SUSTAINED was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I laughed and cried as I watched Chelsea do her best to care for and be there for her six young nieces and nephews when she became their guardian upon their parents' unexpected death. With little or no support she does the best she can but will it be enough?


SUSTAINED (LEGAL BRIEFS #2) has children and family at its core along with ruthless attorneys that can be counted on when needed. When Chelsea and Jake first meet it's because her nephew has picked Jake's wallet from his pocket after crashing into him and Jake's returning him home so he can speak to his parents. Since he sees himself as a young boy in him, he tries to do right by him just like a judge did for him. Their encounters start to escalate from there and the chemistry between Jake and Chelsea is off the charts. Not knowing how to handle his attraction he does what he does best but also tries to be there for her and the kids which is in direct opposition to his philosophy and life goals. Since Jake is only into one night stands he doesn't date and doesn't know how to or what the rules are. It was fun to watch the interactions between the characters and how Jake became vested in the family without wanting to and kept trying to distance himself which only brought heartbreak. It was great to see that Jake does right by his mentor whom is now elderly and also how he treats his mom. Jake's lawyer friends are a hoot and it was nice to get to know them both inside and outside of the office.

Once again I have started a series with book two so I will go back to the first book in the series, OVERRULED, to fill in some of the blanks. I didn't feel lost in the story but know that I was missing some key details. There are family, friends, siblings, coworkers, agencies to deal with, school issues, laughter, tears, secrets, revulsion, memories, happiness, sadness, some romance and lots of loving. There was a lot of swearing in the story that didn't seem necessary. It was bad enough that adults were using that language with each other but worse that they did it in front of the kids whether talking to the kids or another adult. The prologue sets the premise for the story and the epilogue that happens one year later gave nice closure and tied up loose ends. There was a happily ever after in the offing that didn't seem like it would happen but I for one am glad it did!

Chase is a new to me author. I want to read the first book in the series, OVERRULED, as well as the next book in the series, APPEALED. I will also add her TANGLED SERIES to my always growing TBR pile.

Sexy. Sweet. Unforgettable. I love this author and the stories she writes. Great chemistry. Undeniable attraction. Smoldering tension. Characters that make you feel everything. Highly recommended this book y'all!

I enjoyed this book. It pulled you right in and kept you turning the pages. This book was well written and I had no issues following the story.