Something About You Advanced Book Review *Julie James*

You know the Cover Girl catch phrase, "easy, breezy, and beautiful"? These three words come to mind when reading a Julie James’ book. And that is the case with Something About You, a fun mystery with mature minded characters and a romance where Julie raises the heat to very pleasing results.

The way Something About You begins will have you laughing, as well as feeling sympathy pains for Cameron Lynde, an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the city of Chicago. Cameron is spending the night at a hotel because she had her floors in her house refinished. This gives Cameron the perfect excuse for some relaxation after working on a very exhausting trial. She treats herself to a, “tranquil night of R&R”. But Cameron’s night is anything but tranquil because the couple in the room next to her are unbelievably vocal where they enjoy very loud monkey sex that seems to go on forever. Cameron can’t stand the bed banging, “wham wham, more, more Big Boy!” moans of sex at three in the morning.

Cameron finally falls to sleep after the marathon sex fiends take a breather, but an hour later she snaps awake after hearing another loud bang. She’s fed up and places a call down to Guest Services. Soon after her call, Cameron hears a door open and thinks the rowdy sex people are trying to make an escape. She looks through her peephole and sees a very dressed down guy wearing very dark clothes. Also the fact that he takes the staircase instead of the elevator strikes her as odd, but since the whole night has been a loopy one, she shrugs it off. Hotel security comes to the rescue, but what they find shocks them. A woman is found dead, suffocated by a pillow, and Cameron may have heard the crime being committed, as well as seeing the killer leave.

Because Cameron is now a witness, the police won’t let her leave her room, to her frustration. And Cameron is in for more unfortunate surprises when a man from her past is in charge of the case. FBI Special Agent Jack Pallas and Cameron worked together three years ago where he went undercover on a high-profile case. Because Cameron’s boss felt there wasn’t enough to prosecute, they didn’t bring the man, who tortured Jack for two days, to trial. Jack blames Cameron and was very vocal about it to a reporter. Because of his outburst, he’s transferred to Nebraska as punishment. Cameron and Jack are not happy to see each other again. Jack is still seething with rage and feels Cameron was responsible for his exile. Of course he doesn’t know the whole story and how she actually saved him from being fired. But Cameron is not in the mood for Jack’s surly attitude, even though she still finds him to be an Agent McHottie.

It seems the murdered woman was a call girl and the U.S. Senator for Illinois was using her services that night. And there’s also a sex tape involved. Talk about a whole lot of heartache for everyone. But Cameron major concern for the moment is going home and getting some much needed rest. Jack wants to wrap this case up and fast because he doesn’t want to be in Cameron’s life any more than he has to even though he can’t help but wonder if she’s married. Because Cameron is a special witness, she’ll have an FBI surveillance watching her every move. Soon Jack wants to be her main protector because he can’t get over this smoldering attraction he has for and that continues to build. And after Cameron is almost shot and killed by the possible killer, Jack will stick by her side 24/7. Cameron has no choice because she is now living fear. But the one positive thing that comes out of this is the mutual dislike Cameron and Jack once had for one another changes and they enjoy some heavy duty kissing against a few walls that almost leads to some of their own loud monkey sex wall banging.

Third time’s a charm for Julie James, but with some reservations on my end. Overall, I found Something About You to be an enjoyable read. Julie is seriously one of the best contemporary authors I can think of and really writes a nice balance, mainly with the relationship between Jack and Cameron. Julie is very skilled at writing warm and loving relationships, and that shows not only with the connection between Jack and Cameron, but with Cameron’s good friend from college, Collin, a gay sports write who brings a lot to the scenes he’s in as well as Jack’s partner Wilkins. I loved with the way Jack and Cameron are with one another and the way their relationship changes over the course of the story. Their three year long attraction for one another enables them to get know one another, and from this, these two not only became lovers, but very good friends.

Those who may have been disappointed with the lack of heat in Julie’s past few books will not be disappointed in any way. Julie can write some steamy, up against the wall, take me now sex. Jack and Cameron have incredible chemistry and there wasn’t one I preferred over the other. These two are both on equal footing.

All in all, Something About You was a well written, thought out romance with a touch of suspense. I didn’t have many laugh out loud moments and at certain points I found my eyes glazing over as the villain of the piece popped up and explained his actions and his own back story. But, this is more of a personal preference on my end and one most readers may not mind.

Something About You was a solid read that allows the reader an inside look at law enforcement and characters I enjoyed spending a few hours getting to know. (Berkley, March)

Final Grade: B