Book Review: Abuse of Discretion by Pamela Samuels Young

A fascinating story that seems unlikely...but it could happen to someone you love.

Abuse of Discretion by Pamela Samuels Young finds model student Graylin Alexander embroiled in a sexting scandal that could ruin his life. Jenny Ungerman and former prosecutor Angela Evans team up to seek justice for Graylin, but their differences pose a challenge.

Meanwhile, Angela's boyfriend Dre is threatened by someone from his past. Dre knows his plan of action will complicate their relationship, but in his world it is kill or be killed.

How I have missed Young's books! They are always packed with action and thrilling. As an attorney and former television news writer and associate producer, she knows how to bring home the tough stories that engage you and make you think how easy something can happen that changes your life forever--which makes her books both amazing and frightening.

Abuse of Discretion primarily focuses on the topic of sexting and how laws haven't quite caught up with the technology our kids are using these days. To think of what Graylin endured as a result of normal adolescent curiosity is infuriating. For those of us with kids, this is scary. This is our world. This is our child's world.

The secondary plot with Dre helped to fuel conflict for his already tender relationship with Angela. Poor Angela had issues from all sides in this novel, since she knew something was going on with Dre and she also had to cope with teaming up with an attorney she wasn't overly fond of because it was in Graylin's best interest.

My only challenge with this story is the numerous points of view. Young expertly switched points of view by dedicating separate chapters to different characters. There were just so many characters whose head the reader had to climb into, that it made the flow of the story a bit choppy. That didn't change how much I loved the novel overall, I just would have preferred Dre be the only point of view character for his subplot.

If you enjoy legal thrillers, Pamela Samuels Young should be on your list of must read authors. She delivers consistently great fiction that never disappoints.

Series: Dre Thomas Series, Book 3 (Book 3)
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (June 27, 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1530528976
ISBN-13: 978-1530528974

I received a copy of this book from the author through Pump Up Your Book. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Book Review: Attorney-Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young

Vernetta Henderson returns in this suspenseful thriller from Pamela Samuels Young.

When Vernetta takes on a case of gender discrimination against a large retail chain, she's certain this is an open and shut case where she'll be victorious. When one of her clients in the case is murdered, and evidence  goes missing, Vernetta wants to see justice served more than anything. Learning she's going up against the unscrupulous Girlie Cortez, who is representing Big Buy in the case, certainly isn't going to make Vernetta's job any easier.

Attorney-Client Privilege is another fabulous installment in this series by Pamela Samuels Young. As she has done with other Vernetta Henderson books, Young hooks you with a superb plot that unravels to a satisfying conclusion thanks to her skillful storytelling. The other thing that the author does so well is blend Vernetta's personal and professional lives into the story. Vernetta and her husband, Jefferson, face new challenges. Her best friend, Special, has troubles of her own that are tied in some ways to Vernetta's woes. It's tremendously satisfying to watch these characters develop.

Girlie Cortez has to be the most complex character in this story. Through most of it, I couldn't stand her, but as the story played out, the reader could see why she acted the way she did--even if she didn't approve or like it. I would love to see Girlie pop up in a future installment of this series.

If you're looking for a legal thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end, you won't want to pass up Attorney-Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young. Her work is some of the best in this genre.


Paperback: 396 pages
Publisher: Goldman House Publishing (June 9, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981562795
ISBN-13: 978-0981562797
SRP: $16.99
Also available in electronic formats

~ ~ ~ KINDLE FIRE GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~

Pump Up Your Book and Pamela Samuels Young are teaming up to give you a chance to win a Kindle Fire HD!

Visit http://www.pumpupyourbook.com/2012/06/04/pump-up-your-book-presents-attorney-client-privilege-virtual-book-tour-2012/# for details on how you can enter for your chance to win!

I received a free paperback copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, for which I received no compensation of any kind.

This is the 49th book I've read for the following challenge:

It is the 27th book I've read for the following challenge:

It is the 11th book I've read for the following challenge:

First Chapter Review: Attorney Client Privilege by Pamela Samuels Young

This First Chapter Review is for a book I received from an author on tour with Pump Up Your Book. A full review will follow on October 15th.

BLURB: A brutal murder, missing documents and an unscrupulous opposing counsel lead attorney Vernetta Henderson on a quest for justice—and ultimately—revenge. The hotshot L.A. lawyer takes on a corporation with a long history of discriminating against women. While Vernetta simply wants justice for her clients, the corporation’s hired gun wants to win . . . and she doesn’t care how. On the home front, Vernetta’s infamous sidekick Special has finally found true love. But is the price more than she’s willing to pay?

COVER: If you've seen or read other books in the Vernetta Henderson series, you'll know this fits right in. What I think is a neat detail is that the woman is wearing white and black, and one arm is in the light, while the other is in shadows.

FIRST CHAPTER: Judi Irving works for Big Buy, the largest discount chain in California. She and two co-workers have opted to seek legal action against the chain with a long history of discriminating against women. Once attorney Vernetta Henderson is done with her current case, she will be pursing theirs.

On a more personal level, Judi is having issues with her boyfriend, a starving-actor who she thinks is cheating on her. He's also pressuring her to drop the lawsuit. As the TV pitchman for Big Buy stores, he's afraid the suit might ruin his career. After an argument, Phillip storms out, leaving Judi alone for hours and making her easy prey.

KEEP READING: Even if I wasn't reviewing Attorney-Client Privilege for a virtual book tour, the tense first chapter would keep me reading. The story opens with Judi and one of her co-workers talking about the suit. Young has created three great characters by the end of the chapter:  Judi, Olivia (a co-worker), and Phillip. Judi is a sympathetic character from the start. She's being discriminated against, her ex-husband cheated on her and it looks like this new guy is too, and she's unsure of herself and if she really wants to go through with this lawsuit. Olivia is much more sure of herself and also believes they have God on their side. Phillip is not likable in the least. he's obviously sucking off Judi, who is several years older than he is.

The chapter ends with a cliffhanger, so you know you have to continue to see what happens next. This is the second Vernetta Henderson book I've received so far, and I like it even better than the first one.

Paperback: 396 pages
Publisher: Goldman House Publishing (June 9, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0981562795
ISBN-13: 978-0981562797
SRP: $16.99 (also available for Kindle)




I received a free copy of this book from the author or her representative. This first chapter review contains my honest opinions, for which I have not been compensated in any way.

Book Review: Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young

Enjoy a page-turning thriller that combines secret lives, murder, and the law, in Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young.

L.A. attorney Vernetta Henderson and her outlandish friend, Special, are tossed for a loop when a young lawyer's actions cause the death of their friend and Special's cousin, Maya. Leading the charge in a wrongful death suit against Eugene, who was also Maya's fiancé, Special isn't satisfied and begins to exact her own type of revenge.

Prominent African-American men are being gunned down on the streets of L.A. and police struggle to find the connection among the victims. They appear to be family men, well-educated, attractive, and successful. Maybe there is more to these men than meets the eye.

A shocking revelation ties the wrongful death lawsuit to the puzzling murders. When Special's brand of justice goes too far, it's possible no one, not even, Vernetta, can save her.

Having read Young's Buying Time, I was eager to dive into Murder on the Down Low. I received my copy of this book for Christmas two years ago. The author had been on a virtual book tour with Pump Up Your Book! (at the time Pump Up Your Book Promotion), and the premise sounded so interesting that I added it to my Amazon Wish List. Santa kindly left a copy of the book for me under the tree, but with all my other reading commitments I hadn't been able to get to it. When I heard that Young was touring with this book again, I knew I had the perfect excuse to dig it out of my TBR pile.

Murder on the Down Low tackles a weighty issue. The book opens with the murder of the first victim, but moves swiftly to Maya's funeral. Maya's friends, Vernetta, attorney Nichelle Ayers, and LAPD detective J.C. Sparks, are distraught over the loss of their friend and concerned that Special hasn't shown up yet. Special finally arrives, and when she gets her chance to speak, she lets everyone in the church know that Eugene Nelson is responsible for her cousin's death. She follows this up with attacking Eugene outside the church, setting into motion a dangerous game of payback that is certain to backfire on her.

This is an emotional, face-paced thriller that you won't be able to put down by the time you to get the end of Chapter 1. The reason I say the end of the chapter is that I felt a bit too much time was dedicated to providing details of the first victim's lifestyle prior to his untimely death. I understand this might have been done to set the stage for exactly what type of person the murderer was after, but if I saw this book in the store and picked it off the shelf to read the first page, I might not have purchased it, which would have been a horrible shame since it is a superb story. Perhaps the victim's lifestyle could have been revealed early in the police investigation.

Other than those first three pages, I was totally hooked. I couldn't put the book down; I stayed up late reading it--way too late. I polished it off within a few days and would have read it again if I had the time.

What Young did well in Buying Time and in Murder on the Down Low is create complex characters that are blended into a riveting plot. You think you have the murderer pegged, and then a new clue is uncovered that turns you in a different direction. I honestly never saw the end coming.

What I did not know until reading the back cover, is that Vernetta and Special have been in other books written by Young ( Every Reasonable Doubt and In Firm Pursuit.) This came as a bit of a shock because this book is a perfect stand-alone. I'm definitely going to be reading the earlier adventures of these two friends.

Murder on the Down Low is intense. It's edgy. Young educates and entertains with this novel. I look forward to reading more of her work.


Title:  Murder on the Down Low
Author:  Pamela Samuels Young
Publisher: Goldman House Publishing
ISBN-10: 0981562701
ISBN-13: 978-0981562704
SRP:  $14.95

Also available in a Kindle edition for only $3.99!

Book Review: Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young

A fast-paced, engaging mystery is what you'll find in Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young.

Waverly Sloan's luck can't get much worse. His wife likes to live the lifestyle she grew up with, but he's just gotten disbarred. He's messed up big time and he's not too keen to let the queen of his castle know.

When a business associate turns him onto a new line of work that can help terminally ill people get their hands on some much needed cash, while also providing Sloan with a nice profit, things are looking up. That is until his clients start dying sooner than they should and Assistant U.S. Attorney Angela Evans begins investigating the viatical industry and Sloan's role in this business venture.

Buying Time is a superbly plotted, masterfully told legal thriller. From the first page I was drawn into this story whose Prologue gives you just a glimpse of the wild ride you're in for.

Young blends together a cast of complex characters, a riveting plot, a legal, though ethically questionable business, and a mystery to create a book you simply can't put down. As the investigation continues, Angela Evans and Waverly Sloan are pulled into something so sinister, you feel you have to go to confession just for reading about it.

The author manages to keep the pace quick, but still builds the suspense up to the dramatic conclusion. While I had some of the puzzle pieces placed before the ending, there were still surprises that came my way.

I highly recommend Buying Time by Pamela Samuels Young. I'll be checking out more of Young's books soon!

Title:  Buying Time
Author:  Pamela Samuels Young
Publisher: Goldman House Publishing

ISBN-10: 098156271X
ISBN-13: 978-0981562711
SRP:  $14.95

Under My Christmas Tree

This reviewer must have been a very good girl this year because Santa left several wonderful books under the tree.

The Mitford Years Boxed Set, Volumes 4 - 6 by Jan Karon

Silenced Cry by Marta Stephens (I reviewed the second book in this series, The Devil Can Wait, here.

Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young

Preaching to the Corpse: An Advice Column Mystery by Roberta Isleib

Looks like I'll be busy reading for a long time.