Today’s pick for Let’s Review Wednesday is Street Justice: Charlie’s Angel, by independent (indie) author Samantha Fury.

The Story

When she escaped the clutches of her sister’s abusive alcoholic boyfriend, Charlie Anderson had no concept of the world she was about to enter. Thinking only of haven with her Aunt Verla, she instead wound up sharing an apartment with a “working girl” in the employ of Rico DeLusa, the king of crime in the neighborhood she came to call her temporary home.

Through a series of happenings that could only have been orchestrated by God, she continued her strange and educational trek into a world she’d only seen on TV crime dramas, holding tightly to her faith in God to keep her safe and sane. Her journey brought into her life the mysterious Angel Blackwell, a man whose apparent contradictions confused and intrigued her.

But Angel was not the man he appeared to be, and his involvement with Rico would lead to a dramatic showdown that threatened both Charlie and Angel’s lives. Could Charlie survive this crazy set of circumstances with her faith intact?

My Reaction

Charlie’s Angel is a fish-out-of-water story taken to new levels. Charlie has had a lot to deal with even before the gripping opening sentence. Her dad, laid off from his job, has taken to drink and is blaming God for his job loss and medical problems. She leaves and goes to her sister’s house, only to have an alcoholic live-in boyfriend try to assault her when the sister is gone. She hops a bus without checking to see if Aunt Verla is home, and as a result has to take the first shelter she can find. When that shelter turns out to be with a call girl, she wonders if there’s anywhere to turn.

Unlike many young women in such a situation, Charlie has a strong faith that sustains her throughout the ordeals of the weeks that follow. She turns to God time and again, and even tries to lead others to Him.

At first, I found her “maybe this is why God sent me here” thoughts to be a little high-handed; she seemed to have the idea she was there to save everyone. However, she also considered the fact that God might have put her in those situations so she could learn something. That humbleness kept her from becoming prideful. She also didn’t beat people over the head with the Bible when she talked to them about what it said; she let them see that she was human and fallible too.

All in all, Samantha does an excellent job of portraying the differences between life in Christ and life apart from Him, while keeping the people realistic and relatable. The story keeps you turning pages (or clicking buttons in my case), and the action is dramatic enough for you to feel what the characters are feeling. Overall, a great read for summer or any time of the year.

About the Author

Samantha Fury
www.samanthafury.com

Samantha Fury was born in Eastern Kentucky, the only child of a coal miner and his homemaker wife. After graduating from high school, she married in 1986 and began what she calls her life on the road.

She spent over 18 years traveling with her husband through 48 states and Canada, providing a wealth of material for her novels. She now stays at home with their dogs, Jack and Max. Her husband travels while she handles his dispatching and writes. She calls her stories Life Fiction: a blend of romance, real life struggles, detective work and humor.

Samantha plays piano and bass at her church and loves singing and photography. She hopes to continue writing for many years to come.

#

Up next week: Healing Love by Sophie Dawson