💐🏘️🏨 “The Inn in Rhode Island” (Be Strong Enough #2) (2022) 🏨🏘️💐 – Book Review
MY REVIEW
Series: Be Strong Enough (Book #2)
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Self-Published (March 10, 2022)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 099102737X
ISBN-13: 978-0991027378
⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information
“A powerful message about knowing, trusting, and believing in yourself.
At The Inn in Rhode Island, afternoons are reserved for soothing cups of tea while relaxing on one of the porch rockers. You're welcome to take an easy stroll among the many aesthetic gardens. If reading is your pleasure and the owner sure hopes it is, the library offers an array of books, a comfortable sofa and two wingback chairs on each side of the fireplace. From garden tours in the spring to author events in the fall, you'll be glad you stayed at the inn, especially for dinner. Chef Michael is passionate about food.
During the golden hour, Julie and Dan Holliday will renew their vows. The wedding will take place at The Inn in Rhode Island on what promises to be a magical evening surrounded by close friends, colleagues, gorgeous flowers, delicious food and a wedding cake baked by the bride's best friend.
A day guaranteed to be full of wonderful beginnings and everlasting memories to last Julie and Dan a lifetime.
Until best man Jesse shows up with an unexpected guest.
The twenty-three-year old and her son were found lying under a maple tree in their pajamas. Erin was weak, bruised and unable to carry her four-year old son Kyle any further.
How far would you run to find your safe harbor?”
Thank you in advance to the author, Judy Prescott Marshall, for providing a complimentary review copy through her launch team. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
Excuse the long review, but this is one of those books that has a myriad of issues that CANNOT be ignored, and shouldn’t.
Last year I read Marshall’s debut, Still Crazy, which introduced readers to Julie and Dan Holliday. It was one of those women’s fiction books that stick with readers and takes on an uncomfortable subject – infidelity and how one woman does what many would not.
Julie decided to leave her husband, and after 2½ years, he finally locates her. She has changed, but their love is still strong enough to survive.
Some readers might find the subject a bit disturbing.
This follows up right after that book does. The reader will have to read the first book to get the established history.
Despite a singular POV in first person (Julie), there are a LOT of characters in this book – there are 34 listed on the character page, and roughly 17 (or more) appear in this book; three (3) are children.
With 14 adult characters, there should at least be 2-3 POVs given their prominence and arcs in the story – Erin and Dan at the very least.
With so many people, it is hard to focus on and see any real character development and growth. The short chapters move the story along, sometimes too quickly.
There is also a domestic violence storyline with a shooting. Those who are sensitive to the topic will want to exercise caution. Despite some Christian themes, there is strong language in this book – the “f” bomb, “s-bomb” among them. There is little intimacy though.
Julie and Dan are getting ready to renew their vows (without an officiate), and get a surprise the day of the event. Just before they do, best man Jesse shows up with a battered Erin and her son, Kyle.
Erin has escaped her abusive husband and had nowhere to go, Julie takes her in.
Over the course of the story, Erin is in fear of being found, but finds a family with Julie, her family, and staff which is told over the majority of the book.
There is drama and even a sense of healing for those involved. It does have the “happily ever after ending” indicative of a romance.
What could’ve been a great story is hampered by poor editing, questionable continuity, and lack of research. Sadly, this book highlights why self-published books often get the reputation they do. Some stand out and become stellar reads, but those that don’t often spoil the group.
I honestly hate admitting when a book fails to grab me. And, this is one of the rare times. It was hard to get into for numerous reasons – grammatical, timeline/continuity, and MAJOR medical and legal inaccuracies.
The minor issue is the grammar …
Like before, there were transition issues. Wordiness, unnecessary words, and obsolete terms as well.
One example of wordiness, “his or her seats” which would work better as “their seats”. Unnecessary was the “mwah” for the kissing. Most every book I’ve read treated kissing more as “he touched his lips to hers” or “she kissed him on the cheek”. The spoken sound effect to accentuate isn’t necessary.
The term “orderly” (and the job itself) has been obsolete and phased out in recent years with regard to hospitals. My mom worked at the county hospital for 25 years (1991-2006) and the hospital had NO “orderlies” at all. The people who used to perform such tasks were referred to as transporters (to move patients) or CNAs.
Heading into the BIG issues …
The first book was hindered slightly by the timeline – Julie was 49, had been married 30 years (speaking vows in 1989), so she was born in 1970. She runs away, making it about late 2021/early 2022 when Dan finally finds her (919 days later).
Sadly, this book suffers the same fate as well.
There is a scene in this book that puts the setting of this story in 2010/2011 – one involves a court hearing on April 24, 2011 (as written by the author). This makes the events of this book occurring eight (8) years prior to Julie leaving Dan. Talk about a confusing situation and making it implausible, which weakens credibility.
Getting past the grammatical and timeline issues, the MAJOR issues that plague this are the inaccurate legal and medical story arcs that are a major part of the story – Erin’s domestic violence (DV) story arc and a story arc involving Barry who was in a car accident.
Addressing the Barry story arc first – there were some inconsistencies with regard to the accident and subsequent treatment.
A head injury alone doesn’t result in someone on a “breathing machine”. That term is broad and can cover a sleep apnea machine, SVN machine (which I own for my Asthma), or a ventilator; a “vent” being more common for the case indicated.
One of the issues is the occipital lobe, which controls vision and reading (per the Christopher Reeve Foundation). However, in an accident – this is not really prone to injury unlike the frontal and temporal lobes are.
Perhaps me being unable to overlook this is the result of being exposed to a hospital environment for most of my life growing up and having that knowledge.
A simple concussion would not have caused Barry to need a vent, nor would being comatose. When Barry comes to, there is little chance he’d end up speaking as those on a vent (intubated) are precluded from doing so because of the breathing tube down their throat.
The final “glaring” gaffe was the DV situation with Erin, Josh, and pending legal actions. This bogged down the story with the numerous inaccuracies.
Don’t get me wrong, the DV was an interesting plot and definitely had the makings of a stellar story arc. The unrealistic portrayal ruined the story for me.
In college, I majored in criminal justice (maintaining a 3.5-3.8 GPA). As part of my “homework”, I had to learn to look up my state, and other states’ laws.
A simple internet search yielded results from:
🏛️ Rhode Island Supreme Court Domestic Violence Training and Monitoring Unit (2-page pamphlet)
🌐 Women’s Law Website (which uses Rhode Island General Law Statutes)
🚓 Providence, RI Police Department Property & Evidence Control Policies
The problems in the DV line are multiple:
1️⃣ – Initial encounter (Julie meets Erin & Kyle)
Julie wants to help, but first she thinks about looking into “what the local government had to say about Josh accusing her of kidnapping their son”.
Government is the governing body of state or community 🤦🏻♀️ they wouldn’t have knowledge of that at all – unless it was THEIR son that was missing.
Julie would need to contact the police department (which is WHO would know and have issued the BOLO). However, Julie would need Erin’s name, birth date, as well as Kyle’s information; information not available at that point – so, unable to do it. And, I’m certain the police would want to see Erin and her condition to document and take her to the hospital (would work better in her case).
Unless Josh reported him kidnapped – the local police wouldn’t know at all. If Erin was leaving due to abuse, an emergency TRO can grant her temporary custody and child support (according to the pamphlet). She is the boy’s mother, so kidnapping had YET to even enter the situation at that point (considering she left same day). Even a 24-hour emergency order would cover her.
2️⃣ – The protective order.
In Rhode Island there are three types of orders: emergency, temporary (TRO), final.
The emergency order is an ex parte (one-sided) order due to the courts being closed and being in immediate need of protection. This involves contacting the police, though a judge can call the police. It is good for less than 24 hours until a court date can be made.
The TRO is another ex-parte order that offers protection until a full court hearing for the final one. The TRO is only good for 21 days.
The final order is only issued after the victim and abuser have appeared in court and had a chance to present evidence and testimony. This only lasts up to THREE (3) years. It can be renewed for the length of time the judge feels is necessary for protection.
[It would have been IMPLAUSIBLE for Erin to have been granted a 5-year protective order WITHOUT a court hearing that she and Josh would’ve HAD to attend]
3️⃣ – The crime scene.
In most crime scene cases; the responding officer’s (not usually detective) FIRST job is to assess if anyone needs medical attention; detention of witnesses for questioning; and preserving the crime scene.
FYI: an officer would NOT pick up a firearm with a pen or stick it in a plastic bag – he’d LEAVE it where it was found. That is NOT his job unless he is a CSI (in this case, he’d be a pretty bad one). Firearms are usually secured by CSIs in appropriate gun boxes with the weapon unloaded and ammunition secured separately.
According to the Newport, RI police department – CSIs are called out to all crime scenes which require evidence processing, to ensure the proper preservation of physical evidence. I think the shooting at the inn would definitely fit the criteria.
Preserving the evidence (and scene) would NOT have the victims reenacting where they stood when it happened since moving around would contaminate the crime scene. The place would need to be photographed, sketched, evidence collected. That could take hours to days.
It is likely the inn would’ve been closed for at least 1-2 days for processing, definitely some clean-up would’ve taken place (blood, bullet holes, crime scene tape). I am fairly certain most everyone (guests and staff) would be questioned.
The witnesses and victims would be questioned separately to avoid any “contamination” or influence. A formal statement is usually taken at the police department, typed, and signed there – not at the scene. The statements and sketches would “place” the victims for a report.
Even shows like NCIS, CSI, and FBI: Most Wanted tend to stick closer to reality.
[Detective Kohl either learned his methods from OLD TV shows, or doesn’t know procedure for crime scenes; this is not reassuring]
4️⃣ – Sentencing of a suspect.
Slight spoiler – Erin’s ex-husband takes a plea bargain due to his actions at the inn.
The court scene is extremely problematic, and unrealistic.
When a plea bargain has already been worked out (usually to reduce charges and sentence because of caseload) – the prosecutor would already have a predetermined sentence for Josh. The prosecutor would state they’ve reached an agreement on the charges and sentence – “Mr. Rhimes has agreed to plead guilty to two counts of assault for an agreed term of 15 years” and not “rightfully spend a significant time incarcerated” 🤦🏻♀️
In a plea bargain, the judge has to make sure Josh would understand the rights he is waiving.
The judge saying “you have committed an act of felony for which life imprisonment may be imposed” is not realistic at all (he’d specify the charges), and I HIGHLY doubt he’d say that (I have to worry about this town and their legal system).
Why do I say that? Not all felonies in RI result in a life sentence – robbery, burglary, drug charges, white collar crimes, and fraud are examples.
And, a special thank you to an anonymous source for some clarification (please see the comment below) – there is a note I need to make with regard to the term “plea bargain”. The term “bargain” is being phased out (if it hasn’t already) as it is derogatory to victims in suggesting that the courts agree to let the defendant get away with something. It is now referred to as a “plea agreement”.
The inconsistencies and inaccuracies keep this from being an enjoyable book and definitely detract from the story the author is trying to tell. Leaving out Erin’s drama – it isn’t a bad book, but not a great book either.
My suggestion for future books would be to research and consult with professionals about the story’s subject; and use an editor (perhaps a proofreader) for grammar and continuity.
The next book does, according to the preview, look interesting; not enough for me to rush to pre-order it.
I know how much reviews are pivotal to an author’s success and sales, so I know how much leaving a 2/3-star review hurts the author. I love to read, so the low review hurts me to leave it. As a potential writer – it definitely hurts and is disheartening. But, it also serves as a learning tool as well.
RATING:
2 ⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads (it was okay)
3 ⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub (okay)
3 ⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
REFERENCE:
(https://www.courts.ri.gov/PublicResources/domesticviolenceunit/PDF/VictimInfoEnglish.pdf):
PREVIOUS BOOK IN THE SERIES:
Series: Be Strong Enough (Book #1)
Hardcover: 306 pages
Publisher: Judy Prescott Marshall (April 1, 2021)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0991027330
ISBN-13: 979-0991027330
⬅️ Click Picture for Pre-Purchase Information
“Still Crazy is the story of one woman's journey through pain, betrayal, and forgiveness as she learns to hold onto her faith and, for the first time in her life trust in herself. Julie Holliday has always had a dream - to be the perfect wife. After she gives her heart to the love of her life, all she wants is for Dan to adore her the way she adores him. With only a high school equivalency in one hand and a fist full of ambition in the other, together they build a million-dollar empire. It seems Julie and Dan have a fairytale life - that is, until the day she realizes her love is not enough to stop Dan from having what she suspects is numerous affairs.”
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Judy Prescott Marshall is a multi-award-winning writer. She earned her certificate, Write Your First Novel from Michigan State University.
From biographies, tales of adventure, self-help, inspirational, and books on writing, she is never without a book. As a child, what delighted Judy most was reading under a shade tree, near a streetlamp or in her room with a flashlight. Not long ago she went dumpster diving for an entire set of encyclopedias. To say she loves books is an understatement. Books have always been her passion, destination and her closest friend. She still loves to hold them in her hands. Writer, blogger, interior designer, and lover of the outdoors.
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On item #4 - The term plea "bargain" is being phased out if not already phased out. It is now called plea "agreement". This is most definitely the new term for crimes with victims as the term "bargain" is derogatory to the victim, suggesting that the courts agree to let the defendant get away with something.
ReplyDeleteThank you SO much for that update, and I'll note that in the review (here and elsewhere). I have heard the term "plea agreement" used in many places; but wasn't sure if it all states/counties used it or not or if it was case specific. I am forever in your gratitude for the information. I NEVER liked the term "bargain" either as, like you pointed out, derogatory to the victim as it seems like it is letting the defendant get away with the original crime with a "slap on the wrist". This comment COMPLETELY highlights why research is SO very important when it comes to writing. Thank you for this note!
DeleteWow. You really disliked this book and picked it apart. Some of the terms you are using, I know it hit a nerve, but as a DV survivor, you hit a few nerves for me in just your review. It is always good to remember a book is fiction and not a discourse on law and medical info.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I am SO SORRY you had to go through that. I wish there was more support and resources for victims and survivors. It is my hope you’re in a safer place now and finding the support you need.
DeleteAs of note, a 2-star review on Goodreads and a 3-star on BookBub mean the book was “okay” (which is why I note that in my review). I tailor my Amazon blog reviews to align with those ratings. I believe I said that in my review – it wasn’t bad, but not great. I believe it had potential (I think there were 3x I said that).
The point of my book reviews are to state my personal experience with the book, provide future readers with information to help them make a decision when buying or borrowing, as well as provide feedback to authors and publishers. The review analyzes all parts of the book, and I recently wrote a blog about that. If I overlooked certain aspects and didn’t mention them (especially as major as they were), I would be neglecting my personal obligation as a reviewer.
While it is fiction, the story should be believable. Inaccuracies hurt the story. The timeline should match up (another issue). If the story is going to take a medical or legal turn, it should align (as much as possible) with “reality” to increase its believability. I’m sure a doctor, nurse, lawyer, or legal aide would be just as (if not more) critical. Many writers consult with law enforcement, lawyers, etc. when writing so as to give their books a realistic boost. TV shows often have former LE as consultants.
If my review hit a nerve with you, that was not intentional. Sometimes readers and books just don’t connect. And, some authors don’t like a critical assessment – even if it is well-intended, well-written, and polite. Most of the writers I spoke with want feedback so they can learn from it. They may not like a bad review, but if they can learn and move on – then there was something good from it after all.
This isn't the first book I've ever given a 2/3 star to; though I limit them by reading what others on Goodreads, BookBub, and Amazon have said – along with previous experience from the author's other works. As of note, there is an author whose work I have a lot of from 2000-current. But, I went back to read some of her earlier work (late 80's/early 90's), and was shocked at the "content". I still went on to read more of the author's recent work though. I write all my reviews the same way, good and bad.
Delete