From the shelf: Love Irresistibly (FBI / US Attorney #4)

Title: Love Irresistibly (FBI / US Attorney #4)
Author: Julie James
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit
Date read: June 17-19, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★ (3/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

HE’S USED TO GETTING WHAT HE WANTS… A former football star and one of Chicago’s top prosecutors, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan will do anything to nail a corrupt state senator, which means he needs Brooke Parker’s help. As general counsel for a restaurant company, she can get a bug to the senator’s table at one of her five-star restaurants so the FBI can eavesdrop on him. All Cade has to do is convince Brooke to cooperate—and he’s not afraid to use a little charm, or the power of his office, to do just that.

AND WHAT HE WANTS IS HER. A savvy businesswoman, Brooke knows she needs to play ball with the U.S. Attorney’s office—even if it means working with Cade. No doubt there’s a sizzling attraction beneath all their sarcastic quips, but Brooke is determined to keep things casual. Cade agrees—until a surprising turn of events throws his life into turmoil, and he realizes that he wants more than just a good time from the one woman with whom he could fall terrifyingly, irresistibly in love . . .

My Review: (also in goodreads)

The 4th book of the FBI / Attorney series (Something About You, A Lot Like Love, About That Night). Cade Morgan is a senior AUSA under Cameron Lynde who started the 'blown out of proportion' fiasco involving the twitter terrorist under Cameron's predecessor's instructions. He meets Brooke Parker, general counsel for Sterling restaurants for a potential undercover operation and that's where the friction starts. 

The 4th book also has the elements in creating a Julie James novel (I noticed that they have the same flow). My most favorite part though is the Zack-Noah-Cade scenes, they are heart--wrenching and I even teared-up a little. Is there going to be a next book in the series??

Till the next read...

From the shelf: About That Night (FBI / US Attorney #3)

Title: About That Night (FBI / US Attorney #3)
Author: Julie James
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit
Date read: June 15-17, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

He's Playing Games Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face-to-face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she's stunned. More troubling to the beautiful assistant U.S. attorney is that she's still wildly attracted to him.

But She's Making The Rules Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn't thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case—but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can't say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn't mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won't give up on something he wants—and what he wants is the one woman he's never forgotten.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

Thus, the 3rd book of Julie James' FBI / Attorney series (Something About You, A Lot Like Love). In this story, we dig deeper into the life of Kyle Rhodes, the infamous twitter terrorist (which is also Jordan's twin brother, the 2nd book's protagonist) and the aftermath of it all. The story starts as he is anticipating his freedom which will be triggered by the US Attorney's office upholding the end of the bargain that his twin worked hard for. In comes Rylann Pierce, the attoney who will handle the decision to Kyle's fate which was coincidentally a significant person in Kyle's past 9 years ago.

The third book reeled me in. And by this time I could see the author's concoction to her stories. It was an easy read and I'll definitely read the next one.

Till the next read...

From the shelf: A Lot Like Love (FBI / US Attorney #2)

Title: A Lot Like Love (FBI / US Attorney #2)
Author: Julie James
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit
Date read: June 13-15, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★★ (4/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

The FBI wants her cooperation.

As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city's top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there's only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother's release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.

Agent McCall just wants her.

As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This "date" with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment— one they're both determined to pull off even if they can't be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick's investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they're a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

So this is the 2nd book of the FBI / Attorney series after Something About You. Though it would be lovely that I would revisit Jack Pallas and Cameron Lynde, it was time for the story of the main protagonists, Nick McCall and Jordan Rhodes, to shine. Nick is a special agent who is suddenly assigned to work with a newbie (Agent Huxley) in an undercover  operation and help him on the case involving Martino (as introduced in book 1). They are tasked to ask the help of millionaire's daughter Jordan in return, they will work on the freedom of her twin brother Kyle. But due to unforeseen events, the two are stuck together in the assignment as a fake couple and it begins. 

I love that Julie James' books thread in the same universe. At one instance, Scott Casey was mentioned (another character from Just the Sexiest Man Alive) and that Jack and Nick were rivals in a trash-talking friendly way. I love how the characters are connected and that my suspicions are correct, the series..actually her books are situated in the same environment. I recommend this book and I suggest readers to start from Just the Sexiest Man Alive. Guess, I'll read the third book. ^^

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Something About You (FBI / US Attorney #1)

Title: Something About You (FBI / US Attorney #1)
Author: Julie James
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit
Date read: June 11-12, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Fate has thrown two sworn enemies...
Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde had to choose the one next to 1308, where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends with a death. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this high-profile homicide. The same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for a botched crackdown three years ago—and for nearly ruining his career.

Into each other's arms...
Work with Cameron Lynde? Are they kidding? Maybe, Jack thinks, this is some kind of welcome-back prank after his stint away from Chicago. But it's no joke; the pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes—and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension

My Review: (also in goodreads)

So this kicks off the FBI / US Attorney romance series by Julie James. Cameron Lynde is an assistant US attorney and Jack Pallas is one of the best agents..apparently he was transferred to Nebraska and due to the protagonists long and complicated past relationship they are determined to hate each other (at least with Pallas). And as Jack Pallas redeems his post in Chicago he didn't want to cross paths with her. Unfortunately, a high profile case will bring them back together and they must work professionally...that's where the conflict begins.

I find this book quite interesting. I already read 2 of her other books: Just the Sexiest Man Alive and Practice Makes Perfect and I must say that the author writes well. I obviously love the lawyer parts and the cop lines, the banter and the witty retorts. And since this is the first book in the series, I'm anticipating the second one. I suspect it to be the same people in the environment with different romance-focused protagonists but former protagonists will be mentioned once in a while...let's see~

Till the next read...

From the shelf: Practice Makes Perfect

Title: Practice Makes Perfect
Author: Julie James
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit
Date read: June 9-11, 2013
Dawn Rates: ★★★☆ (3.5/5)

Summary (cr: goodreads)

Behind closed doors, they're laying down the law.

When it comes to the laws of attraction...
Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are lawyers who know the meaning of objection. A feminist to the bone, Payton has fought hard to succeed in a profession dominated by men. Born wealthy, privileged, and cocky, J.D. has fought hard to ignore her. Face-to-face, they're perfectly civil. They have to be. For eight years they have kept a safe distance and tolerated each other as coworkers for one reason: to make partner at the firm

There are no rules...
But all bets are off when they're asked to join forces on a major case. Though apprehensive at first, they begin to appreciate each other's dedication to the law—and the sparks between them quickly turn into attraction. But the increasingly hot connection does not last long when they discover that only one of them will be named partner. Now it's an all-out war. And the battle between the sexes is bound to make these lawyers hot under the collar.

My Review: (also in goodreads)

This is one of those stories where the protagonists retort and kind of banter all the time and that kind of scenario reels me in...especially if the words being thrown are witty and hilarious.

Payton Kendall and J.D Jameson are both lawyers in the running to be a partner in their firm. So...all hell breaks loose when the firm decided that they would only take in one partner this year and since the company's policy is "up or leave", one of them is destined to resign. Add in a bit of sexual tension and you have the hilarious competition between the protagonists. Though the ending is predictable (where they both had feelings for each other all this time and they've been hiding it perfectly + THE first misunderstanding...duh! so obvious) I did enjoy the story and I guess I'll try reading other books written by this author.

Till the next read...