Higher Hope: Tides of Truth, Book 2

My brother, a minister, introduced me to Robert Whitlow because he enjoyed his books but also because my maiden name was Tammy Lynn Taylor (and he thought I would appreciate that I shared my name with the main character). Robert Whitlow intricately weaves the legal and spiritual, Christian world together in the most incredible ways. So far, I have read this series plus four more of his books. I can't put the books down! They are spell-binding! I plan to read all of this books.

Higher Hope, by Robert Whitlow, is a book I received for review from Thomas Nelson. It's book 2 in the A Tides of Truth series, which is, admittedly, a series I'd never heard of. Honestly, I'm glad I branched out and decided to try out a new author. I really enjoyed this book! From the back cover: Competition is tough at the Savannah law firm where Tami Taylor serves as a law clerk. But Tami's work sets her apart - and the firm's partners see something special in her. So they assign her to a libel case against an abrasive, outspoken preacher who is either a prophet or a lunatic. On the surface it appears to be an open and shut case; the preacher seems fully outside the bounds of law. And Tami's strict religious upbringing could be the firm's ace-in-the-hole. But as the investigation continues, Tami is troubled by the preacher's uncanny prophetic abilities. And their client seems to be hiding something. Tami returns to her hometown, struggling with several critical choices -- as two very different men from the firm vie for her heart. Just when the challenges seem insurmountable, hope for Tami arrives from a surprising place. And it's a higher hope than she's ever imagined. Robert Whitlow could be compared to John Grisham ... but clean and Christian. I'm definitely going to keep my eye out for book 3 Spring 2010 and I hope to pick up book 1 very soon. He has several other books out as well that I might check into.

When Whitlow presented "Deeper Water," I think a few people were skeptical. And I personally didn't know if I'd be into it. But I was pleasantly surprised, and couldn't wait to dig into "Higher Hope." And although I thought the first chapter was a little choppy, Whitlow has me craving his next offering. I can't wait! Welcome back to the world of Tami Lynn Taylor! Just when things appear under control...yeah right! She is assigned to a case that she wants to steer clear of. That's because her and Sister Dabney are on the same side, and they both worship the same God. And Sister Dabney is accused of slander against an outstanding and outspoken member of the community. And if that weren't enough, she has Zach and Vinny looking for her affection. This is where the going gets rough, and Tami gets going! And don't forget dear old Mrs. Fairmont. Tami Lynn just loves that old woman, along with the rat dog, Flip! What exactly does it feel like to walk through the fire? Well, you might experience the pain of a Catfish sting! Whitlow offered me a pleasant surprise, full of issues that tug at the heart. And I really enjoyed it the whole way through. The first offering was good, this one was great. And here's hoping that it gets a lot better! I'm looking forward to "Greater Love," book #3, once next Spring emerges.

Higher Hope is Book 2 of a trilogy (or series?) about a law clerk working during the Summer in a Savannah law practice. Tami Taylor is a well-developed, likeable character with an extremely strict Christian fundamentalist upbringing coupled with a keen analytical mind. It is the depth of Whitlow's characters that makes him my favorite writer of Christian fiction. Tami works closely with another young law clerk named Julie, who is Jewish, cynical, and has a biting wit. They are unlikely friends who clash often in their beliefs but somehow manage to bolster one another at the same time. Mrs. Fairmont is the elderly lady with whom Tami lives. She suffers from some dementia but is surprisingly astute and endearing. Two young men, one an associate attorney at the firm, and the other a law clerk, vie for Tami's affection. Both are Christian and have their own strong attributes. A good part of the story deals with Tami taking the associate home to meet her parents and obtain their permission for a "courtship." It's interesting to watch the culture shock on both sides as their mutual respect is won. The budding romance between them, plus the conflict of romantic rivalry, does not take over the plot. It's handled just right. Tami is enmeshed in a libel lawsuit involving a prophetic preacher and a builder. The case appears simple at first, but Tami soon discovers that there is much more to the preacher than meets the eye, and the client seems to be hiding something. The case challenges Tami's conscience and tries her legal skills. It's a long book, just over 600 pages, and I enjoyed every minute of it. Every character is fascinating and multi-dimensional. I'd recommend starting with the first book, Deeper Water, where the characters are first introduced. I eagerly await Book 3!

This was the first book I read by Robert Whitlow, and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Now I have to go out and get more of his books especially Deeper Waters, the first book in A Tides of Truth series. Yet even without reading the first book in this series, Higher Hope was a great read. The novel includes drama, romance, and suspense but I did not feel like I needed to rush through it to find out what happens. The main character, Tami, has more than one dilemma in the story. She has 2 men attracted to her. She feels her beliefs are challenged yet still feels strongly about her beliefs. Her own living arrangements are challenged. Yet with all these challenges, Tami tries her best to make a good decision. Oddly enough, not all of these dilemmas were resolved by the end of the book. Some are left open so that the reader is left to wonder what happens next. So now, as the reader, I am left to wonder and to wait for Greater Love, Book 3 in A Tides of Truth series, to come out in 2010.

Higher Hope by Robert Whitlow is a legal thriller in the style of John Grisham, and his second book in the Tides Of Truth series. Set in beautiful Savannah, Georgia, it tells the story of Tami Taylor, a summer law clerk for the Braddock, Appleby and Carpenter law firm. Because of her strict religious upbringing, she is assigned to a case involving a caustic preacher-turned-prophet, who goes by the name of Sister Dabney. This poses a huge moral dilemma for Tami. Will her conscience allow her to take part in a case against one of God's anointed? In addition to this quandary, she has not one, but two honorable Christian men vying for her attention--Zach Mays, an associate with the firm, and Vince Colbert, another summer intern. Several chapters near the beginning of the book cover the experience of Tami taking Zach to Powell Station, Georgia, a rural community where her parents, two sisters and two brothers live. These chapters are tense and full of conflict since Tami's parents have raised her to respect their religious views concerning relationships with people outside their church. Even though Zach is a Christian, his own upbringing in a California communal-type church (and the length of his hair, which he wears in a ponytail) stand in sharp contrast to her parent's beliefs. These opening chapters also serve to help us understand why Tami is the way she is, which helps us understand her behavior and reactions in later chapters of the book. This was an enjoyable read by a gifted author. I found the story interesting and fascinating, especially the character of Sister Dabney in relationship to the main character, Tami Taylor. The connection between them can only the explained by God's Spirit indwelling each of them.