About the book:
As the youngest female judge in LA, Mahalia
Jackson has her career goals carefully aligned. But when her mentor
tells her she needs to break her shell of professionalism and show a
little heart by volunteering for the Junior Jurors program, her plans
begin to falter.
Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God's calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation's eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America's freeways.
Mahalia's rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow's attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.
A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk.
Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God's calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation's eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America's freeways.
Mahalia's rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow's attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.
A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk.
My review:
I really enjoyed this story set in the legal world of courtrooms and trials but that also showed who JD and Mahalia really were outside the courtroom. JD had a very tough childhood and now helps widows and orphans as they fight the corporate giants against them. He was such a great guy, from fighting for the underdog to mentoring teens so they know they can break the cycle of poverty. He was an honorable man of faith but felt he needed to focus on his career and helping as many people as he could to make up for not being able to save his mom. Mahalia was an incredibly strong woman who's excelled in her career but still hears the voices saying she's too dark or sees how she's treated differently even from within her own community. I appreciated these glimpses into another community and culture from my own. She had a certain idea of the man she was looking for and JD did not fit that plan. She also had walked away from her faith and struggled to give control back over to God. You also throw in the complication of her presiding over one of his cases and seeing each other in court and it seemed like they had some real obstacles.
It was fun to see them get to know each other even while thinking there's no way this could ever work. She really came out of her shell in the mentorship program and connecting with the teens and they brought an extra layer of drama. There were some cryptic text exchanges between different parties throughout the book that lent an air of mystery because you were trying to figure out who was who and what they meant. She was hoping to get a promotion but there were rumors and allegations swirling around so there was a sense of suspense. There was some romance but mainly the buildup of attraction as they both felt the pull but were determined not to act on it. I would definitely recommend this book from a new-to-me author but will be looking for more from her!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
