I’d like to thank the Academy for Jason Andrews
“Just the Sexiest Man Alive” by Julie James
Maybe you’ll want to run.
Or parachute in.
Or catch the train out.
Or ditch the baby that’s clinging onto you, because it’ll be a lot faster if you didn’t have to lug around extra weight.
But you’ve got to get yourself to a bookstore, and lay your hands on a copy of “Just the Sexiest Man Alive.”
For everybody who reads romances for wish-fulfilment and a healthy dose of let-me-curl-up-into-a-ball-and-die-I’m-so-depressed-that-this-is-not-my-reality, this book is for you.
Taylor Donovan is an up and rising lawyer who’s flown out to LA to work on a new sexual harassment case (she’s defending the company). Taylor reminds me of a lot of female lawyers I know. Young, sassy and a shark. As she yells at the whiny prosecutor, “Call me when someone sees a penis.” And also with a biting sense of humour, that really makes you want to be friends with her. Plus the girl’s got a pair of Chanel sunnies and Christian Louboutin shoes. What’s not to get? She’s told by the big boss from above, that she’s supposed to let Jason Andrews shadow her for a few days, as he’s acting in a new legal thriller.
Jason Andrews. A.K.A People’s Sexiest Man Alive (3 years running). The King of Hollywood. Star attraction in the world female population’s Sexapalooza dreams, and the man that Brad Pitt wants to be. The bad boy to make all other bad boys look like they stay at home wearing cat sweaters and play with micro-machines. He’s done it (and them) all. Supermodels, actresses, heiresses, socialites. So why is it he falls for Taylor Donovan, sharky and snarky lawyer? Maybe because she doesn’t stand for his BS, and after he stands her up for one too many of their on-the-job training appointments, she blows him off. (Not that way skanks!) And bills him for her time when they go out for dinner!
Jason goes from being annoyed that she doesn’t seem to care about the fact that he’s the hottest commodity on earth, to being reluctantly charmed. Sure, Jason does sometimes come off as a tad needy, when he demands to know why Taylor doesn’t answer his multiple phone calls. But it’s really sweet how Hollywood’s most eligible bachelor is desperate for any crumb of Taylor’s attention. Jason is charming and funny and gorgeous and perfect and oh sweet baby Jesus kill me now.
And how could you not fall for someone who whisks you out on his private jet (how Pretty Woman) to Vegas for the weekend. And rushes to pick you up in his Aston Martin (how James Bond). And will send his limo to pick you and your best girl friends up for a night on the town and shyly asks if he can tag along. Oh, and how Jason throws Hollywood’s biggest bash on a whim, just so that he has an excuse to invite Taylor and then misses the party because he’s spending the whole evening hanging around on the balcony waiting for her to show up. Plus Jason is driven insane with jealousy, because an up-and-coming young punk star is trying to dethrone the King of Hollywood, and so comes on to Taylor in an attempt to mess with Jason’s mind. He interrogates Taylor about her date with the actor, because he can’t bear to think that she’d be interested in someone else. Yeah. Lola’s standing right here God, waiting for that good ol’ lightning bolt to fall right about now. Don’t feel like you have to take your time or anything.
Plus the humour in this book is great! You have Jason’s scriptwriter best friend, Taylor’s best friends and even Taylor’s secretary who relishes her role as queen bee among all the secretaries in the law firm, now that her boss is dating a silver screen heartthrob. There were quite a few moments when I burst out laughing, nearly spewing my mango margarita all over Sven, who was giving me a pedicure in Rocking Robin Red. With all this, you gotta bear in mind there aren’t any sex scenes. Which is a shame because you know Lola’s position on witnessing the bedroom interactions of the couple.
And I didn’t really get why Taylor hesitated towards the end about her relationship with Jason. Yeah there is that whole he can get any girl he wants just by blinking at her so what would he want with me kind of thing, but come on! Did I mention he’s the reigning King of Hollywood? And gets around by way of private air travel? And is gorgeous and fell out of the charm tree? She who hesitates stands to lose all that. To more opportunistic girls, who have no hesitation in stripping off and immersing themselves in a vat of chocolate and getting the shape of an arrow waxed onto their privates. *whistles* Just sayin’.
But all in all, a great book. Just a straightforward, light-hearted romantic comedy where boy meets girl, boy falls in love with girl, only complication is that boy is the most famous boy on the planet. I can’t wait to read Julie James’ next book!
carolyn jean said,
December 7, 2008 @ 12:53 am
Oh, thanks for such a fun and entertaining review. This is a really strong recommendation! I’ve seen the book around, and people really do seem positive about it! Maybe I’ll check it out.
Ana said,
December 7, 2008 @ 2:25 am
oooooooo, I read and reviewed this book this week too. I knew you guys would like it, I almost emailed a recommendation! Wasn’t it great? although I should probably say that the reason why I loved it so much was because of all the humour and Taylor. I thought the hero was a jerk
*runs*
La Lola said,
December 7, 2008 @ 5:33 pm
Definitely check it out carolyn jean, I think you won’t be sorry! It’s a great book to read on a cold day, where you can pretend that you’re basking in the Californian sunshine with a mungo sex god lying by your side. *whimper*
*gasp!* You thought Jason was a jerk Ana?!?! How could you! I thought he was really sweet, especially how he ditched filming midway just to rush to Taylor’s side to take care of her! And I’m a sucker for heroes in relentless pursuit. I guess he did come across as having a bit of an ego, but as I was discussing with my good friend George Clooney the other day, sometimes it’s tough being perfect.
Sayuri said,
December 7, 2008 @ 7:19 pm
I have been eyeing this book for AGES! I might buy it as an early Crimbo present to me.
La Lola said,
December 8, 2008 @ 12:37 am
Christmas came early this year in the extremely delicious package of Jason Andrews. I dibs him!
Julie James said,
December 8, 2008 @ 5:48 am
La Lola– love the review! “Jason is charming and funny and gorgeous and perfect and oh sweet baby Jesus kill me now.” So funny! And, as Jason would tell you himself, so true. ; )
It’s been very interesting for me to see the strong reactions people are having to his character…
Thanks again– this review seriously cracked me up.
Best,
Julie
La Lola said,
December 8, 2008 @ 11:09 am
Aaaaaaiiiiiieeeeeeeeeeeeee! *screams as though Gerard Butler just walked through the door with only a big red bow tied around his neck* *clears throat and tries to play it cool* Um, sure, glad you liked the review Julie! You know, if this ever gets made into a movie, I’ll be happy to be available on the day you’re doing casting. Just to provide objective advice about which actor’s butt is firm enough to play Jason. Just sayin’.
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March 28, 2010 @ 1:51 am
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