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Thunderstruck #2
Conduct Unbecoming a Judge
Rich or poor, sick or healthy, everyone needs love.
For Esme Fernandes, life ended at thirty. First, she lost her ability to have children, and then she lost her husband. Certain she’s fated to die young like the rest of her family, Esme married her career instead. And it paid off: now thirty-eight, she’s a Federal judge, and determined to be worthy of her job.
Jack Bullard, twice People’s Sexiest Man Alive, is at a crossroads. Two years after a bewildering and brutal divorce, he misses his kids and is unfulfilled by his Hollywood stardom. But he’s made a career out of being irreplaceable, and too many people depend on him now.
When Jack and Esme collide—literally—sparks fly. But they also attract attention from the moment they meet, and not the good kind. Between scandalous pictures and Esme’s growing political conflict with a senator, things take a dangerous turn.
Just as Jack can see the future forming, the increasing scrutiny awakens Esme’s demons—and Jack has to decide whether fighting for her is selfish, or what they both need.
Tropes:
●Meet-Cute
●Movie star hero
●Sworn off relationships female
●Protective male
●Strong female
●Cinnamon roll hero
●Emotional scars
●Single father
●Disability/chronic illness
Conduct Unbecoming a Judge is a steamy contemporary romance with a strong female lead struggling with chronic illness, and a protective, cinnamon roll hero.
For Esme Fernandes, life ended at thirty. First, she lost her ability to have children, and then she lost her husband. Certain she’s fated to die young like the rest of her family, Esme married her career instead. And it paid off: now thirty-eight, she’s a Federal judge, and determined to be worthy of her job.
Jack Bullard, twice People’s Sexiest Man Alive, is at a crossroads. Two years after a bewildering and brutal divorce, he misses his kids and is unfulfilled by his Hollywood stardom. But he’s made a career out of being irreplaceable, and too many people depend on him now.
When Jack and Esme collide—literally—sparks fly. But they also attract attention from the moment they meet, and not the good kind. Between scandalous pictures and Esme’s growing political conflict with a senator, things take a dangerous turn.
Just as Jack can see the future forming, the increasing scrutiny awakens Esme’s demons—and Jack has to decide whether fighting for her is selfish, or what they both need.
Tropes:
●Meet-Cute
●Movie star hero
●Sworn off relationships female
●Protective male
●Strong female
●Cinnamon roll hero
●Emotional scars
●Single father
●Disability/chronic illness
Conduct Unbecoming a Judge is a steamy contemporary romance with a strong female lead struggling with chronic illness, and a protective, cinnamon roll hero.
418 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 18, 2023
57 people are currently reading
253 people want to read
About the author
Amelia Elliot
7 books50 followersAmelia Elliot works as a trial lawyer, entrepreneur, and author. She publishes on topics of law, business, and politics. “Amelia Elliot” is the pen name for the author’s works in women’s fiction, romance, sci-fi, and political and legal thrillers. She lives with her husband, three big dogs, and three riotous kittens.
Amelia is disabled with chronic illness. One of her favorite things about writing novels is exploring her characters’ human flaws, growth, and triumph over adversity. She writes happy endings because optimism matters.
Amelia is disabled with chronic illness. One of her favorite things about writing novels is exploring her characters’ human flaws, growth, and triumph over adversity. She writes happy endings because optimism matters.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 20, 2023
This was my first book by this author but won’t be the last! I thoroughly enjoyed the story of Esme and Jack. I love Esme’s sass and lust for life and she actually made me feel bad for a gazillionaire celebrity! The ending has all the feels and I look forward to going back and reading the first book in this series - though you definitely do not need to read it to enjoy this one.
Well written and flows quickly. I finished it in 2 nights! Go grab it!
November 18, 2024
Romance with a difference. The author uses her own experiences of key health issues to build her narrative. The FMC is a strong, educated woman and the MMC is a movie star who has had been in the right place at the right time. The narrative explores the building of a relationship when others continually exploit others for gain (photogs) and narrates the experience of a public relationship. A good unique story.I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
April 6, 2025
such heavy topics but really well written. i loved it, very emotional but also a great storyline. it took me a while to read as i had to get into this authors style of writing but once i did i found it very easy to read and really recommend.
i didn’t realise it was part of a series, so read this one, which is the second, first, but it reads very well as a stand alone however definitely going to look into the whole series as i’d like to read them all now.
i didn’t realise it was part of a series, so read this one, which is the second, first, but it reads very well as a stand alone however definitely going to look into the whole series as i’d like to read them all now.
August 11, 2023
This was a great second novel by this author. The first was so good and I was pleasantly surprised that this was equally as good! The story of Jack and Esme was so engaging, it kept me turning pages late into the night. I am eagerly awaiting the next book!
December 16, 2025
Overall I liked it, but there were some major quibbles:
-A federal judge telling her new boyfriend how she is going to rule in a case coming up. I'm sure some judges do tell their partners about cases (although they are very much not supposed to), but at no point does she tell him how confidential he needs to keep that information or how bad it would be if he accidentally leaks it.
You also have a federal judge who chats with her clerk and bailiff about her sex life at work. NO. Just no.
-Their constant public getting it on (at least five different times--including in an open alley, at the EMMYs where they are surrounded by the biggest gossips in Hollywood and tons of press, on the beach, in a restaurant, in his backyard but trees that overlook it--which is how they get caught the first time). Look, if exhibitionism is their kink and they're prepared to face whatever consequences, I guess that's one thing. But. They keep telling each other they can't do it again because of consequences....and do it anyway.
You have a new federal judge ruling on high profile cases and there is a conservative senator gunning for her, and she's getting death threats at one point. She also has an ethics code for her position that includes how she conducts herself in her private life.
Then you have the male main character, who is a famous actor and has been in a contentious divorce for 2 years with his wife often withholding their kids and painting him as a neglectful father.
And you two stupid horndogs are going to keep stripping clothes off and/or having sex in public? After you have TWICE already been caught on camera? And the first time, the Chief Judge for her bench brought her in to remind her she needs to be careful? That isn't "how that's sexy how into each other they are," that's "what the crap is wrong with you two idiots" territory. Because that's jeopardizing her job and his time with his kids.
However, I did love the one of the grand gestures at the end. Starting a PAC to get rid of a conservative jerk senator is definitely miles better than a public proposal or interrupting a female character at her job to declare their love or things like that.
-A federal judge telling her new boyfriend how she is going to rule in a case coming up. I'm sure some judges do tell their partners about cases (although they are very much not supposed to), but at no point does she tell him how confidential he needs to keep that information or how bad it would be if he accidentally leaks it.
You also have a federal judge who chats with her clerk and bailiff about her sex life at work. NO. Just no.
-Their constant public getting it on (at least five different times--including in an open alley, at the EMMYs where they are surrounded by the biggest gossips in Hollywood and tons of press, on the beach, in a restaurant, in his backyard but trees that overlook it--which is how they get caught the first time). Look, if exhibitionism is their kink and they're prepared to face whatever consequences, I guess that's one thing. But. They keep telling each other they can't do it again because of consequences....and do it anyway.
You have a new federal judge ruling on high profile cases and there is a conservative senator gunning for her, and she's getting death threats at one point. She also has an ethics code for her position that includes how she conducts herself in her private life.
Then you have the male main character, who is a famous actor and has been in a contentious divorce for 2 years with his wife often withholding their kids and painting him as a neglectful father.
And you two stupid horndogs are going to keep stripping clothes off and/or having sex in public? After you have TWICE already been caught on camera? And the first time, the Chief Judge for her bench brought her in to remind her she needs to be careful? That isn't "how that's sexy how into each other they are," that's "what the crap is wrong with you two idiots" territory. Because that's jeopardizing her job and his time with his kids.
However, I did love the one of the grand gestures at the end. Starting a PAC to get rid of a conservative jerk senator is definitely miles better than a public proposal or interrupting a female character at her job to declare their love or things like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 1, 2025
The incorrect use of french physically hurt me, please, is it so hard to consult with a native speaker...? The dirty talking was so obviously a literal translation, it threw me off every. single. time. And don't even get me started on the random use of formal speech, the MCs are supposedly fluent but the wrong grammar had me exasperated. Respectfully, and no offense to any u.s citizen, but this was soooooo very american, ugh. Everything about this book screams first world problem, which is a bummer because i can feel the author tried to tackle heavy themes but it just.... it gave nothing, sorry.
Also, the fmc uses "fuck you very much" in almost every argument because she's ✨️feisty✨️ and I just can't ✋🏼 I'm still looking for the plot. This is why I avoid contemporary romance 😒
Also, the fmc uses "fuck you very much" in almost every argument because she's ✨️feisty✨️ and I just can't ✋🏼 I'm still looking for the plot. This is why I avoid contemporary romance 😒
August 28, 2024
while the initial thought of reading this was they don't seem to be well-matched, i have to say i really enjoyed their interactions and it goes to show, some people don't look good on paper but are really perfect for each other. a nice cute read from amelia elliot!
July 4, 2025
sweet, spicy, and emotional. love the cute cat Ollie and love that .
tw: infertility, cancer, death of parent (off page)
tw: infertility, cancer, death of parent (off page)
October 9, 2025
3.5 stars
This was a story of two strangers from different worlds finding what they needed in each other. For Jack, he found someone who saw him and not just his good looks, money and fame.
Esme found someone who was caring, protective and didn't run when he found out about her secret pain.
This was a good read. There were some things that were left hanging that would have made for a nice epilogue,like what happened with the senator. And don't go by the table of content because what is listed didn't occur.
If you don't mind some politics mixed in with your romance, this book might be for you. The author did her research and obviously feels very strongly about these issues.
It is interesting that the 3rd book is about Jack's ex wife.
This was a story of two strangers from different worlds finding what they needed in each other. For Jack, he found someone who saw him and not just his good looks, money and fame.
Esme found someone who was caring, protective and didn't run when he found out about her secret pain.
This was a good read. There were some things that were left hanging that would have made for a nice epilogue,like what happened with the senator. And don't go by the table of content because what is listed didn't occur.
If you don't mind some politics mixed in with your romance, this book might be for you. The author did her research and obviously feels very strongly about these issues.
It is interesting that the 3rd book is about Jack's ex wife.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews