Customer Reviews

Loving Julia (Oeb)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is a beautiful novel. It is about a street waif named Jewel, who gets mixed up into some kind of scheme concocted by a rich dying man to make trouble for his wealthy family. She meets Sebastian, the wealthy relative, and he decides to turn her into a lady to spite his evil mother. Over the course of their relationship, in which Sebastian trys to turn Julia (her new name) into a lady (reminisant of My Fair Lady), he falls in love with the stunning beauty she becomes. There are many entertaining plots that occur throughout, just as there are heartwrenching ones. I throughly enjoyed this book. The characters and plots are extremely well written, Ms. Robards has outdone herself with this one. If you love passionate love stories that will make you laugh and cry, then this one is for you!

I realize this is a late 80s book, but for several reasons I couldn't finish it.
First, the age difference between the h/h.
Secondly, the book was told from the heroine's p-o-v. I never knew what Sebastian was feeling or thinking.
I also didn't think there was anything endearing about the hero at all. He seemed cold and uneeling even towards the end.

I have read several rags-to-riches romances and loved them, but this one didn't move me. While the heroine was plucky, she was also a doormat. The hero was extremely arrogant and I couldn't understand what she loved about him.

If you've seen and loved My Fair Lady and Gigi, you'll love this book. I read it twice (from the library) and cried each time, returned it, forgot the title/author and now have been searching for months to find it again- This is my lucky day! You feel so close to the characters and journey with them as Sebastian learns to "live" and love, to step out of the cold, emotionless lord and overcome social class barriers. And there's a tender twist where we learn just why Sebastian can't believe in love, that anyone would love him for himself and not for his social standing and wealth (hint: has to do with his parents, specifically his mother). Then with Jewel/Julia, you feel with her the frustration of loving, what you will do or compromise for love, and its heartbreaking price. Above all, the final message is that you don't know how precious that one special love is until you lose that person forever.

I haven't read too many books that actually made me cry or laugh out loud like this one did. Its sweet and passionate and everything you want to read in a romance. The book had all the right twists and turns to keep you interested and fall in love with the characters. A must read!

This is the second book I read by Robards and I loved them both (the other being Dark Torment). I thought that the characters in the book were very real and endearing. The only problem I had with the book was the fact that Julia was only sixteen to Sebastion's thirty one. Although I know it was commonplace at that time for her to be so young, I found it a little unsettling. I think Robards could have made her seventeen when she met him and had her turn eighteen (at least) by the time they consumated their relationship. That would have been more bearable for me. Nevertheless, the story line was very engrossing and it was quite unique; I had never read a story quite like this.

Ok, so the hero is a brute and a jerk in the beginning. When I first read this book I wanted to throw it against the wall! But I felt like towards the end it makes up for it. The man has been through a lot:his daughter can't even look at him without screaming and his mother seems like she hates his guts! And then Julia comes into his life and he does change in the end. In real life it is hard to change someone, if you can at all, so I find this believable. The hero seems like he was brought up to be a bit cold and unfeeling because that is the way his mother is. The book explains why he is this way. I agree with some of the reviewers here when they say the first love scene was not that great, basically because he was drunk when it was going on. Then the next morning he just left her (he was telling himself that she was a whore)and was cold and mean after taking her virginity. At this point I wanted to slap the guy in the face; I'm surprised she didn't. She does later on because some things that he does are pretty screwed up. But after she finally tells him off and he realizes what his feelings are it is sooo sweet! I just feel like it is worth it. The way he goes and fetches her from the ballroom is sweet and then he makes that speech that explains a lot. He is very insecure with his love though and then something else happens (a misunderstanding-I hate those) that pulls them apart which leads to her getting pretty badly hurt *not by him* and then he is so scarred that he will lose her, my heart was being squeezed at these moments. He was actually crying on her shoulder. You could tell he loved her and he was no longer that jerk by the end. This is also a good book because it has mystery and a bit of action in it. You see what happens with all the characters; they grow and some are not what they seem.

If you like this; you will like Tiger's Eye by Karen Robards- which is more like the heroine is the lady and the hero is the gutter rat (but he is sweet and not a jerk at all)

One of the best historical novels I have ever read -

And I have read quite a few!

I was actually surprised that this novel was not more well-known - and not as universally raved as some other historical novels. I suppose because this book was published so many years ago - twenty, to be exact - and because Karen Robards is better known for her contemporary/suspense novels that she has written in recent years.

I have to admit, I had this book on my TBR pile for quite a while. While I did enjoy *some* of Ms. Robard's other novels, many of them are very much on the dark side, a no-no for me. I had just picked up, and put down, two or three in a row that did not meet my specifications, so when I picked up LOVING JULIA, I was expecting more of the same. Boy, was I in for a surprise! This was a very fun, easy to read historical (it reads like a Regency, but it does not say anywhere in the story if this is a Regency or not) with an unusual storyline, and two excellent leading characters - what more can you ask for?

I was even surprised at how much of an true-to-the-period "feel" this book has - the characters talk in a realistic-for-time-period way, or at least it is definitely English (for instance Julia says "in future" instead of "in the future"). I am sure that there are some minor innacuracies, and there was even one big blooper which I cannot explain without giving away the plot, but all in all, if there were any more innacuracies, I for one, didn't catch them.

Jewel Combs is not a lady, she is an inhabitant of London's underworld - as far away from London society as is possible to be. By a strange quirk of fate (and some good plotting by Ms. Robards), she ends up as "Julia Stratham" - but one does not turn into a society lady just by changing one's name, and "Jewel" has some heavy work ahead of her in order to fit into a "society lady". While this part of the story is excellent in and of itself, it is the romance part that really makes this book shine. Sebastian, Earl of Moorland, is everything in a hero that a romance reader could wish for - handsome (gorgeous, even), emotionally cold and distant, and best (or worst) of all - accused of killing his first wife.

It is the relationship between "Julia" and Sebastian that really makes this book shine, and it is the unusual storyline, excellent, excellent writing, and really good characterizations and character development that make this book a level or two above the others. This book simply has everything, a true "keeper".

Very, very highly recommended. If you are a romance reader and have never read LOVING JULIA, I recommend that you get yourself a copy immediately!

Julia/Jewel had a fighting spirit, she was fiery, determined, brave, kind, smart, funny and forgiving, all the traits of an endearing heroine, she was indeed. She spiced up every scene with her presence. Sebastian was cold and cynical, but hidden behind the icy mask was a man hungry for love and afraid to be hurt by loving anyone. Despite the harsh and unforgiving condition of living on the street, Jewel cherished herself, was brave, kind and compassionate. Despite having everything he could possibly have in life, Sebastian was lonely and deprived of love.

I enjoyed reading how Jewel struggled to be Julia, a lady, how she refused to be defeated, how shame and pride made her determined and brave. It provided the most funny and admirable moments and I found myself applauding her spirit and triumphs. There were sparks whenever Sebastian and Julia were together, the fiery exchanges, the battling of wits, control and passion. Sometime I found Sebastian to be too harsh and cruel to Julia, in turn being harsh to himself. The book had very good character development, but I wish for a little more insights to the anguish felt by Sebastian when he forced himself to hurt the person he loved. Sebastian was almost too cold and unfeeling at some scenes to be likeable at all. Despite all the ill treatment from Sebastian, Julia was determined to fight for her love, to break his icy control and reach behind his mask. She was touchingly forgiving and loved so completely. So I was particularly satisfied to read about Sebastian's anguish when he feared that he might lose Julia forever. That certainly brought up the depth of his feelings toward Julia, his desperate need to have someone who love him totally, and hardened his resolve to treasured her for the rest of his life. Though I think Sebastian deserved to suffer a bit for the way he treated Julia earlier, there is something very tender about a man losing control over love.

Well, I won't say that the book was romantic. But it tugged your heart and carried you along with the tide of emotions of the characters. The plot held enough twists and surprisings that you would hold your breath and keep the pages turning. Quite a wonderful read.

I could not put this book down, as with all of Ms. Robards stories. I am really hooked on her books. Loving Julia is definately one of the best. Sebastian is one of the most romantic and handsome men that Karen Robards has written.Even though he seems to be cold and heartless, Julia brings out the love inside of him. I loved the way that he teaches Julia to be a lady, and I laughed many times. I will definately be reading this one again and again.

Did not expect such well crafted story with well defined characters. Storyline seemed inspired by classics like pygmalion and rebacca...but still very enjoyble... My first read by the author...Looking forward to reading more of her work.