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    Heroes Are My Weakness: A Novel
    Heroes Are My Weakness: A Novel
    Heroes Are My Weakness: A Novel
    Audiobook12 hours

    Heroes Are My Weakness: A Novel

    Written by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

    Narrated by Erin Bennett

    3.5/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips is back with a delightful novel filled with her sassy wit and dazzling charm

    Deepest winter.
    An isolated island off the coast of Maine.
    A man. A woman.
    Puppets. (Yes, puppets . . .)
    And . . .
    A mysterious house looming over the sea . . .

    He's a reclusive writer whose imagination creates chilling horror novels. She's a down-on-her-luck actress reduced to staging kids' puppet shows. He knows a dozen ways to kill his characters with his bare hands. She knows a dozen ways to kill an audience with laughs. But she's not laughing now.

    Annie Hewitt has arrived on Peregrine Island in the middle of a snowstorm and at the end of her resources. She's broke, dispirited, but not quite ready to give up. Her red suitcases hold the puppets she uses to make her living: sensible Dilly, spunky Scamp, and Leo, the baddest of bad guys. Her puppets, the romantic novels she loves, and a little bit of courage are all she has left.

    Annie couldn't be more ill prepared for what she finds when she reaches Moonraker Cottage or for the man who dwells in Harp House, the mysterious mansion that hovers above the cottage. When she was a teenager, he betrayed her in a way she can never forget or forgive. Now they're trapped together on a frozen island along with a lonely widow, a mute little girl, and townspeople who don't know how to mind their own business.

    Is he the villain she remembers, or has he changed? Her head says no. Her heart says yes.

    It's going to be a long, hot winter.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperAudio
    Release dateAug 26, 2014
    ISBN9780062106155
    Heroes Are My Weakness: A Novel
    Author

    Susan Elizabeth Phillips

    Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose books have been published in over thirty languages. Guided by the motto, “Life is better with happily-ever-afters,” she loves writing about love in all its forms. Among her accomplishments, Susan created the sports romance with her novel Fancy Pants. She is best known for her Chicago Stars and Wynette, Texas series, as well as multiple stand-alone books. Visit Susan’s website at www.susanelizabethphillips.com.

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    Reviews for Heroes Are My Weakness

    3.5/5

    225 ratings23 reviews

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    • 2/5
      Could not stand the puppet story line. Less would have been better.
    • 4/5
      Great book. A mixture of SEP’s ‘ain’t she sweet’ , ‘this heart of mine’ and ‘natural born charmer’.

      The first chapter is a bit slow but after that it’s all typical SEP- totally engrossing and bringing a smile to your face.

      The narration was excellent aswell.
    • 2/5
      Ventriloquist returns to Maine cottage that belonged to her mother to search for the legacy her mother claimed to leave behind. She runs into childhood friends while there. Ok read. Plot and characters good but the conversations with the puppeteers too much for me.
    • 4/5
      I really enjoyed this. It's an homage to classic gothic romances but never gets too dark.
    • 5/5
      This book brings me back to what I loved about the books of Susan Elizabeth Phillips when I first started reading them. The emotion was packed tight in this book along with humor and likeable characters. I definitely recommend this read.
    • 3/5
      Slow start and a little on the long side for chick lit, but a good read.
    • 4/5
      At the beginning, I wasn't sure I would like it, but totally did. It reminded me of part Gothic romance, part suspense and modern love story. Characters were Likeable.
    • 4/5
      4.5 stars.

      Susan Elizabeth Phillips puts a unique contemporary spin on the gothic horror genre in her latest release, Heroes Are My Weakness. Part mystery, part romance, this enthralling novel opens with Annie Hewitt's return to Peregrine Island, where she immediately crosses paths with her teenage crush, Theo Harp. Unsettled by the memories of a long ago summer when their romance abruptly ended with an attempt on her life, Annie tries to keep her distance Theo. However the two join forces to uncover the identity of the person responsible for trying to force Annie off the island.

      Annie is a plucky and down on her luck heroine who is very conflicted about her return to Peregrine Island. Although she is haunted by memories of that fateful summer, she has little choice but to stay in the cottage near Theo's estate while she searches for the valuable legacy bequeathed to her by her late mother. She quickly becomes entangled in the lives of Theo's housekeeper, Jaycie and her troubled four year old daughter Livia. As she falls victim to malicious acts that have taken a decidedly dangerous turn, Annie's suspicions come very close to costing her a treasured friendship.

      Theo has a dark and brooding presence with a seemingly sinister past. With those long ago memories of their time on the island still fresh in Annie's mind, she finds it impossible to trust him. As she learns more information about a recent tragedy in his life, she is sympathetic but wary when he strikes a deal with her that puts them in closer contact than either is comfortable with. Annie is soon confused when the disturbed boy she remembers is nothing like the kind, considerate man he has become. Once they put aside their differences, their smoldering attraction flames out of control, but is there any chance of a future for this mismatched couple?

      The isolated island location gives the novel an eerie feel that only intensifies once it becomes apparent someone is trying to force Annie into leaving. However as Theo and Annie's relationship becomes less antagonistic, the overall story gradually lightens up. As their encounters become less hostile, the two exchange witty banter and their discussions gradually become more personal. Their growing closeness is enhanced by their passionate lovemaking, but Annie continues to keep an emotional distance from Theo.

      Heroes Are My Weakness is an absolutely riveting novel. The characters are multi-faceted with interesting quirks and insecurities. The storyline is well-developed, fascinating and brilliantly executed. With plenty of secrets to uncover and intriguing mysteries to solve, Heroes Are My Weakness is not the typical Susan Elizabeth Phillips' novel but that is what makes it such a wonderful reading experience. Warm and witty with a dash of suspense and romance, it is a lovely story that old and new fans are sure to love.
    • 4/5
      Although I generally like Phillips' books, especially when the heroes are not notably abusive (which they are in some of her books IMO), I didn't particularly like this one. I found it a slow starter and didn't particularly like the hero, heroine or plot. But I did finish it and liked it more at the end. I guess I would rate it as OK.
    • 2/5
      I am still new to this author and thus am feeling torn about this story. I have a feeling that if I were used to her writing voice, some of the things would have "fallen into place" much more easily.

      What made this a disappointment for me was the lack of chemistry between the two leads. Try as I might, I just couldn't get them to click in my mind's eye. On the other hand, I liked both characters and their individuality. So, separate, they were kind of cool, but together, they were just blah.

      Plot wise it wasn't bad. It was interesting and at times entertaining and funny, but because of its slow pace, I enjoyed it less.

      In the end, if you're a fan of this author, I have a feeling you'll like it much more than I did.

      Melanie for b2b

      Complimentary copy provided by the
    • 3/5
      Fun, quirky book. Really enjoyed the off beat sense of humor this story had. I am going to be trying to read more from this author.
    • 4/5
      Read for Review (Avon)Overall Rating: 3.50Story Rating: 3.50Character Rating: 3.50First Thought when Finished: The mystery, pacing, and style of Heroes Are My Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips was outstanding but the romance just didn't do it for me.Quick Thoughts: I picked up this book because we picked it as the Contemporary Romance read for our Cover Girls Bookclub in August. I wasn't disappointed in the mystery or pacing. I thought the story flowed well (the backstory mystery and current mystery meshed well together) and the characters were interesting (leads and side characters). Notice I said interesting but not overly likable. I really never warmed up to Theo or Annie so that made it hard to root for their romance. While their backstory played into that. I felt it was more how they dealt with each other in current time that had the bigger impact on my feelings. Hard to love a romance when you don't really want the romantic leads to be together. All in all I would say this was a solid read and mystery wise a hit. The romance didn't work for me but that is not to say it won't work for you. This has a very gothic feel (which I loved) and the setting was unique. Give this a whirl--you may love Theo and Annie together!Part of my Read It, Rate It, File It, DONE! Reviews
    • 4/5
      I didn't know what to expect with this story, avoiding reviews and anticipating another fun, quirky story from the author. I'm glad I stuck with it to the end which concluded with tied up ends and the sweet, happily ever after.I noticed references and nods to other gothic classics giving the first half of the story a darker more foreboding feel. I thought the pacing could have been better in the first half, a necessary but bigger picture of our two main characters motivations, resentments, questions behind their interactions with each other. It wasn't a complete slog but a lot slower than the author's usual fare to peel back the layers of each character.The second half of the book picked up with more answers, unwinding the twists and turns of the story. This felt more like what I expected from the author. A bit of mystery, family meddling, small town secrets, a shared dark past, answers, and love lost and found. Some of the revelations came as no surprise...the reader being given hints of what was to come. The humor driven moments were sparse but by the end, it all rounded out nicely.As vague as this review reads, overall, this was an easy contemporary romance read. Not the authors best in my opinion but enjoyable nonetheless. 3.5/5
    • 5/5
      I waited sooolong for SEP's new book - and it didn't disappoint. Now that I've finished it, I'm afraid I'll have to wait another few years for her next one, oh please, let there be a next one. Heroes are my Weakness started a little more slowly than some of her other books - and her caustic humor/banter, while still apparent, was less caustic than most of her books. I love that type of humor, but still truly loved this book. At first, the book seemed a little darker than most of her books - but, while it never went away, it became an integral part of the story - and didn't make the story less wonderful. If you've not read SEP, this isn't quite as lite as her other books, but you'll surely enjoy the read. I didn't put it down from beginning to end.
    • 4/5
      Annie, who has hit her lowest point in life, decides to go back to her childhood summer home on an isolated island off of the coast of Maine and think things through. There, she runs into Theo Harp, her once childhood sweetheart-turned-psychopath-turned-hero. But there's more to the story that meets the eye. Having shunned the romance genre for predictability and cheesy one-liners, I really liked this book!Why it's awesome: Elements of the Gothic are everywhere in this book: Annie as a forelorn heroine, Theo as the brooding hero, and a whole tribe of unfortunates that need to pick themselves up and do what's right to become heroes in their own right. I also love the reference to older gothic novels and incorporating elements of those historic pieces into this work.The characters really shine, too.Annie is at the bottom. Yet her personality is relatable, and the troubled relationship with Theo is believable. Her passion for puppetry makes the book definitely more interesting as well.Theo has been harboring guilt over many past events that were not his fault. He's a bit dark, charming, and won't forgive himself easily. But he eventually learns to trust himself and make sure that he doesn't let Annie get away again. The genuine and realistic dialogue between Annie and Theo is a nice bonus.The drawback: The only thing I didn't like was how Annie kept making remarks over and over about Theo's apparent instability and mental state, repeatedly calling him a psycho and talking about dead bodies. I thought her character would have been more sensitive after a while. For me, a few times was enough. But other than that, this book was a refreshing oasis in the vast desert that consist of disappointing romance novels.
    • 4/5
      A very entertaining story with plenty of humor but it moved kind of slow. I enjoyed the puppets but they went a little overboard. Also too much time was spent on the couples hate and not enough on the love. Destitute ventriloquist Annie heads home in a snowstorm then needs help from neighbor Theo who tortured her as a child.
    • 4/5
      It took a while for this one to take off, interesting start with the puppets providing an interesting counterpoint but it took a while for the story to really start, though understandable with the distrust between the hero and heroine in the story. The Puppets were fun, the peril was a little over the top but overall the end made me smile.Not a bad read, not stellar.
    • 2/5
      Romance writer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips turns to puppets and horror gothic style, in her latest novel, Heroes Are My Weakness.

      When Annie, a thirty-three year old ventriloquist returns to an isolated Maine Cottage (in February), in the heart of winter, where she spent her teenage years, as she is now homeless— She wants to get away to unwind and search for a legacy left by her mother. She is left with her puppets, (Dillie and Leo) in her suitcase and carries on a silly conversation with them?

      What she finds when she arrives— a widower, sexy Theo Harp (teen who tried to kill her years ago), in the Gothic mansion manor house next door, on the hill, now a best- selling horror author, and Jaycie Mills, a quiet woman who once saved her life, working as his injured housekeeper and raising a mute four-year-old daughter, Livia with a tragic past.

      After Annie’s illness with pneumonia and her present financial situation, she is looking forward to her stay at Moonraker Cottage, which her narcissistic mother left her along with a deathbed promise of a valuable treasure hidden there. She has not been back since her crush on Theo (the psychopathic boy who played with her emotions) year ago, or perhaps my reading style has greawr.

      She finds herself drawn to the lives of the people at the Harp House, and the longer she stays the more apparent it is, someone does not want her there, but she wants to stay and see it through as she fights her way through the secrets and the truth.

      I have not read Phillips in years, so thought I would give it a whirl. I listened to the audiobook, and thought the narrator, a bit silly, and even though it may appeal to those who like this gothic type genre—found it not my cup of tea. In addition, my reading style has changed over the years, so unfortunately, did not find this novel very appealing.
    • 3/5
      I've read all the books Susan Elizabeth Phillips has written and was so excited when this one was released. Then, not so much. It took me forever to 'get into' the story. So much so that a number of times I went out to goodreads to see what other's were saying. I wasn't alone. It's not that the story wasn't well written, it was just.... strange. I understood the need to paint Theo as the villain for the beginning of the story but it just took too long to show us his true nature. I knew what was coming, but couldn't warm up to him in the end. Not a recommended read.
    • 3/5
      Als Annie zusammen mit ihren Puppen auf die kleine Insel Peregrine ankommt, wir sie von einem Schneesturm begrüßt, der ihr einen guten Eindruck davon vermittelt, was sie auf der Insel erwarten wird. Zumindest was das Wetter betrifft. Darauf folgt ein Cottage, das ihre verstorbene Mutter benutzen durfte, Harp House, das schlechte Jugenderinnerungen wach werden lässt, eine Grotte, in der sie fast ertrunken wäre, eine stumme Vierjährige und natürlich Theo Harp. Philips arbeitet ihre Charaktere gut heraus und setzt sie in spannende Beziehungen zueinander. Das macht auch das Buch spannend, wobei der Charakter von Theo Harp wohl am durchsichtigsten gestaltet ist. Die Autorin geht Stück für Stück daran, einen der selbst gebundenen Knoten nach dem anderen wieder aufzulösen. Zum Schluss bleibt ein Ende, das ich mir persönlich wohl anders gewünscht hätte, aber die Autorin sagt ja von sich selbst, dass sie Happy Ends mag.
    • 4/5
      Before I explain my rating, I want to state that I did enjoy this book, and I would recommend it to other SEP readers. However, I would advise those most familiar with SEP, that I didn't really ever hear her voice in its telling.

      It took 3 tries to get past the 1st chapter; I had to keep telling myself "Yes, this is an SEP book." What I was looking for, I'm not sure. The writing in this book was smooth. The characters interesting. The answers to the little mysteries were mostly a surprise. The yearning of the H/H for a different life was poignant. Yet, when I finished it, I was okay that the story was over! This is not the typical response I have with an SEP story.

      I rated the book based on my gut feeling felt throughout its reading, but admit I wished I could rate it higher. It was just different enough, and seemed shorter than usual, that I just can't say I loved it. BUT I still look forward to SEP's next book!
    • 3/5
      Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ is one of those authors I’ve always want to read, but never have because I didn’t know where to start. When I received a copy of HEROES ARE MY WEAKNESS, I knew this was my opportunity! I’m glad I took the plunge because I liked it and at one point took a picture of a scene and sent a text to my sister with the words, “hubba hubba.” If you’re wondering, it was the scene in which our hero, Theo, is dressed as a Regency dandy.We have good character development. Annie Hewitt is forced to spend two months out of the year at Moonraker Cottage on Peregrine Island due to a contract made by her mother and her mother’s then ex-husband. Annie doesn’t like the area because it reminds her of a summer she wishes she could forget. When her funds run short, she has no choice but to see if there’s a hidden treasure at the cottage. Annie is spunky and a bit dramatic, but that might because she’s an actress. She’s also a ventriloquist and along for the ride are her puppets: Leo, Peter, Scamp, Dilly, and Crumpet. I adored her puppets! Then we have Theo Harp, he’s dark, brooding, and very much your typical hero. When we first meet Theo, we aren’t sure what to think and even throughout HEROES, I wasn’t sure about him, but knew he wasn’t the monster Annie makes us think. We have a few secondary characters who play a role including Annie’s puppets and a few local islanders. One of them is Jaycie, Theo’s housekeeper and a former playmate of Annie and Theo. There’s also Jaycie’s daughter, Livia, who is mute and witnessed something no child should ever see.Narrative is third person and Phillips does a good job with the descriptions of Peregrine Island and its inhabitants. I found it easy to picture myself at Moonraker Cottage and feel the spookiness of Harp House. Phillips uses elements of Gothic literature in HEROES ARE MY WEAKNESS and this was probably my favorite. Both Theo and Annie interweave snippets of well known Gothic novels when conversing and if you haven’t read the books, but have only watched the films (such as JANE EYRE), it’s easy to pick up the references. Phillips at times tries to give the landscape a spooky feel, but at times she falls short. I do wish Theo and Annie had decided to investigate the elements but alas we’re left to make the assumption they did.What I really liked about HEROES was Annie’s puppets! I really enjoyed how Annie was able to be herself around them. There’s one particular scene where Theo saves one of them and a hilarious conversation ensues with Crumpet letting Theo know how he is and Annie is mortified. The most touching scenes involve Scamp and Jaycie’s daughter, Livia. I know a few might be put off with Annie’s conversations with the puppets, but I truly see them an extension of who she is because she hides aspects of her true self. The only way to really showcase who she is is to do it via her puppets. It’s the same with Theo being an author in the horror genre. As a writer who isn’t afraid of the macabre, he’s able to funnel the thoughts and feelings of what people think of him into a piece of fiction.I debated with the rating between a three and four. In the end, I decided on a three for two primary reasons. The first has to do with the attraction between Theo and Annie. It felt forced and at no point did I feel their attraction. In a romance book (or one with romantic elements), I always anticipate the attraction between our two main characters and these two just didn’t sizzle. Their relationship felt more like old friends who haven’t seen each other in a long time and are awkward at first but then fall into old habits. Then there’s the whole mystery behind who’s been targeting Annie. For me, it was a no brainer and I won’t go into detail regarding who it because I don’t want to spoil the story for anyone. I admit, I wasn’t surprised to learn the identity and despite the hints to throw us off, it was pretty easy to figure out the identity.Overall, Phillips’ HEROES ARE MY WEAKNESS was a satisfactory read. I just wish the Theo and Annie had had more chemistry. I really liked the Gothic theme and of course, Annie’s fanciful dreams that can be traced to well known Gothic novels (JANE EYRE and REBECCA come to mind). If you’re a fan of Gothic novels, I’d recommend Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ HEROES ARE MY WEAKNESS.
    • 4/5
      Antoinette, “Annie” to her friends, is at the end of her rope, ending up on a solitary road in the middle of a blizzard on an island she only knew as a child. Her mother has died, leaving behind a small cabin filled with bad memories but quickly becomes the only refuge Annie has. When she returns to her former childhood home, she is assaulted by the memories of her mother and the presence of her former crush, Theo Harp, only creates a more tense situation. Theo has overcome a very sinister childhood to become an accomplished horror author. He lives a truly solitary life and is still dealing with the death of his twin sister and the suicide of his wife. Unused to any disruptions in his lonely existence, he is disturbed by Annie’s return to her childhood home that coincidentally is just down the hill from his very own mansion. Theo and Annie come together in an explosion of murderous intentions, revealed secrets, a little laughter and a whole lotta love. From the very beginning, you can tell this isn’t your usual Susan Elizabeth Phillips book. There is a very dark tone even in the first few pages that isn’t readily apparent in Phillips’ other novels. While it was very different for me, and at times I couldn’t believe my “go to” author was the actual author of what I was reading, the book worked for me. There is a lot going on in this one, so bear with me a moment. Crazy siblings, homicidal wives, mistaken identities, greed, lies, crucial family dynamics, hidden fortunes, unknown fathers, and a whole lot more make up Heroes Are My Weakness. Theo and Annie’s relationship takes a backseat sometimes, but it builds slowly and surely. Not as sexy as some of her other books, I found myself enjoying the mysteries as they unfolded and was satisfied with the outcome of the story. A different tone from other Phillips books, Heroes Are My Weakness takes on a whole new world where no one is safe from the machinations of others. Theo and Annie have led fairly disastrous lives but through no fault of their own, but lets face it, without their pasts they wouldn’t have ended up together. Different than her own novels, but no less special, Seppie fans will find her newest one no less intriguing than her famed Stars series.