Rating: 
Summary: Great Contemporary Debut!
Review: For those who have loved Ms. London's historicals, don't be afraid to pick up her first contemporary, MATERIAL GIRL. I had such a good time with this book, I'm wondering why she hasn't been writing contemporaries sooner. Robin Lear's pampered and spoiled world is about to come to a screeching halt. When her father informs his family that he's dying and wants to make some changes, Robin had no idea that those changes included making her learn the business she's been doing for years. On top of being demoted and put under her ex-boyfriend's supervision, Robin must also deal with the sexy contractor renovating her house. Suffice it to say that they didn't exactly get off to a great start. Jake Manning didn't expect the beautiful woman (who he'd met at the jail, no less) to be the same determined woman who'd hired him to renovate her house. Now, he has to deal with her spoiled, donut stealing fingers, and goodie two-shoes attitude, as well as try to keep his nephew out of trouble and fend off a love struck college girl as he tries to finish his degree. Being attracted to the one woman who treated money as if it grew on trees didn't help matters. But when the sparks turn into fire, Jake sees himself falling right into the flames and love. MATERIAL GIRL is so much fun, I couldn't put it down. Jake is to die for. Family oriented, Jake tries his best to control and love his fourteen-year-old nephew, Cole, but doesn't know how to reach him. Along the way, he grows and adapts to the changes life has thrown at him. Robin also changes and adapts, but for entirely different reasons. She's been spoiled and handed things all her life. Now her dying father wants her to be able to take care of herself, so he makes her start over in learning the business instead of giving her a decorate place at the top. She doesn't quite believe she's as snotty as she is until she is forced to take a good look at herself. The secondary characters are wonderful, complimenting the main story instead of detracting from it. And did I mention funny? How these two meet is hilarious and I found myself snorting with laughter, loving every minute of the bantering between Jake and Robin. With angst and emotion, the reader watches these two fight with each other and themselves, all the while falling in love. Ms. London does a wonderful job of setting up the next books in this series about Robin's sisters, which I will eagerly await. Don't miss this extraordinary contemporary debut from a very talented author. Jennifer Russell, ...
(Former reviewer for The Romance Reader's Connection)
Rating:
Summary: Great Contemporary Debut!
Review: For those who have loved Ms. London's historicals, don't be afraid to pick up her first contemporary, MATERIAL GIRL. I had such a good time with this book, I'm wondering why she hasn't been writing contemporaries sooner. Robin Lear's pampered and spoiled world is about to come to a screeching halt. When her father informs his family that he's dying and wants to make some changes, Robin had no idea that those changes included making her learn the business she's been doing for years. On top of being demoted and put under her ex-boyfriend's supervision, Robin must also deal with the sexy contractor renovating her house. Suffice it to say that they didn't exactly get off to a great start. Jake Manning didn't expect the beautiful woman (who he'd met at the jail, no less) to be the same determined woman who'd hired him to renovate her house. Now, he has to deal with her spoiled, donut stealing fingers, and goodie two-shoes attitude, as well as try to keep his nephew out of trouble and fend off a love struck college girl as he tries to finish his degree. Being attracted to the one woman who treated money as if it grew on trees didn't help matters. But when the sparks turn into fire, Jake sees himself falling right into the flames and love. MATERIAL GIRL is so much fun, I couldn't put it down. Jake is to die for. Family oriented, Jake tries his best to control and love his fourteen-year-old nephew, Cole, but doesn't know how to reach him. Along the way, he grows and adapts to the changes life has thrown at him. Robin also changes and adapts, but for entirely different reasons. She's been spoiled and handed things all her life. Now her dying father wants her to be able to take care of herself, so he makes her start over in learning the business instead of giving her a decorate place at the top. She doesn't quite believe she's as snotty as she is until she is forced to take a good look at herself. The secondary characters are wonderful, complimenting the main story instead of detracting from it. And did I mention funny? How these two meet is hilarious and I found myself snorting with laughter, loving every minute of the bantering between Jake and Robin. With angst and emotion, the reader watches these two fight with each other and themselves, all the while falling in love. Ms. London does a wonderful job of setting up the next books in this series about Robin's sisters, which I will eagerly await. Don't miss this extraordinary contemporary debut from a very talented author. Jennifer Russell, ...
(Former reviewer for The Romance Reader's Connection)
Rating: 
Summary: Fabulous, fabulous hero....
Review: I am familiar with Lisa, who reviewed this book, and in fact bought it on her recommendation. I could barely get through 40 pages of it..just wasn't interesting to me! Sally
Rating: 
Summary: I Was Disappointed
Review: I am familiar with Lisa, who reviewed this book, and in fact bought it on her recommendation. I could barely get through 40 pages of it..just wasn't interesting to me! Sally
Rating:
Summary: I followed Julia to the 21st century and had a great time!
Review: I have been a fan of Julia London's historical novels for several years and wasn't sure I'd like her dip into contemporary. Boy, was I wrong! Despite the cover and catchy title, this is a serious book about multi-faceted people who have learned to be survivors - at a cost. Her heroine is initially a pain, but there are reasons for her behavior that win us over quickly, and this hero is a keeper! From page one, where we meet her difficult father, to the last page, Ms. London surprised me with the depth of her characterizations. I've now put her contemporaries on my auto-buy list as well as her historicals and am looking forward to seeing what she'll do with the other two sisters' stories.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the Julia London I'm used to...
Review: I have read every one of Julia London's books and in fact, she's one of my favorite authors. However, this was not the JL I'm used to. Though it wasn't dull or boring, it did seem to drag out longer than it needed to. I didn't care for the constant name calling 'Hammerhead' 'Handyman' 'Slickster' etc. That just is not her style. And her hero wasn't near as alluring as her heroes in her historicals. I actually hated to give this book only a 3 star rating, but I didn't enjoy it near as much as I did her other books............ However, I imagine she will come out with Rachel's story and Rebecca's story because when I got to the end of this book, it didn't seem like the saga was really over and the story was not done being told. I will read her other books. She really is a wonderful author and you won't be disappointed with her other work if you liked this one.
Rating:
Summary: The Best that Julia has Done
Review: I just love this contemporary novel, and I can't wait for the next book of the trilogy. The characters Julia has built stand out and you feel that you know them personally. Jake is the epitome of a girl's dream man, so thoughtful and caring, yet still a "man's man". All the people in Robin's family are such individuals that you want to keep on reading about them. I think this book is the very best that Julia has written Shejust keeps getting better and better.
Rating:
Summary: Look past the cover - it's deeper than it looks. I loved it
Review: I picked up this book thinking it would be a bit of fluffy fun, but from the first page it was clear that London had a larger scope in mind. Her tryannical father, diagnosed with terminal cancer, manipulates his three daughters ruthlessly and wounds them all, but Robin finds a way through his destructiveness to the real world. She is a spoiled princess with everything,and Jake is a self-made man who has little tolerance for her, but the two find a middle ground and eventually love, with a lot of humor along the way. This is a charming story. I look forward to seeing what London will do with the other sister's stories.
Rating: 
Summary: Just didn't do it for me
Review: I really do like Juila London's style and appreciate her voice in romance. I read "Beauty Queen" (second book in series) and I really enjoyed it. "Material Girl" was a bit disappointing only because I didn't like Robin at all. She has no redeeming qualities and was annoying to me. Kinda like Carrie from Sex in the City. A birdbrain who thinks the world should revolve around her. Jake was ok. I had such high hopes for this plot but it just didn't pan out. Too dull and do we really care about the parents.....I know I don't. The story didn't move along as I'd hoped. I did like the pace of the romance however, I just didn't like the heroine.
This would not prevent me from reading other Julia London books. I really do like her style.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous, fabulous hero....
Review: I really loved this book and could not put it down. I loved the fact that Robin was real and not sweet and innocent and TSTL. But hands down, the best part of the book is Jake. His character was so well drawn that I have put him on the list of my all time favorite heroes. I have read Julia London's historicals and thought they were great, but I LOVE her modern book!
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