Customer Reviews

The Trials of Angela

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love this series, especially the fact that many of the unique characters carry forward into each book!

Angela is not having a good time! Her cheating ex-fiance left her to move to London with his new girlfriend, her strange parents have just moved back to town and she has to argue a case against annoying (but gorgeous) John Franco. John isn't having a swell time either. His grandmother keeps getting arrested, his family is mad at him for representing clients who are fighting against his own family and he has to argue a case against annoying (but gorgeous) Angela DeNero.

Needless to say, sparks fly, in all kind of ways! Don't know how many times I've woken my husband when laughing out loud through these books! I lend all the books of this series to friends and we pass them around. They always come back dog-eared and this won't be any exception! Millie Criswell has done it again!

Millie Criswell just gets better and better. In "The Trials of Angela," Ms. Criswell has done the impossible--she has made two lawyers charming and irresistible.* With characters like Angela's cross-dressing father and John's shoplifting grandmother, this book is laugh-out-loud-pee-your-pants funny. The chemistry between Angela and John isn't bad either. Millie Criswell fans will not be disappointed with her latest release. The real disappointment is waiting for the release of Ms. Criswell's next book, "Mad About Mia."

*Because I am a lawyer, I feel I've earned the right to laugh at my profession. That is also why I don't take personally the lawyer jokes printed at the beginning of each chapter.

Millie Criswell gives us a return trip to Baltimore's Little Italy with her new book, THE TRIALS OF ANGELA. Angela DeNero and John Franco are attorneys on opposite sides of a custody trial. John is the ultimate hero and Angela is absolutely the sweetest heroine ever. This delightful book kept me riveted to the pages from the start, to the point that when I misplaced my first copy, I had to rush out and buy a second --- I could not wait any longer to finish the story!

With something for everyone, THE TRIALS OF ANGELA is just plain good fun! Millie Criswell has outdone herself, introducing innovative new plot lines and exploring life's realities in her amusing and original style, wrapped up in an excellently crafted story. The sometimes-quirky characters show us how to sweeten the sour times of our lives and live on the wild side. A funny book that will have you gasping at its audacity and doubled up in laughter as the story takes you on a roller coaster ride behind the closed doors of everyday people like you and I.

The third book in Ms. Criswell's Little Italy series, THE TRIALS OF ANGELA is a wonderful story, guaranteed to be a keeper, and one that you will read again and again.

This was the best Millie Criswell novel I've ever read and I had a wonderful savoring each and every page. The characters are just so easy to love and Angela captured my heart from page one. She's definitely more than just a pretty face. Angela has it all but discovers a little surprise left from her previous relationship which ended on a pretty sour note and through it all it Angela perseveres one-step at a time. Her first encounter with fellow attorney John Franco sizzles from the moment they meet again. Little does Angela know but John has had a thing for her since their high school days and nothing -- and I mean nothing is gonna stand in his way to get her.
I believe you'll enjoy this novel as it's filled with romance and on top of several emotional upheavals along the way, Angela and John overcome it all. Having the characters back from the previous "Mary" and "Annie" stories is an additional pleasure. Anyway this is one novel deemed to knock your socks off cause once you pick it -- you won't be able to put it down. Enjoy!

I have read other Millie Criswell novels (such as The Trouble with Mary and What to Do About Annie) but The Trials of Angela is by far my favorite! It has just enough of everything in it! The book is all about Angela DeNero, a lawyer who is working on a child custody case. John Franco is, you guessed it, another lawyer on the opposing side of this legal issue. This book is humorous, sensual, and a really fun book!

Angela DeNero's life is a mess! She had just broken up with her fiancé who had been cheating on her. Her law practice was in need of help and her most challenging thing yet was a man, the man she was up against in her court, handsome John Franco. She believes he'd send his own grandfather to jail but instead he makes her heart to a pitter patter. John Franco is ambitious and has no wish to marry or even be involved if it took away from his work. Angela and John matches in every way possible from their ambition to their sizzling attraction to one another throughout the book. Even more complications arise for Angela that she had no expected and prove to take everything in her to get a grip on.

Angela started out so tough and independent but as the book progresses spots of vulnerability stand out in her making her more real to life and easier to be sympathetic with and you are, very much so. John comes across as strong, unrelenting, and drop dead gorgeous. As the book moves along though, John becomes gentle, caring, and still drop dead gorgeous. I really enjoyed the book and am looking forward to Ms. Criswell's next book about Mia. Ms. Criswell has really written a humorous, contemporary tale of challenges and love. Keep up the great work!

Romance At Its Best

Fans of Millie Criswell will not be disappointed with her latest Little Italy story, The Trials of Angela. Ms. Criswell outdid herself with this one! From the very first chapter when Grandma Flora gets arrested for shoplifting, this book is loaded with laughs and romance! It has a cast of some of the most zany characters you'll ever meet in a romance novel, from Angela's cross-dressing Dad, to her bulldozer operator sister. The hero, John Franco, is an absolute gem. I read this entire book in one day, I could not put it down. It grabbed me from the very first page and did not let up through the very last paragraph. Don't miss this gem of a story, you will not be disappointed. My only disappointment is having to wait until next March to read Mia's story!

Angela DeNero has left her law practice in Boston, as well as her philandering fiancé to set roots in the old neighborhood, Baltimore's Little Italy.

Her first big case involves the custody of Matt Gallagher, who was introduced in "The Trouble with Mary." Matt has been living with his father and step-mother since being abandoned by his mom, Sharon Rothburg, who is now married to a high-powered attorney, and insistent that she acquire custody. Representing the Rothburgs is John Franco, who also happens to be Mary's cousin and the unrequited crush of Angela. John reluctantly takes the case when his partner has a heart attack, facing the wrath of his extended family.

As the two become adversaries, John takes a chance and pursues Angela outside of the courtroom. She figures that once he discovers her fiancé left her with more than a broken heart that John will flee. But not even Angela's crazy oddball family (her pop s a cross-dressing ex-cop) can send him away as they square off in the bedroom as well as the courtroom, leading up to an emotional conclusion.

I enjoyed the love story between Angela and John. I only wish it wasn't ruined by Angela's recent past and subsequent `problem.' I'm not sure that her `problem' was necessary to move the story forward - the fact that they were opposing attorneys on a family case would have been difficult enough for their budding relationship. Overall, the story was witty in places and enjoyable. Recommended.

In high school in Baltimore, Angela DeNero dated Tony Stefano, but had a secret crush on John Franco (he became a lawyer not a pitcher). Surprisingly, John shared her feelings, but neither admitted the attraction probably more out of fear, but somewhat out of loyalty to Tony. Both goes on to college and law school, but during all that education, they never set eyes on one another.

Seeing each other years later, Angela and John are on opposite sides of a custody case. Angela represents the Gallaghers while John's clients are the Rothbergs. Legal and sexual sparks fly as Angela and John argues for their respective client. Besides not really wanting a relationship at this time, Angela is pregnant from the cheating boyfriend she just dumped. However, love is the supreme court of relationships so that the appeal between Angela and John makes for an open and shut case.

Millie Criswell's third Baltimore tale, THE TRIALS OF ANGELA, is a delightful contemporary filled with amusing family antics inside a warm romantic romp. The amusing story line is fun though the tons of humor takes away from some of the seriousness of the custody trial and the pregnancy yet leave the reader upbeat in a You Can't Take It With You theme. The cast engages the audience just as it did with THE TROUBLE WITH MARY and WHAT TO DO ABOUT ANNIE? and probably will with the next novel, MAD ABOUT MIA.

Harriet Klausner