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She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard. Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jamie, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart. Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child. This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.



My Thoughts: Cara Putman has written a powerful novel that focuses on issues we see every day. This is a novel about strength, recovery, trust and finding hope in God. This is a fast-moving story-line that keeps the reader's interest, there are no dull moments in this novel.



The characters were easy for the reader to identify with. Jaime has worked hard to work through her trauma and to seek justice. Chandler the veteran who suffers from mild PTSD. The author did a wonderful job with Chandler, a man who has also with the help of Aslan push past his trauma. As I said the author has touched on topics that I believe everyone has or knows someone touched by these traumas. The author has done a wonderful job bringing these to the readers' attention and showing that with counseling, the victims can obtain justice and freedom from the past.



I enjoyed that C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" from "Narnia" were brought into the storyline. I immediately fell in love with Aslan and the job he performed in the story.



This was a wonderful and a joy to read. I highly recommend this one, especially to those who enjoy action and suspense with a little romance mixed in. ( )

Delayed Justice by Cara Putman is the third book in her Hidden Justice series. Jaime Nichols is a criminal defense attorney in the public defender’s office. She tries to be the voice for those who do not have one. Chandler Bolton is an American veteran who works with the vets as they readjust to civilian life. He has trained his dog to be a therapy dog. His first assignment is to help an eight-year-old girl as she testifies in court. This story had suspense mixed with romance. I loved how sensitive Chandler was with Jaime. He was a true gentleman. It was a reminder that God is always there in every situation whether we can see him or not. He’ll be our comfort and shield if we’ll only allow Him in.

I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. ( )

We live in a world where children are abused everyday. They live in fear of their abuser because they have been threatened and terrified. This book deals with child abuse ; which for me is one of the hardest subjects to read. I am one of many who lived in a house where child abuse happened on a daily basis to me. There was no one to tell and I lived in fear for my life. I prepared myself to think I could plow through the book with little feelings. Oh how I was wrong.

The author writes with authority and gives details of abuse just enough that readers can understand how far the abuser went. She doesn't need graphic details to let us know that horror filled Jamie's life starting at the age of eight. This innocent child was at the mercy of someone who others would never suspect. That was one of the hardest things to grasp for me. A family member took the innocence from a child and no one knew. The author does an excellent job of showing us how the trauma from Jamie's childhood has affected her as an adult. It is not easy for her to let anyone get close to her. It's like having a brick wall built around you. The dynamics of her relationship with her parents is fractured at best.

The battle she takes on is nothing short of a David vs Goliath story. I held my breath as the news spread of the impending charges being filed . Jamie is a tough character who has a lot to overcome. Her self esteem is shot, she is a loner most times and I think her fear of rejection from her parents overwhelms her.

I don't want to forget to mention another key character in the story. Chandler has his own demons to face. Being a retired veteran, he has lived through horrific trauma during his service. I'm glad that we saw a glimpse of Chandler and how a service animal can be used to help victims who have been through trauma. His compassion for his work is displayed with hope and a determination to never give up.

Jamie has been silent for years and now she has strength and friends who are there to help her. Was there any time I felt she may falter? Never. I knew she was doing this to heal, protect others and give a voice to those too afraid to speak out. I liked the conversations that she had with different characters who helped guide her to God. It wasn't an in your face sort of talk, but one with a gentle push to help her seek the One who could stand beside her.

This is not a feel good kind of book. What it is though is a book about freedom from your past, justice long overdo and hope that a voice is heard to encourage others to speak out.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion. ( )

Delayed Justice certainly was a timely read for me! That’s a bit of an understatement given the book’s premise — a decades-old abuse allegation leveled at a powerful man headed for a Senate confirmation. But while the situation was similar to current events, this inspirational novel contained a message of hope for a future. Delayed Justice is a recommended read.

Characterization is strong in Delayed Justice. Main characters Jaime and Chandler are well-developed and very relatable. This reader became immersed in their stories and cared deeply for their trials and ultimate victories. Secondary characters also added depth to the story and remind the reader of the evil present in the world, as well as the hope of God’s ultimate care and healing. And if you are a dog lover, then you are in for a treat with Chandler’s comfort animal, Aslan. Danger lurks on the edges of the characters’ lives throughout the book creating a tension that kept me turning the pages. The romance was also completely believable. Chandler is definitely swoon-worthy hero! I had two strong takeaways from Delayed Justice. First, I loved Jaime’s firm dedication to due process for the accused in spite of the wrongs she suffered as a child. Jaime, a public defender, states — “Our system doesn’t work without someone like me making sure all accused, regardless of whether they are innocent or guilty, have a fair opportunity to defend themselves.” (p. 93). And I loved how the power of story is demonstrated — a Christian fiction classic, The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe, spoke to Jaime in a way that traditional church methods did not. All in all, Delayed Justice checked all the boxes for me — I loved it!

Delayed Justice is the third book in Putman’s Hidden Justice series, but is easily read as a standalone novel. All three in the series are now available for hours of wonderful reading!

Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Celebrate Lit and Thomas Nelson for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )