Opposites Attract [Mass Market Paperback]

Hailey North (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Wealthy, idle heroines are the norm in the historical romance genre, but they're a much harder sell in the contemporary arena. Indeed, readers may find themselves unsympathetic to the plight of New Orleans native Jonquil Livaudais Landry DeVries, a pampered, pretty socialite who has spent the year following her husband's death drowning her sorrows in a tub of ice cream while her nanny cares for her five-year-old daughter and her housekeeper keeps her historic mansion pristine. Lacking a career and a general direction in life, Jonni spends her time pondering her husband's fidelity (or lack thereof), until her twin coerces her into letting a Hollywood film crew into her home to shoot a children's flick. Jonni perks up when she meets the film's star, super rich and sexy Cameron Scott, but she can't see why he'd be interested in her. Readers may also be hard-pressed to explain the attraction. Though North (Tangled Up in Love) makes it clear that Cameron, a stereotypical bad boy with a heart of gold, wants to settle down, Jonni is a mere cipher. The drama unfolds predictably, and a passel of stock supporting characters clutter the story with cliches. In the end, the only noteworthy aspect of the novel is its sex scenes, which are spicy but not enough to make the rest of the book worthwhile.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Jonquil "Jonni" Landry DeVries is wealthy, widowed, and in a rut, so when a Hollywood producer wants to use her mansion as a set in his new children's movie, she agrees. Cameron Scott is a megastar and the epitome of the Hollywood bad boy. When he first meets Jonni, whom he's loved since first sight, he is in makeup as the ancient hero, and she strikes up a comfortable conversation with the sweet, elderly man. But Cameron dreads the day when Jonni meets him just as he is. He fears that she'll react with the typical shock and distrust his exaggerated reputation brings on in "nice" women. Cameron can only hope that Jonni sees through the Hollywood hype and returns his love. Readers who enjoyed Lisa Plumley's comedy, Perfect Together [BKL Ap 15 03], will also go for North's humorous, often poignant look at a man who has to be in costume to be himself and a woman in search of her own identity. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (May 27, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380820706
• ISBN-13: 978-0380820702
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,278,591 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books I have ever read!!!!, June 12, 2003

By 

L. Mcconner (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Opposites Attract (Mass Market Paperback)

Thank you so much Hailey North for this wonderful read. With this steamy and witty book you have definitely helped to get my summer off to a kicking start! I cannot wait for your next one!

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read but not up to author's usual standard, June 12, 2003

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Opposites Attract (Mass Market Paperback)

New Orleans socialite Jonni Landry DeVries wonders why she did it. It was obviously a moment of lunacy that made her open her mansion to a Hollywood film crew. Jonni has spent the past year in mourning, but not for her deceased philandering spouse. Instead she grieves what he did to her once vibrant personality so that Jonni has not recently helped in the care of their five-year-old child, let alone nurturing her daughter.

The tabloids love following Cameron Scott, the star of the children's film being made on location in Jonni's home. Known for his womanizing ways, Cameron and Jonni are attracted to one another. However, she refuses to get involved with another bad boy while all he wants is the role of a lifetime starring with her.

Though quite engaging at times due mostly to the hero, readers will be hard pressed to find any empathy towards the lead female protagonist. Not only is Jonni wallowing, but also ignoring her child leaves her open to animosity as a worthless rich bi*ch. Still, Scott is a delightful character and somewhat carries the tale with some help by the daughter of his beloved. He is a hunk who somehow manages to break through Jonni's barrier of self-pity.

Harriet Klausner

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Stick with Coconuts, August 5, 2006

By 

IndigoRaiyne (Aiken, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Opposites Attract (Mass Market Paperback)

Let me begin by saying this book sucked. It sucked so hard, I'm suprised black holes aren't springing up near it. I only finished this book because I bought it and thought it would be wrong of me not to. (I only actually "read" about half of it, the rest I read on skim mode)

The writing was uninspired and I didn't understand the heroine. At all. She was apparently some wealthy New Orleans socialite who always dreamt of being a wife and mother. But she didn't actually take care of her child. Or clean her house. Or have sex with her husband (he was having an affair with a fellow lawyer and was tragically killed in a car accident.) I have no idea WHAT this woman did all day. Except maybe eat icecream?

There were several scenes that annoyed me, but I think the worse was when Jonnie (Her name was Jonquil, which PLEASE.) decided she was tired of her late husband's study being dark so she pulls out a chair and rips down the drapes. Where she leaves them piled on the floor until he maid comes into the room to see what's going on. Jonnie promptly tells the maid to dispose of the drapes. Does Jonnie have something pressing to do? Could she not clean up the mess she made? After that; I just sort of hated her and hoped she was hit by a bus.

I didn't much care for the hero, Cameron, either. He seemed very one dimensional and like every other romance novel bad boy. He was in trouble as a juvenile, yet he was really tender and sensative. I will say that through his actions I had a better feel for his compassion and concern for others. So, I guess that's a plus.

With Jonnie, I felt like the reader was always being told what to think of her. You should think Jonnie is compassionate because she hired a nanny David (the dead husband) wouldn't have given her a chance. You should think Jonnie wants to take care of her child because she says so (even though Jonnie leaves her daughter alone or with the nanny most of the to run off and be with Cameron.)

I never understood the title of the book either. I still can't figure out what is opposite about the characters, and their attraction was tepid at best. I don't recommend this book, unless you're stranded on an island alone and might go crazy with the boredom. But even then, I would try coconut sculpture first.