j. beckham steele

Megan Callahan is a hard case. She relishes in her success as New Orleans’ top criminal attorney and distances herself from questions of morality. Those lines were brutally breached in her past; now they have all but disappeared. But from behind a cast-iron persona, she struggles through loneliness, silently fighting her demons, while pursuing love in unconventional ways. She keeps her secrets to herself, walls up and untouchable, her personal life remains a contentious mystery.

Detective Albert Harris has seen more than his share of crime over his distinguished career with the NOPD. But four years ago, injustice became personal. Harris blames the system, he blames attorneys, but mostly he blames himself. Still, he marshals on, searching for answers and accepting no compromises, particularly when it comes to raising his grandchild, Kyle. Harris’ Christian ideals have crashed against his own walls and separated him from Kyle, whose feminine behaviors Harris can no longer discipline away. Harris' probing has stopped, frozen in the fear of what he may discover.

However, when Megan’s aggressive courtroom tactics send her across Harris’ justice line, she becomes first an enemy, and then his responsibility. Her quest for true love leads to a bloody betrayal that will shake both Megan and Harris’ polarized worlds. The line between personal and professional lives blurs as Megan faces demons she thought she had banished and Harris confronts fears he never knew he had. The truth he seeks, and the truth that seeks him, is buried deep within her wounded heart. With Megan trapped in a whirlpool of fear, compassion trumps bitterness as Harris becomes a lifeline of hope. Their relationship carries the keys to transformation, and with emotions spilling over the boundaries, Harris’ greatest challenge is revealed. It’s the most important case of his life—Kyle and Harris' own conflicted heart.

Editorial review...

"The intrigue continues unabated..." - BookLife Prize for Fiction

New Orleans defense attorney Megan Callahan enjoys the success of achieving an acquittal for a prominent client. But things soon take a dark turn when she is raped. Steele ratchets up the suspense considerably when Detective Harris seeks to find the culprit -- all while faced with protecting his grandson Kyle, who has been bullied at school. The intrigue continues unabated as the depths of the characters are reveled in this engaging read.

Score:
Plot/Idea: 8 out of 10
Originality: 7 out of 10
Prose: 8 out of 10
Character/Execution: 8 out of 10
Overall: 7.75 out of 10