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Love and Law #2
Benched
On the heels of their victory securing marriage equality for same-sex couples, Supreme Court Justice Victoria Willoughby and LGBTQ rights lawyer Genevieve Fornier were hoping for some quiet time to navigate their new relationship. Instead, a photo of them almost kissing shows up on a blog, and they’re thrust into the media spotlight again. When Genevieve’s case about same-sex parental rights gets appealed to the Supreme Court, their potential conflicts of interest have legal and personal ramifications, and one of them is going to be benched for the hearing.
322 pages, Paperback
First published April 5, 2017
23 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
About the author
Blythe Rippon
12 books64 followersBlythe Rippon holds a PhD in the humanities and currently teaches writing to undergraduates. Until now, her publishing has been of the academic variety. When not grading papers or imagining plots for future novels, she is usually holding forth about the political injustice of the day, hiking, or experimenting in the kitchen. She has lived all over the United States and at present can be found in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she lives with her wife and children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
August 5, 2017
'Ylva-Publishing ARC provided in exchange for my unbiased review'
Fantastic sequel!
It's amazing how truly gifted an author B.Rippon is and the stunningly incredible book that she has written.She has the ability to make readers feel where the story is going,the wording,all the characters and even be receptive to whatever is happening creatively at that very moment on these pages...the book did reflect on many different topics that had societal,social and other meaningful repercussions in today's news/media standing as the author did write because of her knowledge..I admired Ms.Rippon for having all her Law,Supreme Court details plus other information down to the nth word in this continued series because it had good dialogue and monologue,engaging story,nice climatic moments,very descriptive cases,good pacing and editing,passionate career-oriented females,constructive vocabulary,don't forget the chemistry and a few unforgettable sex-crave characters..a perfect sequel for readers who want to be both educated and entertained while enjoying an easy and good-naturedly funny sometimes serious love story that eventually had a fluffy ending for this dynamic duo (Genevieve & Victoria)..highly recommend
Fantastic sequel!
It's amazing how truly gifted an author B.Rippon is and the stunningly incredible book that she has written.She has the ability to make readers feel where the story is going,the wording,all the characters and even be receptive to whatever is happening creatively at that very moment on these pages...the book did reflect on many different topics that had societal,social and other meaningful repercussions in today's news/media standing as the author did write because of her knowledge..I admired Ms.Rippon for having all her Law,Supreme Court details plus other information down to the nth word in this continued series because it had good dialogue and monologue,engaging story,nice climatic moments,very descriptive cases,good pacing and editing,passionate career-oriented females,constructive vocabulary,don't forget the chemistry and a few unforgettable sex-crave characters..a perfect sequel for readers who want to be both educated and entertained while enjoying an easy and good-naturedly funny sometimes serious love story that eventually had a fluffy ending for this dynamic duo (Genevieve & Victoria)..highly recommend
April 24, 2017
This is the sequel to the book Barring Complications. I had read Barring only a few days ago and enjoyed it. After reading some of the other reviews, I was a little worried about enjoying this book knowing relationship bumps were ahead. One of the things I liked about Barring was the overly sweet HEA. I'm glad to say even with the relationship issues, I still enjoyed this read about as much as the first.
This book picks up a while after book 1 ended. Instead of an engaged couple, like I expected, Victoria and Genevieve are living apart with little time together due to each others jobs. When they are together, things seem a bit strained. While official out, Victoria is still acting like shes in the closet. And when a case Genevieve is arguing, might come up in front of Victoria, the decision of who should recuse themselves, might be at the cost of their relationship. Can they make it past personal and professional hurdles, or will one of the run away just like 20 years earlier?
This book was a little less about Victoria and the court, and more about Genevieve and her court battles. I still found it interesting and enjoyed the case she was arguing. The other parts of this book, was mostly the bumps of their relationship. As I said before, I liked the sweet ending of the first book, and wasn't sure I wanted to read about these issues. But, I think the relationship drama actually worked in this book. While, I think these two should be together, their relationship was just not working. Considering they are a lawyer and judge, they seemed to have lost the ability to communicate, which surprised me. Maybe that was not the most realistic choice, but that is one of the main issues the relationship had. They didn't know how to talk about being a couple. Let alone be a couple. So while I dreaded this bumpy road, it was needed. If everything is always peaches and cream, reading can get a bit boring. The relationship drama was needed in this book, and I enjoyed watching both characters grow.
I think you could read this book without reading Barring Complications first, but I personally would not recommend it. You would be missing too much of the characters history. I enjoyed this read, and I think fans of Barring, will also enjoy it.
An ARC was given to me by YLVA, for a honest review.
This book picks up a while after book 1 ended. Instead of an engaged couple, like I expected, Victoria and Genevieve are living apart with little time together due to each others jobs. When they are together, things seem a bit strained. While official out, Victoria is still acting like shes in the closet. And when a case Genevieve is arguing, might come up in front of Victoria, the decision of who should recuse themselves, might be at the cost of their relationship. Can they make it past personal and professional hurdles, or will one of the run away just like 20 years earlier?
This book was a little less about Victoria and the court, and more about Genevieve and her court battles. I still found it interesting and enjoyed the case she was arguing. The other parts of this book, was mostly the bumps of their relationship. As I said before, I liked the sweet ending of the first book, and wasn't sure I wanted to read about these issues. But, I think the relationship drama actually worked in this book. While, I think these two should be together, their relationship was just not working. Considering they are a lawyer and judge, they seemed to have lost the ability to communicate, which surprised me. Maybe that was not the most realistic choice, but that is one of the main issues the relationship had. They didn't know how to talk about being a couple. Let alone be a couple. So while I dreaded this bumpy road, it was needed. If everything is always peaches and cream, reading can get a bit boring. The relationship drama was needed in this book, and I enjoyed watching both characters grow.
I think you could read this book without reading Barring Complications first, but I personally would not recommend it. You would be missing too much of the characters history. I enjoyed this read, and I think fans of Barring, will also enjoy it.
An ARC was given to me by YLVA, for a honest review.
April 23, 2017
I still have a ton of Netgalley books to go through, but this book went straight to the top of my queue when it came out. I simply can't resist what is probably my favorite high-powered lesfic couple: crusading civil rights attorney Genevieve Fournier and Supreme Court justice Victoria Willoughby. This is a sequel to Barring Complications, where Genevieve argued for marriage equality for same-sex couples before the US Supreme Court, where one of the judges just happens to be her college ex, Victoria. I highly recommend picking that up first, if you're new to the series, as it's got a nice romance and a crackling legal case. In fact, I'd venture to say you won't like the ladies very much in this second book if you didn't fall in love with them in the first.
Note: Possible spoilers for the first book.
Genevieve and Victoria are now together. Out but not proud. It's mostly due to Victoria's reserve as after decades of hiding, she still can't bring herself to publicly acknowledge her sexuality. Because of their hectic work schedules and Genevieve's frequent traveling, dates are few and far between and mostly confined to Victoria's home. Tori, as she's known to friends, has also kept Genevieve out of her social circles and avoided venturing beyond her own. It's against the backdrop of this stilted relationship that Genevieve gets a chance to argue a landmark case involving the parental rights of same-sex parents in front of the Supreme Court again. Buried in administrative work since her amazing DOMA victory in the last book, Genevieve practically salivates at the thought of squaring off against opposing counsel one more time. But now that she's girlfriends with a member of the very court handling the case, can she even do that? Or would Victoria have to recuse herself instead?
The author once again seamlessly weaves an absorbing legal case (or two, as there is another one involving a transgender) with a realistic look at a complicated, and not so happily-ever-after relationship. In my review of the first book, I noted a certain aspect of Victoria's personality change that didn't really ring true to me. Her near instant "change of heart and personality from being a cold, calculating, single-minded, goal-driven, risk-averse over-achiever to a warm, funny, and fun-loving adventurer who she hasn't been in 20 years". That change was probably just a fluke--caused by the euphoria or "glow" of new love. Well, it certainly didn't last very long. She's pretty much reverted back to her original cold, controlling self. And Genevieve, she's back to whatever she was before--someone who was used to getting her way, living life on her own terms, and never being tied down domestically. These are two incredibly accomplished women who have lived and thrived close to five decades without each other. And developed all kinds of habits, tics and personality traits that would be near impossible to get rid of or get used to without some serious adjustment and compromise on both parties. So why am I saying all this? It's because I almost DNF-ed the book... twice. For me to even think about not finishing a book, it must really be offensive or utterly unbelievable. One of the character's actions felt like both.
The following explains why.
It's a good thing there's much more to the book than just the romance. Two gripping legal cases. Behind-the-scenes Supreme Court action, both on and off-court. Court politics and personalities. Pomp and circumstance. Personal drama. Stuff you'd expect Supreme Court justices and hot-shot legal luminaries go through in their daily lives. Everything feels authentic and well-researched. Best of all, how our two power ladies work their way back to each other was so seamlessly woven through the other subplots of the book, that it felt completely natural. It took me until around 70% of the book before I realized why these two women acted the way they did. So the whole situation with them goes from unbelievable, to tolerable, then understandable, then almost inevitable.... In some ways, this actually felt more realistic than the fairy tale ending we had in book 1. Which is why I ended up really liking the book instead of hating it. The epilogue, though. That made me cringe. I don't think Victoria Willoughby would EVER go that far. ;)
4.25 stars
ARC from Ylva
p.s. Added more comments (inside the spoiler tag) about the worst part of the book that caused me to consider not finishing it.
Note: Possible spoilers for the first book.
Genevieve and Victoria are now together. Out but not proud. It's mostly due to Victoria's reserve as after decades of hiding, she still can't bring herself to publicly acknowledge her sexuality. Because of their hectic work schedules and Genevieve's frequent traveling, dates are few and far between and mostly confined to Victoria's home. Tori, as she's known to friends, has also kept Genevieve out of her social circles and avoided venturing beyond her own. It's against the backdrop of this stilted relationship that Genevieve gets a chance to argue a landmark case involving the parental rights of same-sex parents in front of the Supreme Court again. Buried in administrative work since her amazing DOMA victory in the last book, Genevieve practically salivates at the thought of squaring off against opposing counsel one more time. But now that she's girlfriends with a member of the very court handling the case, can she even do that? Or would Victoria have to recuse herself instead?
The author once again seamlessly weaves an absorbing legal case (or two, as there is another one involving a transgender) with a realistic look at a complicated, and not so happily-ever-after relationship. In my review of the first book, I noted a certain aspect of Victoria's personality change that didn't really ring true to me. Her near instant "change of heart and personality from being a cold, calculating, single-minded, goal-driven, risk-averse over-achiever to a warm, funny, and fun-loving adventurer who she hasn't been in 20 years". That change was probably just a fluke--caused by the euphoria or "glow" of new love. Well, it certainly didn't last very long. She's pretty much reverted back to her original cold, controlling self. And Genevieve, she's back to whatever she was before--someone who was used to getting her way, living life on her own terms, and never being tied down domestically. These are two incredibly accomplished women who have lived and thrived close to five decades without each other. And developed all kinds of habits, tics and personality traits that would be near impossible to get rid of or get used to without some serious adjustment and compromise on both parties. So why am I saying all this? It's because I almost DNF-ed the book... twice. For me to even think about not finishing a book, it must really be offensive or utterly unbelievable. One of the character's actions felt like both.
The following explains why.
It's a good thing there's much more to the book than just the romance. Two gripping legal cases. Behind-the-scenes Supreme Court action, both on and off-court. Court politics and personalities. Pomp and circumstance. Personal drama. Stuff you'd expect Supreme Court justices and hot-shot legal luminaries go through in their daily lives. Everything feels authentic and well-researched. Best of all, how our two power ladies work their way back to each other was so seamlessly woven through the other subplots of the book, that it felt completely natural. It took me until around 70% of the book before I realized why these two women acted the way they did. So the whole situation with them goes from unbelievable, to tolerable, then understandable, then almost inevitable.... In some ways, this actually felt more realistic than the fairy tale ending we had in book 1. Which is why I ended up really liking the book instead of hating it. The epilogue, though. That made me cringe. I don't think Victoria Willoughby would EVER go that far. ;)
4.25 stars
ARC from Ylva
p.s. Added more comments (inside the spoiler tag) about the worst part of the book that caused me to consider not finishing it.
April 28, 2017
Having just finished My Own Words, which is a collection of memories, lectures, and opinions issued by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, it was quite a shift for me to pick up Blythe Rippon’s lesbian fiction novel, Benched. The principals here are Victoria Willoughby, a Supreme Court Justice, and her girlfriend, LGBTQ rights attorney Genevieve Fornier. It’s been a long time since I read a work of lesbian fiction, so I was curious to see how this would play out.
Benched seems to target the LGBTQ audience, as there is heavy focus on Tori and Genevieve’s romantic relationship. The two women met twenty years earlier while at Harvard Law, had a relationship that abruptly ended and resumed when both women were well established in their careers. This story picks up where a first book, Barring Complications, left off.
Not having read the series debut novel, I felt as though I was coming into a conversation in the middle, as the author does little to familiarize new readers with the characters. What she tells us is this: Willoughby is the youngest-ever appointee to the Supreme Court and a recently out lesbian. Now the whole world knows it because of a picture of Genevieve and her that went viral as the pair were caught in a near-kiss moment. Their relationship two decades earlier was ended by Tori, and it seems there were regrets on both sides. I wish that Ms. Rippon had briefed us further to catch up newcomers (and perhaps refresh the memories of those who’d read the first one) to flesh out the characters more. For more than 70% of the story, I found both women to be quite unlikable as they bickered and struggled with their relationship issues. Genevieve perceived Tori to be controlling and insensitive to her needs, which made Genevieve seem self-centered and childish at times. Tori did seem oblivious and inflexible. At times, they both seemed immature, but upon reflecting upon my own experiences in relationships, it seemed perfectly understandable that a woman of Victoria’s experience, or lack thereof, and stature, would have difficulties transitioning to being out. (I remember a counselor once saying that it might take someone up to seven years to really feel rooted and secure in one’s identity as a LGBT- or Q person. The couple’s struggles were very predictable, but they also seemed true-to-life. There was a whole lot of angst there, and it wasn’t until they decided to split up that I began to enjoy the book more. That’s when I felt the characters start to emerge as real people.
The legal segments are current and compelling. Willoughby’s colleagues agree to hear an appeal from a lower court regarding a same-sex adoption, causing serious tension between the two protagonists. Genevieve’s organization, HER, battles the state of Michigan to obtain rights for a transgender prisoner to have gender reassignment surgery at state expense. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes conferences among the LGBTQ group leaders, but the rapport between the justices was especially well done, I felt. I was quite fond of Victoria’s colleague, Alistair Douglas, a fellow liberal who seems like an extremely kind, wise, and understanding man.
My other favorite character was Genevieve’s friend Bethany. She is supportive but doesn’t hold back when it comes to speaking her mind. A straight woman, she doesn’t care a whit that her friend’s partner is a woman. She just wants her friend to be treated right. To be fair, she isn’t afraid to tell Genevieve if she thinks she’s wrong, and she appears to be open-minded when Tori finally speaks with her.
One other thing that I would have liked would be a closer inside look into Tori’s head as she transforms herself from a rigid, cautious person into a more spontaneous, compromising partner. The change seems too abrupt and out-of-character in the short amount of time that it occurs. I liked the woman we see in the epilogue; it just didn’t seem like a believable transformation in such a brief time. But, who knows? Love is a crazy thing!
Thanks to NetGalley, Ylva Publishing, and the author for an ARC of Benched.
Benched seems to target the LGBTQ audience, as there is heavy focus on Tori and Genevieve’s romantic relationship. The two women met twenty years earlier while at Harvard Law, had a relationship that abruptly ended and resumed when both women were well established in their careers. This story picks up where a first book, Barring Complications, left off.
Not having read the series debut novel, I felt as though I was coming into a conversation in the middle, as the author does little to familiarize new readers with the characters. What she tells us is this: Willoughby is the youngest-ever appointee to the Supreme Court and a recently out lesbian. Now the whole world knows it because of a picture of Genevieve and her that went viral as the pair were caught in a near-kiss moment. Their relationship two decades earlier was ended by Tori, and it seems there were regrets on both sides. I wish that Ms. Rippon had briefed us further to catch up newcomers (and perhaps refresh the memories of those who’d read the first one) to flesh out the characters more. For more than 70% of the story, I found both women to be quite unlikable as they bickered and struggled with their relationship issues. Genevieve perceived Tori to be controlling and insensitive to her needs, which made Genevieve seem self-centered and childish at times. Tori did seem oblivious and inflexible. At times, they both seemed immature, but upon reflecting upon my own experiences in relationships, it seemed perfectly understandable that a woman of Victoria’s experience, or lack thereof, and stature, would have difficulties transitioning to being out. (I remember a counselor once saying that it might take someone up to seven years to really feel rooted and secure in one’s identity as a LGBT- or Q person. The couple’s struggles were very predictable, but they also seemed true-to-life. There was a whole lot of angst there, and it wasn’t until they decided to split up that I began to enjoy the book more. That’s when I felt the characters start to emerge as real people.
The legal segments are current and compelling. Willoughby’s colleagues agree to hear an appeal from a lower court regarding a same-sex adoption, causing serious tension between the two protagonists. Genevieve’s organization, HER, battles the state of Michigan to obtain rights for a transgender prisoner to have gender reassignment surgery at state expense. I enjoyed the behind-the-scenes conferences among the LGBTQ group leaders, but the rapport between the justices was especially well done, I felt. I was quite fond of Victoria’s colleague, Alistair Douglas, a fellow liberal who seems like an extremely kind, wise, and understanding man.
My other favorite character was Genevieve’s friend Bethany. She is supportive but doesn’t hold back when it comes to speaking her mind. A straight woman, she doesn’t care a whit that her friend’s partner is a woman. She just wants her friend to be treated right. To be fair, she isn’t afraid to tell Genevieve if she thinks she’s wrong, and she appears to be open-minded when Tori finally speaks with her.
One other thing that I would have liked would be a closer inside look into Tori’s head as she transforms herself from a rigid, cautious person into a more spontaneous, compromising partner. The change seems too abrupt and out-of-character in the short amount of time that it occurs. I liked the woman we see in the epilogue; it just didn’t seem like a believable transformation in such a brief time. But, who knows? Love is a crazy thing!
Thanks to NetGalley, Ylva Publishing, and the author for an ARC of Benched.
May 5, 2017
Benched is a sequel. If you haven’t read Barring Complications, well I am kind of jealous of you because goodness, that book is amazing and to read it for the first time... let’s just say to me that the book is enthralling. You cannot put it down! So a sequel is tricky business, it’s either an amazing chance to reconnect with characters you have invested in or worst case scenario…a dud! Benched is no dud my friends, this is a fantastic book. It every bit holds its own with its predecessor.
Barring Complications was unique in a way in the two mains, Victoria and Genevieve had this pull towards each other. Even when they couldn’t communicate verbally, because of a pending case, they had this undeniable connection. I loved that about that book, it really drew me in and I was amazed by how well Rippon was able to connect that with the reader.
Where Benched comes in is Victoria and Genevieve have had their whirlwind romance and real life is settling in. Two very powerful players in D.C. whose paths have crossed in a monumental court decision that changes the political landscape of America are destined to meet again professionally. How do they navigate these new waters now that they have become lovers? EEK, problems arise, and neither of them handles it very well.
This is where I think their differences in personality really become fleshed out. Victoria has always struggled with being out while Genevieve is the cover of Advocate. So they struggle and they make missteps that make them wonder if they can forge ahead a cohesive unit or do they need to go separate ways. Is love always enough? I’m not going to lie there were a few moments that I thought, Holy mackerel sapphire what is happening, why are they doing this to each other, but in the end romance prevails. 4.25 stars
Barring Complications was unique in a way in the two mains, Victoria and Genevieve had this pull towards each other. Even when they couldn’t communicate verbally, because of a pending case, they had this undeniable connection. I loved that about that book, it really drew me in and I was amazed by how well Rippon was able to connect that with the reader.
Where Benched comes in is Victoria and Genevieve have had their whirlwind romance and real life is settling in. Two very powerful players in D.C. whose paths have crossed in a monumental court decision that changes the political landscape of America are destined to meet again professionally. How do they navigate these new waters now that they have become lovers? EEK, problems arise, and neither of them handles it very well.
This is where I think their differences in personality really become fleshed out. Victoria has always struggled with being out while Genevieve is the cover of Advocate. So they struggle and they make missteps that make them wonder if they can forge ahead a cohesive unit or do they need to go separate ways. Is love always enough? I’m not going to lie there were a few moments that I thought, Holy mackerel sapphire what is happening, why are they doing this to each other, but in the end romance prevails. 4.25 stars
April 13, 2017
*I received this book from the publisher in return for a fair review.*
The book I read last year, and was published three years ago, Barring Complications, has a squeal - that sequel being this book here. It was one of those books that I felt might be suited for a sequel, but that one could never happen. And yet, here we are - sequel.
Why did I think a sequel could never happen? Because the author had written themselves into something of a trap - published roughly 7 to 8 months before the real life USA Supreme Court came to its own conclusions about a specific legal matter. The same legal matter, marriage equality (to be simplistic) one 'determined' by the fictional USA Supreme Court in 'Barring Complications' - but the court in the book and in real life came to different conclusions. The one in the book . Why would this result put the author into an awkward position? Because any sequel would have to 'get around' the fact that the decisions reached were different - and that the book was now in some kind of alternative universe.
So, what did the author do? Well, simple and unspoilery - the author had a separate Supreme Court case occur in between the prior book and this book that brought the book world and the real world back into alignment legally. And so, out of that 'trap'. And so a sequel can and did occur.
So, what is this specific book about? There were several cases of importance, two of which play prominent roles in this book (the others are there but background). Both, oddly enough, cases in which Genevieve Fornier played a leading role. One case is an older one that has now reached the USA Supreme Court, and the other one still at the district court level. But, and to pull back to what this paragraph is supposed to be about, the book is also about two strong women attempting to be a couple in a relatively public setting and in which their careers can and do ‘rub against’ each other in potentially ethically problematic ways. Plus, Victoria is still kind of stiff, and Genevieve feels kind of stifled.
The district court case involves a young prisoner in a Michigan prison who is transgender. And Genevieve and her organization, HER, is fighting the good fight as plaintiffs against the state – fighting for the state to pay for the transition surgery. Meanwhile the USA Supreme Court case involves family; specifically . . .. I do not have a simple way to word it. Though a simple phrase was used in the book. Mmphs. Can’t recall what that phrase was now. Right, so – the supreme court case involved the rights of parents to be parents of their own children, specifically when the parents are of the same gender; the issue in the case involved a couple from California who moved to Louisiana – and lost one court cases and won the other (lost the court case in California to have the non-biological mother be added as the ‘second parent’ of the children because, forgot exact wording now, but ‘redundant’ since they are already married; while the other case was won in Louisiana (Louisiana was not recognizing California’s birth certificates (which list both mothers), and was not recognizing the non-biological mother as a parent of the children). Even though they won in Louisiana it is still an issue - because the case kept getting appealed and now finds itself appealed up to the USA Supreme Court.
Right, so that’s mostly what’s going on legally in this book. Transgender issues and parental rights for LGBT couples. On the personal front, and yes a huge amount of time is spent in that realm – as mentioned two women struggle in this book to accept being a couple together in the public eye. One a Supreme Court justice, the other a lawyer who has and potentially will again in the future argue court cases in front of said justice (and the complications that might ensue because of that).
Well, as said, one of the two court cases has reached the Supreme Court, and both involved Genevieve as the lead attorney, so the professional and legal worlds collided into each other in this book. Bad things resulted.
This was a rather interesting book that was quite entertaining and mostly a pleasure to read. Though I had certain ‘issues’ with both of the lead women (and yes, I should have mentioned that – two point of views, one for Genevieve, one for Supreme Court Justice Victoria Willoughby). As in, at times I didn’t like either of their actions or reactions.
Crap. I just looked at the book description. I haven’t really written anything that wasn’t already there. Um, oops. Oh, right, that was the simple phrase I could have used earlier – ‘same-sex parental rights’.
Into this mix comes a gorgeous, of course, woman who is the new head of one of the three organizations in which HER both competes with and cooperates with in LGBTQIA matters. Penelope. Former professor, US Diplomat to France, lawyer, LGBT rights lawyer. And I mention her because one of the two lead women in this book end up lusting after her, and so something of a limited love triangle develops. Developed right around the same time I was thinking, while reading the book, that I didn’t really like Victoria and Genevieve as a couple.
Truth be told, there’s a solid argument that could be made that corresponds to what one of the two lead woman think or said at some point in the book – they both loved the idea of them as a couple more than loved the other (to which the other came back with a solid argument refuting that idea). I mention, though, because there really did seem to be a lot more chemistry between Penelope and Genevieve than anything Genevieve and Victoria ever shared (which seemed to be more of a strained love-hate relationship built on betrayal (which isn’t exactly a spoiler, since I’m referring to something that happened way before even the first book in this series occurred, when one dumped the other in law school because they didn’t want to admit, to the public, that they were a lesbian because of the idea that’d have negative ramifications possible future work)).
Long and short, despite anything I do or do not say here, this was an enjoyable read. Sometimes relying more heavily on legal issues, sometimes political, sometimes relationship to push the book along. Rarely do both the professional and the personal dynamics work in concert to advance the course of the book, though.
Oh, something I should maybe have started off my review with (I can move it there now, but, meh) - can I read this book as a stand-alone? - hmm, possibly? I would not recommend it though. Same lead couple in both books. With this book’s action starting roughly a year or 2 after the end of the last book. Things of importance were strongly touched on in this book that are explained/mentioned in the prior book, but not deeply elaborated upon in this book.
I would recommend this series, starting with ‘Barring Complications’.
Rating: 4.25
April 11 2017
The book I read last year, and was published three years ago, Barring Complications, has a squeal - that sequel being this book here. It was one of those books that I felt might be suited for a sequel, but that one could never happen. And yet, here we are - sequel.
Why did I think a sequel could never happen? Because the author had written themselves into something of a trap - published roughly 7 to 8 months before the real life USA Supreme Court came to its own conclusions about a specific legal matter. The same legal matter, marriage equality (to be simplistic) one 'determined' by the fictional USA Supreme Court in 'Barring Complications' - but the court in the book and in real life came to different conclusions. The one in the book . Why would this result put the author into an awkward position? Because any sequel would have to 'get around' the fact that the decisions reached were different - and that the book was now in some kind of alternative universe.
So, what did the author do? Well, simple and unspoilery - the author had a separate Supreme Court case occur in between the prior book and this book that brought the book world and the real world back into alignment legally. And so, out of that 'trap'. And so a sequel can and did occur.
So, what is this specific book about? There were several cases of importance, two of which play prominent roles in this book (the others are there but background). Both, oddly enough, cases in which Genevieve Fornier played a leading role. One case is an older one that has now reached the USA Supreme Court, and the other one still at the district court level. But, and to pull back to what this paragraph is supposed to be about, the book is also about two strong women attempting to be a couple in a relatively public setting and in which their careers can and do ‘rub against’ each other in potentially ethically problematic ways. Plus, Victoria is still kind of stiff, and Genevieve feels kind of stifled.
The district court case involves a young prisoner in a Michigan prison who is transgender. And Genevieve and her organization, HER, is fighting the good fight as plaintiffs against the state – fighting for the state to pay for the transition surgery. Meanwhile the USA Supreme Court case involves family; specifically . . .. I do not have a simple way to word it. Though a simple phrase was used in the book. Mmphs. Can’t recall what that phrase was now. Right, so – the supreme court case involved the rights of parents to be parents of their own children, specifically when the parents are of the same gender; the issue in the case involved a couple from California who moved to Louisiana – and lost one court cases and won the other (lost the court case in California to have the non-biological mother be added as the ‘second parent’ of the children because, forgot exact wording now, but ‘redundant’ since they are already married; while the other case was won in Louisiana (Louisiana was not recognizing California’s birth certificates (which list both mothers), and was not recognizing the non-biological mother as a parent of the children). Even though they won in Louisiana it is still an issue - because the case kept getting appealed and now finds itself appealed up to the USA Supreme Court.
Right, so that’s mostly what’s going on legally in this book. Transgender issues and parental rights for LGBT couples. On the personal front, and yes a huge amount of time is spent in that realm – as mentioned two women struggle in this book to accept being a couple together in the public eye. One a Supreme Court justice, the other a lawyer who has and potentially will again in the future argue court cases in front of said justice (and the complications that might ensue because of that).
Well, as said, one of the two court cases has reached the Supreme Court, and both involved Genevieve as the lead attorney, so the professional and legal worlds collided into each other in this book. Bad things resulted.
This was a rather interesting book that was quite entertaining and mostly a pleasure to read. Though I had certain ‘issues’ with both of the lead women (and yes, I should have mentioned that – two point of views, one for Genevieve, one for Supreme Court Justice Victoria Willoughby). As in, at times I didn’t like either of their actions or reactions.
Crap. I just looked at the book description. I haven’t really written anything that wasn’t already there. Um, oops. Oh, right, that was the simple phrase I could have used earlier – ‘same-sex parental rights’.
Into this mix comes a gorgeous, of course, woman who is the new head of one of the three organizations in which HER both competes with and cooperates with in LGBTQIA matters. Penelope. Former professor, US Diplomat to France, lawyer, LGBT rights lawyer. And I mention her because one of the two lead women in this book end up lusting after her, and so something of a limited love triangle develops. Developed right around the same time I was thinking, while reading the book, that I didn’t really like Victoria and Genevieve as a couple.
Truth be told, there’s a solid argument that could be made that corresponds to what one of the two lead woman think or said at some point in the book – they both loved the idea of them as a couple more than loved the other (to which the other came back with a solid argument refuting that idea). I mention, though, because there really did seem to be a lot more chemistry between Penelope and Genevieve than anything Genevieve and Victoria ever shared (which seemed to be more of a strained love-hate relationship built on betrayal (which isn’t exactly a spoiler, since I’m referring to something that happened way before even the first book in this series occurred, when one dumped the other in law school because they didn’t want to admit, to the public, that they were a lesbian because of the idea that’d have negative ramifications possible future work)).
Long and short, despite anything I do or do not say here, this was an enjoyable read. Sometimes relying more heavily on legal issues, sometimes political, sometimes relationship to push the book along. Rarely do both the professional and the personal dynamics work in concert to advance the course of the book, though.
Oh, something I should maybe have started off my review with (I can move it there now, but, meh) - can I read this book as a stand-alone? - hmm, possibly? I would not recommend it though. Same lead couple in both books. With this book’s action starting roughly a year or 2 after the end of the last book. Things of importance were strongly touched on in this book that are explained/mentioned in the prior book, but not deeply elaborated upon in this book.
I would recommend this series, starting with ‘Barring Complications’.
Rating: 4.25
April 11 2017
April 6, 2017
Ok that was an emotional ride that I feel I am still trying to recover from. I loved the first book in this series the romance was sweet and I enjoyed reading about the legal aspects of the story. I was looking forward to continuing Victoria and Genevieve's story.
What I found hard was going through the rocky patch with these two which last for about 80% of the book. I was often frustrated with the two for their terrible communication and the way they were acting towards each other. I got to about 70% of the book and realised (probably shouldn't have taken me this long) that they were acting just like two strong minded independent women who were different and never been in a long term relationship, therefore making it more realistic and understanding of the two.
I find Blythe Rippon does really well to write realistic characters even though at times that may take the romance out of the situation. I have rated this 4 stars because it was a book that I felt completely pulled into and invested in the story that I actually struggled to sleep because I felt like I had gone to bed whilst still in an argument with my partner (which I aim to avoid at all costs!!!). I loved these two strong women fighting for LGBTQ rights and the wins along the way!
I am very hopeful that there is a third book because I feel like I went through hell and back with this two and deserve a continuation of the story where we get to see them fighting the next battle together! The resolution of the relationship was too quick for me not giving me time to really appreciate it.
Loved it but be warned for those who don't like angst and relationship troubles you will find that this book has a lot of it!!
What I found hard was going through the rocky patch with these two which last for about 80% of the book. I was often frustrated with the two for their terrible communication and the way they were acting towards each other. I got to about 70% of the book and realised (probably shouldn't have taken me this long) that they were acting just like two strong minded independent women who were different and never been in a long term relationship, therefore making it more realistic and understanding of the two.
I find Blythe Rippon does really well to write realistic characters even though at times that may take the romance out of the situation. I have rated this 4 stars because it was a book that I felt completely pulled into and invested in the story that I actually struggled to sleep because I felt like I had gone to bed whilst still in an argument with my partner (which I aim to avoid at all costs!!!). I loved these two strong women fighting for LGBTQ rights and the wins along the way!
I am very hopeful that there is a third book because I feel like I went through hell and back with this two and deserve a continuation of the story where we get to see them fighting the next battle together! The resolution of the relationship was too quick for me not giving me time to really appreciate it.
Loved it but be warned for those who don't like angst and relationship troubles you will find that this book has a lot of it!!
Read
May 8, 2023Wow. This so rarely happens, but I'm going to have to jump ship on this one. I really enjoyed the first book Barring Complications even though the narrator didn't work for me. But I liked the story, so I stuck with it.
In this one, there are some serious plot holes and the characters have taken complete leave of their senses. And while narrator Samantha Cook at least attempted to give the mains slightly different voices in the first book, she doesn't really bother in this one. In fact, there's very little differentiation between any of the characters.
I'm 30 percent through the book and exasperated by how the characters are behaving. How is it shocking/earth shattering that Genevieve could have another case go before the U.S. Supreme Court where Tory is a sitting Justice, when that's what happened in book one? It's not like either of them changed jobs. And their interpersonal dynamic has changed so much I almost don't recognize them.
So no... I'd better move on to something I can enjoy. If I ever decide to revisit this, it will be in ebook form. This is a case where the narration actually detracts from the experience - and the story wasn't strong enough to weather that.
In this one, there are some serious plot holes and the characters have taken complete leave of their senses. And while narrator Samantha Cook at least attempted to give the mains slightly different voices in the first book, she doesn't really bother in this one. In fact, there's very little differentiation between any of the characters.
I'm 30 percent through the book and exasperated by how the characters are behaving. How is it shocking/earth shattering that Genevieve could have another case go before the U.S. Supreme Court where Tory is a sitting Justice, when that's what happened in book one? It's not like either of them changed jobs. And their interpersonal dynamic has changed so much I almost don't recognize them.
So no... I'd better move on to something I can enjoy. If I ever decide to revisit this, it will be in ebook form. This is a case where the narration actually detracts from the experience - and the story wasn't strong enough to weather that.
March 3, 2019
I was a little hesitant to read this because I knew that it would be full of angst. At some points I wanted to knock some sense it’s the MC. I really liked this, though. I would definitely recommend reading Barring Complications first.
December 31, 2017
I like reading about real conflicts in relationship (more than miscommunication), and this book had them. The writing was excellent and I fell in love with the main characters.
May 21, 2017
I loved the way the author writes, smooth and engrossing even when she is writing about the rocky relationship the two main characters are in. I missed her other book, Stowe Away. That is going to be my next book.
April 15, 2017
I have to say that this book was a sweet surprise. I didn't expect for it to be this good nor that i'll like it that much.
Victoria is a supreme court and Genevieve is a civil right lawyer. They have a relationship and at some point they suffer because of their jobs. Add to that that they have baggage from a relathionship they had 20 years ago.
The book is about their relationship, how they navigate over their own insecurities and how overall they love each to much and deserve to fight for each other.
I like it a lot. It was a nice surprise. Tori is such a force, with a lots of insecurities and flaws, but lovely and smart. And Genevieve has such a character, strong. But sometimes i though she was been a little bit unfair with Tori. There's nothing bad to say about this book.
The best part? I just realized there is a first book =)
*An ARC was given to me from YLVA for a honest review.
Victoria is a supreme court and Genevieve is a civil right lawyer. They have a relationship and at some point they suffer because of their jobs. Add to that that they have baggage from a relathionship they had 20 years ago.
The book is about their relationship, how they navigate over their own insecurities and how overall they love each to much and deserve to fight for each other.
I like it a lot. It was a nice surprise. Tori is such a force, with a lots of insecurities and flaws, but lovely and smart. And Genevieve has such a character, strong. But sometimes i though she was been a little bit unfair with Tori. There's nothing bad to say about this book.
The best part? I just realized there is a first book =)
*An ARC was given to me from YLVA for a honest review.
April 6, 2017
The first chapter started well and I thought I was in for a gripping story. Unfortunately I soon lost interest with the 2 main characters, who for women in their 40's did not act their age. Personally for me I did not find reading about the breakup of a relationship interesting, and this overshadowed the other storylines.
Perhaps if I had read book 1 first this would have made a difference. The writing was good and other sub plots were good. It just was not to my personal taste.
ARC from Ylva for an honest review.
Perhaps if I had read book 1 first this would have made a difference. The writing was good and other sub plots were good. It just was not to my personal taste.
ARC from Ylva for an honest review.
December 2, 2017
A look behind the scenes
This is the second book in «The Love and Law Series». Despite it’s not entirely necessary to read the first one before, I think it’s better you do it, for the better understanding of the two main characters.
I wasn’t all that happy with the romance in this book, this part has slipped a little in the background.
The relationship of the two was a very rocky path. More than once I wanted to grab an shake them. Especially Genevieve acted sometimes like a teenager and not as a grown up woman. But it was also understandable, because of what she had to give up. And it was nice to see the change in the behavior of the very private Victoria. In my opinion the happy coming together again in the end, was a little too fast, I would have liked more of the conversations between them.
The other part about the work the two of them are doing, was very interesting. It was like a look behind the scenes of the Supreme Court and some of the LGBTQ groups and their work. The cases were realistic and very intense.
I hope there will be a third book about the two of them, where the relationship is a little bit more in the foreground. I want to know how they continue in their relationship.
I give this story 4 stars.
Thanks to Ylva for receiving an ARC for a honest review. Excuse my unperfect English writing, my native language is Swiss German.
This is the second book in «The Love and Law Series». Despite it’s not entirely necessary to read the first one before, I think it’s better you do it, for the better understanding of the two main characters.
I wasn’t all that happy with the romance in this book, this part has slipped a little in the background.
The relationship of the two was a very rocky path. More than once I wanted to grab an shake them. Especially Genevieve acted sometimes like a teenager and not as a grown up woman. But it was also understandable, because of what she had to give up. And it was nice to see the change in the behavior of the very private Victoria. In my opinion the happy coming together again in the end, was a little too fast, I would have liked more of the conversations between them.
The other part about the work the two of them are doing, was very interesting. It was like a look behind the scenes of the Supreme Court and some of the LGBTQ groups and their work. The cases were realistic and very intense.
I hope there will be a third book about the two of them, where the relationship is a little bit more in the foreground. I want to know how they continue in their relationship.
I give this story 4 stars.
Thanks to Ylva for receiving an ARC for a honest review. Excuse my unperfect English writing, my native language is Swiss German.
July 19, 2020
Sooooooo good... I loved it. These women are amazing.
January 14, 2019
4.25 ⭐️
April 3, 2017
This was a great follow-up to Barring Complications. The plot, characters, and writing were well developed. I look forward to any future books from the author, whether they are part of this series or not.
ARC received from Ylva in exchange for an honest review
ARC received from Ylva in exchange for an honest review
May 31, 2024
I know I’m late to this series so that almost makes it historical fiction!🤣 I liked both MCs. Especially Genevieve. Victoria was her own worst enemy for sure.
I learned a bunch about the workings of the Supreme Court. And both landmark cases were interesting to read about them getting passed into law.
I learned a bunch about the workings of the Supreme Court. And both landmark cases were interesting to read about them getting passed into law.
April 28, 2017
Barring Complications was a really good book. Arguably it was spent in a weird non romance yet romance where the couple was smacked together by the end. Don't get me wrong, the whole killing DOMA was awesome and I loved that part. But Benched? 1/3 into it and I'm finding the author has fallen into the formulaic pull of having the couple be... not a couple.
Going to edit this review with this. When the majority of the book gives out the bad feels I'm not gonna like it. It's a factor that weighs heavily with me. When the good feels outweigh the bad? I'm usually pretty good. But this one was too much of the bad feels for me. I didn't like it, and I didn't finish it.
Going to edit this review with this. When the majority of the book gives out the bad feels I'm not gonna like it. It's a factor that weighs heavily with me. When the good feels outweigh the bad? I'm usually pretty good. But this one was too much of the bad feels for me. I didn't like it, and I didn't finish it.
April 9, 2017
Benched is a sequel to an earlier novel by Rippon, Barring Complications. I haven’t read the earlier work and it would probably have enhanced my enjoyment of this book if I had done so, but nevertheless the book can be read and enjoyed on its own.
It’s difficult to write a book that mixes real characters and events with fictional ones. I think the secret to doing so successfully is to capture their essence and flavour, rather than trying to be completely factual, and Rippon has done quite a good job here. The novel is a romance, and continues with the story of a Supreme Court judge (Victoria) and a lawyer who heads up a civil rights group (Genevieve) as they try to keep their relationship together while navigating through the difficulties of their (at times) clashing professional lives.
Pretty much the whole world knows the makeup of the US Supreme Court and that judges are appointed along partisan lines. The refusal last year of the Republican-controlled Senate to appoint Obama’s nominee (Merrick Garland) will result in the appointment of Donald Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch, a reactionary and right-wing judge. Since he will be replacing a judge with whom he shares a similar ideology (Scalia) it’s unlikely that the balance of the Supreme Court will be changed. This time. But that puts a lot of pressure on the liberal judges not to retire (or die).
Victoria is a liberal judge on the Supreme Court and I liked the insights that Rippon gives into how the Court decides which cases it will review and how joint opinions are written. The parts dealing with the (limited) interactions that the judges have with the President were also interesting to me. In this novel Obama is still President and it made me wish so hard that he really was. But then, almost everything Trump does makes me wish that.
Rippon also does an admirable job of trying to understand and reveal the motivations of the conservative judges and presents them as honourable people in spite of their politics. It’s good to be reminded sometimes that just because someone opposes GLBTQ rights they are not necessarily evil. Sometimes they’re just illogical and misguided.
I have to admit, I enjoyed the legal and political bits more than I enjoyed a lot of the romance bits. Both Victoria and Genevieve’s behaviours annoyed me a lot but strangely, I could also completely understand both of their motivations. They are both flawed, but still likeable characters. Rippon does a good job of presenting them as real people.
I enjoyed reading this book and I’m happy to recommend it. I’ve given it four stars, but it’s probably more accurate to say that I would have given it three and a half stars if I could.
Note: I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
It’s difficult to write a book that mixes real characters and events with fictional ones. I think the secret to doing so successfully is to capture their essence and flavour, rather than trying to be completely factual, and Rippon has done quite a good job here. The novel is a romance, and continues with the story of a Supreme Court judge (Victoria) and a lawyer who heads up a civil rights group (Genevieve) as they try to keep their relationship together while navigating through the difficulties of their (at times) clashing professional lives.
Pretty much the whole world knows the makeup of the US Supreme Court and that judges are appointed along partisan lines. The refusal last year of the Republican-controlled Senate to appoint Obama’s nominee (Merrick Garland) will result in the appointment of Donald Trump’s nominee, Neil Gorsuch, a reactionary and right-wing judge. Since he will be replacing a judge with whom he shares a similar ideology (Scalia) it’s unlikely that the balance of the Supreme Court will be changed. This time. But that puts a lot of pressure on the liberal judges not to retire (or die).
Victoria is a liberal judge on the Supreme Court and I liked the insights that Rippon gives into how the Court decides which cases it will review and how joint opinions are written. The parts dealing with the (limited) interactions that the judges have with the President were also interesting to me. In this novel Obama is still President and it made me wish so hard that he really was. But then, almost everything Trump does makes me wish that.
Rippon also does an admirable job of trying to understand and reveal the motivations of the conservative judges and presents them as honourable people in spite of their politics. It’s good to be reminded sometimes that just because someone opposes GLBTQ rights they are not necessarily evil. Sometimes they’re just illogical and misguided.
I have to admit, I enjoyed the legal and political bits more than I enjoyed a lot of the romance bits. Both Victoria and Genevieve’s behaviours annoyed me a lot but strangely, I could also completely understand both of their motivations. They are both flawed, but still likeable characters. Rippon does a good job of presenting them as real people.
I enjoyed reading this book and I’m happy to recommend it. I’ve given it four stars, but it’s probably more accurate to say that I would have given it three and a half stars if I could.
Note: I received an advance review copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 5, 2017
This is a wonderful stand-alone novel but if you haven't read, "Barring Complications," then give yourself a treat and read it! Blythe Rippon continues to hit it out of the park. This story has so many fleshed-out characters, that you find yourself engaged with more than just the two main protagonists. The subject matter hits close to home as my wife and I adopted our three children, but it's clear that Ms. Rippon did her homework with court proceedings and supreme court traditions. Same-sex parenting is not the only issue addressed in this book, and she handles these topics without a "Preacher Voice," but at the same time, you learn (and CARE) about the characters dealing with these issues-- I was engaged from page one and couldn't put this down! At one point, I had goosebumps...a few chapters away, I found myself laughing out loud. BUY IT! You will be so glad you did!
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
August 23, 2017
I was so glad to this series continue plus I love settings around court cases
May 25, 2023
I can’t believe that I miss them! Victoria and Genevieve! I think about them and their story. I loved the way things turned out. Great story and characters.
May 17, 2017
It’s not easy being green, or in Victoria Willoughby’s case, out. After watching Victoria and Genevieve win at life and love in Barring Complications I was curious to see how these madly in love legal giants would deal with the day to day of a lesbian relationship. As it turns out, not so great.
Benched is the reality check to the HEA in Barring Complications. Genevieve is flat out working as president of Her Equal Rights. She must now combine admin responsibilities with court appearances, fighting for the rights of same-sex couples and others across the LGBTQI spectrum. Victoria, a Supreme Court justice is preparing for the next session and coming to terms with the publicity surrounding her relationship with Genevieve. She is uncomfortable with public displays of affection and tries to control their relationship on her terms, behind closed doors, out of the spotlight. Out and proud Genevieve chafes at Tori’s need for privacy and control.
There is a lot going on in Benched and I loved every minute. The battle for same-sex rights and privileges continues and a case involving the parental rights of same-sex parents threatens to break the fragile relationship Tori and Genevieve have built. The author shows us how minor cracks can turn into major rifts when partners struggle to communicate. 30% into this novel and I could not imagine Genevieve and Victoria ever finding a solution to their differences. The romance shares the spotlight with some interesting cases and a fascinating peek into the day to day workload of a justice on the Supreme Court.
What will stay with me and will bring me back to reread this series is the library scene between Victoria and Alistair. In that one scene Rippon turns this lesbian romance into a literary gem. Throughout the novel Victoria is trying to deal with her inability to let go of the control she needs in every situation.
The soft clink of plates and forks being loaded into the dishwasher down the hall faded when she noticed a first edition copy of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. The pages were brittle, framed by darker shades of tan on the edges. Turning them gently, she fell into Poe’s darkness, where hidden fears that should be deeply buried were instead starkly exposed.
Discussing how Alistair chose to organize his collection;
“You have a lot of Poe. Are you particularly interested in the gothic?”
“More the tragic. You’ll notice Poe is situated in the same section as the ancient Greek tragedies and Shakespeare.”
“And Wuthering Heights? How are you defining tragedy?”
“The same way everyone else does. Hamartia.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “In English, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“A fatal flaw. A trait that should be someone’s strength but turns out to be his-or hers-biggest weakness. A world where one’s undoing comes from within. Hamartia.”
This one scene sums up Victoria’s dilemma throughout the novel. She is her own worse enemy. I love when a book entertains, enlightens, and educates. Benched hit all the right notes for this reader.
An advanced copy was provided by the publisher for review.
Benched is the reality check to the HEA in Barring Complications. Genevieve is flat out working as president of Her Equal Rights. She must now combine admin responsibilities with court appearances, fighting for the rights of same-sex couples and others across the LGBTQI spectrum. Victoria, a Supreme Court justice is preparing for the next session and coming to terms with the publicity surrounding her relationship with Genevieve. She is uncomfortable with public displays of affection and tries to control their relationship on her terms, behind closed doors, out of the spotlight. Out and proud Genevieve chafes at Tori’s need for privacy and control.
There is a lot going on in Benched and I loved every minute. The battle for same-sex rights and privileges continues and a case involving the parental rights of same-sex parents threatens to break the fragile relationship Tori and Genevieve have built. The author shows us how minor cracks can turn into major rifts when partners struggle to communicate. 30% into this novel and I could not imagine Genevieve and Victoria ever finding a solution to their differences. The romance shares the spotlight with some interesting cases and a fascinating peek into the day to day workload of a justice on the Supreme Court.
What will stay with me and will bring me back to reread this series is the library scene between Victoria and Alistair. In that one scene Rippon turns this lesbian romance into a literary gem. Throughout the novel Victoria is trying to deal with her inability to let go of the control she needs in every situation.
The soft clink of plates and forks being loaded into the dishwasher down the hall faded when she noticed a first edition copy of Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart. The pages were brittle, framed by darker shades of tan on the edges. Turning them gently, she fell into Poe’s darkness, where hidden fears that should be deeply buried were instead starkly exposed.
Discussing how Alistair chose to organize his collection;
“You have a lot of Poe. Are you particularly interested in the gothic?”
“More the tragic. You’ll notice Poe is situated in the same section as the ancient Greek tragedies and Shakespeare.”
“And Wuthering Heights? How are you defining tragedy?”
“The same way everyone else does. Hamartia.”
Victoria rolled her eyes. “In English, if it wouldn’t be too much trouble.”
“A fatal flaw. A trait that should be someone’s strength but turns out to be his-or hers-biggest weakness. A world where one’s undoing comes from within. Hamartia.”
This one scene sums up Victoria’s dilemma throughout the novel. She is her own worse enemy. I love when a book entertains, enlightens, and educates. Benched hit all the right notes for this reader.
An advanced copy was provided by the publisher for review.
April 6, 2017
Benched is the sequel to Barring Complications. In Barring Complication LGBTQ rights litigator Genevieve and newly appointed Supreme Court Judge Victoria meet after 20 years and rekindle their lost love. Benched is what happens next. A year has gone by in the relationship. I truly enjoyed Barring Complications however I found in Benched that both characters changed a great deal. In fact I did not even like Genevieve for three quarters of the book. There is no law that says you must like a main character however my interest waned considerably due to this fact. The last quarter of the book does tie things up nicely though and does leave me wondering what is next for them. I do recommend this book .
July 16, 2022
2.5 Stars
March 31, 2017
If you have not already read Barring Complications go and read it now! It's utterly amazing and while you probably could enjoy Benched without having read the first instalment, it will make far more sense and be so much more emotionally engaging if you've followed Genevieve and Victoria from the start. (ok I admit it, I cried...)
Either way the love between them is so beautifully described by Ms Rippon that it feels real and I couldn't but feel connected to both of these characters. Even the supporting cast, particularly the ageing jurist Alastair, are deftly and skilfully drawn giving us a novel populated with people you end up caring for and feeling like you know them well.
I cannot recommend this enough and please Blythe Rippon write more books, three is not enough!
Either way the love between them is so beautifully described by Ms Rippon that it feels real and I couldn't but feel connected to both of these characters. Even the supporting cast, particularly the ageing jurist Alastair, are deftly and skilfully drawn giving us a novel populated with people you end up caring for and feeling like you know them well.
I cannot recommend this enough and please Blythe Rippon write more books, three is not enough!
April 14, 2017
I reread Barring Complications so that I could re - aquaint myself with the characters and I am pleased to say they all returned for this sequel. The issue I had with the first book was that the two main characters picked up after twenty years with no apparent problems. I felt that their reuniting was kinda simple. However, the author has well and truely taken that disappointment, screwed it up into a ball and threw it out of the window.
Blythe Rippon has just picked up where she left off with about a year passing. It is really well written and for a sequel it adheres to the high quality of the first. You could read this as a stand alone but I would not recommend it. The author does keep you up to date but I feel this would be better if you read the first one. It really does just continue.
i really can not praise it enough. The issues that the book deals with are extremely important regarding equal rights and I feel Rippon covers them with confidence, sensitivity and compassion.
I loved the book but you need to make your own mind up. Hell, i'd pay to see Tori in leathers lol. Enjoy!!
Blythe Rippon has just picked up where she left off with about a year passing. It is really well written and for a sequel it adheres to the high quality of the first. You could read this as a stand alone but I would not recommend it. The author does keep you up to date but I feel this would be better if you read the first one. It really does just continue.
i really can not praise it enough. The issues that the book deals with are extremely important regarding equal rights and I feel Rippon covers them with confidence, sensitivity and compassion.
I loved the book but you need to make your own mind up. Hell, i'd pay to see Tori in leathers lol. Enjoy!!
May 9, 2024
I actually like the book. I am not a HEA person anyway - but a realist. And sometime things work out and sometimes they do not.
I was more touched by the side stories. The 80th birthday, sick wife, transgender inmate (no more important topic to me right now). I don’t love the book. I didn’t love the first though. Victoria is always so OCD and not being willing to go out to dinner … because someone might think they are a couple and she is a good cook?!? I wouldn’t put up with it. I like going out and 2 females going out doesn’t have to mean lesbian … although I wish she would embrace that.
I like politics and social issues. We have a scary 2024 election coming in the US in under a year and the side stories remind - should remind people - of the peril of the country.
And you get a love story too!
I was more touched by the side stories. The 80th birthday, sick wife, transgender inmate (no more important topic to me right now). I don’t love the book. I didn’t love the first though. Victoria is always so OCD and not being willing to go out to dinner … because someone might think they are a couple and she is a good cook?!? I wouldn’t put up with it. I like going out and 2 females going out doesn’t have to mean lesbian … although I wish she would embrace that.
I like politics and social issues. We have a scary 2024 election coming in the US in under a year and the side stories remind - should remind people - of the peril of the country.
And you get a love story too!
April 14, 2017
Recensione in italiano: http://thereadingpal.blogspot.it/2017...
(The Review will be translated in English soon)
"Well. Yes." Genevieve
cleared her throat. "I'm not
sure love is always enough."
Comincio subito dal dire che il libro è il secondo di una serie di cui non ho letto il primo volume, ma si può leggere anche da solo perché i personaggi danno tutte le informazioni necessarie ai lettori per capire il loro background.
In Benched seguiamo Victoria e Genevieve. La prima è uno dei nove giudici nella Corte Suprema degli Stati Uniti, mentre la seconda è un avvocato (Treccani... Tanto per stare sul sicuro eh?) che si occupa dei diritti della comunità LGBT+. Le due donne non solo lavorano assieme, ma sono anche una coppia nella vita privata. E noi le seguiamo mentre si occupano di alcuni casi e mentre la loro relazione arriva ad una possibile rottura a causa del lavoro, che le trova in conflitto, ma non solo.
Tori e Genevieve sono due donne molto diverse, e per questo si trovano ad avere molti problemi di comunicazione.
Se Tori ha da poco fatto coming out, è una persona molto privata ed ha ancora problemi ad andare in giro con la donna che ama, Genevieve considera il fatto che Victoria preferisca mangiare a casa propria e altri piccoli dettagli come il fatto che la sua compagna sia una maniaca del controllo.
Genevieve, d'altra parte, vuole avere tutto. Non solo sul lavoro cerca di fare sia lavoro d'ufficio a testa della HER, ma segue anche dei casi personalmente. Per non parlare poi della vita privata, dove più di una volta, mentre ancora sta con Tori, pensa di tradirla con Penelope, una donna molto attraente e brava nel proprio lavoro.
La rottura si ha quando Victoria e Genevieve si trovano a lavorare sullo stesso caso. Tori pensa che non debbano, perché potrebbe compromettere il risultato. Genevieve quindi si ritira e la loro relazione finisce in fondo ad un burrone. Un burrone davvero poco profondo, visto che fin da subito cercano di rimettere assieme i pezzi!
Posso dire che leggere libri pubblicati da Ylva Publishing mi mancava? Non solo perché sono f/f, ma proprio perché la casa editrice è ottima.
Questo è il primo libro che leggo scritto da Blythe Rippon. Le recensioni su Goodreads sono contrastanti e io non sapevo cosa pensare, quindi mi sono immersa nella lettura. E, se all'inizio Tori e Genevieve non mi hanno toccata per nulla, alla fine mi sono ritrovata a sperare che si rimettessero assieme, perché pur con tutti i problemi che hanno, si vede che si amano profondamente. Solo, come in tutte le coppie, entrambe le donne devono capire che, se vogliono stare insieme, devono arrivare a compromessi.
Penelope alla fine è quella che mi è piaciuta di più. Con molta diplomazia capisce il problema e alla fine sembra anche lei volere la felicità di Tori e Genevieve.
Oltre alla storia d'amore, come ho detto, possiamo seguire alcuni casi a cui le due donne lavorano assieme ai propri team. Io so poco e niente di queste cose, soprattutto parlando di Stati Uniti, ma da quello che ho sentito sembra tutto piuttosto realistico.
Per quanto riguarda la scrittura, invece, non mi ha entusiasmato particolarmente. Anzi, ha rallentato la lettura. Posso dire però di aver imparato nuove parole e quindi sono abbastanza soddisfatta anche di questa parte del romanzo.
Come sempre, io vi consiglio di guardare il catalogo della Ylva Publishing!
(The Review will be translated in English soon)
"Well. Yes." Genevieve
cleared her throat. "I'm not
sure love is always enough."
Comincio subito dal dire che il libro è il secondo di una serie di cui non ho letto il primo volume, ma si può leggere anche da solo perché i personaggi danno tutte le informazioni necessarie ai lettori per capire il loro background.
In Benched seguiamo Victoria e Genevieve. La prima è uno dei nove giudici nella Corte Suprema degli Stati Uniti, mentre la seconda è un avvocato (Treccani... Tanto per stare sul sicuro eh?) che si occupa dei diritti della comunità LGBT+. Le due donne non solo lavorano assieme, ma sono anche una coppia nella vita privata. E noi le seguiamo mentre si occupano di alcuni casi e mentre la loro relazione arriva ad una possibile rottura a causa del lavoro, che le trova in conflitto, ma non solo.
Tori e Genevieve sono due donne molto diverse, e per questo si trovano ad avere molti problemi di comunicazione.
Se Tori ha da poco fatto coming out, è una persona molto privata ed ha ancora problemi ad andare in giro con la donna che ama, Genevieve considera il fatto che Victoria preferisca mangiare a casa propria e altri piccoli dettagli come il fatto che la sua compagna sia una maniaca del controllo.
Genevieve, d'altra parte, vuole avere tutto. Non solo sul lavoro cerca di fare sia lavoro d'ufficio a testa della HER, ma segue anche dei casi personalmente. Per non parlare poi della vita privata, dove più di una volta, mentre ancora sta con Tori, pensa di tradirla con Penelope, una donna molto attraente e brava nel proprio lavoro.
La rottura si ha quando Victoria e Genevieve si trovano a lavorare sullo stesso caso. Tori pensa che non debbano, perché potrebbe compromettere il risultato. Genevieve quindi si ritira e la loro relazione finisce in fondo ad un burrone. Un burrone davvero poco profondo, visto che fin da subito cercano di rimettere assieme i pezzi!
Posso dire che leggere libri pubblicati da Ylva Publishing mi mancava? Non solo perché sono f/f, ma proprio perché la casa editrice è ottima.
Questo è il primo libro che leggo scritto da Blythe Rippon. Le recensioni su Goodreads sono contrastanti e io non sapevo cosa pensare, quindi mi sono immersa nella lettura. E, se all'inizio Tori e Genevieve non mi hanno toccata per nulla, alla fine mi sono ritrovata a sperare che si rimettessero assieme, perché pur con tutti i problemi che hanno, si vede che si amano profondamente. Solo, come in tutte le coppie, entrambe le donne devono capire che, se vogliono stare insieme, devono arrivare a compromessi.
Penelope alla fine è quella che mi è piaciuta di più. Con molta diplomazia capisce il problema e alla fine sembra anche lei volere la felicità di Tori e Genevieve.
Oltre alla storia d'amore, come ho detto, possiamo seguire alcuni casi a cui le due donne lavorano assieme ai propri team. Io so poco e niente di queste cose, soprattutto parlando di Stati Uniti, ma da quello che ho sentito sembra tutto piuttosto realistico.
Per quanto riguarda la scrittura, invece, non mi ha entusiasmato particolarmente. Anzi, ha rallentato la lettura. Posso dire però di aver imparato nuove parole e quindi sono abbastanza soddisfatta anche di questa parte del romanzo.
Come sempre, io vi consiglio di guardare il catalogo della Ylva Publishing!
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