A tenacious, resilient female judge must find a way to work with her carefree clerk as they find themselves in danger when a fugitive sets his sights on revenge in the third book in New York Times bestselling author Chantal Fernando’s sexy and thrilling Conflict of Interest Series. Trinity Williams, known as “Medusa” for her stony expressions and unyielding reputation, constantly has her guard … constantly has her guard up–how else is the youngest female judge in the country supposed to survive in such a male-dominated profession? She made the decision long ago that laughter and a carefree attitude have no business in a courtroom and achieving her professional goals is the only thing she has left. It’s just her luck that her new law clerk, Callum Hopkins, believes the exact opposite.
Callum Hopkins thinks that nothing should ever be too serious in life–why can’t he mix business with pleasure? When he first starts working for his hot new boss, they clash at every turn. He makes it his mission to get Judge Williams to see things his way for once.
But when Callum finds himself in the wrong place at the wrong time as an escaped convict comes after Trinity, he realizes it’s not all fun and games anymore. Now in witness protection together until the authorities can catch the fugitive, this unlikely pair must learn to trust one another and work together to stay alive. Far away from the courtroom, Trinity and Callum are suddenly free to stop butting heads, and stop fighting the growing attraction between them.
With suspense and plenty of chemistry, Approaching the Bench proves once again that “Chantal Fernando knows how to draw you in and keep you hooked” (Booklist).
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“Who am I to judge the judge?”
I fell in love with the author’s Wind Dragons MC series and decided to follow her into whatever she decided to write next. I must say that I’m really enjoying her Conflict of Interest series as well. I’ve grown quite attached to her legal team that continues to grow as each one finds love in some of the most interesting ways.
I met Callum when he was interning in the legal office, and I must say he’s even more entertaining as a clerk for a female judge. His wit and charm are hard to resist, so his new boss doesn’t stand a chance. They might call her Medusa behind her back, but as far as he’s concerned, “The only thing she turns to stone is my cock…”
Trinity was the youngest female judge in the state when she took office, so it was important to her that she prove herself as being confident, firm, and decisive. She mastered the skill of hiding her emotions and maintaining a cold stare which earned her the nickname being used behind her back. Judge Judy as nothing on her.
When a threat is made against the judge, Callum comes to the rescue. “What an unlikely hero. My overly chatty, smart-ass law clerk.” When law enforcement decides to keep them in a safe house until the threat is taken care of, they find themselves alone together. Without their heavy caseload and all those rules and regulations to keep their attraction from being a distraction, it becomes more than they can ignore.
As always, the author turns up the heat and throws in some suspense to keep things interesting. That’s why I keep coming back for more. I can’t get enough and I’m always ready for more, regardless of what subject she decides to tackle next. The line forms here…
This was a good quick read! Callum and Trinity were hot together. I loved the suspense in the book and the HEA. Loving this series so much!
Trinity is a judge and Callum is the new clerk. They butt heads most of the time. When a fugitive goes after Trinity, Callum and her end up in witness protection until they can catch the guy. The attraction between them ignites into a fire. Will they be able to survive and keep their jobs? You have to read to find out. A smashing good read.
I received an arc from Netgalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.
While I’ve enjoyed all the books in the Conflict of Interest Series, I think Approaching the Bench is my favorite. We get an older judge (who is actually young) and her sexy new law clerk who is brilliant, confident and easy going. Yeah, I’m liking this.
Trinity is the youngest judge in the state and she has worked hard to get there. Setting a precedent, she’s known for being hard core and no nonsense. Hardly anyone really knows the woman behind the robes. When Callum shows up, he’s starting to crack those walls she has up slowly but surely.
When a past case puts both Trinity and Callum’s lives in danger, they are forced to go into hiding and have to face their growing attraction to each other. Now that they have admitted it, will they be able to keep this up once they are safe and back in the real world?
I think my favorite part about this is knowing that Trinity isn’t as hard core as she really comes off to everyone else. There’s so much more to her and Callum is the one to bring it out of her. I’ve always loved when someone can warm up the Ice Queens. These two are so different from each other but in ways very similar. They are perfect for each other and I love all the jokes that Callum makes about their age difference. It’s light hearted and in good fun.
Approaching the Bench is a fun romance story where the hero will melt your heart and the heroine will grow on you more than you thought could happen. If you are looking for a little bit of danger but mostly fun, loving and sexy romance, then this is the book for you!
I absolutely adore Chantal Fernando’s writing style. She has a way with words and a way with telling a story that is crazily unique. I keep coming back for more. I’m officially an addict.
Approaching The Bench is the third novel in the Conflict of Interest series. This is Judge Trinity Williams and Callum Hopkins story.
When I first heard Callum and Trinity were getting the next book I thought, oh lord here we go! Trinity Williams has been nicknamed Medusa. She’s a tough bird and being the youngest Judge she has to be tough, its a job requirement. After Trinity and Callum end up being the victims of a failed abduction, the police come to a conclusion that the two must go in hiding.
I really enjoyed Callum and Trinity’s story. I loved Callum’s ability to slowly thaw through the icy exterior Trinity used as a shield. I also loved that this novel had a strong suspense vibe, it’s a case of who is after the judge and why.
The only downside, as is with all of the shorter novella types, I was left wanting more. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to Callum……
Overall, I am loving the Conflict of Interest series. I love the characters and the issues they are confronted with. I highly recommend this series to everyone that loves suspense and romance!
Another delicious addition to this series! Approaching The Bench is sexy, gripping, and of course full of the sweep you off your feet romance I’ve come to expect from Chantal Fernando. Every book in this series continues to be even better than the one before, which is incredible since every single book has been fantastic. I was hooked right from the prologue on this one.
I know I’ll hear it for saying this, but I tend to steer away from books with “tough” heroines. It’s not that I don’t think women should be strong and powerful, just that I’ve found a lot of them are written to be ONLY tough and don’t have much to them beyond that. Trinity however, she is PERFECT! Strong, powerful, and a bada*$ in her own right, she’s also smart, kind, and has a huge heart hidden beneath her cold exterior. Callum is nearly her complete opposite. Warm, outgoing, and funny he was impossible to not love. The chemistry between them is off the charts!
Great combination of sweet and sexy with a bit of suspense thrown in. The story is fast paced and entertaining, the characters are likable, and the dialogue is witty. I’ve enjoyed each book in this series, but I think Callum may be my favorite hero so far. He’s funny and self-assured enough to be himself without being arrogant, and as it turns out, he’s exactly what the hard-nosed Judge needs in her life. He and Trinity have good chemistry and while the suspense element is secondary to the attraction between them, it does make for an interesting turn of events. I’ll be anxiously awaiting the next in this engaging series.
: 3.5 stars–APPROACHING THE BENCH is the third instalment in Chantal Fernando’s contemporary adult CONFLICT OF INTEREST erotic, romance legal novella series. This is thirty-one year old judge Trinity Williams, and twenty-five year old law clerk Callum Hopkins’ story line. APPROACHING THE BENCH can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary. Callum was first introduced in books one and two- Breaching the Contract and Seducing the Defendant.
Told from dual first person perspectives (Callum and Trinity) APPROACHING THE BENCH follows the forbidden relationship between Judge Trinity Williams, and her law clerk Callum Hopkins. Since her early career Trinity Williams has had a reputation as a cold and calculation person, something that does not go unnoticed by our story line hero but when a threatening letter lands on her desk, Trinity is willing to dismiss even if Callum suspects something more sinister is going on. An attempted kidnapping of Trinity Williams finds both Trinity and Callum in protective custody, where their attraction to one another will grow into something more. What ensues is the building relationship and romance between Callum and Trinity, and the potential fall out when their whereabouts are discovered threatening any semblance of peace and security that was slowly beginning to build.
The relationship between Callum and Trinity is one of forbidden attraction as Trinity is Callum’s boss, and workplace romances are frowned upon even in the legal system. Callum continues to push the boundaries of a working friendship as Trinity struggles to remain professional in the face of their growing attraction. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.
We are introduced to Callum’s father Richard, his half-brother Justin, and best friend Eddie. The requisite evil is a familiar face to our story line heroine.
APPROACHING THE BENCH is a quick read; a reversal of power structure in that our heroine has all of the control at work while Callum has all of the control in the bedroom. The premise is entertaining; the romance is sexy and hot; the characters are energetic and inspiring.