Favorites Wednesday
May
23
2012

Today’s book is Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ AIN’T SHE SWEET

Sugar Beth Carey’s come back to Parrish, Mississippi, and she’s brought her reputation for wreaking havoc with her. She’s broke, desperate, and too proud to show it, even with her old enemies lining up for a chance to get even. Her former girlfriends have their eyebrow pencils sharpened into lethal points. Winnie Davis, her longtime rival, is fully armed with the money, power, and prestige that had once been Sugar Beth’s. But worst of all is Colin Byrne, the man whose career Sugar Beth had destroyed — and not exactly accidentally.

Now Colin’s a famous novelist living in Sugar Beth’s old mansion, and this modern day dark prince is using his writer’s imagination to figure out how to bring the town’s beautiful former princess to her knees. But despite her sassy mouth, feisty spirit, and hardheaded ways, Sugar Beth’s no longer the spoiled rich girl they all remember. No, now she’s a woman to be reckoned with … and a great big reckonin’ is about to happen, not least of all for one dark prince who might — just might — be thinking about falling in love with the wickedest girl in town.

Ain’t She Sweet? A funny, heartwarming, oh-so-spicy story of love, friendship, and the possibility of happily-ever-after.

I resisted this book for months. I didn’t start reading romance until I was in my mid-30s so I tended to find an author, glom and binge and then find other authors through that one. I think I found SEP via my glom of Jenny Crusie. I’d get this book recommended to me via amazon and other people and I’d say, “good god, why would I want to read about this person? Ugh, she’s the kind of girl who made high school hell for me and many others.” But this was before I knew of Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ magic for taking an unlikeable character and redeeming them so thoroughly.

So at last I gave in and bought it. I eyed it in my TBR pile for another week or two and finally opened it up to take that chance.

And I’m so glad I did because that book began my love affair with SEP’s writing. I not only loved the book, but I loved the writing. The humor in the dialog and the situations. The fearless way she took this character and made me care about her. The romance, which was sexy and funny and frustrating, just like it can be in real life. I’ve been a big fan of Susan Elizabeth Phillips ever since and if you haven’t read her, or haven’t read this book yet, here’s your chance to discover what an amazing book (and author) you’ve been missing.

I’ll choose a winner from replies to this post and announce in next Monday’s Winners Post. Good luck!

34 comments to “Favorites Wednesday”

  1. Carrie F.
    May 23rd, 2012 at 4:28 am · Link

    I absolutely LOVE SEP…especially this book….you can’t help but love the characters…its one of my all time faves



  2. Susan W.
    May 23rd, 2012 at 4:35 am · Link

    I have not read any SEP books for similar reasons you resisted. I do have friends who love her.



  3. IP
    May 23rd, 2012 at 5:31 am · Link

    Funny: “Ain’t she Sweet” was also my first SEP book and I have always kept a place for Sugar Beth Carey in my heart. That combination of tart and sweet is irresistible.



  4. Danielle W
    May 23rd, 2012 at 5:54 am · Link

    I just started buying up her books. I found 2 of them on sale and bought them just because they were so cheap but I was so surprised about how much I loved them. The back cover did not make me excited to read but like you said, her writing is just fantastic and her formally unlovable characters find a way into my heart.



  5. Janet K
    May 23rd, 2012 at 6:05 am · Link

    What’s not to like about SEP’s books? They’re all great reading.



  6. Christine
    May 23rd, 2012 at 6:37 am · Link

    I haven’t tried her yet. I have so many books and so many authors and too little time.



  7. Blanche
    May 23rd, 2012 at 6:39 am · Link

    Add me to the SEP fan club!! I adore her books, she is an amazing writer!!



  8. CrystalGB
    May 23rd, 2012 at 6:58 am · Link

    I haven’t read this book. It sounds good. 🙂



  9. Kimh
    May 23rd, 2012 at 7:15 am · Link

    Read book Ty very sweet book



  10. azteclady
    May 23rd, 2012 at 7:22 am · Link

    Oh I love this book!

    Mind you, I really like many of her books, but this one? This one is as perfect as it gets. Thank you for remind me of it!



  11. Tracey D
    May 23rd, 2012 at 7:28 am · Link

    I discovered Susan Elizabeth Phillips when I won What I Did For Love. I’m not really into contemporary fiction but since I won it, I thought it would be a good idea to read it.

    Am I glad I did! The novel was such a great read. I was cheering for the characters and had several good laughs throughout the book. I really enjoyed it and plann to read more of Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ works.



  12. Lori T
    May 23rd, 2012 at 7:40 am · Link

    I LOVE SEP!! I think that Heaven, Texas is one of my favorites of hers, but then I pretty much love everything she writes. I am the opposite of you…I found Jennifer Crusie through reading SEP.



  13. Melanie J.
    May 23rd, 2012 at 7:48 am · Link

    I love her books, too! Definly one of my favorite authors!



  14. Louise
    May 23rd, 2012 at 8:00 am · Link

    Haven’t read her books, but I do love stories of redemption.



  15. Erin
    May 23rd, 2012 at 8:06 am · Link

    I read Ain’t She Sweet earlier this year after I saw you mention it on Twitter. I loved it so much for many of the reasons you point out. It also led me to read several more SEP books. I enjoy her humor and characters.



  16. Melissa B
    May 23rd, 2012 at 8:26 am · Link

    I LOVE SEP, Lauren! I actually have this in audio ~ haven’t listened to it yet, but adore her books. She and Jennifer Cruisie are two I categorize as go to humor/family comfort reads.



  17. Viki S.
    May 23rd, 2012 at 8:56 am · Link

    I have never read her work.



  18. Angela
    May 23rd, 2012 at 9:43 am · Link

    I love SEP’s books – I’ve read them all and I’m eagerly waiting for The Great Escape! Please don’t enter me I’m lucky enough to have it on my bookshelf!



  19. Collette
    May 23rd, 2012 at 9:52 am · Link

    This was my first SEP too! I read through it so fast–I just couldn’t stop reading. I cried in public a couple of times with this one. I have it on my shelf though so please give it to someone else to fall in love with!



  20. cathyf
    May 23rd, 2012 at 10:06 am · Link

    I have not read her and you are not the first author that I follow that recommends her.
    Thanks!@



  21. Denise
    May 23rd, 2012 at 11:13 am · Link

    My first SEP was It Had To Be You, the first of her Chicago Stars series. I found it via my nook and the library. I was browsing the e-reader library romance selections, and took a chance (I’ve always been a sucker for sports romances). Boy, was I glad I did. IMHO, she’s definately among the gold standard authors for modern romance. Her characters are engaging and interesting, and the situations they find themselves in are always intriguing. What I especially like about her books is that they are intertwined; characters you liked reading about in one book return in another. It’s like reading about a familiar family, one you can’t wait to revisit again and again.



  22. StacieD
    May 23rd, 2012 at 11:24 am · Link

    I’ve never read Susan’s books. I usually don’t read romances with a lot of humor on them. Your recommendation makes me want to give it a try. I think it sounds like an interesting story. Thanks for the giveaway!



  23. Jane
    May 23rd, 2012 at 1:22 pm · Link

    I’m fairly new to Susan’s books. I’ve only read “Call Me Irresistible.”



  24. Diane
    May 23rd, 2012 at 4:49 pm · Link

    I haven’t read her yet but you did a give a glowing review!



  25. Jeanette Juan
    May 23rd, 2012 at 6:00 pm · Link

    I’ve read her Chicago Stars series and loved it! I haven’t read this one yet.



  26. Pamiam
    May 23rd, 2012 at 6:07 pm · Link

    I have several of her books but I don’t think I have read this one.



  27. bn100
    May 23rd, 2012 at 6:08 pm · Link

    This sounds like an interesting book.



  28. Lin
    May 23rd, 2012 at 6:43 pm · Link

    I love SEP’s Chicago Stars series so this sounds like a very interesting read.



  29. JeNM
    May 23rd, 2012 at 9:12 pm · Link

    I’ve only read two SEP books but I loved them. I’ve always heard how good this one is but haven’t had a chance to read it yet.



  30. Melissa Lamb
    May 23rd, 2012 at 9:38 pm · Link

    I haven’t read this book by SEP but I have read Nobody’s Baby But Mine and I loved it!!



  31. Lee
    May 24th, 2012 at 3:54 am · Link

    Hmmm, this one gives me pause, but because the reco came from you I’ll give it a try.



  32. Fedora
    May 24th, 2012 at 8:23 am · Link

    Don’t include me in this–I LOVE SEP; my first was Hot Shot, eons ago. Ain’t She Sweet is one of my favorites because of the whole redemption thing–it’s amazing how she takes someone so awful and then changes your view of them… This is a keeper 🙂



  33. Jen B.
    May 26th, 2012 at 6:50 pm · Link

    I have a couple of SEP books on my shelf but I have never gotten around to reading them. I am always glad to read that one author enjoys the writing style of another. Thanks for pointing out that there is humor in her writing. I am always looking for that.



  34. Spav
    May 28th, 2012 at 6:23 am · Link

    I love SEP. I haven’t read this one but my personal favourite is Match Me If You Can.