~ DELIGHTFUL ROMANCE BETWEEN TWO . . . ENEMIES? (4.5 stars) ~
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT is my first book by Julie James. Verdict: It was great and I'm looking forward to reading her other ones! Payton and J.D. (still curious about what that stands for!!) were wonderful leading characters and their antagonism at the beginning of the book was so enjoyable (and many times laugh-out-loud funny). It was never extreme to the point of making the change in their relationship unbelievable - actually the opposite - and watching its progression was really fun. The book also has great secondary characters that brought humor to the story and helped to show the main characters' depths.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was that there were no major contrivances to throw everything off repeatedly and to constantly keep the hero and heroine apart. Aside from an unexpected twist towards the end, all the obstacles in their relationship are real ones that are faced by real people outside of the fiction world (unlike the madmen murderers on the loose or psycho crazy ex-girlfriends who sabotage everything). For me, this aspect made the book all the more enjoyable, since it wasn't hard to believe that a love story like this one could actually take place.
I think my only criticism is that the book felt a little on the short side. There were definitely other things that were mentioned that could have been expounded and explored a little more. The fact that they were brought up and then just left there made the story seem a little too easy at times. I know, I just wrote that I don't like major contrivances - and I don't - but I think tension between the hero or heroine and some of the secondary characters around them can be productive and add to the story. Examples that come to mind are "Perfect Chase" (his sole purpose was to move Payton and J.D.'s relationship along), J.D.'s strained relationship with his father, Payton's with her mother, etc.
SUMMARY (from back cover):
Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are lawyers who know the meaning of objection. A feminist to the bone, Payton has fought hard to succeed in a profession dominated by men. Born wealthy, privileged, and cocky, J.D. has fought hard to ignore her. Face-to-face, they're perfectly civil. They have to be. For eight years they have kept a safe distance and tolerated each other as coworkers for one reason one: to make partner at the firm.
But all bets are off when they're asked to join forces on a major case. Though apprehensive at first, they begin to appreciate each other's dedication to the law- and the sparks between them quickly turn into attraction. But the increasingly hot connection does not last long when they discover that only one of them will be named partner. Now it's an all-out war. And the battle between the sexes is bound to make these lawyers how under the collar . . .
RECOMMENDATIONS:
(1) BET ME by Jennifer Crusie - 5 stars
(2) GETTING WHAT YOU WANT (Stepp Sisters, Book 1) by Kathy Love - 4.5 stars
(3) WANTING SOMETHING MORE (Stepp Sisters, Book 3) by Kathy Love - 4 stars
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT is my first book by Julie James. Verdict: It was great and I'm looking forward to reading her other ones! Payton and J.D. (still curious about what that stands for!!) were wonderful leading characters and their antagonism at the beginning of the book was so enjoyable (and many times laugh-out-loud funny). It was never extreme to the point of making the change in their relationship unbelievable - actually the opposite - and watching its progression was really fun. The book also has great secondary characters that brought humor to the story and helped to show the main characters' depths.
One of the things I appreciated most about this book was that there were no major contrivances to throw everything off repeatedly and to constantly keep the hero and heroine apart. Aside from an unexpected twist towards the end, all the obstacles in their relationship are real ones that are faced by real people outside of the fiction world (unlike the madmen murderers on the loose or psycho crazy ex-girlfriends who sabotage everything). For me, this aspect made the book all the more enjoyable, since it wasn't hard to believe that a love story like this one could actually take place.
I think my only criticism is that the book felt a little on the short side. There were definitely other things that were mentioned that could have been expounded and explored a little more. The fact that they were brought up and then just left there made the story seem a little too easy at times. I know, I just wrote that I don't like major contrivances - and I don't - but I think tension between the hero or heroine and some of the secondary characters around them can be productive and add to the story. Examples that come to mind are "Perfect Chase" (his sole purpose was to move Payton and J.D.'s relationship along), J.D.'s strained relationship with his father, Payton's with her mother, etc.
SUMMARY (from back cover):
Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are lawyers who know the meaning of objection. A feminist to the bone, Payton has fought hard to succeed in a profession dominated by men. Born wealthy, privileged, and cocky, J.D. has fought hard to ignore her. Face-to-face, they're perfectly civil. They have to be. For eight years they have kept a safe distance and tolerated each other as coworkers for one reason one: to make partner at the firm.
But all bets are off when they're asked to join forces on a major case. Though apprehensive at first, they begin to appreciate each other's dedication to the law- and the sparks between them quickly turn into attraction. But the increasingly hot connection does not last long when they discover that only one of them will be named partner. Now it's an all-out war. And the battle between the sexes is bound to make these lawyers how under the collar . . .
RECOMMENDATIONS:
(1) BET ME by Jennifer Crusie - 5 stars
(2) GETTING WHAT YOU WANT (Stepp Sisters, Book 1) by Kathy Love - 4.5 stars
(3) WANTING SOMETHING MORE (Stepp Sisters, Book 3) by Kathy Love - 4 stars
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