Synopsis

She befriended me. She betrayed me. Now, she needs me.

A phone call from jail pulls attorney Lennon Gallagher back into a past she’s spent years trying to escape. Complicated doesn’t begin to describe the bond between Lennon and the caller, a former law school classmate. Now, Erin stands accused of the very violence Lennon has spent her career fighting against. It’s a conflict of interest, but isn’t everyone entitled to competent and effective legal defense?

What starts as a plea for help spirals into a murder trial that threatens to incinerate Lennon’s professional reputation as well as her upcoming marriage. Guided by her best friend, seasoned lawyer Miranda Quinn, Lennon digs for the truth, only to find a mountain of evidence that points to Erin’s guilt. The cost of loyalty is high, and the stakes are even higher as Lennon questions if Erin was ever truly her friend.

But does that make her guilty of murder?

A story of friendships, true and false, and going the extra mile for the ones we love.

Amazon

This book will not be released until 10/1/26, preorder it today.

Review

To say I loved this book would not be an understatement!

This book, while bringing in many characters from past books, focuses on Lennon. This is Lennon’s second book as the main character, and we see her five years later as she continues to navigate the world as an attorney fighting for domestic violence victims. She is engaged to Nick, and they are planning a wedding for the near future. She seems to be an even-keeled person, but might care a little too much. This isn’t necessary a bad thing, but I was very surprised by her actions when it came to Erin. Erin is a former classmate in law school, and tried to bring Lennon down, while being nice to her. Because Lennon didn’t have any friends, she embraced the friendship, much to her own detriment. Maybe she thought Erin had changed in the last five years, but we all know that is rarely the case. And we are proved correct, time and time again during this book. I don’t know why Lennon thought she needed to come to Erin’s rescue. While she only represented her at bail hearings, she was tied to Erin despite that.

As I mentioned, it is obvious that Erin has not changed. Only out for herself, as we discover in this book. I don’t want to give away any secrets, but any reader will be able to see through her character. We also have the appearance of Roger, another classmate from law school. He lacks character of any sort, and is smarmy. Not someone Lennon should be around.

Not only does Lennon have this mess to contend with, there is her relationship with Nick. It is a pretty steady relationship which bodes well for their future. Even a heart attack for his father doesn’t strain the relationship.

This is a fantastic addition to the series, and while we see other characters such as Randi, they are secondary characters. However, there are some side stories that bring heart and true life to the pages. We give this book (and the series) 5 paws up.

About the Author

Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a full-time basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel Jeep Tour. Three more novels followed before Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical fiction featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife, Mary.

Olmsted enjoys writing about quirky, wonderful women in search of a second chance at a happy ever after. When not writing, she loves being on the water, especially in a kayak. She is well known for her blonde brownies, and coffee is her love language.

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