Renee began the Throwback Thursday meme on her blog, “It’s Book Talk“ to share some of her old favorites as well as sharing books published over a year ago. Sounded like a good reason to join! I’ll be going back over my favorite authors and stories you might not have previously experienced. Hopefully, you’ll find either a story or author that interests you and you’ll check them out. And, if you’d like to join the fun, you’re welcome to use Renee’s pic from her website. Just provide the link back to her, please.
This week I am highlighting Melissa F Miller, another terrific, prolific author who has written Irreparable Harm, which I reviewed on Goodreads. She has actually written more than two dozen books and this represents her first in the Sasha McCandless Legal Thriller series. This novel was published by Brown Street Books on April 18, 2011. She consistently runs approximately 4.0+ stars for any of Her books sold on Amazon. I received my eBook through a free offering on BookBub. In the meantime, covers have evolved…
Originally posted June 29, 2014
Book Blurb:
Attorney Sasha McCandless is closing in on the prize after eight long years: she’s months away from being made partner at a prestigious law firm. All she has to do is keep her head down and her billable hours up.
Then a plane operated by her client slams into the side of a mountain, killing everyone aboard. Sasha gears up to prepare a defense to the inevitable civil lawsuits. She quickly realizes the crash was no accident: a developer has created an application that can control a commercial plane’s onboard computer from a smartphone. Now it’s for sale to the highest bidder.
Sasha joins forces with a federal air marshal who’s investigating the crash. As they race to prevent another airline disaster, people close to the matter start turning up dead. Sasha must rely on both her legal skills and her Krav Maga training to stop the madman before he kills her. Sasha will need to rely on her legal training and her Krav Maga training in equal measure to find and stop a madman before he strikes again.
My Review:
Sasha McCandless is a rising attorney working towards partnership in her upscale law firm of Prescott & Talbott full of high powered attornies with big-name clients.
When the plane owned by one of their larger clients goes into the side of the mountain in Virginia, Sasha ends up heading the case and investigation when she suspects the crash is not an accident. The opening pages grip the reader and promises a well-plotted legal thriller. The technology may stretch the fabric of reality but weaves for a good plot and a fast-moving story that doesn’t let up the page-turning twists.
This young female protagonist is strong, independent and intelligent and her office is staffed by the equally inspired assistants you’d expect in a law firm of this caliber. They are thoughtful, capable and supportive. Most characters are well developed although left me doubting the veracity of the male lead more times than not.
Would the air marshalls really put out a lone investigator of a crash of this magnitude? Probably not, especially in the way that Special Agent Leo Connelly portrays. It is nice for a change to have a female protagonist who is not 6′, lean, and beautiful, but barely 5′ soaking wet. She is powerful and more than capable of holding her own in the courtroom as well as in a parking garage brawl. Her expertise in Krav Maga may have you suspending disbelief, however, she is pretty small–but this is fiction after all.
In the end, I enjoyed the strong and spirited protagonist and the book is an interesting page turner I’d be happy to recommend. But more than that, her books have matured and evolved and while this was the first in a series, each can function as a stand alone.
USA Today bestselling author Melissa F. Miller is a former attorney who traded the practice of law for the art of telling stories.
She is the author of more than two dozen bestselling legal thrillers, suspense thrillers, romantic comedic mysteries, and forensic thrillers. All her work shares two common threads: pulse-pounding tightly plotted action and smart, unlikely heroines and heroes.
Her books feature such diverse protagonists as a pint-sized attorney and mother of twins who’s trained in Krav Maga; a Native American government investigator who relies on her heritage to guide her when the chips are down; a Buddhist forensic pathologist who refuses to harm any living creature; and a trio of twenty-something sisters just starting out in their careers who find murder and mayhem wherever they go.
She’s edited medical, scientific, and technical journals, as well as educational books; clerked for a federal judge; worked for major international law firms; and run a two-person law firm with her lawyer husband.
Now, powered by coffee, she writes crime fiction and homeschools her children. When she’s not writing, and sometimes when she is, Melissa travels around the country in an RV with her husband, three kids, and their cat.
To find out when Melissa releases a new book, visit www.melissafmiller.com and sign up for her email newsletter.
More Throwback Thursday Blogs
Renee at Its Book Talk
Jill at Jill’s Book Cafe
Rebecca at The Book Whisperer
Lynne at Fictionophile
Sam at Clues and Reviews
Holly B at Dressedtoread
Deanna at DeesRadReads and Reviews
Amanda at Literary Weaponry
Annie at The Misstery
Mischenko at Read Rant Rock and Roll
Laurie at Cozy Nook Books
Ann Marie at LItWitWineDine
©2018 V Williams 
Sounds like another interesting one.
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I’m embarrassed to admit that after I got this one, didn’t realize she went on to write 9 more in the series–plus other series! Prolific author!
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Wow. That is a lot.
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