3.5 Stars. This novel is about Attorney Abby Keane who goes on vacation to PV and meets Roxanne Daly. Roxanne is a blogger for a famous wedding blog, BBF. She is in PV to write an article about the resorts, she does not expect to meet a beautiful, fun woman who she cannot stay away from. They do not know much about each other when they both leave PV. They come to find out that Abby is the attorney working against Roxanne's new TV series. Abby is working with a bridal store owner to re-open the stores that his siblings are trying to close. Roxanne is trying to get a good story for her new TV show that is about to launch. They have to stay away from each other as they are working opposite sides of the case,

I really enjoyed this novel as I could not stop reading it. I enjoyed the chemistry between Roxanne and Abby, as their chemistry evolved throughout the novel. I enjoyed the banter between them and thought the story went at a decent pace. The book did seem to rush the drama at the end of the novel and that part did not last vert long, as well as some of Abby's feelings about relationships. AS a whole, the novel was pretty solid.

Overall, this was an enjoyable book. I liked both of the characters, but did get frustrated with them when they wouldn't just talk things out and immediately went to sniping at one another. I also wish that we could have seen more of the two doing the activities on the island - it would have helped establish how and why they fell for one other rather it seeming to center around sex. I also with people hadn't brushed off Abby's complicated feelings about long-term relationships - having a parent constantly falling in love, getting married, and then subsequently divorced would probably cause most people to not understand relationships.

I enjoyed the characters of Abby and Roxanne, the initial setting of where they met and got to know each other better in Puerta Vallarta, and the challenges they faced in the lawsuit and their relationship. There was just enough drama in this book for my liking.

I received an ARC from Bold Strokes Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Never the bride...

Abby flies off to her vacation destination completely prepared to relax and enjoy her time of seclusion from others. But when Roxanne falls into her lap, her personal itinerary falls by the wayside. Their no-strings/no personal information fling becomes more than they agreed to but end up going their separate ways anyway. Once back home, their jobs bring them back together as adversaries.

This is the second book in the 'Legal Affair' Series by Carsen Taite. I enjoyed the first book, 'Practice Makes Perfect,' but this one was even better. The three best friends are still working hard at lawyering. Campbell and Wynne, from book one, are still together and make appearances throughout.

I liked the contrast between the main characters. Abby has an aversion to relationships. She is jaded and doesn't believe in marriage. Her mother hasn't been the best role model and continues to marry men in hopes of finding 'the one.' On the other hand, Roxanne is a romantic and has a wedding blog. She wants the real thing even though she is unsure if she'll ever find it.

I enjoyed the ruse of a casual relationship between Abby and Roxanne when it was so clearly anything but. The conflict between them seemed as if it was going to be easy to navigate until evil TV got in the way. The ending was super campy with grand gesture and dramatics. Something you would see at the end of a romantic movie and I loved every second of it. It really appealed to my sappy heart.

Overall, this was a quick read romance that gave me all the good feelings.

I recommend to people who like to read about romance, vacations, flings, lawyers, blogging, weddings, friends, fighting the feelings, grand gestures, protesters, and wedding veils.

Abby a lawyer, is on her way to a well-deserved vacation when unexpectedly a beautiful woman falls into her lap on the plane, that woman is Roxanne who is a writer for a bride magazine. The two have a strong attraction to one another and end up having a few days and nights of incredible adventure and lovemaking. Both agree this was going to be a relationship that began and ended on this vacation although deep down both women really would love for the relationship to continue after the vacation. Since neither vocalize is this they go their separate ways,only to find each other meeting up again and a very unexpected way as Roxanne is on the story about wedding dresses while Abby is representing the owner of the wedding dress shops. Clearly these two are on opposite ends of the story even though they wish it was more like it was on the island there does not seem to be a way for that to happen. But these two suddenly take a turn and begin to see each other again romantically, Roxanne wants more our of Abby but Abby is dead set against marriage. Are these two doomed to live separately?

This book is well written with terrific characters that you want to see in a happily ever after with very hot love scenes. I highly recommend this book.

Carsen Taite is best known for her legal thrillers, but with Out of Practice, she has created a beautiful, fun, and lovely romance with just a bit of legal drama. This is the second book in the Legal Affairs Series about three lawyers who have started their own practice together.

This book tells the story of lawyer Abby Keane and Roxanne Daly who works as a wedding blogger. The two meet on the way to a vacation resort and fall almost instantly in lust. They make a pact to leave their work lives behind while they are at the resort together, so neither knows what the other one does for a living, or even their last names. This works well at the resort, but becomes a major problem when they return to real life, and their work lives suddenly collide big time.

This is really a sweet romance that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. The story has a good pace. All of the characters are well developed, and it was easy to see the attraction the two main characters had for each other. I liked the way they fell in lust from the beginning and slowly realized over time that they were in love. In fact, the two seemed to fight the emotion within themselves which added to the drama. This is definitely a character driven tale, so it was great seeing such well-developed main characters. The legal part of the book is really secondary to the romance, but does cause most of the angst that Abby and Roxanne go through. It also provides the reader with a few really funny moments.
Even though this is the second novel in a series, I can assure you that this book can be read as a stand-alone story. I know that because I missed the first book in the series (though I plan to read it as soon as I can), and I had no problems reading this one. I will also be looking for the next book in the series.

If you love a good, solid, and well written romance from an excellent author, then make sure you read Out of Practice.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

Attorney Abby Keane goes on vacation to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, where she meets wedding blogger Roxanne Daly. After a brief affair at their holiday resort, they go separate ways without exchanging contact information. But when Abby’s biggest client, a chain of bridal stores, suddenly closes leaving hundreds of brides without dresses, Abby and Roxanne meet again at the opposite sides of a legal and media conflict. But neither Abby nor Roxanne can forget their time together in paradise… will they be able to get back what they left in Mexico?

This is book two of the ‘Legal Affairs’ series by this author which follows the love life of three lawyer friends who are partners in their own law firm. Each book tells the romantic story of one of them and can be read as standalone. Ms. Taite is well known for her legal thrillers but this series is more oriented to the romance rather than any legal dispute. I have to admit that I prefer Ms. Taite’s legal thrillers as she can throw all her experience as a former criminal defense attorney into a story. That is, in my opinion, what makes her books original. In ‘Out of Practice’ the legal aspects of the plot are only touched briefly and superficially and there isn’t much thriller either.

Regarding the romance, both characters are well written and have good chemistry together. Nothing off the charts, but enough to get the reader invested in their relationship. The plot is a bit predictable, but it allows for an entertaining story. There is a third book left in the series which I’m planning on reading and hopefully, it will give a good conclusion to the full story.

Overall, a good lesbian romance book with a small legal subplot. 4 stars.

ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

See all my reviews at www.lezreviewbooks.com

I'm a fan of this author. It was surprising to see her writing this book differently, because I'm used to Taite's books being filled with legal terms, steamy court fights and encounters... This is not that kind of book, even though one of the characters is a lawyer. It was a nice read, interesting characters and their point of view on some life issues and dealings, and the dialogue between them was very nicely written, like always in Taite's novels.

"Attorney Abby Keane’s vacation is perfect, especially her steamy interlude with a beautiful stranger. But her newfound zen crumbles when her biggest client crumbles. In addition, a new wedding blogger is doing her best to stoke the anger of the already unhappy brides and has chosen Abby as the villain."
I found this book to be alright. Not amazing (or earth-shattering) but also not terrible. I really enjoy that Carsen Taite writes romances book for same-sex queer womxn, even if the books are somewhat predictable. That being said, I found the characters to be a tad flat. A bit more development in character fleshing would have made this a 4 star read for me.

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review of the story.

Abbey is a stressed out attorney taking her first vacation in years and, oh yeah, Abbey is anti relationship and marriage.

Abbey and Roxanne meet enroute to a bliss filled tropical resort. Sparks fly and while acting on their physical chemistry, they agree to not talk about their lives away from the resort. They spend three intimate. Intense days together without knowing more than each other's first names.

Roxanne is actually a wedding blogger who is reviewing honeymoon destinations. She leaves the resort before Abbey as her work takes her to the next resort. Roxanne leaves her phone number in a book Abbey is reading - hoping that Abbey will want to continue exploring their attraction to one another.

Back from vacation, Abbey and Roxanne run into another as their careers cross paths.

They take up their non relationship even though they are embroiled in a legal case that could put an end to their fling.

A growing love story, just the right amount of tension due to work and a fundamental disagreement on special days - I enjoy Carson Tait's style of story telling. I recommend this book as 5 stars. I will continue to look for her works as fun, relaxing reads.

Out of Practice is book 2 in the Legal Affairs. When I decided to read this, I forgot how disappointed I was after reading book 1. I think that is why I signed up to read this one. First let me say that you don't need to read book 1 to read this one, but I would still recommend you read 1. Out of Practice was really good and I am glad I took a chance on this one.

Abby meets Roxanne at the start of her week long vacation to an exclusive resort in Mexico. They have that instant attraction and Taite does a really good job showing that chemistry on paper. Turns out they are going to the same resort and end really enjoying each others company. Things sort of fall apart once they return home and have to put things on hold when they meet up because they end up on the other side of the aisle on a case Abby is working on.

So why is this one better than book 1 for me. The story flows better, the chemistry is fresh and exciting and I just seem to like the MCs more in this one. I would not say the angst is heavy in the one so that makes for a better story for me. This story just really gelled well for me. I do wish it had a little more detail on the sex.

I give this one 4.25 stars

Ms Taite seems to enjoy making her characters literally fall in love. A carpet incident threw Campbell in Wynne’s arms in Practice Makes Perfect. In Out of Practice, boarding a plane drops Roxanne in Abby’s lap.

Abby Keane is one of Campbell’s best friends and partners in the new law firm. A few months after they – with Grace – left their jobs to be their own bosses, the firm is doing well, and Abby is the first of the three partners to take advantage of the fact and go on holidays. A week in paradise awaits, in an exclusive resort in Puerto Vallarta. Abby plans to read, relax and drink fruity drinks with tiny umbrellas. The plan doesn’t include falling in lust with the first woman she meets on the way there. Yet, even in paradise, life is full of surprises. Roxane Daly is an up-and-coming blogger, known as the BBF – the Bride’s Best Friend –, on a business tour of couples resorts. Having fabulous sex wasn’t in her job description, but acting like part of a couple can only help her do her job, right?

The first part of the book is all instalust and perfect fun. It’s light and playful and very enjoyable. Then real life reasserts itself, misunderstandings abound and duty calls when both women find themselves on opposite sides of a bridal clash. One of Abby’s clients (and childhood friend) is fighting to stay in the wedding dress business, despite unhelpful siblings who shut all the family stores. Roxane, on her way to TV stardom, finds herself leading hordes of disappointed brides-to-be.

It doesn’t help that Abby is not the marrying kind and has made it very clear from the beginning that she doesn’t believe in forever. Roxane isn’t looking to get married either but she’s not a one-night-stand kind of gal and she does believe in all things wedding.

I really enjoyed reading about Abby and Roxane as they tried to navigate falling in love with the wrong person at the wrong time as well as doing their job to the best of their ability. Roxane’s work conundrum and Abby’s annoyance with her serial-bride mother were my favourite parts. There were a few inconsistencies, though, and it seemed a bit strange to have Roxane and Abby act like they were adversaries when they both (or at least the brides-to-be Roxane’s championing and Abby’s client) want the same outcome: the reopening of the stores so the BTBs can get their dream wedding dresses. And at times I wanted to shake those two lovely but stubborn women and remind them that talking isn’t enough, there needs to be some listening too.

While Carsen Taite writes decent romance, I miss the legal aspect at which she excels. It’s the same with Radclyffe’s novels, my favourites are the ones with doctors and plenty of action in hospitals. With Taite, I want law and courts. Everything else is fine, but I miss the thrill that comes from a complex legal puzzle, and she’s the best in that area.

I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.

Opposites attract – and how!

Abby Keane is a hardworking attorney who has just opened her own practice with two of her best friends, Grace Maldonado and Campbell Clark. When starting off on their own, the three friends had promised themselves and each other that they will no longer kill themselves for work and they will have vacations. Abby is the first one to benefit from this decision and she decides to pamper herself to a week in a remote destination in a resort devoted to luxury flying first class both ways. Her idea is fruity alcoholic drinks with little umbrellas and catching up on her reading. Roxanne Daly, known as the Bride’s Best Friend, is a popular blogger about all things weddings and brides. The person covering honeymoon hotels can’t make it and at the last minute she is sent to do the article. Abby and Roxanne meet in the plane and hit it off immediately. They fall headlong into a vacation fling – which is more about sex than romance. When Abby returns home, her client and old friend is facing a crisis. His siblings have shut down their bridal dresses business behind his back with immediate effect. Brides are running amok over being cheated out of their dream dress for their special day. While Abby is trying to find a solution, it turn out that Roxanne, whose popularity has landed her a TV show, is leading the bride-brigade.

When the book started off, Abby seemed rather winsome, but as the story progressed, Roxanne outpaced Abby on the likeability chart. In fact, Taite tried too hard to establish Abby’s anti-marriage stand and Abby completely crashed and burned on being anything likeable in the very first scene with her mother (further exacerbated later too). Nothing was left of the character – except for the fact that someone like Roxanne liked her. We detected Melissa Brayden’s influence in some of the dialogues (particularly banter) and some character attributes (particularly in Roxanne). The most surprising thing in the book was the number of incorrect and misspelled words (brusk instead of brusque for instance).

On the whole this is a fairly okay light, fluffy read.

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Abby is a lawyer who law firm is becoming a success that she set up with her friends. They made a pact that each one of them will take time to go on vacation and it's her turn.

Roxanne blog is becoming a success that she do anything to keep that way.

When Abby and Roxanne meet they collide on the plane and they both on holiday a romance is form but when they return home they can't stop thinking about each other. Of course they do meet again and have a chance to be something more.

I have to admit that while I have read a few romance novels where the main characters are both males, this is my first with two female leads. Either I just haven't come across them, or there aren't as many around. It's a shame, as really what we are here for is the romance between two characters who make a great couple and that's certainly what Out of Practice is all about. This is the second in a series of books, I assume that there will be three in total. It worked fine as a standalone read.
Abby is a successful lawyer, after setting up in business with two of her friends she is finally able to indulge in the kind of thing that professionals who don't live in the US take for granted such as holidays. While she's planning on having solitude and the chance to get away from it all when she meets Roxanne all of that goes out the window. What starts out as a holiday romance soon develops into something more when the two meet up again back home.
I enjoyed this romance, although Abby was not looking for any kind of commitment and Roxanne was open to meeting her 'one' as soon as they met one another it became clear that it could well grow into something more.
I enjoyed Out of Practice and I'd be more than happy to give the other books in the series a go.
I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

'ARC generously provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'All the best stories are epistemological journeys from ignorance or curiosity to knowledge and whatever...Also a book worth reading is an education of the heart.It's a creator of inwardness..'

Exciting and entertaining might not be the first words that comes to mind when chronicling 'OUT OF PRACTICE' to interested readers --- enlightening and indulgence are, i think. But, somehow, each word is ingrained in my exact description of it's overall premise.
For me being an avid fan of many of this author's previous books that always has that legal edge to her storytelling well, for this book #2 -- of her ongoing series, Ms.Taite's fan base will not be disappointed then will notice how persuasive she can be with the effectiveness of her storytelling and her keen awareness by just centering this entire storyline on Abby and her love interest. Who is one part of the 3 amigos from their law firm and her (Ms.Taite) still having time to include everyone else even her mom, with their own side stories --- also each giving encouragement, sound advise, relationship precaution and assisting on cases.
Falling in Love is so hard and can be difficult. But if both are willing to forgive, trust, sacrifice and admit all flaws & faults only then will it leads to that genuine commitment each wants.
Overall, this nicely woven story is a highly digestible and even enjoyable read for any interested readers -- especially those legal junkies and relationship buffs.

Wow, I asked to review this story out of the description, then I got I got curious about the author so I looked her up saw that I read the first installment and I liked it a lot, not surprising since both books are well written.

Having said that, I don't remember their ages so this was kinda of problem for me while reading. I like to paint the character physic in my head and age is huge factor to it.

the story thought was funny, I did not like how Rox handled the announcement, just because I dont believe this actually happens in life. but hey it worked well for the story.

I was irritated at first on how naive Rox was then I remembered that most of the time we do stuff without actually seeing the negative side that much. and I understood her. Tv is not her thing yet she tried, she trusted them when they're fucked up. Anyway. highly recommended.

thank you for the author and her team for the copy in exchange of my honest opinion

Another great read from Carsen Taite. Both leads came across as really likeable - I enjoyed watching them grow throughout the novel and get to a space where they both had the courage to allow themselves to be vulnerable. The wedding theme was interesting and funny, and it was nice seeing Campbell, Wynne and Grace again. I look forward to seeing what the author has in store for Grace in the next instalment of the series.

Generally, I really enjoy this author's books, although some have disappointed me a bit lately. I like the way she combines action and romance, most of the time involving legal issues. And the first book in this series, Practice Makes perfect, was one of the less interesting for me, so I didn't know what I was going to find in this one. To my surprise, happy surprise, this new episode is really fun and enjoyable, both from the point of view of action and romance.

It was unlikely that the two main characters could get to know each other, unless fate surprised them by traveling on the same plane, making them collide literally and coincidentally staying in a resort on a paradisiacal beach, in which they are going to have to spend a few days, for very different reasons. The author does not make them waste time, since they meet for the first time, they feel this attraction, and being in such a heavenly place, why doubt? And that would be perfect if it lasted, although they take it as a holiday fling, with no future or pretensions. And they do not exchange much personal information and then when they must return to real life, of course they will meet again.

I liked the pace of the story, the funny moments and especially the main couple. I love how they can't help feeling what they feel for each other, despite the mess they are in. And you can read this without having read the previous one, the main couple appears here but without much role.

As I said, this is definitely much better than the previous chapter. I highly recommend it.

I have really been enjoying Carsen Taite's recent work and have found this book no different. I really connected with both the main characters in Abby and Roxanne, who were interesting and likable. The interactions and banter between the two had me completely falling in love with the two.

The storyline was ok nothing earth shattering but found this to be ok because the characters were the heroes in this story. I am really enjoying following the three friends and am looking forward to the next book in the series, which I assume will focus on Grace.

I highly recommend this great fund read with the normal lawyer themes that you can rely on from Taite.