Imagine learning at a young age that you cannot trust those who should be most trustworthy. The ramifications of such a travesty will follow you for the rest of your life. But will they define you, or will you rise above? Jamie has carved out a career as a lawyer, working in the Public Defenders office, trying to help bring justice to those who need it most. Is it possible that she will experience some of that justice for herself or will she be afraid of the shadows forever?
An incredible legal thriller that shows the importance of learning to trust again - God, friends and even family. This very well written book keeps you on the edge of your seat and will have you watching the shadows whenever you go out!
I received this ebook through CelebrateLit and this review gives my personal impressions and opinions.

She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard. Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jamie, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart. Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child. This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.



My Thoughts: Cara Putman has written a powerful novel that focuses on issues we see every day. This is a novel about strength, recovery, trust and finding hope in God. This is a fast-moving story-line that keeps the reader's interest, there are no dull moments in this novel.


The characters were easy for the reader to identify with. Jaime has worked hard to work through her trauma and to seek justice. Chandler the veteran who suffers from mild PTSD. The author did a wonderful job with Chandler, a man who has also with the help of Aslan push past his trauma. As I said the author has touched on topics that I believe everyone has or knows someone touched by these traumas. The author has done a wonderful job bringing these to the readers' attention and showing that with counseling, the victims can obtain justice and freedom from the past.


I enjoyed that C.S. Lewis' "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" from "Narnia" were brought into the storyline. I immediately fell in love with Aslan and the job he performed in the story.


This was a wonderful and a joy to read. I highly recommend this one, especially to those who enjoy action and suspense with a little romance mixed in.

This series from Putman is simply amazing. I don't think I've ever read books that are more relevant than these. This book does touch on some very difficult topics but never goes into any details. Putman's ability to bring to light issues including child abuse without actually getting graphic is very much appreciated. I still felt the pain from the characters but didn't have to read specifics. I found that I got the full picture without having to cloud my mind with images.

It seems that this book fits right in with some of what is happening these days between the Me Too movement and also what is happening in Washington D.C. right now. While this book is a different situation than current events in the media right now, it is in essence still going to bring forward the same feelings for many women. I would advise that if you've experienced abuse you read with caution.

Putman also uses another relevant theme of PTSD and trauma. I loved that she included a therapy dog. I am very intrigued by them and know a family that has one for medical patients. I wish my elementary school could keep a therapy dog on the premises to help our students that have experienced trauma! I loved reading how Chandler's dog helped a young girl.

This book (and truly the whole series) has a great balance between legal, suspense, and romance. I love the friendship among the characters. I've also loved the male/female relationships that have evolved. The stories are so relevant in that they could actually happen today and are so authentic too. I love fiction, but I especially love it when it is truly believable.

This book was impossible to put down. Don't start it expecting to put a bookmark in it and go to bed. I read it in one sitting and it went super fast in spite of the sad topics. Thank you so much to Putman for another excellent book!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher and CelebrateLit. This is my honest review.

4.5 stars

“When He seems most hidden, He is most present.”

Y’all. Jaime’s story undid me. Maybe because of the current news headlines. Maybe because of the tie-ins to The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Aslan. But definitely because Putman has woven together a story of a woman finding her voice and using it to fight for justice for those who can’t yet speak up.

Jaime may compare Chandler to Captain America (and you won’t hear me complain about that visual) but she is a true superhero in her own right. To have risen above the heartbreaking abuse in her childhood – and the emotional isolation it created – to achieve not only great personal success but also solid friendships, a tender heart, and a fun sense of humor is inspiring to me. And then to take on the powerful man who abused her, just when he is in the public eye as never before… her courage is something to aspire to in my own life. Even though I have not experienced the abuse that Jaime suffered, we all have moments where we stand at the crossroads of ‘speak up’ and ‘stay silent’. I hope I have the courage that she showed to speak up when needed – and, conversely, to stay silent when needed.

Chandler… blissful sigh. The Captain America comparisons are not far off. This military vet is an all-around good guy with a protective heart and a faithful Golden Retriever named Aslan (which, as an aside, is totally what I want to name a golden retriever, should i ever get one). His instincts are spot-on as he gets to know Jaime and begins to see the hurt she’s carried inside for far too long. Balancing his attraction and growing feelings for her with the need to make sure she is protected – and to patiently and compassionately work through her honest faith questions with her – definitely shows off his Captain America side quite nicely...

Bottom Line: I loved the journey that Jaime and Chandler take toward God, justice, and wholeness in this latest installment in the Hidden Justice series. It’s not a light-hearted read, to be sure, but there are moments of humor at just the right times along the way. The references to The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe made my bookish heart happy – and the way Putman used this book in Jaime’s life is just perfect. Besides being a great legal thriller, this is a story of courage and hope even when God seems absent, knowing that He is in fact closer than the air we breathe and grieving with us. Putman tackles tough questions and does so with grace and authenticity. A great addition to the series!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

This is one of those books that has me feeling conflicted within...it is both hard to put down and hard to pick up.

Let me explain myself. You see, it is hard to pick up because it deals with some very difficult issues in life, the main one of which is childhood sexual abuse.

Reading about Jaime as a young girl and the terrible things she went through was about more than I could take.

And yet, these kinds of stories are exactly the kind we need to read, to remind us that horrible things like these might be happening where we least expect them to be. What can I do, what am I doing, to help?

Jaime is an incredible character. Strong, and yet oh so frightened. Lovable. Wounded. Looking for hope. Daring to believe. I was drawn to her from the first chapter.

And now, after saying all of this, you probably see why I also found it hard to put down. It is the kind of story that you feel like you must keep reading just as fast as you can. In hopes to get the character out of that hard spot in life.

I love this story. The realness of it. The pain. The courage. The growth.

And the suspense...ah...yes...I love a good suspense novel. And legal thrillers are way up at the top of my list. This one ranks up there as one that is worth re-reading.

Due to the painfulness of the abuse described in this book, I would not recommend it for younger readers.

Thrilling, yes. Thought-provoking, absolutely. Bringing hope, yes. I choose to believe that reading a book like this can only help but draw us closer to God.

Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review, and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Delayed Justice, the third book in the Hidden Justice series by Cara C Putman is a story that lures the reader in immediately and doesn't let up. Even though part of a series, this book can easily be read as a stand-alone story as the author has filled in enough backstory that the reader is not left with a lot of questions wondering who characters are and what has happened in the past. In Delayed Justice, readers follow the painful journey of Jaime, a victim of childhood sexual abuse, as she pursues legal action against the perpetrator. The emotional tension and drama are intense as Jaime's difficult and crushing past collides with her unknown future. Putman does an excellent job with the sensitive and devastating subject of sexual abuse, never explicit and yet accurate in the depiction of the emotional and life-changing aftermath. Deep scars have left Jaime with a burden that she has carried alone for years. Will she allow her friends and family to help carry lighten her load? "Maybe she didn't have to walk with a pronounced limp of brokenness the rest of her life". She has felt abandoned by God since childhood and as a result, her journey to faith is not a simple one, even as she senses His tug on her life. The story is multilayered with several other broken characters and the author expertly intertwines their stories into Jaime's story. Two interesting factors in the story were the use of comfort dogs for children who have had traumatic events in their lives and the information regarding Veteran centers to help soldiers readjust to life at home after a tour of duty. Delayed Justice is a poignant and heartbreaking story and yet it is filled with hope, hope that is found in family and friends and the blessed hope that is found as one places one's faith in a God who is present and is at work in our lives even when we cannot see or feel Him.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via CelebrateLit. A favorable review was not required and opinions are my own. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

I think this third book in Cara Putman’s Hidden Justice series is my favourite so far, offering an engrossing and emotionally charged story as the two main characters not only struggle to overcome their own demons, but help a young girl battle hers. And it includes the bonus element of Chandler’s therapy dog Aslan, who has a special role to play in helping this young girl find her voice—and a somewhat less serious role in introducing Chandler and Jaime to one another!

While the legal element was definitely still here, this story dealt a lot more with the emotional impact of abuse and preparing to confront an abuser in court. In some ways I felt this overshadowed Chandler’s personal story a little bit, but overall, I felt the characterisation in this novel was the strongest of the three books in the series so far. Jaime, in particular, had quite a lot going on, not only finding the courage to speak up about her abuse, but also taking tentative steps towards a romantic relationship and discovering a God she had long resented for not saving her from abuse. I also enjoyed the dynamic between Chandler and Jaime—her mix of spunk, sass, and guardedness, and his determined but cautious pursuit.

The suspense element to these stories simmered in the background for the most part, occasionally increasing a little in heat, but never quite reaching boiling point until the last chapters of the book. But when it hit boiling, boy did it hit boiling!

A great choice for readers looking for a strong emotional element to their romantic suspense!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.

I thought the author did a good job at tackling the extremely difficult subject of abuse without overwhelming the reader with details. The characters (main and secondary) were all believable and authentic. Especially Jamie's emotional struggle with her past as well as her future.

From being forced to open up herself and her home, Jamie is tasked with reexamining her relationships with her friends and family, as well as with Chandler. Jamie really goes on a journey throughout this book and it's so interesting to see her grow and change throughout the story.

I liked Jamie and Chandler's relationship. For one thing, it wasn't cheesy! He was the perfect person for her and their relationship was really well done. He wasn't pushy but he also knew when he needed to step in and help.

The faith aspect was also well done. I find that a lot of Christian books can really beat you over the head with religion and just be way over the top, but the faith angle in this book was subtle yet resolute.

While there wasn't as much suspense as maybe the other books in the series, I was still left wanting to know what was going to happen next. Overall I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

Cara Putnam's Delayed Justice is as real as today's headlines. Jamie Nichols has undergone years of therapy to become strong enough to hold her uncle accountable for the abuse she suffered at his hands. Now a lawyer she hopes her voice will be heard before he is elevated to a higher rank.
Chandler Bolton a retired veteran, has been training his dog Aslan to help young victims. Chandler, Jaime, and Aslan work together to help a young girl become strong enough to testify. This is a thrilling story of Delayed justice. Set in Washington DC this story is very realistic. So grab a sweet tea and settle in for a great read!

I was given this book by NetGalley.com with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

“This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life. “

Before I start the review, I feel the need to give a trigger warning. This book deals with childhood sexual assault. No details are given but the whole book revolves around this topic.

What a perfect book to end this three book series! Cara Putman expertly deals with a horrifying topic in a very caring and informative way. I wasn’t sure I could read this book, due to the subject manner but I am so glad I did!
I love Jaime and Chandler and I rooted for them through the whole book. Everyone needs friends like Jaime’s and a man like Chandler Bolton in their life. This book is all Christian, part suspense, part mystery and part romance. I honestly thought I had the whole thing figured out but I was utterly wrong.

I appreciate an author that keeps me guessing. The only negative of about this book is the side plot involving Chandler and another man. It just didn’t add anything to the story and seemed completely out of place within the context of the rest of the book.

I recommend to anyone who loves a good suspense book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The views given are my own.

#NetGalley #DelayedJustice #ThomasNelson

This novel could be out of today's headlines. It is amazingly timely. Jamie has waited nearly twenty years to report the sexual abuse of her uncle when she was a child. Putnam has crafted Jamie well, giving us insight into why Jamie felt she must wait until she was strong enough to go through the pressure of the accusations. The striking part of the plot is that her uncle is up for a military promotion to one star general. Jamie is a strong woman but she needs additional strength and that comes in the form of Chandler, so a little romance is involved too.

I appreciate Putnam revealing the legal processes involved. I was surprised to find that there is no statute of limitation for such sex crimes in some states. But it is hard to prove something that happened so long ago. It's also dangerous when the predator is a powerful man determined to prevent his reputation from being ruined.

I highly recommend this novel to readers who like plots centered on legal procedure and the people involved. You'll get a clear sense of the residual damage from sexual abuse, the feelings of unworthiness, questioning God's role, and more. You'll also experience the pressure of testifying to abuse, whether a child or adult.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Love this legal thriller by Ms. Putman. Plenty of thrills and interesting characters. Looking forward to her next book!

As an elementary teacher for over a decade, I have a heart for children, especially those that come from difficult homes. In grad school, I remember learning how childhood trauma can have devastating results. I am so glad that Cara Putman wrote this book! The author deals with this difficult topic in a brilliant manner. She made the trauma painful and very, very real without actually describing any of it. This book is the third novel in the Hidden Justice series, which focuses on female lawyers and their dangerous cases. While I loved the other novels in this series, I loved this one the most so far. It is by far the most personal of the three novels, because the pain is that of the protagonist in this novel, as well as the young girl she tries to help in a similar situation. This is a powerful novel that deals with this painful topic while never resorting to cliché. This book is perfect for readers that love mysteries and novels with great emotional depth. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Delayed Justice is the thrilling third book in the legal suspense series, Hidden Justice. Like the first two books in the series, Delayed Justice offers a riveting mix of legal drama, romance, strong friendship, faith, personal discovery and suspense. Delayed Justice is particularly stirring and tender as the characters face horrific cases - personal, past and present.

Jamie Nichols works tirelessly as a criminal defence attorney to give a voice to those who don’t have one, fighting against the powerlessness she faced in her own childhood. Now in her adulthood she has decided to press charges against her abuser, but she knows it might bring about fierce retaliation. When she is asked to assist a young girl facing the same horrors she herself faced, Jamie knows she can’t refuse. Even if it means working closely with retired veteran, Chandler Bolton and his Golden Retriever therapy dog.

Delayed Justice takes readers on a journey of healing, of justice and voices standing strong. Delayed Justice and its message of speaking out against sexual abuse, especially when committed by people in positions of power, is incredibly timely. Jamie’s story is powerful and moving, as is the story of the young girl Jamie and Chandler work to help. Delayed Justice explores the heartbreaking process of trialing these cases in the US legal system.

Family, friendship and romance all play important parts in Delayed Justice. Jamie struggles with her relationship with her parents. Launching the case against her abuser gives Jamie a chance to reveal her pain to her parents and to start rebuilding the relationship between them. Fortunately, Jamie has an incredible support system around her (even if she is sometime reluctant to draw upon it). Her friends (many of which are familiar faces from the first two books in the series) bring tension release to the story and very needed support to Jamie. Finally, the romance is a delightful part of Delayed Justice. While Chandler and Jamie do not have a smooth first meeting, it isn’t long before the two are working together and supporting each other through the challenges they both face. The chapter sections written from Chandler’s perspective, which alternate with those written from Jamie’s point of view, also give readers a more in-depth understanding of the pain he has faced and his growing feelings for Jamie.

Jamie undergoes a journey of spiritual transformation in Delayed Justice. Through gentle (and persistent) nudges from her caring friends and frank discussions with Chandler, as well as reconciling the events of her childhood, Jamie is able to move from distrusting and doubting God to entering a firm relationship with him.

At times a little disjointed and heavily dialog focused, Delayed Justice has a complex and layered story but is quick and easy to read. With a constant underlying tension and a spike of action right at the end, Delayed Justice will keep readers hooked to this thrilling tale of justice.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

What happens when you finally come forward to accuse the man who molested you when you were a child and he also happens to be your uncle? Jamie Nichols was molested by her uncle while her father was on deployment when she was a child....she didn't have the "voice" to step forward then but as a public defender she does now and the accusations just happen to coincide with his appointment as a general. In the process, Jamie is asked to help another young victim who has been molested with the help of Chandler Bolton, a veteran who has a therapy dog to help clients.. Jamie's uncle will stop at nothing to have her "voice" silenced.

Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women in the path of harm drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jaime, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her childhood apart.
Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. As Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.
This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of resolution and the weight of words given voice. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.

This was quite an eye opener book for me. The story reveals the trauma experienced by children who have been molested in childhood and how it affects them into adulthood. Jamie was a victim of sexual molestation by her uncle. As an adult, she now feels she is strong enough to press charges against him. This is the story of Jamie's journey. I recommend this book to everyone. It is the third in the series. But can be read as a stand alone book.

I was given this book by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was not compensated in any way.

I really enjoyed reading Cara Putman. I had not read any of her books before, she was one I had always wanted to pickup and just never gotten around to. That is one of the reasons I signed up for a blog tour. I will have to go back and read her other ones as this one is not really a straight romantic suspense. It is more a romantic issue book. I do recommend it to those who like romantic suspense though because it has the same feel.

Well done and well worth the read. Can't wait for another of Cara's books.

I have yet to read any of the other books in this series but regardless I enjoyed this book and loved reading about Jaime's story. It's a story about strength and finding the courage to face your past. I found it slow moving at times and there were a few storylines that I felt could've been left out as they didn't make sense. Overall it was an enjoyable read and I am planning on reading the other books in the series.

A highly skilled storyteller, Cara Putnam presents the final story in her Hidden Justice series. With each novel I’ve read in the series, I find my thinking this is the best one yet! Little did I know that Delayed Justice was coming and this one would garner emotions that ran the gamut of fear and anger to grief to jubilation.

Jaime Nichols is a defense attorney, a good one with impeccable integrity and work ethics. Jaime is also wounded, deeply wounded by the sexual abuse at the hands of an uncle at a young age. After years of intense therapy, Jaime believes herself ready to press charges against the man who robbed her of her childhood.

When Jaime meets Chandler Bolton, owner and trainer, of a very special dog named Aslan, they find themselves working together to help a young girl, recently abused, to find her voice. As Aslan helps the young victim begin the road to healing, Chandler realizes that Jaime, too, is hiding deep hurt. There is attraction between them, Chandler knows it will take time for Jaime to allow her walls to come down. Aslan is the perfect therapy dog for Jaime.

As the two work together, Jaime learns that filing the charges against her uncle will not go quite as smoothly as she had hoped. Chandler, a retired veteran, is a counselor working to re-establish marital and family relationships after the return of a military member after a long mission. Weird things are happening, threatening things and Chandler is completely mystified.

Focused on the endangered young girl, both are distracted and not really paying attention to their own life. With Aslan’s help, Jaime and Chandler set about seeing the girl’s abuser prosecuted and imprisoned, ensuring her safety.

Delayed Justice is a fast paced, timely novel. With the emotional highs and lows, with accompanying tears and celebration, it seems that to use the word enjoyable just isn’t quite the right word. Delayed Justice is definitely a worthy novel worth every minute the author spent writing it, and every minute I spent reading it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley and am not required to write a positive review. All thoughts and opinions, therein, are solely my own.

Jaime Nichols was hurt by a close family member who will do anything to keep her from testifying against him. She was only 8 years old when he abused her, she had nightmares about his abuse, she finally felt that she could press charges against him when she was in her late twenties.
Jaime did not trust men at all, but one of her new neighbors, Chandler, notices her and becomes her friend, along with his therapy dog, Aslan. Jaime is a public defense lawyer, she enjoys helping people and her heart is in her work.
Chandler helps military people cope with coming home and trying to face living with their families and adjusting to not being at war and dealing with life and death issues constantly.
Jaime and Chandler, along with Aslan, try to help Tiffany, an 8 year old who was abused by her mother’s boyfriend. Helping Tiffany makes Jaime think about what happened in her life.
Jamie’s abuser and Tiffany’s abuser will do anything to save themselves - you will have to read the story for yourself to see what happens!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.