Thursday, July 30, 2015

The Ones We Trust (and giveaway!)

You don't know how lucky you are that I have so many good books up ahead for you all. August is going to be a BUSY reading month!

The Ones We Trust - Kimberly Belle
The Ones We Trust
A moving and evocative exploration of grief and guilt in the wake of one family's devastating loss. 

When former DC journalist Abigail Wolff attempts to rehabilitate her career, she finds herself at the heart of a US army cover-up involving the death of a soldier in Afghanistan -- with unspeakable emotional consequences for one family. As the story of what happened comes to light, Abigail will do anything to write it. 

The more evidence she stumbles upon in the case, the fewer people it seems she can trust, including her own father, a retired army general. And she certainly never expected to fall in love with the slain soldier's brother, Gabe, a bitter man struggling to hold his family together. The investigation eventually leads her to an impossible choice, one of unrelenting sacrifice to protect those she loves.

Beyond the buried truths and betrayals, questions of family loyalty and redemption, Abigail's search is, most of all, a desperate grasp at carrying on and coping -- and seeking hope in the impossible.


You know what this book feels like? An episode of Scandal!! The great thing about this book is that at 288 pages, it's the perfect length to cover so much material. My copy also came with a Reader's Guide at the end, which I always appreciate because sometimes I think about parts of the book a little differently once I go through that. It's always a nice added bonus. 

The story centers around Abigail, who was a fantastic journalist who ended up giving the excitement up after a pretty great story led to tragic consequences. She questions her judgement, and in fear, retreats to a boring world of content curator for a website designed around senior citizens. Though she has retreated, there are people who try to lure her back. One being the son of someone involved in the story that stunted her exciting career- he wants to know what really happened to his mother and provides Abigail with interesting information. More pressing is Gabe. Gabe lost his famous brother in Afghanistan and he believes there is something far more sinister at play with his brother's death than what the Army reported to them. With Abigail's ties to the Army, specifically the unit Gabe's brother was in, Gabe (who hates journalists and was none too pleased to find out Abigail was one) decides Abigail is going to get the answers him and his family need. 

Unfortunately, when the mystery is uncovered, it's not at all what they wanted. Though it can be argued if any outcome would have been sufficient for them, but the outcome here is far more tragic than they could have imagined. It also answers so many questions at the same time. 

The characters are so great, the relationships are true and realistic, and I really loved watching it all grow together. Because while we have Abigail trying to figure it all out, we also see the beginning of a relationship between Abigail and Gabe and it's so great. I so highly recommend this one. It's not too much thriller, it's not too much romance, it's the perfect blend of it all and I thoroughly enjoyed this! 

You can follow the author, Kimberly Belle, on her website, Facebook, or Twitter. Of course, you can get the book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble as well! 

Lucky for you, I have one copy to give away (US/CANADA only). All you have to do  is comment below with a recent favorite book you've read! That's it! I'll draw a winner on Monday, August 3! 

17 comments:

cpr040304 said...

Recent favorite book was The Girl On The Train :)

Suzy said...

I loved Peter Swanson's THE KIND WORTH KILLING. Absolutely fantastic!

thotlady said...

Currently I am reading a book called Wrecked.

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I am currently reading Promise Fall by Lindwood Barclay.
I like the storyline of this novel.

cenya2@hotmail.com

latanya t said...

I enjoyed the Magnolia Affair

dlatany at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I love Scandal! lol...this book definitely sounds like an episode. Great review. Looks like an awesome read. :)

Hailsbells said...

Doll-Baby by Laura L. McNeal has been sitting with me ever since I finished it. It truly is one of the greatest novels I've read in 2015. Also, Center of Gravity by Laura McNeill! Thanks for the chance.

Just in case
fishiegirl22@yahoo.com

Janine said...

My recent favorite is Jane Green's Summer Secrets.

kinini01@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I just read A Man Called Ove and loved it. I would love a chance to win a book. Thanks!!

Cynthia said...

I just finished A Girl on the Train! Thank you for your review

Unknown said...

When you said it was like an episode of Scandal, you had me hooked. I'll be checking this one out soon. I recently finished WILD, which was awesome.

Unknown said...

Love your description of this book as now I want to read this - sign of a great book review :) I got hooked on Scandal and binge watched numerous episodes when I was back in the US. I love that kind of twist and turn and intrigue. My own reading has been a little slow of late (hence no book reviews on my blog for a while) Im halfway through the latest offering from Erik Larson called Dead Slow but Im finding that a little slow going which is strange as I usually devour his books. My daughter is trying to pursued me to read The Nightingale that she has just finished and is raving about. So many choices, just need more time in the day :)

Steff said...

I just finished The Raketeer by John Grisham, and just like every book of his, it was great! The end of his books are so intense.

Steff said...

I just finished The Raketeer by John Grisham, and just like every book of his, it was great! The end of his books are so intense.

Heather J @ TLC Book Tours said...

Thanks for being a part of the tour!

Teresa Kander said...

Summer Secrets was a recent favorite of mine.

Neely said...

I need to add this to my "to read" list