by Carsen Taite
Best Practice
Synopsis
Perry Clark takes pride in her legal work for a needy nonprofit. When disaster strikes, leaving her unemployed and homeless, her sister Campbell comes to the rescue with a job offer. Perry accepts reluctantly—working for corporate clients is only temporary, right? But after Campbell assigns Grace, Perry’s childhood crush, as her mentor, Perry’s heart might be making longer-term plans.
Grace Maldonado remembers Perry Clark as her best friend’s sometimes annoying, often rebellious, little sister, so she isn’t prepared when she discovers Perry is now brilliant and gorgeous—though still bullheaded—and challenges her at every turn. When she isn’t arguing with Perry, Grace is fighting a growing attraction she can’t seem to ignore. Because not only is it wrong to fall in love with your best friend’s sister, Perry has no intention of sticking around.
What Reviewers Say About Carsen Taite’s Work
Drawn
“This book held my attention from start to finish. I’m a huge Taite fan and I love it when she writes lesbian crime romance books. Because Taite knows so much about the law, it gives her books an authentic feel that I love. …Ms. Taite builds the relationship between the main characters with a strong bond and excellent chemistry. Both characters are opposites in many ways but their attraction is undeniable and sizzling.”—LezReviewBooks.com
Out of Practice
“Taite combines legal and relationship drama to create this realistic and deeply enjoyable lesbian romance. …The reliably engaging Taite neatly balances romance and red-hot passion with a plausible legal story line, well-drawn characters, and pitch-perfect pacing that culminates in the requisite heartfelt happily-ever-after.”—Publishers Weekly
“Out of Practice is a perfect beach read because it’s sexy and breezy. There’s something effortless about Abby and Roxanne’s relationship, even with its occasional challenges, and I loved that I never doubted that they were right for each other.”—Lesbian Review
Leading the Witness
“…a very enjoyable lesbian crime investigation drama book with a romance on the side. 4.5 stars.”—LezReviewBooks.com
“…this might be one of Taite’s best books. The plotting is solid, the pacing is tight. …Leading the Witness is a thrill ride and it’s well worth picking up.”—Lesbian Review
Practice Makes Perfect
“Absolutely brilliant! …I was hooked reading this story. It was intense, thrilling in that way legal matters get to the nitty gritty and instil tension between parties, fast paced, and laced with angst. …Very slow burn romance, which not only excites me but makes me get so lost in the story.”—LESBIreviewed
Pursuit of Happiness
“This was a quick, fun and sexy read. …It was enjoyable to read about a political landscape filled with out-and-proud LGBTQIA+ folks winning elections.”—Katie Pierce, Librarian
“An out presidential candidate (Meredith Mitchell) who is not afraid to follow her heart during campaigning. That is truly utopia. A public defender (Stevie Palmer) who is leery about getting involved with the would-be president. The two women are very interesting characters. The author does an excellent job of keeping their jobs in focus while creating a wonderful romance around the campaign and intense media focus. …Taite has written a book that draws you in. It had us hooked from the first paragraph to the last.”—Best Lesfic Reviews
Love’s Verdict
“Carsen Taite excels at writing legal thrillers with lesbian main characters using her experience as a criminal defense attorney.”—Lez Review Books
Outside the Law
“[A] fabulous closing to the Lone Star Law Series. …Tanner and Sydney’s journey back to each other is sweet, sexy and sure to keep you entertained.”—Romantic Reader Blog
“This is by far the best book of the series and Ms. Taite has saved the best for last. Each book features a romance and the main characters, Tanner Cohen and Sydney Braswell are well rounded, lovable and their chemistry is sizzling. …The book found the perfect balance between romance and thriller with a surprising twist at the end. Very entertaining read. Overall, a very good end of this series. Recommended for both romance and thriller fans. 4.5 stars.”—Lez Review Books
A More Perfect Union
“[A More Perfect Union] is a fabulously written tightly woven political/military intrigue with a large helping of romance. I enjoyed every minute and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. This one is a great read! Carsen Taite never disappoints!”—Romantic Reader Blog
“Readers looking for a mix of intrigue and romance set against a political backdrop will want to pick up Taite’s latest novel.”—RT Book Review
Sidebar
“As always a well written novel from Carsen Taite. The two main characters are well developed, likeable, and have sizzling chemistry.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (UK)
“Sidebar is a love story with a refreshing twist. It’s a mystery and a bit of a thriller, with an ethical dilemma and some subterfuge thrown in for good measure. The combination gives us a fast-paced read, which includes courtroom and personal drama, an appealing love story, and a more than satisfying ending.”—Lambda Literary Review
Letter of the Law
“If you like romantic suspense novels, stories that involve the law, or anything to do with ranching, you’re not going to want to miss this one.”—Lesbian Review
Without Justice
“This is a great read, fast paced, interesting and takes a slightly different tack from the normal crime/courtroom drama. …I really enjoyed immersing myself in this rapid fire adventure. Suspend your disbelief, take the plunge, it’s definitely worth the effort.”—Lesbian Reading Room
“Carsen Taite tells a great story. She is consistent in giving her readers a good if not great legal drama with characters who are insightful, well thought out and have good chemistry. You know when you pick up one of her books you are getting your money’s worth time and time again. Consistency with a great legal drama is all but guaranteed.”—Romantic Reader Blog
Above the Law
“…readers who enjoyed the first installment will find this a worthy second act.”—Publishers Weekly
Reasonable Doubt
“I liked everything. The story is perfectly paced and plotted, and the characters had me rooting for them. It has a damn good first kiss too.”—Lesbian Review
Lay Down the Law
“This book is AMAZING!!! The setting, the scenery, the people, the plot, wow. …I loved Peyton’s tough-on-the-outside, crime fighting, intensely protective of those who are hers, badass self.”—Prism Book Alliance
“I’ve enjoyed all of Carsen Taite’s previous novels and this one was no different. The main characters were well-developed and intriguing, the supporting characters came across as very ‘real’ and the storyline was really gripping. The twists and turns had me so hooked I finished the book in one sitting.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (London)
Courtship
“Taite (Switchblade) keeps the stakes high as two beautiful and brilliant women fueled by professional ambitions face daunting emotional choices. …As backroom politics, secrets, betrayals, and threats race to be resolved without political damage to the president, the cat-and-mouse relationship game between Addison and Julia has the reader rooting for them. Taite prolongs the fever-pitch tension to the final pages. This pleasant read with intelligent heroines, snappy dialogue, and political suspense will satisfy Taite’s devoted fans and new readers alike.”—Publishers Weekly
Switchblade
“I enjoyed the book and it was a fun read—mystery, action, humour, and a bit of romance. Who could ask for more? If you’ve read and enjoyed Taite’s legal novels, you
’ll like this. If you’ve read and enjoyed the two other books in this series, this one will definitely satisfy your Luca fix and I highly recommend picking it up. Highly recommended.”—C-Spot Reviews
Battle Axe
“This second book is satisfying, substantial, and slick. Plus, it has heart and love coupled with Luca’s array of weapons and a bad-ass verbal repertoire. …I cannot imagine anyone not having a great time riding shotgun through all of Luca’s escapades. I recommend hopping on Luca’s band wagon and having a blast.”—Rainbow Book Reviews
Beyond Innocence
“As you would expect, sparks and legal writs fly. What I liked about this book were the shades of grey (no, not the smutty Shades of Grey)—both in the relationship as well as the cases.”—C-spot Reviews
Nothing but the Truth
“Taite has written an excellent courtroom drama with two interesting women leading the cast of characters. Taite herself is a practicing defense attorney, and her courtroom scenes are clearly based on real knowledge. This should be another winner for Taite.”—Lambda Literary
It Should be a Crime—Lammy Finalist
“Taite breathes life into her characters with elemental finesse. …A great read, told in the vein of a good old detective-type novel filled with criminal elements, thugs, and mobsters that will entertain and amuse.”—Lambda Literary
Best Practice
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Best Practice
© 2020 By Carsen Taite. All Rights Reserved.
ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-362-8
This Electronic Original Is Published By
Bold Strokes Books, Inc.
P.O. Box 249
Valley Falls, NY 12185
First Edition: October 2020
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.
Credits
Editor: Cindy Cresap
Production Design: Susan Ramundo
Cover Design By Jeanine Henning
eBook Design By Toni Whitaker
By the Author
Truelesbianlove.com
It Should Be a Crime
Do Not Disturb
Nothing But the Truth
The Best Defense
Beyond Innocence
Rush
Courtship
Reasonable Doubt
Without Justice
Sidebar
A More Perfect Union
Love’s Verdict
Pursuit of Happiness
Leading the Witness
Drawn
Double Jeopardy (novella in Still Not Over You)
The Luca Bennett Mystery Series:
Slingshot
Battle Axe
Switchblade
Bow and Arrow (novella in Girls with Guns)
Lone Star Law Series:
Lay Down the Law
Above the Law
Letter of the Law
Outside the Law
Legal Affairs Romances:
Practice Makes Perfect
Out of Practice
Best Practice
Acknowledgments
I’ve had a blast writing about this group of close friends which is really no surprise considering how much I value the female friendships in my own life. From the WEGS who bicycled through the streets of London to the dirty martini/old-fashioned/hey, are they serving flights over there posse (you know who you are), the friendships I’ve found in this wonderful world of writing keep me sane and most important make me laugh. Special shout-outs to Georgia for the daily word count check-ins, Ruth for her magical blurb stylings, and Paula for reading every draft, listening to me drone on about plot points, and always being willing to don a snapback hat and act silly with me at home and abroad.
Thanks always to Rad and Sandy for making this publishing house a home. To my intrepid editor, Cindy Cresap—thanks for all the work you do behind the scenes to make my work shine. Jeanine, thank you for the beautiful set of covers for this series.
Thanks to my wife, Lainey, for always believing in my dreams even when they involve sacrificing our time together. That you are always available to brainstorm book ideas and plot points is a total bonus. I couldn’t do this without you and I wouldn’t want to.
And to my loyal readership, thank you, thank you, thank you. Every time you purchase one of my stories, you give me the gift of allowing me to make a living doing what I love. Thanks for taking this journey with me.
Dedication
To Lainey—you really are the best and I love you.
Chapter One
Grace took a chance Judge Bonham wouldn’t notice and glanced at her buzzing phone. The text from her best friend, Campbell, was both short and terrifying. 911 - Perry’s in trouble.
“Ms. Maldonado, what’s your position on the motion?”
She shoved the phone into her briefcase and plastered on a smile. Luckily, she thrived on the ability to multitask. She pushed past Campbell’s anxiety-inducing text and gambled she’d heard opposing counsel’s arguments correctly. “We will agree to a continuance if the plaintiff will agree to mediation.” She pulled out a sheet of paper. “I’ve prepared a list of names of possible mediators, all of whom are satisfactory to my client.”
At the judge’s nod, she handed the list to Leonard Greene, the attorney for Annie Fallon, the woman suing her client. Annie claimed the basket of the grocery store cart she’d been using had suddenly dropped to the ground while she’d been hanging on, causing her to suffer serious nerve injuries. Conveniently, the nerve injuries weren’t the kind that would register on any objective testing and the offending grocery cart had either been tossed by store personnel or had been restocked with the rest of the carts, so no one could examine it to determine what had caused the alleged malfunction. The grocery store had settled with Annie for a nuisance sum, leaving Grace’s client, Leighton Industries, the cart manufacturer, exposed to potentially large damages. Leighton had opted for trial, unwilling to consent to a big payout when there was absolutely no proof their product suffered from a manufacturing defect. Grace fully supported their decision, but if she could get the facts in front of a reputable mediator, maybe they could convince Annie that she didn’t have a case since her attorney apparently lacked the skill to do so.
Leonard took the paper from her like it was a moldy slice of bread, scrunching his face into an exaggerated expression of distaste while he read the names she’d provided. Everyone on the list was a solid, qualified mediator, but she knew he’d hate them all because they would all see his client’s case for what it was—a shameless money grab. He stood to address the judge. “Your Honor, these names are not acceptable to Ms. Fallon.”
“I’m not sure how he knows that, Judge, since he didn’t take the time to speak with her about them,” Grace said. “If the plaintiff doesn’t want to mediate the case, we’re prepared to go to trial tomorrow.” She delivered the declaration with confidence, but as Campbell’s text hovered in the back of her mind, she prayed the judge wouldn’t take her up on it. What was going on with Perry?
Judge Bonham shook his head at Leonard. “Mr. Greene, since this is not your first request for a continuance, I’m inclined to grant Ms. Maldonado’s request. Ms. Fallon, do you understand if you don’t agree to mediate the case, we’ll be going to trial tomorrow? You’re not required to come to an agreement in mediation, but you may decide you want to settle. Would you like a minute to conf
er with your attorney in private?”
Everyone stared at Annie who shifted in her seat, a grimace on her face. Grace had no idea if Annie’s pain was real. The medical reports couldn’t confirm any objective injuries, but pain was weird like that. Even if it hadn’t been caused by an errant grocery cart, Annie might have gotten so used to the idea that she was an injured party, she was experiencing real symptoms. If that was the case, Grace felt sorry for her, but not enough to recommend her client pay big sums of money they didn’t owe. She was paid to win, and she wasn’t going to cave.
Leonard finished his whispered conversation with his client and turned back to face the judge. “We’ll agree to mediate, but we’d like to propose our own list of mediators.”
“I had a feeling you would,” Judge Bonham said. “I’m granting your request for a continuance contingent on an agreement for a date and name of a mediator by Friday.” He scrawled his signature on the order and handed it to his clerk before disappearing through the door behind the bench.
Grace didn’t waste any time replying to Campbell’s text. Details, please.
Stuck on phone. Get Abby and meet me at the office.
“Are you ready to pick someone reasonable?” Leonard stood behind her holding out a yellow legal pad with a handwritten list of names. “We’ll agree to anyone on this list.”
Grace stared at him for a split second before grabbing the pad. She tore off the sheet with the names and started walking out of the courtroom. Over her shoulder, she tossed out, “I’ll get back to you tomorrow.”