RITA Reader Challenge Review

Kiss and Tell by Grace Burrowes

This RITA® Reader Challenge 2015 review was written by Emily M (Polished Bookworm). This story was nominated for the RITA® in the Romance Novella category.

The summary:

Lawyers in Love, or…

Jane DeLuca, Esquire, thrives on advocating zealously for her clients in Damson Valley’s family law courts, though her solo practice leaves no time for a personal life. She’s opposed in a nasty divorce by dour, stubborn Scotsman Dunstan Cromarty, and yet, as the clients’ issues grow more complicated, so do Jane’s feelings for Dunstan, and his for her.

Courtship adjourned?

Crossing personal lines could cost Jane and Dunstan their licenses to practice law, and in a small jurisdiction, they’ll oppose each other frequently. Neither can afford to give up their livelihood or their professional integrity, but can they give up each other?

Here is Emily M. (Polished Bookworm)'s review:

I was obviously practicing family law on the wrong side of the Potomac River. Maryland seems to have the only hot Scot attorney with a sexy burr and a cat named ‘Fat Bastard’. Here in Virginia, I only seemed to encounter the fat bastards. (Just kidding, my colleagues were all agreeable people to work with, even if they weren’t Scottish.)

Divorce lawyer Jane DeLuca finds herself in the enviable position of being attracted to, and the object of affection of, a fellow attorney: Scottish transplant Dunstan Cromarty. Only one problem keeps these two Legal Eagles from flying off into the sunset together: they each represent opposing sides of a divorce case.

There are very strict regulations surrounding the proper ethical behavior of attorneys. Attorneys who fail to comply with these rules of professional conduct are subject to disciplinary action. Entering into a romantic relationship with opposing counsel could be seen as ‘sleeping with enemy’ and disciplinary action could potentially range from suspension of law license all the way up to disbarment.

These two crazy kids are too smart to let that happen, right? The answer should be an easy one, but who’s to say how strong our resolve would be when faced with sharing a bed with a kilted Scotsman on a cold and stormy night. The lawyer in me was slightly unsettled Jane and Dunstan would consider such a serious ethical breach; the romance reader in me yelled, “You go, girl!” Jane and Dustan both knew the connection they felt was unique and struggled to disentangle themselves from their ethical dilemma and honorably accept the consequences for following their hearts, creating an interesting read about a couple’s marriage falling apart (Dunstan and Jane’s clients) at the same time the two lawyers are falling in love.

Kiss and Tell serves as a prequel novella to author Grace Borrowes’ first contemporary romance series, Sweetest Kisses, and as a prequel to her novella series, Highland Holidays, featuring Dustan’s Scottish relations. I’ve always been a huge fan of Grace Burrowes’ historical novels, so it was a no-brainer for me to explore her foray into contemporary romantic fiction. Grace herself is licensed attorney so her grasp of the legal issues and complexities of the ethical questions at play were spot on. Grace Burrowes’ natural dialogue and excellent use of physicality and sense of place are present throughout this short tale.

As with most novellas, Kiss and Tell is hampered by its brevity. While issues were neatly tied up at the end of the story, as a reader I still had questions: Why was Dustan practicing in America rather than Scotland? Why did they both choose family law? How did they end up in the close-knit community? I couldn’t help but want more. More answers, more kisses, more build-up, and more Dunstan in a kilt.

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Kiss and Tell by Grace Burrowes

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  1. Vicki says:

    I can see that there might be problems between attorneys on opposing sides – total conflict there. And I sympathize with you – I have similar problems with medical romances when the doc considers romancing a patient. The romantic in me might say “yay” but the doc in me is all, have you thought this through? Really?

    Still, a kilt!

  2. TheFormerAstronomer says:

    ‘Dunstan Cromarty’? She might as well have gone with Scotty GingerHaired Stereotyped McKiltWearer and saved herself several pages of backstory.

  3. SB Sarah says:

    @TheFormerAstronomer:

    Your comment made my laugh so hard – but where would Scotty be in the phone book? Under M or S?

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