First Star I See Tonight: A Novel (Chicago Stars)
By: Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Rating: 5 of 5
I have read most of Susan Elizabeth Phillips novels over the years but my favorites have always been the Chicago Stars series. It has been a long time coming but, finally, there is a new book in the series. I can only ask Ms. Phillips – please don’t make us wait so long again.
“First Star I See Tonight” has all the elements I expect in this series: a feisty, smart, witty and loyal woman to relate to, a gorgeous football player (in this case, retired football player), humorous situations, funny dialog, and a happy ending.
Piper Dove is a private investigator who has just purchased her late father’s detective agency from her step-mother and wants to make a go of running the family business. Her father brought her up to be tough to survive in a world where her mother was murdered years before. At the same time, he didn’t want her to be involved in his work as he was trying to wrap her in a cocoon to keep her safe from the hazards he was teaching her to deal with.
Piper is on a case shortly after buying the agency. The case involves watching and reporting on Cooper Graham. Coop is a newly retired quarterback of the Chicago Stars. He is one of the town’s golden boys and has started a new path in life by opening an ultra trendy nightclub, Spiral.
Coop pinpoints Piper and confronts her which leads to their continued interactive as well as all sorts of fun throughout the book. When Piper accepts a job working for Coop, the fireworks start in a big way. Piper is a heroine who captured my attention and made me start cheering for her. She is a fun and feisty young woman who is trying to make her way ethically in a world where ethics seem less important.
The supporting cast of characters range from funny (Piper’s friends and neighbors both at her condo and at Spiral) to some downright nasty individuals (can’t give that away!)
Annabelle and Heath Champion and Phoebe Somerville Calebow make appearances in the book. Heath’s role is so very funny as he is Coop’s agent and is negotiating for him in some fairly non-traditional ways.
I spent a few wonderful hours reading this book. It makes me want to go back and read through the whole series once again. Along with the romantic comedy plot, there are a number of important social themes touched upon, abusive relationships, age and gender discrimination, social acceptance in school among them. Ms. Phillips uses a deft hand in bringing attention to these issues but without bringing down the tone of the funny romance.
I hope that there will be more books in this series in the future and that the wait won’t be as long this time.
