Love is a dirty word and passion has no place in the world of high-profile litigation. Sparks fly when attorney Kathy Brooks agrees to represent novelist Charles Morgan, Jr. in a high-profile suit against a powerful government defense contractor. But when Charles’ hidden agenda threatens to expose the government’s dirty little secrets, what started out as the case of a lifetime could cost Kathy her heart, her career and even her life. Charles doesn’t just want to win the lawsuit. He wants to destroy the company responsible for his wife’s death. His enemies, however, will stop at nothing to make the case go away – and that includes blackmail, kidnapping, and murder. As the body count rises and the stakes get higher, Charles and Kathy will have to decide just how much they’re willing to sacrifice for the win. To get justice, they’ll have to put it all out on the line - including each other - and it still might not be enough.
My original Just Dreams audiobook review and many others can be found at Audiobook Reviewer. Charles Morgan, an ex-marine and now a novelist, has lost his wife and unborn child in a traffic accident and is seeking revenge against the company he is blaming for their death. Kathy Brooks, an ambitious and successful lawyer, is assigned to represent Charles in this high-profile wrongful-death case against a government defense contractor, Peachtree Industries. Charles doesn’t just want to win his lawsuit, though, he wants to obliterate the company responsible for destroying his life. Meanwhile, people behind Peachtree Industries are willing to use blackmail, kidnapping, and even murder to make Charles and Kathy go away. While Charles and Kathy become closer, enemies pop up everywhere and the action-packed plot becomes increasingly complex but keeps moving along at a fast pace. Just Dreams was an engaging mix of legal thriller and romantic suspense. The author, L.J. Taylor, seemed to have significant knowledge of legal practices and included some detailed descriptions which helped to create a very convincing and believable story. However, as I know next to nothing about the legal world, it required quite a bit of concentration to follow some of this legal talk. Told from multiple perspectives, all the characters in this story were well-drawn and felt authentic making it easy to become emotionally involved in the plot. The dialogue felt realistic at all times. I really enjoyed it and it held my attention throughout. This was the first book in ‘The Brooks Sisters Dreams’ series and I look forward to listening to Dreams Deferred when it becomes available.
The narration was very good. Michael C. Gwynne had a very pleasant voice and cadence and had no problems coping with the numerous male and female voices, all of which were easy to distinguish. Nice mix between reading and acting. There were no issues with the quality of the audio production.
Overall, a solid listen, which felt like quite a short story. This should appeal to listeners/readers who enjoy a good blend of romance and action-packed thriller within a legal setting. 3.5 stars for the story, 4 stars for the narration. Audiobook provided for review by the audiobookreviewer.com
Kathy Brooks is a thirty-five year old lawyer representing Charles Morgan, Jr., an ex Marine who is sueing a government defense contractor with ties to the C.I.A. for the wrongful death of his wife and unborn child. Charles refuses to settle and the contractor refuses to go to trial making the lawsuit highprofile and costly.
Just Dreams is a legal action with assassins, bullets flying, & computer hackers. It didn't disappoint me in regards with showing how the law works and legal jargon too. The book was convincing because of this. I was disappointed with the development of Kathy and Charles lawyer-client romance however. I felt it was more forced just to fit into the romance supense genre.
The storyline in the beginning capitivated me but there were questions I had that were never answered or statements made by characters that were confusing because of tags associated with the book. None the less I felt the first half of the book was more developed while the second half seemed to be laxed in execution to detail a bit.
Overrall Just Dreams is an OK read. This was my first time reading something by L.J. Taylor. If you like books with strong female leads, court room dramas, and action give Just Dreams a try.
Kathy is a hard nosed lawyer with her head in the game. She is more than ready when novelist and ex-marine, Charles Morgan, walks into her life with a case of a lifetime. However, Kathy soon realizes there’s more at stake than a loss blotting her pristine record.
Enemies from every side are working against her and danger lurks around every corner. Now Kathy and Charles must race against time to solve the case before she loses her career and even her life. But through it all, she just might lose her heart.
No one really knows what they're made of until that moment crisis stares us in the face. I think what really defines us is what we're willing to sacrifice to do what’s right. Kathy had it all. But when she was faced with this decision, she risked everything to do what needed to be done.
This is the message I received from Just Dreams. Was it for the love of a man? Maybe. But regardless, she is a worthy heroine and more to her than the woman you meet on the first page. I’d like to think there’s a little Kathy in all of us.
Yes, there is a romantic element to the story. But to me, the best romances are more than that. The plot is a fast paced and action packed. Around every corner there was a new development, which will make the reader keep turning the page. What I really liked was how the romance doesn't take away from the story. Everything has to do with the central plot.
The author's knowledge of the legal world was amazing, making the story convincing and believable.
The author created authentic characters. I was able to visualize their faces and even their movements. The internal dialogue adds to their believability, but wasn't overdone and drawn out.
The book’s dialogue was one of the best aspects of the story. The author skillfully used accents and phrases to enhance her character’s and story’s validity, without coming off as silly or over the top.
Ultimately, what had me was how I felt about the characters. I know I’m reading the book for the purpose of reviewing it. I love it when I forget that and get lost in the characters, and become emotionally involved in what’s happening.
Thomas Wilkes worked for Peachtree Industries who provided support to the federal government all over the world. Both the company and it's employees are used to getting away with any crime they commit due to their government connections so when Wilkes runs over Patricia Morgan, killing her and her unborn child he keeps on driving knowing he would not be charged. This time though the company could not buy off Patricia's husband, Charles, who wanted revenge and hired a lawyer, Kathy Brooks, in a wrongful death case. Kathy was a bit nervous about this case because it was her first one where she was taking the lead. Up to this point, she had always been second chair and relied on her mentor to take the lead. Kathy knows she has her work cut out for her when her client says he will not take a settlement and wants to go to court. She doesn't know that Charles has another objective and doesn't want to just win the wrongful death case.
I liked this romantic suspense novel with the detailed descriptions of the legal and underworld. It kept me on my toes keeping track of what everyone was doing. Having Kathy and Charles fall for each other added to the plot since it was a big no no for Kathy to have a relationship with a client. It could have caused lots of problems for them and end Kathy's career.
I didn't expect Kathy to forgive and forget all of Charles' stunts concerning his case. He had so many hidden agendas that what he did to get things done his own way made him look stupid at times since they typically had consequences that he had not thought about. This book showed that love is blind because Kathy still loved him even after he messed up the case a few times.
I like to be able to picture the characters as they appear but in this book I didn't know that the two lead characters where African-American until I finally figured it out several chapters into the book. After those characters though, all the the others where described as being African-American except for one Caucasian which made it easier to envision them. Unfortunately, the lack of character description stayed with me and made it hard to enjoy the book. Once I was able to let it go, I liked the story more.
Please note I received a complementary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I am hooked! This book is right up my alley. I love romance books with action, FBI, and military or ex-military guys in them. This book has it all!
I love the alpha male Charles is and his extremely smart and equally strong love interest, Kathy, (did I also mention she is his attorney). All the characters in this book are strong characters and were fun reading about, even the bad ones. There was not a single minute when this book was dull or lulled and you never knew exactly how it would all end. I am excited to read the next book in this series and I hope that the author keeps some of the characters throughout. Great read!
**I received an ARC copy for an honest review.** You can also find me on Pintrest
This was such an awesome book. I found myself not being able to put it down. Kathy is a tough cookie and takes on her first major case helping Charlie who wants to win a wrongful death suit. The instant Kathy meets Charlie they both have this heart racing attraction. Kathy is willing to lose it all in order to do what is right. This book is action packed and fast paced. There seems to be a new adventure that both characters get into. I can't wait to read the second book. Trust me, you will not want to put the book down once you start reading.
Just dreams is a combination of romance, thriller, mystery having FBI, CIA, law firms, hackers & much more. The author had a really sound plot and did justice to it.
L.J.Taylor has nailed her character's development effortlessly, and created a wonderfully, engaging first novel. Her developemnt of plot is full of twists and turns which make the reader pay attention to detail. For those who enjoy a well crafted story this is a fine read.
This book is an exciting read with believable characters. The manipulations that people with power or money can do to move their agenda is presented in a gut wrenching story. I received this book from Goodreads for free.
My first read by this author and it won't be my last. This romantic legal thriller was a page turner. The storyline and plot was well thought out and strongly developed, editing was on point and it wasn't too descriptive where it became boring. Fast, action paced read! Dope!
This story has everything I love in a book - suspense, action, intrigue, kick ass female lead, hot Alpha male and of course, love and romance.
Kathy and Charles complement each other perfectly. She’s the attorney assigned to take on Charles’ wrongful death case against Peachtree Security for the death of his wife and unborn child. There is an attraction from the beginning but ethically she can’t get involved with a client. Charles seems just as drawn to her but his priority is avenging his late wife’s death. The people they are going up against are dangerous and will go to any extreme to keep their secrets very well hidden.
It had me hooked from the first page. I liked the pace of the story and the plot was so good. The action was insane and the women fought just as well as the men, which I especially loved. I will definitely read the next installment.
The title is a bit misleading 😂😂however this was a really good read. I wasn’t expecting this to be a suspense action love story. When Ms.Brooks was assigned to Charles Morgan’s Jr. Wrongful death suite against a major Security company I had no idea it would turn into a roller coaster ride.
This story had a ton of twists and turns and I found it very hard to put it down to the point I read it in one day. For those romantics like myself..yes there is romance but there is sooo much more. You won’t be disappointed. As an aside the only thing that kept me chuckling was the use of the word “pocketbook” instead of purse😂 made me think of my grandmother 🤷🏽♀️. Any it was a good read and I look forward to reading about another Brooks sister
I thought I'd get lost in the legal and military jargon in this story, but after the initial shock, it was surprisingly easy to follow. This really read like a movie script - I could vividly see the characters and scenes as they changed. It was fast paced and engaging with lots of twists. I couldn't fathom either of the main characters escaping alive. I'm trying to figure out how the title fits in, but still recommend this read.
I truly enjoyed this quick read. The details in the story kept me intrigued and anxious to turn the pages to reach the end. It was a great read and well worth the time!!
I really enjoyed this book. It seemed to be slow and I had to put it down several times. Once I got to the last 4 chapters, the pace picked up. The idea and the concept was well done but I just think if it were shorter, the book would have rated 5 stars!
“Just Dreams is a fast paced romantic thriller centered on government agencies, rogue agents and a lawyer named Kathy Brooks who is caught in the middle of a conspiracy she hadn't planned for. Her first solo client happens to be a handsome widower driven by the need for revenge for the deaths of his wife and child. His drive blinds him to the chaos he creates until someone special to him is put in the line of fire. Meanwhile powerful forces are concerned over exposing themselves and their interests. “
Just Dreams by L.J. Taylor is a romantic story occurring within a spy thriller. We see the story playing out from a few different perspectives which since there was a huge espionage element worked very well. As the reader we got to see the various interconnected threads of the story, but the Taylor was still able to maintain a sense of mystery throughout.
The relationship that grows between Kathy and Charles is pretty typical of most romance novels, as is the descriptions of the sex scenes (yes there are sex scenes) but anyone who is familiar with this genre will know to expect that. There is a however a higher level of emotional evaluation from the characters than you would normally get from the standard type, and that is what makes this refreshing.
The case that is being tried in court is the bigger part of this novel comprising a fairly widespread conspiracy and in particular the actions of one agent determined to protect the truth from coming out. The character of Manning could have been developed further, and it’s only at the end that we get a glimpse of his motivations, but despite this he throws in the right amount of chaos and drama to round out the story.
My biggest complaint is the dialogue, as it is with most romance books. It is so flat and non-descript that it breaks the flow of the narrative and feels unrealistic. There were also references made in the book that made the book seem like it was written in the eighties instead of 2015 that while it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book seemed strange for what should be a modern novel.
Overall this is a fairly typical romantic thriller that takes the genre to the next level with more intrigue and action than you might expect. Its short and sweet and a perfect guilty pleasure.
This review is by Bob Boze on behalf of Truth About Books
Just Dreams is a spy thriller with a bit of romance nicely weaved in.
Kathy Brooks is an up and coming partner in a Florida law firm who is assigned as lead attorney to Charles Morgan’s wrongful death lawsuit.
Charles is a former Army sniper and operative whose wife and unborn child were killed in an automobile accident. An accident that he is sure was caused by an agent of Peachtree, a defense contractor. An agent who Charles also believe was working for the CIA on an illegal domestic mission. Unwilling to even consider a settlement, Charles sets out to destroy Peachtree by revealing that their operatives are in fact working for the CIA inside the United States.
Kathy and Charles file his suit and the two of them prepare their complaint only to be thwarted at every turn by Peachtree’s lawyers. As they dig deeper, looking for prior law suits and other evidence, records, people begin to disappear. Soon, it becomes apparent that Peachtree will do everything it can to make Charles’ case go away.
On a trip to New York to look into a previous case, the budding attraction between Charles and Kathy turns into first an affair and later, something much deeper. Upon their return, they find out that their tryst in NY was filmed and that Peachtree has set out to not only have Kathy disbarred, but destroy her life.
As Charles and Kathy refuse to be blackmailed and fight back, Peachtree and their CIA interface, pull out all the stops and they soon realize that they and their friends and family are fair game.
From this point on, Just Dreams will have you reading far beyond your bed time (as it did me) to find out what happens next in this very well written story. Not only is it well written, but it’s characters are well developed, believable and you’ll soon find yourself telling them “watch out!”, “duck!” or “don’t go in there!”
In summary: Just Dreams is a very well written spy thriller, with wonderful, realistic characters and a lot of twists and turns. An excellent read and highly recommended.
Attorney Kathy Brooks takes on the Case of Charles Morgan JR. His wife was killed in an accident. This is a high profile case against a government contractor, Peachtree Industries. But Charles doesn't want to just win, he wants to destroy them. Revealing their secrets, and exposing Peachtree for what they really are. But this comes at a cost. They will stop at nothing , blackmail, kidnapping and murder. Soon Kathy's life is in danger and she is faced with some tough choices.
Kathy is likable, she is smart, savvy and knows her job well. Kathy puts herself in a vulnerable situation, which makes her flawed and real as well. As for Charles I am not sure how I feel about him. At times I liked him, others I didn't. But that makes him real and the story more interesting. The plot is original, yet believable.
There was a good mix of suspense, drama, legal action, thrills and a splash of romance. The story moves at an even pace, with enough details to bring you into the story. A perfect blend for an intriguing story. I like that in a book. Overall, I enjoyed Just Dreams and feel those who like legal thrillers will enjoy it as well. I also found the cover appealing and fitting to the story.
A fast paced legal thriller with a little bit of romance mixed in. The characters are like-able and well developed. Very little drama takes place inside the courtroom. Instead, Kathy has to fight to get the case to trial at the same time as dealing with all kinds of machinations by opposing council, both legal and illegal. One thing she can't fight though is her attraction to her client. Charles, however is not against breaking a few rules himself which only complicates matters. Kathy's career is put in jeopardy when she is caught in a compromising situation. The government contractor will stop at nothing to quash the case and before long Kathy's hard work is spiraling apart a midst blackmail and dead witnesses. However, the duo refuse to give in and they use all resources available to them to find a winning conclusion. As the contractor gets desperate there is a rush against time to save lives in a suspense filled ending.
An impressive debut novel. Immensely enjoyable, I liked this book a lot. There was so much action it was difficult to put it down. The characters were great. I particularly enjoyed the supporting characters, especially Kathy's sister. I await her story in eager anticipation.
Legal thriller, that captured my mind. Kathy is a lawyer, who knows her stuff, is not afraid to go into the fight, and after the bad guys. Charles is after revenge, and ready to do anything, and make sacrifices to achieve it, even when those sacrifices affect other people's lives. The attraction between them is immediate, and at first I found it a bit awkward, since Charles's wife and unborn child had been recently killed. Also the emotional depth to the characters was a bit lacking, it was not easy to relate to them, or to their relationship. But as the story goes on, the connection comes clear and the characters grow on you. The beginning of the story is filled with legal aspects of the case. At first it felt a little overwhelming with all the legal 'talk', but when I finally got into the story, it flew by, and it was hard to put down. The story is unique in the point, that those we usually see as the heroes, where now the bad guys, with a lot of power and possibilities to destroy both Kathy and Charles. It was an intriguing legal struggle, where all the alphabet agencies were involved, lives were in danger, and love affair can be the worst thing to happen to your career ~ Four Spoons
I received an Advanced Reader copy of Just Dreams by L.J. Taylor for doing an honest review.
This is a great book. Full of intrigue and mystery. Attorney and client falling in love with each other while trying to figure out who is killing people involved with the case and then they are the next targets and get put in protective custody. Can they still pursue the case while in protective custody? Will the FBI be able to protect them?
I enjoyed this book, the author made the characters realistic. in my opinion the best aspect of this book was the dialogue between the main characters throughout the book. the book was well written and very believable. the story comes off as realistic and not at all silly. I got lost in the characters personalities and the emotions between them. this book keeps you on your toes with the twists and turns throughout the book. I really liked this book and it kept me reading long into the night. highly recommended https://www.facebook.com/obsessedbook... https://obsessedbookreviews.wordpress...
Just Dreams. OMG!!!!! This book was fantastic! I could not put this book down. There is so much suspense and drama in this book. Charles lost his wife and child in an accident that he feels was caused by a company doing illegal stuff and he sets out to get revenge. He hires Kathy Brooks as his lawyer to uncover the illegal stuff,but they encounter so many obstacles and almost death trying to avenge Patti's death. Charles and Kathy mess up their case by getting involved with each other and Kathy almost loses her license while Charles almost loses his father. The suspense will have you reading non-stop. Great read! I received the book as an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.
So Kathy is an attorney that normally does the in the shadow work for cases, but when she's asked to take the lead she steps up to the plate and meets a very handsome client Charles who has a lot of anger built up inside of him. Understandable so though since the case Kathy is assigned to for him is a wrongful death suit of his wife and unborn child.
I received this product in exchange for my inspection and honest review, and I'd have to say that it's a pretty quick read of romance and suspense that leaves you ready for the second book to come out.
Disclaimer: I received this book as a gift for an honest review. Thank you.
That said, I feel bad as I should have declined. I'm not much of a fan of romance or court drama. This was both. Now if that is your thing this is a well-written story and you may actually love this. In fact, I recommended it to my husband who loves these kinds of stories. I guess the good thing I could say is that it kept my interest until the end. I wanted to know what would happen to the characters.
This book was gifted by author L.J. Taylor and I really enjoyed it. Charles Morgan Jr is out to expose the company that destroyed his life and he will not stop until it is done. Kathy attorney at law is lead attorney and willing to do whatever it takes to help her client. While planning for court Charles and Kathy develope feelings that are hard to overlook. Kathy is determined to keep her distance but will she be able to resist that pull in order to keep her job and attorney license.
All I can say is WOW!! This book completely took me over as soon as I turned to the first page and kept me on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what would happen next. I really liked the instant attraction and dynamic between attorney Kathy Brooks and her client, Charles Morgan. Just Dreams is the first book I have read by L. J. Taylor and I can't wait to read more by this talented author.
I don't normally read this genre and I almost put it aside at least a dozen times while I searched for something better to read. Since I didn't find anything I really wanted I kept reading this book. Three quarters of the way into the story it finally got interesting and then I couldn't put it down.
What a ride! I actually fell asleep reading this thriller! Not from boredom, blame the clock. 2:00 a.m. and I had a dark screen. Always wanted to know what's happening next page. I highly recommend. It.... Brace yourself for steamy scenes! Maybe a little TMI in one screen, but a nice break from other action. Great Read!