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Ooh, La La!
History professor Kate Matthews is an expert on Storyville, New Orleans' red light district. Working as a consultant on a film shooting there, Kate soon clashes with the film's director, Zack Jackson, over the accuracy of the story. Down-on-his-luck Zack soon realizes that, although she's is a pain in his behind, Kate is also the love of his life. (August)
384 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2002
84 people want to read
About the author
Robin Wells
22 books185 followers Robin Wells is the USA TODAY best-selling author of nineteen critically-acclaimed novels that have been translated into nineteen languages. Her books have won RWA's Golden Heart Award, two National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Award of Excellence, the Golden Quill, and the Holt Medallion. Her next novel, She Gets That From Me, will be published by Berkley/Penguin/Random House September 22 2020.
She holds a B.A. in liberal arts from the University of Oklahoma, lived in Louisiana for 27 years and now resides in Houston, Texas. She and her husband are proud parents of two daughters and a very spoiled maltipoo. Before becoming a full-time writer, Robin worked as an advertising and public relations executive for a major hotel chain.
She holds a B.A. in liberal arts from the University of Oklahoma, lived in Louisiana for 27 years and now resides in Houston, Texas. She and her husband are proud parents of two daughters and a very spoiled maltipoo. Before becoming a full-time writer, Robin worked as an advertising and public relations executive for a major hotel chain.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 1, 2018
I picked this up as a gamble during our traditional anniversary bookstore binge. A pre-Katrina New Orleans romance sounded like it might be interesting and bonus that it was centered on a project regarding New Orleans history. I didn't get very far, though, before putting it down for good. The setup was just too manipulated for me to engage with the book. Both protagonists are being setup by stupid caricatures to be in conflict. It isn't so much the conflict as it is that both backstories are so full of cliché that I imagine Robin Wells had to order the cardboard the characters are made of in bulk. And having done so, I imagine there's plenty left over for every other character in the book and that's a hint I'd as soon recognize and quit while ahead...
May 6, 2013
I generally like reading contemporary romances but truth be told, there aren't many authors that I read obsessively. Robin Wells while not being an auto read has yet to disappoint me and this book is no exception. Was it perfect, no, but it had its good and bad moments. The heroine is a history professor who is competing for tenure while dealing with her about to be teenage daughter who wants to know about her "missing" father and her overprotective mom when she is drafted to be a technical adviser on a movie.
The hero Zach is a Hollywood product, former child actor turned director. His last two movies haven't done well and the movie he just pitched is his last chance to make sure his career survives. So, he thinks the heroine will be just a figurehead but she isn't, she tells him his script is factually wrong, locations etc and his blood boils because he is already under a lot of pressure and the heroine comes across as an uptight schoolmarm at first.
Of course the hero decides to change her mind by using the information he discovers from her mom and daughter, that he was her school girl crush but the hero is the one on whom the table turn. He discovers the heroine is damn sexy and they have crazy chemistry. She of course figures him out and freezes him.
The hero is a commitment-phobe having been always set aside by his parents and used all his life while the heroine despite having been burned believes in love. There is a subplot with the heroine's mother and her need to be overprotective and vigilant and the heroine's lies about her daughter's father which I knew would come back to bite her.
Was the book predictable, yes but it was enjoyable as well.
The hero Zach is a Hollywood product, former child actor turned director. His last two movies haven't done well and the movie he just pitched is his last chance to make sure his career survives. So, he thinks the heroine will be just a figurehead but she isn't, she tells him his script is factually wrong, locations etc and his blood boils because he is already under a lot of pressure and the heroine comes across as an uptight schoolmarm at first.
Of course the hero decides to change her mind by using the information he discovers from her mom and daughter, that he was her school girl crush but the hero is the one on whom the table turn. He discovers the heroine is damn sexy and they have crazy chemistry. She of course figures him out and freezes him.
The hero is a commitment-phobe having been always set aside by his parents and used all his life while the heroine despite having been burned believes in love. There is a subplot with the heroine's mother and her need to be overprotective and vigilant and the heroine's lies about her daughter's father which I knew would come back to bite her.
Was the book predictable, yes but it was enjoyable as well.
July 13, 2017
While it started off a little slow it picked up toward the middle and ended with a nice bang. An H and h who were tiotal opposites, a movie about New Orleans red light district made for a interesting and enjoyable read. I will checking out other Robin Wells books.
June 16, 2018
Eh! At times it was very funny. But the people were just not that appealing. For a mother to lie to her child for so many years and go to the lengths she did to keep the lie going was so stupid. I couldn’t believe everything would end up so peachy keen so quickly. Fantasy
December 5, 2018
Really cute book! The ending was VERY expected though... wish there was just a little more detail during the ending.
August 26, 2012
Ooh, La La! by Robin Wells
This was a funny story. Love her book titles.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
RED LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
Kate Matthews was a professor of history, a straight shooter, and the pre-eminent expert on Storyville—New Orleans's red-light district. It made sense that she'd be the historical consultant for the new picture being shot on location there. So, why was its director being so difficult? Was it because he'd been a child actor and was used to getting his way? She doubted that; his last flick had flopped, and he was counting on this one to resurrect his career. Maybe it was because he was so handsome. He was probably used to getting women to do as he wished. And now he wanted her to loosen up. To take a note from the city they were in, from the red-light district itself. But Kate knew that accuracy was crucial to the story Zack Jackson was filming—and finding love in the Big Easy was anything but. No, there would be no lights, no cameras and certainly no action until he proved her wrong. Then it'd be a blockbuster of a show.
This was a funny story. Love her book titles.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
RED LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION!
Kate Matthews was a professor of history, a straight shooter, and the pre-eminent expert on Storyville—New Orleans's red-light district. It made sense that she'd be the historical consultant for the new picture being shot on location there. So, why was its director being so difficult? Was it because he'd been a child actor and was used to getting his way? She doubted that; his last flick had flopped, and he was counting on this one to resurrect his career. Maybe it was because he was so handsome. He was probably used to getting women to do as he wished. And now he wanted her to loosen up. To take a note from the city they were in, from the red-light district itself. But Kate knew that accuracy was crucial to the story Zack Jackson was filming—and finding love in the Big Easy was anything but. No, there would be no lights, no cameras and certainly no action until he proved her wrong. Then it'd be a blockbuster of a show.
August 22, 2009
A book with great momentum, a few surprises, some dull moments on in, and a terribly let-down of an epilogue. Essentially I liked the characters more than I liked the story. Kate, the female who I really connected with on a rather basic level, is the brains while Zack is the beauty. Sadly enough, though, I really can't offer any other thoughts on the initial plot because it's simplistic- beautiful guy; famous, rich striving more-as-a-director, and affirmed bachelor finds hidden beauty to be be his love in life. Ironically, it wasn't the plot bewteen the hero and heroin that kept me interested...
It was the subplots. Ruth (Kate's mom) and the movie's cinematographer Fritz's love story combined with Ruth's phobia of being in public/fear of crime. This story within a story was what made the book. Sad, yet true.
It was the subplots. Ruth (Kate's mom) and the movie's cinematographer Fritz's love story combined with Ruth's phobia of being in public/fear of crime. This story within a story was what made the book. Sad, yet true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2010
This was an ok read. It had moments when I expected it to be MORE, but it never quite lived up to that promise. I'd recommend taking this to the pool or on a trip where all you want is something mindless and that requires no thought.
April 13, 2012
In the beginning, I wasn't sure if I'd even bother to finish the book. Kate was standoffish and basically a pain, and Zach was acting kind of like a jerk. But by the 3rd chapter, they loosened up and the book got much better. I'm glad I decided to stick with it and finish it out.
November 13, 2011
Really enjoyed this one. My full review is here: http://scienceofromance.blogspot.com/...
March 17, 2013
A cute quick read. Just your average romance.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews