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Spirit of the Law
The first time Summer Byrne met hard-nosed prosecutor Owen Lassiter, Summer was the jury forewoman who delivered the verdict that ruined Owen’s winning streak. Summer never expected to see Owen again, but a brush with a stranger pulls her back into a life she’d rather forget and back into the path of the wildly attractive, infuriating prosecutor who refuses to accept evidence she can’t see with her own eyes.
Owen Lassiter knows the law, knows her own mind, and doesn’t have time for nonsense and half-baked theories. When Summer Byrne―her nemesis―offers a window into the murder case Owen’s getting ready to try, hell no doesn’t begin to describe how Owen feels. But working with Summer as a consultant reminds her that Summer is as enticing as she is aggravating and promises to be a life-changing experience that neither is ready to embrace.
Owen Lassiter knows the law, knows her own mind, and doesn’t have time for nonsense and half-baked theories. When Summer Byrne―her nemesis―offers a window into the murder case Owen’s getting ready to try, hell no doesn’t begin to describe how Owen feels. But working with Summer as a consultant reminds her that Summer is as enticing as she is aggravating and promises to be a life-changing experience that neither is ready to embrace.
240 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2021
19 people are currently reading
162 people want to read
About the author
Carsen Taite
51 books295 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 49 reviews
January 27, 2021
This was a very entertaining read. I’m a big Taite fan, especially of her romantic intrigue books that are about some aspect of the law. She is one of the best writers out there, when it comes to writing about courts and lawyers, so when you see a new book of hers in that category, you know you are in for a treat. And a treat is the perfect way to describe what reading Taite’s books feel like, like eating a bowl of your favorite Ben and Jerry’s ice cream. You know what to expect and you know you are going to enjoy it, and sometimes you might even get a little extra cookie dough or chocolate chunks since the manufacturer messed up and you get the benefit. And that is what happened in this book, Taite decided to add a little more of that chocolate in the form of a psychic medium character. A tiny paranormal twist mixed into one of Taite’s law books… well you can’t get a much better match for my personal tastes and I had a ton of fun with this book.
I loved how this book started off. The beginning was so good and it just caught my attention right away (such a sign of a great author). We are in the courtroom, as a member of the jury, and our character somehow knows, without a doubt, whether the defendant is guilty or not and it is up to us to get the other jurors to see it the same way. As a long time mystery fan, TV and books, this reminded me of almost every amateur detective show like Murder, She Wrote or Monk, where they are stuck in jury duty and have to convince the rest of the jury to really look at the evidence. Don’t ask me why but they were always some of my favorite episodes to watch and to have a book start off that way, well I loved it. It really was one of the more enjoyable beginnings to a book that I have read in a while.
I was very happy with the mix of the light paranormal twist with the more realistic court scenes. I thought Taite did great on the right balance of what she needed. Her books are supposed to put you into the courtroom so if her paranormal twist was too out there, it would have lost some of that realism and the feeling of Taite’s experience that makes her books so great. I don’t know if people remember the TV show Medium, about a psychic medium that worked for the DA’s office? That show was actually based on a real person who worked with law enforcement. Taite’s choice to write this story to have a similar feel to that show, was a good match with her law knowledge. So even if you are not a big paranormal fan, don’t let that put you off this story. This is well done and fun to read.
While I obviously really enjoyed the premise and most of the story, I did have an issue that stopped me from giving this book 5 stars. One of the biggest problems for me was the book’s length. It is just too short. I can’t tell the page number from my Kindle, but I know this book was shorter than the average BSB book. This had the same problem that her book from last year, Drawn, had. Things were tied up at the end with a summary of what happened instead of letting us see it play out. This time wasn’t as frustrating as Drawn, but I still felt like there was more to the story to be told. What also suffered to me was the romance. The romance started in a way that singled a slow burn type of romance, but then it was fast-forwarded to fit the shorter story. It didn’t feel like enough of a build-up, and enough of a connection was established before they had sex. The chemistry was there, but it was still at a tiny spark stage and it needed to be slowly nurtured so it could grow into this passionate flame but it never had the time to. I needed more. I needed more of the law storyline and more of the romance. I know I’m only going to get to read one, maybe two, of Taite’s romantic intrigue books a year. I want to savor that reading experience; I don’t want to fly through it in a few hours. This story was good and I really enjoyed it, but another fifty pages added and it could have been great!
Even with the issue of the romance not having the right pace, and the book being too short, this still was such a fun read. I would absolutely recommend this to fans of Taite and fans of law and intrigue type books. The premise was excellent and the beginning was one of the better starts to a book that I have read in a while. I guess it’s a pretty good sign when my biggest complaint is that I needed more, but I just hope that Taite stops rushing so much and lets us really enjoy her great writing instead.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
I loved how this book started off. The beginning was so good and it just caught my attention right away (such a sign of a great author). We are in the courtroom, as a member of the jury, and our character somehow knows, without a doubt, whether the defendant is guilty or not and it is up to us to get the other jurors to see it the same way. As a long time mystery fan, TV and books, this reminded me of almost every amateur detective show like Murder, She Wrote or Monk, where they are stuck in jury duty and have to convince the rest of the jury to really look at the evidence. Don’t ask me why but they were always some of my favorite episodes to watch and to have a book start off that way, well I loved it. It really was one of the more enjoyable beginnings to a book that I have read in a while.
I was very happy with the mix of the light paranormal twist with the more realistic court scenes. I thought Taite did great on the right balance of what she needed. Her books are supposed to put you into the courtroom so if her paranormal twist was too out there, it would have lost some of that realism and the feeling of Taite’s experience that makes her books so great. I don’t know if people remember the TV show Medium, about a psychic medium that worked for the DA’s office? That show was actually based on a real person who worked with law enforcement. Taite’s choice to write this story to have a similar feel to that show, was a good match with her law knowledge. So even if you are not a big paranormal fan, don’t let that put you off this story. This is well done and fun to read.
While I obviously really enjoyed the premise and most of the story, I did have an issue that stopped me from giving this book 5 stars. One of the biggest problems for me was the book’s length. It is just too short. I can’t tell the page number from my Kindle, but I know this book was shorter than the average BSB book. This had the same problem that her book from last year, Drawn, had. Things were tied up at the end with a summary of what happened instead of letting us see it play out. This time wasn’t as frustrating as Drawn, but I still felt like there was more to the story to be told. What also suffered to me was the romance. The romance started in a way that singled a slow burn type of romance, but then it was fast-forwarded to fit the shorter story. It didn’t feel like enough of a build-up, and enough of a connection was established before they had sex. The chemistry was there, but it was still at a tiny spark stage and it needed to be slowly nurtured so it could grow into this passionate flame but it never had the time to. I needed more. I needed more of the law storyline and more of the romance. I know I’m only going to get to read one, maybe two, of Taite’s romantic intrigue books a year. I want to savor that reading experience; I don’t want to fly through it in a few hours. This story was good and I really enjoyed it, but another fifty pages added and it could have been great!
Even with the issue of the romance not having the right pace, and the book being too short, this still was such a fun read. I would absolutely recommend this to fans of Taite and fans of law and intrigue type books. The premise was excellent and the beginning was one of the better starts to a book that I have read in a while. I guess it’s a pretty good sign when my biggest complaint is that I needed more, but I just hope that Taite stops rushing so much and lets us really enjoy her great writing instead.
An ARC was given to me for a honest review.
January 11, 2021
'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'
**'There is no satisfactory explanation of style,no infallible guide to good writing..While storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it...'
3.5stars!
The many readers like myself who have always enjoyed any of this author's suggestively titled law books will not be disappointed with 'SPIRIT OF THE LAW'. To put it mildly when it comes to Ms.Taite's intelligence about both the Justice and Judiciary system when telling a story it can be so overwhelming because she seldom veer off script with the how's and why's of a trial. But this storyline kind of added a new twist by having a psychic medium as a consultant to the D.A's office which even played a major role in the plotline.
To admire Ms.Taite's thoughtfulness and fluency in law or the legal system is saying one thing but the sophisticated way that she weaves any storyline with courtroom dramas and some kind of brewing romance whether between her two main characters or some of her secondary ones -- do help to entice any interested readers. There are lots of paraphrasing and her summarizing of a particular complex case in this book which even leads to her conveying subliminal anecdotes about each character involved.
The one downside about this storyline that I was not too keen on was the romantic relationship and the way that the author tried pushing it -- think it was not developed and lacks chemistry but for the rest of the storytelling it was really enjoyable.
My observation in the end is that, there is really no difference in any case trial between the D.A./Prosecutor and Defense attorney only with their legal skills and ideologies.
Recommended!
**'There is no satisfactory explanation of style,no infallible guide to good writing..While storytelling reveals meaning without committing the error of defining it...'
3.5stars!
The many readers like myself who have always enjoyed any of this author's suggestively titled law books will not be disappointed with 'SPIRIT OF THE LAW'. To put it mildly when it comes to Ms.Taite's intelligence about both the Justice and Judiciary system when telling a story it can be so overwhelming because she seldom veer off script with the how's and why's of a trial. But this storyline kind of added a new twist by having a psychic medium as a consultant to the D.A's office which even played a major role in the plotline.
To admire Ms.Taite's thoughtfulness and fluency in law or the legal system is saying one thing but the sophisticated way that she weaves any storyline with courtroom dramas and some kind of brewing romance whether between her two main characters or some of her secondary ones -- do help to entice any interested readers. There are lots of paraphrasing and her summarizing of a particular complex case in this book which even leads to her conveying subliminal anecdotes about each character involved.
The one downside about this storyline that I was not too keen on was the romantic relationship and the way that the author tried pushing it -- think it was not developed and lacks chemistry but for the rest of the storytelling it was really enjoyable.
My observation in the end is that, there is really no difference in any case trial between the D.A./Prosecutor and Defense attorney only with their legal skills and ideologies.
Recommended!
January 24, 2021
When I was a law student, I learned that sometimes you have to go beyond what’s written in the law (“la lettre”, the letter) to what was meant, the intent (“l’esprit”, the spirit). That’s what came to mind when I opened this book, not having read the blurb – I often skip blurbs with certain authors. I was, therefore, slightly surprised to realise the spirit here refers to the paranormal kind.
Owen Lassiter had a perfect conviction record until a jury decided what should have been an open-and-shut case wasn’t as strong as she thought. To make matters worse, the beautiful juror she couldn’t help but notice is the one who derailed her plans. Summer Byrne has a gift she sometimes wishes she could ignore. Dead people talk to her and she can, in the right circumstances, read minds. It’s exhausting and the responsibility that comes with it is overwhelming. Yet when, in a dream, she sees a man getting strangled, she informs the police. The next day, Owen, the gorgeous prosecutor she crossed when she was on jury duty, turns up at the house she shares with her daughter and her grandmother.
The focus of the story is on the case or, more precisely, on Summer’s gift and Owen’s journey to stop rolling her eyes and to accept the impossible. It’s not that the romance is in the background, it’s that it’s so inextricably tied up with every other interaction between the two women that there’s not a lot of flirting or anything. It just happens, in a rather organic way. From time to time, Owen shows a more private side of herself, adorably cocky, and I wish we’d had more of that. She seems to have a pretty mischievous grin Summer can’t resist. The chemistry between them isn’t in the forefront but it’s completely believable, and I like that it’s almost a given. It just is, and it brings tiny but sweet moments, like how well Owen fits in with Summer’s family even before anything happens between them.
Finding a balance between the legal proceedings and the romance isn’t easy, and in the end, I wish there had been a little more of both.
I’ve written a few times how much I love Carsen Taite’s books when they’re about lawyers and judges and prosecutors and the law. This one checks all these boxes with the added and, as I wrote above, unexpected bonus of “a little dose of the unworldly”, as the author writes in the acknowledgements. I wasn’t convinced it would work at first, but it did, totally.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
Owen Lassiter had a perfect conviction record until a jury decided what should have been an open-and-shut case wasn’t as strong as she thought. To make matters worse, the beautiful juror she couldn’t help but notice is the one who derailed her plans. Summer Byrne has a gift she sometimes wishes she could ignore. Dead people talk to her and she can, in the right circumstances, read minds. It’s exhausting and the responsibility that comes with it is overwhelming. Yet when, in a dream, she sees a man getting strangled, she informs the police. The next day, Owen, the gorgeous prosecutor she crossed when she was on jury duty, turns up at the house she shares with her daughter and her grandmother.
The focus of the story is on the case or, more precisely, on Summer’s gift and Owen’s journey to stop rolling her eyes and to accept the impossible. It’s not that the romance is in the background, it’s that it’s so inextricably tied up with every other interaction between the two women that there’s not a lot of flirting or anything. It just happens, in a rather organic way. From time to time, Owen shows a more private side of herself, adorably cocky, and I wish we’d had more of that. She seems to have a pretty mischievous grin Summer can’t resist. The chemistry between them isn’t in the forefront but it’s completely believable, and I like that it’s almost a given. It just is, and it brings tiny but sweet moments, like how well Owen fits in with Summer’s family even before anything happens between them.
Finding a balance between the legal proceedings and the romance isn’t easy, and in the end, I wish there had been a little more of both.
I’ve written a few times how much I love Carsen Taite’s books when they’re about lawyers and judges and prosecutors and the law. This one checks all these boxes with the added and, as I wrote above, unexpected bonus of “a little dose of the unworldly”, as the author writes in the acknowledgements. I wasn’t convinced it would work at first, but it did, totally.
ARC provided to Les Rêveur for an honest review.
January 25, 2021
When I choose a book by Carsen Taite, I’m used to getting a great story that is often focused on lawyers and their work, with an engaging romance added to the mix. I do not expect to have any part of the paranormal genre as part of the tale, but that’s exactly what we get with Spirit of the Law. I was definitely surprised, but it was a really good surprise. In fact, I loved this book.
Summer Byrne and Owen Lassiter have a rocky beginning when Summer ends up as the forewoman to a jury that ended prosecutor Owen’s perfect winning streak in the courtroom, especially after Owen finds out Summer supposedly has psychic powers. Owen becomes even more upset when her boss tells her to hire Summer as a consultant to an important murder trial. Owen doesn’t believe in any of this psychic mumbo jumbo. She really doesn’t, but she can’t seem to get Summer out of her head…and maybe her heart.
I fell in love with Summer, Owen, and even Summer’s daughter Faith and grandmother Nan, almost immediately. Ms. Taite did an excellent job of character development with all of the characters in this book. They were easy to connect with, and for a character reader like myself, that is very important. The story is a mixture of a law-based mystery and intrigue mixed with a beautiful romance, with just a touch of the paranormal added in. This mixture turns out to be a perfect Carsen Taite mystery/love story.
This is a fairly quick and easy read with only a little angst; just enough to make the story even more interesting. The only real critique I have with the book is I would have loved to see more of Summer and Owen together, and maybe a bit more of their past histories. That should tell you how much I enjoyed the novel.
If you are looking for an exceptional story written by an excellent mystery and romance author, then check out Spirit of the Law.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
Summer Byrne and Owen Lassiter have a rocky beginning when Summer ends up as the forewoman to a jury that ended prosecutor Owen’s perfect winning streak in the courtroom, especially after Owen finds out Summer supposedly has psychic powers. Owen becomes even more upset when her boss tells her to hire Summer as a consultant to an important murder trial. Owen doesn’t believe in any of this psychic mumbo jumbo. She really doesn’t, but she can’t seem to get Summer out of her head…and maybe her heart.
I fell in love with Summer, Owen, and even Summer’s daughter Faith and grandmother Nan, almost immediately. Ms. Taite did an excellent job of character development with all of the characters in this book. They were easy to connect with, and for a character reader like myself, that is very important. The story is a mixture of a law-based mystery and intrigue mixed with a beautiful romance, with just a touch of the paranormal added in. This mixture turns out to be a perfect Carsen Taite mystery/love story.
This is a fairly quick and easy read with only a little angst; just enough to make the story even more interesting. The only real critique I have with the book is I would have loved to see more of Summer and Owen together, and maybe a bit more of their past histories. That should tell you how much I enjoyed the novel.
If you are looking for an exceptional story written by an excellent mystery and romance author, then check out Spirit of the Law.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
February 7, 2021
4 Stars
“Spirit of the Law” was a fun legal drama with a slight paranormal twist. Owen is a prosecutor with a perfect record in court. Summer is the foreperson on the jury of her current case and unbeknownst to the rest of court, she’s a physic medium. Owen blames Summer a bit when the case doesn’t go her way and when they later meet, she has doubts about her story.
Owen is later forced to bring in Summer as a consultant on the biggest case of her career. Owen is not a big believer in anything that isn’t cold hard facts. She has doubts about Summer abilities but she’s attracted to her finds that she likes her anyway. Summer has recently moved to Dallas from Santa Cruz where she worked with the DA’s office there. She’s reluctant to start again in Dallas but knows she won’t be able to live with herself if she doesn’t use her gifts.
I really liked both Owen and Summer and their interactions. They butt heads at first but came to mutually respect one another as they got to know each other. The scenes with Owen and Summer and Summer’s family were some of my favorites. It showed Owen wasn’t the uptight hotshot lawyer that’s first portrayed to be. Summer’s daughter Faith and her grandma, Nan, were both a delight to read. They held Summer accountable and showed her more normal side beyond just her gifts.
This is part romance and part legal drama but I felt both fell a little flat. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the story overall. I felt the romance started out nice but then was rushed. There wasn’t enough build up and tension to make me believe in the depth of their feelings. The legal drama surrounded a mystery and it had a nice build up to it. I was disappointed because when it was solved it mostly happened off page and we’re just told about it later, so it felt anticlimactic in the end.
Other than the rushed ending, I recommend this to fans of mystery and legal dramas. I think the paranormal twist added a bit of fun to it to make it an unusual read if this is a normal genre. This was my first book by Taite so I’m pretty excited there’s a large back catalogue to go through.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.
“Spirit of the Law” was a fun legal drama with a slight paranormal twist. Owen is a prosecutor with a perfect record in court. Summer is the foreperson on the jury of her current case and unbeknownst to the rest of court, she’s a physic medium. Owen blames Summer a bit when the case doesn’t go her way and when they later meet, she has doubts about her story.
Owen is later forced to bring in Summer as a consultant on the biggest case of her career. Owen is not a big believer in anything that isn’t cold hard facts. She has doubts about Summer abilities but she’s attracted to her finds that she likes her anyway. Summer has recently moved to Dallas from Santa Cruz where she worked with the DA’s office there. She’s reluctant to start again in Dallas but knows she won’t be able to live with herself if she doesn’t use her gifts.
I really liked both Owen and Summer and their interactions. They butt heads at first but came to mutually respect one another as they got to know each other. The scenes with Owen and Summer and Summer’s family were some of my favorites. It showed Owen wasn’t the uptight hotshot lawyer that’s first portrayed to be. Summer’s daughter Faith and her grandma, Nan, were both a delight to read. They held Summer accountable and showed her more normal side beyond just her gifts.
This is part romance and part legal drama but I felt both fell a little flat. Don’t get me wrong, I really enjoyed the story overall. I felt the romance started out nice but then was rushed. There wasn’t enough build up and tension to make me believe in the depth of their feelings. The legal drama surrounded a mystery and it had a nice build up to it. I was disappointed because when it was solved it mostly happened off page and we’re just told about it later, so it felt anticlimactic in the end.
Other than the rushed ending, I recommend this to fans of mystery and legal dramas. I think the paranormal twist added a bit of fun to it to make it an unusual read if this is a normal genre. This was my first book by Taite so I’m pretty excited there’s a large back catalogue to go through.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books in exchange for an honest review.
February 8, 2021
3.75 stars. I always like books where multiple things are going on and the paranormal and crime mystery genre are two of my favorite genres. This book has a bit of everything, a romance, court proceedings, a crime mystery and a paranormal touch, so it was right up my alley and I enjoyed reading it!
Owen and Summer start off badly. Owen is an assistant district attorney with a no-loss record until Summer is one of the jurors. Summer has certain paranormal gifts that allow her to interpret things differently than ‘normal’ people and Summer is convinced that the man accused of the crime is innocent. This results in the end of Owen’s winning record and you can imagine that Owen is certainly not happy when she is forced to work with Summer on a case not long after this disastrous meeting in the courtroom. Furthermore, Owen also doesn’t believe in paranormal gifts, further complicating their (working) relationship.
Knowing this, I was expecting an enemies-to-lovers storyline, but that’s not how I would describe this book. They rather quickly accept each other and develop a friendship. I really enjoyed their easy interactions during dinner together with Faith (Summer's daughter) and Nan (Summer’s grandma). Owen and Summer are very different, but they seem to complement each other excellent and their attraction is believable. The book is written in the third person from the POVs of Summer and Owen, so you get good insights in their thoughts and backstories. I liked Summer’s backstory, explaining why Summer and Faith are making a fresh start in Dallas. Owen also has an interesting history and it takes longer for Owen to open up, but when she does we get to see the more vulnerable side of the confident attorney, which made me like her even more.
A large part of the book focusses on the developing friendship between Owen and Summer and on all the court proceedings concerned with Owen’s case. Due to the involvement of Summer I was expecting a mystery, but this only really takes off in the last part of the book. Unfortunately, also in this last part of the book the romance between Summer and Owen is taken from friendship to I love you’s and I felt that too much was happening in too little time. I would have liked it better if this was more spaced out and if a couple more chapters were added to let the story and the romance unfold.
All in all, a very entertaining book that will appeal to those who like a romance set in the world of legal proceedings, with a bit of a crime mystery. I enjoyed the paranormal touches, they are there, but not overly abundant. I think that even if you’re not into the paranormal genre you can still enjoy this very well.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Owen and Summer start off badly. Owen is an assistant district attorney with a no-loss record until Summer is one of the jurors. Summer has certain paranormal gifts that allow her to interpret things differently than ‘normal’ people and Summer is convinced that the man accused of the crime is innocent. This results in the end of Owen’s winning record and you can imagine that Owen is certainly not happy when she is forced to work with Summer on a case not long after this disastrous meeting in the courtroom. Furthermore, Owen also doesn’t believe in paranormal gifts, further complicating their (working) relationship.
Knowing this, I was expecting an enemies-to-lovers storyline, but that’s not how I would describe this book. They rather quickly accept each other and develop a friendship. I really enjoyed their easy interactions during dinner together with Faith (Summer's daughter) and Nan (Summer’s grandma). Owen and Summer are very different, but they seem to complement each other excellent and their attraction is believable. The book is written in the third person from the POVs of Summer and Owen, so you get good insights in their thoughts and backstories. I liked Summer’s backstory, explaining why Summer and Faith are making a fresh start in Dallas. Owen also has an interesting history and it takes longer for Owen to open up, but when she does we get to see the more vulnerable side of the confident attorney, which made me like her even more.
A large part of the book focusses on the developing friendship between Owen and Summer and on all the court proceedings concerned with Owen’s case. Due to the involvement of Summer I was expecting a mystery, but this only really takes off in the last part of the book. Unfortunately, also in this last part of the book the romance between Summer and Owen is taken from friendship to I love you’s and I felt that too much was happening in too little time. I would have liked it better if this was more spaced out and if a couple more chapters were added to let the story and the romance unfold.
All in all, a very entertaining book that will appeal to those who like a romance set in the world of legal proceedings, with a bit of a crime mystery. I enjoyed the paranormal touches, they are there, but not overly abundant. I think that even if you’re not into the paranormal genre you can still enjoy this very well.
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 19, 2021
Really enjoyed this story! This is the first book I've read by Carsen Taite and, honestly, I am really looking forward to reading more of her books.
Spirit of the law is a story based around the courtroom, with a dash of paranormal activity mixed in. You don't need to know all the fancy 'law' words to read this book, it's really easy to read and not confusing at all
Although I felt that the main characters had some form of chemistry between the pair, it did lack something, as everything seemed to happen too quickly. The other point id like to make out is that the length of the book is slightly short, I prefer longer books and maybe this is a factor why I've not given it a higher rating.
Summer Byrne meets prosecutor Own Lassiter for the first time when Summer was the jury forewoman who delivered the verdict which ruined Owens winning streak. The pair never thought they'd meet again, but when Summer bumps into a stranger which draws her back into the path of the attractive prosecutor who refuses to accept any form of evidence that she cant see with her own eyes.
Owen Lassiter knows the law inside out, knows her own mind, and doesn't have time for theories from a woman who hears voices. When Summer Byrne offers a window into the murder case which Owens is getting ready to try, hell no doesn't begin to describe how Owen feels. But working with summer as a consultant reminds her that summer is as enticing as she is aggravating and promises to be a life-changing experience that neither is ready to embrace.
4 stars.
I was given a copy for an honest review.
Spirit of the law is a story based around the courtroom, with a dash of paranormal activity mixed in. You don't need to know all the fancy 'law' words to read this book, it's really easy to read and not confusing at all
Although I felt that the main characters had some form of chemistry between the pair, it did lack something, as everything seemed to happen too quickly. The other point id like to make out is that the length of the book is slightly short, I prefer longer books and maybe this is a factor why I've not given it a higher rating.
Summer Byrne meets prosecutor Own Lassiter for the first time when Summer was the jury forewoman who delivered the verdict which ruined Owens winning streak. The pair never thought they'd meet again, but when Summer bumps into a stranger which draws her back into the path of the attractive prosecutor who refuses to accept any form of evidence that she cant see with her own eyes.
Owen Lassiter knows the law inside out, knows her own mind, and doesn't have time for theories from a woman who hears voices. When Summer Byrne offers a window into the murder case which Owens is getting ready to try, hell no doesn't begin to describe how Owen feels. But working with summer as a consultant reminds her that summer is as enticing as she is aggravating and promises to be a life-changing experience that neither is ready to embrace.
4 stars.
I was given a copy for an honest review.
March 6, 2021
In her acknowledgments Carsen Taite says:
“Spirit of the Law is a bit outside the box for me. While still centered around the law with all the tenets that anchor our justice system, this story also explores the value of believing in truths we can’t see but that are often more real than the cold, hard facts we call evidence. I hope you enjoy a little dose of the unworldly with your romantic intrigue.”
And it was an enjoyable read. Written during Corona time I can well imagine how hard it was to keep your focus amidst all distractions, so kudos for Taite (and all other authors) for plugging along. We need our lesfic more than ever to escape the real world. You are essential workers to me!
ADA Owen Lassiter loses her winning streak due to jury forewoman Summer Byrne. Summer’s psychic powers land her in the courtroom, and in Owen’s reluctant presence, again soon after. The prosecutor does not believe in all that woo woo stuff of seeing ghosts, hearing voices and reading someone’s mind but has no choice working with Summer on an upcoming murder trial. Summer isn’t happy either. She thought she and daughter Faith could have a new start in Texas. No more psychic work. The murder victim’s ghost does not let Summer walk away from this case though.
I liked Taites walk on the paranormal side, she kept it small and down to earth so it didn’t feel out of place. It was well written with low angst. I wasn’t too convinced of the chemistry and the fairly short overture to love between Owen and Summer. But Owen did fit into Summer’s cozy family structure like a glove. Owen’s disgruntled ex side-piece Kira could have had a bit more depth. As it was she got the short end of the stick and no real closure from Owen.
Spirit of the Law is a decent read but does not make it to 5 stars for me.
f/f
Themes: I see dead people, Owen… another one of those weird lesfic butch names, living with Nan, visions, let’s have some Thai food, Owen carries some baggage, I was hoping for a bit more of everything.
3.7 Stars
“Spirit of the Law is a bit outside the box for me. While still centered around the law with all the tenets that anchor our justice system, this story also explores the value of believing in truths we can’t see but that are often more real than the cold, hard facts we call evidence. I hope you enjoy a little dose of the unworldly with your romantic intrigue.”
And it was an enjoyable read. Written during Corona time I can well imagine how hard it was to keep your focus amidst all distractions, so kudos for Taite (and all other authors) for plugging along. We need our lesfic more than ever to escape the real world. You are essential workers to me!
ADA Owen Lassiter loses her winning streak due to jury forewoman Summer Byrne. Summer’s psychic powers land her in the courtroom, and in Owen’s reluctant presence, again soon after. The prosecutor does not believe in all that woo woo stuff of seeing ghosts, hearing voices and reading someone’s mind but has no choice working with Summer on an upcoming murder trial. Summer isn’t happy either. She thought she and daughter Faith could have a new start in Texas. No more psychic work. The murder victim’s ghost does not let Summer walk away from this case though.
I liked Taites walk on the paranormal side, she kept it small and down to earth so it didn’t feel out of place. It was well written with low angst. I wasn’t too convinced of the chemistry and the fairly short overture to love between Owen and Summer. But Owen did fit into Summer’s cozy family structure like a glove. Owen’s disgruntled ex side-piece Kira could have had a bit more depth. As it was she got the short end of the stick and no real closure from Owen.
Spirit of the Law is a decent read but does not make it to 5 stars for me.
f/f
Themes: I see dead people, Owen… another one of those weird lesfic butch names, living with Nan, visions, let’s have some Thai food, Owen carries some baggage, I was hoping for a bit more of everything.
3.7 Stars
January 31, 2021
I have to say this wasn’t what I was expecting when I started reading, it’s certainly a lighter read than I’m used to from Taite (though I am still working my way through her back catalogue so it could just be me). I also wasn’t expecting the elements of the paranormal that the narrative includes, though whilst they surprised me, I did in fact enjoy them.
We meet Summer on her first day of jury duty. She ends up being voted as the foreperson on a case where Owen is the DA. Owen doesn’t lose cases, in fact she has a perfect record. When the jury convenes to decide the verdict, Summer finds herself with influence she didn’t want and an understanding and outlook to the case that leads to her peers breaking Owen’s perfect run.
Owen is working on a larger case with bigger implications and when Summer has a vision involving the case, Owen’s boss forces them together. Owen is sceptical as to what Summer can provide to her case, but it’s fun reading them battle and work through the case together.
I loved all of the characters in this one, including the friendship Owen starts to develop with Summer’s family. I really started to believe that she would fit in with them by the end of the book.
The biggest drawback to this book for me was that it ended too early. I liked the ending, but it felt rushed. I like it when I get to see the characters together for a while before the book ends. I would definitely love a second part of this to see them continuing to work together and how their relationship develops.
Taite fans won’t be disappointed with this. I would definitely recommend this to romance fans and those that like their romance to include lawyers and a little bit of mystery. Due to the slight paranormal elements I think paranormal romance fans would also enjoy this even if they don’t normally read Taite.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
We meet Summer on her first day of jury duty. She ends up being voted as the foreperson on a case where Owen is the DA. Owen doesn’t lose cases, in fact she has a perfect record. When the jury convenes to decide the verdict, Summer finds herself with influence she didn’t want and an understanding and outlook to the case that leads to her peers breaking Owen’s perfect run.
Owen is working on a larger case with bigger implications and when Summer has a vision involving the case, Owen’s boss forces them together. Owen is sceptical as to what Summer can provide to her case, but it’s fun reading them battle and work through the case together.
I loved all of the characters in this one, including the friendship Owen starts to develop with Summer’s family. I really started to believe that she would fit in with them by the end of the book.
The biggest drawback to this book for me was that it ended too early. I liked the ending, but it felt rushed. I like it when I get to see the characters together for a while before the book ends. I would definitely love a second part of this to see them continuing to work together and how their relationship develops.
Taite fans won’t be disappointed with this. I would definitely recommend this to romance fans and those that like their romance to include lawyers and a little bit of mystery. Due to the slight paranormal elements I think paranormal romance fans would also enjoy this even if they don’t normally read Taite.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 15, 2021
ARC provided by Net galley
I think my expectations for this book were way too high, the romance portion wasn’t the hot fiery passion we usually get from Carsen Taite but still a cute duo. I found my self constantly waiting for an epic breakthrough in the case but the one that came was underwhelming. As someone hoping to study law I can however say I enjoyed that portion of the book. I loved Summer as a character she was very understanding and considerate. Owen was a bit bland of a character for me, maybe if we saw more light interactions between her and other characters instead of just the few she had with Mary, her description set her up to be charming but I saw none of that. Emotions weren’t very descriptive, more particularly I expected more sadness when Summer mentioned she why she was fired but it didn’t rise much up for her, or at least not much to make me feel bad.
The grammar is good and even someone who wasn’t in the know of law could understand, it was very smooth and easy to create the setting in my mind.
I am a fan of miss Taite, my favorite of hers being the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ and this book just didn’t compare. Hope to see something close to it from her in the future!
I think my expectations for this book were way too high, the romance portion wasn’t the hot fiery passion we usually get from Carsen Taite but still a cute duo. I found my self constantly waiting for an epic breakthrough in the case but the one that came was underwhelming. As someone hoping to study law I can however say I enjoyed that portion of the book. I loved Summer as a character she was very understanding and considerate. Owen was a bit bland of a character for me, maybe if we saw more light interactions between her and other characters instead of just the few she had with Mary, her description set her up to be charming but I saw none of that. Emotions weren’t very descriptive, more particularly I expected more sadness when Summer mentioned she why she was fired but it didn’t rise much up for her, or at least not much to make me feel bad.
The grammar is good and even someone who wasn’t in the know of law could understand, it was very smooth and easy to create the setting in my mind.
I am a fan of miss Taite, my favorite of hers being the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ and this book just didn’t compare. Hope to see something close to it from her in the future!
February 24, 2021
Awww... this was sweet AF. I love how the twist unfolds so brilliantly.
I'm liking this side to Taite's story telling.
I'm liking this side to Taite's story telling.
January 11, 2021
I was very happy to get an ARC book by Carsen Taite. I have only discovered this author in the last six months and have blazed through her "Legal Affairs" series and her DC based legal/political books. This is technically a fifth in a series where each is a stand alone set in Texas. Carsen as a lawyer brings realism and authority to her legal courtroom romances.
Owen Lassiter is a hard working prosecutor. She first sees Summer Bryne when Summer is part of jury that acquits on case that Owen thought was open and shut. Their paths cross again when Summer phones in a tip about a mugging/assault. The problem is she calls before the attack. Summer is a medium psychic (think of the tv show "The Medium") with a proven record of working with police in her previous hometown. The local D.A hires her to work on Owen's current murder trial as a consultant. Owen doesn't believe in her Summer's abilities but there is attraction and appreciation of her way with people.
I thought the story and romance with a paranormal twist made for a fun read. The main characters were smart and believable. The downside with legal type romances is so much time is taken with the cases that there is less time to develop the romance, so it can feel rushed. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 start (rounding up).
Owen Lassiter is a hard working prosecutor. She first sees Summer Bryne when Summer is part of jury that acquits on case that Owen thought was open and shut. Their paths cross again when Summer phones in a tip about a mugging/assault. The problem is she calls before the attack. Summer is a medium psychic (think of the tv show "The Medium") with a proven record of working with police in her previous hometown. The local D.A hires her to work on Owen's current murder trial as a consultant. Owen doesn't believe in her Summer's abilities but there is attraction and appreciation of her way with people.
I thought the story and romance with a paranormal twist made for a fun read. The main characters were smart and believable. The downside with legal type romances is so much time is taken with the cases that there is less time to develop the romance, so it can feel rushed. Thank you to NetGalley and Bold Stroke Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review. 3.5 start (rounding up).
May 9, 2021
Not really into paranormal stories but with CT reality can be suspended and the story enjoyed. Loved the extended family inter action and though darn close to a Brick wall ending I recommend this tale.
January 4, 2022
4 stars
This was quite good. Less crime focused than I hoped for (the motive etc was basically summed up on two pages) but still an entertaining read.
This was quite good. Less crime focused than I hoped for (the motive etc was basically summed up on two pages) but still an entertaining read.
January 14, 2021
Owen is one of the best prosecutor her records is perfect with wins until she loses a case. Summer knows her way around the law when she serves a forewoman on jury and deliver the not guilty verdict in Owen case she didn’t think she the woman again.
Summer has a gift she can speaks with the dead and read minds when she has dreams that a man get murder she decides to call it in little does she know it’s ties to the case Owen is working on. When Owen boss learn who Summer is she wants her help but she reluctant to get involved because she work with police before and she blames herself for one case she lost and besides she wants to start aknew with her daughter Faith who seems older then she is. Owen doesn’t believe in psychics she believes in facts and what you can see in with her own eyes but she can’t deny that Summer knows things she shouldn’t and to top it off her feelings for Summer is becoming deeper.
This was a good read I like how dives in to the law the romance and chemistry was on point the characters were great I love Nan.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
Summer has a gift she can speaks with the dead and read minds when she has dreams that a man get murder she decides to call it in little does she know it’s ties to the case Owen is working on. When Owen boss learn who Summer is she wants her help but she reluctant to get involved because she work with police before and she blames herself for one case she lost and besides she wants to start aknew with her daughter Faith who seems older then she is. Owen doesn’t believe in psychics she believes in facts and what you can see in with her own eyes but she can’t deny that Summer knows things she shouldn’t and to top it off her feelings for Summer is becoming deeper.
This was a good read I like how dives in to the law the romance and chemistry was on point the characters were great I love Nan.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
February 1, 2021
I am sucker for any Carsen Taite law book, even this one where the author ventures outside the norm is a nice read.
Summer upped and moved her life and daughter from Santa Cruz to Dallas to be with her Nan, but also to escape what happened on her previous job. Summer is a psychic-medium and she worked for the DA’s office, determined to do something else with her life and start over in her new town she just can’t escape her gift. When she is called for jury duty she meets Owen. Owen has never lost a case, that is until Summer comes around. Summer meets someone in passing in the court house and she can’t shake the vision dreams she gets from this person. Her calling this tip in leads to Summer being involved in Owen’s high profile case.
The intrigue and the law aspects are always very well done by Taite, and this book certainly isn’t exception. I’m normally not really into the paranormal things, but in this book I really didn’t mind it. I’m ok wit paranormal in shows and when I read this review by Lex https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I was intrigued, liking it to Medium, I series I really enjoyed, is a plus, and it isn’t a let down.
If I were to mention one downside of the book is that it feels really short and the romance starts rather late, maybe too late. A couple more chapters of Summer and Owen as a couple would have been nice. Now it also sorta feels similar to insta love, they proclaimed these words pretty quickly, involving Summer’s family as well, it’s a bit too fast too soon in my opinion. With the ending of this book I am actually hoping this is the start of a new law series from Carsen Taite. Here’s to hoping it is. I’d like to read more about these mains and secondary characters, they are a good mix.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
Summer upped and moved her life and daughter from Santa Cruz to Dallas to be with her Nan, but also to escape what happened on her previous job. Summer is a psychic-medium and she worked for the DA’s office, determined to do something else with her life and start over in her new town she just can’t escape her gift. When she is called for jury duty she meets Owen. Owen has never lost a case, that is until Summer comes around. Summer meets someone in passing in the court house and she can’t shake the vision dreams she gets from this person. Her calling this tip in leads to Summer being involved in Owen’s high profile case.
The intrigue and the law aspects are always very well done by Taite, and this book certainly isn’t exception. I’m normally not really into the paranormal things, but in this book I really didn’t mind it. I’m ok wit paranormal in shows and when I read this review by Lex https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... I was intrigued, liking it to Medium, I series I really enjoyed, is a plus, and it isn’t a let down.
If I were to mention one downside of the book is that it feels really short and the romance starts rather late, maybe too late. A couple more chapters of Summer and Owen as a couple would have been nice. Now it also sorta feels similar to insta love, they proclaimed these words pretty quickly, involving Summer’s family as well, it’s a bit too fast too soon in my opinion. With the ending of this book I am actually hoping this is the start of a new law series from Carsen Taite. Here’s to hoping it is. I’d like to read more about these mains and secondary characters, they are a good mix.
*ARC received in exchange for a voluntary and honest review*
January 26, 2021
Owen Lassiter is good at her job as a prosecutor and she, along with her team were given the case involving the murder of County Commissioner Keith Adams wife. It looked like a burglar had entered their home and when Mrs Adams interrupted him in his quest he panicked and ended up shooting her. Even though everything looked good there was still something about the case that bothered her. They were missing something. What she didn’t know.
Summer Byrne moved from her home in Santa Cruz to live with her grandmother in Dallas. She loved S.C. but after making a mistake in providing info in the case involving a young girl she quit. So with her young daughter Faith they were here now and Summer was trying to find a job. Her previous work was using her ‘gift’. A gift she had since she was very young being able to see and receive messages from the dead. She was determined to make her way without using her ‘gift’.
When Summer is called in for jury duty she meets Owen. The very attractive prosecutor. At first Owen has a hard time believing Summer has the ability to talk with the dead. But when her supervisor hears of Summers talent she orders Owen to bring her in to work on her murder case. Summer doesn’t want to do it and Owen doesn’t want her to. But here she is.
Ms Taite has a firm grasp on just what makes a good story. Lead characters and supporting cast that you connect with. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books
Summer Byrne moved from her home in Santa Cruz to live with her grandmother in Dallas. She loved S.C. but after making a mistake in providing info in the case involving a young girl she quit. So with her young daughter Faith they were here now and Summer was trying to find a job. Her previous work was using her ‘gift’. A gift she had since she was very young being able to see and receive messages from the dead. She was determined to make her way without using her ‘gift’.
When Summer is called in for jury duty she meets Owen. The very attractive prosecutor. At first Owen has a hard time believing Summer has the ability to talk with the dead. But when her supervisor hears of Summers talent she orders Owen to bring her in to work on her murder case. Summer doesn’t want to do it and Owen doesn’t want her to. But here she is.
Ms Taite has a firm grasp on just what makes a good story. Lead characters and supporting cast that you connect with. Very, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley/ Bold Stroke Books
January 19, 2021
Carsen Taite’s books are usually about boardrooms, lawyers, and cops and I’m always looking forward every time a book of hers comes out.
In Spirit Of The Law, Taite still carry on with the same setting but with a little deviation from the usual.
This was a solid storyline with a paranormal twist. The romance part was a little low though. I was expecting an intense chemistry between the two MCs, much like Taite’s previous books. There’s no doubt that the chemistry was there but it would be much better if it wasn’t done in a hurried pace.
Still, it was a good read and would gladly recommend it to others. 4.5 ⭐️s
I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
In Spirit Of The Law, Taite still carry on with the same setting but with a little deviation from the usual.
This was a solid storyline with a paranormal twist. The romance part was a little low though. I was expecting an intense chemistry between the two MCs, much like Taite’s previous books. There’s no doubt that the chemistry was there but it would be much better if it wasn’t done in a hurried pace.
Still, it was a good read and would gladly recommend it to others. 4.5 ⭐️s
I received an ARC from the publishers through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 20, 2021
The author stepped way outside the box with this story. I always enjoy reading Carsen Taite's books because her stories are so compelling and pull your right into the pages. She did go a tad off script with this one but that made it even more interesting. The chemistry between the two MC was there but I feel like I wanted more between them. I would love to tell you all about the twist in this one but that would spoil it for you. So as soon as this is available you should definitely grab a copy.
i received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review
i received an advanced readers copy from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review
February 2, 2021
3 stars. Summer Byrne has jury duty, where she is hoping she can get away without being on a trial. While she is in the courtroom, she meets prosecutor, Owen Lassiter, who has a winning, undefeated record. When Summer is chosen for the jury, she knows the person is not guilty. She convinces enough of the jury that the person is also not guilty, ruining Owen's perfect record. Owen and Summer run into each other again when Summer sees a robbery that is important to Own's case and reports it to the police, she is hired as a jury advisor for the case. In reality, Summer can see spirits and can feel presences which can help find out if a person is guilty or innocent. Sparks fly with Summer and Owen they start to spend time together.
I enjoyed this novel, I always enjoy a crime novel. Summer and Owen's relationship kind of went from zero to 60 very quickly, The mystery was interesting enough to keep me wanting to know what actually happened, but there were a couple times when I wasn't sure it made complete sense. I did enjoy their dynamic, but I did wish there was more tension between them, especially since Owen was a little suspicious at first. I would recommend this to anyone who likes supernatural mysteries.
I enjoyed this novel, I always enjoy a crime novel. Summer and Owen's relationship kind of went from zero to 60 very quickly, The mystery was interesting enough to keep me wanting to know what actually happened, but there were a couple times when I wasn't sure it made complete sense. I did enjoy their dynamic, but I did wish there was more tension between them, especially since Owen was a little suspicious at first. I would recommend this to anyone who likes supernatural mysteries.
January 19, 2021
I've been a fan of Carsen Taite's novels for a while now and one of the main things I love about her writing is that even though they typically feature legal themes, no two are similar. Spirit of the Law is an excellent example of Taite's commitment to changing it up, as it features paranormal elements.
Summer, one of our MCs, can speak to the dead and read minds. When I read this in the blurb outlined on Netgalley I was slightly concerned that it'll be really 'out there' but I think Taite straddled the boundary between realistic and unrealistic very well.
There's been a few MCs that Taite has written over the years who have completely won my heart (i.e. Addison Riley from Courtship *swoon*) and Owen, our second MC, is another that will now top my list. She's a tough prosecutor with a heart of gold really. I loved her interactions with Summer's daughter and mother. I think it really added a lot to her character and I think its the reason this book won me over so much.
A great Taite novel worthy of a read - especially if you are into legal novels with a bit of a paranormal twist.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Summer, one of our MCs, can speak to the dead and read minds. When I read this in the blurb outlined on Netgalley I was slightly concerned that it'll be really 'out there' but I think Taite straddled the boundary between realistic and unrealistic very well.
There's been a few MCs that Taite has written over the years who have completely won my heart (i.e. Addison Riley from Courtship *swoon*) and Owen, our second MC, is another that will now top my list. She's a tough prosecutor with a heart of gold really. I loved her interactions with Summer's daughter and mother. I think it really added a lot to her character and I think its the reason this book won me over so much.
A great Taite novel worthy of a read - especially if you are into legal novels with a bit of a paranormal twist.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Bold Strokes Books. ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2021
4.5 stars
Carsen Taite is one of my favorite authors and this is another one of her good stories.
It's a fun read using a psychic medium as one of the main characters. I liked the character and her family so much that I allowed myself to suspend my disbelief for 200 or so pages. The characters are great, the romance is warm, the mystery is minor. The building relationship between Summer (the psychic medium ) and Owen (the attorney) was clever and cute. Just a nice well written story.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review
Carsen Taite is one of my favorite authors and this is another one of her good stories.
It's a fun read using a psychic medium as one of the main characters. I liked the character and her family so much that I allowed myself to suspend my disbelief for 200 or so pages. The characters are great, the romance is warm, the mystery is minor. The building relationship between Summer (the psychic medium ) and Owen (the attorney) was clever and cute. Just a nice well written story.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review
January 29, 2021
I have never read book like this one. Where real life takes on spiritual one.
It is amazing story, and I love all characters involved however the soft spot is for Nan and Faith.
The setting and trying to understand person with special gift is not easy.
The way Owen let Summer in made me think of the possibilities and choices people have.
Owen felt comfortable yet she was scared and same came to Summer however it felt as she had bit more easy going approach to the relationship that was happening.
The setting, the case, the twist......I very much enjoyed this book!
It is amazing story, and I love all characters involved however the soft spot is for Nan and Faith.
The setting and trying to understand person with special gift is not easy.
The way Owen let Summer in made me think of the possibilities and choices people have.
Owen felt comfortable yet she was scared and same came to Summer however it felt as she had bit more easy going approach to the relationship that was happening.
The setting, the case, the twist......I very much enjoyed this book!
January 31, 2021
Spirit of the Law kept me intrigued from start to beginning. After I finished reading this one, I immediately went back to the blurb to see if it gave me any clue about what I was "really" going to read. There might be one hint but it is really easy to gloss over. I have read a number of Taite's book and you can expect her to give you a well written romance. I am not surprised that I liked this one.
When you start reading Spirit of the Law, you are placed right there in the thick of the action. In the back of your mind you are puzzled about what is happening and that is how you get drawn in. The mains Summer and Owen are instantly attracted to one another, but the flames are quickly put out. The chemistry does carry over after they start working together. I really liked the supporting characters including Summer's daughter. There are not many romances out there that I have read with this unique perspective that Summer has. For me, I think this is the best Taite romance I have read. 4.25 stars.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
When you start reading Spirit of the Law, you are placed right there in the thick of the action. In the back of your mind you are puzzled about what is happening and that is how you get drawn in. The mains Summer and Owen are instantly attracted to one another, but the flames are quickly put out. The chemistry does carry over after they start working together. I really liked the supporting characters including Summer's daughter. There are not many romances out there that I have read with this unique perspective that Summer has. For me, I think this is the best Taite romance I have read. 4.25 stars.
This arc was provided by netgalley and the publisher for an honest review.
January 25, 2021
3.75/5
Owen Lassiter is a well known and excellent prosecutor with a perfect winning streak. That is until she meets Summer Byrne, who is part of the jury. When they meet again, it is under circumstances none of them is ready to jump into. Summer acting as a consulting in Owen's latest case will drive them closer and will make them face and accept truths none of them were ready to face.
As always, I was excited for this new book by Carsen Taite. I didn't really know what to expect until I started reading it and I loved it. The story and the characters were fascinating and something the author hasn't really done before. Hence my excitement and why I was so involved in the book.
However, to my surprise and disappointment the characters I was growing to love and understand slowly, were instead rushed to a quick abrupt end. I felt like it went against what the characters were portrait to be from the beginning. I felt like I was mid-book when really I was at about 70%-80%. The story felt rushed at the end and their story line just didn't make sense at the end.
This is completely a personal opinion. I was enjoying the story so much that I just wanted more.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Owen Lassiter is a well known and excellent prosecutor with a perfect winning streak. That is until she meets Summer Byrne, who is part of the jury. When they meet again, it is under circumstances none of them is ready to jump into. Summer acting as a consulting in Owen's latest case will drive them closer and will make them face and accept truths none of them were ready to face.
As always, I was excited for this new book by Carsen Taite. I didn't really know what to expect until I started reading it and I loved it. The story and the characters were fascinating and something the author hasn't really done before. Hence my excitement and why I was so involved in the book.
However, to my surprise and disappointment the characters I was growing to love and understand slowly, were instead rushed to a quick abrupt end. I felt like it went against what the characters were portrait to be from the beginning. I felt like I was mid-book when really I was at about 70%-80%. The story felt rushed at the end and their story line just didn't make sense at the end.
This is completely a personal opinion. I was enjoying the story so much that I just wanted more.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
December 19, 2022
This has been another story based on the judicial field which this prolific author knows and describes so well. It cannot be said to be a story centered entirely on a judicial plot, although that plot plays a relevant role in it. But the plot focuses on the relationship between the two protagonists, Deputy Prosecutor Owen and Summer, an advisor to the prosecutor a little sui generis.
I would not want to delve too deeply into the plot itself, because it is simple but still interesting. Like most of this author's books, it has thrill and a bit of scheme that adds excitement to the relationship that is forming between the two protagonists.
It is also fast-paced and many things happen that make the legal plot unravel too quickly and also that the part of the romantic relationship is too short, which I am not very grateful for, because I would have liked to know more about this relationship. It’s not unusual either, though.
But I can say that i’ve had a really entertaining time reading it and the love part is of those who do not disappoint.
The publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review
I would not want to delve too deeply into the plot itself, because it is simple but still interesting. Like most of this author's books, it has thrill and a bit of scheme that adds excitement to the relationship that is forming between the two protagonists.
It is also fast-paced and many things happen that make the legal plot unravel too quickly and also that the part of the romantic relationship is too short, which I am not very grateful for, because I would have liked to know more about this relationship. It’s not unusual either, though.
But I can say that i’ve had a really entertaining time reading it and the love part is of those who do not disappoint.
The publisher Bold Strokes Books was kind enough to provide me with an advanced reading copy via Netgalley for my honest review
March 11, 2021
What a fun and entertaining book. It completely pulls you in from the start. Carsen Taite is one of my favorite authors, from the way she weaves a tale along with her real life experience making her books feel authentic. And throw in a bit of paranormal, which she doesn't add in other books (of those I have read at least) and it's a perfect read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters, even if Kira and Mary felt kind of one dimensional. The book was too short to have room for the plot, the romance AND fully fleshed out secondary (dare I say tertiary?) characters. I loved Nan and Faith. The only reason this isn't 5 stars is because it was short, so some things felt rushed. Once I hit 64%, I couldn't believe I was more than half way through because it felt like there was so much more to uncover. It would have been awesome to uncover the "motive" in real time as opposed to just summarizing at the end. But it still didn't deter me from loving this book.
January 26, 2021
This was an enjoyable quick read which had a little bit of everything. The enjoyable characters and the chemistry from the start, the law and crime component that Taite does so well with the addition of having Summer as the psychic medium which I found really enjoyable portion of the story. It is something I would have enjoyed as a series giving opportunity to spend more time on the case and the detail around discovering the truth. The one issue I do have with Taite's stories, at times the romance and the crime storyline just moves too quickly making it difficult to feel believable or feel the connection. I found this happened a small amount for me in this book and I would have loved more detail and time in all aspects of the book.
Another well done book by Carsen Taite and would love to see more with Summer and Owen.
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
Another well done book by Carsen Taite and would love to see more with Summer and Owen.
I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review.
January 31, 2021
Well what can I say. I was craving a lawyer book and this ticked all the right boxes. I liked the characters, although Owen seemed a little too stiff in places. I liked the setting but I didn't really get the psychic part. Also I felt that once they were together it moved really fast. I think that last point was just a personal thing as I didn't really want it to end.
February 2, 2021
Pretty enjoyable read. I enjoyed the romance between Summer and Owens but it felt a bit rushed in the beginning. However, by the end of the novel, I came to love their relationship dynamic. Solid read.
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