Ain't She Sweet?

Rating:
Summary: The sweetest thing!!
Review: Just finished reading this book..A tear-jerker..I cried..I laughed..love the dialogues... A must-read..a keeper.. To Susan, thanks for the enjoyable read.... Those who've enjoyed this book will surely love Dream a Little Dream, It Had To Be You, This Heart Of Mine, Nobeody's Baby But Mine.... Love 'em all..

Rating:
Summary: New Jersey needs to stay in New Jersey
Review: I thought SEP's book was wonderful, and I was sorry to have it come to an end. 'Ain't She Sweet' was fun loving and the quick wit and banter between the characters was delightful.

However, if the reviewer from New Jersey believes what she wrote, she best stay in NJ. Contrary to popular belief, those with a Southern accent should not have 100 IQ points automatically deducted. Southern women survived the most horrific time of US History and I am proud to say that Southern Women are truly Steel Magnolias.

So if you believe Southern Women truly arrest at 15...then I suppose the rest of us should believe New Jersey women appear and talk like those in 'Working Girl' and y'all are really married to the Mob.

Thank you, SEP, for such a WONDERFUL and delightful story!

From Holly Springs & VERY proud of it!

Rating:
Summary: SEP is back with the BEST!!
Review: This absolutely has to be one of SEP best works. In fact, I am asking her to reimburse me for a day's work, as she had me sooo hooked from the beginning that I called in sick so I could stay home and finish it (I have only ever done this one other time - Suzanne Brockmann). This is a MUST, MUST, MUST have book. The witism will send you to the ER for stitches. I usually contain myself with just a little snicker here and there but this was sooo over the top, I found myself laughing so hard that I had to reread some parts when I could contain myself a little better. Even days later I am still chuckling to myself!!! Thank you SEP for this absolutely wonderful bit of literature.

Rating:
Summary: Ain't She Sweet?
Review: Take one part Erica Kane, one part Scarlett O'Hara, and a dash of the cast of Designing Women and you have Sugarbeth Carey. Once she reigned as the queen of cool in high school, but she left that world behind until now. She's come back, queen no more. Now she's older, wiser, and humbled but still proud. Though down on her luck, she's not out. It feels that way, though, when her only hope of a job comes from Colin Byrne, her one time English teacher, nemesis, and the man who has the most reason for revenge. Having the girl who ruined his career as his maid is too sweet, but if he thinks Sugarbeth is going to be a docile domestic, this Englishman had best think again. Even when forced to serve those who trample her crown, Sugarbeth is still dignified. Colin soon finds his bitterness turning to admiration and something a bit more carnal. Suddenly his research about the sexual habits of Victorian gentlemen becomes slightly more relevant, especially the chapters about servant girls. There is a problem in the plan, Sugarbeth has given her heart before, and does not agree with the poem about it being better to love and lose than not love. It's better to run away before you get hurt is her thought.

***** "Ain't She Sweet" snaps with sassy humor and quick wit, but has a serious message that is not so subtly spelled out. Sugarbeth is the best heroine since Ms Phillips' Daisy. Her banter with Colin is sharp and fun. You will laugh and cry. I can hardly wait for the next release by this author. *****

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore.

Rating:
Summary: Ridiculously simple
Review: This is the first SEP book I've read and it will definitely be the last. The story was ridiculous, ridiculously simple, and not at all believable, but what really irritated me was writing a story about people in a town in Mississippi whose personalities all arrested at 15. If this is any reflection on the people of Mississippi, I'll make it a point to stay far far away. This book is such a waste of time when there are so many authors who deserve real praise.

Rating:
Summary: A terrific bunch of women . . .
Review: This book has great female characters--especially Sugar Beth, Winnie, and Gigi--and a wonderful sense of community. Top that off with a trademark SEP romance and it's just flat-out fun. She gets extra points with me for trying a very different kind of heroine and pulling it off beautifully. Susan truly is the queen of romantic comedy.
(Note: I posted a review of this two weeks ago and it still hasn't appeared so I'm trying it again. If two reviews from me show up, it's not because I'm padding Susan's rating, it's because the other one wandered around in the ether for awhile, although this book is worth ten stars, so it's all good.)

Rating:
Summary: Almost as good as Georgette Heyer...
Review: Wow! This was a wonderful book. I genuinely cared about all of the characters and the dialogue was great. It's nice to read a romance that's not been "dumbed down" to the usual level. This was considerably more intelligent than the most of the romances I've been reading lately.

Loved the Georgette Heyer quotes! (Yes, she was a master.)

Looking forward to reading more by this author.

Rating:
Summary: Typical SEP
Review: I've waited for this book very patiently and it was 100% SEP. There's the heroine, Sugar Beth, whose life is in the dumpster. There's a brooding hero, Colin, who is plotting an elaborate renvenge. Sugar Beth is too much like 'Rachel' in 'dream a little dream', 'Daisy' in 'kiss an angel' and 'Fransesca' in fancy pants. Her situation is also very similar- A woman brought down by bad times is put at the mercy of a hero who routinely gives her a hard time, but she uses her strength, pride and wit to get back and after a few dramatic separations/misunderstanding, everyone lives happily ever after. But despite being predictable and all, this book is amazing. I liked it better than the three similar books mentioned above. Colin, the hero, was also much more likable. The dialogue is uplifting and very witty. And some scenes were real sweet without being melodramatic. I loved it. I could read another few books with the exact same plot lines if she does as good a job with it.

Rating:
Summary: RECYCLED PLOT = DISSAPOINTING AND MEDIOCRE EFFORT
Review: I have all of SEP's books and she is my favorite author. As most of SEP's fans, I eagerly anticipate the release of her novels and up to now have bought them as soon as they hit the shelves, regardless of cost.

For her newest work we had to wait two years and my expectations were huge, considering the excellence of her previous novels. Her style is, as always, delightful. I loved the way she developed the story and each character. The male lead is great: masculine, supremely intelligent, and sensitive. Sugar Beth is also well developed, intelligent, and lovable.

The reasons for giving this book two stars only are the following:

(1)The plot seems to be a combination of two great novels, IT HAD TO BE YOU and DREAM A LITTLE DREAM, but unfortunately it doesn't reach their caliber.

(2) The story of the leads is too diluted by the time and effort spent on secondary characters. Don't misunderstand me, I love the secondary characters of all her books, but if SEP is going to do justice to the leads, she needs to write a longer novel that will allow us to understand them better and to see their relationship develop.

(3) Was it necessary to make Sugar Beth's past so disreputable (slutty)? She was very sexually experienced,which I don't like, especially since SEP did not make us see that her sexual experiences with Colin were unique. Sugarbeth did not experience anything "new" with Colin, she'd already done absolutely everything with countless partners; she even had had one night stands (a first for SEP leading females). I think that her growth could have been achieved without overstressing her transgressions.

(4) Sugarbeth had already experienced the love of her life with her third husband (I kept expecting to read at some point that she had never loved anyone as much as Colin, of course, but this didn't happen).

(3) Near the end we read about a very important development in the leads situation, but we do not get to enjoy it. The ending seems rushed and important details are not provided, thus we are left with loose ends and a feeling of dissatisfaction. For me, this was the hardest thing to forgive.

I loved the deeper drama of the book and I think SEP should always balance the funny elements with the dramatic; she is absolutely great in depicting feelings and making readers "live" her books.

Although this novel was enjoyable, it was a dissapointment coming from a writer that has led us to expect much more. I feel that SEP is not putting as much effort into her work as she used to and this novel was not worth its hardcover price.

I still recommend it, because mediocre from SEP is still worth reading, but I wish I had waited for the paperback.

Rating:
Summary: I expected better from my favorite author
Review: Since she's been my favorite author for many years I was expecting to be totally enthralled by her newest. We've waited impatiently for two years to once again jump into SEP's imagination with a great romantic comedy. I really liked Colin and Sugar Beth. Their dialogs are top notch and very witty, however, the motivation behind some of the main action eluded (and bothered) me throughout. For example, why did her high school friends hate SB so much? Just because she didn't keep in touch shouldn't make her the target of their cruelty. They seemed to have switched allegiances very easily to Winnie and then back. Some friends! What made SB third husband the love of her life? A little more detail would have been illuminating. The whole story with the mentally disabled daughter was a real stretch to set up SB's selflessness and reformation. I could go on...

But, don't think it isn't a great read. I consumed it in one evening and enjoyed most of it. My quibbles are because SEP has been the gold standard for me for so long, I was somewhat disappointed.