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Yeah, yeah, I know it’s Thursday. I’ll get back on the ball…at some point.

Anyway…

This week's entry is If You So Desire by Yahrah St. John.

Hard-charging labor lawyer Sage Anderson is a barracuda in the courtroom. But when it comes to romance, the burned-by-love sister isn't interested in playing the field. Until her hunky new client tosses the ball into her court.

Hotshot media mogul Ian Lawrence has a killer rep—in and out of the bedroom. But when he's hit with a lawsuit, the freewheeling playboy is intrigued by his gorgeous, go-get-'em attorney. When Sage refuses to mix business with pleasure, he ramps up the seduction, tempting her with a kiss that's in both of their best interests.

From a passion-filled cruise on the Hudson to whisking her away to his Malibu beach house, Ian is a man on a mission. With things heating up between them, he isn't ready to sit this one out. It's time to get personal and convince Sage it takes two…to fall in love.

I chose this book for several reasons.

1. Ms. St. John is a fellow alumna of Northwestern University. I wanted to support a fellow Wildcat.

2. The plot intrigued me. A lawyer getting involved with her client is pretty much a big no-no. It’s a situation ripe with potential conflict.

3. The hero REALLY intrigued me. I do love an arrogant hero. They annoy some readers because they can often venture into jerk territory, but they just amuse me because they can be so over the top. I can’t be mad. And let’s be real.  A guy who goes after what he wants is sexy.

The hero, Ian, does not disappoint. The story works because of him. He cracks me up. He wants what (or who, in this case) he wants and doesn’t take no for an answer because the word isn’t in his vocabulary. He’s rich and privileged and uses these facts to his advantage.

But it’s not all about Ian. I also liked the heroine, Sage. She’s smart and great at her job. She knows what she wants and deserves and doesn’t want to compromise even when that leads to hurt.  

As a writer, there was something about the book that stood out to me. Ms. St. John head hops A LOT. I’ve read Nora Roberts, the Queen of Head Hopping, for twenty years. Head hopping (aka rapid point of view changes) doesn’t bother me. When it’s done between the hero and heroine, I’m fine. However, Ms. St. John goes inside most of the characters’ head. This bothered me because I don’t care what every character thinks. The story isn’t about them.

I asked myself if this would have bothered me a few years ago before I ever heard the term “head hopping.” My answer is, “I think so just” because I don’t think knowing what every character thinks at all times is necessary.

Did it affect my enjoyment of the story? No, not really. It was a little annoying, but I still really liked the story and would recommend it. Did I mention that Ian amused me? J

So whatcha reading? Are you enjoying it?

xoxo,
Jamie
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