Review: Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James

Published: March 2009 by Berkeley Sensation

Number of Pages: 304

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Stand Alone/Series: Stand Alone

Why This Book: Dearest KB wouldn't stop raving about it so I had to read it. And so I thought I would make others as well since this is the book I choose to kick off the Shaymless Aymless Romance Book Club (SARBC)

From the Author Site:
WHEN IT COMES TO THE LAWS OF ATTRACTION . . .

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’ve kept a safe distance and tolerated each other as co-workers for one reason only: to make partner at the firm.

. . . THERE ARE NO RULES.

But all bets are off when they’re asked to join forces on a major case. At first apprehensive, 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 doesn’t 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 hot under the collar . . .

Read excerpt here.

Hero: JD Jameson comes from wealth and doesn't see the fairness of affirmative action especially when it comes women. He's worked hard to get were he is and didn't take the easy road by accepting a job at his father's old firm. And no one is going take the partnership position from him, not even his nemesis, Payton Kendall, the "I'm not a stubborn, button-pushing, Pruis-driving, chip-on-my-shoulder-holding, 'stay-at-home-mom'-is-the-eighth-dirty-word-thinking feminazi".

Heroine: Payton Kendall was raise by her very liberal mother and, to her mother's greatest disappointment, has become a successful yuppie. To her, JD Jameson is a member of the "Might Penis-Wielders" and "an uptight, ponying-owning, trickle-down-economics-loving, Scotch-on-the-rocks-drinking, my-wife-better-take-my-last-name sexist jerk" who embodies all that is bad and wrong with the establishment.

Review: Julie James has definitely written another great book. Another light and witty book that is perfect when you need something lighthearted and fun to read. And she still proving that steamy doesn't necessarily mean sex, sex and more sex.

After eight years of putting in the extra hours and giving all they had to give in hopes of attaining a covet partnership at the firm, both JD and Payton are down to the last four weeks as associates. After landing a huge client, they are told only one of them will make it. So after nearly eight years of hidden dislikes and skirmishes its open war. Although they both think and agree the approach the firm has taken is wrong only one of them will and both are determined to win it no matter what! An unfortunate accident leads to a contest of one-upsmanship that only leads to disaster.

I never thought the law was funny. Dramatic and maybe even tragic but never funny. Having been a juror, I would describe the experience as being like Law and Order just really, really slow with lots of wardrobe changes and none of the interesting/exciting background investigation stuff. Of course the case I was a part of was very boring and unfortunate not nearly as amusing and interesting as Payton's trial. No bare body parts to be found. I suppose we can all be lucky.

Ms James has written one of the best opposites attract tropes I've read in a long time. She has taken the story of not so friendly rivals who find that their rivalry is based on a deep attraction that they've been hiding not only from each other but also from themselves and turned it into a great romance. Once they realize that their attraction is reciprocated, it can't be business as usual and they must find a way to make it all work. Lots of tension between to two leading characters right up to the end.

What I liked best: The cabbie telling JD that English Breakfast was more robust and better suited for Pride and Prejudice while Earl Grey was more a Sense and Sensibility kind of tea. Okay the court room scene with Payton was funny but tea pairings with books had me snorting my own tea.

What I least liked: The prim and proper Laney. I didn't find her all that necessary to the story. For being Payton's friend, she was way too easily flustered. You would think that after knowing Payton for so long you would get used to her somewhat outrageous ways.

Keeper?: Yes. And this one also has my name all over it thanks to the RWA conference and the lovely Julie James.

Recommendation: Lots of fun to read. And lots to snicker about. A Darjeeling kind of book, one high quality that has subtle and delicate flavor nuances. *g*

Grade: B+

Be sure to come back on 31 August for the SARBC discussion.