Appealed by Emma Chase

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Title: Appealed
Author: Emma Chase
Series: The Legal Briefs #3
Published by: Gallery Books
Release Date: January 19th 2016
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Reading Challenges: Lenoreo's 2018 Beat the Backlist Challenge
Find it: Goodreads ✩ Amazon ✩ B&N ✩ Google ✩ Kobo ✩ iBooks ✩ IndieBound
My rating:

Blurb:

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 to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell.

But she’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore—she’s a 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 Review:

4.5 stars — OMG you guys, every time I read a book by Emma Chase I wonder why I don’t read more from her.  I LOVED Sustained (book 2 in this series, still haven’t read book 1 yet), and a long time ago I remember being worried about how I would like Brent’s book.  But YOU GUYS!  I LOVED IT!  Like seriously loved it.

Brent was amazing…he was incorrigible, flawed, selfish, emotionally stunted but also strangely in touch with his emotions at the same time.  He was also willing to explore his feelings, he didn’t shy away from that like many heroes.  I LOVED that.  I loved his voice throughout the story, he was just hilarious and sassy, and I laughed as much as I cried…well probably more laughing, but there was the occasional crying.  He really was the epitome of a hero that you love despite his flaws.  I may have wanted to smack him at times, but he eventually found his way, you know?

I loved that his disability really affected who he was, but didn’t slow him down.  And while it was a part of who he was, it actually didn’t affect the main storyline.  It was just sort of an aspect of his character that occasionally came into play.  I will admit that I am endlessly curious about the accident, but I survived not getting many details.  I also loved that he regularly went to see a therapist and he wasn’t ashamed about it.  It was such a nice and refreshingly positive viewpoint.

I understood all of Kennedy’s hang ups and really felt for the struggles she went through in boarding school in their past.  I thought her forgiveness of Brent came at a reasonable pace, that it was believable.  I would occasionally get frustrated with her distrust, even as I found it reasonable.  It’s just that we only get Brent’s POV in this book, so it was so much easier to fall in love with him despite his flaws.  Without getting a peek in Kennedy’s head, we don’t really know much of what she’s thinking.  I loved how strong she appeared from his viewpoint.  I also appreciated how she was flawed herself, allowing her past to affect her present (especially in the kind of prosecutor she became).

The chemistry between Brent and Kennedy, from friendship to steamy, was spot on perfect.  I loved them together and was rooting for them pretty much the entire time.  You could really feel the connection they had in the past, and thus you could really understand how they each got hurt (often by their own teenaged hands).  And that connection just sparked right back up when they met again.  Brent was so playful with Kennedy, I found myself laughing and smiling like a loon way too often.

I loved all the little side bits in the story as well.  From the interactions Brent had with Harrison, to his friendship with Jake, Stanton and Sofia.  The story showcased lots of great relationships.  I even really loved the trial with Justin, and the way that played out.

Honestly, the writing is just so witty and fun and had me sucked in from beginning to end.  I wish I had a Kindle copy so I could have highlighted the shit out of it.  It’s wishlisted, just gotta keep praying for a sale.  😛  Either that or I gotta suck it up.