TEST
Narrated by Karen White
While I’ve read a number of Julie James’ books in print, this is the first I’ve listened to, and also the first time I’ve read this 2009 release. I liked the story a little more than Ellen who gave it a B at AAR, but truly enjoyed Karen White’s narration. I intended to listen over a period of days but ended up listening to the entire book in one day.
<!– var browName = navigator.appName; var SiteID = 1; var ZoneID = 4; var browDateTime = (new Date()).getTime(); if (browName=='Netscape') { document.write('‘); document.write(”); } if (browName!=’Netscape’) { document.write(‘‘); document.write(”); } // –> 
This is another of Ms. James’ books featuring Chicago lawyers, but this time there’s no suspense plot and no FBI agents. Payton Kendall and J.D. Jameson are both eighth-year associates in a top Chicago law firm, awaiting a partnership decision. The two have been at war for so long that Payton can’t remember how it started. Ellen notes in her review “The actual plot of this book is rather episodic and loose – at times even farcical. There’s one episode where Payton and J.D. pull pranks on each other that’s a bit over the top, but I did laugh anyway. Mostly it consists of incidents that force Payton and J.D. to work together and help each other.” And that pretty neatly sums up the plot for me as well.
Payton and J.D. maintain a charade of getting along in front of the rest of the firm, giving rise to numerous funny encounters. I love the fake, pleasant voices Ms. White uses when Payton and J.D. run into each other in the law firm and have to pretend to like each other. The phony pleasant tones are perfect.
Ms. White uses a wide range of voices for the book’s characters, and I was never in doubt as to who was speaking. Ms. White gets the personality and age correct for the secondary characters. J.D.’s father sounds like the upper crust, stuffy judge that he is, while Payton’s mother sounds like the ex-hippy she is. And the disappointment each feels in the career path their child has chosen comes through every time they speak.
On paper Payton might not seem likeable: she’s a bright workaholic who is sometimes exhausted, sometimes angry, and often sarcastic. Whatever emotion Payton feels is conveyed perfectly by Ms. White’s narration. I found myself not only liking Payton, but rooting her on.
J.D.’s also bright and a workaholic. Additionally, he’s conservative and chauvinistic, with many characteristics that should make me dislike him. But the combination of Ms. James’ words and Ms. White’s narration made him likeable as well, gradually showing J.D.’s vulnerabilities.
How much did I enjoy this audiobook? The minute I finished I downloaded another of Ms. James’ books, also narrated by Karen White. Since then I’ve listened to two others. If you like Ms. James in print, I think you’ll love this in audio.
Breakdown of Grade – Narration: A- and Book Content: B+
Grade: B+
Book Type: Audiobook
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 24/06/13
Publication Date: 2013/05
My first memory is sitting with my mother on a blanket in our backyard surrounded by books and she is reading one of them to me. My love of reading was encouraged by my parents and it continues to today. I’ve gone through a lot of different genres over the years, but I currently primarily read mysteries (historical mysteries are my favorites) and romances (focusing on contemporaries, categories, and steampunk). When I’m not reading or working, I love to travel, knit, and work on various community projects.
Related Reviews
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.