"Solid entry in one of the better Contemporary Romance series..."
Reviewed by Rachel Williams
Posted February 23, 2013
Romance Contemporary
As the latest novel in the FBI/US Attorney series,
LOVE
IRRESISTIBLY has firmly established Julie James as one of
today's premiere Contemporary Romance authors. Fresh and
inventive, full of intelligent people and witty repartee,
this is a great story in a fantastic series. James really
knows her lawyers, how they work and what makes them tick.
Also, as this fourth entry in the series proves she has
learned
the art of the steamy sex scenes. No more fade to black
bedroom scenes in this one.
Brooke Parker is general counsel for the Sterling
Corporation, owner of a number of premier restaurants. She
is approached by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan to aide
in a corruption sting. The attraction between the two is
instantaneous, but issues and problems abound. Both have
just come off of relationships that broke up due to their
job commitment and inability to be emotionally available.
Both wonder if they are able to carry on any kind of a
stable relationship with the kind of hours they work. They
are both wary and commitment-phobic after being burned too
many times in the romance department. They begin a very
tentative relationship, one that they both plan to be
nothing more than a light, casual affair. Fate has other
plans...
There were a number of things that set this story apart from
the average Contemporary Romance. Not only was the banter
smart and witty; the leads were genuinely clever people,
driven go-getters who are on the rise in their respective
fields. There was more to the story than just the romance;
there was a good backdrop of family and friends to keep the
story interesting. I would genuinely like to know more about
Brooke's friend Ford and her boss Ian Sterling. If James
decides to branch out from the FBI and US Attorney side of
the story, I would love to have a story on either or both of
these men. It was great to touch base with the leads from
previous books, and to find out how their lives are going.
The secondary characters in the story were fabulous. I loved
Cade's teenage brother Zach. Their relationship was a
little tenuous in the beginning, but the brothers began
forming a firm kinship as the story progressed. The reader
actually learns more about Cade's past than Brooke's.
The best part of all was the connection between Cade and
Brooke, how it changed and grew even when they didn't even
realize it. LOVE IRRESISTIBLY is one of the more realistic
love stories
I've read in quite a while. I really liked that Brooke was
finally able to temper her workaholic nature and drive for
success; and manage a balance between work and her personal
life without giving up her dreams. LOVE IRRESISTIBLY is a lovely story, recommended
not only to fans of the series, but fans of solid and
realistic love stories.
SUMMARY
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. . .
ExcerptCade played with his glass, thinking this over. "I've
been wondering something. Don't take this the wrong way."
"Never in the history of humankind has a man ever managed
to not say something offensive after that lead–in, but
if you want to take your chances, Morgan, be my guest."
The corners of his mouth curved in a smile. "Why are you
single?"
Well, then.
Brooke reached for her wineglass and took a sip, making
him wait before she answered. "Who says I'm single?"
"Vaughn. He deduced it from the fact that there aren't
any pictures of a guy or kids in your office."
"You were talking about me with Agents Huxley and Roberts?"
"You may or may not have come up."
"I see. And what else did you three scamps say when you
were gossiping in your little knitting circle?"
His eyes danced with amusement, but his gaze remained
trained on hers. A prosecutor intent on getting his answer.
"You didn't answer my question."
No, she hadn't. And while part of Brooke was tempted to
move this conversation along to a different topic, there was
another part of her that, admittedly, was a little curious
herself.
She sat back in the booth, holding her wineglass with one
hand as she faced off against him. "I'll tell you what. I'll
answer that question if you will."
"How do you know that I'm single?"
"Because no man would ever ask a single woman that kind
of quasi–flirtatious question if he was already seeing
somebody. At least, not somebody he respected." Brooke took
a sip of her wine. "So you're either disrespectful to women,
or single."
The corners of his mouth curved. Touché. "I'm single."
With that admission, he waited for her answer.
Brooke tried to appear nonchalant. "Apparently, I work
too hard. According to the Hot OB, that means I'm not a ‘big
picture kind of girl.'" She saw Cade's jaw tense, but he
said nothing as she continued. "Oh, and dating me is like
being in a relationship with a guy, because I don't complain
about not being taken out enough."
"No offense, but the Hot OB sounds like an asshole."
"He wasn't the first guy with that list of grievances."
Brooke bit her lip, not having meant to admit that last
part. Must've been the wine. "All right. Now it's your turn."
Cade took a sip of his bourbon. "I'm emotionally
unavailable."
Brooke fought back a smile at the
matter–of–fact way he said it. "Is that right?"
"According to my ex–girlfriends, yes. And I use
sarcasm as a defense mechanism."
Brooke pointed to herself. "What do you know? Me, too."
Cade tipped his glass at her. "So if you and I got
together, we could probably go our entire relationship
without ever saying anything meaningful at all."
"Yes, although you and I would never get together since
we don't even like each other."
"True." Cade gazed at her across the candlelit table.
"Good thing we got that straight."
Brooke felt a few flutters in her stomach at the way he
was looking at her right then. "It sure is."
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