Campbellton, GA is the setting for Robert Whitlow's timely legal thriller. The relationships between its black and white citizens go back generation to share cropper days and even to slavery. When one of Campbellton's young black male's is shot by a new-to-the-city white police officer, the town divides its loyalties. Just minutes after receiving a dispatch call that Deshaun Hamlin is a suspect in the robbery at the QuikMart, Officer Luke Nelson approaches Hamlin on a nearby street. Sure that the young man is reaching for a gun when the youth puts his hand in a pocket, Nelson shoots.

As Deshaun teeters between life and death, it is learned that he never had a gun and probably was not involved in the robbery. Luke is placed on leave and waits to learn if he will be indicted. A family man, he is supported by his church and others in the community, while at the same time, dozens of others, especially the church members of Deshaun's grandmother's church, demand justice for the boy.

Meanwhile, a perfect storm of life events brings African-American attorney Adisa Johnson back to her hometown of Campbellton. At first, Adisa's race and loyalty to her neighborhood have her leaning toward supporting those who want Nelson tried for assault and attempted murder, but her legal experience pushes her to see that the officer must get fair treatment. Never did she consider defending him, but that is what happens. Robert Whitlow is one of my favorite authors for legal fiction, and he does not disappoint in this timely novel. He fleshes out the town, making its history almost a distinct character in the book, and that helped me see that "place" is an important part of the stories behind the headlines of today's news. There is prejudice at every turn in this book, but Whitlow shows that even strongly held prejudices can come down when a few people take a stand for fairness, forgiveness, and the truth.
I received an e-copy of this book from Netgalley. I was not required to write a review and all opinions are mine.

Although a work of fiction, A Time to Stand could be a true story. A white cop is involved in shooting an African American teenager in a small Georgia town, and the entire town splits overwhelmingly along racial lines. Enter Adisa Johnson, a young black attorney who grew up in the small town, but had been climbing the corporate ladder working for a prestigious Atlanta law firm. An unexpected twist of fate places her on the legal team of the accused white officer. Whitlow weaves together a story of redemptive justice and forgiveness that will tug at your emotions in this gripping legal novel.

This is truly a book for this time in America. Robert Whitlow takes on the topic of racial unrest, and sets it in the deep south where it has the deepest roots. He works his plot around the shooting of an unarmed, black teenaged male by a white policeman. Whitlow surrounds the story with strong, Christian characters on either side of this legal drama. Right in the middle he places a young, black female attorney who is part of the police officer’s defense council.
Whitlow deals with the difficulty humans of any color have distinguishing between their idea of how they view the world, and how they are truly seeing it through their personal lens, a lens formed by personal experience, collective experience, the media, and the depth of their relationship with the Author of love. He places this hand in hand with the assumptions each person makes about how others see them. Ultimately through the acts of love of mature saints, the reader comes to realize the impact of seeing ourselves and others through God’s eyes. Well-known pastor Chip Ingram would say we need an accurate view of God and an accurate view of ourselves.
A Time to Stand would be a great book club book, and provides thoughtful questions for discussion. It is also a great book for individual reading and personal reflection. It is one of those stories that can be enjoyed on a surface level for the entertaining, legal thriller that it is, but begs not to be read on such a shallow level. It is a story that won’t be forgotten once the covers are closed for the final time. While readers will be reminded of Deshaun Hamlin and Luke Nelson as they watch the evening news, I hope that A Time to Stand will be a catalyst to taking a stand of their own, a stand for love, forgiveness, reconciliation and unity.
I thank NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of A Time to Stand in exchange for an honest review. I received no monetary compensation for providing this review.

I applaud Mr. Whitlow for tackling the tough issue of racial prejudice. There were times throughout the book when I wasn’t sure how it could ever work out and I thought he was brave to address such a hot-button issue of a white cop shooting a black teen. I felt he treated both sides fairly and showed how things are never as cut and dried as we’d like to think they are.
I was interested when it talked about Adisa’s experience in forensic accounting but was disappointed that that didn’t really come into play. She didn’t need to follow the money to solve the crime. It was such an unusual job characteristic that I hoped more would be made of it.
While I felt for Officer Nelson, some of his reactions seemed a bit off. When danger threatened his family, he didn’t want to send his wife and daughter away which I would have thought would be the normal response. He didn’t seem very remorseful at first either which was odd.
I especially liked some of the older ladies in the book. Aunt Josie and Thelma Armistead are great examples of godly women whose lives are rich and meaningful, despite the frailty of their bodies. Their faith and sensitivity to the Spirit challenges Adisa, the pastor, and many others to look beyond black and white to what is of eternal importance.
I enjoyed the suspense of the story. There were twists and turns that I didn’t expect as well as a couple that I did. It was a good read.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This in my opinion is a great book on several levels, first and probably most importantly it is a great story and a real or turner with some twists and surprises that kept me hooked. It also has a morale messages that has challenge how I read situations that seem clear cut, or as in this case black and white. Not only has it challenge me but it has done it in away that does not preach with finger pointing but with challenges that let you make up your own mind.
The third level was how it is a book that has a great biblical base that is natural and completely in keeping with true life not forced but entirely in keeping with the story and the culture of the community that it is based in. I do highly recommend this book and think you may well Love it also.
I did receive a free copy of this book from NetGalley in return for giving a honest review.

I loved the message in this book, but with such a powerful message it lacked the emotion that goes along with it. With such a great cast of characters, and a good plot, there was no real connection and the story came across on the dry side.

“White cop shoots African-American youth” – racial tensions rise. Everyone reacts from their understanding of the situation. Hatred is fueled and things get heated. We see it in the news. This author takes readers on an unexpected journey as characters seek justice, reconciliation, and forgiveness.

The story kicks off with readers getting into the police car with Officer Luke Nelson as he goes about doing his job. He responds to a possible 211 – armed robbery in progress. He’s too far to go to the crime scene but hears the dispatcher give the fleeing assailants description and the direction they head. Tension builds and emotions escalate as readers scout out the area with Officer Luke to find the suspects. He’d worked on the Campbellton police force for 18 months and this was his first 211. When he worked in Atlanta he responded to calls like this every week. He knew the drill.

After Officer Luke Nelson tries to capture the assailant the story switches and readers are introduced to Adisa Johnson; a young female African-American attorney who has taken a break from her “dream job of practicing law with a prestigious firm in downtown Atlanta,” to take on a pro-Bono case she believes in. All is well until a split-second decision changes the course of her life and career.

While reeling from her work situation Adisa gets a call concerning her Aunt Josie. She headed to the hospital in Campbellton as fast as she could. When she got there the town was in an uproar about a controversial case. She felt bad about what happened but she didn’t have time to think about it. Her life’s dream had just blown apart and her heart ached for her Aunt’s health condition.

“Lives are at stake; can one lawyer stand up for justice against the tide of prejudice on every side?” This author did a brilliant job of showing this horrific situation from many viewpoints. It is a multi-faceted story that takes place in a small town in GA. I was apprehensive about reading this book because I didn’t know where the story would take me. The author has the gift of getting readers to instantly connect with and care for his characters. I liked that he gave readers a front row seat as the facts unfold in the case.

This author acutely shows how fast hate and miss-conceptions can fly every which way! The situation can quickly become bigger than the small town. The author shows what happens in the church and how the boy’s family handles things. The reader sees Luke and his family struggle with what happened and sees the back lash from the community.

This situation seems impossible until the people let God intervene. God can do far more than we could ever imagine. Both Adisa and Luke struggle with letting go. Do they leave God out of this and handle it themselves? What could it hurt to seek God’s counsel? Pray. Lay it all down at His feet.

A Pastor says this in the middle of the storm, “It’s time to stand! To look past differences the Lord created and come together in the unity of God’s spirit! To stand in agreement that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven. To stand together on earth as we will one glorious day…...”

This is an amazing, heart-wrenching, hopeful read that shows how God can intervene if we let him. This is not a preachy book. It’s an honest look at what could happen if people pray and let God move in their lives. When He intervenes, hearts change so does our perspective; no matter what storm we face. I liked the plot twists and surprises inside this powerful drama.

This novel will get you thinking and praying. This is a must read for everyone. It will make a great book club pick as the author includes seven discussion questions to help navigate your lively book club meeting. Robert Whitlow hits it out of the park with this one. It will move your heart and have you look at life differently. If you haven’t read this author before I highly recommend this book. It’s a keeper.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

Nora St. Laurent
TBCN Where Book Fun Begins! www.bookfun.org
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I really enjoyed A Time to Stand. While I know the book is fiction, the current day issues tackled in the book could have come straight from the current headlines and news stories. Very well written and the controversial topic was nicely approached.

A TIME TO STAND. by Robert Whitlow
Interesting plot of prejudice in the South. A mistake changes the course of a young lawyer. The courtroom and the people in town had to confront their own issues as well. Cultural issues of the south are brought to life, what brought about the white policeman shooting a young black. The story was not so much on the characters as most of his books are, this is about living the happenings of the south. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

A Time to Stand gives me another reason why Robert Whitlow is one of my go to authors. This book is a great read and I highly recommend it.

A Time To Stand

by
Robert Whitlow

A Review

After a brief prelude involving field workers in the South in the years immediately following the civil war, the book opens with the robbery of a local convenience store. That robbery set a sequence of events in motion that would result in Officer Luke Nelson, a local, white, policeman being charged for assault of a local, and apparently innocent, black young man.

The officer's defense would fall into the in the hands of the very white and credentialed Theo Grayson, Esquire. At his side would stand Adisa Johnson, relatively new attorney who had just won her first big case in the city of Atlanta. But Adisa’s credentials were less than stellar - she had been fired shortly after winning her case because of a less than outstanding interview with a local reporter. And she was black.

The story revolves around the motives and circumstances which drove Officer Nelson to shoot the young man. But at the same time, it explores the thoughts and feelings of those living in the deep South as black, white, rich, and poor, interact on a daily basis. Can the law, in the face of community challenges, remain neutral and focus on finding the truth in spite of the cultural preconceptions which lie within the small town of Campbellton?

As in the past, Whitlow writes a compelling story that will hold the reader’s interest from beginning to end. It will draw those interested in the practice of law, the cultural struggles of the South, and the personal struggles of men and women living in that environment. As is typical, Whitlow weaves the personal faith of the characters into the story - some with no faith, some with a growing faith, and some with strong faith challenged by the circumstances of this case. Whitlow does not tend to pick up characters and further develop their stories in future books (he has done this, but it is not his usual practice), but I would love to see how this particular set of characters continue to develop over time. We get a glimpse of life in Campbellton a year after the main story’s closure - I would like to see how these characters have challenged their community two to five to ten years into the future. Alas, that will probably take our own imagination.
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This review is based on a free electronic copy provided by the publisher for the purpose of creating this review. The opinions are mine alone.

In a story that could have been pulled from today’s headlines—Whitlow tackles the drama surrounding a white police officer’s shooting of an unarmed black teenager. The story constantly challenges the reader to consider what forgiveness and reconciliation mean in the current racial tensions in this country. Written from the point of view of the white police officer and the African-American attorney who is defending him gives background and motivations to the story. Highly recommended.

I’ve been a long time fan of Whitlow; I’ve read everything he has done and own pretty much all of his books. He was first described to me as the Christian version of John Grisham which intrigued me and I’d have to say that was pretty accurate.

This recent work is not only another great example of his talent but it’s incredibly relevant in the current socio-political climate in America with its focus on racial tensions and snap judgements based on long held prejudices. Whitlow has a way of creating something compelling so you want to dig in and follow him on whatever journey he thinks is relevant.

I think he did an intriguing job of examining the varies facets of racial issues: white cop shoots unarmed African-American, a town that didn’t think it had racial issues suddenly finds maybe it does, the town’s citizens find themselves dividing based on skin color, and in almost reverse Mockingbird plot an African-American attorney is going to defend the unpopular white defendant.

It feels like Whitlow is asking the reader to ask themselves some tough questions about where they stand and to learn some things they may not be ready to admit just like his characters. This is an excellent book for groups to discuss.

I found myself shedding tears more than once at the heartache he has created in this ripped from the headlines story because so much of this book has happened and is happening in the ‘real world’. The ending message about peace and perseverance is something I hope actually happens if not in my life time then hopefully my children’s or theirs but it must happen.

What an amazing and powerful novel against racial prejudices and full of divine truths. It made me weep more than once.
This legal novel tells a case like they happen all too often igniting racial riots. The merit of this book is that it's purpose is not only racial peace but reconciliation.

When a white police officer shoots a young black man in a small town near Atlanta, GA, the townspeople, the victim's family, and the police officer must make sense of what happened. One side automatically assumes that the police officer fired his gun simply because the color of the young man's skin. The police officer denies any racial prejudice and claims he simply followed proper police protocol.

The waters seem even murkier when Adisa Johnson, a black lawyer, comes home to take care of the aunt who raised her—and ends up involved in the case. Will the black community cause her problems because of her choice?

Whitlow gives a balanced presentation of each side of the complex issue of race relations--although it seems more likely that the story took place in Washington State rather than Georgia because none of the whites in the book seem to have any real issues with blacks (which I find hardly credible based on my experiences in small towns in the south) other than the white police officer thinking that a black lawyer would be secretly working against him. While I understand that the focus of the book is specifically what happens when a police officer shoots an unarmed young black man, the author could have delved deeper into the actual roots of racism in the South and how Christians should examine their own prejudices and work towards eliminating them.

I've read other books by Whitlow, and they were all based in the South, so I'm guessing that he is a southern writer—one who is uniquely capable of calling out racism and racist beliefs in Christians. For example, I would have loved to have head the protagonist (or her romantic interest, Reverend Reggie) explain to a white character exactly HOW they feel diminished and put down by whites—maybe the answer is whites don't even realize that they are treating someone else in a disrespectful way because no one has ever brought their attention to it. I thought it was an excellent start, but I would have loved more depth.

Another thought provoking story by Mr Whitlow....always enjoy his writing. Have shared this one w/ all of my reading friends.

I love Robert Whitlow's legal novels and A Time to Stand was no exception. The book is well written with a plot that could be out of todays newspaper, white cop shoots unarmed black teen. I highly recommend this book.

Great subject matter but the execution was a slow read. I usually enjoy Robert Whitlow's offerings but I had to push myself to finish this book. It was well written with a strong spiritual emphasis in the lives of the characters which I appreciated.