Rating: 
Summary: When is a bimbo, not a bimbo?
Review: When is a bimbo not a bimbo? When she's as smart as Phoebe Sommerville, that's when. Free-spirited Phoebe has inherited a football team and her half sister, but she's not about to let either cramp her style. Phoebe and her dog, Pooh are Susan Elizabeth Phillips' answer to Dorothy and Toto in the "Wizard of Oz" -- complete with unlikely Scarecrow, Tin Man and Cowardly Lion. Phoebe's following her own yellow brick road through the football season toward the AFC championship title that will secure her legacy. Along the way she finds Coach Dan Calebow, another one of the author's good-old boys with a heart of gold. He and Phoebe are like oil and water, but it doesn't prevent sparks from flying in some of the most unusual and funny love scenes I've read in quite a while. While this is the third book, I've read in Phillips' Chicago Stars series, it's her first novel. The pacing isn't as quick as it is in subsequent novels. It's good to watch a writer develop. "It Had to Be You" is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: It all started when...
Review: Phoebe Somerville inherited the Chicago Stars from her no good father amid incredible controversy. Phoebe tries to make the best of it in spite of the opposition she's facing. Heading the opposition is the gorgeous Dan Calebow. Dan Calebow is the Stars head coach and when he meets the Marilyn-esque Phoebe he is immediately attracted to her although he doesn't respect her. Because of her looks and a traumatizing past experience, Phoebe plays the part of the bimbo to the max. It takes Dan a while to see through her charade and find out that there's a brain to go with the dazzling good looks.
It Had to Be You is the first of the Chicago Stars books and the last one I read ( I worked my way back for some reason ) it is probably not as well paced as the rest but it was one of her first books but regardless this is a great read and it is a nice introduction to this brilliant author and her excellent stories. If you like SEP do not miss this one!
Rating:
Summary: very good movie-ish plot
Review: This is the 1st book in the chicago stars series and I read it last, I sort of read the series backwards, so it'll probably affect my review. I think this is a very touching book, and I like how Phillips didn't use her usual conflict. Here both characters have the same rate on the development of their feelings for each other. I think that's perfect, because Dan here is really looking forward to settle down as opposed to the other Phillips' heroes who marries the heroine out of honor/principles. What I dont really like about it is the climax where Phoebe got abducted so Dan could lose the game for her. And of course the double touchdown when there's only 2 minutes in the clock. That's not original. I think it'll look better in a movie than in a book. Anyway, I still like how Phillips balanced Dan scenes(point of views) with Phoebe's, especially ending the book through Dan's eyes. It is a feel-good ending, she didn't overdone it or anything--just right.
Rating:
Summary: A bimbo heroine? A football hero? Still, Ioved it!
Review: This is the one about the gorgeous and outrageous heroine who inherits a football team from her less than loving deceased dad & butts heads & falls in love with the teams bullheaded jock Head Coach. Now, I hate football (and most sports), so I had doubts about liking this book. Well, the first chapter had me in stiches & she continued the pace throughout the book. When I began the book I thought, "Oh, no, the heroine is a major bimbo" but I soon learned she was so much more than she appears. She has to overcome a tragedy from her past that has haunted her her entire life. I am still amazed (a week later) at how Ms. Phillips handled two serious issues and still manage to create a laugh out loud book. The hero is a wonderfully arrogant, funny, and sexy guy who's looking for "a baby making, bread baking, good loving woman" (not exact quote but close) to settle down with but gets Phoebe instead. I loved this book! It made me cry and laugh and I actually didn't mind learning something about football! For all you animal lovers: There's also a doggy named Pooh (poodle) who gets into all kinds of trouble in Chapter One. I also hate poodles but again Ms. Phillips managed to make me like this one (g).
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent!!!
Review: "It Had To Be You" is my favorite book by S.E.P. It is also the first book in her Chicago Stars football team series. Phoebe Somerville is the sexy and outrageous (like Marilyn Monroe) daughter of Bert Somerville, owner of the Stars. After Bert's death, Phoebe learns, to her surprise, that she inherited the team with the stipulation that she can retain ownership if they win the championship. If they loose, the team ownership will be passed on to her obnoxious cousin, Reed Chandler. This is Phoebe's wake-up call. Everyone considered her to be a bimbo. Even her father thought she was a failure. But with the help of General Manager Ron McDermitt, she proves to be more than capable to run the organization. Dan Calebo, head coach of the Stars, is everything Phoebe despises--a sexist jock with a one track mind. Dan thinks she is a meddling bimbo. Phoebe and Dan are both stubborn and sparks fly between these two from the start. Before long, there is more at stake than just winning the championship. This was my first SEP novel and to date it is my favorite of all her work. The story will make you laugh, cry, cheer and leave you with a well-satisfied feeling. You don't have to be a fan of football to enjoy this wonderful story. SEP's website indicates that "It Had To Be You" will be reissued in March, 2002.
Rating: 
Summary: Football for Romance?
Review: Don't get me wrong...I love Ms. Phillips novels but there was something about a dog peeing on a casket and football player conversations that bored me to tears so didn't make it past the first 40 pages. This did not fall into one of the best reads of Ms. Phillips career.
Rating:
Summary: Not your average romance...
Review: "I guess we're like oil and water." "I'd say we're more like gasoline and a blowtorch." This quote from _It Had To Be You_ basically sets the undertone for the whole book. I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and I was thrilled to get my hands on _It Had To Be You_. I'd heard so many things about her football series that I couldn't wait to read the book that started it all. Pheobe Sommerville just got herself a football team. After her dog, Pooh, peed on her father's grave, she found out that her father left her his Chicago Stars. Now, all she has to do is learn what to do with that little ball covered in pig skin called a "football". For, even though her father has owned the team for about a decade, Pheobe hasn't come in contact with him for longer then that. She's been spending her time flouncing around the world and making a name for herself as a sexpot bimbo. Little does anyone know that behind her curvy body lies an intelligent mind and a wounded soul. Dan Calebow, the Stars coach, has overcome childhood poverty and abuse to become a successful football player and coach. Needless to say, he is furious that Pheobe inherited the team. When the two meet, sparks fly, tempers flare, and passions roar as the reader gets ready for the time of her/ his life. Pheobe learns how to deal with the team as Dan learns how to deal with Pheobe. And, the two are undeniably attracted to each other. Can the Stars win the AFC Championship so Pheobe can keep the team? Will Pheobe and Dan put away their pride so that they can have a love for all time? I really loved _It Had To Be You_ and for many reasons. When I first met Pheobe, I thought, Oh great, I'll have to read about her for the rest of the book. But, I quickly saw that she was an amazingly complex character and she goes through a wonderful change through out the book. Dan is this big chest thumping, beer belching, womanizing chauvanist, and I usually don't like my heroes to be quite this alpha. But, he is definitely a charmer and as Pheobe fell under his spell, so did I. Susan Elizabeth Phillips is known through out the romance world for her witty, uncanny humor. It shines in _It Had To Be You_. Although there are definitely the darker sides to this book, it has such a cornball, smart humor to it that everyone will love it. Susan Elizabeth Phillips has an amazing talent for romance and humor, a combination that is dynamite. Not many books can have you laughing in stiches one second and crying your eyes out the next. _It Had To Be You_ is one of those special few. So, if you enjoy lovely romance and knock your socks off humor, _It Had To Be You_ is a must read.
Rating:
Summary: A bimbo heroine? A football hero? Still, Ioved it!
Review: This is the one about the gorgeous and outrageous heroine who inherits a football team from her less than loving deceased dad & butts heads & falls in love with the teams bullheaded jock Head Coach. Now, I hate football (and most sports), so I had doubts about liking this book. Well, the first chapter had me in stiches & she continued the pace throughout the book. When I began the book I thought, "Oh, no, the heroine is a major bimbo" but I soon learned she was so much more than she appears. She has to overcome a tragedy from her past that has haunted her her entire life. I am still amazed (a week later) at how Ms. Phillips handled two serious issues and still manage to create a laugh out loud book. The hero is a wonderfully arrogant, funny, and sexy guy who's looking for "a baby making, bread baking, good loving woman" (not exact quote but close) to settle down with but gets Phoebe instead. I loved this book! It made me cry and laugh and I actually didn't mind learning something about football! For all you animal lovers: There's also a doggy named Pooh (poodle) who gets into all kinds of trouble in Chapter One. I also hate poodles but again Ms. Phillips managed to make me like this one (g).
Rating:
Summary: "You" Marked the Beginning of it All
Review: Phoebe Somerville, a voluptuous blonde with a pin-up girl body, has just inherited the Chicago Stars professional football team from her cold and callous father. A sports team is the last thing this New York lady wants, plus she sees it as manipulation from the grave, by her father, to coerce her into doing as he wishes. His age-old demand for her to do something meaningful with her life, and quit hanging out with homosexual men. In order to remain owner of the team, the Stars have to win the Super Bowl, a long shot at best. So she decides to do nothing, until the team's sexy and aggressive head coach, Dan Calebow, pays her a visit. Nothing is getting done because Phoebe isn't showing up to work. The last thing Dan wants is some blonde bimbo to own and run the team, but he has no choice at present. But Phoebe is not what she seems. Her oversexed demeanor is a cover for the trauma of her past. And Dan begins to realize there's a brain with that body, and he can't help desiring both. This is the book that started it all - the first installment in the Chicago Stars/Bonner Brothers series. We are introduced here to Phoebe's sister, Molly Somerville, a troubled teen at this point, who is the subject of the last book, "This Heart of Mine". Also we are introduced to my favorite hero ever, Bobby Tom Denton, whose story is the next (and best) in the series, "Heaven, Texas". Once again, Ms. Phillips builds multi-layered characters that are real people with real problems. She is a master at doing this. I especially found the character of Phoebe vastly interesting. It is a sexy, fast-paced story laced with humor. Even though I loved Phoebe's character, her history of trauma bothered me. The screening of details written was handled well, and obviously that occurrence helped form her character, but I just don't like reading about this kind of thing. Plus the slimeball ultimately got away with it. The climatic ending was also a little over the top for me, and seemed a mite far-fetched. I'll refrain from further explanation, since it would ruin it for those who haven't read the book yet. I haven't been reading these in order, so I believe I read this book third. I have yet to read, "Dream a Little Dream", but out of the rest, this is probably my least favorite. Don't get me wrong, this book is still very good and definitely worth reading! For those who would like to know the order of the series, it is as follows: It Had to be You, Heaven Texas, Nobody's Baby But Mine, Dream a Little Dream and This Heart of Mine. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Legally Blond III
Review: If you loved Legally Blond you will probably love blond, smart, "bimbo" Phoebe. I really enjoyed this book and my only problem with it was that my favorite male character was not Dan but Ron McDermitt. I kept hoping Phoebe would end up with him! Dan was OK but he seemed a bit shallow to me except at the very end. I loved the last line of the book.
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