From Ashes to Honor

July 11, 2011
Readers will no doubt respondâas the 10th anniversary of September 11 loomsâto the First Responders series, but they may face disappointment as they slog through this novel. Police officer Austin Finley ignores phone calls from his twin, only to face guilt later after his brother dies in the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Bitterness and anger fill him, forcing Dr. Mercy Samara to recommend he be relieved of duty two years later. Austin and Mercy flee their separate September 11 demons, only to meet six years later in Baltimore. Austin, an EMT, and Mercy, a school counselor, feel the sparks between them immediately. Readers may lose patience with the endless banter that smacks of adolescence ("Well what?" "I thought you were going to hang up." "I was." "Then, why didn't you?") and irritating colloquialisms ("If I'd-a had a knife, I reckon I could-a cut through it." "Well, there y'go.") before they can dig more deeply into the story. Booksellers, however, will most likely find a ready market for September 11 fare.

August 1, 2011

The events of 9/11 forever changed the lives of Austin Finley and Mercy Samara. Austin was a police officer when the towers were decimated; Mercy was a counselor. The two clashed when Mercy recommended that Austin be moved to desk duty. His chief's decision to take the recommendation prompted Austin to resign and train as an EMT. Almost ten years later, Mercy has taken a job as a school counselor in Baltimore. An emergency at the school finds the two once again face to face. As they become reacquainted, they discover more between them than just friendship. VERDICT As the ten-year anniversary of 9/11 draws near, the market is sure to be inundated with this type of novel. Still, Lough's ("Lone Star Legends") is an entertaining tale of loss and redemption. Recommended it to readers of issue-driven CF (e.g., Melanie B. Dobson).

Copyright 2011 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.