Title: Appealed
Author: Emma Chase
Publisher/Year: Gallery Books 1/19/15
Length:   254 Pages
Series:  Legal Briefs #3

Overview

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate—and prized—parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Louboutins.

When Kennedy looks at Brent, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue–worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school in order to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell for her.

But she’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore—she’s a Washington, DC, prosecutor with a long winning streak. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case, and Kennedy thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own.

But things aren’t exactly working out the way she planned. Brent has his sights set on Kennedy, and every fiery exchange only makes him want her more—and makes her wonder if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. In the end, they may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court.

My Thoughts

We’ve spent so much time with this trio of gentlemen that it’s nice to get to the crux of who Brent is and understand his story.  We don’t know much about him from the past 2 books – just that he comes from money, that he looks incredibly young for his age and that he had an accident as a child and lost part of his leg.  None of that defines him alone though, he’s got so much more going on.

Then there’s Kennedy – the girl that he was in love with when he was a teen, the girl that he grew up with, but because of the influence of everyone around them as teens, they ended up so far from one another – because people were jealous and hateful and hurtful.

So when their paths cross in present day on a court case – you know that things will get intense and really hot.  And the way that this story is written, we get a bit of back and forth that teases us and then lays it all out.

we know that Brent never loses, and the case that he’s taken on is one that he should be able to win, and plea out of because the kid didn’t commit a crime that’s so heinous that there’s no coming back for it.  It’s likely an act for attention (something that we actually saw in Jake’s story with Rory – one of the little boys).  So Brent thinks that he can make everything go away, yet here’s Kennedy, the prosecutor who has other plans and makes it really tough.

The dance that comes from it all, is intense.  Emma Chase gives us a story that’s so compelling, the way that these two characters engage both in court and out is hot.  There’s so much chemistry and romance and it takes a few other people to push them together to make it obvious to both of them.  There’s so much steam that you know it’s going to explode.

There’s a nice addition to this story that helps us keep grounded.  two actually.  The first is Waldo, Brent’s therapist and his role is to be the voice of reason in helping Brent become more self aware.  Then there’s the friend squad.  They have always been so protective of one another throughout the series that it’s really nice to see how they rally and then also look to kick his ass when he’s being done.

The tension really comes when their court case is still going weeks later, and when Kennedy learns that her mob case from Vegas is back with an appeal.  There’s a hit out on her and there’s no certainty over what the future will hold.  So…on that note,you have to read through to figure it all out.

The best thing is that we get not only an Epilogue, but an extended Epilogue and that’s something that gives you a glimpse into something bigger and more.  can’t wait to see if we ever get another bit of it.  enjoy!