I tried, several times but ultimately gave up because this is just too distressing and unfortunately too close to the bone. Thanks for the ARC.

I really liked this book and look forward to reading the author’s work again soon! This is a great series. I am thankful that I was chosen to review this title.

Better than the previous installment in this series, yet Ms Wiehl has much better works under her belt.
The plot is still very simplistic and the characters are still flat, without any growth. This is especially valid about the main heroine Erica, who puts her career first always (even if she is feeling bad because of her strained relationships with her daughter and husband - but what counts is what we do and for what we decide, not our feelings).

To be fair, Ms Wiehl tackles some timely problems here - the issue of the separatistic tendencies is very interesting and worth looking into. However, I would love much deeper analysis of the "why" question, not just the easy route out.

I still do not understand how this series could be published by the Christian publishing house. There are no Christian values/undertones present (and I can go pretty easy with these, as I prefer the acts to speak before words).
And there is one very disturbing scene concerning the death of a character precisely of him being a closeted gay. The murder I could leave or take, but there is no added value here other than colouring the baddies for being very bad - a.ka.a the easy way out.

I very much hope than Ms Wiehl could leave these simplistic practices (including the co-authoring) and return to her in-depth, intelligent and emotionally rich way of writing the novels I came to love in the past.

Lis Wiehl is an awesome author who I recommend to any patron that walks in the library doors asking for a good read.
Erica is the main character in the book who starts an investigative news show all while her husband is having a drinking problem and a teenage daughter who is acting out in troubling ways. Her story might be more dangerous than she thought when she finds her informant dead in her hotel room--and she becomes one of the key players!
Her fear and anxiety escalate – for her marriage, her daughter, and her own life.

The Separatists by Lisa Wiehl is a Newsmakers Novel. The author is a seasoned journalist and it shows in the writing. Lisa has a talent for writing spellbinding fiction with authentically flawed characters and surprising plot twists. What I loved most about this novel is the journalist's perspective. It felt so real, like the author was taking you with her while she went to report on events. I look forward to reading more books in this series. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher. All of these opinions are my own.

"The Separatists" eBook was published in 2017 and was written by Lis Wiehl (http://liswiehlbooks.com). Ms. Wiehl has published 15 novels with this being the third book in her "Erica Sparks Newsmaker" series.

I categorize this novel as ‘PG’ because it contains scenes of Violence. The story is set in the contemporary US. The primary character is news show personality Erica Sparks.

Sparks proposes a new monthly news program that dives deeper and exposes the truth about what ever subject they are focusing on. As the debut program, she and her crew focus on a growing Separatist movement across the US. The program spotlights a group in North Dakota that are non-violent and taking a political approach.

The more she looks at the group the more concern she has as people begin to have 'accidents' and die. She soon finds herself at the center of a conspiracy to carve out a new nation from the US, and perhaps Canada. Knowledge of this plan does not come without danger. Sparks must survive as well as let the world know the truth.

I thought the 7.5 hour read of of this 353 page thriller was interesting. I like the characters in this series and I liked the overall plot. It felt like a weak implementation of a an otherwise good thriller story though. The cover art is OK. I give this novel a 3.5 (rounded up to a 4) out of 5.

Further book reviews I have written can be accessed at https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/.

My book reviews are also published on Goodreads (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/31181778-john-purvis).

How far are you willing to go to force others to succumb to your will? The Separatists is a haunting portrayal of the lengths people will go to realize their agenda and bring their version of perfection into reality. The Take Back Our Homeland movement is gaining steam and attention in the capital city of North Dakota and across the United States. What most people do not know is what is going on behind the scenes. Mary Bellamy, co-leader of the movement, is a pro at manipulating the world to achieve her agenda... hauntingly so. Behind a perfectly manicured facade, Mary Bellamy puts forth her bid for president, declaring her intent in representing the true interests of the American people.

Newscaster Erica Sparks is devoted to her profession, wanting to break another big story. After hearing about the Take Back Or Homeland movement, she dedicates time and energy to investigating what appears to be a growing threat to national security. However, the more she investigates the more serious the threat against Erica and her own family grows. She bravely faces the opposition and risks her own life to bring the truth of this story to life, but what is the truth... and will Erica stay alive long enough to broadcast it?

In true Lis Wiehl style, the story moves along at a fast clip... heading for certain disaster or victorious conclusion. So many questions remain unanswered along the way, keeping readers on the edge of their seat. The heroine is brave and willing to stand up for the truth, despite personal setbacks and struggles along the way. Like in real life, the villain looks lovely on the outside, but secretly they plot and scheme for to fulfill their own evil desires. Give it a try - I think you'll enjoy the ride.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions above are my own.

Ericka Sparks mission in life: to find the truth.

Ericka is rising up in the journalism world and her big break comes when she covers the political fight in North Dakota. The state that under the leadership of Mary Bellamy will separate from the union. Bellamy has to win her bid for governor before any separation can happen and she is hoping that Ericka will get her voice heard. Ericka is also dealing with personal separations at home. Not seeing her husband as much as she likes and the tension that it is causing and her daughter's rebellion that has been taken to higher level. Truth is calling Ericka as she lay aside her personal fears and she aims to find out Bellamy's agenda for the greater good.

When several people end up dead associated with Bellamy, the truth is the only thing that can save the country. Will Sparks find it in time.

Ok...a lot of tension, this woman is like super woman without the cape, fighting off snakes, going from place to place in record time, and just surviving one thing after another. Pure entertainment. However, North Dakota is not as bleak as it was made out to be. Growing up on a farm in Langdon, North Dakota, and having fond memories of that time, for entertainment's sake, it is just not true. North Dakota is a great place to raise a family and make a living. The people work hard for a good a living. Well I will get off my horse now and just say if you like a political thriller, you will be turning pages pretty quick with this one.

A Special Thank You to Thomas Nelson and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

The book is a very timely book and could easily be front page news today. In recent months we have seen groups start to become more vocal in their stance against the government. The author explodes with a heart pounding standoff right in our backyard. I found Erica to be a very strong character. I love her gutsy attitude and fierce determination to bring news in an honest and direct way. Erica has her work cut out for her in this story that draws a line between the government and a small group that is willing to go up against a power that has the backing of the president of the United States. Has Erica found more going on with this group that could be a threat to the safety of American citizens?

I wasn't that thrilled to read about Erica's daughter and her rebellious attitude. Erica's husband sounded a bit jealous of his wife's raising stardom and tension can be felt between them. With Erica focused on her new tv program, her marriage starts to suffer. I think Erica has ruffled some feathers with her new program and her investigation into a woman who wants to take the senate seat away from someone up for re-election. Can this woman win? Does she have a secret agenda? With all this going on, Erica starts to feel the pressure as bodies start piling up. I loved the intense drama in the story and the twists that the author throws at readers unexpectedly. Overall a good book with enough action to keep readers interested.

I received a copy of this book from The Fiction Guild and Netgalley. The review is my own opinion.

The Separatists is a thigh slapping, mind blowing, action packed story. It is a bout Erica Sparks who gets herself into ALOT of trouble, boy do you have no clue - and I mean that - as to how many problems she gets into and how serious they are. This book pulls you in by the neck and it forces you to stay put until you get to the end, no matter how hard you try to get away. This story is so unreal because it is almost like how something is happening in the news right now, it is so shockingly fun and enjoyable to see how what is happening for real could happen like what is in here - sick - I want to tell you what it is but you have to read it.

This has a great storyline. I love the characters. They are so real. Each of these characters are so like real people. They all learn some valuable lessons along the way. This story has many twists and turns. There are way too many people out there that can be led so easily by someone who is charismatic. It is a spooky thought. I look forward to the next book in this series. I received a copy of this book from Smith Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

This book had a different feel from her Triple Threat Club books. I did not read the previous two novels of The Newsmaker series prior to reading this book, which is third in the series. Perhaps reading the first two novels would have helped me bond more with Erica Sparks and feel empathy.

I didn't really connect with any of the characters in the book. Erica seemed selfish, self-centered, too ambitious, and heartless. Maybe it's because I don't know a thing about the world of newsmaking. Perhaps it's because I have a completely different mindset from Erica as a mother and a professional. Her husband Greg had a very minor role in the book. There were multiple side characters at the beginning of the book that I got somewhat lost trying to follow how these characters all fit into the story. The plot was slow at first and confusing as well.

That being said, by the halfway point of the book, all the side characters fell into place, the plot picked up its pace, and the story unraveled in its fascinating glory. The use of present tense in the book was genius and the intricately crafted plot was a pleasure to read. The theme of North Dakota's secession from the United States of America was horrifying yet intriguing at the same time.

It was an interesting read. I received ARC of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. I was not required to give a favorable review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

Even though Lis Wiehl’s first person present tense writing style is a little awkward and takes some getting used to (mostly because most fiction is not written this way), and I’m not a huge fan of discussing politics, I keep coming back to these books. They are interesting, engaging, and fast-paced. An intriguing look at what could become very real scenarios and situations in today’s disillusions and discontent within our federal government.

In The Separatists, the third book of the Newsmakers series featuring journalist Erica Sparks, North Dakota is on the brink of secession. As Erica scoops the rest of the news industry on this breaking story, she discovers there’s much more hiding under the surface.

While Wiehl’s story gives an excellent case of how this state can separate itself from the rest of the United States, the heart of this story for me was about the masks people wear for their public. Whether it’s someone trying to present a spotless image for their potential constituents while hiding a heart of darkness or a successful news anchor doubting herself in other areas of life, many of the characters in this book are hiding secrets.

As the body count climbs and Erica Sparks races to find the truth behind the secessionist movement, readers are taken along the journey fraught with danger and suspense.

I had to backtrack a bit at the beginning in order to keep track of all the players but had them straight about a quarter of the way through. The ending seemed a bit abrupt to me. I would have liked a little more details about the wrap up other than the short epilogue. It drove me absolutely crazy that Erica would not talk to her husband about her doubts. I understand that not communicating is a common issue in romances but this was not a romance and that communication issue is usually taken care of during the dating/courtship stage. Erica and Greg have been together long enough that they should not be faced with this issue.

Overall, it was an okay read for me. If you’re a fan of political suspense with lots of intrigue, backstabbing, and subterfuge, this is a keeper. As the body count climbs and Erica Sparks races to find the truth behind the secessionist movement, readers are taken along the journey fraught with danger and suspense.

Warning: There are several references to sexual situations (allusions to the act, mentions of words associated with it, and a few homosexual relation mentions).

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The third in a series and I would warn that you should start with book one, as I said before the mysteries are self contained but there are character developments from one book to another, so you will want to start at the beginning.

There is an uproar in the United States and some states have decided that want to break away and form their own government with their own set of rules, North Dakota has moved forward the most and by political means and that is where the drama starts for this book. Erica Sparks takes it away again in this book and she wants to get down to the foundation of Mary Bellamy and her reasoning for spearheading this movement, it seems like there are a few reasons!

Again, I love Erica Sparks and her drive for the truth. This book felt like there was a lot less of her personal life in comparison to the ones before, but the cliff hanger at the end makes me think that her personal life may be more of a focus in the next book, there is a next book right?

The only other book of hers that I've read is Snapshot which was excellent, five star. This one was okay, more on the political side, It was fast paced and full of action.

I love going tagging along with superstar journalist Erica Sparks! She lives at a breakneck, frenetic pace throughout the book. Not to mention risking her life, parenting a struggling teenage daughter, and mending a broken marriage. I love the way that Lis Wiehl has written this series. This is truly a THRILLER that I always find refreshing and original. Erica Sparks is one of my favorite characters and hope to see more of her in future books.

In the book The Separatists, author Lis Wiehl continues to follow the career of Erica Sparks, picking up where she left off in the first two books of this series. This time Erica is following the story of a separatist organization called Homeland in North Dakota. The leader has successfully called for a special election to recall the governor. But everything is not as it seems and everything begins to turn deadly! This was an excellent fast pace read with twists and turns in the plot. I would highly recommend this book for any reader. I received a copy of this e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This series had a great start, but I’m not so impressed by its sequels.
The writing style is consistent, but I’m kind of disappointed by the plot. There was so much going on, and it was kind of unrealistic. I liked the fast pace (then again I always do), and I loved the suspenseful build up, but the ending was so sudden, it was unsatisfying. I loved that we got to see a bit more character development than the last book, but I’m starting to feel like there is a pattern to the way these books are written, and I really wish to see something out of the box.

The Separatists

by Lis Wiehl

Thomas Nelson--FICTION

Thomas Nelson
Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 27 Jun 2017

I am voluntarily reviewing a copy of The Separtists through Thomas Nelson-Fiction and Netgalley:

Once again we meet Erica Sparks a newscaster at GNN. Erica is soon sent to Bismarck, North Dakota to investigate the largest sectionist town to investigate Take Back Our Homeland.

At Home Erica's husband is drinking and not taking to her, he is also taking an unusual interest in author Leslie Burke, while her teenage daughter is acting out.

Soon she discovers a potential informant that is murdered in a hotel in Bismarck North Dakota.

Once again Lis Wiehl takes us on an incredible journey into the heart and life of her Character Erica Sparks five out of five stars.

Happy Reading!