No Turning Back by Katie Vorreiter book review and giveaway

- October 13, 2019

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chronic panic attacks have stolen Livvy Fischer’s classically trained soprano voice and derailed her life. Due partly to a mix-up, partly to her crush on Pastor Lucas, Livvy joins a worship team bound for the chapel at San Quentin. But when a full-scale riot breaks out, she is separated from Lucas and the rest of her group. Survival becomes this song bird’s sole focus.

Snatched from the chapel by an inmate, Livvy doesn’t know who to trust. Tobin says he’s protecting her, but she’s been blindsided before. She struggles to put her trust in God, while all too aware that free will can wreak horrible consequences. Tobin wants her to hide and ride out the prison storm, but Livvy becomes the obsession of another inmate who is a serial killer. Will God protect her? Will Tobin?

It’s one thing if Tobin is turning his life around behind bars. It’s quite another to fall for him.

Book: No Turning Back Author: Katie Vorreiter

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release Date: December, 2016

Click here to grab your copy.

MY BOOK REVIEW

No Turning Back is one fast-paced page-turner thriller.

Livvy, a classical singer, dealt with setbacks in her career after a severe case of smoke inhalation. She is dealing with past trauma. While working in the coffee shop, Cuppa Joe, she meets Lucas. Lucas is a regular guest. He invites her to his church. Livvy decides to go check it out. She finds Lucas is the Pastor. We see they have feelings for each other, but just don't know how to go about it. A member of the church, Joan, talks Livvy into joining the gospel choir. She does. They go to a prison to sing and inspire them. One of the inmates, Grant, a bad guy wants Livvy and will do anything to get her. Tobin, an inmate, grabs her to protect her from Grant. Lucas is terrified that something has happened to her. While trying to get her Grant hurt Lucas when trying to save Livvy. Is Livvy okay? You will have to grab this book because it would be no fun if I told you everything.

Katie Vorrelter did a great job of describing the characters and locations. I felt like it was my memories while reading the book. It touches on so many topics: forgiveness, love, faith, hate, passion, life struggles. I felt for every character in the book. I recommend getting this book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Katie Vorreiter is an award-winning writer and copyeditor. She makes her home in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, two children rapidly morphing into young adults, and a ridiculously adorable cockapoo. No Turning Back is her debut novel.

MORE ABOUT KATIE

I’m often asked where on earth I came up with the premise of No Turning Back. My good friend and pastor had me spellbound with his stories of taking softball teams into San Quentin, the maximum-security prison for men. What a ministry! He had a few funny tales, but what stood out to me were the cautions the team was given upon entry: they had to sign a form acknowledging that in the event they were taken hostage, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation would not negotiate for their release.

Say what?

That got me thinking about what it would be like for a woman in such a situation. There are female corrections officers, certainly, as well as woman food service workers and volunteers in a range of capacities. But I wanted a true fish-out-of-water character, and thus Livvy was born. Because of a terrible event in her past, she’s hypervigilant about her personal security. She’s also tiny and, of all things, an opera soprano.

Once I had my Livvy, I threw her into a full-scale riot at a men’s correctional facility. Poor thing. But, of course, she’s got God on her side, and he tends to tip the scales. Yet, as all Christ followers are aware, prayer, even unto the God of the universe, is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Pun intended. We know—all too painfully sometimes—that Jesus was right when he said we’ll have troubles here on earth. God is with us through the storm and works all things together for good, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll remove the storm and it’s often hard to see the good when we’re in the middle of not-so-good.

What role, then, does prayer have in the face of the free will of a person intent on evil? If you want to know the answer, read the book. Just kidding. The story is a fast, fun ride and delves into some deep areas, but I don’t pretend to answer the questions of the ages. If you like chewing on these kinds of issues—on your own or with friends—check out the No Turning Back discussion questions on my website.

Don’t worry: the story isn’t all dark. In most situations, I can’t stay serious for long, so you’ll find some humor, as well as not one but two hunky romantic options. I really hope you like it. If you want to chat, drop me a note on Facebook or on my website.