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The Association
THE ASSOCIATION IS A NATIONAL INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARDS 2019 FINALIST IN THE LEGAL THRILLER CATEGORY!
A YOUNG FEMALE ATTORNEY TAKES ON A POWERFUL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND UNCOVERS FRAUD, MYSTERY, AND MURDER!
Champaign, Georgia, Davis County: A young attorney and her husband have relocated to the small, idyllic town for his new job, and she’s on an extended hiatus after becoming exhausted and weary of her profession. Yet she knows she needs to get back in the legal game, even though it won’t be easy. Now discouraged and out of practice, she must start fresh, with new determination and new clients.
Through an acquaintance, she meets the Wainrights, an older couple living in Covington Commons, a cluster of three neighborhoods advertised as a luxury lakeside community. In truth, though, such a description only applies to one neighborhood in Covington Commons: Eagle’s Nest. Both Mockingbird Heights and Peacock Plains have become sad displays of utter neglect, in awful disrepair after years of inattention. The Wainrights need her help to prove allegations as to the person—or persons—responsible for it. After painstaking research into claim after claim, she soon realizes the obviously guilty party.
At the forefront, is the Association—the board and committee members who oversee everything and every decision at Covington Commons. Its members have taken what was once a decent organization and turned it into an operation based entirely on corruption and dishonesty that operates according to the whims and greed of only a privileged few.
With prejudicial and biased purveyors of justice at the helm, prior lawsuits against the Association have been routinely dismissed early on. Our attorney heroine must find it within herself to navigate and succeed in a world where grossly confident men grandstand in gold jewelry, private investigators are always listening, and judges are not honorable—a world where people aren’t at all who they seem to be.
A YOUNG FEMALE ATTORNEY TAKES ON A POWERFUL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION AND UNCOVERS FRAUD, MYSTERY, AND MURDER!
Champaign, Georgia, Davis County: A young attorney and her husband have relocated to the small, idyllic town for his new job, and she’s on an extended hiatus after becoming exhausted and weary of her profession. Yet she knows she needs to get back in the legal game, even though it won’t be easy. Now discouraged and out of practice, she must start fresh, with new determination and new clients.
Through an acquaintance, she meets the Wainrights, an older couple living in Covington Commons, a cluster of three neighborhoods advertised as a luxury lakeside community. In truth, though, such a description only applies to one neighborhood in Covington Commons: Eagle’s Nest. Both Mockingbird Heights and Peacock Plains have become sad displays of utter neglect, in awful disrepair after years of inattention. The Wainrights need her help to prove allegations as to the person—or persons—responsible for it. After painstaking research into claim after claim, she soon realizes the obviously guilty party.
At the forefront, is the Association—the board and committee members who oversee everything and every decision at Covington Commons. Its members have taken what was once a decent organization and turned it into an operation based entirely on corruption and dishonesty that operates according to the whims and greed of only a privileged few.
With prejudicial and biased purveyors of justice at the helm, prior lawsuits against the Association have been routinely dismissed early on. Our attorney heroine must find it within herself to navigate and succeed in a world where grossly confident men grandstand in gold jewelry, private investigators are always listening, and judges are not honorable—a world where people aren’t at all who they seem to be.
286 pages, Hardcover
First published September 14, 2018
2 people are currently reading
1192 people want to read
About the author
Sharon Ann Ziegler
1 book44 followersSharon is an attorney licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and her home state of Tennessee. She has been practicing law and writing legal briefs, motions, and appeals for more than 25 years. In addition, she has argued before a number of distinguished state and federal trial and appellate courts during her career. The Association is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 71 reviews
April 14, 2020
This one will make you think twice the next time you pay your homeowners’ association dues!!
A young lawyer, disillusioned with her profession, decides to try a fresh start when she and her husband move to Georgia. Her first clients are an elderly couple who moved into a lakeside community on the promise of an idyllic retirement in a beautiful home, surrounded by beautiful landscaping and high-end amenities.
The truth is, of the three neighborhoods in this community called Covington Commons, only one, Eagle’s Nest, has been maintained well and offers its residents access to top-notch services and benefits. The other two, including the one where her clients live, have fallen into disarray and disrepair, residents have to pay exorbitant fees to access the amenities, and their property values have declined drastically since no one will want to move into such a dilapidated community. It's tragic because in many cases, these individuals have invested their retirement savings into these homes.
The more digging she does, the more she finds that all is not right at Covington Commons, and it’s all at the hands of the Association, the group in charge of the community, which treats the neighborhood like their own personal slush fund and resort. The Association’s misdeeds have gone unchecked forever—and there are a lot of scandals that go far beyond the usual complaints. Can one young, female lawyer take on a system that has been awash in corruption and cronyism (on the legal and judicial levels, too) and get justice?
She doesn’t realize what she’s stumbled into, but she won’t stop, even as she puts herself further and further into danger.
I love a good underdog story. The Association is well-paced and suspenseful, and Sharon Ann Ziegler’s storytelling leaves you feeling like you can’t put the book down until you’re done. I devoured the book in just a few hours.
Thanks to Sharon Ann Ziegler for providing me with a complimentary (and beautiful) copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
A young lawyer, disillusioned with her profession, decides to try a fresh start when she and her husband move to Georgia. Her first clients are an elderly couple who moved into a lakeside community on the promise of an idyllic retirement in a beautiful home, surrounded by beautiful landscaping and high-end amenities.
The truth is, of the three neighborhoods in this community called Covington Commons, only one, Eagle’s Nest, has been maintained well and offers its residents access to top-notch services and benefits. The other two, including the one where her clients live, have fallen into disarray and disrepair, residents have to pay exorbitant fees to access the amenities, and their property values have declined drastically since no one will want to move into such a dilapidated community. It's tragic because in many cases, these individuals have invested their retirement savings into these homes.
The more digging she does, the more she finds that all is not right at Covington Commons, and it’s all at the hands of the Association, the group in charge of the community, which treats the neighborhood like their own personal slush fund and resort. The Association’s misdeeds have gone unchecked forever—and there are a lot of scandals that go far beyond the usual complaints. Can one young, female lawyer take on a system that has been awash in corruption and cronyism (on the legal and judicial levels, too) and get justice?
She doesn’t realize what she’s stumbled into, but she won’t stop, even as she puts herself further and further into danger.
I love a good underdog story. The Association is well-paced and suspenseful, and Sharon Ann Ziegler’s storytelling leaves you feeling like you can’t put the book down until you’re done. I devoured the book in just a few hours.
Thanks to Sharon Ann Ziegler for providing me with a complimentary (and beautiful) copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review!!
Check out my list of the best books I read in 2019 at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-best-books-i-read-in-2019.html.
Check out my list of the best books of the decade at https://itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com/2020/01/my-favorite-books-of-decade.html.
See all of my reviews at itseithersadnessoreuphoria.blogspot.com.
Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/the.bookishworld.of.yrralh/.
February 15, 2020
The Association by Sharon Ann Ziegler is a legal suspense thriller. The Author's vast vocabulary, legal terms, and descriptive narration immerse the reader into the story. The novel takes you through the journey of a young lawyer who recently moved with her husband to Champaign, Georgia. Soon after moving, the lawyer becomes disgruntled with her profession and her marital life and abruptly stop practicing law. It is not until she took control of her personal life that she decides to give her profession another chance. She finds the perfect case to set even the scale of justice when she starts fighting the well-known board of Covington Commons, aka the Association. The Association mismanagement of funds and the lack of maintenance of two of the neighborhoods in Covington Commons has resulted in the loss of property value of the unkempt neighborhoods. The lawyer takes her case to Superior Court to bring justice to those homeowners victims of the Association. Although the novel stars a little slow, it quickly picks up as the story unfolds. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 3, 2020
Our narrator is young, female attorney who has just moved to Georgia with her husband. After taking some time off from the grueling profession, she's ready to dive back in and start taking on her own cases. When she's introduced to the Wainrights, an elderly couple living in a retirement community, she anticipates a quick case to get her back on her feet. The Wainrights pay exorbitant association fees but the community around them is crumbling. On top of the monthly costs, they are expected to pay pricey admission fees to use any of the sister communities' amenities (which are all well maintained). It seems evident that the residents are being taken advantage of and that the board members may be engaging in fraud.
She quickly learns that the Georgia legal system is a tight knit community that looks out for its own and being a female outsider is doing our heroine no favors. Wherever she turns, she finds more people not only complacent with the theft, but profiting because of it. As she painstakingly researches the Association's expenses, contracts, and prior dealings, the evidence of fraud runs much deeper than she ever could have expected and it appears there are more dangerous criminal activities at play. Unclear who to trust, a "simple" case of misallocated funds evolves into a legal cyclone of prostitution, organized crime, and possibly even murder, all coming from the top.
This was an incredibly well-researched, true-crime feel novel and I often found myself questioning how much may be based on a real case (Ziegler is an attorney so it's possible!!). Being in the legal profession myself, I was fascinated with (and horrified by) the social workings of the Georgia legal system and the setting for the novel worked extremely well.
Our narrator described her expert abilities at drafting briefs/arguments and written in first person, I really liked how the true-crime, legal brief tone was carried throughout as it added an element of believability. I also felt like it was a relatable storyline - many of us have lived in community settings where monthly fees are collected, but how much do we know about how those funds are allocated?
Overall, this was a unique, thought-provoking, and engaging read and one that is especially great for discussion. Highly recommend!!
Thank you very much to the author, Sharon Ziegler, for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
She quickly learns that the Georgia legal system is a tight knit community that looks out for its own and being a female outsider is doing our heroine no favors. Wherever she turns, she finds more people not only complacent with the theft, but profiting because of it. As she painstakingly researches the Association's expenses, contracts, and prior dealings, the evidence of fraud runs much deeper than she ever could have expected and it appears there are more dangerous criminal activities at play. Unclear who to trust, a "simple" case of misallocated funds evolves into a legal cyclone of prostitution, organized crime, and possibly even murder, all coming from the top.
This was an incredibly well-researched, true-crime feel novel and I often found myself questioning how much may be based on a real case (Ziegler is an attorney so it's possible!!). Being in the legal profession myself, I was fascinated with (and horrified by) the social workings of the Georgia legal system and the setting for the novel worked extremely well.
Our narrator described her expert abilities at drafting briefs/arguments and written in first person, I really liked how the true-crime, legal brief tone was carried throughout as it added an element of believability. I also felt like it was a relatable storyline - many of us have lived in community settings where monthly fees are collected, but how much do we know about how those funds are allocated?
Overall, this was a unique, thought-provoking, and engaging read and one that is especially great for discussion. Highly recommend!!
Thank you very much to the author, Sharon Ziegler, for providing me with a copy in exchange for my honest review.
April 10, 2020
Covington commons seems like an idyllic place to live; however, once you look closer it is easy to see that's not quite the case. There is more than meets the eye to anyone who doesn't live there.
The homeowners association controls much and a determined young lawyer is ready to take them and the unfair justice system set in place on by investigating who truly is the puppet master or masters behind all of the strings of this community.
If you enjoy suspenseful legal thriller type reads, I recommend this one. It is full of legal terms and vocabulary I had either some or no knowledge of prior. So, it was just as educational as well.
It is a bit of a slow burn in the beginning. However, the storyline itself is full of twist and turns and it kept me guessing as I continued to read along.
Overall, this novel is a realistic and descriptive story that will have you eager to find out the truth of what just is going on.
The homeowners association controls much and a determined young lawyer is ready to take them and the unfair justice system set in place on by investigating who truly is the puppet master or masters behind all of the strings of this community.
If you enjoy suspenseful legal thriller type reads, I recommend this one. It is full of legal terms and vocabulary I had either some or no knowledge of prior. So, it was just as educational as well.
It is a bit of a slow burn in the beginning. However, the storyline itself is full of twist and turns and it kept me guessing as I continued to read along.
Overall, this novel is a realistic and descriptive story that will have you eager to find out the truth of what just is going on.
February 16, 2020
ғᴜʟʟ ᴅɪsᴄʟᴏsᴜʀᴇ: 𝖨 𝗐𝖺𝗌 𝖺𝗉𝗉𝗋𝗈𝖺𝖼𝗁𝖾𝖽 𝖻𝗒 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝖺𝗎𝗍𝗁𝗈𝗋, 𝖬𝗌. 𝖹𝗂𝖾𝗀𝗅𝖾𝗋, 𝗈𝗇 𝖨𝗇𝗌𝗍𝖺𝗀𝗋𝖺𝗆. 𝖨 𝗋𝖾𝖼𝖾𝗂𝗏𝖾𝖽 𝗁𝖾𝗋 𝖻𝗈𝗈𝗄 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖿𝗋𝖾𝖾 𝗂𝗇 𝖾𝗑𝖼𝗁𝖺𝗇𝗀𝖾 𝖿𝗈𝗋 𝖺 𝗁𝗈𝗇𝖾𝗌𝗍 𝗋𝖾𝗏𝗂𝖾𝗐.
My eagerness to read this book began when I opened my bookmail. The limited deluxe edition of this book that I received was a gorgeous hardcover with thick premium pages and black sprayed edges! I was also happy to see the golden sticker on top of the book cover, “Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist” awarded to Ms. Ziegler! 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 so I am honored to review this book!
The story is a legal thriller about a woman attorney who is single-handedly trying to take down a very corrupt and very dangerous Homeowners Association (a.k.a The Association) where other righteous citizens have failed and paid the price for challenging The Association. The story takes place in Georgia and is narrated by the attorney in first person POV.
The attorney gets the help of a few friends wanting the same resolution as her but also faces a lot of intimidation from the powerful men wanting to take her down before she can reveal their ugly truths. Does she succeed in seeking justice? You will have to read to find out!
I found 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 to be marvelous in every level. There were surprises and twists that I didn’t see coming. The attorney was a strong and relentless woman who refused to be bullied no matter the cost. All the characters presented were fresh and the whole story was so original that this entire book could easily be reality and a work of non-fiction. The book contained a good amount of vocabulary and legalese jargon but nothing that would impede the flow or understanding of the narrative. All in all, 5 stars from me!
My eagerness to read this book began when I opened my bookmail. The limited deluxe edition of this book that I received was a gorgeous hardcover with thick premium pages and black sprayed edges! I was also happy to see the golden sticker on top of the book cover, “Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist” awarded to Ms. Ziegler! 𝘖𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘮𝘺 𝘨𝘰𝘢𝘭𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳, 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘦 𝘞𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘐𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘦 𝘈𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘳𝘴, 𝘪𝘯 𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯 so I am honored to review this book!
The story is a legal thriller about a woman attorney who is single-handedly trying to take down a very corrupt and very dangerous Homeowners Association (a.k.a The Association) where other righteous citizens have failed and paid the price for challenging The Association. The story takes place in Georgia and is narrated by the attorney in first person POV.
The attorney gets the help of a few friends wanting the same resolution as her but also faces a lot of intimidation from the powerful men wanting to take her down before she can reveal their ugly truths. Does she succeed in seeking justice? You will have to read to find out!
I found 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘴𝘴𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 to be marvelous in every level. There were surprises and twists that I didn’t see coming. The attorney was a strong and relentless woman who refused to be bullied no matter the cost. All the characters presented were fresh and the whole story was so original that this entire book could easily be reality and a work of non-fiction. The book contained a good amount of vocabulary and legalese jargon but nothing that would impede the flow or understanding of the narrative. All in all, 5 stars from me!
May 28, 2020
The Association: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ /5
The black sprayed edges ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 😍
What I loved: The legal thriller aspect was unique for me and a change of pace. I love thrillers and I like that this mixed it up. The lake side community sounds idealistic so I enjoyed the setting. As I was reading this, I felt like I knew how it was going to end but I didn’t know HOW. Then, all of the sudden, a twist was thrown at me and I wasn’t expecting it. I liked that ☺️ This was a pretty quick read and it keeps you wanting to read more in order to see how it all plays out.
What I struggled with: I did find it hard to keep up with all the people/characters, so I started a list on the notes app on my phone. Once I made the list though, it really helped and every character played a key role. There is a lot of lawyer jargon (that could be your thing ? 🤷🏼♀️) but it’s necessary for the plot and I was still able to understand it.
I love thrillers and overall this one was nice to read as a change of pace! I think if you like thrillers and/or legal thrillers, you should totally pick this one up.
Thank you Sharon Ziegler for the copy in exchange for an honest review! Also, thank you for the sweet note about teachers 😍😘
The black sprayed edges ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 😍
What I loved: The legal thriller aspect was unique for me and a change of pace. I love thrillers and I like that this mixed it up. The lake side community sounds idealistic so I enjoyed the setting. As I was reading this, I felt like I knew how it was going to end but I didn’t know HOW. Then, all of the sudden, a twist was thrown at me and I wasn’t expecting it. I liked that ☺️ This was a pretty quick read and it keeps you wanting to read more in order to see how it all plays out.
What I struggled with: I did find it hard to keep up with all the people/characters, so I started a list on the notes app on my phone. Once I made the list though, it really helped and every character played a key role. There is a lot of lawyer jargon (that could be your thing ? 🤷🏼♀️) but it’s necessary for the plot and I was still able to understand it.
I love thrillers and overall this one was nice to read as a change of pace! I think if you like thrillers and/or legal thrillers, you should totally pick this one up.
Thank you Sharon Ziegler for the copy in exchange for an honest review! Also, thank you for the sweet note about teachers 😍😘
March 11, 2020
In this legal thriller we find a very strong, persistent young lawyer struggling to get back in the game after she left it for a while. She soon finds herself taking on a corrupt Homeowners Association as well as a not so fair Justice system. She's not one to let a loss in court hold her back as she doggedly investigates The Association. Told from the first person POV the story navigates through some unexpected twists and surprises as we learn not all the characters, who are well fleshed out, are who they seem to be. I enjoyed the realistic feel of this one as it felt almost like an original non-fiction book. I highly recommend this well written story to those of you who enjoy a good legal thriller that builds from the start and ends with a bang!
Thank you Sharon Ann Ziegler for reaching out and sharing your book with me, I look forward to what comes next!
Thank you Sharon Ann Ziegler for reaching out and sharing your book with me, I look forward to what comes next!
April 5, 2020
This was the first book I have ever read from this author. After reading alot of John Grisham legal thrillers, I was excited to read this book. This book has a simple but elegant cover.
I absolutely loved this book. Being a legal thriller, you know you will be inside of the courtroom dealing with alot of drama and this book exemplified one of my favorite type of book to read. I felt like I was in the courtroom as everything was going on. I got to see the backstory of the association, and I felt like I was a board member as everything took place.
The Writing of Sharon was phenomenal. She did a fantastic job of going in depth on the legality of everything going on, while providing a fantastic story keeping me deeply involved from start to finish.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves legal thrillers!!!!
My rating: 📕📕📕📕📕 (5 stars)
I absolutely loved this book. Being a legal thriller, you know you will be inside of the courtroom dealing with alot of drama and this book exemplified one of my favorite type of book to read. I felt like I was in the courtroom as everything was going on. I got to see the backstory of the association, and I felt like I was a board member as everything took place.
The Writing of Sharon was phenomenal. She did a fantastic job of going in depth on the legality of everything going on, while providing a fantastic story keeping me deeply involved from start to finish.
I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves legal thrillers!!!!
My rating: 📕📕📕📕📕 (5 stars)
May 14, 2020
This book tells a story about a young lawyer who is trying to investigate a corrupt group called The Association. Right from the beginning the author jumps into the story and she doesn’t let up which was very thrilling and compelling.
One minute I thought I had it figured out, but Ziegler threw another curve ball at me. By the time I was at the end I was like 😱. So many surprises.
Definitely check this one out. It’s not like your normal legal thrillers. Ziegler has a very unique voice that had me enthralled in the story from the very first page.
One minute I thought I had it figured out, but Ziegler threw another curve ball at me. By the time I was at the end I was like 😱. So many surprises.
Definitely check this one out. It’s not like your normal legal thrillers. Ziegler has a very unique voice that had me enthralled in the story from the very first page.
April 18, 2020
Having just relocated to a small town with her husband, a young attorney is determined to get back into the legal field. While building up her clientele, she meets an older couple living in a “luxury” lakeside community. But while parts of the neighbourhood are living in luxury, theirs has been neglected and in serious need of repairs. It seems The Association, the board and committee members, have been neglecting their duties and everything is pointing to corruption. With everything going against her, she must fight prejudice and bias to get at the truth and right the wrong.
This is in a nutshell but there is just so much more to this book that I’m just going to say what hooked me. The writing is great with a story that flowed well and just got better with every turn of the page. I was rooting for the protagonist, she kind of reminded me of Erin Brokovich and she was just a good person. I found myself thinking about this book every time I put it down. Part court room/legal drama with a side of murder thrown in, this was a joy to read. 4.5⭐️
This is in a nutshell but there is just so much more to this book that I’m just going to say what hooked me. The writing is great with a story that flowed well and just got better with every turn of the page. I was rooting for the protagonist, she kind of reminded me of Erin Brokovich and she was just a good person. I found myself thinking about this book every time I put it down. Part court room/legal drama with a side of murder thrown in, this was a joy to read. 4.5⭐️
May 9, 2020
The Association is an intriguing legal thriller and I couldn't put it down. I loved the legal lingo and I thought the authors writing was detailed and world building. So much drama unfolded as the young lawyer uncovers just how corrupt the homeowners association of Covington Commons is. This story was fast paced and I never got bored with all the twists all the way to the end.
February 9, 2020
I read this book in a buddy read, this books was fascinating. It was different from any book I’ve ever read.
I will post a full review later on.
I will post a full review later on.
April 14, 2020
If you are looking for a fun, cozy, Agatha Christie-ish legal thriller/mystery - this one's for you! Sharon Ann Ziegler has created the most delightful narrator. She is your best friend and takes you on her journey as an attorney (who has stopped working) and moves to Georgia with her husband - to start over - but returns to the business when she knows she has to right a wrong.
An older couple who has put down a lot of money to live in a gated community, find that they are not being provided the services they paid for. Our heroine lawyer is asked to help. While investigating the situation, she takes on the homeowners association, discovers mysterious deaths, a cast of intriguing characters, political maneuverings, fraud and more.
She (the lawyer) becomes your best friend. You feel as though you are next to her as she describes the court rooms and makes legal jargon understandable, brings you with her to the local diner where the smells of the amazing southern cooking actually make your mouth water, and has you by her side as she investigates the many clues. The end has a great twist and you will love reaching it!
Thank you Sharon Ann Ziegler for the beautiful gifted copy of the book - the glossy cover and beautiful black-edged pages made me feel very special as I read this fun mystery/thriller!
An older couple who has put down a lot of money to live in a gated community, find that they are not being provided the services they paid for. Our heroine lawyer is asked to help. While investigating the situation, she takes on the homeowners association, discovers mysterious deaths, a cast of intriguing characters, political maneuverings, fraud and more.
She (the lawyer) becomes your best friend. You feel as though you are next to her as she describes the court rooms and makes legal jargon understandable, brings you with her to the local diner where the smells of the amazing southern cooking actually make your mouth water, and has you by her side as she investigates the many clues. The end has a great twist and you will love reaching it!
Thank you Sharon Ann Ziegler for the beautiful gifted copy of the book - the glossy cover and beautiful black-edged pages made me feel very special as I read this fun mystery/thriller!
August 30, 2020
The Association
—
First of all, thank you to Sharon Ann Ziegler for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review. Isn’t this book beautiful? I took the sleeve off because this cloth wrap and black sprayed edges need your full attention.
How do you feel about your homeowners association? LOL. After reading this..I am glad they’re not like Covington Commons. Covington Commons is the ideal place to live in, but if you look closer it is far from it. This corrupt association is neglecting their services and maintenance through criminal board members, embezzlement, nepotism, suspicious kickbacks, etc.
I thought the writing was just enough to help me feel like I was in the courtroom and just enough legal jargon. I loved that we got to figure out what the association was doing along with solving the crimes around the city involving key members of the board. This definitely through me in for a loop and I wasn’t expecting the final twist! I love books with a strong female character who also tackle David vs. Goliath issues. A true underdog character is exactly the type of main character I appreciate. Her character growth throughout the story was very visible; she learned from her previous courtroom/personal mistakes.
Overall, a great legal thriller if you are a fan of the sub-genre. I should’ve been a lawyer in another life; think I would crush it in the courtroom.
—
First of all, thank you to Sharon Ann Ziegler for sending me a copy in exchange for my honest review. Isn’t this book beautiful? I took the sleeve off because this cloth wrap and black sprayed edges need your full attention.
How do you feel about your homeowners association? LOL. After reading this..I am glad they’re not like Covington Commons. Covington Commons is the ideal place to live in, but if you look closer it is far from it. This corrupt association is neglecting their services and maintenance through criminal board members, embezzlement, nepotism, suspicious kickbacks, etc.
I thought the writing was just enough to help me feel like I was in the courtroom and just enough legal jargon. I loved that we got to figure out what the association was doing along with solving the crimes around the city involving key members of the board. This definitely through me in for a loop and I wasn’t expecting the final twist! I love books with a strong female character who also tackle David vs. Goliath issues. A true underdog character is exactly the type of main character I appreciate. Her character growth throughout the story was very visible; she learned from her previous courtroom/personal mistakes.
Overall, a great legal thriller if you are a fan of the sub-genre. I should’ve been a lawyer in another life; think I would crush it in the courtroom.
December 24, 2020
This is a story of a determined young attorney who is willing to fight off the biases and prejudices of the legal system and bring justice to the deserving. But the road to justice is paved with professional hurdles and personal struggles and only the truly determined can make it to the end.
This is a legal thriller and a very good one at that. I liked the first person, simple tone of the narration, it helped me connect with the story immediately and understand the struggles of the protagonist. Since a legal thriller, the mentions of legal terms and technicalities are often but never dull, in fact, it’s witty in the right places, and very enjoyable. This story has such a strong believability to it, it almost reads like a true event (and I want to believe it is!), very well-researched and well-written, and the emotions are so on-point.
This is kind of a slow-burn but engaging nevertheless and the small twists and turns kept me hooked throughout. I think this is a beautiful tale, and there’s so much to learn from it, kinda makes you believe that you can achieve anything if you put your head and heart to it, and this isn’t what I can say about most thrillers I read, lol. Recommended if are a fan of this sub-genre! And bonus points, the deluxe edition of this book is just gorgeous!
This is a legal thriller and a very good one at that. I liked the first person, simple tone of the narration, it helped me connect with the story immediately and understand the struggles of the protagonist. Since a legal thriller, the mentions of legal terms and technicalities are often but never dull, in fact, it’s witty in the right places, and very enjoyable. This story has such a strong believability to it, it almost reads like a true event (and I want to believe it is!), very well-researched and well-written, and the emotions are so on-point.
This is kind of a slow-burn but engaging nevertheless and the small twists and turns kept me hooked throughout. I think this is a beautiful tale, and there’s so much to learn from it, kinda makes you believe that you can achieve anything if you put your head and heart to it, and this isn’t what I can say about most thrillers I read, lol. Recommended if are a fan of this sub-genre! And bonus points, the deluxe edition of this book is just gorgeous!
June 2, 2020
All I can say about this book is WOW. I was completely addicted from start to finish, and I ended up finishing the book in two days because I couldn't put it down! One of my favorite parts was the character development throughout the beginning. It was so thoroughly and beautifully done to the point that I thought I was the main character interacting with them firsthand. Also, don't let the fact that this is a legal thriller make you think that it's not an easily accessible book. This author did an amazing job at making the legal aspects really easy follow, and I felt like I learned a lot about the legal system through an exciting plot. I still can't get over how the book ended. I didn't see it coming at all, but in retrospect, the tiny details leading up to it make complete sense and tie the whole story together. Extremely happy that I came across this great read!
April 5, 2020
I usually tend to mainly read romances and fantasy books, so when I was given the opportunity to read ‘The Association’, a crime thriller by Sharon Ann Ziegler, I jumped at the chance to get a taste of something different.
I started reading this book yesterday, and from the moment i finished reading the first few chapters, I was completely and utterly engrossed. If you have an interest in the legal system, or just enjoy a good ‘who done it?’ mystery, this book will be the perfect treat for you.
The book is about a young attorney, who after a few triumphs and failures returns to her law career, and after feeling discouraged, is looking to get back into the game with a case which could make or break her career.
She meets a couple called the Wainrights, an old couple who live in a housing area called Covington Gardens. Their housing area is one of three in a small lakeside community, and they sense foul play is going on with The Association running the communities. They pay an expensive monthly fee supposedly for amenities that they cannot use due to them being in disgusting condition, and the only housing area seemingly benefitting is Eagles Nest where most of the housing committee board members reside. If they were to attempt to use facilities from Eagles Nest, they are to pay a further stipend and it’s causing great financial ruin to the residents. Their house prices are declining and they are struggling to make ends meet for things they are not seeing an overall benefit of.
The attorney is determined to look into what possibly could be going on, suspecting fraud, but what she uncovers is more than anyone could bargain for.
This book is incredibly well thought out and written with lots of twists and turns which constantly piqued my interest. Just when I thought all the mysteries were in play, another was pulled out the bag and thrown is as a curveball. I love how you learn of things as and when the attorney does, and you only know as much as she does at any given time, so you are left working out the mystery as if you were on the case yourself.
It was a very clever book and I am so grateful to have been given a copy of this book to read. It is the perfect book for those who love mystery, crime and thrillers, and I certainly felt like I was being educated as well as entertained. Amazing!
I started reading this book yesterday, and from the moment i finished reading the first few chapters, I was completely and utterly engrossed. If you have an interest in the legal system, or just enjoy a good ‘who done it?’ mystery, this book will be the perfect treat for you.
The book is about a young attorney, who after a few triumphs and failures returns to her law career, and after feeling discouraged, is looking to get back into the game with a case which could make or break her career.
She meets a couple called the Wainrights, an old couple who live in a housing area called Covington Gardens. Their housing area is one of three in a small lakeside community, and they sense foul play is going on with The Association running the communities. They pay an expensive monthly fee supposedly for amenities that they cannot use due to them being in disgusting condition, and the only housing area seemingly benefitting is Eagles Nest where most of the housing committee board members reside. If they were to attempt to use facilities from Eagles Nest, they are to pay a further stipend and it’s causing great financial ruin to the residents. Their house prices are declining and they are struggling to make ends meet for things they are not seeing an overall benefit of.
The attorney is determined to look into what possibly could be going on, suspecting fraud, but what she uncovers is more than anyone could bargain for.
This book is incredibly well thought out and written with lots of twists and turns which constantly piqued my interest. Just when I thought all the mysteries were in play, another was pulled out the bag and thrown is as a curveball. I love how you learn of things as and when the attorney does, and you only know as much as she does at any given time, so you are left working out the mystery as if you were on the case yourself.
It was a very clever book and I am so grateful to have been given a copy of this book to read. It is the perfect book for those who love mystery, crime and thrillers, and I certainly felt like I was being educated as well as entertained. Amazing!
May 18, 2020
The Association
Sharon Ann Ziegler
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Association lived up to its rating. This legal thriller had it all, suspense, twists and I enjoyed the descriptive courtroom settings! With a criminal justice background I was quickly swept up in the corrupt members of the Association. I enjoyed the writing style and the build up of the character development. Sharon Ziegler has a clever way of putting the plot together and kept me guessing and rooting for justice.
Thank you to Sharon Ann Ziegler for sending me a copy of your beautiful book. I love the cover and contrast of the black binding. This book is an Indie Excellence finalist award and I am grateful to have been given the chance to read this! I’m looking forward to passing this book along so it can continue to be enjoyed!
#theassociation #sharonannziegler #booklover #bookworm #booknerds #booksofinstagram #booklife #bookofthemonth #bookbub #bookclub #bookclubs #bookclubbook #ilovereading #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookadvisor #betweenthechapters #goodreadsgiveaway #goodreads #100bookchallenge
#BOTM #readacrossinstagram #readingnook #bookreviewer
Sharon Ann Ziegler
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Association lived up to its rating. This legal thriller had it all, suspense, twists and I enjoyed the descriptive courtroom settings! With a criminal justice background I was quickly swept up in the corrupt members of the Association. I enjoyed the writing style and the build up of the character development. Sharon Ziegler has a clever way of putting the plot together and kept me guessing and rooting for justice.
Thank you to Sharon Ann Ziegler for sending me a copy of your beautiful book. I love the cover and contrast of the black binding. This book is an Indie Excellence finalist award and I am grateful to have been given the chance to read this! I’m looking forward to passing this book along so it can continue to be enjoyed!
#theassociation #sharonannziegler #booklover #bookworm #booknerds #booksofinstagram #booklife #bookofthemonth #bookbub #bookclub #bookclubs #bookclubbook #ilovereading #bookaholic #bookaddict #bookadvisor #betweenthechapters #goodreadsgiveaway #goodreads #100bookchallenge
#BOTM #readacrossinstagram #readingnook #bookreviewer
May 14, 2020
I’m blown away! Before seeing a review for this book, I had never heard of the genre ‘Legal Thriller’ and due to my interest in the law I was keen to read this book. This book was a finalist in the National Indie Excellence Awards 2019 in the Legal Thriller Category.
A young female attorney takes on a homeowners association and under covers fraud, mystery and murder.
With prejudicial and biased purveyors of justice at the helm, prior lawsuits against the Association have been routinely dismissed early on. Our attorney heroine must find it within herself to navigate and succeed in a world where grossly confident men grandstand in gold jewelry, private investigators are always listening, and judges are not honorable—a world where people aren’t at all who they seem to be.
I couldn’t put this book down! I did suspect the eventual culprit, but not to the extent of the plot. At first, I thought the book would be full of legal jargon and despite being a lawyer I thought it would be a boring, difficult read. How wrong was I? The book is so well written, with short snappy chapters, meaning the plot quickly moves through the plot but with interesting detail. I would recommend this book to anyone due to the thriller aspect but especially those who have an interest in the law. 5🌟
A young female attorney takes on a homeowners association and under covers fraud, mystery and murder.
With prejudicial and biased purveyors of justice at the helm, prior lawsuits against the Association have been routinely dismissed early on. Our attorney heroine must find it within herself to navigate and succeed in a world where grossly confident men grandstand in gold jewelry, private investigators are always listening, and judges are not honorable—a world where people aren’t at all who they seem to be.
I couldn’t put this book down! I did suspect the eventual culprit, but not to the extent of the plot. At first, I thought the book would be full of legal jargon and despite being a lawyer I thought it would be a boring, difficult read. How wrong was I? The book is so well written, with short snappy chapters, meaning the plot quickly moves through the plot but with interesting detail. I would recommend this book to anyone due to the thriller aspect but especially those who have an interest in the law. 5🌟
May 11, 2020
A huge thank you to the author for my gifted copy of this book. It is a limited edition hard cover with black sprayed edges- this book is beautiful and I couldn't stop staring at it.
An "Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist" this book deserves every bit of the award!
A legal thriller about a women attorney set out to take on an HOA that's done more than it's share of wrong.
Told through the eyes of the attorney- who I loved. Along her way of helping her clients, she is met with shady characters and twists and turns determined to take her and her case out.
I loved the originality of this book and was entertained the entire time. Such a well written and well developed story.
I could not put this one down, fast-paced right until the end. I can not wait to see what the author writes next!
An "Indie Excellence Book Awards Finalist" this book deserves every bit of the award!
A legal thriller about a women attorney set out to take on an HOA that's done more than it's share of wrong.
Told through the eyes of the attorney- who I loved. Along her way of helping her clients, she is met with shady characters and twists and turns determined to take her and her case out.
I loved the originality of this book and was entertained the entire time. Such a well written and well developed story.
I could not put this one down, fast-paced right until the end. I can not wait to see what the author writes next!
January 25, 2020
I was excited to read this book... I love the black and white look with the black edged pages. This was a very exciting book. Written from the perspective of the lawyer on the case, it’s filled with details of the investigation and suit. The book starts with a slow burn, getting to know the characters and setting but it’s well worth it in the end. This book has legal drama, mystery, suspense, and even a bit of family drama. I would have given five stars except that I’m not super into legal thrillers and it can be heavy on the details at times. You wouldn’t think that a book that starts with real estate law would be too interesting, but trust me... there’s much much more to it! I loved how the main character was portrayed and developed. Her flaws and past legal cases influenced her decision making throughout the process and we got a front row seat to that. I really loved her character. There were some funny and relatable moments too that really got me. I loved one of the beginning quotes when we are still getting to know her.... “having a bad hair day can distract a girl from any job”. Bottom line, if you like mysteries and “who dunnits” you’ll love this book... even more bonus points if you like legal thrillers!
May 3, 2020
This book by Sharon Ziegler was brilliantly written. I loved all the details and how she slowly pulled you in by not giving too much away all at once. From the minute I began reading this book I felt it hard to put down. I needed to know what was going to happen next and what new information I was going to read about and how it was going to be introduced. I did not see all the different twist this amazing thriller had coming at certain parts of the book. That's another reason I lived it Soo much. I don't want to know right away what's coming. I like to try and figure it out if not be surprised , and oh man let me tell you, I was shocked. The information the author gives you on the characters and how she goes into introducing new characters is remarkable. To be honest, I love thriller books and when I first started reading it, I really wasn't sure where the thriller part was going to come in at, but when it slowly started unfolding that's when I knew I was going to love this book. It was an amazing read. This is a must read. You will definitely enjoy it as much as I did.😍📚
March 25, 2020
A huge thank you to the author for sending me a signed copy of the book in exchange for an honest review!
"The Association" exceeded all of my expectations, not only in appearance, but also in content. The stark white dust jacket against the black-lined pages makes the book unique and eye-catching. The author's writing style is engaging and often humorous, causing the reader to instantly be pulled into the story and empathize with the main character. Additionally, the author is careful to work definitions of law terms into her plot so even the layman can understand. There were a lot of characters in this book, so I recommend keeping a running list of them, otherwise you'll end up flipping back through the pages like I did.
Engaging, surprising, and well-written, I highly recommend this book to any mystery fan, wannabe lawyer, or indi fiction reader.
"The Association" exceeded all of my expectations, not only in appearance, but also in content. The stark white dust jacket against the black-lined pages makes the book unique and eye-catching. The author's writing style is engaging and often humorous, causing the reader to instantly be pulled into the story and empathize with the main character. Additionally, the author is careful to work definitions of law terms into her plot so even the layman can understand. There were a lot of characters in this book, so I recommend keeping a running list of them, otherwise you'll end up flipping back through the pages like I did.
Engaging, surprising, and well-written, I highly recommend this book to any mystery fan, wannabe lawyer, or indi fiction reader.
April 15, 2020
Like all great mysteries, there are a lot of curveball that you don't see coming (especially when you think you have it figured out!) I did not want to put this book down once installed it. I was also impressed with how the author integrated technical legal procedure into the story and made it exciting. This felt quite a bit more real than many courtroom mysteries and it was very believable. There are great characters and you aren't sure who should be trusted. It really leads to some tense moments for the reader while you're waiting to see what happens next.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a fast-paced read that will seriously keep them guess right up until he end.
I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a fast-paced read that will seriously keep them guess right up until he end.
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July 16, 2019If you are looking for legal fiction with murder thrown in for good measure, Ms. Ziegler raises the bar by using literary devices such as alliteration, imagery, a wide vocabulary, and creatively turning nouns into verbs.
The pace starts off slow but steady as the author sets the stage and introduces the colorful characters, giving the reader time to savor the descriptions and pick up the foreshadowing. The speed accelerates and never lets up until the startling conclusion.
The pace starts off slow but steady as the author sets the stage and introduces the colorful characters, giving the reader time to savor the descriptions and pick up the foreshadowing. The speed accelerates and never lets up until the startling conclusion.
March 27, 2020
This was a book I took my time with and savored. The writing was so smart and so suspenseful that I didn't want the book to end. I tried to think of authors I could compare Sharon to and came up empty as her voice is uniquely her own. If you have not read THE ASSOCIATION, you are truly missing out on a wonderful literary experience.
March 18, 2019
The Association is a Great read! I didn't want to put it down. It kept me interested from cover to cover!
All the characters and neighborhoods are so well described I felt like I was there. The ending I was not expecting!! I hope she's writing another one soon!
All the characters and neighborhoods are so well described I felt like I was there. The ending I was not expecting!! I hope she's writing another one soon!
October 31, 2019
One of the best books I’ve ever read! The plot is captivating, and her use of unique vocabulary kept me enthralled. The storyline has so many unpredictable twists and turns and that made it impossible to put down. Also, be on the lookout for unexpected foreshadowing cleverly hidden throughout!
April 23, 2020
This is a legal thriller with so much corruption from the association it will make your head spin! The story started a little slow but the story builds and builds. The end really picks up with plenty of action I didn't see coming! I really enjoyable read!
March 12, 2019
Love, Law, Murder and Mystery! This cozy mystery has it all! I love this book, so well written, and it keeps you guessing all they way through. Great characters too! Fantastic!
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