This Heart of Mine [Mass Market Paperback]

Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Author)

Book Description

Release date: February 5, 2002

Molly Somerville loves her career as the creator of the Daphne the Bunny children's book series, but the rest of her life could use some improvement. She has a reputation for trouble that started even before she gave away her fifteen-million-dollar inheritance. Then there's her long-term crush on the quarterback for the Chicago Stars football team her sister owns—that awful, gorgeous Kevin Tucker, a man who can't even remember Molly's name!

One night Kevin barges into Molly's not-quite-perfect life and turns it upside down. Unfortunately, the Ferrari-driving riving, poodle-hating jock isn't as shallow as she wishes he were, and she soon finds herself at a place called Wind Lake. Surrounded by paintbox cottages, including a charming old bed-and-breakfast, Molly and Kevin battle their attraction and each other as they face one of life's most important lessons. Sometimes love hurts, sometimes it makes you mad as hell, and sometimes—if you're lucky—it can heal in a most unexpected way.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Ever since she was a teenager, children's book author Molly Somerville has been infatuated with handsome Kevin Tucker, quarterback for her sister's Chicago Stars football team. Unfortunately, Kevin doesn't know she's alive until one fateful weekend when they're marooned together at the family vacation cabin. When Molly gets carried away by her creative imagination and compromises Kevin, the results are disastrous and before the dust settles, Kevin's in trouble with his boss, Molly's in deep trouble with her emotions, and both of them are in danger of losing their hearts. Their journey to a happy ending is dicey, at best, and even if they can get past their outrageous and painful beginning, whether these two can lower their guards and let the other into their equally wary hearts is questionable.

Bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips makes her hardcover debut with this wonderful contemporary tale that features two familiar faces from prior novels as the hero and heroine. The characters are complicated, with difficult pasts that have shaped the adults they now are, and Phillips uses a deft touch in sketching their personal growth as they're tested with tragedy and bound together with love and a healthy dose of humor. As always, Phillips brings her delightful wit and a warm family setting to this novel that is sure to captivate readers. --Lois Faye Dyer --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Publishers Weekly

Veteran romance writer Phillips (First Lady; Lady Be Good, etc.) makes her hardcover debut with this consuming story of a star-crossed children's-book author and a football player. At 27, Molly Somerville is a struggling writer who eschews the inheritance left by her father, founder of the Chicago Stars NFL team, now owned by Molly's sister, Phoebe Calebow, and her husband, Dan, who act as Molly's surrogate parents. Creator of a series of Daphne the Bunny books, writer for a teen magazine and the perfect playmate for her nieces and nephew, Molly is still growing up--she even has a crush on Kevin Tucker, the handsome, reckless Stars quarterback. By coincidence, Molly and Kevin end up at the Calebow's vacation home... Don't be fooled by the dusty title, however; this one is pure up-to-the-minute entertainment. Agent, Steve Axelrod. (One-day laydown, Jan. 23) Forecast: Phillips is the only four-time recipient of Romance Writers of America's Favorite Book of the Year Award, and her most recent novel, the mass market First Lady, hit paperback bestseller lists. With a big and smart push from Morrow, including a nine-city author tour, this book stands to be that rarity: a bestseller on national hardcover lists by a first-time writer to those ranks. A Harper Audio and large-print edition will be issued simultaneously.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 420 pages
• Publisher: Avon (February 5, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380808080
• ISBN-13: 978-0380808083
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (173 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 28 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More of the best from the best. September 15, 2001

By mirope VINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The best writer of contemporary romances proves that she is still at the top of her game in "This Little Heart of Mine." Susan Elizabeth Phillips plays matchmaker for two characters from some of her previous popular novels: Molly Somerville (Phoebe's little sister from "It Had to Be You") and Kevin Tucker (the Star's backup quarterback from "Nobody's Baby but Mine"). Molly is all grown up and is supporting herself as an author of children's books. Problem is, her personal life is non-existent. Kevin is now the Stars' superstar quarterback, but he hasn't allowed himself to have much of a life outside of football. Both are feeling restless and dissatisfied, and when they accidentally spend a weekend together, the results are disastrous. Kevin comes away thinking that Molly is a flat-out kook, and Molly is left emotionally battered. Thanks to some more unusual circumstances, they end up running a bed and breakfast Kevin has most unwillingly inherited. OK, so far this all sounds like nonsense, but trust me, Phillips makes it work. The characters are richly drawn and quite charming. Not only does SEP add a lot of humor (you will laugh out loud), but she also creates a wonderfully tender and sweet romance that manages to avoid being sappy and cloying. I was particularly impressed with the way she was able to intertwine Molly's children's books into the narrative without making them annoying distractions. If you only buy one contemporary romance this year, this should be the one.

15 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The best Susan Elizabeth Phillip Book In Years! February 7, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

As an admitted fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, I may be biased, but THIS HEART OF MINE is one of her better books and I wouldn't hesitate to reccommend this book to anyone. Especially if you're already a fan don't wait for the paperback, this is one hardcover book that's worth the extra expense.

Kevin Tucker (the back-up quarterback from NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE) is a football player for whom the game is his life and that's the way he likes it. To simplify matters, he doesn't make it a habit to spend time with women who are chatty or intelligent. So to his surprise he enjoys the short time he inadvertantly spends with Phobe Somerville (from IT HAD TO BE YOU and current owner of the Chicago Stars, the team he plays for)'s little sister, what was her name again? That is until one night when she commits an impulsive act that could affect both their lives.

Mollie Sommerville, a children's book author with a hard earned reputation for being a good girl has had a crush on Kevin for years. Unfortunately, he can't even remember her name. She's also had restless and wild impulses for years. Both she successfully subdues . . . most of the time. And one of those few times she didn't is something for which Kevin doesn't seem willing to forgive her.

Pushed together by circumstances, Kevin and Mollie learn that the other is not entirely who they seem to be and they, and they alone, understand each other.

Personally, as THIS HEART OF MINE is being sold as the last in the Chicago Stars series, I would have liked to have seen more and longer appearances from characters from the previous books. I was especially disappointed that the Bonner's didn't play a part, but new readers might find this a boon as THIS HEART OF MINE defintely stands alone, and while it's nice to have read IT HAD TO BE YOU first, it's certainly not necessary.

Don't MISS THIS HEART OF MINE. A little crazy at times, very contemporary, and an all around great romantic read.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Its So Hard to Say Goodbye March 5, 2001

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

This Heart of Mine lived up to all of my expectations for a SEP novel. Its hard to believe that we won't be meeting up with any other characters from the Chicago Stars. This book endeared me like all the rest. I loved Molly and Kevin's story and revisiting most of the families from some of her other books. It was great seeing that Dan & Phoebe had more children besides the twins. Both Molly and Kevin were believable characters. They each had insecurities that all of us have which keep us from accepting love without question. Its fascinating to watch their feelings mature as they work together on a neglected camp for senior adults. I also enjoyed the subplots surrounding Lilly and Liam, as well as the teenage newlyweds hired to work at the camp that couldn't keep their hands off each other long enough to get the work done. The way Molly wrote her childrens books around Nightingale Woods and the similarities between fact and fiction was the most fun for me, especially when Kevin realizes which character he is. If you've read any of Susan E. Phillip's books before, you won't be disappointed with this one.