Following a stalking incident, Livvy Fischer’s life has become derailed. Having sung for audiences since she was a child, the classically trained opera soprano is now terrified to sing publicly. Stuck in a dead-end job, she musters the courage to audition for Opera San Jose. Though she starts strong, the audition is a disaster. She decides to begin with a smaller goal—she’ll try singing at her … church. Partly due to a mix-up, partly to her crush on the young pastor leading the outreach, Livvy joins a worship team bound for the chapel at San Quentin. When a riot breaks out, she is separated from her pastor and the rest of her church group, sheltered by a Christian inmate. Though the plan is to keep hidden and ride out the storm, Livvy becomes the obsession of a serial killer. Livvy must rely upon God, find her own courage, and trust a small cadre of protectors as she flees the hunter, escapes burning buildings, and hatches schemes to get herself and the others rescued. Yet, through all of the uncertainty and danger, the biggest surprise Livvy encounters is her feelings for her inmate rescuer.
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My Thoughts on No Turning Back:
No Turning Back is a hard but good read. It’s not a fast can’t stop reading because I’ll miss it but rather keep going because you need to know the outcome.
Just wow. I never imagined how this book would read or what would happen when I signed up to review it. In my mind, it would be a cute book with some suspense and maybe a bit of bad happening but she’d end up with the pastor and minimal trauma.
I could not have been more wrong. Again I must say wow. Just wow. This is such a powerful book.
This is a debut novel. Most debut novels don’t wow me. They tell me of the author’s style and their potential and give me a sense of whether I will want to read more by that author in the future.
This novel though. It told me this is definitely an author to watch because she is very unique and really gives it to you. There is no holding back here! And No Turning Back for our main characters or for you as the reader.
I really enjoyed this book. It’s not one that I just sit and read the whole thing in a few hours though. I had to stop several times. Not due to anything in the book but just needing to go about my real life. I think I possibly could have read through the book in one sitting butI see this as more of a book that you read in chunks and then digest because there is a lot going on here!
Definitely, one I recommend. Get a copy and you’ll understand why I think this is a great one. The characters are all complex and nobody is perfect or has the picture-perfect life. This makes it much more relatable.
I can’t say I’ve ever been in a prison, but I did work in a high-security mental health facility for those convicted of crimes. So I got some of this. I knew why the rules were in place. But I don’t get all of the mindsets. Some of them are just too out there for me to be able to step into their minds.
The antagonists are spot on to make you hate them but then again you think they’re good but they’re bad or vice versa. Definitely keeps you hopping and on your toes.
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.
Katie Vorreiter takes readers on an intense thrill ride that left me hanging on tight throughout.
When Livvy is introduced, it’s obvious she is dealing with an event from her past, trying to push past it and get on with her life—with the thing she once loved. But that experience has nothing on what she’s about to be embroiled in.
While the first few chapters of No Turning Back are introductions to Livvy and Lucas, the escalating tensions at the prison ramp up almost immediately. And from there, Varreiter takes you on a harrowing journey filled with danger around every corner.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the love triangle and Livvy’s somewhat seemingly fickle nature when it came to two men, I was satisfied with the way everything worked out in the end. Themes of finding our strength in God, forgiveness, and sin are woven throughout the book in multiple ways.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books 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.
Livvy Fischer is in a quandary. She is an operatic singer who is unable to perform because of panic attacks. She unwittingly joins a worship team that is set to perform at San Quentin, a maximum security prison. Livvy has a thing for Pastor Lucas, who is going with the church baseball team to play against the prisoners. One of the humorous comments is when she calls him “Pastor Luscious, I mean Pastor Lucas”.
On stage she notices a particular prisoner staring at her and making her very uncomfortable. Shortly after that a full scale riot erupts. Tobin, an inmate, grabs her from the stage and forces her to go with him. He says he is only protecting her but trust is hard in this setting.
Her goal is to survive and get out of the prison confinement but havoc is being unleashed all over. Her fellow church members are nowhere to be found.
This was a very gripping nail-biter for sure. Hiding out with Tobin, going from location to location, and running from a serial killer that is after her, makes this a novel that can’t be put down! Who is in the killer’s gang on the inside? Are all the employees in the prison on the up and up? Will Livvy make it out and why is she having conflicting feelings for Tobin, an inmate? Grab a copy and find the answer to all these questions and more.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
Faith comes through the darkest hours.
For a debut novel, this author certainly has not disappointed! This is a true page-turner, even if I wasn’t able to read it in one sitting. I found myself wondering how this incredible situation would resolve as I went about my daily tasks. It certainly wasn’t what I expected!
Livvy is an up and coming opera singer that has had a horrible experience with a stalker, leaving her with anxiety and fear of anything out of her control. Visiting San Quentin with a church group leaves her shaking right down to her toes, but that single pastor is so cute, and she really wants to get to know him, so along she goes. What transpires is something no one could have ever expected or even been prepared for. She experiences grace and love in the most unlikely of places – a maximum security prison as a hostage during a riot.
I loved reading about the heroes in prison blues, how they did what Jesus would do. The complete reliance on God and watching His hand at work in these nightmarish circumstances definitely made me consider how I would react.
This ARC was received through CelebrateLit. The five star rating, impressions and comments were not solicited and are my own.
What a roller coaster ride this story is. The thought of going into a prison to minister is not high on my list. I admire people who feel called to do this. It is important to share the gospel with everyone and hopefully the people incarcerated can find forgiveness.
I was intrigued by the setting of San Quentin as it is a famous prison. What a shame that such a place is overcrowded and understaffed. It was easy for me to sympathize with Livvy and all the things she is dealing with from her past. Panic attacks are scary and often leave you feeling withdrawn. The gift God has given her to sing is one she treasures, but it has been hard to go out in the public to share that gift. Someone has hurt her and she is trying so hard to overcome her fear. I was quite surprised that she decided to go on the trip with the church to the prison. Maybe God has a reason for her being there.
Lucas is a compassionate pastor and is happy to have Livvy join him and others on the trip to minister to men at the prison. The author does a good job of using faith throughout the story. There is definitely an attraction between Livvy and Lucas but I felt that Livvy was holding back a bit.
The story gears up when a riot breaks out while the church group is there. Tobin who is an inmate becomes a focal point of the story. He takes Livvy under his wing and tries to protect her from other prisoners. There is a high volume of intensity in the story and very dark moments that only God can help get them through. It wasn’t easy for Livvy to trust Tobin but I don’t think she had any alternatives.
I was very impressed with the author and her debut novel. It is hard to believe that this is her first book. She writes characters with flaws and slowly allows them to explore their faith. She takes people through forgiveness and shows how free they feel. The author takes a convicted man and uses him to protect others without thinking of the consequences. It is a great story that made me think how God can use anyone. Forgiveness is a good focus in the story and I loved how the author used an unstable environment to see how people can change.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
No Turning Back
Livvy joins a worship team going to the chapel at San Quentin. While there a riot breaks out. The group becomes separated and each is own for survival. Livvy meets Tobin who is one of inmates there. Will he become her protector?
This book is definitely a thriller, some parts were hard to read because of the violence. Of course, that is what takes place in prison especially during a riot.
Even with the violence the book is very inspirational. Not the kind of book I would normally pick up to read but I found it very interesting.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. This book review is my own opinion.
As I read this book, I kept thinking what a great movie this would be! A heroine suffering from chronic panic attacks, the young man who grabs her attention, and her surprise that he is a minister. In her efforts to get to know him better, she decides to go with Pastor Lucas and some other congregation members to San Quentin Prison. They will minister to the inmates and she and the choir will sing for them. After all, she had been a classical singer once upon a time–before the trauma that succeeded in stealing her voice and her self-confidence!
What follows is an action-filled story with the ability to alter my breathing and my heartrate! Author Katie Vorretter takes us deep into San Quentin during a dangerous prison riot and I could actually feel the tension and then smell the smoke when a fire breaks out. LIvvy’s fear and her confusion about who to trust when she is separated from Pastor Lucas and the others are overwhelming, as are her feelings of helplessness when she realizes that she doesn’t know if an inmate who has offered to protect her really has her best interests in mind. And, as frustrating as her rash decisions were, I found myself understanding her disability to clearly think things through during this life-altering event!
No Turning Back touches on a lot of emotions: love, hate, and feeling trapped physically, emotionally, and spiritually. It also reminds us that no one should be denied forgiveness and a second chance because that is exactly what God offers all us: forgivenss and redemption. It is a wonderful debut novel and people who enjoy Christian suspense will want to read this book!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author but a positive review was not required. These opinions are my own.
This fast-paced Christian thriller that leaves readers gasping for breath is very well-written with solid spiritual lessons. The primary characters are likable and well-developed, and the novel is full of surprises and twists that keep the pages turning. Some of the characters know after putting ideas into action, that there is no turning back – so how does one go forward?
Livvy is a classically-trained soprano who has begun auditioning again, this time with the Opera San Jose. She hasn’t sung for a couple years due to injuries from smoke inhalation. Past trauma she endured brought a panic attack that kept her from finishing the audition, and she returned to her job at Cuppa Joe. One of her favorite customers, Lucas, comes in, sharing with her that his church has a meeting for anyone wanting to sing in the Christmas program.
On Sunday, she attends the church, where she learns that Lucas is a pastor. She is interested in him but thinks his interest in her is only as a pastor. Lucas is interested in her and needs to determine appropriate boundaries to have with her. Joan leads a worship team into San Quentin and would love to add her to the mix. It isn’t her first choice of places to sing, yet her interest in Lucas and his assurance of safety help her choose to go the following week.
Two groups from church go into San Quentin. Men play softball with the prison team, and Joan and the ladies sing in the chapel. They are barely in the chapel when alarms sound; a riot started! Livvy was grabbed by an inmate, Tobin, who broke a window and dragged her out. This may be the start of her worst nightmare, especially being separated from the church group. Livvy fights with all she has but can’t escape. It is a while before she learns Tobin is trying to protect her from the worst of the worst, his cellmate, Gant, whose victims all resembled Livvy, and Gant wants to get her next. When least expected, Gant finds her, and her terror is communicated beyond the printed (or digital) page.
Lucas is panicked about the praise team, especially when hearing that Gant, a high-profile violent killer, may have Livvy. Lucas was badly injured by Gant when Gant tried to draw Livvy out by attacking him. Lucas wonders, what would Jesus do? His hatred for the serial killer and his desire for revenge for what he thinks the man is doing to Livvy blinds him.
This novel is riveting but a couple scenes almost kept me from going back to it. Keep reading. While many kinds of injuries sustained, emotions run high. As someone who has visited women at the women’s prison, I know how critical grace, forgiveness, and second chances are, that we are all sinners in the eyes of holy God. It is easy feel it until being held captive by the rebels. I do question some of Livvy’s emotions, especially as we learn more about her past. Is Livvy acting with wisdom or reacting in the intensity of the situation? I appreciate the work ongoing in Lucas’ heart as he is part of a valuable ministry. Even though I have mixed feelings about the end, I would be curious to see the future for the characters. I highly recommend this for those who appreciate breath-taking Christian thrillers; this is a unique setting that challenges each of us regarding mercy and grace.
From a thankful heart: I received a copy of this novel from CelebrateLit, and this is my honest review.
A great thriller that keep you hooked with the turns the story takes until the very end. A group of a parishioner get caught in the middle of a riot in the penitentiary they are visiting. Can adangerous inmate be the hero of the story saving Livvy’s life and helping the other in danger? A great story and better as audibook.
AMAZING
This is the debut novel by Katie Vorreiter and wow. This book grabbed me from the literal first page. Quite a few authors first books are not always their best work as they are still learning. This book however, did not read like a first book! It had a great story build up with lots of twists that were fun and surprising. The character development was spot on and I really felt a connection to the characters. Livvy and Tobin had great play off each other and interacted well with the sub characters.
This story deals with a wide range of emotions and struggles, and does not get overly dramatic with them. It kept the emotions to a believable level. I so enjoyed this book from beginning to end and I cannot wait to read more from Katie Vorreiter. So many unexpected twists! I literally can not stop replaying the story in my head. I don’t often reread books, but I will definitely will be rereading this one. I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars for the creativity of intertwining God in every aspect of the characters’ lives, having a well-developed plot, and for making me smile. If her next book is anything like this one she will be an autobuy author for me.
I loved all the suspense throughout. I felt very sorry for Livvy for all that she has gone through in her life. Bad things seemed to happen to Livvy. I am not sure how I liked the ending of this book. I am not sure about all of Livvy’s choices that she made while in the prison. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.