Oh the twists and turns!

Wow - this is my first Courting Justice book and bam! what a winner!! Just when you think things are going one way --> they turn in a different direction.

This one has heat, heart, drama, intrigue, and of course, murder. I enjoyed the surrounding characters almost as much as Isla and David. They were a great power couple even if David's nobility made me want to gentle whop him upside the head!

This book was so fun and kept me riveted.

I voluntarily requested and reviewed an advance reader copy from the publisher through Net Galley.

Oh man! I loved this one so much. I think this has to be one of my favorite Lexi Blake books so far. I love the chemistry and passion. This book is oh so steamy. I love the suspense. It is intense and held me to the page. I could not put this book down. I also loved the characters. I enjoyed how complex they were written and yet completely understandable. I cannot wait for more from this series and from Lexi Blake. So excited to see what she has in store for us next.

This is my first book by Lexi Blake and I could not even finish it. I have no idea how anyone really could. I tried I really did, but this is not a book or an author for me. Sorry. I could not get into it.

Evidence of Desire is the second novel in the Courting Justice series, and follows lawyers Isla and David as they work to defend their client and find out who actually killed his wife.

I read my first romantic suspense novel last year, which was the first book in this series, and I loved it. I was super excited to get to read this novel, and hope to read more from Lexi Blake in the future, as well as more romantic suspense.

Isla is a contract lawyer, so when her client Trey is accused of murdering his wife Portia, she needs to find a defense attorney quickly. Enter David, he's a lawyer from one of New York's top firms who was just hired to defend Trey. Even though Isla isn't a defense attorney, she works with David to try and find the real murderer, and not let slip that Trey, an ex professional football player, has CTE.

"Maybe you'll end up breaking my heart, but I wouldn't change a thing. I wouldn't spare myself the heartache because loving you, even if it's only for a little while, makes me feel, and that's the best we can hope for. To feel and love and be connected. To know even for these brief moments that we are not alone."

This novel was surprisingly emotional. David is a former professional football player, and has struggled for years with his future. He knows how prevalent CTE is and is worried that he will be affected. Trey's case emphasizes these fears, and what could happen to his loved ones because of it. Throughout the novel David struggles with not knowing if he'll have CTE, and doesn't know if he should let anyone in, which could save them from hurting in the future.

CTE was a huge part of this novel, which I did not realize going in. I don't know much about this disease except that research is relatively new, and it can be triggered by multiple head injuries/concussions. From what I know, it seems Blake did her research and portrays CTE correctly and how difficult it can be fore loved ones.

"I've found you can't put yourself back together properly until you've fallen apart."

Isla was an amazing character. She's a sweet, caring woman, who is constantly underestimated because of how kind and gentle she is. I loved seeing her stand up for herself and correct people when they made incorrect assumptions about her.

To me the mystery didn't stand out as much as the CTE aspect, but I was still intrigued and guessing until the reveal. The mystery was well done and realistic, and subtle enough that I couldn't guess.

Overall I enjoyed this novel, the characters, and the romance. Romantic suspense is a genre I've been looking into more recently, and I cannot wait to read more Lexi Blake in the future.

Isla and Avid are pure fire together! This book positively sizzles with sexual tension and swoony romance. Lexi Blake never disappoints, but I really feel like this is one of her best. I am all in on a powerful heroine and the man who brings her to her knees. I loved it!

5 Adrenaline Filled Stars!!!

I finished this book and it literally took me a couple of days for me to be able to write my review. This has now become my favorite book by Ms. Blake who is an automatic one-click author for me. This book has all the elements that I love in her books, romance, suspense and a storyline that took some massive twists and turns.

Being a huge football fan for many years, when this book opens and we get the gist of what’s going on with the H/h and how they come together to work on a legal case that could have precedent setting judgements, I was consumed hook, line and sinker!! David Cormack is a man that’s not looking for love and has some demons that he’s continuing to fight, but he can’t not help Isla Shayne for so many reasons.

Their love story starts very slowly but there’s an immediate attraction and while I was interested in getting their love story, what really drew me in was the main focal point of this book. I’m not going to reveal too much because I think this book truly needs to be experienced. There’s highs, lows and some heartbreaking scenes that literally had me in tears. Then I turn the page and I’m wanting to slap someone upside the head…his name is Royce and he’s a true scumbag!!

While this is book two in this series, it can absolutely be read as a standalone and I urge you to read this book. It’s filled with so much story, feelings and breath gasping moments that I was stunned at times. When I turned the last page I did have a smile on my face which is a tribute to Ms. Blake for her ability to write a story that concentrates on the complexities of the sports world and yet makes us feel like we’ve read a love story at the same time!

#evidenceofdesire #courtingjusticebook2 #lexiblake #romanticsuspense #football #protectingthosesheloves #fastpacedread #courtroomromance #bookhangover #allthestakesarehigh #anendingthathadmegasping

QueenZany 4 Star Review
Evidence of Desire
Lexi Blake

Evidence of Desire is a seductive, mouth-watering thrill ride with a twist around every corner. WOW!! Just had me spinning with questions and making me second guess everything. But at the same drawing me in like a sponge!

Lexi Blake never disappoints, and this fast-paced and delicious sexy contemporary romance is no exception. I gobbled it up!

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
I was hooked on this book from the first page to the last. There were a lot of twists and turns and just when I thought I had it figured out, Blake turned the tables on me.

The complexity of the main characters, along with the detail and explanations about a newly recognized syndrome/disease, made this a book I couldn't put down.

This is the second installment of the Courting Justice series and there are appearances from characters in the first book. I can't wait to see where Ms. Blake takes us next.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This is another exciting legal thriller from Lexi Blake. This time, David finds himself defending a retired football player accused of murdering his wife. He also finds himself increasingly attracted to Isla, the family’s personal attorney who is assisting his investigations.

Like the first book, this story offers another insider’s perspective on the messy lives of rich and famous New York socialites. There’s a whole lot of drama and glamour in the Adams family’s world but there’s also a whole lot of ugly and nasty. None of the characters are particularly likeable and I fancied just about everyone in the book as the murderer at one point.

The book is written in a way that allows readers to figure out the murder mystery for themselves – and I’d narrowed down to two suspects by the time we got the big reveal. I think the plot structure and pacing is much stronger in this story than it was in the first book and I really enjoyed both David and Isla. As in most romantic thrillers, the romance that builds in the middle of a tense investigation isn’t completely plausible, but I liked David and Isla together and their interests and skill sets are complementary.

This is an exciting read. The story feels more polished than the first book and I like the mix of legal drama/romance/murder mystery in this book.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is the second book in the series, and I would recommend that you read book one first, although it is not essential.

This is a well-paced story combining murder and intrigue with a sports-based twist, and a really, really good romance. David is the ultimate in sexy footballer turned criminal lawyer – and he very kindly takes his time proving it to Isla. Their common love of football, and yet their understanding of the impact of the game on players such a Trey makes for some emotional reading.

The mystery moves fast, and the twists ensure that we are kept guessing as to the why and even the who for pretty much most of the story. This is in contrast with the instant attraction between Isla and David. They are both a bit older and well aware of their feelings, and add in the friendly ribbing they get from David's partners and colleagues and it is clear that they have fallen into being a team very naturally. There is some very well placed humour amongst the drama, and some very sexy encounters.

A really good, engaging read with a lovely and meaningful romance.

For me, this was definitely a stronger story than book 1. Don’t get me wrong, book 1 was most definitely an enjoyable read. But I was able to connect with this one from the outset. Maybe because I knew some of the characters already, I don’t know. But what I can tell you is that these two protagonists are three dimensional, likeable characters who play well off each other.

Add into that a decent suspense plot line, an appropriate amount of misdirection, emotion and a not insignificant dollop of chemistry, and you have another engrossing read from Lexi Blake.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book.

Take a romance, wrap it around a mystery, season it with adventure and serve it up with information about a disease few know anything about, and you have the delicious concoction that is Evidence of Desire.

While most of Lexi Blake’s books tend to center around people cobbling a family around them, this one deals more with keeping a family together in the face of major adversity.

Attorney Isla Shayne has lost her own family, but she considers Portia and Trey Adams’ family hers. When Portia is horribly murdered and she finds Trey with the body, she knows he didn’t do it, despite the fact he is suffering from CTE, a disease that causes its victims, usually athletes, to slowly lose their minds. She calls in David Cormack to defend him against possible charges of murder.

In working with David, she finds a spark she has never had before and the two quickly fall in love. But David, a former pro football player is concerned about his own future-not only is he a possible candidate for CTE, but his father has Alzheimer’s. His fear of being a burden to his family causes him to draw back from Isla at a critical point. Can she convince him that the good years they will have together will offset any possible pain in the future? And solve the mystery of Portia’s murder, keep the ambitious DA off her back at the same time?

This book, the second in the Courting Justice series, brings back characters from the first book, as well as featuring ties to the Masters and Mercenaries series. The are hints of Blake’s trademark snarky humor, but overall this is a serious book dealing with serious issues in a sensitive manner. However, the author leaves you feeling warm and fuzzy about the characters and the story. A must-read for mystery fans!

I love the books by Lexi Blake set in the Lawless world, or in an offshoot of it. They are so different, almost more romantic suspense, and they are so compelling and engaging. In this one, we spend some time with David, a partner at the law firm Noah Lawless is part of.

Isla and David's story was no different. I loved it. I devoured it quickly, while wanting the book to last a lot longer. It has twists, and interesting characters, and complex issues that needed to be resolved. I did figure out the central "whodunnit" but I am not sure this being a surprise was really a point of the story. I know it wasn't for me.

This book is well constructed, with a lot of moving parts and layers to the story. I was struck by how quickly you get to know the characters, like the ones you should, and immediately wonder about those who end up causing issues later. It's always wonderful when a book is well written from page one, finds it's footing quickly, and stays consistent throughout the entire title. The pacing was even, and the ending wasn't rushed.

All in all, I enjoyed this title a lot, and I recommend it.

It took me a little while to get into this story.  At first I did not feel the connection, it came on really fast and at a really odd time.  Isla and David had met once before casually and all of the sudden, in the middle of a murder investigation, they are all each other can think about.  I guess love strikes when you least expect it.

The mystery part of the story kept me intrigued.  Trying to figure out who was guilty and who had motive kept me moving forward, David an Isla almost became the side story to me.

I warmed up to them by the end, once they got to know each other better and were able to make sense of everything around them.

I've been eagerly anticipating the second book in the Courting Justice series. I really enjoyed the first installment and I was itching for more of these sexy lawyers. Unfortunately as much as I wanted to love this book, I just never connected to the story or the characters. At first, I was eager to turn the pages. And then somewhere around the 25% mark, it all began to lose sizzle for me and I began to get bored. The characters felt two-dimensional and held no spark for me. I couldn't feel any chemistry between them and as such, struggled to connect to the romance. The one thing that kept me turning the pages was the suspense and that unfortunately took a predictable turn at the end with a twist I guessed from the very beginning.

I adore all things Lexi Blake, so I'm super bummed this one didn't work for me. I wanted so badly to love it, but sadly the only emotion it managed to drag out of me was sheer boredom.

I love Lexi Blake, I have not read anything of hers that I am not a fan of. I love that her writing is unique in that the story line is not like everything I've picked up. Bringing in the topic of mental illness and the love the characters have for one another those that are blood and not blood family. Being able to follow David as he struggled with what his future may or may not look like. It's clever, unique and easy to get sucked into the characters. My only critique is that there were so many characters popping in and out that if you weren't truly invested in what you were reading at the moment it was easy to get a little turned around. I found myself stopping to reread or go back and look to determine how a character showed up or how they were related to the story. I love strong female characters and the majority of the female characters were successful, career driven, and smart. I find that so refreshing in this genre of reads.

Former all star quarterback Trey Adam’s is found holding his dead wife’s body. The problem is, he doesn’t know if he is the murderer. Trey has what is nick named, “ concussive syndrome” after being tackled so many times when he played. Isla Shayne used to work for the team Trey played on, but when he retired, she became both the family’s and Trey’s personal lawyer, After Trey is found Isla realizes that she can’t handle this case and calls David Cormack to represent Trey. David is one of the best in the city. David is hesitant at first. As a former football player himself, he wasn’t sure he wanted to be involved in that world again. David also had a secret fear, he was afraid that what had happened to Trey, could happen to him too after all of the hits he took. Soon David is working with Isla and their romance begins, but somebody wants to stop them from finding out the truth.
This is book two in the Courting Justice Series. We met David in the first book in this series. In this book, we find out more about David’s background and why he went into law. I really enjoyed this book and this series. As usual, Lexi Blake includes many twists and turns as well as suspense throughout the story. Just when you think you know “who dunnit”, you are sent in another direction. The ADA in this story is has political aspirations and is most annoying. We also get the chance to have Henry Garrison, Noah Lawless and Margarita Reyes, David’s partners and staff join the story. Noah Lawless also provides humor with his comments. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next book in the series.

4 stars

Evidence of Desire by Lexi Blake is a well written, emotional and entertaining read.

I enjoyed the storyline, the drama was well done, it kept my interest all throughout the book and watching the relationship between Isla and David unfold kept me turning the pages.

Evidence of Desire is a wonderful addition to the A Courting Justice series and I highly recommend it.

*Thank you to the publisher via Netgalley for the advance copy.*

The romance element in this so sweet. Isla and David's whirlwind love affair goes up and down. What holds David back is a very serious fear. Their couple of steps forward and a few steps back are frustrating yet so realistic. Their intimacy is what I love best. The sexual tension is well done as ever Ms. Blake book is written. I did bypass the sex because it was too vanilla for me. It is their time together and the little moments of discovery which really made this romance so good. This romantic suspense is highly recommended to all romance readers.

After a tragic young adulthood (her parents died in a car accident, then her young husband was felled by lymphoma), lawyer Isla Shayne has found a new life, and a new sense of family, working for Trey Adams, a famous football player, and his wife, model and activist Portia Adams. But when Portia is found murdered and Trey becomes the prime suspect, Isla knows she needs a different kind of lawyer to help her clients. Enter David Cormack, an ex-NFL Harvard-trained criminal defense attorney, who is used to handling the big clients and the toughest cases. The two are immediately drawn together as the publicity around the case mounts, despite David's own "my job is everything" way of life. But despite the protective urges being with Isla rouse in him, David has worries and secrets that make him wary of making a commitment to anyone.

Isla and David make an appealing couple, although I wasn't that fond of the rather stereotypical gender politics of the story ("you can be the badass who protects me at every turn, but I get to teach you how to be properly and completely and wholly adored," thinks Isla at one point). I picked up on the author's hints about the murderer almost from the minute said murderer was introduced, so the suspense here was rather lacking for me, too. But I did appreciate the CTE and football storyline; good way to educate readers about this huge problem in the game.

EVIDENCE OF DESIRE is a fast paced and riveting story. It is suspenseful and has all the elements I love; great writing, intrigue and realistic characters with a lot of chemistry flowing between them. This smoothly written story immediately drew me in with its complex characters and intense plot.

A simmering romance develops between attorneys David and Isla while they work on a case together. They have a lot on their plate with this tough case. They are trying to defend a husband and football hero accused of murdering his wife.

David is a Harvard educated criminal defense attorney and a former NFL player. I fell in love with him while reading the story. He is an alpha male and the perfect hero. He is sexy, protective, compassionate, smart and really good at his job.

Isla is also easy to like; she is smart, caring and a sought after attorney. Sadly, her last relationship ended badly and she is cautious with her heart and afraid to trust David.

It is interesting to see into the minds of attorneys and learn the inner workings of our judicial system. The police and the prosecuting attorney want to quickly solve this case while David and Isla work hard trying to defend their client. David and Isla try to ignore their feelings for each other because they don’t have time for a relationship. Even though they meet at the wrong time, it is hard to deny their strong attraction.

What I loved most about this story was not being able to predict the ending. It seems everyone has a motive and there are many pieces to the puzzle. I also enjoyed all the entertaining secondary characters, they add another dimension to the story. I highly recommend this engaging story.