First Star I See Tonight. Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Published:William Morrow
Date: August 2016
Format: Hardback
Pages:370
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Own book
Rating:
         

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.

Another book by Susan Elizabeth Phillips. An auto buy for me ever since I chose an audiobook Match Me If You Can many years ago now.  Since then I have eagerly awaited her books, and have been guided by her readers both on her board (since disbanded) and her Facebook groups. They have given suggestions for my reading way before I started blogging.

First Star I See Tonight was a fun read, a romantic comedy, that has a feisty, stubborn, in your face heroine and a charming, equally stubborn hero.  I found myself laughing out loud in places and enjoying every word. It is so well written, full of drama, a little suspense and all round quirky characters.

Piper at the beginning of the book is finding it hard to get her investigative detective agency underway.  When she finally finds work at Cooper Graham's night club, she soon has it hopping in all kinds of ways. Cooper doesn't quite know where he is, but one things sure, Piper takes the job seriously and nothing is going to go under the radar. 

I was invested in these two characters and loved each move that they made. What would each of them do next? I wanted to read on and slow it down because I didn't want to let them go. 

If you only read a little contemporary romance, put this one on your list. It is not over the top sexy, it is just plain filled with great characters, a well paced, something always happening kind of book.  Kick back and relax and just read for total pleasure. Susan Elizabeth Phillips sets out to entertain and bring a little joy into the world. She succeeds.