It Had To Be You (Paperback)

~ (Author)
Key Phrases: stadium contract, Bobby Tom, Dan Calebow, Miss Somerville (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A dazzling voice in contemporary woman's fiction" -- Linda Barlow, author of Leaves of Fortune

"Watch Susan Elizabeth Phillips go places!" -- LaVyrle Spencer --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Product Description

The Windy City isn't quite ready for Phoebe Somerville—the outrageous, curvaceous New York knockout who has just inherited the Chicago Stars football team. And Phoebe is definitely not ready for the Stars' head coach, former gridiron legend Dan Calebow, a sexist jock taskmaster with a one-track mind. Calebow is everything Phoebe abhors. And the sexy new boss is everything Dan despises—a meddling bimbo who doesn't know a pigskin from a pitcher's mound.

So why is Dan drawn to the shameless sexpot like a heat-seeking missile? And why does the coach's good ol' boy charm leave cosmopolitan Phoebe feeling awkward, tongue-tied...and ready to fight?

The sexy, heartwarming, and hilarious "prequel" to This Heart of Mine—Susan Elizabeth Phillips's New York Times bestselling blockbuster—It Had To Be You is an enchanting story of two stubborn people who believe in playing for keeps.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Avon A (June 24, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061555819
• ISBN-13: 978-0061555817
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (105 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #130,754 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars First in the Chicago Stars/Bonner Brothers series, June 21, 2005

By	Tracy Vest (Northern California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: It Had to Be You (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first in the Chicago Stars/Bonner Brother series. After fleeing the family years prior due to a traumatic incident from her past, Phoebe is back in Chicago at the reading of her father's will when she learns that she has inherited his beloved football team - provided they win the AFC championship. Otherwise, it automatically goes to her cousin Reed, who has always given her the creeps (and later in the book, anyone can understand why).

The problem is that Phoebe is a bit of a bimbo and knows nothing about football, contract negotiations, or salary disputes. And no one really wants to help her understand. She knows the inheritance is dad's way of having the last word, since he did not think she is cut out for it. Coach Dan Calebow just wants a new owner, until of course, he finds himself attracted to her. And he resents it when she wants to give the guys a pep talk, or come up with her own game-day rituals.

Dan is a little down on women. His ex-wife is a senator with a sordid infatuation with sex games that she constantly drags him into. He is looking for a nice gal to settle down with, and pursues a grade school teacher with lots of fervor, but his real passion appears to be Phoebe. They fight the attraction but constantly end up in each others beds.

It is also the story of the coming together of two estranged sisters. Molly has always been shuttled off to boarding school, which was Phoebe's initial plan since she appears to be such a trouble maker. But the two will need to learn to love and trust each other to take their relationship to the next level.

While many readers criticized Phoebe for being a bimbo - I thought it was a good move. Finally - a sexually aggressive woman who knows what she has and goes after what she wants. It is about time that a romance novel did not have a 35-year old virgin as the lead just waiting for that one perfect hero (or worse, has not had an intimate relationship in a decade since her one and only and let's face it, bad experience!)

The series includes (in order of publication): It Had to be You; Heaven, Texas; Nobody's Baby But Mine; Dream a Little Dream; This Heart of Mine.

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!, November 21, 2001

By	Christine Shaw "cms246" (Scranton, PA. USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: It Had to Be You (Mass Market Paperback)

"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.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not your average romance..., December 31, 2000

By	Kelly (Seattle, Washington) - See all my reviews

This review is from: It Had to Be You (Mass Market Paperback)

"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.