Customer Reviews

Lady Be Good

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

It took me a while to decide what star rating I would give this book. Even detractors of Susan Elizabeth Phillips' books can admit that she is a great writer, and I am no exception. She has the distinction of being the only author that can make me laugh out loud, and create characters that I remember.

I enjoyed the interaction between Lady Emma and Kenny, and I thought her managing/bossy ways was a good foil for his 'ambling' about his life. Neither of the forced marraiges posed a problem; SEP did an excellent job of portraying Hugh as a manipulative and domineering man pushing Emma into marraige. Since Emma allowed herself to be pushed into her first'engagement', I didn't bat an eyelash when she and Kenny got hitched in Vegas.

What made me rate the book so low was the ending, where Emma keeps on villianizing poor Kenny. I mean really, Emma. The real villian was Hugh; she did not show one ounce of backbone to him, yet she treated Kenny as if he was a bad man. As with all SEP books, she does not allow the protagonists to have a happy ending till the man has been emasculated in some large, public way. Now this can be needed, (actually I don't think so but that's another review...) but in this story I thought it was overkill. What made this even worse, was that Emma acted as if Kenny grovelling was necessary for them to be together. I am still not clear what he was supposed to be grovelling for. I agreed with Kenny's accusation to Emma that she didn't want to fight for them.

Now like a previous reviewer mentioned, SEP is starting to have too similar heroine- slightly dippy, insecure and a virgin, with no sense of confidence. Till they get with the too gorgeous rich playboy who falls for their dippiness. But then dippy heroine suddenly musters the spine she has been lacking all her dippy life to lash out at the hero. And then he has to do something Big. Like win a superbowl. Or throw away his career and reputation. Ya know simple things like that.

Maybe the heroines want to punish the hero for being so wealthy, good looking, charming and sexually experienced?

Lady Emma wants to become "not so much a lady" so she won't be a viable candidate to be the next Duchess of Beddington. That means tight clothes, tattoos, piercings, and bedding down an available man to take that pesky (but apparently important to royalty) virginity she has been toting around. The Duke of Beddington owns the girl's academy where she is headmistress, and vows to close it if she refuses him.

On a trip to the US to research a book, she decides to drop her inhibitions with suspended sexy golf pro Kenny Traveler, who she mistakes for a tour guide/gigolo. Their discussions of what constitutes his job responsibilities are hysterical. And $30 for a night of passion with a superstar? He is a bargain! And very willing to find out what a "head mistress" does. When she tells Kenny she wants a pretty flower on her shoulder, but wakes up with the flag of Texas and a banner with the name KENNY emblazoned across it, she is a little frazzled, especially after finding out who he really is.

Kenny is attracted to Emma, but can't act on it since he is on suspension for bad boy activities. Soon, he throws caution to the wind as the two embark on an affair. When Emma thinks she is being followed, she does crazy things like flirt with the first available man or goes on interesting shopping sprees. Kenny's response to her late night drug store excursion is priceless.

This story is a follow up to Fancy Pants, which revolves around the relationship of Kenny's mentor Dallie and his reporter wife, Francesca. They make a brief but memorable appearance (as well as fully grown son, Ted, who Emma almost seduces) in this story as well.

Being an SEP novel, you always know how it will end, but as always, getting there is half the fun!

This is my very first book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips...and I enjoyed every moment!!! Being that I prefer historical romances, the modern day backdrop to this book threw me off at first; I decided to give it a shot anyway...and I'm sooo glad I did!!! This book was so charming...it was full of laughs...and not only were Kenny and Emma wonderful, but the secondary characters were outstanding as well!!! I would definitely recommend this and look forward to purchasing more works by this author.

Simply put, I love this book. Nobody does funny and heartbreaking as well as SEP. I especially loved the scene with Kenny and Petey at the baby diaper derby. It's laugh out lound funny seeing Kenny sizing up his baby brother's competition (the other babies) and then coaching him to give 110% and to make them play his game because nothing comes between a Traveler and athletic glory. And then getting teary eyed watching Kenny realized he was doing to his brother what their father had done to him years ago, making him earn his love by winning on the athletic field. I'm babbling and in no way doing justice to the scene, you'll just have to read it for yourself.

All the characters are interesting and likeable with the exception of the Duke. Tori and Dex also have a great storyline if you like the geek as hero stories. And I can't wait for Ted's story, it was nice to see him all grown up. Last seen, he was little 9 year old Teddy from FANCY PANTS. The only thing that I didn't love about this book was the epilogue, a little too mushy for my taste. Overall, I highly recommend this book. It's funny without being lightweight, and heartwarming without being too sentimental (not counting the epilogue), buy or borrow this book today, you won't regret it!

I know this isn't the most famous of SEP's books but in my opinion it's by far the funniest. And that's saying a lot because anything she writes is full of wit.

Lady Emma is a British schoolmistress, straight-laced as they come. The new owner of the school is trying to blackmail her into marriage so she tries to get out of it the only way she can think of- to destroy her reputation. He won't take no for an answer, but he won't marry someone with a bad reputation. Emma is rather creative in the extremes to which she'll go to ruin her good reputation.

Kenny Traveler has been in trouble one too many times and finds himself suspended from professional golf. Dallie, the bad boy from Fancy Pants, has cleaned up his act and is now acting commissioner of the PGA. He and Francine are delightful annoyances in this book, Dallie trying to get Kenny to grow up and Francine trying to be a matchmaker. Their son, Teddy, is fully grown now and steals the show. I hope he gets his own book some day!

Lady Be Good was a very funny and informative book. Kenny's character as a pro golfer on suspension that was a very clever idea. His attitude towards the english head mistress was very entertaining. The rival going on between them was outstanding! I loved this book because of the originality and the spirit of all the characters. If you ever read any SEP's books than you know already know how talented and creative she can be. Be prepare to add her name to the other bestsellers you know. Guaranteed to enjoy again and again.

This is simply her best. I havent liked any of her other books this much..sometimes they get too tedious with lots of side characters. But this book was HILARIOUS. SEP at her wittiest best!

I can't believe she did it again! She keepes getting better and better. I love her other books sooo much (especially her beloved Chicago Stars series). I did not think she could possibly beat them. She did - this is my favorite SEP book. Kenny is good enough to eat, ladies. And Emma is hilarious. They are true opposites, but perfect together. Please read this book for the hot tub scene alone. RUN to your local bookstore and buy yourselves a copy of this book. It is simply delightful. I could NOT put it down (and believe me, I usually have a very short attention span!). Happy reading! This book is one of my favorites of all time!

I love a good smart alec and Kenny is definatly one of the best. His sense of humor made me laugh out loud. Lady Emma definately had a style all her own. I throughly enjoyed this book, couldn't put it down.

I have been a fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips since I first read It Had to be You several years ago. I have since read all her books and Fancy Pants is my favorite. I was so happy to see the characters of Dallie and Francine back in this new golf story. As always, Ms. Phillips entertains us with a light-hearted, witty romance that is hard to put down. I thought Lady Emma and "Kinny" were adorable and loved the secondary characters of Dexter and Torie. I can't wait for a story featuring Dallie and Francine's son, Ted Beaudine. Please hurry, Ms. Phillips, your fans are anxiously awaiting a book about him!