor, other than what Tamsen has said over the phone.
That gave me the creeps actually. A therapist coming to a more or less instant conclusion about someone she has never met?
And then (I got a bit confused at one stage) Tamsen - who is supposed to be terrified of her husband, invites the guitar/cello player to a party at a gay night club, where Tamsen is going dressed as a man. That doesn't ring true. She wouldn't DARE do that if she was that scared of Victor??
And there were further rather 'offensive' comments about an elderly lady.
...emaciated, wrinkled arms......
...claw shaped hand, knobby with arthritis and spotted with age...
...cataracted eyes... drooping creped lids.....
Those sorts of comments do NOT make Tasman likeable. And I am not wildly keen on authors who mock elderly people. One day she will be old as well.
I just think the author didn't really have a solid character in mind. Tamsen is too 'unformed' to be believable or engaging. Some aspects of the writing made me very uncomfortable - her lack of respect for old people etc.
The ending was pretty weird. I'm not going into details, but it came across as farcical really and Tamsen's 'miracle' remembering of what happened (at an exercise class) didnt ring true, especially as her 'therapist' had conveniently told her straight off in the first session that she was an 'abused' woman. I had the uncomfortable feeling that Tamsen - having been given 'permission' to think of herself as abused - might have remembered an incident differently. The inclusion of quite acceptable bedroom toys (handcuffs, nipple clamps etc) had no purpose and was yet another thing that made me feel very uncomfortable.
I DID have a snigger though at the 'Discussion Prompts' at the end - would YOU - 'discuss' the factors that influence the way you express your sexuality and femininity?' Or maybe this: 'Is money power in your relationship?' Nah.....
And why did I feel uncomfortable writing this review? I've known women (and men) who've been abused. I have some awareness of the hell some of them go through and the miserable lives they can lead. Any book that makes readers more aware of the (hidden) damage emotional abuse can cause, has to be a good thing, but sadly, for me, this book failed.
I am not rating this at the current time.
May 26, 2018
"The problems in their marriage stemmed from something subtler, a toxicity that she couldn't name. It was insidious and devastating, but it was also elusive and Tamsen struggled to put a label on it."
My pet peeves: slow drivers, repeating myself, the improper use of "your" vs. "you're", and waiting on hold on the phone. Arrggghhhh! My blood pressure went up just typing that! "On hold" means that time is wasting, "on hold" means that what you want isn't happening yet, and "on hold" means that someone else is in charge of your time and is making decisions for you.
Tamsen Peel is on hold. She ended her career in order to marry and raise her children. She delayed any further commitments to work once her son was diagnosed with Doose Syndrome. And she buried her personal aspirations under duties to her family, her social clubs, and her husband's clients. That is until Victor's abusive tendencies toward her became more than she could bear.
Warm Transfer: A Novel is one woman's journey back to herself through indecision, guilt, and self-reproach. And something just a little darker niggling in her memories. Themes present are finding internal courage, combatting emotional and verbal abuse, and realizing self-worth.
Tamsen has tried to take control of her situation more than once and only ended up getting disconnected - from her support systems, her financial backup, and her children. She decides that what she needs is a warm transfer - someone to stay on the line with her until her transfer is made successfully. But ultimately it will be up to her to make the right connections.
Laura Holtz has written a story that could be played out in any social circle - not just the high society of Chicago. It's an encouragement to single mothers, divorcees, and women who are wondering, "What happens next?" The book is a predictable slow-burn but had an overall theme to which I could relate and appreciate, and it was worth the read.
Ten percent of proceeds from this book will go to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Gatekeeper Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
My pet peeves: slow drivers, repeating myself, the improper use of "your" vs. "you're", and waiting on hold on the phone. Arrggghhhh! My blood pressure went up just typing that! "On hold" means that time is wasting, "on hold" means that what you want isn't happening yet, and "on hold" means that someone else is in charge of your time and is making decisions for you.
Tamsen Peel is on hold. She ended her career in order to marry and raise her children. She delayed any further commitments to work once her son was diagnosed with Doose Syndrome. And she buried her personal aspirations under duties to her family, her social clubs, and her husband's clients. That is until Victor's abusive tendencies toward her became more than she could bear.
Warm Transfer: A Novel is one woman's journey back to herself through indecision, guilt, and self-reproach. And something just a little darker niggling in her memories. Themes present are finding internal courage, combatting emotional and verbal abuse, and realizing self-worth.
Tamsen has tried to take control of her situation more than once and only ended up getting disconnected - from her support systems, her financial backup, and her children. She decides that what she needs is a warm transfer - someone to stay on the line with her until her transfer is made successfully. But ultimately it will be up to her to make the right connections.
Laura Holtz has written a story that could be played out in any social circle - not just the high society of Chicago. It's an encouragement to single mothers, divorcees, and women who are wondering, "What happens next?" The book is a predictable slow-burn but had an overall theme to which I could relate and appreciate, and it was worth the read.
Ten percent of proceeds from this book will go to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN)
Many thanks to NetGalley, Gatekeeper Press, and the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.
August 24, 2019
Tamsen Peel is a full time Mom, having given up her career to raise her children ( one who has epilepsy). Things go wrong, when her husband turns into a controlling and abusive person. She needs to find a way out and a “warm transfer” will help her along the path to a change in her life. It’s a quick read and great for a beach vacation or at your favorite getaway spot.
August 20, 2018
“A warm transfer is the act of a customer service representative remaining on the line with their caller until that caller is successfully transferred to another agent.
Metaphorically speaking, a warm transfer happens any time we help others find safe passage to their destination.”
This is a stunner of a story - which follows Tamsen, a women who has 2 wonderful children, an affluent life, and an abusive husband that she is separated from, but being pressured every day to return to. Tamsen is struggling with being separated and the reality that her life will become very different should she be cut off from her husband's financial support, not to mention the impact a divorce will have on her children. It isn't until she meets a young music teacher she hires to work with her son, that she begins to find her inner source of strength and rediscover the woman she was, and that she could be.
I could not describe this book with just one word - it is equal parts heartbreaking, lovely and hopeful. Watching Tamsen suffer so horribly by the verbal and emotional abuse piled on her from her husband, Victor, was devastating. But by equal measure, seeing her find strength to push through and discover herself again was like having your heart bloom into a million petals of joy. I felt like I was cheering along quietly for a friend - Tamsen is a lovely and broken character who you wish desperately you could hug and encourage to keep moving forward. Laura Holtz does amazing work letting you see the real person, all the deepest parts, of Tamsen, which makes it so much easier to connect with her and want to see her win in this story.
The piece I love the most about this book is the gentle, compassionate and thoughtful way that abusive relationships are explored. @lauraholtzofficial did a remarkable job of sharing the darkest side of a marriage and how perfectly hidden that can stay. I also LOVED that this book is centered around an affluent couple, reminding us that abuse does not discriminate based on race, gender or social standing. This is so, so important for us as a society to learn - that just because someone might appear to have it all, it does not mean that they are happy, or even safe, in their own lives.
Having done work in my day to day life with women who come from abusive relationships, I can promise you that so many women have become masters at putting on a good front for the world and are breaking inside. It has been so important in this work to remember that appearances are deceiving and to ensure that we are approaching each case with empathy and reserving all judgement - it can be a near impossible feat for abusive women to share what is happening in their lives, and it can be devastating if they are met with judgement or shaming. I loved that this book looked honestly at what it would be like for someone who is in an abusive relationship to explore the intricacies of how sharing that information with others (therapists, friends, loved ones) would be this complex path and not just this easy thing to do. So much of this book resonated with me so perfectly, because it came from a place of humanity.
There is MUCH to be said about this book, but the most incredible part of this book is that for each copy sold, 10% is donated to RAINN - a leading anti-sexual violence organization, and if that is not a reason to support a piece of beautiful work, I don’t know what is.
This is a book that I think should be widely read and shared, sometimes the books we need most are the ones that are the most human. Order your copy of this today my friends, and let your heart be broken wide open.
Metaphorically speaking, a warm transfer happens any time we help others find safe passage to their destination.”
This is a stunner of a story - which follows Tamsen, a women who has 2 wonderful children, an affluent life, and an abusive husband that she is separated from, but being pressured every day to return to. Tamsen is struggling with being separated and the reality that her life will become very different should she be cut off from her husband's financial support, not to mention the impact a divorce will have on her children. It isn't until she meets a young music teacher she hires to work with her son, that she begins to find her inner source of strength and rediscover the woman she was, and that she could be.
I could not describe this book with just one word - it is equal parts heartbreaking, lovely and hopeful. Watching Tamsen suffer so horribly by the verbal and emotional abuse piled on her from her husband, Victor, was devastating. But by equal measure, seeing her find strength to push through and discover herself again was like having your heart bloom into a million petals of joy. I felt like I was cheering along quietly for a friend - Tamsen is a lovely and broken character who you wish desperately you could hug and encourage to keep moving forward. Laura Holtz does amazing work letting you see the real person, all the deepest parts, of Tamsen, which makes it so much easier to connect with her and want to see her win in this story.
The piece I love the most about this book is the gentle, compassionate and thoughtful way that abusive relationships are explored. @lauraholtzofficial did a remarkable job of sharing the darkest side of a marriage and how perfectly hidden that can stay. I also LOVED that this book is centered around an affluent couple, reminding us that abuse does not discriminate based on race, gender or social standing. This is so, so important for us as a society to learn - that just because someone might appear to have it all, it does not mean that they are happy, or even safe, in their own lives.
Having done work in my day to day life with women who come from abusive relationships, I can promise you that so many women have become masters at putting on a good front for the world and are breaking inside. It has been so important in this work to remember that appearances are deceiving and to ensure that we are approaching each case with empathy and reserving all judgement - it can be a near impossible feat for abusive women to share what is happening in their lives, and it can be devastating if they are met with judgement or shaming. I loved that this book looked honestly at what it would be like for someone who is in an abusive relationship to explore the intricacies of how sharing that information with others (therapists, friends, loved ones) would be this complex path and not just this easy thing to do. So much of this book resonated with me so perfectly, because it came from a place of humanity.
There is MUCH to be said about this book, but the most incredible part of this book is that for each copy sold, 10% is donated to RAINN - a leading anti-sexual violence organization, and if that is not a reason to support a piece of beautiful work, I don’t know what is.
This is a book that I think should be widely read and shared, sometimes the books we need most are the ones that are the most human. Order your copy of this today my friends, and let your heart be broken wide open.
May 24, 2018
No need to discuss the title, that has already been covered.
Set in Chicago, this novel introduces us to Tamsen Peel and her husband Victor. He is at the top of his game as an advertising executive and his success gives her the cachet to be involved with the upper strata of Chicago Society – albeit often as an unpaid worker in the form of events planning and management for charity events (known as volunteering). They have two children, a girl and a boy. Unfortunately, their son is subject to epileptic seizures and there is always a tension about his health.
Tamsen is not happy, not in her marriage which has deteriorated. Victor is abusive in his treatment of her, demeaning and humiliating her. For her part, although aware of this, she somehow seems to side line it – ‘what about the children?’ they are her focus and her worry. Except when she is absorbed in her ‘charity’ work; except when she is a silent observer of the darker nature of those elite women and their clubs and the insidious need to be part of their herd. For Tamsen, life is a constant juggle, a manipulation of what she needs to do or say to get what she needs for the children, just to keep Victor on side – or try to. Then she meets a young musician, a guitar teacher for her son and suddenly there is something else in her life.
I slowly became enthralled by Tamsen; watching her rediscover herself, her identity and ultimately becoming not just a mother or a defeated wife. I was never quite sure of her involvement with the musician, perhaps because he was younger and I was fearful for her. I was behind her all the way when she was shaving a few dollars here and there to scrabble together some ‘start over’ money.
This isn’t a romance story, it is much more life affirming than that. This is a witness statement to what life is like for some women – even those who have it all – do they?
Three cheers for Tamsen and three cheers for Laura Holtz.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
Set in Chicago, this novel introduces us to Tamsen Peel and her husband Victor. He is at the top of his game as an advertising executive and his success gives her the cachet to be involved with the upper strata of Chicago Society – albeit often as an unpaid worker in the form of events planning and management for charity events (known as volunteering). They have two children, a girl and a boy. Unfortunately, their son is subject to epileptic seizures and there is always a tension about his health.
Tamsen is not happy, not in her marriage which has deteriorated. Victor is abusive in his treatment of her, demeaning and humiliating her. For her part, although aware of this, she somehow seems to side line it – ‘what about the children?’ they are her focus and her worry. Except when she is absorbed in her ‘charity’ work; except when she is a silent observer of the darker nature of those elite women and their clubs and the insidious need to be part of their herd. For Tamsen, life is a constant juggle, a manipulation of what she needs to do or say to get what she needs for the children, just to keep Victor on side – or try to. Then she meets a young musician, a guitar teacher for her son and suddenly there is something else in her life.
I slowly became enthralled by Tamsen; watching her rediscover herself, her identity and ultimately becoming not just a mother or a defeated wife. I was never quite sure of her involvement with the musician, perhaps because he was younger and I was fearful for her. I was behind her all the way when she was shaving a few dollars here and there to scrabble together some ‘start over’ money.
This isn’t a romance story, it is much more life affirming than that. This is a witness statement to what life is like for some women – even those who have it all – do they?
Three cheers for Tamsen and three cheers for Laura Holtz.
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for providing an ARC via my Kindle in return for an honest review.
July 31, 2018
Warm transfer is one of the books that will have you hooked from the first page. Warm Transfer will send you on an emotional rollercoaster. The characters in the book take on a life of their own and you feel Tamsen’s pain, turmoil, desperation, and guilt, but you will also feel her determination, and her desire to do what is best not just for herself but more importantly what is best for her children.
Struggling and fighting to survive the mental and emotional abuse she has suffered from for years she buries herself in taking care of her children and organizing charity events with a smile on her face to mask the pain.
Tamsen learns fast who her friends really are when she separates from her controlling husband.
When she hires a young man to give her son guitar lessons she forms a relationship with him like she has never experienced. Wit gives her the best piece of advice when she is frantic on a phone call. “Ask for a warm transfer so you know you're not alone”. This is the best line in the book.
The author truly has managed to write a novel that will open a conversation and have you asking questions. Very few authors have that ability and Laura Holtz has nailed it with her debut novel.
I believe the best part of the book for me was seeing Tamsen realize that just because she had no bruises to show for for it.She had been abused mentally and emotionally for years and then rising from the ashes of her life with the support of a few close friends and really taking back her life. Having Tamsen learn that you don't have to chase a paycheck and that by following your dream and your passion can lead to more success than you could imagine was incredible.
Warm Transfer tackles some of the hardest things to talk about including special needs, emotional abuse, mental abuse, betrayal, and more with grace, elegance, and the dignity it deserves.
Laura Holtz debut novel is definitely a best seller and I look forward to reading her books in the future.
Definitely a five star read.
Struggling and fighting to survive the mental and emotional abuse she has suffered from for years she buries herself in taking care of her children and organizing charity events with a smile on her face to mask the pain.
Tamsen learns fast who her friends really are when she separates from her controlling husband.
When she hires a young man to give her son guitar lessons she forms a relationship with him like she has never experienced. Wit gives her the best piece of advice when she is frantic on a phone call. “Ask for a warm transfer so you know you're not alone”. This is the best line in the book.
The author truly has managed to write a novel that will open a conversation and have you asking questions. Very few authors have that ability and Laura Holtz has nailed it with her debut novel.
I believe the best part of the book for me was seeing Tamsen realize that just because she had no bruises to show for for it.She had been abused mentally and emotionally for years and then rising from the ashes of her life with the support of a few close friends and really taking back her life. Having Tamsen learn that you don't have to chase a paycheck and that by following your dream and your passion can lead to more success than you could imagine was incredible.
Warm Transfer tackles some of the hardest things to talk about including special needs, emotional abuse, mental abuse, betrayal, and more with grace, elegance, and the dignity it deserves.
Laura Holtz debut novel is definitely a best seller and I look forward to reading her books in the future.
Definitely a five star read.
August 11, 2018
Tamsen Peel is separated and trying to figure out if — and how much she wants to try — to get her marriage back on track. Her controlling and possibly abusive husband, Victor, seems to have complete control of the power dynamic in the relationship, both monetarily and otherwise, and Tamsen just isn’t sure is she is willing and able to give up the status and perks that come with her current elite life… not to mention what a divorce could do to their two children!
Enter the predictably opposite —15 years younger, financially struggling, and artistically gifted — musician, Whit, that she hires to teach her son guitar lessons, and for whom she will obviously fall in her emotional state.
According to the book, Whit is the Warm Transfer Tamsen didn’t know she needed, the human transition from one situation to another that makes the change less harsh and may actually push to it to happen when it otherwise wouldn’t. Is Tamsen’s involvement with Whit a little cliche? Yes.
Everyone in Laura Holtz’s debut novel Warm Transfer story has a fairly major life issue they are tackling, whether it be a mental breakdown, drug dependency, suicide, social outcast concerns… but it’s not the heaviness of these topics necessarily, but the human aspect of reinvention and the push toward a realization of self-worth that makes the story worth telling.
So many of the questions that Tamsen struggles with are doubts that any mother would face before dissolving a family. The self-blaming and confusion are real, even without the novel’s final shock of partner abuse.
It’s true that a variety of endings are possible in this story - and in life - but only one is a convenient and predictable way for a feel-good novel to end. You want Tamsen to figure out a way to financial and mental freedom. You want her to have love and family. But life really isn’t always a fairytale, and modern day books are starting to show that more and more. The only frustrating part of Warm Transfer is how long it takes Tamsen to get there.
Enter the predictably opposite —15 years younger, financially struggling, and artistically gifted — musician, Whit, that she hires to teach her son guitar lessons, and for whom she will obviously fall in her emotional state.
According to the book, Whit is the Warm Transfer Tamsen didn’t know she needed, the human transition from one situation to another that makes the change less harsh and may actually push to it to happen when it otherwise wouldn’t. Is Tamsen’s involvement with Whit a little cliche? Yes.
Everyone in Laura Holtz’s debut novel Warm Transfer story has a fairly major life issue they are tackling, whether it be a mental breakdown, drug dependency, suicide, social outcast concerns… but it’s not the heaviness of these topics necessarily, but the human aspect of reinvention and the push toward a realization of self-worth that makes the story worth telling.
So many of the questions that Tamsen struggles with are doubts that any mother would face before dissolving a family. The self-blaming and confusion are real, even without the novel’s final shock of partner abuse.
It’s true that a variety of endings are possible in this story - and in life - but only one is a convenient and predictable way for a feel-good novel to end. You want Tamsen to figure out a way to financial and mental freedom. You want her to have love and family. But life really isn’t always a fairytale, and modern day books are starting to show that more and more. The only frustrating part of Warm Transfer is how long it takes Tamsen to get there.
September 3, 2018
Tamsen Peel is the protagonist and heroine of this story, which is set in an affluent Chicago neighborhood. Tamsen is a very typical example of a woman with a great job and a successful husband named Victor. They live in an elegant brownstone near all the cultural amenities of Chicago. She and Victor have two children, and she gives up her successful career to raise them.
Over time, her relationship with Victor begins to deteriorate for various reasons and Tamsen ultimately has to make some tough decisions about leaving her husband and how this choice will affect her children. Tamsen's husband is abusive and Tamsen leaves him, but she is being pressured every day to return to him faced with the reality that her life will become very different should she be cut off from her husband's financial support. She has tried to take control of her situation more than once and only ended up disconnected from her financial backup, her support systems and her two young children.
Tamsen then decides that what she needs is a "Warm Transfer" - someone to stay on the line with her until her transfer is successfully made. It will ultimately be up to Tamsen to make the right connections.
When Tamsen hires Whit, a young (and handsome) music teacher to work with her son, she finds an unlikely companion in him. Despite their age difference, their friendship grows and Tamsen starts to find her own inner strength and begins to reclaim herself as the woman she was before her life with Victor.
Warm Transfer tells the story that many woman may have experienced at some point in their lives.
I received a digital copy of this book from Smith Publicity in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to provide a positive review and this affected neither my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review. Thank you so much Smith Publicity!!
Over time, her relationship with Victor begins to deteriorate for various reasons and Tamsen ultimately has to make some tough decisions about leaving her husband and how this choice will affect her children. Tamsen's husband is abusive and Tamsen leaves him, but she is being pressured every day to return to him faced with the reality that her life will become very different should she be cut off from her husband's financial support. She has tried to take control of her situation more than once and only ended up disconnected from her financial backup, her support systems and her two young children.
Tamsen then decides that what she needs is a "Warm Transfer" - someone to stay on the line with her until her transfer is successfully made. It will ultimately be up to Tamsen to make the right connections.
When Tamsen hires Whit, a young (and handsome) music teacher to work with her son, she finds an unlikely companion in him. Despite their age difference, their friendship grows and Tamsen starts to find her own inner strength and begins to reclaim herself as the woman she was before her life with Victor.
Warm Transfer tells the story that many woman may have experienced at some point in their lives.
I received a digital copy of this book from Smith Publicity in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to provide a positive review and this affected neither my opinion of the book, nor the content of my review. Thank you so much Smith Publicity!!
June 30, 2018
I was excited to see the title "Warm Transfer" as it reminded me of a previous position I had working at a call centre. I became very familiar with this phrase while working there as it was standard practice. For those who don't know, a "Warm Transfer" is where the agent who answers the phone stays on the line until the customer is successfully transferred to the next agent. I never thought about this phrase outside of the call centre realm, which is why this book was very intriguing to me.
Holtz used the term "Warm Transfer" and related to romance which I thought was very unique and interesting. The story follows Tamsen Peel who is going through a divorce, with her life currently on hold, and might need a "Warm Transfer" in order for her to get through to the next stage. Her husband however, does not make things easy for her with his constant remarks and control over her.
The book comes during a time when the empowerment of woman and the #metoo movement is huge. Therefore, the fact that Tamsen needs to rise above her husband's abuse, even though she is terrified, and not allow him to control her any longer is all too relevant in society today.
I enjoyed reading this book as it had a small romance element, but also focused on the empowerment of women. I gave it 5 stars because I found myself really into the story and wanting to know what happened next. I was rooting for Tamsen the entire time and hoping she would be able to escape her situation in a happy place.
Holtz used the term "Warm Transfer" and related to romance which I thought was very unique and interesting. The story follows Tamsen Peel who is going through a divorce, with her life currently on hold, and might need a "Warm Transfer" in order for her to get through to the next stage. Her husband however, does not make things easy for her with his constant remarks and control over her.
The book comes during a time when the empowerment of woman and the #metoo movement is huge. Therefore, the fact that Tamsen needs to rise above her husband's abuse, even though she is terrified, and not allow him to control her any longer is all too relevant in society today.
I enjoyed reading this book as it had a small romance element, but also focused on the empowerment of women. I gave it 5 stars because I found myself really into the story and wanting to know what happened next. I was rooting for Tamsen the entire time and hoping she would be able to escape her situation in a happy place.
May 31, 2018
“Warm Transfer” is the debut novel of Laura Holtz. The main character, Tamsen Peel, is married to a controlling and emotionally abusive narcissist. While Tamsen had been a successful businesswoman, she had given up her job to be a stay-at-home mom. As so often happens, life with a narcissist means Tamsen must tiptoe around him. Eventually, she gives up her sense of identity to conform to her husband’s domineering ways.
When her son wants guitar lessons, she hires a cellist-turned-guitarist, Whit, to teach him. Whit is much younger, but the two quickly find common ground. As the two bond, Tamsen must figure out whether she can become the woman she once was and what will be the consequences of taking care of herself?
While this book was well written, Holtz would have been better served if she’d had better editor. For instance, early in the book, she is talking to her son and then she’s peeling an avocado. There was no transition between one activity and the other. It may have been a poor conversion from a print book to an ebook because the book I received was very badly formatted for the Kindle.
I received this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
When her son wants guitar lessons, she hires a cellist-turned-guitarist, Whit, to teach him. Whit is much younger, but the two quickly find common ground. As the two bond, Tamsen must figure out whether she can become the woman she once was and what will be the consequences of taking care of herself?
While this book was well written, Holtz would have been better served if she’d had better editor. For instance, early in the book, she is talking to her son and then she’s peeling an avocado. There was no transition between one activity and the other. It may have been a poor conversion from a print book to an ebook because the book I received was very badly formatted for the Kindle.
I received this book from Net Galley in return for an honest review.
June 12, 2018
“You might need a warm transfer….It’s when a person stays on the line with you during the call transfer, you know, to make sure you don’t get disconnected.”
Tamsen Peel’s dynamite character full of heart takes on the world. She opted to raise her children rather than continue her competitive career, she’s actively involved in their lives, and volunteers her spare time to help fundraise for charities. Altogether, Tamsen wants her children to have all the best life has to offer.
Even if that means hiding what their father, Victor Peel, does to her.
Something that honestly impressed me about Laura Holtz’s Warm Transfer is how she pulled forth one of the most sensitive topics of our times and addressed it with an impressive degree of dignity and understanding to what individuals undergo on a daily basis. While other books in the same genre tend to focus on the dramatic elements of an abusive relationship, Holtz sparks hope for readers through Tamsen’s experiences and character growth.
I consider Warm Transfer a must read of 2018 and I recommend that you make Tamsen’s strength and love, Whit’s music, and Holtz’s moving tale be a part of your reading experiences.
Tamsen Peel’s dynamite character full of heart takes on the world. She opted to raise her children rather than continue her competitive career, she’s actively involved in their lives, and volunteers her spare time to help fundraise for charities. Altogether, Tamsen wants her children to have all the best life has to offer.
Even if that means hiding what their father, Victor Peel, does to her.
Something that honestly impressed me about Laura Holtz’s Warm Transfer is how she pulled forth one of the most sensitive topics of our times and addressed it with an impressive degree of dignity and understanding to what individuals undergo on a daily basis. While other books in the same genre tend to focus on the dramatic elements of an abusive relationship, Holtz sparks hope for readers through Tamsen’s experiences and character growth.
I consider Warm Transfer a must read of 2018 and I recommend that you make Tamsen’s strength and love, Whit’s music, and Holtz’s moving tale be a part of your reading experiences.
January 13, 2026
Warm Transfer tells the story of Tamsen Peel, a wife and mother living amidst Chicago’s wealthy elite, whose seemingly perfect life is marred by a controlling and emotionally abusive marriage. Once a powerful and successful advertising executive, Tamsen gave up her career to raise her children and now struggles with low self-esteem, manipulation, and doubt.
The book explores her journey of self-discovery as she faces difficult questions: Should she stay for the sake of her children? Is her relationship truly abusive? And most importantly, how can she reclaim her identity and sense of joy?
I enjoyed the story, Tamsen’s thought processes, and the realizations she reaches along the way. Holtz tackles a timely and important topic with sensitivity, and the metaphor of a “warm transfer”—helping others safely find their way—is beautifully woven into the narrative.
Not perfect, but thoughtful and engaging. Three stars.
(I received a copy of this title for review purposes, free of charge, from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest opinion.)
Final rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) From my archives: May 30, 2018
The book explores her journey of self-discovery as she faces difficult questions: Should she stay for the sake of her children? Is her relationship truly abusive? And most importantly, how can she reclaim her identity and sense of joy?
I enjoyed the story, Tamsen’s thought processes, and the realizations she reaches along the way. Holtz tackles a timely and important topic with sensitivity, and the metaphor of a “warm transfer”—helping others safely find their way—is beautifully woven into the narrative.
Not perfect, but thoughtful and engaging. Three stars.
(I received a copy of this title for review purposes, free of charge, from NetGalley and the publisher. This is my honest opinion.)
Final rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3 stars) From my archives: May 30, 2018
August 19, 2018
WARM TRANSFER /warm ˈtrænsfər/ (noun)
The act of a customer service representative remaining on the line with their caller until that caller is successfully transferred to another agent.
What do you do when your marriage is all wrong but there are children to consider. When do you start taking care of yourself instead of a spouse who is verbally abusive but is the father of your precious children? When is enough just enough? Tamsen is in a marriage like this. She has a life most people would love to have - a large house, a high place in Chicago society and most importantly two beautiful children who she wants the best for. Add into the equation, a husband, Victor, who verbally and emotionally abuses her and who thinks she is useless in his life but he wants to keep her there. Then her son's new music teacher arrives and he and Tamsen find themselves becoming friends and then more than friends. Will this be the 'warm transfer' who helps her transition from one life to another life and helps her find herself?
This is an intriguing and well written book about taking the steps to find the person that you want and need to be. The author presents the abuse very clearly and handles the subject very well. Great book.
Ten percent of proceeds from this book will go to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
The act of a customer service representative remaining on the line with their caller until that caller is successfully transferred to another agent.
What do you do when your marriage is all wrong but there are children to consider. When do you start taking care of yourself instead of a spouse who is verbally abusive but is the father of your precious children? When is enough just enough? Tamsen is in a marriage like this. She has a life most people would love to have - a large house, a high place in Chicago society and most importantly two beautiful children who she wants the best for. Add into the equation, a husband, Victor, who verbally and emotionally abuses her and who thinks she is useless in his life but he wants to keep her there. Then her son's new music teacher arrives and he and Tamsen find themselves becoming friends and then more than friends. Will this be the 'warm transfer' who helps her transition from one life to another life and helps her find herself?
This is an intriguing and well written book about taking the steps to find the person that you want and need to be. The author presents the abuse very clearly and handles the subject very well. Great book.
Ten percent of proceeds from this book will go to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network (RAINN).
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
June 24, 2018
After learning what the words, "warm transfer" mean, I love the title of this book! Self discovery for a woman who leaves her successful career to raise her children and give them the best life she can. Her husband is controlling, and emotional abusive.. She hires a much younger man to teach her son the guitar and the story is about hpw she learns to take care of herself, and what the consequence are. Thanks to Net Galley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy
August 20, 2018
This is an inspiring read of female empowerment, and the journey of a women seeking to reinvent herself in an effort to overcome her controlling husband. I love the concept of realizing that you can reinvent yourself at any point, which this book really explores. Warm Transfer made me smile, made me want to cry, but it's a powerful novel that everyone should read. Giving this one five stars!
*Thanks to Smith Publicity for sending a copy of the novel, review is entirely my own thoughts.
*Thanks to Smith Publicity for sending a copy of the novel, review is entirely my own thoughts.
May 22, 2018
A novel that emotionally grabbed me from the first pages a true page turner.10%ofthe sale will be donated to rape crisis clinics and other charities,
June 24, 2018
After learning what the words, "warm transfer" mean, I love the title of this book! Self discovery for a woman who leaves her successful career to raise her children and give them the best life she can. Her husband is controlling, and emotional abusive.. She hires a much younger man to teach her son the guitar and the story is about hpw she learns to take care of herself, and what the consequence are. Thanks to Net Galley, the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy
July 2, 2018
This book was a tough read for me due to being a victim of domestic violence in the past, I applaud Laura for writing a book of this nature. Stories like this need to be told and women need to feel that their voices can be heard. This topic does need to be discussed more. I appreciated the creation of the characters and how she kept them detailed, bold, animated and over all relatable. As a reader, I like to read books where I feel I can relate to the character and the story itself is something definitely being discussed in our social environment. Domestic violence is a serious and current women's issue that has spread through-out our country. Thank you Laura, I applaud you a million times over. The book itself was thoughtful and empowering. Tamsen is a solid main character and I enjoyed watching her develop throughout the book. Well-done for a debut novel and proceeds of the book go to RAINN, very helpful program for people in need after crisis. Thank you Smith Publishing for the e-copy arc and sending me a physical copy of the book as well.
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