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Loving Julia
SHE WHISPERED "YES, MY LORD", AND PROMISED TO OBEY HIM ... WITH HER BODY AND HER LOVE
London street urchin Jewel Combs had no future but one of whoredom and shame. Then a dying gentleman looked at her topaz eyes and still untouched innocence --- and wed her to torment his aristocratic family with a final, scandalous joke after his death.
But Sebastian, Earl of Moorland, found nothing humorous in the cheeky young widow's claims on his cousin's inheritance ... or in the smoldering sensuality of this rough Jewel. Appraising her with his ice blue eyes, he wondered if it might be amusing to polish her into a lady, call her Julia Stratham ... and seduce her.
Jewel had kept her virginity amid England's roughest men, yet when this devastatingly handsome lord lowered his mouth to her burning flesh, an irresistible fire consumed her ... and even if he called her wanton, she vowed to be the lady he loved tonight ... and forever.
London street urchin Jewel Combs had no future but one of whoredom and shame. Then a dying gentleman looked at her topaz eyes and still untouched innocence --- and wed her to torment his aristocratic family with a final, scandalous joke after his death.
But Sebastian, Earl of Moorland, found nothing humorous in the cheeky young widow's claims on his cousin's inheritance ... or in the smoldering sensuality of this rough Jewel. Appraising her with his ice blue eyes, he wondered if it might be amusing to polish her into a lady, call her Julia Stratham ... and seduce her.
Jewel had kept her virginity amid England's roughest men, yet when this devastatingly handsome lord lowered his mouth to her burning flesh, an irresistible fire consumed her ... and even if he called her wanton, she vowed to be the lady he loved tonight ... and forever.
376 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1986
158 people are currently reading
1004 people want to read
About the author
Karen Robards
135 books3,240 followersKaren Robards is the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestselling author of more than fifty books and one novella. She has won multiple awards including six Affaire de Coeur Silver Pen Awards for favorite author.
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
Karen has been writing since she was very young, and was first published nationally in the December 1973 Reader's Digest. She sold her first romance novel, ISLAND FLAME, when she was 24. It was published by Leisure Books in 1981 and is still in print. After that, she dropped out of law school to pursue her writing career.
Karen was recently described by The Daily Mail as "one of the most reliable thriller....writers in the world."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
June 25, 2023
Note: Some of my goodreads shelves can be spoilers
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Hero Jerk Scale: 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person mostly from the heroine though there are a couple small sections from the hero
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, two years later
Format: bought 1985 paperback version
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Full break down here:
Should I read in order?
I believe this is a stand alone.
Basic plot:
A trail of circumstances lead Jewel to marrying the cousin of the cold Earl of Moorland – and when her husband passes, she goes for her inheritance...
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian (1841)
- London and English countryside setting
- you’re okay with plenty of heavy content warnings/old school feels (see bottom of review)
- body betrayed me trope
- touch of bargain – the hero agrees to acknowledge the heroine’s marriage to his since passed cousin, clothe her and feed her and in return she becomes a lady and annoys his mother (whom he hates)
- age gap – hero is 14-15 years older than the heroine
- widower/Earl hero
- rags to riches – heroine was raised on the streets of London and is turned into a lady
- child in the story (not a HUGE part)
- class difference
- touch of 'ugly duckling' feel
- lower to medium steam – 3 full scenes – not the MOST descriptive but explicit enough
Ages:
- Hero is 31, heroine is 16/17 ( I had to pretend she was older 😬 )
First line:
“You, Jool, get yer arse movin’ and do as yer bid! Now! Or, by God, I’ll...”
My thoughts:
Oof this one ended up being a definite jerk hero! I actually really loved the first half of the book – I was flying through it and enjoying and liking both characters.
But the second half had a big turn around in the characters behavior. It was a bit too much for me – Sebastian was too much of a jerk and his redemption left more to be desired, in my opinion. Jewel too made me quite mad at the end of the story. I was a bit surprised with the ending of the story and I liked the first half so I give 3 stars. The cover is gorgeous! Thinking I wouldn’t reread this one though.
Going to get into specifics now about my thoughts so marking for spoilers!
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Readability: 📖📖📖📖
Feels: 🦋🦋🦋
Emotional Depth: 💔💔💔💔
Sexual Tension: ⚡⚡
Romance: 💞💞
Sensuality: 💋💋💋
Sex Scene Length: 🍑🍑🍑
Steam Scale (Number of Sex Scenes): 🔥🔥🔥
Hero Jerk Scale: 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠
Humor: A touch
Perspective: Third person mostly from the heroine though there are a couple small sections from the hero
Cliffhanger: No
Epilogue: Yes, two years later
Format: bought 1985 paperback version
(These are all personal preference on a scale of 1-5 (yours ratings may vary depending what gives you feels and how you prefer you sex scenes written, etc) except the Steam Scale which follows our chart from The Ton and Tartans Book Club )
Full break down here:
Should I read in order?
I believe this is a stand alone.
Basic plot:
A trail of circumstances lead Jewel to marrying the cousin of the cold Earl of Moorland – and when her husband passes, she goes for her inheritance...
Give this a try if you want:
- Victorian (1841)
- London and English countryside setting
- you’re okay with plenty of heavy content warnings/old school feels (see bottom of review)
- body betrayed me trope
- touch of bargain – the hero agrees to acknowledge the heroine’s marriage to his since passed cousin, clothe her and feed her and in return she becomes a lady and annoys his mother (whom he hates)
- age gap – hero is 14-15 years older than the heroine
- widower/Earl hero
- rags to riches – heroine was raised on the streets of London and is turned into a lady
- child in the story (not a HUGE part)
- class difference
- touch of 'ugly duckling' feel
- lower to medium steam – 3 full scenes – not the MOST descriptive but explicit enough
Ages:
- Hero is 31, heroine is 16/17 ( I had to pretend she was older 😬 )
First line:
“You, Jool, get yer arse movin’ and do as yer bid! Now! Or, by God, I’ll...”
My thoughts:
Oof this one ended up being a definite jerk hero! I actually really loved the first half of the book – I was flying through it and enjoying and liking both characters.
But the second half had a big turn around in the characters behavior. It was a bit too much for me – Sebastian was too much of a jerk and his redemption left more to be desired, in my opinion. Jewel too made me quite mad at the end of the story. I was a bit surprised with the ending of the story and I liked the first half so I give 3 stars. The cover is gorgeous! Thinking I wouldn’t reread this one though.
Going to get into specifics now about my thoughts so marking for spoilers!
Quotes/spoiler-y thoughts:
Content warnings:
Locations of kisses/intimate scenes:
July 27, 2023
I read this one years ago and I recall how un-pc it is and quite the bodice ripper. The hero is craptasically awful to the heroine after one scene and I wanted to hit him but it also brings in the angsty-goodness.
Honestly, I think it was early college late high school when I last read this book but I did like it. I do plan to re-read it again soon.
The ending was great and the hero is so wonderful to Julia in the end that it almost makes up for his behavior.
These 80's heroes of Robard's are quite posessive and very domineering. I miss them in her new books. I wish she would write more historicals but of this caliber and not like her last historical, Shameless. That one was boring.
Honestly, I think it was early college late high school when I last read this book but I did like it. I do plan to re-read it again soon.
The ending was great and the hero is so wonderful to Julia in the end that it almost makes up for his behavior.
These 80's heroes of Robard's are quite posessive and very domineering. I miss them in her new books. I wish she would write more historicals but of this caliber and not like her last historical, Shameless. That one was boring.
November 30, 2017
3.5 stars! Pretty good for a historical romance. I loved the character of Julia. What a brave woman to overcome her upbringing and turn into a confident and wonderful woman. Sebastian grew on me. He was an ass in the beginning but finding out about his backstory, I liked the character better.
There was some suspense and a few bad characters to give this more of a plot then just a love story. The steaminess was also well done.
There was some suspense and a few bad characters to give this more of a plot then just a love story. The steaminess was also well done.
June 25, 2023
Hmm… this had all the ingredients for an angsty emotional dramarama bodice ripper… and was a disappointment on every level. I’ve liked this author before so I was expecting to love this… and yet… the hero was MIA for much of the book. And by the time he pulled his head out of his ass I was no longer as invested as I should have been. I just feel like all the parts I was expecting to encounter emotion, the author chose to move past it and not seize the angsty gold right there in her hands. Even the OW drama was a snoozefest. We get a little jealousy 75% in… something that was sorely lacking given the trope… but again too little too late. 🤷🏼♀️
Meh. 1986 can do better.
Meh. 1986 can do better.
March 8, 2019
Jewel Combs (Julia Stratham) is a cockney guttersnipe with an anger management problem:
Sebastian, the Earl of Moorland, is a silver-haired social pariah that does things just for the hell of it:
And together they’ll be what you get if you put Jane Eyre with a dash of Rebecca to My Fair Lady.
As a more or less proficient pickpocket living on the streets of London, Jewel knows no one is going to save her and it’s up to her to take care of herself. After a robbery gone awry, Jewel stays to watch over the dying aristocrat who decides his dying wish is to marry her to reward her vigil and to spite his guardian one last time. For old memory's sake. When Jewel presents her marriage lines to Sebastian, he decides to turn her into a lady because he’s bored and he realizes it pisses off his mom and that’s as good as any reason.
Sebastian will acknowledge the marriage and grant Jewel the inheritance that was her husband’s under the condition she agrees to educate herself as a lady. It is a fascinating look into the proper education of English ladies and in some ways, it’s better than any time travel HR. The reader is with Julia every step of the way, and relates to Julia when she feels “a sudden sensation of being caught in a dream…never in her wildest dreams had she thought to find herself dressed in silk and lace.”
Julia's lady training is formidable. There are correct forms of address and appropriate curtsy levels depending on rank. A right way to sit, a right way to float across the room, and enunciation lessons that revolve around speaking the letter “H” forevermore in front of the flame of a candle. Julia’s lady training is easily one of the most comical moments in the story.
It also serves to develop her character, as Jewel straddles dual identities:
Jewel Combs had never been afraid of anything in her life! She had never had to be because she could take care of herself. But this new person that she was becoming, this Julia Stratham, was afraid all the time.
It’s somewhat ironic because Jewel was scared in ways Julia was not. Behind the tough facade, Jewel was scared. She was easily intimidated and could not control her temper. She was easily baited into losing her cool because she was defensive. As Jewel transformed into Julia, she became more confident and comfortable with herself. Julia is still a fighter and she even decides to fight for Sebastian but she does not resort to yelling to get her point across. She rose to the occasion during the climax of the story, and it was so satisfying.
Despite Sebastian’s tendency to run away from his feelings, install women in his mistress Airbnb apartment, and even pretend Jewel wasn’t a virgin, Sebastian redeems himself in the Robards signature.
That's the scene when the hero enters the party in full swing but everyone stops to gawk at him as soon as he waltzes in. In all 3 Robard stories I’ve read, this moment is recreated, shot by shot, and I can see why. It is extremely effective.
And Sebastian, despite publicly ruining Julia, with the whole Ton watching with popcorn, is smart enough to realize the only person he owned was himself immediately after the fact, and sets off after Julia.
One of my favourite HR authors, Karen Robards does not disappoint with Loving Julia.
Sebastian, the Earl of Moorland, is a silver-haired social pariah that does things just for the hell of it:
And together they’ll be what you get if you put Jane Eyre with a dash of Rebecca to My Fair Lady.
As a more or less proficient pickpocket living on the streets of London, Jewel knows no one is going to save her and it’s up to her to take care of herself. After a robbery gone awry, Jewel stays to watch over the dying aristocrat who decides his dying wish is to marry her to reward her vigil and to spite his guardian one last time. For old memory's sake. When Jewel presents her marriage lines to Sebastian, he decides to turn her into a lady because he’s bored and he realizes it pisses off his mom and that’s as good as any reason.
Sebastian will acknowledge the marriage and grant Jewel the inheritance that was her husband’s under the condition she agrees to educate herself as a lady. It is a fascinating look into the proper education of English ladies and in some ways, it’s better than any time travel HR. The reader is with Julia every step of the way, and relates to Julia when she feels “a sudden sensation of being caught in a dream…never in her wildest dreams had she thought to find herself dressed in silk and lace.”
Julia's lady training is formidable. There are correct forms of address and appropriate curtsy levels depending on rank. A right way to sit, a right way to float across the room, and enunciation lessons that revolve around speaking the letter “H” forevermore in front of the flame of a candle. Julia’s lady training is easily one of the most comical moments in the story.
It also serves to develop her character, as Jewel straddles dual identities:
Jewel Combs had never been afraid of anything in her life! She had never had to be because she could take care of herself. But this new person that she was becoming, this Julia Stratham, was afraid all the time.
It’s somewhat ironic because Jewel was scared in ways Julia was not. Behind the tough facade, Jewel was scared. She was easily intimidated and could not control her temper. She was easily baited into losing her cool because she was defensive. As Jewel transformed into Julia, she became more confident and comfortable with herself. Julia is still a fighter and she even decides to fight for Sebastian but she does not resort to yelling to get her point across. She rose to the occasion during the climax of the story, and it was so satisfying.
Despite Sebastian’s tendency to run away from his feelings, install women in his mistress Airbnb apartment, and even pretend Jewel wasn’t a virgin, Sebastian redeems himself in the Robards signature.
That's the scene when the hero enters the party in full swing but everyone stops to gawk at him as soon as he waltzes in. In all 3 Robard stories I’ve read, this moment is recreated, shot by shot, and I can see why. It is extremely effective.
And Sebastian, despite publicly ruining Julia, with the whole Ton watching with popcorn, is smart enough to realize the only person he owned was himself immediately after the fact, and sets off after Julia.
One of my favourite HR authors, Karen Robards does not disappoint with Loving Julia.
February 25, 2018
Jewel Combs es una joven huérfana de dieciséis años que hace lo que sea necesario para sobrevivir. Vive en las calles rodeada de maleantes y desde niña ha sido educada en las mejores artes del afanamiento, lo que hace de ella una magnifica ladronzuela. Sabe que no le queda mucho tiempo y que con el tiempo se verá abocada a la prostitución.
Durante uno de sus trabajos se verá actuando como señuelo para atraer hombres incautos hacía un callejón donde sus compinches procederán a robarles todo lo que lleven encima. Pero las cosas no saldrán como esperan y el joven borracho al que acaba de abordar acabará herido. Jewel no quería que lo hirieran y se siente responsable, por lo que huyendo de sus compinches se hará cargo de el joven. A pesar de sus cuidados las heridas del muchacho son graves, por lo que morirá, no sin antes hacer efectiva su última voluntad, fastidiar a su familia y a la vez recompensar a Jewel casándose con ella, para que como su esposa, pueda heredar la fortuna que él heredaría al cumplir los veinticinco años. Al presentarse ante la familia de su difunto marido para reclamar su herencia se verá atrapada en algo que no esperaba.
Sebastian conde de Moorland, es el primo del difunto marido de Jewel, cuando ve a la joven harapienta en su casa no puede creer que lo que le está contando sea cierto y que esa joven sea la viuda de su primo. A pesar de no estar del todo convencido de lo que la joven le cuenta y que su primer impulso sea echarla a la calle, al ver lo mucho que disgusta a su madre la presencia de la muchacha, la tomará bajo su tutela y se encargará de hacer de ella toda una dama.
Jewel se verá trasladada al campo donde recibirá la educación necesaria para transformarla en un miembro adecuado del lugar que ahora ocupa en la sociedad, para convertir a Jewel Combs en Julia Stratham.
La vida en el campo para Jewel no será tan fácil como ella cree, porque el transformarse en una dama no va a ser tarea fácil, y también deberá luchar con el miedo de perderse a sí misma durante el proceso, y para colmo una sospecha de asesinato y un fantasma que anuncia la muerte rodean la vida en White Friars.
Sebastian es el conde de Moorland, aunque ese puesto no era para él, sino para su fallecido hermano, el consentido de su madre, con la cual tiene una relación bastante fría y tensa. Viudo, y con una niña pequeña, es una persona bastante fría y resentida con la sociedad. Lo que explica levemente su carácter y su frialdad para los que lo rodean en especial con Julia. El trauma de la hijita de Sebastian me ha parecido un poquito cogido por los pelos, pero bueno, es una niña muy pequeña y nunca se sabe como pueden reaccionar los niños ante ciertas situaciones.
Es una historia con un punto a lo My Fair Lady donde un conde se impondrá la tarea de convertir a una golfilla de Whitechapel en toda una dama. Durante el proceso podremos ver como la forma de verse el uno al otro va cambiando poco a poco, hasta a llegar a ser algo más. La pareja tiene una gran química, y eso se verá reflejado en la historia. Una histórica de romántica clásica, que si bien no es demasiado original cumple su misión, entretiene y, aunque tampoco es de lo mejor que leído, no está mal.
Reseña completa en: https://bibliotecariarecomienda.blogs...
Durante uno de sus trabajos se verá actuando como señuelo para atraer hombres incautos hacía un callejón donde sus compinches procederán a robarles todo lo que lleven encima. Pero las cosas no saldrán como esperan y el joven borracho al que acaba de abordar acabará herido. Jewel no quería que lo hirieran y se siente responsable, por lo que huyendo de sus compinches se hará cargo de el joven. A pesar de sus cuidados las heridas del muchacho son graves, por lo que morirá, no sin antes hacer efectiva su última voluntad, fastidiar a su familia y a la vez recompensar a Jewel casándose con ella, para que como su esposa, pueda heredar la fortuna que él heredaría al cumplir los veinticinco años. Al presentarse ante la familia de su difunto marido para reclamar su herencia se verá atrapada en algo que no esperaba.
Sebastian conde de Moorland, es el primo del difunto marido de Jewel, cuando ve a la joven harapienta en su casa no puede creer que lo que le está contando sea cierto y que esa joven sea la viuda de su primo. A pesar de no estar del todo convencido de lo que la joven le cuenta y que su primer impulso sea echarla a la calle, al ver lo mucho que disgusta a su madre la presencia de la muchacha, la tomará bajo su tutela y se encargará de hacer de ella toda una dama.
Jewel se verá trasladada al campo donde recibirá la educación necesaria para transformarla en un miembro adecuado del lugar que ahora ocupa en la sociedad, para convertir a Jewel Combs en Julia Stratham.
La vida en el campo para Jewel no será tan fácil como ella cree, porque el transformarse en una dama no va a ser tarea fácil, y también deberá luchar con el miedo de perderse a sí misma durante el proceso, y para colmo una sospecha de asesinato y un fantasma que anuncia la muerte rodean la vida en White Friars.
Sebastian es el conde de Moorland, aunque ese puesto no era para él, sino para su fallecido hermano, el consentido de su madre, con la cual tiene una relación bastante fría y tensa. Viudo, y con una niña pequeña, es una persona bastante fría y resentida con la sociedad. Lo que explica levemente su carácter y su frialdad para los que lo rodean en especial con Julia. El trauma de la hijita de Sebastian me ha parecido un poquito cogido por los pelos, pero bueno, es una niña muy pequeña y nunca se sabe como pueden reaccionar los niños ante ciertas situaciones.
Es una historia con un punto a lo My Fair Lady donde un conde se impondrá la tarea de convertir a una golfilla de Whitechapel en toda una dama. Durante el proceso podremos ver como la forma de verse el uno al otro va cambiando poco a poco, hasta a llegar a ser algo más. La pareja tiene una gran química, y eso se verá reflejado en la historia. Una histórica de romántica clásica, que si bien no es demasiado original cumple su misión, entretiene y, aunque tampoco es de lo mejor que leído, no está mal.
Reseña completa en: https://bibliotecariarecomienda.blogs...
September 1, 2015
This had potential and perhaps that's why I was disappointed.
It's basically a Pygmalion/My Fair Lady story. The problem I had was that both the H/h acted like teenagers. The h WAS a teen, so I guess I can give her some slack, but the H had no such excuse.
There was potential for great angst, but it just fell short. For example, the scene where he sends for her and directs her to the house in London where he keeps his mistresses. Basically he intends to install her there and doesn't even ask her first. I was rubbing my hands in anticipating of the fallout.
Yes, she slaps him as he deserves, but then proceeds to sleep with him anyway. She just can't control her traitorous body. But as they lie in bed afterwards, she slaps him again then proceeds to throw things and call names. The name calling hurts his tender feelings, so he decides he doesn't want her to be his mistress anyway :P
See what I mean? Children.
Also a lot of dropped plot threads or plots that just fizzled. The murderer for instance. That was just swept under the rug quickly and solved awfully conveniently.
I think this was another one of those cases where the angst is never really felt because too much is going on and too quickly.
It's basically a Pygmalion/My Fair Lady story. The problem I had was that both the H/h acted like teenagers. The h WAS a teen, so I guess I can give her some slack, but the H had no such excuse.
There was potential for great angst, but it just fell short. For example, the scene where he sends for her and directs her to the house in London where he keeps his mistresses. Basically he intends to install her there and doesn't even ask her first. I was rubbing my hands in anticipating of the fallout.
Yes, she slaps him as he deserves, but then proceeds to sleep with him anyway. She just can't control her traitorous body. But as they lie in bed afterwards, she slaps him again then proceeds to throw things and call names. The name calling hurts his tender feelings, so he decides he doesn't want her to be his mistress anyway :P
See what I mean? Children.
Also a lot of dropped plot threads or plots that just fizzled. The murderer for instance. That was just swept under the rug quickly and solved awfully conveniently.
I think this was another one of those cases where the angst is never really felt because too much is going on and too quickly.
March 23, 2011
Probably 3.5 -4 stars.
Interesting story.
Jewel Combs is a 16 year old london street urchin with no future. She works as a pick pocket with a pretty brutal group of men and is in fear that she will end up being sold as a whore. One night she and 2 other men( mick and jem) set about robbing a young man. Things get out of hand and mick needlessly stabs him.
This was not what Jewel had signed up for and she feels guilty about what happens so she tries to get help for the man and stays to try and nurse him. It is clear that he is dying but he wakes and indicates that he wishes to pay his debt to her and will do so by marrying her. The priest gets a special licence and they marry. Timothy stratham dies. The h is afraid to go back to her previous lodgings for fear that Mick will decide to kill her to and after a few days works up the courage to present herself to timothy's cousin and guardian Sebastian the Earl of Moorland.
The initial encounter between the two is amusing. Moorland considers her as less than human and treats her with contempt but due to his mother's intervention, he becomes contrary, and decides that he will accept the marriage, bring her into the family but on the condition that she does every thing he commands. he indicates that from now on she will be Julia Stratham and will have to learn to pass as a lady. The next day he takes her to his estate in the country.
As Julia's accent, clothes and presentation are pretty dreadful, Moorland disregards her comfort and generally continues to treat her with a large amount of contempt. Therein there follows a My Fair Lady esque transformation which takes place over a number of months. As other reviewers have said the author takes her time in respect of character development and lets things happen at a more natural pace.
moorland has been married before but his wife died in suspicious circumstances and his young daughter has turned mute, screaming at the very sight of him and compounding local suspicions that he killed his wife. Julia struggles with her transformation and at stages is uncertain that she wants to pursue it as she is afraid that she is losing herself.
After the governess makes some progress with Julia, Moorland invites her to dine with him. He gets her drunk and we later discover this was with the definite intention of seducing her. However when he kisses her, he realises that she can barely sit up and his conscience will not allow him to proceed as she is only 16 and clearly trusted him. He takes her upstairs whereupon she throws up. The governess resigns in dismay.
Moorland then takes over her education and over the next few months a genuine friendship develops between the two. Julia grows to depend on Moorland and trusts him completely. moorland starts to feel contentment and a degree of happiness.
Julia confronts Moorland about his apparent neglect of Chloe but that night he visits Chloe and she realises that he stays away from the child as the sight of him upsets her and that this is a source of distress to him. Moorland gets drunk and she goes to him. One thing leads to another and he takes her virginity.
The next day Julia is full of love for Moorland and is hopeful for the future. However she finds his curricle at the front door and it is clear that he is leaving for London. Moorland is extremely cold to Julia but makes it evident that he remembers that they had sex. Julia loses her temper (and her accent) and shouts at him but he drives off. It emerges that Sebastian believes that she was too responsive and eager and that this lead him to conclude that she was not a virgin and was nothing more than a whore trying to lure him in.
Over the next number of weeks Julia hears nothing from Moorland and is very hurt. She continues to teach herself and by this stage she has genuinely become Julia and jewel is forgotten. She then gets a summons to London.
When she arrives at London, Moorland has her brought to the house he keeps for his mistresses and he propositions her accordingly, making it clear he thinks her nothing better than a whore. She is furious but when he takes her in his arms, she falls into a helpless passion and succumbs go his advances ( I don't get it) . After the sex she remonstrates with him and they argue. She calls him a murderer and he leaves. The next day she gets a message to return to the country. Julia decides that instead of being sent away, she will fight for Moorland's love by taking her place in society and she presents herself to his proper home at Grosvenor Street. She is introduced to society by Moorland's mother and sister in law.
Julia is pursued by Lord Carlyle and Moorland becomes jealous. He is astonished to hear that Carlyle wants to marry her and he orders Julia to break the relationship off by threatening to tell her suitor the real nature of her origins. Julia becomes stubborn and as at this stage she feels the situation with moorland is hopeless, she thinks that marriage to Carlyle is her best option and presses him for a speedy ceremony.
Sebastian returns from a few days away and comes to the ball where Julia is and whisks her away back to the dodgy house. He apologises for his recent conduct and tells her he knows that she was a virgin the first night and that he loves her and wants to marry her. Julia is swept away and they make love.
She later remembers about Carlyle but fails to tell moorland that she hadn't called it off as she does not want a row and hopes she can sort it out without Moorland realising.
Unfortunately Carlyle takes the news very badly and tries to rape Julia in the library during a ball. Julia is over powered and in desperation thinks that if Carlyle thinks she is beginning to co-operate, she will get a chance to escape. Of course Moorland walks in at the critical moment, misunderstands the situation and instead of allowing Julia a chance to explain, denounces her to Carlyle and the rest of the ton, exposing her sordid origins.
Julia is humiliated and leaves the house in a state of distress wandering into the streets. She is then grabbed by the evil Mick, who has had the house watched. He makes it clear that he believes that she has betrayed him to the authorities, that he intends to kill her but that he will rape her first. He gives her an extremely severe beating and just when he is about to rape her, Moorland and some of his staff rescue her. However Julia has significant head trauma and is unconscious for days and it is uncertain as to whether she will pull through. Sebastian is very remorseful about his actions and the consequences having realised by this stage that he misread the situation. Julia does eventually recover and it is agreed that they will marry.
On the set wedding day, Julia again comes into peril as Sebastian's first wife's killer tries to do away with her as well. However Chloe rescues her.
They marry a few weeks later. Chloe is on the road to recovery and starts to talk and spend time with her father whom she comes to adore.
They all live happily ever after.
I believed in the characters because they were so well drawn and also for once I found the happy ending to be entirely convincing, again because the author made it seems that the h and h had genuinely learnt from their mistakes.
Interesting story.
Jewel Combs is a 16 year old london street urchin with no future. She works as a pick pocket with a pretty brutal group of men and is in fear that she will end up being sold as a whore. One night she and 2 other men( mick and jem) set about robbing a young man. Things get out of hand and mick needlessly stabs him.
This was not what Jewel had signed up for and she feels guilty about what happens so she tries to get help for the man and stays to try and nurse him. It is clear that he is dying but he wakes and indicates that he wishes to pay his debt to her and will do so by marrying her. The priest gets a special licence and they marry. Timothy stratham dies. The h is afraid to go back to her previous lodgings for fear that Mick will decide to kill her to and after a few days works up the courage to present herself to timothy's cousin and guardian Sebastian the Earl of Moorland.
The initial encounter between the two is amusing. Moorland considers her as less than human and treats her with contempt but due to his mother's intervention, he becomes contrary, and decides that he will accept the marriage, bring her into the family but on the condition that she does every thing he commands. he indicates that from now on she will be Julia Stratham and will have to learn to pass as a lady. The next day he takes her to his estate in the country.
As Julia's accent, clothes and presentation are pretty dreadful, Moorland disregards her comfort and generally continues to treat her with a large amount of contempt. Therein there follows a My Fair Lady esque transformation which takes place over a number of months. As other reviewers have said the author takes her time in respect of character development and lets things happen at a more natural pace.
moorland has been married before but his wife died in suspicious circumstances and his young daughter has turned mute, screaming at the very sight of him and compounding local suspicions that he killed his wife. Julia struggles with her transformation and at stages is uncertain that she wants to pursue it as she is afraid that she is losing herself.
After the governess makes some progress with Julia, Moorland invites her to dine with him. He gets her drunk and we later discover this was with the definite intention of seducing her. However when he kisses her, he realises that she can barely sit up and his conscience will not allow him to proceed as she is only 16 and clearly trusted him. He takes her upstairs whereupon she throws up. The governess resigns in dismay.
Moorland then takes over her education and over the next few months a genuine friendship develops between the two. Julia grows to depend on Moorland and trusts him completely. moorland starts to feel contentment and a degree of happiness.
Julia confronts Moorland about his apparent neglect of Chloe but that night he visits Chloe and she realises that he stays away from the child as the sight of him upsets her and that this is a source of distress to him. Moorland gets drunk and she goes to him. One thing leads to another and he takes her virginity.
The next day Julia is full of love for Moorland and is hopeful for the future. However she finds his curricle at the front door and it is clear that he is leaving for London. Moorland is extremely cold to Julia but makes it evident that he remembers that they had sex. Julia loses her temper (and her accent) and shouts at him but he drives off. It emerges that Sebastian believes that she was too responsive and eager and that this lead him to conclude that she was not a virgin and was nothing more than a whore trying to lure him in.
Over the next number of weeks Julia hears nothing from Moorland and is very hurt. She continues to teach herself and by this stage she has genuinely become Julia and jewel is forgotten. She then gets a summons to London.
When she arrives at London, Moorland has her brought to the house he keeps for his mistresses and he propositions her accordingly, making it clear he thinks her nothing better than a whore. She is furious but when he takes her in his arms, she falls into a helpless passion and succumbs go his advances ( I don't get it) . After the sex she remonstrates with him and they argue. She calls him a murderer and he leaves. The next day she gets a message to return to the country. Julia decides that instead of being sent away, she will fight for Moorland's love by taking her place in society and she presents herself to his proper home at Grosvenor Street. She is introduced to society by Moorland's mother and sister in law.
Julia is pursued by Lord Carlyle and Moorland becomes jealous. He is astonished to hear that Carlyle wants to marry her and he orders Julia to break the relationship off by threatening to tell her suitor the real nature of her origins. Julia becomes stubborn and as at this stage she feels the situation with moorland is hopeless, she thinks that marriage to Carlyle is her best option and presses him for a speedy ceremony.
Sebastian returns from a few days away and comes to the ball where Julia is and whisks her away back to the dodgy house. He apologises for his recent conduct and tells her he knows that she was a virgin the first night and that he loves her and wants to marry her. Julia is swept away and they make love.
She later remembers about Carlyle but fails to tell moorland that she hadn't called it off as she does not want a row and hopes she can sort it out without Moorland realising.
Unfortunately Carlyle takes the news very badly and tries to rape Julia in the library during a ball. Julia is over powered and in desperation thinks that if Carlyle thinks she is beginning to co-operate, she will get a chance to escape. Of course Moorland walks in at the critical moment, misunderstands the situation and instead of allowing Julia a chance to explain, denounces her to Carlyle and the rest of the ton, exposing her sordid origins.
Julia is humiliated and leaves the house in a state of distress wandering into the streets. She is then grabbed by the evil Mick, who has had the house watched. He makes it clear that he believes that she has betrayed him to the authorities, that he intends to kill her but that he will rape her first. He gives her an extremely severe beating and just when he is about to rape her, Moorland and some of his staff rescue her. However Julia has significant head trauma and is unconscious for days and it is uncertain as to whether she will pull through. Sebastian is very remorseful about his actions and the consequences having realised by this stage that he misread the situation. Julia does eventually recover and it is agreed that they will marry.
On the set wedding day, Julia again comes into peril as Sebastian's first wife's killer tries to do away with her as well. However Chloe rescues her.
They marry a few weeks later. Chloe is on the road to recovery and starts to talk and spend time with her father whom she comes to adore.
They all live happily ever after.
I believed in the characters because they were so well drawn and also for once I found the happy ending to be entirely convincing, again because the author made it seems that the h and h had genuinely learnt from their mistakes.
October 17, 2021
This was such an uneven book for me. The 1st half was fine but the 2nd half made me think, eh, what just happened?
I can't fault the writing. Ms. Robards is a new-to-me author and I find her writings to be easy to read. My main problem with the book lies with the characterization.
I hated the way she developed the MCs. Sebastian was such a callous character. He knew Julia was a virgin when he first slept with her, but he still called her a whore (repeatedly) just because he was running away from his feelings (not cool, man). I loved Julia initially. Who doesn't love a character from a gutter and transformed into a lady? Unfortunately, she came across as shallow, deceitful, immature and manipulative. She promised Lord Carlyle's her hand in marriage, but in fact she actually was using him to get Sebastian's attention.
There were other events that I thought were unnecessary as well that the author include to ramp up the conflict (such as Lord Carlyle's attack on Julia in the library and Julia's way of defending herself by submitting to his advances, again, eh?).
So, I couldn't quite recommend this book. Maybe her other books would be better. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.
I can't fault the writing. Ms. Robards is a new-to-me author and I find her writings to be easy to read. My main problem with the book lies with the characterization.
I hated the way she developed the MCs. Sebastian was such a callous character. He knew Julia was a virgin when he first slept with her, but he still called her a whore (repeatedly) just because he was running away from his feelings (not cool, man). I loved Julia initially. Who doesn't love a character from a gutter and transformed into a lady? Unfortunately, she came across as shallow, deceitful, immature and manipulative. She promised Lord Carlyle's her hand in marriage, but in fact she actually was using him to get Sebastian's attention.
There were other events that I thought were unnecessary as well that the author include to ramp up the conflict (such as Lord Carlyle's attack on Julia in the library and Julia's way of defending herself by submitting to his advances, again, eh?).
So, I couldn't quite recommend this book. Maybe her other books would be better. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 5, 2016
A Victorian, Yes, But Not the “My Fair Lady” You Were Thinking of.
Set in 1841, this is the story of Jewel Combs, a 16-year-old street urchin who picks the pocket of an earl’s younger brother who is stabbed by one of Jewel’s companions. The earl’s brother dies from his wound, but not before he marries Jewel to repay her for taking care of him.
When Jewel goes to see the young man’s family, to inform them she is his widow, she is confronted with his handsome, yet cold older brother, Sebastian, Earl of Moorland. While he looks at Jewel with disdain, he decides to make Jewel a project and turn her into a lady to spite his cruel mother.
Renamed “Julia Stratham", Jewel is no longer the skinny, Cockney-speaking waif, but a well-cared-for beautiful woman the earl cannot resist, despite she is half his age.
What I liked: Robards did her research into the era and gets the Victorian cant just right. The book is well written, the scenes are vividly described and the characters come to life on the page. Who could not love Jewel, aka Julia, as she fights to survive and the cool earl who thinks to shape her to his liking? The story kept me turning pages, despite some issues.
What I had trouble with: Young Jewel/Julia was enthralled with Sebastian in the way a teenager engages in the hero worship of a handsome, older man, who begins to see her for the lady she could become. When he seduces her—after she’d been overindulging in wine, I might add—she freely gives herself to him even though she has fought off all other men who tried to have her when she lived on the streets. Sebastian takes her without being aware she was a virgin (a bit odd, that, since she had blood on her but he apparently did not). Because of her passion, he thinks her a whore. Then, he abruptly leaves her only to later decide he must have her, so he tries to set her up as his new mistress. She declines in anger (which I liked) but then she allowed him to seduce her (again). That had me rolling my eyes.
I should say at the outset that I am a fan of Robards’ historical romances. But this book was difficult to rate. It could have been 3 stars but I liked the storyline and the writing. Still, the heroine’s giving in to her “whimpering passion” for the hero time and time again detracted from the strong woman I was hoping she had grown to be. But I gave it 4 stars for the excitement and a good ending.
Set in 1841, this is the story of Jewel Combs, a 16-year-old street urchin who picks the pocket of an earl’s younger brother who is stabbed by one of Jewel’s companions. The earl’s brother dies from his wound, but not before he marries Jewel to repay her for taking care of him.
When Jewel goes to see the young man’s family, to inform them she is his widow, she is confronted with his handsome, yet cold older brother, Sebastian, Earl of Moorland. While he looks at Jewel with disdain, he decides to make Jewel a project and turn her into a lady to spite his cruel mother.
Renamed “Julia Stratham", Jewel is no longer the skinny, Cockney-speaking waif, but a well-cared-for beautiful woman the earl cannot resist, despite she is half his age.
What I liked: Robards did her research into the era and gets the Victorian cant just right. The book is well written, the scenes are vividly described and the characters come to life on the page. Who could not love Jewel, aka Julia, as she fights to survive and the cool earl who thinks to shape her to his liking? The story kept me turning pages, despite some issues.
What I had trouble with: Young Jewel/Julia was enthralled with Sebastian in the way a teenager engages in the hero worship of a handsome, older man, who begins to see her for the lady she could become. When he seduces her—after she’d been overindulging in wine, I might add—she freely gives herself to him even though she has fought off all other men who tried to have her when she lived on the streets. Sebastian takes her without being aware she was a virgin (a bit odd, that, since she had blood on her but he apparently did not). Because of her passion, he thinks her a whore. Then, he abruptly leaves her only to later decide he must have her, so he tries to set her up as his new mistress. She declines in anger (which I liked) but then she allowed him to seduce her (again). That had me rolling my eyes.
I should say at the outset that I am a fan of Robards’ historical romances. But this book was difficult to rate. It could have been 3 stars but I liked the storyline and the writing. Still, the heroine’s giving in to her “whimpering passion” for the hero time and time again detracted from the strong woman I was hoping she had grown to be. But I gave it 4 stars for the excitement and a good ending.
November 11, 2023
Loving Julia is the first novel by Karen Robards that I have read. I do not even know where to start with this review. To say I loved the extremely interesting characters and the outstanding story seems so trivial for wonderful story I just finished reading. I loved the heroine Jewel, her frank look at life and the compassion and tenderness in a young woman who has only seen the evils in life. Her strength of character with a chin up and a attitude of "you're no better than me".
I also loved Sebastian, who even though he has many, many, ghosts in his closet he helps a gutter snipe of a girl turning a "sows ear into a silk purse".
The premise of the story is set on a London street, urchin Jewel Combs had no future but one of whoredom and shame. Then a dying gentleman looked at her topaz eyes and still untouched innocence --- and weds her to torment his aristocratic family with a final, scandalous joke after his death. But Sebastian, Earl of Moorland, found nothing humorous in the cheeky young widow's claims on his cousin's inheritance, or in the smoldering sensuality of this rough Jewel. Appraising her with his ice blue eyes, he wondered if it might be amusing to polish her into a lady, call her Julia Stratham and seduce her. Jewel had kept her virginity amid England's roughest men, yet when this devastatingly handsome lord lowered his mouth to her burning flesh, an irresistible fire consumed her and even if he called her wanton, she vowed to be the lady he loved tonight ... and forever.
Karen Robards knows how to write a wonderful romance story. There is sex and passion but it is tempered with a strong story and equally strong and interesting characters. I highly recommend this novel to anyone out there looking for a great read.
I also loved Sebastian, who even though he has many, many, ghosts in his closet he helps a gutter snipe of a girl turning a "sows ear into a silk purse".
The premise of the story is set on a London street, urchin Jewel Combs had no future but one of whoredom and shame. Then a dying gentleman looked at her topaz eyes and still untouched innocence --- and weds her to torment his aristocratic family with a final, scandalous joke after his death. But Sebastian, Earl of Moorland, found nothing humorous in the cheeky young widow's claims on his cousin's inheritance, or in the smoldering sensuality of this rough Jewel. Appraising her with his ice blue eyes, he wondered if it might be amusing to polish her into a lady, call her Julia Stratham and seduce her. Jewel had kept her virginity amid England's roughest men, yet when this devastatingly handsome lord lowered his mouth to her burning flesh, an irresistible fire consumed her and even if he called her wanton, she vowed to be the lady he loved tonight ... and forever.
Karen Robards knows how to write a wonderful romance story. There is sex and passion but it is tempered with a strong story and equally strong and interesting characters. I highly recommend this novel to anyone out there looking for a great read.
April 12, 2022
Si te gustan las historias de make over con aire de Pigmalión, ésta te puede gustar.
En Jewel Combs tenemos a una raterilla que, tras un golpe que sale mal, acaba casándose con un noble moribundo, algo que decide el muchacho solo por fastidiar a su familia. Cuando Jewel se acerca a Sebastian, conde de Moorland, reclamando su herencia, él duda pero al final, por chinchar a su propia madre, acepta a Jewel. Sí, una familia bastante disfuncional.
Es ahí donde empieza la transformación de Jewel en Julia, una señorita presentable. Hay unas cuantas intrigas que mantienen el interés.
Es un libro con niño, una criaturita que tiene cierto sentido en la trama. Teniendo en cuenta que es de los años ochenta, el sexo explícito es bastante pasable. Cae en algún anacronismo que me hizo salirme de la historia, pero vamos... Me pareció una novela muy entretenida que aún se lee con agrado.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
En Jewel Combs tenemos a una raterilla que, tras un golpe que sale mal, acaba casándose con un noble moribundo, algo que decide el muchacho solo por fastidiar a su familia. Cuando Jewel se acerca a Sebastian, conde de Moorland, reclamando su herencia, él duda pero al final, por chinchar a su propia madre, acepta a Jewel. Sí, una familia bastante disfuncional.
Es ahí donde empieza la transformación de Jewel en Julia, una señorita presentable. Hay unas cuantas intrigas que mantienen el interés.
Es un libro con niño, una criaturita que tiene cierto sentido en la trama. Teniendo en cuenta que es de los años ochenta, el sexo explícito es bastante pasable. Cae en algún anacronismo que me hizo salirme de la historia, pero vamos... Me pareció una novela muy entretenida que aún se lee con agrado.
Crítica más extensa, en mi blog.
November 23, 2021
This was actually quite good (LOVED the plot) and satisfied my craving for historical romances. cruel hero + feisty yet adoring heroine + intense passion = swoon and sigh.
April 6, 2017
Julia é um verdadeiro conto de fadas. Criada nos bairros pobres de Londres e aplicando golpes nos mais desavisados, era aos 16 anos, uma criatura vivida e sofrida e então, num golpe de sorte e do destino, ao cuidar de um jovem rico, após seus companheiros Mick e Jem) terem aplicado-lhe um golpe e o ferido, seu destino muda porque o jovem, às portas da morte casa-se com ela.
Julia vai atrás de seus direitos em Grosvenor Square, onde Sebastian, o tutor de seu defunto esposo vivia. À principio, ele teve intenção de atirá-la na rua, quando viu aquela criatura magra e esquálida, que se dizia esposa do primo. Mas, para provocar a mãe - permite que ela fique e decide torná-la uma dama. Para isso vai para a casa de campo, onde sua filha (que não fala por conta de um trauma) se encontra.
Quando Jewel- agora Julia - começa a se transformar, Sebastião decide seduzi-la.
Sebastian, foi criado sem amor da mãe, e por isso quando se vê apaixonada por Julia, se sente acossado e foge. Mas sua paixão é tão grande que decide passar por cima das convenções e decide se casar com ela.
***
Sebastian, muitas vezes agia como um canalha com ela e muitas vezes senti raiva dele. Mas Julia sempre dava o troco quando ele a tratava sem consideração. Acusado de ter matado a esposa, não era bem visto na sociedade e sofria por conta da rejeição de Chloe, sua filha - que vai ter uma papel importante na trama. Julia, apesar do que sofrera, apesar das mágoas que lhe provocava, conseguia perdoar Sebastian pelo que fazia, e este aprontava muito... Mas a paixão entre eles, era intensa e explosiva demais.
Recomendo porque a autora não deixou pontas soltas, coisa que imaginei que faria, porque deixava em banho-maria (tipo suspense) alguns assuntos. E pelas cenas apaixonantes entre os dois. E pelo fechamento da história.
Julia vai atrás de seus direitos em Grosvenor Square, onde Sebastian, o tutor de seu defunto esposo vivia. À principio, ele teve intenção de atirá-la na rua, quando viu aquela criatura magra e esquálida, que se dizia esposa do primo. Mas, para provocar a mãe - permite que ela fique e decide torná-la uma dama. Para isso vai para a casa de campo, onde sua filha (que não fala por conta de um trauma) se encontra.
Quando Jewel- agora Julia - começa a se transformar, Sebastião decide seduzi-la.
Sebastian, foi criado sem amor da mãe, e por isso quando se vê apaixonada por Julia, se sente acossado e foge. Mas sua paixão é tão grande que decide passar por cima das convenções e decide se casar com ela.
***
Sebastian, muitas vezes agia como um canalha com ela e muitas vezes senti raiva dele. Mas Julia sempre dava o troco quando ele a tratava sem consideração. Acusado de ter matado a esposa, não era bem visto na sociedade e sofria por conta da rejeição de Chloe, sua filha - que vai ter uma papel importante na trama. Julia, apesar do que sofrera, apesar das mágoas que lhe provocava, conseguia perdoar Sebastian pelo que fazia, e este aprontava muito... Mas a paixão entre eles, era intensa e explosiva demais.
Recomendo porque a autora não deixou pontas soltas, coisa que imaginei que faria, porque deixava em banho-maria (tipo suspense) alguns assuntos. E pelas cenas apaixonantes entre os dois. E pelo fechamento da história.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2021
2.5
started off normal and tropey but whytf do you authors refuse to age up the female characters??? making her 19 or 20 would take nothing away from the skeeziness of the age gap.
sebastian was a dick supreme and i hate when the women are so entranced by the dudes looks or kissing skills that they let themselves be treated like shit and humiliated. it made sense why they got close but the bitch lived on the streets all her life and it took less than a year for her to lose all her fire. but that coulda just been because she was a literal child.
and then when sebastian pops back up after leaving her at the house with mom and sis in law i thought it was a dream sequence with the abrupt fucking heel turn that pos decides to take. and once again no real groveling after she goes through hell for like the 56th time because of his week ass emotions.
you can make the main dude a dick but you have to make the comeuppance sweeter its a simple equation come the fuck on
started off normal and tropey but whytf do you authors refuse to age up the female characters??? making her 19 or 20 would take nothing away from the skeeziness of the age gap.
sebastian was a dick supreme and i hate when the women are so entranced by the dudes looks or kissing skills that they let themselves be treated like shit and humiliated. it made sense why they got close but the bitch lived on the streets all her life and it took less than a year for her to lose all her fire. but that coulda just been because she was a literal child.
and then when sebastian pops back up after leaving her at the house with mom and sis in law i thought it was a dream sequence with the abrupt fucking heel turn that pos decides to take. and once again no real groveling after she goes through hell for like the 56th time because of his week ass emotions.
you can make the main dude a dick but you have to make the comeuppance sweeter its a simple equation come the fuck on
March 10, 2021
I finally found this book again! My first time reading it was in my early teens, around 2002. Me and my best friend would buy these single-title historical romamces in a dusty second-hand shop, then trade two read for one new at the same shop. The 80s ones were the craziest and this one I've never been able to forget!
It's absolutely terrible. XD
It's absolutely terrible. XD
September 4, 2024
A very typical 80’s hero where he horny baited the heroine everytime they argued, instead of offering an actual grovel to make up for his assholery. DNF-ed this book as he became too much of a jerk to her plus the huge age gap felt too icky for me with him being 31 and she being 16.
May 1, 2024
Loving Julia by Karen Robards (1986) …It’s a Pygmalion / My Fair Lady story.. a cockney urchin, Jewel is involved in a violent robbery and after rescuing the dying aristocratic young man she agrees to marry him. She presents herself to Sebastian, Earl of Moorland, as his cousin’s wife, and as lark he decides to transform her into a lady as befitting his cousin’s widow, and renames her Julia.
One of the best parts of the story is how she comes to be Julia without losing her proud and fierce character. Her language goes from cockney English to that of a lady .. the dialog is priceless!! Sebastian changes from a cold heartless man to loving Julia fully. A bit of a murder mystery about how his first wife died adds to the thrill at the end of the story.
Definitely a ripper as Sebastian forces himself on Julia, has a mistress and then tries to make Julia his mistress. Yes, a total cad tho he does redeem himself in a splendid tale that’s full of raw sexual tension.
One of the best parts of the story is how she comes to be Julia without losing her proud and fierce character. Her language goes from cockney English to that of a lady .. the dialog is priceless!! Sebastian changes from a cold heartless man to loving Julia fully. A bit of a murder mystery about how his first wife died adds to the thrill at the end of the story.
Definitely a ripper as Sebastian forces himself on Julia, has a mistress and then tries to make Julia his mistress. Yes, a total cad tho he does redeem himself in a splendid tale that’s full of raw sexual tension.
July 25, 2015
This is my third Karen Robards book and I loved it. The story was so unique. At least to me. I have never read from rags to riches romance. Wait- maybe The Proposition by Judith Ivory could count, but there the hero was the poor one. Great book by the way. I also liked that this book is may-december romance, one of my favorite trophes. The hero Sebastian was an ass and very un-pc, but I loved him anyway. I guess I like these old-scool books. There were many twists and turns and I was never bored. Knowing the hero's history it was easy to undestand and forgive his bad behaviour towards the heroine. He was so sweet at the end of the book and really showed how much he loved Jewel/Julia and how sorry he was. It made me almost tears. I loved Karen Robard's Forbidden Love a little bit more, but this was also a REALLY good read. One of the best books I have ever read I would say.
December 8, 2014
Me gustó lo diferente de este libro por sus personajes, sobre todo por la protagonista femenina, Julia/Jewell. La verdad es que al principio su forma de hablar que imita un estilo vulgar me costó llevarlo, pero con el tiempo uno se acostumbra. Lo que no terminó de convencerme es que ella es super joven, solo 16 años y verla ya con un hombre tan maduro... Una joven de esa edad no es adulta emocionalmente para enfrentarse a todo eso, no es una igual intelectual del otro, pero en fin... Una novela que me ha entretenido y gustado más de lo que esperaba.
August 8, 2021
This is one of those books you find yourself enjoying until you think just a bit about it. The massive distance in age and the severely unequal power dynamic makes the steamy scenes feel sleazy and gross. Jewel is 16, an uneducated, starving, and desperate "street rat", while Sebastian is in his 30's and a massively rich earl. He degrades her, teases her, insults her, and even takes her name from her, calling her "Julia" instead of her given name. This severe difference in power and reading the once feisty female lead give into his every whim makes the whole story feel unsettling to read.
May 25, 2013
More like Hating Julia.
June 19, 2022
What an absolutely breathtaking book. Look, the bits with the cockney were not for me...but I perservered. And what was left was classic old school romance. There was absolutely no pride left at the end, but so much love.
I have no idea why I, a 21st century feminist, have such a preference for 18th century patriarchalism and subjugation and yet I do. I love a haughty alpha succumbed to ennui. I love a apathetic, heartless hero. And I love stories where both characters crush the pride out of the other. Okay sure, it's extreme, it's a little nuts, overemotional and demeaning...but it's my little HR kink.
Also, Robards! I have never read her and now all I can think of is wanting to read her forever and ever. She writes absolutely beautifully. Fantastic prose. Super great tension between her characters. Dialogue lines so romantic they had me fluttering. The grovel, while a little short, made me very misty. She's also quite adept at regency. But she doesn't seem to do a lot of them and it doesn't even look like any of the others have titled peers which is a shame because that's a non-negotiable for me. And Westerns are not for me. So unfortunately this will be my one fantastic memory of Robards writing.
"You're mine now. Never mistake it. You're mine, and I'll drag you down into hell with me before I'll ever let you go."
That, is super romantic.
I have no idea why I, a 21st century feminist, have such a preference for 18th century patriarchalism and subjugation and yet I do. I love a haughty alpha succumbed to ennui. I love a apathetic, heartless hero. And I love stories where both characters crush the pride out of the other. Okay sure, it's extreme, it's a little nuts, overemotional and demeaning...but it's my little HR kink.
Also, Robards! I have never read her and now all I can think of is wanting to read her forever and ever. She writes absolutely beautifully. Fantastic prose. Super great tension between her characters. Dialogue lines so romantic they had me fluttering. The grovel, while a little short, made me very misty. She's also quite adept at regency. But she doesn't seem to do a lot of them and it doesn't even look like any of the others have titled peers which is a shame because that's a non-negotiable for me. And Westerns are not for me. So unfortunately this will be my one fantastic memory of Robards writing.
"You're mine now. Never mistake it. You're mine, and I'll drag you down into hell with me before I'll ever let you go."
That, is super romantic.
August 8, 2015
"Julia" es una historia encantadora que está contada de un modo tan recargado en distracciones que termina perdiendo potencia.
El planteo era tan seductor que seguí leyendo hasta el final con voracidad y por momentos la historia se ponía muy interesante y entretenida pero la totalidad de la obra no acompaña ni al planteo argumental ni a los momentos más atractivos del relato.
Si quieren una historia romántica, que mantiene al lector expectante y que evoca las características propias del género romántico histórico esta novela les va a gustar.
Ahora, si están acostumbradas al ritmo que tienen las novelas más nuevas, esta historia les va a resultar un poco pesada.
A mi me gustó, pero confieso que puse forward en muchas partes y hacia el final del libro ya sabía que partes no requerían de toda mi atención.
Me quedé con lo importante y atractivo: Julia y Sebastian, una pareja linda que podría haber estado más explotada.
PODÉS LEER LA RESEÑA COMPLETA ACÁ
El planteo era tan seductor que seguí leyendo hasta el final con voracidad y por momentos la historia se ponía muy interesante y entretenida pero la totalidad de la obra no acompaña ni al planteo argumental ni a los momentos más atractivos del relato.
Si quieren una historia romántica, que mantiene al lector expectante y que evoca las características propias del género romántico histórico esta novela les va a gustar.
Ahora, si están acostumbradas al ritmo que tienen las novelas más nuevas, esta historia les va a resultar un poco pesada.
A mi me gustó, pero confieso que puse forward en muchas partes y hacia el final del libro ya sabía que partes no requerían de toda mi atención.
Me quedé con lo importante y atractivo: Julia y Sebastian, una pareja linda que podría haber estado más explotada.
PODÉS LEER LA RESEÑA COMPLETA ACÁ
February 24, 2017
i lost interest before i reached the half of this book.
I wouldn't finish it but i realized that ,even if i skipped all the useless details that went on and on and on before and after every piece of dialogue, i didn't miss anything important about the story.
And so i did.
The female in this story is 16 years old (virgin) and the earl that (at some point in the story) decides to force himself to her to see if she's a liar (srsly.. this is what happened!) is 31 !
There's also a ghost involved, a girl who can talk but won't, emotionless relatives and an army of gossip enthousiast servants.
I wouldn't finish it but i realized that ,even if i skipped all the useless details that went on and on and on before and after every piece of dialogue, i didn't miss anything important about the story.
And so i did.
The female in this story is 16 years old (virgin) and the earl that (at some point in the story) decides to force himself to her to see if she's a liar (srsly.. this is what happened!) is 31 !
There's also a ghost involved, a girl who can talk but won't, emotionless relatives and an army of gossip enthousiast servants.
Read
July 2, 2010Author recommended by a friend. I like to read the early books by an author who is new to me, and the author's web site said that "everyone loves this one," so I gave it a try.
Very accomplished writing and plotting, but quite "Old Skool" in its linkage of sexuality and violence, as well as its construction of secondary female characters. I'll have to try a more recent Robards to see if her ideology has changed with the times, or if she remains Old Skool.
Very accomplished writing and plotting, but quite "Old Skool" in its linkage of sexuality and violence, as well as its construction of secondary female characters. I'll have to try a more recent Robards to see if her ideology has changed with the times, or if she remains Old Skool.
July 7, 2019
It's like Forbidden Love with an older titled guy with his cold wife (who dies in this one) who gets the hots for the young pretty girl beneath his class. Now this one is like My Fair Lady if the doctor was into forced seduction. There's a mean mother as and a sister in law that's insane, but it's still pretty much the same. She's all, "No, no! Yes, yes!" He calls her a whore, and she tells him she loves him.
Standard bodice ripper.
Standard bodice ripper.
October 22, 2020
One of Karen Robards' best books ever. Sebastian and Julia's story is quintessential romance.
Read
January 25, 2022MUST TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THAT LOVING JULIA WAS FIRST PUBLISHED IN 1986 during the so-called era of 'bodice rippers.' I have no rating for this book because initially I enjoyed it but later on, I was equal parts intrigued and disgusted at the baby roller-coaster of ride Julia/Jewel and Sebastian I was on.
Seeing as this is the first book I have picked up after a three week drought, the first historical romance book after god knows' how many fantasies and thrillers, the first half of Loving Julia had me heavily engaged. A page turner indeed. Being introduced to Jewel and her guttersnipe world with its' cast of characters such as Jem, Willy, Father Simon and Mick (most who we never hear from again in the 2nd half of the book) was delightful. Learned some new lingo like 'lay' = con, toff = typically a well-dressed, upper class man. We learn that Jewel's place in the Bad, Bad World is shaky, unstable due to lurking threat of being used/abused/sold as a dove (prostitute) and truly, that she has no one to rely on. At least not 100%. Although Jewel's fine with thieving to get by...for her, violence is where she draws the line. Furthermore, her conscience is what leads into a My Fair Lady sort of situation.
Things happen, a man-child dies but not before marrying his shining damsel (Jewel) as thanks for taking care of him while at Death's door. Jewel knows this is her ticket out of the gutter and she power through to get her piece of the pie, her husband's inheritance...to ensure a more prosperous life for herself. To get that money, our leading man aka Sebastian says, "You learn to be a lady, you be a lady, you obey me and you'll get your funds." Basically.... This part of Loving Julia was fun as Jewel and Sebastian traded insults. It is both fascinating and sad to be in Jewel's as she's surrounded by all the comforts of a home. As she changes and absorbs the teachings of what it means to be a lady. No more Jewel, only Julia. Forget the past, forge ahead, there is no Jewel. Only Julia. Except for when Julia's in a raging mood. That's when she devolves into Jewel momentarily and cussing ensues :) The cussing is mostly directed at Sebastian, of course. The ass.
Everything changed for me once they consummated their lust. After that, Loving Julia read more and more like the other 1980's bodice rippers. What was I expecting? The word whore, whore, whore kept being flung around by Sebastian towards Julia. She'd be extremely offended and put out but after a time, Julia would being coaxed by his kisses, his loving, the closed proximity, her starved need for touch/affection/love. He would throw the word around again. Ugh.
Also, the whole thing with Oliver, one of her suitors after she's introduced to the ton...Julia, you dumb! The way I rationalize is that Julia's desperate at this point to be with Sebastian, she'll do anything (HINT: make a jealous). Her plan backfired in the worst possible way. Little does she know, society's rules be damned when a man's set to marry a gel, only to find the gel in the arms of her so-called 'threatening force.' Additionally, Sebastian is gone for a while to a rainy Suffolk and he comes back with an epiphany. Loves her, will do anything to get her, cue his oh-so sad backstory, cue her I love you/I'll comfort you. Ugh.
I did not enjoy the second half of Loving Julia. I was uneasy. I had too much of this sense of the power imbalance (?), how starved she was (in the end, I figured he was also starved for her), how she adored him (despite everything FML), how his every word (almost) had her at his beck and call.
If I wanted to be the devil's advocate to my own points;
What else would have compelled Sebastian to take on the task of My Fair Lady-ing the heck out of Jewel if not to see how his new little toy will play out? It is a game, to spite his mother and to stave off the boredom of not having to be employed to be wealthy. Given his station in life, his privilege...he paints a picture of English gentlemen that has me wondering, "Is this more accurate to how these men actually thought and behaved?" Books of the past like these bodice rippers and The Silver Devil only serve to make me cynical of these heroes. As opposed to the more current historical romances which may romanticize English gentlemen to certain degrees.
My frame of mind plays a big role in how much disbelief I can suspend, how much I can enjoy a book and yet, not enjoy said book.The book preceding said book is also an influencer in my reviews. I don't hate Loving Julia. Both main characters were OTT, over the top which is typical of bodice rippers.
Other books of the same flavour as Loving Julia: Something Wonderful which coincidentally (or not!) was published two years after Loving Julia. Ah ha!
Seeing as this is the first book I have picked up after a three week drought, the first historical romance book after god knows' how many fantasies and thrillers, the first half of Loving Julia had me heavily engaged. A page turner indeed. Being introduced to Jewel and her guttersnipe world with its' cast of characters such as Jem, Willy, Father Simon and Mick (most who we never hear from again in the 2nd half of the book) was delightful. Learned some new lingo like 'lay' = con, toff = typically a well-dressed, upper class man. We learn that Jewel's place in the Bad, Bad World is shaky, unstable due to lurking threat of being used/abused/sold as a dove (prostitute) and truly, that she has no one to rely on. At least not 100%. Although Jewel's fine with thieving to get by...for her, violence is where she draws the line. Furthermore, her conscience is what leads into a My Fair Lady sort of situation.
Things happen, a man-child dies but not before marrying his shining damsel (Jewel) as thanks for taking care of him while at Death's door. Jewel knows this is her ticket out of the gutter and she power through to get her piece of the pie, her husband's inheritance...to ensure a more prosperous life for herself. To get that money, our leading man aka Sebastian says, "You learn to be a lady, you be a lady, you obey me and you'll get your funds." Basically.... This part of Loving Julia was fun as Jewel and Sebastian traded insults. It is both fascinating and sad to be in Jewel's as she's surrounded by all the comforts of a home. As she changes and absorbs the teachings of what it means to be a lady. No more Jewel, only Julia. Forget the past, forge ahead, there is no Jewel. Only Julia. Except for when Julia's in a raging mood. That's when she devolves into Jewel momentarily and cussing ensues :) The cussing is mostly directed at Sebastian, of course. The ass.
Everything changed for me once they consummated their lust. After that, Loving Julia read more and more like the other 1980's bodice rippers. What was I expecting? The word whore, whore, whore kept being flung around by Sebastian towards Julia. She'd be extremely offended and put out but after a time, Julia would being coaxed by his kisses, his loving, the closed proximity, her starved need for touch/affection/love. He would throw the word around again. Ugh.
Also, the whole thing with Oliver, one of her suitors after she's introduced to the ton...Julia, you dumb! The way I rationalize is that Julia's desperate at this point to be with Sebastian, she'll do anything (HINT: make a jealous). Her plan backfired in the worst possible way. Little does she know, society's rules be damned when a man's set to marry a gel, only to find the gel in the arms of her so-called 'threatening force.' Additionally, Sebastian is gone for a while to a rainy Suffolk and he comes back with an epiphany. Loves her, will do anything to get her, cue his oh-so sad backstory, cue her I love you/I'll comfort you. Ugh.
I did not enjoy the second half of Loving Julia. I was uneasy. I had too much of this sense of the power imbalance (?), how starved she was (in the end, I figured he was also starved for her), how she adored him (despite everything FML), how his every word (almost) had her at his beck and call.
If I wanted to be the devil's advocate to my own points;
What else would have compelled Sebastian to take on the task of My Fair Lady-ing the heck out of Jewel if not to see how his new little toy will play out? It is a game, to spite his mother and to stave off the boredom of not having to be employed to be wealthy. Given his station in life, his privilege...he paints a picture of English gentlemen that has me wondering, "Is this more accurate to how these men actually thought and behaved?" Books of the past like these bodice rippers and The Silver Devil only serve to make me cynical of these heroes. As opposed to the more current historical romances which may romanticize English gentlemen to certain degrees.
My frame of mind plays a big role in how much disbelief I can suspend, how much I can enjoy a book and yet, not enjoy said book.The book preceding said book is also an influencer in my reviews. I don't hate Loving Julia. Both main characters were OTT, over the top which is typical of bodice rippers.
Other books of the same flavour as Loving Julia: Something Wonderful which coincidentally (or not!) was published two years after Loving Julia. Ah ha!
January 8, 2021
By and1515
She was just another orphan who'd been cast out at a very young age.
Jewel was what she had to be to survive and she'd seen it all the worse of the worse day in and day out for too many years to count.
Jewel didn't know what to make of the poor man; he was a young find gent whom had been gravely injured and his final request of the priest left her speechless.
Sebastian wasn't sure what to make of the rag muffin standing before him or the marriage certificate she had.
However his own mother's reaction was quite priceless but now he needed to figure out how to educate the young window to be fitting her new station in life.
His poor daughter was left to greave alone expected for her nanny.
She wasn't prepared for a man like him who knew just how to make a woman lose all reason.
Or the morning after where he went racing off to London as if his heels were on fire.
But then he actually sent for her and once she'd arrived back in London only to lose her grasp on her temper as they loudly exchanged barbs and insults.
Sebastian was insanely jealous of the attention being shower on her by another man vying for Jewel's hand.
Jewel had tried to let the man down gently but he wouldn't listen to reason as he tried to bend her to his will.
But then her worst nightmare was seeing Sebastian and his cold mother.
Lies and more lies came pouring out her capture's mouth.
Unfortunately Sebastian knew just how to put and end to the little idiot's titrate and that was to start singing about the lovely lady in question.
Jewel was in terrible danger from a gutter snake come after her for she knew his true crimes.
Sebastian couldn't wouldn't believe she might be slipping away from him.
But thankfully life does her a kindness but when Jewel discovers the aweful who will save her this time?
She was just another orphan who'd been cast out at a very young age.
Jewel was what she had to be to survive and she'd seen it all the worse of the worse day in and day out for too many years to count.
Jewel didn't know what to make of the poor man; he was a young find gent whom had been gravely injured and his final request of the priest left her speechless.
Sebastian wasn't sure what to make of the rag muffin standing before him or the marriage certificate she had.
However his own mother's reaction was quite priceless but now he needed to figure out how to educate the young window to be fitting her new station in life.
His poor daughter was left to greave alone expected for her nanny.
She wasn't prepared for a man like him who knew just how to make a woman lose all reason.
Or the morning after where he went racing off to London as if his heels were on fire.
But then he actually sent for her and once she'd arrived back in London only to lose her grasp on her temper as they loudly exchanged barbs and insults.
Sebastian was insanely jealous of the attention being shower on her by another man vying for Jewel's hand.
Jewel had tried to let the man down gently but he wouldn't listen to reason as he tried to bend her to his will.
But then her worst nightmare was seeing Sebastian and his cold mother.
Lies and more lies came pouring out her capture's mouth.
Unfortunately Sebastian knew just how to put and end to the little idiot's titrate and that was to start singing about the lovely lady in question.
Jewel was in terrible danger from a gutter snake come after her for she knew his true crimes.
Sebastian couldn't wouldn't believe she might be slipping away from him.
But thankfully life does her a kindness but when Jewel discovers the aweful who will save her this time?
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