Audio Book Review-Heaven Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Heaven, Texas by Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Also in this series: It Had To Be You
Series: Chicago Stars #2
Published by Avon on April 1, 1995
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Narrator: Anna Fields
Length: 11 Hours and 23 Minutes
Pages: 384
Format: Audiobook
Source: Hoopla Digital
ISBN: 0380776847

Come heck or high water, Gracie Snow is determined to drag the legendary ex-jock Bobby Tom Denton back home to Heaven, Texas, to begin shooting his first motion picture. Despite his dazzling good looks and killer charm, Bobby Tom has reservations about being a movie star — and no plans to cooperate with a prim and bossy Ohio wallflower whom he can’t get off his mind or out of his life. Instead, the hell-raising playboy decides to make her over from plain Jane to Texas wildcat.
But nothing’s more dangerous than a wildcat with an angel’s heart in a town too small for a bad boy to hide. And all hell breaks loose when two unforgettable people discover love, laughter, passion — and a match that can only be made in Heaven.

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review.

Heaven Texas is the second book in the “Chicago Stars” series but this is my first time reading this author and also this series so it was quite an adventure to see what this author is ALL about and why these books are so well-loved and I can definitely see the charm and witty dialogue that endear so many readers over the years and you can bet that this won’t be my last book from this author here. I am so happy to devour this book and while it didn’t make it to five-star status and I quite liked it overall and am eager to explore more of this series. If you are looking for some classic romantic comedies (true ROM COMS) then you definitely should check this author out. I just loved how it was so well balanced from beginning to end.

Heaven Texas is an utterly charming and witty read that delights its reader that features:

• Bobby Tom Denton-ex football jock, playboy, protective of family, actor extraordinaire

• Gracie Snow-prim and proper, wallflower, plain jane, hardworking and devoted to her work

[Bobby Tom] finally understood Gracie’s function in his life. She was God’s joke on him.

Heaven Texas is a story that begins with our heroine, Gracie Snow, who has been charged with the duty of bringing the infamous Bobby Tom Denton to heel and getting him to the acting set on time. But this mission that Gracie has been charged with is much more challenging than she ever imagined. Bobby Tom Denton gets distracted easily, has a two-track mind, and loves his women, and likes being the center of the crowd. Trying to lasso the ex-jock is like asking the sun to set in the east, impossible. But through a set of circumstances, Gracie ends up with the job eventually of being his personal assistant, and sparks fly between the two. No two people could be the more opposite from each other but there is an attraction despite their differences, but Gracie knows that Bobby has been used by so many women throughout the years and she refuses to be like all the others. She finds herself falling hard for him, but won’t be the one to use him, she is determined to show him what loving someone is really about, no matter how much it may cost her.

The room held her scent, that elusive fragrance that sometimes reminded him of spring flowers and other times made him think of summer afternoons and ripe peaches. Gracie seemed to be part of all the seasons. The warm glints of autumn shone in her hair, the clear light of winter sun sparkled in those intelligent gray eyes. He had to keep reminding himself that she wasn’t a U.S.D.A. prime-cut female because lately he’d had a tendency to forget. It was just . . .

She was so damned cute

Heaven Texas was a PURE delight to read and I had so much fun with this one. I will mention first the talent of the narrator in playacting this story because it was pure perfection. She handled the accents and dialogue so well and I have to say I had the HARDEST time not bursting out with laughs all the time because that is how hilarious the dialogue turned out to be. I wasn’t sure if this was a romantic comedy, but it surely was. But not the type that you would typically see today, this is a classic romantic comedy. It had the vibes of those old school rom coms like “While You Were Sleeping or You’ve Got Mail” and I was so down with this style because I have missed this type of rom com’s that are so charming while being witty but has class all at the same time. Back when these books were being published, contemporary was not my jam let alone romantic comedies (and yes I used to hate contemporary romance –only old school followers know that fun fact)

Sometimes she did this funny little thing after they’d finished making love. He’d be holding her against his chest, sort of dozing off and feeling peaceful all the way down to his toenails, and she’d make this little ‘ x’ right over his heart with her fingertip. Just this little ‘x’. Right over his heart

This story was such fun and I especially have such a soft spot for the “opposites attract” trope and this one was so well done. Because on one side of the equation you have our hero who is playboy, sports hero, charms all the ladies. Then we have the heroine who is shy, reserved, and plainer looking, and she hates attention and is more driven to work and not play. I would also point out that this does have elements of unrequited love. The hero runs away from emotional, and love stuff haha so the heroine is more sedate about her love for him. He doesn’t know about her true feelings for quite a while and it really makes sense. I did feel like her falling hard for him seemed to easy for me to believe to be honest. I love instant love, but it just didn’t fit in the speed that it happens for the heroine. But I loved how honorable the heroine is and how she treats the hero. I love how she wants to lift and encourage the hero, and not put him down. She wants to prove she won’t use him, to the detriment of her own personal finances even where she goes almost broke. Even though I feel like she went a bit too far in proving this, it does show the hero that she is genuine is her feelings for him. And I truly loved seeing their connection grow so deeply and you can expect some steamy scenes between these two. The finale isn’t quite what I was expecting but it was delightful as I was hoping it would be if a little unique and those who have read this one know exactly what I am talking about here.

For all your talk, you don’t know the first thing about love.” Tears spilled over her lashes and rolled down her cheeks. She slipped the chain that held his Super Bowl ring over her head and pressed it into his palm. “I love you, Bobby Tom, and I’ll love you till the day I die. But I’ve never been for sale. I was a free offering all along

Now I do want to mention that there is a side love story featuring Bobby’s mother and the leper of the town. He has been treated horribly and so was his mother but has always been in love with this woman. And there is a story of their love match and while I had issues with the beginning makings of their story, my heart just ached for these two to find a HEA because they both deserved some joy in their lives. But if you haven’t read this book, these two storylines, in the beginning, can be a bit confusing with each other, so just watch out for that so you don’t get certain characters confused.

Overall I found Heaven Texas to be a delightful, laugh-out-of-bed kind of humor, balanced with charm and classy vibes, with a touch of podunk mixed in, in combination delivering a gem of a read.

My Favorite Scene

“All right, sweetheart; here’s your last question, and it’s a real challenge, so don’t let yourself get distracted by these jealous women. To make sure all twelve of our future children are going to be legitimate, what New York City football team did Joe Namath play for?”

Gracie’s face fell. Lord. Any fool should know the answer to this one. New York City… What football team was from New York City? Her expression brightened. “The New York City YANKEES!”

A roar of laughter went up from the crowd, accompanied by more than a few loud groans. Bobby Tom silenced them all with a glare. At the same time, the glitter in his eyes dared any of them to contradict her. When he was certain everyone understood the message, he turned back to Gracie and gathered her into his arms. With a tender look and a gentle brush of his lips, he said “Exactly right, sweetheart. I had no idea you knew so much about football”

And that was how every last person in Telarosa, Texas, came to understand that Bobby Tom Denton had finally and forever fallen head over heels in love.”

About Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is the creator of the sports romance, beginning with her 1989 bestseller, FANCY PANTS. An internationally acclaimed author, her books have been published in over 30 languages. She’s the only four-time recipient of the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Favorite Book of the Year Award, and a recipient of their Lifetime Achievement Award.

Susan's newest book, WHEN STARS COLLIDE, was published in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in June 2021 She is also the highly acclaimed author of both the CHICAGO STARS football series and the Wynette, Texas books.

In addition to being a New York Times, Publisher’s Weekly, and USA Today bestseller, she is a hiker, lazy gardener, horrible singer, passable cook, passionate reader, wife, mother of two grown sons, and grandmother.

You can visit Susan on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or on her website.

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