Guest Review: J’Adore New York – Isabelle Lafleche

Catherine Lambert loves fashion and the law. One of only three applicants, out of a pool of thirty, selected to transfer from Edwards & White’s Paris office to its Manhattan headquarters, and the only one assigned to the corporate group, Catherine is determined to continue impressing her bosses with her diligence and legal prowess. Meeting the firm’s billable hours quota means long days and short nights, especially when two heinously spiteful secretaries are conspiring to undermine Catherine’s reputation and efforts to please both the firm’s clients and partners.

Making matters worse, one of the firm’s particularly powerful and obnoxious clients propositions her, actually referring to her as his “favorite little lawyer.” When she refuses his advances, he accuses her of becoming intoxicated at a charity event and embarrassing him, several colleagues, and their wives. His behavior places Catherine into a quagmire and threatens to derail her career.

Things start looking up when yet another client, Jeffrey Richardson, seems to show genuine interest in her. But is he too good to be true? She is just starting to believe that she might be able to “have it all” when Jeffrey requests that she engage in unethical conduct on his behalf that could ultimately lead to her disbarment and serious consequences for the firm. Did Jeffrey ever really care for her or was she merely his means to a financial end? Yet again, Catherine finds herself at a crossroads, questioning her career choices to date … and what shape she wants her future to take.

Series:
Release Date:  October 4, 2011
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Source:  Provided by Author
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Reviewer’s Thoughts:

I was not sure what to expect when I picked up this book, would it be a clash of cultures version of The Devil Wears Prada or like the Nanny Diaries set in a law firm?  Well, it turned out to be a bit of both. The book starts off slow and lets you get the feel for the obstacles the Catherine will face throughout.  Catherine encounters desperate clients, even more desperate colleagues, and  fast-paced world of New York City life.  As the book progresses the pace picks up and the story becomes more involved.

Catherine although charming and intelligent is not at all what I expected as a French woman in New York. I expected her to be more adept at maneuvering through a city, especially since she was supposed to be from Paris.  Instead, it takes her until half way through the book to really get her bearings and while that is to be expected when moving to any place new, I just didn’t believe it when it came to her love life.  She seemed a lot more naïve than someone in her position would be.  However, that didn’t detract from her as a character or from the book as a whole.

Catherine’s first hint at love comes from her co-worker Antoine.  However, he keeps giving her mixed signals one moment he seems interested and the next moment he seems to be playing the same power games that the rest of her co-workers are.  Catherine then meets, handsome, millionaire client Jeffrey.  He immediately expresses his interest and they begin a relationship.  All while, she tries to maneuver around the firm mean girls and moody partners. There’s bit of a love triangle which added to the intrigue.  In the end Catherine discovers what she really wants in love and in a career.  All in all, this book is a pretty fun light read that’s perfect for the airplane, train or a lazy day at home.

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