C2’s review of A Lot Like Love by Julie James
Contemporary Romance published by Berkley 1 Mar 11

So, faithful reader, have you ever wished a hot FBI agent would come into your workplace and tell you he needs you to pretend he’s your boyfriend so he can get into a party? Neither has Jordan Rhodes. I mean, there she is, minding her own business…literally…working her in wine shop, when agents Nick McCall and Seth Huxley walk in with a proposition for her.

It seems that Agent Huxley has been investigating a local businessman, trying to tie him to an indicted mobster. To get more evidence against Xander Eckhart (restaurateur, club owner, etc), the FBI needs to get into an exclusive party and plant some bugs in his office. Jordan, daughter of a billionaire and part of Chicago’s upscale set, attends the party every year. Huxley and McCall figure she can take Huxley as her date and no one will be suspicious. Agent McCall is mostly helping out in an advisory capacity, since this is Huxley’s first time undercover.

But, really, why should Jordan help them? They want her to lie to her friends (or friendly acquaintances, at least) and possibly help get people she likes into all sorts of trouble. Welllllll…it turns out that Jordan’s twin brother, Kyle, is in prison. It seems he shut down Twitter for a few days (OMG, BEST CRIME EVER!) and has been sentenced to eighteen months in prison. If Jordan agrees to assist them, Kyle will be released. How can she say no? I really like Jordan’s relationship with her brother – so snarky, so fun! Also, Kyle’s book is up next and all I can say is “WOOT!”

So the plans are set in motion and things are moving smoothly until a horrible stomach virus starts making its way through Chicago. Agent Huxley is one of the victims, so Nick has to step in and be Jordan’s date so the bugs can be planted. Since Jordan and Nick have stricken sparks off each other since they met, acting like a loving couple is going to require a bit of acting. Isn’t it?

Ah, but things don’t always go as planned and sometimes something completely random can cause all sorts of problems. And when organized crime is involved, no one wants problems. I won’t go into further detail – go read it and be entertained. We get to see Jack and Cameron from Something About You and reading it first would enhance your enjoyment of A Lot Like Love, but it isn’t necessary to read it first.

I enjoyed Nick and Jordan. From snowy Chicago to sunny Napa, they are a fantastic couple with lots of snappy dialogue (you know I loves me some banter, faithful reader) and prove that it is always fun to watch opposites attract.

Grade: A-

Summary:

The FBI wants her cooperation.

As the daughter of a billionaire and the owner of the city’s top wine store, Jordan Rhodes is invited to the most exclusive parties in Chicago. But there’s only one party the FBI wants to crash: the charity fundraiser of a famous restaurateur, who also happens to launder money for the mob. In exchange for her brother’s release from prison, Jordan is going to be there—with a date supplied by the Bureau.

Agent McCall just wants her.

As the top undercover agent in Chicago, Nick McCall has one rule: never get personal. This “date” with Jordan Rhodes is merely an assignment—one they’re both determined to pull off even if they can’t be together for five minutes before the sarcasm and sparks begin to fly. But when Nick’s investigation is compromised, he and Jordan have no choice but to pretend they’re a couple, and what starts out as a simple assignment begins to feel a lot like something more. . .

Read an excerpt.

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