Title: About that Night
Author: Julie James
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Oh what a gem About That Night is! I fell in love with Julie James’ FBI series after reading Something About You (the first book in the series) and immediately went and read the follow-up book, A Lot Like Love. Kyle “The Twitter Terrorist) Rhodes appears in A Lot Like Love as a supporting character, and I’ve been anxious to find out more about him since then. I get my wish in About That Night.
Nine years ago, Kyle and Rylann Pierce shared scintillating conversation on a short walk from a college bar to Rylann’s home. It was just one night, but both Kyle and Rylann never forgot it – even if circumstances beyond their control kept them apart for almost a decade. Fast forward to 2012, and Rylann’s just moved to Chicago to take up an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) position… and the first case she’s given is Kyle’s. The son of a billionaire IT entrepreneur, Kyle is a brilliant IT security specialist in his own right. But in a moment of drunken stupidity after being dumped publicly on Twitter by his airhead model girlfriend, Kyle took Twitter down for two whole days, earning the ire of the FBI – and 18 months at a maximum security prison. Fortunately for him, his twin sister Jordan negotiated for a reduction in his sentence to time served in return for her cooperation on another case (see A Lot Like Love). All that remains is for Rylann (as the AUSA assigned the case) to agree to the arrangement, and Kyle will be a free man.
Rylann does just that, and thinks that will be the last she sees of Kyle… but fate intervenes again and finds herself working again with Kyle on another case where he’s the star witness. After that memorable night nine years ago, of course the sparks fly But Rylann’s fighting the attraction tooth and nail – what would her new colleagues think of an AUSA who’s dating an ex-con?
James has such a knack for witty banter, and nowhere is that more obvious than in this book, and in the conversations between Kyle and Rylann. It’s just such a pleasure to see the thrust and riposte between two obviously intelligent people who are deeply attracted to each other. And of course, the hero and heroine are just wonderful! I especially liked Kyle, who’s so much more than the bad-boy Twitter Terrorist. He’s a responsible man who comes back to face the music for his drunken antics… but also a dutiful and loving son and brother, a brilliant IT geek, a charismatic business executive, and yes, a skillful and romantic lover. (Rylann and Kyle’s first date is definitely one for the books!) It doesn’t hurt that he looks like Sawyer from Lost. (Eat your heart out Josh Holloway fans!) Rylann on the other hand, described as the “bombshell brunette” is obviously good at her job, and committed to balancing justice with compassion. I did think that she needed to loosen up a little bit though. I mean, so what if Kyle’s a bad boy? Fortunately, it all ends wonderfully after a few angsty moments. About that Night is a wonderful contemporary romance that will have you hungry for more from Julie James!