Pulling Me Back

by Juan Díaz

Released from prison after serving twenty-two years, former hitman Sammy Ortega is looking to turn his life around by publishing a memoir that describes his life as a hit man in excruciating detail. Upon his release, however, his best friend Ace asks him to assist in robbing the stash houses and businesses that are run by Sammy’s former bosses The Zepedas Family, a Puerto Rican crime syndicate that runs the drug trade out of the state of Delaware. Meanwhile, as Ortega is helping take down his former crew one by one, his memoir is rapidly climbing the New York Times Bestseller List. However, a shadow from his past threatens Sammy the right to enjoy his success. Will it drag him back to the life he so desperately wants to escape?

173 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 19, 2018

Reviews

[Critiques Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the beginning of PULLING ME BACK we meet Sammy on the day he is to be released from prison. Sammy is picked up by his lawyer which I thought was kind of strange. But I figure they had unfinished business or they may have been friends before he was arrested. Later in the story Sammy tells us about his past as a hitman for a drug cartel/mafia type of family. It started when he was just a young boy defending his girlfriend. From there he was accepted into their family.
Sammy has numerous flashbacks which fill us in on some of his upbringing but doesn’t go too far into detail. Upon his release he’s reunited with his wife Sheila. She’s been by his side for the whole time he was incarcerated & is happy to have him back. It does seem as if Sammy had been in the wrong career because he seems better suited to being a family man. But, along comes his best friend/brother asking for his help with a situation that he’s having with the same “family” Sammy did time for, ‘pulling him back’ into the same lifestyle.
I liked the story but I kept feeling like I needed to know more into some of the characters backgrounds. There wasn’t a lot of info surrounding anybody in particular & I felt the story was rushed. Also, there were plenty of errors.
I won’t say I didn’t enjoy the storyline, it just needs more depth. Then my most hated thing to see at the end...To be continued! LoL

[Deanna James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pulling Me Back was a surprising good and quick read. The title perfectly fit the book. It captured my attention from the beginning to the end. As I turned the pages and read toward the ending, I knew there would be a part 2. There wasn't enough chapters left in this book to truly unfold. A lot has happened in this short read. Unanswered questions I'm sure will be answered in the next book. I'm anxious to uncover the conclusion of this story. Enough twists and turns to keep me entertained and continue to read.
There were too many noticeable errors or wrong words to ignore. Mainly missing words to complete a sentence. Otherwise, the editing would've been perfect. The story itself was told with great details. I could visualize the characters and scenes. At times, the little voice in my head was reading with a Spanish accent. Lol
A great read Mr Diaz. I look forward to reading the next installment.
Paperback Pushers
Deanna, Reviewer

[Jenny Cortes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow!

I couldn't stop reading this book. It held my attention the entire time. I would have to say it is so detailed that how its written I can play the images in my head. The love that Sam has for his wife is something I believe that everyone is looking for. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends.
Francheska