Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.14 AVERAGE
4.14 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Normally, I don't go for the super wealthy playboy hero. But Nash isn't your average super wealthy playboy, now is he? He's the guardian to his niece and a man who appreciates a woman who speaks her mind. Iris is just such a woman, but her outward tough attorney demeanor betrays an inner insecurity. Nash sees her as beautiful when so many others have not.
When his teenage niece gets in trouble with the law, Iris Sinclair is the obvious choice to represent her. An unexpectedly harsh judge takes Iris by surprise, and she offers to take Tania under her guardianship. Now she and Nash have to navigate the attraction between them while not doing anything to jeopardize his custody of Tania. Oh, and did I mention there's a crazy stalker ex-girlfriend who's looking to get back at Nash any way she can?
What really makes this story work is character. Iris is so completely sympathetic, a heroine you can really root for. Nash is hot, but multilayered. Tania is a spunky teen, and Mrs. D is the perfect sitcom housekeeper. Even Janna and Macy are surprisingly well drawn for the minor roles they play. The chemistry between Iris and Nash sizzles, and Legal Seduction is, simply put, a lot of fun.
When his teenage niece gets in trouble with the law, Iris Sinclair is the obvious choice to represent her. An unexpectedly harsh judge takes Iris by surprise, and she offers to take Tania under her guardianship. Now she and Nash have to navigate the attraction between them while not doing anything to jeopardize his custody of Tania. Oh, and did I mention there's a crazy stalker ex-girlfriend who's looking to get back at Nash any way she can?
What really makes this story work is character. Iris is so completely sympathetic, a heroine you can really root for. Nash is hot, but multilayered. Tania is a spunky teen, and Mrs. D is the perfect sitcom housekeeper. Even Janna and Macy are surprisingly well drawn for the minor roles they play. The chemistry between Iris and Nash sizzles, and Legal Seduction is, simply put, a lot of fun.
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Typical underconfident girl gets swept off her feet by playboy who's finally met the girl who changes him into a real adult. I like the niece character since she grounds the story and makes it feel less tropey. Ultimately, it's pretty much porn with a plot.
Disappointment is the only way to describe my experience reading this book. I'm on a mission to find at least FIVE consistent Black authors who release well written books about Black love and Black excellence...So far that number is at One, has been at One and looks like it will remain at One for now.
Legal Seduction is presented as a book about a successful defense attorney Iris, crossing paths with a successful business mogul Nash, after his niece gets into some legal trouble and he seeks Iris out to help them beat the case. Pretty promising and interesting plot however it was severely undeveloped. The characters were barely explored, their relationship was glossed over and rushed and the plot device used to bring these two characters into each others radar was discarded after it did what it was meant to do. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout the novel and I actually stopped reading 18 pages before the end of the novel, to read a DIFFERENT book just to get through the last couple of pages. I simply did not enjoy this book.
********GOING FORWARD, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS ********
I think what bothered me the most about this book is the fact that a decent story line and plot was pretty much thrown to the wayside for a relationship that basically sprouted out of nowhere, consisted of sex, doubt and breaking up and didn't really make much sense.
Iris is introduced to Nash when his niece Tania is arrested for having drugs on her that she claims were planted on her. Nash seeks Iris out because she is apparently this great defense attorney who specializes in helping young kids who are more times than not, in the wrong place at the right time. The attraction between Iris and Nash is obvious from the moment they see one another which is fine, but somehow this story about Iris defending Tania, turns into a convoluted story where Iris is now Tanias guardian and no longer her lawyer, Nash who isn't interested in a relationship and never has been is suddenly head over heels for Iris and Tania who has previously been acting out and getting in trouble both in school and out, is all of a sudden this amazing and brilliant, well behaved and adjusted teenager.
It was like...there were issues and clear conflicts that needed to be addressed and then BAM! All of those issues were fixed and it was just about Iris and Nash chasing after and running from one another. You don't get to see Iris BE this amazing defense attorney she is praised for being. Instead you get to watch her go on a roller-coaster ride of insecurity and uncertainty about why a man like Nash would want to be with someone like her. The extent of Nash's business acumen is explored by him attending fund raisers and grand openings, being stalked by a crazy ex who poses no real threat and has no discernible point in the story other than to cause conflict that feels contrived and unnecessary. Then there is Tania, this smart and beautiful young girl who seems to be struggling with the fact that her parents died when she was young and has no female role model to guide her, so she acts out and is getting into trouble. Only for her to make a complete 180 when she moves in with Iris, who is a complete stranger to her.
Nothing was explored! Things simply happened and you as the reader are expected to either ignore the fact that all of these changes are happening with these characters with no catalyst or fill in the blanks for yourself. I'm sorry but I am not a writer so I do not want to read a book and have to come up with my own back stories and motivations for someone else's characters. Iris is supposed to be a powerhouse of an attorney. WHERE?! Nash is supposed to be this mega star and genius business man. WHERE?! It's very possible that Tania and Iris bonded and Iris gave Tania some very wise words and guidance to cause her complete shift in behavior, but we don't get to SEE that.
It was as if Sharon C. Cooper just needed a reason for Iris and Nash to get together and then once they were, nothing else mattered. Honestly Tania could have been taken completely out of the story, Nash and Iris could have remained a Businessman and Attorney and they could have met at a club and the end result of this story would have been the same.
Legal Seduction was just dissatisfying. And I know this is a romance novel, but I'm not going to insult romance authors or myself by lowering my expectations when it comes to character development and exposition or accepting when those things are sub-par or completely lacking. If anything, those two things should be the PRIMARY focus in Romance novels since that is where the focus is as opposed to a Fantasy or Science Fiction novel which has world building or magic systems to distract you with.
There just seemed to be little effort in exploring these characters, their lives and their relationships on a deeper level. I didn't really feel anything for them and found it hard to care about what was going on because you don't really get to know them and all real issues that any of them had was so easily wrapped up and resolved.
SO!..It looks like my search continues...
Recommendation: This is the only book I have reading by Sharon so I can only go as far as saying that I wouldn't recommend LEGAL SEDUCTION...
Legal Seduction is presented as a book about a successful defense attorney Iris, crossing paths with a successful business mogul Nash, after his niece gets into some legal trouble and he seeks Iris out to help them beat the case. Pretty promising and interesting plot however it was severely undeveloped. The characters were barely explored, their relationship was glossed over and rushed and the plot device used to bring these two characters into each others radar was discarded after it did what it was meant to do. I found myself rolling my eyes throughout the novel and I actually stopped reading 18 pages before the end of the novel, to read a DIFFERENT book just to get through the last couple of pages. I simply did not enjoy this book.
********GOING FORWARD, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS ********
I think what bothered me the most about this book is the fact that a decent story line and plot was pretty much thrown to the wayside for a relationship that basically sprouted out of nowhere, consisted of sex, doubt and breaking up and didn't really make much sense.
Iris is introduced to Nash when his niece Tania is arrested for having drugs on her that she claims were planted on her. Nash seeks Iris out because she is apparently this great defense attorney who specializes in helping young kids who are more times than not, in the wrong place at the right time. The attraction between Iris and Nash is obvious from the moment they see one another which is fine, but somehow this story about Iris defending Tania, turns into a convoluted story where Iris is now Tanias guardian and no longer her lawyer, Nash who isn't interested in a relationship and never has been is suddenly head over heels for Iris and Tania who has previously been acting out and getting in trouble both in school and out, is all of a sudden this amazing and brilliant, well behaved and adjusted teenager.
It was like...there were issues and clear conflicts that needed to be addressed and then BAM! All of those issues were fixed and it was just about Iris and Nash chasing after and running from one another. You don't get to see Iris BE this amazing defense attorney she is praised for being. Instead you get to watch her go on a roller-coaster ride of insecurity and uncertainty about why a man like Nash would want to be with someone like her. The extent of Nash's business acumen is explored by him attending fund raisers and grand openings, being stalked by a crazy ex who poses no real threat and has no discernible point in the story other than to cause conflict that feels contrived and unnecessary. Then there is Tania, this smart and beautiful young girl who seems to be struggling with the fact that her parents died when she was young and has no female role model to guide her, so she acts out and is getting into trouble. Only for her to make a complete 180 when she moves in with Iris, who is a complete stranger to her.
Nothing was explored! Things simply happened and you as the reader are expected to either ignore the fact that all of these changes are happening with these characters with no catalyst or fill in the blanks for yourself. I'm sorry but I am not a writer so I do not want to read a book and have to come up with my own back stories and motivations for someone else's characters. Iris is supposed to be a powerhouse of an attorney. WHERE?! Nash is supposed to be this mega star and genius business man. WHERE?! It's very possible that Tania and Iris bonded and Iris gave Tania some very wise words and guidance to cause her complete shift in behavior, but we don't get to SEE that.
It was as if Sharon C. Cooper just needed a reason for Iris and Nash to get together and then once they were, nothing else mattered. Honestly Tania could have been taken completely out of the story, Nash and Iris could have remained a Businessman and Attorney and they could have met at a club and the end result of this story would have been the same.
Legal Seduction was just dissatisfying. And I know this is a romance novel, but I'm not going to insult romance authors or myself by lowering my expectations when it comes to character development and exposition or accepting when those things are sub-par or completely lacking. If anything, those two things should be the PRIMARY focus in Romance novels since that is where the focus is as opposed to a Fantasy or Science Fiction novel which has world building or magic systems to distract you with.
There just seemed to be little effort in exploring these characters, their lives and their relationships on a deeper level. I didn't really feel anything for them and found it hard to care about what was going on because you don't really get to know them and all real issues that any of them had was so easily wrapped up and resolved.
SO!..It looks like my search continues...
Recommendation: This is the only book I have reading by Sharon so I can only go as far as saying that I wouldn't recommend LEGAL SEDUCTION...
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Great story. I kinda wish Iris would have had it out with Eve at the end, but other than that, really enjoyed the book.