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MATCH ME IF YOU CAN
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William Morrow, August 2005
Reviewed by Barbara Fielding
Annabelle Granger is the self-proclaimed "loser" in a
family of high-powered overachievers. Her twin brothers, Doug, vice
president of a Southern California accounting firm and Adam, a St. Louis
heart surgeon, are the stars of the family. Thirty-one year old
Annabelle lives in her late grandmother's old Wicker Park home in
Chicago and has taken over her declining matchmaking business. Annabelle
has updated the business with a new website, a catchy new name,
Perfect for You, and gone after some celebrity clients. Her friend
Molly Somerville Tucker got her an interview with her husband's
millionaire sports agent, Heath Champion. If Annabelle can find the
perfect match for him maybe she can snag some of his rich and powerful
clients as well. Then she might finally be able to prove to her family
that she is capable of taking care of herself.
Heath "The Python" Champion has come a long way from
his beginnings in the Beau Vista Trailer Park. After earning a college
football scholarship and attending Harvard Law he built Champion Sports
Management, a premiere company, from nothing. He is thirty-four and
wants to find a wife before his thirty-fifth birthday. He's practicing
celibacy and making time in his schedule to meet with the potential
candidates. Heath is looking for a woman who will be "...the ultimate
symbol of his accomplishments" and he's approaching the search for her
like any other important business decision. He's signed a contract with
Portia Powers at Power Matches. Portia specializes in finding matches
for millionaires.
Molly, the wife of Champion's top client, Kevin
Tucker, asks him to give her friend Annabelle an interview. When
Annabelle arrives disheveled and ten minutes late for her appointment,
Champion recognizes right away she doesn't have the killer instinct to
make it in his league. In fact..."Annabelle had screwup stamped all over
her." When she reminds him of the time he was hungry to sign his first
client and begs him to give her a chance, he reluctantly
agrees. Annabelle gets one shot to hit him with her best
candidate. She sets out to prove she can outmaneuver "The Python"
with a bold plan. She's not just looking to find the woman he wants, she
going to show him the woman he truly needs.
MATCH ME IF YOU CAN is an enchanting romantic
comedy. It's rich with sharp zingers, a wicked sense of humor, and
over-the-top comedic moments. Annabelle is quirky and appealing. Her
offbeat personality makes her the true star in a family of stuffed
shirts, well-meaning and loving, but stuffy. Heath Champion is cynical
about love, but serious about finding the perfect trophy wife. His cocky
self-assurance is partly a sham. He's a chameleon who has learned to be
whatever he needs to be to close the deal. He's another Jerry McGuire,
only better. Sports agents can be notoriously sleazy, but he is known
for being a fair player. Heath and Annabelle are an unlikely pair, yet
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has used her impressive writing skills to turn
Champion into the perfect match for Annabelle.
There is a romantic subplot involving Portia Power
and Heath's assistant recruiter, former football player Bodie Gray.
Their relationship is sexually charged and raunchy. Portia
is responsible for one of the most hilarious scenes in this tale. Ms.
Phillips also introduces a new character, quarterback Dean Robillard,
who will be the subject of her next book in the Chicago Stars
football series. Readers will enjoy a special treat revisiting the
entire cast of this series, beginning with Phoebe and Dan Calebow and
all the other character's from the series, at a book club weekend
at Kevin Tucker's campground. Molly and Kevin's four year old daughter,
Pippi, is another adorable character worthy of mention. Heath says she
"will be in prison before she makes it to first grade." Pippi is a scene
stealer for sure.
MATCH ME IF YOU CAN is the sixth spinoff in
the Chicago Stars football series which began with IT HAD TO BE YOU
(1994), HEAVEN TEXAS (1995), NOBODY'S BABY BUT MINE (1997), DREAM A
LITTLE DREAM (1998) and THIS HEART OF MINE (2001). Phillips' talent for
heart tugging romantic comedy puts her in a class by herself. Many
writers create wonderful characters but the incredible chemistry between
Heath and Annabelle is an outstanding accomplishment. MATCH ME IF YOU
CAN is this year's keeper.
August 2005
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