First Star I See Tonight: A Novel

Love all her romance novels so far. The ending dragged a little, but it was nice to finish the full circle and have no lingering questions.

First Star I See Tonight by Susan Elizabeth Phillips is one of the best written stories I’ve read this year. It’s the story of Chicago Stars’ retired Quarterback Cooper Graham and detective Piper Dove. Piper is investigation Cooper for a client by following him around Chicago. As their interactions continue Piper is found out and has to stop working for her client. However, Cooper hires her to help solve some irregularities at his nightclub. The longer these two work together, the more they discover that they care for each other. There are other events that happen in this book that involve Piper and Cooper but mainly indirectly. There’s the freeing of a servant from a royal family. Then there’s the solving the mystery of who is trying to sabotage Cooper’s nightclub to ensure that he will not get the financial support he’s been seeking for expansion. There’s also the person who’s been out to hurt Cooper. Piper becomes his bodyguard to keep him safe. This was a fun and entertaining story with loveable characters that you want to know and hang out with. Susan Elizabeth Phillips displays what she does best, writing a story that enfolds the reader with humor and a wonderful story line. Her characters were well written, authentic and complex. The story line was riveting and kept my attention to the very end, as I read this book in one day. I could not put this book down. I genuinely enjoyed reading this book. I highly recommend this book to other readers.

4.5 stars First Star I See Tonight is a well-written and humorous contemporary romance. Although this is the eighth book in the Chicago Stars Series, it can easily be read as a standalone. Piper has no interest in falling in love. She doesn’t do emotions. Piper was tough, competitive, and snarky; just like her dad taught her to be. When Piper’s father died, she bought his business, Dove Investigations. She was determined to be the best private investigator in town. Cooper Graham loved his life. He was thirty-seven-years-old, a Chicago Stars legend, and retired. Cooper left football while he was on top so that he could stay that way. His new passion and vision was to create a nightclub empire. When Cooper discovered that a nutty woman, wearing different disguises, was following him on a daily basis, he shrugged it off. At first, it didn’t bother him, but when the crazy stalker started coming into his nightclub, Cooper had had enough. What could Piper possibly say to Cooper to appease him? She couldn’t exactly tell him, who hired her to investigate him, or why; could she? But, that’s exactly what he wanted to know. And, Cooper got whatever he wanted. Well, apparently, not this time. Before Piper left the nightclub without answering his questions, she nonchalantly told him, that someone was pilfering his profits. Cooper was livid. How could this wacky woman accuse a trusted friend, of stealing? Unfortunately, Piper was right; so Cooper hired her. Initially, Cooper was not attracted to Piper. So, why was he falling for the stubborn, independent, and smart-mouthed woman? Because, Piper wasn’t like any other woman, that he's ever met. Piper was not romantically, interested in him. Piper could also be sexy as hell when she wanted to be. The last thing Piper needed was to fall for a conceited, arrogant ex-football player, like Cooper. Piper avoided relationships at all costs. But, like Cooper, Piper had a big, mushy heart underneath her tough exterior. There are several subplots, adding depth, to this well-written, humorous, and captivating novel. The First Star I See Tonight is a delightful and entertaining read. Susan Elizabeth Phillips never fails to make me laugh. I just love her books.