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I am Lover of romance, who indulges in the romantic adventures of literature

My name is Renee, and I am the host of this site. I am a 34 year old woman, on the prowl for her mate, searching out the best of books, exploring the wilds of the imagination and delving into the heart of a beautiful love story.

 

Audio Book Review-Overruled by Emma Chase

by | Mar 23, 2016 | Book Reviews | 12 comments

Audio Book Review-Overruled by Emma Chase

Audio Book Review-Overruled by Emma ChaseOverruled by Emma Chase
Published by Gallery Books on April 28th 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Lawyers
Narrator: Jason Carpenter, Charlotte Penfield
Length: 8 Hours and 6 Min
Pages: 272
Format: Audiobook
Source: Library
Goodreads
AmazonLibrary ThingLiteral Club
four-stars


Emma Chase, New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled Series, returns with the first installment of the Legal Briefs Series.

As a DC defense attorney, Stanton Shaw keeps his head cool, his questions sharp, and his arguments irrefutable. They don’t call him the Jury Charmer for nothing – with his southern drawl, disarming smile and captivating green eyes – he’s a hard man to say no to. Men want to be him and women want to be thoroughly cross examined by him.
Stanton’s a man with a plan. And for a while, life was going according to that plan.
Until the day he receives an invitation to the wedding of his high school sweetheart and mother of his beloved ten-year old daughter. Jenny is getting married — to someone who isn’t him.
That's definitely not part of the plan.***
Sofia Santos is a city raised, no-nonsense litigator who plans to become the most revered criminal defense attorney in the country. She doesn’t have time for relationships or distractions.
But when Stanton, her "friend with mind-blowing benefits" begs for help, she finds herself out of her element, out of her depth, and obviously out of her mind. Because she agrees to go with him – to The-Middle-Of-Nowhere, Mississippi – to do all she can to help Stanton win back the woman he loves.
Her head tells her she's crazy...and her heart says something else entirely.***
What happens when you mix a one stop-light town, two professional arguers, a homecoming queen, four big brothers, some Jimmy Dean sausage and a gun-toting Nana?
The Bourbon flows, passions rise and even the best laid plans get overruled by the desires of the heart.

My Review

Summary 

Stanton Shaw, went to college, and had to tough it out being away from the girl he loved and the child they had together. He keeps busy with his studies and makes some friends. Little by little, he makes compromises with Jenny that he would have never imagined if she hadn’t pushed for it despite how much it hurt her in the process. He started living a life in the city, and craved it and loved every moment. Now ten years later, he is a DC defense attorney, trying to make partner. His current partner in the firm, Sofia is also a woman he has been having sex with for almost a year. They have a relationship as friends with benefits. Then Stanton hears about some painful news….Jenny is getting married to another man. Stanton is outraged, and he convinces Sofia to come along with him to keep himself from being an ass and to win Jenny back. But Stanton never imagined how stubborn and willful Jenny would be. Or how much he despises JD yet at the same time respect him. But as he pursues Jenny, attempting to convince her to leave her fiance and be with him again….the feelings between Stanton and Sofia become more realized. Stanton will need to choose over the woman of his past or the woman of his present?

The Hero 

Stanton Shaw, always dreamed of living the small town he grew up in. He had always great plans for the future. But when he was seventeen, he was shocked when his girlfriend and childhood sweetheart, ends up pregnant. At first he knows the right thing is to marry her. But Jenny refuses him, not wanting to hold him back from his dreams. Willing to wait until he has cultivated his career. But as time goes by, Stanton starts to drift away from his loyalties to Jenny, and enjoying the life of college—and the wild girls who crave his attention. Now ten years have passed, and even though he is a respected lawyer, his attitude toward Jenny hasn’t changed. He doesn’t like change, he likes circumstances as they are. I liked this hero but then I didn’t. Quite simply he was a conceited ass!! But quite frankly Jenny kinda helped him get there. At first I admired how noble he was to Jenny. Wanting to stay loyal and not have affairs or anything. But when a woman tells a man she is okay with an open relationship (but really isn’t)….especially when you live thousands of miles away from each other….well then he is bound to stray. And boy does Stanton stray. But this isn’t what made me dislike him like I did at times. Its the way he lives a double standard. Its okay for him to sleep around while having a relationship with Jenny on the side when he happens to deign them with his presence. But when she gets engaged….ALL bets are off. Boy does he go overboard. But somehow this author won me over with him. He is human…he makes mistakes, especially with Sofia. But he learns even if it takes a while to get it through his thick skull.

The Heroine 

Sofia Stantos, is very career driven but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t dream of love or having a family. Sofia is very close to her family, her parents came to the states to start anew. She and her brothers were involved in a plane accident when she was young and can’t fly. It still haunts her at times. Sofia has worked hard to become successful. Even though she is friends with benefits with Stantos, her heart breaks when learning about his girl Jenny and her engagement and that he wants her to come with him. She feels like she has been kicked when down. But she bears it with grace. Never letting on her true feelings…that she wants more than just his sex partner. Sofia…was a marvelous heroine and I adored her so much. I can’t even describe how much better she is from Stanton. She goes through a lot in this story and it just about broke my heart.

“Sex with Stanton is exhilarating, working beside him is a privilege. But loving him…that just hurts.”

She is spirited though, and is a bit of a city slicker, and has a hard time adjusting to country life which I thought was hilarious. But she handles it pretty well. She handles the situation with Stanton and Jenny even better. I was very impressed, because I am sure I couldn’t do what she does. But she stands her ground when its important to her and I liked her personality.

Plot and Story Line 

Overruled is the first book in the series and the first book I have read this author and boy was I drawn into this story. It didn’t take me long to listen to it…only two days. Which is pretty quick for an audiobook. Normally I don’t always feel comfortable with the “love triangle” trope. But this one definitely swept me away in the emotions of it. And yeah I don’t think I really read the blurb very well or not thoroughly before listening to it because I fell in love with Stanton and Jenny together. I really really did. The beginning of the story, shows their beginnings and their sweet love as teenagers. It also shows how Stanton struggles emotionally being away from her and his daughter while at college. This is the moment I wanted to break down in tears. You see how he goes through some revelations for himself and makes changes. Jenny was a unique character. In some ways I liked how she pushed Stanton to fulfill his dreams, but I felt that she was a bit of a drama queen at times. Especially when she practically forced him into an open relationship he didn’t want….yet get mad at him for doing what she told him. I guess all of us women can relate with that?? So I could understand why our hero was very confused. But he figures out the best way for himself. Even if I didn’t agree with it all the way….I respected him for doing what was right for him.

Now we are introduced to Sofia and damn I liked her…heck of a lot actually. Even if it took some getting used to that she was the real heroine of the story since I wasn’t expecting it. I like that she gives control to Stanton and helps him think logically instead of a raving lunatic (which happens OFTEN) They are such a good team and Stanton could be so blind when it came to Sofia. At times I wanted to shake him because he has such a great thing with Sofia.

Because I want him to fight for me. More than anything. For him to want me—not just as a friend or a lover. But as his forever. 

I will be honest that this is part where I like Jenny and JD. In fact, I might have liked them more than Stanton and Sofia (and they were the main couple of the story hehe) I know, I am bad…but seriously…those two were just perfect for each other. JD is such the better man, he knows exactly who Stanton is, but is so trusting of Jenny and has faith in their relationship. Love a man who is secure in his feelings and doesn’t hold back. He does keep his feelings about Stanton hidden, so when they come out…watch out.

Now one aspect of this story that I really wanted to mention is that the humor is so dang good!! I was laughing my head off all through this story. This author has such superb humor and the narrators really brought that part of the book out so well I just wanted to applaud them for it. It’s not always easy to convey humor like they did….but yeah I got hooked really fast into it. Especially the scene with the tractors. SO GOOD!!! The side characters rock.

“Yeah, we’re kicking ass and taking names. We’re like the Avengers. The good ones, anyway”

“Ooh” I gasp playing along “Can I be Thor? I always liked the hammer”

He pats my head “No, you poor, foolish girl, you’re Black Widow, Jake’s the Hulk and Stanton’s Captain America”

Sofia’s brothers, to the friends of Sofia and Stanton in the legal offices, and Stanton and Jenny’s family members. Even some of the town folk I really liked quite a bit. They added some fun elements to the story that made it even more engaging and was just the right touch. But what I loved was toward the end, where Stanton really shows his true colors and this is where I was fully satisfied with his character.

There comes a time in every man’s life when he takes a good, long look at himself and admits he’s been an asshole. A self-centered prick.

The Cover

I like the cover, it has a sexy feel to it that just makes you want to grab it up. But I don’t like that they couldn’t make it more realistic to the heroine in the story. She is NOT caucasian….she has more olive skin, so I do wish her skin wasn’t so white. But I do love the whole “grabbing the tie” element.

Overall View

Overruled is a sexy read that is Sizzling in the pages…an emotional roller coaster that will give you one hell of a ride!!!

“Jenny will always be my friend, the mother of the little girl who owns my heart, the first girl I loved. ” Then my voice goes scratchy, strangled with emotion. “But you, Sofia…I swear if you let me…You will be the last.”

Series Order 2

About The Author (2)

About Emma Chase

Emma Chase lives in New Jersey with her husband, two children and two misbehaving (but really cute) dogs. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

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12 Comments

  1. Blodeuedd

    I could see myself reading these 🙂

    Reply
  2. kindlemom1

    This is definitely an author that I need to try!

    Reply
  3. LilyElement

    I’m intrigued. You know there’s going to be conflict since he’s bring his current girl to his old girl mwhaha

    Reply
  4. Christy LoveOfBooks

    Ha – gotta love a guy and his thick skull. I read and LOVED the second book, but still need to read this and the third. I enjoyed seeing these two characters in Sustained, so it’ll be nice to see how it all began for them.

    Reply
  5. Sophia Rose

    Hmm, it sounds like this one starts out annoying when it comes to the hero, but sticking with it will be for the best. I still need to read one of her books. I might try this series since it has good humor in it.

    Reply
  6. Karen

    I read the second book, which I loved but I don’t think this one is for me even though I liked Sophia and Stanton in book #2.

    Karen @For What It’s Worth

    Reply
  7. Heidi

    I have read book 2 in this series, but I haven’t had the chance to go back and read the first and third. I am planning on it soon. Thanks for reminding me.

    Reply
  8. Cyn @ Bookmunchies

    Ooh I need to check out this series soon. Her Tangled series was pretty hilarious. Glad you enjoyed this! I’ll have to keep this mine for when I’m in need of a bad boy! Lovely review!

    Reply
  9. Grace @ Rebel Mommy Book Blog

    I liked this one but I LOVED Sustained. I need to read Appealed still. Glad you enjoyed this! Great reivew!

    Reply
  10. Quinn's Book Nook

    I haven’t read this one, but I did read Sustained and really enjoyed that one. I want to read Appealed, too. I’ve heard that’s awesome.

    Reply
  11. Anna@herding cats&burning soup

    Ahhh I do need to get back to this one. I loved book two. It was my first by the author as well and gah so fun! Glad you enjoyed!

    Reply

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