Julie James (1) (1974–)

Julie James writes romances I want to read. Her characters are grown-ups with grown-up problems. They are smart, educated, and ambitious. This book teams AUSA and former college football phenom (until he sustained a career-ending injury in the Rose Bowl) Cade Morgan with Brooke Parker, the in-house counsel of Chicago's premier restaurant group. After both have had relationships crumble when love interests tell them they are emotionally unavailable and work too much they agree to a no-strings relationship. I think we all know what happens next, but the road there is bumpy, emotional, sexy, and fun. I think there was too much going on here, and James did not go as deep into these characters as those in the other three installments of the FBI/US Attorney series that I have read, but still very good fun.… (more)

Another fun, well-written and engaging romance from Julie James. I really liked the first in this series, and I liked this one as much. The plot is straightforward: Wine merchant and heiress Jordan is tapped by the FBI to assist them in getting access to a criminal she knows socially in return for helping her brother who is in jail for a little hacking incident. Her assigned agent is hot as fire commitment-phobe Nick, a seasoned undercover guy who recently relocated to Chicago from Brooklyn. Nick's whole Brooklyn Italian thing is pretty cliche, but also I know lots of Italians in Brooklyn whose families run pretty much the same way.

Things go as you expect and the whole thing is satisfying. Solid escapist fun. I see book 3 in my near future.… (more)