A sexy, fun, suspenseful book with twists and turns to keep you guessing! Told in dual POV, there was intense chemistry between Jaxon and Scarlett that kept me glued to this book.

Overall a well written story, I can't wait for more of this series, especially Hunter's story in book 4!

Seducing the Defendant (Conflict of Interest #2)
by Chantal Fernando


I loved the first one in this new series by Chantal. I just couldn’t love this one as much. Maybe because it is linked to the Wind Dragon MC Series, for me I haven’t finished them yet. The two relate to each other, however I as always love her way of writing stories and making you apart of their world, and love that she can connect everything together. But I think for me because I haven’t finished the MC ones I didn’t connect as well with this one. It’s still a fine read, not my favourite but I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

Jackson Bentley is one fine specimen!!! It is a hot romance, that gives us mystery and suspense and so much heat!

Overall it’s a solid 3.5-4 stars.

Jackson Bentley is willing to bend his "never date the client" rules for Scarlett Reyes because what they have is real and undeniable, but that doesn't mean it'll be easy. Scarlett has been accused of murdering her husband in a twisting story that satisfyingly ties in with Chantal Fernando's Wind Dragon MC series. Jackson is the criminal attorney who takes her case and unwittingly falls in love.

This is an intense romance that includes a touch of mystery and danger that you've become accustomed to from Fernando's books. I liked seeing some of our favorite characters from past books come back in emotionally satisfying ways. Plus, it was a sexy read.

However, some of it just didn't work for me. Maybe I was in a bad mood, but they way the described food and the type of food they were eating added nothing to the story but happened repeatedly. That's a small complaint in the grand scheme of things, but it stuck out to me.

A fine read, not my favorite of Chantal Fernando's books, but I'll certainly be back for the rest of the series.

The second book in the Conflict of Interest series.
We met Jaxson in Breaching the Contract but now he is back with a cracker of a case. Scarlett Reyes is charged with her husbands murder and she claims she is innocent.
There is just 1 issue. Jaxson is very attracted to her. Work ethic may fly out the window!
This was a great addition to the series, well written, strong and loveable characters and of course, The Wind Dragons feature in this book and I shrieked with joy.
I so did not expect that twist at the end. I wanted to cry! I admit I called the author some names but I will forgive all if she writes Hunter next!

I really enjoyed the storyline in this book. It was intense but fun, sexy but reserved, and really well written. The characters were relatable and interesting making me read as quickly as possible so I could find out what would happen next. I loved how we got a little more of the characters we've already grown to love, Kat and Tristan. It left me hungry for more Hunter and Yvonne. This book was written in this great way that has you fully invested in the main characters but, also eager to learn more about the supporting characters too.

This was an all around good read that left me wanting more from everyone in this story.

I've loved all the books I've read by this author so it was no surprise that I thoroughly enjoyed this book! First I wasn't expecting so much of a cross over with her Wind Dragons series, but boy was it nice to have those hot guys thrown into this mix! OMG Demon...my heart broke for him.

HOLY HOTNESS!! This book is seriously steaming HOT!!!

"She's defending herself to me, instead of giving me what I need so I can defend her. There's a difference."
 
OH EM GEE! 
This book you guys was amazing. It's been a while since I had read some smut and this was no disappointment. haha. I totally gave this book an easy 5 stars on GoodReads. At first I was only going to give it 4, but when my favorite Wind Dragon MC made his appearance I was set and gave it the full 5! I love how this series connected with another one of hers. 
So this book is centered around Jaxon (who we briefly met in Breaching The Contract) who is a criminal lawyer, a sexy one at that. He takes on Scarlett Ryes as a client who is being charged for murder of her husband, a very well known and protected police officer. Things are not looking for Scarlett and Jaxon makes it his mission to do everything in his power to prove her innocence.  
"I'm putting my faith-my life- in the hands of a man I just met, in a lawyer."
Jaxon knows there is more to Scarlett than she lets on. He knows she is hiding from something, hiding from her past, and it may just be the proof he needs to prove her innocent. When the past is finally discovered there is still not enough had evidence to drop Scarlett's charges, but when he discovers that the Wind Dragons have been involved he realizes this case is a lot deeper and more difficult than he expected. 
Being the chivalrous man he is, Jaxon does what he can to make sure that Scarlett feels safe and protected. He has feelings for her. She is his client...she should be nothing more.
"Sure there's no rule against us being friends, but anything more is a conflict of interest. We shouldn't even be friends." 
 
 
 Jaxon has won Scarlett's case, but that doesn't mean her past or troubles are behind her just yet....
 
Seducing The Defendant was funny, charming, tense, and sexy. Everything you could have asked for in a contemporary romance! Chantal Fernando really outdid herself with this book. It was great to see the Wind Dragons live on too. I can't wait for the next installment! You truly grow a bond with these characters and keep wanting more!
 
Seducing The Defendant releases November 14, 2017! 
 
"We need more beauty in the world like hers, but unfortunately most people damage it instead. Ruin  it."
Until Next time friends!
DauntlessReading

Angels and Demons...

I'm a big fan of Chantal Fernando and her MC Romance books. When I read in the synopsis that the Wind Dragons MC were involved in this story I was very excited to read it. After reading the first book in the Conflict of Interest series, I had had already met and liked Jaxon. I was expecting a little office romance with a sexy-in-a-suit lawyer. I was totally not expecting what I got, which was so much more.

Yes, there was a bit of conflict of interest involved when Jaxon found himself attracted to his client, Scarlett. She wanted to hire him to represent her in a murder case where she's been accused of killing her husband who was a police officer. On paper the evidence against her is pretty incriminating, but when he meets her face-to-face she convinces him of her innocence. She's a beautiful broken woman who touches his heartstrings, making it hard for him to refuse her. And he doesn't want to refuse her anything...

Scarlett is fighting for her life. She needs the best attorney her money can get her. After doing her research, she ends up in Jaxon Bentley's office. When he asks her if she would be willing to accept a plea bargain, she refuses. She swears she's innocent and wants him to save her. The last thing she expects is to be attracted to her attorney. But damn, he looks like a GQ model. She needs to be worried about her future, she doesn't look good in stripes.

As Jaxon digs deeper into her husbands past he finds more trouble than he anticipated. When he discovers ties to the Wind Dragons MC he's warned off, told to leave it alone. But he can't. Not when Scarlett is depending on him. Not when failing means she might end up behind bars. Not when she finally lets him in, sharing her secrets and her desire for him. He's got his hands full, and seducing the defendant is forbidden. Will he play by the rules, or will he play dirty?

Damn! This book was amazing and shocking. Full of passion and suspense. I was totally invested and on the edge of my seat as surprising events occurred and new players got involved. As more characters were introduced I got even more attached to the circle of friends and I'm really looking forward to what comes next. The line forms here...

Overall I found "Seducing the Defendant" to be a well-rounded romance.

I was immediately drawn to “Seducing the Defendant” by Chantal Fernando because of the storyline. I love the idea of a stuff and top-of-his-game attorney taking on a defendant charged with killing her husband. The evidence was pretty strong against the heroine, Scarlett Reyes. I personally love courtroom romances so I immediately jumped into the story when it became available and I was interested to read Chantal Fernando, whom I have never read before.
When the story begins, our hero, Jaxon Bentley is a grieving man. He lost his sister and he is very much into his grief. Even though he is on leave he is pulled back into his job when he hears of Scarlett Reyes, a very wealthy woman who is accused of killing her husband. Jaxon has earned a reputation as a hardworking defense attorney and one of the best. He runs a small firm with one of his good friends. Scarlett was a battered woman. She was charmed by her now dead husband and really thought he was a good guy. By all accounts he was not only a crooked cop but also involved with a motorcycle gang and heavily involved in selling and using drugs. He was also emotionally abusive to Scarlett and ended up controlling all aspects of her life until Scarlett was free of him. Scarlett trying to free herself from her husband’s abusive control fled to France to take care of her sick aunt.
When Jaxon meets Scarlett she is defensive, scared and closed off. Because he recently lost his sister Scarlett’s hurt and pain is endearing to him. Because Jaxon quickly realizes that Scarlett has suffered at the hands of her husband and is caught up in the media storm, he is kind, compassionate, caring and sweet. Everything that Scarlett needs and has craved for so long. Because of their client and attorney relationship they fight their attraction for each other and try to maintain everything strictly professional, even though, both really need a friend.
So as I mentioned before I really wanted to like this story because of the plot. A few things fell flat for me. First, I did not think that there was much chemistry between Jaxon and Scarlett. Most of their conversation felt forced and even their slowly forming friendship felt very stiff. Yes, they were attracted to each other but I knew this because the author told me not because of the chemistry between them. Also, some parts of the story were so over the top I had to stop myself from rolling my eyes a few time. This is one of those stories where if it were a novella I would have enjoyed more. Finishing the story was sheer determination and effort because most of the story felt long and drawn out. I’ve seen some great reviews online, so some readers really enjoyed the story. For me, I expected more.

I like the cross with the Wind Dragons world. This felt different, but I enjoyed it on the whole!

Jaxon is an excellent defense attorney with a great track record for winning. Scarlett needs the best and luckily has the money to pay him. She's been accused of killing her husband but Jaxon can tell that there's more to her story. The chemistry between them is undeniable but Jaxon is determined not to act on it since Scarlett is his client. But when the case is over all bets are off. Red hot romantic suspense

Fantastic storyline but....the writing was choppy. It pains me to say that, as I've always been a fan of Aussie authors. I still enjoyed the story just not the style of writing. Never read a book by Chantal before but I've heard mixed reviews. Perhaps she needs a new editor. I'm not quite sure what the problem was but the grammar and functionality of it jus didn't work for me.
However I loved he characters and brilliant plot.
I'd give Chantal another go.

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange of an honest review.
Let me start with that I didn’t read the first book in the series, not just because it didn’t really interest me but because when I received this one the first book wasn’t even published yet. However I don’t think that you need to read the first book to understand this one, since the main characters are not the same. Yes the characters from ……. appear here to but they don’t have such an important role that not knowing their story would be bothersome.
You can see from my rating that I didn’t enjoy the story as much as I hoped. Why I requested this book then? First a foremost because of the author. I absolutely love Chantal Fernando books especially the earlier ones. They are just so clean, endearing and quick reads this one not so much but I’m going to get back to this later. The other reason why I wanted to read Seducing the defendant was the synopsis, it sounded really interesting and I felt the need to get my hands on it.
Unfortunately, even my level of enthusiasm couldn’t make me love this book. It was quite a dragging and tiresome read for me but not because of the writing style; it’s really great still, more because of how the plot is build up.
I hate writing negative reviews because I always feel like it’s disrespectful towards the authors and their hard work. Still when I feel like the story isn’t the best I won’t lie about it. In this case, however, most of my problems with the story stemmed from preferential reasons.
The biggest problem for me was the way the storyline is structured. It starts out in a quite clinical and cold way, not really introducing the characters but rather concentrating on the murder case. It wouldn’t be a problem generally because I love a great mystery but I didn’t feel like the detailed investigation part is the lawyer job especial on the level Jaxon got himself into it. Also in all honesty the first 20%, when the case was still active, for me felt like part of a pad soap opera. Sorry but that’s my opinion.
After this quick phase of mystery came the fuck fest, pardon my language but I call it as I see it. I know that this is a romance book so I expected a level of sexual content and maybe there are people who like their romance just like this but me personally like if there is story to it as well. But there was nothing else to the rest of the plot but from one position to the next, there is barely any conversation between the characters which would help build a functional relationship, at least not on the pages, I didn’t really see much of a character development either and other than their bedroom antics there isn’t too much different scenes. So yes I was a bit disappointed and even pretty bored by this book. There were only a couple of events that I could say were exciting and even surprising but not nearly enough to right the balance of the rest of the story.
As for the characters, as I mentioned earlier they are not introduce to deeply. Scarlett at first comes off as an unapproachable, cold and a bit spoiled rich girl, especially until we see some with her eyes too. After that she is still secretive because she doesn’t want to be seen as the victim. However later as we see a little bit more into her life she turns into a shy, insecure, slightly virginal and introvert personality.
Then there is Jaxon, who is in a funk in the beginning of the story. But this feeling of loss is the first thing that attracts him to Scarlett. He gets really invested in this girl and as time goes on he falls in love. He is gruff, persistent and willing to anything to save his clients if he believes in them. He is also kind, patient and understanding. Really my only problem was that I didn’t see their relationship develop so I couldn’t connect with them.
There is a great group of supportive characters that surrounds them and what I loved more than anything is that we get to meet and see the characters from the author other series too. I love the so much.
I had a hard time getting into and connecting to the story so I couldn’t enjoy it fully, that said it doesn’t mean that my preferences regarding how the romance/action balance should be in a book is true for others too. I see the potential in the book but I can’t give it a higher rating.

A few days after the download, and I can't remember if I finished this book. Eeek. That doesn't bode well. I found the pace to be 'off'... there was big drama at the start of the story, and then there was a huge lull in the middle where they courted that lacked oomph because it wasn't coupled with action/adventure/mystery or any sort of forward motion. That was weird for me, and hard to get into. Maybe it picked up after that and I gave up too soon? Maybe it didn't, and that's why its forgettable? Sorry. I'm a big fan of Ms Fernando's WDMC, so it can't be her;' it's probably me.

A copy of this book was provided via Net Galley for an honest review.
Seducing the Defendant (Conflict of Interest #2)
Author Chantal Fernando
4.5 Stars
Let me start by saving that I enjoyed the author’s Wing Dragon MC series and book in Breaching the Contract in this series. So when the author was able to bring both of these series together in this book it was a pleasant surprise; adding a glimpse into her Wing Dragon MC Series.
Jaxon Bentley is the must have criminal attorney. He has pour his life into making his firm one of the best in town. But Jaxon personal life has not been easy. He had guilt over a loss that he had no control over however he seems to blame himself. The unknowns have been eating slowly at him. When a high profile murder case contracts him to represent her, he will do what he does best; win the case.
Scarlett Reyes has been accuse of murdering her cop husband. But she claims to be innocent. She will have to tell Jaxon all her secrets so that he can do his job to clear her name and keep her out a prison. But Scarlett has issues. Trusting any man is one of them. It will take time and Jaxon slowly breaking down her walls to get to the truth.
Jaxon knows he has to keep things professional. He knows to never cross that line. But something about Scarlett calls to him. She seems to make him a better person just from a simple smile here and a soft laugh here. Scarlett is no better. She starts to crave Jaxon. But that is now what she needs right now. She needs to clear her name. Not lust after her attorney.
Can Jaxon and Scarlett keep things professional while she’s his client. Or will the lines of attorney client blur?

The story starts with the delectable Jaxon Bentley, a criminal lawyer and certified work addict being asked to represent the cool, aloof Scarlett Reyes. A women being accused of murdering her police officer husband in cold blood. All the evidence is pointing at her, can Jaxon prove her innocence?. Or will that professional line get blurred?.

Our very handsome, broody hot alpha Jaxon Bentley most definitely ticked all my boxes. His very sudden departure from breaching the contract (Kat & Tristen's book) for sure had my interest peaked. I wanted to know all about him, the little introduction in the first book wasn't enough but it did give us an idea of his so personality. He was the sweet one of the two business men which showed when his kind, patient nature was replaced with Tristan's surly brooding rude one. Jaxon did not disappoint!, He starts off wary and sad but considering the circumstances that is perfectly understandable. Although he had that dominant gruff alpha side that we all love in our heroes, he was also extremely sweet, tentative, patient and kind. He was a perfect hero/book boyfriend to boot.

I wasn't sure what to expect from our leading lady giving that she gave off the don't fuck with me vibe in a cool almost detached like manner. Once I got a peak into her inner turmoil I quickly realised that my original impression couldn't be anymore further from the truth. She had walls build up around her but you can't expect anything less when she's had to deal with a shitty marriage to an absolute shithead of a husband who took pleasure in breaking her down until she was but a shell of herself. She was tired, tired of being abused, tired of fighting, tired of defending herself .. she just had enough of it all. When them walls came down and I got a peaked into personality I fell in love. She was the sweetest, caring, funny beautiful human. She drew people in like a moth to a flame. Collected friends from the most awkwardly hilarious situations. To top off all het great attributes she also had this innocence about her. That porn scene ... HILARIOUS. Seriously I about died laughing. On top of it being funny it was so freaking cute, relatable!. Just human.

I love a story that isn't filled with unnecessary drama. Not one part of this story felt like it was thrown in to fill a couple a pages but had no use for being there. It's more of a slow burn romance giving you all those feels. I enjoyed their pace it wasn't rushed it was believable. They got to know eachother while falling in love, while you get a better feel of them individually and together as characters. Their story isn't smooth sailing but it was believable and relatable. You have a little of everything from hilarious bantering to heartbreaking WTF moments!. crazy hot lovings and times where you want to throw the kindle. It's a mix of it all but written in a way that has you completely invested in there journey.
also I love that we get to see old faces and that they play such important parts of the story. I'll never get board of hearing from the MC and all their lovely leading ladies. Chantal intergrated them seemlessly into the story.


So final thoughts.....
I loved it. I loved the almost forbidden elements she adds like a personal touch. The lawyer and his client, the MC hanging out with the lawyers. The great blend of personalities, all so different that it almost shouldn't work but it does perfectly. The hot build up that has sexual tension radiating out of the pages leaving you wanting, needing more. No disappointment, no random shit that doesn't make sense. Just a great story, a rollercoaster of emotions and a happy ending to boot. I loved it even when I was crying into the pages of my kindle.

I kindly received this ARC from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved Chantal Fernando’s Wind Dragon MC series and I loved her first book in the Conflict of Interest series. This book brought them both together in a sexy, fun, action packed and at times emotional read. Oh and let's not forget the little twists and turns and the whole, ‘I did not see that coming’ ending. The story centres around Jaxon Bentley, sexy criminal lawyer (who we meet briefly in Breaching the Contract) whose services are called upon to defend Scarlett Ryes who is accused of murdering her husband who as it turns out was a police officer. It turns out that there is a lot more to this case than originally meets the eye. A clever story, told in dual POV with some super sexy, strong characters, I can't wait for the next book in the series (I'm hoping it's Hunter’s story). I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, I thought Seducing The Defendant was an ok read. I really loved the first 40 or so % of the book. I was really intrigued by the story-line and was excited to see how it was all going to play out. Scarlett was a really interesting character. All the evidence certainly painted a guilty picture, but my instincts kept telling me there has to be more to the story here....And while Jaxon was an amazing attorney, in fact the most sought after, he had his own demons to fight. But, if anyone could prove Scarlett's innocence, it was Jaxon.

I really enjoyed unraveling the case against Scarlett and all the twists along the way. As a fan of the Wind Dragons MC Series, I enjoyed that connection/crossover into this series.

However, I did have some issues with this story. As I previously stated, I loved the first half of the story. However, once the case against Scarlett wrapped up, I sort of felt like the story began to drag. I didn't know where the story could possibly go since the case took up so much of the story and was such an important part of it. Also, I enjoyed the slow build of Scarlett and Jaxon's relationship, but I didn't think we needed another 50% of their story after the case wrapped up. I know I'm probably not explaining it right, but I just feel like this story was too long when it didn't need to be. Please don't get me wrong, I did enjoy it, I just feel that it could have been wrapped up quickly-er then it was.

Overall, I think Seducing The Defendant is going to be one of those books that is going to be either hit or miss. For me, I thought it was an ok read, but definitely not my favorite in this series so far. I think this series has a lot of great potential, so despite this one not being an 100% hit for me, I will still continue on with this series to see who's story will be told next.

Chantal Fernando has always been a go to author for me!! Needless to say, I was so psyched to dive into Seducing the Defendant which is the second book in the Conflict of Interest series.

Jaxon was one of my favorite supporting characters from the first book, so I was looking forward to reading his story and I have to say it did not disappoint!!! Jaxon was every bit the stand up guy I knew him to be, but there was a lot of him we never knew until now and I he's even more amazing than I thought!!! When he agreed to represent Scarlett as her lawyer against murder charges, Jaxon had no idea how much she would ultimately come to mean to him. Scarlett had suffered abuse for years from her deceased husband and was close to losing hope until Jaxon swooped in to save the day. The two develop a friendship and much, much "more"! Could Scarlett's luck finally be changing with Jaxon by her side??!??? Is she out of harms way?!??

I thought it was great the way Seducing the Defendant combined romance and suspense. I didn't anticipate the suspense aspect, but I'm glad because it added so much to the storyline! Speaking of storyline, I LOVED the fact there was a Wild Dragons MC series crossover!! Wild Dragons is on of my favorite series, and I was so flipping excited when I realized what Chantal Fernando was doing--sooooo good!!!! The twist and turns truly surprised me and I was "all in" from the beginning!! Seducing the Defendant is a 4.5 star novel that will captivated until the last page!! I can't wait for the next installment in this fantastic series!