About That Night by Julie James

Format Read: e-ARC provided courtesy of Author for Review
Length: 304 Pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: FBI/US Attorney Series Book III
Release Date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Berkley Sensation
Formats Available: Mass Market Paperback, Kindle, Nook
Purchasing Info: Publisher, Author’s Website, Amazon, Books-A-Milliion, Powell’s, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, Book Depository, IndieBound, Kindle, Nook

Book Blurb:

HE’S PLAYING GAMES.

Though Rylann Pierce tried to fight the sparks she felt for billionaire heir Kyle Rhodes the night they met, their sizzling chemistry was undeniable. But after being stood up on their first date, Rylann never expected to see him again. So when she finds herself face-to-face with Kyle in a courthouse nine years later, she’s stunned. More troubling to the beautiful assistant U.S. attorney is that she’s still wildly attracted to him.

BUT SHE’S MAKING THE RULES.

Just released from prison, Kyle Rhodes isn’t thrilled to be the star witness in a high-profile criminal case—but when Rylann comes knocking at his door, he finds she may be the one lawyer he can’t say no to. Still as gorgeous and sharp-tongued as ever, she lays down the law: she doesn’t mix business with pleasure. But Kyle won’t give up on something he wants—and what he wants is the one woman he’s never forgotten.

Excerpt

My Thoughts:

So, yeah, it all started with a girl, a Victoria Secret model who famous billionaire heir, cyber genius, Kyle Rhodes had been dating on a regular basis for about 6-months. The relationship went sour very quickly when Kyle, balked at introducing her to his close knit family and chose business commitments over said girlfriend’s whims. But did she have to cheat on him, and break-off their “relationship” using a less then 140 character Tweet, humiliating him in front of the entire world? Then to add insult to injury there was the follow-up Tweet with a video attachment of said ex-girlfriend making out with her new guy in a hot tub. So, what does a cyber genius with a smarting ego do? Easy. He cozies up with a bottle of Scotch, comes to the swift conclusion that social media is a plague on society and utilizes his substantial skill to send in a clever, efficient, cyber virus that effectively denies access to Twitter! Then said cyber genius boards a plane to Tijuana and embarks on a two-day bender.

Ooops–bad move–Yeo Dude! Um… There are federal laws against this sort of thing you know?

El Twitter Terrorista

     Kyle choked on his tequila. Oh . . . shit. He stared at the television screen with growing frustration as he tried to understand what the reporter was saying. It was tough, particularly given the fact that he was about six sheets to the wind, but he did manage to catch the words policia and FBI.

His stomach churned, and he barely made it out of the bar before he bent over and threw up seven shots of tequila, impaling his forehead on a heretofore unseen cactus in the process.

That sobered him up right quick.

In a panic, he made his way back to the cheap posada that had rented him a room on a cash, no-ID-required basis, and called the one person he could count on when shit-face drunk in Tijuana, bleeding from his forehead, and wanted by the FBI.

“Jordo, I fucked up,” he said as soon as she answered the phone.

Likely hearing the anxiety in his voice, she’d gotten right to the heart of the matter.
“Can you fix it?”

About That Night © Julie James

Kyle made a stupid, stupid, life changing mistake. When his plane landed in Chicago, passengers were asked to remain seated as two very surly FBI Agents boarded and arrested Kyle Rhodes–henceforth known as The Twitter Terrorist. The ensuing mayhem was intense. As the son of billionaire entrepreneur Grey Rhodes, jet-setting Kyle has been constantly in the limelight. The Assistant US Attorney assigned to the case pushed for the maximum 18-month sentence and Kyle was incarcerated. However, his twin sister Jordan worked out a deal with the US Attorney’s Office and after 4-months in prison Kyle now finds himself back in court flanked by a gaggle of lawyers for a motion hearing to have his sentence reduced to time served.

Enter Rylann Pierce.

After breaking up with her boyfriend of 3 years Assistant US Attorney for San Francisco Rylann Pierce jumped at the opportunity for a transfer to her home turf in Chicago. Rylann is a career driven, experienced prosecuting attorney who thrives during the thrust and parry dynamic in the courtroom. She is also a methodical planner and extremely prepared for her assigned cases.

During their college years Rylann and Kyle met in a campus bar and the attraction was instant and incendiary. As fate would have it a tragedy in Kyle’s family prevented them from seeing each other again. Now, after nearly a decade, in the courtroom where the motion to change the notorious Twitter Terrorist’s sentence to time served is to be heard, the Assistant US Attorney presenting the motion is none other then Rylann Pierce. And so it begins.

Kyle and Rylann’s love story is thwart with conflict, he is a convicted felon, after all, and she is a AUSA, and the new prosecutor on the block in the Chicago office. Rylann is a dedicated professional and not about to sully her reputation by getting involved with an ex-con, especially one with as much notoriety as Kyle. Even if he is rich, handsome & charismatic. The thing is, fate keeps throwing them together. When Rylann assumes responsibility for a case involving corruption in the prison where Kyle was an inmate she is forced to approach him about testifying as to his observations of certain nefarious goings on. Rylann’s office’s treatment of Kyle was brutal in the aftermath of his “mistake” and he is less than keen to co-operate. However following some, persuasive conversation, he does agree to become involved. As a witness, allowing their attraction to flourish is even more forboden but when the case concludes things heat-up between the Twitter Terrorist and a certain lovely, quick witted criminal prosecutor.

The zingers fly and Julie James turns up the temperature to scorching in this one as her protagonists enter into a steamy “no strings attached” clandestine affair. Kyle is understandably gun shy with regard to women after his recent experience and Jordan is riddled with worry about her reputation if the fact she is seeing the famous Kyle Rhodes ever gets out. However, Kyle proves to be a thoughtful, ambitious, hard working man. Someone who she comes to admire, and deeply care for.

One of the things I love about the Rhodes family, who were introduced in A Lot Like Love, the previous book in the series, is their devotion and commitment to one another. Despite the wealth, fame and privilege, Grey Rhodes and his wife raised two well rounded people with a strong work ethic. They are down to earth and fun. Yes, Kyle lives very well, but he also has a strong sense of values that shines through in the way he turns his life around after his disastrous, impetuous mistake. He is made of tough stuff but sensitive and very protective of his twin sister and father.

Julie James doesn’t disappoint, About That Night, abounds with laugh out loud moments, sarcastic, clever one liners, but moreover there is emotion, and great depth to the characters she crafts for her well researched and plotted story. Memorable secondary characters assist in advancing a fast paced romp that has a number of surprises in store. Unlike the previous two novels in James’ series About That Night has no suspense subplot. It charts the course of a guy who pulls the wreckage of his life together using a brilliant, efficient career maneuver, and, despite his resolve to avoid romantic entanglements finds love. Rylann and Kyle challenge each other and have great chemistry, it makes for an addicting cover-to-cover read. Kyle Rhodes’ story needed to be told and Julie James did him proud.

While About That Night is part of this author’s FBI/US Attorney’s series it can certainly be read as a standalone. It’s always worth the wait for a Julie James’ novel and this one will sit on my keeper shelf next to her other books. 🙂

I give About That Night 5 Stars

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About Lea

Lea is an animal loving, tree hugging vegetarian who lives in Toronto, Canada with her family, which includes three dogs. She is a prolific reader and has been blogging and reviewing since 2008. Lea is a contributor at the USA Today HEA Blog and an active member at Goodreads.

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