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Counsel #1
Counsel
Prosecutor Adam Thorne is wealthy, self-assured, and one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors. His take-no-prisoners courtroom persona earned him a nickname, ‘the bastard’, among his opponents. His arrogance, however, hides a painful past—one he’s spent decades trying to overcome. Now, he prides himself on being in control of every aspect of his life.
Adam’s orderly world is turned upside down when, appointed to a high-profile case, he finds himself attracted to beautiful and enigmatic Angelique Bain, a key witness and the paid escort of a defendant.
Despite his best efforts to resist her appeal, Adam can’t stop thinking about Angelique, not even in his sleep where she appears in his dreams in unsettling and ever more erotic ways.
Their meetings prove disastrous, and their exchanges grow increasingly fiery. Then, during the trial, Adam learns more about Angelique’s tragic life, and he’s forced, finally, to deal with his demons and acknowledge his feelings for her. He pursues what, for him, had been unthinkable— a relationship with the woman he’d been determined to loathe.
Adam’s orderly world is turned upside down when, appointed to a high-profile case, he finds himself attracted to beautiful and enigmatic Angelique Bain, a key witness and the paid escort of a defendant.
Despite his best efforts to resist her appeal, Adam can’t stop thinking about Angelique, not even in his sleep where she appears in his dreams in unsettling and ever more erotic ways.
Their meetings prove disastrous, and their exchanges grow increasingly fiery. Then, during the trial, Adam learns more about Angelique’s tragic life, and he’s forced, finally, to deal with his demons and acknowledge his feelings for her. He pursues what, for him, had been unthinkable— a relationship with the woman he’d been determined to loathe.
310 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 26, 2016
17 people want to read
About the author
Shenda Paul
5 books5 followersThe desire to write took root some time during the childhood stories my mother read me. By my teenage years, I’d become a voracious reader. Austen, Du Maurier, the Brontës, and Hardy fed my romantic soul, and books like To Kill a Mocking Bird and I Know Why The Caged Bird sings sharpened my sense of justice. Those incredible authors also stirred my interest in the complexity of human nature.
By then, I'd also been writing for a while. From my first childish tale about my cat, Timmy’s, secret powers and talking ability, to adolescent depictions of villains and heroes and happily-ever-afters, and later fictional stories about historical characters and imagined times and places, I continued to create stories. Relationships took precedence for a time, and though a demanding career made it almost impossible for many years, the desire to write books remained.
My writing was a close-held secret. It took decades for me to overcome my insecurities and share my work with others. Enrolling in writing courses and reading my work to an entire class of fellow students helped to boost my confidence. Eventually, I took the plunge by penning and publishing weekly installments of my first novel, Counsel, for an online audience. In writing Counsel, I set out to create a story of substance and disprove the common held misconception that romance novels are ‘fluff.’ Primarily, though, I wanted to write an absorbing tale with characters readers care about—hopefully, long after finishing the last chapter.
Publishing The Counsel Series was a dream come true, and I’m incredibly thankful to that community of online readers. They eased my self-doubt and kept me going through that first novel. Their professed love for the characters inspired the other books in the series. Also, their championing made the leap into the precarious world of self-publishing far less scary than it would otherwise have been. To them, a profound 'thank you' from the bottom of my heart.
My other great passions are my family, friends, and caring for my home and garden. I care deeply, also, about human rights, the welfare of women, children, and animals. Links to some of the charities I support can be found on my website.
By then, I'd also been writing for a while. From my first childish tale about my cat, Timmy’s, secret powers and talking ability, to adolescent depictions of villains and heroes and happily-ever-afters, and later fictional stories about historical characters and imagined times and places, I continued to create stories. Relationships took precedence for a time, and though a demanding career made it almost impossible for many years, the desire to write books remained.
My writing was a close-held secret. It took decades for me to overcome my insecurities and share my work with others. Enrolling in writing courses and reading my work to an entire class of fellow students helped to boost my confidence. Eventually, I took the plunge by penning and publishing weekly installments of my first novel, Counsel, for an online audience. In writing Counsel, I set out to create a story of substance and disprove the common held misconception that romance novels are ‘fluff.’ Primarily, though, I wanted to write an absorbing tale with characters readers care about—hopefully, long after finishing the last chapter.
Publishing The Counsel Series was a dream come true, and I’m incredibly thankful to that community of online readers. They eased my self-doubt and kept me going through that first novel. Their professed love for the characters inspired the other books in the series. Also, their championing made the leap into the precarious world of self-publishing far less scary than it would otherwise have been. To them, a profound 'thank you' from the bottom of my heart.
My other great passions are my family, friends, and caring for my home and garden. I care deeply, also, about human rights, the welfare of women, children, and animals. Links to some of the charities I support can be found on my website.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 7, 2017
Counsel by Shenda Paul has a leading character named Adam that is dedication to his adopted family. His love for them is just incredible. I fell in love with Adam from the very beginning. The author did an incredible job with her knowledge of the American justice system. I can’t say enough good things about this book. Can’t wait to read more about Adam and his early life in the book Lost and other books in this series.
November 20, 2023
This authors story captured me from the start to the end. I hope there are more brilliant stories to come. Seriously good visions and story telling.
Kashiefa xx
Kashiefa xx
July 12, 2016
This book, in its serialized online form, was a favorite of mine. I read it as it was being written. I was very happy that the author decided to publish it, and encouraged her to do so. This published form doesn't disappoint. Not in the least! The characters are crisply drawn, the courtroom dialogue is realistic, the plot interesting and commands attention. The original has been divided into two books and I am in process of reading the second book now. I wish Ms. Paul all good things in her publishing career and can't recommend this book highly enough!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews