jbronderbookreviews

Because I Had To by David Bulitt

Jess Porter spent her childhood bouncing from therapist to therapist and prescription to prescription. An outcast at school and a misfit at home, the only solace she ever found was in her relationship with her dad, Tom. Now he’s dead. Feeling rejected by her adopted mom and her biological twin sister, Jess runs off to South Florida. But she can’t outrun her old life. Watching the blood drip down her arm after her latest round of self-inflicted cutting, she decides her only choice is to find and face what frightens her most.

Because I Had To takes the reader inside the worlds of adoption, teen therapy, family law, and the search for a biological family. With a cast of finely drawn, complicated characters, it asks us to consider: can the present ever heal the past?

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Author’s Bio

Family law specialist David Bulitt has been praised as the lawyer who “epitomizes stability and old fashioned common sense” by Bethesda Magazine and routinely makes every top Washington DC Metro lawyer list. His clients say that he is “the best non-shaving, motorcycle-riding, bourbon-drinking, non-lawyer, lawyer” they know.

The grandson of a New Jersey bartender, Bulitt was the first member of his family to get a professional degree. After years of raising kids and focusing on family responsibilities, Bulitt Bulitt now spends much of his spare time discussing world issues with his dogs and working on his novels. His first book, CARD GAME, was published in 2015 to a bevy of five star reviews. His new novel, BECAUSE I HAD TO, is now available online and in several book stores.

Bulitt is the Assistant Managing Director of Joseph, Greenwald and Laake, PA, one of Maryland’s largest and most prominent law firms. His practice focuses on all areas of family law, including cases that involve complex financial and property matters and property distribution, divorce, and child custody disputes. He is often appointed by local courts to serve in one of the most difficult and demanding legal roles, as a Best Interests Attorney for children whose parents are embroiled in high conflict custody disputes. He also has extensive expertise working with families that have children with special needs.

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My Review

4 Stars

Jess Porter is a young lady that has gone through a lot. Jess and her twin sister are adopted. But she doesn’t really fit in with her mother and perfect sister. She has gone through a lot of mental issues and is nowhere near perfect or social like her sister. The only one that she truly connects with is her father. But not that he has died; she is torn with what to do with her life. Jess decides to find her biological mother and turns to her father’s lawyer and best friend JB. JB is trying to cope with the dead of Tom but decides to help Jess in her hunt.

I instantly felt for Jess. She clearly has some issues that she has been trying to work through with therapists. But it doesn’t help that her twin sister seems to be perfect with everything she does, including being the social butterfly. This part broke my heart. I knew this girl that was a twin and like Jess, her sister seemed to be a savant with everything she did. My friend’s parents ended up finding something that appealed to her and kept her sister out of it just so she could excel at something.

From there it is hard to watch Jess struggle with her other issues and JB try to help her along the way with her search. I have to say that I didn’t expect the ending but it does encourage me to want to read the next book from David Bulitt. You can tell that David Bulitt does have background as a family lawyer but I think this just enhanced the story.

This is a touching story and one that I think most people would like.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

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White is the Coldest Colour by John Nicholl

Be careful who you trust…

The Mailer family is oblivious to the terrible danger that enters their lives when seven-year-old Anthony is referred to the child guidance service by the family GP, following the breakdown of his parents’ marriage. 

Fifty-eight-year-old Dr David Galbraith, a sadistic, predatory paedophile, employed as a consultant child psychiatrist, has already murdered one child in the soundproofed cellar below the South Wales Georgian town-house he shares with his wife and two young daughters.

When Anthony becomes Galbraith’s latest obsession he will stop at nothing to make his grotesque fantasies reality.

But can Anthony be saved before it’s too late? 

The book includes content that some readers may find disturbing from the start.

It is dedicated to survivors everywhere.

 Brilliantly gripping, White is the Coldest Colour will have you hooked from the very first page and holding your breath to the heart-pounding and shocking conclusion.

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Author Bio

John Nicholl, an ex-police officer, child protection social worker and lecturer, writes popular dark psychological suspense thrillers, each of which has been an Amazon international bestseller, reaching # 1 in multiple categories in the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Australia, Canada and the USA. John is happily married, lives in rural west Wales, and has three adult children and one grandchild. He began writing after leaving his job heading up child protection services for Carmarthenshire.  A Cold Cold Heart, John’s sixth book, is published by Bloodhound Books in January 2018. John is represented by Toby Mundy – Literary agent at TMA.

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My Review

5 Stars

The Mailer family is in the midst of a divorce. Seven year old Anthony is having a hard time and starting to act out. It is recommended that he see s psychiatrist and his mother Molly takes him to Dr. David Galbraith. When they first get to his office, Molly has an uneasy feeling but sets that to the side hoping to help Anthony.

But Dr. Galbraith has his own secrets. He is a pedophile and has killed at least one boy in the soundproof basement of his house. He is a narcissist and has his wife and children controlled to do as he says. Although he does have some concern he is not worried about being discovered since his victims are abused mentally and physically and know that bad things will happen if they say anything.

This is a heartbreaking story but one that could have been pulled from the news. No surprise since John Nicholl is a former police officer and child protection social maker. John does an amazing job getting you into this story and breaking your heart as you see what Dr. Galbraith does to Anthony, his own family, and other victims.

This is an amazing story and one that I strongly recommend everyone read. This is a horrible topic but one that many don’t know anything about. This story is the perfect way to bring attention to child abuse by those we think we can trust.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I voluntarily chose to read and post an honest review.

I would like to thank Bloodhound Books for the opportunity to share this book.

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