What do you think?
Rate this book
Legal Reserves: An Explosive Courtroom Drama
The two lawyers and the judge all have major reasons to Jeri Richards, a newbie judge, is presiding over her first trial concerned she is too inexperienced to handle it. Mike Reigert, the plaintiff’s attorney, must try his biggest case because his client refuses the department store’s huge settlement offers—just to make sure that what they did to her won’t ever happen to anyone else. The company’s attorney, Jack Rogers, is told that he must win this trial or face banishment from his law firm. If that weren’t enough, the three of them have been best friends since their first day of law school. Back then, they were the cream of their law school and thought their legal careers would involve nothing but success. Now, they aren’t so sure… Jeri adored her two friends in law school. They helped her overcome the trauma of an assault. After graduating, she prosecuted the scum that preyed on the weak and became the youngest judge in her county. Mike's plan was to stop international terrorism, but his uncle convinced him to help in his small practice in a sleepy town outside of Pittsburgh. Mike itches for more responsibility and finally comes to represent a woman mercilessly chained to a table until she confessed to a crime. Jack craves the big money he would make if he became a partner at his huge law firm, and is willing to do anything to make it happen. Now five years after graduating from law school they are thrown back together on opposite sides of a trial where Mike’s client seeks to regain her life, while Jack won't stop until the company prevails. Jeri watches as the battles between her two buddies escalate until she has to intervene to protect the life of one of her friends. If you like watching witnesses crumble under intense cross-examination, you'll love Legal Reserves .
296 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 23, 2023
567 people are currently reading
101 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
April 4, 2019
I'm a really big fan of legal dramas (books and movies), especially those that take place in a courtroom and this book did not disappoint. Great effort for a first time novelist who kept me guessing for most of the first half of the book until you could see how the three law school friends would reunite in a professional atmosphere. I also enjoyed the professional dichotomy involving the different professional paths of Mike and Jack as one went with a large, prestigious law firm and the other went with a small, local firm. Each type of firm can have different challenges and the author presented those differences very well.
A litmus test for a book for me is how anxious I am to get back to it when I wake up and in the evening and this book passed my test with flying colors!
A litmus test for a book for me is how anxious I am to get back to it when I wake up and in the evening and this book passed my test with flying colors!
November 2, 2021
This is the 1st book that I have read by this author, but I don't think it will be the last.
This is about 3 individuals who go to law school together and become friends. It follows their years through school and the support that they provided to each other. After graduation, they all with their separate way and promised to keep in touch. s time went by, they each went into a different type of practice. Jeri as a prosecutor, Mike went in with his uncle's law practice and Jack went to a big name law firm. As things would have it they all wound up together on a personal injury trial where Jack was defending the company be sued, Mike represented the individual that was the injured party and Jeri who had recently been elected as a Judge was overseeing the case. The court trial was quite interesting and the outcome was not what might be expected.
To discover how the friends were impacted by the trial, what the outcome was, then you need to read this book, you won't be disappointed.
This is about 3 individuals who go to law school together and become friends. It follows their years through school and the support that they provided to each other. After graduation, they all with their separate way and promised to keep in touch. s time went by, they each went into a different type of practice. Jeri as a prosecutor, Mike went in with his uncle's law practice and Jack went to a big name law firm. As things would have it they all wound up together on a personal injury trial where Jack was defending the company be sued, Mike represented the individual that was the injured party and Jeri who had recently been elected as a Judge was overseeing the case. The court trial was quite interesting and the outcome was not what might be expected.
To discover how the friends were impacted by the trial, what the outcome was, then you need to read this book, you won't be disappointed.
February 2, 2019
Hope to read some more by this author.
August 11, 2024
nonstop
Wow, what a riveting reading novel. I just couldn’t put it down. Great characters, plot, and ending.
What a great novel James Rosenberg.Thank you.
Wow, what a riveting reading novel. I just couldn’t put it down. Great characters, plot, and ending.
What a great novel James Rosenberg.Thank you.
December 1, 2018
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.
Three friends who made it through law school and settled into their post-law school lives find themselves forced into a legal battle like no other in author James Rosenberg’s “Legal Reserves”. Here is the synopsis.
The Synopsis
A significant trial looms.
The two lawyers and the judge all have major reasons to worry: Jeri Richards, a newbie judge, is presiding over her first trial concerned she is too inexperienced to handle it. Mike Reigert, the plaintiff's attorney, must try his biggest case because his client refuses the department store's huge settlement offers--just to make sure that what they did to her won't ever happen to anyone else. The company's attorney, Jack Rogers, is told that he must win this trial or face banishment from his law firm.
If that weren't enough, the three of them have been best friends since their first day of law school.
Back then, they were the cream of their law school and thought their legal careers would involve nothing but success . . . . Now, they aren't so sure.
Jeri adored her two friends in law school. They helped her overcome the trauma of almost being raped. After graduating, she prosecuted the scum that preyed on the weak and became the youngest judge in her county.
Mike was planning to work in Geneva stopping international terrorism, but his uncle convinced him to help in his small practice in a sleepy town outside of Pittsburgh. Mike itches for more responsibility and finally comes to represent a woman mercilessly chained to a table until she confessed to a crime.
Jack craves the big money he would make if he became a partner at his huge law firm, and is willing to do anything to make it happen.
Now five years after graduating from law school they are thrown back together on opposite sides of a trial where Mike's client seeks to regain her life while Jack will not stop to make sure the company prevails.
Jeri watches as the battles between her two buddies escalate until she has to intervene to protect the life of one of her friends.
The Review
This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a good legal thriller novel. The story does a marvelous job of blending the real life legal system and the intricacies of it all with this fantastic character development between these three friends and the struggle to find their place within the legal system.
The book does a great job of blending the past with the present, showing the friends who met in law school and the journey they went on to get into their legal professions. Mike’s good nature and belief in justice clashes with Jack’s hungry need to be the best and is balanced by Jeri’s love for them both and the love she has for law and order. The author writes with an expertise that speaks to the highs and lows of studying and practicing law, giving this thriller a sense of authenticity that not every legal thriller can have.
The Verdict
This is a must own legal drama/thriller that you have to read to believe. A story of corruption, justice and the impact the practice of law can have on three friends make this a truly compelling read. Full of shocking twists and turns, this book is so edge of your seat good that by the final pages you will be left hanging on every word. If you are looking for a great legal drama to read this holiday season, be sure to preorder your copy of Legal Reserves by James Rosenberg or grab your copy when it releases on December 18th, 2018.
Rating: 10/10
Three friends who made it through law school and settled into their post-law school lives find themselves forced into a legal battle like no other in author James Rosenberg’s “Legal Reserves”. Here is the synopsis.
The Synopsis
A significant trial looms.
The two lawyers and the judge all have major reasons to worry: Jeri Richards, a newbie judge, is presiding over her first trial concerned she is too inexperienced to handle it. Mike Reigert, the plaintiff's attorney, must try his biggest case because his client refuses the department store's huge settlement offers--just to make sure that what they did to her won't ever happen to anyone else. The company's attorney, Jack Rogers, is told that he must win this trial or face banishment from his law firm.
If that weren't enough, the three of them have been best friends since their first day of law school.
Back then, they were the cream of their law school and thought their legal careers would involve nothing but success . . . . Now, they aren't so sure.
Jeri adored her two friends in law school. They helped her overcome the trauma of almost being raped. After graduating, she prosecuted the scum that preyed on the weak and became the youngest judge in her county.
Mike was planning to work in Geneva stopping international terrorism, but his uncle convinced him to help in his small practice in a sleepy town outside of Pittsburgh. Mike itches for more responsibility and finally comes to represent a woman mercilessly chained to a table until she confessed to a crime.
Jack craves the big money he would make if he became a partner at his huge law firm, and is willing to do anything to make it happen.
Now five years after graduating from law school they are thrown back together on opposite sides of a trial where Mike's client seeks to regain her life while Jack will not stop to make sure the company prevails.
Jeri watches as the battles between her two buddies escalate until she has to intervene to protect the life of one of her friends.
The Review
This is the perfect read for anyone who enjoys a good legal thriller novel. The story does a marvelous job of blending the real life legal system and the intricacies of it all with this fantastic character development between these three friends and the struggle to find their place within the legal system.
The book does a great job of blending the past with the present, showing the friends who met in law school and the journey they went on to get into their legal professions. Mike’s good nature and belief in justice clashes with Jack’s hungry need to be the best and is balanced by Jeri’s love for them both and the love she has for law and order. The author writes with an expertise that speaks to the highs and lows of studying and practicing law, giving this thriller a sense of authenticity that not every legal thriller can have.
The Verdict
This is a must own legal drama/thriller that you have to read to believe. A story of corruption, justice and the impact the practice of law can have on three friends make this a truly compelling read. Full of shocking twists and turns, this book is so edge of your seat good that by the final pages you will be left hanging on every word. If you are looking for a great legal drama to read this holiday season, be sure to preorder your copy of Legal Reserves by James Rosenberg or grab your copy when it releases on December 18th, 2018.
Rating: 10/10
June 14, 2020
One day read
This book is five solid stars. Great characters. Wonderful timeline. Sufficiently interesting legalize. Easy to read. Credible allegorical conclusion. Better than TV time..
This book is five solid stars. Great characters. Wonderful timeline. Sufficiently interesting legalize. Easy to read. Credible allegorical conclusion. Better than TV time..
November 7, 2019
I read this book in one sitting. It's an engaging story with rich details about the law and lawyers. The author writes with a strong sense of legal knowledge, and a refreshing sense of humor! I especially like the pacing at the end. The last 1/3rd of the book is a compelling a page-turner... be sure to read to the end.
September 12, 2019
Rosenberg keeps his cast small allowing him to write great characters. This quick read, reminiscent of James Patterson, took us through the friendship of 3 people and showed us what happens when that intersects with work. The story has many turns that I did not seeing coming and was thoroughly enjoyable.
August 26, 2019
Excellent Read
Well written, good pace with enough twists to keep the pages turning. I took this book to the beach and skipped a few meals with the family to stay with it. I look forward to the next book from this author.
Well written, good pace with enough twists to keep the pages turning. I took this book to the beach and skipped a few meals with the family to stay with it. I look forward to the next book from this author.
February 24, 2020
Great legal book. The author made it easy to like the characters. The story follows three friends thru law school and after and what becomes of their lives. Intriguing and kept my attention. Would gladly read more by this author.
March 31, 2019
Good easy read
Book kept my attention. I enjoy the legal drama. Also it was relatively realistic. Hope to find others by this suthor
Book kept my attention. I enjoy the legal drama. Also it was relatively realistic. Hope to find others by this suthor
December 6, 2019
Legal Reserves
I just could not stay away from this book. I read a few chapters every chance I could. See what you think!
I just could not stay away from this book. I read a few chapters every chance I could. See what you think!
July 7, 2021
A perfect summer read! The characters and legal issues are super interesting and the suspense is fun.
June 8, 2023
Fans of courtroom dramas, look no further. James Rosenberg delivers with this pot boiler.
December 18, 2023
Kept me interested throughout. Like the writing style of the author.
April 2, 2019
So good!
I love courtroom dramas and this did not disappoint. In fact, it was even more interesting because of the storyline.
I love courtroom dramas and this did not disappoint. In fact, it was even more interesting because of the storyline.
April 18, 2019
Not a page turner
I'm sorry to say that I find the writing very stilted and green, so imagine my surprise when I see how many he's written.
I'm sorry to say that I find the writing very stilted and green, so imagine my surprise when I see how many he's written.
January 6, 2019
Loved it! Quick easy read. Couldn’t put it down. Takes you behind the scenes of a trial. It’s suspenseful and excited with a little education into the workings of litigators. Can’t wait for this authors next book!
March 29, 2019
I got 45 pages into this book, and realized the characters were still cardboard thin. There was nothing about them that caused me to like, or dislike them. The book also fell into the all too common fixation on lawyers and law school, favored by lawyers-turned-authors. I gave up.
April 6, 2024
Despite the whole scenario being incredibly unlikely (you couldn't make it up, but the author obviously did), I really enjoyed the book, especially the latter stages when the trial was happening. Like most courtroom dramas, a bit Grishamesqu, but overall pretty good.
May 17, 2019
Very good
Has a few typos. Sometimes I had a hard time with who was putting witnesses on the stand. But the characters are engaging and I didn't want to put the book down. Felt like a real live drama playing out in court. Would have loved to be a fly on the wall. Enjoy.
Has a few typos. Sometimes I had a hard time with who was putting witnesses on the stand. But the characters are engaging and I didn't want to put the book down. Felt like a real live drama playing out in court. Would have loved to be a fly on the wall. Enjoy.
March 15, 2022
A good book !! And excellent character development as a build up to the story. I signed up to read the book expecting a legal thriller genre and this did come on until almost mid book. But no matter, I enjoyed this book tremendously.
June 4, 2019
Great read!
Didn't think it would be too good when reading the first chapter or two, but it really drew me in. Character development was fantastic.
Didn't think it would be too good when reading the first chapter or two, but it really drew me in. Character development was fantastic.
December 10, 2019
I really enjoyed Legal Reserves. The characters were interesting and the relationships between them kept the story moving quickly.
December 19, 2022
This is a unique and outstanding novel by this first time read of this author. It was entirely different than most courtroom dramas and was difficult to put down. I encourage others to read it.
November 28, 2023
Great book
Excellent book...keeps me reading through the whole book. It's nice when an author can keep the story at a good pace and one that never gets boring
Excellent book...keeps me reading through the whole book. It's nice when an author can keep the story at a good pace and one that never gets boring
August 6, 2024
Interesting Legal Principles
I wanted to give this a 4 or 5 star. The legal principles of the story line were captivating, but the author’s device of alternating each chapter between the protagonists’ law school experiences and the present was distracting and broke up the flow. I found it annoying. The characters were a bit one dimensional. Mike, the white hat good guy, Jeri, the central unifying stabilizer and grounded woman that wove them together as friends, and Jack the black hat, driven, arrogant, and manipulative counterforce with a violent streak. It became evident what the outcome of the trial would be before it started. White hat would win.
I don’t think the scene after the trial where Jeri as the Judge would not call in the bailiffs’s or sheriff’s deputy, given Jack’s violence, was not credible at all. I had to suspend belief on how she handled that and the repercussions were glossed over. This could have been so much better given the legal premises. And nobody would believe this department store hadn’t been sued in the past for restraint, coercion, and denial of rights before this case. Again over the top.
I will read another author’s novels to see if there is more substance to the characters. I love legal thrillers and this was an interesting case. Just wish it had been executed with a bit more sophistication. Mr. Rosenberg, I hope, is an attorney, and not a writer as a first profession. Needs some polish. Keep the thrillers coming!
I wanted to give this a 4 or 5 star. The legal principles of the story line were captivating, but the author’s device of alternating each chapter between the protagonists’ law school experiences and the present was distracting and broke up the flow. I found it annoying. The characters were a bit one dimensional. Mike, the white hat good guy, Jeri, the central unifying stabilizer and grounded woman that wove them together as friends, and Jack the black hat, driven, arrogant, and manipulative counterforce with a violent streak. It became evident what the outcome of the trial would be before it started. White hat would win.
I don’t think the scene after the trial where Jeri as the Judge would not call in the bailiffs’s or sheriff’s deputy, given Jack’s violence, was not credible at all. I had to suspend belief on how she handled that and the repercussions were glossed over. This could have been so much better given the legal premises. And nobody would believe this department store hadn’t been sued in the past for restraint, coercion, and denial of rights before this case. Again over the top.
I will read another author’s novels to see if there is more substance to the characters. I love legal thrillers and this was an interesting case. Just wish it had been executed with a bit more sophistication. Mr. Rosenberg, I hope, is an attorney, and not a writer as a first profession. Needs some polish. Keep the thrillers coming!
January 26, 2019
*Disclaimer* I was financially compensated for this review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and not influenced by the author and/or its affiliates in any way.
Legal Reserves by James Rosenberg is a book that revolves around an allegedly accused woman with thievery. The lawyers hired for both parties are best friends who went to post-secondary together along with the judge who was recently assigned to the trial. After many research and finding witnesses to testify, the day of the trial approaches and it creates tension with the friendship between the two lawyers. With the judge not being happy with how the case is affecting their friendship, this case tests their supposedly strong bond.
The books start off with an interesting prologue that creates suspense and anticipation for what is to come. It creates this sense of cliffhanger. After the prologue, the first few chapters mostly talked about Mike's, Jack's and Jeri's life in law school. It gives us a feel of their personality and character; unlike a majority of the books, they can be seen as more of a bully and the popular crowd. Usually, books are about the main character(s) being bullied, but not as the bullies.
Legal Reserves by James Rosenberg is a book that revolves around an allegedly accused woman with thievery. The lawyers hired for both parties are best friends who went to post-secondary together along with the judge who was recently assigned to the trial. After many research and finding witnesses to testify, the day of the trial approaches and it creates tension with the friendship between the two lawyers. With the judge not being happy with how the case is affecting their friendship, this case tests their supposedly strong bond.
The books start off with an interesting prologue that creates suspense and anticipation for what is to come. It creates this sense of cliffhanger. After the prologue, the first few chapters mostly talked about Mike's, Jack's and Jeri's life in law school. It gives us a feel of their personality and character; unlike a majority of the books, they can be seen as more of a bully and the popular crowd. Usually, books are about the main character(s) being bullied, but not as the bullies.
December 9, 2023
Please find a new editor!!!
I am anything but a seasoned reader n fact far from it. But even I found numerous mistakes in this book. As the star witness is walking to the front of the court room she is wearing a blue dress, then during her testimony she pulls a handkerchief from her pants pocket. Perhaps she was wearing pants under her dress. Who’s to say. At one point someone was emotional and a tear ran down her check ! It’s this kind of thing that shows carelessness in an effort to pump out books. Much of the writing was fairly textbook style.
I am anything but a seasoned reader n fact far from it. But even I found numerous mistakes in this book. As the star witness is walking to the front of the court room she is wearing a blue dress, then during her testimony she pulls a handkerchief from her pants pocket. Perhaps she was wearing pants under her dress. Who’s to say. At one point someone was emotional and a tear ran down her check ! It’s this kind of thing that shows carelessness in an effort to pump out books. Much of the writing was fairly textbook style.
December 16, 2023
I have a really mixed feeling about Legal Reserves. On one hand, in my opinion, the 3 main characters are far too young for such their roles...but I'm not a lawyer so may be it is possible? Anyway, the switching between the past and the present also kind of annoyed me; yeah it showed their past and development but not that much. But did the book deliver courtroom drama? Yes, it did. Not that explosive, though. The ending was a bit predictable and only emphasized the immaturity of the characters. Well, 3.8 stars.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews