I loved this book so much!  John Shepard and Jessica Harlow met at FBI training and became fast enemies.  Years later, when Jessica transfers to the Chicago field office, her first assignment is with none other than her training nemesis John Shepard.   John remembers training and why they became enemies a little differently than Jessica does.  What I love so much about this author's writing is the witty banter between her characters and John and Jessica's frenemies relationship is no different.  They don't like each other but the chemistry between them is hot.  Add in a bit of action and suspense, a bit of steam and great supporting characters and I wasn't able to put this book down.  This is a smart, fun and sexy romance and I can't wait to read whatever this author writes next!

Before I launch into a super gushy review extolling the awesomeness of Julie James' latest installment in her FBI/US Attorney series, I would like to take a moment to say that I am not a fan of the cover. While a part of me appreciates the journey that has been from sexy midriffs to sexy stilettos in one hand to just a stiletto with shattered lollipops, no part of me gets the point.
That completely useless tangent aside, The Thing About Love is as close to perfection as contemporary romance gets. The protagonists, FBI Agents John Shepherd and Jessica Harlow have been at loggerheads since they trained together at Quantico. Constantly one-upping each other, imagine their surprise when they are assigned an undercover assignment soon after their move to Chicago.

In her six years with the Bureau, Jessica had known only one person who’d planned to try out for HRT: a guy in her training class who’d been recruited for the FBI directly from the Army Rangers. And not to dwell on the past or anything—another good theme for this year—but she and that guy in her training class had…well, one might say they hadn’t exactly seen eye-to-eye.

Or, one might also say that he’d irritated the hell out of her.
Posing as business executives at a romantic seaside resort, it doesn't take long for John and Jessica to recognize their missteps from the past and act on their attraction. But does their relationship have a future if John gets his dream job in the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team? 

As always, it was an absolute delight to return to Ms. James' Chicago and read about past favorite characters in passing. John Shepherd was the perfect feminist hero in almost every respect and I can't help but find him toe-curlingly sexy.

She was his partner, they were working together undercover, and that meant she needed to continue chugging along with this charade, pretending as though she were somehow oblivious to the things that every other woman saw.

Like the deep blue of his eyes. Or the stubble that was already forming along his angular jaw. Or the thick, dark blond hair that begged to have a woman’s fingers running through it.

Or how, right now, as he stood across from her in that hotel room, with the top button of his white collared shirt undone in a ruggedly sophisticated look, and his tall, broad-shouldered frame perfectly filling his gray tailored suit, he was—bar none—the most attractive man she’d ever laid eyes on.
Jessica Harlow was a badass as well, constantly working twice as hard as everybody else so that she is not taken lightly by those who can't see past her pretty face. Ms. James has done a fantastic job of describing the details of FBI training and operations. Despite the seriousness of their profession, the characters always have a hilarious inner monologue.

Now, normally, John tried to be generous while sparring and not take advantage of the fact that he had considerably more training and experience than his opponent. But when their defensive tactics instructor blew the whistle and Linguistics PhD came charging at him—fists flying and trash-talking John in some foreign language as an attempt to psych him out, John had no choice but to (a) take a moment to try his hardest not to laugh and (b) take the guy immediately down to the ground and get him into a handcuffing position.

John and Jessica have become one of my top Julie James couples. From not wasting time on cliched hangups to respecting each other personally and professionally, they constantly brought out the best in each other. The Thing About Love is a truly progressive contemporary romance from an author in top form.

It’s been a long time since I picked up a Julie James novel (even though I don’t know why, because I’m a big fan of her work), but reading The Thing About Love reminded me of all the reasons why I love her and her books. She writes such fantastic contemporary romances starring FBI agents in a realistic, believable light. If you want contemporary romance done right, plus a little enemies-to-lovers trope and suspense, The Thing About Love will be the perfect read for you.

Six years ago, Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd first met at the FBI Academy in Quantico, where they ended up with the wrong first impressions of each other and clashing from the get-go. To say they didn’t get along would be an understatement, so it was a relief to graduate and go their separate ways. But now, when John moves back to Chicago after leaving his cheating girlfriend and receives what might be his last undercover assignment before joining the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team, he is paired up with none other than his old nemesis, Jessica Harlow.

Newly divorced, Jessica is also looking for a fresh start in Chicago. She’s not happy about John being her partner, but she’s determined not to let their past get in the way of their assignment. But the more she’s around John and the closer she gets to him, she finds that her first impression of him might not have gone the way she thought it did. She gains a new perspective on John… and it’s one she finds herself falling for. But with John joining HRT and leaving Chicago in a few weeks, can they make a relationship between them work?

I absolutely adored this book. The Thing About Love was sweet, funny, kickass – I had the best time reading it. Jessica and John had me grinning and giggling in spades. My heart was honestly so happy the whole time I was reading their story. I loved both their characters and how they made me laugh and swoon. Their banter is the absolute BEST – I loved it! If you’re ever in the mood for something light-hearted and fun about two undercover FBI agents who hate to love and love to hate each other, I highly recommend this book!

I'm an unabashed fan.  I enjoy the fun flirty romances with an element of suspense and danger that Ms. James dishes up so effortlessly.

Divorced Jessica comes home to Chicago to lick her wounds and get a fresh start at the Chicago FBI field office.  Right off the bat she meets up with  John Shepard, her nemesis from Quantico, who's based out of the Chicago field office.  Fortunately for the readers they get to hear the Quantico story from each of them individually and of course its the proverbial chalk and cheese that will keep you engaged and amused at how differently each saw the same situation.
John came to the FBI from the Army Rangers and all he's ever wanted to do is join the FBI hostage rescue team. While he's waiting for the results of his interview from the HRT he's assigned to work with Jessica on what is believed to be a quick undercover sting operation for another FBI field office. After so many years apart they get to see each other in a totally different light from what they remember. Lo and behold they actually like each other and boy do they have chemistry.
The witty conversation not just between the two protagonists but also their family members as each one goes through the sharing that is typical in close knit families especially since Jessica's brother and sister are waging a sibling rivalry around getting her setting up in a relationship.  Of course since life really isn't all about fun and laughter we do get to see the rainy side as we get glimpses into both Jessica's and John's past relationships.
All in all a fun read with a bit of an edge.

"You don't have to choose."


It's always a pleasure to read a new book by Julie James. I love her romance FBI/US Attorney series. Her books are a must for me.

The story centers around two FBI special agents. Both Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd attended Quantico together. Thanks to a misunderstanding, they became very competitive and started disliking each other. Years later, after John discovers his girlfriend has been cheating on him with one of his friends while he was undercover in Detroit and Jessica is coming back to Chicago after a recent divorce, they are selected for a white collar undercover investigation. They both will have to play nice in front of their bosses. 

Thankfully, when John and Jessica start spending time together they realized each has a different view of what really happened during their time together in Quantico. She realizes he's more than a brute big ex-Ranger and he realizes Jessica is much nicer when she's not wondering if someone believes her to be weak. Their attraction soon carries them close to crossing the line. 

I had fun reading about these characters. Their banter was great and the romance was HOT! Perfect combo for this romance lover. I love how Julie gives depth to her main characters and in this case to John's brother, his best friend, and his FBI team. 

I can't wait for Julie's next book.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Berkley Romance via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

4.5 Stars

If you're in the mood for a lighthearted romance filled with witty dialogue, palpable chemistry and very enjoyable characters, then this is the book for you. Julie James writes the perfectly romantic enemies-to-lovers story, low on drama and high on fun and entertaining scenes. It's like comfort food, familiar but still a new experience every time.

FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd found themselves locked in competition from their very first day at the FBI Academy and were very glad to part ways at the end of their training. Six years later, the rivals are reunited as partners in an undercover investigation, much to their chagrin. The timing couldn't be worse, with the personal issues they are each dealing with but the long-simmering, unacknowledged attraction between them starts to heat up again, especially as they have to spend a lot of time together on their undercover assignment. But with John scheduled to leave the FBI after this assignment, is it wise to start something with a definite end date? Can John and Jessica walk away without any regrets?

One of my favorite things about this author's writing is her characters. They are strong, sexy, intelligent and really, really likable; the kind you wouldn't mind being friends with or hanging out with. And her females are proof positive that you can be successful with beauty and brains, and really great shoes and clothes!

Jessica and John really complement each other, both in professional and personal capacities, once they get past their rivalry. I love that John respected Jessica's abilities and was comfortable with her taking the lead where needed. I also liked that John wasn't just a hunk of brawn, but could hold his own against Jessica's smarts, rapier wit and sass. They were equals and it showed in their interactions.

Their chemistry is amazing and they make a dreamy couple. Their shared careers mean that they understand the pressure that comes with the job and the sacrifices required to be successful. The ability to balance work and life is a big part of this story and I loved it.

If you are looking for a law-enforcement themed romance without the usual suspense, intrigue and action, this is the perfect book to start with. I can't get enough of this author's writing and hope we won't have to wait too long for more.

The Thing About Love is the first Julie James book that I have read and I am somewhat conflicted about it. I like books that have depth, complexity & especially strong female characters as well as male characters who are not just Alpha God-like GQ models!  Certainly, FBI agent Jessica Harlow is a well-established operative as is John Shepherd and the key ingredient to their relationship is that around six years ago, they were at the Academy together.   Back then, they only had three things in common; they both came from Chicago, were the brightest candidates in their class, and they appeared to dislike each other, intensely!  

Harlow and Shepherd are assigned to a case that requires them to work undercover as business partners who travel to Florida, with plans to open a new restaurant, in order to prove that the local Mayor is corrupt.  The case takes up around 60% of the book, around 400 pages and provides ample opportunity for the two characters to quibble endlessly with each other and this banter, coupled with continual sarcasm gradually becomes the essence of their mutual attraction.  

"The Thing Called Love" is, for me, a charming romantic comedy, rather than a whirlwind, intensely passionate romance that is so often found today.  The love affair creeps up on the couple, with plenty of reminiscing from both points of view, to their early days as recruits where they saw things quite differently. Julie James uses a deft hand to highlight these differences before turning them into positives to be cherished.  This was a slow burn and while I love the current Romance genre, Jones has written a pleasant love-story, full of sass and sarcasm but lacking the spice I have come to expect in a 21st century romance.

4.5 Stars ~ Top Pick

A romance about FBI agents. How apropos, I thought when I picked it up. The FBI have been prominent in the news these days, haven’t they? But this book is way better than real life because it’s a romance with a big and ridiculously hot FBI hero (he’s six foot four and built and our heroine did call him “big guy”).

So here’s the deal, Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd have a bit of a history. Six years ago they spent six months going through the FBI Academy together. You’d think that two extremely attractive people of the opposite sex and from the same city—Chicago—would be naturally drawn to each other. You’d only be half right. They are but things are never that simple.

Jessica is functioning in a male dominated field and she has to be careful in how she conducts herself. Hooking up with the hot former Army Ranger is not in the cards, so when he introduces himself to her, she kind of blows him off. She doesn’t want to encourage him. A cold shoulder devolves into a verbal put down, and boy do things go downhill from there. Fast forward to current day, Jessica’s opinion of John hasn’t changed.

Hey, look at me, watch me fly through this obstacle course with one hand and two feet tied behind my back. This is child’s play to what we did in the Rangers, bitches! 
John’s opinion of Jessica isn’t much better.

Ooh, look at me, I’m soooo smart with my Stanford law degree, I should be teaching these classes instead of sitting here with the rest of you schmucks.
God, I love these two. They had me smiling and laughing throughout the book. Funny watching them be thrown together once again, this time working at the FBI office in Chicago on an undercover political corruption case. You can imagine their reaction to setting eyes on each other after six years. Love it! Conflict and tension, my two favorite emotions.

John is just coming out of a long-term relationship, and it’s the worst kind of break up. Jessica is back from LA and a five-year marriage to a Hollywood producer. At this point, she’s ready to start dating again. Or I should say her younger brother and sister (twins) are doing their damndest to hook her up, with no luck. John doesn’t even enter into the picture because she doesn’t like him. Okay, you know that’s not really true. They simply got off on the wrong foot, but once they’re working together—jetting off to Jacksonville, FL to bring down its corrupt mayor—things start to defrost between them. That long dormant attraction starts to simmer.

One of the things I love about Ms. James’ heroines is that they’re not the kind of women who hang back waiting for the guy to make the first move. They give encouraging signs and don’t back down and become all missish when the heroes act on them. Once they have it in their head that they want him, they’re not reticent about it. It’s beyond refreshing. The same can be said about Jessica. The fact is, she’s not looking for anything long term, but then neither is John. Prior to coming back to the Chicago, he tried out for HRT (Hostage Rescue Team) and he’s waiting to see if he’s accepted. If he does, he’ll be moving to Virginia and then going who knows where—all over the globe. It’s the perfect situation for two people for which a brief affair is all they want. LOL. Right.

The secondary characters are nicely fleshed out, their supporting status doing what readers expect them to do—fully round out the John and Jessica’s lives. I particularly enjoyed John’s dilemma with his friends and the camaraderie between the agents in the office. The dialogue is snappy, filled with humor, and real. Not so trendy and hip that you’re rolling your eyes thinking, ‘Do grown adults really talk this way’ but not so staid and formal that you can’t believe it’s the 21st century.

The Thing About Love has just the right amount of intrigue and suspense to satisfy readers who like that but don’t want it overwhelming the romance. And you may want to bone up on your acronyms. Just kidding. Ms. James spells them all out at least the first time she uses them, but in the FBI world, they have quite a few.

I loved the ending, and I loved that I was surprised at the way things unfolded. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Jessica and John and I look forward to Ms. James’ next book.  

~ Beverley

Review will also be posted on the blog on April 18th.

"Nearly fifteen thousand special agents in the FBI, spread throughout the United States in fifty-six field offices, and she had to show up in Chicago for what was quite possibly his last undercover assignment."

FINAL DECISION:  An enemies to friends to lovers story, THE THINGS ABOUT LOVE feels real and dives deep into the complexities of a modern professional and romantic relationship.  I loved the characters and their journey to one another.

THE STORY:  FBI Agent John Shepherd is just about ready to join the elite Hostage Rescue Team if he gets accepted, but has one last undercover assignment to get through.  Just his luck that he happens to be paired with Jessica Harlow.  John and Jessica know each other.  Six years ago they were in the same class at Quantico and walked away from the experience happy to be across the country from one another.  Now, the two have to learn to work together.  Both are beginning a new chapter of their lives as they recover from bad relationships.  John is planning on leaving Chicago and joining the HRT after catching his girlfriend having sex with one of his friends.  Jessica is returning to Chicago after her divorce.

OPINION:  This is a beautifully constructed, modern office romance.  The story isn't over the top fantasy, but rather real and complicated with no easy answers to the issues John and Jessica face.

The story is properly centered around the characters of John and Jessica and while there is a satisfying and complete plotline, it doesn't overwhelm the romance.

John and Jessica have a history.  The two met six years ago during FBI training.  While there was an attraction even then, the two rubbed one another the wrong way because they really didn't get to know one another.  Both are competitive and their attraction turned to ruthless competition between them.  When they are forced to work together, they find out that they actually have much in common.

I loved the portrayal of Jessica who is a woman competing in a world dominated by men.  She knows that she has to be more careful than them in how her co-workers see her.  That is one reason that John rubbed her wrong six years ago because he made her feel less proficient.  In her personal life, Jessica is a woman who has just received her final divorce decree and has been urged by her friends and family to start dating again.  Jessica, however, doesn't have interest in the modern dating realities. A suggestion that she find a temporary guy to have hot post-divorce sex seems like a real possibility when the attraction between her and John explodes.

John, too, has had his world turned around recently.  When he discovered his girlfriend and friend in bed together, he lost not only his relationship but also some long terms friends.  Jessica coming back into his life seems like a miserable topper to his recent misfortunes.  The only thing that seems to be going well is his potential transfer to the HRT. But one of the great things about John is that his is challenged and in serious competition with Jessica and her arrival makes him up his game.  John is a good man because he treats Jessica with respect and acknowledges her competency as an agent. I really liked how he treats her with complete professionalism even when he is attracted to her.

I really enjoyed how the relationship between these two developed...there are funny moments and intense sweetness and good sexy parts, but the entire story is tied together by the deep respect these two have for one another.  Even when they were "enemies" and competitors, there was the recognition of a worthy opponent. I thought that the development of their relationship felt natural and real and I thought the romanticism of the story flowed so nicely from their mutual respect for one another as professionals.

Julie James always navigates the realities of modern office romances so well.  This book is no exception!

WORTH MENTIONING:  I'd like to read a book about John's brother Nate who deserves to fall really hard for someone!

CONNECTED BOOKS:  THE THING ABOUT LOVE is the seventh book in the FBI/US Attorneys series.  These books, however, are only loosely connected and are standalones can be read independently.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE:  I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions contained herein are my own.

The Thing About Love is my second Julie James book but I have all of her books on my TBR. Especially her  FBI/US Attorney series. After reading The Thing About Love I had a feeling that Nick McCall, John's boss was a possible main character in one of the books from that series. He is the hero of the book 2, A Lot Like Love so I will definitely be binge reading/listen to the series since I own all of them on audio.

The Thing About Love is a great romance where the heroine, Jessica and the hero John have a past where they don't really like each other. Six years ago they went through the FBI Academy where they had different ideas about their 'relationship' as classmates. John though they had a chemistry and Jessica thought he was an army ground making the moves on her.  Jessica was up tight but she had a reason to be. She was only of one or two women in the class so any kind of attraction she had for John she could not act on for fear that she would be looked down on as a woman in the program. John didn't know she had that chip on her shoulder and thought she was a snob and cold hearted.

Fast-forward to their time together now and they are both coming off of long term relationships, she a divorce and him a two year relationship where he lived with his girlfriend. Both are looking for a fresh start in their personal lives and that leads to them making changes with their jobs as well. Jessica moves back to her home town Chicago, which just happens to be John's hometown he is returning to as well.

The part are forced to work undercover with each other on a case and their past issues come up in some funny and sexy ways. Jessica and John work through their past and learn that their views of what happened while they were in the Academy was a classic story of "he said" "she said" which Julie James breaks down in two different chapters titled "She Said", "He Said" giving the readers a look into what was going on with each character six years ago.

If you are looking for a fun romance where the couple starts out in a "hate" relationship and ends up in love with some funny one-liners, swoon-worthy declarations of love and some great secondary characters then pick up a copy of The Thing About Love by Julie James.

This is the first book I was able to read and review by Julie James. I am a sucker for cop drama along with a hot romance so I was excited to check this one out. However, I did have a few issues with this story.

I understand that a writer has a certain formula that is meant to give the back story and build the anticipation. I understand a formula that works - so why be different. But this book dragged on for me because I really disliked the female lead. She was cocky and had a huge chip on her shoulder throughout the entire book. I think the author was trying to make it cute and funny, but it was sooo annoying for me - right from the beginning!

This book also had a long back story and I found myself skimming quite a bit of the book. Things did not start getting interesting, in terms of the romance, until over 60% of the book was done. Plus the main story itself was a bit ho-hum. No real suspense you would expect in a cop story. The book was longer than average, which is fine, if it was interesting.

Once the attraction reached some good anticipation and two started to get involved, the story got better. Not quite as much filler... altho there still was some. And the ending was sooo much better... so a save for me.

John is a hottie and I loved his character. He was interesting and a sweetheart. Loved his brother too! She... and I won't even mention her name coz  she annoyed me so much... needs some courses on how to be real and not so flipping competitive. ugh

The author had a great concept but I feel there is too much fluff and not enough real action. That is what I need to keep my interest level at its peak.

***ARC Provided by the Publisher via NetGalley***

4.5 Stars

Julie James is a favorite of mine, and books like this one remind me why. I was up late reading it, I was not going to put it down, and each time I thought that I would be able to set it aside and finish the next day, something else happened that drew me in to the story on the pages. And, I kept reading.

Jessica and John were amazing together. Their chemistry was explosive, the connection was palpable. You immediately see that Jessica really thought there was animosity between them, but from his actions, you can tell that John was attracted to her from the start and just didn't quite manage to convey that to her. The "her side" and "his side" chapters also help the reader end up there with them.

I loved the way their past was handled, letting the reader explore their 6 years ago history while they talked and reevaluated a lot of the opinions they had of one another from their previous time together. I liked this evolution of their story. Part of making an enemies to lovers story work is the reader believing the change in their feelings toward one another. In this case, the open discussion of what was meant and how it was interpreted works very well to close the gap between enemies and lovers.

The angst in this book as it gets closer to John leaving for his dream assignment is the kind that keeps you up late at night, because you just have to know how it is resolved and how they will work it out. And, this is a challenge for a romance author. It is part of the deal going into a romance that the reader, and the characters, are going to get their happy ending. It's expected, it is part of the genre. So, when an author manages to build the emotion and the angst into the HEA, you notice as a reader as this is tough to do.

So, you ask, why the 4.5? Honestly, I struggled with this as I LOVED 98% of this book. It was headed to my list of all time favorites. But, then it hit a small snag...I am not totally able to believe that Jessica and John would be together if not for the actions of an outside force. They love each other, and you know this, so I think they probably would have ended up there, in order for me to really love everything about a book, I need it to be the actions of the couple themselves who bring them back together. So, in that one little area, toward the end of an otherwise perfect book, there was a little hurdle for me.

I do still recommend this book. It was so good, it will keep you up at night, like it did me, just wanting to see how it ends, how they work it out. And, I am guessing the majority of you will be thinking it is your latest 5 star read.

The Thing About Love pairs undercover FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepard in a case to catch a crooked politician. The problem: Jessica and John know each other previously. Specifically from their FBI training six years ago. They didn't get along then, and it doesn't seem like they're going to get along now. But they are both professionals and they put aside whatever tensions lurks between them in order to get the job done. Along the way, they discover that what they thought they knew about each other, and about what happened during their training, was based on misinformation and biases.

As they work together their animosity starts to turn into something different, but both are facing different aspirations when it comes to their jobs. Aspirations that could tear them apart. 

The Thing Above Love is a classic enemies-to-lovers story trope. Julie James knew just which buttons to push and how to push them in regards to Jessica and John's relationship. And what results is a suck-you-in story complete with witty banter, and a romance that slowly heats up the page. 

I loved the perspectives we get on both Jessica and John's side in regards to what exactly went wrong in their first meeting. I didn't feel like one person was right and another wrong. Instead it was just a differing of viewpoints and coming from different places. Jessica trying to prove herself in what is majorly a man's profession. John trying to prove that he's more than just muscle, that he can cut it in the interrogation and smarts department. 

I also really liked the build up of the relationship between Jessica and John. I mean, the tension between them, even when their fighting, is sexually charged right from the beginning. There's no denying it. And as they slowly move away from hating each other into looking at each other with different eyes, the chemistry just ratchets up from there tenfold. 

Overall, I think this is a great standalone read. Everything about it just kept me glued to the page and I'll be honest when I say I'm a little surprised at how much I really enjoyed this book, but if you're looking for a great romance read right now, you can do no better than The Thing About Love.

What’s it About? FBI agents Jessica Harlow and John Shepherd shared an antagonistic rivalry during their training days at Quantico that ended with them glad to go their separate ways. Six years later though John and Jessica are face to face again, this time as partners in an undercover assignment. The timing couldn’t be worse for both of them though. John is newly single after finding his girlfriend in bed with someone else and Jessica’s divorce from a Hollywood producer is still fresh.




Overall reaction to the story? Julie James has a knack for writing a hot romance with an intriguing plot and The Thing About Love is no exception. While I did notice that the romance kind of took a back seat to the undercover investigation, the book was no less entertaining. Energetic, witty, and fun, The Thing About Love has what it takes to be another fan favorite all while appealing to new readers as well.



Describe the hero in five words: Dedicated. Strong. Intelligent. Loyal. Kind. Fun.

Did you like him? Yes.

Why? There’s something attractive about a man who can work with a woman as an equal and that was John. Sure, he had moments of wanting to protect Jessica but he never turned into a caveman, making Jessica the little lady. He respected her, her skills, and trusted her as his partner. That was something super awesome about this guy. John was just a charming guy with a good sense of humor. I loved how he would kind of poke at Jessica now and again just to get a reaction out of her. He was never cruel about it, even when he was under the impression that Jessica was cold hearted and mean.



Describe the heroine in five words: Strong. Determined. Sassy. Intelligent. Caring.

Did you like her? Yes.

Why? Jessica took the bull by the horns and worked hard in a field that was dominated by men and that was the #1 thing I loved about her. She didn’t oversell her femininity nor did she try to be more masculine just to fit in or to succeed. She did it on her own terms with hard work and dedication. It didn’t mean she was a robot either, she was easy to relate to and even easier to like. She went toe to toe with John and didn’t back down or revert to a silly little girl in his presence. She was an equal to him and I loved that she didn’t always defer to him during their work because he was a man. She knew her job and contributed as a partner. Definitely not a damsel in distress.


Let’s talk about the romance: John and Jessica had an initial antagonism that stemmed from their training days that really worked for building the sexual tension between them but what I really liked about that antagonism is that it was kept OUT of their job. These two didn’t get petty and unprofessional while on the job and I’m so glad because it made them more believable as two of the best undercover agents. John and Jessica were logical characters as well which again goes with them being the best at their jobs. When things didn’t add up to what they initially believed about one another they took the time to figure things out instead of stubbornly holding on to what they “knew” to be right. The gradual progression from partners to more was believable as was the chemistry that built up throughout the story. They made a great couple and an even better team.



How about that supporting cast? I recognized a few names here and there from previous books in the series but for the most part it’s just John and Jessica doing their job and overcoming their misunderstandings of their time in training together. I did like the few scenes where John and Jessica were with their respective families, it showed who they were away from work and each other.


Click It or Skip It? Click It. John and Jessica were the perfect example of there being three sides to every story: Yours, Theirs, and the Truth.

4 stars

I loved this book! Another smart, funny, sexy and romantic read from Ms James!

John Shepherd and Jessica Harlow met while training to become FBI agents. It did not go well. John was a dedicated Army Ranger, the picture of the perfect soldier who flew through the physical aspects of the training, and Jessica was fresh out of law school and an academic wiz. Following misinterpreted motives and misunderstandings they became fierce competitors who couldn’t wait to see the back of each other at the completion of their training.

Now, it’s six years later. Jessica is newly divorced after her marriage to a Hollywood producer fell apart due to her dedication to her job, and John’s long-term relationship has just gone up in flames for the same reason. They both throw themselves into their work, and when Jess’s transfer to the FBI’s Chicago office sees her going straight into an undercover mission, they are both horrified to discover that they are now partners.

I love an enemies-to-lovers romance, and this one is really well done. The animosity between John and Jessica is believable, but the underlying chemistry is very much present, and it’s a delicious mix of emotions as they are thrown together for the first time in six years, and all of that aggression is just begging to come out. The banter is fantastic, and every moment they were together was so much fun!


    “You know what? Let’s not do this, after all. I think dredging up the past will only make things worse, and you and I have got to be in sync these next couple of days.”
    “That’s fine with me,” he said. “I wasn’t the one who started chatting about the good old days in the first place.”
    “Trust me, I won’t make that mistake again … Besides, you obviously have some reading you want to do and I don’t want to hold you up.”
    “I appreciate that,” he said, faux-politely.
    “I’m glad you’re appreciative,” she said mock-nicely, before turning to her e-reader.
    So much for lessening the tension between them.
    Sheesh.
    “You do realize you still make the sassy head movements even when you only think the words, right?” John said.
    Jessica glared but remained silent. 


John and Jess are fantastic character, both strong and confident, with no baggage, traumatic backgrounds or unnecessary drama. They are both ‘normal’ people, successful and driven in their careers, and determined to get through their mission together as they become the front-line in a longstanding investigation into a fraudulent politician. And, of course, as they travel away together to carry out their job, all of their time together allows them to get to know each other, to re-hash the past and talk about the present, and their long-buried attraction resurfaces.

I loved these two together! The relationship felt so natural with lots of chemistry and sexual tension and a great camaraderie as they move from enemies to friends to lovers, and it flowed beautifully. There’s a great build-up with no stupid behaviour and no game playing, they just go with it, and it all feels so right.


    He traced his thumb over her skin. “Do you know how long I’ve waited for you to look at me this way?” 


The sexy time is hot and intense, and with the story written in dual POV we get to see them both falling for each other, and what they initially planned to be a short-term affair soon becomes something so much more.


    “You’re so goddamn sweet. So mine” 


But life has a way of complicating things, and when John is given the career opportunity of a lifetime, they will both be forced to re-evaluate their priorities and what they want from life.


    “The thing I want most is to spend the rest of my life with the one person who drives me crazy in all the best possible ways.” 


I really enjoyed this book. It was a fun, smart, romantic and intriguing read. There’s a lot of detail given about John and Jessica’s case, their jobs, and the various training and political aspects of their work, and while it was interesting, I honestly didn’t feel that I needed to know that much. For me it was all about the love story, and that, combined with how much I enjoyed the characters, was what carried the book for me - though I did think that the different elements of the story were blended really well.

I loved it – a solid 4 stars.

These are my Happily Ever After Novel Thoughts...

It took me a while to read this book, but only because I had company for the four days I was trying to read it. The book flows wonderfully and you can't help but to get sucked in. 

I love the banter between Jessica and John. They have great chemistry and work well together. Reading this book shows you how hard it is to become and FBI agent but also makes it sound fun. 

This was my first Julie James book. I will definitely be reading more of her work. I enjoyed the way she was able to bring all of the characters, including the support characters, to life and feel like friends. 

Join Jessica and John as they go undercover and discover an attraction they thought didn't exist. Will they catch the bad guy and find a Happily Ever After?

4.5 Undercover Stars

This is my first read from this author and now I can say I'm a fan of Julie James! The Thing About Love is a romantic and sweet read about two competitive FBI agents, who learn to work together as partner and eventually lose their fight for their feelings for each other. I loved the dual POV of the characters of Jessica and John.

Jessica Harlow is moving back home for change to work undercover in the Chicago FBI office and being in a field that is dominated by male colleagues, Jessica is always try to prove herself.  She's been determined to be the best since her first day of training in Quantico and clashing with the very cocky ex-Ranger, John Shepard, didn't stop her. These two butted heads and when they parted ways after graduating from the FBI, they didn't know their career paths would cross again. As partners.

John Shepard is also ready for a change after some hurtful news in his personal life, and he's ready to take his career to the next level. But first, he's assigned to work undercover with the very stubborn, sassy and "needs no help" Jessica. These two are at each other from day one on the job, but you know things work out when they spend a lot of time together and get to know each other!

The Thing About Love is a non-stop read that a bit of steam and plenty of chemistry between the characters. They just needed to get past some issues. A great weekend read if you need of some romance and humor!