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Chicago Stars #8
First Star I See Tonight
*Alternate version for ISBN9780062405616*
A star quarterback and a feisty detective play for keeps in this sporty, sexy, sassy novel—a long-awaited new entry in the beloved, award-winning, New York Times bestselling author’s fan-favorite Chicago Stars football series.
Piper Dove is a woman with a dream—to become the best detective in the city of Chicago. First job? Trail former Chicago Stars quarterback, Cooper Graham. Problem? Graham’s spotted her, and he’s not happy.
From the bustling streets of Chicago to a windswept lighthouse on Lake Superior to the glistening waters of Biscayne Bay, two people who can’t stand to lose will test themselves and each other to discover what matters most.
A star quarterback and a feisty detective play for keeps in this sporty, sexy, sassy novel—a long-awaited new entry in the beloved, award-winning, New York Times bestselling author’s fan-favorite Chicago Stars football series.
Piper Dove is a woman with a dream—to become the best detective in the city of Chicago. First job? Trail former Chicago Stars quarterback, Cooper Graham. Problem? Graham’s spotted her, and he’s not happy.
From the bustling streets of Chicago to a windswept lighthouse on Lake Superior to the glistening waters of Biscayne Bay, two people who can’t stand to lose will test themselves and each other to discover what matters most.
384 pages
First published August 23, 2016
About the author
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
51 books15.1k followersSUSAN ELIZABETH PHILLIPS
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and 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, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
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, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
Susan Elizabeth Phillips has been called the “Queen of Romantic Comedy and 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, SIMPLY THE BEST, is coming in hardcover, ebook and audiobook in February 2024. SIMPLY THE BEST is book #10 in the highly acclaimed CHICAGO STARS football series. Susan is also known for the Wynette, Texas book series and many stand-alone women's fiction/romance novels.
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, Instagram or on her website.
https://www.facebook.com/SusanElizabe...
https://www.instagram.com/SEPauthor/
http://susanelizabethphillips.com/
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July 21, 2016
First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips was generously provided to me in exchange for an honest review by Harper Collins Publishers. This is my very first book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips and if I had to use just one word to describe how I feel about this book I would use “delightful!”
Cooper Graham is thirty-seven years old and is a retired football player. He had played in Miami for years but then he transferred to the Chicago Stars and took them all the way to the Super Bowl. With a Super Bowl ring in his possession, he decided it was time to get out while he was still in fairly good shape. So he decided his next venture would be a trendy night club he called Spiral. The last couple of weeks, he has spotted a woman trying to disguise herself in various ways following him. It’s when he confronts her that the real adventure begins.
Piper Dove has finally bought her deceased father’s private investigating firm from her evil stepmother and has her first high profile job, to follow the football star, Cooper Graham. But he has spotted her. She can’t help to feel like she failed. She needed this job to be a success to get the business going. It won’t be long before she is out of money and can’t pay her rent. But after Coop confronts her, circumstances change and Piper finds herself working for Cooper himself in his nightclub. He needs her to observe his business and root out some less than honest employees. It doesn’t take long before Piper has his business cleaned up but again things change and Coop finds himself perhaps needing Piper’s skills more than he wants to admit.
Not only is Coop constantly surrounded by fans, there has been a series of events that threaten his safety. He is convinced that these events are just random but Piper doesn’t agree. She wants Cooper to be protected and she is just the person to provide protection while she tries to figure out what is going on.
Piper is one of the most endearing, fun, snarky and just delightful female characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. Her life is at times complete chaos. Both she and Cooper are highly intelligent and the banter between them kept me smiling throughout the book. Neither of them wanted to be attracted to the other. But they couldn’t fight it. I will tell you, though, that the journey wasn’t easy for them. Things did not go smoothly the first couple of times they almost got together.
Then there are all the secondary characters. There are Piper’s zany friends that live in her building, her new friends across the hall when she moves, and some not so nice royalty she chauffeurs for as a side job.
Cooper will most definitely make you love him. He has the glamour of a celebrity, the savvy of a successful business man, but the integrity and heart of a regular guy. I loved him. I want to let you know that I read this book while in the middle of phase two of my husband and my big “move” so I didn’t get as much time to read as I normally do. But throughout the day when I was hauling boxes or unpacking, these two were constantly on my mind. THAT is most definitely an indicator as to how wonderful they were.
This is an entertaining, sweet, silly and just wonderful book that made me smile, laugh out loud, and maybe even swoon a little bit. I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read this and will most definitely be looking at more books by this author in the future. This gets five fantastic stars and a huge recommendation from me to definitely give this one a try. I hope you love it as much as I did.
Cooper Graham is thirty-seven years old and is a retired football player. He had played in Miami for years but then he transferred to the Chicago Stars and took them all the way to the Super Bowl. With a Super Bowl ring in his possession, he decided it was time to get out while he was still in fairly good shape. So he decided his next venture would be a trendy night club he called Spiral. The last couple of weeks, he has spotted a woman trying to disguise herself in various ways following him. It’s when he confronts her that the real adventure begins.
Piper Dove has finally bought her deceased father’s private investigating firm from her evil stepmother and has her first high profile job, to follow the football star, Cooper Graham. But he has spotted her. She can’t help to feel like she failed. She needed this job to be a success to get the business going. It won’t be long before she is out of money and can’t pay her rent. But after Coop confronts her, circumstances change and Piper finds herself working for Cooper himself in his nightclub. He needs her to observe his business and root out some less than honest employees. It doesn’t take long before Piper has his business cleaned up but again things change and Coop finds himself perhaps needing Piper’s skills more than he wants to admit.
Not only is Coop constantly surrounded by fans, there has been a series of events that threaten his safety. He is convinced that these events are just random but Piper doesn’t agree. She wants Cooper to be protected and she is just the person to provide protection while she tries to figure out what is going on.
Piper is one of the most endearing, fun, snarky and just delightful female characters I have ever had the pleasure of reading about. Her life is at times complete chaos. Both she and Cooper are highly intelligent and the banter between them kept me smiling throughout the book. Neither of them wanted to be attracted to the other. But they couldn’t fight it. I will tell you, though, that the journey wasn’t easy for them. Things did not go smoothly the first couple of times they almost got together.
Then there are all the secondary characters. There are Piper’s zany friends that live in her building, her new friends across the hall when she moves, and some not so nice royalty she chauffeurs for as a side job.
Cooper will most definitely make you love him. He has the glamour of a celebrity, the savvy of a successful business man, but the integrity and heart of a regular guy. I loved him. I want to let you know that I read this book while in the middle of phase two of my husband and my big “move” so I didn’t get as much time to read as I normally do. But throughout the day when I was hauling boxes or unpacking, these two were constantly on my mind. THAT is most definitely an indicator as to how wonderful they were.
This is an entertaining, sweet, silly and just wonderful book that made me smile, laugh out loud, and maybe even swoon a little bit. I’m so glad I was given the opportunity to read this and will most definitely be looking at more books by this author in the future. This gets five fantastic stars and a huge recommendation from me to definitely give this one a try. I hope you love it as much as I did.
August 21, 2016
I feel like a big old idiot. I almost didn't read this book, then I decided I would give it a go and then dnf it. Yep idiot. The reason? I thought it would just be one of those sugary sweet romance books that follow every trope known to man. The truth? This book is full of sarcasm and some lovey-dovey stuff at times.... but I loved each and every second.
It starts with private detective Piper being under-cover with her many disguises. (She really isn't very good at them) and she gets busted when she is caught following former star quarter back Graham Cooper.
She doesn't tell him she is following him. She explains that she is off her meds and is stalking him. But that she is harmless.
"I assure you. I'm only a bit of a nutter," she said breathlessly. "Absolutely harmless. You don't have to worry about violence."
"Only that I have a stalker."
"I don't want to see you anywhere near me again. Got it?"
"I'm afraid that will be impossible." She paused. "Until my new medication kicks in."
She won't tell him who hired her to follow him and ends up ticking him off. She twists it and ends up getting hired by him to take a look at the security and staff at his new night club.
Piper is a force to be reckoned with though and she gives no crap about who she ticks off with her quest for saving her dead father's struggling PI business. If it means kicking a big wig star quarterback's butt..then so be it.
This is a smexy times book and it's not the usual porny times that I usually go for but dang if I didn't get the lady boner going for both these characters. (My lady boners usually go something like this)
These two characters have several adventures during this book and every single page made me like both of them more and more. There is even a realistic twist to their 'first time' that I don't think I've ever seen in a romance book.
I don't even know who I am right now because I'm usually more of this type of girl.
And then body bags being brought into play.
I liked this sucker so much that I need to hunt down some of the other books in this series. (PS>this book is completely fine as a stand-alone...even though you are gonna want more.)
The only bad thing about this book is that cover sets the reader up for expecting something that this book is not and this little book deserves better.
Booksource: I received a copy from the publisher on this one. I liked the book anyways.
It starts with private detective Piper being under-cover with her many disguises. (She really isn't very good at them) and she gets busted when she is caught following former star quarter back Graham Cooper.
She doesn't tell him she is following him. She explains that she is off her meds and is stalking him. But that she is harmless.
"I assure you. I'm only a bit of a nutter," she said breathlessly. "Absolutely harmless. You don't have to worry about violence."
"Only that I have a stalker."
"I don't want to see you anywhere near me again. Got it?"
"I'm afraid that will be impossible." She paused. "Until my new medication kicks in."
She won't tell him who hired her to follow him and ends up ticking him off. She twists it and ends up getting hired by him to take a look at the security and staff at his new night club.
Piper is a force to be reckoned with though and she gives no crap about who she ticks off with her quest for saving her dead father's struggling PI business. If it means kicking a big wig star quarterback's butt..then so be it.
This is a smexy times book and it's not the usual porny times that I usually go for but dang if I didn't get the lady boner going for both these characters. (My lady boners usually go something like this)
These two characters have several adventures during this book and every single page made me like both of them more and more. There is even a realistic twist to their 'first time' that I don't think I've ever seen in a romance book.
I don't even know who I am right now because I'm usually more of this type of girl.
And then body bags being brought into play.
I liked this sucker so much that I need to hunt down some of the other books in this series. (PS>this book is completely fine as a stand-alone...even though you are gonna want more.)
The only bad thing about this book is that cover sets the reader up for expecting something that this book is not and this little book deserves better.
Booksource: I received a copy from the publisher on this one. I liked the book anyways.
May 10, 2019
Well, one thing you can say about an SEP book, it is never depressing. I love this author. She is funny, witty, writes sexy scenes. All in all, she pushes all the right buttons for me in her Romance books.
All in all, it was a good day to be Cooper Graham ... except for one pesky woman.
Cooper is a retired NFL player. Piper runs her own Private Detective agency. Total opposites. He is usually seen with some long legged, blonde actress (I was going to say "bimbo", but we will give Cooper some credit)
Even in a crowd, Cooper Graham stood out like a beacon in a candle factory. He was ridiculously masculine. Beyond ridiculous. He was the Holy Grail of men, with thick brown hair the colour of burnt toast drizzled in honey. He had a square jaw, broad shoulders, and a cleft in his chin that was such a cliche he should have been embarrassed.
OK, no cleft chin in the picture ... but I tried.
"I'm not full out barmy, you understand.
Just mildly unhinged."
Loved all the secondary characters. Loved catching up with Heath and Annabelle.
I LOVED PIPER. Such a strong, independent character.
"So rich and yet so dumb."
"Let's get something straight, Sherlock. I have no sexual interest in you. None. Zip. Zero."
LOL. Couldn't wait for him to eat those words.
I want his garden.
I know my review might be a bit vague. SEP says this can be read as a stand-alone. It can but I think you are doing yourself a disservice by not reading the other books in this series.
August 30, 2016
After all these years, Ms. Phillips still manages to enthrall me with her characters and her stories.
Piper is a hoot! And Cooper was the perfect foil for her.
I wish all the characters from previous books were there, but at least Python and Anabelle were there. Oh, and Phoebe Sommerville.
Excuse me while I go and re-read the other books in the series now.
THIS IS THE BEST NEWS EVER!!
Taken from her site...http://susanelizabethphillips.com/..f...
Piper is a hoot! And Cooper was the perfect foil for her.
I wish all the characters from previous books were there, but at least Python and Anabelle were there. Oh, and Phoebe Sommerville.
Excuse me while I go and re-read the other books in the series now.
THIS IS THE BEST NEWS EVER!!
Nobody could be more surprised than I am to announce that I’m writing another book in the Chicago Stars series. It will feature new characters as well as cameo appearances by some of our old favorites. I’m not quite ready to say more right now, but when I am, you’ll be the first to know.
Taken from her site...http://susanelizabethphillips.com/..f...
August 27, 2016
4 STARS
#HappyFeels
This book.
*Attempts to wipe goofy grin off of face*
*fails*
*grins even bigger*
I mean...THIS. BOOK.
As a long time fan of SEP and especially her Chicago Stars series, when I heard the news that she'll be releasing another book in one of my most beloved contemporary romance series, I downright wet myself in fangirling excitement. True story. Well...maybe not the wetting myself part. But close. I was dang excited, mkay?!
I mean let's face it, no one, and I do mean no one does an enemies to lovers romance quite like this author. She delivers these irresistible grumpy alphas that are just the perfect amount of endearing and sexy. They're not perfect, but that's what makes them perfect. Am I even making sense here? Let me put it this way; have you ever read about a hero that has a trigger happy moment yet manages to come off all the more endearingly sexy for it? Yeah? Didn't think so.
If you love quirky, sassy, and adorably awkward heroines with just a dash of crazy to them, you will simply adore Piper. The woman is a downright nutter and I couldn't get enough of her antics. If you've read any book in this series, you already know that SEP can deliver some of the best banter, and this book certainly didn't disappoint in that department.
I love a slow burn, and that's exactly what I got with this romance. Sparks flew between Cooper and Piper right away...but not of the sexual variety. Oh no! Piper is hilariously failing in her job to trail former Chicago Stars quarterback. The problem? He makes her right away and is not entirely pleased about the slightly deranged woman that seems to be everywhere he turns lately.
This book will make you laugh, and laugh some more. Piper's antics are downright hilarious.
Watching the unwilling development of a relationship between these two go from antagonistic, to grudging respect, to something more, was pure gold. I couldn't get enough of the two of them. Of course it didn't hurt that I got plenty of cameos from one of my favorites. If you've read Match Me If You Can, you'll definitely appreciate it.
First Star I See was everything I've come to love about this author and so much more. It was full of fun banter, swoony moments, fantastic secondary characters, and the perfect slow building romance.
It was the perfect light hearted sort of read I needed and I loved every single page of it. It reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this series in the first place. SEP fans are in for one delicious treat with First Star I See Tonight. If you're in the mood for laughs and swoons, this book has EVERYTHING. The perfect contemporary romance to satisfy any romance lovers!
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
She was a woman who attacked life instead of waiting for it to unfold around her. And her general imperviousness to him had stirred up some kind of primitive bullshit need to conquer.
#HappyFeels
This book.
*Attempts to wipe goofy grin off of face*
*fails*
*grins even bigger*
I mean...THIS. BOOK.
As a long time fan of SEP and especially her Chicago Stars series, when I heard the news that she'll be releasing another book in one of my most beloved contemporary romance series, I downright wet myself in fangirling excitement. True story. Well...maybe not the wetting myself part. But close. I was dang excited, mkay?!
I mean let's face it, no one, and I do mean no one does an enemies to lovers romance quite like this author. She delivers these irresistible grumpy alphas that are just the perfect amount of endearing and sexy. They're not perfect, but that's what makes them perfect. Am I even making sense here? Let me put it this way; have you ever read about a hero that has a trigger happy moment yet manages to come off all the more endearingly sexy for it? Yeah? Didn't think so.
If you love quirky, sassy, and adorably awkward heroines with just a dash of crazy to them, you will simply adore Piper. The woman is a downright nutter and I couldn't get enough of her antics. If you've read any book in this series, you already know that SEP can deliver some of the best banter, and this book certainly didn't disappoint in that department.
"I don't believe you did," she said.
"I got lots of complaints, so I had to work at it. Treat it as a job."
"Put in the extra practice time, right?"
"Precisely. When I think of the mistakes I made..."
"Mortifying, I'm sure."
"But I kept my eye on the ball."
"Only one? Curious. Oh, well, I hope your deformity didn't make you too self-conscious. I'm sure you could still-"
"I finally got the hang of it when I was about-"
"Thirty-six?"
"Eighteen. I was a fast learner. All those older women willing to take a young kid like me into their loving arms..."
"Blessed are the merciful."
I love a slow burn, and that's exactly what I got with this romance. Sparks flew between Cooper and Piper right away...but not of the sexual variety. Oh no! Piper is hilariously failing in her job to trail former Chicago Stars quarterback. The problem? He makes her right away and is not entirely pleased about the slightly deranged woman that seems to be everywhere he turns lately.
"Stalker?"
"Not a dangerous one. Lord, no. Merely obsessed."
"With me." A statement, not a question. He'd been here before.
"I don't make a habit of stalking people. This...quite got away from me, you see." She didn't know exactly how this tactic will save her, but she plunged on. "I'm not full-out barmy, you understand. Just...mildly unhinged."
He cocked his head, but at least he was listening. And why not? Lunatics were always fascinating.
This book will make you laugh, and laugh some more. Piper's antics are downright hilarious.
Watching the unwilling development of a relationship between these two go from antagonistic, to grudging respect, to something more, was pure gold. I couldn't get enough of the two of them. Of course it didn't hurt that I got plenty of cameos from one of my favorites. If you've read Match Me If You Can, you'll definitely appreciate it.
First Star I See was everything I've come to love about this author and so much more. It was full of fun banter, swoony moments, fantastic secondary characters, and the perfect slow building romance.
He leaned forward and nibbled on her bottom lip. "You're not the help. You're the obstacle."
She nuzzled the cleft in his chin. "To what?"
"My peace of mind."
It was the perfect light hearted sort of read I needed and I loved every single page of it. It reminded me exactly why I fell in love with this series in the first place. SEP fans are in for one delicious treat with First Star I See Tonight. If you're in the mood for laughs and swoons, this book has EVERYTHING. The perfect contemporary romance to satisfy any romance lovers!
ARC courtesy of publisher in exchange for an honest review
Find me on:
April 4, 2024
For a former quarterback, Coop is a freaking saint by SEP's standards. Absolutely loved this one!
July 27, 2016
And to think, I wasn't sure I was going to like this book because I don't care for football. Yeah, I don't like football, don't judge me =) But, it's freaking awesome. I laughed and laughed some more. I thought I was going to croak I was laughing so hard. The character of Piper Dove is awesome! I want her as my best friend. She's full of snark, she's kind and she can spout off one liners like no one else! and she's super smart too! And she can kick butt! Obviously she's cool, you get it?
She gave him a faintly pitying look. "So rich and yet so dumb." It felt good to see what he couldn't. "The reality is that you're so used to everybody bowing and scraping that you don't understand most people only show you their best side. You've forgotten how many creeps there are. All your fame has made you a babe in the woods when it comes to living in the real world."
••••••
Heath grinned. "I like this woman."
"No mystery why," Coop retorted.
It was a mystery to Piper, but she had something more pressing on her mind. "This is clearly not working," she declared as Louise went off to gather more dresses Piper didn't' want to wear. "I'd freeze to death in every one of these. Not to mention that I can't do my job if I'm worrying the whole time about my . . . my cooter hanging out!"
That cracked them both up, clearly signaling that it was time for Piper to take charge. "Louise, you and I need to talk . . ."
•••••
He jutted his jaw. "You're riding high right now, but once the boss stops boning you, he won't even remember your name."
A fireball exploded in her head, and she dug her finger into the middle of his chest. "Meet me in the alley after closing, you scumbag. Then we'll see who has the biggest set of balls."
She'd finally pierced his swagger. "Are you serious? You want to fight me?"
Not exactly. But just because he was big didn't mean he was quick, and maybe she'd get lucky. Probably not, but maybe. She curled her lip at him. "Why not?"
He puffed out his chest. "I'm not fighting a chick."
"Afraid I'll get you pregnant?"
He stepped back, as if she were contagious. "You're a lunatic, you know that?"
She grimaced as he stalked off. He was quite possibly right.
OMG! I could sit and write excerpts on this book all day, but I will stop.
So Piper is a private detective and Cooper is a retired football player that owns a nightclub. Through some crazy circumstances, Piper gets hired to watch Cooper's employee's. She also ends up being a body guard in a sense.
It seems there are some things going on at Cooper's club right under his nose and wonderful Piper is on the case. As you can figure they end up having a love connection but it's actually a really good one. It's not some (lets put the whole book on the sideline so we can have sex every 5 minutes) it's an actual story line with wonderful characters and a great plot.
Piper is staying in one of the two apartments over the club. Jada and her mother live in the other one and I just love Jada. She is funny and does some crazy stuff. Of course there are a lot of crazy stuff in the book. There is also good deeds, sex, love, snark, bad guys, guns, fights, and some other stuff that I probably left out.
As far as I know, since I'm crazy, this is the first book by the author I have read but if all of her characters are as cool as Piper than I want to read many more books from her!
*I would like to thank William Morrow for a print copy of this book for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
She gave him a faintly pitying look. "So rich and yet so dumb." It felt good to see what he couldn't. "The reality is that you're so used to everybody bowing and scraping that you don't understand most people only show you their best side. You've forgotten how many creeps there are. All your fame has made you a babe in the woods when it comes to living in the real world."
••••••
Heath grinned. "I like this woman."
"No mystery why," Coop retorted.
It was a mystery to Piper, but she had something more pressing on her mind. "This is clearly not working," she declared as Louise went off to gather more dresses Piper didn't' want to wear. "I'd freeze to death in every one of these. Not to mention that I can't do my job if I'm worrying the whole time about my . . . my cooter hanging out!"
That cracked them both up, clearly signaling that it was time for Piper to take charge. "Louise, you and I need to talk . . ."
•••••
He jutted his jaw. "You're riding high right now, but once the boss stops boning you, he won't even remember your name."
A fireball exploded in her head, and she dug her finger into the middle of his chest. "Meet me in the alley after closing, you scumbag. Then we'll see who has the biggest set of balls."
She'd finally pierced his swagger. "Are you serious? You want to fight me?"
Not exactly. But just because he was big didn't mean he was quick, and maybe she'd get lucky. Probably not, but maybe. She curled her lip at him. "Why not?"
He puffed out his chest. "I'm not fighting a chick."
"Afraid I'll get you pregnant?"
He stepped back, as if she were contagious. "You're a lunatic, you know that?"
She grimaced as he stalked off. He was quite possibly right.
OMG! I could sit and write excerpts on this book all day, but I will stop.
So Piper is a private detective and Cooper is a retired football player that owns a nightclub. Through some crazy circumstances, Piper gets hired to watch Cooper's employee's. She also ends up being a body guard in a sense.
It seems there are some things going on at Cooper's club right under his nose and wonderful Piper is on the case. As you can figure they end up having a love connection but it's actually a really good one. It's not some (lets put the whole book on the sideline so we can have sex every 5 minutes) it's an actual story line with wonderful characters and a great plot.
Piper is staying in one of the two apartments over the club. Jada and her mother live in the other one and I just love Jada. She is funny and does some crazy stuff. Of course there are a lot of crazy stuff in the book. There is also good deeds, sex, love, snark, bad guys, guns, fights, and some other stuff that I probably left out.
As far as I know, since I'm crazy, this is the first book by the author I have read but if all of her characters are as cool as Piper than I want to read many more books from her!
*I would like to thank William Morrow for a print copy of this book for my honest review.*
MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List
Shelved as 'dnf'
May 29, 2017DNF @45% No star rating.
I love SEP’s works. I've read almost every book by her, and I never once gave them anything less than 3 stars. But this! It was more than disappointing!
I struggled with the story and the heroine from the very start, and the more I read, the more I got bored. There was way too much filler and not enough story here.
-- Unattractive hero.
-- Annoying, charmless, pushy, bossy, disrespectful, and self-centered heroine. (You might say she isn’t that bad because she wanted to save an innocent life (a girl)…by risking another life (the hero) instead. GREAT! Such a smart PI!)
-- Meh plot.
This is the worst book I've ever read by this author. Fans of SEP and this series please don't hate me. I'd tried. I'd really tried. But I just couldn't. I'm sorry.
I see no point in enduring this so I think I should put myself out of my misery. This was NOT FOR ME!
I love SEP’s works. I've read almost every book by her, and I never once gave them anything less than 3 stars. But this! It was more than disappointing!
I struggled with the story and the heroine from the very start, and the more I read, the more I got bored. There was way too much filler and not enough story here.
-- Unattractive hero.
-- Annoying, charmless, pushy, bossy, disrespectful, and self-centered heroine. (You might say she isn’t that bad because she wanted to save an innocent life (a girl)…by risking another life (the hero) instead. GREAT! Such a smart PI!)
-- Meh plot.
This is the worst book I've ever read by this author. Fans of SEP and this series please don't hate me. I'd tried. I'd really tried. But I just couldn't. I'm sorry.
I see no point in enduring this so I think I should put myself out of my misery. This was NOT FOR ME!
August 28, 2016
TRIGGER WARNING: DUBIOUS CONSENT
I never thought the day would come that I'd hate an SEP book, yet here we are...
Let me start by saying that I really liked Piper, the main protagonist.
She was a strong woman who'd risen above her emotionally abusive childhood to become a capable and brave adult who went after what she wanted. She was also extremely concerned with doing things in an ethically correct way. I respected and liked her.
Which is why it's so appalling to me how horrible this book was.
There's so much to complain about that I'll do it by topic.
POC Being Used as a Subplot to Show Us How Great the Hero Is:
We get a subplot about Faiza, a Pakistani girl who is enslaved by a royal Middle Eastern family from a country described vaguely to avoid lawsuits.
She is beaten and forced to slave away for a princess, she's had her passport taken from her. She dreams of becoming a nurse in Canada.
This is all very touching and could have been an amazing part of the story.
Too bad this subplot's point is to endear that pos Cooper to us, and to create drama over a stolen ring.
And even then, in exchange for his help, he haggles with Piper trying to get sexual favours in return...
That being said, once Faiza has fulfilled her role in developing Cooper's character in the story she all but disappears.
Forgettable, Barely There Secondary Characters:
One thing I love about SEP's books are the secondary characters' stories!
There are always amazing stories within the main story where the fully fleshed out secondary characters find their own happy ending.
In this story, apart from their names, jobs, and problems mentioned in passing, they might as well not have been there.
Take Amber and Jen, Piper's supposedly best friends.
We never get a true sense of their friendship because they rarely see each other. They rarely speak, even on the phone. We know nothing about them, except that Jen is having trouble at work and Amber is an opera singer.
Then there's Berni, her elderly neighbour who'd lost her husband but becomes convinced she's seen him wandering around the city. I was expecting a nice romantic subplot for her, but we only get a tiny scene about her!
So disappointing :(
Weird and Unappealing Sex Scenes:
I've never had a problem with SEP's sex scenes in her books, but for some reason she decided to just add a bunch of stuff that put me right off. Here are some things you shouldn't use when writing sex scenes:
-- "It hurt a little as he opened her with his fingers" - I don't want any mention of pain during sex, how does this not immediately turn everyone right off?
-- "abrasion of his fingers" (while fingering her) - The last word I want to see associated with fingering is "abrasion".
-- "the sweet laceration of his mouth" And the last word I was to see associated with oral sex is "laceration".
I don't know, these seem like common sense to me...
Too Much Tell Not Enough Show:
I never imagined I'd ever encounter this problem in an SEP book...
But we get pages and pages of SEP telling us about how Piper and Cooper spent hours together talking about their lives, establishing a connection, blah blah... But we're never show this?
All it did was keep me from being in any way invested in their relationship, not that I would have been because...
DUBIOUS CONSENT:
For a book that made such a big deal about pointing out that rape is wrong, it did the shittiest job portraying consent.
Even in SEP's earlier books, where the male protagonists would actually slap the female protagonist if she started getting ~emotional~, this issue has never been portrayed so poorly...
We start with even Cooper being disgusted with himself for wanting to foist himself on a woman who is working for him.
The natural order of things? WTF. What kind of Neanderthal shit it this...
Then you have Piper CONSTANTLY telling him she does NOT consent.
First he kisses her against her will and she reacts like this:
Then he tries to justify the kiss like this:
...Excuse me?! WHAT?! Is this supposed to be sexy? Are we supposed to want them to end up together?
Then, of course, he does it again, even thought this time she sort of consented:
Why are their sexual interactions always mixed with mentions of Cooper being angry? None of this is even remotely healthy.
Also his motives are written in such a disgusting way...
That's a signal for normal human beings to back off.
Also, I don't know how SEP could miss this, but rape means sex that is no consensual. A sleeping person cannot give consent. But we get this:
Of course it's treated as no big deal, and they get right on with it, but this is NOT cool.
Then we get this gem:
If someone says they do NOT consent that's it. It's over. It doesn't matter how capable of beating your ass they are. No is a full sentence. There is no reason for her to prove how non-consenting she was by beating the shit out of him.
I know this is treated in a lighthearted way, as foreplay.
But it's sickening to me how the mention of a woman not consenting, even if as a joke, doesn't immediately put everyone off the mood and leaving.
This is an insidious aspect of rape culture that needs to stop.
This whole book was full of this type of stuff, not to mention Cooper constantly putting Piper down, and when that fails , he thinks such charming things as this:
And of course, , Cooper starts stalking her, even after she tells him again and again that she NEVER wants to see or speak to him again. He even sends his manager to get her to agree to meeting him one more time, since she sensibly warned everyone she knew about not allowing him anywhere near her...
He even tries to justify this shit!
Yes, asshole, it does! and there are no grey areas in stalking, wtf is this book even about?!
And SEP is one of my favourite authors...
I don't know, I just feel so betrayed by what she wrote...
So... If you read this, please bear in mind the warnings I gave and whether or not you can deal with this.
If you can, it doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. Maybe none of this stuff bothers you...
It just means I couldn't enjoy it.
I never thought the day would come that I'd hate an SEP book, yet here we are...
Let me start by saying that I really liked Piper, the main protagonist.
She was a strong woman who'd risen above her emotionally abusive childhood to become a capable and brave adult who went after what she wanted. She was also extremely concerned with doing things in an ethically correct way. I respected and liked her.
Which is why it's so appalling to me how horrible this book was.
There's so much to complain about that I'll do it by topic.
POC Being Used as a Subplot to Show Us How Great the Hero Is:
We get a subplot about Faiza, a Pakistani girl who is enslaved by a royal Middle Eastern family from a country described vaguely to avoid lawsuits.
She is beaten and forced to slave away for a princess, she's had her passport taken from her. She dreams of becoming a nurse in Canada.
This is all very touching and could have been an amazing part of the story.
Too bad this subplot's point is to endear that pos Cooper to us, and to create drama over a stolen ring.
And even then, in exchange for his help, he haggles with Piper trying to get sexual favours in return...
That being said, once Faiza has fulfilled her role in developing Cooper's character in the story she all but disappears.
Forgettable, Barely There Secondary Characters:
One thing I love about SEP's books are the secondary characters' stories!
There are always amazing stories within the main story where the fully fleshed out secondary characters find their own happy ending.
In this story, apart from their names, jobs, and problems mentioned in passing, they might as well not have been there.
Take Amber and Jen, Piper's supposedly best friends.
We never get a true sense of their friendship because they rarely see each other. They rarely speak, even on the phone. We know nothing about them, except that Jen is having trouble at work and Amber is an opera singer.
Then there's Berni, her elderly neighbour who'd lost her husband but becomes convinced she's seen him wandering around the city. I was expecting a nice romantic subplot for her, but we only get a tiny scene about her!
So disappointing :(
Weird and Unappealing Sex Scenes:
I've never had a problem with SEP's sex scenes in her books, but for some reason she decided to just add a bunch of stuff that put me right off. Here are some things you shouldn't use when writing sex scenes:
-- "It hurt a little as he opened her with his fingers" - I don't want any mention of pain during sex, how does this not immediately turn everyone right off?
-- "abrasion of his fingers" (while fingering her) - The last word I want to see associated with fingering is "abrasion".
-- "the sweet laceration of his mouth" And the last word I was to see associated with oral sex is "laceration".
I don't know, these seem like common sense to me...
Too Much Tell Not Enough Show:
I never imagined I'd ever encounter this problem in an SEP book...
But we get pages and pages of SEP telling us about how Piper and Cooper spent hours together talking about their lives, establishing a connection, blah blah... But we're never show this?
All it did was keep me from being in any way invested in their relationship, not that I would have been because...
DUBIOUS CONSENT:
For a book that made such a big deal about pointing out that rape is wrong, it did the shittiest job portraying consent.
Even in SEP's earlier books, where the male protagonists would actually slap the female protagonist if she started getting ~emotional~, this issue has never been portrayed so poorly...
We start with even Cooper being disgusted with himself for wanting to foist himself on a woman who is working for him.
"He wanted to take her right now. Against the sink. On the counter. Strip her naked and reassert the natural order of things. Male over female.
The sting in his wounded hand restored his sanity. He was disgusted with himself. Where the hell had that come from?"
The natural order of things? WTF. What kind of Neanderthal shit it this...
Then you have Piper CONSTANTLY telling him she does NOT consent.
First he kisses her against her will and she reacts like this:
“No!” She shoved hard against his chest. “Back off!”
She was furious with him, more furious with herself. “You try that again, and you’ll end up on the floor . . . like your drunken friend.” She spun away and rushed upstairs."
Then he tries to justify the kiss like this:
“[The kiss] was about saving your stupid life.” He pointed one long, sturdy finger at her. “Let’s get something straight, Sherlock. I have no sexual interest in you. None. Zip. Zero. The only reason I kissed you was as a distraction from what I really wanted to do, which was strangle you. Now this conversation is over.”
...Excuse me?! WHAT?! Is this supposed to be sexy? Are we supposed to want them to end up together?
Then, of course, he does it again, even thought this time she sort of consented:
"A low growl rumbled in his throat. He lunged for her. Caught her by the shoulders. Gave her a hard shake. And then he kissed her. Again.
She felt his anger in the force of his lips, the coiled tension in his body. He dragged her against him, making her seem small and defenseless, even though she was neither."
Why are their sexual interactions always mixed with mentions of Cooper being angry? None of this is even remotely healthy.
Also his motives are written in such a disgusting way...
"(...) that was the reason he couldn’t let Piper Dove waltz out of his life. Because he wanted her, and she refused to want him back."
That's a signal for normal human beings to back off.
Also, I don't know how SEP could miss this, but rape means sex that is no consensual. A sleeping person cannot give consent. But we get this:
"She awoke in the middle of a blazingly erotic dream to find him inside her."
Of course it's treated as no big deal, and they get right on with it, but this is NOT cool.
Then we get this gem:
“This is wrong in so many ways. I don’t even know where to start. Ouch! Yes, I do know! I’m calling my lawyer.”
“You don’t have a lawyer.” Another smack. “Besides, don’t you read? Rough sex is the rage these days.”
“Only between consenting adults! Stop it! Do I look like I’m consenting?”
“If you weren’t, I’d be on my ass right now.”
True. She was hardly helpless.
If someone says they do NOT consent that's it. It's over. It doesn't matter how capable of beating your ass they are. No is a full sentence. There is no reason for her to prove how non-consenting she was by beating the shit out of him.
I know this is treated in a lighthearted way, as foreplay.
But it's sickening to me how the mention of a woman not consenting, even if as a joke, doesn't immediately put everyone off the mood and leaving.
This is an insidious aspect of rape culture that needs to stop.
This whole book was full of this type of stuff, not to mention Cooper constantly putting Piper down, and when that fails , he thinks such charming things as this:
"He frowned, not liking that his deliberate put-down hadn’t made her curl up in the corner and cry."
And of course, , Cooper starts stalking her, even after she tells him again and again that she NEVER wants to see or speak to him again. He even sends his manager to get her to agree to meeting him one more time, since she sensibly warned everyone she knew about not allowing him anywhere near her...
He even tries to justify this shit!
"(...)he kept remembering what he’d said to Jada about stalking, but trying to have a simple conversation with Piper against her will hardly constituted harassment, did it? So maybe it was a gray area."
Yes, asshole, it does! and there are no grey areas in stalking, wtf is this book even about?!
And SEP is one of my favourite authors...
I don't know, I just feel so betrayed by what she wrote...
So... If you read this, please bear in mind the warnings I gave and whether or not you can deal with this.
If you can, it doesn't mean you won't enjoy it. Maybe none of this stuff bothers you...
It just means I couldn't enjoy it.
February 6, 2023
Shining Bright $1.99 SALE!!!
4 If it Aint Broke, Doesn't Need Fixin' Stars
* * * *Spoiler Free-
There will always be certain authors I will read...They started me on this Romance path and I am very grateful. I think the first author was Jayne Ann Krentz: she wrote as Krentz and also as Amanda Quick. I was taken by these stories and gobbled them up.
I then discovered Susan Elizabeth Phillips...
OMG... She took me by the hand and I was IN LOVE. The Chicago Stars series was so terrific, I read each book right after the other. Then went searching for more...
So for me, her style of writing, plotting, and engagement worked, big time. I also was lucky because there were a lot of her books out there when I came to her... and so I binged. Now there are some I love more than others, yet overall, by loving her way of setting the tone, the feel of the characters, and their environments...you know from the start... she has you in the palm of her hand.
I have read quite a bit since discovering Ms. Phillips and I am pleased to say her latest book had all the yummy goodness of past entries. The man was a guy's guy and our gal was complicated, smart, and able to hold her own. This had that hate you and now let's fu@k the hate right out of each other deal happening. It worked and we enjoyed all the twists and turns.
If you are a SEP fan, then this will tick all of the boxes...If you haven't read SEP then you are in for a treat with how lovely she uses words...makes scenarios and emotions palatable, real, and just plain good.
The only drawback of being a SEP fan is she likes to take her time writing. This took quite some time to come to us. The good news is she does have an extensive list to read.... so get going.
It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars, #2)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Nobody's Baby But Mine (Chicago Stars, #3)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dream a Little Dream (Chicago Stars, #4)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This Heart of Mine (Chicago Stars, #5)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Match Me If You Can (Chicago Stars, #6)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Natural Born Charmer (Chicago Stars, #7)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
First Star I See Tonight (Chicago Stars, #8)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
When Stars Collide: A Chicago Stars Novel
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
How could I not read this...
SEP was one of the first Romance Authors to show me the way...
The way to feel the excitement of a first glance...
A first kiss and then the rush of falling in love with humor and heart.
I will be forever grateful for all of the hours of joy she has brought me...
And now there is another Chicago Stars Installment...
Be still my Heart!
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
4 If it Aint Broke, Doesn't Need Fixin' Stars
* * * *Spoiler Free-
There will always be certain authors I will read...They started me on this Romance path and I am very grateful. I think the first author was Jayne Ann Krentz: she wrote as Krentz and also as Amanda Quick. I was taken by these stories and gobbled them up.
I then discovered Susan Elizabeth Phillips...
OMG... She took me by the hand and I was IN LOVE. The Chicago Stars series was so terrific, I read each book right after the other. Then went searching for more...
So for me, her style of writing, plotting, and engagement worked, big time. I also was lucky because there were a lot of her books out there when I came to her... and so I binged. Now there are some I love more than others, yet overall, by loving her way of setting the tone, the feel of the characters, and their environments...you know from the start... she has you in the palm of her hand.
I have read quite a bit since discovering Ms. Phillips and I am pleased to say her latest book had all the yummy goodness of past entries. The man was a guy's guy and our gal was complicated, smart, and able to hold her own. This had that hate you and now let's fu@k the hate right out of each other deal happening. It worked and we enjoyed all the twists and turns.
If you are a SEP fan, then this will tick all of the boxes...If you haven't read SEP then you are in for a treat with how lovely she uses words...makes scenarios and emotions palatable, real, and just plain good.
The only drawback of being a SEP fan is she likes to take her time writing. This took quite some time to come to us. The good news is she does have an extensive list to read.... so get going.
It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars, #1)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars, #2)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Nobody's Baby But Mine (Chicago Stars, #3)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Dream a Little Dream (Chicago Stars, #4)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This Heart of Mine (Chicago Stars, #5)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Match Me If You Can (Chicago Stars, #6)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Natural Born Charmer (Chicago Stars, #7)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
First Star I See Tonight (Chicago Stars, #8)https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
When Stars Collide: A Chicago Stars Novelhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
~~~~~ Before Reading ~~~~~
How could I not read this...
SEP was one of the first Romance Authors to show me the way...
The way to feel the excitement of a first glance...
A first kiss and then the rush of falling in love with humor and heart.
I will be forever grateful for all of the hours of joy she has brought me...
And now there is another Chicago Stars Installment...
Be still my Heart!
For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways
September 7, 2019
To fully explain my thoughts about this book, I will have to share major spoilers. Keep reading if that will not bother you.
Let's start with what I liked about this book:
1. It's laugh out loud funny in...a handful of parts. The opening scene is great and is a perfect example of the humor that has given SEP a deservedly loyal following. Unfortunately, this same humor is also what she uses to routinely humiliate her heroines and I'm tired of it.
2. The heroine's job is interesting and original. It was refreshing and I liked her when she wasn't being judgmental about other women and awful. Again, I'm tired of this. Her characterization was also really inconsistent.
Now, my issues with this book. Oh, boy, do I have a few and this probably doesn't even capture all of them:
1. A lot of secondary characters in this book are POC and I found the characterization and treatment (for lack of a better word) of some of them very problematic. Take the whole subplot with the Middle Eastern royal family... just... what? I really wish the entire thing could have been cut from the book. Not to mention the fact that these characters served as foils for the white hero and heroine to act as "saviors." The prince and princess of an unnamed Middle Eastern country are characterized as sneaky, spoiled, and cruel. The Pakistani servant girl whom the two white protagonists save by pretending to buy her as a sex slave and then taking her to Canada has such little agency that she's really nothing more than a vehicle through which all the virtues of a Westernized culture and country (or countries, if you include Canada) are extolled. There are serious themes here that may have been interesting (there are passing references to child sex trafficking in the book and how this becomes a major interest of the heroine and another secondary character), but I can't get past how much this part of the book bothered me and it is one of the main reasons why I cannot recommend this book to others. Shame on SEP, honestly. She can do better.
2. Dubious consent: the hero SPANKS the heroine without her consent. I know spanking is foreplay for some people and that is fine, but she very clearly articulates that she is not giving her consent and that to me is never OK. This is not sexy to me. In fact, I found the sex scenes in this novel a little strange in general (although the premature ejaculation bit and how the hero responds to it was genuinely funny and unexpected).
3. False rape accusation: I hate, hate, HATE when a false rape accusation is used as a plot device. The author makes a point of having the hero release a statement (once he is exonerated) about how dangerous this is for rape victims who are scared to report and this is something the heroine feels strongly about. However, acknowledging that in the book is not enough, IMO, to justify the inclusion of the false rape accusation as a plot device in the first place. Also, the accuser is a sex worker and I find that troubling in and of itself; not to mention some of the language used (calling her a "hooker," for example) is quite anti-sex worker. Related note, the heroine has a tendency to make snap judgments about other women based on their looks (there is one scene when a woman she has judged for no reason turns out to be a PhD candidate) and I really wish romance writers would stop demeaning other women to make the heroine look better by comparison. SEP is not the first or last to do this and it's always disappointing to me.
4. Piper breaking up with Coop because she didn't feel like she was good enough for him didn't quite ring true with me and as a result, I didn't buy into it, particularly that she cut him off completely, blocked his number, refused to see him, etc... that seemed really extreme. The hero then turned into a weird stalker to get her back.
5. Their HEA includes marriage and children when the heroine states very clearly several times in the book that she doesn't want children, going so far as to joke that she missed whatever gene makes someone maternal. In the epilogue the joke is that she agrees to have a child "for him" and that he has to be actively involved in child rearing (which is great!) only to discover she's having twins. I understand women can change their minds about wanting children; there have to be serious discussions when one partner does want children and the other one doesn't. But to me, this didn't really fit with her character, and it felt more like it was included just because of the idea that children are necessary for a woman to be ultimately happy. I strongly dislike when it feels like the HEA is dependent on marriage + children rather than being something that both characters truly want and/or feel like they need to be happy. If you want children, great; if you don't, also great.
I think a lot of people will love this book, but I just can't really recommend it.
Let's start with what I liked about this book:
1. It's laugh out loud funny in...a handful of parts. The opening scene is great and is a perfect example of the humor that has given SEP a deservedly loyal following. Unfortunately, this same humor is also what she uses to routinely humiliate her heroines and I'm tired of it.
2. The heroine's job is interesting and original. It was refreshing and I liked her when she wasn't being judgmental about other women and awful. Again, I'm tired of this. Her characterization was also really inconsistent.
Now, my issues with this book. Oh, boy, do I have a few and this probably doesn't even capture all of them:
1. A lot of secondary characters in this book are POC and I found the characterization and treatment (for lack of a better word) of some of them very problematic. Take the whole subplot with the Middle Eastern royal family... just... what? I really wish the entire thing could have been cut from the book. Not to mention the fact that these characters served as foils for the white hero and heroine to act as "saviors." The prince and princess of an unnamed Middle Eastern country are characterized as sneaky, spoiled, and cruel. The Pakistani servant girl whom the two white protagonists save by pretending to buy her as a sex slave and then taking her to Canada has such little agency that she's really nothing more than a vehicle through which all the virtues of a Westernized culture and country (or countries, if you include Canada) are extolled. There are serious themes here that may have been interesting (there are passing references to child sex trafficking in the book and how this becomes a major interest of the heroine and another secondary character), but I can't get past how much this part of the book bothered me and it is one of the main reasons why I cannot recommend this book to others. Shame on SEP, honestly. She can do better.
2. Dubious consent: the hero SPANKS the heroine without her consent. I know spanking is foreplay for some people and that is fine, but she very clearly articulates that she is not giving her consent and that to me is never OK. This is not sexy to me. In fact, I found the sex scenes in this novel a little strange in general (although the premature ejaculation bit and how the hero responds to it was genuinely funny and unexpected).
3. False rape accusation: I hate, hate, HATE when a false rape accusation is used as a plot device. The author makes a point of having the hero release a statement (once he is exonerated) about how dangerous this is for rape victims who are scared to report and this is something the heroine feels strongly about. However, acknowledging that in the book is not enough, IMO, to justify the inclusion of the false rape accusation as a plot device in the first place. Also, the accuser is a sex worker and I find that troubling in and of itself; not to mention some of the language used (calling her a "hooker," for example) is quite anti-sex worker. Related note, the heroine has a tendency to make snap judgments about other women based on their looks (there is one scene when a woman she has judged for no reason turns out to be a PhD candidate) and I really wish romance writers would stop demeaning other women to make the heroine look better by comparison. SEP is not the first or last to do this and it's always disappointing to me.
4. Piper breaking up with Coop because she didn't feel like she was good enough for him didn't quite ring true with me and as a result, I didn't buy into it, particularly that she cut him off completely, blocked his number, refused to see him, etc... that seemed really extreme. The hero then turned into a weird stalker to get her back.
5. Their HEA includes marriage and children when the heroine states very clearly several times in the book that she doesn't want children, going so far as to joke that she missed whatever gene makes someone maternal. In the epilogue the joke is that she agrees to have a child "for him" and that he has to be actively involved in child rearing (which is great!) only to discover she's having twins. I understand women can change their minds about wanting children; there have to be serious discussions when one partner does want children and the other one doesn't. But to me, this didn't really fit with her character, and it felt more like it was included just because of the idea that children are necessary for a woman to be ultimately happy. I strongly dislike when it feels like the HEA is dependent on marriage + children rather than being something that both characters truly want and/or feel like they need to be happy. If you want children, great; if you don't, also great.
I think a lot of people will love this book, but I just can't really recommend it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 5, 2016
The First Star I see Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a 2016 William Morrow publication.
This book is simply marvelous!
It has been a while since I’ve read a book by SEP, too long, in fact. This book reminds me of just how good she really is.
Piper Dove owns her own private detective agency, but it’s barely making ends meet. Currently, her assignment is to investigate former football superstar, Cooper Graham, for a client thinking of investing in Cooper’s new nightclub.
But, when her cover is blown, Cooper insists she reveal her client’s identity, which she refuses to do, but doesn’t mind telling him who on his staff is skimming off the top and various other issues inside his club. Realizing that Piper could be a valuable asset he hires her himself, but may soon regret that choice, when she proceeds to push all his buttons, buttons he didn’t even know could be pushed… by anyone!
This is one zany, highly entertaining installment in the ‘Chicago Stars’ series. Piper is my kinda gal. No frills, no lace, so fuss, no muss for Piper. She doesn’t have a fake bone in her body! She calls it like she sees it, andis a ‘what you see, is what you get’ person, which is a rare thing these days.
Cooper, has lived in a privileged, entitled world for so long, surrounded by beautiful Hollywood actresses and ‘yes’ men, that he doesn’t know what to think when Piper doesn’t automatically bow down and worship him at his feet. So, flabbergasted is he, Piper has him eating out of her hand, much to his chagrin. I loved watching Cooper slowly fall in love with Piper, which is absolutely the best thing that ever happened to him!
There is, of course, a mystery to solve when it becomes clear that someone is out to get Cooper, which leads to one of the most screwball investigations I’ve seen in a while.
The characterizations are nearly perfect, the dialogue witty and sharp, with a stellar supporting cast.
If you are looking for a top rate romantic comedy or romantic suspense novel, look no further!
5 stars
This book is simply marvelous!
It has been a while since I’ve read a book by SEP, too long, in fact. This book reminds me of just how good she really is.
Piper Dove owns her own private detective agency, but it’s barely making ends meet. Currently, her assignment is to investigate former football superstar, Cooper Graham, for a client thinking of investing in Cooper’s new nightclub.
But, when her cover is blown, Cooper insists she reveal her client’s identity, which she refuses to do, but doesn’t mind telling him who on his staff is skimming off the top and various other issues inside his club. Realizing that Piper could be a valuable asset he hires her himself, but may soon regret that choice, when she proceeds to push all his buttons, buttons he didn’t even know could be pushed… by anyone!
This is one zany, highly entertaining installment in the ‘Chicago Stars’ series. Piper is my kinda gal. No frills, no lace, so fuss, no muss for Piper. She doesn’t have a fake bone in her body! She calls it like she sees it, andis a ‘what you see, is what you get’ person, which is a rare thing these days.
Cooper, has lived in a privileged, entitled world for so long, surrounded by beautiful Hollywood actresses and ‘yes’ men, that he doesn’t know what to think when Piper doesn’t automatically bow down and worship him at his feet. So, flabbergasted is he, Piper has him eating out of her hand, much to his chagrin. I loved watching Cooper slowly fall in love with Piper, which is absolutely the best thing that ever happened to him!
There is, of course, a mystery to solve when it becomes clear that someone is out to get Cooper, which leads to one of the most screwball investigations I’ve seen in a while.
The characterizations are nearly perfect, the dialogue witty and sharp, with a stellar supporting cast.
If you are looking for a top rate romantic comedy or romantic suspense novel, look no further!
5 stars
February 10, 2017
Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/
This book was an extra bonus in a care package from someone you’d never expect to send me something. Ha! Just kidding. It totally came from Shelby. Now we’ve both read it so hold on to your butt Susan Elizabeth Phillips . . . .
While this one didn’t get allllllll the starz from me like it did Shelby, it did earn 4 and I also read it a little wrong which I will explain momentarily. (Sidenote for the one of you who might be interested: The Hating Game was the other book sent to me with this one and I creamed my pants all over it. If you want to read what grouchy old twats choose when looking for the sexuals, now you have two options.)
Let’s quickly discuss how I read this wrong. First, I don’t read blurbs. That means I had no clue what this was about and thought it would be a super porno. (Dear Author, your covers are some of the worst I’ve ever seen and you can really write. Make them not ugly. Kthanxbye.) Second, I can’t think of one professional football player I find attractive so having one as the leading male doesn’t get my motor running. In my head they all look like Clay Matthews . . . .
Blech. Or, I guess in this case dude was a retired quarterback so he probably would have looked more like one of the Manning brothers . . . .
Those couple of things aside, this was a really cute book. Piper has taken over her deceased father’s private investigation company and has been hired to keep tabs on the aforementioned ex-footballer Cooper. When her cover is blown Piper finds herself hired by Coop in order to see if the employees of his new nightclub are on the up-and-up. Add in some side stories including potential danger to Cooper (dun dun dunnnnnnnnn), a Middle Eastern prince, a maybe not-so-dead neighbor’s husband and you’re in for some quality fluffy good times . . . .
Piper was a more capable Stephanie Plum (fuck off if you don’t like the comparison – after reading eleventy trillion Plum novels she’s the automatic go-to when it comes to characters like this) and her interactions with Cooper were a hoot . . . .
“Wear that blue dress tonight, and try to look sexy. As far as Logan and his crew are concerned, you’re a special hostess.”
“That makes me sound like a hooker.”
“As soon as he sees you, he’ll know you aren’t.”
She couldn't decide if that was a compliment.
Love hate relationships. I lurrrrrrv them. You know why? Because they lead to angry sex . . . .
Or in this case . . . .
He gave a hoarse cry. And it was over. Before it had even begun.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Don’t worry, he gets to make up for his shortcomings. Warning: The sex was all fade-to-black style which made me like . . . .
Holy blue balls, Batman!
Anywho, Spring is right around the corner. If you need to add some books to your poolside Want To Reads, this is a winner. I’ll even help you out. Who wants it? Assuming I don’t think you’re a person who is interested in turning me into a skinsuit, I’ll pay this one forward and mail it to someone who wants to save a couple of bucks.
This book was an extra bonus in a care package from someone you’d never expect to send me something. Ha! Just kidding. It totally came from Shelby. Now we’ve both read it so hold on to your butt Susan Elizabeth Phillips . . . .
While this one didn’t get allllllll the starz from me like it did Shelby, it did earn 4 and I also read it a little wrong which I will explain momentarily. (Sidenote for the one of you who might be interested: The Hating Game was the other book sent to me with this one and I creamed my pants all over it. If you want to read what grouchy old twats choose when looking for the sexuals, now you have two options.)
Let’s quickly discuss how I read this wrong. First, I don’t read blurbs. That means I had no clue what this was about and thought it would be a super porno. (Dear Author, your covers are some of the worst I’ve ever seen and you can really write. Make them not ugly. Kthanxbye.) Second, I can’t think of one professional football player I find attractive so having one as the leading male doesn’t get my motor running. In my head they all look like Clay Matthews . . . .
Blech. Or, I guess in this case dude was a retired quarterback so he probably would have looked more like one of the Manning brothers . . . .
Those couple of things aside, this was a really cute book. Piper has taken over her deceased father’s private investigation company and has been hired to keep tabs on the aforementioned ex-footballer Cooper. When her cover is blown Piper finds herself hired by Coop in order to see if the employees of his new nightclub are on the up-and-up. Add in some side stories including potential danger to Cooper (dun dun dunnnnnnnnn), a Middle Eastern prince, a maybe not-so-dead neighbor’s husband and you’re in for some quality fluffy good times . . . .
Piper was a more capable Stephanie Plum (fuck off if you don’t like the comparison – after reading eleventy trillion Plum novels she’s the automatic go-to when it comes to characters like this) and her interactions with Cooper were a hoot . . . .
“Wear that blue dress tonight, and try to look sexy. As far as Logan and his crew are concerned, you’re a special hostess.”
“That makes me sound like a hooker.”
“As soon as he sees you, he’ll know you aren’t.”
She couldn't decide if that was a compliment.
Love hate relationships. I lurrrrrrv them. You know why? Because they lead to angry sex . . . .
Or in this case . . . .
He gave a hoarse cry. And it was over. Before it had even begun.
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Don’t worry, he gets to make up for his shortcomings. Warning: The sex was all fade-to-black style which made me like . . . .
Holy blue balls, Batman!
Anywho, Spring is right around the corner. If you need to add some books to your poolside Want To Reads, this is a winner. I’ll even help you out. Who wants it? Assuming I don’t think you’re a person who is interested in turning me into a skinsuit, I’ll pay this one forward and mail it to someone who wants to save a couple of bucks.
October 12, 2020
I finished listening to this a couple of days ago and I loved the audio book even more than when I read it. ❤
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of my most favorite authors. Her books never fail to make me swoon over just about everything. I love her H's and h's and the story surrounding them. I love her secondary characters. I love the work involved in reaching the HEA.
The narrator Nicole Poole did an amazing job bringing to life Piper and Coop's story!! If you love the Chicago Stars series I highly recommend you listening to them as well.
*********************************
Susan Elizabeth Phillips is such an amazing author. I adore her writing and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this Chicago Stars Series. One might think that with each book this series gets better and better but for me each book has been fabulous in its own right. I love that her characters are always irresistible, sweet, sexy, funny, and oh so endearing. And her plots are never simple or predictable. Whenever I think I know the direction she is taking us, she puts a spin on it. I love that.
In First Star I See Tonight we get to meet Cooper Graham and Piper Dove. No one would put these two together. Cooper was a retired Chicago Stars quarterback & Night Club owner and Piper was floundering within her Private Detective Agency. She had a job to do and he would soon be the focus of her attention. It was supposed to be the job that would put her agency on track, a job that would make all her sacrifices worth it. But it just wasn’t in the stars for Piper. Things wouldn’t go as smoothly as she thought.
Piper Dove~ is the type heroine I love. I couldn’t get enough of her. She was a bit crazy, funny and unknowingly beautiful. She certainly wasn’t a girl Coop would give a second glance but there was something about her that he couldn’t shake….literally. He needed to stay close to Piper to figure out what she was up to but he had no idea what he was getting himself into. Piper in jeans and a Bears t-shirt was one thing but Piper in a skin tight dress was another. Coopers control will begin to slip.
Cooper Graham ~ was yummy. SEP writes some pretty fantastic leading men. Coop was sexy, handsome, charming and he knew how to take care of a woman. Piper knew he was off limits. First and foremost, she had a job to do. But ignoring all of his attributes would prove to be a challenge. It wouldn’t be easy to keep things straight in her mind let alone her heart.
What started off as a simple trail and report job for Piper turned into something more. Cooper needed her to keep things straight in his Night Club. He needed her protection. When Piper gets a peek into the private life of Cooper Graham she isn’t sure what to do with it all. What made him tick was far more than she expected.
As things between these two begin to blur, Piper's anxiety is growing. She feels things unraveling and once again she would find herself struggling. But this time she would be losing more than just a job. Cooper has always known what he wanted. At least he thought he did. Why is it that others can see so much more?
In true form, Sep provides for a slow burn that will drive you crazy and have you aching for something more. And she delivers. IT WAS WORTH EVERY MINUTE.
I loved getting more time with Annabelle and Heath. I loved these two in Match Me if You Can and their cameo in this one was perfect. Heath is something else.
I’m not even sure if this is the end of this series or not. If it is, then I am completely happy. It has been a crazy and amazing ride with this Chicago Stars family. And if there is more to come. BRING IT ON!
I have so much love for this author. Her passion for writing shines through with every chapter she writes and her humility warms my heart. Ms. Phillips you are wonderful!
November 6, 2019
Un fost fundaș al echipei Chicago Stars — Cooper, și un detectiv particular — Piper... o aventură în care se pot pierde multe, dar și câștiga la fel de multe.
Adrenalină, suspans, pericol, emoții ... totul la intensitate maximă. Plus umorul de calitate specific cărților autoarei.
Per total, am avut parte de o lectură captivantă și intensă. O poveste de dragoste care debutează aproape fără să-ți dai seama și care trece prin momente disperate înainte de a atinge fericirea veșnică.
Impresii despre serie:
https://justreadingmybooks.wordpress....
Adrenalină, suspans, pericol, emoții ... totul la intensitate maximă. Plus umorul de calitate specific cărților autoarei.
Per total, am avut parte de o lectură captivantă și intensă. O poveste de dragoste care debutează aproape fără să-ți dai seama și care trece prin momente disperate înainte de a atinge fericirea veșnică.
Impresii despre serie:
https://justreadingmybooks.wordpress....
November 27, 2016
2.5 stars-WHAT JUST HAPPENED ? How could this be ? An SEP book and me not loving it ? :'(
All this 5 and 4 star reviews gushing about this sequal makes me wonder if I got the same copy of the book as they did. :/
Don't get me wrong this book wasn't bad,at all.BUT I DIDN'T FIND IT ENTERTAINING either.It was just such a snore.
In fact,It Didn't really feel like an SEP read at all ! The only thing I LOVED in this book was the heroine. Feisty,Smart and funny she was an entertaining character.I only finished the book because I wanted more of her. <3
And to think I got super excited to read this :/
All this 5 and 4 star reviews gushing about this sequal makes me wonder if I got the same copy of the book as they did. :/
Don't get me wrong this book wasn't bad,at all.BUT I DIDN'T FIND IT ENTERTAINING either.It was just such a snore.
In fact,It Didn't really feel like an SEP read at all ! The only thing I LOVED in this book was the heroine. Feisty,Smart and funny she was an entertaining character.I only finished the book because I wanted more of her. <3
And to think I got super excited to read this :/
September 11, 2016
2.5 stars
I really-really wish I loved the story as much as my GR friends did. But, alas, it wasn’t meant to be…
While it has SEP humor, the book isn't as good as previous Stars books mostly because of the heroine and some subplots that were just way too random, puzzling and crowded the main story.The heroine with “daddy's issues” who hides her insecurities by being the tomboy 'tough as nails' 'one of the guys', who does many stupid, impulsive, wrong-headed things throughout the story, who starts as witty and strong but turns boring and meek is not the heroine I like personally.
The hero is a typical SEP’s one -seemingly all looks and muscle, plays up the dumb jock stereotype, but is smart and has an interesting hobby on the side.
There was little too much tell and not enough show to give me reasons to believe in their romance besides their sexual attraction.
Unlike other SEP's stories, this one doesn't have a secondary romance. It was replaced by numerous, mostly underdeveloped, subplots and heavy dose of social commentary.
On a plus side, the writing is as good as you would expect from the author- the banter, funny one-liners and sassy comebacks are all there. It was nice to see the main characters from one of my favorite SEP story Match Me If You Can to show up. I actually caught myself wishing to abandon the current MCs and go and spend more time with Heath and Annabelle.
September 3, 2017
4 Stars
Overall Opinion: This was better than I expected! I am always super hesitant to read any book that is so late in a series, and for some reason I get intimidated when I see something like "#8" in the title...but I'm glad I gave it a shot! It was full of fun love/hate witty banter that was perfect for what I was in the mood for. My biggest issue? Sex. They had such great tension and chemistry that I felt a big "waa waa" when we finally got to the super vague and non-descriptive sex scenes. This couple could've set my iPad on fire for the tension and chemistry they had! Too bad.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Piper and Cooper's story. Piper is a private investigator, and they meet when she gets caught trailing Cooper. Cooper ends up hiring her to help with his club, and they start an odd friendship that is of the hate/love variety. There is someone sabotaging Cooper, some odd jobs Piper is caught up in, some strong and unwanted feelings being developed, and some past baggage they have to deal with...but they do get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing on Piper and Cooper in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. It did take a little bit for me to get into the story, but when I did I had no further problems and I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, more like a love-hate thing going on.
H rating: 4 stars. Cooper. I liked him. He came off as a douchey kind of guy at first, but I came around to actually like that about him later on.
h rating: 4 stars. Piper. I liked her strength and her sassiness, but I did want her to a little more open with the H.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Low. They have great tension and chemistry, but the scenes felt extremely lacking to me (probably because of the great tension and chemistry)
Descriptive sex: Kind of. I wouldn't say it was full on fade-to-black, but it was really close in that it wasn't descriptive.
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had good closure with a cute epilogue and a HEA ending.
How I got it: I got it on loan through my public library and Amazon.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: This was better than I expected! I am always super hesitant to read any book that is so late in a series, and for some reason I get intimidated when I see something like "#8" in the title...but I'm glad I gave it a shot! It was full of fun love/hate witty banter that was perfect for what I was in the mood for. My biggest issue? Sex. They had such great tension and chemistry that I felt a big "waa waa" when we finally got to the super vague and non-descriptive sex scenes. This couple could've set my iPad on fire for the tension and chemistry they had! Too bad.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Piper and Cooper's story. Piper is a private investigator, and they meet when she gets caught trailing Cooper. Cooper ends up hiring her to help with his club, and they start an odd friendship that is of the hate/love variety. There is someone sabotaging Cooper, some odd jobs Piper is caught up in, some strong and unwanted feelings being developed, and some past baggage they have to deal with...but they do get a HEA ending.
POV: This alternated between focusing on Piper and Cooper in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good for the most part. It did take a little bit for me to get into the story, but when I did I had no further problems and I never skimmed.
Instalove: No, more like a love-hate thing going on.
H rating: 4 stars. Cooper. I liked him. He came off as a douchey kind of guy at first, but I came around to actually like that about him later on.
h rating: 4 stars. Piper. I liked her strength and her sassiness, but I did want her to a little more open with the H.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Yes
Heat level: Low. They have great tension and chemistry, but the scenes felt extremely lacking to me (probably because of the great tension and chemistry)
Descriptive sex: Kind of. I wouldn't say it was full on fade-to-black, but it was really close in that it wasn't descriptive.
OW/OM drama: Yes
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Yes
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had good closure with a cute epilogue and a HEA ending.
How I got it: I got it on loan through my public library and Amazon.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
August 30, 2016
Review written August 29, 2016
4 Stars - Solid good stuff as always from SEP. I'm happy!!
I was so glad (and honestly surprised) discovering a new book (#8) in one of the BEST contemporary romance series ever, SEP's fantastic Chicago Stars was planned to be published this August. My friend Jill was first with a very promising short tease & tempt review and I preordered at once.
I have listened to First Star I See Tonight as a 9:50 hours audiobook narrated by Nicole Poole this weekend .... and YAY this was a lot of fun. Happydancing fun:
*********************************************
Back in Chicago with...
...a 37 years old grumpy, gorgeous sexy, former fotball star and a clever, witty, female PI. You get it? Heard it before?
« Piper Dove is a woman with a dream - to become the best detective in the city of Chicago. First job? Trail former Chicago Stars quarterback Cooper Graham. Problem? Graham's spotted her, and he's not happy. »
As always much fun with characters you can't but love at once. In my opinion has First Star I See Tonight nearly everything I want in a SEP romance. Not a "high five" (best in class) maybe but much much better than just good enough. I giggled, laughed and just looooved it all.
*********************************************
All old bookparts got 5 or 4 stars-reviews from me
These Chicago Stars romances, set in the American football 'world', has all been simply great reads (and audiobooks). I didn't pick them in order (every part is more or less a standalone). Book #1-#7 were all written already more than ten years ago in 1994-2004 but are doubtless still worth your time. ~ (See my reviews ~ All sweet romantic in a well-written very amusing feelgood style. Higly recommended as audiobooks as well.)
*********************************************
The audiobook, the "new" narrator..
I will not deny that I miss the amazing Anna Fields the former narrator. She was always extraordinarily perfect so it would not be fair or wise to compare. Well? I'm glad to say that Nicole Poole makes this to a good day's work by her. Her way of reading, give characters voices and her own delightful voice made this to a really enjoying 10 hours listening.
*********************************************
I hope there will be more.
I LIKE - a Susan Elizabeth Phillips story every single time
4 Stars - Solid good stuff as always from SEP. I'm happy!!
I was so glad (and honestly surprised) discovering a new book (#8) in one of the BEST contemporary romance series ever, SEP's fantastic Chicago Stars was planned to be published this August. My friend Jill was first with a very promising short tease & tempt review and I preordered at once.
I have listened to First Star I See Tonight as a 9:50 hours audiobook narrated by Nicole Poole this weekend .... and YAY this was a lot of fun. Happydancing fun:
*********************************************
Back in Chicago with...
...a 37 years old grumpy, gorgeous sexy, former fotball star and a clever, witty, female PI. You get it? Heard it before?
« Piper Dove is a woman with a dream - to become the best detective in the city of Chicago. First job? Trail former Chicago Stars quarterback Cooper Graham. Problem? Graham's spotted her, and he's not happy. »
As always much fun with characters you can't but love at once. In my opinion has First Star I See Tonight nearly everything I want in a SEP romance. Not a "high five" (best in class) maybe but much much better than just good enough. I giggled, laughed and just looooved it all.
*********************************************
All old bookparts got 5 or 4 stars-reviews from me
These Chicago Stars romances, set in the American football 'world', has all been simply great reads (and audiobooks). I didn't pick them in order (every part is more or less a standalone). Book #1-#7 were all written already more than ten years ago in 1994-2004 but are doubtless still worth your time. ~ (See my reviews ~ All sweet romantic in a well-written very amusing feelgood style. Higly recommended as audiobooks as well.)
*********************************************
The audiobook, the "new" narrator..
I will not deny that I miss the amazing Anna Fields the former narrator. She was always extraordinarily perfect so it would not be fair or wise to compare. Well? I'm glad to say that Nicole Poole makes this to a good day's work by her. Her way of reading, give characters voices and her own delightful voice made this to a really enjoying 10 hours listening.
*********************************************
I hope there will be more.I LIKE - a Susan Elizabeth Phillips story every single time
August 19, 2017
The writing style was amazing, but the story itself was just too silly for my taste.
And the main characters were unlikeable, and I even dare to say that our heroine was stupid.
As I said, the writing style (and the humour) saved this one for me.
And the main characters were unlikeable, and I even dare to say that our heroine was stupid.
As I said, the writing style (and the humour) saved this one for me.
September 13, 2016
This was my first SEP book, but I can't wait to read more. This book was so much FUN! And to make it better, I listened to the audiobook and really enjoyed listening to the banter between Piper and Cooper.
Piper Dove is a private investigator for her agency, the agency she now owns that her father created. She grew up with only her father and he treated her like a boy for most of her life. When Piper decided she wanted to be a PI like her father, this is when he decided that it was too tough of a life for her. Growing up there was no crying in her house, so when her dad died, she took her chance to prove to herself that she could be just as good as her dad. She was hired to keep her eyes on Cooper Graham.
Cooper Graham is a retired football player. Now he's a night club owner, but he's used to people recognizing him wherever he goes. Most of the time this is good because he never gets speeding tickets or waiting in lines. But recently he's noticed a woman who has been everywhere he is.
When he finally catches her in his club, Piper plays this off as a stalker of his. It's a very funny scene. Later he finds out who she really is costing her, her job from the person who hired her to investigate him. After she revealed that people in his club were stealing from him and wanting to know more about her, Cooper hires her.
The banter between these two is so funny. She's a hold her own, smart alicyclic and full of sarcasm. The antics she would do had me laughing. Piper tried to ignore her attraction to Cooper. He was off limits after all since he was her boss. But he sorta, kinda falls for her too. It's a slow burn between them, but it was oh so good!
This was such a funny and swoon worthy book and characters. Afterreading listening to this book, I now want to go back and read or listen to the rest of this series. I'm so glad I took a chance on this book. I've found a new author with tons of books out that I can read.
Piper Dove is a private investigator for her agency, the agency she now owns that her father created. She grew up with only her father and he treated her like a boy for most of her life. When Piper decided she wanted to be a PI like her father, this is when he decided that it was too tough of a life for her. Growing up there was no crying in her house, so when her dad died, she took her chance to prove to herself that she could be just as good as her dad. She was hired to keep her eyes on Cooper Graham.
Cooper Graham is a retired football player. Now he's a night club owner, but he's used to people recognizing him wherever he goes. Most of the time this is good because he never gets speeding tickets or waiting in lines. But recently he's noticed a woman who has been everywhere he is.
When he finally catches her in his club, Piper plays this off as a stalker of his. It's a very funny scene. Later he finds out who she really is costing her, her job from the person who hired her to investigate him. After she revealed that people in his club were stealing from him and wanting to know more about her, Cooper hires her.
The banter between these two is so funny. She's a hold her own, smart alicyclic and full of sarcasm. The antics she would do had me laughing. Piper tried to ignore her attraction to Cooper. He was off limits after all since he was her boss. But he sorta, kinda falls for her too. It's a slow burn between them, but it was oh so good!
This was such a funny and swoon worthy book and characters. After
December 15, 2016
Back to the thoroughly enjoyable and much beloved Chicago Stars series after a several years gap, glad to be able to say SEP has returned to her top form. The book delivers on all accounts, as I've come to expect by this author, and it's another delightfully sparkling romantic comedy brimful of her trademark humour, engaging writing and snappy dialogues.
Cooper and Piper make another winning couple, the perfect blend of opposites attracting each other (the type of couple I've always thought SEP does best). The glamorous ex-football player and the down-on-her-luck private investigator have a lot on their hands with somebody up to no good against Cooper and his successful career as a club owner, a mystery that will keep them fully occupied and on their toes as much as the ill-advised sexy chemistry enveloping them. Crazy action and exhilarating banter ensue, at times overwhelmed by the excessively intruding secondary sub-plots and by the heroine's gratuitous stubbornness and belligerency, but as a whole everything got nicely tied up at the end for a smooth and highly entertaining read.
As an extra cookie, I also got to "meet" again with Heath, my absolute favourite hero from the, for me, unsurpassed "Stars" book, Match Me If You Can.
A rich and worthwhile addition to the series, new fans and long time aficionados alike shouldn't be disappointed.
May 19, 2021
reread
There is something so comforting I find in reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips's books.
You can start anywhere and I think most of you will seek to read more. I love this series.
I loved the heroine as I do that often when Susan's writing is in question.
Will I read more, will I read this again, will I enjoy it?
There is something so comforting I find in reading Susan Elizabeth Phillips's books.
You can start anywhere and I think most of you will seek to read more. I love this series.
I loved the heroine as I do that often when Susan's writing is in question.
Will I read more, will I read this again, will I enjoy it?
November 20, 2017
Primero, he leído éste libro con otro que NO me ha gustado, por lo que creo que mi opinión respecto a él es más bien un poco subyugada y es poco objetiva (además que me encanta SEP). Tal vez le hubiera dado menos estrellas si no hubiera compartido la lectura con ese libro en cuestión.
No sé cómo expresarme o cómo hacer llegar lo que pienso a cerca de este libro. Tal vez mejor por frases cortas o no sé.
-No me convenció la historia de amor. Solo hacía al final. No es suficiente. Algo que creo que se le da fenomenal a SEP, es que es capaz de trasmitir muy bien esos sentimientos, cómo se van enamorando, esas cosillas que poco a poco van dando forma a la historia de amor. En este caso no me lo ha parecido. Me ha parecido más bien, a dos personajes complicadas, un tanto excéntrica en lo referente a ella, que se atraen, tiene un colegueo, son como los amigos muy queridos que piensan que no pueden encontrar otra cosa mejor.
-No ha habido una secunda pareja, cosa que he odiado. Por el contrario, han sucedido muchas cosas y no me han satisfecho. No porque no me han gustado sino porque me han parecido en algunos casos insuficientes y en otros me han sobrado.
-La escena. Pues que le podía haber dado un tono de guasa o en plan coña, y no habría sido tan chocante. Y creo que ha desmerecido a todas aquellas personas que si les gustan estas relaciones ya que creo que ha frivolizado para mal.
-Pipper la superwoman. Pues me ha encantado toda ella. Una mujer super fuerte, con dos ovarios bien puesto. Pero claro, con su "deficiencia" en cuanto a las relaciones personales.
-Cooper, el super quarterback. Otro hombre SEP, aunque no tan "machista". Casi podría decir, que aquí se han invertido los papeles.
Y voy a poner algo que me asusta, pero es el primer libro de SEP, que no creo vuelva a leer.
Seguramente lo re-leeré al final, la carne es débil
No sé cómo expresarme o cómo hacer llegar lo que pienso a cerca de este libro. Tal vez mejor por frases cortas o no sé.
-No me convenció la historia de amor. Solo hacía al final. No es suficiente. Algo que creo que se le da fenomenal a SEP, es que es capaz de trasmitir muy bien esos sentimientos, cómo se van enamorando, esas cosillas que poco a poco van dando forma a la historia de amor. En este caso no me lo ha parecido. Me ha parecido más bien, a dos personajes complicadas, un tanto excéntrica en lo referente a ella, que se atraen, tiene un colegueo, son como los amigos muy queridos que piensan que no pueden encontrar otra cosa mejor.
-No ha habido una secunda pareja, cosa que he odiado. Por el contrario, han sucedido muchas cosas y no me han satisfecho. No porque no me han gustado sino porque me han parecido en algunos casos insuficientes y en otros me han sobrado.
-La escena. Pues que le podía haber dado un tono de guasa o en plan coña, y no habría sido tan chocante. Y creo que ha desmerecido a todas aquellas personas que si les gustan estas relaciones ya que creo que ha frivolizado para mal.
-Pipper la superwoman. Pues me ha encantado toda ella. Una mujer super fuerte, con dos ovarios bien puesto. Pero claro, con su "deficiencia" en cuanto a las relaciones personales.
-Cooper, el super quarterback. Otro hombre SEP, aunque no tan "machista". Casi podría decir, que aquí se han invertido los papeles.
Y voy a poner algo que me asusta, pero es el primer libro de SEP, que no creo vuelva a leer.
Seguramente lo re-leeré al final, la carne es débil
February 6, 2017
3,5
me ha faltado romance, los protas no han sido de esos típicos de la SEP que cada vez que aparecen saltan chispas, pero me ha gustado mucho. He pasado unos ratos buenísimos y las apariciones de Heath .... maravillosas. Me he sentido "obligada"a leer de nuevo Cázame si puedes, no me he podido aguantar jejejeejejje
me ha faltado romance, los protas no han sido de esos típicos de la SEP que cada vez que aparecen saltan chispas, pero me ha gustado mucho. He pasado unos ratos buenísimos y las apariciones de Heath .... maravillosas. Me he sentido "obligada"a leer de nuevo Cázame si puedes, no me he podido aguantar jejejeejejje
February 7, 2017
Nuestra reseña en A la cama con... un libro
Pues sí, 3/3'5 para SEP. Voy a ver si me tiro por un puente o algo para superar haberle dado esta puntuación.
Pues sí, 3/3'5 para SEP. Voy a ver si me tiro por un puente o algo para superar haberle dado esta puntuación.
May 26, 2020
I had a really HARD time getting into this book.
It took me two tries.
The entire first scene of Piper meeting Cooper was just too ridiculous for me. I had to take a break and come back to it with an open mind.
Fortunately the break helped and I did end up enjoying the rest of the book.
What I liked the most about First Star I See Tonight was that neither Piper nor Cooper liked each other at the beginning, which was refreshingly different.
The book was entertaining, and Piper a real character. She was strong, willful, self-reliant and a gun-swinging super women. She definitely didn't need a man to take care of her. Which turned out to be very appealing to Cooper. He had never known a women like Piper before. Someone that paved her own path, someone that had a concrete goal in mind and was not afraid to get her hands dirty in the process.
Cooper finally found someone in Piper that understood him without having to lay himself bare. They were in sync, liked the same things in life and had chemistry galore.
I thought Cooper was wonderfully down-to-earth for a former quarterback. He wasn't a horn-dog nor a womanizer. He liked to garden which I thought was adorable. And he still needed to find out what he wanted to do with his life. He was also quite trusting - it was sweet and but made him also incredibly vulnerable at times. It was rare to have a male hero that wasn't jaded yet and still believed in the best of people.
Their life was never boring with his life being in danger. And they worked together like a team. He appreciated her expertise and know-how. And she liked his caring personality. But when it came to really figuring out what they could have together they reached crossroads that neither was willing to pass.
For Piper that was the only thing that made her run. Run from her feelings, and run from the possibility of a future with Cooper. Underneath that hard outer shell and tough persona she was a fragile women that didn't believe in a HEA for herself.
Closer to the end I thought Piper was maybe a little TOO independent and too set in her ways. She was tough as nails, and thought she knew what she wanted in life - running her investigation business. And unfortunately she didn't see a future with Cooper.
At the end he was the one that knew what he wanted and he found a way to make Piper see the light at the end of the long tunnel.
3.5 stars
___________________________________
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It took me two tries.
The entire first scene of Piper meeting Cooper was just too ridiculous for me. I had to take a break and come back to it with an open mind.
Fortunately the break helped and I did end up enjoying the rest of the book.
What I liked the most about First Star I See Tonight was that neither Piper nor Cooper liked each other at the beginning, which was refreshingly different.
The book was entertaining, and Piper a real character. She was strong, willful, self-reliant and a gun-swinging super women. She definitely didn't need a man to take care of her. Which turned out to be very appealing to Cooper. He had never known a women like Piper before. Someone that paved her own path, someone that had a concrete goal in mind and was not afraid to get her hands dirty in the process.
Cooper finally found someone in Piper that understood him without having to lay himself bare. They were in sync, liked the same things in life and had chemistry galore.
I thought Cooper was wonderfully down-to-earth for a former quarterback. He wasn't a horn-dog nor a womanizer. He liked to garden which I thought was adorable. And he still needed to find out what he wanted to do with his life. He was also quite trusting - it was sweet and but made him also incredibly vulnerable at times. It was rare to have a male hero that wasn't jaded yet and still believed in the best of people.
Their life was never boring with his life being in danger. And they worked together like a team. He appreciated her expertise and know-how. And she liked his caring personality. But when it came to really figuring out what they could have together they reached crossroads that neither was willing to pass.
For Piper that was the only thing that made her run. Run from her feelings, and run from the possibility of a future with Cooper. Underneath that hard outer shell and tough persona she was a fragile women that didn't believe in a HEA for herself.
Closer to the end I thought Piper was maybe a little TOO independent and too set in her ways. She was tough as nails, and thought she knew what she wanted in life - running her investigation business. And unfortunately she didn't see a future with Cooper.
At the end he was the one that knew what he wanted and he found a way to make Piper see the light at the end of the long tunnel.
3.5 stars
___________________________________
Find more reviews and book recommendations on my blog.
Find me on Bookstagram.
December 9, 2017
Le doy un 3,5 y porque es SEP y aquí no hay media estrella, redondeo al alza. Soy una gran fan de Chicago Stars y aunque este libro me parece que está incluido un poco con calzador en la serie, nadie puede negar que es puro SEP. Tiene dos protagonistas maravillosos: un ex quarterback macizo, de pelo en pecho (si, señor!!), gruñón y con un aire a mi querido Dan -no creo que las apariciones de Phoebe sean gratuitas- y qué decir de Piper, la viva imagen de una mujer de armas tomar. Además, la afición de Coop por cultivar lo que sea me ha encantado, le da a el libro ese toque de campo que tanto le gusta a la autora. A falta de pueblito, bueno es un huerto.
El inicio del libro es muy divertido y las interacciones verbales entre ellos muy estimulantes, pero en esta ocasión falta química y amor en la pareja protagonista y sobran personajes secundarios y subtramas. Una pena, pues tenía todos los mimbres para ser otra historia fantástica. De todas maneras, lo recomiendo: un libro normalito de SEP es cuando menos muy fácil de leer y bastante entretenido, cosa que no se puede decir de muchos libros que triunfan por ahí.
El inicio del libro es muy divertido y las interacciones verbales entre ellos muy estimulantes, pero en esta ocasión falta química y amor en la pareja protagonista y sobran personajes secundarios y subtramas. Una pena, pues tenía todos los mimbres para ser otra historia fantástica. De todas maneras, lo recomiendo: un libro normalito de SEP es cuando menos muy fácil de leer y bastante entretenido, cosa que no se puede decir de muchos libros que triunfan por ahí.
Want to read
August 5, 2016OH HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!
A NEW Chicago Stars book from SEP???!!!! I read It Had to Be You waaaaaaaaayyyyy back in '94 when I was 14(!!!) and I gotta say that book MADE me the voracious contemporary romance reader that I am today... SO I CAN'T BLOODY WAIT FOR THIS!!!!!!
A NEW Chicago Stars book from SEP???!!!! I read It Had to Be You waaaaaaaaayyyyy back in '94 when I was 14(!!!) and I gotta say that book MADE me the voracious contemporary romance reader that I am today... SO I CAN'T BLOODY WAIT FOR THIS!!!!!!
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