By: Marcia, guest reviewer

Dean Robillard, quarterback of the Chicago Stars, is trying to get his head straight after recovering from a serious game injury. Driving into a small Colorado town in his Aston Martin Vanquish wearing his Dolce Gabbana boots and his gorgeous killer smile, he spots a woman inhabited beaver suit with a large flapping tail, walking down the road. The beaver has no head; the woman has a very cute and dainty one. So begins book number seven in the Chicago Stars series and although it mentions characters from earlier in the series, it serves well as a stand-alone book.

As it turns out, the beaver is Blue Bailey who has been supporting herself with odd jobs and sketching portraits since dropping out of art school. She has large ‘grape lollipop’ eyes and fragile features along with a bad haircut and clothes from Wal-Mart. She is stranded in Colorado after coming to join her lover, Monty. Monty did not tell her he had acquired a younger, bustier girlfriend. He has also taken all but eighteen dollars of her cash. Blue’s bank account has also been cleaned out and her car is broken. There is a confrontation between Monty and Blue and Blue is thrown out of her rooming house for lack of funds. For the entertainment value alone, Dean offers her a ride out of town.

The journey they eventually embark on is different than they expect. On the way to love, they both have to confront the mutual abandonment issues that have been long ignored. Parental neglect, drug and substance abuse, abandonment, insecurity, anger and resentment are treated with sensitivity and humor. This book is very funny with a smooth, fast moving engaging plot and snappy dialog. Unfortunately, Phillips’ deft writing breaks down at the conclusion, which seems cliché and sloppy. Otherwise Natural Born Charmer would give any work by Nora Roberts or LaVyrle Spencer a run for their money.

3 Stars

Have you read any of the others in this series? If so, tell us about them! Before you leave take a few moments to read some of our other guest reviews.

Originally posted 2008-09-12 05:47:51. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

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