Sidebarred by Emma Chase is Now Available & Reviewed

Join Jake & Chelsea, Stanton & Sofia, Brent & Kennedy as they navigate the hilarious and heartwarming hurdles of love, life and the law in this final addition to the Legal Briefs Series.

There was a time when Jake Becker had it all together. He was controlled, driven, ruthless—in and out of the courtroom.

Then, six irresistible orphans and their heartbreakingly beautiful aunt crashed into his perfectly ordered life. They changed everything. They changed him. Now he’s a husband, an upstanding member of society, a father figure—a family man.

And he’s pretty damn good at it.

Sure, he has to referee sibling smackdowns, re-learn algebra, ensure his clients stay of jail, and keep his wife happy—but it finally feels like he’s got it together again...

So, of course something has to screw it all up. It’s huge. Life-changing. Kind of terrifying.

And it will be the most amazing, perfect thing he’ll ever do.

Book 3.5
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo  ~  Smashwords

Chelsea sits beside me on the couch, facing me, her legs tucked, her pretty feet curled under her. Yes—Chelsea has pretty feet, okay? I never knew feet could be pretty—until I saw hers.

“So...that talk I mentioned before? We should probably have that now, while we can.”

I take a sip of my drink and nod. “Yeah—I wasn’t at all hoping you’d forget about it or anything.”

Her face slides into a grin. “Funny.”

I look back at her, straight-faced. “I’m a funny guy.”

When she doesn’t say anything for a few moments, I ask, “What’s up?”

Because now I’m actually getting concerned. My stomach tightens as I brace for whatever’s worrying her—and before I even know what I’m up against, in my head I’m already planning all the ways I’ll take care of it. Because that’s what I do—and I’m good at it.

But what she tells me next blows my fucking mind.

“I’m late.”

Two words—ten thousand thoughts exploding in my head at once.

I’m a big guy, six-five, 225 pounds of muscle. Guys like me, our voices don’t squeak. But at this moment, mine comes damn close.

“Like . . . for an appointment?”

Chelsea inhales deeply, then breathes out, “No.”

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆☆
Another absolutely brilliant instalment in this series. You definitely need to have read the previous books to really appreciate this novella. If you have not yet done so, then get thee gone! I almost envy you, as you have a huge reading treat ahead of you.

It takes about five seconds to be catapulted back into Jake's new reality – and the scene is a wonderful one. This man, redeemed by his great mentor, has it all...Chelsea and her inherited family of six are now his life, and we are treated to some of the funniest scenes I have read in a long time – followed by some which had tears burning in my eyes. Love comes out of every page; family and loyalty rank highly and this family is destined to succeed. Loved the epilogue, and loved that even with 6 children in the house we know that they avail themselves of every spot around should the mood take them. (Which it does, a Lot.)

Thank you, thank you for this update on a group of very precious and special people. Without a doubt this series has a place in my life, and will be reread as a guaranteed pick-me-up and happiness creator.


Jacki – ☆☆☆☆☆
When I got this book, I was so excited. These amazing characters were back! It's a reader's dream to meet the characters in the future and get an update. Being able to "see" all of the McQuaid kids growing up and more was a special treat! Not to mention seeing what was in store for Jake, Chelsea, and even their friends, made it the icing on the cake. Thank you Emma Chase for finishing this amazing series in such a great way! If you've read the other books, do not pass this one up!


Shelby – ☆☆☆☆☆
I must be honest and say that Sustained was my favorite book in the Legal Briefs series, so saying that I could NOT wait to read Sidebarred!!

Jake and Chelsea continue their life together, along with the six children – and the laughs continue.

Although this was short in pages, it really didn't feel like a novella.

A complete story is told here, and I (at this exact point) can appreciate EVERYTHING Chelsea is handling ;)

The perfect wrap-up to a great series that I will definitely revisit.

Also Available in The Legal Briefs Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

For reviews & more info, check out our Sustained post.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

For reviews & more info, check out our Appealed post.

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. 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.

Connect with Emma

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Sidebarred (Legal Briefs #3.5) by Emma Chase to read and review.

Appealed by Emma Chase is Now Available & Reviewed

The New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled books returns with the third romance in the Legal Briefs series, a collection of sexy novels about first crushes, second chances, and the final verdict of the heart.

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate—and prized—parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Louboutins.

When Kennedy looks at Brent, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue–worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school in order to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell for her.

But she’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore—she’s a Washington, DC, prosecutor with a long winning streak. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case, and Kennedy thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own.

But things aren’t exactly working out the way she planned. Brent has his sights set on Kennedy, and every fiery exchange only makes him want her more—and makes her wonder if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. In the end, they may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
Though the third in a series, this is a strong story which could definitely be read as a standalone – that said, both Jake and Stanton's stories are hot and delicious too.

There are some touches in this book which just make it that much better than a usual romance. Little finesses, stories from their past, things which are so meaningful and draw them back from the bad place they were. Classic side characters who do little but provide a foil for the lead, yet make us step back from their inner view and join them in a wider perspective. It is clever writing, delightful reading, and results in a story which manages to follow convention, yet buck the trend. By turns sweet, infuriating, hot and funny, with twists that work, frailties that we can all envisage...

Thank you Ms. Chase, for another winning story in the series (safely stored in my to-be-reread collection).


Mary Jo – ☆☆☆☆
3 1/2 stars rounded up to 4
This a cute, fun read. To me, it brought to mind the world of Ritchie Rich, the cute and whimsical rich kid that had a way of turning lemons into lemonade, just like the hero of this story.

Brent is that Ritchie Rich type kid, funny, sweet, heroic and down to earth. Yes, bad things have happened to him, and yes, he's got money to burn but neither of those define him. He has good days and bad days, and the fortitude to withstand both.

However, his seemingly happy go lucky world comes to a halt when the one that got away comes waltzing back into his life in stilettos, no less, and she's all grown up. Kennedy. His next door neighbor and former best friend.

Can he convince her that he's not the guy she's believed him to be all these years? The careless teen who was more concerned about what the "It" crowd thought of him or the man he always wanted to be – hers.

I devoured this book in one afternoon as it was a delightful and easy read.


Shelby – ☆☆☆
Appealed, the third book in The Legal Briefs series, was an OK but forgettable read for me. I enjoyed the banter between Brent and Kennedy, I liked their back-story, and the current situation, but I didn't enjoy the repetitiveness of the flashbacks.

Brent is a rich playboy, a Defense attorney who is more than confident in his ability in the courtroom. All is well until his current case brings him face-to-face with the woman whom he loved and left in high school, Kennedy Randolph. Kennedy is a self-assured prosecuting attorney, who just happens to be beautiful and angry.

Sometimes time heals all wounds, other times it just exacerbates those bruises. Not often in life are people allowed to right the wrongs from long ago, and in this story specifically, it was a beautiful thing to experience. The romance was sweet, the erotic scenes were hot, and overall this was an enjoyable story.


Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I absolutely love Emma Chase’s books. When I’m asked for a recommendation for romantic comedies, she’s at the top of my list. I have read all of her books. My copy of Tangled is the indie published version that she originally released. One of the reasons I enjoy her books so much is that they are almost always written from the lead male character’s point of view. Appealed conforms to Chase’s writing style by giving us Brent and Kennedy’s story from Brent’s point of view and like her previous leads, Brent is unabashedly sexually motivated, loyal to those he loves (both friends and family), hilarious to listen to, scared shitless when it comes to love, and relentless in his pursuit of love once he realizes that Kennedy is who he’s meant to be with.

Now where Brent edges out Chase’s previous leads as my favorite (and this includes giving Drew a run for his money, which is pretty freaking hard to do), is that Brent lost part of his leg as a child and uses a prosthesis. But Brent doesn’t play the “injured hero,” in fact, most of the time I forgot about his prosthesis and this goes a long way in why Brent’s the front runner for me. His injury is not a disability, it’s not a cause for sympathy, it’s simply a part of who he is and its presence only comes into play when it interferes with his ability to work (once in the course of the book) or as a way to lighten the mood (several times over the course of the book, some of which caused me to laugh out loud). The other reason Brent’s injury strengthens his position as THE leading man is that he learned at an early age that bad things happen for no reason and because of this, when he recognizes that Kennedy is “The One” he wastes no time in working his way back into her life and trying to win her over. He understands just how short life can be and knowing that he’s already lost fourteen years of time with her, he refuses to lose anymore. He’s so dedicated to that end that he tracks down Kennedy’s best friend from boarding school and asks her to fill in all the awful details of what happened their senior year. Armed with that knowledge and how it shaped Kennedy into who she is now, he lays siege to her heart and refuses to back down. That tenacity was paramount to winning her heart, to making Kennedy his, and it certainly came in handy when he stared down a mafia boss and made sure that no harm would come to her. THAT people, is why Brent is my favorite of the men of The Legal Briefs series and may very well have bested Drew as my favorite Chase male lead.

Like all of Chase’s novels, I found myself laughing out loud throughout Appealed. I also found myself swooning over Brent’s actions and tearing up a time or two. And make no mistake, Kennedy held her own and was the perfect choice for Brent. Their shared history went a long way in explaining their actions and reactions to one another and their families. Without giving away what happened about the case they were opposing counsel on, I both loved and hated that Kennedy played right into Brent’s hands. I loved it because it not only showed just how well Brent knew and understood her, but it also allowed the case to be decided in the right way for all involved. I hated it because of how hard that scene hit Kennedy. As expected, the chemistry between Brent and Kennedy is intense and this made for some very hot sex scenes. But it was the romance and watching them fight their way back to one another that made the book so enjoyable for me. Catching up with the couples from the previous books in the series was a lovely bonus. Appealed was an excellent addition to The Legal Briefs series and while I don’t know if the author has plans for any more books in the series now that all of the guys have found their matches, I look forward to reading whatever she writes next.

Also Available in The Legal Briefs Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

For reviews & more info, check out our Sustained post.

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. 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.

Connect with Emma

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Appealed (Legal Briefs #3) by Emma Chase to read and review.

Sustained by Emma Chase is Now Available & Reviewed

A KNIGHT IN TARNISHED ARMOR, IS STILL A KNIGHT.

Emma Chase, whose super-sexy and smartly funny Tangled series made her a bestselling sensation, returns with the second installment of the Legal Briefs series—where high-powered attorneys compete for the upper hand in the courtroom . . . and in the bedroom.

When you’re a defense attorney in Washington, DC, you see firsthand how hard life can be, and that sometimes the only way to survive is to be harder. I, Jake Becker, have a reputation for being cold, callous, and intimidating—and that suits me just fine. In fact, it’s necessary when I’m breaking down a witness on the stand.

Complications don’t work for me—I’m a “need-to-know” type of man. If you’re my client, tell me the basic facts. If you’re my date, stick to what will get you off. I’m not a therapist or Prince Charming—and I don’t pretend to be.

Then Chelsea McQuaid and her six orphaned nieces and nephews came along and complicated the ever-loving hell out of my life. Now I’m going to Mommy & Me classes, One Direction concerts, the emergency room, and am knee deep in a damn compost pit.

Chelsea’s too sweet, too innocent, and too gorgeous for her own good. She tries to be tough, but she’s not. She needs someone to help her, and defend her…and the kids.

And that—that, I know how to do.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Shelby – ☆☆☆☆
Sustained can be read as a stand-alone and it was very entertaining. I haven't read the first book in this series, but I plan on doing so in the near future!

Jake Becker is your typical perpetual bachelor, he has no need to settle down nor does he want to. Women are not difficult for him to obtain, and his lifestyle isn't conducive to entertaining them for more than one night. Well, that is until his "scare." He's forced to reevaluate his "player" ways and it just so happens that Chelsea McQuaid opens his eyes to the possibility of monogamy.

This story was the perfect "pallet cleanse," it's light-hearted and humorous but still maintains a concise storyline. The characters are well written (all of them) and realistic. This isn't a "love at first sight" romantic comedy but the situation that brings these two together is unforgettable. Both main characters have their flaws, this isn't non-stop laughs, but it is uplifting and sweet at times.

This is my first time reading Emma Chase's work, but it certainly won't be my last!


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is a solid 4.5 read for me.

I loved this story – possibly even more than book one, which I thought was great too. It is one of the sweetest, funniest, yet poignant books I have read this year. The transition from serial one-nighter to utterly smitten by seven new people in his life is very well plotted. I read it in one sitting with a few tears and a lot of smiles along the way. We get to catch up with Stanton and Sofia too, and Brent features again – his story is told in the next book.

Thank you Ms. Chase for a lovely read.


Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
Ms. Chase is one of my favorite romantic comedy authors and I jump at the chance to review her books. Having read and loved Overruled, I could not wait to begin Sustained, but I had to because I had to insure that I had the proper reading environment. You know the one – a place where you can read uninterrupted and not be bothered while laughing like a loon. Oh yes, Ms. Chase did not disappoint and there were a few times I was laughing so hard I suspect my upstairs neighbor was questioning my sanity. Why? Because being inside Jake Becker’s head is a riot. Add to that his prowess in the bedroom (or bathroom, or pantry, or door … you get the idea), and Sustained was everything I had hoped for and more.

While not a great day for Jake, I absolutely loved the wake-up call he got regarding his revolving bedroom door. The manwhore is a popular character in current contemporary romance, especially the reformed manwhore, but few authors write scenes that include the consequences of being one. Not only did Ms. Chase give Jake a huge dose of reality, she still manages to infuse the related scenes with humor (for the reader) while still conveying the seriousness of the issue. Doing so makes his first “real date” hilarious and his encounters with the McQuaids extremely entertaining. Considering what we learn about how the Judge helped Jake turn his life around, I wasn’t surprised by his reaction to Rory and the subsequent encounters with the McQuaid children. Even though Jake convinced himself that he was “helping out” for a chance at Chelsea, it became clear quickly that there was more to the situation than that. That it had the side benefit of getting him into Chelsea’s good graces (and pants) that much quicker was just a bonus. And man what a bonus that was! While there is plenty of drama to go around, the relationship angst is kept to a minimum and is understandable when Jake tells Chelsea about his father. Fortunately for Jake, he has an awesome group of friends that have no problem give him the metaphorical kick in the arse he needs to keep him from throwing away his chance at happiness.

Watching the romance between Jake and Chelsea build was great, but it’s the interactions of the “family” as a whole that made the book truly entertaining for me. I will admit that kids in a romance are an iffy subject matter for me. Some authors focus too much on the children and they take over the book and while that’s fine for a family drama, it’s not so good for a romance. But knowing Ms. Chase’s style of writing I wasn’t too concerned about that happening and, again, she proved me correct. The six, yes SIX, McQuaid children are a hoot. They are a delightful group of endearing, frustrating, c**kblocking (Jake’s word) kids that enrich Jake’s life and the book. I fell in love with the kids just as much as I did with Jake and Chelsea. I cannot believe I’m going to say this, but I’m not sure what I enjoyed more – the hot as heck sex scenes or the heartwarming interactions between Jake and the children. While I loved that we got to see Jake in action in the courtroom, the circumstances surrounding it were heartbreaking. But the ultimate ending of Sustained made it all worth it. I was so glad that Jake was able to rectify the professional dilemma he found himself in and I cannot wait to see how that venture unfolds in Appealed. Ms. Chase has another hit on her hands with Sustained and I have another book to add to my reread pile.

Also Available in The Legal Briefs Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

Book 3
Releases January 19^th

Pre-Order Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. 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.

Connect with Emma

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Sustained (Legal Briefs #2) by Emma Chase to read and review.