Erica Sparks heads up a nightly television show called “The Erica Sparks Effect”. She is at or near the top of the ratings. But, she is becoming restless. She has plans to pitch a new proposal to the heads of CNN where she works. The new show would be called “Spotlight”.

The Separatists
A Newsmakers Novel
Lisa Wiehl
Thomas Nelson
June 2017

If the show is a go, the first program would cover Take Back Our Homeland – the largest secessionist group in Bismarck, North Dakota.

Erica gets the green light for her new program and heads for Bismarck to interview Sturges and Mary Bellamy who are very much involved with this movement. Erica has hired Leslie Burke Wilson, an expert of sorts on many subjects, as consultant on Spotlight. The Bellamy’s are pillars of the community and seem to be genuinely concerned about the growing discontent of the people in North Dakota.

Erica is very nervous about the whole interview. Something just isn’t right about the Bellamy, but she can’t quite put her finger on it. The big night arrives and she airs her first segment of Spotlight. The show is a hit, but everything seems to go down hill from there.

Eric’s husband, Greg, is drinking more and becoming way too interested in Leslie. Her teenage daughter, Jenny, is arrested for having a controlled substance. Sturges Bellamy suddenly dies of a heart attach and Mary launches a campaign to recall the Governor of North Dakota and become Governor, and Eric’s producer of Spotlight betrays her.

What a mess. What is Mary really up to and how will Take Back Our Homeland movement affect the country as a whole?

Very interesting read, but a little scary. Story is fiction, but could happen with the wrong people in control. Recommend the book to adult readers.

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Mary Asher, the Golden Reviewer, is a founding book blogger for BookGateway.com and has generously provided this review. She describes herself as “an 88 year young great-grandmother and an avid reader.”

This book was provided by the publisher for review.