4.5 stars 
 Leary Michaels is a take charge litigator with a fantastic record. She has worked her way to partner at Knight & Payne, having learned that she could use sex appeal as part of her legal plan as needed. Her confidence and success did not come naturally and were learned on the job. 
 Reeve Holloway is opposing counsel in a case that is very personal to Leary. She pulls out all the stops in order to build her client's case and take down the big insurance company Reeve is defending. 
 Though they have not met before early in court proceedings, sparks fly immediately. But they have an ethical line to skirt as they explore the heat between them on a physical level. It wasn't supposed to go beyond a physical relationship, but as time passes the physical reasons for their encounters deepen beyond the surface. Though they set out to leave the case at the door when they are together, knowing they will have to battle in the courtroom makes things tense, especially with the vastly differing missions of their respective firms. 
 This book had me hooked from early on. I was intrigued. The heat between them was one thing, but it was the case that really kept me coming back for more. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what Leary's tie to the case was, whether they could balance the ethics between them, and how far each was willing to go for his or her client. 
 While this was a new firm, with new characters and a new location, I could feel the foundation of the series built by Mac and Matt, and Macy and Cal. Though the connection with either of the original couples is loose and doesn't really come into play until later in the book, the solid legal backdrop and confident, professional characters gave me enough of a tie to not miss the original characters too much. 
 There is a whole new set of side characters to get to know. I loved the little glimpses of Midge, the mentor behind the curtain. Her influence on Leary is clear and I loved the mystery and rumors surrounding her habits. Ford was in interesting bridge between these two and I can't help but think he needs some happy after the things he realized watching his two friends find each other. 
 ARC provided by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review