Looking at the picture, wouldn’t you think I was going to start harping on about Jennifer Crusie? Well, I’m not. I promise, because this month it’s all about Susan Elizabeth Phillips.
Today’s discussion post is going to be a reminiscent one. Follow me for a moment. You’re in the store and you come across a pretty cover of a book by an author you’ve never heard of or maybe you overheard two people having an animated conversation about a book by an author that you’re not familiar with. Whatever your story was, you picked up that first SEP book and read it and you either loved it or you hated it.
Tell us about it.
Rowena here and my very first book by SEP was It Had To Be You. I had been posting on the JGBB for a while and have heard nothing but good things about Susan Elizabeth Phillips so I bowed down to the greatness that were my friends over there and bought all of the books that I could find. I started with Dan and Phoebe’s story and found that there was a host of other stories out there that I have not read yet. At that point in time, I think I was only reading historicals and JG’s highlander books. Contemporaries didn’t make it to my radar but SEP sure did help me along to my contemporary obsession now. I read more contemporaries than anything these days and it all started with Dan and Phoebe, well and the rest of the Chicago Stars as well.
Though Dan isn’t my favorite SEP hero, he is the one that got my attention and then held it while I continued on with the other stories in the Chicago Stars series, like they say…you’ll always remember your first and I definitely remember Dan.
Casee:
My first SEP was Breathing Room [side note: I think the hardcover image suits the book way more than the paperback]. I wasn’t too impressed by it, but it must have had some affect on me b/c I continued reading her. Dream a Little Dream is the second book I read by her. I remember being blown away by that book. Gabe was the epitome of a tortured hero. The scenes between Gabe and Chip just broke my heart.
Holly:
Hmm. You know, I can’t remember what my first SEP was. About two years ago I went on an SEP re-reading binge. For months the only thing I read were books by SEP. As a result,I can’t really remember much about my first time reading her. I will tell you that I remember being completely blown away by Dream A Little Dream. Although I’d read and loved her prior to that book, nothing could compare after. There is just something so..broken about Gabe. My heart still breaks for him all these years later.
Come share with us…what was your first book read by Susan Elizabeth Phillips? Did you love it or hate it?
For me it was KISS AN ANGEL. I know a lot of people don’t like that one. They think the hero is too alpha and all that, but I loved it. It’s a romance that takes place in a circus. Who else could write that?
I thought I was alone in loving Gabe. Dream a Little Dream was my second or third SEP but i loved it from start to finish. Its my favourite.
My first SEP though is memorable too and many readers’ favourites. Before i owned my used bookstore I used to buy books from here and there but i mostly read thrillers and mysteries.
I was in the supermarket and Match Me if You Can caught my eye. The blurb sounded extremely light next to my usual reading style, so I did not buy the book. But each time i went ot that supermarket the book caught my eye.
Finally, one day O had this urge for MMIYC. I just felt i had to buy it. I went to the main bookstore in Malta decided that if they did not have the book I would go to the supermarlet just to buy it. I was lucky and they had the book. I had never heard of the author but loved the book and went back for more. The other books I found from Malta were Kiss an Angel and Dream a Little Dream – the reast i ordered online because they weren’t in stores here.
I enjoyed all the Chicago series and the stand alones I have read but DALD have a special place in my heart.
For me it was Natural Born Charmer and I really enjoyed it. I still haven’t read other SEP books though.
I think Match Me if You Can was my first one. I think… Anyway, I haven’t read many SEPs, but I’m happy about that – lots for me to look forward to.
I *think* Kiss An Angel was my first SEP book. I normally read historical but had a month where few fave authors had releases. After Kiss, I went back and read as many SEPs as I could download on Kindle.
She’s awesome!
As a writer, I’m in AWE of SEP’s skilz because it takes MAD SKILZ to redeem someone like Gabe. As a reader, I hated him for, probably the first half of the damn book.
To answer the original question (LOL) My first SEP was Nobody’s Baby But Mine (I spotted the cover in a sale rack at my UBS, original PB and out of print at the time. Captivated!) or First Lady. It was one or the other anyway.
Helen Kay I almost didn’t read Kiss an Angel because I thought a book set in a circus would be just insanely stupid–so glad I did!
Amie
My first SEP was Natural Born Charmer. I’d never heard of SEP (I know, did I live under a rock?) but the cover kept catching my attention. I kept picking the book down in the store but never bought. Then one day I was in line and looked over at the discount HC’s and saw NBC for $3.99. I bought it and LOVED it! Such a fun, funny, charming read. I read Breathing Room right after that and didn’t like it quite as much but since then have read other SEP’s and loved them.
My first was Hot Shot–I loved it! I didn’t realize she’d even written all these other books until much later, and was thrilled to collect her backlist!
Kiss an Angel was my first, and boy was I hooked. To this day it’s still my favourite SEP.
I’ve only read one – It Had to Be You – really liked it! Made me a fan and I love knowing there are a lot of books by SEP waiting to be read (kind of like that feeling you get when your car has a full tank of gas. You know you won’t run out for a while). 🙂
My first SEP and my all time favorite book is “This heart of Mine”. I litteraly devoured it. Went straight to amazon and ordered the entire series. I read all her other books (except Honeymoon) afterwards.
SEP is the QUEEN of romantic comedy. I re-read her books once a year, just to re-visit my favorite characters… (yep that was fan-girl moment 😉
Rowena, thanks for the recommendation! I’ll definitely be reading more of her stuff in the future. Don’t know why I had never read her before.
I’d heard so many good things about SEP before I read any of her books. The first book by her that I read was It Had to Be You. While I loved it, my favorite is another from the Chicago Stars series, This Heart of Mine starring Molly and Kevin.
Diana
Helen Kay Diamond,
I’m reading Kiss An Angel right now (for the first time) and man I’m loving every single minute of it. I think it’s a great frickin’ story and I love Alex. I think he’s a yummy hero, one that I’m super jealous that Holly has already laid claim too (we’re crazy like that, we claim heroes). Already, I’m planning our affair, haha.
There are people that don’t like this book? Wow. I love it and for it to be a circus book and for me to still love it even though I detest clowns is really saying something about how awesome SEP is.
Luci,
I’d like to one day own a Used Bookstore. I’d really, really like that so lucky you!
I adore DALD, another one of those stories that didn’t appeal to me at all considering I don’t like those slimy TV preachers and Rachel’s husband was one so I didn’t in a million years think I’d want to read it, let alone love it but I did. I fell in love with Gabe and felt his grief for the family he lost and then watching him come back to life with Rachel and her son was just so frickin’ good.
I’m really surprised about how popular MMIYC is because I thought it was one of the least popular books….shows just how much I know, huh? I remember enjoying it but not nearly as much as I enjoyed the other, older books but to each their own. Heath was great, just not so much for me! =)
Oh Wendy, you have so much great reading to look forward to. I’m so jealous. You should definitely read Dream a Little Dream and the Chicago Stars series. You really can’t go wrong with an SEP, she’s really great!
Janicu,
You should definitely read more SEP, she’s an amazing author with fun, quirky characters and dialogue that will keep you laughing throughout the book.
Sabrina,
I’m reading Kiss An Angel right now and I’m loving it!
Cece Writer,
I don’t remember hating Gabe, I remember feeling bad for him because of his loss but that’s about it. I remember that Rachel got on my nerves a lot though but I agree, SEP is amazing writer.
Like you, I’m really glad that I’m reading KAA right now, LOVE ALEX!
Oh Tracy I loved Natural Born Charmer too. I thought it was such a cute story and I loved how April was in What I Did For Love. Too cute!
Awww you didn’t like Breathing Room? I did, I loved Lorenzo Gage!
flchen1,
It’s been ages since I’ve read Hot Shot but I do remember reading it, gosh I should do a reread of that one.
Denise,
I hear you! I’m thinking it’s going to be a favorite of mine as well. That Alex Markov is the business!
Mary,
Oh boy do you have lots of pleasurable hours of reading a head of you. You should definitely jump on that. You still have to meet Kevin Tucker, Kenny Traveler, Cal Bonner, *sigh*…so many great heroes to catch up on! I’m jealous that you’ll be reading all of these guys for the first time!
Emmanuelle,
Oh man did I love me some Kevin Tucker. There were so many times throughout that book that I wanted to smack Molly around but I loved the book. Loved it!
I don’t reread these books as often as I should.
Wendy,
Ooh do come back and let me know how you liked the books, I promise you’ll laugh tons and love them!
It was Fancy Pants for me. I love SEP from the first read and I continue to love and devour her books.
My first SEP was Breathing Room a gazillion years ago. I don'[t think I read another one for probably 5 years or so after that. Then I don’t remember, but it was one of the Chicago Stars books.
My girlfriend belongs to 2 book clubs and gave me one of the flyers from one of them and Nobody’s Baby But Mine was listed with a little snynopis – I had never heard of SEP and tried the book and was hooked.
It was one of the few books I have re-read. It was a hoot.
Hi, HelenKay – I just saw your comment, you have actually heard people say they didnt Like Kiss an Angel – (I am shocked)- that is one of my favorites. Glad it is one of yours too.
It was HONEY MOON for me which I really really liked and I immediately found HOT SHOTS, FANCY PANTS and RISEN GLORY in the used book store. I looked at my copy of HONEY MOON to see how long ago that was. 1993! Can’t believe I’ve been reading SEP for 16 years. That’s just wild isn’t it?
For me it was NOBODY’S BABY BUT MINE which was highly recommended on Eloisa James’ website. I became an instant fangirl and have devouredd her Chicago Stars series. All her stories are so heartwarming, her characters sizzle with hilarious dialogue.
My very first SEP book was This Heart of Mine. And to this date, it’s still my favorite SEP book along with Kiss an Angel.