Customer Reviews

Trial by Fire (Love Inspired Suspense)

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Indiana writer Cara Putman has another new book out this month. Trial by Fire releases October 13 from the Love Inspired Suspense line.

If you've read Cara's first book, Deadly Exposure, you might remember Caleb Jamison's sister, Tricia. Trial by Fire is Tricia's story. However, one of my favorite things about this book is the continuation of Dani and Caleb's story. We don't just get a small little cameo from them like in most short series, they're a part of this storyline--in a smaller way, but still very much a part of the plot. I loved that.

The story starts with Tricia's mother's house targeted by an arsonist. Or rather her garage. Even though Tricia works as a county prosecutor, her brother, a police investigator, is sure someone is targeting him from a case he's worked.

Fireman Noah Brust thought he'd never have to see Tricia Jamison again. At least he hoped. After working with her on a trial the previous year, and subsequently having his father's reputation as a fireman ruined, he has no use for Tricia or any attorney for that matter.

Like most great characters, Tricia is hiding some serious hurts from her past. That and a few issues she runs into on her current case prosecuting a wife beating scumbag, makes the issue with the arsonist the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back. She's unable to process everything and finds herself vulnerable.

Even though he'd like nothing more than to avoid Tricia, Noah finds himself a target of the arsonist. He realizes the two of them would do better working together on this case than against each other. While Noah still harbors some bitterness for the beautiful attorney, her vulnerability moves him more than he'd have thought.

I can honestly say this is Putman's best work. I loved the twisty turny plot that kept us guessing and the romance...well, he's a fireman. Need I say more? LOL. Seriously, this is a great quick, romantic suspense you can take with you anywhere.

Cara wrote a powerful story in a short book. And that is probably my biggest complaint about the novel. I would have loved it to be longer. Trial By Fire is an excellent romance filled with suspense, intrigue, faith, healing, and forgiveness. Not to mention a hero everyone falls in love with and a heroine readers want to hug. Cara managed to tackle some difficult topics and show some important lessons on forgiveness and faith. Within that, she wrote a love story that touches the heart. This book is little, a quick read, but don't let that fool you. The writing is excellent, the suspense builds and the resolution inspires. I highly recommend this book for a rainy or snowy afternoon read. Great little stocking stuffer too!

This book was a quick-paced read. Sequel to Deadly Exposure.

Fires. Lawsuits. Family secrets. Tricia wonders whether she'll ever move forward regarding events from the past. She questions if God saw her in her pain. I think we can all identify with questioning how He could allow ____ to happen. Find out how God meets Tricia in her fears.

Having gone to college in Lincoln, Nebraska - the setting - I loved the references to restaurants and streets. Makes me want to go for a Runza sandwich right now!

This book was sweet as it was powerful. The heroine is strong yet knows how to cry. She's the woman of faith and courage to face and stand up to the bad guys. (Not just the arsonist, but the bad guys of the past.) The hero is strong, and humble; also a man of faith. Tricia is quick to pray and to forgive the wongs of the past. Noah comes off as stubborn, and angry at first, then the more he sees her the more he humbles himself. Now for the criticism. The book was suspenseful, and kept you wondering who was behind the fires and why. BUT on the other hand it ended without giving the reader all the answers. I still had a few questions about the case Tricia was working on. The questions about her family. As for Noah... I felt as if his character development was incomplete. The author didn't go into enough details about his family. She described his father and his grandfather, but what about his mother or any siblings? he has no interaction with his family. It left me wondering are they all dead? I also thought that forgiveness happened way too fast. He says I'm sorry and then she says I forgive you. That's how it's supposed to be, but that's not how it really is. I know it's a novel, and a really good one, but that part was the only thing that was slightly unbelievable. I would read more by this author.

Trial by Fire

Cara Putman

We knew Cara Putman had skill as a romance writer, but Stars in the Night showed us that she also wrote consummate suspense and mystery thrillers. Trial by Fire was more compelling for this reviewer due to its mature content. It dealt sensitively with issues of abuse.

This novel began at the desk of Tricia Jamison, prosecuting attorney in a wife battering case. Her brother Caleb, an investigator for the police force, rang her to report a fire at their mother's home. When she arrived she encountered Noah Brust, firefighter and former client. From this point onward, this novel blazed with the intensity of a four alarm fire causing us to turn the pages at the speed of a fire truck racing to the scene. Throughout this fast paced book, seemingly insignificant details leapt to life like an accelerant propelled blaze. Would Tricia win her case? What would be the cost? Who was the arsonist? Would the arsonist escalate and someone be killed?

This novel could not be laid down once begun. It careened from crisis to crisis through plot shifts that kept us on the edge of our seats. It dealt sensitively with mature topics for mature readers. It could be a difficult book for some to read. Therefore I recommend it for adults. A Senior High youth group with adult supervision could use this novel for a study on abuse related issues. Conveniently, questions for discussion are found in the back of the book. I heartily recommend this book for mature readers and for High School students with adult guidance.

I just finished reading it last night and I am happy to report that I enjoyed seeing how everything was going to play out. First off I really like these characters, we get to reconnect with Caleb Jamison and his girlfriend, Dani Richards from book #1, Deadly Exposure. Tricia Jamison (Caleb's sister) played a secondary role in that book and now she comes center stage as she and Caleb team up with firefighter Noah Brust to find the arsonist who is targeting her family. Can they find the connection and stop the fires before someone dies?

Along the way Noah learns about forgiveness and Tricia learns that our past can only destroy us in the dark, but the light brings freedom. And people walking in freedom can love better than people controlled by darkness. I loved the way this book wrapped up and I didn't know for sure how this one would end.

Tricia Jamison has a tough job and has seen things the average person won't see in their lifetime. Tricia says this about her job, "Somehow she had to take joy in the small victories rather than focusing on the fact that domestic violence hadn't ended and likely never would. She could help victims--one at a time--reclaim control of their lives."

If only she could have that happen in her personal life. Tricia had done a great job at keeping people and her emotions under control--by shutting down relationships in her life. Stuffing her emotions down deep so that they didn't affect her, how long could she do this? Who was she kidding? This latest case has her confronting her past - up-close and personal. She had a choice...she could let anger and bitterness run her life and isolate her, or she could reveal the secrets of her past and deal with the outcome. How was she going to push through? She couldn't do it without God's help.

Tricia realized for the first time that "Maybe she'd never understand why God had allowed the horrors happen to her, but she could choose to accept His love and commit to moving forward to the future."

Things get crazy when her mother's and brother's houses burn. What's going on? Who is doing this? One firefighter, Noah, wants to help her discover who is starting these fires. Tricia will have to trust Noah and deal with her feelings toward him. Again she'd have to lean on God to see her through.

Cara weaves a very interesting web of mystery as fires are breaking out all around the characters. I learned a lot about how firefighters go about investigating a fire to find out how it started. It was fascinating.

I received a review copy of this book and I'm glad I did. I like how the author has the characters deal with the hurts in their life in a very real way. They struggle to let God heal their hurts and trust Him to complete the work He's started.

Nora St. Laurent

Finding Hope Through Fiction

Here is another gripping and high impact suspense by Mrs. Cara Putman. Wow, what an amazing read. Once I started reading it I didn't want to put it down. Fires, chases, a trial and an unspoken romance this book has it all. Mrs. Putman has definitely taken us on a journey that we can all get into. I had it down to four suspects, but Mrs. Putman, as usual, keeps you guessing til the very end. I really do love the use of known names, areas and streets to bring the readers in closer to the storyline. The twist of the leading man helped to make him seem so much more down to earth, not just someone who swoops in and saves the day without any conflicts. Thank you Mrs. Putman for bringing Caleb and Dani into this story from Deadly Exposure. It seem to create a more closeness. I did read it again to got even more out of it. It's amazing what you miss when you read it the first time. I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves suspense, drama, romance and great uplifting morales. Thank you Mrs. Putman! I can't wait for the next one to come out.