Love Hate Law: A Kramer-O&#x27;Hara Legal Romance

I don't know what to say. This book practically has factors that make a story so engrossing. It's got all the drama that readers are often looking for in romantic and thriller genres. I'm sure readers who are into romance, political, and legal thriller would be entertained with this book. I know, I did!

Jackie

4 reviews

May 4, 2024

Best book by far that I’ve ever read. Super well written, never a dull moment, keeps you on your toes. The switching back-and-forth between the point of views of the characters gave the book an interesting perspective all throughout. I can’t wait to own this book when it comes out. Highly recommend.

John

1,746 reviews13 followers

March 19, 2024

I received an ARC through "NetGalley" and I am leaving an honest rebiew.

In this latest story Michigan has finished an election and the current Govenor lost. He has made statements similar to what happened in D.C. after the 2020 election. He has a crowd that he urged to attack the capital. As a result, an aide was killed as she was trampled on the steps.

We are then introduced to Andrea, a lawyer who has decided to open her own firm. She has set up in an old, haunted house where items from the past still happen. She receives a new client and she is hired to get justice for his daughter who was the aide that was killed. The lawyer that was selected to defend the state of Michigan was Michael who believed he was on the path to a partnership. Michael believed that Andrea was so new and he would have no trouble beating her in court. Things did not work out as well as Michael hoped and he discovered that he was no longer on the partnership path but was instead fired. As a result, he let himself take a path getting drunk.

Michael finally was able to pull himself together and decided to open his own firm in a small town. He wound up being a tenant in Andrea's building. Things worked out and he and Andrea soon had a sort of partnership going where Michael was the office manager and the staff was shared. Things were going along well until a new client for Michael was faced with a libel suit. Andrea was not in favor of Michael taking yje case pwn and things and feelings changed. Andrea also began getting clients as a result of her large win in the Michigan case that she won. Soon Amdrea and Michael were once again opponents. As another lawyer, Zack Blake, also had clients for the case that Michael was handling. As a result, Zack and Andrea became a team. Meanwhile Smith Toys also brought Michael's former boss on and Michael was no longer the lead. As time for the case came closer, Michael was pushing for Smith to eventually settle. Because of how Michael's former boss handle the case initially, they were let go and Michael was now the lead.

Read along and discover what amount of time Andrea had to wait for the settlement on her Michigan case to be resolved because of the numerous appeals, how Michael and Andrea friendship was renewed and how Andrea partibipation in the case she was working with Zack om eventually resulted in a settlement. The ending is well done and the conclusion took a long time coming.

Book Reviewer

4,788 reviews442 followers

March 21, 2024

Love Hate Law by Mark M. Bello presents an engaging narrative set in the legal world, where the lives of two contrasting lawyers, Andrea and Michael, intertwine. Andrea, a dedicated lawyer from an average American background, is committed to representing the underdog. On the other hand, Michael, born into privilege and accustomed to the finest education, tends to gravitate towards financially lucrative corporate clients. Their differing approaches to law are challenged when they find themselves entangled in a high-profile case, leading to unexpected shifts in their career trajectories and personal lives.

Bello crafts a legal romance that captivates readers through various casework and career development, set against the backdrop of a burgeoning relationship between Andrea and Michael. The novel is swift in pace and length. It skillfully balances legal intricacies with accessible language, making it informative without overwhelming the reader. Central to the novel is the compelling conflict that draws Andrea and Michael together, effectively setting the stage for their evolving relationship. The story navigates through their professional and romantic tension, culminating in a satisfying conclusion for both characters. The novel effectively employs dual points of view, enriching the narrative with varied perspectives, even though some transitions might appear sudden. The legal intricacies of the plot are skillfully handled, suggesting room for a more nuanced exploration of the characters, especially in the romantic subplot. For example, Andrea, consistently depicted as a dedicated justice-seeker, encounters a surprising turn in her character arc with an impulsive gambling episode, offering an unexpected twist that adds complexity to her role and the storyline.

Love Hate Law is a captivating legal drama that follows the lives of two lawyers and their personal and professional struggles. Set in the midst of a fast-paced and high-pressure case, this legal thriller offers an intriguing blend of suspense, romance, and intrigue. Mark M. Bello's book is a great choice for those who enjoy legal romance.

Shey Saints

Author 2 books48 followers

May 2, 2024

Summary
Love Hate Law is a romantic legal thriller by Mark M. Bello. The story focuses on two lawyers who are the complete opposite of each other. Andrea is an advocate for the people, passionate about justice, and always plays fair and clean. Michael, on the other hand, is a ‘bad-boy’ country club type of lawyer who prefers money over ethics. Their paths cross through a high-profile case and the two attorneys clash from day one. After going against each other, they decide to share a workspace but agree to practice their laws separately. Despite their differences in work ethics, they can’t ignore the fact that they are attracted to each other. Will they follow their hearts and set aside their differences?

Review
This enemies-to-lovers romantic story felt like something from way back when I was younger and full of hope. As a pessimistic nowadays when it comes to romance, I never thought their relationship would work out because Michael has been a red flag since the beginning. But of course, I’m never a credible person to judge relationships and say anything about them because I’ve never had any luck on that. If I were Andrea, I would’ve easily controlled myself and buried whatever feelings I had because I’m a coward. Andrea was brave enough to push through with a relationship that has been a bad idea from the start. Even if the relationship started as a business deal rather than a romantic partnership, realistically, it didn’t sit well with me, but I guess that’s why it felt so exciting to read it. After all, aren’t we suckers for complicated relationships when it comes to fiction? Overall, I enjoyed this story because I love court drama and I was eager to find out what will happen between Michael and Andrea. I also love the crossover of my favorite trial lawyer, Zach, so I know that avid Mark Bello readers will love this book for sure. Highly recommend everyone to read this exciting, heart fluttering, nostalgic, and very informative legal thriller!

Tara

171 reviews

August 13, 2024

I thought Love Hate Law was just...ok. I enjoyed the plot summary and the general story line. I thought the characters were extremely cute and fit together well. The main female character, Andrea was so strong and independent. I felt like she could accomplish anything. The book also has the typical "rake" male main character, Michael that turns over a new leaf after he falls in love with a girl. I was confused as I thought at the beginning of the book Michael had a girlfriend he was cheating on, but nothing ever came of it. The author did a good job of making you dislike the "good old boy" politicians. I was a little disappointed at the lack of confrontation between characters, where was the drama?!? The characters were just so nice to each other and if there was an issue it was resolved with a one sentence apology. It's nice to hope for that in real life, but in a book, I was the drama, I want the confrontation. Even Michael's dad is extremely nice and supportive. I was expecting him to be the scheme-y lawyer like Michael's boss at the law firm. I was also a little disappointed that the fact finding of the case was skimmed over so quickly. At first, I thought the court case was just moving really fast then realized pieces were being skipped over, I would have enjoyed more background on how Andrea discovered some of her evidence. Next, Andrea and Michael didn't start to develop feelings for each other until 40% through the book. I also struggled to FEEL the passion between them and there was little build up to their romance. My last comment has been about the haunted building that Andrea rented. There was so much talk about how it was haunted and how it smelled. However, none of that was explained. I was hoping Andrea would discover something and also solve a mystery there as well. I will forever be wondering what the old smell was.

Meghan

2,471 reviews

February 14, 2024

Andrea is an up-and-coming lawyer from law school working in her home state of Michigan. She lands a building to start her business, and it turns out to be haunted. Protests are constantly happening regarding known fraud committed in the governor election by the newly appointed governor. Andrea is hired to sue the state of Michigan and the governor for the crime. Then there is Michael, the attorney representing the state of Michigan in the case. He and Andrea meet, and things get steamy. Even though they represent opposing sides, Michael has a history of being a partier and a Cassanova, and Andrea is a woman of the people. This will be the case to remember for more than being victorious.

Reading this book put me in the mood to imagine myself in the courtroom as the stenographer. The details of the case, the dirt both Michael and Andrea dug up on each of their sides, plus lurking into their desires, stirred up a great read. Mark Bellow did an excellent job holding nothing back and enriched the readers with as much detail as possible to be captivated by the story. The case is relevant, current, and relatable to many people, so it can easily attract a massive audience. In addition, the hot, steamy, spicy romance between Andrea and Michael just took the book to a whole new level.

There is nothing to dislike about the book. It will captivate audiences worldwide. The fluidity, editing, language, writing style, and structure were brilliantly executed. This book is perfect to satisfy the need for a good book. I will recommend this book to all of my friends. For these reasons, it's an honor to award this book five stars.

elite-editing

Ayushmita Dutta

1 review

October 9, 2025

Love Hate Law by Mark M. Bello engages into narrative set of legal world, romance and drama between two characters with the enemies to lovers tropes. The book's first few pages were a captivating read which make me bored at all but then the flaws of writings and of how the author rushed to the direct storyline didn't got me hooked to the story as it did on the first 100 pages.

The storyline, characters and plot was intensely perfect and thrilling but it didn't matched the author's writings which is a very dissatisfaction for readers like us who loves legal world romances. The main characters are overally nicely written with beautiful characteristics and details however they lack alot of passion and confrontation between themselves. The court cases were quickly skipped and then all of a sudden it was solved..the characters were being too much nice to eachother got me cringed all over everytime!

Although, a nice behaviour towards your opponent or clients or whoever it is can be genuinely a polite behaviour in reality but in fictional world, in storylines where's the drama? I was thriving for the dramas for which I stayed till the end of the book but got a huge disappointment at the ending. The wedding chapter was not even beautifully written, it lacked emotions, passions and feelings. I hoped for the book to be atleast a 4 stars when I was in halfway of it but nah it's two stars.

My overall saying would be that the storyline lacked the drama it needed, confrontation when it was necessary, feelings and emotions of a particular special chapter was ruined, characters were nicely written but lacked the emotions themselves. The court cases were skipped so much that at first i probably thought that I, myself have skipped a chunk of words, it just had a playboy nature male lead which later on turned to be a good boy just to match the storyline.

Deborah

3,847 reviews500 followers

March 11, 2024

It’s safe to say I struggled with this.

Originally the insurrection made for difficult reading. More so than I expected. I actually put the book down and read another before returning. This was totally on me I knew the subject matter going in. I just didn’t expect it to be so difficult.

Once I’d got past the opener I felt much better. Well for a short time anyway. I also struggled with the writing style. The conversations (particularly the early ones, not sure if the writing changed or more likely I just got used to it) were a bit cringy and wooden. And I never truly connected with the characters. Making this a difficult read. Due to this the romance part didn’t work.

I enjoyed the legal side more but if I’m being totally honest it felt more like a draft.

I voluntarily read a review copy kindly provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

netgalley

Nancy

142 reviews1 follower

February 19, 2024

From opposing counsel to lovers. This is a very delightful read, showcasing the different legal strategies between plaintiff and defense. The story is loosely adapted from the recent Presidential election and it always makes you wonder how the aftermath was handled. It's a glimpse to what went on inside the court that a normal citizen is not privy to witness.

The characters are enjoyable. The way they handled their conflicts show how they complement each other. I like that even though they don't always share the same opinions, they are always able to resolve their issues without the mess.

My thanks to 10 Grand Publications and NetGalley for granting this e-ARC for an honest review.

Kaiti

115 reviews

May 25, 2024

I chose this book because the author is local to where I grew up and the main legal case was heavily inspired by the insurrection at the capitol in 2021. I will say that the writing style was not to my liking. It was third person in a way that felt very detached and clinical- almost like a newspaper article. I enjoyed watching Andrea & Michael’s relationship evolve, but that also felt somewhat disjointed. Their disagreements were solved quickly with no negative residual feelings and that did not feel authentic to me. A lot of the dangerous situations in the book were the same way- easily resolved with very little fallout. It’s an alright read, but the style put a damper on it.

Jiminie Mochi

58 reviews17 followers

May 20, 2024

It's nice to read something like this after so long. I don't normally like romance novels because I don't like corny stuff and when you're dealing with two people in love, there has got to be something there that is corny. For me, this one doesn't have that. The moments between Michael and Andrea are either heart-fluttering, exciting, or eye opening. They are two people with totally different perception and work ethics. But that shouldn't be a hindrance if you're in love. You gotta make it work.

Michael Gentry

1 review

August 13, 2025

Having read all nine Mark Bello books in the Zachary Blake series, I just finished “Love Hate Law” and it did not disappoint. Like most of Bello’s books he tackles issues of the day which plague our country from hate, racism, antisemitism, corporate and political greed, all intertwined with a keen knowledge of the legal system, that in his novels brings the perpetrators to justice. I am a big fan of his keen knowledge of the law and his ability to create intriguing stories that always have the bad guys brought to justice. I highly recommend this author.

Harmonia

101 reviews15 followers

May 20, 2024

It's been too long since I had a nice romantic book like this that doesn't only focus on romance but also the individuality of the love interests. I think that's what made this entertaining. I understood Michael's background and motivation, which is why I couldn't condemn his work ethics, despite him having a money-grabbing tactic in getting clients. You gotta love a bad boy sometimes in this money-driven world!

Bulletproof Girl

67 reviews17 followers

May 20, 2024

I love Michael. He's not too righteous. He does what he needs to do to survive and that's what matters. I can understand his point of view because I'm not a saint either. I do what I need to survive in a world where money controls everything. And I don't even feel bad to accept the truth because that's just the way it is. Money is everything. If everyone has money, there will be no crimes, there will be no deceptions, no complicated relationships. Lack of money make people do things.

Sue Lee

29 reviews3 followers

I don't know why but more often than not, I’ve read more about opposites attract. Maybe it's because there is more mystery and intrigue when the other person is your exact opposite. Authors know it's more exciting that way. I've also recently came across with many insurrection-themed stories and this one was well written. Possibly one of the best fusions of romantic and legal thrillers out there. 5 stars and highly recommended.

page-turner

Chara Cinder

10 reviews4 followers

Classic! Haven't read a story like this in a long time! Though the setting is contemporary, it definitely gives me that classic vibe of enemies to lovers, opposites attract kind of story. The author knows what readers want. He even made sure the guy's a big city lawyer and the girl's a small-town lawyer, kind of the underdog type and they both clash since day 1. Who wouldn't read this when it brings the nostalgia of stories from way back? 5/5 stars!

JP Li

35 reviews12 followers

It's hard to find a beautiful and good-hearted woman like Andrea nowadays. I admire her work ethics. People like her are what we need. I'm not saying I don't like Michael though. He has his own background and personality, and he is just making his life work when it doesn't seem to be working his way. Andrea's a good influence on him. That's probably why they are meant to be.

entertaining informative

Lee Serrano

43 reviews14 followers

I don't remember the last time I read a book with enemies-to-lovers trope in the romance genre. What's even better is that this story will not only fill you with thrilling romantic moments but also feed your mind with new knowledge. I don't want to spoil readers, but I would like to say this book has a satisfactory ending.

romance

Lala Bo

34 reviews11 followers

I was skeptical at first because it didn't seem like Michael and Andrea's business setup would work. And I was partially right. Because there were struggles, difference of point of views, work ethics, etc. But they worked it out. I think the charm of this book is in the difference of personalities of the two main characters. Highly recommended.

Ruth Tom

35 reviews11 followers

I would've ran away from Michael the minute I realize I'm attractive to him. He's a total red flag. He only gets clients who are worth lots of money. I'm glad he met an honest and great attorney like Andrea to teach him some values. Problem is…habits are hard to break. And I think readers will find it exciting to anticipate whether Michael will have a character development.

page-turner romance

Christine

33 reviews9 followers

This book makes me want to read other books by Mark M. Bello. He is an attorney, so he knows a lot of complex stuff that are very intriguing. I like the combination of romance and legal thriller because it gives you two different kinds of excitement. Overall, I'm giving this book 2 thumps up and 5 out of 5 stars!

informative romantic

Chris Anders

28 reviews11 followers

entertaining page-turner romance

This is absolutely entertaining! Loved the characters who have complete opposite personalities and that they ended up working in the same space and developed an attraction towards each other. This is every romance readers kind of novel! I also like that it isn't cheesy as most romance novels are. Also learned some law stuff! 5/5 stars for me!

Judy A.

14 reviews

As someone who's yet to discover more about the dark world of politics and the pros and cons of being a lawyer, this book has it all. Drama, politics, legal action, romance. The characters may be cliche because it's not the first time I read opposite attracts and enemies-to-lovers trope, but I still found this story intriguing. Overall, this was very entertaining.

Evelyn Black

14 reviews

This is possibly one of the best legal thrillers mixed with romance. I didn't realize it's better to read themes like this than watch it in a series, but I read it as if I were watching it on a streaming app. It just gives such television vibes. Especially that part when Michael and Andrew first met.

Joseph Hart

10 reviews2 followers

Everything is typical until it's not. We've already read, watched, and heard characters like Michael and Andrea but what sets this book apart aside from cliched romantic stories is the well depicted narrative. The author's expertise in law and corruption came in very handy to write such a gripping romantic thriller!

Jessica

58 reviews13 followers

This was compelling! You can't put it down because you'd be anticipating how Andrea and Michael would end up in terms of relationship and business venture. A lot of readers will find this book entertaining, so I'm sure it'll attract more readers. Hoping to read more of Mark Bello's books!

informative love-story

Colleen Mason

8 reviews

I really liked it. I thought it'd be cliche because the characters are so common - bad boy good girl, city boy small town girl. But the fusion of romance and legal thriller made the story more compelling. It added another layer of intrigue, and I guess that's why it got me hooked from the start.

Elisca Charles

22 reviews3 followers