Rating: 
Summary: Just about perfect
Review: I thought this book was wonderful. Within the first 100 pages I laughed and cried... and then I had to put the book down because I was so upset! The book brings back two characters from other books by the same author. Molly Somerville looks on the outside to be a rich socialite without a care in the world, except her huge crush on Chicago Stars quarterback Kevin Tucker. And one night she gives into that temptation and a whole hosts of complications arise, forcing Kevin and Molly to look beyond the surface.
The book brings back several characters from past SEP books, including Dan and Phoebe from It Had to be You, another great book. Be sure to check that one out. And this time we get to meet Dan and Phoebe's kids.
All in all, it's a wonderful book with just the right amount of heart. I recommend it for a light summer read; just make sure you bring along some tissue.
Rating:
Summary: Great Dialogue, Wonderful Characters
Review: To me, a sign of a good book is one where you start reading it, get interrupted and can't get back to it for almost two weeks, and find the characters still leap off the pages and grab you back into the story. That's what happened to me and I had no trouble picking up where I left off. Susan Elizabeth Phillips' latest book revisits old favorites and finishes out her saga about the Chicago Stars football team. Molly Somerville has finally grown up and come into her own. The super smart child that has always craved love, affection, and approval has finally figured out what to do with her life. She has given away her millions, created a series of children books, and writes articles for teens that makes her life livable, or so she thinks. Kevin Tucker is the star quarterback who appears to have it all, at least on the outside. Each continuously do stupid or dangerous things, looking for something to make them compete, even when they don't realize they are missing something. Combine this with a wonderful cast of secondary characters the includes an over the hill sex kitten from Hollywood, a famous reclusive painter, young newlyweds that can't keep their hands off each other or from giving out free sexual advice, and Phoebe. We all remember Phoebe, the sexpot who set the business world in pro football on its heels with her brains. The dialogue is wonderful in this book. It's sharp, witty, and refreshing. The story has plenty of unpredictable moments in it as Molly and Kevin both have to confront their lives and take charge. I must admit I hated the little narrative at the beginning of each chapter from Molly's books until I caught how they played into the story. Then it became funny. This was an enjoyable book all around. For those of you who haven't read the others in the Chicago Stars series, you will be fine jumping into this story. If nothing else, it will probably make you go back and find the other stories. Ms. Phillips, unless I'm mistaken, only publishes one book a year. Please write faster! I love your books and hate waiting another year to get my hands on your next book.
Rating:
Summary: Funny and Endearing Love Story...
Review: Molly Somerville had previously lived the kind of life most only dream of. That is, until she decided to give her entire fifteen million dollar inheritance to charity. Now she's the struggling author of children's books featuring the characters Daphne the Bunny and Benny the Badger. It may be a little more than coincidence that Daphne and Benny are mirror images of herself, and the object of her long-term infatuation. Kevin Tucker is the famous quarterback for the Chicago Stars football team, owned by Molly's sister, Phoebe. Kevin is wild, gorgeous, infuriating and barely knows she's alive. But that's all about to change. Because Molly has a wild streak of her own, and when her and Kevin accidentally end up at the family vacation house together, her wild streak turns into an uncontrollable urge. Kevin is furious, and their lives irrevocably change. Together they take a trip to Wind Lake, the drab campground of Kevin's childhood summers, which he recently inherited and can't wait to sell. What they find is a surprise - a bed and breakfast and a collection of beautiful, quaint cottages set in picturesque surroundings. Perhaps this is the place to put differences aside, heal old wounds, and grab onto a once in a lifetime love. This is the fifth, and final installment in the Chicago Stars/Bonner Brothers series. For those of you who may not know, the order is: "It Had To Be You", "Heaven Texas", "Nobody's Baby But Mine", "Dream a Little Dream", and "This Heart of Mine". I confess I didn't read the series in order, and have yet to read, "Dream a Little Dream". However, this is a strong finish for an outstanding collection of books. I continue to be amazed at how SEP builds her complex characters, layer by layer, until they breathe with a life of their own. Molly and Kevin must each face the ghosts of their past, and struggle to accept their feelings for each other. The setting of Wind Lake was magical, and the humor SEP weaves in her stories so well, was present too. The baseball game has to be the funniest part of the book. And I love the Daphne and Benny story excerpts at the beginning of each chapter. Not only do I recommend this book, but the whole series (except "Dream a Little Dream" which I haven't read, so can't voice an opinion). In fact, three books of this series are some of my all-time favorite reads, with this being one of them. Enjoy!!
Rating:
Summary: One of my favorites
Review: This Heart of Mine by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite books. It is the first novel by SEP that I've read, but I'm sure to be a faithful reader now. As a college student, I specifically chose it for some light summer reading but ended up not being able to put it down. I honestly finished it in one day and was sad to see I was on the last page! I wanted it to go on. Kevin and Molly were likeable characters, and I easily fell in love with them and their story. Hopefully SEP will continue with these great characters in her future work. This book is for anyone who loves romance without all the fabio/bodice ripping extras. SEP combines a lovestory and humor with realism and skill. I often found myself laughing out loud! I definately would recommend this book and am looking forward to reading another one of SEP's books asap!
Rating:
Summary: Its So Hard to Say Goodbye
Review: This Heart of Mine lived up to all of my expectations for a SEP novel. Its hard to believe that we won't be meeting up with any other characters from the Chicago Stars. This book endeared me like all the rest. I loved Molly and Kevin's story and revisiting most of the families from some of her other books. It was great seeing that Dan & Phoebe had more children besides the twins. Both Molly and Kevin were believable characters. They each had insecurities that all of us have which keep us from accepting love without question. Its fascinating to watch their feelings mature as they work together on a neglected camp for senior adults. I also enjoyed the subplots surrounding Lilly and Liam, as well as the teenage newlyweds hired to work at the camp that couldn't keep their hands off each other long enough to get the work done. The way Molly wrote her childrens books around Nightingale Woods and the similarities between fact and fiction was the most fun for me, especially when Kevin realizes which character he is. If you've read any of Susan E. Phillip's books before, you won't be disappointed with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: No chemistry
Review: I tried, but I just didn't feel the chemistry between Molly and Kevin. I felt more chemistry and understanding between Kevin's mom and the painter than Molly and Kevin. Molly came off as really childish and Kevin's character was underdeveloped. Funny read, but fell flat...
Rating: 
Summary: good....but the book is better
Review: This is the first novel I listened to after reading the novel itself. I always believe that it's better to read a book than listen to it, coz u can imagine however u want them to sound, and then there's the abridge and unabridge part. I'll give it to Van Dyke, She did a wonderful job in reading the novel. She is a very good actress and knew how to potray every emotions displayed on each scene. My only disappointment, is the way they cut some of the scenes( a lot of scenes) that should be there. Of course it's an abridge reproduction. Just a warning to all those who read the novel and planning to buy the audio cassette, Lily's story is gone, but her reunion with her son is still there, and then there's no mention of Cal, no softball game, they also deleted the epilogue part where there's a big celebration in the gazebo with Bobby Tom, Cal, and Kenny, and a lot of more, they are all gone,as in nada.. and then, It's ok that they cut of the scence, but I dont like the way they cut it, and let the listeners assume some things that really didnt happen. All in all, I still encourage everybody to get the novel instead, just because the story is better off itself without any deletions or alterations. But as I said before, Jennifer Van Dyke is an excellent reader, and my opinion about of how the story came out has nothing to do with her talent.
Rating:
Summary: I'm very disappointed with this book
Review: Firstly, let me say that I am a HUGE SEP fan. She has written books such as Nobody's Baby But Mine, Heaven Texas etc that have left a good lasting impression in my mind - the dialogue was wonderful, the relationships plausible, and the storyline believable... I cannot say the same for this book This Heart of Mine as it fell totally flat. I actually had to force myself to continue reading the book - something I've never had to do with a SEP novel before. We first met Kevin Tucker in Nobody's Baby But Mine and I really liked him there. In this book SEP does not do him the justice he deserved... I'm not even sure I understand him at all. As for Molly, we met her in It Had To Be You (her sister's Phoebe's story) when she was a teenager and I can't say that I like her any better in this one. She does really stupid unjustifiable things and SEP tries to get the reader to understand it... come on... jumping into bed with Kevin, someone she didn't know and with one of his old condoms in hand - she went for one thing and one thing alone... and then when it all came crashing down on her she expected Kevin to understand and to empathise... Molly was too calculating and too deceitful for me to remotely care about her... and her jealousy of her sister (she wanted the same Great Love Story that Phoebe and Dan shared - maybe that's why she got fixated on a football star) was pathetic and immature. To top it all off there was no chemistry between Kevin and Molly and I don't think she deserved him. SEP couldn't even convince me that he really cared for her far less loved her. *Sigh* All in all it was not an enjoyable read - it seemed forced and flat. I didn't like the main characters and the story was too hard to swallow. Take the advice from a true SEP fan - skip this one.
Rating:
Summary: An absolutely awesome contemporary romance!
Review: This Heart of Mine had it all when it comes to a great contemporary romance. The leads were well written and very likable, the story line did not have even one boring page, the secondary characters were really interesting, the romance was the primary emphasis throughout the book and the chemistry between the hero and heroine was sizzling. Add to that a most charming location, a very original story line, great humor throughout the book - yet a depth that kept this tale from being light hearted - and you have one of the best contemporary romances I have read in some time. Kevin Tucker is one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and plays for the Chicago Stars. Kevin is quite the celebrity and is very dedicated to his profession. Although Kevin is a bit of a womanizer and is known to date a lot of women that aspect makes up very little of the actual man Kevin is. He has been playing professionally for ten years for the Stars and plans to stay with the Chicago team even beyond his actual football career. He envisions coaching the team someday and remaining within the Stars corporate environment even beyond that. Football is his job and he makes sure his personal life does not cross with his professional life. Part of that isolation involves not becoming too close to the family that owns and manages the Stars. He is friends with the owners but never even considers a relationship with the owner's sister although he finds her attractive. Molly Somerville is considered a spoiled heiress. Her sister owns the Chicago Stars football team and although Molly is very close to her sister and her family, she does not want or live a high profile life. In fact, the fifteen million Molly's father left to her now sits in a non-profit organization she created for a charity. Molly did not like the life of an heiress and her tendency to rely on her father's money rather than hard work for her living. So, she gave it away and now lives month to month as a fairly successful children's author. She loves her life and is actually quite mature in her life choices. She does not date men frivolously. When she finds herself sharing a vacation home, by mistake, with the famous quarterback of the Chicago Stars, she is quite startled by her overwhelming attraction to him. I can't say much more without giving away a portion of the story but this is the beginning of a somewhat reluctant relationship between Molly and Kevin. The book is quick to draw you in and has a most unusual beginning to the leads' improbable romance. This was a book I did not want to put down. I loved the story - laughing again and again and then alternately feeling a tender sadness for Kevin and Molly - both with their experiences and vulnerabilities. This very entertaining story has quite a serious side but Phillips is very talented at blending the two aspects into an entrancing story. The sensual rating is about 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). Two of the secondary characters, who are age 50 and 50 plus, add a very sexy flair with their relationship. This is a welcome surprise for the many romance readers out there that are members of the baby boomer generation. I highly recommend This Heart of Mine. It was thrilling to find such a good book after a rather dry run in reading. This is my second Phillips book and I am eager to work through her backlist. It is a definite keeper.
Rating: 
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: I was a bit dissapointed by the lack of love there was in this story for the longest time. Hence the low four star rating. The hero runs around doing what he needs to do because he was told 'stand up and do your duty' as a child and the heroine just goes along for lack of anything better to do. Once they begin to fall in love and see each other though, the book really comes through with a great love story. By the end of the book I couldn't help but like all the characters in the novel. It made me want to run out and buy the other books in this series. I have a feeling they will be better. Enjoy.
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