What do you think?
Rate this book
The Law Man Trilogy #3
Defiant
Attorney Travis Bodine faces the toughest challenge of his career defending his brother Rafe against murder charges. To make matters worse he has to work with his ex-fiancee, Hannah. The two must put the past behind them to save Rafe's life.
368 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1998
31 people want to read
About the author
Millie Criswell
49 books33 followersNational bestselling author Millie Criswell didn't start out to be a writer. Instead, she had aspirations of joining the Rockettes as a toe-tapping member of their dancetroop, or tapping her heart away in one of those big, corny MGM musicals. Of course she was only ten at the time, had absolutely no talent as a dancer, and cannot be blamed for her failure to succeed.
To date, Ms. Criswell has written twenty-one historical, category, and contemporary romances. She has won numerous awards, including the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, the Reviewers' Choice Award, the National Reader's Choice Award, and the coveted MAGGIE Award from Georgia Romance Writers.
Ms. Criswell resides in Virginia with her husband of thirty-two years. She has two grown children, both lawyers, and one neurotic Boston terrier
To date, Ms. Criswell has written twenty-one historical, category, and contemporary romances. She has won numerous awards, including the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, the Reviewers' Choice Award, the National Reader's Choice Award, and the coveted MAGGIE Award from Georgia Romance Writers.
Ms. Criswell resides in Virginia with her husband of thirty-two years. She has two grown children, both lawyers, and one neurotic Boston terrier
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
Read
November 16, 2017Hannah Louise Barkley had been raised in Misery and had been gone for 5 years. She left after an argument with her fiancee, Travis Bodine. She was daughter to Judge Thaddeus Barkley and Fiona. Her parents separated after her mother had supported a woman who had killed her abusive husband. Thaddeus had sentenced her to hang even after there was evidence of the woman being abused. Fiona moved to New York and it was to her that Hannah went to. She had argued with Travis after he returned from spending 5 years earning a law degree at Harvard. Hannah had been bored while he was gone and had earned a law degree of her own. Travis was furious and refused the idea of working with her. He felt a woman's place was at home raising children.
Hannah came back home when her father had written her about his health problems. She found out that Travis' brother Rafe was in jail waiting to be tried for murder of the man who had killed his first wife who was pregnant with his child. Hannah had experience with criminal law while Travis had none. She offered her help and Travis refused at first saying that the idea was a stupid ridiculous idea. It was a couple hours later that he apologized and accepted her help. This caused a lot of gossip in town. Her choice of a career over a family was not well accepted by the townspeople.
Travis and Hannah had grown up together and had been best friends all their lives. Travis older brothers, Ethan and Rafe, had become Texas Rangers. They knew that Travis wasn't cut out to be a rancher and put their money together and sent Travis to Harvard Law School. It took him 5 years to earn his degree. He was leery about being Rafe's lawyer but his family was determined that he should defend Rafe.
Will McGrath also grew up with Hannah and Travis. He had always shown his jealousy of the Bodine's. He was also angry that Hannah chose Travis over him. He had a law degree but discovered that the law could be bought and manipulated. He used the law to suit his purpose.
Hannah was invited to attend Travis' stepmother's 47th birthday party where she announced that she was pregnant. Travis' father was 62 and furious and embarrassed that Lavinia had gotten pregnant. He didn't want to become a father at his age. She had always wanted her own child and was thrilled.
Hannah had written to her mother and mentioned Thaddeus poor health and that she was going to be staying in Misery to work with Travis defending Rafe. Fiona decided it was time to come home and returned to Misery.
Travis and Hannah still loved each other. Travis told himself it was just lust and refused to admit to love. Hannah knew that she was still in love with Travis. It was the same with Fiona and Thaddeus. She knew she was still in love with Thaddeus but he refused to admit how much he had missed her and that he still loved her.
They worked closely throughout the trial and Travis realized that he was in love with Hannah and didn't want her to leave after the trial was over. Hannah became more and more important to him as time went on. Will began hanging out with Olive after an auction was held to raise money for charity. Hannah felt sorry for Olive because she noticed how Will still looked at her. Will had determined to have Hannah even though he knew that she was now sleeping with Travis.
Lavinia was working hard at home regardless of her pregnancy. She passed out while hanging clothes one day and it scared Ben. From that time on, Ben accepted the pregnancy that she wanted so much. He and his grandchildren started doing more of the housework to allow her time to rest.
Fiona and Thaddeus were back together again and Thaddeus was back in good health. Hannah's parents decided to renew their wedding vows after being separated for almost ten years.
Hannah convinced Travis to put both Rafe and his wife on the witness stand in his defense. Travis did this and the trial was soon over. Ben was the last to testify on his son's behalf. The jury didn't take too long to decide that Rafe was innocent of murder. As soon as the verdict was read, Will grabbed Hannah and held a gun to her head telling Travis that she was now his. Ethan snuck up behind Will and knocked the gun from his hands. Will was arrested and disbarred.
This all took place on Travis' birthday and Hannah had decided to confront Travis and ask him his intentions toward her. She told him she loved him and asked him to marry her. He accepted while his entire family was hiding to surprise him with a birthday party. They had a lot to celebrate with Travis' birthday and Rafe being freed.
At Christmas that year, Willy and Ethan, Rafe and Emmy both had new sons. Hannah told Travis that she was now pregnant too. Lavinia was due just after the first of the year.
Hannah came back home when her father had written her about his health problems. She found out that Travis' brother Rafe was in jail waiting to be tried for murder of the man who had killed his first wife who was pregnant with his child. Hannah had experience with criminal law while Travis had none. She offered her help and Travis refused at first saying that the idea was a stupid ridiculous idea. It was a couple hours later that he apologized and accepted her help. This caused a lot of gossip in town. Her choice of a career over a family was not well accepted by the townspeople.
Travis and Hannah had grown up together and had been best friends all their lives. Travis older brothers, Ethan and Rafe, had become Texas Rangers. They knew that Travis wasn't cut out to be a rancher and put their money together and sent Travis to Harvard Law School. It took him 5 years to earn his degree. He was leery about being Rafe's lawyer but his family was determined that he should defend Rafe.
Will McGrath also grew up with Hannah and Travis. He had always shown his jealousy of the Bodine's. He was also angry that Hannah chose Travis over him. He had a law degree but discovered that the law could be bought and manipulated. He used the law to suit his purpose.
Hannah was invited to attend Travis' stepmother's 47th birthday party where she announced that she was pregnant. Travis' father was 62 and furious and embarrassed that Lavinia had gotten pregnant. He didn't want to become a father at his age. She had always wanted her own child and was thrilled.
Hannah had written to her mother and mentioned Thaddeus poor health and that she was going to be staying in Misery to work with Travis defending Rafe. Fiona decided it was time to come home and returned to Misery.
Travis and Hannah still loved each other. Travis told himself it was just lust and refused to admit to love. Hannah knew that she was still in love with Travis. It was the same with Fiona and Thaddeus. She knew she was still in love with Thaddeus but he refused to admit how much he had missed her and that he still loved her.
They worked closely throughout the trial and Travis realized that he was in love with Hannah and didn't want her to leave after the trial was over. Hannah became more and more important to him as time went on. Will began hanging out with Olive after an auction was held to raise money for charity. Hannah felt sorry for Olive because she noticed how Will still looked at her. Will had determined to have Hannah even though he knew that she was now sleeping with Travis.
Lavinia was working hard at home regardless of her pregnancy. She passed out while hanging clothes one day and it scared Ben. From that time on, Ben accepted the pregnancy that she wanted so much. He and his grandchildren started doing more of the housework to allow her time to rest.
Fiona and Thaddeus were back together again and Thaddeus was back in good health. Hannah's parents decided to renew their wedding vows after being separated for almost ten years.
Hannah convinced Travis to put both Rafe and his wife on the witness stand in his defense. Travis did this and the trial was soon over. Ben was the last to testify on his son's behalf. The jury didn't take too long to decide that Rafe was innocent of murder. As soon as the verdict was read, Will grabbed Hannah and held a gun to her head telling Travis that she was now his. Ethan snuck up behind Will and knocked the gun from his hands. Will was arrested and disbarred.
This all took place on Travis' birthday and Hannah had decided to confront Travis and ask him his intentions toward her. She told him she loved him and asked him to marry her. He accepted while his entire family was hiding to surprise him with a birthday party. They had a lot to celebrate with Travis' birthday and Rafe being freed.
At Christmas that year, Willy and Ethan, Rafe and Emmy both had new sons. Hannah told Travis that she was now pregnant too. Lavinia was due just after the first of the year.
September 7, 2016
The first two books in this trilogy are not very good, but the ending is well done.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews