Within the Law [Paperback]

Chelle Cordero (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2008

Tom gave up on ever falling in love again the day that he buried his high school sweetheart and fiancé. He started a career in law enforcement just so that he could find her murderer and rapist. Just when he is about to see justice done, he meets Alli Davis-the defense attorney for the murdering rapist who took his love from him. Alli and Tom share a mutual and passionate attraction but Alli refuses to make any commitments. She is hiding a huge secret. Tom falls in love with her and pursues her despite a false arrest, kidnapping and attempt on his life. Forgotten and Within the Law are two highly sensual, romantic and edge-of-your-seat tales. Although Forgotten and Within the Law are two separate stories, they are woven together by a common thread-cousins Caitlyn Smythe and Tom Hughes. Some favorite characters appear in both novels and allow the reader to become totally absorbed into the family.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I loved Bartlett's Rule. I loved Forgotten. I knew I should expect another amazing story from Ms. Cordero, but I didn t expect such a beautifully poignant and yet, at the same time, such a realistic novel of love and danger, adventure and intrigue! Chelle Cordero has a gift! My husband enjoyed Within the Law, too, and he doesn't enjoy many of the books I choose, but told me this wasn't your typical mushy girl book and was easy for him to read. He passed it on to his brother even! --Nila DeLay

Really great storyline and a great read! Chelle's skills really shine in each of her novels, but I particularly enjoyed Within the Law for its descriptive scenes of places I have traveled. I recognized many of the locations. Another thing I appreciate is the true-to-life amnesia scenes, and as a nurse, rarely find such well written medical scenes in fiction, especially romance. She did it! --Rhonda J. Fortin

Great story of danger and trust and deceit. Thanks for another great book, Chelle. I am looking forward to getting my copy of Forgotten in the next few days and reading that, too. --Bethany Dillon

About the Author

Chelle Cordero, author of the novels, Bartlett's Rule (VHP April, 2008), Forgotten (VHP July, 2008), has been published by Gannett Newspapers, SPOTLIGHT Magazine, Hudson Valley Magazine, and other national magazines and regional publications. Ms. Cordero is also a partner in By-Lines, an editorial and photography company catering to the business community. She lives in the New York suburb of Stony Point with her lover and husband of thirty-two years, and her son; her daughter and son-in-law live nearby. In her spare time, and sometimes when she has none to spare, Chelle is an avid reader and fan of Danielle Steele, Faye Kellerman, Dean Koontz, Patricia Cornwell and other popular novels.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Vanilla Heart Publishing (October 2, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0982115040
• ISBN-13: 978-0982115046
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,888,692 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I've always been blessed with a very vivid imagination and in recent years I've allowed that imagination to run wild... I have nine novels on the market: Bartlett's Rule; His Lucky Charm (previously called Forgotten); Within the Law; Courage of the Heart; Final Sin; Hostage Heart; A Chaunce of Riches; Common Bond, Tangled Hearts; and Hyphema. Previews of ALL Chelle Cordero novels are available at http://bit.ly/bv174Y. I also have short stories in 6 anthologies: With Arms Wide Open (VHP); Forever Friends (Mandimam Press); Nature's Gifts (VHP); Forever Travel (Nandimam); Passionate Hearts (VHP); Love & Chocolate (VHP); and Nature's Gifts 2010 (VHP).

I like to write romantic suspense and mystery; Final Sin and Hyphema are murder mysteries centered around an EMS theme. Reviews have used words and phrases like "captivating", "this story just engulfs you right away", "engaging and entertaining", "a great summer beach read", "Kudos to Ms. Cordero" and "entirely too good to pass up". Check out my website at http://chellecordero.com for more about my books and reviews.

Kindle owners can subscribe to a weekly writing workshop at your fingertips; just go to http://amzn.to/rxCPTT for details. Find writing advice, prompts and exercises. Non-Kindle owners can purchase Living, Breathing, Writing: A Lesson A Day Volumes 1 & 2 in print as well.

My readers and fans can learn more about my novels, characters, and recent developments at my Author Blog, http://chellecordero.blogspot.com/ and at my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChelleCordero

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Within the Law - Where Murder and Love Collide, January 31, 2009

By 

Todd A. Fonseca (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Within the Law (Paperback)

Eight years after the abduction and murder of his fiancé, Tom Hughes throws back his last drink pondering the next day's hearing. Her killer had been found. Consumed with rage and wanting to confront the man who took his future away, Tom leaves the bar and stumbles upon an attractive well dressed woman named Alli whose badly bloodied her knee after twisting her ankle. Uncertain why such a woman would be found so late in a rather dangerous part of town, Tom comes to her aid. Though cautious of a complete stranger wanting to help her, Tom insists ensuring that Alli does not suffer the safe fate as his fiancé years before.

At the hearing, Tom begins to think perhaps his life can finally move on with the killer to be tried and a new woman in his life. His dreams quickly unravel when he learns that Alli is the killer's attorney. Taunted by the man as they leave the courtroom, Tom beats him so badly the killer is hospitalized and later found murdered. With his life turned upside down, Tom is now accused of murder and Alli must prove his innocence.

Chelle Cordero begins Within The Law with a great setup of murder, betrayal, and plot twists that engage the reader immediately. As I read the opening chapters, I was reminded somewhat of Scott Turow's Presumed Innocent. Cordero then takes a turn I didn't expect, and the opening story arc closes. In Ken Follet style, the novel subsequently explores the tragic sequence of events keeping Tom and Alli from being together. The novel is, therefore, less courtroom murder mystery and more star-crossed love story.

Cordero's writing and plot is engaging and entertaining. One is drawn to Tom and Alli and their story just as they are drawn to one another. The dialogue is real and crisp and the novel moves quickly. Within the Law makes a great summer beach read.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars High RPM Romanctic Suspense, May 23, 2009

By 

Malcolm R. Campbell "The Sun Singer" (Northeast Georgia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Within the Law (Paperback)

"The woman, an attractive blonde, seemed scared when she first saw him approaching out of the shadows. She tried to stand again and he watched as her ankle turned in and she groaned. Her knee-length tan skirt showed dark smudges from the dirty sidewalk."

When Tom Hughes helps Alli Davis on a dark street in the bad part of town, he definitely wants to know more about her even though they're like ships passing in the night. But, the following day, he finds her in a courtroom. She's part of the team defending the man who killed his fiance Joyce eight years ago. What manner of cruel fate is this?

A state trooper, Tom is in Rome, New York to identify his high school class ring for the district attorney, the ring Joyce was wearing when she was murdered. When police arrested Roy Dunlop on another charge, they found the ring and tied it to the unsolved crime.

Readers of Chelle Cordero's "Forgotten" will remember the supporting role Tom Hughes played in the lives of his cousin Caitlyn Smythe and her lover Brandon Price. This time out, all three characters are back, but Tom's the one standing at the center of another Cordero whirlwind of gut-wrenching danger and prospective star-crossed love.

We know from the back-cover blurb that Tom falls in love with Alli and that he "pursues her despite a false arrest, kidnapping and attempt on his life." The plot of "Within the Law" is intricate, the twists and turns are unexpected, and the writing is compelling.

The needle on this novel's tachometer remains in the red zone throughout a high-speed, 288-page ride.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gut-wrenching novel, July 12, 2009

By 

At Your Fingertips "Tam" (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Within the Law (Paperback)

This is a gut wrenching novel that realy strikes close to what must go through every person's mind, when either the direct victim of a crime or the friend of someone in such a horrible situation. Ms. Cordero wonderfully portrays the agony that her lead character endures throughout the book to the point that I had to sit back and wonder how many people would behave in the same manner when confronted with the ugliness of a crime and the criminal.
This is well worth the read and I would highly recommend Chelle's wonderful work.