Reckless (Harlequin Temptation) [Paperback]

Julie Kenner (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Harlequin (October 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0373259018
• ISBN-13: 978-0373259014
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,583,051 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When Julie was knee-high to a grasshopper (an expression that she would like it known she has never, ever used in real life) she informed her parents that she was going to be a novelist, and proceeded to write Kitty Claws, a bestselling book about a cat as Santa. (The book sold out its entire print-run of one, so lets not split hairs about that "best-selling" thing, okay?)

After that stellar start, Julie continued to dabble in the literary arts, writing short stories on yellow pads that she forced her mother to type, scribbling poems on ruled notebook paper that she forced her mother to type, making up skits and songs that she forced her mother to watch and listen to, and diving head-first into high school journalism, at which point, mom finally got a break.

In college, she continued with the journalism thing, picking that as her major and working at The Daily Texan, the student newspaper for the University of Texas. The idea that she could actually write novels and, oh, buy food too, completely eluded her.

The journalism thing cranked along nicely for about one semester. Then Julie got a job as a production assistant on a movie originally called Splatter, but which was released as Future Kill (and can still be found in Blockbuster and through Netflix), with really great Giger poster art. Julie worked her tail off, appeared as an extra, had a great time, and promptly switched her major to film.

Graduating at the ripe old age of 19, Julie chickened out and didn't move to Los Angeles to become the next Steven Spielberg. Instead, she stayed in Austin and worked as a media assistant until she decided that perhaps law school was the better way to go because, hey, a degree in film slides so seamlessly into law. (Or, more likely, grad school was inevitable and the LSAT seemed doable.) Not one to waste time, Julie took the LSAT in December, and was admitted to Baylor Law School on a full scholarship the following February. Law school and Julie got along great, and after graduation, Julie went to work as a law clerk on the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, where she had a fabulous time drafting legal opinions, preparing the judge for court, and taking regular trips to New Orleans on a government per diem. During her two year stint as a clerk, the writing bug bit again, and Julie wrote a stage play that will never, ever see the light of day. Really. So don't even ask.

After her clerkship, Julie decided she could handle moving to the Big City, and she took a job with Skadden, Arps in L.A., where she worked on a variety of cases with some very smart lawyers. After a year, she moved on to smaller and smaller firms (and had a short stint as a production exec at a small film company, thus justifying all those credit hours in college). She continued to work with very smart lawyers, one of whom introduced Julie to Julie Garwood (her books, not the woman herself), and the writing bug bit again.

Though Julie had been dabbling with writing in her limited spare time, she'd lacked focus. Now, she'd found it, and she was determined to write an historical romance. You may, after reviewing Julie's book list, note that there are no historical romances on there. Let's just say that she didn't succeed at that task. Julie did, however, discover that while she has a head for contemporary nuances, the ins-and-outs of historical detail are enough to make her head explode.

The in-progress historical was promptly shelved, and Julie turned her attention to fleshing out a contemporary romance, having decided that category romance was the way to go, since with the demands of a legal job, she'd be much more likely to finish 240 manuscript pages than 400.

Finish them she did, and though she got nice feedback on the voice, the novel didn't sell. One editor, Harlequin's Brenda Chin, returned a rejection letter with a note that the hook wasn't enough of a "sexy premise."

Always up for a challenge, Julie came up with the opening line, "You need a man," which she thought had oodles of sexy premise potential. She just had to find a story to go with the line. Eventually, she did, and Nobody Does It Better, Julie's first published novel, was born. She entered the first few chapters in contests, finaled, and was ultimately judged by that same Brenda Chin, who ended up buying the manuscript. (Which is not the reason Julie thinks Brenda is a really cool person. Truly.)

By that time, Julie had realized that 400 pages were manageable after all, and she'd almost completed a paranormal romance along the lines of The Little Mermaid about a cat who is in love with her master. The Cat's Fancy sold just a few months after the original sale. Both books came out in 2000, along with a second Temptation, and Julie has had at least 3 books hit the shelves annually every since, and now has well over twenty books to her credit, crossing over a multitude of genres, most of which are represented in some way by the clever pictures in the collage at the top of this page.

Praised by Publishers Weekly as an author with a "flair for dialogue and eccentric characterizations," Julie's books have hit lists as varied as USA Today, Waldenbooks, Barnes & Noble, and Locus Magazine, all of which has made Julie a happy camper. Julie is also a two-time RITA finalist, both times for books about strong women (a superhero and a demon-hunter). There's probably some deep meaning there, and if you know what it is, feel free to drop Julie a line.

Julie was also the winner of Romantic Times' Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Contemporary Paranormal of 2001, the winner of the Reviewers International Organization's award for best romantic suspense of 2004 and best paranormal of 2005, and the winner of the National Readers' Choice Award for best mainstream book of 2005. Not that she's keeping track or anything.

Julie writes a range of stories including quirky romances, sexy contemporaries, young adult novels, suspense, paranormal mommy lit, and (soon!) darker urban fantasy.

Her initial foray into the urban fantasy mommy lit genre--Carpe Demon: Adventures of a Demon-Hunting Soccer Mom--proved especially successful, resulting in a Booksense pick, a Target break-out book, other accolades and honors, and a movie deal. Specifically, Carpe Demon, is in development as a feature film with Warner Brothers and 1492 Pictures. Julie frequently pounds on her battered wooden desk (Salvation Army, $25, gotta love it) in order to urge the project from development to screen. (In Hollywood, these things are never certain until you're watching the movie and eating popcorn.)

Julie and her husband moved from Southern California back to Texas in 1995, and Julie quit the practice of law to write full time in 2004. Now, she lives and writes in central Texas with her husband, two daughters, and several cats. She is an active supporter of Love Without Boundaries. Click here to learn more about the charities Julie supports.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very highly recommended!, January 30, 2001

By 

C. Penn "WordWeaving" (Greenville, SC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reckless (Harlequin Temptation) (Paperback)

Readers who enjoyed NOBODY DOES IT BETTER will delight in this new romance by author Julie Kenner. The same warm, flowing style and light hearted humor that marks this wonderful author's prose shines through with dazzling intensity in RECKLESS.

For ten years Rachel has built a new life creating an image of strength and powerful sexuality. The mask had become to convincing, in fact, that she even fooled herself into believing the Belinda Rachel of her childhood bad been banished forever. Now she plans to attend her high school reunion to taunt, tease and leaving hanging the three men she blames most for her miserable childhood. She left her small town of Braemer a fat, shy girl. She returns a svelte sex kitten. Those who were responsible for voting her "Most Likely to Die a Virgin" would be panting for her attention.

In her new life in New York, Rachel always maintained the upper hand, never letting anyone too close. Typically, when a man started to get even remotely close, she dumped him. The one man she dated for a month soon say through her tough veneer and quickly departed rather than live with the vulnerability beneath her exterior. Therefore, she was ill prepared for her reaction to the charismatic, sexy man who rescues her at the side of road.

Garrett was immediately enamoured with the beautiful woman standing over the wounded black lab at the side of the road. Amazed by her resourcefulness, Garrett admired the way she used her pantyhose as an emergency bandage, and quickly put his veterinarian skills to work helping with the hurt dog. When Rachel mistakes him for her high school nemesis, Garrett doesn't volunteer that he's not Carl, but Carl's elder brother. The dazzling woman before him conceals vulnerability that touches his heart, and from the first moment he sees her, Garrett determines to make her a part of his life. Even if he has to help her with her plans of revenge.

RECKLESS will delight romance lovers with his enticing plot and vivid characterization. Kenner has a knack for creating characters that really pull the reader into the story. Walking a bit on the wild side, RECKLESS combines the wanton and the wild with the vulnerable and the shy to create a remarkable tale of love. RECKLESS is very highly recommened!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Steam Heat!, September 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Reckless (Harlequin Temptation) (Paperback)

Miss Kenner has done it once more. Reckless is a sizzler with a fine cast of characters. A heroine who tries to be hard as nails but can't forget her past. A hero who hasn't quite figured Rachel out, and isn't going to quit trying until he does. Watch out, the pages are 212 degrees pure tension when these two are together!

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, October 16, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Reckless (Harlequin Temptation) (Paperback)

Loved the storyline. Loved the characters. I hope she follows up with another book - maybe one with Carl as the main character so we can visit in on how Garret and Rachel turn out.