|Review| Love Irresistibly by Julie James

So we kicked of Sizzle & Swoon yesterday with an intro & why we read romance (Same for Alexa! Check out her post) and today we're jumping into the romance goodness with our contemporary portion of Sizzle & Swoon. Here at The Book Barbies, I'm reviewing a fabulous contemporary romance book while at Alexa's, she's sharing our favorite contemporary romance books. So without further ado, here is a book that both Sharon and I loved. I read it the day it came out and I've been eagerly anticipating the arrival of Sizzle & Swoon so I can share my review and love of the book!

Title: Love Irresistibly
Author: Julie James
Series: FBI / U.S Attorney #4
Published April 2nd 2013 by Berkley
Genre: adult contemporary romance
Rating: A
Goodreads 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 . . .

It's hard to actually review this book because the three times I've read it since it came out (yes, three times in two months!) I was chanting "this book is perfect this book is perfect this book is perfect" and I had a grin on my face from the first page to the last page. Simply put, Julie James has done it again. She did it with her past 5 books and she did it with Love Irresistibly. Another extremely well-written smart and sexy book, just like I expected. Seriously, Julie James's books just get better and better.

When it comes to romance, it's easy to get caught up about talking about the hot hero but when it comes to Julie James, move over heroes, because her heroines are just as hot and even somewhat better. Her heroines are not broken with 99+ problems, waiting for the hero to save them while they save him in return, they're smart, confident, driven and happy people. I have to mention the happy part. Happy people exist. And you CAN write a story about them because Julie James has done it. I'm over angsty and sure I like broken here and there but thank you god, for giving us Julie James who in return gives us badass heroines in the realistic sense. Brooke Parker, lawyer first, businesswoman second, was a fantastic heroine. I loved how driven she is and what I loved even more is how her motivation is sparked by her less than modest living BUT that never turns into a Very Big Thing. We don't get countless chapters about her being poor and it's never a tool used to create more drama. No, Brooke Parker had to work hard and she got places and instead of dwelling in the past, we see the "going places" part.

I obviously love Brooke but I'm just so damn happy to see these type of heroines! Okay I'll admit, I do alpha heroes but my heart will burst for these sorta alpha heroines and with that being said, I'll finally talk about Cade Morgan, who I loved and I've been excited to read about him ever since we met him in About That Night. I think we get to know Cade Morgan the most from all of Julie James's heroes (Besides Kyle Rhodes) because we learn about his family in detail and we also get to see him interact with them. I absolutely loved that and those scenes are some of my favorite. Cade Morgan was also an ex-football player and seeing his law outside of the law, was also wonderful.

Getting to know the hero on another personal level and the fact that Love Irresistibly was all Brooke and Cade, their personal lives and romance, all the time, does give Love Irresistibly a different feel than the other Julie James books and anyone who's worried that Julie James is getting repetitive in her storytelling, doesn't have to worry any longer. No side plot with a corrupt men and gun action and this worked really, really well. Come on, I read this book three times in the two months its been out. All three times, I finished in mere hours. This book is the farthest thing from boring and Julie James delivers a page turner that's all romance, all the time. This makes me happy because I now have the perfect example that books, especially romance, don't need to be dragged by a million plots to work.

The setting of Julie James's novels is always Chicago but it's worth mentioning because her love for the city just shines in her books, and it's no different with Love Irresistibly. Julie James paints Chicago as a magical city and I want to visit! Another thing I've noticed, Julie James must like food and wine because they are a big part of her books and it's done so well that even the description of pizza (I do not eat pizza) made me crave pizza.

I obviously loved everything about this book, from the sassy heroine to the hot blue-eyed hero, fantastic witty dialogue and rest assured, hot sex. I daresay it's my new favorite Julie James! So I'll just go cry now until April 2014 arrives because I've already read this 3 times. I need more Julie James. And it goes without saying (but I'm saying it anyways) that if you are a contemporary romance fan, than you should read Love Irresistibly and any Julie James novel. Because if you haven't... you're doing contemporary romance wrong. Way wrong.

Rating: [A] my favorite romance of 2013? Why yes and I already know it's unbeatable.

First:

Brooke Parker stepped up to the bar at The Shore restaurant, ready to place her lunch order. 

Favorite:

"I pulled out too late with her," he said simply.
Vaughn nearly dropped his glass. "Oh fuck. Brooke's pregnant?"
"Whoa, there. No. Nobody's pregnant. I meant that I pulled out of the relationship too late."
"Oh." Vaughn paused. "You know, you really want to add that clarification next time."

Teaser:

"Certainly explains why Tuck and I later found you passed out cold on the kitchen floor, buck-ass naked, with one hand wrapped around a bowlful of strawberries," Charlie said. 

Have you read Love Irresistibly? Did you love it as much as I did? If you haven't read it, I hope I convinced you to read it! Also, the Sizzle & Swoon activities continue on Alexa's blog today :D

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Julie James Party

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So barbies, if you know/talk to me or at least follow me on Twitter, you know I'm that crazy reader fan NO author wants to have and the author who has to suffer this is Julie James. I love all and every single one of her books as much as I love sleeping, eating, reading and being lazy. Which is a lot of love. A LOT. Julie James is hands down, one of my all time favorite authors EVER! And in just TWO days, April 3rd, her newest book About That Night is going to be released, and I can hardly wait. Seriously, I'm going to RUPTURE from excitement.

If you see this Top Ten Tuesday of the "Top Ten Books I Want To Reread" which means my top ten favorite books since I only reread absolute favorites, Julie James 4 books DEFINITELY make the cut.

 So it's a no brainier that I am high above the sky and over the moon with happiness over the fact that in TWO DAYS only, 42 HOURS ONLY!!!  I will be able to read Julie Jame's newest release, this truly makes me want to throw up from excitement. Honestly, I changed my Twitter picture to the book cover of About That Night. I have been tweeting a countdown for the release of About That Night and driving my twitter followers crazy about HOW FREAKING EXCITED I AM! Just look:

Here are all her books, I read each one and loved them a million times and forever will!

 Just the Sexiest Man Alive
Published October 7th 2008 by Berkley

Nothing fazes Taylor Donovan. In the courtroom, she never lets the opposition see her sweat. In her personal life, she never lets any man rattle her- not even her cheating ex-fiance. So when she's assigned to coach People's "Sexiest Man Alive" for his role in his next big legal thriller, she refuses to fall for the Hollywood heartthrob's charms. Even if he is the Jason Andrews.

Jason Andrews is used to having women fall at his feet. When Taylor Donovan gives him the cold shoulder, he's thrown for a loop. She's unlike any other woman he's ever met: uninterested in the limelight, seemingly immune to his advances, and shockingly capable of saying no to him. She's the perfect challenge. And the more she rejects him, the more he begins to realize she may just be his perfect match. 

Julie Jame's debut novel is crazy funny and a glimpse of the talent to come in her next books. With a witty, powerful and strong heroine- something James's masters at!-  and a to die for hero, this is a book that will hook you and make you addicted to Julie James's writing. Trust me, I speak from experience!
Buy: Amazon |  B&N | The Book Depositary

Practice Makes Perfect 
Published March 3rd 2009 by Berkley Sensation 

When it comes to the laws of attraction, there are no rules The battle between the sexes is about to make these two lawyers hot under the collar. Opposites collide when two lawyers try to make partner at the same firm. Payton Kendall is a feminist to the bone. Cocky J.D. Jameson was born privileged. But when they?re asked to join forces on a major case, they gain a newfound awareness of each other?s personal assets. The partnership spot will be offered to only one of them, though. The competition heats up. Sparks fly. Let the games begin.

The second book by Julie James is surprisingly even funnier and better than the first and this becomes a pattern in James's books, her books get better and better and better! The chemistry between the characters and situations they are in will make you fall in love with Julie James's writing, AGAIN!
Buy: Amazon |  B&N | The Book Depositary

Something About You
Published March 2nd 2010 by Berkley 

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.

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.

 Now if I ever had a single teeny tiny doubt about James's amazing talent, it flew right out the window and is now buried and can never resurface again. After reading Something About You, it seems James is incapable of writing anything even .0000001 bad. Fun characters and witty dialogue? Check. A heroine with a backbone? double check. A hero with a sexy scruff, a badge and a bike? please preform CPR to my swooning self.
Buy: Amazon |  B&N | The Book Depositary

A Lot Like Love
Published March 1st 2011 by Berkley Sensation 

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.

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.

After reading Something About You, it seemed impossible that Cameron and Jack's story can be measured up to let alone topped but Julie James has it in her! Which lead me to believe and conclude, that her latest release will be her best one yet since her books get BETTER AND BETTER AND BETTER! I can never get tired of rereading them.
Buy: Amazon |  B&N | The Book Depositary

 About That Night
Expected publication: April 3rd 2012 by Berkley Sensation 

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...

Buy: Amazon |  B&N | The Book Depositary 
Book Excerpt

If you scroll down to the end of the 2012 Most Anticipated Books post Emma and I did you see that About that night is my most anticipated book of 2012. I have been pinning and waiting and dreaming about it for MONTHS and now, in just a a few days I will finally be able to read it! YAAAY! I strongly suggest you give Julie James's books a chance, she IS a contemporary romance superstar!! Her books have it all, loveable characters, great intriguing plots, humor and wit and romance you wished you had. If you like contemporary books and haven't read anything by Julie James, I suggest you hit your Barnes & Noble now and for my YA lovers who want to dip their toes in adult books, Julie James is a great author who will hook you to the genre!

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Top Ten Tuesday |2|

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where every Tuesday we list the top ten books we feel pertains to the week's topic the most and this week it's:

Top Ten Books I Want To Reread

To be honest, I didn't understand this very well because I didn't know if we had to do ten books we never reread but would like to or we can also put we reread before and will reread many times more so I'm going along with both. My first five are books I have reread more the twice and I still want to reread them.


1. Two-Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt
Ok this is one of my absolute favorite books, I read it about eight times which I think is the top score for me reading it a book (it's also a tie with Perfect Chemistry) every time I travel (which is every year) I take this with me where ever I may be going an read it again and laugh my ass of all over again like I'm reading for the first time ever.

This. Is. One. Of. The. Funniest. Books. Ever.
Plus. It. Has. A. Big. Shocker.
A.M.A.Z.I.N.G B.O.O.K



2. Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols
This book has been on my TBR pile for maybe 3 years and I finally read it earlier this year I think in February or March and I wanted to kill myself for waiting so long to read it!! This has earned a place in my favorite books shelf carved in my heart and there are not many who earn that crown! (Only like 7 books are blessed with that title) I only reread this twice but I can see it beating Two-Way Street in the race soon!




3. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
Owen Armstrong is all I'm going to say. Of course I will reread this book for him! I will arrange an apocalypse for him!



4. Blue Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas
4 + 5 are not YA but this book is most definitely in the 'special place in my heart shelf'. I pick this book up when I'm feeling blue and it totally makes me so happy! Hardy Cates, oh how I love thee! *sigh* thinking about this book puts a smile on my face. I live in Houston, why couldn't I be the one to snatch the Blue Eyed Devil?

Here is me with my precious copy of Blue Eyed Devil:
It does NOT end there!! I don't just love this book, I love this ENTIRE SERIES!
Sugar Daddy, Blue Eyed Devil and Smooth Talking Stranger
I have the entire series twice or more and here is further prove of my love:


Yes, every time I got a copy of a book in this series I had a picture party & Yes I unfortunately still have to get the third book in the series even though it's my second favorite after Blue Eyed Devil.

Moving on or else I will never shut up about Lisa Kleypas's awesomeness...




5. Julie Jame's Books
I'M GOING TO HAVE A HEART ATTACK JUST THINKING ABOUT JULIE JAMES!
She is the sole author that I read every single book by and love each single one wholeheartedly. *breath Racquel breath!!!* HER BOOKS ARE THE BEST!!!
They're my favorite in the order they were released so from the picture above, left to right is least to most favorite. I absolutely cannot wait until her fifth book About That Night comes out in April. I'll probably lay an egg by then...

This also made my week:


That^ is literally the #1 book I'm dying to read, no question about it....

Ok, all these book now I have never reread but I really want to!


6. Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
I suffered from too much excitement while reading this (plus the fact that I was at San Antonio trying to stay alive and beat the heat...) so I rushed through it. I would like to read it again and savor every sentence, word, letter, period, comma and everything in between.



7. You Against Me by Jenny Downham
I was at my grandma's house when I read this so I either had to help around with something or spend time with my family since I hadn't seen them in forever and I was leaving 2 weeks after so I only read this before I went to sleep and when I hid in the bathroom to sneak a few pages, needless to say I need to have a better reading environment/experience while reading this again because it is a great book.

Mikey is mine biotches!



8. Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley
What can I say? that this is one of my the best books I read this year? That I barely read it earlier this month and I'm still dreaming about? That it's one of the best books ever? oh I already said that:D



9.The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
I read this for school a day before the test so I rushed throw it and didn't savor it that much but you bet I will when I reread it! I wished I picked it up earlier but did I expect a hilarious story from a school book? You can't really blame me...



10. Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty by Jody Gehrman
I read this maybe 3 years ago and it's one of the funniest books I have ever picked up so when I found out there is a sequel? I had a mini party. I would like to read it and enjoy this all over again before I read the sequel.

So, what are the top ten books YOU want to reread?

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