3.5 rounded up to 4. Good legal thriller with a lot of interesting courthouse background. I'm not a fan of romance books, so that part of this one wasn't as important to me. I need to go back and read the first 2 books in this series now.

What an enjoyable read with two women that are easy to cheer for. There are secrets and mucho corruption that make for an intriguing read. This third book in the Courting Danger series introduces Brooke Dawson and her son Ben. Brooke is a student, working full-time as a waitress while being a single mom. Reggie Knoll, former courthouse employee looking for a new work direction after an unsettling incident in the courtroom. They meet when both are selected for jury duty. Reggie cannot believe she has been selected and Brooke is forced to be on the jury.

As the story unfolds, the reader is thrust into jury tampering, blackmail, slow burn attraction, and a kid in danger. I like the intellect of Ben and his straight to the point comments. Although a good read, it would have been even more enjoyable if the story were few more chapters longer. I wanted to know more about the main characters. Maybe that will unfold in the next book in the series.

*Trial Run* by Carsen Taite is a high-stakes legal thriller that expertly blends courtroom drama with romantic tension. As the third installment in Taite’s series, the novel offers a fresh yet familiar experience for returning readers, while standing strong on its own for newcomers. Reggie Knoll, eager to move on from her former courthouse career, finds herself unexpectedly pulled into jury duty for what seems like a routine bribery case. However, her plans for a quick verdict are thwarted by Brooke Dawson, a determined and enigmatic fellow juror with secrets of her own.

Brooke’s involvement in the case is far from voluntary. Under the weight of a life-threatening coercion, she must manipulate the jury to reach a specific verdict. Taite’s portrayal of Brooke’s inner turmoil adds depth to the tension, while Reggie’s sharp wit and stubborn resolve make for an engaging dynamic. Their growing attraction is both a complication and a reprieve from the mounting pressure, with sparks flying as their clashing motivations collide in and out of the jury room.

Taite masterfully weaves suspense, legal intrigue, and romance into a compelling narrative that keeps readers on edge. *Trial Run* delves into moral dilemmas and personal sacrifices, asking how far one would go to protect those they love. With its tight pacing and emotionally charged plot, this installment cements Carsen Taite’s place as a standout voice in legal fiction, delivering a satisfying blend of thrills and heart.

You can always relay on Carsen Taite to write a good murder mystery and Trial Run is no exception.
Two women, neither of whom want to do jury service but who come together because one couldn’t get out of it and the other had to remain on the jury!
They also have an undeniable attraction to each but while one of the MC’s wants to embrace it the other tries to fight it.
Secrets, Black mail, potential murder, corruption all add to the story - I read it over two days but if I could have it would have been just 1!
Thanks to Bold Strokes Books for the ARC. This is my frank review.

I do love Carsen Taite’s writing. She is a safe pair of hands and certainly knows her way around a court room. This story follows on from the previous “Courting Danger" book and we are with Reggie as she rethinks her life after being shot in book two. There are the same old friends from the series and I was also delighted to meet up with private eye Skye again. She is my favourite Carsen Taite character among many great choices.

Reggie is trying to study for an exam when she is called for jury duty and despite her best efforts, she’s selected. Her annoyance is lessened by a fellow juror, Brooke. But Brooke isn’t interested in the attractive Reggie, because she’s had threats about influencing the outcome of the trial.

There’s a lot going on here and it ties back beautifully to the previous plots so it would pay to read the first two books before this one. And they’re both excellent reads in their own right.

Ms Taite is sure when laying out a convoluted plot with several threads and she leaves you wondering how she can sustain the momentum and mystery into the next book. But she manages it every time. I’m hoping we’ll read more about Reggie and her new career going forward.

I was given a copy of this book by NetGalley

Reggie and Brook are both part of a jury. Brook is a single mom and college student and before the trial starts she receives a menacing note that her son would be harmed if she didn’t convince the jury the defendant was innocent.
But Reggie likes her and is trying to get to ‘now her better.
Now the truth has come out and Reggie will be her best to,protect Brook and her son.
But things get even more complicated and it’s time to tell the judge and the lawyers before someone is seriously hurt.

Another great read by Carsen Taite.

Reggie Knoll imagined all kinds of new adventures after leaving her job at the courthouse, but getting stuck on a jury for a boring bribery case is not one of them. Picked to serve against all odds, she's determined to do everything in her power to coax the other jurors to a swift verdict so she can start her new career. But a pushy, beautiful woman is about to send her life spinning in a direction she couldn't have anticipated.

Brooke Dawson doesn't want to be on a jury any more than the rest of the people summoned to the courthouse, but she's one hundred percent certain that when the judge calls the names of the chosen few, she'll be on the list. The ominous voice on the phone told her that much right before they threatened her. Now she must convince the eleven other jurors, including the infuriating but devastatingly attractive know-it-all Reggie Knoll, to agree on a verdict—the only verdict that will keep her and her family alive.

I really enjoyed this. The storyline kept me engaged through the whole book, and I really enjoyed the dynamics between Reggie and Brooke. I felt the ending was a bit rushed, but I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys legal thrillers! 4⭐

I received an advanced complimentary digital copy of this book from Netgalley. Opinions expressed are my own.

I really liked this read, althoughI feel as though I need to read the series and catch up in order to get the full story.

I liked the main character, she is a struggling mother and trying to make a go at her life after an accident.

Courtroom dramas are a fvaourite of mine and I think after reading the seried from the start it is a series that I will talk about.

The writing style is good although I feel the ending could have been not so fast in finishing.

3.75* If you have read Carsen Taite's books before, then you will know what to expect. It's a solid story involving Reggie and Brooke. Reggie used to work at the courthouse until she was injured in a shooting. Brooke is a single mom juggling a job, a pre-teen son, and school. They find themselves doing jury duty and the attraction starts from there. My only gripe is that I wish the book is a little longer. Don't know why, but books of this kind often seem to have rushed endings. (Is there a maximum word/page limit the author has to adhere to?) Personally prefer seeing the relationship develop fuller and slower. But overall, it's a solid read with a good romance sprinkled with courthouse happenings.
This is the third book in this series, but I did not feel lost even though I have not read book#2.

**Thank you to Net Galley and Bold Strokes Books for giving me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!**

Threats at the courthouse
This is the third instalment of the Courting Danger series. It starts where the last volume left off. Reggie is recovering from the shooting in the court room and is an unlikely pick for juror duty but here she is. She is intrigued by co-juror Brooke, a single mom who is juggling a job, her pre-teen son, college and now on top being a juror. And not a normal juror but she is threatened in order to influence the other jurors.
I liked the start of the book, the two main characters and their slow realization of attraction. The threat and the background of the trial are laid-out very well. It‘s an interesting glimpse into the courtsystem. I was a bit disappointed by the second half where a lot of questions are left open. The end felt sketched out but not fully developed.

I received an ARC via netgalley. The review is left voluntarily.

Another in the Courting Danger series. I like reading stories that bring in characters we've met in previous books. Again I enjoyed this one by Carsen Taite. I like her writing. I feel she keeps the reader engaged throughout the story and keeps the story going without it becoming too boring. I don't think there's any of her books I've read that I've been dissatisfied with.