Pursuit of Happiness Read online

  Pursuit of Happiness

  Senator Meredith Mitchell has been groomed from young adulthood for a future run for president, and as scion of a political dynasty, every public and private move she makes is carefully calculated. But Meredith’s focus on the right causes, the right people, and the right timing evaporates when she meets Stevie Palmer, a dashing public defender with a hard knock past. A firebrand like Stevie is the last person she should be associating with, especially when Meredith's political future turns into right now, and her party urges her to enter the presidential race.

  Attorney Stevie Palmer refuses to be limited by the low expectations of others or by taking the politically safe route. Cautious, media-perfect presidential candidate Meredith Mitchell is the last woman she expected to fall for, but Stevie has never hesitated to pursue her passions. When her client reveals a Mitchell family scandal that could derail Meredith's career, everything Meredith and Stevie value hangs in the balance, including Meredith's shot at the presidency and their chance at love.

  What Reviewers Say About Carsen Taite’s Work

  Outside the Law

  “[A] fabulous closing to the Lone Star Law Series. …Tanner and Sydney’s journey back to each other is sweet, sexy and sure to keep you entertained.”—The Romantic Reader Blog

  A More Perfect Union

  “[A More Perfect Union] is a fabulously written tightly woven political/military intrigue with a large helping of romance. I enjoyed every minute and was on the edge of my seat the whole time. This one is a great read! Carsen Taite never disappoints!”—The Romantic Reader Blog

  Sidebar

  “As always a well written novel from Carsen Taite. The two main characters are well developed, likeable, and have sizzling chemistry.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (UK)

  “Sidebar is a love story with a refreshing twist. It’s a mystery and a bit of a thriller, with an ethical dilemma and some subterfuge thrown in for good measure. The combination gives us a fast-paced read, which includes courtroom and personal drama, an appealing love story, and a more than satisfying ending.”—Lambda Literary Review

  Without Justice

  “This is a great read, fast paced, interesting and takes a slightly different tack from the normal crime/courtroom drama. …I really enjoyed immersing myself in this rapid fire adventure. Suspend your disbelief, take the plunge, it’s definitely worth the effort.”—Velvet Lounger, Lesbian Reading Room

  “Another pretty awesome lesbian mystery thriller by Carsen Taite.”—Danielle Kimerer, Librarian, Nevins Memorial Library (MA)

  Reasonable Doubt

  “Another Carsen Taite novel that kept me on the edge of my seat. …[A]n interesting plot with lots of mystery and a bit of thriller as well. The characters were great.”—Danielle Kimerer, Librarian, Reading Public Library

  “Sarah and Ellery are very likeable. Sarah’s conflict between job and happiness is well portrayed. I felt so sorry for Ellery’s total upheaval of her life. …I loved the chase to find the truth while they tried to keep their growing feelings for each other at bay. When they couldn’t, the tale was even better.”—Prism Book Alliance

  “The story was a great ride! Mixing both dramatic moments with fast-paced action, along with heartfelt and gentle occurrences. …Carsen Taite brought all of her own history as a criminal defense lawyer to the forefront of this novel in order to help tell the story. …Bravo to the author! A wonderful story all around. I will be adding Carsen Taite to my list of authors to watch for when new novels are released.”—FarNerdy Book Blog

  “The two main characters are well written and I was into them from the first minute they appeared. It’s a modern thriller which takes place in the world right now.”—Lesfic Tumblr

  “Nothing is what it seems. Carsen Taite did a great job! The two main characters are well written and I was into them from the first minute they appeared. It’s a modern thriller which takes place in the world right now.”—Lesfic Tumblr

  Lay Down the Law

  “Recognized for the pithy realism of her characters and settings drawn from a Texas legal milieu, Taite pays homage to the prime-time soap opera Dallas in pairing a cartel-busting U.S. attorney, Peyton Davis, with a charity-minded oil heiress, Lily Gantry.”—Publishers Weekly

  “This book is AMAZING!!! The setting, the scenery, the people, the plot, wow. …I loved Peyton’s tough-on-the-outside, crime fighting, intensely protective of those who are hers, badass self.”—Prism Book Alliance

  “I’ve enjoyed all of Carsen Taite’s previous novels and this one was no different. The main characters were well-developed and intriguing, the supporting characters came across as very ‘real’ and the storyline was really gripping. The twists and turns had me so hooked I finished the book in one sitting.”—Melina Bickard, Librarian, Waterloo Library (London)

  “In typical suspense fashion, twists and turns abound as the two women collide within each other’s spheres, eventually leading to the inevitable happy ending. …This novel is recommended for general LGBT and mystery collections.”—GLBT Reviews: The ALA’s Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Round Table

  “Suspenseful, intriguingly tense, and with a great developing love story, this book is delightfully solid on all fronts.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Courtship

  “[T]his is a classic page turner. …The political drama is just top-notch. The emotional and sexual tensions are intertwined with great timing and flair.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  “Taite (Switchblade) keeps the stakes high as two beautiful and brilliant women fueled by professional ambitions face daunting emotional choices. …As backroom politics, secrets, betrayals, and threats race to be resolved without political damage to the president, the cat-and-mouse relationship game between Addison and Julia has the reader rooting for them. Taite prolongs the fever-pitch tension to the final pages. This pleasant read with intelligent heroines, snappy dialogue, and political suspense will satisfy Taite’s devoted fans and new readers alike.”—Publishers Weekly

  Rush

  “A simply beautiful interplay of police procedural magic, murder, FBI presence, misguided protective cover-ups, and a superheated love affair…a Gold Star from me and major encouragement for all readers to dive right in and consume this story with gusto!”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Battle Axe

  “This second book is satisfying, substantial, and slick. Plus, it has heart and love coupled with Luca’s array of weapons and a bad-ass verbal repertoire. …I cannot imagine anyone not having a great time riding shotgun through all of Luca’s escapades. I recommend hopping on Luca’s band wagon and having a blast.”—Rainbow Book Reviews

  Beyond Innocence

  “Taite keeps you guessing with delicious delay until the very last minute. …Taite’s time in the courtroom lends Beyond Innocence, a terrific verisimilitude someone not in the profession couldn’t impart. And damned if she doesn’t make practicing law interesting.”—Out in Print

  “As you would expect, sparks and legal writs fly. What I liked about this book were the shades of grey (no, not the smutty Shades of Grey)—both in the relationship as well as the cases.”—C-spot Reviews

  Slingshot

  “The mean streets of lesbian literature finally have the hard boiled bounty hunter they deserve. It’s a slingshot of a ride, bad guys and hot women rolled into one page turning package. I’m looking forward to Luca Bennett’s next adventure.”—J. M. Redmann, author of the Micky Knight mystery series

  The Best Defense

  “Real Life defense attorney Carsen Taite polishes her fifth work of lesbian fiction, The Best Defense, with the realism she daily encounters in the office and in the courts. And that polish is something that makes T
he Best Defense shine as an excellent read.”—Out & About Newspaper

  Nothing but the Truth

  Author Taite is really a Dallas defense attorney herself, and it’s obvious her viewpoint adds considerable realism to her story, making it especially riveting as a mystery. I give it four stars out of five.” —Bob Lind, Echo Magazine

  “As a criminal defense attorney in Dallas, Texas, Carsen Taite knows her way around the court house. …Nothing But the Truth is an enjoyable mystery with some hot romance thrown in.”—Just About Write

  “Taite has written an excellent courtroom drama with two interesting women leading the cast of characters. Taite herself is a practicing defense attorney, and her courtroom scenes are clearly based on real knowledge. This should be another winner for Taite.”—Lambda Literary

  Do Not Disturb

  “Taite’s tale of sexual tension is entertaining in itself, but a number of secondary characters…add substantial color to romantic inevitability”—Richard Labonte, Book Marks

  It Should be a Crime—Lammy Finalist

  “Taite also practices criminal law and she weaves her insider knowledge of the criminal justice system into the love story seamlessly and with excellent timing.”—Curve Magazine

  “This [It Should be a Crime] is just Taite’s second novel…, but it’s as if she has bookshelves full of bestsellers under her belt. In fact, she manages to make the courtroom more exciting than Judge Judy bursting into flames while delivering a verdict. Like this book, that’s something we’d pay to see.”—Gay List Daily

  “Taite, a criminal defense attorney herself, has given her readers a behind the scenes look at what goes on during the days before a trial. Her descriptions of lawyer/client talks, investigations, police procedures, etc. are fascinating. Taite keeps the action moving, her characters clear, and never allows her story to get bogged down in paperwork. It Should Be a Crime has a fast-moving plot and some extraordinarily hot sex.”—Just About Write

  Pursuit of Happiness

  Brought to you by

  eBooks from Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  http://www.boldstrokesbooks.com

  eBooks are not transferable. They cannot be sold, shared or given away as it is an infringement on the copyright of this work.

  Please respect the rights of the author and do not file share.

  Pursuit of Happiness

  © 2018 By Carsen Taite. All Rights Reserved.

  ISBN 13: 978-1-63555-043-6

  This Electronic Original Is Published By

  Bold Strokes Books, Inc.

  P.O. Box 249

  Valley Falls, NY 12185

  First Edition: December 2018

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  This book, or parts thereof, may not be reproduced in any form without permission.

  Credits

  Editor: Cindy Cresap

  Production Design: Susan Ramundo

  Cover Design By Jeanine Henning

  By the Author

  Truelesbianlove.com

  It Should be a Crime

  Do Not Disturb

  Nothing but the Truth

  The Best Defense

  Beyond Innocence

  Rush

  Courtship

  Reasonable Doubt

  Without Justice

  Sidebar

  A More Perfect Union

  Love’s Verdict

  Pursuit of Happiness

  The Luca Bennett Mystery Series:

  Slingshot

  Battle Axe

  Switchblade

  Bow and Arrow (novella in Girls with Guns)

  Lone Star Law Series:

  Lay Down the Law

  Above the Law

  Letter of the Law

  Outside the Law

  Acknowledgments

  I own the DVDs for all seven seasons of West Wing and have watched the entire series numerous times. If I happen to be flipping through channels and see the movie The American President on TV, I stop and watch it whether there’s an hour left or only five minutes. Every. Single. Time. The reason for my obsession with these shows? Because they combine two of my favorite things: politics and happy endings. Give me a political-themed story with a happily ever after and you’ve made my day. Lately, we could all use a big helping of hope with our daily dose of politics, and that is what has inspired me to continue this series of romantic political-themed stories starring principled and idealistic characters that began with Courtship and A More Perfect Union. I hope you will find both an escape from today’s headlines and hope for the future in the pages of this book.

  Thanks to Sandy and Rad, and everyone else who works for Bold Strokes Books for all your support for my writing career. Thanks to Jeanine Henning for a terrific cover. A big shout out to my editor, Cindy Cresap, for her guidance on this, our twentieth book together—I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else.

  Ruth and Paula, thanks for being great pals, and always being willing to kick around legal strategy and plot points. Georgia, thanks for helping me stay on track with our daily word count check-ins.

  To my wife, Lainey—thanks for all the things you do and the sacrifices you’ve made to make it possible for me to have this career. Your kindness and compassion inspires me to be a better person, and your keen eyes on this manuscript drove me to be a better writer.

  And to you, dear readers, who have followed me on this journey—I am so very grateful for you all. Your loyal following makes it possible for me to have this career that I love. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

  Dedicated to

  Lainey and pursuing happiness together. Always.

  Chapter One

  Senator Meredith Mitchell struggled to concentrate on the witness’s testimony, but the woman’s long, slender neck and waves of golden blond hair generated a buzz of attraction that blocked out the captivating story told by an obviously accomplished storyteller. Despite what sometimes aired in prime time on C-SPAN, these Senate Judiciary Committee meetings were usually notoriously dull and dry, but Stevie Palmer, the public defender currently fielding questions from Meredith’s fellow senators about proposed changes to the federal sentencing guidelines, was riveting.

  “Leroy Johnson’s only real crime was loyalty,” Stevie said. “Loyalty to his older brother, the only father figure he’d ever known, and the only person who’d ever supported him or cared for him. When the police came calling, threatening to take away the only constant Leroy had ever known, he lied to protect his family. A lie that would land him in federal prison for the next ten years of his life.”

  “Well, isn’t that a sad tale.”

  Meredith glanced at her colleague, Senator Connie Armstrong from Texas, who’d made the remark, and wondered if she’d missed something in Stevie’s testimony that had gotten under Connie’s skin. God knows she might have zoned out on the actual words Stevie was saying. But who could blame her? Stevie Palmer was breathtaking. You should be ashamed of yourself for ogling the woman. She should, but she wasn’t. It had been way too long since she’d paused to enjoy the beauty of anything, let alone a gorgeous woman, and she couldn’t help it if the sentencing commission, which was normally composed of stodgy old men, had decided to send a young, hot public defender to testify before her committee.

  “Senator Mitchell?” Connie asked.

  She tore her gaze away from Stevie. “Yes, Senator Armstrong?”

  Connie raised an eyebrow but pressed on. “I’ve heard all I can take about the woes of Ms. Palmer’s drug-dealing clients. It’s your turn to question this witness.”

  Meredith cleared her throat to buy a moment of time. She’d prepared a long list of tough questions for the witness, but that was when she thought she’d be sparring with someone who didn’t look like a movie star and wasn�
�t as compelling. No way out now. “Thank you, Senator.” She took a drink of water and jumped right in.

  “Ms. Palmer, you argue that mandatory minimums in drug cases are inherently unfair, but isn’t it true that over half of the offenders subject to these laws receive sentences below the minimum in exchange for cooperating with the government?” Stevie’s eyes locked on hers, and the room was silent for several beats. When she finally spoke, Meredith realized she’d been holding her breath.

  “Stats like the one you just quoted only add to the problem,” Stevie said. “When you say ‘over half,’ most people assume something in the seventy to one hundred percent range, but the truth is that the total number of offenders who received some reprieve from mandatory minimums as a result of their cooperation was less than fifty-two percent, barely over half.”