Trial and Error by Carsen Taite is one of the novels I’ve been looking forward to. This is the second book in the “Courting Danger Romances”. I enjoyed the first edition in the series, Trial by Fire, and I’m pleased to report that I liked this one as well.

The story really starts off with a bang…almost literally. Judge Nina Aguilar’s courtroom suddenly becomes a shooting gallery right after she enters the courtroom and moments after Nina spots someone special from her past. Franko (Frances) Rossi had been Nina’s first love, but there was a bad breakup between them almost twenty years ago. Now Attorney Rossi is back and it looks like she may be defending a suspect in Nina’s court…if they both survive the shooting.

This tale is not only a slow-burn, reunion romance, but it has two mysteries that create quite a bit of intrigue and thrills in the story. One of the mysteries is carried over from the first book and involves Wren and Lennox, the main characters in Trial by Fire, and secondary characters in this novel. The other involves Franco’s client who is charged with murdering his girlfriend, the daughter of a very rich and powerful man. The major setting for both novels is the Dallas courthouse and the surrounding area and is well described in both books. The characters are all well-developed. Including folks I am already familiar with, which made everything more realistic in this tale. There was the perfect amount of angst in the love story of Franco and Nina, and the romance fits nicely with the mysteries.

This book does have an open ending. Not everything is finished in this tale, but luckily there is at least one more novel in the series, and it will be out this September. This is not a good standalone novel. You need to read these two stories in order. Then we will all be ready for the next book coming soon.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an honest review.

I am a big fan of the author and this series, although this book was unfortunately not one of my favourites. As always, it was very well written, and the storyline around the shooting was interesting. However, the romantic storyline didn't really grab me. There was too much going on for the two leads to reconnect, and the chemistry was hard to feel. The ending felt rushed with a number of loose ends. Less focus on the legal storyline and more airtime for the romance would have benefited this book.

3.5
Inside the Justice System: trial and tribulation
I really like how Carsen Taite who was for a long time part of the justice system gives a very thorough glimpse into the pits and pitfalls of the system. Her depiction of the court house, the wheelings and dealings and going-ons of judges, prosecutors and defenders feels totally real. I was very much engrossed into the setting. Since this is a sequel to Trial by Fire which is set in the same environment we get to meet again some of the previous characters.
What I liked is the perfect start: what a fast and furious beginning! It really gripped me. And I loved how the romance and the investigation were interwoven. The second chance romance is in my opnion well done - I enjoyed the slow rebuilding of trust.
The end both of the romance and of the trial was very quick and I was a bit baffled because the resolution was only sketched out and felt rushed - at that point it felt more like a longish novella than a fully fleshed out novel. I am sure the third novel in this new series will give us more about the dark secrets yet hidden in the background.

Carsen Taite always delivers. The books are mostly well-paced and this one was no different. Since I've read so many Carsen Taite's books now, I'm used to the set up. As usual, the last bit of the book seems rushed but that didn't bug me because I'm used to it from reading this author's books before.
I liked the plot of this one, I'm a sucker for second chance romances. The book was well-written, characters were great, and it's just another great read. I enjoyed reading it and would recommend it.

This was a well written, engaging read with well developed characters. A second cg=hance romance that was full of mystery. I really enjoyed it.

Nina Aguilar first appeared in “Trial by Fire” (which incidentally was my first Carsen Taite book) and she was such a vibrant character! So I was thrilled to bits when she got her own story. After reading “Trial by Fire” I actually hunted down Skye Keaton’s story as well. So for me, many of the characters that appear in this book felt quite familiar and I enjoyed connecting with them again.

It’s so hard balancing a good law & order story with romance and especially a second chance romance at that, but Taite does a really great job providing a compelling and page turning narrative. There’s a couple of mysteries here, the criminal kind that drives the intro of Franco, Nina’s high school sweetheart, the relationship kind where we wonder why it all came to an end and a cold case from the first book in this series. All of them are weaved in wonderfully and totally intrigued and pulled me in. So much so that I didn’t realize till very very late that I was almost at 80% and the story was beginning to reach its climactic juncture.

I also think this was the point where there was an expectation mismatch. The last 10% of the book wrapped up way too quickly to the point that it almost felt abrupt. The mystery loose ends were closed but way too fast for me and then lastly, the one thing I’m really sad about - the lovely slow burn second chance romance between Nina and Franco that was so well done throughout this book. That too met a very staid HEA end.

Trial by Error is a great read and aside from my whinging about the rapid end was quite enjoyable.

4 star
Very good second chance romance and mystery. The mystery was very good and all the pieces worked. And the legal info is very interesting and believable. But I would have liked a little more physical contact between the 2 mc. And I was startled at the abrupt ending.
I was given this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋

I’ve never read this author before or an F/F book, so I was on totally new territory, and I very much enjoyed this book.

It was smooth, thrilling, tense, chemistry driven, emotional and very well written.
Some of the characters and their relationships were a mystery to me, but not for much longer, I’m looking forward to reading the books I’ve missed from my blinker stage.
Great characters and entertaining storyline.

I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review

I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.

Franco and Nina was once in love but circumstances broke them apart years later they see each other again.

When a shooting happened in court where they are both attending they start to realize that life is too short and this is their second chance at a life together. You can never go wrong with this author how the author incorporate legal action with romance and have it be realistic and I love that she bring previous characters from her books in the mix. Enjoyable Read

After returning to her home town lawyer Franco Rossi is immediately met with her ex girlfriend and a courtroom disaster.
Franco has come to Dallas to look over the case of someone she knew a long time ago. Upon entering the courtroom she locks eyes with Judge Nina Aguilar, the girl she once thought she'd spend her life with but circumstances took that away from both of them.
Will this situation bring them back to together or is it too late? Nina's friends aren't sure this is a good idea but their paths keep crossing.
This addition to the Courting Danger Romance series does not disappoint.
Ms. Taite brings together a fascinating case along with some favorite characters from the series.

Thank you #NetGalley #BoldStrokesBooks #TrialandError

3.5⭐️ – When I reviewed Trial by Fire, I wrote that I hoped Nina would get her book, and here she is! Everything I love in Carsen Taite’s books is in this one: the law, the flawed characters, the excitement of the plot. What’s also there, and I wish it wasn’t, is the rushed resolution. Although it’s not so much rushed as far-fetched.

What’s the book about? Nineteen years ago, Nina’s girlfriend left her without much of an explanation. They haven’t seen each other since freshman year, then a former mutual friend asks Franco for help and she ends up in Nina’s courtroom.

Second-chance romance is one of my favourite tropes. In this case, the characters were still very much in love when they broke up and both have tried to move on for almost two decades. I bought the chemistry right away and was rooting for the MCs to find their way back to each other. I knew they would but MCs have a tendency to get in their own way that sometimes makes me want to shake them silly. These two never completely cross the line into annoying territory, in part thanks to everything else that happens to and around them: gunshots in Nina’s courtroom, Franco’s dad’s health, the case, Lennox’s brother’s case… I would have liked a little more about Nina’s campaign for re-election, which felt like an afterthought. As usual, however, I liked the characters, and I love coming across people I’ve met in other books. Lennox and Wren, from Trial by Fire, were a given but there were others I didn’t expect. One of them is Skye Keaton, my favourite bad girl turned good in this universe. Her appearance in this book isn’t extensive but there’s a short story with her as the MC after the novel itself, which you might have already read as it was part of the Amor and More BSB anthology a few years ago. Either way, it’s a nice addition.

I love Carsen Taite's novels. They are fun and fast paced. this courtroom/thriller is on of the best. The romance ain't bad either.

Carsen Taite draws upon her time as a lawyer to write exciting legal romances. Continuing in her Courting Danger series this is a second chance romance. Franco Rossi who lives in Houston gets a call from an old friend. Her son has been arrested for murdering his college girlfriend. Franco agrees to come to Dallas to represent him at bail hearing and look at the case. She never expects to see her high school sweetheart and love of her life sitting as the judge on the case.

Judge Nina Aguilar didn’t know Franco has gone on to be a successful lawyer. She is still a little hurt and angry but the temptation to get closure and maybe friends is great. She needs to be careful as she is the judge in the case but so far it is all very preliminary. The case is interesting and brings in a reoccurring character, private investigator Skye Keaton. Also Nina’s best friends, Lennox and Wren are featured as well. They were the leads in Taites last novel.

I always enjoy second chance romances and regret the years the two have remained apart. Both Franco and Nina are very likable and I wanted them to come together. For me the ending is just disappointing. I've mentioned in other reviews the author will throw in a quick love scene because the focus is on the legal case. In this case I got the words but no more heat that a passionate kiss. I have no clue how they were going to put their lives together. And the case is vaguely wrapped up as well. I’m enjoying the series because I love legal romances. But I prefer more sparks. Thank you NetGalley and Bold Strokes Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review. (3.5 stars)

Second chance at love. Franco left Nina during college thinking she was doing the right thing. Years later they meet again. Franco is a lawyer and Nina is the judge trying the case she is defending. Needless to say not everything goes as planned but things do have a way of working out eventually. Carsen Taite as usual tells a good story.

Attorney Franco Rossi returns to Dallas when an old friend asks for help when her son is accused of murder. And she ends up in the courtroom of Judge Nina Aguilar, the love of her life. The shock of seeing each other after 19 years is aggravated when bullets start flying. We are then drawn into a fast paced rhythm when Franco tries to solve the mystery of not just this murder but another one that took place a while back when Lennox Roy’s brother was jailed. The same Lennox from Trial By Fire. Both Lennox and Wren have a solid presence in this book. Skye Keaton from The Best Defense makes a cameo as well. The book is just great right until the end that is so abrupt. Another chapter or an epilogue would have made this book a knock out. We do have a bonus short staring Skye and Aimee from the Best Defense but it still misses a proper ending.

Nina Aguilar hasn't seen Franco Rossi for nineteen years. Franco was the great love of Nina's life but broke up with her shattering her world. As if seeing her in her courtroom isn't bad enough, a gunman starts shooting, putting both of their lives in jeopardy. Franco is prominent defense attorney who returned to Dallas to help an old college friend's son and is stunned to see that her former love is now a judge. After so many years apart, fate seems to want to give the women another chance.
I like both Nina and Franco and it was great to see characters from previous books, Lennox, Wren and Skye but the book fell a little flat for me. The ending was kind of anticlimactic as far as the case that brought Franco to town was concerned and I would have liked to have gotten more of the two together as a couple in the present. There were a few flashbacks during the book that gave us a feel for the couple they were during their time together during college but the time they spent together after Franco returns to town after they resolved the past wasn't very extensive. Overall, this wasn't a bad read and I did find the characters to be interesting. I just wanted more from the story and more romance.

An ARC was received from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

Franco Rossi returns home to Dallas at a request from an old college friend. The friend’s son is being accused of murder and Franco is the best lawyer around. Unforeseen circumstances place Franco and her ex girlfriend in the same courtroom when a shooter goes on a rampage throwing Franco and Nina into each other’s world. Trial and Error is an apt title for this second chance romance/drama.

Taite has found the perfect balance point between romance and drama in this novel. This gives both sides time to develop and engage the readers. The second chance connection may appear to move quickly however surviving a life and death situation definitely propels decisions to grab hold of happiness when it is right in front of you.

It is always fun to see old characters grace Taite’s new novels. P.I. Skye Keaton appears briefly but is then given to us again in a short story added to the novel. This is a pleasant surprise.

Taite’s writing is in fine form giving readers yet another must read book in Trial and Error.

I received an advance review copy from Bold Stroke Books through NetGalley. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

3.5*
Carsen Taite is one of the best at writing stories with lawyers and judges and plots involving complex cases and the judicial system. And this story showcases that very well 👌🏻
So, this story is about Franco, a lawyer, and Nina, a judge. They both met during high school and college and were college sweethearts and the love of each other’s lives until, out of nowhere (but not really, because we learn more about what happened to Franco and her dad and why she did what she did), Franco broke up with Nina and then they went their separate ways.
Two decades later, as a favor to an old friend, she goes back to her hometown, Dallas, where Nina is a judge now. Circumstances make Nina the judge in charge of the case Franco’s there to see if she’ll take or not, but that day a shootout takes place in Nina’s courtroom and they both see their lives flash before their eyes and all the regrets they have and how their story is very much still unresolved. And after that, it’s just them trying to solve the case and dealing with their old and new feelings.
I was enjoying this book immensely until the end, to be honest. I was legit flipping the pages back and forth to try and see if I had missed a chapter somewhere… Because the book ended out of nowhere 😩 And I lowkey feel cheated, because I was super invested in their story and after all the hard times and all the “let’s just be friends” going on between Franco and Nina, that ending felt super rushed and it feels like another chapter is needed to conclude things. I legit need an epilogue or something so I can get closure and actually see them getting together and doing stuff together and not just an “ending” with them basically being “only friends” throughout the whole book and in the end, after a somewhat threatening event, they get all cuddly and one of them simply asks the other if they are a “thing” and the other says they are. Like, after being super invested, my romantic self needs more than this. An epilogue would’ve made a very big difference and it would’ve given the readers more closure, but that’s just my opinion.
Anyways… Overall, the story is super good and interesting and I loved reading about the ins and outs of all things law and being able to feel the tension between Nina and Franco. But that ending really dampened things for me and that’s why I’m only giving this 3.5*.

I received and Advanced Review Copy (ARC) from Bold Strokes Books through Netgalley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review.

This new story from the series Courting Danger Romances is set in the Dallas courthouse and continues the thread that started by Trial by Fire, although there are also characters from The Best Defense, including a final gift related to it. In any case, this novel and the others, like most of this author's stories, are within the judicial and police romances.

On this occasion three teenage friends, two of them ex-girlfriends during high school, have to meet again due to a legal matter, one of them being the mother of a young man accused of murder, and the other two, those who are ex-partner, being the reluctant defender of the young man and the accidental judge in the court where the case should be heard.

Franco Rossi had an event in her past that has affected her since it happened 20 years ago. At that moment, she left everything behind, her family, her girlfriend Nina. Everything happened very quickly, without Franco giving many explanations, so things were falsely closed and Nina was left with many doubts that she could now resolve. If she wanted it. And also if Franco wanted it.

But despite the fact that at first neither of them had in mind to reconnect, things seem to be lining up to not allow them to avoid it.

The part of the romance is correct, well developed, with the ups and downs that the matter requires, since they have a past and a present that are intermingled throughout the story. But the issue of the judicial matter, which on other occasions was better developed, was left unfinished here because its resolution was sudden and little reasoned. In fact, the book would need a final summary chapter or an epilogue. That has detracted my final consideration.