Books & Spoons Review LOVE BY ASSOCIATION by Tara Taylor Quinn

6/3/2016

Love isn't part of the job…
A tough-as-nails cop, Chantel Harris faces whatever life throws at her, and then some.

As part of Santa Raquel's High Risk team — created by the town's women's shelter, The Lemonade Stand — she goes undercover to expose one of the community's elite as an abuser.

Looking the part is easy, but gaining acceptance into upper society circles is a different matter.

That's where gorgeous and successful lawyer Colin Fairbanks comes in.

But Colin is so much more than Chantel could have dreamed. Wanting him is dangerous. Falling for him could ruin everything…

This was a more event based story, than emotional one. Even though the issues of the book are serious, from domestic abuse to date rape, and police cover up for criminals and crimes, it wasn't an overly emotional tale.
Chantel has passion for her job, she is giving everything she has, her time, energy, and resources, to catch the criminals. Now going undercover, for the first time, she feels a little out of her depth, but is determined to make it work, and get the job done. She has seen a lot during her life, even a couple people falling in love, but trusting someone so completely, to surrender to your emotions that way, wasn't something Chantel planned to do herself. Ever.
Colin, the rich rainmaker lawyer, running his family's legacy, the law firm, and looking after his sister, are all he lives for. The occasional dating, and charity work withstanding, he is all about making deals, and getting new clients. And protect his sister, no matter what. To trust someone, that is asking too much, to fall in love, not for him.
So when these two meet, while Chantel is undercover, sparks fly, and a connection is made, that takes them both by surprise. They fumble around each other, not sure what is happening, and soon they can't help but fall for each other. But will they have a future, since everything they are building in between themselves is based on lies and deceit?
Looking for evidence for domestic violence, Chantel runs into much bigger case she, and her team, ever imagined. The antics they go into, to catch the perpetrator, with evidence and witnesses, puts lives in danger, and Chantel into a situation she promised herself, she would never be in.
The story is engaging, it is curious how Chantel lives on the edge of her true personality, and her undercover image, how she deals with the high society, the glamour and finesse of the pretend world she is in.
I like the characters, the supporting cast gave a lot to the plot. There's constant referrals to the past events, several times the same events from the past are told, that have nothing to do with this story. To tell once, to show character development, is perfect, no need to repeat.
With unexpected events towards the end, the story takes a surprise ending, making it gratifying and fulfilling ending for all.
~ Four Spoons