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Double Down Trouble
Wrong place, wrong time… right stranger? Julia Temple, the inexperienced, newly elected lieutenant governor of Tennessee, attends a private theater performance at a friend’s request. Partway through, chaos explodes as two busloads of dangerous convicts escape and terrorize the town. Somehow they have weapons and explosives, but do they know such a high-profile hostage is there for the taking? Is there a hidden hand behind their rampage? Julia needs help. But her security detail are both dead and the only man still standing is someone she’s never met before… even though he seems to know her and remember her vividly.
Kindle Edition
Published June 21, 2018
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About the author
J.L. Salter
37 books30 followersPublished in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
Retired library administrator; previously a photo-journalist; veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Husband, father, and grandfather.
Retired library administrator; previously a photo-journalist; veteran of the U.S. Air Force.
Husband, father, and grandfather.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 21, 2018
I HEARD IT WITH MY OWN EYES
As an avid reader, and one who has read and enjoyed several of Mr. Salter’s books, I found this story to be a bit different, more of an intense, action-packed adventure, and edgy. While the story has a few humorous moments, it isn’t a comedy, but instead, it is a life and death story with bravery, rescues, and people working together in a crisis.
There are two main characters, newly voter-elected lieutenant governor, Julia Temple, and Doc Holliday. Both will find themselves at the small fictitious town of Verdeville, not far from Nashville to see parts of a live play that is touted to be bound for Broadway. Julia’s college friend, Pamela, is the playwright, and Doc’s friend, Rick, is the director.
The plot will have Julia going to the ladies room and while in there, she will hear an explosion and then rapid gunfire. She remains in place until it all ends and then heads back into the room to see human carnage, including both her security team. The only soul besides her that is alive is the man in the Ike jacket. Together, with his level head, quick thinking, he will devise a plan to help them escape the building.
The small town of Verdeville will be overrun with two busloads of escaped convicts heavily armed. With a wooded area behind them, that is Doc’s intended destination, but then Julia remembers the assisted living home and refuses not to help the elderly residents. The story takes on an interesting twist with several of the residents and their fortitude and willingness to help.
“The Elderwood campaign—was a prime example of cooperation during a stressful crisis, and it was glorious to experience.”
The governor wants to send in an extraction team to remove only Julia, but she puts the safety of others ahead of her own. It is the tenacity of Julia, Doc, and some old-timers, along with SWAT members who take “Just a pretty face with nice legs” and show that she has a backbone and much to offer the constituents of Tennessee.
“Every bureaucracy has a few loose bolts, and there are lots of criminals or enemies out there listening for the rattle.”
Back to Doc and Julia, they had a chance encounter fourteen years ago when she was just out of high school and working as an intern for her father, Senator Temple. Doc was with a school group touring his office, and because the Senator was called to Washington, Julia spoke to the students rather than brushing them off. Meeting again at a small production in Verdeville was just a fluke but one that makes the difference for both of them and the residents of Elderwood Assisting Living Home.
Maybe it was just enough to learn about each other. What goes down in a crisis tells more about a person than months of happy-time dating. Has fate brought them together for a reason?
“I’ve only known him since around noon.”—Julia
“Maybe so, but you saw more of the real person in these few hours than you would in several months of casual contact with anybody else. You know what Doc Holliday is made of--and just as important, he learned a whole lot about you.” --Viejo
“Let the answers come slowly. No need to rush. Times starts over. We’ve reset the game clock.” --Doc
I loved the story, the intensity; it has me on the edge of my seat with anticipation as it unfolds. While it is about four hours in length, it is a page-turner with several twists and turns.
Mr. Salter has taken artist liberty to the story with the office of the lieutenant governor being an elected position by the voters. Instead, unlike in most states, the Tennessee Lieutenant Governor is not elected by voters but instead elected by the Tennessee General Assembly. Also, for this story, in creating the town of Verdeville, which will be located in Greene County, near Nashville. The actual Greene County in Tennessee is not in middle Tennessee off of 1-40 but instead is in East Tennessee off of I-81 between Knoxville and Bristol. In no way, does this lessen or deter from the story itself.
As an avid reader, and one who has read and enjoyed several of Mr. Salter’s books, I found this story to be a bit different, more of an intense, action-packed adventure, and edgy. While the story has a few humorous moments, it isn’t a comedy, but instead, it is a life and death story with bravery, rescues, and people working together in a crisis.
There are two main characters, newly voter-elected lieutenant governor, Julia Temple, and Doc Holliday. Both will find themselves at the small fictitious town of Verdeville, not far from Nashville to see parts of a live play that is touted to be bound for Broadway. Julia’s college friend, Pamela, is the playwright, and Doc’s friend, Rick, is the director.
The plot will have Julia going to the ladies room and while in there, she will hear an explosion and then rapid gunfire. She remains in place until it all ends and then heads back into the room to see human carnage, including both her security team. The only soul besides her that is alive is the man in the Ike jacket. Together, with his level head, quick thinking, he will devise a plan to help them escape the building.
The small town of Verdeville will be overrun with two busloads of escaped convicts heavily armed. With a wooded area behind them, that is Doc’s intended destination, but then Julia remembers the assisted living home and refuses not to help the elderly residents. The story takes on an interesting twist with several of the residents and their fortitude and willingness to help.
“The Elderwood campaign—was a prime example of cooperation during a stressful crisis, and it was glorious to experience.”
The governor wants to send in an extraction team to remove only Julia, but she puts the safety of others ahead of her own. It is the tenacity of Julia, Doc, and some old-timers, along with SWAT members who take “Just a pretty face with nice legs” and show that she has a backbone and much to offer the constituents of Tennessee.
“Every bureaucracy has a few loose bolts, and there are lots of criminals or enemies out there listening for the rattle.”
Back to Doc and Julia, they had a chance encounter fourteen years ago when she was just out of high school and working as an intern for her father, Senator Temple. Doc was with a school group touring his office, and because the Senator was called to Washington, Julia spoke to the students rather than brushing them off. Meeting again at a small production in Verdeville was just a fluke but one that makes the difference for both of them and the residents of Elderwood Assisting Living Home.
Maybe it was just enough to learn about each other. What goes down in a crisis tells more about a person than months of happy-time dating. Has fate brought them together for a reason?
“I’ve only known him since around noon.”—Julia
“Maybe so, but you saw more of the real person in these few hours than you would in several months of casual contact with anybody else. You know what Doc Holliday is made of--and just as important, he learned a whole lot about you.” --Viejo
“Let the answers come slowly. No need to rush. Times starts over. We’ve reset the game clock.” --Doc
I loved the story, the intensity; it has me on the edge of my seat with anticipation as it unfolds. While it is about four hours in length, it is a page-turner with several twists and turns.
Mr. Salter has taken artist liberty to the story with the office of the lieutenant governor being an elected position by the voters. Instead, unlike in most states, the Tennessee Lieutenant Governor is not elected by voters but instead elected by the Tennessee General Assembly. Also, for this story, in creating the town of Verdeville, which will be located in Greene County, near Nashville. The actual Greene County in Tennessee is not in middle Tennessee off of 1-40 but instead is in East Tennessee off of I-81 between Knoxville and Bristol. In no way, does this lessen or deter from the story itself.
July 2, 2020
Not Salter's usual screwball romance, but a romantic suspense this time around. Julia Temple, young lieutenant governor of Kentucky, attends a play written by a friend. Luckily, she is in the rest room when a bomb goes off in the theater and those who aren't killed are shot to death by escaped convicts. She tries to flee the building but meets up with another survivor with the unlikely name of Doc Holliday who seems to know his way around tricky situations. He manages to get them both nearly to safety when suddenly Julia balks, fearful for the elderly in a new retirement home. She insists on warning and staying with them. Reluctantly, Doc agrees. Fortunately, the place has state of the art security features and with a few spunky senior citizens, they are able to hold off a siege of convicts for quite some time. Doc, who met Julia many years ago, doesn't hold back on his admiration or desire for her though she has no memory of him at all. No time to act on their feelings in this crisis. Still, they work together to save the day with little help from the swarmy governor who wants her out of there. The story moves along from one high action scene to another until they are rescued--almost. If you are a person who needs a nice wrap up, forget about it. We never learn Doc's real name, his occupation, why he was at the play, or why the convicts have it in for Julia. One thing for certain, these two will get together after the story ends.
March 11, 2019
This is not the usual stuff we read from JL Salter. There’s a lot of violence, and when I got through the first chapter I wondered if maybe the main character would wake up in her own room and realize she’d had a bad dream. Nope, this is a thriller, and you’ll need to read it to find out how the lieutenant governor of Tennessee, with help from one stranger, manages to save herself as well as a building full of seniors from two buses of escaped convicts. I can guarantee you’ll be in for a wild ride. I especially loved the wheelchair-bound but resourceful Señor Viejo.
June 23, 2018
Wow
Love the characters. And they definitely were in trouble. There still is a question... why did the target julia temple. Did the people get citations for their actions. Etc.
Love the characters. And they definitely were in trouble. There still is a question... why did the target julia temple. Did the people get citations for their actions. Etc.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews