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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
medium-paced
Pretty cheesy rom-com but an easy read in between other books that took a lot.
Sometimes I wish I was an oblivious fool because why do white people like to flash jump their racism onto the plot when the book was perfectly enjoyable on it’s own? Implications of SWANA artefacts being better in the hands of rich whîte people rather than the home country when Hobby Lobby and the British Museum have demonstrated how unqualified they are at looking after history that doesn’t belong to them. Also looooooooved the belittling mockery of the Arab Spring. Brava! Brava!
I quite enjoyed this tale. The opera diva vs the backup quarterback. There was a lot of technical info incorporated that showed the author did some research or had very good advisors on the opera. Taking two people from quite different worlds and showing how they were similar in personality made a good case for relationships based on values and personality more than what they seemingly had in common. The misunderstandings were handled in a mixture of humorous and mature ways... mostly. The "I'm going to kiss someone to make you jealous" was a little off-putting. I wish the explanations at the end didn't feel so rushed. I've not read all of the previous books, but several, and it was nice to see old characters pop up. SEP is always on my TBR and one-click list when I have extra funds! I received a copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review but my opinions are all my own.
Another disappointment. This series was so fun in the past, but this book was lacking.
3,5 stars
I love the Chicago Stars series! I'm so happy she wrote a new one but I have to be honest and say that this new addition is not the best one in the series. Enjoyable and entertaining but not pulling at your heartstrings :)
I love the Chicago Stars series! I'm so happy she wrote a new one but I have to be honest and say that this new addition is not the best one in the series. Enjoyable and entertaining but not pulling at your heartstrings :)
I’ll read these books as long as SEP keeps writing them.
Opera diva vs football star trapped in a promotional tour for a luxury watch? Yes, please!
Hadn't quite kept up on SEP's Chicago Stars series recently, but given that premise I knew I had to read this. A good contemporary romance with a surprisingly twisty suspense plot thrown in that kind of helps the forced proximity of the tour (for "romance reasons" Thad always makes sure they have connecting hotel suites so he can look out for her). The resolution of the black moment in the romance includes some zany antics on the level of Nobody's Baby But Mine.
(A brief CW - prior to the start of the novel, Olivia's ex-fiance dies by suicide and this act is haunting her as well as being used by someone nefarious to stalk her during the course of the book)
Thanks Avon/William Morrow for the review copy!
Hadn't quite kept up on SEP's Chicago Stars series recently, but given that premise I knew I had to read this. A good contemporary romance with a surprisingly twisty suspense plot thrown in that kind of helps the forced proximity of the tour (for "romance reasons" Thad always makes sure they have connecting hotel suites so he can look out for her). The resolution of the black moment in the romance includes some zany antics on the level of Nobody's Baby But Mine.
(A brief CW - prior to the start of the novel, Olivia's ex-fiance dies by suicide and this act is haunting her as well as being used by someone nefarious to stalk her during the course of the book)
Thanks Avon/William Morrow for the review copy!
Although my Goodreads account says I have read only twenty of Phillips novels, I beg to differ. I think I have read them all and I have written reviews of sixteen of them. I read Phillips because I know that there will always be a happy ending and her story formula is one that I like. If I am having a bad time, I can count on Phillips to make me feel better.
The world, however, keeps changing and these novels do not. Most of the time, I am willing to accept that, but I do wonder what new readers think of Phillips’ world. It is very white. It is very straight. It may be hard for romance readers who are used to more diversity to suspend their belief and enjoy these books.
It may be that neither Phillips or her editors are comfortable making changes to the Chicago Stars (her football team) or the other aspects of these stories. I just wish she would try. Her characters are not living in the twenty-first century.
Given all my comments above, you may wonder why I am giving this novel four stars. It is all about timing. My reading life has been chaos this year and this book was a blessing. Right book, really right time.
The world, however, keeps changing and these novels do not. Most of the time, I am willing to accept that, but I do wonder what new readers think of Phillips’ world. It is very white. It is very straight. It may be hard for romance readers who are used to more diversity to suspend their belief and enjoy these books.
It may be that neither Phillips or her editors are comfortable making changes to the Chicago Stars (her football team) or the other aspects of these stories. I just wish she would try. Her characters are not living in the twenty-first century.
Given all my comments above, you may wonder why I am giving this novel four stars. It is all about timing. My reading life has been chaos this year and this book was a blessing. Right book, really right time.