Review -- It Happened One Wedding

It Happened One Wedding

FBI/US Attorney—Book 5

By Julie James

Publisher: Jove

Release Date: May 6, 2014

It’s that time of year again! Spring, you ask? Well, yes, but that’s not what I’m talking about. It’s the time of year when Julie James fans rejoice because she has a new book out! It Happened One Wedding may not be my favorite of Ms. James’s books—Nick McCall absolutely refuses to give up his top spot—but it is terrific and well worth the wait.

FBI Special Agent Vaughn Roberts is intrigued when he witnesses a blind date gone bad while killing some time in a coffee shop. He narrates a play-by-play of their conversation in his head and is pretty much spot-on. After the woman’s “date” leaves, Vaughn walks over because it would be a shame to let a woman like that end her Friday night on such a sour note. What he doesn’t expect is the woman’s reaction when he pours on the charm—or what he believes is charm. I don’t want to spoil it, but her response is classic for a Julie James heroine. Vaughn leaves and heads over to the restaurant where he is meeting his brother, Simon, and Simon’s girlfriend for dinner.

Sidney Sinclair is back in her hometown of Chicago after spending eight years in New York City. Six months earlier, she caught her fiancé cheating on her right before the wedding, thus ending the engagement. Sidney now has a plan in regards to dating. She has a list of thirty-four things to help her spot when a man is not ready for commitment. The list helps her when she is approached by a gorgeous, but arrogant man in a coffee shop. Sidney quickly puts him in his place and leaves to meet her sister, Isabelle, and Isabelle’s boyfriend for dinner. Sidney is horrified to see the man from the coffee shop there and learns that he is the brother of Isabelle’s boyfriend. Awkward!  But that’s not all. Isabelle and Simon announce they are getting married…and they want Sidney and Vaughn to be the maid of honor and best man. So, Sidney and Vaughn will have to work together to help pull this wedding off. But can they do it without driving each other mad??

This book is so full of win. Sexy, confident FBI Special Agent? Check. Smart, successful, quick-witted heroine? Check. Witty banter and sexual tension? Check and check. See? Full of win. It Happened One Wedding is, in short, a marvelous book. Of course, I expect nothing less from a Julie James book.

Fans know how well-rounded Ms. James’s heroines are, but she has a special knack for depicting the male point of view when writing her heroes. They are total guys. Readers met Vaughn in the previous book (Love Irresistibly) as the charming, self-assured best friend of Cade Morgan. When he meets Sidney, he is brought down a notch. This is new to him as he isn’t used to being brushed off. Typically, he does the brushing off. It’s not that Sidney isn’t attracted to him—just the opposite. But after what happened with her ex-fiancé, she is not going to settle for just any guy. She isn’t afraid of entering another long-term commitment, which is nice because a lot of heroines I read about who go through a similar situation “swear off” men completely. Sidney wants the whole kit and caboodle…she just wants it on her terms. When she and Vaughn get past that initial awkwardness of having to work together, they form a friendship of sorts and he even helps her on her quest for finding Mr. Right. He explains to her what it means when guys say or do certain things and several of those exchanges had me laughing out loud. One in particular (at the beginning of chapter nineteen) had me rolling!! Good stuff. Another thing I love about Ms. James’s books is the fact that it is evident that she does extensive research, whether it is talking with FBI agents, or a wine store owner, or other lawyers. It shows in her writing. Ms. James, please know that your readers appreciate your hard work!

Folks, if you haven’t read Ms. James’s books, this is the perfect one to start with. It is the fifth book in the series, but all of Ms. James’s books are written as stand-alone books so it doesn’t matter where you start…just start! You won’t be disappointed. Those who have read all her previous books will be thrilled with a tie-in from her second book, Practice Makes Perfect. It certainly has me wondering who her next hero will be. So, if you love smart, fast-paced, well-written contemporaries, this is one that I highly recommend! Enjoy!

~Andrea