After a mortifying—and very public—humiliation, Dancy Flynn is desperate to find sanctuary far from the crowd. But where can a washed-up sex symbol hide? How about making an unannounced appearance at the secluded lake house of the sweet, sensitive high school boyfriend she hasn’t seen in almost twenty years?
But Chicago Stars quarterback Clint Garrett is no longer the kid Dancy remembers. Now he’s a gridiron superhero, still holding a massive grudge against her for breaking his teenage heart. With no room in his life for either complexity or distractions, he banishes Dancy to a refurbished old railroad caboose tucked away in the woods…and out of his sight.
Except Dancy’s not good at staying invisible. Her efforts to rebuild her career clash with Clint’s desperation to regain his focus, all made more challenging by a rescue dog, a local woman in trouble, a meddling mother, an ex with an agenda…and the sizzle of rekindled emotions.
As Dancy attempts to get her life on track and Clint tries to get his groove back, can these two one-time lovers navigate their rocky pasts and complicated present to find themselves…and each other?
Release Date: Feb 10, 2026
Series: Chicago Stars
Book: 11
Heat Level: Sensual
Publisher: HarperCollins
Imprint: Avon
Price: $6.99
Philips once again creates characters you can’t help but fall for even in the most ridiculous circumstances.
Another Chicago Stars book and another chance for Phillips to showcase masterclass of character development. Does football play a major role in the story? No, but it impacts the main male character, Clint. Who is the star quarterback for the Stars? Add in a Hollywood starlet on the downtrend in Dancy Flynn, and you have a recipe for a classic romance.
I want to say this book is quintessential Phillips. If you like what you’ve read from her, you won’t be disappointed. If you’ve never read Phillips, this one is a great intro to a quirky romance with plenty of banter, strange scenarios, characters tortured by decisions and choices made in their youth, and a lot of coincidental moments that turn a little wild.
Dancy is the woman who gave up a career for a heartthrob husband, only to be dumped for the younger model. Clint was her high school boyfriend, the one she ended up turning to for a place to hide after a disastrous evening on top of other life’s awfulness. Clint is just a man at the prime of his career, but realizing he’s hitting burnout, and here comes Dancy to throw a wrench in his plans for a quiet summer to get his head straight.
I inhaled this book, eagerly devouring the pages to see what happens next. There were plenty of unpredictable moments. I really didn’t expect things to play out for Dancy and Clint the way I did, and I think that made the story that much better. There are some familiar pieces for fans, and while this doesn’t fade to black when it comes to intimacy, the level of detail and graphics is toned down, making it perfect for those who don’t like all the page clutter.
Overall, if you’re looking for a read that will give you a great story that also features mature characters dealing with the hand life is dealing, this one is for you. For readers who enjoy Jaci Burton and Jennifer Crusie.
~ Landra
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