Match Me if You Can

by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

rated 5 stars

pages

Back Cover:

Annabelle is tired of being the lone failure in a family of overachievers. She's endured dead-end jobs and a broken engagement. Even her hair's a mess! But that's going to change now that she's taken over her late grandmother's matchmaking business. All Annabelle has to do is land the Windy City's hottest bachelor as her client, and she'll be the most sought-after matchmaker in town. Nothing is going to stand in her way -- not the drunk lying comatose under her car, not her family's disapproval, and certainly not the lingering effects of a broken heart. With his money green eyes and calculated charm, Heath Champion is the best sports agent in the country. He's wealthy, driven, and gorgeous, so why does he need a matchmaker, especially a red-haired screw-up like Annabelle Granger? True, she's entertaining, and she does have a certain quirky appeal. But Heath is searching for the ultimate symbol of his success -- the perfect wife. And to make an extraordinary match, he needs an extraordinary matchmaker, right? Thin, rich, utterly fabulous Portia Powers has spent her career making matches for everyone but herself. Her take-no-prisoners attitude has built Power Matches into the top matchmaking agency in Chicago. So what if she has more enemies than friends and she's one breath away from a nervous breakdown? Neither an upstart like Annabelle Granger nor Heath Champion's menacing, but oddly intriguing, bodyguard, will keep her from getting what she wants -- a Power Match for Heath ... the city's very own Jerry Maguire. Soon everyone in Chicago has a stake in the outcome, right down to Annabelle's overprotective book club. When the matchmaker promises she'll do anything to keep her star client happy ... does she mean anything? If Annabelle isn't careful, she just might find herself going heart-to-heart with the toughest negotiator in town -- a man who's beginning to ask himself: Exactly how perfect does perfect have to be?

My thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. I laughed out loud several times. I love that SEP's heroines however flawed and insecure they might be, also have a sharp wit and a smart mouth. Love That!! My favorite scene was the one where she had a house full of rival football players. Heath "comes to her rescue" and while she is fuming at him and giving him a piece of her mind, the fellas are trying to explain why they keep hanging at her place. They are talking over her and she is smacking them on the backs of their heads. They love it, cuz she doesn't take their crap and acts like their mother.

For some reason I didn't get into the back story romance. Portia and Bodie, for some reason just didn't do it for me!! It felt icky, and too.....domineering! I didn't like that their first time together he took her from behind and on the balcony, and never spoke a word to her or kissed. He walks in and leans her over the rail, then leaves without a word. Too something for me.

I liked that Heath "got" Annabelle's family but I wished that she'd finally seen them the way he did. She felt attacked by them emotionally, and he saw them as almost competing for her attention. She doesn't feel loved and respected by them.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips rocks!!

Heaven, Texas

Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

pgs 371

rated 5

#9 Title with a place

Back Cover

Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to track down the legendary ex-jock Bobby Tom Denton and drag him back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. But taming an egotistical cowboy in a '57 T-Bird might be more than this prim Ohio wallflower can handle.

Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being movie star -- and no plans to cooperate with the bossy little virgins whom he can't get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hellraising playboy decides to make her over from plain Janet Texas wildcat.

But nothing's more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel's heart in a town too small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion -- and a match that can be made only in Heaven.

I loved this book. Of course, Susan Elizabeth Phillips books are an auto-read for me! No one writes flawed characters who aren't pathetic like Ms. Phillips. I love that Gracie, has her weaknesses and insecurities, but also has integrity, and a stength of character. I love that while she is shy and sheltered, she's also curious and willing to take risks. I love the scene on the trip in the hotel room, where Bobby Tom catches her eyeing the "Adult" channel schedules. She's too embarrassed to admit to being curious, but he just turns the channel on and watches her blush 18 shades of red. Gracie, is above all someone I'd like to be friends with.

Bobby Tom, is going thru a really rough time, and makes some major mistakes. In someone else, I might have found them a "deal breaker" but know BT and that inside he has a heart of pure marshmallow fluff, I'm willing to cut him some slack. I find his need to give, lets him be taken advantage of, and his guilt for having it easy, and being successful leads him to become an "easy mark". But how can you not love a guy who's sensitive underneath it all. I also love him, cuz he's flirty even with the chubby girls. He makes a point to make, even the not perfect feel special. Besides, he has 2 names and one is not Bubba! I love a 2 name guy. It's the 3 name guys you have to run from. (like John Wilkes Boothe, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Wayne Gacey!) *shudders*

I'm so looking forward to more Chicago Stars!! I highly recommend this book to anyone!!