by Jonathan Watson On January 27, 2024, I had the pleasure of attending the…
Resource of the Month: Lawyers Turned Romance Novelists
“Lawyers Turned Romance Novelists” by Jonathan Watson
Legal thriller aficionados are likely aware that authors John Grisham, Scott Turow and Lisa Scottoline either formerly or actively practice law. Did you know that other lawyers have turned towards the romance genre? Here is a listing of lawyers-turned-romance novelists that you might find on Solano County Library’s databases Hoopla (full library card required), Cloud Library, and Overdrive. You’ll also find a description of one of their titles.
THE FIRST KISS / Grace Burrowes
Grace Burrowes, the nom de plume of a child welfare attorney who still practices under her real name, published her first romance novel in 2010. In The First Kiss, a single mother develops feelings for her neighbor—an attorney known for his Lothario reputation. Will they find romance?
Before becoming a bestselling author, Alyssa Day worked as a trial lawyer in Seattle, Washington. In the first book of a new paranormal romance series, The Cursed features a Manhattan private investigator that operates near a supernatural realm. Can he help a former flame survive a deadly enemy?
HelenKay Dimon practiced as a family law attorney in Washington, D.C. before discovering her passion for novel writing. In her romantic suspense book The Enforcer, a security expert is on the hunt for a woman who may have been connected to his brother’s murder.
PARTY OF TWO / Jasmine Guillory
Oakland resident and current novelist Jasmine Guillory graduated from Stanford Law School, and clerked for San Francisco’s Federal District Court before becoming an intellectual property attorney. In Party of Two, an attorney is caught up in a whirlwind romance with a politician amidst starting up her own law firm.
ABOUT THAT NIGHT / Julie James
Julie James left behind a legal career (which included working at a Chicago law firm and clerking for a U.S. Court of Appeals judge) after two of her screenplays were optioned in Hollywood. In About that Night, a U.S. Attorney prepares for a courtroom showdown with a billionaire that she once shared a passionate evening with years earlier. Who will win in the court of love?
GIRL’S GUIDE TO WITCHCRAFT / Mindy Klasky
Novelist Mindy Klasky can boast not only formerly working as a lawyer, but also a law librarian. In the paranormal romance Girl’s Guide to Witchcraft, when a librarian finds a spell to make her irresistible to men, will magic be enough to finally attract the man of her dreams?
Selena Montgomery is the pseudonym for Stacey Abrams, a lawyer and politician who is mostly known for her recent campaign to become the Governor of Georgia. In her novel Reckless, a successful lawyer falls for a sheriff as she defends a client from her past. Can they find love amidst the chaos?
DESTINY / Carly Phillips
Award-winning novelist Carly Phillips once worked as a lawyer in Connecticut and New York. Her novel Destiny—the second book of a series—continues the story of the Barron brothers, as a rocky romance blossoms between of one them and a paralegal. Will their romance blossom amidst all of the secrets and lies?
SLAVE TO SENSATION / Nalini Singh
Nalini Singh, a former lawyer and librarian, launched her Psy-Changelings series with the novel Slave to Sensation. Star crossed lovers from opposing races must fight their attraction for each other as a lethal war unfolds around them. Can love conquer all?
J.R. Ward, an Albany Law School graduate who worked as a lawyer in Boston, Massachusetts, is known for her assorted romance series. In The Bourbon Kings, the focus is on a Dynasty-esque family and their romantic travails—including a daughter turning to countless lovers in an effort to conceal her feelings for a handsome lawyer.
THE ASHFORD AFFAIR / Laura Willig
Harvard Law School graduate Laura Willig once practiced at a New York law firm before devoting herself to writing full-time. In her book The Ashford Affair, a Manhattan lawyer who is on the verge of becoming partner stumbles onto a long-held family secret. What will she discover when her investigation leads her to Kenya?
If you read any of abovementioned books (or liked another title by a listed author), share your comments on Solano County Law Library’s Twitter (@SolanoLawLib) and Facebook accounts. Or share details about another lawyer-turned-romance novelist not on the list. Also, let us know if you would like a similar listing regarding legal thrillers.