The Total Package: A Novel

Written by Stephanie Evanovich

Narrated by Katie Schorr

The New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties is back with a funny, sweet, and sizzling novel about love, redemption, and second chances.

Heartthrob star quarterback Tyson Palmer has it all: a million-dollar arm, a winning season and the promise of a Superbowl ring. But more importantly, football’s biggest star is the ultimate comeback kid. After an addiction to painkillers nearly derailed his career, Tyson got sober and went from zero to hero in the eyes of the public.

But one person remains unconvinced: Dani Carr, a sports commentator with high ratings and following of her own.

Dani can’t forgive Tyson’s transgressions or forget a single passionate night with him back in college. To make things worse, Tyson doesn’t realize that the bombshell with huge ratings is the cute co-ed whose heart he once broke.

But can a sports journalist 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 use his million-dollar moves to get past her defenses—or will she sideline him for good?

Stephanie Evanovich is a full-fledged Jersey girl from Asbury Park and the New York Times bestselling author of Big Girl Panties and The Sweet Spot.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Mar 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9780062234889

Stephanie Evanovich

Stephanie Evanovich began writing fiction while waiting for her cues during countless community theater projects. Now a full-time writer, she’s an avid sports fan who holds a black belt in tae kwon do.

Reviews for The Total Package

[Jilayne McCormick Sinkhorn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I always love a good Janet Evonovich book this did not disappoint!!!

[kbranfield-837433 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

4.5 feel good stars!

The Total Package by Stephanie Evanovich is a sweet romance between a recovering bad boy quarterback and a sexy sports commentator harboring a mighty big secret.

Number one draft pick and star quarterback Tyson Palmer's spectacular fall from grace was well documented in the media. An alcoholic with a pain pill addiction and a few sex scandals under his belt, Tyson hits rock bottom in a big way but surprisingly, Austin Mavericks owner Clint Barrow offers him the deal of a lifetime: he will pay for Tyson's rehab as long as he commits to maintaining his sobriety and signs a three year deal with the Mavericks. Grateful for the opportunity while at the same time unsure he can follow through, Tyson accepts his offer and once he makes it through a brutal detox, he is well on his way to staging a successful comeback. Fast forward a few years and the still clean and sober superstar is ready to retire when his personal nemesis on the playing field, Marcus LaRue, makes a deal with Barrow that brings Tyson face to face with someone from his notorious past.

Sports commentator Dani Carr is not exactly Tyson's biggest fan and she avoids him as much as possible. But when she makes a connection with media shy Marcus and he insists the Mavericks hire her as his personal media spokeswoman, she leaves behind her family to temporarily move to Austin. While she has good reason to dislike the man Tyson once was, Dani continues to hold a grudge for their somewhat complicated history. Although she finally realizes he genuinely regrets his past actions, Dani still tries to stay as far away from Tyson as possible because she has been hiding a huge secret from him.

Publicity shy Marcus is an enigmatic character who is much more perceptive than he lets on. He is quiet, reserved and tries to maintain as low a profile as possible. Even after months of spending time with him, Dani does not know him any better than she did when they first met, but he is surprisingly observant and offers her sound advice about her relationship with Tyson. But will Dani takes his words to heart? Or will she let a future with Tyson slip through her fingers?

A wonderful blend of realistic issues and laugh out loud humor, The Total Package is an engaging romance that old and new fans of Stephanie Evanovich are sure to love. The storyline is fast-paced with underlying themes of redemption and forgiveness that give the plot substance and depth. The characters are appealing and their growth throughout the story is absolutely phenomenal. An all around outstanding read that I positively adored and highly recommend.

[master275 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love Stephanie Evanovich.....okay, I love the Stephanie Plum series. I wanted to read this b/c of the Stephanie Plum series (and I love football). This was good. I finished it -- and enjoyed it -- but it was just good. I didn't find myself telling my girlfriends about this one. Nothing earth shattering. Just a pretty good story.

[cherylk_44 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Right from the beginning it was no secret that I knew how this story was going to end. However, it was still fun to read this book. Tyson really did a complete 180 improvement on his life. He was more mature, thoughtful, a good friend and team mate. Dani is a fighter. I like that she fought hard for her career to make sure she was taken seriously as a sports commentator . The funniest moments were when Dani was drunk and she was trying to seduce Tyson. I could tell her lack of experience was playing a big part. Not that this is a bad thing. It just showed that Dani would not give her heart to just anyone. Although, watching Dani in action was funny and charming. Tyson showed that he could be a perfect gentleman. It took all his will power. I felt the strong connection between these two. If you are a fan of this author's or are a new reader, you will enjoy this book. Tyson truly is the total package.

[deborahblanchard-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! It is a quick and easy read and I like that. The characters are well developed and I felt they were relatable. This book had my interest from the very first chapter and that says a lot about this book. It is well written and has a nice flow to the storyline. The lead female character was strong and yet had a soft side to her. I liked Dani, a lot. Tyson was a bad boy turned good and the chemistry between them was undeniable. I was rooting for them throughout the book. The secondary characters are likable and yet not boring in the least. This was a really good read and I highly recommend this sexy, not steamy, book. I like that it was not vulgar in its sexuality and was what I call a clean romance with a touch of sexy. This is the first book that I have read by this author but it will not be my last. I usually don't go for sports stories, but this was really more about love and chemistry, than it was about sports and I liked that about it. Great book!

[conkie_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This third book by Ms. Evanovich is about two individuals whose lives kept intercepting, and not always with positive results. The story follows the Hero and Heroine in their mostly separate journeys told in "look back" vignettes; easy to follow and void of unnecessary detail. Characters from the author's two earlier books add to the telling of this book, and does not require the reader to have read those first. A very entertaining story.

[bookchickdi · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A few years ago I read a debut novel by author Stephanie Evanovich, Big Girl Panties, and beyond loving the title, I really enjoyed the book about Logan Montgomery, a hot trainer who brings Holly, a young widow, out of her shell. I finished the book and wanted to read more about two secondary characters, baseball superstar Chase and his sassy wife Amanda.When The Sweet Spot was published the following year, I was so excited that we got to find out how Chase and Amanda got together, and I loved it even more than Big Girl Panties. Evanovich just published her third book, The Total Package, about a big shot quarterback, Tyson Palmer, who trashes his career. When Palmer hits bottom, the owner of the Austin Mavericks picks him up and makes him the cornerstone of his team, hoping to win the Super Bowl.Palmer digs in and works to make himself one of the league's best quarterbacks. When hot young wide receiver Marcus LaRue joins the Mavericks, he hopes that he and Palmer can be a dream team. LaRue's only request is that the team hire a young reporter, Dani Carr, to be his media person. He will only allow Carr to interview him, no one else.Carr leaves her young son behind in Philadelphia with her supportive family- Mom, Dad and brothers- to take advantage of this possible career-building opportunity. She concentrates on the work, and hopes that no one discovers her secret.Tyson is attracted to Carr but finds it hard to break through her shell. LaRue too is very secretive. He doesn't party like a rock star and he is never seen in the company of the many young ladies who seek his attention. And for some reason LaRue keeps pushing for Tyson and Dani to get together.The Total Package is Evanovich's best book yet. Her characters feel like people you would know, especially Dani's close-knit Italian family. They are the family we all want to have. It's nice to read a book where the characters are kind to each other and support each other, even when they make mistakes.I'm more of a baseball fan than football fan, but that didn't stop me from loving everything about this book. And I cried tears of joy when old friends Logan and Holly and Chase and Amanda made an appearance in the book. It was so much fun to see Chase and Amanda's wedding from a different perspective.Evanovich's writing is sharp in this book, and you will find yourself racing through it to finish it. Like her first two books, it is sexy (oh, those sex scenes!) and sassy and this one has such a sweetness to it it is heartwarming.Now I am hoping that the next book will tell us more about Marcus LaRue's story (and not just because Marcus and I share a surname). He may be Evanovich's most intriguing character yet and I want to find out more about where he came from and where he is going.The Total Package is a great book to give your best girlfriend and you may want to read the steamier scenes out loud to your significant other, you know for inspiration. It's like Fifty Shades of Grey, except much better written and with a lot more heart. I give it my highest recommendation.

[ebrahmstadt · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed reading this light romance. Good girl's in love with boy since college, has a one night stand producing a child a couple of years later, humiliates him by accident even later, and things work out after he recovers from his self destruction. Enjoyed the interactions between the characters.

[fictionzeal · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Tyson Palmer was a college football star with a million dollar arm. Well, more exactly, he WAS a football star before he became addicted to alcohol and pain killers and suspended from his team. While he was down and out, he met Dani Carr (Ella) who had been his tutor in college. They reconnect on a more passionate level. Then, he dumps her. Fast forward four years, and he is once again on top of the world having beaten his addiction. Dani is also an up and coming sports reporter. She recognizes him instantly. He doesn’t remember her; at least not initially. The last thing she wants is to have her heart broken again so she’s determined to stay clear.This started off revealing the addiction stage of Tyson and the reconnect with Ella and their one-night stand. I felt the pacing was off at times giving much detail to small things but then a big jump to the ‘fast forward four years’ mark. This is Stephanie Evanovich’s third book and is a sweet and captivating sports romance relating to second chances. Everyone deserves a second chance, right? Both Tyson and Dani were likable characters as they evolved into young adults. Even the secondary characters were well-defined. I loved that Dani had a secret of her own; the author revealed it at just the right moment. The writing point of view was omniscient third person, which is not my favorite style as it can tend to be more confusing. Rating: 3.5 out of 5.