Customer Reviews

Fatal Loyalty: A Novel

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I found this to be a very well written book and I look forward to more from her. It was hard for me to put down when I started reading. Felt that I could "see" what was going on in the book. Lot of potential for more! I look forward to what will come next.

When your life is threatened, you come to understand what it truly means to you. "Fatal Loyalty" tells the story of Andie Ryborg and Evan Markham, two young individuals who enter situations that aren't the most pleasing to a long and healthy life. A daughter of a governor and a doubtful young man, they look inside themselves and to God to help them through it all. "Fatal Loyalty" is a riveting read for Christian fiction readers, very highly recommended.

Sue Duffy has written a book laced with tension, excitement, and subterfuge. Andie Ryborg is in danger because her father is running for governor of the state of Florida on a very strong anti-drug campaign and the drug lords are out to make certain that he is not elected. Consequently, Andie's life has been threatened and she has been forced into hiding. In spite of the fact that Andie has been assigned protection, she still senses that someone is watching her. Her home is invaded and her privacy becomes non-existent. For every move that Andie's father makes to ensure her safety, the members of the drug gang are right there to foil his efforts.

This is a very well written, generally fast-paced, and excitement-filled book. There were, however, several sections in the book where it really seemed to drag and I found my attention wandering. After a few pages, I would manage to get back into the story but there were times that I was sorely tempted to skip some pages. I persevered and did not do that for fear that I would miss some important element in the story. I later realized that I could easily have skimmed over some of those parts without losing a thing.

There were some parts of the story that I felt were weak. For example, the book kept emphasizing that Andie and other characters should trust no one; yet when a character showed up on the scene with no one to vouch for her credibility, in no time at all Andie, her father, and her father's staff were trusting this person completely and implicitly. It just seemed a bit too quick and easy for my acceptance factor, but other reviewers have not had a problem with this issue.

In spite of these minor flaws, I would still recommend this book for those who enjoy reading about drug abuse, dirty politicians, and God's omnipotence and mercy. The message of redemption and forgiveness is strong and well-done and it is for this reason that I feel this book is a worthwhile read.

This Christian fiction suspense novel did not "grab" me even though there were many twists and turns, even though it was set in Florida--MY state, and even though I could not completely figure out the ending. Perhaps it was me; you may find it wonderful.

The characters were unbelievable. Andie leaves her home in a panic and chooses to stay overnight with someone she met a few hours earlier? That would not be my choice.

The plot was bumpy rather than smooth. A scene of suspense involves a man running for governor being threatened by someone following his car. The would-be governor is told to "get down!" This is followed with a scene in an art gallery with a disgruntled art critic fussing at an artist. Bumpy. We never find out the results of the car chase.

Even the research is a bit sloppy. For example, this small error: the author uses "Dade Community College" as a location in South Florida. It's been Miami-Dade Community College for as long as I can remember.

Thank you to Bonnie at Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Kregel Publications for my copy.

FATAL LOYALTY is a political drama with many twists and turns. Andie Ryborg's father, Tony Ryborg, has been in politics long enough to ruffle the feathers of Leo Francini, crime boss and drug trafficker. Leo, has had enough of Tony's interference and decides to target his daughter, Andie as a way of getting Tony to step down from his zero tolerance stance on drugs. A stubborn Andie refuses to be bullied or allow her father to throw away his political career. What ensues is an up and down drama of good vs. evil.

The beginning of FATAL LOYALTY was confusing with the multiple characters and plots the author had to set-up for her readers, but once I got the players straight, I immersed myself in the tangle of relationships and how they wove together to form quite a unique plot. Without giving much away, the dynamic of Andie and Evan's relationship was bizarre, but believable. I just wish there would have been more interaction between these two characters. The ending seemed a bit abrupt and I feel the author could've addressed the many new relationships that emerged from the story with a bit more detail. Overall, a good read. The romantic side to the story is at a minimum, making this novel a good political drama for the male audience.
Book provided for review purposes.

Evan is born into a family whose business is crime. Andie is the daughter of a man running for office. They seem to have nothing in common, but they have many more things than they know.
When I picked up this book, I was not sure about it, but the story draws you in. This young man who was born in the wrong family and is determined to do the right thing, even if it costs him everything, will for sure inspire you. Andie, stubborn and determined to do things a certain way can frustrate you, but I found myself drawn into the story. Plus, there are all kinds of fun chases on water and land to follow, witness protection, undercover people...all the stuff I love and this is better than one of your TV crime solving shows!

"Fatal Loyalty" is a fast-paced Christian romantic suspense novel--though the romance happened a bit fast and near the end. The world-building was very good and brought the setting alive in my imagination. The characters were likable, realistic, and had realistic struggles.

After a bit of a rocky start, the suspense built nicely and kept me turning the pages. The first two "danger!" scenes got the reader to the "there's danger!" point--for example, a masked man in the window--then cut to another character's point of view where something totally unrelated was happening. By the time we got back to the character in danger, a week had passed, he/she was no longer in danger, and the character simply thought over or discussed what had happened. That rather cut the suspense for me. Luckily, after these first two times, the author kept with the scenes during the suspense, and the book turned out to be very enjoyable.

Several of the main characters were Christians and prayed to God for comfort and help. However, I didn't always agree with Andie's ponderings about good and evil--they weren't always biblical. There was a mild Christian message to the story, and one character started praying to God after having not done so for years.

There was no bad language and no sex. Overall, I'd recommend this as enjoyable, clean reading.


I received this book as a review copy from the publisher.

Reviewed by Debbie from Genre Reviews

Fatal Loyalty is a book about Tony Ryborg running for governor of FL, his fight against drugs, death threats, his daughter's safety issues, and Evan Markham's involvement with the drug lords and the Ryborgs.

Sue Duffy takes you though a fast-paced thriller of the dangers of drug lords and those who oppose them. Throughout the book, I find that the choices we make determine the course of our lives, good or bad. Some are split-second choices and you need to have wisdom.

The underlying question, although not always obvious, is whether you trust God to be there for you when things don't make sense. We all question where God is when times get tough and dangerous. Sue also infuses this story with a deep faith in God and prayer for protection, and that faith is vital throughout the fast-changing events brought on by drug lords out to destroy their enemies.

There's the old saying, `When things get tough, the tough get going.' The underlying theme here is prayer and trust in tumultuous times. Where does your help come from?

What I also found exciting in Sue's style of writing was her use of metaphors, i.e., "Far at sea, they (high-speed racer boats) would suckle from a mother ship engorged with drugs, then race to the mainland to, in turn, feed their own flocks of dealers." What a picture! Need I say more?

Special thanks to Cat Hoort of Kregel Publications for sending me a review copy.

A story of two different people, trying to be loyal to their fathers. Evan has grown up trying to distance himself from his father, who is an important person in the drug running business. Then there is Andie Ryborg, who loves her Attorny General Dad, Tony Ryborg, and will do anything to keep him in the political race; even not telling him about threats on her life. Evan and Andie are the last people who should have anything in common, but by the end of the story they are brought together in a most unusual way.
I enjoyed reading this book. I must admit I had a hard time at the beginning getting into the story, but it had alot of twists and turns I wasn't expecting in the story and I like that alot. I also thought it ended a little abruptly, but also liked the ending so what can I say. I think you will enjoy reading it. Thanks to Library Thing and Kregel Publication for giving me this book for review.

I would like to extend a heartfelt "Thank you" to Sue Duffy and her publisher for sending me a copy of "Fatal Loyalty" to review for them. I am truly grateful for this generosity. I really appreciate the time, effort and expense it takes to make a reviewer copy available to me.

Sue Duffy's "Fatal Loyalty" was a bit tough to get into at first. The story begins with the feel of a television episode that is prefaced with the announcement: "we will now join our regularly scheduled program, already in progress..." But once the main characters made their appearances, this wild ride took right off! Andie Ryborg has nowhere to go. She's on the run from an invisible threat, and even though she is under the protection of law enforcement, she's far from safe.

This incredible Christian suspense read will thrust the reader into the midst of deceptive appearances where truth is disguised and loyalties must be questioned because nothing is what it seems. Duffy's high-energy tale will appeal to the sleuth in every reader and keep you up way past bedtime turning the pages of this intriguing and romantic novel.