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Merit Bridges #1
Dollar Signs
MERIT BRIDGES, an attorney and widowed mother in Austin, Texas, works hard, drinks too much wine, and sleeps with younger men. When Merit goes after a shady corporation threatening her client, she encounters hired gun Boots King. His charge is simple, “Stop her!” Merit and her
team – including Betty, a mothering office manager with a bad-ass attitude – struggle to stay alive, while they navigate a labyrinth of legal issues, and prove once again that you don’t mess with a Texas lady lawyer.
team – including Betty, a mothering office manager with a bad-ass attitude – struggle to stay alive, while they navigate a labyrinth of legal issues, and prove once again that you don’t mess with a Texas lady lawyer.
307 pages, Paperback
Published February 18, 2016
536 people are currently reading
688 people want to read
About the author
Manning Wolfe
57 books279 followersMANNING WOLFE, an award-winning author and attorney, writes cinematic-style, smart, fast-paced thrillers and crime fiction. Manning was recently featured on Oxygen TV’s: Accident, Suicide, or Murder, and has spoken at major book festivals around the world.
* Manning’s legal thriller series features Austin attorney Merit Bridges, including Dollar Signs, Music Notes, Green Fees, and Chinese Wall.
* Manning’s new Proxy Legal Thrillers Series features Houston attorney Quinton Bell, including Dead By Proxy, Hunted By Proxy, and Alive By Proxy.
* Manning is co-author of Killer Set: Drop the Mic, and twelve additional Bullet Books Speed Reads.
As a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, Manning’s experience has given her a voyeur’s peek into some shady characters’ lives and a front-row seat to watch the good people who stand against them.
www.manningwolfe.com
* Manning’s legal thriller series features Austin attorney Merit Bridges, including Dollar Signs, Music Notes, Green Fees, and Chinese Wall.
* Manning’s new Proxy Legal Thrillers Series features Houston attorney Quinton Bell, including Dead By Proxy, Hunted By Proxy, and Alive By Proxy.
* Manning is co-author of Killer Set: Drop the Mic, and twelve additional Bullet Books Speed Reads.
As a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, Manning’s experience has given her a voyeur’s peek into some shady characters’ lives and a front-row seat to watch the good people who stand against them.
www.manningwolfe.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
June 16, 2017
I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for sending this ebook in return for an honest review. The book is about Merit Bridges and how she takes a legal case for a client who has burned down a huge billboard sign in front of his place of business. He signed a lease for the sign, not realizing that there was a fine print option giving the sign company the right to buy his property under certain circumstances.
I liked the plot and the characters.
My complaint is the required shooting course. The pistol Merit selects, a Ruger 380 has a 6 bullet magazine, plus 1 in the chamber. The author has the class instructor telling them to shoot three strings of fire, 20 rounds at 3 yards, 20 rounds at 7 yards and 10 rounds at 15 yards. The instructor criticizes Merit's pistol 2 separate times, suggesting that it is too small. If the other class members have larger pistols, then they have different magazine sizes. This means that she would be reloading out of sequence, a safety issue. A single sentence by the instructor: "Since you have different pistols, I will give you reload breaks" would solve this issue.
My final complaint is when she discovers that the mediator in her case is colluding with the adversary. She shuts down the mediation. It was her client's word against the mediator, opposing lawyer and sign company owner. But she does nothing to stop this mediator from continuing to mediate other cases.
After I retired I volunteered as a mediator for 10 years. I paid to become a certified mediator and worked under very strict guidelines. This outwardly respectable Judge/mediator continuing to mediate other cases does not sit well with me.
The author explains the legal terminology very well. I did like the ending.
I liked the plot and the characters.
My complaint is the required shooting course. The pistol Merit selects, a Ruger 380 has a 6 bullet magazine, plus 1 in the chamber. The author has the class instructor telling them to shoot three strings of fire, 20 rounds at 3 yards, 20 rounds at 7 yards and 10 rounds at 15 yards. The instructor criticizes Merit's pistol 2 separate times, suggesting that it is too small. If the other class members have larger pistols, then they have different magazine sizes. This means that she would be reloading out of sequence, a safety issue. A single sentence by the instructor: "Since you have different pistols, I will give you reload breaks" would solve this issue.
My final complaint is when she discovers that the mediator in her case is colluding with the adversary. She shuts down the mediation. It was her client's word against the mediator, opposing lawyer and sign company owner. But she does nothing to stop this mediator from continuing to mediate other cases.
After I retired I volunteered as a mediator for 10 years. I paid to become a certified mediator and worked under very strict guidelines. This outwardly respectable Judge/mediator continuing to mediate other cases does not sit well with me.
The author explains the legal terminology very well. I did like the ending.
January 23, 2016
I wish to thank Net Galley, Starpath Books, and author Manning Wolfe for an advanced copy of Dollar Signs in exchange for an unbiased review.
Dollar Signs, Ms. Manning’s debut novel is a very engaging legal thriller straight out of the heart of Texas where contracts are contracts and big business rules. This is a tale of a pair of hard-working Mexicans and their small car repair shop versus greedy, deceitful, tawdry big business owner; good lawyer versus very bad lawyer; and good lawyer trying to save the little guys out there and herself as well.
I loved the protagonist, attorney Merit Bridges. She has her issues, but does her very best to help the downtrodden, even if it means making personal sacrifices. She is not afraid to kick ass when necessary or to ask for help when she needs it. We get some insight into her personal life, which is something I always enjoy in crime fiction. Her office team is colorful and likeable; her baddies have big personalities and are easy to despise (a good thing). There may be a bit of stereotyping going on, but it didn’t bother my enjoyment of the read.
I found the plot engaging and wondered throughout the tale how Merit was going to resolve things. Not being too savvy in legal issues, the flow of the story suffered a bit as I waded through some of the legalese. In all fairness to the author though, I think she did a credible job in explaining most of these issues to uninformed readers like me. I do think the courtroom scenes rang true.
I do not want to fail to mention that there is a very entertaining action sequence in the last 10% of the book. I was also pleased with the ending.
Do I recommend Dollar Signs? Yes, indeedy! I thought it was a very good debut novel and a lot of fun to read. I will definitely seek out book #2 in the series, as Merit Bridges is my kind of protag. Thanks for asking me to read your book, Ms. Manning!
Dollar Signs, Ms. Manning’s debut novel is a very engaging legal thriller straight out of the heart of Texas where contracts are contracts and big business rules. This is a tale of a pair of hard-working Mexicans and their small car repair shop versus greedy, deceitful, tawdry big business owner; good lawyer versus very bad lawyer; and good lawyer trying to save the little guys out there and herself as well.
I loved the protagonist, attorney Merit Bridges. She has her issues, but does her very best to help the downtrodden, even if it means making personal sacrifices. She is not afraid to kick ass when necessary or to ask for help when she needs it. We get some insight into her personal life, which is something I always enjoy in crime fiction. Her office team is colorful and likeable; her baddies have big personalities and are easy to despise (a good thing). There may be a bit of stereotyping going on, but it didn’t bother my enjoyment of the read.
I found the plot engaging and wondered throughout the tale how Merit was going to resolve things. Not being too savvy in legal issues, the flow of the story suffered a bit as I waded through some of the legalese. In all fairness to the author though, I think she did a credible job in explaining most of these issues to uninformed readers like me. I do think the courtroom scenes rang true.
I do not want to fail to mention that there is a very entertaining action sequence in the last 10% of the book. I was also pleased with the ending.
Do I recommend Dollar Signs? Yes, indeedy! I thought it was a very good debut novel and a lot of fun to read. I will definitely seek out book #2 in the series, as Merit Bridges is my kind of protag. Thanks for asking me to read your book, Ms. Manning!
December 27, 2015
Meet Merit Bridges! She's lady lawyer from Texas. She's smart, she's strong, and she's sassy. Merit's husband killed himself several years ago and she's now raising her dyslexic teenage son by herself. She likes to drink and she likes younger men ... both used to keep the sadness and loneliness at bay. I think she's going to make a wonderful series character!
In this debut novel, Merit takes on a corporation that is unethical and dishonest in signing up landowners for their billboard business. Boots King is a major player although he is only hired by the corporation to 'fix things'. Boots' way to fix things is to kill, main, burn houses and businesses .. and most importantly make Merit disappear..permanently!
Not having any legal background, I was afraid I would find this book to be dull and boring, filled with words and phrases that I'd have to look up in a law library. Not so! This was very well-written, in language a layman can understand.
I enjoyed the characters. Merit, for all her problems, distractions, has a great sense of humor. Her investigator, Ag, is always willing to take on whatever Merit assigns him. He also wishes for more than friendship from Merit. Val is a paralegal .. who dresses better than anyone I know. And then there's Betty ...office manager and mama bear whenever any of the team needs some bolstering.
There's really not much of a mystery here as you know who the bad guys are from the beginning... but there is suspense that kept me turning the pages.
By the end of the book, you will take these characters into your heart. I look forward to following Merit's adventures in the heart of Texas.
My thanks to the author / Starpath Books, LLC / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
In this debut novel, Merit takes on a corporation that is unethical and dishonest in signing up landowners for their billboard business. Boots King is a major player although he is only hired by the corporation to 'fix things'. Boots' way to fix things is to kill, main, burn houses and businesses .. and most importantly make Merit disappear..permanently!
Not having any legal background, I was afraid I would find this book to be dull and boring, filled with words and phrases that I'd have to look up in a law library. Not so! This was very well-written, in language a layman can understand.
I enjoyed the characters. Merit, for all her problems, distractions, has a great sense of humor. Her investigator, Ag, is always willing to take on whatever Merit assigns him. He also wishes for more than friendship from Merit. Val is a paralegal .. who dresses better than anyone I know. And then there's Betty ...office manager and mama bear whenever any of the team needs some bolstering.
There's really not much of a mystery here as you know who the bad guys are from the beginning... but there is suspense that kept me turning the pages.
By the end of the book, you will take these characters into your heart. I look forward to following Merit's adventures in the heart of Texas.
My thanks to the author / Starpath Books, LLC / NetGalley who furnished a digital copy in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.
December 21, 2015
What happens when a determined, industrious private practice Austin attorney faces an equally determined, but unscrupulous corporation? In Manning Wolfe’s debut legal thriller, Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King, Merit Bridges represents her client in a case against a billboard corporation and has multiple run-ins with a sleazy agent calling himself Boots King.
Merit is the widowed mother of a teenage dyslexic son, Ace. When she’s not working hard, she loves drinking wine and participating in “mattress gymnastics” with younger men. Despite her freewheeling ways, she has some wonderful qualities. She has a soft spot for women who need a break and frequently represents them pro bono. Merit is a devoted mother who uses terms of endearment such as “Peaches” for her teenage son Ace. Ace is a great kid who is away at a high school in Houston, where he receives tutoring due to his special needs. Ace seems almost too good to be true; what teenage boy would not protest his mom’s use of these saccharine nicknames? Jesting aside, mom and son do have a solid relationship.
Merit has some capable and loyal employees in her small firm as well. First, there’s Betty, a motherly, take-charge office manager. There’s also Valentine (Val), a law student who works as a legal assistant. Then there’s Albert “Ag” Malone, Merit’s right-hand man, who’s got her back and teaches her to shoot.
Shoot? Oh yes, Ms. Bridges would have makings of a modern-day Annie Oakley if Betty had her way. Because Boots King is “slippery as snail’s snot,” according to Betty, and downright dangerous, she insists that Merit get a gun and that Ag teach her to shoot, something that Merit has some serious reservations about for reasons that we learn about as the story evolves. I also learned a thing or two about Texas’ not-so-strict gun laws in the process.
I learned a few things about contracts too. This is a legal thriller, but the first twenty percent was a bit slow for me. It started out rather dry with a modicum of legalese to get through, with phrases like ORRI, AAPL, and boilerplate. These come up during discussions between Merit and her staff and clients, which add authenticity to the conversations, but it makes it a bit confusing for us lay readers. I was wishing for a glossary of legal terms at the end and did stop on occasion to look up several terms. Just when I was starting to have my doubts about this book, however, things got going like a house afire. Merits armpits begin prickling, an unusual warning system, but it serves her well. I began to wonder if Merit might actually need to defend herself against Boots, in Betty’s words, “shoot him deader than road kill armadillo.”
As the story develops, businessman Nixon, the fat cat business owner, and his cronies – Richard “Scooter-Rotor “Rooter and Boots King –engage in all sorts of intimidation tactics, including breaking and entering and assorted felonies. Merit and her team are challenged to outwit and outmatch them at every turn. There is legal maneuvering, trickery, and out-and-out rottenness.
It’s not all seriousness and sleaze; Ms. Wolfe throws in some humor for good measure. I especially appreciated Betty, who provides wise advice, a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on, and more than a few chuckles. She told one story about growing up poor that had me laughing out loud. I hope to see more of Merit Bridges and her legal team in the future. As Merit would say, "Coolio!"
All in all, Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King was a pleasantly entertaining legal caper. I wish to thank NetGalley, Starpath Books, and Ms. Manning Wolfe for providing me with this book in exchange for my unbiased, honest review.
4 Big Texas Stars
Merit is the widowed mother of a teenage dyslexic son, Ace. When she’s not working hard, she loves drinking wine and participating in “mattress gymnastics” with younger men. Despite her freewheeling ways, she has some wonderful qualities. She has a soft spot for women who need a break and frequently represents them pro bono. Merit is a devoted mother who uses terms of endearment such as “Peaches” for her teenage son Ace. Ace is a great kid who is away at a high school in Houston, where he receives tutoring due to his special needs. Ace seems almost too good to be true; what teenage boy would not protest his mom’s use of these saccharine nicknames? Jesting aside, mom and son do have a solid relationship.
Merit has some capable and loyal employees in her small firm as well. First, there’s Betty, a motherly, take-charge office manager. There’s also Valentine (Val), a law student who works as a legal assistant. Then there’s Albert “Ag” Malone, Merit’s right-hand man, who’s got her back and teaches her to shoot.
Shoot? Oh yes, Ms. Bridges would have makings of a modern-day Annie Oakley if Betty had her way. Because Boots King is “slippery as snail’s snot,” according to Betty, and downright dangerous, she insists that Merit get a gun and that Ag teach her to shoot, something that Merit has some serious reservations about for reasons that we learn about as the story evolves. I also learned a thing or two about Texas’ not-so-strict gun laws in the process.
I learned a few things about contracts too. This is a legal thriller, but the first twenty percent was a bit slow for me. It started out rather dry with a modicum of legalese to get through, with phrases like ORRI, AAPL, and boilerplate. These come up during discussions between Merit and her staff and clients, which add authenticity to the conversations, but it makes it a bit confusing for us lay readers. I was wishing for a glossary of legal terms at the end and did stop on occasion to look up several terms. Just when I was starting to have my doubts about this book, however, things got going like a house afire. Merits armpits begin prickling, an unusual warning system, but it serves her well. I began to wonder if Merit might actually need to defend herself against Boots, in Betty’s words, “shoot him deader than road kill armadillo.”
As the story develops, businessman Nixon, the fat cat business owner, and his cronies – Richard “Scooter-Rotor “Rooter and Boots King –engage in all sorts of intimidation tactics, including breaking and entering and assorted felonies. Merit and her team are challenged to outwit and outmatch them at every turn. There is legal maneuvering, trickery, and out-and-out rottenness.
It’s not all seriousness and sleaze; Ms. Wolfe throws in some humor for good measure. I especially appreciated Betty, who provides wise advice, a sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on, and more than a few chuckles. She told one story about growing up poor that had me laughing out loud. I hope to see more of Merit Bridges and her legal team in the future. As Merit would say, "Coolio!"
All in all, Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King was a pleasantly entertaining legal caper. I wish to thank NetGalley, Starpath Books, and Ms. Manning Wolfe for providing me with this book in exchange for my unbiased, honest review.
4 Big Texas Stars
December 27, 2016
Smart, moving legal thriller.
Three reasons I chose this book: written by female author lives in Texas and legal thriller. So glad I did, really enjoyed Merit Bridges character and his office stuff. Billboard company taking advantage of land owners, pushing them sign a lease to put there signs, taking advantage of their land. In very small print hiding their real interest. Other parallel running plot is foreclosure of home. Feel good story. Don't mess with Texas lady lawyer Merit Bridges.
Three reasons I chose this book: written by female author lives in Texas and legal thriller. So glad I did, really enjoyed Merit Bridges character and his office stuff. Billboard company taking advantage of land owners, pushing them sign a lease to put there signs, taking advantage of their land. In very small print hiding their real interest. Other parallel running plot is foreclosure of home. Feel good story. Don't mess with Texas lady lawyer Merit Bridges.
January 23, 2016
Merit Bridges is a wonderful character that has a great future. She is not too old or too young but just right. She is a mother, a lawyer, a widow, savvy and able to express what she does and does not want/like. There are billboards everywhere in the world and if half of what is talked about in this book is true then…oh my…and what a hook to base a story on.
The story has characters I could relate to and an idea that was new to me. The bad guy is charming – at first – but definitely more than a con man and he was truly evil. I look forward to hearing more about Merit, Ace – her son, Ag, Val, Mai and others who made their debut in this book. This is a book that could one day show up on the big screen but for now I look forward to finding out what happens next when book two in the series is finished.
Thank you to NetGalley and Starpath LLC for the copy of this ARC to read and review.
4.5 Stars
The story has characters I could relate to and an idea that was new to me. The bad guy is charming – at first – but definitely more than a con man and he was truly evil. I look forward to hearing more about Merit, Ace – her son, Ag, Val, Mai and others who made their debut in this book. This is a book that could one day show up on the big screen but for now I look forward to finding out what happens next when book two in the series is finished.
Thank you to NetGalley and Starpath LLC for the copy of this ARC to read and review.
4.5 Stars
January 16, 2016
Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King, is a legal thriller by Manning Wolfe, that looks like it's going to be a series, I hope! Attorney Merit Bridges represents her client in a case against a powerful corrupt corporation. The giant company hires a sleazy agent, Boots King, to threaten Merit and her clients. With the help of her fun and quirky office staff (Love Betty!), Merit must go to extremes to protect her client, herself, and her son. It's a fast read, and the action builds until the page-turning end. Like I could see it as a movie! Merit is a great character. When she's not working, she loves drinking wine and hooking up with younger men. But when it comes to work, she's smart, and isn't afraid of matching power with power. I’d recommend grabbing this for a long flight or a beach read -- a really fun ride!
January 20, 2016
I finished reading Dollar Signs this morning and loved it, loved it, loved it! Author Manning Wolfe did an outstanding job. Great story, lots of Texas flair and sass, complex, interesting, new story line that gets tied up nicely. It started off with a bang and kept me turning the pages, which is my main purpose in reading a book. It has a great mix of characters and Wolfe did a great job of setting scenes without belabored descriptions. I could easily visualize the places and the action. Good stories are about relationships and this one had 'em all with the character's weaknesses, strengths, pathos, and hope on display. Made for a great roller coaster ride.
January 17, 2016
I just finished reading Manning's debut legal thriller, Dollar Signs, and I was hooked from beginning to end. In the story, attny. Merit Bridges represents her client in a case against a powerful and bullying corporation. Throughout the course of the story, she ends up having a slew of run-ins with Boots King, a sleazy agent who Betty (the office manager) has very serious reservations about. As the plot thickens, as does the tricky legal maneuvering, Merit has to pull out all the stops to protect both her client and herself.
A great read! 2 thumbs up!
A great read! 2 thumbs up!
January 20, 2016
Boots King and a corrupted corporation are trying to stop Merit Bridges and her team but at what lengths will they go? In Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King Merit, an attorney, has to not only protect her client she has to protect herself. I picked up this legal thriller every chance I got, it has a great pace and wonderful characters. I look forward for more suspense and humor from this series!
January 23, 2016
Legal thrills at their best. Merit Bridges, an enticing lawyer with a love of wine and younger men, takes on Boots King, a memorable villain with a taste for murder. Unexpected twists keep the story moving along with snappy dialogue and fast-paced action. From the dramatic first sentence to the last paragraph, don't expect to eat or sleep. The literary world has a new star.
January 22, 2016
"MANNING WOLFE paints a stunning portrait of crime and punishment in Austin,Texas. Readers will not soon forget her attorney heroine, Merit Bridges, nor the villain, Boots King..."
Jarlon Magee, author
Jarlon Magee, author
February 17, 2016
If you are looking for a suspenseful, legal jargon filled read featuring an independent, feisty Texas female lawyer, Dollar Signs is likely right up your alley. I certainly have to give the author credit for giving this book such a strong, won’t back down, mostly likable heroine. I say mostly because I am a little conflicted on her self-proclaimed Cougar nature when it comes to men. As a romantic at heart, it bothered me she wasn’t with Ag, who was always there for her and obviously had feelings for her. He was basically her paid by the job, private detective that always had her back, a Jim Rockford type character. I get she was duped by John in the beginning, but she obviously didn’t consider him long term anyway. Then, Tatoo, the younger biker dude was such a brief off the screen fling so fleeting I didn’t really see the point of introducing him into her life at all. Now, for those of you who are tired of a heroine sitting on the sidelines ringing her hands waiting to be noticed by the hero, you’ll likely be high fiving here. That particular scenario just isn’t ever going to happen with this lady lawyer.
You’ve likely noticed so far I’ve focused mainly on the romantic side of this book. That’s because when I requested a NetGalley ARC it was listed under romance. Folks, in my opinion, it isn’t a romantic read. It should have only been listed under Women’s Fiction or Suspense/Thriller. I am not fond of a storyline where I can’t even easily recognize the love interest of the heroine. At 30%, I certainly found myself hoping it would be Ag, but it never quite got there. I’m assuming there will be a second book, and their relationship will likely keep evolving into something more.
Overall, it was an intriguing story, but there were some issues. The legal aspect felt realistic but overly done at times. I pretty much skipped all the trial scenes, just wanted to know the end result. It was really interesting at first, then felt overwhelming. It was almost like every word from her day working these cases were being recorded and played back in a language I didn’t understand.
I must admit I was tempted to put my Kindle fast-forwarding forefinger out of its misery and stop reading it a time or two. I also certainly could have lived without her and Ag’s trip to the cock fight where they were trying to corner the bad guy, Boots. It was graphic, and, well, pointless. Also, rather strange was the heroine’s sixth sense for danger, tingling under her armpits, which she referred too quite often. Honestly, why couldn’t it have been goosebumps, hair standing on the back of her neck, or even just a cold, chilly feeling? Somehow it seemed crass and not very sophisticated. While I’m eliminating things, how about the trip to the strip club to see Slag. You would think they would have met in his office and had lunch to discuss his legal matters. Not do it with music blaring and scantily clad women touching them. It just didn’t seem logical or professional. I guess it was done to make her come across as one of the boys, so to speak.
There was, of course, a posse of bad guys, disguised as legit business men, who hired overly zealous, likes his job way too much, Boots to do their dirty work. With the heroine set in his crosshairs several times, there was a lot of drama and action. I can only assume there will be more books in this series that will feature this tough as nails attorney. Here’s to hoping it will feature more of her and Ag developing a romantic relationship. I would love to see more of them together.
Title: Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King, Author: Manning Wolfe, Pages: 307, stand-alone, not a romantic read so no HEA for the heroine, no specific hero.
(This review is based on ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer.)
You’ve likely noticed so far I’ve focused mainly on the romantic side of this book. That’s because when I requested a NetGalley ARC it was listed under romance. Folks, in my opinion, it isn’t a romantic read. It should have only been listed under Women’s Fiction or Suspense/Thriller. I am not fond of a storyline where I can’t even easily recognize the love interest of the heroine. At 30%, I certainly found myself hoping it would be Ag, but it never quite got there. I’m assuming there will be a second book, and their relationship will likely keep evolving into something more.
Overall, it was an intriguing story, but there were some issues. The legal aspect felt realistic but overly done at times. I pretty much skipped all the trial scenes, just wanted to know the end result. It was really interesting at first, then felt overwhelming. It was almost like every word from her day working these cases were being recorded and played back in a language I didn’t understand.
I must admit I was tempted to put my Kindle fast-forwarding forefinger out of its misery and stop reading it a time or two. I also certainly could have lived without her and Ag’s trip to the cock fight where they were trying to corner the bad guy, Boots. It was graphic, and, well, pointless. Also, rather strange was the heroine’s sixth sense for danger, tingling under her armpits, which she referred too quite often. Honestly, why couldn’t it have been goosebumps, hair standing on the back of her neck, or even just a cold, chilly feeling? Somehow it seemed crass and not very sophisticated. While I’m eliminating things, how about the trip to the strip club to see Slag. You would think they would have met in his office and had lunch to discuss his legal matters. Not do it with music blaring and scantily clad women touching them. It just didn’t seem logical or professional. I guess it was done to make her come across as one of the boys, so to speak.
There was, of course, a posse of bad guys, disguised as legit business men, who hired overly zealous, likes his job way too much, Boots to do their dirty work. With the heroine set in his crosshairs several times, there was a lot of drama and action. I can only assume there will be more books in this series that will feature this tough as nails attorney. Here’s to hoping it will feature more of her and Ag developing a romantic relationship. I would love to see more of them together.
Title: Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King, Author: Manning Wolfe, Pages: 307, stand-alone, not a romantic read so no HEA for the heroine, no specific hero.
(This review is based on ARC generously provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest, unbiased opinion. No compensation was paid to the reviewer.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 3, 2018
Check out my review here:
http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.c...
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received no additional compensation.
The description of Merit Bridges made me want to check this book out. I like a smart thriller, one that makes me actually have to think, and Dollar Signs didn't disappoint. Merit defends the hard-working "little guy" against the corrupt "big business" trying to take his land and livelihood. "Fixer" Boots King is one of those slimy, "love to hate" characters and you just can't wait to see Merit take him down. I especially loved Merit's office manager, Betty, a great "mama bear" character that holds down the fort and has the perfect comeback for anything. Manning Wolfe has created a great set of characters and constructed a town that I'm ready to return to with the next books in this series.
http://www.ivoryowlreviews.blogspot.c...
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I received no additional compensation.
The description of Merit Bridges made me want to check this book out. I like a smart thriller, one that makes me actually have to think, and Dollar Signs didn't disappoint. Merit defends the hard-working "little guy" against the corrupt "big business" trying to take his land and livelihood. "Fixer" Boots King is one of those slimy, "love to hate" characters and you just can't wait to see Merit take him down. I especially loved Merit's office manager, Betty, a great "mama bear" character that holds down the fort and has the perfect comeback for anything. Manning Wolfe has created a great set of characters and constructed a town that I'm ready to return to with the next books in this series.
January 14, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King by Manning Wolfe. This fast-paced legal thriller set in hip and quirky Austin follows attorney Merit Bridges. She does whatever it takes to protect her client, who is railroaded by a sleazy and powerful businessman. This pits Merit against the businessman’s shady attorney and the shadowy hatchet man enlisted to scare Merit and her client into backing down. Merit’s office staff and associates add color and fun to the story. The seemingly small legal issue at play proves to expose more far-reaching consequences, ramping up the action all the way to the end.
February 3, 2016
Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King is a thrilling story about a texan lawyer, who stands against big, sleazy businssman, while they are relentlessly trying to scare her and the clients she is fighting for. I thoroughly enjoyed the protagonist's personal issues and her staff's colorful personalities. As Merit Bridges is trying to save the small business owners and herself, she is not afraid to go all the way, even if she needs to make personal sacrafices. This book takes you to the world of issues at hand, which show how something small, and at first glance insignificant, can in reality become incredibly important.
January 28, 2016
After reading Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King, which takes place in Austin, TX, I was extremely pleased with the fast pace plot and the thorough character development. Merit Bridges, an attorney who relentlessly fights against powerful businessman shows her passion and will, while not ever backing down. Effervescence and color are exhibited by her staff and associates, this adds an element of excitement and fun. The book shows how a legal issue, which at first is seemingly insignificant, can expose problems and consequences of a far higher level.
February 18, 2016
Well they say everything is bigger in Texas, and that's true with this stellar debut! A colorful Texas legal thriller with a strong, savvy female protagonist that will keep you engaged and guessing through the end and ready for more from Manning Wolfe.
July 5, 2016
Great Story
I love to read and this New Series by Manning Wolfe really caught me and loved the suspense, story line, characters,. Could go on and but I want you readers to read this Series yourselves.
I love to read and this New Series by Manning Wolfe really caught me and loved the suspense, story line, characters,. Could go on and but I want you readers to read this Series yourselves.
February 18, 2016
Manning Wolfe has crafted an entertaining, fast-paced legal thriller with a feisty leading lady who you can't help but love. Can't wait for the next installment of this series!
February 12, 2016
I LOVED this book!!! Suspenseful, sexy, and absorbing, it kept me up late three nights in a row. I can't wait to read more from Manning!
February 12, 2016
Fast paced, funny, and suspenseful! All the things you would want from a legal thriller can be found in this book. LOVED it!!
June 27, 2016
Great new book!
Manning Wolfe is a new author for me and it won't be the last of her books I read. It was hard to put down. I would recommend it to friends and family.
Manning Wolfe is a new author for me and it won't be the last of her books I read. It was hard to put down. I would recommend it to friends and family.
July 28, 2018
Oh, blessed giveaways. This is yet another author I would not have been introduced to if it weren't for them. I enjoyed this book, but it seemed a little flat to me. My still most favorite legal mystery involving research (Shepardizing), also written by a lawyer (later a judge) is "Anatomy of a Murder". Sorry, but I found this a far cry from that unputdownable "treasure hunt" of the legal loophole with a surprise ending. There is no surprise ending here; still, Dollar Signs is a pleasant read.
July 21, 2019
A must read!
Merit Bridges newest case involves her in a fight with billboard companies across the country. Her characters come to life with her colorful descriptions!
Merit Bridges newest case involves her in a fight with billboard companies across the country. Her characters come to life with her colorful descriptions!
September 11, 2018
Nice balance of suspense and investigational work
Good suspenseful story that kept me riveted. Can't wait to get into Book 2.
Good suspenseful story that kept me riveted. Can't wait to get into Book 2.
July 14, 2019
This is a great introduction to Ms. Wolfe's characters, filled with a lot of legalese. You'll find yourself learning a lot about property issues (in the State of Texas), while you enjoy some of the twists and turns to the final outcome. There may even be a bit of a brewing romance.
February 23, 2016
TEXAS / MYSTERY
Manning Wolfe
Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King
Starpath Books, LLC
Ebook, 978-1-944225-00-1, 257 pgs., $7.99
February 18, 2016
When Tarantella Estevez set fire to the billboard looming over his tire shop he didn’t consider all of the junked vehicles parked on the lot beneath it. And how could he know that a homeless man was sleeping in one of those cars? So when the billboard buckles and falls flaming onto the vehicles below, and the gasoline in their tanks ignites, a simple charge of vandalism becomes manslaughter and Austin lawyer Merit Bridges, the Estevez brothers’ real estate attorney for a case involving the aforementioned, now incinerated, billboard, is cast into unfamiliar criminal waters. Boots King (“slippery as snail snot”) is an ethically challenged leasing agent employed by the owner of the billboard company to con trusting property owners into outdoor advertising contracts with some highly suspicious language buried in the small print. Boots isn’t averse to getting his hands dirty in a little wet work when called upon by his boss.
Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King is a legal thriller by Manning Wolfe, the winner of a Writers’ League of Texas manuscript contest, and the first in a planned series. Manning brings her legal education and years of experience practicing law in Austin to bear on this promising debut. She even manages to make the minutiae of contracts and real estate law and procedure interesting (seriously — y’all stop laughing).
Steeped in the sometimes self-conscious weirdness of Austin, Dollar Signs has a distinctly Texas feel. All of the familiar landmarks and a few new ones are here, from Fonda San Miguel to Amy’s Ice Creams. This tale is peopled with a diverse and quirky cast of characters, as befits Austin. Merit Bridges is a Texas original, and Wolf provides her with a complex and interesting backstory. The relationship between Bridges and her dyslexic teenage son provides a sweet respite from all the scheming and darkness of her current case. The only missteps in Dollar Signs involve the aforementioned self-conscious weirdness of Austin. Not everyone in the capital city is auditioning for their own reality show. Wolfe makes you care about her characters, and a lighter touch will keep them out of stereotype territory.
Wolfe grabs our attention with the first sentence as the PETA billboard begins to burn and the “smiling head of Greg Lee Wood burst into flames. Each animal surrounding him caught fire and burned. Two dogs, three cats, a sheep, and two goats all went in a giant ball of fire.” She keeps our attention with an original plot, fast pace, plenty of action, and an exciting conclusion.
Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.
Manning Wolfe
Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King
Starpath Books, LLC
Ebook, 978-1-944225-00-1, 257 pgs., $7.99
February 18, 2016
When Tarantella Estevez set fire to the billboard looming over his tire shop he didn’t consider all of the junked vehicles parked on the lot beneath it. And how could he know that a homeless man was sleeping in one of those cars? So when the billboard buckles and falls flaming onto the vehicles below, and the gasoline in their tanks ignites, a simple charge of vandalism becomes manslaughter and Austin lawyer Merit Bridges, the Estevez brothers’ real estate attorney for a case involving the aforementioned, now incinerated, billboard, is cast into unfamiliar criminal waters. Boots King (“slippery as snail snot”) is an ethically challenged leasing agent employed by the owner of the billboard company to con trusting property owners into outdoor advertising contracts with some highly suspicious language buried in the small print. Boots isn’t averse to getting his hands dirty in a little wet work when called upon by his boss.
Dollar Signs: Texas Lady Lawyer vs Boots King is a legal thriller by Manning Wolfe, the winner of a Writers’ League of Texas manuscript contest, and the first in a planned series. Manning brings her legal education and years of experience practicing law in Austin to bear on this promising debut. She even manages to make the minutiae of contracts and real estate law and procedure interesting (seriously — y’all stop laughing).
Steeped in the sometimes self-conscious weirdness of Austin, Dollar Signs has a distinctly Texas feel. All of the familiar landmarks and a few new ones are here, from Fonda San Miguel to Amy’s Ice Creams. This tale is peopled with a diverse and quirky cast of characters, as befits Austin. Merit Bridges is a Texas original, and Wolf provides her with a complex and interesting backstory. The relationship between Bridges and her dyslexic teenage son provides a sweet respite from all the scheming and darkness of her current case. The only missteps in Dollar Signs involve the aforementioned self-conscious weirdness of Austin. Not everyone in the capital city is auditioning for their own reality show. Wolfe makes you care about her characters, and a lighter touch will keep them out of stereotype territory.
Wolfe grabs our attention with the first sentence as the PETA billboard begins to burn and the “smiling head of Greg Lee Wood burst into flames. Each animal surrounding him caught fire and burned. Two dogs, three cats, a sheep, and two goats all went in a giant ball of fire.” She keeps our attention with an original plot, fast pace, plenty of action, and an exciting conclusion.
Originally published in Lone Star Literary Life.
April 7, 2016
If you enjoy strong female characters this book is for you. If you enjoy legal thrillers then this book has that too! To find the two combined is a treat for readers who like their books with a bit of oomph and a lady lawyer not afraid to hold her own! The main character Merit Bridges is a kick ass lawyer with her own unique way of doing things. She's brave, sassy and driven. All these traits are at times completely at odds with her own personal life. Whilst her public persona is one of confidence and being completely unshakeable she does have a vulnerable side, particularly where her son is concerned and that makes her a likeable character. Merit's latest case, protecting her client from the very nasty Boots King tests Merit's skills as a lawyer.
Boots King is the type of character that readers love to hate! He is unscrupulous in his efforts to get clients to sign up to dodgy lease contracts and when Merit's client falls foul of a Boots King scheme, or scam as they really are, he unfortunately takes matters into his own hands and needs Merit's skills to dig him out of a very big hole. As determined as Merit is to see justice done, Boots King is as determined to stop her and he doesn't care how he does that.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed throughout the book were the interactions with the other characters. The dynamics worked really well and Merit and her associates are like one big diverse family! I fell in love a little bit with Ag and I had such a soft spot for Betty. That woman is so worldly wise and knows when to impart words of wisdom and when to be more subtle in her approach. The story has lots of twists and turns and the pace of the book flows easily. There is a lot of legal jargon to get through and sometimes its a bit confusing but its definitely worth persevering. It is after all a legal thriller so no surprise there! Looking forward to the next book in the series.
Boots King is the type of character that readers love to hate! He is unscrupulous in his efforts to get clients to sign up to dodgy lease contracts and when Merit's client falls foul of a Boots King scheme, or scam as they really are, he unfortunately takes matters into his own hands and needs Merit's skills to dig him out of a very big hole. As determined as Merit is to see justice done, Boots King is as determined to stop her and he doesn't care how he does that.
One of the things I particularly enjoyed throughout the book were the interactions with the other characters. The dynamics worked really well and Merit and her associates are like one big diverse family! I fell in love a little bit with Ag and I had such a soft spot for Betty. That woman is so worldly wise and knows when to impart words of wisdom and when to be more subtle in her approach. The story has lots of twists and turns and the pace of the book flows easily. There is a lot of legal jargon to get through and sometimes its a bit confusing but its definitely worth persevering. It is after all a legal thriller so no surprise there! Looking forward to the next book in the series.
March 22, 2016
Dollar Signs is a legal thriller set in Austin Texas and the storyline revolves around Boots King a leasing agent employed by Nixon Outdoor Advertising, and Merit Bridges a business attorney. Boots and Nixon adverting have been praying on innocent business owners getting them to sign space for advertising billboards but hiding legal clauses which later affect land ownership.
The book opens with a client of Merit's burning down a billboard, but the ensuing fire engulfs and kills a homeless guy who was in a car close by. A simple case of property damage now becomes manslaughter and Boots King is a slippery con man who knows plenty of tricks.
This book has a lot of American legal jargon and the leasing legislation is complex, this author knows her stuff and Texan law has its own twists. The book is written in third person omniscient which lends itself towards "Telling" rather than "showing" the reader the storyline. I would have liked a wider range of dialogue tags to smooth the flow of the writing moving away from he/ she said/asked, however the main characters are strong and if you like American legal thrillers then you should enjoy this read.
The book opens with a client of Merit's burning down a billboard, but the ensuing fire engulfs and kills a homeless guy who was in a car close by. A simple case of property damage now becomes manslaughter and Boots King is a slippery con man who knows plenty of tricks.
This book has a lot of American legal jargon and the leasing legislation is complex, this author knows her stuff and Texan law has its own twists. The book is written in third person omniscient which lends itself towards "Telling" rather than "showing" the reader the storyline. I would have liked a wider range of dialogue tags to smooth the flow of the writing moving away from he/ she said/asked, however the main characters are strong and if you like American legal thrillers then you should enjoy this read.
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