Title Something About You
Author: Julie James
Genre: Romance / Contemporary Suspense
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date 2 March 2010
MMP 336 Pages
Stand alone or series Stand alone novel
FATE HAS THROWN TWO SWORN ENEMIES. . .
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 in bloodshed. 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 nearly ruining his career…
. . .INTO EACH OTHER’S ARMS
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…
How did I get this book: ARC from Author
Why did I read this book: I am a huge fan of Julie James’ books, especially Practice Makes Perfect which was my favorite Contemporary Romance last year.
Review:
I don’t read a lot of Contemporary Romance and read even less Romance of the Suspense variety. If there is someone who can make me not only wait anxiously to read one and end up enjoying it so much as to ask for an encore!, that person would be: Julie James. Boy, can this woman write fan-tas-tic dialogue and captivating characters. Her previous two books Just the Sexiest Man Alive and Practice Makes Perfect are nearly pitch perfect romantic comedies and I love, love, loooooove them.
So what about this one then?
Of all hotels in the world, Cameron Lynde, Assistant District Attorney, had to pick the one where a murder would be committed, to spend the night whilst her newly finished flooring is drying. Of all the FBI agents in the world, it had to be Jack Pallas, the one to take the case. The same Jack Pallas who three years ago was the head of an investigation she was about to prosecute and which ended up never going ahead – and life-changer case whose fall out was jack being transferred to Nebraska all the while blaming Cameron for the failure. The tension, the animosity they feel for each other needs to be put aside so they can work together on the case as Cameron is both Witness and soon, a victim under protective detail. But all the anger and hostility in the world cannot hide the fact that once, Cameron and Jack were moving towards building something and the attraction is back with a bang (there is one particular scene in a motorcycle that whoa baby, holy guacamoles). And spending time together can prove what they need to bring the past to rest and start again.
This book is excellent when it comes to the romance between Cameron and Jack. The two talk when they have to talk and behave like level-headed adults and professionals who respect each other’s profession. She listens when he tells her what to do and he listens to her opinions as well. The secondary characters are interesting and show the two characters have a life outside work and their budding relationship. Also, Cameron’s best friend Colin is gay and I have to give major kudos to the author for not writing him as the usual stereotypical flamboyant gay –friend.
On the down side, if we can even say that, I have to admit not being a fan of the suspense plot. Which sounds silly since this is after all, a romantic suspense . But seeing as how the culprit is revealed early on to the reader and we are privy to this point of view, it sort of removed the suspense from the suspense; However it made it more interesting from a character’s development point of view because the reader gets to know why the killer committed the act and understand that it was not because he was an Evil!Vilain! and being able to follow the steps he took to ensure he was not found was intriguing to say the least. But in all honesty, I could have skipped all that so that I could read more of Jack and Cameron, Cameron and Jack. I am, it turns out, a bigger fan of her romantic comedies and I thoroughly missed The Funny and the screwball comedy elements present in the previous books –which is of course, a matter of preferential taste.
That is not to say that Something About You is not funny. It is – it has funny moments, and the dialogue sparkles as ever however the tone is more contained because of not only the murder investigation going on, the sense of danger surrounding Cameron but also because Jack is a damaged character with a past. Of all Julie James’ heroes, he is the one with more baggage and the one I end up loving the most. For all that, it could not, should not be any different – a difference in tone would have ruined the book.
One last word: I mentioned screwball comedy elements and this is a known influence in the writing of the author and in her previous books who make a homage and have shout outs to those old Hollywood movies . In an interview with the author, she mentioned that there would be a homage to It Happened One Night by Frank Capra in Something About You . Now, It Happened One Night happens to one my all time favourite movies and one of the reasons why I waited for this book so anxiously. I bet that that the homage would be to the famous Walls of Jericho scene and I was right! Without spoiling it too much, Julie James, takes that scene, makes it funnier and oh boy, sexier and appropriate for this book. Clark Gable/ Peter Warne would approve.
And I lied about the last word. I have something else to say about the book: this is also the hottest of her books– if you have read her previous books you know all sex scenes were fade to black. Not this time. We knew that Julie James can write sexual tension very, very well. We finally learn she can also write sex scenes – they are not very graphic or extremely long but phew do they deliver.
So as Ellie from It Happened One Night would say: Oh, it’s been a lot of fun.
Notable Quotes/ Parts: I loved this scene when Jack was doing protective detail at Cameron’s house and unbeknownst to her, as to not scare her, slept inside her bedroom :
He waited thirty minutes from the time he heard the noises stop, just to be safe.
He got up and walked down the hall. He entered Cameron’s bedroom quietly, pausing just outside the doorway to listen to the soft, steady sounds of her breahting. Satisfied she was sleeing, he moved to the corner of the room and took a seat on the floor next to the boarded-up doors that led out to the balcony and fire escpae. He rested his head against the wall.
He sat there in the darkness and watched.
He knew that sleep would eventually overtake him – he’d certainly slept in more uncomfortable places – but it would be a light, dreamless sleep. He would be ready in an instant, if necessary.
God help the man who tried to get past him.
Additional Thoughts: We have one copy of Something About You to giveaway to one lucky winner. To enter, simply leave a comment here. Contest is open to residents of US, Canada and UK ONLY and runs till Saturday 6th March 11:59 (PST). Only ONE comment per person! Multiple entries will be automatically disqualified. Good luck!
Verdict: Another great Contemporary novel by Julie James, a book which carries her signature: great dialogue and captivating characters. This one is more on the serious (and steamy) side than her previous novels.
Rating: 7 – Very Good
Reading Next: The Sky Is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson
sharing is caring
88 Responses to Book Review and Giveaway: Something About You by Julie James
Leave a Reply
Subscribe
not come across julie james before, i’d love a chance to read this book
I read the Sexiest Man Alive and really enjoyed it – hope I win!
Enter me, please! I’d love to read a Julie James book after all the great reviews.
Thanks
This book sounds right up my alley and has been put on the ‘Must buy’ list
Sounds like a cool novel! Love the cover!
Sounds like a good read! I haven’t tried one of her novels yet, so this sounds like a good place to start!
She is a new author to me. I would love a chance to read this book.
please enter me in the giveaway.Sounds like a great book
I loved the first two and have been really wanting to read this one too!
So excited for this book!! So, is that a 7 out of 8? Or 10? Oh, not entering – it’s already on the way!!!!
The book sounds good, but I’m having a really hard time getting over the description of the heroine as an “adulterous Chicago politician.”
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…
Yikes.
Yikes, now that you mention that blurb is seriously convoluted. Obviously she is not the “adulterous Chicago politician.” she is only staying next to a room rented by one.
[...] “Another great Contemporary novel by Julie James, a book which carries her signature: great dialogue and captivating characters.”–The Book Smugglers [...]
All the buzz about this book prompted me to reserve James’ first two from the library. I’m looking forward to their arrival and would love to be entered for this book. They all sound good!
Ooh, sign me up for the giveaway please.
I have heard tons about Julie James. Would love to try this one. Please enter me.
This book is on my MUST HAVE list so I would love to get a chance to win a copy.
Thanks for the great giveaway.
This sounds really good- I’d love to get a chance to read it!
I really enjoyed “Just the Sexiest Man Alive” – can’t wait to read “Something About You”!
Julie’s book sounds great. I love the cover.
Yeah, Ana, I figured that. I have dealt with some convoluted blurbs in my career (authors don’t get to write their back cover copy) but I’m surprised that bit slipped past a copyeditor.
I’d love to be entered in the giveaway. I’ve read Practice Makes Perfect and I love Ms. James’ writing style.
Thanks for the chance!
Would love to win a copy of this one! I ordered her first two after reading so many wonderful things about them. I wasn’t sure about Something About You because I’d also read about the killer’s POV. I’m not a fan of the villain having his/her own POV in books. However all of the snippets I’ve read have made me want to read this.
I read her first two books and they are fun so I would love to win this one.
OH gosh, this is an awesome woman. I loved the first two books and can not wait for this one! Please count me in!!!!
alliwantandmorebooks@ gmail.com
I keep waiting for her first two books to get returned to the library (someone’s holding them hostage!) — want to check them out after reading the reviews on TBS! So maybe I can win this one!
I really can’t wait to read this book! Julie James is a master at dialogue! Please enter me in the giveaway!
Thanks
“…where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends in bloodshed”?!?!?!
I MUST READ!
The book sounds good. And I’m so intrigued by her homage scene to “It Happened One Night.”
Thanks for the review. I too loved Practice Makes Perfect and can’t wait to dive into her latest!
Please enter me into the contest. Sounds like a very good book!
I have read great things about her books and think this one sounds great.
I normally don’t go for this genre, but I have to admit this sounds really interesting. Enter me please!
I’m not usually a contemporary romance fan, but y’all have convinced me to give this author a shot!
I have this one on my wishlist. I’d love a chance to win. Thanks!
I don’t think I’ve run across Julie’s books before( one of the reasons I love to read blogs)so would love a chance at this one.
I feel like I should give romance a fair shot before blacklisting it and…well, its free. Sign me up.
I haven’t read Julie James before, but from the excerpts and reviews I’d love to read this so please add my name to the draw.
This sounds excellent. I would love a copy.
I would love to own a copy of this book.
I loved Julie’s previous book, so I’m definitely wanting this one. I like her writing style and because of that she’s become a favorite of mine in the contemporary genre. Glad to know this one’s super steamy, since I also really like that in my books.
Please throw my name into the hat. I really enjoyed Julie’s previous books and this one sounds like a great read as well.
Please count me in!
Hi Ana,
Thanks for the lovely review!! Glad you enjoyed the book! I knew you’d get a kick out of that Walls of Jericho scene.
Best,
Julie
All the reviews have been great so far, please count me in, I’d love to get my hands on this book!
Your reviews make James sound so tempting. I also “don’t read a lot of Contemporary Romance and read even less Romance of the Suspense variety.” But I add to that an anti-lawyer hangup. So, I don’t know.
Another fun review. I’m addicted to your blogs almost as much as books. Thanks and can’t wait to read the latest Julie James!
Count me in!
Hmm… sounds like something I would enjoy
A great review! I have seen nothing but raves about Julie James as a writer, but I have yet to read her work. I’d love to win “Something About You” and find out for myself why people love her books!