Veena’s review of Suddenly One Summer by Julie James
Contemporary Romance published by Jove 02 Jun 15

I enjoy novels by Ms. James such that I look forward eagerly to an announcement of every new release. Her characters are so real and true to life – you can run into one of them as you go about your daily lives – and they make her stories very believable. Victoria and Ford are two such characters, as is Ford’s sister and her unique set of problems. Normally there is an external villain to add a touch of mystery and suspense to her stories, but this time around Victoria is her own threat to finding a happily ever after. Her sessions with her shrink as she moves through self-realization, acceptance, and then transformation make this a powerfully emotional story.

Victoria is a kick-ass divorce lawyer who deals with the results of what happens when the rosy glow of love fades for couples on a daily basis. This, coupled with her own childhood experience, has left her with an anathema to love and happily ever after. The constant stream of women in and out of her next door neighbor’s door reinforces to her that any attraction she feels for him is fleeting at best.

Trouble comes when they team up together to help Ford’s sister locate her baby’s father. Their shenanigans in trying to isolate the person are fun and also serve to melt the walls between them. The raging sexual tension and attraction between them, as well the time they spend together, leads to the inevitable reality of Ford’s bedroom.

I like the novel approach the author uses to drive the story further and allowing her readers to participate in Victoria’s state of mind through her psychiatric sessions. Ford has his own issues from having grown up with an alcoholic parent. It’s a wonder that these characters, with their phobia of commitment, could ever find their way to a happily ever after, but Ms. James definitely gets them there.

Another winner for Julie James that I highly recommend.

Grade: A

Summary:

Divorce lawyer Victoria Slade has seen enough unhappy endings to swear off marriage forever. That doesn’t mean she’s opposed to casual dating—just not with her cocky new neighbor, who is as gorgeous and tempting as he is off-limits. But once she agrees to take on his sister’s case, she’s as determined to win as ever—even if that means teaming up with Ford….

Investigative journalist Ford Dixon is bent on finding the man who got his sister pregnant and left her high and dry. He’s willing to partner with Victoria, despite the fact that the beautiful brunette gets under his skin like no other woman. He might not be looking to settle down, but there’s no denying the scorching attraction between them. Still, the more time he spends with Victoria, the more he realizes that the one woman as skeptical about love as he is might be the only woman he could really fall for…

Read an excerpt.