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To Serve and Seduce #5

In the Arms of the Law

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To get to the truth,

Will he mix business with pleasure?

When his brother is accused of murder, attorney Ellington Black vows to prove his innocence, even as he comes up against force-of-nature investigator Angela Stanfield, who suspects there's more to the story. But Ellington needs evidence, so they team up to find out the truth. Working with this irresistible woman is more than challenging…and it might just land Ellington high on a killer's hit list.

From Harlequin Romantic Suspense: Danger. Passion. Drama.

Feel the excitement in these uplifting romances, part of the To Serve and Seduce series:

Book 1: Seduced by the Badge
Book 2: Tempted by the Badge
Book 3: Reunited by the Badge
Book 4: Stalked by Secrets
Book 5: In the Arms of the Law

283 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 29, 2022

27 people are currently reading
33 people want to read

About the author

Deborah Fletcher Mello

130 books202 followers


For Deborah Fletcher Mello, writing is as necessary as breathing and she firmly believes that if she could not write she would cease to exist. Her first novel, TAKE ME TO HEART, earned her a 2004 Romance Slam Jam nomination for Best New Author. In 2005 she received Book of the Year and Favorite Heroine nominations for her novel THE RIGHT SIDE OF LOVE. In 2008, Deborah won the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice award for Best Series Romance for her ninth novel, TAME A WILD STALLION.

A true renaissance woman, Deborah's many career paths have included working as a retail buyer and size model for a national women's clothing chain, a finance manager for a well-known beverage organization, a sales manager for an infamous candy company, a telecommunications administrator and corporate trainer for a hotel-owning company, an art gallery director for a world-renowned artist, and an administrative consultant for multiple organizations throughout the United States. Deborah is also a licensed real estate broker and general building contractor.

Born and raised in Connecticut, Deborah maintains base camp in North Carolina but considers home to be wherever the moment moves her.

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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
Profile Image for Jenica.
1,462 reviews46 followers
dnf-either-for-now-or-for-forever
July 23, 2023
I am so sorry, but I cannot turn off my brain for this book. Most of the time with a romantic suspense, I can just pretend I'm not a lawyer, but that gets harder when it's a murder investigation and they're talking about ignoring conflicts of interest while trying to prove this man's brother innocent. Nope. Sorry. No can do.

That said, if you're not a lawyer, I'm sure this book is a delight! Go forth and have a great time.

Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the opportunity to read this one as an e-ARC, but I actually purchased my own copy as well.
Profile Image for ShayBooks.
801 reviews17 followers
June 30, 2023
When his brother is accused of murder, attorney Ellington Black vows to prove his innocence, even as he comes up against force-of-nature investigator Angela Stanfield, who suspects there's more to the story. But Ellington needs evidence, so they team up to find out the truth. Working with this irresistible woman is more than challenging…and it might just land Ellington high on a killer's hit list.


In the arms of the Law is the filth instalment in the To Serve and Seduce series. This was a page turner, once I started I could not put it down until I read the last page. I enjoyed this Romantic Suspense I was working hard to solve this crime right along with the Black's and Angela. This has been a good series so far.
Profile Image for Susan.
4,806 reviews126 followers
November 28, 2022
Terrific book that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The intensity and urgency are apparent as defense attorney Ellington is called to the home of his brother Parker. Parker, a Chicago police officer, is accused of murdering his partner and lover, DA Jonathan Wyler. The scene there is intense, with Parker devastated and in shock, the violence of the murder, and the attitudes of the responding officers. Ellington is determined to prove Parker's innocence.

Because Parker is part of the Chicago police department, headed by Jerome Black, Parker and Ellington's father, the mayor assigns a special investigator to the case. Angela is a take-no-prisoners kind of investigator. She is unbiased, intelligent, and doesn't suffer fools gladly.

The book was a terrific mixture of suspense and romance. Ellington and Angela connected the first time they met and quickly realized that both wanted to find the truth. Thanks to Angela's attention to detail, I enjoyed the deeper-than-usual look at the investigative process. I loved that she was suspicious of the accusation from the beginning, and watching her tear a strip off the lead detective in the case was a pleasure to see. The realization that something is fishy is reinforced when the mayor turns around and fires Angela when she refuses to go along with his preferred scenario. Determined to see the truth exposed, Angela joins Ellington, and they combine forces on their investigation.

The story intensified with each new piece of information they uncovered. There is evidence of corruption and cover-ups; the closer they get to the truth, the more danger they are in. They also discover that there is a personal element to the setup that comes as a shock to everyone. I loved seeing the unquestioning support of all family members for Parker. Their brother Mingus, the private investigator, plays a significant role in uncovering vital information. When the person behind it all makes his move, Ellington's mother and Angela are in extreme danger. The twists and turns of the resolution had me glued to the pages until it was all over. The stunning end was not what I expected, and it will be interesting to see its long-term effects in the next book.

I enjoyed seeing the relationship develop between Ellington and Angela. They are alike in their pursuit of the truth, and working together allows them to get to know each other. I like how well they connected and how easily they talked about anything. Their attraction is evident from the start and continues to grow throughout the book. I liked that neither one fought their feelings and that they were able to express them. I also loved that Angela had such a realistic view of what it takes to have a good relationship. I have no that she and Ellington will stay together, but she is determined to take it slowly enough to be sure. Her conversation with Ellington at the end was great.

I loved seeing more of Ellington's family. The relationship between his parents is an excellent example for the entire family. The teasing and snarkiness among the siblings were hilarious to watch, but it all stops when it comes to supporting a brother or sister in trouble. I can't wait to see what is in store for sister Vaughan.

#netgalley
Profile Image for Becky.
3,426 reviews142 followers
September 22, 2022
What did I just read? This was well paced, with a believable romance and an *actual* investigation going on ON PAGE and not just when we weren't looking! We knew who the antagonist was way before the last ten pages of the book, and though it was a teensy bit OTT it wasn't utterly ridiculous! The MCs exchanged ILYs at a decent point of the book, but even at the end weren't jumping on the matrimony train just yet--amazing! Almost every other author I've read from this imprint in the past year+ should be taking notes... (I wish I was exaggerating, but I'm not. This one was about 250% better written than all but 1 or maybe 2 of the more than 40 books I've read from this line in the past year.)

OK, snark aside--In the Arms of the Law was a truly enjoyable read. The pacing was excellent on both the romance and the suspense, and the characters (main and secondary) were likable and relatable. I especially liked that Angela took no crap--not from her boss, the feds, Ellington, Ellington's often-intimidating family--from no one. The relationship between Ellington and the rest of his family was a hoot to read, even if you haven't read anything else in the series yet (this is book #5; I did read the third book, Reunited by the Badge in 2019 but honestly other than I liked it, I remember zero details. I don't even want to count how many other books I've read in the meantime; surely I can be forgiven?)

By my count, there should be 2 more books if all the siblings are getting one (because please tell me poor Parker will!) and I am absolutely going to be keeping an eye out for them. If it'll be a while, that'll at least give me time to get caught up on the 3 I haven't read yet--something to look forward to!

Rating: 4 stars / B+

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Profile Image for Joyce M. H..
1,398 reviews19 followers
November 10, 2022
This is the 5th book in the “To Serve And Seduce Series”. The last book in this series that the readers received was March 2021 “Stalked By Secrets”. So glad that Deborah was able to give the readers another book in the Black Series. I have been a fan of Deborah’s since the Stallion Series. Deborah has an awesome style of writing; she holds the reader's attention and never lets them go. I am loving the romance suspense writing style of Deborah. I am so loving the mystery, suspense, drama, corruption, secrets, mayhem, romance and surrounding the Black family with such awesome plots. Ellington is a defense attorney, and his brother Parker has been accused of murder and he is defending him. Angela is a special investigator, and she knows that there is so much more going on with the murder charges against Parker. Angela and Ellington team up together to get to the bottom of what is actually going on. The chemistry and attraction between Angela and Ellington is oh so good.
This is an awesome series, and I am waiting patiently for the book in the Black series.
Did someone frame Parker, was it a setup, who killed Wyler, is there more going on than Ellington and Angela know about, will the two find themselves needing representation?
I received an ARC via NetGalley HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Harlequin Romantic Suspense and I am leaving my review voluntarily.
Profile Image for Brenda  Larnell.
442 reviews25 followers
November 7, 2022
Talented storyteller, Deborah Fletcher Mello has penned another intriguing and entertaining story about the prominent Black family of Chicago. This story features Defense Attorney, Ellington Black and Special Investigator Angela Stanfield.. This is the fifth book of the To Serve and Seduce Miniseries that highlights members of the Black family, This book is a wonderful mix of suspense and romance. The chemistry between Ellington and Angela is off-the-charts!
Ellington and the Black family are knee deep in a crime that has them closing ranks to protect their brother, Parker who seems to be the #1 suspect in tge murder of his partner and lover, DA Jonathan Wyler. Thus story has it all: bad actors, family drama, murder, mayhem, corruption in high places, and last but not least, romance. Ellington and Angela hit it off from the very beginning when she us hired to investigate Wyler’s murder. This is such a well-written story that will make it hard to put down. The Black family, with all their flaws, is one of the premier book families. I like them, and I believe you will too.
Although each book of the series can be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend that you read them all. In the meantime, IN THE ARMS OF THE LAW is a winner! You can thank me later.
788 reviews4 followers
December 1, 2022
And how she was in the arms of the law!!

This startling chronicle of a family inundated by problems most would proclaim stem from them all being an over achieving high profile family, takes on a deadly turn from unsuspecting sources! Unfortunately the resulting child of a traumatic assault on the family matriarch has left him bitter and out for revenge. I would love for mother and the oldest son to have had a real heart to heart and maybe his life could have been spared and eventually he could have been folded into the family fabric! Such tragedy befell this family and I truly wish other choices would have been made so he could get the family/motherly love he has probably missed all of his life. I enjoyed Ellington and Angela's story and how the family rallied to each other's side and closed ranks to protect, uplift and love one another with a fierce family loyalty!!!!! I would also like to have witnessed those corrupt officers being outed and brought to heel!
Profile Image for Jessica.
2,209 reviews51 followers
November 29, 2022
Ellington's brother is being blamed for the murder of his lover and the police this is a simple case no further looking around needed. Angela is a investigator who believe there is more then that and on a mission to find the truth.

I love mystery suspense novels and this was perfect for that. I also enjoyed that romance that was going on between Ellington and Angela. I also appreciate that it wasn't too much, while there maybe a steamy scene or two it wasn't the main part of the book. I loved watching as the mystery unfolded. I mean there was the obvious look that there are crooked cops and wondering who was the person behind everything I mean Angela kept finding evidence after evidence helping clear the brothers name but someone clearly wanted him to be blamed. Overall this was a pretty good book I really enjoyed it.
156 reviews
January 3, 2023
What ending too the Black series this story was filled with suspense, intrigue and lots of action. This is the fifth and final installment in the Black family series and this story did not disappoint. Here eldest brother Parker Black a Chicago Police Captain is accused of murder. Who his lover district attorney Jonathan Wyler. This is when things get interesting when secrets come out and we meet special agent Angela Stanfield the chemistry between her and Ellington pop from the first meeting. The past certainly comes back to haunt the Black family with explosive ending. Fabian wasn't just crazy he was insane.
Profile Image for Anita (Hearts and Whodunits).
1,011 reviews17 followers
June 3, 2023
When his brother is accused of murder, attorney Ellington Black vows to prove his innocence, even as he comes up against investigator Angela Stanfield, who suspects there's more to the story. But Ellington needs evidence, so they team up to find out the truth. Can new love survive their investigation?
This was a great contemporary romantic suspense. The plot kept me at the edge of my seat wondering how the story would end. The Black family is full of interesting characters, and I want to read the rest of their stories. It was a pleasurable, easy read. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.
131 reviews
January 6, 2023
Love And Corruption!

This book was the total package! It had love, mystery, corruption and murder! It seems as if everyone was “hating “ on the Black family. They were a very strong and loving close knit family. The matriarch of the Black family had a lot to deal with in her family and her profession. I’m just glad that Angela arrived to help with Parker’s case. While doing so, she and Ellington found each other. I’m so glad they had each other! Loving this series! Thank you Deborah!! ❤️🔥
50 reviews
March 12, 2023
Miss Mello just keeps getting better and better with each book. When I read the first few pages of in the arms, I thought I had missed something so I went back and reread book four. No spoilers. I did miss something. I miss the flavor of Chicago that Miss Mello captures so very well, but I digress. In the arms of the Law answered so many questions, and posed so many more. The Blacks a strong Chicago Family. They say always leave them wanting more, Miss Mello left me needing more. Bravo, bravo Miss Mello keeping keep them coming.
Profile Image for Vonetta Augustine.
341 reviews
April 19, 2025
Ellington and Angela are great together. Two very smart, sexy, and truth seeking people get together to solve the mystery of who killed Parker’s boyfriend. Parker is gay; interesting twist.

I knew from reading the other books that Judith’s first born would be an issue. I didn’t realize the extend. Talk about hurt people hurt, Fabian is the poster child for that saying.

The mystery was solved, justice was served, and Ellington and Angela are happily in love 🥰.

We need Vaughn story and close out this series by getting Parker his well deserved HEA.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Mrs..
5,993 reviews107 followers
December 1, 2022
Enjoyable

I adore the Black family and their dynamics. The story started with Parker being charged with a crime, and then it turns into Ellington's story. Poor Parker was left and forgotten, to ask, hey what about my story? Anyway, Ellington and Angela's story took over, but it was okay, as they would be vital to solving the huge mystery surrounding Parker. The family drama this time included the whole family. A good read...
380 reviews1 follower
November 11, 2022
Parker Black got out of the shower and found his boyfriend dead. His bother Ellington Black was determined to prove his brother's innocence. Angela Stanfield was brought in on the case as an independent investigator. This story had a lot of unexpected twists and turns. The very conservative and uptight Ellington finally meets his match in Angela.
Profile Image for Antionette.
206 reviews3 followers
December 4, 2022
Case Closed

Bang! That is what this fifth book in To Serve and Seduce series opens with a shockingly big bang. Deborah Fletcher Mello brought fire, drama, murder,and suspense from start to finish in In the Arms of the Law. Ellington and Angela fit like connecting jigsaw puzzle pieces. Awesome five star story.
Profile Image for Shone.
1,340 reviews29 followers
December 10, 2022
Family First

In my humble opinion, this was the best book in the To Serve and Seduce series. The Black family have been put through he'll from book one. Their love for each other, Chicago, and the law kept then strong and standing together.

#family #police #murder #protect #harlequin #derborahfletchermelo #cillasbookmaniacs
Profile Image for Karen Taylor.
174 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2022
Family and love

What a family won’t do for the other when a dangerous killer Is on the lose. The Black family love is love like no other. But when the killer comes really close to the family all hands on deck. Fire, love , hurt and pain may destroy the family but love always over come.
386 reviews1 follower
December 22, 2022
In the arms of the law

Good mystery and love story. The large family and how they agree and fight is a great example of family love. It also brought out the good intentions of adoptions don't always work out. That's while women should determine what's best for them and their bodies.
Profile Image for Valerie.
48 reviews
December 7, 2022
Mind blowing

Ms Mello truly threw me for a loop!! This storyline was so unexpected and darn great! This book is my favorite in this series. The twists and turns will keep you reading. As always, her family series are wonderful. Thank You.😊
1,243 reviews9 followers
December 9, 2022
Excellent read

Excellent read, I loved the characters and storyline. Ellington and Angela are a great match, they were instantly attracted to each other. This book has non stop action. There was never a dull moment in this love story/ crime drama. I look forward to the next book.
65 reviews
January 11, 2023
Family

This book had me hanging on every step of the way. I never imagined the story ending the way it did and yet it still has me wanting more!!!! Family is everything in this series and I cannot wait to read Vaugh’s story!!!
Profile Image for Barbara Williams.
19 reviews
May 30, 2023
Awesome

Great read, I really enjoyed the mystery aspect of the book, also it's steamy romance. I couldn't put it down
Profile Image for Michelle .
83 reviews7 followers
June 24, 2023
This was a page turner , I was so drawn into this book . The perfect mystery suspense . I need more on Ellington and Angela , I know more will come from them
Profile Image for Kelsey’s Kindle.
402 reviews21 followers
December 2, 2022
In the Arms of the Law is the 5th book in Deborah’s To Serve and Seduce Series. It follows Attorney Ellington Black who’s brother is accused of murder. He comes up against a force of nature by the name of Special Agent Angela Stanford who thinks there’s more than meets the eye. The attraction between them is palpable so when they team up to clear his brothers name sparks start to fly.

As per my normal I’m great at selecting Books and then realizing they are a part of a series….which leads to endless additions to my ever growing TBR and this series is no different. I’m really enjoying the romantic suspense that harlequin has been publishing I love that it combines my two favorite genres. I will be going back and reading the first 4 books prior to this. I highly recommend checking out his book.
Profile Image for Tina Loves To Read.
3,453 reviews1 follower
December 6, 2022
This is a Romantic Suspense, and this is the 5th book in the To Serve and Seduce series. I have read and reviewed one other book in this series before picking this book up, but I feel that this book can be read as a standalone without any problems. This book is full of action, suspense, romance, and steamy times. I enjoyed the mix of romance and action in this book. I really liked the characters in this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Harlequin Romantic Suspense) or author (Deborah Fletcher Mello) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews

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