Book Title: 120 Days by Ronald L. Ruiz
Category: Adult Fiction, 318 pages
Genre: Legal thriller, crime fiction, literary fiction
Publisher: Amika Press
Release date: May 22, 2019

Synopsis

BARBARA BLAKE is a bright, young, attractive, and ambitious defense attorney. Alejandro Soto, an inmate already serving two life sentences for the brutal murder of a drug dealer and the man’s mother, is on trial for a third murder, one he did not commit but that could well result in the Death Penalty. When Blake and Soto meet in the San Cristobal, California courtroom, they begin a 120-day journey that will invariably alter both of their lives. Together, they spiral ever more deeply into the dark heart of a quintessentially American story of sex and love, truth and lies, justice and prejudice, crime and punishment, and, ultimately, life and death.

Praise for 120 Days

“​There is a human element here that is only found in top-tiered crime fiction, and this book is filled with it. I adore all of the major bestselling authors of this genre and have finally found a new favorite that, in my opinion, belongs in the same league. A truly brilliant novel. An exceptional writer. Highly recommended.”
– Readers’ Favorite Reviews

Amazon * Amika Press

Guest Post

There are many books out there about….What makes yours different?

A Real Love Story

Many years ago, growing up in Fresno, California, if I was walking down the street or through an alley around nine o’clock in the morning during the summer or on a school holiday, I could hear the same dramatic, dense organ music coming from every house I passed by. After about 20 seconds, a deep, serious male voice would come on, humming for a few moments, and then announce, “The adventures of Helen Trent”. He would then ask the ultimate question: “Can a woman after 35 find romance?” Then he would hum away as the dramatic organ quieted.

Years later, a neighbor used to come out on her side porch at different times of the day and start pounding on her loud typewriter. She was writing nurse love stories, and was the sole support of her large family doing that. They were paperback books that were sold off of racks at Five and Dime stores. I used to wonder how many stories she could possibly write about nurses and love. There had to be some variations. Or were there?

Now come Barbara Blake and Alejandro Soto into my life as characters in my latest book, 120 Days. This is a real love story, or at least it is based on a real love story. Cases that are appealed from decisions in trial courts appear in published volumes, and a few years ago, a case appeared involving a man who had been convicted of murder and sentenced to death had appealed his conviction. His sole defense was that an incompetent lawyer had been court-appointed to represent him, and the allegation of incompetence was that his woman lawyer had fallen in love with him, and given her state of mind, could not have competently represented him at trial.

I knew the woman lawyer involved and was aware of her relationship with the defendant. She was an attractive and intelligent woman and a well-respected lawyer. I could not understand their relationship, but I was sufficiently intrigued to want to write about the idea that an accomplished woman lawyer and a man accused of murder could develop such a relationship. Out of that, I created what I believe is a real love story.

About the Author

Ronald L. Ruiz is a retired attorney whose entire career was spent in criminal law as a deputy District Attorney, a District Attorney, a Defense Attorney and a Public Defender.

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Giveaway

Prizes: ​  Win one of two copies of 120 Days, or Amazon gift card of $30 (3 winners) (open USA & Canada)

Ends Aug 30, 2019

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