A Time to Stand ~ Review

A Time to Stand
By Robert Whitlow

A Time to Stand is a story that has a powerful message as a small town threatens to come apart following a police shooting. Sides are drawn and anger boils on both sides and caught in the middle is Adisa Johnson, a rising lawyer in a growing firm. But when a family matter brings her home to Campbellton, Georgia, she is drawn into this racially charged situation.

Adisa feels her loyalty should belong to the young man shot by the police officer. But when she feels led to defend Luke Nelson she knows the rest of the African-American community will not understand why she has "turned" on her own people. Truthfully Adisa is having trouble with her decision herself. But Adisa is committed to doing her best.

As the case moves forward hostilities on both sides become more active in their opinions. But this is a case that has more to it than just front page headlines. Can Adisa's stand to follow the internal leading within be the first step towards reconciliation in Campbellton? Or will her efforts only be viewed as an attempt to sway the jury and public opinion?

A Time to Stand is yet another masterful work of fiction from Robert Whitlow that could easily be pass for straight from a news report. One can empathize with both sides and see that both sides are at fault for the escalating feelings of anger. I highly recommend this book for anyone who likes contemporary fiction or legal fiction. This is a book that will make the reader think and examine what they think they know about themselves.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher through the BookLook blogger program with no expectations of a positive review - all opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

In a small Georgia town where racial tensions run high and lives are at stake, can one lawyer stand up for justice against the tide of prejudice on every side?

Adisa Johnson, a young African-American attorney, is living her dream of practicing law with a prestigious firm in downtown Atlanta. Then a split-second mistake changes the course of her career.

Left with no other options, Adisa returns to her hometown where a few days earlier a white police officer shot an unarmed black teen who is now lying comatose in the hospital.

Adisa is itching to jump into the fight as a special prosecutor, but feels pulled to do what she considers unthinkable—defend the officer.

As the court case unfolds, everyone in the small community must confront their own prejudices. Caught in the middle, Adisa also tries to chart her way along a path complicated by her budding relationship with a charismatic young preacher who leads the local movement demanding the police officer answer for his crime.

This highly relevant and gripping novel challenges us to ask what it means to forgive while seeking justice and to pursue reconciliation while loving others as ourselves.