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Love's Verdict
Attorneys Landon Holt and Carly Pachett want the exact same thing: the only open partnership spot at their prestigious criminal defense firm. When Landon and Carly are forced to collaborate on the defense of one of the firm’s A-list celebrity clients in a high-profile murder case, there’s no question the assignment is a test to see which one of them will get the promotion. Fierce determination to stand out fuels the already heated rivalry between them, but all those late nights working on legal strategy also fan the flames of attraction. When it comes to the verdict, will they compromise their careers for love?
260 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 14, 2018
32 people are currently reading
213 people want to read
About the author
Carsen Taite
51 books294 followersCarsen Taite's goal as an author is to spin plot lines as interesting as the cases she encountered in her career as a criminal defense lawyer. She is the award-winning author of a dozen novels and numerous short stories.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
April 2, 2019
'ARC generously provided by NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for an honest review'
**'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication..Fiction is a lie and good fiction is the truth inside the lie..'
Decent story!
3.5stars
LOVE'S VERDICT is a well-crafted,well-paced very intriguing part-murder mystery,very well research,good mature dialogue with some well developed cast of characters in a back & forth courtroom drama story. From that experience & knowledge,of Ms.Taite being a Criminal Defense Lawyer,she has gained great insight about the lawyers,Prosecutors,judges,legislators,professionals and last but not least the offenders who occupy this parcel of the criminal and quasi-criminal legal system. The author is not idealistic and readers can benefit from lots of information and being observant about things in this storyline. LOVE'S VERDICT also paints a disquieting portrait towards the law and statutes relating to charges of murder and assault against an NFL player but are the charges false we don't know. It's a storyline filled with fierce intensity,heated passion,shifting allegiances,backstabbing,family drama,betrayal and also a shocking twist during the trial that some readers will be riveted. Considering Taite's track record on being so knowledgeable about the justice system readers will not be disappointed with this book. Highly recommended to everyone!
**'Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication..Fiction is a lie and good fiction is the truth inside the lie..'
Decent story!
3.5stars
LOVE'S VERDICT is a well-crafted,well-paced very intriguing part-murder mystery,very well research,good mature dialogue with some well developed cast of characters in a back & forth courtroom drama story. From that experience & knowledge,of Ms.Taite being a Criminal Defense Lawyer,she has gained great insight about the lawyers,Prosecutors,judges,legislators,professionals and last but not least the offenders who occupy this parcel of the criminal and quasi-criminal legal system. The author is not idealistic and readers can benefit from lots of information and being observant about things in this storyline. LOVE'S VERDICT also paints a disquieting portrait towards the law and statutes relating to charges of murder and assault against an NFL player but are the charges false we don't know. It's a storyline filled with fierce intensity,heated passion,shifting allegiances,backstabbing,family drama,betrayal and also a shocking twist during the trial that some readers will be riveted. Considering Taite's track record on being so knowledgeable about the justice system readers will not be disappointed with this book. Highly recommended to everyone!
July 16, 2018
3.5 Stars. Not one of my favorite Taite books, but I did enjoy the read. I’m a fan of Taite’s books. The way she writes is comfortable and I like her subject matter. Most of her books are court dramas that have a little excitement and romance. This book fits that bill and the only reason I didn’t love it, is I found it to be predictable.
Carly is an attorney. She has been working hard at her firm in Dallas for years in the hopes she is next in line to make partner. Her plans suddenly meet a stumbling block when the firm’s famous football player client is charged with murder. Carly’s firm asks Landon, an attorney that works for a branch of the firm in Austin, to join Carly on the case. Carly’s boss announces that Landon and Carly must work on the case together. The firm only has one slot open for partner so whoever does the better job on the case will be made partner. Carly and Landon are now instant rivals. Who will win the partner position and what happens if love gets in the way?
I found this story easy to get into and the book flew by for me. I loved the whole rivals to potential lovers story. Their interaction of one upping each other, teasing, and even flirting just made for some great scenes for me. This helped to add to the chemistry though I think Taite could have added a little bit more.
The characters were both very likeable. While I liked the stiffer Carly over the laid back Landon, I thought they balanced each other out well. I do wish the book was longer. I could have used a few more scenes really cementing any possible relationship. I enjoyed all the courtroom scenes but I needed more of the potential couple on free time.
As I mentioned above, my biggest issue was predictability. I hate to say it but I was guessing what would happen at every turn. There were no shockers or twists I didn’t see coming including who “the bad guy” was. Maybe I read too many romances and mysteries, but I do think most other people will not be very surprised either. While I enjoyed the ending even that I wasn’t surprised with. Maybe the book followed too much of a romance and mystery format. The good thing was I still enjoyed the ride. It was an entertaining read which I needed.
If you are a fan of Taite’s I think you will like this. It’s not her best, but the characters really worked for me. It was a comfortable book with no surprises but I enjoyed it anyway.
An ARC was given to me by BSB for a honest review
Carly is an attorney. She has been working hard at her firm in Dallas for years in the hopes she is next in line to make partner. Her plans suddenly meet a stumbling block when the firm’s famous football player client is charged with murder. Carly’s firm asks Landon, an attorney that works for a branch of the firm in Austin, to join Carly on the case. Carly’s boss announces that Landon and Carly must work on the case together. The firm only has one slot open for partner so whoever does the better job on the case will be made partner. Carly and Landon are now instant rivals. Who will win the partner position and what happens if love gets in the way?
I found this story easy to get into and the book flew by for me. I loved the whole rivals to potential lovers story. Their interaction of one upping each other, teasing, and even flirting just made for some great scenes for me. This helped to add to the chemistry though I think Taite could have added a little bit more.
The characters were both very likeable. While I liked the stiffer Carly over the laid back Landon, I thought they balanced each other out well. I do wish the book was longer. I could have used a few more scenes really cementing any possible relationship. I enjoyed all the courtroom scenes but I needed more of the potential couple on free time.
As I mentioned above, my biggest issue was predictability. I hate to say it but I was guessing what would happen at every turn. There were no shockers or twists I didn’t see coming including who “the bad guy” was. Maybe I read too many romances and mysteries, but I do think most other people will not be very surprised either. While I enjoyed the ending even that I wasn’t surprised with. Maybe the book followed too much of a romance and mystery format. The good thing was I still enjoyed the ride. It was an entertaining read which I needed.
If you are a fan of Taite’s I think you will like this. It’s not her best, but the characters really worked for me. It was a comfortable book with no surprises but I enjoyed it anyway.
An ARC was given to me by BSB for a honest review
July 29, 2018
Love’s Verdict is a decent courtroom/mystery drama slash romance. Carsen Taite knows her subject matter and the legal part of the story runs like a well-oiled machine, however, the ‘mystery’ part was anything but. I spotted the bad guy early on so the twists where not that shocking (maybe seeing too many episodes of Law and Order has honed my senses, I don’t know).
The push and pull between Landon Holt and Carly Pachett starts from the moment they lay eyes on each other. With opposite personalities they are like night and day but still have to find a way to work together to present a high profile case to court. The stakes are high for both attorneys, because only one will come out the other end as a new partner to the firm.
There are reasons enough the two rivals should keep it strictly work related but that fails when mutual attraction keeps rearing its ugly head. It takes the whole story-line for the two to keep chipping away at their mistrust and assumptions to finally see the light. I thought their chemistry was lacking.
So all in all Love’s Verdict is an entertaining novel be it a predictable one. Fans of Taite will probably enjoy themselves.
f/f
Themes: I was a bit underwhelmed, predictable plot, the romance followed standard convention, no big suprises there, the law part of the plot was competently written, Taite does what she does best there, I thought Carly had an enormous stick up her bum, didn’t warm up to her much.
3.4 stars
* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Inc. for an honest review.
The push and pull between Landon Holt and Carly Pachett starts from the moment they lay eyes on each other. With opposite personalities they are like night and day but still have to find a way to work together to present a high profile case to court. The stakes are high for both attorneys, because only one will come out the other end as a new partner to the firm.
There are reasons enough the two rivals should keep it strictly work related but that fails when mutual attraction keeps rearing its ugly head. It takes the whole story-line for the two to keep chipping away at their mistrust and assumptions to finally see the light. I thought their chemistry was lacking.
So all in all Love’s Verdict is an entertaining novel be it a predictable one. Fans of Taite will probably enjoy themselves.
f/f
Themes: I was a bit underwhelmed, predictable plot, the romance followed standard convention, no big suprises there, the law part of the plot was competently written, Taite does what she does best there, I thought Carly had an enormous stick up her bum, didn’t warm up to her much.
3.4 stars
* A free copy was provided by Netgalley and Bold Strokes Inc. for an honest review.
July 25, 2018
Love’s Verdict is a really good legal drama with mystery, suspense and romance all rolled into one. Carly is a fifth year associate with one of the most prestigious criminal law firms in Dallas. She’s meticulous, hard-working and ridiculously smart but isn’t particularly outgoing which might be a detractor in her bid to make partner. Her work representing a professional footballer seems to be a step in the right direction until she is pitted against the vivacious, well-connected Landon for partnership.
Both main characters are likeable in spite of their completely different personalities and a fantastic tension is set up by having them work together as well as against each other. The legal aspects were very interesting and it was clever putting in a character that didn’t always get the intricacies so I also got a better understanding some aspects of the Texas legal system. The suspense was pretty riveting too. Well worth reading.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Both main characters are likeable in spite of their completely different personalities and a fantastic tension is set up by having them work together as well as against each other. The legal aspects were very interesting and it was clever putting in a character that didn’t always get the intricacies so I also got a better understanding some aspects of the Texas legal system. The suspense was pretty riveting too. Well worth reading.
Book received from Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
August 5, 2018
Carsen Taite always delivers a great read. She is consistent in giving you a lot of legal drama with characters who are insightful, well thought out and noteworthy chemistry. You know when you pick up one of her books you are getting your money's worth time and time again. Love’s Verdict is no exception! This story has a cloud of mystery, did he really do it, with a side of I think you’re so hot but I can’t date you.
Carly Prachett is a fifth-year associate at Sturges and Llyod, a boutique law firm in Dallas. She excels at negotiations but is has trouble loosening up and bringing in high-dollar clients. She wants to make partner more than anything. This driven young lawyer has put work before everything else.
Landon Holt is the daughter to one of the wealthiest families in Texas. While Landon is one of the heirs to the Holt dynasty she wants to make her own way without her father’s help or influence. When her law firm forces her to return to Dallas for a big case involving a Dallas Cowboy, Landon reluctantly agrees but it only the lure of being Sturges and Llyod next partner that she agrees.
Right from the bat Carly and Landon are pitted against each other. Their boss gives them the reins on this high-profile murder case with the caveat of working together but only one will come out as partner. The stress is high, the tension is high but so is the attraction.
This book has legal drama in spades, a developed love story, and charming characters. You can't help but like this book, it’s solid on all fronts and well worth your time. My only complaint is that I wish we had just a dash more time between the two main characters. A few more down moments of them with dialogue would have been fantastic.
Carly Prachett is a fifth-year associate at Sturges and Llyod, a boutique law firm in Dallas. She excels at negotiations but is has trouble loosening up and bringing in high-dollar clients. She wants to make partner more than anything. This driven young lawyer has put work before everything else.
Landon Holt is the daughter to one of the wealthiest families in Texas. While Landon is one of the heirs to the Holt dynasty she wants to make her own way without her father’s help or influence. When her law firm forces her to return to Dallas for a big case involving a Dallas Cowboy, Landon reluctantly agrees but it only the lure of being Sturges and Llyod next partner that she agrees.
Right from the bat Carly and Landon are pitted against each other. Their boss gives them the reins on this high-profile murder case with the caveat of working together but only one will come out as partner. The stress is high, the tension is high but so is the attraction.
This book has legal drama in spades, a developed love story, and charming characters. You can't help but like this book, it’s solid on all fronts and well worth your time. My only complaint is that I wish we had just a dash more time between the two main characters. A few more down moments of them with dialogue would have been fantastic.
March 11, 2019
I so enjoyed reading about Landon and Carly. Whether they were at odds or making out and everywhere in between, every scene with them was fantastic. Both women are brilliant and bring different strengths to the courtroom and their relationship, making them a formidable pair.
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/love...
Full review: https://www.thelesbianreview.com/love...
August 16, 2018
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I am a huge fan of legal dramas, be it in the form of TV shows, books or movies. I find the way the lawyers go about their job so diligently is truly impressive. And when I got to know that this book is written by a lawyer I obviously had to read it. Unlike the other books I read, I actually took my time with this. Mostly because it took me a while to piece together the events occurring in the book. And I had to savour it of course.
So the gist is, Carly and Landon are both attorneys working for a high end firm and are touted to be in race for the next partnership. But they will have to prove themselves, by defending a football player accused of murder. The one who will do a better job runs away with the partnership.
I honestly loved everything about this book. The drama, the betrayals, the twists, everything. And I loved it that romance wasn't the main plot. It was a subplot to the actual story which dealt with the criminal litigation. And the chapter dealing with jury picking was fun to read. I mean, I'm in a country where the jury system was removed around 20 years ago and the judge holds absolute power, so I actually learnt something here. YAY!
I loved that the characters weren't stupid to assume stuff about each other. Thank God they had the sense to talk to each other.
One thing that did bother me was that I couldn't connect that much with the supporting characters. They were kinda out of place. But other than that this is a solid read. Highly recommend this
I am a huge fan of legal dramas, be it in the form of TV shows, books or movies. I find the way the lawyers go about their job so diligently is truly impressive. And when I got to know that this book is written by a lawyer I obviously had to read it. Unlike the other books I read, I actually took my time with this. Mostly because it took me a while to piece together the events occurring in the book. And I had to savour it of course.
So the gist is, Carly and Landon are both attorneys working for a high end firm and are touted to be in race for the next partnership. But they will have to prove themselves, by defending a football player accused of murder. The one who will do a better job runs away with the partnership.
I honestly loved everything about this book. The drama, the betrayals, the twists, everything. And I loved it that romance wasn't the main plot. It was a subplot to the actual story which dealt with the criminal litigation. And the chapter dealing with jury picking was fun to read. I mean, I'm in a country where the jury system was removed around 20 years ago and the judge holds absolute power, so I actually learnt something here. YAY!
I loved that the characters weren't stupid to assume stuff about each other. Thank God they had the sense to talk to each other.
One thing that did bother me was that I couldn't connect that much with the supporting characters. They were kinda out of place. But other than that this is a solid read. Highly recommend this
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2022
LV turns out to be one of the better books from Carsen Taite that I enjoy reading… The setting is so up my alley. Rival-to-lover romance with femme MCs in vivacious Landon Holt and Carly Pachett, who is just the opposite of Landon, going head to head trying to clinch that one elusive partnership in the law firm where they both work. Given Landon & Carly background, it’s a no-brainer as to who will get that partnership. And as to who the killer is, the suspense is not that riveting; you will have an idea of who the killer is well before the mystery is unveiled.
Still… an enjoyable easy read. Solid 4 ⭐️
Still… an enjoyable easy read. Solid 4 ⭐️
September 26, 2018
This book is in my recommended books of the month
https://lezreviewbooks.com/recommende...
Carsen Taite excels at writing legal thrillers with lesbian main characters using her experience as a criminal defense attorney. Lately, she has written the 'Lone star law' series which was inspired in the 1980s 'Dallas' soap opera which, in my opinion, didn't showcase her knowledge of the American legal system. I'm happy to see that with 'Love's veredict' she's back at what she does best.
Attorneys Landon Holt and Carly Pachett work for a prestigious criminal defense firm with their eyes on a single opening promotion to partner. As one of the firm's clients is accused of murder, they are both assigned to the case which means that they have to work as a team but only one will get to be appointed as partner. As hours shared together go by, their initial antagonistic feelings develop into something else which can jeopardise both their careers.
This is a legal thriller with a romance at the side. The focus of the book is the procedural intricacies of a murder case, including details of the grand jury process, jury picking and defence strategies. Ms. Taite puts in layman's terms all these procedures and that are very informative and interesting. However, you might be disappointed if you are looking for romance as it is much in the background. Despite this, the main characters are multilayered and their chemistry is hot. There are also a couple of good secondary characters, such as Skye (from Taite's book 'The best defence') and Carly's nosey neighbour. The 'baddies' are a bit stereotypical and predictable but despite that, the book is entertaining and the plot twists and turns keep the reader turning the pages.
Overall, an enjoyable novel by Carsen Taite that will satisfy more legal thriller fans than romance ones. 4 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.com
https://lezreviewbooks.com/recommende...
Carsen Taite excels at writing legal thrillers with lesbian main characters using her experience as a criminal defense attorney. Lately, she has written the 'Lone star law' series which was inspired in the 1980s 'Dallas' soap opera which, in my opinion, didn't showcase her knowledge of the American legal system. I'm happy to see that with 'Love's veredict' she's back at what she does best.
Attorneys Landon Holt and Carly Pachett work for a prestigious criminal defense firm with their eyes on a single opening promotion to partner. As one of the firm's clients is accused of murder, they are both assigned to the case which means that they have to work as a team but only one will get to be appointed as partner. As hours shared together go by, their initial antagonistic feelings develop into something else which can jeopardise both their careers.
This is a legal thriller with a romance at the side. The focus of the book is the procedural intricacies of a murder case, including details of the grand jury process, jury picking and defence strategies. Ms. Taite puts in layman's terms all these procedures and that are very informative and interesting. However, you might be disappointed if you are looking for romance as it is much in the background. Despite this, the main characters are multilayered and their chemistry is hot. There are also a couple of good secondary characters, such as Skye (from Taite's book 'The best defence') and Carly's nosey neighbour. The 'baddies' are a bit stereotypical and predictable but despite that, the book is entertaining and the plot twists and turns keep the reader turning the pages.
Overall, an enjoyable novel by Carsen Taite that will satisfy more legal thriller fans than romance ones. 4 stars.
ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
See all my reviews at
www.lezreviewbooks.com
December 28, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, it had me all swept up in the romance from the beginning.
Landon Holt and Carly Pachett are total opposites, the only thing they have in common is that they are phenomenal lawyers. Carly is reserved and quiet but highly talented at researching her cases and has the smarts to wow, not just her clients but also her bosses. Landon is suave and self-assured; her clients warm to her easily and trust her implicitly because her confidence makes them feel safe. Carly and Landon work tirelessly together but as we all know, working so close and the fact opposites always attract means these two are bound to fall for each other but how wise would it be to fall for the woman gunning for your promotion?
I really enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and I loved the interactions between Carly and Landon. Carly and Landon were so serious about their jobs that when they teased and flirted with each other it was a nice escape from the seriousness of the legal case they where involved in. Also, Landon was really able to soften Carly’s character and in turn Carly really changed in the second half of the book and became much more likeable for me. Landon however, I was fascinated with from the beginning. Her confidence is attractive but it’s the moments she vulnerable that really had me. When you first learn about her background I found it hard to imagine with the beautiful soul I was reading about. However her experiences really lead to making her a fantastic character. She might be my new favourite character from Carsen Taite.
My only complaints would be that I’d have loved a longer epilogue and also I am not a fan of book covers with the protagonist on it as it confuses what’s in my imagination. In regards to the epilogue, I really loved the way things were left in the last chapter but when I read the epilogue, I longed for a little more or even a further time gap. But if you read my reviews you know I love an epilogue, especially one that is six months to a year after the last chapter!!
All in all, another great read from Carsen Taite.
4 stars
Landon Holt and Carly Pachett are total opposites, the only thing they have in common is that they are phenomenal lawyers. Carly is reserved and quiet but highly talented at researching her cases and has the smarts to wow, not just her clients but also her bosses. Landon is suave and self-assured; her clients warm to her easily and trust her implicitly because her confidence makes them feel safe. Carly and Landon work tirelessly together but as we all know, working so close and the fact opposites always attract means these two are bound to fall for each other but how wise would it be to fall for the woman gunning for your promotion?
I really enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and I loved the interactions between Carly and Landon. Carly and Landon were so serious about their jobs that when they teased and flirted with each other it was a nice escape from the seriousness of the legal case they where involved in. Also, Landon was really able to soften Carly’s character and in turn Carly really changed in the second half of the book and became much more likeable for me. Landon however, I was fascinated with from the beginning. Her confidence is attractive but it’s the moments she vulnerable that really had me. When you first learn about her background I found it hard to imagine with the beautiful soul I was reading about. However her experiences really lead to making her a fantastic character. She might be my new favourite character from Carsen Taite.
My only complaints would be that I’d have loved a longer epilogue and also I am not a fan of book covers with the protagonist on it as it confuses what’s in my imagination. In regards to the epilogue, I really loved the way things were left in the last chapter but when I read the epilogue, I longed for a little more or even a further time gap. But if you read my reviews you know I love an epilogue, especially one that is six months to a year after the last chapter!!
All in all, another great read from Carsen Taite.
4 stars
December 28, 2018
I really enjoyed this book, it had me all swept up in the romance from the beginning.
Landon Holt and Carly Pachett are total opposites, the only thing they have in common is that they are phenomenal lawyers. Carly is reserved and quiet but highly talented at researching her cases and has the smarts to wow, not just her clients but also her bosses. Landon is suave and self-assured; her clients warm to her easily and trust her implicitly because her confidence makes them feel safe. Carly and Landon work tirelessly together but as we all know, working so close and the fact opposites always attract means these two are bound to fall for each other but how wise would it be to fall for the woman gunning for your promotion?
I really enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and I loved the interactions between Carly and Landon. Carly and Landon were so serious about their jobs that when they teased and flirted with each other it was a nice escape from the seriousness of the legal case they where involved in. Also, Landon was really able to soften Carly’s character and in turn Carly really changed in the second half of the book and became much more likeable for me. Landon however, I was fascinated with from the beginning. Her confidence is attractive but it’s the moments she vulnerable that really had me. When you first learn about her background I found it hard to imagine with the beautiful soul I was reading about. However her experiences really lead to making her a fantastic character. She might be my new favourite character from Carsen Taite.
My only complaints would be that I’d have loved a longer epilogue and also I am not a fan of book covers with the protagonist on it as it confuses what’s in my imagination. In regards to the epilogue, I really loved the way things were left in the last chapter but when I read the epilogue, I longed for a little more or even a further time gap. But if you read my reviews you know I love an epilogue, especially one that is six months to a year after the last chapter!!
All in all, another great read from Carsen Taite.
4 stars
Landon Holt and Carly Pachett are total opposites, the only thing they have in common is that they are phenomenal lawyers. Carly is reserved and quiet but highly talented at researching her cases and has the smarts to wow, not just her clients but also her bosses. Landon is suave and self-assured; her clients warm to her easily and trust her implicitly because her confidence makes them feel safe. Carly and Landon work tirelessly together but as we all know, working so close and the fact opposites always attract means these two are bound to fall for each other but how wise would it be to fall for the woman gunning for your promotion?
I really enjoyed this story. It was fast paced and I loved the interactions between Carly and Landon. Carly and Landon were so serious about their jobs that when they teased and flirted with each other it was a nice escape from the seriousness of the legal case they where involved in. Also, Landon was really able to soften Carly’s character and in turn Carly really changed in the second half of the book and became much more likeable for me. Landon however, I was fascinated with from the beginning. Her confidence is attractive but it’s the moments she vulnerable that really had me. When you first learn about her background I found it hard to imagine with the beautiful soul I was reading about. However her experiences really lead to making her a fantastic character. She might be my new favourite character from Carsen Taite.
My only complaints would be that I’d have loved a longer epilogue and also I am not a fan of book covers with the protagonist on it as it confuses what’s in my imagination. In regards to the epilogue, I really loved the way things were left in the last chapter but when I read the epilogue, I longed for a little more or even a further time gap. But if you read my reviews you know I love an epilogue, especially one that is six months to a year after the last chapter!!
All in all, another great read from Carsen Taite.
4 stars
July 24, 2018
This was a very entertaining read. I’m a fan of Carsen Taite’s books because she always delivers a good thriller and law scenes and terminology. Both Landon and Carly are very likable characters and both of them have their own quirks for which you’ll like them or dislike them - I found them both to be to my taste as book characters. The plot is a tiny bit weak but it’s a good romance book with strong Carsen Taite signature.
August 24, 2018
This was an educational legal thriller with an intriguing plot. Pretty much every time I read a story by this author, I learn something about the law. Which in my opinion, is a good thing. To some extent the story was predictable which was okay because the characters were fascinating with their back and forth and self-talk. Carly Pachett is focused, talented, yet she lacks gumption. Landon Holt is laid back, down to earth, yet she struggles with her wealthy family. When they meet it is a back and forth struggle of attraction. Not one of the better reads for me by this author but it was good enough for me to keep reading books by Carsen Taite.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley with thanks.
ARC provided by Bold Strokes Books, Inc. via NetGalley with thanks.
August 10, 2018
This is my favorite book by Carsen Taite. I loved the two characters Landon and Carly who complimented each other perfectly. I do love a romance based on opposites attract. Landon being the sociable and likable character compared to Carly who struggled socially and focused on data and facts. The chemistry hit the mark perfectly with the build up of attraction throughout the book done at the perfect pace. The storyline was interesting and had you keen to see the case unfold.
Definitely recommend this book that provided a perfect balance of romance and the crime investigation.
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
Definitely recommend this book that provided a perfect balance of romance and the crime investigation.
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
February 5, 2020
I always love reading Taite's novels because of its Law element. For someone who is wanting to go to Law, it's always interesting to me. This novel didn't disappoint although I wish the climax and denouement were longer. I consumed this faster than usual so if you want a good, quick read about hot dueling lawyers, you should give this a go.
August 8, 2018
Carsen Taite has done it again. She has given us a book that once I got started I hated to put down. We have defense attorneys Carly Pachett who had to work hard to get where she is. She’s smart but likes to stay in the background doing the research necessary to give her clients the best chance at winning their case. Landon Holt has is all, or so it seems. Even though she comes from money she has worked hard to get out from under her controlling father who believes he’s alway right. He wants Landon back in Dallas where he feels she belongs. When they are both given the chance to advance their careers they are pitted against each other but at the same time are expected to work together defending a sports celebrity who has been charged with murder. Ms Tailte has again wrote a book with many twists and turns, making it simply another great read. Very, very enjoyable. .
eARC via NetGalley
eARC via NetGalley
October 24, 2018
As always, I enjoyed the characters and story. Carsen Taite is one of my favorite authors for a reason. :)
August 11, 2018
I found this book very interesting because of its balance between romance and the judicial part. Even if the judicial part is a bit bland and predictable the romance between Landon and Carly is, especially at the beginning, full of truculent dialogues. Carsen Taite is the mistress in this book category and will stay for a while. I had a great time with these two very likable characters. The description of the characters is perfect, and allows us to appreciate the romance. A book that is worth reading. Bravo.
dnf
July 24, 2018The plot was pretty dry, despite being a book that follows a murder as a subplot. It even has one of my favourite tropes: the I Realised I Was Bi Because of You. It was way too slow, and I easily lost interest in it unfortunately. Definitely not for me
August 31, 2018
I liked this, but sadly the last 20% or so didn’t live up to what came before. There was an attempt at mystery here, but it seemed pretty obvious “who done it,” and why. I was hoping there was more to it that would surprise me, but there wasn’t. That led to a pretty anticlimactic ending, at least from my perspective. After the end of the mystery part of the plot, there was then a quick move to tie up all loose ends of the romance plot, so it suddenly felt rushed. Not a bad premise, and a decent effort, it just wasn’t fully executed.
August 2, 2018
Carly and Landon are both lawyers in their fifth year, both hoping to become partner in the next year. Quiet Carly is from the Dallas firm and sociable Landon is from the Austin firm. Their boss puts them on a case together, defending an NFL player accused of murder, and promises only one will become partner, the one who "wows" the most. The two women butt heads and try to get the upper hand on the case to show off their skills to their boss, but neither can resist the attraction between them.
This was not one of my favourite books by Carsen Taite, I found the two main characters really interchangeable. To me they weren't unique or distinct characters so I found their motivations and passions got a little lost. Landon perhaps was a little more developed, but Carly was not. Their chemistry wasn't lacking at all but I did miss the emotional connection to the characters and their relationship. The writing, as always, was excellent, and the case was superbly fleshed out. Carsen Taite doesn't disappoint there! I still can honestly say I enjoyed the book, it just fell a little bit flat for me in some aspects.
I know I will always pick up any Carsen Taite book I can get my hands on, and I will always enjoy them!
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was not one of my favourite books by Carsen Taite, I found the two main characters really interchangeable. To me they weren't unique or distinct characters so I found their motivations and passions got a little lost. Landon perhaps was a little more developed, but Carly was not. Their chemistry wasn't lacking at all but I did miss the emotional connection to the characters and their relationship. The writing, as always, was excellent, and the case was superbly fleshed out. Carsen Taite doesn't disappoint there! I still can honestly say I enjoyed the book, it just fell a little bit flat for me in some aspects.
I know I will always pick up any Carsen Taite book I can get my hands on, and I will always enjoy them!
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 24, 2018
Really enjoyed this, and the audiobook performer, Nicola Victorica Vincent, is magic as always. More thorough review to come...
August 7, 2018
A nicely paced and accomplished romance. It was easy to spot whodunnit early on, but that didn’t detract from the story due to the quality of the writing. The legal details were absorbing and balanced well with the burgeoning love affair between the two main characters. A good holiday read.
August 19, 2018
I'd not read any of Taite's books before, but I do love a good queer lawyers story, so I was excited to jump into this one. And I was happy with how central the legal elements of the story were. Landon and Carly are working a case together, and they are genuinely working on that case. Oftentimes, I've found that romance novels with a workplace premise downplay the work side of things, but Love's Verdict puts it front and centre, and I really enjoyed that aspect of the book. The case was genuinely interesting, with a bit of a crime-solving element as well as the characters tried to solve the murder their client was accused of.
In terms of the characters, Landon and Carly were a little too 'paint by numbers' for my liking. Landon's the free-spirited one who's naturally brilliant at everything, and Carly's the uptight, workaholic one, and somewhere in the middle, they fall in love. I enjoyed reading about them, but found that they didn't really stick in my mind once I'd finished reading the book.
I did enjoy the sense of place Taite has imbued her book with thought. I'm not familiar with Austin or Dallas, but I felt like Taite had a good level of description and I finished the book feeling like I would definitely want to visit both cities.
If you're into queer lawyers, I would definitely give Love's Verdict a go. I found it entertaining, even if it didn't really bring much new to the genre.
In terms of the characters, Landon and Carly were a little too 'paint by numbers' for my liking. Landon's the free-spirited one who's naturally brilliant at everything, and Carly's the uptight, workaholic one, and somewhere in the middle, they fall in love. I enjoyed reading about them, but found that they didn't really stick in my mind once I'd finished reading the book.
I did enjoy the sense of place Taite has imbued her book with thought. I'm not familiar with Austin or Dallas, but I felt like Taite had a good level of description and I finished the book feeling like I would definitely want to visit both cities.
If you're into queer lawyers, I would definitely give Love's Verdict a go. I found it entertaining, even if it didn't really bring much new to the genre.
August 4, 2018
I love Carsen Taite’s work. Her latest is no exception. This is a entertaining story with strong characters. Great read.
July 24, 2018
Solid story but totally predictable. I liked both characters though (especially Landon) and I was rooting for them since the beginning. What surprised me positively is that this book was not like most of Carsen's books (legal drama with a small part of romance). This time she dedicated time for the characters to get to know each other and their first kiss scene was hot .
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2018
Two attorneys, one partnership slot, and a manipulative boss who claims they will make a decision after a high-profile case. Landon and Carly both want the promotion, both know they deserve it, but desperately don’t want to work together in some forced test to see who is best. A romance with a court-room drama, full or suspense and the hint of a thriller as well, this is an excellent new story from Carsen Taite.
Well written, cleverly plotted, with a great balance between the slow change from dislike to attraction to love in the romance department while the high profile case works through its phases. The merging of the two plots is subtle and well-crafted seamlessly moving us forward on both fronts.
The characters are likeable, flawed but growing, and coming to realise that they complement each other as they evolve both at work and develop their personal relationship. Their growth adds to the depth of the story, and we can see how well suited they are as the plot unfolds and their strengths shine through.
The high profile murder is well played, as always with Ms Taites courtroom drama’s and I liked the way it became a real life thriller as well as a legal case. Overall an excellent read, one of my favourites from this author. Only one complaint - its short at 234 pages and I would definitely have liked more.
Well written, cleverly plotted, with a great balance between the slow change from dislike to attraction to love in the romance department while the high profile case works through its phases. The merging of the two plots is subtle and well-crafted seamlessly moving us forward on both fronts.
The characters are likeable, flawed but growing, and coming to realise that they complement each other as they evolve both at work and develop their personal relationship. Their growth adds to the depth of the story, and we can see how well suited they are as the plot unfolds and their strengths shine through.
The high profile murder is well played, as always with Ms Taites courtroom drama’s and I liked the way it became a real life thriller as well as a legal case. Overall an excellent read, one of my favourites from this author. Only one complaint - its short at 234 pages and I would definitely have liked more.
August 16, 2018
3.5 stars.
This is an easy to read lesbian romance with a lot of lawyering and a bit of mystery. The law side of things was very detailed and complex, the plot and the romance a little less so, but I still enjoyed it.
However, I really didn’t like Landon at first. I’m not entirely sure why, possibly her bold confidence, which definitely came across as arrogance, or maybe it was the poor-little-rich-girl set up or the slick charm. Possibly I was just swayed by Carly. Whatever it was, I wasn’t sure I’d like this book at first. But somehow, some way, Landon won me over. The women are definite opposites, antagonising each other, competing for the same goal by being smart and competent. But they still have enough in common to make things work, with plenty of lawyer drama going on around them to keep things ticking over.
If I’m honest, I found it all fairly predictable, case and romance both, without any unexpected twists. This isn’t a problem particularly, but it did make me frustrated with the characters when they didn’t chase down obvious things or did something emotionally foolish in a bid to keep things tense and unresolved.
Despite my early misgivings about Landon, I liked both leads, although I do wish we’d learnt more about Carly. Landon rather hogs the backstory limelight with her issues with her father, but I liked her brother and was glad for the balance he brought to things. The romance is mostly flirting with a little bit of heat. A little more might have been nice, but overall it works well enough.
In all this was good. As a first taste of this author’s work it didn’t blow me away, but I’d definitely be interested in reading more.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
This is an easy to read lesbian romance with a lot of lawyering and a bit of mystery. The law side of things was very detailed and complex, the plot and the romance a little less so, but I still enjoyed it.
However, I really didn’t like Landon at first. I’m not entirely sure why, possibly her bold confidence, which definitely came across as arrogance, or maybe it was the poor-little-rich-girl set up or the slick charm. Possibly I was just swayed by Carly. Whatever it was, I wasn’t sure I’d like this book at first. But somehow, some way, Landon won me over. The women are definite opposites, antagonising each other, competing for the same goal by being smart and competent. But they still have enough in common to make things work, with plenty of lawyer drama going on around them to keep things ticking over.
If I’m honest, I found it all fairly predictable, case and romance both, without any unexpected twists. This isn’t a problem particularly, but it did make me frustrated with the characters when they didn’t chase down obvious things or did something emotionally foolish in a bid to keep things tense and unresolved.
Despite my early misgivings about Landon, I liked both leads, although I do wish we’d learnt more about Carly. Landon rather hogs the backstory limelight with her issues with her father, but I liked her brother and was glad for the balance he brought to things. The romance is mostly flirting with a little bit of heat. A little more might have been nice, but overall it works well enough.
In all this was good. As a first taste of this author’s work it didn’t blow me away, but I’d definitely be interested in reading more.
(ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.)
August 12, 2019
Carsten Taite always delivers a good read, and this is another one. A tight legal drama that is both entertaining and somewhat educational to those of us not privy to the workings of the US legal system. Oh, and there are the hot, successful women in their power suits. Phew!
An ARC was sent to me from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley for an honest review
An ARC was sent to me from Bold Strokes Books through NetGalley for an honest review
August 25, 2018
Carsen Taite‘s latest legal romance/drama, “Love’s Verdict,” is one of her best, really. Definitely one of me favourites of hers. Great premise, the case was engaging – sports related (reminds me of OJ!). I love the back-and-forth between the 2 MCs, Carly and Landon, the former being the aloof, by-the-book one, whereas the latter was the complete opposite, which made their clashes even more exciting to read! Their dialogue was brilliant and their chemistry build-up was weaved organically. I love me a good slow-burn, especially when it’s between two women who start off as rivals/enemies! Makes the sparks more irresistible and when the union occurs eventually, it makes their romantic development and growth so much more worthwhile and grounded! Good things always come to those who wait, innit? 😉
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
Full commentary here... In Bugs' Own Words
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