4.5 Stars

If you're in the mood for a lighthearted romance filled with witty dialogue, palpable chemistry and very enjoyable characters, then this is the book for you. Julie James writes the perfectly romantic enemies-to-lovers story, low on drama and high on fun and entertaining scenes. It's like comfort food, familiar but still a new experience every time.

FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd found themselves locked in competition from their very first day at the FBI Academy and were very glad to part ways at the end of their training. Six years later, the rivals are reunited as partners in an undercover investigation, much to their chagrin. The timing couldn't be worse, with the personal issues they are each dealing with but the long-simmering, unacknowledged attraction between them starts to heat up again, especially as they have to spend a lot of time together on their undercover assignment. But with John scheduled to leave the FBI after this assignment, is it wise to start something with a definite end date? Can John and Jessica walk away without any regrets?

One of my favorite things about this author's writing is her characters. They are strong, sexy, intelligent and really, really likable; the kind you wouldn't mind being friends with or hanging out with. And her females are proof positive that you can be successful with beauty and brains, and really great shoes and clothes!

Jessica and John really complement each other, both in professional and personal capacities, once they get past their rivalry. I love that John respected Jessica's abilities and was comfortable with her taking the lead where needed. I also liked that John wasn't just a hunk of brawn, but could hold his own against Jessica's smarts, rapier wit and sass. They were equals and it showed in their interactions.

Their chemistry is amazing and they make a dreamy couple. Their shared careers mean that they understand the pressure that comes with the job and the sacrifices required to be successful. The ability to balance work and life is a big part of this story and I loved it.

If you are looking for a law-enforcement themed romance without the usual suspense, intrigue and action, this is the perfect book to start with. I can't get enough of this author's writing and hope we won't have to wait too long for more.

The Thing About Love is the first Julie James book that I have read and I am somewhat conflicted about it. I like books that have depth, complexity & especially strong female characters as well as male characters who are not just Alpha God-like GQ models! Certainly, FBI agent Jessica Harlow is a well-established operative as is John Shepherd and the key ingredient to their relationship is that around six years ago, they were at the Academy together. Back then, they only had three things in common; they both came from Chicago, were the brightest candidates in their class, and they appeared to dislike each other, intensely!

Harlow and Shepherd are assigned to a case that requires them to work undercover as business partners who travel to Florida, with plans to open a new restaurant, in order to prove that the local Mayor is corrupt. The case takes up around 60% of the book, around 400 pages and provides ample opportunity for the two characters to quibble endlessly with each other and this banter, coupled with continual sarcasm gradually becomes the essence of their mutual attraction.

"The Thing Called Love" is, for me, a charming romantic comedy, rather than a whirlwind, intensely passionate romance that is so often found today. The love affair creeps up on the couple, with plenty of reminiscing from both points of view, to their early days as recruits where they saw things quite differently. Julie James uses a deft hand to highlight these differences before turning them into positives to be cherished. This was a slow burn and while I love the current Romance genre, Jones has written a pleasant love-story, full of sass and sarcasm but lacking the spice I have come to expect in a 21st century romance.

4.5 Stars ~ Top Pick

A romance about FBI agents. How apropos, I thought when I picked it up. The FBI have been prominent in the news these days, haven’t they? But this book is way better than real life because it’s a romance with a big and ridiculously hot FBI hero (he’s six foot four and built and our heroine did call him “big guy”).

So here’s the deal, Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a bit of a history. Six years ago they spent six months going through the FBI Academy together. You’d think that two extremely attractive people of the opposite sex and from the same city—Chicago—would be naturally drawn to each other. You’d only be half right. They are but things are never that simple.

Jessica is functioning in a male dominated field and she has to be careful in how she conducts herself. Hooking up with the hot former Army Ranger is not in the cards, so when he introduces himself to her, she kind of blows him off. She doesn’t want to encourage him. A cold shoulder devolves into a verbal put down, and boy do things go downhill from there. Fast forward to current day, Jessica’s opinion of John hasn’t changed.

Hey, look at me, watch me fly through this obstacle course with one hand and two feet tied behind my back. This is child’s play to what we did in the Rangers, bitches!
John’s opinion of Jessica isn’t much better.

Ooh, look at me, I’m soooo smart with my Stanford law degree, I should be teaching these classes instead of sitting here with the rest of you schmucks.
God, I love these two. They had me smiling and laughing throughout the book. Funny watching them be thrown together once again, this time working at the FBI office in Chicago on an undercover political corruption case. You can imagine their reaction to setting eyes on each other after six years. Love it! Conflict and tension, my two favorite emotions.

John is just coming out of a long-term relationship, and it’s the worst kind of break up. Jessica is back from LA and a five-year marriage to a Hollywood producer. At this point, she’s ready to start dating again. Or I should say her younger brother and sister (twins) are doing their damndest to hook her up, with no luck. John doesn’t even enter into the picture because she doesn’t like him. Okay, you know that’s not really true. They simply got off on the wrong foot, but once they’re working together—jetting off to Jacksonville, FL to bring down its corrupt mayor—things start to defrost between them. That long dormant attraction starts to simmer.

One of the things I love about Ms. James’ heroines is that they’re not the kind of women who hang back waiting for the guy to make the first move. They give encouraging signs and don’t back down and become all missish when the heroes act on them. Once they have it in their head that they want him, they’re not reticent about it. It’s beyond refreshing. The same can be said about Jessica. The fact is, she’s not looking for anything long term, but then neither is John. Prior to coming back to the Chicago, he tried out for HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) and he’s waiting to see if he’s accepted. If he does, he’ll be moving to Virginia and then going who knows where—all over the globe. It’s the perfect situation for two people for which a brief affair is all they want. LOL. Right.

The secondary characters are nicely fleshed out, their supporting status doing what readers expect them to do—fully round out the John and Jessica’s lives. I particularly enjoyed John’s dilemma with his friends and the camaraderie between the agents in the office. The dialogue is snappy, filled with humor, and real. Not so trendy and hip that you’re rolling your eyes thinking, ‘Do grown adults really talk this way’ but not so staid and formal that you can’t believe it’s the 21st century.

The Thing About Love has just the right amount of intrigue and suspense to satisfy readers who like that but don’t want it overwhelming the romance. And you may want to bone up on your acronyms. Just kidding. Ms. James spells them all out at least the first time she uses them, but in the FBI world, they have quite a few.

I loved the ending, and I loved that I was surprised at the way things unfolded. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Jessica and John and I look forward to Ms. James’ next book.

~ Beverley

Review will also be posted on the blog on April 18th.

"Nearly fifteen thousand special agents in the FBI, spread throughout the United States in fifty-six field offices, and she had to show up in Chicago for what was quite possibly his last undercover assignment."

FINAL DECISION: An enemies to friends to lovers story, THE THINGS ABOUT LOVE feels real and dives deep into the complexities of a modern professional and romantic relationship. I loved the characters and their journey to one another.

THE STORY: FBI Agent John Shepherd is just about ready to join the elite Hostage Rescue Team if he gets accepted, but has one last undercover assignment to get through. Just his luck that he happens to be paired with Jessica Harlow. John and Jessica know each other. Six years ago they were in the same class at Quantico and walked away from the experience happy to be across the country from one another. Now, the two have to learn to work together. Both are beginning a new chapter of their lives as they recover from bad relationships. John is planning on leaving Chicago and joining the HRT after catching his girlfriend having sex with one of his friends. Jessica is returning to Chicago after her divorce.

OPINION: This is a beautifully constructed, modern office romance. The story isn't over the top fantasy, but rather real and complicated with no easy answers to the issues John and Jessica face.

The story is properly centered around the characters of John and Jessica and while there is a satisfying and complete plotline, it doesn't overwhelm the romance.

John and Jessica have a history. The two met six years ago during FBI training. While there was an attraction even then, the two rubbed one another the wrong way because they really didn't get to know one another. Both are competitive and their attraction turned to ruthless competition between them. When they are forced to work together, they find out that they actually have much in common.

I loved the portrayal of Jessica who is a woman competing in a world dominated by men. She knows that she has to be more careful than them in how her co-workers see her. That is one reason that John rubbed her wrong six years ago because he made her feel less proficient. In her personal life, Jessica is a woman who has just received her final divorce decree and has been urged by her friends and family to start dating again. Jessica, however, doesn't have interest in the modern dating realities. A suggestion that she find a temporary guy to have hot post-divorce sex seems like a real possibility when the attraction between her and John explodes.

John, too, has had his world turned around recently. When he discovered his girlfriend and friend in bed together, he lost not only his relationship but also some long terms friends. Jessica coming back into his life seems like a miserable topper to his recent misfortunes. The only thing that seems to be going well is his potential transfer to the HRT. But one of the great things about John is that his is challenged and in serious competition with Jessica and her arrival makes him up his game. John is a good man because he treats Jessica with respect and acknowledges her competency as an agent. I really liked how he treats her with complete professionalism even when he is attracted to her.

I really enjoyed how the relationship between these two developed...there are funny moments and intense sweetness and good sexy parts, but the entire story is tied together by the deep respect these two have for one another. Even when they were "enemies" and competitors, there was the recognition of a worthy opponent. I thought that the development of their relationship felt natural and real and I thought the romanticism of the story flowed so nicely from their mutual respect for one another as professionals.

Julie James always navigates the realities of modern office romances so well. This book is no exception!

WORTH MENTIONING: I'd like to read a book about John's brother Nate who deserves to fall really hard for someone!

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE THING ABOUT LOVE is the seventh book in the FBI/US Attorneys series. These books, however, are only loosely connected and are standalones can be read independently.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

This is the first book I was able to read and review by Julie James. I am a sucker for cop drama along with a hot romance so I was excited to check this one out. However, I did have a few issues with this story.

I understand that a writer has a certain formula that is meant to give the back story and build the anticipation. I understand a formula that works - so why be different. But this book dragged on for me because I really disliked the female lead. She was cocky and had a huge chip on her shoulder throughout the entire book. I think the author was trying to make it cute and funny, but it was sooo annoying for me - right from the beginning!

This book also had a long back story and I found myself skimming quite a bit of the book. Things did not start getting interesting, in terms of the romance, until over 60% of the book was done. Plus the main story itself was a bit ho-hum. No real suspense you would expect in a cop story. The book was longer than average, which is fine, if it was interesting.

Once the attraction reached some good anticipation and two started to get involved, the story got better. Not quite as much filler... altho there still was some. And the ending was sooo much better... so a save for me.

John is a hottie and I loved his character. He was interesting and a sweetheart. Loved his brother too! She... and I won't even mention her name coz she annoyed me so much... needs some courses on how to be real and not so flipping competitive. ugh

The author had a great concept but I feel there is too much fluff and not enough real action. That is what I need to keep my interest level at its peak.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

4.5 Stars

Julie James is a favorite of mine, and books like this one remind me why. I was up late reading it, I was not going to put it down, and each time I thought that I would be able to set it aside and finish the next day, something else happened that drew me in to the story on the pages. And, I kept reading.

Jessica and John were amazing together. Their chemistry was explosive, the connection was palpable. You immediately see that Jessica really thought there was animosity between them, but from his actions, you can tell that John was attracted to her from the start and just didn't quite manage to convey that to her. The "her side" and "his side" chapters also help the reader end up there with them.

I loved the way their past was handled, letting the reader explore their 6 years ago history while they talked and reevaluated a lot of the opinions they had of one another from their previous time together. I liked this evolution of their story. Part of making an enemies to lovers story work is the reader believing the change in their feelings toward one another. In this case, the open discussion of what was meant and how it was interpreted works very well to close the gap between enemies and lovers.

The angst in this book as it gets closer to John leaving for his dream assignment is the kind that keeps you up late at night, because you just have to know how it is resolved and how they will work it out. And, this is a challenge for a romance author. It is part of the deal going into a romance that the reader, and the characters, are going to get their happy ending. It's expected, it is part of the genre. So, when an author manages to build the emotion and the angst into the HEA, you notice as a reader as this is tough to do.

So, you ask, why the 4.5? Honestly, I struggled with this as I LOVED 98% of this book. It was headed to my list of all time favorites. But, then it hit a small snag...I am not totally able to believe that Jessica and John would be together if not for the actions of an outside force. They love each other, and you know this, so I think they probably would have ended up there, in order for me to really love everything about a book, I need it to be the actions of the couple themselves who bring them back together. So, in that one little area, toward the end of an otherwise perfect book, there was a little hurdle for me.

I do still recommend this book. It was so good, it will keep you up at night, like it did me, just wanting to see how it ends, how they work it out. And, I am guessing the majority of you will be thinking it is your latest 5 star read.

The Thing About Love pairs undercover FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepard in a case to catch a crooked politician. The problem: Jessica and John know each other previously. Specifically from their FBI training six years ago. They didn't get along then, and it doesn't seem like they're going to get along now. But they are both professionals and they put aside whatever tensions lurks between them in order to get the job done. Along the way, they discover that what they thought they knew about each other, and about what happened during their training, was based on misinformation and biases.

As they work together their animosity starts to turn into something different, but both are facing different aspirations when it comes to their jobs. Aspirations that could tear them apart.

The Thing Above Love is a classic enemies-to-lovers story trope. Julie James knew just which buttons to push and how to push them in regards to Jessica and John's relationship. And what results is a suck-you-in story complete with witty banter, and a romance that slowly heats up the page.

I loved the perspectives we get on both Jessica and John's side in regards to what exactly went wrong in their first meeting. I didn't feel like one person was right and another wrong. Instead it was just a differing of viewpoints and coming from different places. Jessica trying to prove herself in what is majorly a man's profession. John trying to prove that he's more than just muscle, that he can cut it in the interrogation and smarts department.

I also really liked the build up of the relationship between Jessica and John. I mean, the tension between them, even when their fighting, is sexually charged right from the beginning. There's no denying it. And as they slowly move away from hating each other into looking at each other with different eyes, the chemistry just ratchets up from there tenfold.

Overall, I think this is a great standalone read. Everything about it just kept me glued to the page and I'll be honest when I say I'm a little surprised at how much I really enjoyed this book, but if you're looking for a great romance read right now, you can do no better than The Thing About Love.

What’s it About? FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd shared an antagonistic rivalry during their training days at Quantico that ended with them glad to go their separate ways. Six years later though John and Jessica are face to face again, this time as partners in an undercover assignment. The timing couldn’t be worse for both of them though. John is newly single after finding his girlfriend in bed with someone else and Jessica’s divorce from a Hollywood producer is still fresh.




Overall reaction to the story? Julie James has a knack for writing a hot romance with an intriguing plot and The Thing About Love is no exception. While I did notice that the romance kind of took a back seat to the undercover investigation, the book was no less entertaining. Energetic, witty, and fun, The Thing About Love has what it takes to be another fan favorite all while appealing to new readers as well.



Describe the hero in five words: Dedicated. Strong. Intelligent. Loyal. Kind. Fun.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? There’s something attractive about a man who can work with a woman as an equal and that was John. Sure, he had moments of wanting to protect Jessica but he never turned into a caveman, making Jessica the little lady. He respected her, her skills, and trusted her as his partner. That was something super awesome about this guy. John was just a charming guy with a good sense of humor. I loved how he would kind of poke at Jessica now and again just to get a reaction out of her. He was never cruel about it, even when he was under the impression that Jessica was cold hearted and mean.



Describe the heroine in five words: Strong. Determined. Sassy. Intelligent. Caring.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? Jessica took the bull by the horns and worked hard in a field that was dominated by men and that was the #1 thing I loved about her. She didn’t oversell her femininity nor did she try to be more masculine just to fit in or to succeed. She did it on her own terms with hard work and dedication. It didn’t mean she was a robot either, she was easy to relate to and even easier to like. She went toe to toe with John and didn’t back down or revert to a silly little girl in his presence. She was an equal to him and I loved that she didn’t always defer to him during their work because he was a man. She knew her job and contributed as a partner. Definitely not a damsel in distress.


Let’s talk about the romance: John and Jessica had an initial antagonism that stemmed from their training days that really worked for building the sexual tension between them but what I really liked about that antagonism is that it was kept OUT of their job. These two didn’t get petty and unprofessional while on the job and I’m so glad because it made them more believable as two of the best undercover agents. John and Jessica were logical characters as well which again goes with them being the best at their jobs. When things didn’t add up to what they initially believed about one another they took the time to figure things out instead of stubbornly holding on to what they “knew” to be right. The gradual progression from partners to more was believable as was the chemistry that built up throughout the story. They made a great couple and an even better team.



How about that supporting cast? I recognized a few names here and there from previous books in the series but for the most part it’s just John and Jessica doing their job and overcoming their misunderstandings of their time in training together. I did like the few scenes where John and Jessica were with their respective families, it showed who they were away from work and each other.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. John and Jessica were the perfect example of there being three sides to every story: Yours, Theirs, and the Truth.

4 stars

I loved this book! Another smart, funny, sexy and romantic read from Ms James!

John Shepherd and Jessica Harlow met while training to become FBI agents. It did not go well. John was a dedicated Army Ranger, the picture of the perfect soldier who flew through the physical aspects of the training, and Jessica was fresh out of law school and an academic wiz. Following misinterpreted motives and misunderstandings they became fierce competitors who couldn’t wait to see the back of each other at the completion of their training.

Now, it’s six years later. Jessica is newly divorced after her marriage to a Hollywood producer fell apart due to her dedication to her job, and John’s long-term relationship has just gone up in flames for the same reason. They both throw themselves into their work, and when Jess’s transfer to the FBI’s Chicago office sees her going straight into an undercover mission, they are both horrified to discover that they are now partners.

I love an enemies-to-lovers romance, and this one is really well done. The animosity between John and Jessica is believable, but the underlying chemistry is very much present, and it’s a delicious mix of emotions as they are thrown together for the first time in six years, and all of that aggression is just begging to come out. The banter is fantastic, and every moment they were together was so much fun!


“You know what? Let’s not do this, after all. I think dredging up the past will only make things worse, and you and I have got to be in sync these next couple of days.”
“That’s fine with me,” he said. “I wasn’t the one who started chatting about the good old days in the first place.”
“Trust me, I won’t make that mistake again … Besides, you obviously have some reading you want to do and I don’t want to hold you up.”
“I appreciate that,” he said, faux-politely.
“I’m glad you’re appreciative,” she said mock-nicely, before turning to her e-reader.
So much for lessening the tension between them.
Sheesh.
“You do realize you still make the sassy head movements even when you only think the words, right?” John said.
Jessica glared but remained silent.


John and Jess are fantastic character, both strong and confident, with no baggage, traumatic backgrounds or unnecessary drama. They are both ‘normal’ people, successful and driven in their careers, and determined to get through their mission together as they become the front-line in a longstanding investigation into a fraudulent politician. And, of course, as they travel away together to carry out their job, all of their time together allows them to get to know each other, to re-hash the past and talk about the present, and their long-buried attraction resurfaces.

I loved these two together! The relationship felt so natural with lots of chemistry and sexual tension and a great camaraderie as they move from enemies to friends to lovers, and it flowed beautifully. There’s a great build-up with no stupid behaviour and no game playing, they just go with it, and it all feels so right.


He traced his thumb over her skin. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for you to look at me this way?”


The sexy time is hot and intense, and with the story written in dual POV we get to see them both falling for each other, and what they initially planned to be a short-term affair soon becomes something so much more.


“You’re so goddamn sweet. So mine”


But life has a way of complicating things, and when John is given the career opportunity of a lifetime, they will both be forced to re-evaluate their priorities and what they want from life.


“The thing I want most is to spend the rest of my life with the one person who drives me crazy in all the best possible ways.”


I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, smart, romantic and intriguing read. There’s a lot of detail given about John and Jessica’s case, their jobs, and the various training and political aspects of their work, and while it was interesting, I honestly didn’t feel that I needed to know that much. For me it was all about the love story, and that, combined with how much I enjoyed the characters, was what carried the book for me - though I did think that the different elements of the story were blended really well.

I loved it – a solid 4 stars.

These are my Happily Ever After Novel Thoughts...

It took me a while to read this book, but only because I had company for the four days I was trying to read it. The book flows wonderfully and you can't help but to get sucked in.

I love the banter between Jessica and John. They have great chemistry and work well together. Reading this book shows you how hard it is to become and FBI agent but also makes it sound fun.

This was my first Julie James book. I will definitely be reading more of her work. I enjoyed the way she was able to bring all of the characters, including the support characters, to life and feel like friends.

Join Jessica and John as they go undercover and discover an attraction they thought didn't exist. Will they catch the bad guy and find a Happily Ever After?

4.5 Undercover Stars

This is my first read from this author and now I can say I'm a fan of Julie James! The Thing About Love is a romantic and sweet read about two competitive FBI agents, who learn to work together as partner and eventually lose their fight for their feelings for each other. I loved the dual POV of the characters of Jessica and John.

Jessica Harlow is moving back home for change to work undercover in the Chicago FBI office and being in a field that is dominated by male colleagues, Jessica is always try to prove herself. She's been determined to be the best since her first day of training in Quantico and clashing with the very cocky ex-Ranger, John Shepard, didn't stop her. These two butted heads and when they parted ways after graduating from the FBI, they didn't know their career paths would cross again. As partners.

John Shepard is also ready for a change after some hurtful news in his personal life, and he's ready to take his career to the next level. But first, he's assigned to work undercover with the very stubborn, sassy and "needs no help" Jessica. These two are at each other from day one on the job, but you know things work out when they spend a lot of time together and get to know each other!

The Thing About Love is a non-stop read that a bit of steam and plenty of chemistry between the characters. They just needed to get past some issues. A great weekend read if you need of some romance and humor!

Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd met six years ago when they were in the same class at the FBI Academy. She was top of the class smart and he was top of the class in everything else. Both are competitive and it quickly turned to hating each other guts. Fast forward 6 years, Jessica has been in California and has just moved back to Chicago after finalizing her divorce. John has just applied to join the Hostage Rescue Team after walking in on his girlfriend and best friend having sex behind his back. Put together for an undercover assignment John and Jessica have a chance to change their relationship, professionally and personally.

I liked this book. The story is good. This is a second chance romance and even though they used to hate each other back at the academy, everyone knows that it was actually attraction that couldn't be acted on. John is hot and Jessica is all sass. There were inside jokes and memories from the academy. Plus a whole 'he said, she said'.

I had a great time with this book. It was funny and sweet and very very sassy.

The Thing about Love is the enemies to lovers story of Jessica and John. I love the way James writes her characters-they are smart, determined, driven, and witty. I will say though, I am not a fan of Jessica. She comes off as immature and bitchy, especially during the flashbacks to how her and John met.

John has been in the FBI for 6 years and before that he was an Army Ranger. He and Jessica met at the academy and it was hate at first sight! Now they have been teamed up for an undercover op and have to get over their past. John recently discovered his girlfriend was having an affair with his best friend and Jessica recently went through a divorce. Both are looking to make life changes: John tries out for the HRT division of the FBI and Jessica moves back to Chicago after years in LA.

The Thing about Love has the classic witty banter James is known for. Jessica and John are entertaining for sure! Jessica is so hell bent on proving herself that I found it difficult to really like her. I wanted her to stop assuming the worst about everyone (especially John!). But, then I have no idea what its like to be in a male dominated profession and perhaps she did have to be defensive all the time. So, I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. John is a great character though! I loved him and really wanted him to get his HEA! Both of them have struggled with love; neither of their significant others accepted the pressures of being with an undercover agent in the long term. Jessica and John have a unique job that has ruined their previous relationships; sadly, they are so caught up in hating each other and competing, they can't see how similar they are!

The subplot of their undercover assignment adds some drama to the story, but the main focus is on the relationship between these 2 and the sexual tension that has always been present. Their undercover job adds some interesting events that help keep the story moving, but overall, I thought the book felt a bit long.

If you like enemies to lovers tropes, whip smart characters with razor tongues, and steamy sexual tension, The Thing about Love is a great pick! If you have enjoyed James' other FBI/US Attorney books, The Thing about Love is a great addition to the series that you won't want to miss!
(link live on 4/14/17)

THE THING ABOUT LOVE by Julie James delivered haters to lovers FBI undercover agent story. The tale filled with banter, snark, and heat also delivered an equally balanced case that left me smiling. Friends, family, and agents added to this delicious romance making me yearn to return to this Chicago field office.

Coffee dates with The Thing About Love

First Date: We first meet smexy, undercover agent John Harlow on the flight back to Chicago. He has just finished a stint in Detroit and is looking to mend things with his girlfriend of two years. Only he comes home to find she's been getting along just fine without him. Agent Jessica Harlow is just returning to the windy city after transferring from the LA office. After her divorce, it seemed like the perfect time to head home. John and Jessica have a competitive, somewhat snarky history together at Quantico so imagine their surprise when they are paired up to work an undercover stint in Florida. I am all in. I like both characters, from the competitiveness to the underlying sexual tension.

Second Date: James gave us chapter flashbacks from each characters time at Quantico giving us a sense of their shared history and thoughts. It was nice getting an insider look at their initial interactions, and it helped add depth, humor, and understanding as these two engaged. I loved the competitiveness, the tension, admiration, and banter it gave the romance a light, fun, feel. Because John is waiting to hear if he is accepted by the elite Hostage Resue Team, their building partnership, friendship, and tantalizing chemistry didn't have the pressures of what next. Of course, their romance was predictable, but the case and how was all in play keeping reading into the wee hours. Secondary characters from Jessicas siblings and bestie to John's brother and friends added humor and gently nudge each into question their actions and feelings.

Third Date: I enjoyed John and Jessica's romance, their time partnered undercover and interactions with their friends and family. Both find themselves feeling more and having doubts as John prepares to depart for Virginia. I Kept waiting for one to declare things more, and James provided some twists, and unexpected happens involving the case. I loved that the tale was drama free even if I wanted them both just to stop, analyze and admit this was more than a fling. You think two FBI agents would realize they were smitten? It was lovely seeing them fall and James gave me lots of swoony and awe moments. I loved the ending and even had a good laugh with the epilogue the author provided.

I ended my dates with THE THING ABOUT LOVE smiling and satisfied. I love when a romantic suspense is well balanced between the case and romance, and James does it effortlessly. I am sincerely hoping we revisit the Chicago field office.

I adored this book! It checked all my "swoony romance" checklist:

Swoony hero? check
Capable and sassy heroine? check
Witty banter? check
Feel-good romance factor? Double check!!

Jessica Harlow and John Shepard are FBA agents who started off as enemies during their FBI training to frenemies as they worked on their first case together to eventually becoming lovers.

If you're looking for plot-twisting, ulcer inducing, angsty story, then this book won't be for you. But if you are in the mood to read about two people who had to work on changing their perceptions about each other, fall in love and then learn navigate and balance their growing love for each other and their chosen careers, then this book is for you.

Julie James has a way of crafting stories that just oozes romance from page one 'till the end. I love her heroes and her heroines, and these two couples are no exception. Their chemistry is palpable throughout the book. I loved how these two characters fit together and how they work hard to make their relationship work, how willing they both were to change considering that their first meeting wasn't exactly the best.

Another thing I really liked about Ms. James is the way she incorporates work-life balance into her stories. Most of the time in romance books, after the couple gets together, work sorta fades into the background, like you won't hear as much how work takes over and affects the relationship. You get a sanitized version and no matter how stressful the heroine or hero's work is, once the relationship starts, everything just falls into place. Heck, some characters forget to go to work and everything is fine.

Here, it's different. Their job as FBI agents play a big role in the development of their romance and their characters. There are stakes involved. High stakes. And that made me appreciate the overarching elements of being FBI agents and being lovers in the book. It made my wait for this book worth it.

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

James continues to write strong, ambitious professional women in male-dominated professions who can go toe to toe with their male colleagues and male lovers, especially when it comes to verbal sparring. Her pair in this book are two FBI agents with a past (super-competitive during their days together in FBI training school) who meet again when one is transferred to the Chicago office and is assigned to work a bribery investigation with the other. Both Jessica Harlow, who specializes in white collar crime cases, and John Shepherd, who works in the organized crime group, are coming off bad breakups—Jessica a divorce from a film producer husband who could not accept her commitment to her job rather than to his, John from a live-in lover who slept with his best friend while he was assigned for months out of town on a case.

Neither is ready for a new relationship, but the old animosity from their training days soon seeps out as the sexual tension that it has always been. James gives us flashbacks their time at Quantico, in "She Said" and "He Said" chapters that show how easily misunderstandings blossom in environments where women are forced to guard carefully against both harassment and disparagement of their talents, and men take their gender privilege for granted. Jessica's "we really shouldn't/oh, let's" back and forthing when it comes to engaging in physical intimacy with John is less annoying than it might have been, given this establishment of the costs to women for moving beyond the boundaries of professionalism.

James' agents note several times in the book how different (more boring) real FBI work, even undercover work, is compared to the way it is portrayed in books and on television; the truth of this makes the extortion case Jessica and John are involved in more realistically depicted, and thus not quite as compelling as it might have been in the hands of an author less devoted to accuracy.

FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a past. The former lawyer and cocky Army ranger clashed during their training at Quantico, gladly going their separate ways after graduating from the Academy. Six years later, the last thing either of them expects is to run into each other again–assigned to work as partners in a high-profile undercover sting.

For both of them, being paired with a former rival couldn’t come at a worse time. Recently divorced from a Hollywood producer and looking for a fresh start, Jessica is eager to prove herself at her new field office. And John is just one case away from his dream assignment to the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team. In order to nail a corrupt Florida politician, they’ll have to find a way to work as a team–a task that becomes even trickier when they’re forced to hole up at a romantic, beachfront resort as part of the investigation. Suddenly, the heat behind their nonstop sparring threatens to make the job a whole lot more complicated. . .

Jessica and John were in FBI training together. What John thought at first was a fun, friendly competition and maybe some flirting, Jessica saw as him being an ass. When John finally realized there was no flirting involved it got down to serious competition. After training John went back to Chicago and Jessica went to LA.

Now Jessica is back in her hometown of Chicago after having transferred and she’s almost immediately put on an undercover case…with John. They pose as a married couple and end up traveling to Florida together which gives them time to talk. They finally realize they were both looking at their training situation wrong. When they each finally admit to their attraction they burn up the sheets. Unfortunately John has just finished a training that would take him away from Chicago permanently which would be death to their budding relationship.

Julie James strikes again. She writes such great romances and love reading them. Her characters, her writing and her stories just grab me from page one and don’t want to let go. I read this in one sitting and didn’t even want to get up to eat!

In this book John and Jessica had gotten a rough start to their relationship. Once they got past all the issues with their past they were awesome together. Each personality was so complimentary to the other, I just loved it. I also loved how smart both of the characters were. James isn’t afraid to give her heroines intelligence and she does it well. John was no slouch either and it just worked.

Rating: 4 out of 5

This review was posted on Goodreads on 4/4/17.

Everything you wanted to know about FBI Special Agents and Black Ops training. Oh you wanted more romance, well you might have to wait a long while in this read but eventually the hero, John , and the heroine, Jessica, do get around to lusting after each other. Of course their first meet, 6 years prior, was competitive smack-down, bullying sessions at their initial FBI Academy training. Not exactly conducive to romance although our hero insists that’s the way he rolls in attempts at generating romantic interest. Yes, I do have issues with this book. And, now don’t be surprised, I liked it even in spite of those issues.

I do like a book where I learn about a subject heretofore not in my wheel house, the FBI training. I liked the info about undercover work. Since I am a newbie to this subject I can only assume the author has her facts straight. That these two people who hated each other fell in love was a stretch but at least we finally get some romance in this romance book. I thought there were several missed opportunities for some action and crisis since we only get that at the very end of the book and then it is nothing much.

Do I recommend it? With reservations. If you are a fan of this author, yes. If you want to learn about the FBI, sure. If you want action and romance, not so much but it is steamy and sexy.

I love Julie James but this book just didn't resonate as much with me. I liked the back story between the two characters and how they addressed it pretty quickly. However I felt like the rest of their relationship moved too quickly, especially him giving up his job and hem moving in together. I did like their working dynamic and how he let her shine. Just some of the magic and feels were missing