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Simply the Best
Cover of Simply the Best
Simply the Best
Borrow Borrow

"The queen of the football romance is not Taylor Swift. It's Susan Elizabeth Phillips."—Wall Street Journal

#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?

"The queen of the football romance is not Taylor Swift. It's Susan Elizabeth Phillips."—Wall Street Journal

#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?

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About the Author-
  • Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose books have been published in over thirty languages. Guided by the motto, "Life is better with happily-ever-afters," she loves writing about love in all its forms. Among her accomplishments, Susan created the sports romance with her novel Fancy Pants. She is best known for her Chicago Stars and Wynette, Texas series, as well as multiple stand-alone books. Visit Susan's website at www.susanelizabethphillips.com.

Reviews-
  • Library Journal

    Starred review from December 1, 2023

    Rory Garrett's life is currently a disaster: her business partner steals her products and disappears; her spoiled neighbor, Ashley, ends up dead; and she has a steamy, ill-advised one-night stand with a man who mistakes her for a sex worker. When her brother, NFL quarterback Clint Garrett, is sought in connection with Ashley's death, Rory is shocked to find that the one person who can help her find her brother is that sexy mistake she hoped to forget--Brett Rivers, her brother's agent. Slick and perfect, Brett is enchanted with Rory and her broken-down food truck and furious over the attraction that he can't deny. Now he's being forced to choose between his client, his job, and his chance at love. Return to the world of sports agents and their rich and talented clients in Phillips's 10th sexy, sports-themed "Chicago Stars" novel (following When Stars Collide). VERDICT Funny and engaging, with twists and turns that keep it moving. Newbies to the series and even sports-averse readers will appreciate this modern-day Cinderella tale from Phillips.--Judy Garner

    Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

  • Kirkus

    January 1, 2024
    A classic underachiever falls in love with a man who seemingly cares only about business. Rory Meadows Garrett has always felt like a failure in her family; she's a broke, unemployed chocolatier who drifts from job to job while Clint, her half brother, has found fame and fortune as a professional quarterback. After interfering in Clint's love life, Rory attends a team party, intending to come clean about her meddling. Instead, Rory falls into bed with Brett Rivers, Clint's agent. For Brett, sleeping with Clint's sister is the ultimate fireable offense, and he was already in hot water for suggesting that Clint's girlfriend, Ashley Hart, is a gold digger. After a few days of failing to reach Clint on the phone, Brett drives out to his house, but he only finds Rory, also looking for Clint. As they search the house, they discover Ashley's dead body and realize she was murdered. Although Rory and Brett's quest to find the killer and clear Clint's name drives the plot, it's the shifting kaleidoscope of personal, business, and family relationships that makes this such a captivating novel. Rory and Brett seem to be complete opposites, but Phillips is a pro at creating characters who turn out to be perfect for each other in unlikely ways. Brett's staunch belief that professional success is all that matters is challenged by Rory's laid-back approach to life, while Rory's feelings of inferiority are vanquished by Brett's assurance and belief in her skills. Ashley is more plot device than real person, which is the one discordant note in an otherwise emotionally generous novel about romantic and familial love. Not quite a touchdown, but still a winning romance novel.

    COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

  • Booklist

    Starred review from January 1, 2024
    As one of Champion Management's top sports agents, Brett Rivers is used to winning deals, but he has to admit he may finally have met his match in Rory Garrett. Rory's brother (and Brett's client) Clint has just become the leading suspect in the suspicious death of Ashley Hart, Clint's ex-girlfriend. Even though Clint is mad as heck at her for telling him to break up with Ashley, Rory knows Clint had nothing to do with the murder. So when Brett tries to sideline Rory after she begins investigating the crime, she offers Brett a deal. In exchange for Brett sharing his contacts in Clint's world, Rory will help Brett, who had also told Clint to break up with Ashley, get back in the good graces of his most important client. Sounds fair, right? Readers will want to savor every delectable word in the sublimely talented Phillips' latest Chicago Stars novel, following When Stars Collide (2021), just as one would enjoy the luscious artisanal bonbons crafted by the book's heroine. Infused with addictively acerbic wit and graced with a perfectly matched pair of protagonists whose sexual chemistry is hot enough to melt chocolate, this is Phillips at her dazzling best.

    COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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