Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Practice Makes Perfect-Julia James

Practice Makes Perfect
Julia James
Berkley, Mar 2009, $7.99
ISBN: 9780425226742

Legal associates Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson do not like one another as their respective behavior is polar opposites. Thus when they are assigned to work on a case together for the first time, neither is pleased. Both want to beg off, but learn that one of them will become a partner while the other will be unemployed.

Payton inadvertently embarrasses J.D. He assumes she did it on purpose so ups the ante by striking back. She in turn feels he went too far so tries to gain the edge. As they take turns evening the score, J.D. and Payton look forward to the next hit. Soon they fall into love, but that emotion cannot survive partnership.

Although battling lawyers falling in love has been used a lot (Redford-Wingar Legal Eagles), the lead couple’s fighting love makes for a brisk contemporary romance. Payton and J.D. are an engaging pairing of seemingly total opposites in hate that actually disguises their caring for the other. Fans will enjoy enemy combatants trying to checkmate their adversary only to be trumped by falling in love while wondering how their relationship will survive the naming.

Harriet Klausner

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