Cannonball Read 17

Sticking It to Cancer One Book at a Time

Susan, can you write better romantic heroes, please?

When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

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Sometimes I like Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and sometimes I don’t. Like, I REALLY don’t. Susan’s back with the Chicago Stars, the fictional NFL team she likes to write about. This time, Olivia, a famous soprano who performs arias all over the world, is thrown together with Tad Owns, a member of the Stars, to embark on an international tour to sell $3,000 watches. Much is made of Olivia’s penchant for overpacking, her prim and proper appearance, and her loathing of Tad. (Which is mentioned in […]

No. The answer is No.

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I recently moved to the South and since I was in need of some light reading I decided a romance with some southern flair would help with the transition. I found a discussion group that mentioned Ain’t She Sweet by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and it had a lot of really good reviews so I hopped onto Amazon to purchase the whole book. I have regrets… Overall the book is…okay? I just didn’t much like the main characters. Sugar Beth Carey was the princess of the […]

Stealing sperm is not ok!

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Apologies in advance if I am insulting someone’s favourite SEP! Susan Elizabeth Phillips had been recommended to me as someone to read if you loved Jennifer Crusie, and I really love Crusie. (I keep rereading Bet Me, which I should go back and upgrade to a five on my previous reviews. And Manhunting. All the Crusies get reread about every six months. Anyway!) The problem is, I should have read the recommendations more carefully to see that the latter ones are amazing, but the earlier […]

Natural Born Rage Inducer

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So it appears I’m about to put forth some unpopular opinions, but it was bound to happen eventually. Mrs. J, feel free to break up from our Romance Twin pact if you need, because I’m about to rant. I tried a Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I tried the one that here and elsewhere on the internet is regularly called her best. And OH MY GOD WHAT IS THIS CRAP?! Natural Born Charmer is the story of Blue, a down on her luck (due to circumstances she […]

I was warned

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I was warned that this was a middling romance. Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ does some pretty great character’s and character relationships, but sometimes the situations she puts them in are ridiculous and cringe worthy. From Amazon: Piper Dove is a woman with a dream—to become the best detective in the city of Chicago. First job? Trail former Chicago Stars quarterback, Cooper Graham. Problem? Graham’s spotted her, and he’s not happy. As with most SEP romances, the future couple starts off on the wrong foot. The man is […]

Entertaining if you don’t think about it too much

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I just can’t quite let Susan Elizabeth Phillips go. I’ve been at least a little disappointed in most of her recent books, and I think I’ve outgrown her. But every time she puts out a new book, there I am on the waitlist. First Star I See Tonight (2016) just came out in August, and I read it as soon as I could put my hands on it. I enjoyed parts of this one, and I generally liked the characters. However, I think the magic of […]



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