Oaks of Justice

Author: Karen Baney
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Desert Mana #3
Release Date: June 24, 2022

​Gripping Historical Christian Romance Fiction set in Prescott, Arizona in 1873.

Mel Larson is used to being underestimated as a female attorney. When her life is threatened, her mentor takes her home to Prescott. As the defense attorney for her innocent client who is on trial for murder, she goes head-to-head with the new District Attorney. When she apologizes to him for using some unconventional tactics, sparks fly, and she finds a love she had not been looking for.

---

Reviewer: Juanita Varela

This book was the perfect end to the Desert Manna Series, and it was a beautiful story displaying how God can heal the broken and scarred parts of life. 

I have never before read a book about a lawyer, much less two lawyers. I loved the courtroom scenes. The lawyer jargon was very entertaining. I would forget that I was reading a book. It felt like a "Perry Mason" moment against "Hamilton Burger," except we like the District Attorney.

I loved the character, Mel - Missy - Larson. It could be because I am a woman, but I loved seeing a woman trying to break the barrier of gender work. I don't even know what it is called, but basically, I like women doing "men's" jobs, like being an attorney. I also loved her character because she was so independent yet vulnerable. 

Alex Glassman, a rich and successful lawyer, is terribly broken on the inside from past situations with his father. He hides away his true talent because of an encounter with his father that scarred him as a young boy. As an adult, he doesn't know how he feels about exposing his talent. However, Mel admires his work and makes him feel good about it. 

I also liked the part with Mel's huge family. I come from a huge family with many cousins, and some have spouses and kids themselves. On top of that, my family welcomed a new family into our family group. So when I saw Mel's family, it made me love the book even more. Family is everything, and I love how Karen Baney displayed that in Oaks of Justice.

Aside from a few mild curse words, this book was relatively clean, and one kiss scene that went a wee bit too far where a woman's breast is touched. However, that is as far as it went.

I received a review copy courtesy of the author through Interviews & Reviews for my honest opinion.

---