Material Girl

The Fancy Lives of the Lear Sisters, Book 1

By: Julia London

Narrated by: Natalie Ross

Length: 13 hrs and 56 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the first book of The Fancy Lives of the Lear Sisters trilogy, a spoiled socialite discovers the best things in life are worth working for.

For socialite Robin Lear, being handcuffed in the back of a police car for a bogus crime is the cherry on top of the worst week ever. First, her father announces devastating news. Then, in a fit of tough love, he demotes Robin from her cushy job in the family business and reassigns her to work for an insufferable manager. Now, for the first time in her life, Robin will have to earn her place in the world - and the sexy new contractor renovating her house may be just the man to show her how.

One look at beautiful Robin Lear is all Jake Manning needs to know that she’s just another trust-fund baby who’s never done an honest day’s work. Getting involved with a woman like her would be a disaster - yet staying away is proving to be damn near impossible. But who knows better than Jake that the best things in life are worth the effort….

©2013 Julia London (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Loved London's Contemporary Debut

I loved this book by Julia London and the real romance she develops between Jake and Robin, as well as the real problems the two must face and overcome in their quest to be together and try for their own happily ever after. I am so glad I read this book. It was a contemporary romance that depended on developing real relationships and just the right amount of sex to add some spice to the listen. If you want a real, feel good romance this is the book for you.

Robin Lear has it all, or so it seems. She has money at her disposal and a cushy job. She can take one of the family jets to Paris on a moment's notice or shop frivolously for designer shoes. But she's still seeking the approval of her father, who's now dying of cancer. When he decides she must make it on her own, she has no direction except that of ex-lover Evan who dogs her every step. Both humorous and poignant, it's fun to watch her growth into a mature woman.

She's hired Jake Manning to renovate her mansion and has ridiculed him from the beginning. She's unaware of his struggles with his nephew or that he's close to his degree in architecture. She does recognize his virility, and there's a strong attraction. Jake is aware of their different places in society although he refuses to take a back seat to her status. He fears her relationship with Evan but plows ahead despite it. He uncovers a real person beneath the veneer.

I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I laughed, then shed a tear at the unexpected conclusion. Pick up this book if you want to read about people that are flawed but become more aware of themselves as the book progresses. A good contemporary romance.
Natalie Ross was outstanding with the delivery of the story.

More enjoyable than I expected

I didn't think I would enjoy this nearly as much as I did. Very well performed and competently written - a writer who knows her craft. The plot reminded me of a Susan Elizabeth Phillips' story line, except Phillips somehow made her spoiled females likable - I never liked the protagonist in this story. Phillips also incorporates humorous dialog that usually puts her books in 5 star category for me. Material Girl is not without humor, but neither is humor a key element.

If you expect plenty of hot bedroom scenes, you might be a bit disappointed with this book. I get the feeling that the author included only what she thought she had to in order to sell the book and didn't enjoy writing physical scenes.

The narrator does a fantastic job, doesn't falter once.

Wonderfully Entertaining!

Material Girl has it all...it has everything that makes a book entertaining: humor, sentiment, romance.

The interaction between Robin Lear (poor little rich girl) and Jake her contractor, had me laughing out loud.

Natalie Ross gave a wonderful performance.

I would certainly recommend it.

Enjoyed this surprisingly

I purchased this book as I could not find anything else in chic lit I had not read that appealed. I was very surprised the storyline was good. I enjoyed the character of Robin Lear and how she developed. The story was very entertaining if a bit unbelievable but I purchased the next two in the series as soon as I finished this.
The narrater was great also a very good voice.
A great holiday read.

Oh Those Men in Tools Belts

What made the experience of listening to Material Girl the most enjoyable?

there are 2 more stories with reader Natalie Ross

What was one of the most memorable moments of Material Girl?

When Jake wishes our heroine the best.

What does Natalie Ross bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Natalie Ross's male reading voice. It is so sexy! I buy as many books she reads by herself.

Any additional comments?

Julia London books just do not quite make it. Hero's are good,but the female leads tend to just not make the A list. Maybe there is not enough humor, but a slight stab at it. I guess I would have to say, these are romance stories, but with an under tone of the dark side. There is a happy ending, but needs more humor in her stories. A listener wants to feel good after the listen. I am going to try book 2 as the outline sounds a bit more fun.

Terrible book..Wonderful narrator..

What would have made Material Girl better?

If Robin hadn't been so stupid for so long!!

What was most disappointing about Julia London’s story?

Robin!! And it was waaaaay too long.

What does Natalie Ross bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

She reads with so much emotion. She a wonderful narrator.

What character would you cut from Material Girl?

Jake

Any additional comments?

That was one of the longest, stupidest books I've ever listened to . Robin was just TSTL and never 'saw the light' until 96% so that gave me plenty of time to hate her. I liked Jake, that's the only reason I gave it 2 stars. Fortunately, the author didn't make Cole out to be a truly horrible teenager but Jake's mom and Robin's dad were really unlikably. Evan and Mia were sooo awful it wasn't even funny.
You could cut about 150 pages from this book and it might be worth listening to or reading but as it is it just goes on and on with such boring BS. Almost 500 pages/13 hours is just too much.
The only reason I finished it was because the narrator was so good. Even for $1.99 it wasn't worth it.

Great Character Developement

The book kinda reminds me of the 80's movie Maid To Order. Material Girl is Robin Lear the eldest daughter to very wealthy Aaron Lear owner and founder of Lear freight line. Aaron Lear is dying of cancer lashes out on all of his family members on how they are wasting their lives away due to wealth. Robin is an annoying heiress type with a disgusting sense of entitlement. Her father is scared to leave his company to his incapable daughter and decides to take down a few pegs, he demotes her position in the company so she can learn the business. Robin takes on her new position of "bubble wrap queen" to prove everyone wrong, but she learns the cold hard truth of just how right everyone was about her. Robin's eyes are opened by her hot stud of a contractor renovating her house Jake Manning. Jake teaches Robin that there is a lot more to life then money and wealth doesn't buy happiness. It the beginning you will hate this girl but she grows and you will find yourself rooting for her towards the end. The reason I didn't give it completely 5 stars all around is because there is too much fighting between Jake and Robin about their insecurities and it gets a little annoying, that my only complaint, but its still a good book.

Good one

There are some good lessons to be learned in this book, especially for a young woman who struggles to hold on to the kind of life she has known even though she starts to see on a regular basis that she and her friends are very shallow and all they really have is money.

It took a lot of patience on my part to wade through the book and watch her make mistake after mistake.

Better Than I Thought

The book was better than I thought it would be. Jake was quite strong and held his ground--stood up to the old man". Natalie Ross does an excellent performance. Looking forward to the story of the next sister and will the old man finally see the error or his ways.

Love, Love, Love this Book!!

Loved the storyline and the characters. Will make you laugh and cry. One of my favorite books by Julie London. The narration was wonderful. I love Natalie Ross. Can’t wait to listen to the other two books in the series.