I have to start with this: WTF??? Headless beaver? Seriously?? I was on the floor laughing because of this. I didn’t read the summary (as my bad–and-not-so-bad habit dictates) so the surprise was awesome! I knew I’d fall in love with this book, and I did. It was insanely good.It’s been a while since I laughed so much from reading a book. My mum was giving me awkward faces because of the stupid grin I had. Sooooo many funny moments! If I’d have to pick my favorite quotes from this book I’d just copy paste every word from it. This is why I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips so much. She feeds my quote addiction… Feeds it sooo well…. Mmmmmm…The characters have depth. Even though they are funny and joke all the time, deep inside they have dramas that shape their personalities into what they are. If you think this book is just for laughs, you’re wrong. Susan Elizabeth Phillips always writes a good emotional story.Loved the endless verbal sparring between Dean and Blue. The way she was teasing him was priceless. They make such a cute couple. I’d bring them together, sit on the couch and just watch them beat each other’s ass for an entire day. Or two.It’s cruel of Dean to use the poor girl (Blue) only for getting some distance between women who harass him, fans and nosy people. But thinking about Blue’s reasons why she’s sticking with him I guess they’re even. She needs a place to stay and some money, he needs a leper who scares people away. *boos sound from the crowd* What? The leper thing was too much? Never mind then...The way Blue acts with Mrs. Garrison amazes me. I respect this chick with all my heart. She’s the female character I love the most from the Chicago Stars series. I can’t give you the reasons why I like her the most. I probably dunno them myself. But I respect strong and funny people and she fits the requirements perfectly. Plus a fellow artist and all that. Wish I had the talent to come up with all these mean replies... Could I find a book about this? How to get meaner in 50 simple steps. Amazon here I come!Why is it so damn hard for me to picture Dean dancing? I see they have this as a therapy thing for, you know, dramatic things. So they dance and dance. The chicks are easy to imagine. Jack also, but a bit blurry. But Dean... I keep getting the image of a chicken flapping its wings in a retarded way on a stupid farm song. It’s just wrong!!!Jack and April also have a nice story. I used to think being a rockstar would be awesome. Living an excited life, singing or playing an instrument, rocking on stage. But eventually it ends your private life, messes with your head and transforms you into a different person. This different person turns out to be bad in most cases. Jack is a really complicated guy so I can’t really see how April could have had a normal life with him in the past. Not to mention her whoring around which made me disrespect her. I was trying so hard not to judge April. Leaving your child just so you could waste time with rockers and get nailed by them is a little too much. Now she’s trying to make things right but it sure won’t be easy. I tried to like her but I failed. Especially in the beginning. Same goes with Jack, which I hated till the end. I mean yeah he tried to justify himself and all but he f*cked up too much in my opinion. I wouldn’t have been able to forgive him if he was my father.Riley was an interesting kid. Yes I know you’re thinking I lost my mind for saying this but the kid is actually mature and intelligent. I mean she’s eleven and thinking about suicide. Gotta respect that uhm... maturity... I guess? And when that jerk kid left her alone in the night on a deserted road I actually felt bad for her... I have to go check on my medication. There was a bit too much focus on her so I thought the story will get ruined because of this. She was good in the end, I didn’t even mind her. I like the amount of drama that revolved around her; if it was more than this I wouldn’t feel content with the story.Nita is a strange woman. She made me hate her at times because of how annoying she is and laugh in other times when she was... well... annoying as well. So an annoying character that shifts your mood according to Blue’s cooking.I’m talking too much aren’t I? Too serious and stuff huh? Well then you leave me no choice! Behold my secret weapon!!!Yep! Keep on staring at that while I finish my review!Moving on… In the end, a perfect turn of events. As usual I was trying to guess how it’s going to end, to try to see what problems they’ll have, to predict the typical big fight and who will be the one crawling back and apologizing. As usual, Susan Elizabeth Phillips bitchslapped me. God I can’t predict this woman at all!!!! This is one of the main reasons why she’s between my top favorite authors. Loved the story, the characters were as usual messed up in the head and just plain awesome. Blue was such a great heroine and Dean was simply perfect. A touchy side-story and lots of good romance. My favorite book in the series.I couldn’t make the review funnier. It’s not a bad thing right? Being boring from time to time is good for you!P.S. Choosing the damn quotes was so hard for me!!! Just five out of so many that I selected. A tough job indeed!Top 5 quotes#5 “I’m not a drug dealer!” he retorted hotly.“You’re not a movie star.”“Don’t rub it in. The truth is, I’m a semifamous male model with ambitions of being a movie star.”“You’re gay.”#4 “I’ll take your best suite,” he said. “And a small room by the elevator for my insane companion. If that’s a problem, put her next to any old ice machine.”#3 “The first time I saw her was at a street carnival.” He walked over to inspect the countertops. “She had her face stuck through one of those wooden cutouts, so naturally she caught my attention. You’ve got to admit that face is something. By the time I saw the rest of her, it was too late.”“I’m sitting right here,” Blue reminded them.#2 “Uh, ma’am…You need some help?”Her paws didn’t break rhythm. “You got a gun?”“Not with me.”“Then I’ve got no use for you.”#1 “Acht, this Dean Roam-a-lot, he is very famous man in America, yes? My poor husband”—she curled her fingers around Dean’s arm—“his Eeenglish is veddy, veddy bad, and he does not understand this. But my Eeenglish is veddy, veddy good, yes? And everywhere we go, these pipples—pipples like you—they come up to him and say they think he is this man, this Dean Roam-a-lot. But I say, no, my husband is not famous in America, but veddy famous in our country. He is a veddy famous—how you say?—por-nog-ra-pher.”Read the review on ZombieHazard.
My original review is waaay below, which was written after the first time I read this. But after my 2nd time, more than 2 years later, I think that it's the right time to write an updated review. I must warn everyone that I am a die-hard Susan Elizabeth Phillips fan. But at the same time, I know how to be critical of her stories when I need to be (really, I have been...for a few of them). This book is sorta an extension of the Chicago stars series, but even Ms. Phillips says that she doesn't really consider it to be. It follows Dean Robillard, the hottest football star on the planet (seriously, he has a face/body of a movie star and a great sense of fashion to match). He happens to play for the Chicago Stars and we get sorta glimpses of Heath and Annabelle (from Match Me if You Can).Well, Dean happens to be at the crossroads of his life, at 31 and just trying to figure out what its all about (or something to that effect). He comes across a headless beaver, more accurately, our heroine in a beaver costume missing a head. Blue Bailey is a seemingly different sort of SEP heroine. Her vagabond, artsy lifestyle (though not really of her choosing) makes it hard for us to really connect with her, at first. But knowing SEP, she's going to make us fall in love with the characters somehow. Blue is at the lowest point of her life, again. And it doesn't help that the shiny Dean Robillard is the only one around to give her a hand (and more if he can manage). These two look completely opposite to each other, have a lot in common and amazing chemistry to boot. And so continues the book, through the most sizzling, emotion-draining summer for both of them.I know, I'm not revealing a lot, but I can say that it involves Dean's estranged parents, his half-sister, and a witchy old bat - all in a small town in Tennessee. And I actually really like this small town. Lots of regret and resolutions and good stuff.I really liked Dean, despite all his flaws. He's a good guy, but he sorta selfish (though not as a lover, so he wins points there). He's been hurt a lot and had a basically unstable childhood, so he works hard to prevent it from happening again - not all that different from Blue. Blue isn't selfish, but she has been uprooted all through her life and has her share of instability. The problem is that she craves for stability but is so afraid to take that chance. They make a great couple, taking the worst (yet funniest) jabs at each other. Honestly, I just wish there was more book for me to read about them.Overall, I highly recommend this book. It stays true to SEP's formula, but it adds something different into the mix.-----------------------------------------------------June 16, 2009This was the first of her books that I've ever read. Considering how I tend to not enjoy contemporary romances (don't really know why), it was surprising that I even bothered choosing this book. It was a spur of the moment decision (or more like, it was available at my school library and needed a fix). I picked it up last Wednesday, and already, I have finished about 5 of her books.This has to be one of the best stories ever. The relationship is built beautifully and the humor, I loved it. Dean is simply hot. Blue is a great character that is easy to identify with, despite her strange upbringing and lifestyle. Their interactions are the best. I was cracking up constantly. The secondary love story was also a plus. I'm glad that she always adds another compelling couple in her stories.
What do You think about Natural Born Charmer (2007)?
Natural Born Charmer is the final installment in Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Chicago Stars series. I am so, so sad to finally end this series but I LOVED this last book! There was so much hilarious banter between the two lead characters, I just couldn't get enough. I have enjoyed all the books in this series, although some more than others. But this last book Natural Born Charmer is definitely going on my favorites list!The lead characters Dean Robillard and Blue Bailey are both proud individuals with chaotic upbringings, but other than that they are total opposites. Dean is a rich and famous metrosexual type- aka pretty boy, and Blue is a drifting artist and the daughter of a Mother Teresa type who can care less about how she looks. They meet by chance when Blue happens to be in-between temporary addresses. With nothing to lose, she reluctantly agrees to travel to Dean's farm with him as she needs a place to stay. From that moment on, hilarity ensues. There are some very touching moments though when family issues surface and are explored. Dean and Blue have amazing chemistry and I loved both of their characters. There are additional characters in this book that I adored as well, and who added their own craziness as well as warmth. This is a laugh-out-loud, excellent contemporary romance and it was a fabulous ending to an amazing series. It can be read as a standalone but why not read the whole series?The Chicago Stars series includes the following installments:#1: It Had to Be You#2: Heaven, Texas#3: Nobody's Baby But Mine#4: Dream a Little Dream#5: This Heart of Mine#6: Match Me If You Can#7: Natural Born CharmerMy favorite quote:“You can't do extraordinary things in the world if you're spending time criticizing others because they don't look or behave the way you think they should.”
—Jennifer
Wow, what a ride that was. I started the Chicago Star’s Series just a little over a month ago and I LOVED every single one of them. But I do have a favorite. Dream a Little Dream, which is book #4, fills that spot. I think what is so fantastic about this series is that with each story you get the expected and the unexpected. SEP always gives you dreamy and sexy leading men and strong and beautiful leading women. She surrounds them with creative side characters and the storyline is always something new.In Natural Born Charmer we take a bit of a journey with Dean Robillard who is the current quarterback for the Chicago Stars. He is in the off season nursing an injury and escaping to one of his second (or was it his third) home. Dean was gorgeous, charming and rich. He thought he had it all but if he was to be honest with himself, there was so much more he really wanted. It wasn’t until he picked up Blue Bailey on the side of the road did he slowly realize this. Blue Bailey ~ what a little firecracker she was. I loved her. She was beautiful in her own way, sexy without knowing it and she was always true to herself. Dean Robillard ~ he was that perfectly packaged male. He had the looks, the body and the charming personality. He was a little cocky too but that was just the cherry on the Dean Robillard sundae. Blue never stayed in one place too long, though it was not of her own doing. She didn’t grow up with the feeling of belonging to a family or having a home she could call her own. In some ways Dean shared these feelings. They both learned to protect themselves from the expected disappointments. Dean and Blue loved to rile each other. I loved the banter that went on between them. And the sexual tension was crazy. When they found their own little haven in the Gypsy wagon, things got heated.❤ In true SEP form we get an amazing secondary story too. This one was one of my favorites. It revolves around….April ~ talk about a beauty! & Jack ~ I’ll quote Mo “he was smoking hot!” & Riley ~ what a sweet girl. And I cannot forget about Nita. She certainly made a lasting impression! She lacked that social filter we all need. She said and did whatever she wanted. Made very few friends but I have to give it to her, Nita knew what she was doing. :) Welp…I think I got carried away with this review. I just loved this series and loved this book. I can’t recommend this author or this series enough.
—♥Sharon♥
An insanely amusing story about love and family..Witty banter, two main characters with a LOT of emotional baggage and a second chance in life to get themselves a family...First of all, this is much more than a romance. And that's what won me over...i admit, at the beginning i wasn't that impressed with Mr. Dean Robillard.......But Blue could definitely hold her own against him...and since he likes dogs...i decided to cut him some slack on account on some idiocy...So basically, this is a story about forgiveness and the relationships about parents and offspring and yes, two (okay four!) people trying to surpass past traumas of abandonment.Great secondary characters! Like Dean's half sister, Rilley, Dean's estranged parents and Blue getting someone to stand by her in the most unexpected person...The writing was fluid, the characters quirky enough, all i had to do was devour it ;)Loved it!
—Susana
