REVIEW: First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

In First Star I See Tonight (Chicago Stars #8) by Susan Elizabeth Phillips, Taking over the family private investigation business has been Piper Dove’s goal since she was a child. And while she might now be the sole owner of said business, things aren’t going so well. Her one and only case has her tailing former Chicago Stars quarterback Cooper Graham but unfortunately he’s on to her. He surprises her by offering her a job at his nightclub Spiral, making sure his employees are on the up and up. But Piper didn’t expect to be in such close contact daily with the hunky guy. Or that feelings she’s never had before will suddenly make an appearance and demand to be heard. Yeah, things could get complicated.

“You look me in the eye and tell me this isn’t the best relationship you’ve ever had, because I know it’s the best one for me.”
That brought her to a full stop, and she quashed a dangerous spark of hope. “Really? If this is your best relationship, you are in serious need of therapy.”

Cooper is determined to make his new nightclub endeavor a successful one. Since retiring from football after his Super Bowl win, he feels like he’s starting all over again, having to prove his worth in the business world this time. Hiring Piper, the crazy but attractive P.I. stalking him, will hopefully make sure his nightclub stays problem free. Little did Coop know that she would actually bring a whole bunch of excitement and a new level of craziness to his well-ordered life. His initial thoughts when he met Piper, of ending her career and pushing her out of his life completely, has suddenly turned into him trying to convince her how good they are together. How the heck did that happen?

‘Nobody won a championship by letting his enemies walk free. He was taking her down, right along with her penny ante detective agency.’

First Star I See Tonight was such a fun romance. I love Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ sense of humor and it was showcased perfectly here as we watched Cooper and Piper deny their feelings, trying to ignore all the signs that they had fallen head over heels in love.

‘She’d believed she was immune to falling in love. And maybe she had been. Immune to falling in love with anyone other than Cooper Graham.’

This is the eagerly anticipated eighth novel in Susan Elizabeth Phillips’ Chicago Stars series and it was so well worth the wait. To me, this was not just another garden-variety type of romance. Between the best sarcastic, cynical one-liners and comical bantering from main characters that I’ve seen in a while to the multiple threads of the story going on in the background, I was fully entertained the entire time. I chuckled, outright guffawed, cringed, gasped and sighed happily before reading the final page thanks to the antics of Coop, Piper and the rest of their quirky group.

I wasn’t so sure about Cooper at the beginning. He came off as an egotistical guy who was smug and who thought he was a step above everyone else. Sure, he did end up having an ego, but I loved that he was pretty down to earth underneath his NFL success. And Coop had a very low-key hobby–I’m not spoiling the surprise and telling you what it was–that made me smile as it’s one that I share with him too, and it was something that tied him into the community by helping others. Coop was a truly decent man who had a bit of a white knight complex, sweeping in and trying to save others and keep them safe. You’ve gotta like that quality in a hero.

And Piper. Boy, was Piper a feisty smart aleck and a cynic who avoided her feelings at all cost. But I had the best time reading all of her snarky comments while she and Coop were bickering back and forth like a married couple. She had a tough upbringing, with only her single dad to raise her and giving her conflicting advice about her feelings and how she should handle herself more like a guy. Even though she made me want to give her a shake here and there to smarten up about Coop, I thought Piper did the best she could with what little experience she had with deep emotions. And it’s generally the guy who runs away from the L word in this genre, so it was a bit of a fun twist to see the heroine being the one who wanted to escape this time. 😉

There was so much to like about First Star I See Tonight. We had some mystery, a few action scenes, smoldering attraction, lots of laughs, and an eccentric cast that will warm your heart with their sincerity. Whether it’s read as a standalone or as part of the series, romance fans will have flown through this novel to the end before they can say Chicago Stars.

Book Info:

Publication: August 23rd 2016 | by William Morrow | Chicago Stars #8

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.

Which is why a good detective needs to think on her feet. “The fact is…I’m your stalker. Not full-out barmy. Just…mildly unhinged.”

Piper soon finds herself working for Graham himself, although not as the bodyguard he refuses to admit he so desperately needs. Instead, he’s hired her to keep an eye on the employees at his exclusive new nightclub. But Coop’s life might be in danger, and Piper’s determined to protect him, whether he wants it or not. (Hint: Not!) If only she weren’t also dealing with a bevy of Middle Eastern princesses, a Pakistani servant girl yearning for freedom, a teenager who just wants to fit in, and an elderly neighbor demanding Piper find her very dead husband.

And then there’s Cooper Graham himself, a legendary sports hero who always gets what he wants—even if what he wants is a feisty detective hell bent on proving she’s as tough as he is.

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.