Powerpuff Girls Review: Practice Makes Perfect *Julie James*

Blossum and Bubbles strikes again!

There are three ways to tell if a book will be a winner in my eyes. I become an emotional wreck and hold back tears, laugh hysterically out loud and find people giving me strange looks, or spend hours reading until I go cross eyed because I can't stop. Practice Makes Perfect is a book where I had such a loud responses while I was reading. There is one scene where it was so shockingly funny that I couldn’t stop laughing. I did this while on the bus going into work and received some stares. But I didn’t care because I was having the time of my life reading another awesome book by Julie James.

Bubbles aka Ana from The Book Smugglers and I did a Puff review for Julie’s first book, Just the Sexiest Man Alive back in December. Just the Sexiest Man Alive was my honorary mention for favorite contemporary for 2008. I should have also mentioned that Julie was one of my favorite authors last year. Even though Practice Makes Perfect is only her second book, she is a bright star in the contemporary genre. Lately, I find myself very critical with the books I have been reading. It is really hard for me to give a book an “A” grade. Practice Makes Perfect will officially be my first “A” book for 2009 and will be in my top five list.

The only thing I am upset about is since I finished reading Practice Makes Perfect, no other book looks interesting. You know an author is that good when you want to go back again and re-read the book right after you finished reading it the first time.

Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson have worked at the same law firm for eight years. Both are dedicated, bright and are up for a partnership in a few weeks. But these two both have a secret; they really can’t stand each other. They are professionals and treat each other with the courtesy they deserve, but they constantly try to out do the other. J.D. will be at the office bright and early everyday. Payton tries to beat him at his own game, but J.D. is always one step ahead of her. J.D. irks her to no end and it kills her that this rich boy has had everything handed to him. And J.D. loves to throw it in Payton’s face with his expensive suits, his Bentley, and the fact that everyone loves him. She also feels because J.D. is a man, and she is a woman, she has to work harder to gain the respect she deserves.

J.D. is sick of Payton’s, “I am woman, hear me roar” mumbo jumbo. Ever since day one, she has been a thorn in his side and he can’t figure out what he did to make her dislike him so. The highlight of his day is when he can throw a few zingers her way, but it is just harmless teasing. Anyway, she can stand up pretty well herself when they engage in their verbal warfare.

Things are about to change between these two. First their boss wants them both to work together on a very important case that will bring in millions of dollars. If that isn’t bad enough that they both have to work together, now only one of them will be partner because the other partner chosen must be over the age of forty so there is no age discrimination. And since both J.D. and Payton are under forty, only one of them can move forward. Both finally agree that this whole situation is total BS. Now they are truly at war with one another. J.D. and Payton will try whatever they can to win even if that means making the other look bad. But then their relationship changes where they are no longer wishing to throw a few law books at their heads, but wanting to make out among the stacks of law books instead.

Everything is in good fun, especially when J.D. and Payton start with their pranks against one another. These are not meant to be malicious or petty. Unfortunately Payton gets the ball rolling by accidentally spilling some coffee on J.D.’s suit coat while she is looking for something in his office. He catches her and accuses her of sabotaging him. Because J.D. goes too far with his insults, Payton pours the rest of the coffee down his spare suit jacket right when he is due in court. What J.D. does in retaliation is so embarrassing for Payton but one of the funniest scenes in the whole book. (We find out that Payton likes to wear thongs) Heck, one of the funniest in any book I have read in the past few years. But before things can go too far between the two, Payton and J.D. know they must stop with the pettiness, and come what may, they have each other’s backs.

I wouldn’t say J.D. and Payton are former enemies who become lovers, but are more like friendly rivals, much like the little boy who pulls the little girl’s hair on the playground. Underneath all that teasing, it is another meaning altogether. The same goes on between J.D. and Payton. And when these two finally realize that they can no longer be the rivals they once were, they act on their attraction for one another that has been simmering below the surface for so long. Hello, eight long years of lusting between the two makes for some great love scenes.

The intimate scenes in Just the Sexiest Man Alive may have been lacking because of the behind closed door loving, but Julie makes up for it here. The way J.D. is with Payton is too adorable. I have to mention one love scene where we see what J.D. is thinking after he and Payton hit the sheets:

His thoughts.
Deep, too.
Just.
Had.
Sex.
Sleepy.
He felt Payton suddenly stir beneath him and he perked up his head, instantly alert.
Ooh----- again? *LOVE this line*

That very small scene had me grinning from ear to ear, just like J.D.

Ooh----- again is exactly what I think when I read a Julie James book. Again please, again!

Practice Makes Perfect is one of the best opposites attract stories I have read in recent memory. I knew in the first five pages that this book was going to be score big points. I felt like I was in the middle of a 1940’s screwball comedy like His Girl Friday or The Philadelphia Story with J.D. as Cary Grant and Payton as Rosalind Russell or Katherine Hepburn. This is a zany, laugh out loud book that I didn’t want to end. This book is a must read. If you feel the need to support the contemporary genre and can’t find any worthy authors or books, I found your answer here with this book and the extraordinary talents of Julie James. (Berkley)

Final Grade: A

Don't forget to check out Bubbles a.k.a Ana from The Book Smugglers for her take on Practice Makes Perfect.

Also, Jessica from Racy Romance Reviews has a very insightful post about the gender politics she found in Practice Makes Perfect.