I thrived on winning—both in the courtroom and in life. As a powerhouse attorney, I always played to win. With my flawless track record, razor-sharp mind, and reputation that preceded me, my brothers and I built an empire on control and precision.
Relationships didn’t fit into my carefully ordered world—compliments of a woman I once loved. There wasn’t one person who could break through my carefully constructed walls until I met Laurel Evans, a beautiful and brilliant attorney with a brilliant mind. The problem? She was everything I didn’t want in my life—a single mom to three young daughters and a knack for turning my perfectly calculated life upside down.
My past had taught me that attachments only led to pain, and that was a pain I wasn’t willing to experience again. I stood on the battlefield, drawn to her warmth and chaotic home life. The more we worked together, the closer we grew. She and her daughters slowly chipped away at the wall I’d built over the years, and I had a decision to make.
Was I willing to take a chance on the one thing I always avoided?
Laurel
At thirty-one, I was the devoted mother of three beautiful little girls—my entire world and everything I would fight to protect. Since my husband’s life was tragically cut short in a kayaking accident, I navigated the challenge of raising them alone with the support of my parents. Starting over, I moved to Los Angeles and took a position at The Hamilton Group, a prestigious law firm known for its dominance and prestige.
That’s where I met Julian Hamilton—ruggedly handsome, confident, and impossible to ignore. He was arrogant, self-assured, and far too charming for his own good. His cocky smile and overconfidence had the power to make my heart race and my walls crumble.
Crossing professional lines was supposed to be out of the question, yet one drunken night changed everything—blurring boundaries and throwing my life into unimaginable chaos. I never wanted to risk my girls' stability or happiness. I swore that night would be the end of it, but I couldn’t resist him. There was something about Julian—something I couldn’t explain—that had me caught in his pull. It wasn’t just me. My daughters were also under his influence, whether we liked it or not.
When a shocking truth is revealed, my past and present collide, and I must confront the betrayal that shattered the lives I’d fought so hard to protect.
Twisting, emotional, and steamy, Cause and Effect is a gripping legal romance about betrayal, resilience, and the courage to love again.
Writing is my passion and my mission is to provide readers with romance novels that will whisk them away into another world and from the daily grind of life - one book at a time.
I am always a sucker for a single mom and anti-relationship guy. I think the second half was really well done but wish there was more of a build up between them prior. Nevertheless, this is a great love story!
The storyline had real potential, but the execution let it down. Cause and Effect felt rushed from the start, with scene changes that lacked transition or development. The relationship between the characters progressed unrealistically fast, making it hard to connect with them emotionally. I also didn’t enjoy the writing style—it felt choppy and underdeveloped. That said, I did really like all the characters, and the daughters were absolute sweethearts. With more depth and pacing, this could have been a much stronger read.
This amazing story will keep you guessing! Between the back and forth banter between these two, and then the need for them to work on cases together! Their constant opinion differences, yet finding out they have an undeniable chemistry, that keeps pulling them together ❤️. Then adding in there is a mysterious caller?? Awesome story, a must read.
I thrived on winning—both in the courtroom and in life. As a powerhouse attorney, I always played to win. With my flawless track record, razor-sharp mind, and reputation that preceded me, my brothers and I built an empire on control and precision.
Relationships didn’t fit into my carefully ordered world—compliments of a woman I once loved. There wasn’t one person who could break through my carefully constructed walls until I met Laurel Evans, a beautiful and brilliant attorney with a brilliant mind. The problem? She was everything I didn’t want in my life—a single mom to three young daughters and a knack for turning my perfectly calculated life upside down.
My past had taught me that attachments only led to pain, and that was a pain I wasn’t willing to experience again. I stood on the battlefield, drawn to her warmth and chaotic home life. The more we worked together, the closer we grew. She and her daughters slowly chipped away at the wall I’d built over the years, and I had a decision to make.
Was I willing to take a chance on the one thing I always avoided?
Laurel
At thirty-one, I was the devoted mother of three beautiful little girls—my entire world and everything I would fight to protect. Since my husband’s life was tragically cut short in a kayaking accident, I navigated the challenge of raising them alone with the support of my parents. Starting over, I moved to Los Angeles and took a position at The Hamilton Group, a prestigious law firm known for its dominance and prestige.
That’s where I met Julian Hamilton—ruggedly handsome, confident, and impossible to ignore. He was arrogant, self-assured, and far too charming for his own good. His cocky smile and overconfidence had the power to make my heart race and my walls crumble.
Crossing professional lines was supposed to be out of the question, yet one drunken night changed everything—blurring boundaries and throwing my life into unimaginable chaos. I never wanted to risk my girls' stability or happiness. I swore that night would be the end of it, but I couldn’t resist him. There was something about Julian—something I couldn’t explain—that had me caught in his pull. It wasn’t just me. My daughters were also under his influence, whether we liked it or not.
When a shocking truth is revealed, my past and present collide, and I must confront the betrayal that shattered the lives I’d fought so hard to protect.
Twisting, emotional, and steamy, Cause and Effect is a gripping legal romance about betrayal, resilience, and the courage to love again.
I absolutely loved Julian and Laurel’s story—right from the very first pages, I was completely hooked. Their chemistry was electric, the tension palpable, and the emotional depth hit all the right notes.
This was one series I was looking forward to continuing. I loved the first one so much that I thought this one would grab me in the same way. After finishing it, I’d say it kept my attention and I thought the story was pretty good. However, Julian took longer to connect with. He was an asshole most of the book until he realized he liked Laurel more than he was letting on. When they first sleep with each other it’s a drunken mistake but meant more to Julian than he expressed. Shortly after that, Laurel and Julian kind of fall into this physical relationship that felt more emotional. You notice an obvious change with Julian. He all of a sudden wasn’t as combative with Laurel, bitter or closed off. He was more relaxed and Laurel didn’t feel the need to fight with him. I liked how easily they molded together and were able to make time for each other. This was another change in Julian. It was a slow process but eventually I became team Julian though part of me wanted him to stew longer over Laurel because of the way he acted towards her when it really started to feel more serious to him. In between all the animosity with Laurel and Julian, there were a bunch of mini cases that also took up parts of this book. This happened with Roman and Morgan’s story too but I felt like those cases were more interconnected than the ones Julian and Laurel were working on. What I did enjoy about that is that I got to see more court action and how at least one of the brothers acts on the stand which was what I wanted more of in the last book. With Roman and Morgan, there was none of that so I felt like I was missing a chunk of the story. This one covered almost everything, but when Laurel comes face to face with the past, it felt unnecessary and random. It was like this author wanted to close up loose ends with this part of Laurel’s story and it seemed far fetched and unbelievable. I’m sure it can happen but it is very rare for it to just casually be tossed in the plot and not until the very end. There was some buildup to it, but just the idea of this situation is questionable. I wound up giving this a 4 because it took me longer to warm up to Julian and I didn’t like his attitude and stand off nature he showed towards Laurel. It was a terrible way for him to deal with his emotions and wound up just disagreeing and fighting with her plus his blatant denial. I loved Laurel and her girls though, she seemed more stable and unafraid of commitment even though her husband passed away. I hope Parker’s story is just as good.
Omg this book was absolutely fantastic another brilliant page turner from Sandi can't wait for the final book in the series.
Julian Hamilton is a big shot lawyer who doesn't like to lose and when he sets sights on something especially women he goes for it. He and his brothers are looking to hire another lawyer for the firm they hire a single mother of three Laurel. When Julian realizes who it is he doesn't want her because she refused his advances at a conference.
Julian and Laurel are given a case together which means the have to play nice in the sandbox. The client they have Laurel has a good sense of character and can tell they are lying. When she tells Julian about it he dismisses her and doesn't want to believe it.
The evening he met Stella,Sara and Sophie because he is anti kids he realizes that they are not that bad and has a liking for them. The girls say to their mom that he is so hot and like him. Laurel was walking down the street one day and she had a suspicion that someone was watching her she ducked into a shop and when she turned she thought she seen someone she knew. Laurel was receiving calls from an unknown number and flowers with no cards attached to them. But when she discovered who it was she was extremely pissed off. I would love to tell a lot more but won't it is a fabulous book you simply won't be able to put down. I loved Julian and Laurels story that much I am looking forward for the final book.
Second in this series and another compelling storyline that is both interesting, intriguing and very difficult to put down. With Sandi you get involved straight away with her characters, as they appear so normal, and as if you know them already. As the plot and story develops so does the reader’s knowledge explore their characters. Lovely also to have the Kind people interspersed throughout. Enough to be inter but not to take away from Laurel, Julian and his fellow Hamilton brothers and Laurel’s delightful three children. Stella, Sofia,and Sara . Laurel is a widow moving away and starting a new job in a law firm when she first meets Julian. Not entrapped by his advances, his ego dented , takes an instant hostile opinion of Laurel. However the story unfolds into a delightful , easy to read dramatic at times romance storyline that has a glorious HEA. I do hope we have Parker’s story as that would be the icing on the cake.
Second book in the Hamilton Brothers series, Loved it, Sandi another fantastic read. This is Julian Hamilton's story and had me gripped from the start.
Julian is a playboy and a commitment phobe. Julian meets Laurel on a trip. When she turns him down, he instantly does not like her. When his brothers hire a new attorney, imagine his surprise when it's Laurel 😍
Laurel is a single mum of 3 daughters who has moved to Los Angeles to start a new life after losing her husband 2 years ago and to start a new job. Julian is attached to Laurel, but when he finds out she has children, he believes he can fight his attraction and be ok with working together, but the chemistry is too strong. This is a great story with some surprises along the way. Can Julian forget the past and make a future for himself with a ready-made family 😍
This book is worth the read, I love how the Kind family popped up through the story as well. Hopefully, we will get Parkers story soon 💙
This is Julian and Laurel’s book and what an amazing story it is. Julian is a playboy Lawyer who has a phobia about commitment, he was burned in the past and only has one night stands. He meets Laurel and when she turns him down he dislikes her. Imagine his surprise when his brothers hire Laurel to be their firms new attorney. They start working together on cases and an attraction starts to develop. Throw in some action and mystery and you have yourself a wonderful love story that I couldn’t put down. I read it in a few hours and it’s such a great story, it’s also great to see the Kinds incorporated into the story. I highly recommend you read this book it’s worth more than the 5 stars 🌟
4 stars I am enjoying this series and hope brother #3 gets a book. No foreshadowing in this one. The Kind family make cameos, and I loved that. It’s hard to let go of that boisterous and prolific family. Laura is a widow with three girls. She’s tough as nails as an attorney and in her personal life. Julian is the typical one and done because his heart was broken years ago. But there’s something about Laurel. And surprisingly, her girls. What a story. Laurel picks up a stalker. What a plot twist! And how the brothers handled it. This ends so well. I just wish there had been a sniff of a third book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
The three Hamilton brothers.. They own a law firm together and in book 1, Roman’s book, we read about an awkward encounter between Julian and a woman Laurel. Well, Roman and Parker hire Laurel, much to Julian’s disapproval.
From the start, Julian and Laurel are thrown together for cases, and she’s very impressive. Julian has a difficult time keeping her out of his head. Laurel feels the same and in no time, they are crossing the lines between their business and personal lives. Not only are you reading the story of Julian and Laurel but also the cases. Lots of things going on and never a dull moment. I really liked this..easy read..flew through it, and look forward to Parker’s story.
Julian hits on a beautiful woman in a bar while at a law conference in San Francisco. The woman, Laurel, turns him down flat. A period of time later, Julian's law firm is interviewing candidates to hire a new lawyer. Surprisingly, one of the interviewees is Laurel. Julian doesn't want to hire Laurel even though she is the best candidate because she rejected him, but he is overruled by his two brothers. Once Laurel begins her time with the firm, she reveals she is a widow with three young girls. Julian, the proverbial bachelor, feels that fact makes Laurel lose her attraction. Does that change?
Sandi Lynn has once again produced an amazing story.
Julian and Laurel do not get off to the best of starts when they meet in a bar, and Laurel refuses to sleep with him, leaving Julian with a bruised ego. When Julian realises his brothers have hired Laurel as their new attorney, he doesn't like it at all. She thinks he is rude and arrogant, and he believes the fact that she has 3 little girls makes her unattractive!! But try as they might, they can not fight their chemistry. With them both struggling with past hurt and betrayals trust is hard won but Laurel and Julian just can't stay away from each other. This is definitely a 5 star read
Julian Hamilton doesn't want anything to do with relationships. Laurel is hired by his brothers to join their legal firm. Julian is opposed because Laurel had refused him. He finds out that she is a widow with three girls and that turns him off until he meets the girls. This is a great enemies to friends story. Sandi Lynn knows how to pull you into a story. I like how the Kind brothers are friends with the Hamilton brothers. Can't wait for the next brother's story.
This was a bit slower read than the first of this new series. It was good and so I will only give it a 3 1/2 star rating. It had some mystery which I thought wasn’t a really good storyline. But I do like the romance of this one. I like how Laurel is a strong women raising 3 daughters on her own. I liked how she had Julian’s number from the beginning but did have an attraction to him. I like how their romance came together. Looking forward to the next in the series which would be Parker’s story.
This was another good book from the author. I love how the books all interwind with other books. It makes you feel like you are still reading the other series if you have read them and make you want to read them if you have not! We finally find out why Julian was so closed off to a relationship. Very glad that he finally was able to open up again. I will say that I was not surprised by the mystery person who was calling Laurel or what they found. I did find that part hard to believe but that is what makes reading fun it is an escape. Looking forward to Parker's book.
Julian & Laurel I liked their story, And the girls are sweet. It's a fun read. But I felt the last part is kinda rushed.. Jumping the time like Two weeks later and then 2weeks later again. It would've been even more beautiful if the epilogue and happy times were expanded. But I liked it. There's so much of Morgan too, and I'm happy about it. It felt similar to the first book in some situations, but it's still good. I just saw that there is no book for Parker's story and I'm disappointed. I would really like to know his story too
Fantastic second instalment of this fabulous series. The combination of romance and legal just hits the spot and I would recommend this series two anyone with a like for legal aspects intertwined with intrigue and a once bitten man who doesn't believe in Love. Good to see past characters make an appearance and ties in nicely with the theme of the book. Looking forward to the next instalment, hopefully soon!!
Julian a single Lawyer who vowed to stay single. Laurel a widowed lawyer and mother of three daughters. Julian and Laurel met in San Francisco when Julian attended a conference. She turned him down for a date. Then she interviewed for a job in Los Angeles unbeknownst to the two of them, it was his practice but she was hired on by his brothers. It’s an enemies to lovers story. Trust me they don’t stay enemies long. Also so much more to storyline.
What a story!! It was so fun watching Julian go from devout playboy to devoted father/boyfriend. The chemistry between Julian and Laurel was off the charts. Watching him fall in love with those three girls was priceless. The storyline flows so smoothly and the added intrigue leaves you breathless and wanting more. Fantastic writing as always. Loved how you gave us some Kinds to get all feely. Looking forward to Parker's story. Definite five stars!!
Cause and Effect manages to balance character development with a tightly plotted storyline that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Sandi does an excellent job building tension…not through dramatic confrontations, but through quiet moments of realization and slow-burning consequences that feel both realistic and deeply human.
Cause and Effect is a rewarding read. It’s smart and emotionally resonant, making it well worth your time.
Julian and Laurel might start off with a misunderstanding and an unwarranted hatred. but once the spark start they both taken on a wild ride. The self imposed bachelor and the widowed mother of three little girls take working together to a whole new meaning. The storyline is filled with one liners, snark and just the right amount of angst to keep the pages turning. Looking forward to the last brother finding his HEA.
This series keeps getting better and better. I love the way that they put their job into the book and what I mean is all the cases that the characters work on it just makes it more interesting and it shows you more about the character itself. I like these two a lot, I would say they started off a little bit slow because Julian learned that Laurel had three girls and he was not up for that, but the attraction was always there and he couldn’t stay away.
The eternal bachelor, after been hurt by his ex Jillian never wanted to get involved with anyone let alone with a single mom with three little girls. Laurel lost her husband in an accident at some point she had to move on but Jillian was the last person she expected to move on. Her three daughters was just as in love with him like he was with them. And once again something from the past comes up and rocks their worlds
I really like this new series by Sandi Lynn. The story is entertaining and very enjoyable. If you've read the Kind series you'll like seeing some of them popping up in this book. I like this book because it is a good story without constant angst. This is a good book by one of my favorite authors.
These first 2 books are both good reads, entertaining characters, and well written adventure for the Hamilton Law firm. Loved having so many " old friends" from the Kind Family involved in all the shenanigans! Loved the Kind Family series ! Great series if you have not yet read it! Cannot wait for the third Hamilton brother to find his " true love"!
Julian doesn't want Laurel to be hired by his firm because she turned him down at the bar, but when they work together one thing leads to another and boom its fireworks. There are three little girls that help him to fall in love with there mother, and the IPad bribe is hilarious. There is also, a big shocker (can I say I love Morgan)
This book was another excellent read by Sandi Lynn. The emotions, intrigue, and complex characters were captivating, pulling you in from the first page. The themes of love, loss and redemption are beautifully explored. Not just another playboy turned good story!
I absolutely love this author. Anything she writes you know is going to be a masterpiece. I love Julian and Laurel and those adorable girls. Those kids cracked me up. I absolutely love stories. Brea introduced the kids. Something that happened in there. I had a feeling, but it was fun to add to the storyline.
Julian Hamilton had issue with commitment, but than Laurel Evans a spicy Lawyer from San Francisco enter his life. Laurel is a spitfire in the courtroom and out. Julian is not sure he likes that. Ghosts from Laurels past show up to destroy her. But with all the twists and turns, this is an amazing book. You just can't put it down. A must read.