From the minds of readers.

“Author Tim Hassett-Salley’s Joe Davis offers us all the opportunity to learn we do in fact have a second chance if we can recognize past bad choices and traumatic events for what they are, learn from them and take control of our here and now.

Set in 1970’s New England and confronting the issues of racism, war, mental illness and clergy sexual abuse ‘Strike Two, You’re Out’ raises issues that could have been ripped from today’s headlines.

For readers who at times feel life isn’t fair, Joe Davis leads us on an introspective review of our own lives helping us understand life is what it is not because of what happened to us in our past as much as it is the decisions we make, the choices we make, and how we chose to live in the present.

Tim Hassett-Salley’s first novel is a great read and we should all look forward to future novels from this talented author.”

– Keith Smith, author of Men in My Town

“In this debut novel by author Tim Hasset-Salley, the author introduces us to Joe Davis, a mixed-race older college student who served in the latter days of the Vietnam War. Throughout the book, there are multiple flashbacks to Joe's military service, experiences which help to shape the adult Davis, not always in a positive way.

With spot-on references to music of the time period, the author covers a span of time in Davis's life, bringing the reader ahead to a time when the student graduates from college, and after a traumatic event, joins the priesthood. With a series of missteps, and an inability to recognize his own failures, Davis turns to psychology, but leads a double life that not only deceives his patients and his friends, but ultimately deceives himself.

Will he find redemption before his lies catch up to him?”

– Martha Reynolds, Amazon bestselling author

“Tim Hassett-Salley tells this deeply human story with such realistic depiction of the characters, the reader might wonder if Tim himself either lived the events or knew the characters firsthand. Race, religion, abuse, love, heartbreak, struggle…it’s all here. I immediately connected with Joe, the young man who enlisted in the Marine Corps in1975, the year I also enlisted in the Corps. The story took me back to a time that neither Joe nor I could forget.”

– Dunbar Campbell, author of several books, including Winds of Fedon: A Grenada Novel

“Mr. Hassett-Salley's novel does a good job addressing two social issues that faces society today. Two issues which were present when Mr. Hassett-Salley and I were in high school together and were just becoming more visible in society's eyes. Those issues were race relations (interracial couples) and how people are perceived and treated when they are accused, and wrongly accused of accused, or in the example shown in this novel, glossing over what the perceived victim of the lead character's perceived crime or offense, thereby wrongly accusing the accused ... as if they were the only guilty party. Since the lead character was a minority, was Mr. Hassett-Salley also examining how the criminal justice system seems to be skewed against people of color -- as the title of the novel infers? All of what Mr. Hassett-Salley strives to teach us about is skillfully done. This is a very good book in that regard.

On a more personal level, Mr. Hassett-Salley uses our small town, that we grew up in, without actually naming it outright. By his description of and using mosaics of people in town and our high school helped me to have a mental image of what was happening in the book. How he describes what was done in the local tobacco fields are faithful to what I was told by friends who worked in those fields. It was a nice walk down memory lane.

I recommend this book.”

– T. Garth Connelly, author of The Woman Who Understands

When I began to read Tim Hassett-Salley's novel, I didn't expect so many twists and turns in the plot, yet this is what I found intriguing. I continued reading to find out what would be next in the complicated life of the main character, Joe Davis who grew up a town where he didn't fit in as there were few people of color.

Joe's challenging life journey begins by working on a tobacco farm as a youth, subsequently encountering a situation that would forever change the trajectory of his life. From there, enlisting in the armed services, during the Vietnam war, readers begin to "feel" emotional challenges young Joe experiences. Hassett-Salley is a gifted writer with the talent to choose words in ways to create vivid imagery, chapter after chapter.

The timing of the publication of this novel was just prior to the racial "awakening" of many Americans who generationally, were blind to the challenges Black people have endured beginning when stolen and brutally forced, without compensation, to help to build America, while later fighting in wars to help protect America and other countries. Imagine the psychological trauma such life situations can create.

Joe suffers repeated dreams of his time in Vietnam, as have other soldiers. This along with many other challenges he faced, years of bad choices he made through his adult life. He tries to move forward, yet his past continued to haunt him.

It's evident that Hassett-Sally draws references from his own careers in psychotherapy and workers' compensation which he very effectively weaves into the novel.

I recommend this novel for book club discussions, possibly inviting the author to join. I look forward to Hassett-Salley's next novel.

-Licia Thompson, author of When Your Soul Whispers

This book has drama and surprises with twists and turns throughout. And throw in an underlying life lesson to boot. This has a wonderfully complicated and well thought out plot that keeps you wanting to find out what happens next. This is was one of the best books I have read all year!

-S.P., Amazon review

Once you begin reading this book, you won't be able to put it down. Numerous plot twist and a stunning ending. The story chronicles the life and tribulations of the main character from his youth growing up in a small New England town through Vietnam, College and into adulthood while trying to overcome the challenges of bad choices, untruths and unrequited love, that keep him in search of a way forward.

This is truly a fantastic read and if you are looking for a top rate fiction novel, you need not to look any further. I highly recommend this book and I anxiously await Tim's next one.

-Wayne C., Amazon review

”Fantastic novel by Tim Hassett-Salley! One wouldn’t know this is his first! A well constructed journey through one man’s life. The good, bad, flawed, mature, immature, appropriate, inappropriate, truths, lies, deceptions - not just with people in his world, but in dealings with himself. Brilliantly researched and articulated (some formulations perhaps on personal experience) with a handful of unexpected twists that keep you reading! You’ll enjoy the numerous musical references that instantly bring visions and memories of that time period to the fore as you read! I will definitely look for more from Tim Hassett-Salley!”

– Tom F., Amazon review

“I’m one of those people who when I read a book I need it to grab me right away..I read this book within 3 days..wonderful writing style, kept me completely engaged with every page., always anxious to see what the next page would reveal. So refreshing, real and genuine... depicting the pains and struggles of a young man growing up through decades which also had their own unique challenges given the times. It brought me back in time as I grew up in the same era. I loved the characters as they were so real they were jumping off the pages. A must read for sure and great for discussion!

– Mary A. Young, Amazon review

“This is an excellent book, full of unexpected twists and turns. It is the story of young man's challenging journey into adulthood. The author is very clever in that he entertains us while at the same time delivering an important message. This would be a good book for book clubs as it will generate much discussion, especially about the well developed characters he meets along this journey.”

– Linda White, Amazon review

“Tim Hassett-Salley has embedded within the guise of an engaging and highly readable story a guided exploration of the reader’s own, individual psyche. The story uses rich characters and well-crafted plot lines to gently nudge the reader through layers of progressively deeper introspection. At some point during this read, I realized that I had been increasingly asking myself questions both posed by, and inferred from, the novel; deep questions – often unsettling, but nonetheless important (and gratifying) to have considered. The author employs a good balance of lightness and depth to keep the story moving along, enabling this journey of self-discovery to be made without ever feeling as if it has been forced. As other reviewers have noted, the novel also explores, with a nuanced, skillful touch, several important, contemporary social issues. It was a thrill to read a first outing work that exhibits this level of depth and skill. Highly recommended.”

– RC, Amazon review

“Tim's debut novel is a lesson in fearlessness. He pulls no punches in confronting the more taboo failures of our society, and how they can continue to haunt us if we are not thoughtful enough to address them. In the shoes of one man, the author guides us through the challenges of moving forward and building a fruitful life beneath the unconquered burdens of the past. Touching upon the powerful topics of war, racism, clergy abuse, and mental illness, this story paints an important depiction of how, although it is not always fair, life is a compounding construct of the individual decisions that we make.”

– C. Luskin, Amazon review

“This book is a journey of a spiritual being having his human experience and all the struggles of what that entails. The story is about the life of Joe Davis, an intelligent, flawed, complicated individual as he processes his emotional struggle beginning in the 70's, through his time in Vietnam to current day. The author introduces us to a number of rich, relatable, interesting characters that are struggling with their own life journey. The time period, the characters, the descriptive New England area all become life-like to the reader. Interesting read!”

– Donna G., Amazon review

“Awesome read! Masterful story throughout the entire novel. I’m a retired midwestern and loved the New England and musical backdrop attached to the storyline. The novel takes you through a journey of how Joe deals with life’s “curveballs” in a way that absorbs everyone of all ages, current or past. It had me reliving some of the Joe Davis that existed in me and exists within all of us. You won’t be disappointed. Author Tim Hasset-Sally gets 5 STARS from me.”

– Anonymous, Amazon review

“I really enjoyed reading this novel. The characters and language were realistic and kept me interested throughout the protagonists journey through life. I learned about tobacco farms, the Catholic priesthood, Viet Nam, and life in small town Connecticut. It was easy to read, and if it were July, I would say it was the perfect beach book!”

– Anonymous, Amazon review

“This was a compelling read. I couldn’t put the book down and the ending was a real shocker. You’ll love it.”

– George Dahl, Amazon review

“Tim Hassett-Salley provides us with an engaging storyline featuring a very troubled young man and his journey through young adulthood. Grounded in a relatable setting with excellent musical references, Strike Two, You’re Out is a thought provoking debut novel. Book clubs will certainly enjoy this book as it provides excellent opportunities for discussions of contemporary issues including race, religion, and mental health.”

– MS, Amazon review

“I truly enjoyed reading this book. As someone who is not an avid reader, this story kept my interest throughout. Surprising twists along the way, realistic conversations between characters, subjects that take your emotions through various stages, anticipation of what might be happening next. This is an easy and enjoyable read and I highly recommend it. Thank you Tim Hassett-Salley for writing this book and congrats on your first endeavor!”

– LL, Amazon review