Official Review: Thursday's Child by Joseph Wurtenbaugh

Abacus · Post by **Abacus** » 11 May 2020, 16:39

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Thursday's Child" by Joseph Wurtenbaugh.]

4 out of 4 stars

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Thursday's Child is an Epic (large, critical) Romance (love, sex, eroticism). Joseph Wurtenbaugh writes about love in a restrained and discreet way but also with emotional fire. It is hard not to like the protagonist, Adele Elizabeth Jansen, 25 years old, cute, dedicated to success in what is still a man's world, and who has a sexual appetite that she has learned to control. She has so much control that the other male associates in her law firm Hapgood, Thurlow, Anderson, and Davis, call her the ice maiden, which makes a connection with her boss Carolyn Hoffman, who is called the ice queen. What event in Adele's life resulted in the iron control she now has?

Adele has decided that she will never spend more than one night with a man, which works for her until she meets Thomas Bryant Newcombe, a writer mentored by Jenet Furston. Jenet is the owner of Furston Press, a conglomerate that began with publishing but is now much more. According to Jenet, Tom is one in a million for writing talent, but he has a haunting sadness about him that has Jenet worried. Adele falls for Tom in a big way, and they have one perfect night together. Why can't Adele stop thinking about Tom? What is the time constraint that worries her?

Adele had a mixed childhood, some good and some troubled leading her to a cast-iron plan of what her life should be. She pits her not inconsiderable wits against her law firm when she realizes they (in the person of her mentor, Carolyn Hoffman), together with Consolidated Financial Services, plan to cheat the A1 Squared tech company founders. Adele demolishes small annoying flies, like Wills, the Whiner, and Josh, the Moron, and outwits larger dangerous ones like Franklin Fischer, Victor Podgorny, and then there is George Sorensen; he is large, dangerous and attractive. Will George win Adele's heart?

Thursday's Child has an ingenious plot, with so many twists and turns your head will spin. It is a page-turner; the reader hangs on every word and wants to experience what happens next. Two-thirds of the book deals with Carolyn's ambitious PROJECT, "a plan to acquire various media companies – newspapers. Radio. Television broadcasters, cable systems, independent ISP's – all across the United States." This part involves the infighting between Franklin Fischer and George Sorensen; and Carolyn and Jenet Furston. We discover, to our dismay, the dark and sinister side of corporate takeovers, double-double-crosses, and sexual propositions by male and female senior corporate officers. After reading Thursday's Child, who would choose to work for a corporation?

Adele sets about uncovering the dark mystery of Thomas Bryant Newcombe; Is there danger involved or darkness or the devil, and is there something divine to be known. This story is thrilling, unique, and imaginative. The finely drawn characters are many and varied. We appreciate them, and empathize with them, or want to banish them from existence when they display sordid motives and emotions. The author demonstrates knowledge and appreciation for art in the description of the Prado show (on loan from the Prado Museum in Madrid) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The show included Diego Velasquez, Goya, El Greco, and others described in the book. Adele appreciates art and becomes emotionally overwrought when studying some artwork. The cover design, "The Last Judgement" by Jan van Eyck is permanently on display at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

I rate Thursday's Child 4 out of 4 stars. I found no errors and nothing to dislike except for an excellent exposition of corporate greed and malice – essential to the story. I believe the manuscript was professionally edited. I did not rate it 3 out of 4 stars because it is a unique Epic Romance living up to the goals of Joseph Wurtenbaugh in writing it: "I like to think I've created the same kind of books as the ones I like to read, which are lively and plot-driven with serious underpinnings and a lot of interesting information provided in passing."

I recommend it to people who enjoy complete stories that provide a psychological understanding of the characters; also to lovers of art, romance, mystery, detective work, and an iron hand in a velvet glove.

******
Thursday's Child
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LinaJan · Post by **LinaJan** » 13 May 2020, 10:57

What a review! I am seriously considering getting a hardcover copy after reading the review. It sounds as complex as life itself! Which is desirable in the book

Yet again, my current No. 1 in the 'to read' needs to move down a notch...
Thank you for such an inviting review

fadjei · Post by **fadjei** » 13 May 2020, 14:46

This sounds like a very interesting story. It is so unique compared to other stories that have read recently. I think I will have to check this one out.
Thanks for the review!

geebeex · Post by **geebeex** » 13 May 2020, 15:30

This sounds like such an interesting book with so many twists and turns! Thanks for the great review.

Splendour0606 · Post by **Splendour0606** » 13 May 2020, 15:40

Your review is quite enlightening, and the storyline is interesting, especially Elizabeth's love story. What actually made her rigid towards relationships? I am going for the book. Thanks.

Post by **Ngozi Onyibor** » 13 May 2020, 17:11

So many themes were blended seamlessly to create this masterpiece and it's a testament to the author's writing mastery. I can't wait to read it. Your review did the book justice, thank you.

Mrunalpatki · Post by **Mrunalpatki** » 13 May 2020, 22:47

Your writing is so engrossing. A well-written book must have a well-written review. This is a good example. Thanks for the review.

Nzube Chizoba Okeke · Post by **Nzube Chizoba Okeke** » 14 May 2020, 15:17

This sounds like an interesting read. It's got twists and turns which is a turn on for me. I strongly believe I'm the author's target audience

. With a review like yours I can't say no to this book.

Ediomis_Enwongo01 · Post by **Ediomis_Enwongo01** » 15 May 2020, 02:50

I may not personally like the love life of Adele but the twists and turns in this book would make me go for it. Great review.

Abacus · Post by **Abacus** » 15 May 2020, 11:12

Thanks for all the kind words. I learned all I know about writing reviews from Online Book Club and it gives me great pleasure.

Michael40 · Post by **Michael40** » 16 May 2020, 03:02

Let me start by saying that you write an amazing review. It was never going to be boring at any point. "Thursday's Child" is absolutely cool. The characters are somewhat impossible. They make the story unique. I particularly want to know how things turn out between Adele and Tom (The one night policy)

Khristian Misola · Post by **Khristian Misola** » 11 Jun 2020, 21:52

Wow, it is hard to imagine how stories such as these can be written with such complexity but at the same time, have a realistic tinge! Hoping to read it sooner or later