Approaching the Bench by Chantal Fernando is a good fit for readers who enjoy watching characters break down each other's walls and find love in the most unexpected circumstances, all while navigating through thrilling and dangerous situations.

Short quick sexy read about a young woman judge, Trinity, who feels the need to prove herself in the courtroom, becoming known to co-workers and colleagues as "Medesa" for her no nonsense, serious mode all the time.

And then comes Callum, her new younger law clerk and yes, of course a cutie to boot. He was daring in his interaction with Trinity, like actually trying to have a conversation with her! But he had a great sense of humor and it was hard not to like him.

Like I said, a short story, but good. Makes a good in-between read!

Wow, this was a nice quick read. I loved how the story was written.

I loved Trinity, she may seem cold, but she has feelings, and things get to her. She works hard for her job.

I loved Callum, he is sweet, hard worker and loves his job. He cares for his family, and friends.

I loved this book, and recommend it. wtmo

Your honor, more of these feisty court room romps please!

I love Fernando's writing style, this was a hit!

This is a short story with some suspense and romance. I love that we got to see Callum after he left the law firm and what he is really like when he is not just a supporting character. When Callum starts working for the youngest female judge he doesn't fight the attraction that comes about. Trinity is his boss and does everything she can to fight her attraction until they are put into close proximity to one another. It's a sweet story of two people who are opposites in every way but nothing beats attraction at its best.

Pros for Approaching the Bench: Trinity is brilliant and has worked hard. Love a strong, intelligent heroine. Callum is so light hearted and playful, it was a perfect balance for 'Medusa'. Loved that they had a cobbled together family-family is who you chose! I liked that while she had her reservations about getting involved with Callum at first, she is willing to say "fuck it" to every one and not miss out on a relationship with a man she loves and lover her back.

Cons for Approaching the Bench: its a novella, and Callum is introduced in previous books, but I would have liked to have a bit more character development for Trinity. The plot is a bit of a stretch. Honestly, it didn't bother me that much-I'm cool with a bit of disbelief-but I know some people will be all like "Oh my gosh that would never happen".

I have enjoyed the previous books in the series, and loved getting more of the carefree Callum. Approaching the Bench is great if you want a strong, powerful female and a less serious, yet still alpha man!
(link on blog on 4/21/180

This is a very sweet, short story. It was a well written book and kept my attention from beginning to end.

Trinity is the youngest High Court Judge in her county and she is as hard as nails. With only one friend and no family she has worked hard to get to this point in her life and she is serious in and out of work.

Callum is her new intern. He is everything she isn't: younger, more smiley and infuriatingly chatty. Nothing perturbs him; he is happy, happy, happy! Trinity isn't too fond of his constant questions and happy personality...or so she likes to make herself think.

These two are so right for each other; opposites attract and all that. It takes a dramatic event to get Trinity to let her walls down. Their chats and his persistence are both funny and endearing.

I haven't read any of Chantal Fernando's books before but I'm now going to read the next in this series of standalone's, Leading The Witness.

Who else is excited that Chantal Fernando releases another fantastic romance book in thrilling Conflict of Interest series? ´Cause I am. Chantal Fernando always does amazing work in her romance thrilling books and it does not change at all.
Approaching The Bench is a short thrilling romance read. It is part of the Conflict of Interest series. The reader will get to see a previous character from the past books, Callum. Callum has recently worked in the courtroom where he gets to meet the new yet reputed female judge, Trinity Williams. Trinity Williams has worked very hard for her cold exterior reputation in the courtroom since she is in a male-dominated profession. And it is a good thing because it takes a strong woman to work in a male-dominated workforce. But it can be lonely for her especially when she works with a fun co-worker, Callum Hopkins.
Callum Hopkins is a fun guy because he believes that nothing should be so serious in life. However, that does not go well when he works for the hard yet intelligent female judge, Trinity Williams. He is definitely fascinated by her that he wants to get to know her more. And he does when they both get involved in a wrong place at the wrong time.
They both discover a lot about each other since they are confined together. And they definitely have interests together and a heck of attractions. But they must be willing to go forward together since they work together.
Five Stars.

Approaching the Bench was defiantly a different dynamic for me I'm used to reading about a male boss falling for his secretary not the other way around. This was different in every way I loved every second of it. Trinity is a strong hard woman I mean she has to be for her profession. Callum is a sweetheart I couldn't help but, root for him to weasel his way into Trinity's heart. With Callum he knew what he wanted and he wasn't scared in being forward with his boss. Trinity on the other hand she was fighting her attraction to her very sexy law clerk. She felt that if she admitted her feeling that she would be abusing her power since he is his boss. After an attempt to kidnap Trinity fails she and Callum must go into hiding together. Now that they are stuck with each other how much longer can Trinity hide her attraction and feelings toward Callum?

I loved this I just keep devouring these books by Chantal Fernando she is by far one of my favorite authors of all time. She has this sassy writing style of hers that I can't seem to find anywhere else. She writes about strong women that are bad asses in their own right super smart as well. Can't wait to read the next book in this series called, Leading the Witness due to be published on April 17 ,2018

ARC was provided by the author in exchange an honest review.

I really loved and enjoyed this one. A great quick read that I could not get enough of. I loved the characters and there chemistry, cant wait to read more.

3.5 Stars

Approaching The Bench is Trinity and Callum's story.

Trinity is slightly older than Callum and any relationship between the pair would be frowned upon. I really enjoyed the fact that Trinity was older, and that she had the power in the relationship, over Callum her lowly intern, this made for a unique turn of events. Although she's quite confident and decisive Trinity hides her true persona behind a façade that is cold, controlled and serious.

Callum is a wonderful character. Charismatic, fun, flirty, cocky and quite chatty and optimistic. What he lacks in years, he makes up for in life experience and responsibility and intelligence.

This is a short, and sexy read and as much as I enjoyed it, like the first title in the series Breaching The Contract, I found it could have been expanded on further as it lacked the plot and character development that I usually love with Ms Fernando's work.

I look forward to the final title in this series, Leading The Witness.

Trinity is a judge and Callum is the new clerk. They butt heads most of the time. When a fugitive goes after Trinity, Callum and her end up in witness protection until they can catch the guy. The attraction between them ignites into a fire. Will they be able to survive and keep their jobs? You have to read to find out. A smashing good read.

I received an arc from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

Admittedly, I'm not a fan of 'cougar' stories - the older woman/younger man trove. Personally, it's just not my cup of tea.

However, when the author is someone whose previous works I've enjoyed immensely such as Chantal Fernando, then I at least have to give the book a try and I'm glad that I did.

I truly enjoyed this novella that expands the Conflict of Interest world and focuses on the characters of Callum, a recent graduate and former worker of Bentley and Channing Law Firm who is now working as a law clerk for Judge Trinity Williams, a woman whose fierce, cold demeanor has earned her the nickname of Medusa.

Trinity and Callum made cameo appearances in Seducing the Defendant and I relished this chance of learning more about their characters.

I was surprised and intrigued by the depth and layers Callum and Trinity and have immense respect for the strength of Trinity's determination to excel in her chosen career.

This book has romance, chemistry, adventure and mystery and it's a story I will definitely be re-reading more than once.

The secondary cast members featured in this story, such as Alyssa and Dina and Eddie and Justin, kind of have me hoping that somewhere down the track these characters can find their own HEA. I for one, would definitely be eager to read those stories.

Highly recommended.

Thanks to Give Me Books and the author for providing me with an arc of this book.

Approaching The Bench

*received an arc in exchange for an honest review**

5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Chantal Fernando yet again brings an intense story together and has you wanting more. Callum’s charm and good nature will get you from page one and you will be cheering him on and hope that he can get past Trinity’s walls. Trinity and Callum’s chemistry is off the charts. Chantal Fernando Conflict of Interest series keeps getting interesting and will yet again have you wanting the next one!


Callum is starting his new job as Judge Trinity’s clerk and he is in for an interesting assignment. He isn’t expecting someone so young and beautiful as his new boss but he can’t help but be drawn to her. Now if he can just get her to look past his age and the fact that they work together and see him.

Trinity can’t help but be attracted to Callum but he works for her and is 6 years younger than her. But when their lives are put in jeopardy, they will be forced to confront their feelings head on.

Will they give each other a chance? Or has Trinity been burned too many times to take a chance on happiness?

the latest entry in the conflict of interest series is approaching the bench. law intern, callum starts a clerkship with hardass judge trinity williams. and it's pretty explosive.

this novella was delightful. callum is an easygoing guy, and his relentless good cheer in the face of trinity's standoffishness really works. he wears down her walls in ways that are oh so charming. when he saves her from an abduction attempt, they end up having to go into protective custody.

if you are enjoying this series, then this is another great entry and you should definitely read it. it stands alone too, so even if you have read the series, you'll enjoy this.

**approaching the bench will publish on february 19, 2018. i received an advance reader copy courtesy of netgalley/gallery, threshold, pocket books (pocket star) in exchange for my honest review.

This is the third in the Conflict of Interest series, and they just keep getting better! We have previously met Callum and know that he likes the ladies. When he gets a new job as a clerk for Judge Williams, he wasn't expecting someone that looked as good as she does, after all her nickname is Medusa. Trinity has worked hard to get where she is, and doesn't have time to play around, so she does her best to ignore her chatty new clerk and the sparks she feels when he is near. When threats on her life, end up with her and Callum in protective custody together, turns out the sparks she was feeling aren't just one sided. Will this turn out to be the best or worse decision she has ever made?

So my only complaint is that it wasn't long enough, I am really greedy and wasn't ready for this book to end. Giving us super steamy sexy times, funny bits, drama, and a bit of danger this was a really good read. I give this 5 stars.

3.5 stars--APPROACHING THE BENCH is the third instalment in Chantal Fernando’s contemporary adult CONFLICT OF INTEREST erotic, romance legal novella series. This is thirty-one year old judge Trinity Williams, and twenty-five year old law clerk Callum Hopkins’ story line. APPROACHING THE BENCH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Callum was first introduced in books one and two- Breaching the Contract and Seducing the Defendant.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Callum and Trinity) APPROACHING THE BENCH follows the forbidden relationship between Judge Trinity Williams, and her law clerk Callum Hopkins. Since her early career Trinity Williams has had a reputation as a cold and calculation person, something that does not go unnoticed by our story line hero but when a threatening letter lands on her desk, Trinity is willing to dismiss even if Callum suspects something more sinister is going on. An attempted kidnapping of Trinity Williams finds both Trinity and Callum in protective custody, where their attraction to one another will grow into something more. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Callum and Trinity, and the potential fall out when their whereabouts are discovered threatening any semblance of peace and security that was slowly beginning to build.

The relationship between Callum and Trinity is one of forbidden attraction as Trinity is Callum’s boss, and workplace romances are frowned upon even in the legal system. Callum continues to push the boundaries of a working friendship as Trinity struggles to remain professional in the face of their growing attraction. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Callum’s father Richard, his half-brother Justin, and best friend Eddie. The requisite evil is a familiar face to our story line heroine.

APPROACHING THE BENCH is a quick read; a reversal of power structure in that our heroine has all of the control at work while Callum has all of the control in the bedroom. The premise is entertaining; the romance is sexy and hot; the characters are energetic and inspiring.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

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