Simply the Best A Chicago Stars Novel

Susan Elizabeth Phillips — 2024

#1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Elizabeth Phillips returns with the next book in her Chicago Stars series where a successful sports agent and the sister of his biggest client engage in a take-no-prisoners battle of the sexes. Take one hard-driving sports agent... Throw in a failed chocolatier... And her superstar football player brother... Add a quirky pink and purple food truck... Then, to really screw things up, mix in a very unfortunate murder. Brett Rivers is the hottest sports agent in the business--fast and furious, swift and deadly. Failure? Not an option. Rory Garrett is--let's be honest--a disaster. She has a big heart, an empty bank account, a passion for making exquisite chocolate, and a huge inferiority complex from living in the shadow of Brett's most important client, her football legend brother. Brett and Rory should never have met, and they absolutely, positively should never have had to deal with the consequences of one stupid, drunken night...one disastrous lie...one career in jeopardy...one missing football player...and a very dead body. It's going to get messy...and dangerous...and heartbreaking...and sexy. To Rory, Brett represents skewed values and a devious mind. To Brett, Rory is forbidden fruit, off limits, do not disturb, and no entry--definitely no entry. A woman who has succeeded at nothing and a man who's succeeded at everything confront the challenge of their lives as they struggle with themselves and each other. When it comes to love--what price are any of us willing to pay to be simply the best?

Reviews

Lynn Braden@ftbooklover

Feb 21, 2024

Chocolatier, Rory Garrett has spent all of her life in the shadow of her highly successful quarterback half brother, Clint, until he is arrested for murdering his girlfriend. Rory knows he couldn't have done it and tries to prove it, but she finds it tougher than she thought, especially when her brother's agent, Brett Rivers, begins to interfere in her investigation. Brett is equally convinced that Clint is innocent and knows that his standing at the Champion Sports Agency depends on clearing his client. Rory and Clint try to deal with their growing attraction and the interruptions caused by the problems of their businesses, but they just aren't sure if they are going to find the real killer before it is too late.

Simply The Best is filled with quirky characters and descriptions of yummy chocolate. The protagonists are well developed, leaving them a bit unlikable at times throughout the story, but the banter is fun and provides some laugh out loud moments. The plot splits time between the romance and the mystery and remains fairly balanced, however a weakness of the story is the amount of time spend on the investigation, which ends up being solved by accident rather than intent. Suspenseful moments add to the narrative as well as a satisfying conclusion. Overall, Simply the Best is a fun addition to the Chicago Stars series and well worth the read.

+10