Overruled

Samantha Summers and Connor Crais deliver a uniquely narrated romance novel. Danica, voiced by Summers, is a divorce lawyer who has been assigned a high-stakes case that could elevate her to partner. Ezra, portrayed by Crais, is the opposing counsel, who is from a powerful family firm. The two have sparred in and out of the courtroom multiple times and are struggling to keep their professional rivalry from becoming more complicated. Their scenes together, performed duet style, add tension and charm to their witty exchanges. The rest of the audiobook uses a dual narration format. Both Summers and Crais shine with impressive vocal ranges and handle accents and tonal shifts smoothly. Their skillful delivery and chemistry make this audiobook a fun and engaging listen. S.K.G. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine

Lana Ferguson has crafted a sharp contemporary romance with the sexy, saucy Overruled, where there’s more drama in the bedroom than in the courtroom. Danica Pierce is a divorce attorney working for one of Austin’s top law firms. She’s tough and headstrong, and when she makes up her mind, she stays the course. It all stems from her parents’ divorce, which she’s never quite gotten over. Dani holds up that failure as a talisman, warding off potential suitors and romantic relationships that drift her way. As a result, she’s jaded and gun-shy about relationships. And, oh yeah, she’s sleeping with the enemy. That enemy is Ezra Hart. He’s another successful divorce attorney and, in this case, Dani’s opposing counsel in a high-profile split that has the whole city paying attention. Ezra works for the family firm, and his father, whom he refers to as Alexander rather than dad, feels confident they’ve got an easy win. Alexander hits below the belt and tiptoes close to the wrong side of the law; Ezra operates aboveboard and with integrity. But Alexander is still family, and Ezra struggles with putting his growing feelings for Dani above maintaining loyalty. The stakes are high: If Dani wins, she makes partner at her firm. If Ezra wins, Alexander will see it as support for his shady ethics. Dani and Ezra’s chemistry is undeniable, their secret trysts impossible to give up. At first, Overruled seems like a flirty romp, two characters working out the stress of a long day in court via cathartic sexual escapades. But it’s also a cautionary tale about putting up too many barriers to happiness. Dani is her own worst enemy, and Ezra lacks the chutzpah to follow through on tough conversations. And they both fall back on a quickie in the closet rather than being brave enough to trust the truth in front of them. That’s the crux of this enemies-to-lovers story: Ezra is a good man, and Dani deserves happiness. Their inability to simply talk to each other sometimes distracts from the momentum of the story, but once they learn to communicate with more than their bodies, their Happily Ever After is inevitable.