When Stars Collide: A Chicago Stars Novel

Written by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Narrated by Nicole Poole

#1 New York Times bestseller Susan Elizabeth Phillips returns to her beloved Chicago Stars series with a romance between a Chicago Stars quarterback and one of the world’s greatest opera singers—and a major diva.

“Re-entering the world of the Chicago Stars is like a beloved friend come to call.” — #1 New York Times bestselling author Robyn Carr

Thaddeus Walker Bowman Owens, the backup quarterback for the Chicago Stars, is a team player, talented sideline coach, occasional male underwear model, and a man with a low tolerance for Divas. 

Olivia Shore, international opera superstar, is a driven diva with a passion for perfection, a craving for justice, too many secrets—and a monumental grudge against the egotistical, lowbrow jock she’s been stuck with.

It’s Mozart meets Monday Night Football as the temperamental soprano and stubborn jock embark on a nationwide tour promoting a luxury watch brand. Along the way, the combatants will engage in soul-searching and trash talk, backstage drama and, for sure, a quarterback pass. But there’ll also face trouble as threatening letters, haunting photographs, and a series of dangerous encounters complicate their lives. Is it the work of an overzealous fan or something more sinister?

This is the emotional journey of a brilliant woman whose career is everything and a talented man who’ll never be happy with second place.  Tender and funny, passionate and insightful, this irresistible romantic adventure proves that anything can happen…when two superstars collide.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jun 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9780062973115

Susan Elizabeth Phillips

Susan Elizabeth Phillips is a #1 New York Times bestselling author whose books have been published in over thirty languages. Guided by the motto, “Life is better with happily-ever-afters,” she loves writing about love in all its forms. Among her accomplishments, Susan created the sports romance with her novel Fancy Pants. She is best known for her Chicago Stars and Wynette, Texas series, as well as multiple stand-alone books. Visit Susan’s website at www.susanelizabethphillips.com.

Reviews for When Stars Collide

[Xixteel Serratos López · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent story, with both strong and interesting female and male characters. I love the narrator’s voice. I have heard several of her narrations and they are great. She gives a lot of personality to the characters. There was a little part in the middle where the story gets a little bit slow and uneventful, but it picks up after a while. I totally recommend this story full of romance and witty humor.

[Diane Sullivan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The players:
Olivia Shore - Opera Star, perfectionist, …with an apparent stalker.
Thad Owens - back up quarterback for the Chicago Stars, a star in his own right, nearing the end of his football career.
The situation:
Thad and Olivia have to work together as spokespeople for an elite watch company.

"You might be a great
singer," Thad said, "but you're
crap at making apologies."
Olivia could only grovel for so
long. "I'm a soprano. Sopranos
aren't supposed to apologize."

Sparks fly from the moment they meet. They are complete opposites but drawn together by a chemistry that can’t be denied. As they navigate working together it is soon apparent that Thad and Olivia are more alike than they realized.

I adored this story! It is book 9 in the Chicago Stars series, but can be read as a complete stand-alone and is actually my first book by this author. I can’t wait to discover more books by this author!
I listened to some of this book on audiobook and loved the narration!!
#5Stars #GoodreadsGiveaway #WilliamMorrow

[lynda alonzo · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Slow to start but good addition to the series. Hopefully there are more Stars coming.

[Diana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book a really fantastic story with two awesome leads, it was funny and suspenseful and a great read. I have to say bravo to the narrator who really brought the story alive for me I loved the way she portrayed Olivia and she kept me captivated.

[ftbooklover · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Thad Owens, backup quarterback for the Chicago Stars, and Olivia Shore, international opera superstar, have been hired by Marchand Timepieces to tour the country to promote their newest line of men's and women's watches. Although they initially rub each other the wrong way, Thad and Olivia soon find that they have much more in common than they thought, but neither believes they have what it takes to survive a long term relationship. In addition, strange things have been happening to Olivia, stemming from the recent suicide of her former fiance, which have caused her to lose her confidence in her ability as a singer. As these events begin to escalate, they also become dangerous.

When Stars Collide is another entry in the long-running Chicago Stars series, and characters from previous books do appear in very minor roles in this story. However, their plot lines as well as those of other minor characters remain largely undeveloped. Initially, Thad and Olivia are fairly unlikable characters, but as the plot evolves, more of the reasons behind their actions become clear. These unlikable traits at the beginning of the story made it difficult for me to connect with the characters even as the two protagonists began to inch their way toward a real relationship. In addition, some of the events in the story are humorous while others seem a little forced. Overall, When Stars Collide is a good entry in the Chicago Stars series, but not my favorite. 3 1/2 stars

[phyllis2779 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Good characters and a a fun look at the opera make this a very entertaining look. I have to give Phillips a pat on the back for the research she has done for this book on opera and Egyptian antiquities. The opera background made me long to go back to an opera.

[madison_fairbanks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

When Stars Collide by Susan Elizabeth PhilipsBook 9 of the Chicago Stars series. Can be read as a stand-alone. Contemporary romance. Beautiful story. Wonderfully written. Actually lyrical in places.It took me a bit to warm up to the heroine. It was probably more than 20% when I learned enough about her to appreciate her standoffish behavior and attitude that she projected to the hero and the world. By that point, I was routing for them both.Interesting twists and complexity.I fully agree with him that he went too far but admired her tenacity in her efforts. Effectively a PG romance. The sex scenes were a seductive dance which was a bit amusing. Loved so much, the epilogue for the glimpse into the future and their lives which was complicated and loving. A+ and all the stars. I received a copy of this from NetGalley. I also purchased a copy to share.

[cats57_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

5 long years! Wow, I never thought we would be seeing another SEP/STARS book, but here we go! And the wait was worth it. Then again, the series was supposed to have ended with This Heart of Mine, and I am so glad it did not.This book was a tad darker than in the past. There were fewer giggles for sure. At least that was what I thought until I started re-reading the books this weekend! All of the books have a bit of a dark, angsty side to them. For some odd reason, a relationship between an opera singer and a football player just seemed to be more 'out there' than the past pairings. But it worked. For me, it worked quite well.On an interesting side note, I had, as I had said, thought that an opera singer as the female protagonist was unusual until I re-read First Star I See Tonight I am sure as I keep re-reading the series find more things that delight me as much as this book did.There were so many mysteries to be solved, and I had to admit that I thought I had the mystery solved, but I didn't, and I love that!This book was dark but captivating, romantic, and sexy. The characters, Thad and Olivia, were the perfect foils for each other.For long-time fans of SEP, this is a beautiful read. If you are new to the series, this can be read as a stand-alone, but I think you will read the earlier works to see how SEP has grown as an author and read each character's books.I certainly hope that there will be some more books in the Stars collection, but I can understand why there may not be.This book is defiantly going into my re-read/comfort read book folder*ARC supplied by the publisher, author Susan Elizabeth Phillips, and NetGalley. Thank you.