2010 June 11

The three days of Bloggiesta Ole! begins today and ends on June 13th. Any type of blogger is welcome to participate.

I will use Twitter and write one follow-up post so I do not clutter up my blog or my readers feeds or in-box.

Clean up my side bars.
Clean up my blog.
Organise Goodreads and Library Thing
Organise my schedule and purchase a new planner.
I do not write posts in advance, only as I read the book, so hopefully I will be able to read more this weekend than usual (I can hope).
Visit more blogs, something I have not had much time for.
Enter contests. I rarely have time for such luxuries.

Title: Conflicts With Interest
Author: Michael Ruddy
Publisher: Rodeo Publishing
Publication Date: January 30, 2010
Paperback: 334 pages
ISBN: 978-0615305998
Genre: Fiction, Legal Thriller

and 1/2

About the Book:

T.R. Morgan, a seasoned building professional, finds himself entangled in the combined corruption of the high profile law firm that is attacking him and the insurance companies that are supposed to defend him. Still enduring the painful memories brought on by the tragic death of his wife, he soon finds out, nothing involving lawyers and insurance companies happens quickly. Instead of resolution, T.R., unwittingly enters a world of human trafficking, drugs, and illicit sex taking place behind the scenes. And his story comes forward to an explosive climax that no one could possibly foresee, least of all T.R. himself. This suspenseful tale of contemporary fiction is packed with enlightenment and high-stakes characters; provoking thought on a new subject in a new light.

My Review:

A fascinating insight into the world of construction, corruption, and litigation, Conflicts With Interest by Michael Ruddy is an eye-opening legal thriller about a homeowner suing the homebuilder. The builder, T.R. Morgan, is being sued by the ethically questionable lawyer Sanderson of the law firm Sinclair, Sanderson & Starr, a firm that just happens to seek out these types of cases. T.R. learns of the lawsuit while in Las Vegas, gambling with rather large stakes. Michael Ruddy writes an exceptionally good and informative novel regarding the home building community as well as the legal ramifications of some frivolous suits, and others far more serious. While the book is fast paced with plenty of legal action and definite thrills, it lacks character depth. One learns for example that T.R. has recently been widowed and is addicted to gambling yet I never felt a connection. Conflicts With Interest is a legal thriller like no other, with gambling metaphors, high stakes, and filled with enough legalese to keep the reader on their toes. This novel is indeed a page-turner, but do not expect to truly know the characters. I found myself enjoying Conflicts With Interest and recommend it to readers who enjoy legal thrillers.

About the Author:

Michael Ruddy is a graduate of the University of Denver with a degree in engineering administration. He has spent the last forty years associated with both the commercial and residential disciplines of the construction industry, which inspired many of the events in his novel, Conflicts with Interest. Currently, he resides in Boulder, CO with his wife, five children, dog and cutting horses. While the author has been published in short-story format, Conflicts with Interest is his debut novel.

For more information about Michael Ruddy, please visit his website.

Michael Ruddy’s CONFLICTS WITH INTEREST VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR ’10 officially began on June 1st and will end on June 11th. You can visit Michael Ruddy’s blog stops at www.virtualbooktours.wordpress.com during the month of June to find out more about this great book and talented author!

I received a complimentary copy of Conflicts With Interest by Michael Ruddy from Pump Up Your Book Promotion as part of the tour. Receiving a copy in no way reflected my review of aforementioned novel.