Thursday, March 18, 2010

Review: Something About You by Julie James

Staying overnight in a luxury hotel, Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde overhears a high-profile murder involving a U.S. Senator. Special Agent Jack Pallas is assigned to the investigation-the same Jack Pallas who still blames her for nearly ruining his career three years ago. Now the pair will have to put their rocky past behind them, focus on the case at hand-and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension.
Julie James' Something About You is my first venture into a contemporary romance by this author. I have two other books by her on my "to be read" pile, but decided to begin by reading her latest release.

This is Cameron Lynde's story and how events around her, including Jack Pallas' reappearance, affect and change her life. James begins the story with Cameron staying at a hotel room where she's staying for the weekend while her hardwood floors finish drying. She's also attempting to relax after completing a grueling trial. After losing sleep due to the couple in the next room's loud sexual antics, Cameron unwittingly witnesses a murder by hearing it through the hotel room's thin walls. She also glimpses the murderer through the peephole on her room door.

When Cameron calls the hotel's front desk to complain about the noise, a murdered woman is discovered and she is plunged into a crime investigation. The primary FBI investigator turns out to be Jack Pallas, a man whose career Cameron suposedly ruined three years prior. The hostility between the two is tangible from their first meeting as is their attraction.

In this contemporary romance you'll find some excellent details when it comes to Cameron's job, that of an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Ms. James certainly took her time with that part of the book, although not so much that it became overwhelming. Cameron was a witty heroine with friends who liked her and she seemed to win those around her, well... all except Jack. What I liked about this heroine was the fact that she used her head and didn't show poor judgment throughout the story. She followed directions and didn't place herself or those who were guarding her in danger by taking unnecessary risks.

Jack was also a likable hero, he wasn't too alpha or too beta -- just right I would say. He knew his job and did it well. Jack definitely had reasons for resenting Cameron since he was kept in the dark about important facts to do with their pasts.

The "big misunderstanding" is used as a trope in this contemporary romance and once that misunderstanding is cleared up things move quickly between Cameron and Jack. However, that doesn't happen until the last third of the book. The first part of the book -- about two thirds -- is mainly taken up by the criminal investigation, secondary characters who come in and out of Cameron and Jack's lives, and some sexual tension between them. This couple's alone time was limited for a longer period of time than I expected.

Although we know fairly early who the villain of the piece is in Something About You, that part of the story is quite good. The villain was clever and the final conclusion was satisfactory.

Something About You is a good contemporary romance not focused entirely on the couple. The suspense takes a lot of that focus although that part of the book is well executed. The romance is slow to develop, but once it gets going it moves quickly and the chemistry between Cameron and Jack definitely takes off.

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: None
Released: March 2, 2010
Grade: B

Visit Julie James here.

8 comments:

  1. No tstl heroine - that's always a plus. The big misunderstanding is where I had a problem in her last book. Is this misunderstanding weak or does it make sense?

    I'm surprised at the focus on the suspense, for some reason I thought that would take a backseat to the romance.

    Nice review Hils!

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  2. LOL Leslie, that was definitely a plus! This misunderstanding made sense under the circumstances -- especially when you look at the outcome.

    I was quite surprised at the focus too, Leslie. I expected this book to have more of that sexual tension throughout and definitely more Cameron/Jack time than it had, less of the focus placed on the suspense. It's the reason it got a B from me, although I MUST say and reiterate that both were VERY well done. I just think I was expecting more of a romance and less of a suspense/romance.

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  3. Sounds good. Looking forward to read it... just too bad the focus wasn't on the romance/relationship. I mean, this is almost romantic suspense, no?

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  4. I just won the book from Dear Author and finished it this am. I really enjoyed the book and will read more of James books.

    Nice review!

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  5. Nath, I think you'll enjoy it. It's a good book and quite enjoyable if you know what to expect. Well, the focus is certainly on solving the crime for that first part of the book. There are short chapters throughout written from the villains POV. And, although this couple is obviously attracted to each other, their one-on-one dialogue (alone time) doesn't really begin until about the last third of the book. Once they are together, they're great. ;P

    Marilyn, thank you. I'm so glad you enjoyed this book too. I'll be reading more books by Julie James as well. I have two of her previous releases on my TBR pile and will definitely get to them. ;D

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  6. Thank you Hils. My first attempt to read a book by this author didn't go well...my bad, not the author's. I think I'd like to try this.

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  7. This is a very popular read lately! I'll probably be the last girl on the block to read it, but I'll get around to it. It does sound fun. Thanks for the review, Hils!

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  8. Orannia, sometimes we have to be in the mood to read a book/author. I know that happens to me too. :)

    Christine, this is certainly a popular book at the moment, and it is a good read. :)

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