Attorney West Fallon has promised a federal judge that she will take a year away from her career to clerk for him, she may even wear a suit. However when he is taken ill the plans change and she is forced to clerk for a different judge, something she hadn’t bargained on and certainly isn’t looking forward to.

Judge Camille Avery, newly appointed to the federal court is looking forward to her new role, however a complex murder case, unruly attorneys, broken rules and her attraction to West Fallon all add up to make her life miserable.

As the two women work together they offer each other something they crave. As their attraction grows so does their fear and insecurities. Is it possible to let go of the past for the sake of a chance of happiness?

I really enjoyed the book, it keeps you interested from start to finish. There are so many different threads to keeps you on your toes. I found myself rooting for West all the way through, hoping that she would eventually find the happiness she deserved.

I absolutely adored this book, which was both a bit of a delightful surprise and the first step in laying a foundation of affection for everything that comes after this!

An honest review thanks to NetGalley. This has been sitting on my shelf for a while now, and just haven't picked it up. I am so thankful that I did, this book was amazing. I loved the journey that both West and Camille went through. The inside of judge and law clerk took me into a world I didn't know I had any interest in. This was a great read, with the added mystery of threats and professional vs. personal life. You will not regret picking this one up.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2066338046

Sidebar by Carsen Taite

Attorney West Fallon has promised a federal judge that she will take a year away from her career to clerk for him, she may even wear a suit. However when he is taken ill the plans change and she is forced to clerk for a different judge, something she hadn’t bargained on and certainly isn’t looking forward to.
Judge Camille Avery, newly appointed to the federal court is looking forward to her new role, however a complex murder case, unruly attorneys, broken rules and her attraction to West Fallon all add up to make her life miserable.
The two women work together, each offering the other something they crave and as their attraction grows so does fear and insecurities. Is it possible to let go of the past for the sake of a chance of happiness ?

I really enjoyed the book, it keeps you interested from start to finish. There are so many different threads to keeps you on your toes. I found myself rooting for West all the way through that she would eventually find the happiness she deserved.

I was unable to review this book because of a conflict in my schedule. Sorry for any inconvenience this has caused the publisher or the author of the work. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to review for you and I look forward to reviewing for you in the future.

I do like Carsen Taite stories. They have interesting characters and fairly complex legal plots. This is no exception. Yes it is obvious how it will end because that is the genre but this is entertaining, well written and up to the author's usual standard. The lead characters are a judge and a law clerk who both have emotional and professional baggage and their journey stumbles and there are misunderstandings before the satisfying ending.

I was given a copy of this book by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I really enjoyed Sidebar by Carsen Taite. It is a great story with great characters. Loved West's story about overcoming a hard childhood. The case Camille and West were working on was also interesting.

I almost always enjoy Taite’s books. Sidebar may be my favorite of hers though. I loved the character West. Once I started reading I really struggled to put the book down. I wanted to read it straight through but sleep got in my way. I hope I see more of these characters in the future. A love story about a judge and a lawyer without too much legal language. If you haven’t read Taite’s books before this would be a perfect one to start. I highly recommend this book.

This was one of the best novels by Carsen Taite. Reminded me of her earlier work and her passion for law. Need i say more? The two protagonists are interesting and come from different worlds. There is enough mystery and drama here to keep the novel moving along without becoming dull and thankfully not the usual cliches. If you're a fan of It should be a Crime then this one is for you.

I actually enjoyed this book a lot mire than the last one I read by this author. It had great characters and a good pace the only two things that I would critique are that the mystery was not a real mystery and could have been more and the whole workplace situation seemed a little unrealistic to me but other than that a great book.

I usually like both the romance and the mystery/thriller in Taite's stories, and this one I mostly liked both as well.

It's about Camille West. Camille is a new federal judge replacing a judge that had to step down. That judge asks her to keep on one of his Clerks who's also sorta like a pseudo daughter, West.

West has quite the past and Camille's present is quite sticky because of a case that she's the judge on.

Despite all that and the facts that they're boss and employee, differing ages, and Camille's getting threats, they still get closer.

At the same time the mystery of who's trying to scare Camille and such barrelled right along.

I liked both parts of the story, although at the very end I thought it seemed a tiny bit rushed.

And the thriller was the usual Taite awesome too and just overall I just liked the story and even the May Decemberish part worked pretty well.

I received this ARC from Netgalley on behalf of Bold Strokes Books.

It has been a while since I last read a Carsen Taite novel but this was worth it. Whilst I'm not usually one for suspense, this was easily crafted and reasonably simple with two likeable characters in the mix.
I enjoyed West's character and probably would have liked to have seen her develop a bit more but overall I was happy with the read.

I really like this author but this book gave me a few Deja vu moments. But saying that this was a really good read. It is the kind of book you just can not put down.

The two main characters are Camille and West. Camille is a Federal judge and West is fresh from graduation as a lawyer. They met by chance at the court house and had an immediate attraction. But Camille was there for an interview and West was visiting her ward Judge Blair. Judge Blair has a stroke and resigns from the bench but West promised she would clerk for him for twelve months. Camille gets his seat and promises to take on West as a clerk.

Problem is, the attraction is now stronger than ever. Also, Camille is about to preside over a very important case. West is accused of supplying the press with court documents. She resigns in what seems disgrace. But as you can guess it all works out. Nope I am not gonna tell you what happens only that you would be mad not to read the book for yourself.

It has a bit of everything. Love, commitment, betrayal and a little mystery. Great book and great read. Enjiy!

*ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley*

https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/RYFAOI3QEB11N/ref=pe_1572281_66412651_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2050385367

As always a well written novel from Carsen Taite. The two main characters are well developed, likeable, and have sizzling chemistry. The relationship and the book overall is well paced. The tone of writing is engaging without getting too jargony. My only criticism is that the main case the book revolves around, and the mystery element, could have been a little more interesting.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆
I really enjoyed the legal detail in this courtroom drama. The impact of judicial decisions on cases is fascinating. The two women in this story are also interesting. Federal judge Camille and newly qualified lawyer West are at different places in their careers and I enjoyed learning about both jobs.

While I really liked both Camille and West, I struggled to invest in their relationship. Both women are crafted as clever, driven, and inherently good characters. Pursuing a sordid office affair hurts both of their moral authority and makes Camille just as bad as the corrupt individuals and institutions she rails against. How does she fairly evaluate or choose between her two clerks when she is snogging one of them? And while West isn’t a typical victim, her career is beholden to Camille and she is bound by the older woman’s professional decisions without recourse. The relationship left a bad taste in my mouth. I did like the emotional and mental connection between Camille and West but I didn’t feel any real physical chemistry between West and Camille. However, I will admit that my reaction to the judge/clerk relationship tainted my response to their personal relationship.

There is a suspense element to this story that didn’t completely work for me. Camille starts receiving threats quite early in this book but the storyline isn’t followed up very consistently. Some clues are a bit too obvious but I’m not sure readers are ever given enough information to figure everything out for ourselves.

I’m conflicted about this story. I love the strong women and I enjoyed the legal drama but if Camille were a male judge, this would be a story about workplace sexual harassment and abuse of power. It wouldn’t be a romance.


Shannan – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 Stars

Judge Camille Avery is newly appointed to the federal bench. Having nothing but respect for the shoes she is filling, she agrees to keep the law clerk the judge whose seat she is taking was going to hire, West Fallon. West and Camille have a small "moment" before they realize that Camille will be West's boss. The attraction between them is something that is being hard to ignore. Camille has been so driven in her career, relationships were the least of her worries. West feels that she should be working to help people and using her law degree instead of clerking for a judge. West and Camille are complete opposites and maybe that’s what draws them toward each other. The chemistry is palpable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the attraction and chemistry between West and Camille until about 85-87%, then it went downhill for me. The ending felt a bit rushed, but I did enjoy the overall story.

This is a first read from this author. I do intend on looking for more law and/or judicial based stories.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the first book I have read by Ms. Taite, but it won't be the last. This is a very rich story, both legally and romantically.

It could be that this story could skirt along a dangerous path, as one lead has significantly more control of the situation than the other. However, it is made very clear at all times that West is doing the clerk job due to a promise, and is at least as invested in the connection she feels as Camille is. This evens the field considerably – and at times I would argue that West is in the driving seat. This makes the nascent office romance much more exciting and alluring.

The way that we are given information feels just like the reveals in a courtroom, peeling away the layers, until we get a really good view of these two women and their lives and careers. Add in the delicious tension whenever they are together, and this makes for a very enjoyable read. The legal issue that is to be heard in Camille's court and the double dealing going on in the background form a wonderful backdrop for the romance, which is on a super slow burn.

Thank you, Ms. Taite, for a fresh look at the danger and promise of a workplace romance.

Intriguing legal mystery with many twists involving a newly appointed judge and her building romantic relationship with her younger law clerk.
More than just a love story. Each character is complex, has their own agenda and brings soleful baggage.
Interesting read.

Format: Kindle Edition
Judge Camille Avery is new to the federal courts. West Fallon is a new law graduate looking to keep a promise she made to another Judge who took the time to guide and helped her. All he asked for was a year of her time working as a law clerk for him. Judge Avery has to take over for West's mentor after a stroke leaves the bench vacant. Each lady is asked to keep a promise which at first seems impossible. How are they ever going to be able to work together with the chemistry between them? How do they fight their feelings? Add a trial that has them on different sides on how it should be handled. Carsen Taite has done it again. Another great read.

This book was actually very good. I have read both the Luca Bennett series and the Lone Star Law books and I am hoping for more. I love Carsen Taite and the way she writes. It is engaging and interesting without too much sex. I hate books that have entire sex scenes just to fill up pages. The one sex scene in this book was very tasteful and didn't go over the top. As far as the story t was a good story, it seemed a little rushed in the end, kids of like the author spent too much time building up to this and not enough time flushing it out in the end. Also there were zero typos and in a lot of these books there are and that is unacceptable if you say you are using an editor. Overall I liked this one a lot.