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FBI/US Attorney #4
Einspruch für die Liebe
Der Top-Staatsanwalt Cade Morgan setzt alles daran, um einen korrupten Senator zu überführen. Dafür braucht er jedoch die Hilfe der hübschen Anwältin Brooke Parker. Und obwohl Brooke sich Cades Charme standhaft widersetzt, kann sie die starke Anziehungskraft, die er auf sie ausübt, doch nicht leugnen.
352 pages, Paperback
First published April 2, 2013
311 people are currently reading
9394 people want to read
About the author
Julie James
18 books9,639 followersNew York Times bestselling author Julie James practiced law with one of the nation's largest firms for several years until she began writing screenplays. After Hollywood producers optioned two of her scripts, she decided to leave the practice of law to write full-time. Her books have been translated into twenty-two languages and Julie’s ninth novel, THE THING ABOUT LOVE, is now available.
Julie James lives with her husband and two children in Chicago, where she is working on her next novel.
Visit Julie's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/JulieJamesfan...
Follow Julie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/juljames and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliejamesa...
Julie James lives with her husband and two children in Chicago, where she is working on her next novel.
Visit Julie's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/JulieJamesfan...
Follow Julie on Twitter: http://twitter.com/juljames and Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliejamesa...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,318 reviews
March 6, 2019
3.5 Stars
A cute little story. A strong, ambitious heroine and a hot, tortured hero. Too bad it lacked a more compelling plot.
A cute little story. A strong, ambitious heroine and a hot, tortured hero. Too bad it lacked a more compelling plot.
January 17, 2015
5 Irresistible Stars.
Cade is on the verge of catching a corrupt senator but for gathering the last evidences she needs help. And the person perfect for helping is Brooke, businesswoman extraordinaire.
That one help soon turns into something more and quickly they find themselves tangled in each other. And not only on the sheets.
But behind his sexy and confident exterior Cade hides some secrets about his past. And from a broken boy he turn into a broken man that hides under a shield of sarcasm and doesn’t trust or get intimate easily. When his past comes barreling again into his life, he knows that he can’t keep Brook out much longer. So he must find out if sometimes, it’s better to trust someone, than to be eternally afraid of opening up.
Julie James is what can be described as a “Comfort Author”. In the same way I have *that* food that always make me feel at home, her books works the same way for me. I always know that I can count and she never disappoints. So when I want to read a good, steamy and heartwarming romance, butterflies-in-stomach inducing, I know her books are always a safe bet. My only problem with Julie is that she has to be an epilogue-hater. I love epilogues (I’m a sucker for them) and for some reason, she hates them and never writes them on her books. It’s so sad! : (
Anyway, of you’re in the mood for a good romance, this book (no, this all series) are a pretty good choice.
Rating: 5 Stars.
Characters Development: Brooke was a pretty good heroine. She knew what she wanted and (most of the time) she wasn’t afraid to get it. She was sassy and sweet and I liked her. Cade was probably one of my favorite heroes in this series, he was confident, sweet, slightly broken (and don’t we love them like that!) and tremendously sexy. I really liked them as couple, their connection was palpable and the author did a great job creating their romance. The supporting characters were pretty good and brought a good feel to the overall story.
Steam: Some pretty hot moments. (6 out of 10)
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
Cade is on the verge of catching a corrupt senator but for gathering the last evidences she needs help. And the person perfect for helping is Brooke, businesswoman extraordinaire.
That one help soon turns into something more and quickly they find themselves tangled in each other. And not only on the sheets.
But behind his sexy and confident exterior Cade hides some secrets about his past. And from a broken boy he turn into a broken man that hides under a shield of sarcasm and doesn’t trust or get intimate easily. When his past comes barreling again into his life, he knows that he can’t keep Brook out much longer. So he must find out if sometimes, it’s better to trust someone, than to be eternally afraid of opening up.
Julie James is what can be described as a “Comfort Author”. In the same way I have *that* food that always make me feel at home, her books works the same way for me. I always know that I can count and she never disappoints. So when I want to read a good, steamy and heartwarming romance, butterflies-in-stomach inducing, I know her books are always a safe bet. My only problem with Julie is that she has to be an epilogue-hater. I love epilogues (I’m a sucker for them) and for some reason, she hates them and never writes them on her books. It’s so sad! : (
Anyway, of you’re in the mood for a good romance, this book (no, this all series) are a pretty good choice.
Rating: 5 Stars.
Characters Development: Brooke was a pretty good heroine. She knew what she wanted and (most of the time) she wasn’t afraid to get it. She was sassy and sweet and I liked her. Cade was probably one of my favorite heroes in this series, he was confident, sweet, slightly broken (and don’t we love them like that!) and tremendously sexy. I really liked them as couple, their connection was palpable and the author did a great job creating their romance. The supporting characters were pretty good and brought a good feel to the overall story.
Steam: Some pretty hot moments. (6 out of 10)
Sensible Subjects:
Love Triangle:
Cheating:
HEA:
October 8, 2023
This is the most wonderful book that I've read in a very long time. The wait for the paperback was so worth it! Straight to favs! It is a wonderful romance. And it is more than a romance; it is also a story about two fantastic individuals. I was incredibly fond of their personal stories; and I cared for both Brooke and Cade. The both grow tremendously over the course of the book. They are my new favorite couple!
Brooke is an ambitious, career oriented and extremely successful lawyer. And a funny sassy one too. She struggles with long days and how to create a life for herself. My heart broke when she looked out from her office window to see all the happy carefree people walking around in the evening. I can so relate to Brooke, and she is my new favorite heroine!
"I've seen you in action many times, Brooke. You’re tough when you need to be, and you can charm the pants off men who have three times your experience."
"Well, yes. Although, I try not to take advantage of that too often. Very awkward negotiating with people who are sitting around in their underwear."
Cade is a sexy, tough Assistant U.S. Attorney. Almost football pro, badass prosecutor and "take charge in the bedroom"-Cade is seriously swoony! He is emotionally closed off, but something about a certain green eyed business woman intrigues him.
Cade strolled into Brooke’s office looking dashing and handsome as ever in a three-piece suit.
Oh, Lord.
She’d always had a weakness for three-piece suits.
I cannot put to words how much I enjoyed following the relationship between Cade and his newfound little brother. Zach was a wonderful addition to this book! Not to mention Huxley and Vaughn. And the fact that we get to spend some time with Rylann, Cameron and Pallas from the previous books!
And it's funny, sexy and brilliantly executed. It is a smart book. I read it slowly, savoring every little bit. I cried happy tears after finishing it, and that's something I never do.
This is a book that deserves your fullest attention. I already look forward coming back to this book many times again. I absolutely adore it! And I hope you do too!
Thank Karen for reading it with me!
August 10, 2022
Reread/listened to audiobook version Aug'2022
5 stars – Contemporary Romance
I love this author! I wish she would write romance again because it's been too long since she published a book.
Original rating/review
5 stars – Contemporary Romance
I adore everything Julie James writes and this was another winner! With intelligent characters, witty dialogue, snappy banter, sarcastic, sexy quips, and sizzling chemistry, her books never fail to please. And she’s definitely turned up the heat with steamier love scenes! Cade was such a yowza, yummy hero, and he and Brooke made an appealing, enjoyable couple.
I just wish she wrote more and faster, but without sacrificing the quality that marks every single one of her books; so I guess Ms. James needs a clone.
5 stars – Contemporary Romance
I love this author! I wish she would write romance again because it's been too long since she published a book.
Original rating/review
5 stars – Contemporary Romance
I adore everything Julie James writes and this was another winner! With intelligent characters, witty dialogue, snappy banter, sarcastic, sexy quips, and sizzling chemistry, her books never fail to please. And she’s definitely turned up the heat with steamier love scenes! Cade was such a yowza, yummy hero, and he and Brooke made an appealing, enjoyable couple.
I just wish she wrote more and faster, but without sacrificing the quality that marks every single one of her books; so I guess Ms. James needs a clone.
March 29, 2013
Review posted: Happily Ever After - Reads
Blog Rating: A
His eyes were dark. “Brooke.”
She knew what he was asking. “Yes.”
Immediately, Cade took her hand and led her – quite briskly – along the sidewalk.
“Thank God I’m not wearing the red high heels today,” she said.
“In two minutes you’ll be wearing nothing,” he said in a low voice.
Well, then.
Brooke has been working hard to prove herself for years. Starting when she young and her parents moved her into one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Chicago, enrolling her in one of the top schools, she worked hard to not let the sacrifices her parents made go to waste. She kept working hard through college and law school and now she’s working even harder as in-house counsel for a restaurant company that’s expanding with a sports and entertainment division. She’s overseeing so many new projects and bids that life is passing her by. Relationships have suffered, her crazy hours mean a lot of broken dates and she needs a reason to slow down. Enter sexy Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan.
Cade also works hard, but while he seems to have a little more balance in his life, he’s a hero with his own set of issues. He grew up with an absent father and he keeps his emotions bottled up tight. Women never get past his barriers and it has ended more than one relationship for him. He’s dealing with past family issues and now current ones when a sibling he doesn’t know shows up at his office. Cade and Brook both cross paths for work and hit it off. A work date turns into a real date which turns into much more, but while they want to keep it casual for different reasons, they both find themselves opening up to the other person in ways they hadn’t done with anyone else.
I love the characters that Julie James brings alive on page. Brooke and Cade are both so likable, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in their story. Brooke is a heroine you want to know. I was already loving her character early on and then she does something that had me laughing out loud when she accidentally “likes” an article online that posted to her Facebook account. Who hasn’t has that happen to them(!) and it was a small moment, but one that made me like her all the more. She cares about her career and even when she starts to think about her future and what she wants to make a priority, she’s still a fierce business woman and fights for what she wants. I loved seeing her still want to further her career but figure out a way to include getting her personal life back. Cade gives her a lot of reasons to want to find more balance in her life.
Ah, Cade. He’s so much more than the attorney who is best known for putting away the Twitter Terrorist. He has an angsty past, one that is very emotional especially when we get a retelling of when he was ten and how a meeting with his dad really shaped him into the man he is now. He connects with Brooke and for the first time, he feels comfortable enough to open up to her about his past, about his dad, his football career that ended too early from an injury – all the things he normally would have kept inside, all comes out to Brooke and that combined with Brooke’s feelings make this relationship go from casual to serious in no time.
As with other James books, there are so many little aspects to her stories that stand out whether it’s getting to know Brooke’s best friend Ford, Cade’s close friends, including a quick moment with Rylann, or spending time with his new found relative, the dialogue between all the characters ranges from funny, quick banter to some very emotional moments, especially for Cade. Plus, it’s always fun to think about which single characters might be leading their own book some day!
…He rocked against her, his body shuddering against hers again and again, until he collapsed on top of her and buried his face in her hair.
Brooke felt his heart beating against her chest as they lay there, boneless. For two people who preferred to speak in quips and sarcasm, that had been unexpectedly…intense.
She wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that.
Then Cade spoke.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever used this table,” he said, against her neck.
Brooke began to laugh. My God, he was still inside her and she was already giggling. “I take it you don’t do a lot of formal entertaining.”
He pulled back, his dark hair falling across his forehead. “Were you not entertained, Ms. Parker?”
There’s not a lot in the way of cases or work related issues that are front and center. The story focuses almost completely on Cade and Brooke and the goings on in their lives. Their romance, while it did start out more casually, doesn’t stay that way for long and they definitely brought the sexy. In fact, this might be the sexiest book in the series so far. Cade and Brooke had a ton of chemistry in the bedroom, but what had me falling for them hard were the softer moments between them when they would do little things to take care of the other person. I was happily sighing quite a bit with these two.
I sat down to start this book and didn’t move until I was done. Julie James has a way of putting a story together and creating characters that just suck me in from the very beginning and don’t let go until The End. Brooke and Cade are simply addicting, I couldn’t get enough of their relationship, reading about their lives and seeing them grow as a couple. Love Irresistibly is another winner from James, I enjoyed everything about this story and she just does contemporary romance right.
Blog Rating: A
His eyes were dark. “Brooke.”
She knew what he was asking. “Yes.”
Immediately, Cade took her hand and led her – quite briskly – along the sidewalk.
“Thank God I’m not wearing the red high heels today,” she said.
“In two minutes you’ll be wearing nothing,” he said in a low voice.
Well, then.
Brooke has been working hard to prove herself for years. Starting when she young and her parents moved her into one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Chicago, enrolling her in one of the top schools, she worked hard to not let the sacrifices her parents made go to waste. She kept working hard through college and law school and now she’s working even harder as in-house counsel for a restaurant company that’s expanding with a sports and entertainment division. She’s overseeing so many new projects and bids that life is passing her by. Relationships have suffered, her crazy hours mean a lot of broken dates and she needs a reason to slow down. Enter sexy Assistant U.S. Attorney Cade Morgan.
Cade also works hard, but while he seems to have a little more balance in his life, he’s a hero with his own set of issues. He grew up with an absent father and he keeps his emotions bottled up tight. Women never get past his barriers and it has ended more than one relationship for him. He’s dealing with past family issues and now current ones when a sibling he doesn’t know shows up at his office. Cade and Brook both cross paths for work and hit it off. A work date turns into a real date which turns into much more, but while they want to keep it casual for different reasons, they both find themselves opening up to the other person in ways they hadn’t done with anyone else.
I love the characters that Julie James brings alive on page. Brooke and Cade are both so likable, it’s hard not to get wrapped up in their story. Brooke is a heroine you want to know. I was already loving her character early on and then she does something that had me laughing out loud when she accidentally “likes” an article online that posted to her Facebook account. Who hasn’t has that happen to them(!) and it was a small moment, but one that made me like her all the more. She cares about her career and even when she starts to think about her future and what she wants to make a priority, she’s still a fierce business woman and fights for what she wants. I loved seeing her still want to further her career but figure out a way to include getting her personal life back. Cade gives her a lot of reasons to want to find more balance in her life.
Ah, Cade. He’s so much more than the attorney who is best known for putting away the Twitter Terrorist. He has an angsty past, one that is very emotional especially when we get a retelling of when he was ten and how a meeting with his dad really shaped him into the man he is now. He connects with Brooke and for the first time, he feels comfortable enough to open up to her about his past, about his dad, his football career that ended too early from an injury – all the things he normally would have kept inside, all comes out to Brooke and that combined with Brooke’s feelings make this relationship go from casual to serious in no time.
As with other James books, there are so many little aspects to her stories that stand out whether it’s getting to know Brooke’s best friend Ford, Cade’s close friends, including a quick moment with Rylann, or spending time with his new found relative, the dialogue between all the characters ranges from funny, quick banter to some very emotional moments, especially for Cade. Plus, it’s always fun to think about which single characters might be leading their own book some day!
…He rocked against her, his body shuddering against hers again and again, until he collapsed on top of her and buried his face in her hair.
Brooke felt his heart beating against her chest as they lay there, boneless. For two people who preferred to speak in quips and sarcasm, that had been unexpectedly…intense.
She wasn’t quite sure how to feel about that.
Then Cade spoke.
“I think this is the first time I’ve ever used this table,” he said, against her neck.
Brooke began to laugh. My God, he was still inside her and she was already giggling. “I take it you don’t do a lot of formal entertaining.”
He pulled back, his dark hair falling across his forehead. “Were you not entertained, Ms. Parker?”
There’s not a lot in the way of cases or work related issues that are front and center. The story focuses almost completely on Cade and Brooke and the goings on in their lives. Their romance, while it did start out more casually, doesn’t stay that way for long and they definitely brought the sexy. In fact, this might be the sexiest book in the series so far. Cade and Brooke had a ton of chemistry in the bedroom, but what had me falling for them hard were the softer moments between them when they would do little things to take care of the other person. I was happily sighing quite a bit with these two.
I sat down to start this book and didn’t move until I was done. Julie James has a way of putting a story together and creating characters that just suck me in from the very beginning and don’t let go until The End. Brooke and Cade are simply addicting, I couldn’t get enough of their relationship, reading about their lives and seeing them grow as a couple. Love Irresistibly is another winner from James, I enjoyed everything about this story and she just does contemporary romance right.
April 2, 2013
When I read a Julie James book, there are three things that are guaranteed to happen – I will smile, I will laugh and I will undoubtedly fall in love with a hero who has a four letter name. Most recently, I fell in love with Cade Morgan.
Julie James has a spectacular talent for taking ordinary events and writing them so that they are charming, heart-warming and sexy. Brooke Parker is a general counsel for a restaurant company. She is successful and beautiful but also a workaholic. After being dumped for the third time in as little as eighteen months, Brooke realizes that she isn’t living the well-balanced life she hopes to have for herself. Similarly, Assistant U.S. Attorney and former hotshot college football player, Cade Morgan is at the top of his game, working as one of the top prosecutors in Chicago. His latest case involves working alongside the FBI where he requires the help of Brooke to eavesdrop on a very important meeting in Brooke’s five star restaurant. But like Brooke, relationships haven’t been working well for Cade either. As sparks ignite and sexual tension builds so thick it can’t even be cut through with a knife, Cade and Brooke decide to indulge a little bit. Hot sex with no strings attached. But as emotions sneak into the equation, can Brooke and Cade simply remain friends with benefits or could they have finally found a relationship that can last?
LOVE IRRESISTIBLY reads almost like a TV show; it’s smart, sure-footed and wraps up effortless in the end. I loved the way James was able to involve the anticipation and suspense with the FBI storyline but not make the whole book about it. The romance between Brooke and Cade is strong and is very much the driving force of the book.
James never lets me down. The pacing is perfection, the writing is free-flowing and hits all the right notes. But the sex…someone call the fire department ‘cause James is turning up the heat! I’ve noticed the dial turning up in terms of the sexiness in James’s books and hey, I’m not complaining one bit!
Fans of Jill Shalvis will enjoy the side-splitting narration that James brings to all her books. LOVE IRRESISTIBLY gets a Top Pick from me. I was riveted to the pages and devoured it within just a few hours of starting it. Sexy, smart and fun – Those are the trademarks of Julie James’s writing and she never fails to deliver!
*ARC provided by publisher
February 12, 2022
Julie James keeps calling her heroines sassy and saucy. I just don't see it. Smart, definitely. Spunky? Mayyyybe. But I haven't been able to wrap my mind around the sassy part. If she refrained from having all her heroes wax lyrical about the heroine's sassiness, I might have actually enjoyed this series more.
January 20, 2018
Actual rating : 2.5 stars
☑ First of all : No insufferable ramblings, no Penny Reid heroine syndrome
MY SANITY SAYS THANK YOU.
☑ A strong, fierce and powerful female-lead who doesn't need a man to be awesome (*GASP*), who has a great job (*GASP*) and whose "hormones" don't fucking tick (I KNOOW!). Why, she's not flawless for sure, but she spreads these little vibes of badassery I crave to find in chick-lit heroines.
☑ There's no slut-shaming involved, because Brooke doesn't need to belittle other women to be reassured in her own value, and never implies that women should wear or act in a particular way to be interesting.
☑ Love/Hate banter... unfortunately kept to its minimum : indeed while Brooke kept telling the reader that she enjoyed her smart-ass conversations with Cade, the so-called reader (that would be me!) stayed confused as if maybe several pages were missing, because as it was, their conversations were short and the banter never reached the level of snarky retorts I loved in Practice makes perfect. More showing and less telling please.
☑ I didn't fall in love with Cade (MEH!), but I have to admit that even though several of his comments annoyed me at some point the guy ISN'T a controlling asshole. Am I the only one who's stunned to see how rare it is? I mean, what should be the norm is the exception! Moreover, all the brothers growing relationship was just so damn cute, I couldn't help but smile.
► SO WHY THE 2.5 STARS RATING THEN?
☒ There is NO plot. Sadly, as far as the investigation part is concerned, I never could bring myself to care, as it was more a background and an excuse to the romance (and the totally RANDOM meeting) than anything else. HELLO, FILLER! YES, it bored me and sorry, but it isn't a romantic SUSPENSE. Nope. There is no investigation AT ALL. The guy just happens to be an U.S Attorney, but that's not enough to make romantic suspense in my book^^
Every time they were trying to make me believe that there was a plot, basically, I -
There's also some unnecessary drama around Cade's father and you know what? I SKIMMED sometimes.
Sorry but I can't put more than 2.5 to a book that drove me to do that.
☒ As often with Julie James, I'm disappointed to see that Brooke is mostly surrounded by men : don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed her conversations with Ford, her best friend, and she never throws mean comments towards other women. However, girl friendship is so rare lately - I'm talking about real friendship, not about this slut-shaming in disguise that drives me nuts - that I would have really appreciated it here.
► By no means an unforgettable book, OF COURSE it's filled with clichés (they're both hot, dadadadum) and isn't free of the tropes of the genre. Nevertheless, if you followed my romance experiment, you saw that I end in a pissed-off state more often than not, and YAY! It wasn't the case here.
Ps. There were WAY more sexe scenes in this one than in other works from Julie James I read. I'll give it that.
For more of my reviews, please visit:
March 6, 2025
Why I Love It:
✔️ Cade Morgan = Perfection – He’s powerful, sharp-witted, and a little cocky, but when he falls, he falls hard. His journey from “casual only” to completely gone for Brooke is so satisfying.
✔️ Brooke Is Just as Strong – She’s independent, successful, and doesn’t let Cade (or anyone) push her around. Their back-and-forth is flirty, fun, and full of sparks.
✔️ Romance with Depth – The steamy moments are chef’s kiss, but what really makes this story shine is how it balances passion with emotional connection. Cade’s personal struggles add layers to his character, making his growth feel real and earned.
🎶 "You Make It Real" – James Morrison
🎶 "Wildest Dreams" – Taylor Swift
🎶 "Earned It" – The Weeknd
✔️ Cade Morgan = Perfection – He’s powerful, sharp-witted, and a little cocky, but when he falls, he falls hard. His journey from “casual only” to completely gone for Brooke is so satisfying.
✔️ Brooke Is Just as Strong – She’s independent, successful, and doesn’t let Cade (or anyone) push her around. Their back-and-forth is flirty, fun, and full of sparks.
✔️ Romance with Depth – The steamy moments are chef’s kiss, but what really makes this story shine is how it balances passion with emotional connection. Cade’s personal struggles add layers to his character, making his growth feel real and earned.
🎶 "You Make It Real" – James Morrison
🎶 "Wildest Dreams" – Taylor Swift
🎶 "Earned It" – The Weeknd
April 6, 2013
While I get the feeling that James' characters are somewhat replacable (witty, sassy and successful), I enjoyed this very much. The story was more emotional to some extents than her previous books have been, and I have to admit that the Cade/Noah/Zach story really got to me. I'm glad it wasn't Brooke's background-story, because that might have made me even more emotional.
I'm not sure if I'd enjoy her titles as much if I read them back to back, especially if her future novels keep featuring the same H/Hs. Then again, I think the quality of her titles is excellent, and she always offers something 'new'. It's just one of the few things I remember that could justify my "4 star rating-feeling".
Definitely recommend to people who want some Contemporary Romance. Lots of fluff, but TRIGGER WARNING for future death of family members of one of the two protagonists, complicated father-son relationship when it comes to Cade, and really yummy sounding food.
Also liked how H/Hs from previous titles appeared again. :)
I'm not sure if I'd enjoy her titles as much if I read them back to back, especially if her future novels keep featuring the same H/Hs. Then again, I think the quality of her titles is excellent, and she always offers something 'new'. It's just one of the few things I remember that could justify my "4 star rating-feeling".
Definitely recommend to people who want some Contemporary Romance. Lots of fluff, but TRIGGER WARNING for future death of family members of one of the two protagonists, complicated father-son relationship when it comes to Cade, and really yummy sounding food.
Also liked how H/Hs from previous titles appeared again. :)
July 11, 2014
Sigh-worthy.... Bloody loved it, but it's almost 1am and I gotta get to bed, so I'll write my review when I get up....
March 24, 2019
Love Irresistibly is Cade Morgan and Brooke Parker's story. Cade has been in the background in this series but with a big personality. He's the ADA to Cameron Lynde who we met in book one. Brooke is a new character to the series. She is the general counselor to an up and coming restaurant company.
Cade comes off as the hot shot attorney. He seemed pretty arrogant to me but not so much that I didn't like him. However, I was hoping we would get more from him in this book and we do. It took him falling for Brooke to really see his character grow. We start learning his backstory and by the end, I really liked his character and the kind of man he is.
Brooke is such a likable character. There is really nothing I didn't like about her. She's a hard worker. Maybe a little too hard of a worker but that's something we get to see some growth in her character as the story unfolds. She's been pretty unlucky in love so she's a bit gun shy with Cade. At first, he seems like another wrong choice for her but this author works her magic and you soon see what a great couple they make.
I borrowed this on the audible romance package. This is the same narrator as in previous books and I'm still loving her. She really does a fantastic job with these characters. This has been a fun series to listen to and I will continue on to the next book.
Cade comes off as the hot shot attorney. He seemed pretty arrogant to me but not so much that I didn't like him. However, I was hoping we would get more from him in this book and we do. It took him falling for Brooke to really see his character grow. We start learning his backstory and by the end, I really liked his character and the kind of man he is.
Brooke is such a likable character. There is really nothing I didn't like about her. She's a hard worker. Maybe a little too hard of a worker but that's something we get to see some growth in her character as the story unfolds. She's been pretty unlucky in love so she's a bit gun shy with Cade. At first, he seems like another wrong choice for her but this author works her magic and you soon see what a great couple they make.
I borrowed this on the audible romance package. This is the same narrator as in previous books and I'm still loving her. She really does a fantastic job with these characters. This has been a fun series to listen to and I will continue on to the next book.
April 11, 2013
Reading this book is like being a lazy cat sitting in from of the fireplace happy and cozy!
It is relaxing and without heartaches. It is simple and interesting without being overwhelming. It is heartwarming. It is nice. It is sexy. It is funny. It is real.
I liked both Cade and Brooke. They are real persons with real lives and real jobs. They don't have private jets, they don't have jachts, villas, islands... They work hard. They have problems fitting their private life with their jobs. It all felt so real.
Their love grows slowly and very realistically: first the attraction, then the dates become more and more and, almost without realizing, they are in love. Subtle!
Very, very good!
Want to read
September 7, 2012I can't express how disappointed I am that the hero of this book isn't Sam Wilkins. I knew it was between Cade and Sam (and you can see me trying to guess in my status updates for About That Night), but since Sam didn't get his moment in book two I was hoping his time would be now. I am legit sad and it has kind of dampened my excitement for the book a lot. That said, I am, of course, going to read this. JJ is my favorite contemporary romance author, and I am guaranteed a good story.
Side note: She envisioned Cade as Matt Bomer, which is a giant plus. And he's probably a character actually worthy of the fantastic Mr. Bomer.
ETA:
Poor Wilkins. I'm a little heartbroken.
ETA 2:
So, there's some hope (however minor)! At least she's thinking about it and kicking around ideas. Let's hope she's getting all of our pleas and it's wearing her down. (And this possibility is making me a little less grumpy at LI).
Side note: She envisioned Cade as Matt Bomer, which is a giant plus. And he's probably a character actually worthy of the fantastic Mr. Bomer.
ETA:
RT @juljames: @**** Haven't decided yet about Wilkins. Could be a book, a novella, or we may just assume he rode off into the sunset with Rae. :) — August 21, 2012
Poor Wilkins. I'm a little heartbroken.
ETA 2:
RT @juljames: @**** Funny, I was just thinking about potential story ideas for Wilkins last night.
RT @juljames: @**** Nothing concrete yet, but if the right idea grabs me, I'd love to do Wilkins story. — September 25, 2012
So, there's some hope (however minor)! At least she's thinking about it and kicking around ideas. Let's hope she's getting all of our pleas and it's wearing her down. (And this possibility is making me a little less grumpy at LI).
April 4, 2013
I like all of Julie's books. Something familiar about reading them. Like comfort food, I kinda know what to expect and am usually not disappointed.
April 3, 2013
Love Irresistibly, like all of James's previous novels, makes its reader waste countless minutes reading instead of doing anything productive. And I suffered for it last night with my minimal sleep time, and while I can't say it was wholly worth it, it was fun. Love Irresistibly follows Brooke and Cade Morgan, two people who are work-a-holics to the extent where they've been unable to keep a successful relationship past four months. After working together on a small FBI mission, the two give into their attraction and opt for a no-strings-attached relationship. Although James follows a very typical formula with this one - as she always does - she throws in a bit more depth, surprisingly, that manages to save this novel, for unfortunately, its characters are rather dull in light of previous memorable ones.
From the beginning, though, I loved Love Irresistibly. As someone who has recently found out that a member of my family died, my quiet house seemed too depressing and this, with its quick wit, charm, and laugh-out-loud jokes brightened my mood considerably. At first, Cade and Brooke are sizzling on the page - a riveting couple, for sure - and it's only after awhile that they begin to lose their charm. Brooke, especially, is rather boring. Although I greatly appreciated both the attention taken to allow Brooke to re-evaluate what she wanted from life and the detail extended to her poor background and wealthy lifestyle now, Brooke lacked the spunk I need from an engaging protagonist. Cade, though, was slightly better. While I was never attracted to him as a character off the bat, I enjoyed his side story, dealing with a father who abandoned him and a long-lost half-brother. Once again, though surprising additions to the formula James follows, these were successful to the story as a whole.
Ironically, where this book failed to hook me in was the romance. I thought the build-up was full of sexual tension and perfectly written, but the relationship itself was sweet without the sizzle. While that is never a bad thing, it wasn't fully allowed to grow as we got glimpses of the relationship at hand, only to be jerked sharply in the next chapter back to the office environment. It was a little jarring and after the half-way point, this novel began to lose me a bit. Nevertheless, I suspect die-hard Julie James fans will love this and as a quick time-pass or just a guaranteed laugh, Love Irresistibly doesn't disappoint. For newcomers to James, though, I'd still recommend Something About You or Practice Makes Perfect - they continue to be her best works yet.
From the beginning, though, I loved Love Irresistibly. As someone who has recently found out that a member of my family died, my quiet house seemed too depressing and this, with its quick wit, charm, and laugh-out-loud jokes brightened my mood considerably. At first, Cade and Brooke are sizzling on the page - a riveting couple, for sure - and it's only after awhile that they begin to lose their charm. Brooke, especially, is rather boring. Although I greatly appreciated both the attention taken to allow Brooke to re-evaluate what she wanted from life and the detail extended to her poor background and wealthy lifestyle now, Brooke lacked the spunk I need from an engaging protagonist. Cade, though, was slightly better. While I was never attracted to him as a character off the bat, I enjoyed his side story, dealing with a father who abandoned him and a long-lost half-brother. Once again, though surprising additions to the formula James follows, these were successful to the story as a whole.
Ironically, where this book failed to hook me in was the romance. I thought the build-up was full of sexual tension and perfectly written, but the relationship itself was sweet without the sizzle. While that is never a bad thing, it wasn't fully allowed to grow as we got glimpses of the relationship at hand, only to be jerked sharply in the next chapter back to the office environment. It was a little jarring and after the half-way point, this novel began to lose me a bit. Nevertheless, I suspect die-hard Julie James fans will love this and as a quick time-pass or just a guaranteed laugh, Love Irresistibly doesn't disappoint. For newcomers to James, though, I'd still recommend Something About You or Practice Makes Perfect - they continue to be her best works yet.
March 7, 2025
I have mixed feelings about this book. As part of a series, this didn’t make much sense. As a standalone, it was fine.
From a series perspective, I don’t understand what’s going on. The first two books leaned heavily into romantic suspense storylines but books 3 and 4 were just contemporary romance where one (or both) of the characters were lawyers. Like, is this just a legal romance bubble? Are we not having shoot-outs and murders anymore?? If so, I’m not sure I’m down.
By the time I finished book 4, I was way more annoyed than I would have been had I read it as a standalone. Originality went out the window. Every male MC is basically the same. They all have hang ups with commitment and are over six feet tall. All the leading ladies are the same. While their looks vary, all of them love wearing high heels and are attractive, brilliant, hardworking and independent women who are super sarcastic and super witty. James reminds readers of these qualities repeatedly in each of her novels, so much so that all of the heroines blend together into one big ball of perfection.
Oh, also, the men can’t stop commenting on how “sassy” and “witty” the women are. And how they just find that so damn attractive.
I call bullshit.
“She’s so damn witty,” does not roll off the tongue of the men I know, including my husband and he has ample opportunities to utter those words because I’m witty as fuck. Men don’t sit around with one another remarking on a woman’s wit. And that’s not because they are pigs, but because they simply don’t talk like that. At least not the men I know. So, reading how the men drool over the amazing wit of the heroines was weird and quite irritating by book 4.
As a standalone, this book is fine. It’s about two lawyers who are not emotionally available in previous romantic relationships, but hit it off with one another. There is minimal conflict. The heroine decides it’s just a hook up thing, but of course it isn’t and they sort of fight their feelings, but everything works out in the end. Frankly, this book was kind of boring without the murder-y parts that were present in the first two books.
Anyway, I still recommend books 1&2. This book is fine as a standalone, but by the time I read it, the characters and romance seemed redundant as hell, so maybe start with this one….???
From a series perspective, I don’t understand what’s going on. The first two books leaned heavily into romantic suspense storylines but books 3 and 4 were just contemporary romance where one (or both) of the characters were lawyers. Like, is this just a legal romance bubble? Are we not having shoot-outs and murders anymore?? If so, I’m not sure I’m down.
By the time I finished book 4, I was way more annoyed than I would have been had I read it as a standalone. Originality went out the window. Every male MC is basically the same. They all have hang ups with commitment and are over six feet tall. All the leading ladies are the same. While their looks vary, all of them love wearing high heels and are attractive, brilliant, hardworking and independent women who are super sarcastic and super witty. James reminds readers of these qualities repeatedly in each of her novels, so much so that all of the heroines blend together into one big ball of perfection.
Oh, also, the men can’t stop commenting on how “sassy” and “witty” the women are. And how they just find that so damn attractive.
I call bullshit.
“She’s so damn witty,” does not roll off the tongue of the men I know, including my husband and he has ample opportunities to utter those words because I’m witty as fuck. Men don’t sit around with one another remarking on a woman’s wit. And that’s not because they are pigs, but because they simply don’t talk like that. At least not the men I know. So, reading how the men drool over the amazing wit of the heroines was weird and quite irritating by book 4.
As a standalone, this book is fine. It’s about two lawyers who are not emotionally available in previous romantic relationships, but hit it off with one another. There is minimal conflict. The heroine decides it’s just a hook up thing, but of course it isn’t and they sort of fight their feelings, but everything works out in the end. Frankly, this book was kind of boring without the murder-y parts that were present in the first two books.
Anyway, I still recommend books 1&2. This book is fine as a standalone, but by the time I read it, the characters and romance seemed redundant as hell, so maybe start with this one….???
September 8, 2014
Originally posted on The Book Nympho
Quick summary
Assistant US Attorney Cade Morgan meets Brooke Parker, general counsel for a restaurant company, when he needs to set up a sting at one of her dining locales. Though there's obviously an attraction, her past relationships haven't survived the rigors of her career and he never has progressed beyond casual.
Story dynamics
Though there's an element of suspense centered around the sting, it's minor as the real issues are focused on Cade and Brooke's relationship. It takes a while for the two of them to even admit they were in one. Their friends figured it out before they did. She's smart, driven and operating in a male-dominated arena so she's a challenge for Cade. He's attractive, successful but his normal "Barbie" date allows him to get away with keeping it casual.
What really works
Brooke and Cade's relationship is honest, sexy and steamy. It evolves in spite of the two of them, developing slowly and naturally, which is one of the highlights of the story. Both of them are multi-dimensional characters with lots to like about them individually and as an unconventional couple. Their banter is clever, fresh and fun. When serious challenges arise for both of them, the impact on the two are handled realistically and emotionally. Their reactions will hook you emotionally.
The bottom line
I'm a big fan of this series even though it morphed from romantic suspense to contemporary romance with light elements of suspense. The stories are always well written with carefully designed characters who are incredibly interesting. This one is one of my favorites because of the dialogue, the depths of the characters and the relationship conflicts that ring true and relevant. I breezed through this story and was sorry to reach the end. 4.5 stars
Quick summary
Assistant US Attorney Cade Morgan meets Brooke Parker, general counsel for a restaurant company, when he needs to set up a sting at one of her dining locales. Though there's obviously an attraction, her past relationships haven't survived the rigors of her career and he never has progressed beyond casual.
Story dynamics
Though there's an element of suspense centered around the sting, it's minor as the real issues are focused on Cade and Brooke's relationship. It takes a while for the two of them to even admit they were in one. Their friends figured it out before they did. She's smart, driven and operating in a male-dominated arena so she's a challenge for Cade. He's attractive, successful but his normal "Barbie" date allows him to get away with keeping it casual.
What really works
Brooke and Cade's relationship is honest, sexy and steamy. It evolves in spite of the two of them, developing slowly and naturally, which is one of the highlights of the story. Both of them are multi-dimensional characters with lots to like about them individually and as an unconventional couple. Their banter is clever, fresh and fun. When serious challenges arise for both of them, the impact on the two are handled realistically and emotionally. Their reactions will hook you emotionally.
The bottom line
I'm a big fan of this series even though it morphed from romantic suspense to contemporary romance with light elements of suspense. The stories are always well written with carefully designed characters who are incredibly interesting. This one is one of my favorites because of the dialogue, the depths of the characters and the relationship conflicts that ring true and relevant. I breezed through this story and was sorry to reach the end. 4.5 stars
April 8, 2013
I have always loved Julie James' FBI/US Attorney series and the fourth installment, Love Irresistibly did not disappoint.
I like how Ms. James writes her heroines. They are not Mary Sues (thank God!). They are smart, funny and driven woman with just enough vulnerability to make them relatable. Not all of us are as beautiful or as successful as Brooke Parker but her struggle to balance her work and personal life is something that most women relate to. I really think Ms. James struck a chord with me on that one.
Cade Morgan, the hero for this installment was a revelation to me. He was introduced in the previous books but I never really warmed up to him until now. I loved his back story and his interaction with his half-brother Zach.
Of course, there were moments in the book where I wanted to smack Cade and Brooke for being so deaf and blind about their feelings for each other but I reckon that's what made this book work interesting. And I got to admit that their "non-relationship" was really hot. Steamy hot.
There are also plenty of interesting secondary characters in this book, namely Vaughn, Ford and Huxley, which I'm hoping to see more of in the future preferably as main characters. You got that, Ms. James? I want a Vaughn, a Ford and a Huxley book in the near future -- very near future, say in the next six months. Say yes, Ms. James, please?
Anyway, whatever Ms. James decides to write in the future, I'm pretty sure it's going to be good.
This review is also posted at
May 24, 2016
Perfect Read For Me!
Hot Smart Charming Funny Hero
Sassy Sarcastic Intelligent Heroine
Character Driven
Banterific
Honest Dialog
Emotionally Intelligent Friends
Light Suspense
Basically Angst Free
Interesting
Heartwarming
No Cheating
I Want All My Hero's To Be Like Cade
I Want All My Heroines To Be Like Brooke
Hot Smart Charming Funny Hero
Sassy Sarcastic Intelligent Heroine
Character Driven
Banterific
Honest Dialog
Emotionally Intelligent Friends
Light Suspense
Basically Angst Free
Interesting
Heartwarming
No Cheating
I Want All My Hero's To Be Like Cade
I Want All My Heroines To Be Like Brooke
April 22, 2013
Cade Morgan
(I hear the words sexy attorney, and his picture just pops up...can't help it)
Brooke Parker
Julie James has a gift. She can write a book that will suck you in from the very first chapter (just see
Something About You) and keep you enthralled until the very last page. She writes some of the best characters that I've ever read, and that doesn't just stop with the hero and heroine. She has this knack for writing extremely endearing and entertaining supporting characters, like Brooke's best friend, Ford. The banter between the 2 kept me laughing all through the book.
What I truly love about her books, and this one in particular; is the way she writes the heroines. They are no meek kittens. They're sassy, funny, professional women, who kick butt and take names, while at the same time being completely relatable and endearing. This is what I really loved about Brooke.
When Cade Morgan comes charging into Brooke's office with a demand that she help him in an investigation he is a part of, she is very quick to set him in his place.
Cade and Morgan are both workaholics, whose love lives have suffered because of their line of work. So when sparks fly between them, they are both unable to see themselves in a serious relationship but still unable to deny the pull toward each other.
I'm still laughing over the scene where Brooke had to google the rules to casual relationships.
The chemistry between Cade and Brooke was incredible, and the love scenes were down right scorching...I'd even go so far as to say the hottest out of the entire series that I've read.
The relationship between them was not insta-love, and I really enjoyed that. There is no rush to the "I love yous", no sudden marriage proposals, no unnecessary angst. It was real, and it had problems, and the way that they got through them was very realistic while still giving us the HEA.
I also loved reading about all the previous characters from the series and seeing where they are at; pregnancies and engagements and weddings.
This series has been on my auto-buy list since the very first book, and it only gets better and better with each book. Of course it doesn't hurt that they are based in my home-town of Chicago, and I love reading about all the different places that I know and love.
If you have never read a book by Julie James, you are seriously missing out. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I would highly recommend starting with the very first book, since a lot of the characters are introduced that are then in the later books. But more so, they are simply FAN-FLIPPIN-TASTIC books.
5+++++ stars from me!
(I hear the words sexy attorney, and his picture just pops up...can't help it)
Brooke Parker
Julie James has a gift. She can write a book that will suck you in from the very first chapter (just see
Something About You) and keep you enthralled until the very last page. She writes some of the best characters that I've ever read, and that doesn't just stop with the hero and heroine. She has this knack for writing extremely endearing and entertaining supporting characters, like Brooke's best friend, Ford. The banter between the 2 kept me laughing all through the book.
"You know, I'm not sure I'm feeling the proper level of sympathy here," she told Ford. "I think we need a little more rallying around the dumpee. If you were a woman and I'd told you that the third guy in eighteen months had broken up with me, right now we'd be drinking lemon drop martinis and giving each other female empowerment pep talks about how we don't need a man in our lives to feel complete. And then we'd watch The Notebook and drool over Ryan Gosling."
Ford flashed her a grin as he stretched an arm across the back of his chair. "Sorry, babe. But when they handed out best friends, you drew the straw with a penis attached. That means no Ryan Gosling."
What I truly love about her books, and this one in particular; is the way she writes the heroines. They are no meek kittens. They're sassy, funny, professional women, who kick butt and take names, while at the same time being completely relatable and endearing. This is what I really loved about Brooke.
When Cade Morgan comes charging into Brooke's office with a demand that she help him in an investigation he is a part of, she is very quick to set him in his place.
He'd come here, to her office, to as for her help. Now he was threatening her with obstruction of justice charges - and most annoyingly, he was doing it with a smile.
So she returned the favor. "That is nice, Mr. Morgan. Because in response to your tough-guy speech, I, in turn, would've had to give you my tough-girl speech, about where, exactly, federal prosecutors who come to my office looking for assistance can stick their obstruction of justice threats." She smiled ever so charmingly. "So I'm glad we were able to sidestep that whole ugly business. Whew."
Cade and Morgan are both workaholics, whose love lives have suffered because of their line of work. So when sparks fly between them, they are both unable to see themselves in a serious relationship but still unable to deny the pull toward each other.
I'm still laughing over the scene where Brooke had to google the rules to casual relationships.
This had to be a joke. No personal gifts except for sex toys? Sure, because nothing said "I like but don't love you" like a "just because" vibrator
The chemistry between Cade and Brooke was incredible, and the love scenes were down right scorching...I'd even go so far as to say the hottest out of the entire series that I've read.
The relationship between them was not insta-love, and I really enjoyed that. There is no rush to the "I love yous", no sudden marriage proposals, no unnecessary angst. It was real, and it had problems, and the way that they got through them was very realistic while still giving us the HEA.
I also loved reading about all the previous characters from the series and seeing where they are at; pregnancies and engagements and weddings.
This series has been on my auto-buy list since the very first book, and it only gets better and better with each book. Of course it doesn't hurt that they are based in my home-town of Chicago, and I love reading about all the different places that I know and love.
If you have never read a book by Julie James, you are seriously missing out. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I would highly recommend starting with the very first book, since a lot of the characters are introduced that are then in the later books. But more so, they are simply FAN-FLIPPIN-TASTIC books.
5+++++ stars from me!
April 4, 2013
Another Julie James Heart Melter...
Julie James is another of my favorite writers...I know when I pick up her book its going to be good. I've really enjoyed this entire seris.
Brooke is a special councel attorney for a large resturant conglomerate.. she's beautiful, single.. and BUSY. Has no time for relationships but that doesnt mean she hasn't tried. She's been dumped 3 times in past 18 months due to her being to busy to take time for her guys and enjoy life...
Cade is a super sexy US Attorney and former college QB star.. he's also extreamly dedicated to his job and fails in his relationships due to being emotionally unavailable.
When Cade approaches Brooke in professioanl manner the chemistry is immediate! I wanted these two toghether right away.. Brooke's help leads to her needing a favor from Cade and then drinks and then.. well--- the ball keeps rolling and they both start falling for each other. But of course neither one thinks they want to get into anything serious because the job comes first.. or does it?
They have some really good sexy steamy times and this one was fun to read. I read it in less than a day just eating it up. Super fun, easy, sweet and steamy romance with just enough drama. Julie James keeps things even more interesting with all her legal jargin making this more than just a fluffy romance.. she gives it more depth which I love and of course we have our HEA!
Can't wait to read more from Ms. James!
Julie James is another of my favorite writers...I know when I pick up her book its going to be good. I've really enjoyed this entire seris.
Brooke is a special councel attorney for a large resturant conglomerate.. she's beautiful, single.. and BUSY. Has no time for relationships but that doesnt mean she hasn't tried. She's been dumped 3 times in past 18 months due to her being to busy to take time for her guys and enjoy life...
Cade is a super sexy US Attorney and former college QB star.. he's also extreamly dedicated to his job and fails in his relationships due to being emotionally unavailable.
When Cade approaches Brooke in professioanl manner the chemistry is immediate! I wanted these two toghether right away.. Brooke's help leads to her needing a favor from Cade and then drinks and then.. well--- the ball keeps rolling and they both start falling for each other. But of course neither one thinks they want to get into anything serious because the job comes first.. or does it?
They have some really good sexy steamy times and this one was fun to read. I read it in less than a day just eating it up. Super fun, easy, sweet and steamy romance with just enough drama. Julie James keeps things even more interesting with all her legal jargin making this more than just a fluffy romance.. she gives it more depth which I love and of course we have our HEA!
Can't wait to read more from Ms. James!
May 10, 2013
Dude! Julie James rocks. Seriously, I've enjoyed all of her books, but she just keeps getting better and better.
There just isn't anything NOT to like about this book. I LOVED Brooke and Cade. The banter, the snark, the awesome one liners had me grinning like a silly fool the whole book.
I'd start with some quotes, but honestly, there are just SO many great lines, I don't think I could choose.
If you like contemporary romance at all -do yourself a favor - read it. You won't be sorry - promise (and I never make that promise about a book)
**Oh, and for those that link to know, even though this is part of a series, it could be read stand alone.
July 2, 2016
3.5
Two great main characters, some additional great ones and low angst (a good thing when you are in the mood for light romance). The part where they work together is only a couple of chapters long; the rest is work, play and some personal issues.
The personal issues are what introduces angst into the story, but it is not overwhelming. At times it was even cute.
As for the romance, it is lovely. These two won't drag you into darkness. Yes, there are a couple of bumps on the road, but nothing depressing.
I don't really like the title. I know what it means and I am sure some would defend it, but to me it looks like someone couldn't think of a title and they were seconds from the deadline and just used the first thing that came up.
Two great main characters, some additional great ones and low angst (a good thing when you are in the mood for light romance). The part where they work together is only a couple of chapters long; the rest is work, play and some personal issues.
The personal issues are what introduces angst into the story, but it is not overwhelming. At times it was even cute.
As for the romance, it is lovely. These two won't drag you into darkness. Yes, there are a couple of bumps on the road, but nothing depressing.
I don't really like the title. I know what it means and I am sure some would defend it, but to me it looks like someone couldn't think of a title and they were seconds from the deadline and just used the first thing that came up.
February 20, 2017
4/5 stars
This might have been my favourite romance in this series so far (or Something About You it's a tough decision) but as much as I loved the characters and the chemistry, all the books in the series are rather similar in almost all aspects.
I'll link my more in-depth reviews of the other two books I heave read in the series. But if you're looking for a good old romance story that tugs at the heart strings and is filled with kick-ass career woman who take no prisoners and have a talent for falling in love with some gruff FBI agents and US attorneys, this is the series for you.
book one; Something About You
book five; It Happened One Wedding
This might have been my favourite romance in this series so far (or Something About You it's a tough decision) but as much as I loved the characters and the chemistry, all the books in the series are rather similar in almost all aspects.
I'll link my more in-depth reviews of the other two books I heave read in the series. But if you're looking for a good old romance story that tugs at the heart strings and is filled with kick-ass career woman who take no prisoners and have a talent for falling in love with some gruff FBI agents and US attorneys, this is the series for you.
book one; Something About You
book five; It Happened One Wedding
April 3, 2013
The best yet from Julie James! She's upped the heat level considerably in this one and it really worked -- real well, along with fabulous characters that you can't help but fall in love with, and a storyline that tugs at your heartstrings and makes you sad to see it end.
Now on to Kristen Ashley's "Own the Wind" and then I'll write reviews.
Now on to Kristen Ashley's "Own the Wind" and then I'll write reviews.
May 6, 2013
OK. This is me gushing over Julie James and this book. It was fantastic. This series keeps getting better and better! Plus, we got a LOT of updates on the couples from Books 1-3 which was fun.
So this is Cade Morgan.
Cade was raised by a single mother, turned into a college football star and was injured in a game-winning, career-ending play in the Rose Bowl. He moved onto Plan B, law school, and is an Assistant US Attorney in Chicago.
He has some daddy issues - his father abandoned his mother when she got pregnant in high school. 10 years later he visited Cade for a day and threw around a football, but never returned again. For the rest of his life, Cade's every decision was with his absent father in mind - I can do all of this without you. I can succeed without you.
Meet Brooke Parker.
Brooke is a workaholic who can't find time to eat much more than power bars and doesn't have time for anyone in her life except her best friend, Ford. She works as general counsel for Sterling Restaurants, a hospitality and catering company with numerous restaurants in Chicago, and expanding into stadiums and arenas around the country. Thanks to Brooke. She's a lawyer-turned saleswoman and is kicking ass.
She grew up in the poorest family in the richest neighborhood, her parents doing everything to get her ahead.
Cade and Brooke both have a lot to prove. Cade has dedicated his adult life to getting past his college football stardom and having an equal amount of success off the field, all without his father. Brooke has the weight of the world on her shoulders, always striving to succeed no matter what the cost.
These two characters are Julie James' best drawn couple.
Cade's first impression of Brooke is, of course, during a legal investigation in which the FBI and the US Attorney's office need her help bugging a table in one of Sterling's restaurants. To Cade, Brooke is hot, skirt-suited, direct and full of sass. Brooke knows Cade's reputation and puts on her tough-girl act for him. They dance around a flirtation through this case, and then again, when Brooke needs Cade to return the favor. She's still hard as nails with him, but he can tell that she has a softer side.
He gets his chance to see the real Brooke at a Cubs/White Sox baseball game when their text messages turn into - "wait, where are you? I'm here too."
Cade and Brooke begin their relationship from this day on and it's adorable. They are playful, snarky, cute and funny, with inside jokes right off the bat.
On their first "morning after" Brooke gives Cade a hard time about finding him in the kitchen making her breakfast:
Cade and Brooke are both trying to keep things casual but can feel a more permanent pull to each other from early on. Brooke is averse to anything serious because of her job. Work is always getting in the way. But she's finding that Cade doesn't take that as an excuse the way her exes have in the past.
Cade doesn't have experience opening up to people, and continues having 4-month long surface-level relationships. Because of his dad, he's afraid of caring about anyone too much. But, he soon finds himself wanting something he's never wanted with anyone else: more.
In addition to these new feelings Cade begins to have for Brooke, he gets an office visit from someone very unexpected, taking the daddy issues he has from suppressed to must-be-dealt-with now.
Brooke is finding herself staring out her office window at the couples walking along Michigan Ave with no plans. She's wondering when normal work hours will be normal for her, and can't remember the last time she's called her parents. She's become a shining star in the business world, thanks to Sterling's new acquisitions, but with great achievement comes great opportunity.
One of the things I love about Julie James is her ability to write fantastic friendships.
Cade and Brooke find each other in very important times in their lives. But they both have a support system that is well written. The characters jump from the page and you can see them all sitting at the restaurant, or at the bar, having these conversations.
Cade's BFF Vaughn:
Brooke's BFF Ford:
I could continue to gush over this one, but I'll stop here and just say: READ IT.
This wasn't just another contemporary romance. It was a book about fathers and sons, brothers, women trying to balance power careers with love, men trying to move on from what they once were, and people finding each other at just the right time in their lives.
I loved this so much and cannot wait for more from Julie James.
So this is Cade Morgan.
Cade was raised by a single mother, turned into a college football star and was injured in a game-winning, career-ending play in the Rose Bowl. He moved onto Plan B, law school, and is an Assistant US Attorney in Chicago.
He has some daddy issues - his father abandoned his mother when she got pregnant in high school. 10 years later he visited Cade for a day and threw around a football, but never returned again. For the rest of his life, Cade's every decision was with his absent father in mind - I can do all of this without you. I can succeed without you.
Meet Brooke Parker.
Brooke is a workaholic who can't find time to eat much more than power bars and doesn't have time for anyone in her life except her best friend, Ford. She works as general counsel for Sterling Restaurants, a hospitality and catering company with numerous restaurants in Chicago, and expanding into stadiums and arenas around the country. Thanks to Brooke. She's a lawyer-turned saleswoman and is kicking ass.
She grew up in the poorest family in the richest neighborhood, her parents doing everything to get her ahead.
Cade and Brooke both have a lot to prove. Cade has dedicated his adult life to getting past his college football stardom and having an equal amount of success off the field, all without his father. Brooke has the weight of the world on her shoulders, always striving to succeed no matter what the cost.
These two characters are Julie James' best drawn couple.
Cade's first impression of Brooke is, of course, during a legal investigation in which the FBI and the US Attorney's office need her help bugging a table in one of Sterling's restaurants. To Cade, Brooke is hot, skirt-suited, direct and full of sass. Brooke knows Cade's reputation and puts on her tough-girl act for him. They dance around a flirtation through this case, and then again, when Brooke needs Cade to return the favor. She's still hard as nails with him, but he can tell that she has a softer side.
He gets his chance to see the real Brooke at a Cubs/White Sox baseball game when their text messages turn into - "wait, where are you? I'm here too."
Cade and Brooke begin their relationship from this day on and it's adorable. They are playful, snarky, cute and funny, with inside jokes right off the bat.
On their first "morning after" Brooke gives Cade a hard time about finding him in the kitchen making her breakfast:
Brooke dug in herself, chewing thoughtfully. "Let me ask you something. Do you tailor the breakfast to the woman you’ve just spent the night with, or is it always a Denver omlette?"
Cade paused midchew.
Oh, shit.
Cade and Brooke are both trying to keep things casual but can feel a more permanent pull to each other from early on. Brooke is averse to anything serious because of her job. Work is always getting in the way. But she's finding that Cade doesn't take that as an excuse the way her exes have in the past.
"I’m sorry Cade. Of course, I would be stuck working."
Like he was going to let her off so easily. "I can work around your schedule, Cinderella." He teased. "How about if we meet for drinks after your dinner?"
There was a pause before she answered. "I’d like that. I should be free by nine o’clock, if that’s not too late."
"Nine o’clock it is," he said. "I’ll pick you up at your place."
"I’ll have a Denver omelette waiting."
"That’s cute."
Cade doesn't have experience opening up to people, and continues having 4-month long surface-level relationships. Because of his dad, he's afraid of caring about anyone too much. But, he soon finds himself wanting something he's never wanted with anyone else: more.
And if he was being honest with himself, that same small part would have to admit that he’d been feeling a little jealous ever since he’d met her friend Ford. Not because he thought there was anything going on between the two of them, but because Ford was clearly in the circle of trust while Cade - despite being the man that'd slept with her - was still standing on the outside, looking in.
In addition to these new feelings Cade begins to have for Brooke, he gets an office visit from someone very unexpected, taking the daddy issues he has from suppressed to must-be-dealt-with now.
Brooke is finding herself staring out her office window at the couples walking along Michigan Ave with no plans. She's wondering when normal work hours will be normal for her, and can't remember the last time she's called her parents. She's become a shining star in the business world, thanks to Sterling's new acquisitions, but with great achievement comes great opportunity.
One of the things I love about Julie James is her ability to write fantastic friendships.
Cade and Brooke find each other in very important times in their lives. But they both have a support system that is well written. The characters jump from the page and you can see them all sitting at the restaurant, or at the bar, having these conversations.
Cade's BFF Vaughn:
“You’ve been brooding for two weeks, Morgan. So yes, we are having this conversation."
"I appreciate it, Vaughn. Really. But no offense – you suck at this stuff as much as I do."
Vaughn tucked his hands into his pants pockets, not looking offended in the slightest. "Yep. And that’s why God made whiskey."
Brooke's BFF Ford:
"If you were a woman…we’d watch The Notebook and drool over Ryan Gosling."
Ford flashed her a grin as he stretched an arm across the back of his chair. "Sorry babe. But when they handed out best friends, you drew the straw with a penis attached. That means no Ryan Gosling."
I could continue to gush over this one, but I'll stop here and just say: READ IT.
This wasn't just another contemporary romance. It was a book about fathers and sons, brothers, women trying to balance power careers with love, men trying to move on from what they once were, and people finding each other at just the right time in their lives.
I loved this so much and cannot wait for more from Julie James.
April 3, 2013
Another riveting read from Julie James, and one I am not about to forget for a while. LOVE IRRESISTIBLY differs from the previous books in the FBI/U.S. Attorney series in being more character driven, and less reliant on a grander premise to draw the hero and heroine together. The story is Cade and Brooke, just them, and how they each invaded each other's lives in the most touching and necessary of ways.
Brooke Parker is a successful General Counsel for an expanding restaurant company. She has not once taken her eyes off her goals, living a fast-paced and extremely busy life. In fact, work is her life. Because of that, her relationships have always ended abruptly, with the others claiming that she's not a "big-picture" type of girl. Believing what she needs is a no-strings-attached relationship, she finds a partner in Cade Morgan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, who is as devastatingly charming as can be. Cade is handsome, confident, and talented, and he's also not looking for a soul-searching, long-term relationship. But for these two people thinking they want only a temporary arrangement, love surges like a spark of thunder, forcing them to open their eyes and change their lives for the permanent future.
What is amazing about this novel is Julie James's remarkably ability for turning daily, supposedly mundane events into development steps for her characters. The writing is superb and flows like fine-tuned clockwork, turning each day into one of contemplation and subtle change for Cade and Brooke. As Brooke comes to realize that it's time to slow down her life, refocus on the friends and family she's been missing out due to work, Cade slowly bonds with the half-brother he's never known for 16 years, and takes steps to forming a relationship with the father who abandoned him.
There's a duality of pacing and scenes in this novel that, while seemingly at odds, forms a harmony that completes the missing emotional component of Cade and Brooke's lives. From Brooke's workaholic schedule to Cade's afternoon with his brother, every scene captures in startlingly attention the internal realities and desires of these two. And of course, complemented with the usual Julie James wit and humor in dialogue, LOVE IRRESISTIBLY is a gem of a read. Between the friendship and laughter of Cade and his charming FBI friends and the emotionally (and sexually) potent interaction of Cade and Brooke comes a great love story that is highly recommended.
Brooke Parker is a successful General Counsel for an expanding restaurant company. She has not once taken her eyes off her goals, living a fast-paced and extremely busy life. In fact, work is her life. Because of that, her relationships have always ended abruptly, with the others claiming that she's not a "big-picture" type of girl. Believing what she needs is a no-strings-attached relationship, she finds a partner in Cade Morgan, Assistant U.S. Attorney, who is as devastatingly charming as can be. Cade is handsome, confident, and talented, and he's also not looking for a soul-searching, long-term relationship. But for these two people thinking they want only a temporary arrangement, love surges like a spark of thunder, forcing them to open their eyes and change their lives for the permanent future.
What is amazing about this novel is Julie James's remarkably ability for turning daily, supposedly mundane events into development steps for her characters. The writing is superb and flows like fine-tuned clockwork, turning each day into one of contemplation and subtle change for Cade and Brooke. As Brooke comes to realize that it's time to slow down her life, refocus on the friends and family she's been missing out due to work, Cade slowly bonds with the half-brother he's never known for 16 years, and takes steps to forming a relationship with the father who abandoned him.
There's a duality of pacing and scenes in this novel that, while seemingly at odds, forms a harmony that completes the missing emotional component of Cade and Brooke's lives. From Brooke's workaholic schedule to Cade's afternoon with his brother, every scene captures in startlingly attention the internal realities and desires of these two. And of course, complemented with the usual Julie James wit and humor in dialogue, LOVE IRRESISTIBLY is a gem of a read. Between the friendship and laughter of Cade and his charming FBI friends and the emotionally (and sexually) potent interaction of Cade and Brooke comes a great love story that is highly recommended.
April 12, 2013
3 ½ stars. I keep using the word nice when describing this book.
It’s above average, but I’m having trouble saying I really liked it which is my definition of 4 stars. A lot of fun casual bantering. I smiled often. A gentle way to pass the time if you’re in the mood for contemporary romance. Young singles very successful at their jobs. They have good friends who are supportive. The subjects range from problems with family members, working too much, not enough time to date, and needing more balance in their lives. Cade and Brooke haven’t found anyone special enough to want to have more balance, until they meet each other. It’s not a suspenseful read, but it’s pleasant.
I would have liked more stress, suspense, or conflict either between them or within their jobs, like trying to catch a bad guy, or trying to uncover something bad at work. There was a little of that, but not enough.
There are four sex scenes. Not super hot, but nice.
The narrator Karen White does a fine job. Not off the charts, but nice.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 9 hrs and 31 mins. Swearing language: moderate including religious swear words, but rarely used. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 4. Setting: current day Chicago, Illinois with a little Charlotte, North Carolina. Book copyright: 2013. Genre: contemporary romance.
It’s above average, but I’m having trouble saying I really liked it which is my definition of 4 stars. A lot of fun casual bantering. I smiled often. A gentle way to pass the time if you’re in the mood for contemporary romance. Young singles very successful at their jobs. They have good friends who are supportive. The subjects range from problems with family members, working too much, not enough time to date, and needing more balance in their lives. Cade and Brooke haven’t found anyone special enough to want to have more balance, until they meet each other. It’s not a suspenseful read, but it’s pleasant.
I would have liked more stress, suspense, or conflict either between them or within their jobs, like trying to catch a bad guy, or trying to uncover something bad at work. There was a little of that, but not enough.
There are four sex scenes. Not super hot, but nice.
The narrator Karen White does a fine job. Not off the charts, but nice.
DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Unabridged audiobook length: 9 hrs and 31 mins. Swearing language: moderate including religious swear words, but rarely used. Sexual language: strong. Number of sex scenes: 4. Setting: current day Chicago, Illinois with a little Charlotte, North Carolina. Book copyright: 2013. Genre: contemporary romance.
March 28, 2014
Loved this one. Review to come.
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