Overruled by Lana Ferguson
Overruled by Lana Ferguson barrels onto the page in a steamy scene that paints a clear picture of what we’re getting in this brand-new rivals-to-lovers romance. Dani and Ezra hate each other, but they also engage in clandestine meetings where they channel their professional hate into physical passion. Hooked from the first paragraph, I absolutely needed to see what was going on between Dani and Ezra after an opening scene overflowing with desire and lust.
A Battle of Wits, a War of Hearts
Danika Pierce, or Dani to her friends and rival attorney with benefits, is climbing the ladder in her law firm with a chance at junior partner. She just needs to win a huge case to prove herself. Ezra Hart (the Heartbreak Prince) is the handsome blonde with green eyes who happens to be a shark in the courtroom, winning more cases than he loses. He also happens to be opposing counsel on this must-win case against Dani.
Overruled follows Dani and Ezra as they navigate their growing feelings while battling it out in court with their clients, Bianca and Lorenzo. The secrets and lies run deep and put nearly insurmountable pressure on our main characters.
Dani’s client, Bianca, might be a side character, but she stood out to me as the feminist icon we need. Not only did she inspire Dani with statements like, “I do not fear a man just because he wears a suit”, she went into battle as an impenetrable force in court, while showing her vulnerability in private moments with Dani. I found myself wanting to get to the divorce court scenes as much as I wanted the romance between Ezra and Dani. The story-within-a-story was very well written.
Witty Banter and Textual Chemistry
Speaking of the writing, Ferguson executed the text messages between our main characters so well I had a visceral reaction to the perfect combination of flirty and feistiness. Something seemingly superficial in the grand scheme of things can make a huge difference in the tone of the book. In general, the banter in this book was excellent.
This isn’t a surface-level romance between rival lawyers. They have complex relationships with their families that have impacted their adult lives. Dani’s family appears happy and loving, but she’s been left to deal with feeling responsible for her parents’ loveless marriage. Ezra’s father is manipulative and cruel in the way he holds the well-being of Ezra’s mother over his head. It hurts in the way only a really good romcom does by balancing my laughter with the ache in my heart for their circumstances.
Heartache, Humor and Unexpected Love
I appreciated the comic relief in the form of quirky coworkers and retired party animals, aka Dani’s parents. They brought much-needed levity after intense scenes both in court and between Ezra and his truly horrible father. It’s this balance that kept me on the edge of my seat in a way a typical romance would not.
There’s hurt/comfort on both sides that will have your heart bursting. These two may have found the only person capable of supporting their professional and personal challenges in each other.
About Lauren Kate:
Lana Ferguson is a USA Today bestselling author and sex-positive nerd whose works never shy from spice or sass. A faded Fabio cover found its way into her hands at fifteen, and she’s never been the same since. When she isn’t writing, you can find her randomly singing show tunes, arguing over which Batman is superior, and subjecting her friends to the extended editions of The Lord of the Rings. Lana lives mostly in her own head but can sometimes be found chasing her corgi through the coppice of the great American outdoors.
