Dirty Judge

The Firm #2

by Whitney G.

There are three rules in Judge Ashton’s courtroom:


1. Don’t ever question him.

2. Try not to look guilty.

3. Never make him remember you.

I just wish someone had told me that before I had a hearing in front of him.

Because this jerk barely listened to my speeding ticket case, ruled me “guilty as hell,” and made me pay thousands of dollars in fees—despite me pleading about how broke and desperate I was.

So, it’s only fair that I looked up his home address, found his luxury car, and treated all his windows to some much-deserved damage.

I “allegedly” did it, I mean.

He’ll never know…

At least, that’s what I thought.

Several weeks later, yours truly was hired to be a new law clerk.

For his courtroom.

Turns out, he remembered me all too well and decided to make my life a living hell.

And he plays dirty.

Far dirtier than anyone could ever imagine…

Genres: Enemies To Lovers, Contemporary, Romance, Contemporary Romance, Workplace, Grumpy Sunshine, Forced Proximity

Kindle Edition

Published July 31, 2026

About the author

Whitney G. is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author. Her books are currently published in over a dozen languages.

She lives deep in the Tennessee woods and spends most of her time drinking coffee while penning dirty-talking alpha males.

Find out more about her next project at www.whitneygbooks.com

(Be sure to sign up for "The F.L.Y. List" as that's the best way to receive new release updates. Link: eepurl.com/hbhVOf )

You can also connect with Whitney on Instagram and Facebook.

Reviews

[Kursed Reads]

A routine traffic stop lands Olivia Spencer in the courtroom of the sexy, no-nonsense Judge Liam Ashton.

Down on her luck and convinced he was unnecessarily harsh, Olivia has a moment of spectacularly bad judgment and smashes the windows of his luxury cars. When security footage exposes her little tantrum, Liam decides to take both the law - and her restitution - into his own hands.

Whitney G. really does write the sexiest - and most dickish - lawyers. And watching those arrogant bastards inevitably fall head over heels for their woman never gets old.

Dirty Judge strikes a great balance of plot and heart for a shorter read. It’s the perfect palate cleanser when you’re not in the mood for anything too heavy.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Format: 📱

🗄️ Genre: Contemporary Romance
🗂️ Subgenre(s): New Adult

Ending: 💗 {HEA}
Length: 📚📚📚
POV: 👫🏻 {Dual | Present}
Emotions: 😩😳😬🫠😍
Darkness: 🩶
Burn: 🔥🔥🔥
Spice: 🌶️🌶️

✨ Tropes: Billionaire, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forbidden, Forced Proximity, Workplace
 
💫 Microtropes: Boy Obsessed, He Falls First, Lap Sitting, Panty Thief, Secrets & Lies

🔆 Character: Blue Collar, Lawyer

💋 Kinks: n/a

🤰🏻 Pregnancy: n/a

🚩 Red Flags: Alphahole, Dominant MMC, Manipulation

⛔️ Safety Squad: n/a

📍 Setting: New York City, New York 🇺🇸

📣 Type: Dirty Judge is part of The Firm series of interconnected standalones.

⚠️ Warning: The angst in this slow-burn will edge you to the point of combustion!

🛑 Be Advised: My Goodreads shelves are … explicit in both senses. As such, they could be considered spoiler-y.

[Milica's Bookshelf]

It was a fun read; I read it quickly. 4 stars, purely for vibes. The ending was underwhelming, but I liked the whole story anyway.
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[Jessica Alcazar]

ARC REVIEW

This story is SO Whitney, it’s kinda ridiculous. LOL This is where she shines. It’s a “rinse and repeat” storyline for sure, but if you’ve been around as long as I have with “her” words, this what you hope she writes. Now that I’ve vague-booked you LOL let’s get on with this story.

Overall, I am super happy with the story of Judge Ashton & Olivia S. because it is quintessentially Whitney, at every turn. And, as I said, she shines in this particular format. Format meaning full length stories. I’ve always loved the heck out of every full length novel Whitney has written, and the opposite holds true with her not full length novels. She’s always at her best when she allows the story to breath and her characters to evolve. Even though her stories sometimes come across as rinse and repeat, there is something joyous in them that hooks me every time. My heart and my joy meter had the time of their life reading this story! :)

However, she might have let the characters breath and kinda grow, but there were plot-points in this story that needed some serious attention. I say that because one in particular is what “drives” Liam and it wasn’t treated with the respect I think it should have had. Reading is a subjective game so it’s possible I’m alone in this but maaaaaaaaannn that was a rush job at the end to beat all rush jobs!

You do have to suspend with a lot of reality when it comes to this story, but it still made me happy and put a smile on my face. Even when it was rushed! *shrug*

[MissPetiteBrunetteBookBlog]

Judge Liam Ashton is a tough cookie. He had a few rules you just abide by in his courtroom or else. Well, Olivia Spencer might push those rules to the limit though when she ends up in him courtroom. Oh this is a good one. I love a by the book Grumpy man that gets put in his place by one woman. Definitely go into this one blind but I will say the “pranks” were epic. A fun strangers/enemies to lovers romance with a woman you don’t want to cross. Told in first person and dual POV.

[Carvanz]

Oh, I had FUN with this one! Olivia and Judge Ashton were such a hot mess together, and I loved every minute of it. She gets a speeding ticket, he makes her pay thousands in fees, and her revenge lands her right back in his courtroom as his new law clerk. Talk about awkward!





Ashton was arrogant, bossy, and completely infuriating, while Olivia gave it right back to him. The chemistry between these two was fire and the banter had me laughing out loud at times. This was exactly the kind of over-the-top, steamy Whitney G. story I was in the mood for, and I enjoyed every bit of their crazy little revenge game.

Dual POV
Safe no ow/om drama
Triggers no apparent triggers
Steam 5 /5; explicit; condoms used

[Caroline F]

I adore the way this author writes! I love the hard launch into the story, the snappy and humorous dialogue, the heartfelt moments, and the neat conclusions. Always such an addictive reading with an irreverent hero and a sassy heroine. Fab read!

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-re...

[Wendy Livingstone]

This is the second book in this impressive series, and this is Liam and Olivia’s story,
Liam is Judge Ashton and he has three simple rules in his court: -
1. Don’t ever question him.
2. Try not to look guilty.
3. Never make him remember you.
Unfortunately, Olivia did not know these rules before she appeared before him for speeding ticket violation, but he declares her “guilty, and made her pay thousands of dollars in fees, despite her pleading about how broke she is. Olivia comes up with her own version of revenge, and to make matters worst she is hired as the new law clerk, for his courtroom.
This is a well written easy to read, slow burn story, with family, friendships, emotions, angst, dual POV’s, forced proximity, secrets, challenges, workplace romance, enemies / lovers, humour, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and love, which leads to an entertaining, tragic, and fun addictive page turner.
I look forward to reading more from this talented author whose work I highly recommend.

[Kelly]

This was such a fun, cute, and quick read! I found myself chuckling throughout, while also getting a little teary-eyed in some of the more emotional moments. ❤️

I absolutely love an alpha hero who gets completely brought to his knees by the perfect woman and Liam definitely delivered! They had chemistry from the beginning and I really enjoyed watching their relationship unfold.

By the end, I was definitely wishing for more Liam and Olivia, only to discover there was a bonus epilogue! And it was PERFECT! 🥰 There was also a scene that has me absolutely chomping at the bit to get that storyline. I NEED IT! 😂

Thank you to WG for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

[Kelly (the book hussy)]

I’m a huge fan of Whitney G. and her alpha-holes, so I was incredibly excited for Dirty Judge. Unfortunately, it wasn't a favorite, mostly due to the heroine, Olivia.

Her entitled, disrespectful attitude and lack of accountability—like trashing Liam’s car after her hearing—made it tough to find any redeeming qualities or connect with her.

While I liked Liam (Judge Ashton), I constantly wondered what he saw in Olivia beyond her looks, and their dynamic never fully clicked for me.

On a positive note, I loved Judge Ashton’s backstory. The flashbacks and discovering how his history linked to the Jenkins case were easily my favorite part of the book, and I wish that compelling storyline had been longer.

While this particular story wasn’t one of my favorites, Whitney remains an autobuy author, and I can't wait for her next release.

[Heather]

I just Love Whitney G! Keep them coming!

[Nancy❤The❤Bookaholic]

No Objections Here!

This was perfect. I loved every moment of it and I can never go wrong with a Whitney G. Book. She is one of my go-to authors and I love her stories. I am always wishing for more.

[Kristina]

DNF at 18% after Olivia vandalizes the Judge’s vehicles. Firstly, the Judge could have been much harsher on her, had he listened to the state’s attorney. So no, the judge was not at fault for anything and did not deserve Olivia’s anger.
Secondly, I can understand lashing out in anger and the judge is an easier target than her roommate and best friend, who actually deserves the anger. But what Olivia did is a level of violence that steps far over the line. I cannot abide Olivia as a main character as I have no respect for her.

[…Welcome to My World &#x1f30e..]

As always another one of Whitney’s books was a hit for me. This book was fast paced, straight to the point and just the little steamy fix with a great storyline. I have to admit I laughed many times while reading this book. Liam and Olivia were just so dang funny. I always enjoy Whitney’s books and this one wasn’t any different

I received an ARC copy of this book and I’m voluntarily leaving my review.

[Babel]

One of my favourites. It's not only fun and crazy as usual, but it manages to tackle a tough issue, sets up a well-crafted plot with shadowing and secrets, and the romance is top-notch. 

Olivia kept surprising me. Sure, she's a good girl with terrible luck, but she's also occasionally deranged. Hilarious when it comes to plot devices. Liam is the hottest judge on Earth. I love his demeanor, his quirks and his dishonourable honour. This time I ended up feeling sorry for the male character. He's harsh and has a penchant for vendettas, but he finds himself the world's villain and he doesn't even go mad or bad about it. He's solid.

The romance itself is even rounder this time. The couple slow-burns their way into a passion that escalates hotly yet it still feels emotional. I loved the ending with its surprises and its romantic turn. Nicely done, Miss G.

[Stormy ✿ (stay-at-home tackler of tbr shelf) ✿]

DNF at 18%. This book put me in a horrible mood. I’m so 😠.

This was straight up like watching those Instagram videos of the Karen’s getting pulled over by a traffic cop, refusing to show license and registration and demanding to talk to the supervisor. Ugh, this FMC. She was The Worst Karen ever, and by 18% I just wanted her cuffed and sent away for life.

The blurb sounded so cute and original, as most of this author’s do.

The MMC is a stern, by the rules NYC judge. Everyone is afraid of him as he supposedly doesn’t tolerate nonsense and expects rules to be followed.

The FMC is just an absolute mess. Trying to work two jobs, completely broke, shady roommates that have contributed to this mess (that she was unaware of)…. Yet this FMC somehow feels that because she’s broke, she’s not obligated to follow speed limits, parking rules, and basic traffic rules. Her glove box was full of traffic violations that she shoved in there and ignored. And she is SHOCKED at finally getting hauled in to court.

When the police officer pulled her over, she was:
🚨 going 20+ over the limit (and she was pissed he couldn’t understand it was just because she was deep in thought and had no idea that she was speeding)
🚨 left her purse at home and had no ID (but offered to show her social media to prove who she was, and was irritated when he said NO)
🚨 officer runs her social security number and sees that she had a bench warrant out for her arrest. (For failure to appear for several violations 3 months ago.)

When she gets to the station, she:
👮🏻‍♀️ argues with every officer she comes in contact with
👮🏻‍♀️ pissed off that she needs to be searched for contraband, get a mugshot taken and fingerprints rolled.
👮🏻‍♀️ tells these officers that “I’m writing a letter to all of your managers!”

When she gets before the MMC judge:
👨🏻‍⚖️ MMC judge sees that she has 86 documented violations
👨🏻‍⚖️ MMC calls her name, asks if she has a lawyer, she snaps that everyone needs to stop treating her like a murderer.
👨🏻‍⚖️ the lady representing the state said that since the FMC has several violations for excessive speed on multiple occasions and her vehicle’s registration is currently delinquent (by 6 months)…. that the state was asking for court costs, all ticket fees, and for her license to be suspended for at least twelve months.
👨🏻‍⚖️ FMC starts yelling at the lady, telling her to stop lying.
👨🏻‍⚖️ The MMC decides to settle with letting her keep her license (so she could still get to work), but pay her tickets and court costs and the court would install a speeding alert and breathalyzer on her ignition that she would be forced to use for the next twelve months. Any further violations and she would spend 10 days in jail.
👨🏻‍⚖️ FMC was pissed, how dare he ruin her life like this!

She waits for MMC outside the courthouse, and:
🫴🏼 approaches the judge and asks him to give her $55 for a taxi to get home, and she will pay him back later. He tells her that’s inappropriate and to get lost.
🫴🏼 after much back and forth begging, she threatens him that she’s a former investigative journalist and can find skeletons in his closet. He wasn’t amused (yet had a security officer give her the cash anonymously).

She waits for MMC outside his condo complex to get revenge:
🔨 - “The dominoes in my life had been crashing down one by one since my day in court, and soon there wouldn’t be any left standing. And this all started with HIM.” - HOW IS THIS HIS FAULT?!

🔨 - “So far, I’d whittled the list down to three: State my case to him and beg him to reconsider his ruling. Join the Reddit board and vent with the other people he’d wronged. “Let it go” and be mature like a normal adult. Ugh. None of those options felt fitting enough, and they didn’t affect him at all. Just me. They wouldn’t show him that he was wrong for what he did to me…” WHAT DID HE DO!?

🔨 - so she smashes the windows out on all of his cars. As it’s raining (further ruining his cars).

Irredeemable FMC. And the MMC is an idiot for finding her attractive at all, from her behavior in the courtroom to damaging his cars.

I actually need to go take some ibuprofen, this FMC literally gave me a headache. 💊

[Isabella Grace]

“𝒯𝒪𝒫 𝒯𝐻𝑅𝐸𝐸 𝑅𝒰𝐿𝐸𝒮 𝐼𝒩 𝒥𝒰𝒟𝒢𝐸 𝒜𝒮𝐻𝒯𝒪𝒩'𝒮 𝒞𝒪𝒰𝑅𝒯𝑅𝒪𝒪𝑀:
𝟣. 𝒟𝑜𝓃'𝓉 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓆𝓊𝑒𝓈𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃 𝒽𝒾𝓂.
𝟤. 𝒯𝓇𝓎 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓁𝑜𝑜𝓀 𝑔𝓊𝒾𝓁𝓉𝓎.
𝟥. 𝒩𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝓂𝒶𝓀𝑒 𝒽𝒾𝓂 𝓇𝑒𝓂𝑒𝓂𝒷𝑒𝓇 𝓎𝑜𝓊.
𝐼 𝒷𝓇𝑜𝓀𝑒 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑒𝑒”

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️ 3/5

Okay but…she vandalized his car and then got a job working for him?! 😂😂😂 Whitney G really said let’s start this romance with a criminal record and see where it goes.

Dirty Judge was such a fun enemies-to-lovers read and an easy 4 ⭐️ for me. And Judge Ashton…sir. You are absolutely insufferable. Which obviously means I was intrigued immediately. 😩😂

Judge Ashton has THREE rules in his courtroom and apparently the FMC decided she was going to break every single one of them. 😂 She gets a speeding ticket, he basically looks at her and says guilty as hell, hits her with thousands of dollars in fees despite her begging for mercy…and she responds in the most rational way possible:

She finds his house.

Finds his expensive car.

And introduces his windows to some ✨justice✨.

Allegedly. 👀

And then because apparently the universe wanted to make things as awkward as humanly possible…she gets hired as a law clerk.

In HIS courtroom.

Girl. 😭😭😭

And this man REMEMBERS HER.

The enemies-to-lovers setup here was SO much fun because Ashton is absolutely determined to make her life miserable, and she is equally determined not to let him get the upper hand. The banter, tension and constant power struggle had me invested because neither one of them knows how to just act normal. 😂

Ashton is definitely an alphahole. Dominant, controlling, arrogant, manipulative…basically a walking collection of red flags. 🚩🚩🚩

And you guys already know how I feel about that. 😩

Was he an asshole? Absolutely.

Did I want to smack him sometimes? Also absolutely.

Did I still find myself sitting there like “okay but what is he going to do next?” 👀

Unfortunately…yes.

Because underneath all that arrogance, this man is OBSESSED. And I am apparently very easy to manipulate when the MMC falls first and falls HARD. 😂

The forced proximity and workplace setting worked really well for me because they couldn’t just avoid each other. Every interaction had that underlying I hate you…so why the hell do I want you? energy, and watching that slowly turn into something more was SO satisfying.

And the slow burn??? 👀🔥

The warning was not lying when it said the angst would edge you toward combustion. There were moments where I was literally like CAN YOU TWO JUST DO SOMETHING ALREADY?! 😩😂

I also really liked the FMC because she wasn’t just sitting around letting Ashton walk all over her. She gave as good as she got, which was absolutely necessary because this man needed someone who wasn’t intimidated by him.

My only reason this didn’t hit 5 stars for me is that there were a few moments where I wanted a little more depth and development, especially with some of the emotional pieces. I enjoyed the hell out of the story, but I didn’t get quite that I have been emotionally destroyed and will never recover feeling that earns a full 5 from me.

BUT…a 4 star read from me means I had a damn good time. 😂

If you like enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, workplace romance, billionaire alphaholes, dominant MMCs, boy obsessed energy, he-falls-first and a whole lot of tension…you’re going to want this one.

And honestly…

If a man can go from “I’m going to make your life a living hell” to “I am completely fucking obsessed with you”…

Well.

Your honour, I rest my case. 👩🏻‍⚖️😂🖤

[Claudia |✨Cushin Violeta's Bookish Realm✨]

Enemies-to-lovers on fire😍🔥

🆆🅷🅰🆃 🆃🅾 🅻🅾🅾🅺 🅵🅾🆁🆆🅰🆁🅳 🆃🅾:
🔖 Office Romance
🔖 He's a Judge
🔖 Silent Revenge🤭🫣
🔖 Enemies-to-lovers
🔖 On fire Chemistry
🔖 Lit Banter 😍
🔖 Suspense

💕 🅵🅰🆅🅾🆄🆁🅸🆃🅴 🆀🆄🅾🆃🅴🆂💕

𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌𝒔 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒆𝒓? 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝑰 𝒔𝒂𝒘 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒅𝒆𝒔𝒌, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒓𝒏 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒘𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒐𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒆 𝒐𝒏 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉.

𝑰 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒓. 𝑰 𝒅𝒊𝒅𝒏’𝒕 𝒏𝒆𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒑𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒄𝒕 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆. 𝑰 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒑𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓 𝒎𝒆.

“𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒆 𝑳𝒊𝒂𝒎 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕.” “𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒌𝒆𝒆𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒎𝒂𝒍?” “𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒕’𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒅𝒐 𝒘𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒎𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉, 𝑶𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒊𝒂.”

🅼🆈 🆃🅷🅾🆄🅶🅷🆃🆂:

I devoured this book like crazy and seriously, I'm already thinking about a reread because I can't get enough of Judge Ashton and his hate to love vibes affair with Olivia.

Judge Ashton is an enigmatic man. There are reddit forums of him being corrupt and dirty yet nobody can ever say that he's given a wrong judgement except that one case, the same case that is somehow related to Judge Ashton but that one has a bit of a suspense angle and I loved how we don't get anything about it till the end.

Olivia has been unfortunate enough when she's caught in a traffic violation and her punishment seemingly becomes severe when it is found out that she has a list of pending traffic violations to her name.

This book definitely had rom-com vibes too as Olivia takes things out of hand and it is definitely too late when she realises what she's done.

That scene where Judge Ashton finds out about what happened and who did it and in spite of knowing who, he doesn't hand over the cops anything but ooohhh decides he'll take matters into his own hands and I was like....oh my.... Olivia messed up with the wrong person.

There are many scenes in this one that had me screaming out loud.... especially when Olivia gets the Senior clerk position and realises which judge she's gonna work under and the way she tries to quit ....🫣😂😂

Judge Ashton sure makes Olivia work so hard and I was freaked out for how mean he was being with her.
Then add to it the increasing tension between them as each day went by and I was just waiting for the sparks to turn the flames into a freaking fire.

THE FREAKING CHEMISTRY THOUGH BETWEEN OLIVIA AND LIAM....oh my ....the dialogues, the way these two banter and can't help crashing against each other.
They both were so freaking on fire together...🥵🌶️🔥🔥

In spite of him being a bit unemotional at times yet I have to say I'm a big fan of Judge Ashton because that man has a heart of gold yet he just doesn't know how to show it.

Mara, Judge Ashton's assistant was so hilarious and a great lady but the way she talks....ooohhhh

Also, I loved the appearances of Damien Carter and Jameson Tate .

Now waiting for the Sinful Witness because that tease at the end...oohhh... Absolutely loved loved this one.

[Darkromancearabia Jin]

The most arrogant, impossible man falls in love... and somehow I fell in love with him too. ❤️❤️

Judge Liam Ashton is intimidating, ruthless in his courtroom, and convinced that emotions have no place in his life. Olivia Spencer is chaotic, impulsive, and constantly finds herself in situations that spiral completely out of control (the poor woman just can't catch a break!). Their first encounter is an absolute disaster, and from there, the story only gets more intriguing. Olivia isn't intimidated by him in the slightest, and their banter is a delight. Deep down, Liam enjoys every second of it too... even if he'd never admit it.

Liam's carefully controlled world slowly unravels. He's rigid, powerful, emotionally guarded, and completely convinced he's immune to feelings... until he isn't. Scratch that, he doesn't just fall in love; he realizes he actually has a heart...

Olivia makes questionable decisions, but that's exactly what makes her feel real. After losing everything, she's forced to take whatever jobs she can just to survive. Her spontaneity and unpredictability are the perfect contrast to Liam's serious, disciplined personality. Their relationship is filled with arguments, witty banter, undeniable chemistry, and plenty of passion. Liam goes from emotionally distant and driven by revenge (after discovering what Olivia had done) to someone who slowly lets his walls come down.

Beneath the humor and romance is a storyline that gives Liam's character real depth and explains why justice means so much to him, and why he's sometimes so harsh. He has an impeccable record and is known for his strictness. There were moments when I really worried about him, especially when the outcome of one of his old cases came back to haunt him.

I also loved the legal terms and definitions at the beginning of each chapter. They could have felt dry, but instead they added personality to the story and made the legal side of the book surprisingly fun and engaging.

This was funny, romantic, emotional, and incredibly easy to binge in one sitting. If you enjoy enemies-to-lovers romances with a grumpy, intimidating hero who slowly discovers he has a heart, this one is definitely worth picking up.

[AJ's Book ReMarks]

Judge Liam Ashton has three rules in his courtroom:

1. Don’t ever question him.

2. Try not to look guilty.

3. Never make him remember you.

Olivia Spencer probably wishes she had known those rules before stepping into Judge Ashton’s courtroom for her unpaid traffic tickets, which she ignored until a bench warrant was issued for her arrest. Even though she has a master’s degree in journalism, she struggles to find or keep a job. She’s completely broke and can’t pay her parking fines, let alone the moving violations. The chemistry between her and the Judge is intense, and his reaction to her is just as powerful.

Liam Hines, Jr. was an only child competing in a chess tournament his parents had promised to attend, but his father’s habit of running late meant Liam didn’t see them there. After the tournament, neighbors offered to take Liam home. On the way, they got stuck in a massive traffic jam because the road was closed for miles. That’s when Liam learned the real reason his parents hadn’t shown up: they had been killed in a drunk-driving accident that also claimed another family, except for a surviving toddler the police called “little Ryan” Lennox. The drunk driver was a wealthy man named Trevor Jenkins, who paid off everyone and avoided consequences. Years later, Trevor’s son, Grant Jenkins, was charged with drunk driving that caused nine deaths. Grant appeared before Judge Ashton, was found guilty, and was sentenced. Now, Trevor Jenkins is trying to overturn Judge Ashton’s decision.

I’ve really gotten attached to Whitney G.’s characters. First there was Andrew Hamilton from Reasonable Doubt, then Damien Carter from Filthy Lawyer, Jameson Tate from Final Verdict, and now Liam Ashton from Dirty Judge. They’re all connected in some way to Hamilton and Associates. I highly recommend reading all of these stories. Dirty Judge is a great addition to Whitney G.’s legal romance world, with sharp dialogue, complex characters, and twists that kept me hooked. If you like stories with emotional depth, strong chemistry, and courtroom drama, you should definitely give this one a try.

[Lorena Garcia -- Brittany's Book Blog]

Everyone thinks that Judge Ashton is a horrible judge who has no compassion for people and is very harsh with everyone who walks into his courtroom. But he has his reasons for being the way he is especially with a certain person who he convicted and now they are overturning the sentence and giving him another trial and Judge Ashton is livid.

Come in Olivia, she gets stopped by a cop because of her reckless driving and she finds out that she has outstanding warrants out for her and she has no idea why, she ends up in front of Judge Ashton and he ends up not giving her time or suspend her license but he was still a little harsh with her and monitors her driving with a Breathalyzer and a latch on her start up. Any way, she gets upset with him and ends up doing things that will end up making him angry and want to retaliate.

What Olivia doesn't know is that she's going to walk in the devil's den when she accepts a clerk job with one heck of a pay but doesn't realize who she's going to work for until she is there and then the money is what makes her sign a contract that will not allow her to quit.

She is a smart girl who has made very dumb decisions in her life, but Judge Ashton notices that she's a very smart girl when she start working for him, but he gives her crazy stuff to do and overworks her. But little by little he start realizing that he can't shake her off his head and even though he knows he doesn't want to cross the line, it's kind of hard not to when she tempts him on the daily.

This book was all about their chemistry, and also about Mr. Jenkins, the man he put behind bars.

I loved the banter between them two. As for how tough Judge Ashton was, he was also a good person, he just doesn't want to show people his soft side.

Can't wait for more on this series!

[Adi (HopelesslySmutty)]

Rating: 3.75
Spice: 2
Tropes: workplace romance / boss x employee / alphahole hero / revenge-ish / romcom vibes / forced proximity / judge x law clerk / enemies to lovers / forbidden / 

Listen, you can never go wrong with a Whitney G book. Even though it's not one of my favorites from her and it's not memorable in the slightest - it absolutely got the job done and was very enjoyable for what it was.

In short, it follows Olivia who finds herself in front of Judge Liam Ashton for some traffic infringements. Unhappy with the outcome, Olivia vandalizes his car thinking he won't know. Unfortunately, several weeks later - when Olivia is hired as Liam's newest law clerk - she learns just how much he actually remembers her.

I'll start by saying that the story is riddled with plotholes and inconsistencies. So much of it made me roll my eyes and I was left with many unanswered questions. There are also a lot of plot-points that needed much more attention, and the ending was very underwhelming. HOWEVER, I didn't mind too much.

Though Olivia and Liam weren't memorable, they held my interest throughout. It's very rinse and repeat of some of her other books, but it hits the spot. You have to suspend a lot of reality when it comes to this story, but it made me happy and put a smile on my face! Ultimately, I picked it up knowing it won't be wow but will be what I need, and it definitely delivered on that front. 

Assuming you know what it is you're getting and this isn't your first Whitney G book - I definitely recommend it.  It's a perfect little palate cleanser when you're not in the mood for anything too heavy. It's fun and humorous. The writing always hits and even though there's so much more she could have done with this - much more- it's enjoyable for what it is within the short page count.

[Reelina]

Whitney is officially back in her ultimate sweet spot. We all know she writes an arrogant, unyielding legal hero better than almost anyone in the game, but Judge Liam Ashton just casually strolled in and stole the crown.

Olivia is broke, desperate, and backed into a corner when she steps into Liam’s courtroom for a traffic hearing. After he ruthlessly fines her and dismisses her pleas, she makes one spectacularly unhinged decision: she tracks down his luxury car and shatters the windows. It’s chaotic, it’s impulsive, and it’s the exact catalyst needed for the glorious trainwreck that follows.

Because the universe has a sick sense of humor, she ends up assigned as his brand-new law clerk shortly after.

What makes Dirty Judge so brilliant isn’t just the fiery, sharp-tongued banter—though that is absolutely top-tier—but the way Whitney peels back the layers of these characters. Liam isn’t just a one-dimensional ~ alphahole handing down harsh sentences for fun. His rigid need for justice is rooted in a deeply heartbreaking past that gave the story so much more weight than I was expecting.

Watching this rigid, untouchable man slowly unravel and realize he actually has a heart is everything. The pacing of their evolution from bitter enemies (he literally makes her life a living hell) to undeniable, scorching-hot tension is masterful. Olivia holds her own beautifully; her bad luck is matched only by her sheer audacity, and she refuses to let him steamroll her.

Funny, angsty, deeply emotional, and spicy as hell. If you love a fiercely guarded man who falls impossibly hard for a chaotic heroine, bump this to the top of your TBR.

(Thank you to the author for the ARC! All thoughts are my own.)

[AVIVA]

It had been a long time since I picked up a boss/employee romance, and even longer since one set in the legal world, so this was a really fun throwback for me. 👩‍ On paper the setup is great: a judge, his brand new law clerk, a courtroom, and a woman who had already smashed his car windows before she ever ended up working for him.

But it stayed on the surface. Everything felt a little flat and a little thin. The dynamic never deepened, and the emotion simply wasn’t there. No real angst, no ache, no moment where I had to put the book down and breathe. 😕

What I was chasing was one very specific feeling: the butterflies I had the first time I ever picked up one of her books, getting to know Aubrey and Andrew in Reasonable Doubt. And then again with Two Weeks Notice, which I still think is incredible. I kept waiting for that spark here, and I only ever got it halfway. 🦋

So I am left with an honest question. Have her books gotten flatter over time, or have I simply outgrown them? I have read so much since those early days and my standards are much higher now. It might genuinely be me. Either way, this one didn’t land the way I wanted it to.

Fun for the nostalgia. Not memorable. 📚

⸻

📄 Standalone, The Firm #2
👀 POV: dual, first person (Liam and Olivia)
💖 HEA: yes
🔥 Steam: high
💡 Tropes: enemies to lovers, forbidden, boss and employee (judge and law clerk), legal workplace, power imbalance, hate at first sight, morally gray hero

✅ What worked: the setting, the hierarchy, the courtroom banter, the throwback feeling
⚠️ What didn’t: no emotional depth, no real angst, thin characterization, chemistry that was told to me rather than felt

[Cindy Jones]

Dirty Judge is the second story in The Firm series. It is an amazing story with great characters. I absolutely loved it.

Olivia has had a hard time in life trying to make ends meet. She has worked a few jobs to pay for her apartment that she shares with a roommate. She keeps getting parking tickets that she is not paying. One day on the way to work she is driving too fast and gets pulled over for speeding. She has no license and no identity on her since she left her purse at home. The officer runs her information and since she also has other citations she is taken to jail. There she faces Judge Liam Ashton. There is an immediate attraction when she sees him. He does not go lightly on her and she has to have modifications on her car to prove she is no longer speeding. She stalks him and finds out where he lives. He is very wealthy. She is so angry that she takes it out on his cars. What she doesn't realize is that Liam has a way to see who committed the crime. He knows that she did it. What will he do with this information?

I loved how Olivia was so smart and tried to figure things out on her own. She had so much heart and was so determined. I loved how there was so much attraction and banter between Olivia and Liam. There were so many parts that had me laughing out loud. I look forward to more from this very talented author.

Thank you to the author for the advanced copy.

[Vera Blaz]

There are three rules in Judge Ashton’s courtroom:
1. Don’t ever question him.
2. Try not to look guilty.
3. Never make him remember you.

This should be on a laminated placard posted in plain view in multiple places in Judge Liam Ashton's courtroom. Olivia Spencer had no idea, so everything she did in his presence was unforgettable. But then again, Olivia's interpretation of the laws was laughable and outrageous! Since Judge Ashton doesn't take too kindly to ignorance of the law, he gives the most expensive lesson in the form of fines for her unpaid parking tickets and moving violations. Liam is ruthless, strict, and completely allergic to emotions. Olivia is smart but reckless and, despite her Master's in Journalism, can't seem to hold a steady job. In a fit of anger at what Judge Ashton has dealt her, she destroys two of his vehicles, which she feels remorse for but not enough to come clean about it. When she ends up getting a job as a law clerk, it's like the devil was playing a joke on her because she ends up in Ashton's courtroom. He pretends not to remember her, but it's clear that he wasn't as unaffected as he claims to be. The spice and the tension between these two is classic Whitney! Liam's backstory to his ruthless and relentless pursuit of his form of justice makes everything he does kind of make sense.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.

[Nikki M (Hot books and Sassy girls)]

Whitney G. knows how to write the perfect alpha-hole, so I was incredibly excited to dive into Dirty Judge. Unfortunately, this one just didn’t quite hit the mark for me.
The chemistry between Olivia and Liam felt a little off, and I struggled to fully connect with them as a couple. That said, Olivia trashing Liam’s car after her hearing, while admittedly a little hard to believe, did make me smile. Let’s be honest, haven’t we all imagined doing something similar at some point? Liam, aka Judge Ashton, was definitely a hard nut to crack. However, as little pieces of his backstory started to come to light, I found myself becoming much more interested in his character. The flashbacks and the way his past eventually connected to the Jenkins case were intriguing, and honestly, this is where I felt the story had the potential to become something fantastic. I just wish those elements had been explored in more depth. There was so much potential in Liam’s history and the connection to the case, and I wanted more, more depth, more development, and more of that emotional connection between the characters. Overall, I did enjoy the story. It was entertaining, had some fun moments, and kept me reading, even if it wasn't my favorite. But one thing Ms. G knows how to do is make you laugh with her characters and their crazy, often completely unexpected actions. So, while not the best, it was a fun and light read.

[🌹Natasha🌹]

ARC provided by author in exchange for honest review.

I loved this one!!

I went into Dirty Judge expecting a fun, steamy read, and it definitely delivered on that front—but I wasn’t expecting it to get a little emotional too. Definitely had a few sad moments that made me feel for Liam. Seeing that more vulnerable side of him definitely tugged at my heartstrings and gave the story a little more depth. Olivia was a funny, witty, and smart-mouthed heroine & I couldn’t help but love her attitude and quick comebacks.

The chemistry between Liam & Olivia really shines through their banter as well. It’s clever, funny, sharp, witty and makes them feel so real. The chemistry is unmatched between them. They’re easily some of my top favorite characters of Whitney’s.

One of my favorite things was seeing familiar characters and places from Whitney’s previous books woven into this story. I loved those little connections and how they made the world feel bigger and more interconnected. It’s one of those, “wait, I know that person/place” moment and I loved that.

Every book Whitney writes is just so entertaining from beginning to end. This was entertaining and impossible to put down. Whitney just has a knack for writing. There’s something about her writing style that just works- it’s engaging, effortless to read & consistently entertaining. She just never misses.

[Amy]

Dirty Judge is fun, addictive, and deliciously chaotic in all the best ways. From the moment Olivia steps into Liam’s courtroom, the two of them spark like flint and steel—sharp words, sharper glances, and an immediate clash of wills that sets the tone for everything that follows.

Both characters are stubborn, opinionated, and absolutely convinced they’re right, yet beneath all that fire they share a deep commitment to justice and a willingness to see the gray areas the law so often hides. Watching them collide—professionally, morally, and oh yes, romantically—was half the thrill. Their snarky, flirty banter crackles, their chemistry is explosive, and the secrets simmering beneath the surface keep the tension high and the pages turning.

What I loved most is how Dirty Judge balances spice with suspense. It’s fast paced and compulsively readable, the kind of story where you have to know everyone’s secrets and you need to see how Olivia and Liam fight their way toward their HEA. It’s messy, it’s fiery, and it’s exactly the kind of book that keeps you up way past your bedtime in the best way.

[Mikaela]

rec'd this arc for a review.

OMG! Whitney hit it out of the ballpark w/this storyline & it brings me back to the very well-written story of Andrew & Aubrey (Reasonable Doubt). This is part of the "Law & Order" series that Whitney promised her fans & this story did not disappoint. Dirty Judge centers around Olivia Spencer who was arrested for her outstanding parking tickets & was arraigned by Judge Liam Ashton. From the moment they meet it was one hilarious conversation after another & I could not stop laughing esp. when Liam would slide those provocative one-liners at her. Hell, I blushed a couple of times (hahaha). Both Olivia & Liam had deep-rooted secrets & past trauma; this kept me wondering what these two did in their past that brought them together & eventually fall in love. It was brilliant writing all around - funny as hell, sexy & dramatic. I think I've fallen in love w/these characters as much as Andrew & Aubrey. And I do love how Whitney added Damian Carter, Jameson Tate & Andrew Hamilton in this series as well. *Bravo Bravo*

[Michele McMullen]

The honorable Judge Liam Ashton is touch in the courtroom, but he has so many reasons to be. Olivia Spencer has had some minor traffic violations and a few tickets that may not be her own and when she finds herself in front of Judge Ashton, she can't help but fight for herself but she may have pushed him a bit too far. She finds herself with a few too many rules to drive and she takes matters into her own hands literally with a very heavy object directed at Liam's prized cars. Now you would think she would end up right in the slammer, but Liam has other plans. Olivia needs a job and one at the court of clerks' entry level she will never see him, but things are about to get very interesting as Liam puts his plan into motion. What neither one of them saw in their future was the amazing chemistry, the enjoyable banter and they are both tough as nails. They may both have secrets but that is all part of the fun of this one!! The honorable Judge Ashton is on the bench, and he may have met his match with this sassy sexy gal!
~~Michele McMullen~~