TITLES J

Titles - A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T The U V W X Y Z

Jack with a Twist - Brenda Janowitz (2008)

In this sequel to Scot on the Rocks, Brooke is back, and newly engaged to fellow attorney Jack. If planning their wedding wasn't enough, Brooke also gets to lead her first court case, representing her wedding dress designer - and the opposing lawyer is none other than her fianc�. And the experienced litigator certainly isn't planning on going easy on her. Read it to experience the nightmare of keeping the two sets of parents happy (hers a kosher butcher and Jewish housewife and his a judge and vegetarian socialite). As much as I realised how much I'd missed Brooke once I started reading (oh please, you know you did too), this needed more of a twist to make it better than the original.


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Jane Austen Ruined My Life - Beth Pattillo (2009)

When Emma Grant loses her husband to her teaching assistant and her career to the scandal that follows, she does what any betrayed woman would do - she hops on the first plane to London to prove that all of the happy endings Jane Austen wrote about were complete and utter nonsense. Armed with the promise of a stack of long-lost Jane Austen letters, Emma sets off on a series of secret tasks from a peculiar old woman named Mrs Parrot. From London to Bath to Lyme Regis, Emma visits the locations of Jane Austen's England. Along the way, she meets up with her old friend, Adam, and begins to realise that there may just be something to those happy endings after all. This is a fun, fast read, combining fact and fiction to help the Austen enthusiast gain a little more insight into the life of one of the most beloved authors of all time. (LEK)


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Jemima J - Jane Green (1999)

Jemima Jones is an overweight reporter on a local English newspaper. In lust with her charming but out-of-her-league colleague Ben and mistreated by her social-climbing flatmates, Jemima escapes to the internet where she reinvents herself as the sexy and thin JJ. She gets involved in a long-distance romance with LA gym owner Brad and sends him an altered photo of herself. But when he decides he wants to meet her in person, Jemima has to start exercising and dieting so she can look like the woman he expects.


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Jennifer Johnson is Sick of Being Single - Heather McElhatton (2009)

Like the title says, Jennifer Johnson is sick of being single. At 31, she is about to be bridesmaid for her younger sister Hailey and her former boyfriend David has just sent her an invitation for his Valentine's Day wedding. So Jennifer submits her online dating profile and begins a series of dates. But she really has her eye on Bradford Keller, the heir to the Minnesota department store where she works in the marketing department. Is he the answer to her prayers? Read this dark comedy for the self-deprecating heroine but be prepared for the not-so-conclusive ending.


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Jillian Dare - Melanie M. Jeschke (2009)

Jillian Virginia Dare grew up as an orphan passed from foster home to foster home. At 20, she is offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to leave her small town of Shenandoah Valley and become a nanny on a big plantation in Virginia. There she is put in charge of caring for baby Cadence Remington. She bumps into her boss, Ethan, while out jogging and feels the attraction even though they don't know who the other is. Jillian starts to receive threatening emails from someone only known as CC. Shrugging it off, Jillian thinks it's just someone playing a prank until all these people start appearing in her life with the initials CC - from Corinna Cooke the maid to Calvin Cole the lawyer and Crystal Carter, Ethan's ex-wife and the leading lady in the Broadway show The Woman in White. Can Jillian move from her nanny role to win the hand of this wealthy movie producer? This is a contemporary take on Jane Eyre. (PP)


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Johnny Be Good - Paige Toon (2008)

Meg Stiles is on her way from London to LA, to act as British rock star Johnny Jefferson's personal assistant. Even though she prefers Kylie and had to Google her new boss, Meg finds - like the rest of the female population - she is unable to resist the gorgeous musician tatts and all (Robbie Williams, anyone?). Trouble is despite his actress girlfriend, Johnny can't resist the trappings of his sex, drugs and rock'n'roll lifestyle. As Meg hits red carpet events and band showcases courtesy of Johnny, she hangs out with his friend from home Christian, who is writing his biography. Is she going to be able to resist mixing business with pleasure? A pure escapist story for all those who have ever dreamt of a poster boy falling into their arms. For fans of Toon's first book, Lucy in the Sky, watch out for the brief mention of Lucy and Nathan (Meg's ex-boyfriend Tom is Lucy's stepbrother).


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Jumble Pie - Melanie Lynne Hauser (2007)

As the spelling bee champion for three years, the youngest editor of the Ravenwood Rooster and with top colleges offering her scholarships, Emily Meredith has always excelled in almost everything to meet her parents' expectations. For Juliet Montague, her parents' divorce was the cause of her overwhelming sense of insecurity and lack of confidence. A pie recipe brings the two girls together and they soon learn to embrace their differences and form a tight friendship. The story continues with them growing into women, and how they each take different paths. (XT)


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Jumping in Puddles - Claire Allan (2009)

Is the village of Rathinch in Donegal ready for a lone parents' support group? The village's resident old biddies may not think so but Detta O'Neill certainly does. Bringing together four lone parents from disparate backgrounds and situations, Detta is determined to make a difference and make the members of the group feel less alone. She certainly has her work cut out for her. The group comprises of Niamh Quigley, a woman whose husband has recently died; Ruth Byrne, single since her husband ran off with a younger woman; Liam Dougherty, the husband of the younger woman Ruth's ex left her for; and Ciara Boyle, a teenage mum who's keeping the identity of her child's father very much under wraps. Can Detta help the group to forge friendships, find happiness and confidence again and work through the secrets they're harbouring? And is Detta herself carrying around a secret with her? This is a heart-warming story that addresses many relatable themes and issues. Each character has a distinct presence and is totally credible. It's a lovely book to curl up with at the end of a hard day. (SBB)


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Just Between Us - Cathy Kelly (2003)

The Miller family appear to have it all. Parents Rose and Hugh are celebrating 40 years of marriage with their three beautiful daughters. As the celebration of the wedding anniversary nears, cracks appear, not only in their relationship but in the lives of their children - Stella, lawyer and single mother; Tara, a TV executive married to Finn; and the youngest Holly who endures a struggle for confidence and self-worth. It's a warm and tender story where we feel the triumphs of the characters and their tribulations deeply. It is these features that cause us to fall in love with all of the main characters. It is somewhat predictable however, as Cathy Kelly leaves obvious clues as to the inner struggle of each of the characters. But still, a delightful and fun read full of Irish warmth. (LF)


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Just Breathe - Susan Wiggs (2008)

This is a long, yet stirring and heartfelt story about marriage. Cartoonist Sarah Moon had always stood by her husband Jack and loved him wholeheartedly; deferring her job and her desire for a child, and instead focused on nursing him when he was diagnosed with cancer. Now, with Jack fully recovered, Sarah goes for artificial insemination to fulfil her dreams of creating a family. But her world comes crashing down when she learns about Jack's infidelity; and she flees to her north Californian hometown, a place she never felt happy or like she belonged. There she meets Will Bonner, her high school obsession, and his 13-year-old stepdaughter, Aurora, and starts to rediscover herself, her past and what love is all about. (XT)


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Just Friends - Robyn Sisman (2000)

Have you ever been told that it is impossible for men and women to be "just friends"? After a stunningly abrupt break-up from her predictable and, quite frankly, boring boyfriend, Freya is left homeless and wondering why she ever thought that he was going to propose. Desperate to find a place to live, she is forced to move in with her womanising writer friend, Jack. Despite Freya's eccentric best friend, Cat, telling her that men and women can't simply be "just friends", she is determined to prove her wrong. However when her sister announces that she is getting married, Freya and Jack's just-friends relationship is put to the test when Freya, determined to not be made a fool of by her family, asks Jack to be her boyfriend for the occasion. However, can Jack keep his womanising ways on hold for Freya? And will Freya realise her feelings, that Cat was right all along? This is a fantastic novel that takes a traditional scenario and mixes it up with witty banter and surprising twists and turns involving lovable and irresistible characters. (GC)


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Just Like Me, Only Better - Carol Snow (2010)

Veronica's marriage is over - her husband Hank has moved in with a glossy realtor and they share custody of young son Ben. But for this struggling substitute teacher, life is about to take a more glamorous turn. Constantly mistaken for TV actress-slash-singer Haley Rush, Veronica meets up with Haley's manager Jay and scores a well-paying gig as her double. She gets hair extensions, an LA tan, access to Haley's wardrobe and a driver service - and in return she stands in for Haley - who often goes off the rails - signing autographs, walking the red carpet and getting papped with Haley's castmate and ex, Brady. As Veronica juggles being a single mum living in someone else's guesthouse with playing the fame game while keeping her identity under wraps, it seems she's finding slipping into Haley's life far too alluring - particularly that hunky Brady. Winning extra points for its ingenious scenario, this is easy-reading chick lit that will suit those who pore over celebrity magazines - or those who scorn them.


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Just One Of The Guys - Kristan Higgins (2008)

Thirty-one-year-old Chastity O'Neil has just moved back to her beautiful hometown in Eaton Falls, secured a job as editor of a local newspaper, and is just one single step away from her dream of getting married and settling down. Growing up in a family of four older fire-fighter brothers has made her just like one of guys - both in appearance and behaviour, which makes it a little hard for her to get back to the dating scene. All hope is not lost when Chastity catches the attention of handsome trauma surgeon Ryan Darling while attending a self-defence class with her mother. However, in spite of her new romance, her heart still longs for her first love, Trevor. This book got me laughing and crying and I was hooked until the last page. It's an extremely relaxing yet delightful read and definitely worth recommending to a friend. (XT)


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Just Say Yes - Phillipa Ashley (2008)

Lucy Gibson becomes public enemy No. 1 when she turns down the on-air proposal of her boyfriend of six months. Nick had just been announced as the winner of an Apprentice-like reality TV show called Hot Shots. Hounded by the press, Lucy heads to her friend Fiona's cottage in Cornwall where she falls for Josh. But he unfortunately has a not-very-nice girlfriend called Sara, who shares his passion for yachting. He also likes people to be upfront with him, which means there's gonna be trouble when he finds out Lucy hasn't been honest about why she is in Cornwall. So ho-hum predictable, with some confusing consistency errors and the usual cheesy dialogue, this is the third Ashley book I have tried but from now on I will Just Say No.


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Just the Sexiest Man Alive - Julie James (2008)

Taylor Donovan is a confident no-nonsense attorney on track to become partner at her law firm. Her newest assignment is to coach Jason Andrews, Hollywood's sexiest heart-throb, for his new role in a legal thriller movie. And Taylor is determined not to fall for Jason's charming ways. This debut novel is exceptionally well written and a fun read. (AO)


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Just the Three of Us - Clare Dowling (2009)

Downtrodden PR assistant Debs meets Bob at the sandwich shop. Even through he's married, they soon take to meeting for lunch in the park. Geri has been married to Bob for 17 years and between dealing with her nursing job, a teenage daughter who's taken up with the neighbourhood hellraiser and a grieving sister, she never suspects a thing until it is too late. The banter between the family members and the fact the characters are so different from the usual infidelity suspects makes this stand out from the crowd.


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