The Total Package

I have some fun posts coming up, and a follow up to my last one, but first- let's do a book review.

The Total Package - Stephanie Evanovich

The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot is back with a funny, sweet, and sizzling novel about the game of love, in which a hot quarterback must figure out how to score big with a beautiful and talented media analyst after a heartbreaking fumble.

Star quarterback, first-round draft-pick, and heartthrob Tyson Palmer has made a name for himself with his spectacular moves. 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, whose negative comments about his performance draw high ratings and spectacular notices of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget the sizzling history the two of them shared in college, a passionate love Tyson casually threw away. And even more infuriating, he doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute girl whose heart he once broke.

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? And what will happen when Tyson—riding high now that he’s revived his career—realizes he needs to make an even more important comeback with Dani? Can he make some spectacular moves to get past her defenses—or will she sideline him for good?

For the record, Stephanie Evanovich is a new-to-me-author and I really enjoyed this book, so I would definitely add her to my authors-to-watch-for list. If you are in the mood for a fun, quick romance novel, then you'll really enjoy this one. Honestly, I managed to finish this book in one setting because it's only 256 pages but it reads like a 150 page book. You'll fly through this story.

So we start with Tyson Palmer, presumably at one of his lowest points, basically losing his lucrative football career to drugs and alcohol, and his alma mater doesn't even want to be associated with him. Enter Ella (later known as Dani), who was his tutor in college, and we have a not-so-steamy night that he doesn't totally remember but she kind of regrets. I mean, she was clearly in love with him but she certainly thought maybe she wouldn't be a bang and leave type of girl, but that's what happens to her.

Cue intense rehab, training, and hard work to rebuild his career and become successful again, Tyson worked hard to get to that point. Dani, now with a four year old child (yes, it's Tyson's, you know where this will go), is trying to build a career as a sports correspondent and she finds herself with a too-good-to-turn-down offer which puts her squarely in the daily presence of Tyson again.

If you are an avid reader of romance novels, you know how this story line will finish out because it really does follow basically the same route as all of the others. What is a little bit different in this story is I didn't care for Ella/Dani, but I really liked Tyson. I felt his was so sincere and really trying to do good things and stay on a positive path whereas Ella/Dani.. meh. She's just refusing to believe that a person like him could change for the better and be sincere about it. But overall? It was fun read compared to the last few books I've read with a heavy story line, so this was definitely a welcomed change. I think if you are looking for a romance novel unlike anything you read, you might be disappointed. If you want something solid with a great guy at the center of it and a comeback story, then this is definitely something you are going to enjoy. I'd have to give this a solid 4/5 stars and I would definitely read more from Stephanie Evanovich.

Lucky for you, you can purchase The Total Package on Amazon but also Barnes & Noble, of course. In the meantime, you can check out Stephanie's website and follow her on Facebook to keep up to date with her!