In "A Lot like Love" by Julie James, heiress Jordan Rhodes finds herself in a fake relationship with FBI agent Nick McCall as part of an investigation, leading to unexpected feelings between them. The book offers a mix of light, humorous, and sexy elements with a well-paced plot and witty banter, set in current-day Chicago and Napa Valley. The story unfolds with a blend of romance, suspense, and strong character dynamics, making it an engaging contemporary romance read.

The author, Julie James, showcases her strength in crafting good dialogue and creating strong, likable characters that engage readers. The book features a slow-burning romance between Jordan and Nick, complemented by well-developed secondary characters and a touch of danger that adds depth to the plot. James's writing style combines humor, wit, and sarcasm, making the book a unique and enjoyable romantic suspense novel.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Jordan being a strong and relatable heroine and Nick as a charming, yet complex, male lead, supplemented by engaging secondary characters.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is characterized by wit, humor, and a smooth narrative flow, effectively developing characters and maintaining a light-hearted tone.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot features a fake relationship between an heiress and an FBI agent intertwined with an undercover investigation, blending romance and humor.

Setting:

The story is set in contemporary Chicago and Napa Valley, featuring environments that reflect high society and FBI operations.

Pacing:

The pacing is smooth and fast, balancing the buildup of romance with humor and tension effectively.

Being a special agent for the FBI, he was an expert at both observing body language and reading between the lines, often gleaning all he needed to know from a carelessly chosen word or the subtlest of...

Notes:

Julie James's writing has improved significantly in this installment compared to the first book.

Readers appreciate the strong and witty character of Jordan, who is assertive and not a stereotypical weak female.

Nick McCall is introduced as a charming but gruff undercover FBI agent, making for an interesting romantic dynamic.

The book features a lot of humor, including references to the TV show Lost and wine tasting jokes.

The relationship between Nick and Jordan develops from animosity to genuine feelings while they pretend to be in a relationship.

Wine plays a major role in the story, with detailed descriptions of wine tasting and humor surrounding it, although some readers found it excessive.

The plot has a blend of romance and suspense, focusing heavily on the romantic relationship rather than intricate mystery elements.

Jordan's brother Kyle, a comedic character, is a highlight for many readers and is expected to feature in his own book next.

Many reviewers felt that the book's predictions about the plot were comforting rather than disappointing, making it an enjoyable read despite predictability.

Several readers mention enjoying the banter and chemistry between the main characters, which creates a compelling romantic tension.

Has Romance?

Romance is a central theme with significant development between the characters.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

An FBI agent and an heiress have to get up close and personal on an undercover assignment in this thrilling romance from the author of The Thing About Love.

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 fund-raiser 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…

Ratings (6)

Incredible (1)
Loved It (2)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (14):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (6)
Not Interested (1)

1 comment(s)

katyana

Incredible

3 months

Okay, so this was my first contemp romance... after Catherine's review, I was just toooooo tempted, and had to give it a try. And I am glad I did!

The relationship between Nick and Jordan was really a lot of fun - lots of snappy banter laced with heavy sarcasm, and lots and lots of sparks. All in all, it was a great, light, fast, fun read. I think I am going to have to check out more from Julie James.

***4.5***

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About the Author:

After graduating from law school, New York Times bestselling author Julie James clerked for the United States Court of Appeals. She then practiced law with one of the nation's largest firms for several years until she began writing screenplays. After…

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A Lot like Love

Julie James

Book 2 in the series:FBI/US Attorney