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The Client
Britney Alexander finally has it all: Not only has she made senior partner at her law firm, but she has recently gotten engaged to her very own Prince Charming, who just happens to be her boss.
However, that perfect life which she has been dreaming of since she was five threatens to come crashing down around her when Anthony Reed storms into her office and demands that she take him on as a client.
The burly biker is the polar opposite of her new fiance, yet there is something about the unassuming bar-owner with the trigger-happy temper which she finds impossible to resist.
However, that perfect life which she has been dreaming of since she was five threatens to come crashing down around her when Anthony Reed storms into her office and demands that she take him on as a client.
The burly biker is the polar opposite of her new fiance, yet there is something about the unassuming bar-owner with the trigger-happy temper which she finds impossible to resist.
Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2021
2 people are currently reading
9 people want to read
About the author
Avionne Celestin
21 books4 followersAvionne Celestin first fell in love with the romance genre through bedtime stories like Cinderella. As a teenager, she discovered another love - writing - through her study of Literature. So when she decided to pursue a career as an author, she naturally chose to write romance novels, or as she calls them 'modern-day fairy tales for grown-ups'.
Each story is crafted with raw emotion, and her obvious love for her characters breathes life into them, making them both realistic and relatable. Each book is chock-full of sensual heat and sprinkled throughout with a generous helping of dry wit, and all come with a guaranteed HEA that is sure to melt even the coldest heart.
On the rare occasions that Avionne isn't glued to her laptop, she enjoys hanging out at home with family, friends, and her three slightly delusional rescue mutts.
Each story is crafted with raw emotion, and her obvious love for her characters breathes life into them, making them both realistic and relatable. Each book is chock-full of sensual heat and sprinkled throughout with a generous helping of dry wit, and all come with a guaranteed HEA that is sure to melt even the coldest heart.
On the rare occasions that Avionne isn't glued to her laptop, she enjoys hanging out at home with family, friends, and her three slightly delusional rescue mutts.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
July 17, 2021
An Action-Packed & Entertaining Mystery
This steamy romantic crime novel has an entertaining mystery plot and an intriguing and turbulent romantic subplot. The Client will entertain any dedicated fan of romantic mystery and romantic suspense novels.
The opening chapter makes it abundantly clear to the reader that something smells musky in the State of Denmark. Poor Britney isn’t getting the affection she craves from her fiance, Mark Whatshisname the Whatever. Then in steps Tony to rekindle old memories and remind her of what she’s missing.
Britney’s lukewarm relationship with Mark Whatshisname immediately establishes her as a sympathetic character. As the story develops, and she takes clever steps to aid Tony in his terrible predicament, she becomes even more likable. Her proactive measures to do the police detectives’ jobs for them endear her to the reader.
This is the second book I’ve read written by Avionne Celestin. Based on those two, I suspect that Ms. Celestin enjoys taking accomplished professional females at the top of their game and placing them in positions of irresistible temptation that cause them to breach multiple regulations of their professional body and then go on to commit actual serious crimes.
As a qualified and practicing lawyer, Britney is bound by certain ethical and legal restrictions. Needless to say, several of these regulations get pushed to their limits and beyond. At a later stage in the novel, Britney actually commits, to my count, 3 major felonies unconnected with her previous breaches of professional regulations.
I cannot state what these crimes are without introducing spoilers into this review, but they are serious crimes that would send any normal person to prison in real life. Yet, within the context of this story, these breaches always appear reasonable through Britney’s third-person limited viewpoint.
Tony is in imminent danger. He is also the “wronged” one in this relationship. Both these factors together encourage the reader to root for him in this story. In fact, when I found out what had happened a year ago, and combined with her treatment of Justin, I began to like Britney a lot less.
In some ways, Britney came across as shallow and very flawed. She has many negative character traits. For example, she shunned Justin, she dumped Tony, she became engaged to the richest and most powerful man within her acquaintance despite not being really attracted to him, then she goes on to break multiple ethical and legal rules not to mention her shabby treatment of Mark Whatshisname in the beginning of this novel.
There are two main plots nested together: an action mystery plot and a relationship plot. The mystery plot is by far the most interesting because it involves real obstacles and conflict. There is a genuine danger that Tony will wind up taking communal showers in the state penitentiary if Britney can’t figure out what really happened.
There were lots of interesting plot developments and twists. It was fun trying to work out who murdered Justin. I enjoyed the action and eventual resolution a lot.
The relationship plot is a little weak. It follows the second chance romance trope, but it offers no real conflict. Britney quickly overcomes any reservations she may have held both ethical and moral.
However, at least her quick capitulation allows Celestin to work in many, many steamy but relatively tasteful bedroom scenes into this novel. Also, there is continued tension over how seriously she will take her relationship with Tony. Does she really love him or is it all just lust? You’ll have to read the novel to find out.
Another aspect is the turbulent nature of their relationship. I enjoyed watching their respective character development arcs as Tony’s and Britney’s personalities transformed during the course of the novel.
There was only one part of this relationship development arc that I didn’t like. It was Tony’s reaction and resulting behavior from the end of chapter 14 onward. I can’t say more without introducing spoilers, but I’d hoped Tony would react better by that stage in his character development arc.
Generally, the setting was wonderful. TJ’s Bar is well introduced and described, as were all the other important locations.
I’m not involved in law enforcement or the law, so I’m going to have to assume that Ms. Celestin has done her homework and these legal matters were all dealt with appropriately. However, there was one thing that stood out to me as odd.
Tony is accused of murder and is about to go to trial. Now, as I said earlier, I’m no expert in the law. However, I’m fairly sure that a person in Tony’s position, accused of a violent crime, would be held in custody awaiting trial to protect the public.
Maybe Tony has been awarded bail. However, this is never mentioned, and there is no arraignment meeting in the courthouse. It appears that Tony was arrested, charged, and then released without due procedure.
Generally, this story is successfully shown and not told through Tony’s and Britney’s limited third-person viewpoints. However, the Epilogue is told rather than shown, which makes it feel a little rushed.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this steamy romantic mystery. Celestin has a real talent for describing scenes and immersing the reader. However, I do have reservations over the legal procedures at the beginning of the novel and lack of an arraignment.
Also, I would have liked a lot more struggle from Britney over both breaching legal regulations and resisting the temptation that is Tony. The relationship plot arc just felt a little too smooth and easy for me. So, I’m going to award this engaging crime story 4 out of 5.
Notice:
I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free from BookSprout, but this review is my honest opinion of the book.
This steamy romantic crime novel has an entertaining mystery plot and an intriguing and turbulent romantic subplot. The Client will entertain any dedicated fan of romantic mystery and romantic suspense novels.
The opening chapter makes it abundantly clear to the reader that something smells musky in the State of Denmark. Poor Britney isn’t getting the affection she craves from her fiance, Mark Whatshisname the Whatever. Then in steps Tony to rekindle old memories and remind her of what she’s missing.
Britney’s lukewarm relationship with Mark Whatshisname immediately establishes her as a sympathetic character. As the story develops, and she takes clever steps to aid Tony in his terrible predicament, she becomes even more likable. Her proactive measures to do the police detectives’ jobs for them endear her to the reader.
This is the second book I’ve read written by Avionne Celestin. Based on those two, I suspect that Ms. Celestin enjoys taking accomplished professional females at the top of their game and placing them in positions of irresistible temptation that cause them to breach multiple regulations of their professional body and then go on to commit actual serious crimes.
As a qualified and practicing lawyer, Britney is bound by certain ethical and legal restrictions. Needless to say, several of these regulations get pushed to their limits and beyond. At a later stage in the novel, Britney actually commits, to my count, 3 major felonies unconnected with her previous breaches of professional regulations.
I cannot state what these crimes are without introducing spoilers into this review, but they are serious crimes that would send any normal person to prison in real life. Yet, within the context of this story, these breaches always appear reasonable through Britney’s third-person limited viewpoint.
Tony is in imminent danger. He is also the “wronged” one in this relationship. Both these factors together encourage the reader to root for him in this story. In fact, when I found out what had happened a year ago, and combined with her treatment of Justin, I began to like Britney a lot less.
In some ways, Britney came across as shallow and very flawed. She has many negative character traits. For example, she shunned Justin, she dumped Tony, she became engaged to the richest and most powerful man within her acquaintance despite not being really attracted to him, then she goes on to break multiple ethical and legal rules not to mention her shabby treatment of Mark Whatshisname in the beginning of this novel.
There are two main plots nested together: an action mystery plot and a relationship plot. The mystery plot is by far the most interesting because it involves real obstacles and conflict. There is a genuine danger that Tony will wind up taking communal showers in the state penitentiary if Britney can’t figure out what really happened.
There were lots of interesting plot developments and twists. It was fun trying to work out who murdered Justin. I enjoyed the action and eventual resolution a lot.
The relationship plot is a little weak. It follows the second chance romance trope, but it offers no real conflict. Britney quickly overcomes any reservations she may have held both ethical and moral.
However, at least her quick capitulation allows Celestin to work in many, many steamy but relatively tasteful bedroom scenes into this novel. Also, there is continued tension over how seriously she will take her relationship with Tony. Does she really love him or is it all just lust? You’ll have to read the novel to find out.
Another aspect is the turbulent nature of their relationship. I enjoyed watching their respective character development arcs as Tony’s and Britney’s personalities transformed during the course of the novel.
There was only one part of this relationship development arc that I didn’t like. It was Tony’s reaction and resulting behavior from the end of chapter 14 onward. I can’t say more without introducing spoilers, but I’d hoped Tony would react better by that stage in his character development arc.
Generally, the setting was wonderful. TJ’s Bar is well introduced and described, as were all the other important locations.
I’m not involved in law enforcement or the law, so I’m going to have to assume that Ms. Celestin has done her homework and these legal matters were all dealt with appropriately. However, there was one thing that stood out to me as odd.
Tony is accused of murder and is about to go to trial. Now, as I said earlier, I’m no expert in the law. However, I’m fairly sure that a person in Tony’s position, accused of a violent crime, would be held in custody awaiting trial to protect the public.
Maybe Tony has been awarded bail. However, this is never mentioned, and there is no arraignment meeting in the courthouse. It appears that Tony was arrested, charged, and then released without due procedure.
Generally, this story is successfully shown and not told through Tony’s and Britney’s limited third-person viewpoints. However, the Epilogue is told rather than shown, which makes it feel a little rushed.
Overall, I enjoyed reading this steamy romantic mystery. Celestin has a real talent for describing scenes and immersing the reader. However, I do have reservations over the legal procedures at the beginning of the novel and lack of an arraignment.
Also, I would have liked a lot more struggle from Britney over both breaching legal regulations and resisting the temptation that is Tony. The relationship plot arc just felt a little too smooth and easy for me. So, I’m going to award this engaging crime story 4 out of 5.
Notice:
I received an advance review copy (ARC) for free from BookSprout, but this review is my honest opinion of the book.
April 4, 2021
Britney Alexander was just made senior partner at her law firm, and even more amazing was that she has recently become engaged to Mark Gallagher IV who owned the law practice. After 6 months of dating, he had just walked in and given her the diamond ring. He was a gorgeous man, despite being neither warm nor sociable. When she moved to kiss him, he turned away and walked to the window. It could have been that he didn’t realize she was about to kiss him, but she suspected it was deliberate. He had seen later that his father, the former Governor of Bayside, had raised him that way to avoid scandal and be a worthy politician. Yes, he was her Prince Charming, the “Perfect Catch”. But his tight jaw and distant eyes said otherwise. She still hadn’t met his family. He had been born into a prestigious, wealthy family. She had scraped her way up from her lowly roots on her own.
Her door suddenly burst open and a huge man rushed in with her secretary rushing behind trying to stop him. She instantly forgot her fiancé was even in the room. The man was stunning, 6’7” with huge muscles. When he addressed her as Alex, her fiancé realized she knew this man. He introduced himself to her fiancé as Anthony Reed but his eyes never left hers. He replied that only Alex could help him. He had called her “My Alex” when they were 5 years old on the playground. Then he told her Justin was dead, and tears formed for the third member of their friendship back in Riverside Heights so long ago.
Tony continued to tell her that Justin was killed inside the bar three nights ago when somebody stabbed him with a broken bottle. The DA knew he couldn’t make first degree murder stick, so he charged Tony with Voluntary Manslaughter, accusing him of murdering his best friend and business partner. It was all circumstantial evidence, but the police chose not to look further. Alex is the only one he would ever trust with his life, and he demands that she take him on as a client. His life is on the line. And he has a hidden agenda. He wants her back in his life. She will have to choose between Tony and Mark. By the time the trial is over, that may not be a difficult decision to make.
This is such a good story with the characters excellently described. I don’t want to give away any of the exciting trial portion, but it will keep the reader enthralled and deeply involved in the progress of the story. Grab your copy and dive in as Alex/Britney comes to grip with her past and faces the most important trial of her life... and future.
Her door suddenly burst open and a huge man rushed in with her secretary rushing behind trying to stop him. She instantly forgot her fiancé was even in the room. The man was stunning, 6’7” with huge muscles. When he addressed her as Alex, her fiancé realized she knew this man. He introduced himself to her fiancé as Anthony Reed but his eyes never left hers. He replied that only Alex could help him. He had called her “My Alex” when they were 5 years old on the playground. Then he told her Justin was dead, and tears formed for the third member of their friendship back in Riverside Heights so long ago.
Tony continued to tell her that Justin was killed inside the bar three nights ago when somebody stabbed him with a broken bottle. The DA knew he couldn’t make first degree murder stick, so he charged Tony with Voluntary Manslaughter, accusing him of murdering his best friend and business partner. It was all circumstantial evidence, but the police chose not to look further. Alex is the only one he would ever trust with his life, and he demands that she take him on as a client. His life is on the line. And he has a hidden agenda. He wants her back in his life. She will have to choose between Tony and Mark. By the time the trial is over, that may not be a difficult decision to make.
This is such a good story with the characters excellently described. I don’t want to give away any of the exciting trial portion, but it will keep the reader enthralled and deeply involved in the progress of the story. Grab your copy and dive in as Alex/Britney comes to grip with her past and faces the most important trial of her life... and future.
January 15, 2025
The past shows up at the MFC’s office asking for a huge favor. The MMC has more than one ulterior motive for showing up there but runs into more of a complication than expected. This definitely does not deter him and I loved all his efforts to barge his way back into his love’s life. He is relentless and self-destructive, and his heart completely belongs to the girl he met back in elementary school. He is all rough edges and lacks the pretty packaging the MFC is looking for. She tries hard to resist the connection between them. Her loyalty to another man and self-ambitions have her trying to keep him at a distance, but he just becomes more determined and even more sexually appetizing. This is a man who backs up what he says and does so with very spicy action. Together they work to solve an important murder and navigate the future. You route for them all the way to find a way to get beyond past troubles and get justice for their friend.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2023
Brittany Alexander (Alex) is a promising, young lawyer who recently got engaged to her boss. Anthony Reed (Tony) is the ex-fiancé of Alex. He is from her past and was always a little wild. He was not what Alex envisioned in her fairy tale – perfect husband, family, carer, etc (like I said, fantasy!) When Tony is accused of murdering his best friend and business partner, he knows Alex I the only one who can help him. It also doesn’t hurt that he wants to win her back!
Secrets, lies, deception, betrayal, mystery, suspense, complications, good friends, and a little steamy action will make it very hard to put this book down. It takes realizing what you lost before you can really appreciate what you had, and this story will tug at your heartstrings! Love this author and cannot wait to read more! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Secrets, lies, deception, betrayal, mystery, suspense, complications, good friends, and a little steamy action will make it very hard to put this book down. It takes realizing what you lost before you can really appreciate what you had, and this story will tug at your heartstrings! Love this author and cannot wait to read more! I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 3, 2023
Our hero rushes in and asks for our heroine's help. Turns out they have a history and this is our hero's last chance to make it right. Of course, it is a bit more complicated that than, but all is fair in love and war.
This is a second chance romance. The story is well written and easy to read with a well done cast. I rather liked both our hero and heroine and enjoyed watching them walk the tightrope of their past and present. The plot includes a hint of mystery and enough complications to keep things interesting as well as plenty of steam. Overall, a very enjoyable introduction to a new author (for me). I look forward to more.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
This is a second chance romance. The story is well written and easy to read with a well done cast. I rather liked both our hero and heroine and enjoyed watching them walk the tightrope of their past and present. The plot includes a hint of mystery and enough complications to keep things interesting as well as plenty of steam. Overall, a very enjoyable introduction to a new author (for me). I look forward to more.
Highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout for review purposes.
February 1, 2023
The author has given us an intriguing story that pulls us into the lives of Tony and Britney/Alex and does not let go. The story keeps us turning the pages with suspense, danger, old memories and steam.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews