Can’t Stop Me by James Scott Bell is this week’s Reader Friday post. Here’s the opening lines: Hey buddy! Long time! Tracked you down after reading your blurb on the Prominent Alumni page. Prominent! You made it, buddy. I always knew you would, though it was all pretty crazy back there freshman year.
So I found your law firm Web site and then you and here I am! I’m in town! We have a lot of catching up to do. Call me, man. Can’t wait to see you.
This is part of an email attorney Sam Trask received that started a nightmare that could cost him his life…but more about that later. (I do want to mention that this is a previously published book that Bell revised and updated. Previous title is No Legal Grounds)
First the photo and Scripture verse. I took the photo from the banks of the Mississippi at Natchez several years ago when I was there, researching for the Natchez Trace books. I may have to write another series set in Natchez so I can go back!
Now for Can’t Stop Me by James Scott Bell. This is a gripping story that starts off so innocently. An old friend wants to reconnect. How wrong can that go? Plenty…here’s the cover and back cover copy:
How far will a man go to protect his family? For lawyer Sam Trask, it is farther than he ever thought possible, even in his worst nightmare. Because his worst nightmare is about to come true. At age forty-seven, attorney Sam Trask finally seems to have his life in order. The dark years of too much drinking and self-seeking ambition are behind him. His marriage is solid again. Everything seems finally on the right track. Until a voice from the past comes back to say hello.
Suddenly, Sam faces a danger more real than he ever imagined—danger from someone who will not rest until Sam’s life comes crashing down around him. Desperate, Sam seeks protection from the law to which he has dedicated his life. But when the threats are turned on his family, and the law seems powerless to protect them, Sam must consider a choice that strikes at the heart of his life and faith—whether to take the law into his own hands.
My take:
This gripping story kept me flipping pages on my Kindle until way in the night. Bell is a master at putting his heroes in hopeless situations, leaving the reader fearing what’s going to happen next. I felt Sam’s helplessness and almost wanted him to break the law to remedy his situation. This is a story that will stay with me for days to come.
Sam Trask is an honorable man who is in a world of hurt–his rebellious teen-age daughter is running with the wrong crowd, two major court cases are tanking, and then a psychopath who has no regard for the law is out to make him pay for something Sam has no clue about.
Bell is a master at painting his heroes in a corner with no way out, and the reader is right there with them. I chewed two of my fingernails off before I finished the book.
This is a book suspense readers do not want to miss. It’s available on Kindle and if you have KU, you can read it for free.
As I read this book I wondered what I would do if a psychopath threatened my career and family…how about you? What would you do? Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library!
Can't Stop Me by James Scott Bell is this week's Reader Friday. Check out the review on my blog of this awesome book! Leave a comment and I'll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library. Share on XJune’s winner of a book from my library is…Barbara Diggs!
Thanks for visiting my blog!
Discover more from Patricia Bradley
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Comments 44
That is a question I’m not sure I know how to answer but this type of reading is what I seem to be gravitating toward recently.
Author
Me, too, Gail. And James Scott Bell is a master.
I’m not sure how to answer that question. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Author
It really is, Diana!
James Scott Bell gives us the emotions we crave, packaged in delightful novels full of surprises and twists. Jim is also an excellent writing teacher, and his non-fiction books break provide actionable advice. As to your question, I’ve not had to deal with a psychopath, but I’ve had many problems outside my control. In those situations, God provided the comfort and insights I needed, regardless of the situation or circumstances.
Author
Amen and Amen, Grant. I have all of JSB’s writing books and wow, dealing with a psychopath…hard to imagine.
It’d be terrifying if a psychopath threatened my family. Can’t Stop Me sounds tense! Congrats to Barbara Diggs on winning a book from your library.
Author
Vera, it is very tense. I had to keep reading to see what was going to happen next.
The book sounds very intriguing and thought provoking! I’ve always enjoyed books by Bell, so would look forward to reading it! Would love to win a print copy!
Author
Bell is such a good writer, Lual.
A very inspiring photo to go with the verse you chose, Pat. I don’t know how I would handle a psychopath threatening me or those close to me. I guess I’d start with prayer, and asking professionals for advice.
I’ve read a couple of books by James Bell, and thought they were really good. I will check this one out.
“Risky Rescue” by Laura Scott begins with “Sami Lopez, a.k.a. Angelina Morales, threw a worried glance over her shoulder. She couldn’t see anyone following her, but the dark clouds rolling in made it difficult to be sure. She was still reeling over the events that had taken place on shore. Her cover had been blown, in the worst way possible.”
Congratulations on winning the book drawing, Barbara!
Author
Oh, wow, Tim. Laura Scott’s book starts off with a bang! And I’m glad you enjoyed the photo and verse!
Such a lovely and refreshing photo after a week of intense storms. Perfect!
I haven’t had a psychopath after me, but did have a narcissistic sociopath stalk me for six weeks. There were bizarre letters stuffed into my mailbox, email, FB and phone messages and the person riding by my house several times a day the entire time. It scared me to death. The voice messages got quite hostile. I called a therapist friend and asked him what to do. He said, “do not respond to to any of them, no communication whatsoever.” I did this and it escalated for a while, but eventually stopped. In all truth, I was scared to leave my house for a month and I never went back to a few particular restaurants or coffee shops that several in our group attended. When I moved, I left no forwarding address. I do believe this person could have been capable of extreme violence or murder. Let me switch gears, so my heart will slow down!
“It wasn’t the homecoming of her dreams. When she’d pictured this moment, Marissa St. George had imagined herself riding in a shiny new Lexus.” I’m reading in Firefly Valley by Amanda Cabot.
Thank you, Pat on getting a book from your library 🙂 Fun! fun! And thanks other blog family members on the congratulations!
Author
I’m so glad you enjoyed the photo and verse, Barbara and that you’re feeling better! I’ve had an instance of someone stalking me, but I never really thought they would be dangerous. All in all it is a very uncomfortable situation! And I hope you enjoy your book!
Sounds great. This is one I definitely want to read. It’s horrible to even think about what such an experience would be like. I’m sure I would develop extreme defensive skills very fast.
Author
I think you’ll really enjoy the book, Delores!
Absolutely awesome photo and a wonderful verse! Pat if you weren’t an author (and I’m so glad you are!) you could be a professional photographer.
Looking forward to reading this book by James Bell. I have read most, if not all, of his fiction and enjoyed all of them.
I believe whatever difficult situations we may face we can’t honestly know how we’ll react until we do face them. Hopefully we will lean on Jesus and trust him! Sometimes we may forget Him temporarily but He will see us through!
Author
Thank you, Miss Mary. I love to take photos! And I probably should mention in the post that this is a previously published book that Bell revised and updated. Going now to do that! And I so agree that we have to lean on Jesus, no matter what we face. And that ultimately is what Sam does in the book.
Reading is fun
Author
It is, Heidi! I’ve been sick with allergies today and about all I could do was read. 🙂
I just know I would not do anything illlegal.
Author
Judy, I loved that in the middle of the book, Sam makes a choice about whether to do something illegal…
I love that picture of the Mississippi. Most of my views of the Mississippi have been from about 30,000 feet up, although I have seen it close up a few times. I have never seen it from this perspective. Great shot! The verse is so appropriate for the times in which we live.
I haven’t read any of James Scott Bell’s book. I need to check him out. This sounds like a good one for starters. The closest I have ever come to the experience of Sam Trask is when a woman who worked for the same bank I did back in the 80s and early 90s left a voice message in the 2000s without identifying herself and berated me for the way I had treated someone at the bank years ago. She did name the other woman, who I could not remember until talking with another former employee. Supposedly, I had said something negative about the woman and kept her from getting a transfer to another department. According to the one who left the message, the other woman had never gotten over it and now she was dead. I finally figured out the voice and called the one who left the message. About all I accomplished was to tell her that I had never done what she accused me of, and that maybe the guilty party had tried to shift the blame to me. Unlike Sam Trask, there was no threat to my life or anyone I loved, but it was simply very weird. The strangest part is that the woman who called had asked two or three times about transferring to our department, but she was such a negative person that I didn’t want to have to deal with her. I probably expressed that to my boss, but he would never have shared that with anyone else.
Recently, my reading has slowed down and I keep losing track of which first line I shared the week before. I just had to look back at last week’s blog before sharing a first line. I am reading Jonas by Susan May Warren. I’m sharing the first several lines:
He had to get off this mountain.
Because if Jonas read the skies correctly, a doozy of a storm was headed his direction.
And Jonas Marshall, with his PhD in atmospheric science, always read the skies correctly. Or at least, with a 99.8 percent probability.
Author
Oh, wow, Edward. The example you wrote about would be so frustrating. The woman sounded unhinged…
As for the Mississippi, I love to see it, whether it’s at Memphis or Natchez or Caruthersville MO! I really is a mighty river. I’ll probably share a few more photos taken of it there in the near future. And as for the memory thing–When I’m answering comments on my Mystery Question, I have to look back and see which one I made up. Every week. lol
sounds intriguing
Author
It is very, BN!
I don’t know what I would do if a psychopath was in my life. Scary time for you, Barbara, and Pat to have a stalker. Glad it is in the past. Congrats, Barbara, on be the book winner.
I just finished reading Two to Tango by Kathleen Fuller. The first line is “Olivia Farnsworth always had a plan.”
Author
Kathleen Fuller’s book sounds very intriguing, Gloria! As for the stalker, I never worried I’d be hurt, but it was aggravating that someone drove by my house several times a day just to see if I was at home!
Pray! This is a new author to me!
Author
I agree, Natalya! I think you’d love his books.
sounds interesting
Author
It is, Shelia!
i’m not sure. I would definitely be praying.
Author
Thanks, Lisa. I am better, just not well. 🙂
You should frame the photo and verse; they’re gorgeous! I thought of you as I went barreling through MS this week on my way back to TX. I mentally reviewed your Natchez Trace books as I passed by the exit. 🙂
I haven’t ready any books by James Scott Bell yet, so I guess I now have weekend plans!
Author
Thank you, L.! I made a calendar two years in a row using the memes from my blog. I may do that again this year. I think you would really enjoy James Scott Bell’s books!
Patricia, every time I cross over the mighty Mississip, we call it, from Memphis to West Memphis I get the hibbie jibbies. It just so big, I don’t like to look down. That verse though is one of my favorites, wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone would do that so our land could be healed??
I love James Scott Bell, and he has out an excellent 6 book series that the first 3 he co-wrote with Tracie Peterson , called The Trials of Kit Shannon. It’s about one of the first women lawyers in 1903 , in L.A. which was a man’s world back then. They are based on actual facts and how women struggled to become lawyers then, the type of cases she had to take because no one else would, or they didn’t have the money. They are so good and have some suspense in them too!
I’m not sure either what I would do if we had some nut bothering us or threatening us. I’d probably start with the authorities to see what they could do about it and what they suggested.
I’m currently reading Counter Attack by yours truly! I do have this James Scott Bell book in my library and will be a future read , my husband has read about all his books.
Author
Thank you, MS Dottie! I have a story about crossing the Mighty Mississippi at Memphis on the old bridge. I was driving 14 teenagers to a Kids Across America camp at Table Rock, AR, and when we came to the bridge I yelled back at them, “Okay, I gotta close my eyes ’cause I can’t cross this bridge with my eyes open! Somebody guide me!” They screamed bloody murder. lol But it was a fun trip.
Love me some James Scott Bell books!
I bet that was a fun trip! I remember that old bridge from my younger days, but for some reason I don’t remember being as scared going over it. When you’re young, you’re pretty much fearless though!
Author
Absolutely!
Pat, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Can’t Stop Me. James Scott Bell is a new-to-me author.
Enjoy your weekend.
Author
He’s great, Caryl!
I pray HE heals our land. Great scripture Miss Patricia. The photo is definitely one of my favorites. Love sunsets the most. If someone was threatening me and my family, I would stay alert and contact authorities, though there’s nothing they can do until there is some kind of violence. My husband Smitty, R.I.P. taught me how to shoot and if necessary because they broke into my home I would no doubt use my gun praying for guidance to protect my loved ones. Only one story to tell and it would be mine. I have encountered evil when a man started to come for my 13 year old daughter in 1987. It happened in downtown LA on her birthday. We had been robbed and my husband was filing a report in the police station. I just had to show my gun and he ran into the police department screaming like a baby. It’s a long story but I encountered the eight man SWAT team to iron things out. The long version will be in my memoir.
Author
DJ, that’s a story you need to write! And like you, I pray He heals our land, too!