A Lot Like Love
Grade : B+

"Tall, dark, and smoldering" hero, check. Gorgeous, smart, witty heroine, check. Appealing secondary characters, check. Entertaining, amusing dialogue, check. Enthralling plot, check. Exceptional writing, delightful book, check and check.

Jordan Rhodes and her twin brother Kyle are not rich, even though they are heirs to a fortune. Their billionaire father developed a software program that is now on one out of every three computers. While this affects the public’s perception of them, it doesn’t change the fact that they support themselves. Jordan is the sole owner of Devine Cellars, a specialty wine shop. Life would be perfect except her brother, a computer geek, is in prison. Four months after her brother’s imprisonment, the FBI is on her doorstep, wanting to play "Let’s make a deal." Jordan’s initial thought is to call her attorney, especially after dealing with irritating Nick McCall, but she takes a leap of faith, driving to the FBI office to listen to their proposition.

Nick McCall has just come off a grueling six month undercover assignment, resulting in 27 arrests. All he wants to do right now is take some time off. And he'd better show his face at his mother’s 60th birthday party. But when Mike Davis, the Chicago FBI's special agent in charge, requests that Nick come see him, it is not to wish him a happy vacation. He needs one small favor: Assist special agent Seth Huxley, on his first undercover assignment, because the new U.S. Attorney, Cameron Lynde, is very interested in the outcome.

Kyle has been in prison four long months and has had many altercations defending himself from inmates who want to bring home the fact that he no lives the privileged life. In order to free her brother, all Jordan has to do is take an agent as her date to exclusive wine tasting party, allowing him to plant a bug in the suspect’s office. Nick and Jordan really rub each other the wrong way, so she should feel relieved that Seth is her date, shouldn’t she? Of course we all know about best laid plans.

I had such a great time reading this book. Jordan & Nick are captivating enjoyable characters. Of the two, Nick seems the more realistic. Jordan has wealth and an ease of living that most of us will never experience, including a value system that sees no problem with a person spending thousands of dollars for a bottle of wine, and this slightly impacted my ability to identify with her. The romance between Jordan and Nick is engaging and sensual. Although the overall time that the two spend together shows more quality then quantity. But it was quality time well spent. Still, I do wish that there had been more scenes between them especially since the book is only 304 pages.

If you have read Ms. James' other books, then you know she has a wonderful ability to write witty dialogue and situations. Kyle’s transgression that ultimately sent him to prison tickled my funny bone because it is so very relevant to modern lifestyles. Luckily for readers, Kyle will get his own book in the future. The other secondary characters are used to great advantage. Nick's co-workers added more to the storyline for me then Jordan's and I do hope that there is a book in the future for both of them, Ivy League education and all. The antagonist was perfect. So many times I feel like that authors tend to make caricatures of the bad guy but not in this case.

The plotting and the pacing of the book seemed to flow effortlessly.I read the book straight through without stopping. It has been a long time since a book grabbed my attention like this one did.

With so much that I liked, I still felt the book needed just a hint more of vulnerability for DIK status. A scene where the heroine and hero opened up more to each other, sharing more intimate thoughts and feelings. A scene to tug at your heartstrings. Still this is a book that I can unequivocally recommend.

Buy it at Amazon/Apple Books/Barnes and Noble/Kobo

Reviewed by Leigh Davis
Grade : B+

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : March 7, 2011

Publication Date: 2011/03

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