This Heart of Mine

The Chicago Stars have been a favorite football team for some time now for me. I love all the books that Phillips has written about these characters. She is an excellent story teller, her characters are real, and she is soooo funny. This is not my favorite in the series, but it is good.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips engages me (and everyone I know!) with all her books. I thought I had read all of her books, but I ordered this one anyway because I couldn't place the exact story. I expected to realize that I had already read this novel and was thrilled to discover that it was new to me! Gosh,,, I loved every word of every page. What a treat for me, a true S.E. Phillips fan, to find myself riveted to every word. As usual, I was sad when I read the last page. Why do these stories have to end? Ms. Phillips says that her readers "keep her writing" by our insistance that she feature her wonderful characters in new books/storylines. Please don't stop!

I can't believe this book got any positive reviews. This is a terrible book and I kept waiting for the main character to redeem herself after what she did but it didn't happen and she even blames the man for not being good enough! I will not read this author again there are plenty of others and just because the character is female does not excuse her behavior.

Really like this entire series. This was one of my favorite because Molly writes children's stories. It seems the character of the badger in her children's books is based on Kevin Tucker. Lots of fun as she comments on things happening in her real life with the characters in her books.

I absolutely disliked this book from the start to the finish. Out of loyalty to the great romance author (I love all of her other books, that I have read so far). Molly, is simply a very annoying character. She rapes the hero in question (an issue never fully discussed in the novel), and she has lasting issues from her unemotional and un-feeling father. Not buying it, not even a little. I bought the daddy issues in Phoebe Sommerville's book with Dan. All of Molly's "fire alarm" issues seem silly and the problems of a bored rich girl. She is by far the least relatable of susan Elizabeth Phillips female leads. I double checked, I have read every susan elizabeth phillips novel to date (12-20-10) and this is not only the worst but an embarrassment.

While I missed the Bonner family in this book, I’m glad the story has circled back to the Chicago Stars. Not that Dream a Little Dream was totally outside the Stars family, just one small degree away really, but still. One of the things I really loved about this story is a lot of it takes place in Michigan. (Sorry if you thought they’d be in Chicago the whole time.) Since I was born and raised in Michigan and moved back to Michigan when my husband got out of the Navy, I obviously have a soft spot for this great and beautiful state.

As I said, it was great to get back to the original bones of this series. I enjoyed seeing Phoebe and Dan again and seeing how their family has shaped up over the years. As for the heroine of this story, I enjoyed Molly’s teenage antics in the first book, It Had to Be You. I’m happy to say I still enjoy her antics. Although, in the beginning she does something terrible that 17 years after the original publication date would NOT be okay by anyone’s standards. In fact, I must give those of you reading this review a trigger warning if you are sensitive to content about sexual abuse as this scene has the potential to really bring bad feelings to light. As usual, when it comes to such things, I do my best to look at what I’m reading through the lens of its original publication date. The subject is addressed but, again, not in the way it would be in 2017.

I have found that I’m usually quite frustrated with Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ heroes at the beginning of her books. They are often insensitive brutes. I can’t say that Kevin is a totally sensitive and touchy feely guy, but he never really seemed too outrageously terrible to me. Maybe it has to do with the above-mentioned thing Molly does that puts her in a much worse light, but I don’t think so. I’m sure it has a little something to do with his part in Nobody’s Baby But Mine, yet not totally. I think, in some ways, we can see the “why” of his attitude more quickly than we have been able to with the other heroes throughout the series.

Molly is a writer and I love the little snippets from her books and magazine articles that begin each chapter. It helped me to get to know Molly and Kevin even more, believe it or not. And, although this wasn’t a two in one book to the same extent the last two books were, these snippets also help with our understanding of the other (much less focused on) couple in the story.

Speaking of which…I absolutely love how the character of Lilly is portrayed. Her body issues, celebrity or not, are so real to women. Especially women over 40. The thing this story helps us to see is that her issues are exactly that, her issues. Nobody else sees her the way she sees herself. (Well, she is from Hollywood so maybe some people do, but not normal people.) There are some people who will even find the extra pounds and lines to give her more character and make her sexier. It was great to have that story run throughout the book in many subtle (and some not-so-subtle) ways.

I can’t believe I didn’t discover this author until this year. I’m loving this series and she’s quickly becoming a go-to author for me.

Judging by some of the other reviews of this book, it seems to be very divisive. I can see why, but my opinion falls pretty firmly in the middle. It’s not my favorite, but it also didn’t inspire in me the kind of hatred I’ve seen in some of the other reviews. There’s a lot of similarities between this and Nobody’s Baby but Mine. The biggest difference being that I actually liked Kevin and Molly. I was also able to find some connection with this pair that I hadn’t been able to do with the others. I think the author has done a decent job of laying out the background why Molly is such a terror and making her at least a little bit sympathetic. She does some truly abominable things that are completely inexcusable, and the fact that this book even hints at these actions being “okay” is the main reason why I can’t love it. But at least I can better understand why Molly chooses to do those things in the moment. Other than being a typically obtuse adult human, Kevin can do no wrong. I really liked him in the previous books so I was very glad to have the opportunity to read his story.

SPOILERS, but necessary ones to understand how offensive this book is.

Molly is the step-sister of Phoebe from It Had to Be You. Not blessed with her sister’s looks, she is that average-looking and brainy-but-scattered woman so popular in romance. She writes children’s stories about a bunny named Daphne and the reader is treated to snippets as a chapter framing device.

Every once in a while, Molly has an “incident”. First, she does something bizarre to her hair and then she acts out in an extraordinary fashion. When This Heart of Mine opens, she has just lopped off most of her locks and dyed the remainder bright red, so her family knows an escapade is imminent. She has a crush on the Chicago Stars quarterback, Kevin, who has just gotten into trouble for participating in extreme sports off the field and, unbeknownst to Molly, been sent to her sister’s lake house to meditate of his sins. Molly has decided she needs to get away and she ends up in the same place. I’d say hijinks ensue, but what follows is a felony.

One evening, after her new platonic friend has gone to sleep, Molly finds herself wandering into his private bathroom and then his bedroom. She climbs into bed with him, stimulates him, and when Kevin awakes from what he thought was a dream, he finds himself having sex with Molly. He is not happy. He asks what she would have called it had he done the same to her. The answer, of course, is rape. He’s right. That’s rape. The heroine is a rapist. Was I supposed to like this woman? Why? Because she gave her fortune to charity? Because she lives in her sister’s shadow? Because she "just couldn’t control herself"? Isn't that what male rapists like to say to excuse their behavior? This is an outrageously insensitive and offensive storyline.

Owing to an overdeveloped sense of honour, or some b.s, Kevin marries his rapist because the condom Molly stole from his shaving kit broke and she is pregnant. He does not tell her family the truth and he discourages her from doing so. In an expected trope, Molly miscarries the baby that was the result of Kevin’s victimization and falls into a deep depression. Not about the felony, mind you, about the loss of the pregnancy. Kevin learns of Molly’s depression and takes her to his upscale family campground to help her heal. He is a saint and the felonious Molly does not deserve him.

At the campground, Kevin the Saint and Molly the Felon grow closer. Molly the Felon has a simply adorable habit of creating drama when she thinks her soon-to-be-canonized-pseudo-spouse is bored; for example, going cliff diving or pretending to drown so he has to rescue her. Way to use up that microscopic speck of sympathy the miscarriage garnered you, Molly the Felon. She swims out into the middle of the lake, sees Kevin the Saint looking less than delighted, assumes he is bored, and decides to pretend to be drowning so Kevin the Saint can liven up his day by saving her. That is seriously messed up.

Kevin the Saint eventually figures out that Molly the Felon has a strong imagination the she likes to indulge in drama. For reasons I cannot begin to fathom, he overlooks her behavior, forgives her, and they consummate the relationship. It’s a big relief to Molly the Felon when the sex is great. She had some concerns about Kevin the Saint’s performance because the rape had been sexually disappointing for her. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I would give this book zero stars if I could.

Overall, I like the Chicago Stars series, each story is somewhat unique, but they all have a lot of heart and humour and quite nicely fleshed out characters. However, this book has a problematic rape storyline, which muddles the evaluation. I cannot say that the author resolves it in a satisfactory way, but if you are able to somehow bracket this problem, the rest of the book is pretty good. I especially liked that Molly was an especially flawed character and how we gradually got to know her as she got to know herself - in that she was a bit more realistic than some other heroines who are just a bit too perfect... Kevin was also a less than perfect character, which made him more likeable. I just wish the author could come up with some other way to depict how the herp realizes he's in love, right now she seems to use the same formula of abrupt realization in most of her books...

This Heart of Mine is the fifth installment in Susan Elizabeth Phillips' Chicago Stars series. The lead characters are children's books author Molly Somerville and Chicago Stars quarterback Kevin Tucker. After a very troubling incident, Molly and Kevin part ways but consequences from said incident bring the two back together in less than ideal circumstances. After some much needed healing in both their lives, an unlikely romance is toyed with and as always, ends in a happily ever after.

Although I enjoyed the fact that humor was brought back into the series with this book, I have to say this is my least favorite book in the series to date. In my opinion, Molly is a horrible heroine. She is a true nutjob. "Did anybody tell you that you're a few french fries short of a Happy Meal?" At times I did feel sorry for her, and by the end of the book the reader learns why she is the way she is. In this book, she is a talented author but I didn't like the incorporation of her children's books characters as her "imaginary friends". It just added to the wierdo factor. I think it was meant to be endearing or funny but I didn't view it that way. Because of the way I viewed Molly's character, I was getting increasingly frustrated with Kevin's character for staying in her life. These factors may explain why my enjoyment faultered.

One thing I have come to look forward to in each book in this series is there is always a beautiful romance blossoming between two older side characters. OMG how I loved the one in this book! It was so sexy. I finished the book completely but I considered several times giving up on Molly and Kevin's story and just skipping to the sections that focused on the side romance.

Slowly, I'm getting through this series and enjoying it despite my disappointment with the characters in this particular book. I plan to complete the series. Only two more to go!

My favorite quote:
Losing isn't as bad as not fighting at all."

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a master of the romantic fiction genre, and she has a clever turn of phrase that makes her dialogue always funny and never stale. However, despite her skill with conversation, sometimes Phillips tends to lack in the practicality quotient of the novel.

Molly Somerville is a child storybook author, the sweet, mousy (yet actually quite pretty), and spunky heroine romance authors love to write ... again and again and again. When she spends a weekend at her sister's spare house, an unexpected visitor drops in - the star football player of her sister's sports team. He is, of course, a handsome, speeding, thrill-seeking, close-mouthed bad boy that would never, ever, not in a million years, fall in love or even so much as look at a girl as plain as Molly Somerville.

And yet, the inevitable happens, but in such a way that it almost distasteful - this is the book's lowest point, a period where giving it up seems almost preferable to moving on. No sort of romance would seem to blossom from this soil, and the fact that it happened at all is so utterly improbable that you're laughing through the bizarreness of it all.

However, after this lapse, the book picks up and develops a sweet, tender romance that gets quite good. The male lead is one of Phillips' most attractive, being a little broody and taciturn and of course everything turns right and rosy in the end.

The getting there, however, takes some teeth-gritting. If you like Phillips, you'll love her other works, like It Had to Be You, Match Me If You Can, and Ain't She Sweet. This Heart of Mine has the same irresistable lead and witty dialogue, but the plot gapes illogically.

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!!

Although I preferred the first three Chicago Stars football books to this one, I still rank this one with 4 stars as a good read. The first three books which I felt were great are: It Had to be You, Heaven, Texas, and Nobody's Baby But Mine. In this book, I didn't enjoy the two main characters as much as I enjoyed the characters in the previous books. I'm not sure why. They both sought entertainment through risk taking. Molly was supposed to be smart, so I couldn't understand why she would give away all her inherited money. That bothered me. And it still bothers me.

I read the paperback twice and recently listened to the audiobook. The first time I read it I was laughing out loud several times. I didn’t laugh as much in subsequent reads because I knew what to expect, but I still enjoyed it a lot. I also liked the secondary romance between Kevin’s mother Lilly and a famous reclusive artist Liam.

AUDIOBOOK NARRATOR:
Anna Fields was very good with everything except Kevin’s voice. It wasn’t masculine or sexy somehow. It was almost juvenile. I loved her voices for the heroes in books 1 and 3 (Dan Calebow and Cal Bonner)) - very sexy. But not this book.

DATA:
Narrative mode: 3rd person. Story length: 399 pages. Swearing language: strong including religious swear words but rarely used. Sexual language: moderate. Number of sex scenes: about 9. Setting: current day Illinois, Wisconsin, and Northern Michigan. Copyright: 2001. Genre: humorous contemporary romance.

OTHER BOOKS:
For a list of my reviews of other Susan Elizabeth Phillips books, see my 5 star review of “It Had To Be You.”

Heroine: average
She longed for him from afar--right under his very nose! Impetuous heiress-turned-authoress Molly Somerville has had a crush on leading quarterback Kevin Tucker for years, but despite her close ties to his team he's never taken notice of her.
Gorgeous Kevin Tucker has been too busy riding high on his fame as an NFL star, loving the limelight and the bevy international supermodels that come with it to pay heed to the brainy girl-next-door sister of his team's owner.
Thrown together under the worst of circumstances Kevin and Molly are left trying to make the best of a bad mess. What will it take to make the two of them breach each other's protective walls and discover the love hiding within them?
What worked for me:
 As far as snappy dialogue and cute images, there were some great gems to be found in the pages of this book.
Size-wise Molly was neither slender nor plump, but really quite athletic. Though she experienced some twinges over not having inherited her mother's showgirl body, she was glad for the healthy, whole body she did have.
I especially liked the fact that this story dealt not only with the issue of size but also with age, since there was a secondary romance featuring an older woman (who also happened to have some trouble accepting her body.)
What didn't work for me:    
 The initial getting-together of the rather immature heroine and hero felt more like a plot device from an historical novel, and seemed totally out of place in a contemporary setting.
Overall:
A solid read. There were some awkward plot issues, but they may be worth overlooking for the fine humor and the interesting secondary romance.
If you liked "This Heart of Mine" you might also enjoy: "It Had to be You", "Lola Carlyle Reveals All", "His Seductive Revenge", "Dear Cupid", "Looking for Laura", "Fast Women", or "Too Much Temptation".

A very sweet love story between a sharp tongued herione and a 'dumb jock'.Of course Kevin was not dumb but Molly liked to think so to save herself from falling in love with him. But it wasn't much longer when she got to know him and realised that he wasn't as shallow as she had thought him to be, she fell in love anyway.

Their road to happy ending was a rough one with a so called 'rape', a pregnancy, a miscarriage and running of a B&B together that Kevin wanted to get rid of and Molly believed it not right for Kevin to get rid of the only thing connected to his childhood. Because of their different opinions about everything they argued a lot and i loved their arguements.

Molly's tendency to turn reckless once in while was cute. Well, every good girl deserves a reward like Kevin at least once in their life!

Secondery romance Between Lily and Liam was ok. I was enjoying the primary romance so much that felt kind of irritated with the interruption from these secondry characters.

It was fun to revisit Dan and Phobe after 'It had to be you'. Dan was being his usual conservative and 'obnoxious' self. No surprises there but Phoebe did surprise me with supporting Dan with his stand against Kevin, but then may be she was just trying to protect her sister's feelings.

Like always i found the dialogues witty and hilarious at times. As a fan of SEP i would say i was not disapoointed in her once again. I haven't yet read a bad one from her. For her fans go enjoy the reckless ride with Molly and Kevin.

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my favorite authors and she is the kinda of author whose books I always buy, automatically. I have been waiting for this particular book for almost 2 years since I live outside US and I can only afford buying the paperback edition. However, after I read it, It did not really meet my expectation when I first heard the news about Kevin and Molly were going to have their own book.
I felt like something was missing from this book. Most of the scenes jumped so fast from one another and sometimes I couldn't even be sure if Kevin and Molly really DO love each other. There are few issues that Ms. Phillips did not explore, for instance why Kevin started to feel restless at the first place?
However, I'm can't say that I'm disappointed with this book (that's why I gave it 4 stars). Ms. Phillips still maintained her funny and witty writings. I laughed at loud at the "baseball blood-bath" scenes. Daphne the Bunny and Benny the Badger were great! I love how she wrote passages from Daphne books or article from Chik magazine to start each chapters. And I also love to read about recurring characters like Dan and Phoebe (and the kids!!) from "It Had to Be You" also Cal and Dr. Jane and Rosie from "Nobody's Baby But Mine". She also mentioned other Bonners from "Dream a Little Dream", the Dentons from "Heaven, Texas" and a Traveller (which I'm sure it was Kenny) from "Lady, Be Good". I still love Ms. Phillips' books and I'm totally waiting for her other novels.

Former football heiress Molly Sommerville has been known for leading an exemplary existence. From childhood to adulthood, she has always behaved properly, excelled academically, and found the perfect career which allows her to express her creative abilities through a series of written and illustrated children's books that draw upon some of her own experiences, including her insane and longstanding crush on star quarterback Kevin Tucker. But for all her attempts to be a model of propriety, every once in a while she feels compelled to succumb to the bug of restlessness that bites her. And as history has a way of showing, restlessness and disaster go hand-in-hand when it comes to Molly.
In an odd twist of fate, Chicago Stars quarterback Kevin Tucker, is also feeling an odd itch of restlessness. Unlike Molly, who attempts to repress her crazy impulses, Kevin feeds them by taking up dangerous hobbies like ski diving. His reckless pursuits have come to the attention of the Stars' management who are furious with him for his needless self-endangerment. Frustrated by their restrictions and fines, not to mention his own inability to understand his perpetual need for excitement, he nearly kills Molly in the Stars' parking lot. Ironically enough, this sets off a chain of events that have this unlikely, and deceptively, mismatched pair headed down the same road, initially from opposite directions.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips will delight her audience with the long-awaited story of Molly and Kevin. In their story, Phillips draws upon a deep and effective well of humor and poignancy that will entertain and move you, respectively. Molly Sommerville is a wonderful heroine whose need to forfeit her large inheritance to discover her own self-worth only hints at her spunkiness and begins to tap the fearless woman she could be. Kevin Tucker, an amazingly contradictory character, helps Molly to uncover her true self with the help of the Wind Lake bed and breakfast, an inheritance he deeply resents. Despite his "Iron Man" ways, Kevin is an incredibly sensitive hero whose need to do what is right is deeply ingrained. He fights hard to preserve his indifference while his heart longs for a connection. In this sense, both he and Molly come to understand the uncanny similarities between them. At the bed and breakfast, Kevin and Molly will slowly overcome their hostility, see beyond their stereotypes of each other, be subjected to the advice of a young, lovesick couple, and form an abiding connection with an aging Hollywood actress who is full of self-doubt. Molly will win you over with her smart mouth and her whimsical characters of Nightingale Woods. Kevin will charm you with his wonderful heart and tremendous sense of devotion while he tries to get his priorities straight. I hope you'll pick up this book and fall in love with Molly and Kevin as they develop a strong friendship that transitions into love.

Ever since reading "Nobody's Baby But Mine" SEP has been on the top of my list of romance authors (with Lorraine Heath and Stephanie Mittman). Her books are funny and tender and always endearing. I have yet to not enjoy one. What you should know, however, is that with rare exception SEP tells the same story over and over. Luckily, though, it is a good one. I am not sure how much more milage she can get out of it, however. For the first 100 pages or so of this book I thought she was retelling the plot of an earlier, and connected, novel...until it the story thankfully took a twist. Still though, in her string of "short" novels since "It Had to Be You" her male characters have been virtually the same person (except in Dream... and, maybe, Kiss an Angel). In this book I kept substituting the name Kenny in my mind for Kevin (who is no longer the really the same character from before; he's been molded to fit the type of hero SEP writes about). Confusing the two is an honest mistake. There is no discernable difference between them. The women at least have different like and dislikes, but they are strikingly similar, too. I would love to see SEP go out on a limb and write about some different peronality types for her next book. I know she can, as her secondary characters and "long" earlier novels have shown. "This Heart of Mine" is a good romantic read. Funny, sweet, and very predictable. SEP's novels are actually less formulaic than some (Julie Garwood, anyone???)but I think I expect more from her. I have seen what she can write. It is worth buying, to return to your favorite scenes, but perhaps not in hardback. It would be worth waiting a few months.

SEP writes a fine, humorous, light romance, and so although I wait for the paperback release I treat it with some respect. For This Heart of Mine, I re-read Nobody's Baby But Mine and It Had To Be You to re-aquaint myself with Kevin and Molly. I had a great time with both books, re-affirming my long-ago decision to put these two books in my 'keeper box.'
So I had high, perhaps unrealistic expectations for "This Heart of Mine," following in the footsteps of two great SEP comedy-romances. I was pleased with Molly--being a quirky children's book author made perfect sense for her, and made for some great, humorous lines. I agree with other reviewers, though, that Kevin was a disappointment; so much time was spent describing his muscles, and so little time spent on his internal motivations, that she could have inserted a cut-out of a Calvin Klein underwear model to the same effect.
Molly's tragedy is handled sensitively, and she is allowed a generous amount of book time to recover, but Kevin's turn-around from his own personal upheaval seems to happen in the blink of an eye. We never know why he is suddenly plunged into life-threatening activities, only that he is happy he finally found someone to share them with. I never felt I understood him. Given SEP's great track record as far as describing her male characters' thoughts, desires, and motivations, I can only assume that she didn't know what to make of Kevin, either.
So while I would most heartily recommend Nobody's Baby But Mine, It Had to Be You, and even Heaven, Texas (although it was a little 'over the top' for me), This Heart of Mine is a borrower, not a keeper.

Molly Somerville, children's book author, has had a crush on football quarterback Kevin Tucker for years. Her sister being the owner of the Chicago Stars, Molly has had unlimited opportunity to be around at the right time to "feed the crush." Kevin doesn't even know she exist. Kevin is sent to the family vacation cabin to concentrate on getting ready for the season while Molly shows up to be alone and concentrate on writing. Alone she is not. He refuses to leave and she does too. Its a stand off. They decide they are adults and can handle sharing the cabin. But Molly's imagination and feelings get carried away. She sneaks into Kevin's bed while he's sleeping- dreaming of a recent girlfriend, only to take Molly into his arms. When waking up during their lovemaking, Molly is embarrassed and Kevin is furious. This throws them together under unexpected circumstances. It is a wonderful story. Though Kevin is a hunk- Molly is not the usual beauty, but more so the average built, but yet pretty in her own way, woman. Love has to find its way- while first impressions and intruding family members have to be set aside. It's a great story, a lot of fun. You'll find yourself laughing at parts. Enjoy it!

Susan Elizabeth Phillips' first hardcover release, This Heart of Mine, is well-worth the price of a hardcover. For those of you who are fans of It Had To Be You, and Nobody's Baby But Mine, you are in for a real treat. This is the story of Kevin Tucker, star quarterback for the Chicago Stars, and Molly Sommerville, sister of the Stars' owner Phoebe Sommerville Calebow from It Had To Be You. Molly has had a crush from afar on Kevin Tucker ever since he joined the Stars. The problem is he doesn't know she exists. When she manages to wangle her way into his life in a big way, Molly learns that a one-sided attraction is not what she wants. She wants A Great Love Story like her sister Phoebe and Dan Calebow had. Kevin has his own problems to work out about his childhood and career. He is a genuinely nice guy, but seems incapable and unwilling to give Molly the love and devotion she's learned she needs and deserves. When the two of them find themselves together running a summer camp, the attraction rekindles, smolders, then ignites. Both discover that love and laughter can help heal many of life's bruises, both little and big. This Heart of Mine made me laugh out loud-- the softball scene was hilarious-- and cry out loud too-- I won't give away any of the plot's secrets. But do yourself a favor-- read this book!!

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.

The only problem I have with any Susan Elizabeth Phillips book is that I always start feeling overly anxious the nearer I get to the ending. I just hate to finish any SEP book, and I dreaded the end of this one more then ususal. I've finished this knowing I'll have start about 12 books before I find another one to grab my attention....unless it happens to be another SEP book! Anytime one of the Chicago Stars football team members is the hunky hero, I know the story is going to get torrid. One can count on the heroine to cause him to be fanning himself a lot, she'll be fanning herself! It gets hot for everyone involved including the reader. "This Heart of Mine" is no exception. Molly Somerville has a habit of falling into trouble, both intentionally an unintentionally. However, she doesn't plan on falling for Kevin Tucker, the current Stars quarterback. Falling for her is furthest thing from his mind. But, fall they both do...big time! The story also has a nice side romance involving Lili, Kevins gorgeous, actress mother and Liam, a surly artist. Great characters, great read. Now, the difficult part. Waiting on SEP to come out with her next book!

This review contains SPOILERS. I've read a few SEP books, and sometimes she has characters who do terrible things to one another, but those things are usually forgivable, given enough time and the right approach to reconciliation. What Molly, the heroine, does in this book is not forgivable, and the way she deals with it is immature and self-involved, making me hate her a little bit more with each decision she makes. This makes any "love" story aspect cheap, throwaway, and tainted. As a whole, the book fails.

In the beginning, I really liked Molly. She's troubled, but she's quirky and seems to be a good person. I even felt a little bad for her that she was so in love with Kevin and he didn't even know her name. Then, it all goes south when she rapes Kevin. Seriously - rapes him in his sleep. Afterwards, faced with his completely justifiable fury, she makes some pathetic, sorry excuses, tries to blame the rape on KEVIN, and spews some throw-away apologies. And that's it. The issue is never dealt with or resolved in a satisfactory way, if it even could be. Further, though I thought that was screwed up, I still had hope because SEP's heroines sometimes do screwed up stuff and then go on to grow. Molly does not.

After this totally unforgivable event, and completely ridiculous apology attempt, Molly finds out the rape has lead to a pregnancy, which she LIES about to the hero. She further lies to him, on multiple occasions, about her motivations the night of the rape (which basically amount to her being a psycho and also unable to control herself.) Finally, she uses her family's influences to get the hero to MARRY her. After she has raped him, and lied to him. And I am supposed to believe that, after all of this, the hero come to LOVE Molly? No. I don't agree with it, and I definitely don't believe it. I don't even WANT him to love her. So, not only is the plot just disturbing and unbelievable, the love story totally fails.

The side characters are the only good thing about this book. I'm giving it one star because even the wretched Molly has personality. Other than that, there is nothing good. Not one thing. Worst SEP book ever written. Save yourself the time, trouble, and the headache and read something else.

The lovely cover made me choose this book - but then - OH NO! - I discovered that not only was it (ugh) a romance, but also had something to do with football (double ugh). For some (wonderful) reason I stayed with it and then wasn't ready for it to end. The main characters are, for the most part, a delightfully believable bunch and the interweaving of Daphne the Bunny storyline is inspired and skillfully done. The main characters of Molly (Daphne) and Kevin (Benny) dive right off a cliff into a world of whimsy, of fun, and of family - but also getting priorities straight. Not only did Kevin find himself alive and kicking in the Daphne books, I too found some of my friends residing inside too. For a frothy, bodice ripping type of story, it is amazingly well written. A couple of subplots are efficiently tucked in and then it is off to the land of Nightingale Woods. The premise of an infatuation ultimately leading to molestation of the male character is more than a little far-fetched - and not very nice - but builds into a fantasy love story that is clever, if not always politically correct. The book contains some really graphic love scenes, which are somehow are kinder and gentler and nicer than most. The epilogue is so creative that it just almost makes me believe again in Happily Ever After.
Mamalinda (Melissa the Wood Frog?), who also favors shawls, pearls and tiaras, but not while riding her mountain bike

I enjoyed listening to a taped version of THIS HEART OF MINE
by Susan Elizabeth Phillps . . . this is a novel about a woman who
gives away her fifteen million dollar inheritance to become a struggling
writer . . . not quite sure that would be my choice, but hey, I
regretfully never thad that choice . . . she is happy about almost
everything except her long term crush on the quaterback for a
professional football team (who can't even remember her
name) . . . by the end of the tale, he does . . . the dialogue was
partcularly execellent--both funny and heartwarming . . . I understand
that the characters had appeared in other books by the
author; I'm now tempted to go back to "meet" them . . . Jennifer
Van Dyke did a fine job on the narration.

A very smooth and intriguing read! The characters are well developed friends of the reader by story's end and you wonder theirfuture? It has enough romance to keep it captivating and real and the challenges that the characters endure are believe able and empathetic struggles. Will definitely be continuing my audience of this author! Great job thank you!

There's a reason that Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the Queen of Romantic Comedy: she writes books like THIS HEART OF MINE. Two of the toughest things a writer can do is make the reader laugh and also make her believe in love, and SEP pulls both off beautifully in this warm and funny story of a writer who vents her frustrations in her books (gee, wonder where that came from) and an athlete who vents his frustrations on the field until they get trapped together in the off-season and have only each other to vent to. Add a cozy setting, a touching subplot, and SEP's compassionate world view, and you've got this winner of a novel.
Wonderful, warm, witty, and wise: that's Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Fortunately, that's her books, too.

Molly has always had a crush on Kevin. Because of that, she will approach Kevin in a secretive way. That, and her rash personality will cause her to do something that quite frankly, I see as unforgivable. And, maybe, because of that poor beginning for me, I could not get into this book. I just never learned to like Molly.
Reckless, stupid, self-pitying, are all adjectives I could use to describe Molly. And maybe because the book so centers on Molly, that Kevin's personality seems to fade into the scenery, at times. With several other issues going on in the book--the anti-gay group, two other romances, Kevin's problems with his parentage, his problem with the camp itself--I just didn't see any growing up, or growing together, between Molly and Kevin.
Ms. Phillips is such a skillful writer. She writes scenes that are laugh-out-loud funny, and I particularly enjoyed the excerpts at the beginning of each chapter, that tells the story of Daphne the Bunny, and Benny the Badger. I just wish I had enjoyed the story about Molly and Kevin.

In her late twenties, Molly Somerville, children's author of Daphne the Bunny, chides her self for her teen-like crush on football player Kevin Tucker. Molly's sister and brother-in-law own the National Football League's Chicago Stars where Kevin is the superstar quarterback. Kevin sleeps and dreams football, but his behavior has changed this year as he does daring stunts almost like he suffers a mid-life crisis.

One night by chance, Molly and Kevin end up together at her sister's vacation home. They share a wonderful night of lovemaking, but the morning light brings acrimonious feelings. When Molly informs Kevin that she is pregnant, they reluctantly marry. That ends when she miscarries. However, Kevin knows he loves Molly and will do what it takes, including a Hail Mary as time runs out, to gain her love.

THIS HEART OF MINE is an entertaining fun to read contemporary romance. The story line will blitz the reader due to the cast. The lead characters are an enjoyable duet and the snippets from Bunny add to the understanding of Molly. The support cast also provides the readers an opportunity to further understand the essences of Molly and Kevin. Award winning Susan Elizabeth Phillips scores a touchdown with her hardcover debut novel.

Harriet Klausner

I really enjoyed this book.It's a continuation of the Chicago

Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I agree with others that at times it can be immature, but hey, aren't we all children at heart.

Molly is Phoebe's younger sister, and also a children's bookwriter. Kevin is the head quarterback for the

Chicago Stars. She's always had a 'schoolgirl' crush on him. They met briefly in SEP's earlier books, but they have an accidental meeting in this book that gives them more of an acquaintance. They find out how much they have in common.

This book made me laugh. This book made me cry. Susan

has such a wonderful way of telling a story. I give this story

my highest rating of 5 stars:)

This is the second book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips that I have read and for comedy and romance, SEP hits the mark. Molly is a very likeable character and her "Daphne the Bunny Storybooks" are a terrific idea! After reading this book, I discovered that the Chicago Stars' storyline is part of a series, so I am going to begin at the beginning and get "It Had to Be You." The characters are very appealing and I want to see how they all started out! The only negative remark I have is poor Molly's frustration w/Kevin. This dragged out way too long. All in all, I was captivated by the characters, in particular, the descriptions of their campground antics. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romance with a touch of comedy.

Molly Somerville is a children's book author. She has had an unrequited crush on Chicago Stars quarterback Kevin Tucker for ages. Of course, he doesn't know she is alive. When they both end up at the Calebow family cabin for a weekend alone, she acts on her crush by climbing into bed with him. He's so out of it that he doesn't know who it is until he wakes up, amid a broken condom. He thinks she's nothing more than a spoiled heiress. Feeling violated, he tosses her out. Kevin is forced by her brother in law (and GM of the Stars) to make an honest woman out of her. They begrudgingly go along with the scheme with plans for an annulment after the baby is born, unfortunately, tragedy strikes first. When Kevin discovers that she's been a shut in, he takes her with him to a campground he inherited from his deceased parents. It's not the stuffy old folks retreat he remembers from his childhood - it's now a B&B with cottages that cater to the family crowd, and it's there that Molly comes alive again, as she and Kevin's relationship takes a dramatic turn.

This is the fifth book in the Chicago Stars/Bonner Brothers series of books, and definitely one of her more bittersweet and tear inducing. Interspersed with passages from Molly's series of Daphne the Bunny/Benny the Badger books, it's so charming when Kevin discovers that many of Benny's antics coincide with incidents from his own past. And the jocks verses kids who were picked last in gym class softball game was hysterical.

I just love a happy ending! And this is definitely a keeper in the Chicago Stars series. I rarely buy hardbacks as I can't afford to do so very often. But I did buy this one. Then didn't read it for a month! Not because I didn't want to but because I wanted to prolong my association with these people. LOL I know that does't make sense at all.
But I read "Heart of Mine" this past week and fell in love all over again. So nice to re-visit some old friends of other books. And I always did have a soft spot for Kevin Tucker who was in "Nobody's Baby But Mine". My favorite in the series. Followed by "Heaven, Texas". But this one is definitely up there.
I loved how Molly has evolved from the angry teenager she was when she first came to Phoebe. And Kevin is heartbreaking in his search for something to fill the void in his soul. They are so great together. I wish them a long and happy life together.
Buying an SES book is a no-brainer. You are getting top quality writing and story telling. Thanks, Susan, for sharing your talent with us lesser mortals.

Nobody does it better in writing a romance. Author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the best that there is in her genre. Predictably, THIS HEART OF MINE is a sweet and engaging novel, grabbing its readers and holding their attention all the way to the book's inevitably happy ending.
One charming distinction of this novel is that author Phillips opens many chapters with quotes from the children's books that her heroine supposedly writes. These characters, Daphne-the-rabbit and Benny-the-badger, are altogether endearing inventions.
Susan Elizabeth Phillips cannot write a bad story. THIS HEART OF MINE will delight her existing fans and earn her new ones.

Molly and Kevin are a definate dynimite couple!!! They are funnier, crazier, nuttier and more loveable than any other Star couple that Susan Elizabeth Philips has written about yet! Molly is the complete oposite of her sister Phoebe but ten times as sweet. Molly is a struggling writer of childrens' books, she gave up all of the money that her father had willed to her and she is trying to make it on her own, but still dealing with her crush on Kevin, and having a hard time doing so. Kevin, the big bad quarterback with a marshmellow center, is dealing with an emptiness in his life and can't figure out why it is there, so he goes and does as many dangerous stunts he can find. Molly and Kevin have a great love story with a lot of banter, laughter and growth as people. This book is the icing on Ms. Philips cake as an author. A great read and a definate keeper.

Molly Somerville has done some crazy things in the past, but this time she's gone too far. She's dyed her hair red and crawled into bed with Kevin Tucker, a man who doesn't even know her real name. Circumstances force Molly and Kevin into more togetherness than either of them want, and slowly they begin to discover that there's more going on than just circumstances...there's something special, something big...could it be love?
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is an author who always makes me laugh even as she pulls on my heart-strings. This Heart of Mine was no exception...in fact, it was exceptional!