What do you think?
Rate this book
Guarding Innocence
Passionate Family Drama. Intense Courtroom Dynamics
Cam Crewell can barely keep his head above water in his first year of law school. His struggles intensify when his younger brother and sister are suddenly left with no place to live. Without other options, they move in with Cam and his five eclectic roommates into their overcrowded and barely code-compliant house.
Although the new home offers a sense of belonging and support, their world is thrown into turmoil when Child Welfare discovers the kids are living without a true legal guardian. Cam must figure out how to defend their lifestyle and protect his family against an overzealous attempt to relocate his brother and sister.
Cam’s law school friends represent and defend him in an intense courtroom battle that will determine the fate of his family. In this heart pounding legal battle, Cam must convince the court that he can provide the most stable living environment for his siblings.
Combining an exploration of family dynamics like found in Defending Jacob, with a breakdown of legal and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals responsible for protecting children similar to The Children Act, Guarding Innocence is a captivating and fast-paced thriller.
Justifying how to raise your kids is almost impossible when you’re on the witness stand.
Cam Crewell can barely keep his head above water in his first year of law school. His struggles intensify when his younger brother and sister are suddenly left with no place to live. Without other options, they move in with Cam and his five eclectic roommates into their overcrowded and barely code-compliant house.
Although the new home offers a sense of belonging and support, their world is thrown into turmoil when Child Welfare discovers the kids are living without a true legal guardian. Cam must figure out how to defend their lifestyle and protect his family against an overzealous attempt to relocate his brother and sister.
Cam’s law school friends represent and defend him in an intense courtroom battle that will determine the fate of his family. In this heart pounding legal battle, Cam must convince the court that he can provide the most stable living environment for his siblings.
Combining an exploration of family dynamics like found in Defending Jacob, with a breakdown of legal and ethical dilemmas faced by individuals responsible for protecting children similar to The Children Act, Guarding Innocence is a captivating and fast-paced thriller.
Justifying how to raise your kids is almost impossible when you’re on the witness stand.
298 pages, Paperback
Published August 20, 2023
285 people are currently reading
46 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 - 13 of 13 reviews
December 2, 2023
James Rosenberg delivers once again with not one, but two, court room potboilers, even if one is a law school mock trial. Readers get a practitioner’s view of the corkscrew, loop the loop rollercoaster experience of a trial. And with the parallel dramas of the mock and IRL legal battle, Rosenberg captures the experience of how litigator’s personal lives impact their professional - if in this case - scholarly lives. An honest - if not the most flattering - account of the legal profession. Keep it coming, James.
February 11, 2025
Awesome
What a wonderful book, hard to put down. Without revealing too much, I love how you showed up the love, support and giving of the young adults.
What a wonderful book, hard to put down. Without revealing too much, I love how you showed up the love, support and giving of the young adults.
April 27, 2024
Courtroom Drama that Delivers
Just finished 3rd book in the series
I value the relationship department of the main characters
Reasons for trials are relatable
I appreciated the mock names in the mock trial
The stories give the reader profound respect for legal counsel preparation
Outcomes leave you guessing with final twists at the end
Each book improves understanding of court proceedings resulting in learning and reading enjoyment
Just finished 3rd book in the series
I value the relationship department of the main characters
Reasons for trials are relatable
I appreciated the mock names in the mock trial
The stories give the reader profound respect for legal counsel preparation
Outcomes leave you guessing with final twists at the end
Each book improves understanding of court proceedings resulting in learning and reading enjoyment
August 19, 2024
awesome
Thank you James Rosenberg for another wonderful book. I have to admit, this book was not what I expected. I was ready for the lawyers to be characters in this book, to graduate and try a case or cases. What I read was wonderful book about lawyers, family, and friends.
What a special book.
Made me cry at the end.
Thank you again JR, for another great book.
Thank you James Rosenberg for another wonderful book. I have to admit, this book was not what I expected. I was ready for the lawyers to be characters in this book, to graduate and try a case or cases. What I read was wonderful book about lawyers, family, and friends.
What a special book.
Made me cry at the end.
Thank you again JR, for another great book.
October 23, 2023
The family dynamics featured in this book captured my attention and the characters my heart. The author’s ability to tell the story of young adults embroiled in a family struggle with humility, a little humor, and huge legal lessons makes for an engaging, easy and educational read. I highly recommend for anyone who is a member of a family of any kind!
November 28, 2023
The Family
I didn't know what to expect' but wasn't long un til I was envo!ved.
Each character was endeared to me by the second chapter.
Actually I would like sequal.
I didn't know what to expect' but wasn't long un til I was envo!ved.
Each character was endeared to me by the second chapter.
Actually I would like sequal.
February 18, 2024
Great read! I finished in one week. I enjoyed every part of this book and really related to all the characters. James did a wonderful job with this one.
August 12, 2024
Heartwarming, feel good story. Well worth the read as I loved it. Fairly predictable and outcome probably not realistic in today’s world but I didn’t care. I just enjoyed the story, the plot and the characters.
May 4, 2024
Excellent read!
I think I was expecting a legal thriller when I chose this. What I got was something much more moving and powerful. It's not the thriller. It was a deep, meaningful, and emotionally stirring story that had a realism and character depth I hadn't expected when I chose it. I'm now moving on to another in the series. Rosenberg creates characters and an interesting break from my standard lawyer based investigative action drama but still keeps the intense story of realistic law and courtroom intact but with a more realistic plot.
I think I was expecting a legal thriller when I chose this. What I got was something much more moving and powerful. It's not the thriller. It was a deep, meaningful, and emotionally stirring story that had a realism and character depth I hadn't expected when I chose it. I'm now moving on to another in the series. Rosenberg creates characters and an interesting break from my standard lawyer based investigative action drama but still keeps the intense story of realistic law and courtroom intact but with a more realistic plot.
October 14, 2023
This latest Rosenberg offering is a true gem. Once again he has deftly woven identifiable round characters into a gripping legal battle. I’d highly recommend this to any fan of the genre, but also to anyone who enjoys an engaging well-written page turner that’s hard to put down. Rosenberg continues to shine.
September 25, 2023
The Review
This was a gripping and tense legal thriller. The author did a remarkable job of diving head first into a detailed, law-driven narrative, allowing the reader to find themselves lost in the family dynamics of this brother and his younger siblings, with the camaraderie of the law school friends coming together to fight for their friend and his family, and the harsh realities of the law and family dynamics. The expertise and knowledge the author pours into the narrative make the story feel alive and vibrant on the page.
To me, the heart of the narrative was in the character growth and emotional impact of the narrative overall. Not all aspects of the law come with such an emotionally invested story, and the fight to keep a family together despite unusual living situations is something many families have had to fight and live through. The dynamics between Cam and his siblings and the closer they got in the face of these tragic circumstances made this story feel so important and heartfelt in the overall development of this narrative.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, passionate, and engaging, author James Rosenberg’s “Guarding Innocence” is a must-read legal thriller meets family and sibling fiction narrative. The twists and turns in the case along the way, and the attention to detail regarding the law in this book made the emotional moments between the siblings feel all that much more heartfelt.
This was a gripping and tense legal thriller. The author did a remarkable job of diving head first into a detailed, law-driven narrative, allowing the reader to find themselves lost in the family dynamics of this brother and his younger siblings, with the camaraderie of the law school friends coming together to fight for their friend and his family, and the harsh realities of the law and family dynamics. The expertise and knowledge the author pours into the narrative make the story feel alive and vibrant on the page.
To me, the heart of the narrative was in the character growth and emotional impact of the narrative overall. Not all aspects of the law come with such an emotionally invested story, and the fight to keep a family together despite unusual living situations is something many families have had to fight and live through. The dynamics between Cam and his siblings and the closer they got in the face of these tragic circumstances made this story feel so important and heartfelt in the overall development of this narrative.
The Verdict
Thoughtful, passionate, and engaging, author James Rosenberg’s “Guarding Innocence” is a must-read legal thriller meets family and sibling fiction narrative. The twists and turns in the case along the way, and the attention to detail regarding the law in this book made the emotional moments between the siblings feel all that much more heartfelt.
October 22, 2025
Great story
A can't-put-down book. Child protection services tries to a good job for children but often fails. This book shows one of its failures.
A can't-put-down book. Child protection services tries to a good job for children but often fails. This book shows one of its failures.
December 23, 2023
This is probably my favorite book by James so far as his storytelling gets better and better. What I really enjoyed about this book is that several times I expected it to go in a certain direction and it kept fooling me. Very original ideas I thought for a legal thriller and this book wanted me to keep going to see where it was headed. As always, looking forward to James’ next book.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews