The
Total Package
By: Stephanie Evanovich
Releasing
March 15, 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?
So
we are back with another Stephanie Evanovich book and I am pleased to say that
we see some of the characters from her past books, which I loved! But let me
tell you more about this book.
Tyson
Palmer has hit rock bottom, not only as a star quarterback but as a person! But
after a one night stand with "Ella Bella" a girl from college and
leaves her devastated. He is forced into sobriety after being picked up by the
Austin Mavericks and a very determined
head coach. Now 5 years later he has plans to leave the football field and go
into sports reporting…that is until Marcus LaRue manages to talk him into
staying just one more season. But what Tyson doesn't know is that one last
season will change his life forever.
Daniella
Carrino's (Ella Bella) whole life changes with a fateful one night stand with
the only man she has ever loved…Tyson. But with new responsibilities, Daniella
knew she had to change and so Daniella Carrino morphed into Dani Carr; sports
journalist and the only person who didn't kiss Tyson Palmers butt. But it was a
big surprise when she gets employed by Marcus LaRue as his very own
PR/Journalist…but an even bigger surprise when LaRue signs on with the
Mavericks!
Dani
is resolved to stay as far away from Tyson as possible, but Tyson doesn't let
that happen and slowly their relationship turns into so much more! But Dani is
still keeping a big secret from Tyson and she knows that when it comes out it
will destroy everything!
I
honestly have to say that The Total Package is by far my favorite one of the
three books. The author has really gone from strength to strength with these
books and I honestly cannot get enough….I'm also hoping a novella comes out
about Marcus too *HINT HINT*
The
writing is smooth and I love the way that the book is predominantly written
from the male perspective. The plot (although not original) is outstanding in
it execution and is truly one of the best sports romances I have ever read. I
even understood the American football references and seen as I'm British and
know nothing about American football, I would say that is a feat in itself! I
loved the characters in this book! Tyson, Dani and her family her wonderful
characters, but for me Marcus LaRue stole the show! He is truly my MVP for this
book.
I
give The Total Package a very well deserved 5 stars!
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.
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.
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