Review by Booklist Review
Given what she knows about him, the last person on earth mezzo-soprano opera star Olivia Shore wants to be stuck with for four weeks is the Chicago Stars quarterback, Thaddeus Owens. Unfortunately, Olivia signed a contract with Marchand Timepieces, and now she and Thad will be touring the U.S. as brand ambassadors for the company's new luxury watches. Since he has never met Olivia, Thad isn't sure what he's done to earn her thinly disguised contempt, and to be honest, he doesn't really care, until he discovers the secret Olivia has been hiding, and diva and quarterback realize just how much they have in common and just how attracted they are to each other. RITA Award-winning and best-selling romance author Phillips' latest virtuoso literary performance and new addition to her outstanding Chicago Stars series delivers a full score of irresistible delights. From savvy characterization, sassy humor, and sparkling dialogue to a smartly composed plot, in which Phillips deftly weaves a thread of chilling danger, to moments of smoldering sensuality and pure passion, this brilliantly conceived contemporary romance will have readers shouting, Brava!
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Phillips's captivating ninth Chicago Stars romance (after First Star I See Tonight) explores the surprising compatibility between an athlete and an opera singer in the midst of a twisty mystery. Olivia Shore, a famed soprano, and Thad Owens, the backup quarterback for the Chicago Stars, are paired together on a monthlong promotional tour for a luxury watch brand. Olivia initially sees Thad as a "brainless, overpaid jock" while Thad views Olivia as a stuck-up diva--but the ambitious, career-driven pair soon discover they're more alike than they thought. When Thad learns Olivia has been receiving threatening messages, he makes it his mission to help her. Impossibly, the threats seem to come from Olivia's ex-fiancé, who recently died by suicide, and Olivia's fear and guilt has caused her to lose her voice. As she and Thad fight, flirt, and investigate, their attraction becomes undeniable, but both worry about what a future together would mean for their careers. The thrilling suspense plot and intoxicating chemistry will hook new readers and returning fans alike. This is a page-turner.Agent: Steven Axelrod, the Axelrod Agency. (June)
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Review by Kirkus Book Review
A quarterback and an opera singer fall in love while on a press tour for a luxury watch brand. Although Thad Owens has an unparalleled ability to read the football field, a flaw in his peripheral vision has relegated him to second string for the upcoming season. His new endorsement contract for a luxury watch brand includes a monthlong tour with Olivia Shore, a world-renowned soprano with the Chicago Municipal Opera. The bright side of the tour for Thad is that he can get away from Chicago and the expectation that he'll mentor the young quarterback taking his place. Olivia has her own problems: Her ex-fiance committed suicide and sent her an email blaming her for the act. The accusation is so upsetting that she's unable to sing even though she's contracted to perform a demanding lead role in just a few weeks. After a rough start fueled by false assumptions, Thad and Olivia become friends and then lovers. He protects her from overzealous fans and the threat of a stalker but also helps her find her voice again. Olivia and Thad's ongoing discussion about whose career should come first is modern and engaging. In her previous relationship, Olivia gave up several opportunities to soothe her fiance's ego; she's determined not to repeat the same mistake with a man as high-powered and successful as Thad. Unfortunately, other elements of the book are not as forward-thinking. Phillips is unusually focused on Olivia's weight and how she fits into the stereotype of an opera singer--even though she's described as being 5 feet, 10 inches tall and 140 pounds, which sounds more like a model--and the description of the ex-fiance's behavior traffics in stale stereotypes about suicide. Dated elements detract from what might have been a charming romance. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
