Enter to win a hardcover copy of THE TOTAL PACKAGE
The Total Package
Stephanie Evanovich
Releasing March 15th, 2016
William Morrow
Smart and sexy Dani Carr knows as much about football as any man--maybe more. It’s always been her dream to make a living talking about the game she loves. But Dani’s not interested in being just the usual eye-candy sideline reporter; she wants to be the first woman analyst on a pre-game show, the ultimate in exclusive boys-club jobs. And it turns out, that despite the odds, she has the talent to get her there.
Star quarterback-and heartthrob--Tyson Palmer always did things in spectacular fashion, including ruining his career after debuting as a first-round draft pick. When the head coach of the Austin Mavericks refuses to let him waste his million dollar arm, Tyson makes a Hail Mary pass at redemption and succeeds with everyone…except Dani, who appears to be using her high-profile commentator job to make a name for herself at his expense.
Dani refuses to let anyone forget about Tyson’s transgressions….and for good reason. There’s history between these two, sizzling history that dates back to their college days, and it ended in another spectacular flame-out of Tyson’s. He’s conveniently forgotten all about that episode because Dani is no longer the cute girl next door he barely remembers--she’s a bombshell with huge ratings and a long memory.
But can a woman trying to claw her way to the top and a quarterback who knows all about rock bottom make it to the Super Bowl without destroying each other in the process? And what will happen when Tyson-riding high on his career comeback-realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani?
Tyson scowled defensively, before leaning his forearms
down on the table between them. “Then I guess there really isn’t any story left
to tell. Sounds like you know it all.” He was sorry he had offered her a seat,
much less his drink.
“I told you, Tyson, I want to try to help you,” she
reiterated.
“Why?”
“Because I believe in you,” Ella stated with conviction,
as if that was enough to earn his trust. But Tyson Palmer was long past
trusting anyone, including himself.
“Why?” he repeated, now angry.
Ella looked down at the table for a moment, then said
quietly, “Because I remember the guy I tutored. Who was serious about his game
and never had a problem taking no for an answer.”
He wanted to laugh in her naïve face. To mockingly tell
her at the time she hadn’t been worth the pursuit, if for no other reason than
to get her to leave him alone. He wanted her to stop looking at him in the way
she was, like he was not a total disaster. But most of all, he no longer wanted
to be reminded of when he was in control and held the world in the palm of his
football-throwing hand.
“That kid doesn’t exist anymore. When you graduate and
join the real world, you’ll realize that people change, usually not for the
better,” he spat out cynically.
“I refuse to believe that.”
Tyson sighed and ran his hand through the shaggy brown
hair that had outgrown his clean cut months ago. She was being way too
persistent, but her sincerity was admirable, and part of him wanted to believe
her.
“Okay. We’re friends, now what?”
She brightened with his acquiescence. And she really did
have a pretty smile. “Now you let me be a good friend and help take care of
you. You look so tired. ”
This time he didn’t hold back the laugh, and while it
wasn’t exactly harsh, it still was hollow. She wasn’t able to help him any more
than he could help himself. And she made it sound so easy, like she could perform
some sort of exorcism and all his demons would flee. The more likely story was
she was trying to get close to him under the misguided impression that he had
something left to offer.
“You’re good, Mother Teresa. Why don’t we go someplace
quiet where I can confess my sins and you can absolve me? Make sure you turn
your phone on to record, so you don’t miss the good stuff.”
“You’re wrong, but I understand you being leery,” she
patiently explained. “I . . . I always liked you, Tyson, and you were always so
nice to me. You deserve to have someone on your side. I know this is all just
your circumstances talking.”
“Sorry, not interested.” Tyson took back his now-empty
glass and went back to sucking the last remnants of Gentleman Jack off the ice.
Damn his mouth was dry, always so dry. As far as he was concerned, the
conversation was closed. He wanted her to get out before he settled back into
the dark side.
“What would it take for me to get you interested? For you
to consider coming home with me, at least for a decent night’s sleep?”
Maybe it was the way she asked it, completely oblivious
to the fact that the question itself made her sound like a hooker. Maybe it was
the pity or her dogged insistence that he see himself for something other than
he was, which was a lost cause. And then, like a lighthouse shining through the
fog in his brain, it dawned on him. His cute little virtuous tutor had joined
the ranks of pleasure seekers and was trying to get him into bed. At least that
explanation turned the exchange from ludicrous to one that made sense.
“You still a virgin, Ella Bella?” He answered her
question with one of his own, accompanied by a smile of complete impropriety.
Finally she blinked. Her grip tightened around the handle
of the purse in her lap, and she stared at it before looking back up at him and
meeting his gaze head-on.
“Yes.” She spoke her one-word answer unemotionally, even
as the flush crept up to her cheeks.
Tyson sat back in his
chair, the recesses of his drug-addled mind jarred. Wrong answer. She was
supposed to have forsaken her outdated notion of chastity. She was supposed to
have been tainted by now, like everyone he knew. As corrupted as he was.
“Hey Ella Bella, what do you say to you and me going
someplace to get freaky?” Part of it was said in jest, trying to recover from
just how badly she managed to throw him. Another part of him longed to engage
in just a little bit of the same harmless banter from the days when she was a
sweetheart and he was a hero.
“Your place or mine?” Her answer was so unexpected and
sounded just as foreign to his ears.
Tyson starts out as a huge jerk, but deep down, he is still the good guy Dani once knew. He's lost everything and can't even stand to look at himself in the mirror. After receiving a second chance from an unexpected place, he turns his life around and gets back in the game. Dani's life was completely changed after her last encounter with Tyler, and she has physically changed as well as she tries to make her way in the sports broadcasting field. But her identity isn't the only thing that she keeps from Tyler, she has another secret that could end their renewed relationship before it has a chance to flourish. As fate brings them together, they will have to both figure out is they can forgive each other and find a way to move forward together. I loved this sweet romance about second chances and redemption.
I received an ARC via Edelweiss for the purpose of an honest review. I was not compensated for this review, all conclusions are my own.
New York Times Bestselling Author, Stephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl from Asbury Park who began writing fiction while waiting for her cues during countless community theater projects. She attended New York’s School of Film and Television and acted in several improvisational troupes and a few small-budget movies, all in preparation for the greatest job she ever had, raising her two sons. Now a full-time writer, she’s an avid sports fan who holds a black belt in tae kwon do.
Stephanie, with THE SWEET SPOT, and now with THE TOTAL
PACKAGE, you write heroes within the sports world (Baseball for TSS and
Football for TTP). What aspects of that lifestyle makes for writing a
great hero? And as with Tyson, what aspect's of that lifestyle can make
for great drama/character development?
Sports heroes
are fun because it's easy to picture them having lots of attitude. Also,
they are disciplined when it comes to their bodies, which really helps ratchet
up the hotness. And if they are at the top of their games, they
usually have lots of disposable income. In Tyson's particular case,
it all sort of worked against him, because it was that very lifestyle that
caused him to implode.
You write heroines that any reader can not only relate to,
but could consider that woman a best friend, as with Dani from THE TOTAL
PACKAGE. Do you find qualities of yourself if any of your heroines or do
you write them based on someone you know?
Holly from
Big Girl Panties shares the most of my views and personality traits, so
thanks for the compliment! Amanda from The Sweet Spot has the full on
sass I always wish I had. Dani Carr? (Heavy sigh). There were
times I actually hated her, because she made some really bad decisions that I
wouldn't personally make in a million years. I can remember at one point
calling my editor in tears and telling her I can't write this woman
anymore. My editor was thrilled and told me it showed real
growth. Geez. Talk about growing pains.
If you could cast Tyson and Dani with any celebrity, who
would you choose? Any reason why?
I would love
to see Billy Miller as Tyson. For folks out there that may know him,
he plays Jason Morgan on General Hospital. Excuse me, make that the NEW
Jason Morgan, taking over for Steve Burton. The fact that Billy got me to
forget about Steve is a coup in and of itself. I'm a huge GH fan, and for
a long time I shook my fist in the air and shouted - "There is only one
Jason Morgan!" Billy is adorable and does vulnerable so well. And
has the killer blue eyes. While I was writing The Total Package, I would often
picture Kaley Couco. Or maybe I was just watching a lot of Big Bang
Theory. But she is totally my pick for Dani.
What is your favorite romance troupe to write? (Second
Chance Romance, Opposites Attract, etc)?
Since The
Total Package is only my third book, I'm not sure I have enough experience
to give that question an honest answer. But now I suddenly feel like
trying to write an opposites attracting, second chance romance.
Which was your favorite book to write? And which
couple was your favorite to write?
Yikes!
Why do I feel like you've just asked me to choose a favorite child? Haha.
But seriously, each book offered me the opportunity to meet new people and continue
this amazing adventure, not to mention try and grow as a writer. In all
honestly I think the book that is my favorite will always be the book the am
working on at the time. It keeps me focused and in the moment.
Of course all your readers want to know what you have in the
works for your next release?
I'm currently
working on a younger man/slightly more mature woman story with a martial arts
backdrop. I'm even venturing into first person with this one. I was always the kid that
just jumped into the deep end of the pool and my days alternate between
thinking I'm having the time of my life and ordering a straight jacket.
Some days, those thoughts alternate hourly.
Thank you so much for chatting with us today!!
Thanks so
much for having me. It's been a real pleasure. Bring on the Ides of
March!
Lovely review! Thank you for hosting THE TOTAL PACKAGE today!
ReplyDeleteCrystal, Tasty Book Tours