Review - A Lot Like Love

Title: A Lot Like Love
Author: Julie James
Publishing Date: March 2011
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: A
Sensuality: Hot
Book Disclosure: I purchased a new copy.

Jordan Rhodes, the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of a Chicago wine store has been asked by the FBI to participate in taking down one of Chicago's notorious businessman. The FBI uses Jordan to infiltrate an exclusive charity event where they will have access to a crime syndicate’s office. Only things don't go as smoothly as planned and Jordan and FBI agent Nick McCall spend more time together than they bargained.

Woo hoo!! Julie James does it again!! A Lot Like Love is another brilliant contemporary romance by Ms. Julie James. Jordan and Nick explode onto the pages with their clashing personalities and witty banter. This couple exudes sexual tension. Nick is a hard-nosed cop who exudes testosterone from every pore. Jordan bumps elbows with the socialite crowd of Chicago and knows her way around fine wine. These two are as opposite as they can get and yet the attraction is magnetic.

This is Ms. James first novel where the heroine is not a lawyer. Instead Jordan is an entrepreneur owning her own successful wine store. James rocked her new heroine. I loved all the little snippets about wine and the fun that comes along with owning your own business. There is great dialogue and a slight mystery to the book. I thought this was a really fun read!

Review - Something About You

Title: Something About You
Author: Julie James
Publishing Date: March 2010
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: Purchased a new copy.

Cameron Lynde is in a hotel room trying desperately to get some sleep. Only it seems the couple next door is have a marathon bought of noisy, adventurous sex. Crazy yet, it turns out she accidently catches a glimpse of the murderer as he is leaving the room. She doesn't quite know he strangled the woman at the time. She is delivered that message from the FBI as they keep her from leaving the hotel for hours on end. Finally fed up with the way things are progressing she demands to speak with someone in charge. Turns out that someone is Jack Pallas, with whom Cameron clashed fiercely with once upon a time. Just her luck.

I really like Julie James. Her writing is quick and witty with lots of panache. Something About You was another great book, however I didn't enjoy it as much as her first two books Practice Makes Perfect and Just the Sexiest Man Alive. Let me see if I can adequately explain why.

Cameron and Jack have a lot of great chemistry. They start out lashing out at one another verbally but underneath are fighting their attraction for each other. While the chemistry was there, I just didn't feel it was as prominent as what I have read before. I did like how the secondary characters played an important role in moving the action forward. One of my favorite scenes in the book was the bachelorette party that Cameron throws for her good friend Amy who is getting married. Wilkins, Jack's FBI partner kind of tricks him into attending and it was a funny scene.

One thing that I really liked about James's writing is her knowledge of the courtroom. She has the ability to make the courtroom come alive in her stories. Disappointingly for me Something About You was missing that element. I think had I read this book first as opposed to her other novel, I would have been less critical. As it stands, I did enjoy reading it, but it's not my favorite by her.

Here is what others had to say:

Leslie's Psyche
All About Me
Book Addict
Dear Author Review has quotes from the Batchelorette scene
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The Book Smugglers
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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Practice Makes Perfect

Title: Practice Makes Perfect
Author: Julie James
Publishing Date: March 2009
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Warm
Book Disclosure: Acquired a used one from Paperbackswap.

Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are two associate lawyers who have worked in the same law firm for the last 8 years. Both are hard working individuals who are fantastic at what they do. That is where the similarities end. Payton and J.D. have a healthy dose of competitiveness to their relationship and are always trying to out perform the other. Recently, they have been assigned to the same case and will have to learn to work together. Not only that, they are both up for partner and have been told that only one of them will be chosen.

I loved Practice Makes Perfect! This is a witty, fun, fast-paced read that I couldn't put down after picking it up. Right from the start the tone of the book was set with the first scene when Payton is preparing for work. She is rushing around getting ready, trying to beat J.D. to work. The competition begins and may the best man, or woman win. It never lets up and there are many wonderfully clever written scenes. Scenes that remain memorable long after the book has been read.

Both Payton and J.D. have chips on their shoulders. They are flawed, but I think in a good way. They are not perfect people, yet they are down right likable. At first glance J.D. might seem like a pampered elitist pretty boy - but nope, he is not like that all. Yeah, he has a lot of money, but he doesn't flash it all around. At the core he is practical and a hard worker. Payton is fiercely competitive and strong in her beliefs, but she doesn't come across as pushy. She is fair and open-minded. Really, these two were very well balance individuals.

Another big point in favor to the story is that the romance was very believable. J.D. and Payton knew each other for a long time. For 8 years they competed and fought with one another. I think it could be thought of as 8 years of foreplay! Next thing you know, each is seeing the other in a new light. One of my favorite scenes is when J.D. and Payton discuss what the other felt the first time they met. That was a very sweet scene. I definitely recommend this book for fans of contemporary romance, or those who love a light-hearted comedic romance.

Here is what others had to say:

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This book can be purchased in print or kindle format from Amazon.

Review - Just the Sexiest Man Alive

Title: Just the Sexiest Man Alive
Author: Julie James
Publishing Date: 2008
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: B+
Sensuality: Warm

Taylor Donovan is a very ambitious young lawyer working her way up the ranks of a prestigious Chicago law firm. She has been assigned to a sexual harassment case based out of Los Angeles. She moves temporarily to the LA branch and gets set up in a nice apartment. In addition to her sexual harassment case she has been assigned to coach the famous actor Jason Andrews for his new role in a law drama. Unimpressed with Jason's celebrity, she puts Jason in his place when he rudely fails to show for a meeting. Jason is shocked and intrigued that Taylor isn't drooling all over him. He has finally met his match in the sharp, beautiful Taylor.

Just the Sexiest Man Alive is a solid new addition to the contemporary genre. It has solid, well developed characters. Taylor is a little prickly with her ambitions to reach the top. She is all work and no play and might be hard to relate to for some readers. She still had enough vulnerability for me to like her. She lightens up when she is with her two girlfriends. At first glance, Jason is arrogant and self-centered, but eventually the reader learns more about him. As his relationship grows with Taylor he gets his humanity back and becomes a person, not just a celebrity.

Two things about this book I would like to highlight. First, is that it is extremely apparent that Ms. James knows her stuff when it comes to the courtroom. My knowledge is limited, but the author was very descriptive with the court case Taylor was working on and James's expertise shined like a beacon. Secondly, I want to commend Ms. James on her ability to create incredible sexual tension between Taylor and Jason without them actually having sex. I was surprised to realize that with only a handful of pages left, Jason and Taylor hadn't actually done the deed. This was an excellent debut and I will be looking forward to more by her in the future.

Here is what others had to say:

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You can purchase this book in print or kindle format from Amazon.