Cheap Trick, a full-length, friends-to-lovers/fake fiancé, standalone romance novel by New York Times bestselling author Emily Goodwin.
Danielle Cross has spent her whole life running from breakups and troubles. She’s never stayed in the same place for long…until now.
The moment she walks through the doors of Logan Dawson’s bar, there’s an attraction between them neither can deny.
And when Danielle needs a date to her sister’s wedding, Logan is the man for the job. A cheap trick to fool her family is a small price to pay for a weekend in paradise.
Playing pretend is easy. The hard part? Trying to convince yourself the feelings are only fake.
Download your copy today or Read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!
“Lightweight.” I feel the couch sink down as Logan sits down at my other side.
“Hey,” I grumble, slitting my eyes open. “I actually had like three drinks and a shot tonight. That’s a lot.” “It is. I’ll change that lightweight to a lush then.” “Asshole.” I try to throw a pillow at him but just end up smacking him in the face. I push myself up and laugh. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.” “Now you’ve done it.” Logan grabs another pillow and chucks it at me. Dexter gets way too excited and pounces on Logan, with one of his large paws landing right between his legs. Logan doubles over in pain, and I laugh even harder. “Who’s the asshole now?” he chokes out. “Don’t call Dexter-Wexter an asshole,” I gasp in fake shock and slip my fingers under Dexter’s collar, gently pulling him back and off the couch. I get up to grab the pillow I threw and trip when Dexter tries to do a flying leap back onto the couch. I don’t know how he moves so fast, but I’m grateful he did. Because I’m still too drunk to have a good reaction time, and I’m about ready to fall backwards onto the glass coffee table. Logan’s arms fold around my waist at the last second. He pulls me to his chest and straightens up. I have one hand on his chest and the other is gripping his bicep. Which is strong. Firm. Warm, just like the rest of him.A second passes, and we’re still standing there like this. I splay my fingers over his chest and turn my head up, looking into his brown eyes. Inhaling deep, my breasts crush against his body. His hand that’s on the small of my back inches lower, and his fingertips press into my waist.Heat flashes through me, unlike anything I’ve felt around him before. I’ve worked hard to keep these kind of reactions from happening, but my whiskey-soaked mind has lost all its will right now. “You okay?” he asks, though by now it’s obvious I am.“Yeah. Lost my balance.”“No shit.”I purse my lips and go to shove him away. Dexter is on the floor behind him now, and Logan trips over the dog and falls back onto the couch, taking me down with him. That same heat ripples through me again, making my skin break out in goosebumps. My heart lurches and is beating so fast I’m sure Logan can hear it.I should push him away.Run and hide.I definitely shouldn’t be inching closer, taking note of the way his cologne smells, or the fact that his shirt is pulled up a bit, exposing a few inches of his abdomen.I shouldn’t want more.Our eyes meet and I part my lips, feeling my heart beating faster and faster in my chest. I know one kiss is all it will take to change things between us, and the thought terrifies me. My life has been one mistake after another, and each seems to try its damnedest to outdo the last. I love what we have between us. Logan is my best friend. I don’t want to mess that up.But Lord have mercy on me right now. His heart is hammering along with mine, and he looks at me with an intensity I’ve never seen before. One that heats me from the inside out, melting the panties right off me. My face is moving slowly toward his, eyes zeroed in on his perfect lips. He closes his eyes, long lashes coming together, and inhales, pushing his chest up against mine.
Danielle is avoiding her family. Her sister is getting married and she needs to make a decision weather to attend. She’s family but her husband isn’t a prize pony. Danielle comes from a rich family but what makes her happy isn’t the same thing as her family. She thinks he life is on hold but everything she wants is right in front of her.
Logan is a twin. He’s been in love with Danielle once she walked in the door. The problem is she said she wasn’t looking for love.
This is part of a series however can be read easily as a standalone.
I really like this author. Her stories suck you in and this was no different. The characters were loveable and the plot kept me interested. 4 stars out of 5.
*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Emily Goodwin is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of over a dozen of romantic titles. Emily writes the kind of books she likes to read, and is a sucker for a swoon-worthy bad boy and happily ever afters.
She lives in the midwest with her husband and two daughters. When she's not writing, you can find her riding her horses, hiking, reading, or drinking wine with friends.
Emily is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency.
Were-panther
Boone Weaver is making his dream of raising cattle on a farm all his
own come true. Outdoor work at his place is interrupted by a heavenly
scent he can’t quite identify but is compelled to seek out.
Carly
Garner’s cheating fiancé sends her life into a downward spiral but
refuses to let her go arousing a secret buried deep inside her.
Can
Boone help her escape the man determined to hold her captive and rob
her of her true heritage? Will she be able to trust another man?
**Read
as a standalone, but the main character also makes an appearance in
Dreams Do Come True**
Something deep inside Boone twisted at his gut, urging him to seek out and locate this strange, unseen source demanding his attention. He hung his pliers on the fence, shucked off his gloves, and sniffed again, following his nose across the pasture. Cautious steps led him into the woods and down the steep slope to the edge of the creek.
Tom followed Boone on his path toward the highway, using the rocks dotting the top of the grade as stepping stones. Several afternoon thunderstorms from the past week had increased the creek’s water level to a near brimming capacity, rendering the saturated ground soft and unstable.
“Boone, I smell blood. Somebody’s hurt. I’m gonna cut across the highway and check on Amos. He’s workin’ alone today. If there’s been an accident, he might need help.” Tom picked up the pace and broke off to the left.
Boone stopped in his tracks, drawing in a fresh breath of the air around him and surveying the area left to right. “It’s not Amos. Tom, look!” He yelled over his shoulder and pointed a hundred yards or so down the way to a green vehicle covered with broken branches and loose foliage. The colors blending together all but concealing the wreckage from their view.
He worked his way to the SUV as fast he dared, keeping a cautious eye on his footing. Still spinning, the front wheels hung over the edge of the creek bank. A slight hissing sound accompanied a slim column of steam slipping from under the crumpled hood.
Boone tested the ground with each step, inching his way around the vehicle to the driver’s side window and slapping the glass with
both palms to get the attention of the occupant. The blood spatters smeared on the glass sent urgent concern rushing through him.
He continued smacking the glass and calling to the female inside, hoping for any movement or sound to indicate she was still alive. “Hey. Are you okay? Hey, lady!”
A slight whimper was her only response, but the precise indication Boone needed to make the decision on his next course of action. He grasped the handle and grunted, ripping the door open, and separating it from its hinges.
He wouldn’t be expected to explain how that was possible. The woman inside the car had passed out again and Tom was the only other person around. The strength of their kind didn’t compare to human. He tossed the door over his shoulder, sinking it deep into the creek. A matter he’d worry about another time. At this moment, he needed to get the woman to his cabin and save her life.
A place to belong is a shifter story with a difference. Carly is a damsel in distress. She trusted the wrong man and now he wants to punish her for the secrets she doesn’t know.
Boone is a were-panther unknown to him his mate is in close proximity and in the need of his help. He nurses her back to health and uncovers a deadly secret.
This is more than a shifter story and doesn’t follow all the typical rules. The attraction between these two isn’t instant. They are too busy trying to piece together a hideous crime.
*Kindle Unlimited read however I’ve joined the blog tour. The story is interesting however I like the rules to be followed in these types of stories (Strong alpha/over powering animal attraction).
In
My Wildest Dreams
The
Dream Trilogy Book 1
When
she becomes the victim of several life-threatening incidents all in
one week, it seems fate is out to put an end to Lynzi Lancaster. Her
close calls with death trigger a series of dreams about a magical
place and a certain man who broke her heart twenty years ago, Layne
Brady. Could her life get any stranger?
When
the star of her dreams announces, in person, that he had faked his
death for twenty years in order to protect her, oh, and that he’s
not actually human, the fireworks begin. Does she believe his
extraordinary story of another world, the magical world of the Fae?
Do fairies really exist? Should she trust her heart? Could her dreams
come true?
The
vicious slaughter of cattle brings Lynzi Lancaster and her fiancé,
Layne Brady, a Fae raised in the human world, to the aid of his human
parents. A neighbor with a grudge has returned to the area to settle
a score.
Lynzi
is only mildly shocked to find the tall tales her granddaddy had told
so many years ago about black panthers roaming the woods near their
home were not only true but also had a twist. The animals were
werepanthers.
The
renegade panther believes Lynzi is a witch and threatens her life
when Fae magic is performed nearby. Now, it’s up to Lynzi and Layne
to bring down the big cats and keep her alive.
Lynzi
Lancaster Brady is, at long last, living her happily-ever-after with
the man of her dreams. Their honeymoon bliss is interrupted when an
innocent family visit drops her in the middle of the deadly situation
they’ve been dodging for so long.
The
troublemaking relative with a vendetta against the family forces them
into a final showdown with a disastrous ending that threatens to take
the elder of their family from them forever. Will an ancient sorcerer
to able to bring her back from death’s door?
Larynn
Ford began reading romance in her early teens and became interested
in writing in high school. She's a daydreamer and a romantic who is
intrigued by the paranormal and loves to let her mind wander, always
searching for a happily ever after ending to her dreams.
At
home in East Central Alabama, she loves spending time with her family
and pets. Mini-vacations with her husband provide ideas for future
books.
In
2010, she joined Romance Writers of America and enjoys her support
group, the Southern Magic chapter in Birmingham, Alabama.
Sasha
Williams is an African-American public relations powerhouse who’s
come a long way from the tough streets of Chicago to glamorous Los
Angeles. While she loves her LA life, she hasn’t forgotten her
roots and always goes back home to celebrate Christmas with her
tight-knit family.
This
year, however, Sasha’s holiday plans are nixed when she’s forced
to accompany her sexy, notoriously naughty new client, Drake
Lancaster, on the press tour for his upcoming Christmas
movie.
Sasha’s
furious, yet finds herself overcome with lust when Drake strolls into
her office. She’s surprised, considering she’s never dated a
white man. Drake’s attraction toward her is just as intense, and
the pair partake in a hot, steamy sex session right there in her
office.
Despite
Sasha’s promise to keep things all business during the press tour,
their sensual trysts heat up even further while out on the road. In
the end, Sasha must decide whether their cultural differences, along
with her secret painful past and Drake’s playboy reputation, are
worth her risking her heart and career—especially without knowing
whether this is the real thing or a racy fling.
Drake appeared in Sasha’s office doorway, up close and personal, in all his sexy glory. He slowly eyed her from head to toe. Judging by the look of admiration in his penetrating gaze, he liked what he saw.
“So,” Drake began, his titillating tone filled with flirtation, “you’re the notorious Sasha Williams who’s been hired to clean up my image and take me to the next level…”
Drake’s smooth, deep voice sent shivers through her eardrums straight down to her panties. And just like that, her self-control slipped away.
Sasha struggled to compose herself. She managed to force a smile and extend her trembling hand. “Hello, Drake. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
He gently took her hand in his and bowed slightly, kissing it softly. “The pleasure is all mine.”
Drake straightened up but didn’t let go of her hand. His firm grip and rugged skin sent delicate tremors straight up her arm. He slowly studied her face. Then he shamelessly became transfixed on her breasts, licking his lips hungrily.
Sasha froze. She felt lost underneath the spell of his intoxicating stare and stimulating touch.
Drake sauntered over to the door and locked it.
Sasha swallowed hard. “Can I, uh, can I get you something to drink?”
“Nope. I’m good. I’ve got everything I need right in front of me.”
Sasha’s heart thumped erratically. She watched Drake head over to the other side of her office.
“Should we take a seat on the couch so you can tell me everything you’re going to do for me now that I’m officially your client?”
Drake didn’t wait for her to respond. He wrapped his arm around her waist and led her over to the couch. When she bent forward to sit down, his hand slid past her hip and cupped her ass.
Sasha gasped as Drake sat dangerously close to her. She moved over a few inches to put some space in between them, but he promptly moved in even closer.
“You’ve got such a beautiful complexion, Sasha. And I love your hair,” he murmured, lightly running his finger over her cheek.
She leaned back and eyed Drake suspiciously. “Do I really? Wait, let me guess what’s coming next. You’re going to tell me how exotic I look, then ask if you can touch my hair, right?”
“Actually no, I was—”
“Because, newsflash,” Sasha interrupted, now in full rant mode, “I’m just your typical, standard-looking African-American woman. My complexion, my hair…my entire look is the
norm where I’m from.”
Sasha was so worked up she was beginning to perspire. She hadn’t meant to go off the deep end, but she was tired of that same old narrative of being viewed as some sort of foreign object—as if her form of beauty was somehow atypical. But Drake actually appeared somewhat amused.
“You made mention of where you’re from,” he said. “Where’s that?”
“Chicago. South side.”
“Ahh. Chi-town.”
“Please don’t call it that.” Sasha giggled. “It sounds so basic.”
“All right then, the Windy City. Great town. I shot a movie there last year. Fantastic food and even better people. Oh, and I hate to break this to you, Sasha Williams, but here’s my newsflash. There’s nothing typical about you, and you don’t resemble any other woman, period. You’re absolutely stunning.”
The compliment flipped Sasha’s feelings from offended to flattered within seconds. She looked into Drake’s eyes and saw nothing but sincerity, then felt herself falling under his spell once again. “Thank you,” she replied quietly.
“And no, I’m not going to ask to touch your beautiful hair, unless you want me to, of course. But your hair is not some sort of peculiar phenomenon to me. You’re not the first woman of color I’ve encountered. My guess is that you’ve never been with a white guy, though, have you?”
Sasha shifted in her seat. She wasn’t comfortable having such a personal, race-related conversation with this man she’d just met. “I’m sorry, Drake. But we’ve really gotten off track here. Why don’t we get back to business?”
“Sure. Whatever you want…”
Drake’s jeans rubbed against Sasha’s bare leg. He placed his arm behind her along the back of the couch, then let it slip forward over her shoulder, his fingertips practically brushing across her hardened nipples. If she moved an inch, her breast would fall right into his hand. Her entire body stiffened up.
“I’m sure you already heard about the altercation I had at the Hollywood Hills Resort last weekend. Do you think you could spin the story to somehow make me look like the victim? Because I’ve been slaughtered in the press, and when we go out on this press tour for Deck the Halls with Love, I need to have the fans’ sympathy and support.”
Sasha cleared her throat and allowed herself to slowly exhale, somehow managing to avoid having her hardened nipple graze Drake’s lingering fingertips.
“Well…” she began, struggling to steady her trembling voice. “The so-called fans who
mobbed you at the resort were obviously trying to pick a fight. Their goal was to record the incident and upload it onto social media for likes and followers. I’ll counter the negative press by saying your actions were simply a matter of self-preservation. You were being attacked and had no security with you, so you had no choice but to protect yourself.”
Sasha was pleased with her impromptu response. And apparently Drake was, too, because she glanced down at his crotch and noticed he was fully erect.
“Wow, Ms. Williams. That was a very impressive answer.”
Sasha gazed into his eyes and saw a glimmer of insatiability. She became so memorized that when he slid his hand onto her thigh and gripped it firmly, she didn’t stop him. He boldly took her chin in his hand, pressed his soft, moist lips against hers, and slipped his tongue inside her mouth.
Her rigid body slowly relaxed. She couldn’t believe this was happening and was even more shocked by the fact that she was actually kissing Drake back.
When his hand glided up her leg, underneath her dress, and he slid her panties to the side, Sasha’s first instinct was to close her legs and deny him. But desire overtook her, and she instead opened her legs wider to give him easier access…
My
Unconditional Valentine
The
Holiday Chronicles Book 2
Interracial
entertainment industry it couple Sasha Williams and Drake Lancaster
are still going strong. Her impeccable publicist skills have kept him
on the A-list, helping Drake land the lead role in a major
Valentine’s Day movie. When filming wraps, the couple plan on
heading to Cabo San Lucas, inviting both their families along to meet
for the first time.
But
plans go astray when Drake reverts back to his bad boy ways during
filming and gets into a huge altercation with the director. He’s
booted from the movie and replaced by Mitch Morrison, a hot young
African-American actor who’s recently taken Hollywood by
storm.
While
Drake struggles to repair his image, Mitch hires Sasha to help manage
his burgeoning career. The move infuriates Drake, but Sasha insists
it’s a great business opportunity. She doesn’t realize Drake’s
threatened by Mitch’s good looks and charismatic personality and is
worried the pair will bond over their African-American heritage.
The
stress of it all puts a strain on the couple’s relationship,
especially when Mitch admits to Sasha that he’s developed feelings
for her and she realizes the sentiments may be mutual. With the
pressures of Sasha and Drake’s rocky union continuing to mount, the
anticipation of their families meeting, and Sasha’s elusive
affections towards Mitch, the couple can’t help but wonder whether
their once booming relationship is about to crash. In the end, they
must figure out whether their love is strong enough to withstand
these challenges and carry them through this Valentine’s Day.
Sasha sped along the Pacific Coast Highway with her car top down and music blaring. The crisp ocean wind whipped through her hair while the setting sun warmed her skin. She readjusted her sunglasses and leaned back, relishing the moment. Sasha was happier than she’d been in quite some time. Life was good. As a matter of fact, life was great thanks to today, because everything had suddenly taken a turn for the better.
After she’d knocked her presentation out of the park that morning, Sasha received a text from Drake letting her know he had gotten the part. She’d screamed so loudly that Lori came tearing into her office, thinking something had happened to her. Drake then informed her he’d made dinner reservations at Hinata Sushi, the most exclusive restaurant in Malibu, and afterwards they’d check into the royal suite at The Malibu Oceanside, where they would spend the rest of the evening indulging in dessert and one another.
Sasha had something in store for Drake as well. That afternoon, she’d solidified plans for their Cabo vacation after deciding she would rather spend the evening reconnecting with him than coordinating the trip. She made some executive decisions on her own and created an elaborate agenda confirming the exact travel dates, resort location, and list of activities. Sasha sent the agenda to both sets of parents, and just as she’d expected, they got lost in the fancy presentation and agreed to everything.
She stopped at a red light and grabbed her phone, activating the voice-to-text feature then sending Drake a message asking whether he wanted to drive out to Malibu or arrange car service. She hadn’t heard from him since early that after noon, which was strange after they’d been communicating nonstop all morning. Sasha assumed he had gotten caught up in the whirlwind of preparing for his shoot and figured they’d hash things out when she got home.
She turned down her block and approached her house, expecting to see Drake’s car parked outside. When she didn’t, Sasha pulled into the driveway and tried calling him. She got his voicemail.
“Hey, babe, it’s me. Tell your film director Lee that he’s going to have you all to himself in Ontario soon enough and you need to take a break from your meeting to call your girl. But anyway, I just got home. Getting ready to freshen up and pack for our night. I’m so looking forward to this. Love you.”
Sasha disconnected the call and practically floated inside the house. She set her tote down on the couch, then walked over to the closet to grab her suitcase. On the way there, she saw a printout lying on the bar. She picked it up and squint-ed while trying to make out exactly what she was looking at. Upon further inspection, Sasha realized it was a dark, grainy photo of her and Mitch, sitting in the booth at the Diamond VIP Bar. Her stomach dropped to her knees. She trembled all over as beads of sweat formed along her hairline. Sasha held her breath, then read the blurb underneath the photo.
Our sly sleuths here at Gotcha! strike again, this time catching powerhouse publicist Sasha Williams cozying up to A-list actor Mitch Morrison. Sasha, who’s known for mixing business with pleasure, is also Mitch’s new publicist. So does this mean it’s a wrap for her and Drake Lancaster? Apparently so, making it Drake’s second humiliating termination in recent weeks after he got booted from King Gary Rosen’s latest blockbuster production, On Bended Knee. What’s worse is that Mitch was hired to re-place Drake on the film. Ouch! Will Sasha and Mitch make it down the aisle? Will Z-listed Drake go back to waiting tables? Stay tuned, as we
here at Gotcha! work to getcha all the latest scoop!
Sasha leaned against the wall and slid to the floor. Tears streamed down her face. She looked down at the article again. A note from Drake was scribbled at the bottom.
Of all the guys you could’ve replaced me with, you chose Mitch Morrison? And I had to find out through some trashy blog? I thought we were better than that. Guess I was wrong.
Sasha balled the article up and threw it across the room. Her chest heaved with remorse. She sobbed for several minutes before grabbing her phone and dialing Drake again. The call went straight to voicemail. She hung up and sent him a text, apologizing profusely and asking him to please call her. Right when she hit send, a message came in from Nick.
In a meeting and can’t talk, but I got a call from Drake saying he wants to sign with a new publicist, effective immediately. What’s going on?
Sasha swallowed the bile that was creeping up her throat and struggled to steady her breathing. “This isn’t happening. This isn’t happening,” she said to herself over and over again.
She closed Nick’s message without responding and sent Amanda a text, telling her she had an emergency and asking if she could come over ASAP.
Amanda replied immediately.
I’m on my way.
Denise
N. Wheatley is a lover of romance, happy endings and the art of
storytelling. She used to cry as a three-year old child when her
mother read to her because she so badly wanted to read the books
herself! Once she learned, Denise constantly had her nose in a novel
(especially the ones she’d sneak from her mom’s bookshelf). She’s
been writing for as long as she can remember and draws inspiration
from Chicago, the city where she was born and raised, as well as Los
Angeles, which is one of her favorite places in the world. Denise has
published several books and novellas with Simon & Schuster, Red
Sage Publishing, eXtasy Books and independently, has written
screenplays and teleplays, and has ghostwritten for some of your
faves. When she isn’t sitting behind her computer, you can find
Denise in a movie theater, on a tennis court, watching true crime
television or chatting on social media.
Neliem Clare DiLiscia Published by: Month9Books Publication date: May 21st 2019 Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Half the population of the island of Madera are dead, killed by an unforgiving and indiscriminate plague. Oriana dreams of escaping her life of ruthless cruelty from the people who now rule over those who remain. No telling whom the plague will strike next, Oriana means to find freedom for herself and her people. Drawing strength from ancient tales of her enemy, young Oriana transforms herself from victim to warrior with the help of a mysterious and powerful dagger given to her by a kind and dying boy.
Years later, during her enemy’s betrothal ritual, Ezra, a boy she has never before seen, selects her as his mate. With servitude her only option, Oriana accepts the offer. Whisked away to a seemingly perfect world, Oriana discovers sinister secrets at every turn, including the identity of Tristan, a boy with whom she shares an undeniable but impossible connection.
Why would a boy she doesn’t know wish her to be his betrothed? Why does she feel such a strong pull toward a stranger? Someone in Ezra’s family not only knows the answer to both those questions, but also about the dagger Oriana possesses. He will do anything to stop the union. Now, with everything on the line, Oriana turns inward to find the strength she needs to seize the full power of the dagger so that she may protect herself and save her people.
I cringe; not wanting to confess the extent of my obsession of finding the boy I’ve convinced myself for too long never existed. After I’d miraculously healed from the fever, I went half mad looking everywhere for him. Like a maniac, I searched in every room, closet and under every desk at the schoolhouse for any indication where he might’ve gone. Then I took it one step further. Dressed like Neliem himself, I snuck at the crack of dawn into the Untouchable section of town which we are forbidden to enter. I scourged the marketplace, the temples of their false gods, the fields, the hills, our cave, any place I could think of, going as far as to risk my own life for weeks to find him. Just for the chance to see him and touch him again, I would’ve done anything. Me, who hated to be touched, ached for this boy the way a dying man aches for water in the desert.
Author Bio:
Clare Di Liscia grew up near the hills surrounding Dodger's Stadium. For University, Clare attended KU Leuven, in Belgium. She graduated with a Film Degree from Cal State Northridge, earning Dean's List recognition. Neliem won 1st place HM in SCBWI's Sue Alexander.
As
a leading expert in trial law, Sandra Spurgeon masterfully outlines the art and
science of case-winning strategies inside and outside the courtroom.Having successfully litigated thousands of
cases, with over 120 of them litigated to verdict in both state and federal
jurisdictions, she reveals the secrets of successful litigation techniques.
You
will learn her highly effective strategies for:
Case
Selection
Discovery
Process
Trial
Preparation
Execution
in the Courtroom
Spurgeon
not only clearly describes these methods, but also demonstrates how to apply
them - through real examples of courtroom “war” stories.Based on her vast experience spanning nearly
two decades, Courage to Stand – Mastering Your Trial Strategy, is designed to
not only help the beginning attorney, but to also sharpen the skills of veteran
lawyers.
This
work goes far beyond theory and reaches into the trenches to reveal how some of
the most difficult cases can be won by utilizing a proven synthesized plaintiff
and defense litigation practice which has collected millions of dollars in
settlements and verdicts for her clients.Having successfully litigated 1000s of cases with 120+ litigated to
verdict in both state and federal jurisdictions, she reveals the secrets of
successful litigation techniques.
About
the Author
Sandra
Spurgeon has been a practicing trial lawyer since 1990. In that time, she has
successfully litigated in excess of 120 cases through verdict in both state and
federal jurisdictions.
Throughout
her career, Sandra has synthesized a plaintiff and defense litigation practice
that has afforded her great insight and a unique perspective in "getting
to the heart" of the case from the beginning stages thru trial. Thru
experience, she has achieved trial excellence in the courtroom.
From
a defense perspective, Şandra's includes not only the handling of commercial
litigation but also, the defense of insurance claims, healthcare professional
liability claims, coverage and extra-contractual issues and fire & casualty
claims.
In
Kinney vs. Butcher, 131 S.W.3d 357 (Ky. App. 2004), her successful argument
presented to the Kentucky Court of Appeals resulted in the decision delineating
the standard for an award of punitive damages. In Pike vs. GEICO, 174 Fed.
Appx. 311 (6th Circ. 2006), she successfully litigated the prescribed time
period for filing an underinsured motorist claim in KY.
Sandra's
practice also includes the representation of victims and families who have
suffered catastrophic losses and has collected settlements and judgments in
excess of $50,000,000. In 2016 & 2017, she collected in excess of
$16,000,000 in settlements and/or judgments. In 2017, Sandra litigated a
Federal Tort Claim to judgment with the verdict in excess of $2,000,000.
Chrispen vs. United States of America, 7:16-132. Although she has always
allowed her verdicts and results to speak for themselves, she considers the
verdict in Dotson vs. Sony Electronics, 7:02-CV-35 among one of her biggest
accomplishments. Sandra successfully litigated this res ipsa loquitor products
liability claim to a multi-million-dollar judgment unanimous verdict in federal
court on behalf of a burn victim.
Through
experience Sandra has developed a systematic approach for handling of complex
litigation matters beginning at case selection, through the discovery process,
trial preparation and execution in the courtroom. Additionally, she serves as
an expert witness and lectures before various organizations and clients on
trial practice, evidence and Kentucky law. Sandra is adept at handling complex
legal issues and is a skilled legal writer. Sandra is active in her community
where she currently serves on the Board of Directors for Foster Council and
Women Leading Kentucky. She has also served as parent representative for the
Fayette County School Systems. She is an advocate for children and families in
her community and was instrumental in the drafting of the Michelle P. Waiver
program for children in KY. She is the proud mother of two adult daughters,
Victoria and Elizabeth.
Every
little girl dreams of the fairytale. The one where the white knight rushes in to save her from the clutches of evil. They fall in love, have babies, and live happily ever after.
By that
definition, my life should have been a fairytale too.
When
I was eight years old, Caven Hunt saved me from the worst kind of evil to walk the Earth. It didn’t matter that I was a kid. I fell in love with him all the same.
But that
was where my fairytale ended.
Years
later, a one-night stand during the darkest time imaginable gave us a little girl. It was nothing compared to the pitch black that consumed me when I was forced to leave her with Caven for good.
At the
end of every fairytale, the happily-ever-after is the one thing that remains consistent. It wasn’t going to be mine, but there hadn’t been a night that passed where I hadn’t prayed that it would be hers.
I owed
Caven my life.
However,
I owed that innocent child more.
And that
included ripping the heart from my chest and facing her father again.
