Rating: 
Summary: AKA Risen Glory by SEP
Review: If you don't like the ending of a book
publish the same story with a different finale that you prefer.
But in all reality, this mustn't be compared with Gone With The
Wind by Margaret Mitchell. It stands alone. The only similiarity is the Civil War.
It starts with a young girl, who has murder in her eyes, and it ends with that same girl chasing after the love of her life.
I've read several of this author's
books; including It Had To Be You, This Heart of Mine, and
Dream A Little Dream. I assure you that this is another winner,
and gets 5 stars from me:)
Rating: 
Summary: Started out Great, but turned Cold, Dark, and Unlikable
Review: "Just Imagine" is a rewrite of Ms. Phillips first solo effort, which was originally published in 1884. If you have not read any of S.E.P.'s novels before, this is not a bad one to start with, but if you are familiar with her other outstanding titles (Dream a Little Dream, It Had to Be You, Nobody's Baby But Mine), you might find this one a disappointment. I found that it lacked the witty dialog and amusing situations that characterize most of Ms. Phillips' more recent works, and in fact was somewhat depressing.
Rating: 
Summary: Not bad, just not up to her current standards
Review: "Just Imagine" is a rewrite of Ms. Phillips first solo effort, which was originally published in 1884. If you have not read any of S.E.P.'s novels before, this is not a bad one to start with, but if you are familiar with her other outstanding titles (Dream a Little Dream, It Had to Be You, Nobody's Baby But Mine), you might find this one a disappointment. I found that it lacked the witty dialog and amusing situations that characterize most of Ms. Phillips' more recent works, and in fact was somewhat depressing.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite SEP...
Review: ...I am a loyal Phillips reader. Just Imagine moves along well, and is very well written. ... I know that Kit has a transformation and Baron was a Union soldier, but the time period and the issues it brings up are a little too close to home for me as a reader. I couldn not get past the setting, and it ruined the reading experience for me. I love Ms. Phillips work, and will continue reading her. But, this book just wasn't one of her best.
Rating:
Summary: The Civil War isn't a place for Romance
Review: ...I am a loyal Phillips reader. Just Imagine moves along well, and is very well written. ... I know that Kit has a transformation and Baron was a Union soldier, but the time period and the issues it brings up are a little too close to home for me as a reader. I couldn not get past the setting, and it ruined the reading experience for me. I love Ms. Phillips work, and will continue reading her. But, this book just wasn't one of her best.
Rating:
Summary: My favorite SEP...
Review: and that's saying alot, because I've really enjoyed all of her books. Maybe I'm a sucker for a hero and heroine who try so hard not to fall for each other, but this story grabbed me from the beginning and refused to let me go until I finished it at 2 AM! Kit's transformation from stubborn tomboy to independent belle is surprisingly believable. I agonized with her as she struggled between her long-held dream to regain her land and her growing feelings for the man keeping that dream from her. Baron's fight to resist caring for a woman who could tie him down to a life he didn't know he wanted is equally compelling. I also enjoyed the sub-plot of the secondary characters, and found myself just as intrigued about their future as Kit and Baron's. Emotions here are too raw and edgy to be called "romantic", but the story is magnetic - the sexual tension runs high, the love scenes are steamy with just the right hint of tenderness. The satifying ending is not achieved easily, which is refreshingly realistic. This one will be kept and re-read often.
Rating:
Summary: Newfound glory disappoints with undeveloped characters
Review: Even faithful readers of Susan Elizabeth Phillips cannot imagine this book is a revised edition of her earlier effort in historical romances. An abrupt historical release from the primed contemporary romance queen firstly makes it a departure difficult for them to accept, let alone being embarrassed by the association with a literary classic GONE With the Wind. Indeed Susan Elizabeth Phillips' latest has its fair share of glory. Using the Civil War and the struggle of the South and North as backdrop, she tells of a Southern lass, Kit Weston plotting murder on her Yankee guardian Baron Cain to reclaim her precious Risen Glory estate that is everything to her including Sophronia, her loyal maid. She is mistaken for a stable boy and is hired to serve Cain, which later when her identity is exposed, he threatens to sell away her estate if she refuses to enter an Academy for ladies. Years passed, Kit's vendetta with Cain is unsettled. As she matures into a woman, Cain is unexpectedly drawn to her and yields her into marriage. However, their pride will leave them at loggerheads. There is no fundamental love in their marriage institution - only desire. Cain, who is scared that he will end up like his father being taken advantage of by his mother sees Kit clinging onto him because of responsibilities - and not love. Though painful, their separation is imminent and inevitable for their stubborn hearts. JUST IMAGINE attempts to stage a grand historical romance with slavery, clashes and racism. Yet the romance element is never quite fulfiling - Kit's wilfulness has made it difficult for any communication. Their departure in the middle of the book left them undeveloped and dry. Furthermore their love being contrived seemed pretentious and severed of emotions. Philips creates Kit to be strong and independent, yet simultaneously childish for her myopic view to be Cain's mistress in order to get back her estate. By the time she matures towards the epilogue, it seemed their love too late for redemption. The get-together far too hasty and unbelievable. In fact her secondary characters like Magnus and Sophronia shines luminously. Theirs is a love triumphed against discrimination - and how Sophronia convinces herself that Magnus is able to protect her with his love. It is remarkable that historical accuracies are there but it unfortunately languishes into a dry read with undeveloped main characters and the passion is never quite on par with the throes of war. It leaves us only to imagine how ever could this book lack the sweeping passion that GONE WITH THE WIND has enchanted us with when the two are said to be in comparison.
Rating: 
Summary: Just Imagine - not bad!!!
Review: first things first: if this is your very first book you've read by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and you didn't like it - PLEASE don't give up on her books. She's an amazing author, full of wit and humor, has a super imagination and creates extremely exciting storylines. JUST IMAGINE was a satisfying read, SEP's only historical, and her very first novel. So you can imagine, that's probably why it doesn't fit up to her contemporary standards, or even up to your standards! Give it a try, if you like... i did, and i enjoyed the light read. Read the book synopsis for the plot outline! Kit Weston is your everyday typical historical heroine... and she sure does remind me of Scarlet O'Hara. She's temper mental, stubborn at times, but definitely not one of those frilly-wily girls, and infact is very intelligent, witty and at the same time gorgeous. I can't agree more with the author, that Baron Cain was the perfect hero for Kit. He was the only one that was able to put a solid hand to her behavior and put up with her spoiled ways, (kinda reminds you of Rhett Bulter eh?) Set in the south, where the time period was a treat to read about, where the ladies were real feminine and the clothes and outfits were wonderful and fun to experience. Many interesting scenes, tons of arguments and sweet make-ups, and the ending was excellent! My favorite parts were when Kit was at boarding school, and SEP writes the transition of Kit from tomboy to a beautiful young lady. Very realistic, and another great part was when Baron sees Kit for the first time in 3 years, imagine his surprise! Well written by SEP. so why 4-stars? maybe more in-depth characterization was required...more scenes between the hero and heroine that displayed true love, not lust then love, it could have been more convincing...and maybe after reading all of SEP's contemps, my standards were too high. I expected more of SEP's famous humour touch, but didn't find that many funny scenes in JUST IMAGINE. but all in all, it was a good read, and looks great in my SEP collection!
*must reads* her whole chicago football stars series - do not miss!!! ;)
Rating: 
Summary: The book was not good
Review: I got only a few chapters into the book and had to put it down. I skipped through some of it to pick up something of interest and found myself immediately tired of Kit being small in stature, anger, mouthiness and immaturity. I couldn't feel comfortable with Baron falling in love with a person he thought was a fourteen year old. It was really a boring piece of work that has been played out in so many novels. I read other reviews and may try the author again but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. Save your bucks since books are so expensive these days.
Rating:
Summary: The book was not good
Review: I got only a few chapters into the book and had to put it down. I skipped through some of it to pick up something of interest and found myself immediately tired of Kit being small in stature, anger, mouthiness and immaturity. I couldn't feel comfortable with Baron falling in love with a person he thought was a fourteen year old. It was really a boring piece of work that has been played out in so many novels. I read other reviews and may try the author again but I wouldn't recommend this book to anyone. Save your bucks since books are so expensive these days.
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