Loving Julia

By Karen Robards

Book Overview

You'll have to learn to speak, to dress, to conduct yourself as a lady". Sebastian, the Earl of Moorland, icily intoned his orders to the cockney commoner who eyed him defiantly.

Fate had brought the saucy Jewel Combs far from her shivering, dockside existence to the mansion on Grosvenor Square. Now she was about to be renamed "Julia Stratham", in the Earl's outlandish stand against his domineering mother. His plan: to transform this diamond in the rough into a glittering gem worthy of the family name. But even as Jewel is swept up in all there is to know -- and the critical gaze of her handsome patron -- she unknowingly imparts a few lessons of her own. The Earl of Moorland is about to learn that although his "Julia" is no lady, she is all woman...and one with whom he can't resist falling madly, unexpectedly, and passionately in love.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0446300578
• ISBN13: 9780446300575
• Release Date: December 1986
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 4.4" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

This was a REALLY good book!

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!

A sexy "pygmalian" romance

I absolutely love this novel. It's unquestionably one of Robard's best works. Forget tall, dark heroes ladies. I thought I liked those types the best too, until Robards introduces readers to the character of Sebastian in this novel. He's incredibly handsome, with ice blue eyes and the blond hair of an angel. Yet, he's no angel. In fact he's got many flaws (which is one of the reasons I like him as a hero--he's more real than the standard romance fare). He's a social snob to some extent and he's perfectly unfair when it comes to relationships (he initially doesn't want to marry Julia, just make her his mistress; yet, he does everything in his power to prevent her from accepting a respectable marriage proposal). From his cold upbringing, he doesn't know how to love and doesn't trust that emotion. Julia changes all that with her freely given love. I really liked Julia as a heroine because, although she loves Sebastian to distraction, she doesn't bow down to him. Although she comes from the streets, she never thinks of herself as inferior to the ton. I liked her spunk and her determination.This story is super sexy (some really hot scenes in here), ultra-romantic, and will keep you on your toes until the very end. Like all romances, readers know that all will end happily ever after, but Robards keeps the excitement going in this book until nearly the last moment.Definitely a keeper.

You wont put this book down!

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!

Passionate Love Story

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!

A heartwrenching, true "cinderella/my fair lady" romance!

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.