Tag Archives: legal drama

Top 10 Tuesday — Alter Ego!

14 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today’s TTT topic is book titles that describe me or my life. Uh, no! LOL! I read a lot of mystery/suspense and those titles can be seriously scary. And besides, I am a huge rule follower — just ask my husband, the man who never saw a rule that couldn’t in some fashion be broken. 😉 So I decided to flip the topic and go with titles that would describe my evil twin aka alter ego. This was a fun post to put together. I hope you enjoy it and find a great book to read.

For more insights into the real bloggers’ lives, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Titles That Describe My Alter Ego

If I was one to take on a life of crime, I would want to be thought of as a member of The Queens of Crime. In pursuit of the lofty title I’d travel to Scotland and perpetrate a Highland Heist. Not sure if that would include a few shaggy cows, but who knows what a thief could discover among the heather. I might Ambush a man in a kilt to help me carry all the loot, making sure I hide my identity and not let on An Appearance of Impropriety. I must maintain an air of integrity and not get caught! But if I’m found out and pursued by the coppers, I’ll make sure my crimes are well Hidden by a Canyon of Deceit so I am not forced into Taking A Second Shot to fend them off. A good criminal must be able To Outwit Them All! If I’m not successful, the authorities will say that Death Follows Her and I may be presumed Guilty Until Innocent .

Here’s a tip: the authors of these books are way better at telling tales than I am. Check out their fabulous books!

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Top 10 Tuesday — New to My TBR

7 Apr

Happy Tuesday! Today I just was not feeling the TTT topic — bucket list books. I have done a couple of these posts and didn’t really want to do the research on books and destinations, so instead I am sharing the latest additions to my NetGalley Shelf. A few of these have already released, so I need to get going on my reading. There is also a good mix of genres — I hope you find one to love.

To discover on topic bloggers, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top 10 Recent Additions to My NetGalley Shelf

The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright

A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

Dark Design by Nancy Mehl

Daughter of The Rebellion by Jamie Ogle

Echoes of a Silent Song by Amanda Wen

Harbor Pointe by Irene Hannon

Mists over The Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin

More Than Friends by Denise Hunter

Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters

Witness Protection by Robert Whitlow

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Top 10 Tuesday — Wearing o’ The Green

17 Mar

Happy Tuesday and happy St. Patrick’s Day! Today TTT bloggers are sharing books with green covers. I am hitting the review archives and my TBR shelves to bring books featuring greens of all shades. Some of the covers have more green than others, but I felt that green is what first strikes the eye.

Today’s topic is fitting not only for the holiday, but because my yard is GREEN! It’s cold today (for central Georgia) but flowers are in bloom and the trees are full of new leaves. Such a beautiful day! I hope you have one too, plus some reading inspiration.

For more green book covers, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Green Book Covers

Ambush by Colleen Coble

A Caffeine Conundrum by Angela Ruth Strong

The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson

The Gardins of Edin by Rosey Lee

Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow

A Place to Land by Lauren K. Denton

Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham

Stealing Magnolias by Leslie Kirby DeVooght

The Sweetness at The Bottom of The Pie by Alan Bradley

Under The Tulip Tree by Michelle Shocklee

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Book Review — An Appearance of Impropriety

5 Feb
An Appearance of Impropriety JustRead Takeover + Review Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About The Book

An Appearance of Impropriety

Title: An Appearance of Impropriety
Author: Jayna Breigh
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: January 27, 2026
Genre: Romantic Legal Drama

Will their love turn into a scandal despite their efforts?

As the youngest female judge in Los Angeles, Mahalia Jackson has her career on a fast track to success. Her polished exterior makes sure of that. But when she volunteers for the Junior Jurors and ends up working side by side with attorney JD Cash, her plans begin to falter.

JD heads up the program—born out of his own troubled past—where local teens learn about the legal system. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God’s calling on his life: to support the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved fathers and husbands to TransNation’s eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America’s freeways.

Mahalia’s rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow’s attorney. When Mahalia is placed in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver.

Her increasing proximity to the empathetic lawyer sparks an onslaught from anonymous online adversaries attempting to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career by throwing around claims of an appearance of impropriety. The digital disgrace pushes Mahalia to ask one hard question: Is loving JD worth risking her career?

With a great story, well-developed characters, and a tale that explores the value of second chances and giving back, the latest from Breigh is a must-buy. —Library Journal, Starred Review

“An Appearance of Impropriety is filled with characters I cared about who were placed in challenging situations that compelled me to keep reading long into the night.”

—Cara Putman, award-winning author of the Secrets to Keep series

Excerpt

Somehow in this moment, hearing Granddaddy in her ear, preaching that verse about the excellency of Christ, both soothed and terrified her. What did all her accomplishments mean? Granddaddy had always been so proud of her, but every conversation with him ended with him asking if she’d joined a church or read her Bible.

“Sweet Mahalia baby,” his comforting voice would flow out. “For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?”

She’d always found a way to brush off his admonitions.

He’d let her deflect but always retorted, “I’m not giving up on you yet, Mahalia. The Word has a way of getting down deep inside of you, working. Even when you aren’t thinking about it.”

The clink of knives tapping against wine goblets, signaling time to quiet and begin the meeting, found her with moisture in her eyes, threatening to spill. She swiped a knuckle under her bottom lids, straightened her spine, and watched the woman at the dais. She forced out the bittersweet memories of Granddaddy and supplanted them with her mantra. Prestigious college. Ivy League law school. Top-drawer law firm. And she added her new hoped-for position—assistant supervising judge.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | BookBub | Bookshop

Also Available:

The Hunted Heir

My Impressions:

I loved Jayna Breigh’s debut novel, The Hunted Heir, so I was really excited for the opportunity to read An Appearance of Impropriety. Breigh again brings her knowledge of the law and the courtroom in this legal drama with a good dose of romance. Mahalia Jackson is on track to achieve all her (and her family’s) career goals. But her personal life has been less than stellar. An accidental fall leaves her mentor unable to preside over his cases, and he taps Mahalia to fill in. Enter JD Cash, a brash and committed personal injury lawyer, and soon the sparks fly. There’s intrigue and betrayal behind the scenes in the courthouse, plus complicated pasts and insecurities that stand in the way of their relationship. But this seemingly mismatched pair are perfect for each other. I loved the youth program the two are involved in, and the heart and passion that each brought to both sides of the bench. The spiritual thread is strong as the two characters struggle with being good enough. I especially liked the growth that Mahalia experienced. And if you are a fan of Breigh’s first book, you will love the cameo appearance of one of its main characters. IYKYK! 😉

An Appearance of Impropriety is a delight! Make sure you put this book on the top of your TBR.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(Thanks to Kregel for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

About The Author

Jayna Breigh

Jayna Breigh is a retired attorney living in the southeastern United States and the author of The Hunted Heir. She brings to her writing over a decade of experience in trust and estate litigation in Los Angeles.

Connect with Jayna by visiting www.jaynabreigh.com. to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of An Appearance of Impropriety and a $20 Amazon gift card!

An Appearance of Impropriety JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 4, 2026 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 11, 2026. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours

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Top 10 Tuesday — Goals!

20 Jan

It’s good to have goals I’ve been told. But when you are just a little (or a lot) type A (with some OCD thrown in), goals can become stressful rather than tools for growth. I used to do a lot of reading challenges. They sounded like a lot of fun until I became fixed on choosing books to fit the challenge instead of reading what my mood or interests pointed to. I’ve posted reading goals every year for a long time now. This year my list is very short —

Read whatever I want.

Repeat.

LOL!

Kind of freeing, isn’t it? These goals give me permission to say yes (or no) to review requests and launch teams when a book strikes my fancy. They will also allow me to reach for those books that are languishing on the shelves. Wish me luck! I think I’ll definitely need it. 😉

Here are the books I am reading in the next few weeks.

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Top 10 Tuesday — Books I Can Hardly Wait For!

13 Jan

Happy Tuesday! 2026 has already been one long year and we aren’t even half way through January. If you’ve noticed I’ve been quiet here on the blog, it’s because my MIL fell and suffered a subdural hematoma on the 3rd. She is back at her care facility and is receiving excellent care, but I would appreciate any prayers you lift up. She is 97 years old and the toll of the injury has really impacted her. I will probably be in an out of the blogosphere for the foreseeable future.

But today I have a bit of free time and listing my most anticipated books of the first half of 2026. I long to get lost in a good book! What books are you looking forward to?

For more 2026 releases, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Anticipated Books of 2026 (First Half Edition)

An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh (January)

The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright (April)

The Brunswick by Callie Murray (May)

Deadly Currents by Elizabeth Goddard (February)

Last to Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn (March)

Mists over The Channel Islands by Sarah Sundin (February)

On Living Stone by Heather Kaufman (January)

Secrets Chase Her by Rachel Dylan (May)

South of Somewhere by T. I. Lowe (March)

Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters (May)

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Top 10 Tuesday — Winter TBR!

16 Dec

Happy Tuesday. I am Christmas binge-reading right now, but I am also looking forward to some great reading in the months ahead. Today my TTT Winter TBR list contains a couple of Christmas books I hope to finish up before New Year’s, some book club reading, and some just because reading. I hope you find a book to pique your interest!

For more Winter TBR lists, please visit That Artsy Reader Girl.

Winter TBR List

All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee

An Appearance of Impropriety by Jayna Breigh

The Bitter End Birding Society by Amanda Cox

Christmas with The Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb

The Diamond Eye by Kate Quinn

Hidden by Hope Welborn

Version 1.0.0

How to Sparkle by Leslie DeVooght

Spies, Lies, And Alibis by Natalie Walters

Taking A Second Shot by Leslie DeVooght

Whiskers, Wreaths, and Murder by Kathy Manos Penn

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Top 10 Tuesday — Thanksgiving Freebie

25 Nov

Happy Tuesday! This week TTT bloggers are posting about Thanksgiving and thankfulness. I have done a lot of these posts through the year and just couldn’t seem to come up with anything fresh. So . . . I am spelling out THANKGIVING with titles from books I am thankful for. The authors created books that made me smile, laugh out loud, and cry. They made me think and examine and ponder. They entertained and educated. So a big thanks to all on my list!

Top Book Titles That Spell Thanksgiving

T — Truth Be Told by Patricia Raybon

H — The Heart of Bennet Hollow by Joanne Bischof DeWitt

A — The All American by Susie Finkbeiner

N — The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner

K — The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

S — The Stories We Carry by Robin Pearson

G — Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow

I — The Indigo Heiress by Laura Frantz

V — The Vanished by Cara Putman

I — Indigo Isle by T. I. Lowe

N — Night Falls on Predicament Avenue by Jaime Jo Wright

G — Gardins of Edin by Rosey Lee

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If You Liked . . . Guilty Until Innocent

30 Jun

I really liked Robert Whitlow‘s legal drama/suspense novel Guilty Until Innocent. If you haven’t read it, I recommend you do! If you have read it and want more books like it, then I have a few reading recs.

The Color of Justice by Ace Collins

1964

Justice, Mississippi, is a town divided. White and black. Rich and poor. Rule makers and rule breakers. Right or wrong, everyone assumes their place behind a fragile façade that is about to crumble. When attorney Coop Lindsay agrees to defend a black man accused of murdering a white teenager, the bribes and death threats don’t intimidate him. As he prepares for the case of a lifetime, the young lawyer knows it’s the verdict that poses the real threat—innocent or guilty, because of his stand Coop is no longer welcome in Justice. As he follows his conscience, he wonders just how far some people will go to make sure he doesn’t finish his job?

2014

To some, the result of the trial still feels like a fresh wound even fifty years later, when Coop’s grandson arrives in Justice seeking answers to the questions unresolved by the trial that changed his family’s legacy. When a new case is presented, again pitting white against black, this third generation Lindsay may have the opportunity he needs to right the wrongs of the past.

But hate destroys everything it touches, and the Lindsay family will not escape unscathed.

Dead Lawyers Tell No Tales by Randy Singer

Landon Reed is an ex-quarterback convicted of organizing a points-shaving scheme. During his time in prison, he found forgiveness and faith and earned his law degree. Now he longs for an opportunity to prove his loyalty and worth. Be careful what you ask for. 

Harry McNaughton is one of the founding partners of McNaughton & Clay—and the only lawyer willing to take a chance employing an ex-con-turned-lawyer. Though Landon initially questions Harry’s ethics and methods, it’s clear the crusty old lawyer has one of the most brilliant legal minds Landon has ever encountered. The two dive into preparing a defense for one of the highest-profile murder trials Virginia Beach has seen in decades when Harry is gunned down in what appears to be a random mugging. Then two more lawyers are killed when the firm’s private jet crashes. Authorities suspect someone has a vendetta against McNaughton & Clay, leaving Landon and the remaining partner as the final targets. 

As Landon struggles to keep the firm together, he can’t help but wonder, is the plot related to a shady case from McNaughton & Clay’s past, or to the murder trial he’s neck-deep in now? And will he survive long enough to find out?

Fatal Trust by Todd M. Johnson

Ian Wells is a young criminal defense attorney struggling to build a Minneapolis law practice he inherited from his father while caring for a mother with Alzheimer’s. Nearly at the breaking point, everything changes for Ian when a new client offers a simple case: determine whether three men qualify for over nine million dollars of trust funds. To qualify, none can have been involved in criminal activity for the past twenty years. Ian’s fee for a week’s work: the unbelievable sum of two hundred thousand dollars. 

Ian warily accepts the job — but is quickly dragged deep into a mystery linking the trust with a decades-old criminal enterprise and the greatest unsolved art theft in Minnesota history. As stolen money from the art theft surfaces, Ian finds himself the target of a criminal investigation by Brook Daniels, a prosecutor who is also his closest law school friend. He realizes too late that this simple investigation has spun out of control and now threatens his career, his future, and his life.

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Book Review — Guilty Until Innocent

26 Jun

This month my book club is reading Guilty Until Innocent by Robert Whitlow. We are big fans of his, although the last couple of books we read by him were not our favorites. I think that might change after we read this one. Whitlow goes back to his legal drama roots in this thoughtful offering. Find out more about it and my thoughts below.

Justice has been served . . . unless the accused is innocent. In this gripping legal drama, Whitlow expertly weaves themes of grace, faith, and the law with a plot that is sure to keep you guessing until the end.

Life in prison is often a nightmare, but Joe Moore believes he is just where God intends him to be. Twenty-five years ago, while high on meth, he makes one terrible mistake after another, culminating in the brutal murder of a young, influential couple. Today, Joe is a radically different person, thriving in his role as a ministry leader and role model to his fellow inmates.

After being fired from two previous law firms, young lawyer Ryan Clark and his wife, Paige, have settled into a small North Carolina town. Hired by a distant relative, Ryan is committed to connecting with the right clients and handling the mundane tasks while his cousin Tom takes on the high-profile cases.

But when critical health issues land Tom in the hospital, Ryan is forced to take the helm at the law firm–just in time for the town’s biggest case in history to be reopened. Joe Moore’s niece has been doing some digging and, convinced that her incarcerated uncle is innocent, insists that Ryan relaunch the investigation immediately.

After Ryan meets with Joe, both men receive threats that put their own lives–as well as the lives of those around them–in danger. It appears that together they’ve pulled back a dark curtain that hides a deeper evil than anyone in town suspects exists. Now they must determine if continuing with the case is worth the risk–and if the cost of proving one man’s innocence is too great when the lives of so many others would be placed in mortal danger.

Dive into a world where faith meets the law in this heart-pounding legal drama that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Pick up Guilty Until Innocent and find out if the cost of justice is worth risking everything. You won’t want to miss out on this thrilling story of grace, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of truth.

Robert Whitlow grew up in north Georgia. He graduated magna cum laude from Furman University with a BA in history in 1976 and received his JD with honors from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1979. A practicing attorney, he is a partner in a Charlotte, NC law firm. He and his wife Kathy have four children and nine grandchildren.

Robert began writing in 1996. His novels are set in the South and include both legal suspense and interesting characterization. It is his desire to write stories that reveal some of the ways God interacts with people in realistic scenarios.

My Impressions:

Robert Whitlow has long been a favorite of mine. I like that he blends legal drama (a great genre) with strong spiritual themes. His novel, Guilty Until Innocent did not disappoint. The novel features a young lawyer on his third chance to make it in his profession. Sound familiar? This scenario is a favorite of John Grisham’s, and Whitlow is often compared to him. But the difference between the two authors is the faith element that Whitlow skillfully inserts. The case that Ryan Clark is drawn into concerns a man imprisoned for murder over 20 years before. No one is disputing Joe Moore’s guilt, but there may be some extenuating circumstances that could impact his sentence. It is interesting that of the three POVs in this novel — Ryan, his wife Paige, and Joe — only Joe is a Christian. Fully content with his life, Joe seeks to bring the light of God in the very dark world in which he lives. The case is intriguing and the danger escalates the more Ryan digs into the evidence. There is mystery and suspense, twists and turns, and a surprising ending. The themes of the effectiveness of prayer, guilt and forgiveness, and trusting God’s plan are very strong and will definitely create great conversation with my book club group.

Guitly Until Innocent is a good choice if you like legal drama with a good bit of suspense. Grab some friends and read this one!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

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