It has been one crazy week since the release of Practice Makes Perfect!  I’m so thrilled that the book made the bestseller lists for both Borders and Amazon.  And in fact, just today PMP moved up to #25 in the Borders contemporary romance bestseller list.  Yeah!

So Rowena from Book Binge sent me this photo here, of Practice Makes Perfect and Just the Sexiest Man Alive in a bookstore in Torrance, CA.  Aww… don’t they look cute on the shelf together like that?  Thanks, Rowena, for the picture!

Practice Makes Perfect continues to do really well review-wise, too!  Buffie Johnson over at Romance Novel TV just gave it 4 1/2 stars.  She says she was “giggling and rooting [Payton and J.D.] on as they made sarcastic little digs at one another…  [i]t all just made me smile.”  And just yesterday, another reader, Elyssa, posted this on my Facebook wall after reading PMP:

Best. Book. Ever. Pitch perfect in every singular way. Loved, loved, loved it. I loved it so much, I went back and reread it (then went back to my favorites—hello, law library scene). By far, the best last line of a book.

Thanks, Elyssa!  As an author, it’s so great to hear that people are enjoying the book!

Speaking of authors and readers, just yesterday I had coffee with two fellow (and fabulous) Chicagoans– author Beth Kery and Stacy of Stacy’s Place on Earth.  We talked about books, blogs, Lori Foster’s Author/Reader get together, and had sort of an unusual encounter with another patron who apparently had been listening in on our conversation… I think Stacy plans to talk more about it on her blog (and she’s got photos of us!), so if you’re curious, you can drop her site to find out more.

So yesterday afternoon was coffee and great conversation about books, then I headed off to a wine-tasting with a friend where we talked more about books (she’s an English teacher), a lot about wine, and a ton of other fun things that naturally will come up when two women are drinking a lot of wine.  Tonight I’m off to my book club meeting, which means, yep, more wine (I really don’t have a problem, I swear.  It’s just a crazy week), and more fun.  And with this month’s selection, I’ll bet there will be all sorts of discussion about the book.  We read Me & Emma by Elizabeth Flock and, boy, does that book pack an emotional punch.  About two sisters living with their abusive stepfather and emotionally distant mother, it’s definitely not a light read, but a very compelling one.  Next up for me is Fragile by Shiloh Walker, and then Angels’ Blood by Nalini Singh.  This will be my first book for both authors, and I’m really excited.

So I’m curious:  do you have a lot of friends with whom you discuss books?  When you read a good book, who is the first person you want to tell about it?

Oh– I almost forgot to mention– this week I’m hanging out at all sorts of fun places:  on Wednesday at both Romance Reviews Today and What Women Read, and then Friday I’ll be at Jennifer’s Random Musings. Drop on by if you get a chance!

Today I’m hanging out with the girls over at Cheeky Chicago and talking about my books, Chicago, and of course, cheeky heroines.  And I’m so loving the title of the interview: “Just the Cheekiest Author Alive.”  Ha– would my husband ever agree with that.  If there’s a title for “Cheekiest Wife Alive” I’m sure he’s signed me up for that, too.  Two lawyers married to each other… that probably says it all.

Speaking of cheeky girls… those fabulous girls over at The Book Binge listed their favorite reads for the month of February and both Just the Sexiest Man Alive and Practice Makes Perfect made the lists!  Thanks, ladies!

Oh– and one last thing that really made my day: Night Owl Romance just gave Practice Makes Perfect 5/5 hearts and chose it as a Reviewer Top Pick.  Yeah!!  I love that the reviewer used to work at a law firm and that the book brought back memories of a crush she had on one of the interns.

Here’s a little snippet of the review:

Practice Makes Perfect is Ms. James’ second novel and once again takes us into the world of law. I have to say that she’s only getting better with each book she writes. I enjoyed her first novel Just the Sexiest Man Alive, but I loved this work. It brought back memories of my days working in a law office. And the major crush I had on one of our interns. I still have days were I wonder “what if” on that score.

 

Payton and J.D. are lovable and hateable by turns. Their competition is hysterical and honest and you’ll be laughing out loud more than once. The plot moves so well you won’t be able to put the book down till you’re finished with it. You’ll find yourself looking at the clock going “Holy cow I’ve been reading THAT long? It doesn’t feel like it.” You will also be given an accurate insight into the life of an attorney trying to make their way in the world of law.

 

And the happily ever after will make you cheer J.D. and Payton and give you a very warm feeling in your heart. Pick this book up and you won’t be able to put it down. And you will definitely add Ms. James to your favorite author’s list. I know I have.

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 . . .

The early reviews are in!  Here’s what people are saying about Practice Makes Perfect:

Practice Makes Perfect is a “delightful and fast-moving romance . . . a surprisingly heartwarming tale of love.”
–Romantic Times BOOKreviews (4 1/2 stars)

“What a fun story! . . . The dialogue is excellent, funny, and realistic.  The [ ] bantering and insults will make you smile and laugh out loud.  PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT is a Perfect 10, a light, thoroughly satisfying romance that readers are sure to enjoy.”
–Marilyn Heyman, Romance Reviews Today (a Perfect 10 review)

“Julie James has a knack for writing those perfect for a day at the beach reads. . . [Practice Makes Perfect] delivers the laughs, it delivers the steam and it delivers a fantastically written romance with two strong characters that made an entertaining read just right.”
–Rowena Wilson, The Book Binge

“Practice Makes Perfect is another pitch perfect romance. . .  The book is sharply written and sparkles with smart and witty characters and dialogue. Practice Makes Perfect will immediately go to my keeper shelf as a fun and entertaining romance pick-me-up.”
–Kati Dancy, Katidom

“Once again James has written a fun, fast-paced, sexy read. She really excels at writing excellent dialogue and interesting characters. Highly recommend.”
–Holly Mercer, The Book Binge

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
AVAILABLE IN BOOKSTORES TODAY

So today I’m guest-blogging over at The Book Binge on “The Writing Life.”  Those girls over there rock!  (And I’m not just saying that because Holly also just so happened to post her review of Just the Sexiest Man Alive.)

They’ve got all sorts of Julie James-related stuff going on over there (seriously, they must be so sick of me by now…).  And I’m giving away signed copies of my new release, Practice Makes Perfect, to three people who comment on my Book Binge guest-blog.  So head on over and check it out!

Edited to add:  Oh– and I noticed that Holly just posted her review of Practice Makes Perfect as well:  “Once again James has written a fun, fast-paced, sexy read. She really excels at writing excellent dialogue and interesting characters. Highly recommend.”  (And she’s also giving away three extra copies of the book as part of her review.)

Yeah!  Now that’s a great way to start the weekend!!  Thanks Book Binge!

I can admit it:  I’m a huge Jane Austen fangirl.

Because of that, I was so pleased to learn that The Jane Austen Society of North America-Greater Chicago Region included Just the Sexiest Man Alive in their Winter 2009 newsletter.  Here’s what they had to say:

“Chicago author Julie James’ first novel was reviewed in the Chicago Sun-Times. In Just the Sexiest Man Alive a female employment lawyer crosses paths with a big-time movie star. “Their relationship turns unto a tug-of war of will-they-or-won’t-they get together. . . Witty banter and amazing chemistry. . .bring this delightful story to life.” James’ next novel Practice Makes Perfect is due for a spring release. Austen is her favorite author, and “she admits her first two books have a few Pride and Prejudice themes.”

I wasn’t familiar with the JASNA-GRC prior to seeing the newsletter, but I’m tickled pink just to be mentioned by an organization whose “readers [] enjoy Jane Austen’s fiction.”  Pride and Prejudice is at the top of my list of favorite books– if not my actual favorite– and is the one book I re-read every year.  And of course I own both the six-hour BBC mini-series (pause for a dreamy sigh for Colin Firth) and the 2005 film version that strangely seems to find its way into my DVD player every time my husband goes out of town…

As I mentioned in the interview with the Sun-Times, in many ways Austen’s novels inspire my own writing.  Just the Sexiest Man Alive was written as a modern, romantic comedy homage to P&P:   the story of a smart, witty heroine who vows to resist the affection of an arrogant, sought-after man who, in turn, learns to become a better person in order to win her over.  And in Practice Makes Perfect, I kick the Austen-love up another notch.  The book opens with a quote from Pride and Prejudice, and Austen’s novel is mentioned at several points, including a discussion by one of the characters about “The Darcy Complex”– modern-day woman’s fascination with Austen’s unforgettable hero.

Speaking of books influenced by Jane Austen… I recently read Shannon Hale’s Austenland, a novel I enjoyed quite a bit, and I just picked up Sharon Lathan’s Mr. & Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy, (along with Linda Howard’s Mr. Perfect, which was recommended to me by a couple people via this blog).  

So if you know of a great Austen-like read, or just a great read in general (you know, that book you tell everyone you know that they simply must read), drop me a line– I’m always looking for new suggestions!