The first time I ever heard of Susan Elizabeth Phillips, the person addressed her as SEP. When I asked what the abbreviation stood for, I think a cry rang out, and alarms started blaring. The romance police were ready to cart me off to some prison, I as a romance reader, dare not show my face in if I wanted to keep my romance reading membership.
Thank goodness they took pity on me and let me off with a stern, “Get familiar real soon or we’ll be coming back for you.” I’m heeding their warning and intend to pick up WHAT I DID FOR LOVE the minute it hits my local book store December 29th. No seriously, this is so my kind of book. I can’t wait to get my hands on it.
Of course, now I’m curious about Susan Elizabeth Phillips–or SEP as her fans call her–and her books. What I discovered– Well, I’ll let her tell you in her own words.
~~~
WHAT I DID FOR LOVE
Author: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Publisher: Harper Collins
Re-release date: December 29
ISBN-13: 978-0061351518
416 pages
How did this happen? Georgie York, once the costar of America’s favorite television sitcom, has been publicly abandoned by her famous husband, her film career has tanked, her father is driving her crazy, and her public image as a spunky heroine is taking a serious beating.
What should a down-on-her-luck actress do? Not go to Vegas . . . not run into her detestable former costar, dreamboat-from-hell Bramwell Shepard . . . and not get caught up in an ugly incident that leads to a calamitous elopement. Before she knows it, Georgie has a fake marriage, a fake husband, and maybe (or not) a fake sex life.
It’s a paparazzi free-for-all, and Georgie’s nonsupporting cast doesn’t help. There’s Bram’s punk-nightmare housekeeper, Georgie’s own pushy parent, a suck-up agent, an icy studio head with a private agenda, and her ex-husband’s new wife, who can’t get enough of doing good deeds and saving the world—the bitch. As for Georgie’s leading man, Bram’s giving the performance of his life, but he’s never cared about anyone except himself, and it’s not exactly clear why.
Two enemies find themselves working without a script in a town where the spotlight shines bright . . . and where the strongest emotions can wear startling disguises.
For love of a bad boy:
Anyone who reads Susan Elizabeth Phillips know that she loves the ‘bad boy’ heroes. In WHAT I DID FOR LOVE, we find a good girl heroine who’s paired with a “dreamboat from hell.” Throw in a calamitous quickie Vegas wedding, a no-good ex and his international do-gooder superstar (new) wife, papparazzi free-for-all — ad what you get is a tale straight from SEP’s heart (“where redemption is always possible, and even a fake Hollywood couple trapped in a pretend marriage might find true love.” (PW)
Isn’t the book trailer a hoot? Sounds fabulous right? Browse inside and read the first 71 pages.
So tell me, what is the craziest, stupidest, or most romantic thing you ever did for love or someone did for the love of you?
Craziest thing I did for love? I got married. And although we just celebrated our 17th wedding anniversary in September, this will be our 20th Christmas together.
Now this is an author I’ve read! lol Yep, SEP is an excellent storyteller! I love that book trailer, too. (grins) This story sounds fun.
~Phyllis~
LOL, Beverley! I did the same thing when I joined RWA in 99. Everyone kept saying, “Are you serious? You really don’t know who SEP is?” My next big mistake was not knowing Nora Roberts on sight. She sat with me in the bar in N.O. and I asked her name when she didn’t tell me.
Needless to say, I know both of them now. Though my first love will forever be Historicals due to Grand Dame Courtland and KW. May they RIP.
What I Did for Love sounds intriguing. I’ll have to get it. If I get all the books on my Christmas wish list, I won’t have time to write.
LOL. Christina me too, that the craziest thing I did. I’m divorced now, suffice to say it was indeed VERY crazy. LMAO.
Mary, it’s so funny because at first I was like who on earth is KW. Then I remembered Katherine Woodweiss. But I’ve never read her before. I think I hear the romance police knocking at my door as I speak. LOL
Craziest thing I did? It was move in together. We had a fight and I knew we were still together because he left me the TV.
I have never read SEP before but I am intrigued by this book. I guess the craziest thing I ever did for love was to get married. That was 25 years ago.
LOL, Debra, that is a sign he’s returning, huh?
I don’t read much contemporary romance, but when I saw WHAT I DID FOR LOVE, I loved the cover and it sounded interesting. I absolutely LOVED it. I catalogued it and put it on the shelf the day I finished it, recommending it to all our romance patrons. I am the only one who works at our library that reads romance, and I am always looking for new authors. I have found a great one in Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I’m working on filling in her backlist. I’m pretty certain I’ve convinced the new director to order the new books as they come out.
Whoever wins this book is in for a treat. Wonderful characters and a great story.
The craziest thing I did for love? Got engaged 2 weeks after I dated my DH. That was 19 wonderful years now.
I read this book last month and LOVED it. It was so adorable and funny. I strongly suggest reading it.
Thanks!