A Little Bit Guilty

Evangeline Rousseau's brother, Jimmy, had been innocent of the murder charges twelve years ago. It did not change the fact that Jimmy went to jail for it. However, the injustice gave Evangeline the determination needed to study hard for her future plans. Today Evangeline is an Assistant District Attorney. But the lovely A.D.A. has a secret agenda and it involves infiltrating the personal life of one of Louisiana's brightest legal minds. Lawyer Gabriel "Gabe" Fontenot lives for the day he brings down his father's murderer. Problem is that the killer, Marcel Lambert, is a respected member of the community. He is a man who'd used his wealth and status to skate outside the law. But finally, Gabe is closing in. Then his adversary, Evangeline, interferes. The two are soon forced to ally with each other, even though they can't trust each other, in order to bring some much needed justice back to New Orleans. ***** This is part of the Midnight Secrets miniseries. Each novel contains a stand-alone tale. Best thing about author Jenna Mills is that she gives such depth to her main characters. This means that when main characters of previous novels show up as secondary characters in the most current story, I am still able to feel a warm connection to them. I, as the reader, am no longer simply reading a story. I am revisiting old friends and making some new ones. If you are not yet a fan of Jenna Mills, Gabe and Evie's story will make you one. A fabulous tale of love and vengeance! ***** Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Not only is A LITTLE BIT GUILTY a great addition to Jenna Mills' "Midnight Secrets" series but it continues to reinforce my admiration for this tremendous newer author of romantic suspense and intrigue. In this third book of the series we are reintroduced (from KILLING ME SOFTLY) to Gabe Fontenot, one time boy-wonder of the prosecutor's office who was betrayed by his fiancé Val which hurt, but not as much as by the attorney he thought was his friend, ADA Evangeline Rousseau. On Gabe's extended leave of absence, he is still working a major pet project, to find the evidence to put Marcel Lambert away on murder charges, one of which was the murder of Gabe's father, many years ago. As ADA, Evangeline is working on the same case of tying Marcel Lambert to the murder of a young woman. However, she is still working towards a personal vendetta of trying to find the evidence she believes will show that on Gabe's first big case, he tampered with the jury in convicting a young man of a murder she knew he didn't commit. The young man just happens to be Evangelines' beloved big brother! *** This author brings in twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Pitting the two protagonists together she shows how their history does NOT make for a trusting relationship, yet it is fairly obvious that there is a dynamic chemistry that sizzles between the two. Neither knows that behind the scenes a true puppet master is pulling their strings in setting them up together to make one, or both take another big fall. With skillful dexterity the author brings forth more of the Robichaud history intertwining the past events that charted Gabe's life. As Evangeline is enlightened she is finally able to catch a startling glimpse of the driven man she once thought of as a monster. Evangeline was very well characterized, with gentle touches subtlety brought forth, we see the author doing what I feel is her strongest talent, of showing the reader the core of the complexity of an embattled character's personality as she strips away their painful secrets and brings them back to the land of the living. The suspense is chilling and the romantic teasing is as hot as the sultry Louisiana nights. While a completely stand-alone volume to the Robichaud and Fontenot family series this ties up loose ends and leaves the reader panting for more, at least for me because I am dying to know whatever happened to Gabe's sister Camille. Please Jenna write the next story quickly as you have me completely enthralled with this series! Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

This is the second book in superstar Jenna Mills' Midnight Secrets series and it doesn't disappoint. Calm, cool and connected lawyer Gabe Fontenot is on a downward spiral based on past tragedies and betrayal; and with his relentless crusade against a major bad guy that is steeped in the southern tradition of old guard family history. Enter a strong, striking, and brilliant lawyer Evangeline Rousseau with more secrets than the Crescent City herself - and you've got a brilliant clash of committed, passionate and tortured individuals. Nothing is what it seems in a superbly tangled tale that has the past and present smashing into each other with lives changed forever. Jenna Mills is enormously gifted -- her words leap from the page and take aim at your heart. Many times your heart is just as bruised and battered as her characters' by the time Jenna has led you on the journey. She packs a surprising amount of emotion in a short book; and leaves you wanting more. (For once even the romance cover gods provided a spectacular cover that really reminds you of the hero and heroine!) If you're like me and you want to see the tightly wound, tortured hero meet his breaking point; and watch the strong unforgettable woman that catches him before he falls -- you need to read this book.

Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques Jenna Mills continues her Midnight Secrets trilogy with A Little Bit Guilty, Gabe Fontenot's story. Gabe is a hard-core lawyer. His entire adult life revolves around avenging his father's murder. The only problem is everyone thinks it was a suicide. Finally, he thinks he has the break he needs to find justice and prove Marcel Lambert guilty of murder. Until she shows up at his late night informant meeting... Evangeline Rousseau is an assistant district attorney building a very important case. Lambert stands suspected of killing a young lady of the night. She will let nothing stand in her way, even the one man who can make her heart burn. She has a secret agenda however. Years ago, on Gabe's first case as an ADA, her brother was convicted of a crime he didn't commit. There is no way Gabe could've won that case without some sort of outside influence and she's determined to find out how he did it. When it becomes apparent that Gabe and Evangeline's agendas coincide, can they put aside the past long enough to work together for answers? What of the undeniably attraction still sparking between them? In A Little Bit Guilty, we delve deeper into the history of the Robichaud family and discover how their past has so affected their present. A couple shocking mysteries are solved and a few more revealed, bound to be investigated deeper in the next book in the series. How all the players, heroes and villains, are interconnected is fascinating to uncover as we learn more and more about friendship and treachery. Gabe is a long suffering hero, trapped in a dark place he longs to escape but not quite able to do it alone. When Evangeline re-enters his life, though he cannot overcome a tarnished history with her that included a harsh betrayal, he is nonetheless drawn to her. Evangeline is a strong woman, willing to do whatever it takes to fulfill her plans. However, a new side of each of them is discovered and this changes everything. Watching these two opposites attract and find love makes for an exciting story. Seeing Gabe finally leave the darkness behind and return to the man he was meant to be, brought strong emotions to the forefront for me and I couldn't help but get a little choked up over the end of his misery. Jenna Mills is a master of romantic suspense. With each additional book of hers I read, I find myself becoming more and more of a fan. Her skill at writing a compelling mystery intertwined with a strong romance and enough sexual tension to satisfy the most particular of readers has quickly moved her up on my auto-buy list. © Kelley A. Hartsell, May 2007. All rights reserved.