Lawyer Taylor Donovan is in Los Angeles working for her firm on a high profile sexual harassment case.  On the floor of a courtroom she is unshakeable.  Her personal life however, is non-existent since she caught her now ex-fiancé shagging another woman.  With less than a week to go before her trial begins, she is given the duty of babysitting…uh…preparing an actor for his upcoming film and she is not happy.  Taylor could care less that it’s Jason Andrews, People Magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive.”  Her feelings escalate for the worst when she is stood up two days in a row only to see Mr. Sexy being interviewed on television live from Las Vegas.  Then, to top it off, he has the audacity to show up while she is in court and demand her time at the end of the day.  Taylor has four words for Jason – ‘so NOT gonna happen’.

Used to being catered to and having his publicist handle everything, Jason Andrews is completely stunned and baffled by Taylor Donovan.  Not only did his charm and charisma not faze her but also she just had the balls to interrogate him for blowing her off for two days while he played in Vegas.  THEN, she left him standing in an empty courtroom with no remorse whatsoever.  Jason lets his bewilderment affect him but he has a plan.  Picking up his phone, Jason sets his plan in motion because if there is one thing he knows it is women and how to get their attention.  After all, he isn’t Just the Sexiest Man Alive for nothing!

If Just the Sexiest Man Alive is any indication of Julie James’ talent, then I know without a doubt she will be highly successful.  In her debut novel, readers meet Taylor Donovan, a no-nonsense but extremely witty lawyer.  Her one ‘liners’ in court made me laugh out loud more than once.  The hero to Taylor’s heroine is movie star Jason Andrews.  The typical Hollywood bad boy, Jason is used to being the center of attention and adored by any woman he wants.  Evidently Taylor didn’t get that memo because while she is attracted to Jason she does not trust him.  Her lack of faith bothers Jason more than it should but he refuses to give in.  Despite his attitude, despite his selfishness, and despite his fear of commitment, I loved Jason Andrews – much like Taylor loved him. 

Just the Sexiest Man Alive is witty, romantic, and so realistic I could have been there witnessing Taylor and Jason’s love story unfold.  Julie James has a winning debut on her hands that is just an engaging delight to read.  Congrats Ms. James on being Joyfully Recommended!