| Title | : | The Collins Case (Heartfelt Cases, #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | - |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Kindle Edition |
| Number of Pages | : | 132 |
| Publication | : | First published October 1, 2012 |
Who is Christopher Collins and what about his past is endangering his family? Where are Rachel and the kids being held? Where is God in the midst of chaos? Will Ann and Patrick arrive in time or will they find only pain?
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Alternate Cover, ASIN: B009ZN1V2E
The Collins Case (Heartfelt Cases, #1) Reviews
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The Collins Case is book number one of a trilogy called Heartfelt Cases. Interesting to note, that these FBI stories are Christian-heavy, so despite the action being hardcore shoot’em-up, there are times that the dialogue is trite and preachy. True, that during certain situations, even a hardened atheist might feel the need to pray, but in a book that is not even 140 pages, there isn’t a great deal of set up, character-development, and backstory.
I like the FBI story itself, but it really could have used about 100 more pages for characterization and relationship dynamics. Whenever exposition happens, there needed to be more back and forth. Conversion doesn't work if it's too easy, and comes across as trite. Not a bad story, but not enough exposition to create a sense of uniqueness. I wanted more. -
I hate giving low ratings, but honestly, this just didn't cut it for me.
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In The Collins Case by Julie C. Gilbert, Dr. Rachel Collins is busy putting away her groceries when a stranger sneaks up on her and orders her to cooperate, or her two children, 3-year-old Emily and 5-year-old Jason, will suffer. The man gives Rachel an injection that knocks her out, and she wakes up the next day in the Cora Compound in Stanley County, South Dakota. Meanwhile, Rachel’s husband, Chris, also Dr. Collins, comes home after a long day at the hospital to find his family missing. He starts to call his cop friend, but hangs up almost immediately. Right then his phone rings, and a voice he hasn’t heard for years tells him that if he doesn’t meet the man on the Brooklyn Bridge, Chris’s family will suffer. So Chris blows up his house and disappears.
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Fangirl Nation -
A Remarkable Story Of God’s Love, Trust And Protection!!
Christopher Collins lives a quiet live in Fairview, PA with his wife Rachel and children Jason and Emily. But Chris is not who he says he is as he has a shady past and that past is catching up with him. When his wife and children are kidnapped he knows what he has to do to get them back and keep them alive.
Special Agent Julie Ann Davidson and her partner Patrick Duncan work for the FBI. When Patrick brings Ann a newspaper story about a home explosion that involves an old college friend, Ann knows she has to act. It’s not their case but they end up in the middle of it when the case they are working on- hackers had created the biggest bank robbery in US history, is somehow connected to the Collins case.
Gilbert writes with a fresh pen creating a remarkable story of God’s love, trust and protection. I really enjoyed the depth of these amazing characters whether it’s the agents, the Collins or a minor character such as Ann’s mom the author makes them seem so real and alive. There is plenty of action in a rare storyline for a Christian novel to keep the story rolling especially the shootout in South Dakota. My favorite character is Rachel a strong-willed woman despite her own fears will do whatever she must do to keep her children alive. There is sadness that I won’t spoil but it will break the reader’s heart. But there is plenty of rejoicing in what God does throughout this story as there is a lesson of hope in God’s trust and as a Christian I thought Gilbert writes it amazingly well. Recommendation- yes very highly for Christians seeking stories of God’s love and for the unsaved to experience what God can do in peoples’ lives. I can’t wait to read more from the pen of Julie Gilbert. -
This one just wasn't quite my style. I liked the characters, but I didn't feel like I got to know them or see their emotions that well, which meant that certain big decisions caught me off guard because I hadn't even realized things were moving in that direction. I did appreciate the strong spiritual thread, although the ending seemed to stretch a bit long. I also felt a bit confused on some pieces of the plot they were trying to frustrate and how it all fitted together.
Most of the reason I didn't like it more, though, was a very personal preference on my part.
2.5 stars
Content--violence, including gunplay and explosions; people shot ; mention of blood and wounds (not graphic); kidnappings and people drugged; mentions of "accidents" by sick/excited pets -
Meh.
I got this book cause it’s Christian fiction, tho the author says she doesn’t really preach.
Except about 1/4 of the book does which I am 100% okay with, but it’s false advertising.
The story has good premise but the implementation is lacking. Characters don’t behave realistically half the time. Like all of a sudden there is a proposal with no dating and when a kid dies the reactions are not terribly emotional.
There is an interesting mystery but too much ambiguity for almost half the book—which is extra bad when you consider this is essentially a novella -
An intense roller coaster ride thriller. Well written. Loved it.
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Special Agent Julie Ann Davidson unofficially takes part in the case of her kidnapped friend Rachel Collins and her two children while also being assigned her own case with her partner Special Agent Patrick Duncan. They are looking for some thieves who are using the Internet to take small amounts of money from people's accounts adding up to millions of dollars.
At the same time as Rachel and her two children are kidnapped, her husband Chris disappeared and their house exploded. Then all the money in their bank account is removed.
Fortunately for us as the readers, we get to follow the action from the point of view of not only the agents, but Chris and Rachel Collins.
I liked the fast pace of The Collin's Case. The story flowed well and was easy to follow. Changes in location and viewpoint were clearly marked.
I thought the characters were fairly well developed. It was obvious that Ann and Patrick knew each other well as FBI partners as Patrick brought her the newspaper article about her friend's home exploding and they communicated with each other with facial expressions - "She handed Patrick his gun and gave him a look that said: I’ll explain everything later."
There were lots of twists and turns in The Collin's Case, a few bringing great heartbreak and others happiness. The twists and turns in the plot gave a sense of reality to the story.
One thing I noted that seemed out of place to me was how fast Ann and Patrick became engaged. They went from no relationship other than their FBI partnership, directly to being engaged. That's a whirlwind romance for sure!
I loved how this novel showed God at work in the lives of the people in the story. It didn't make everything always turn out right for people because that's not the way real life is. Bad things happen in our world but even through the pain "there is hope because God's love is perfect."
I greatly enjoyed The Collin's Case. If you enjoy novels of suspense, then I would recommend this book to you. I gave it 5 stars out of 5.
Thank you to the author for providing a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. A positive opinion was not required. All thoughts are my own.
This review was posted on my blog Shelf Full of books
http://kathrynsshelffullofbooks.blogs... -
It's unclear what a certain Dr. Collins has done that leads to his wife and children's kidnapping. But Special Agent Julie Ann Davidson and her partner, Patrick Duncan, are out to find the abductees and to stem a sudden flood of Internet hacking in The Collins Case by author Julie C. Gilbert.
I was first introduced to this author's writing with a novelette, The Quinn Case, in an anthology called Where the Light May Lead. It was much like watching an evening crime drama, which I do on occasion, and I was in that kind of mood when I picked up The Collins Case. I wasn't far into my reading before I was like, "Wait, wh-what?" The story had me hooked early, and quite a bit happens in this quick read. It moves at a good pace without skimpy or rushed storytelling.
This first in a series of Heartfelt Cases isn't a sappy heart tale but a heart and mind battle where life and death are the stakes. I found the book to be on the heavy side with its Gospel language, which can sometimes feel like a shift from story-mode into Gospel-tract-mode to me, and the stretch after the climax seems to go on a bit long, introducing minor characters' backstories while simultaneously tying up the loose ends of the main plot.
But it's quite a mix of heart and suspense that satisfied the reading mood I was in, and I'd definitely recommend it to other Christian suspense fans. -
This is the third book by Julie C. Gilbert I have read and she pulled me into the story from the start. She has a talent for writing Christian Mystery. The suspense of who done what keeps you turning the pages. The characters are well written and the plot unique.
FBI Agent Julie Anne plays a perfect role. She's not the damsel in distress or a woman that doesn't know how to use her brain to figure things out. She doesn't let the clues pass her by even though it's one of her High School friends life on the line. She puts her head together with her partner and pieces the puzzle together little by little.
Christopher Collins has started a new life, with a loving wife and children in his future. Leaving the past where it lies doesn't seem to fit the bill for his ex-friend he used to work with. His past catches up with him and quick putting his wife and children in danger. No matter what it takes he will find a way....keeping his family alive is his only option.
This book held me captive from the start, never a moment of disappointment and I'm ready to jump right into book 2, The Kiverson Case already. -
The Collins Case (Heartfelt Cases Book 1) by Julie Gilbert is a fresh, clean, suspenseful read.
Chris Collins is a doctor who lives a normal, quiet life with his wife, Rachel in a Pennsylvania suburb. Rachel is also a doctor but spends her time raising their two children, Emily and Jason. The sweet life of these two people is not at all what it appears. Chris has a very shady past, one that catches up with him in an explosive way. This secret past gets Rachel and the children kidnapped.
Enter Special Agent Julie Ann Davidson and her partner Patrick Duncan from the FBI. Rachel is a college friend of Julie Ann's and will stop at nothing to save her friend from the clutches of the evil man who is manipulating Chris into doing work for his criminal organization.
Ms. Gilbert has woven a good, suspenseful story with Christian values. The two intersect in a way that is not preachy and not holier than thou. The Christian views are matter of fact and fit well into the story line.
This is the first book I have read by this author and will be reading more from her in the future. -
I was given this book in E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first book by Julie Gilbert I had read… From the very beginning, with the FBI stories and inter mingling it with cone Christian Fiction and the suspense, I was hooked!!
I was glad that the presence of the religious beliefs weren’t overpowering or suffocating in any way!
I don’t usually read Christian enhanced novels, but by referral I decided to give this book a shot, and boy I was glad I did!! I had a lot of fun learning about Julie Ann and Patrick and watching what they were going to find out next.
Wonderful story that kept me riveted to my Kindle wondering what was going to happen next. I directly went from this book to The Kiverson Case (Heartfelt Cases: Book 2) almost immedietly!!
I give this book 4 out of 5 shields!! -
EXCITING BOOK
Loved the Book! Always action with a great storyline & God woven in naturally! A must read for those who love Christian mysteries! -
Dr Rachel Collins thinks she has the perfect life. Her kids are adorable, and her husband, also a doctor, is handsome and attentive. Then one night she comes home and is abducted from her home with her kids, and taken to a bunker that is almost sterile in its interior, which is all they let her see. Unbeknownst to her, she is kidnapped because her husband has a secret past that he thought he'd left behind him. Rachel's high school friend Ann now works for the FBI and she wants to investigate the disappearance, but she's assigned another case trying to find a hacker that stole small amounts of money from thousands of people all over the country. Will she able to get to the bottom of both cases?
This book was interesting, but somewhat unbelievable in some spots of the plot. Plus the epilogue was incredibly rushed, it was essentially like reading a blurb, and didn't even tell you some of the things you want to know. -
This was a different book for me but I did enjoy it. It is very Faith based, which is why it is different (a lot of calling on God to help make the right decision) but I liked the story plot and will be checking out the next in the series. I wish it had a happier ending but still some good came out of the tragedy.
A young family goes missing the night there house blows up. The mother just happens to be friends with an FBI agent who can't help but look into the case. Julie Ann has to work two case as she is official assigned a group that are hacking into bank records and stealing money. When the two case collided things turn deadly and bullets start flying. With help from unseen forces Julie Ann and her partner Patrick go up against drug trackers in a race to save a family.
I liked the narrator and she did have a nice signing voice but not to sure about having music at the start of each chapter, it made me jump the first couple of times, -
Are the theft and kidnapping cases linked?
Weeell, I'm not exactly sure how to write this one. Don't get me wrong, I was kept entertained by the audiobook of The Collins Case and I'll probably be listening to more of the Heartfelt Cases series. I did enjoy the suspense elements and the awkwardness between two characters as their relationship changed into something more. But... I'll be honest... I found certain scenes, and the characters' reactions to certain events, to be pretty unrealistic to the point of being frustrating at times. The audio production, while not terrible, was not the best either.
Was this audiobook a winner for me? No, not really. Will it stop me from checking out more books from Julie C. Gilbert? No, it won't. Overall it was OK and, like I said, I'll be listening to the rest of the books in the series that have been released on audiobook.
(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.) -
Disappointed, was pleased to find a Christian author but the story was just too cheesy. From the end of chapter one until the end of the book it got cheesier and cheesier.
Towards the end, there are so many characters being introduced in a short span of time with several small subplots, I lost focus. I never developed a caring interest in any of the characters. I think the good reviews are Christain more focused on it be a Christian story.
It read more like a young adult story, which I believe it is tagged to be, so as a young adult I may have enjoyed it more. If you're simply looking for a clean no sex, no vulgarity with an unplausible storyline you might enjoy. -
I have submitted this review after listening to the audiobooks of this title.
This is a story of a man's past catching up with him. Unfortunately, his new life, including wife and children were part of the collateral damage.
The FBI, whilst on another case, was alerted to a setup, which in turn, led to the kidnapped victims.
There's a lot of people looking to their faith in the Lord, which is an integral part of this story. If you are offended by such references, I suggest this may not be a suitable read for you. -
Christain fiction book about a family where both parents are doctors. Suddenly the family becomes an FBI case. The FBI agent was the Mom's best friend when they were in school. Very interesting case with twists and stories within the story. Believable characters. I enjoyed trying to figure out what was going on and hoping they would be saved. Nice to read an interesting book that doesn't have swear words.
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This was an interesting Christian suspense novel, but it could have been written better. There were several times where characters should have displayed a lot more emotion, and one of the main points of the plot was resolved too quickly. The romance involving the detective was completely unrealistic as well. The plot had so much potential that it didn't deliver, so I found the book rather underwhelming.
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THE COLLINS CASE by Julie C Gilbert
Albeit this is a short novel, but really moves along without feeling underdeveloped as with some shorter suspense novels. The characters and plots are well developed and it has a strong faith element.
Ann and Patrick are partners in the FBI and get involved in a case involving a friend of Ann’s kidnapping, along with her children, stolen money, and a hidden identity.
Very good novel, and a good narration. -
Yes, as they say God does indeed work in mysterious ways.
I don't normally read this type of book but for some reason, I chose th I
This one for a quick read and I'm glad I did because not only was it a quick read but it has made me realize what I've been missing in my life. It's heartbreaking to read but worth every minute of it. -
Truly a Heartfelt Story
I loved the message of this story. It is not often that the many sides of a situation is told and how the impact one decision can effect so many people. I liked how the author was able to make the situation real enough to be believed as well as providing spiritual truths to be lived out in real life. -
Good, short read
Enjoyed this book from the beginning. The author does well at dropping the reader right in the middle of the action and developing characters. The ending seemed a bit rushed and unreal (the hospital scenes specifically). Like the epilogue with what happened to the characters.
