Book Review-Beneath The Stars

Beneath the stars

This review may contain spoilers, so fair warning, upon reading the review. Also my tags may have spoilers in them so be forewarned before checking out full review.

First Impressions

Beneath The Stars is the FINALE in the Falling Stars series and this series has really has taken me on a whirlwind of passionate love affairs…..adventures that curl your toes….emotions that dig deeper that will strike the reader in ways they don’t see coming and a love story that will make you want to dance under the stars in joy. THAT is how good this author writes her stories and this story “Beneath The Stars” is so impacting and will dig deeper in the style that A.L. Jackson implements so flawlessly. It tackles a forbidden love, a man who is so tortured by his past and with a bold determination to protect those in his life and a villain who will destroy everything he touches …..and a young woman who finds love worth fighting for…

You stand up for people who need standin’ up for. And when you get a wife and kids? You remember you’re strong as a stallion. You protect ’em with all you’ve got. And you love ’em like a treasure. And you never….ever break them.

Book Evaluation:

Plot: 5/5
World Building: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Hero: 5/5
Heroine: 5/5
Intimacy Level: 4/5
Relationship Building: 5/5
Heart & Feels: 5/5
Witty/Banter/Reaction of Laughter: 4/5
Page Turner Level: 5/5
Narration: 5/5
Ending: 5/5
Overall View: 4.75/5

I loved playing with fire. But this? It was different. This was dancing into treachery. Treading into perilous waters.

The Main Protagonists

The Hero: Rhys

The Heroine: Maggie

What I Loved

Beneath The Stars was a story that dug deep into these characters. We see flashbacks for the hero and his past and seeing the family connections and why they are so important to him. I HIGHLY recommend reading the flashbacks, they are essential to understanding the man that Rhys is now and why he is battling so hard to fight for the family he has left. We see his struggles internally throughout the story and the way in which he becomes so devoted to Maggie….his gooddess girl. Seeing in how he is willing to fight for her no matter the risks. Even though their love is forbidden and everyone is warning Maggie away from Rhys….that he is a bad boy who is trouble, she is drawn to him like a moth to flame and doesn’t mind the connection.

“Do I feel it, Rhys? I felt it the day I met you. Something different. Something bigger.” I rested my cheek back on the thundering of his chest. “And my heart—it got molded into a new shape. It got mended into the shape of you.”

She senses something more about Rhys than anyone else and she sees what is worthy within him. Seeing how she fights for him is the true heart of the story. Rhys doesn’t have anyone that is willing to fight for him and its truly so heartbreaking. I was so fascinated by him and literally your heart breaks for him as a reader. Because you see how much he wants to be loved and valued but only truly has his mother who sees his light…..until his maggie girl. The conflicts in the story is outer on the story. Seeing our couple truly come together and come to such deep understanding of each other and being willing to fight for each other was powerful and so awe inspiring. Seeing the journey in how they put each other first was true gold in the writing.

What I Struggled With

Honestly….I don’t have any big struggles with this book at all. Only fair warning I would give is READ THIS BOOK IN AUDIO. You don’t want to physically read this book just because the author’s writing style is very lyrical so keep that in mind.

Narration

PERFECTION!!! This duo team are so flawless together and seeing how well they capture this author’s voice is stunning. They will really deliver on the emotional impacts so perfectly!

Overall Thoughts

Beneath The Stars is a story that won’t pull the stops ……be ready to be stunned by the deliverance of a love story that is brilliantly written, digging deep into a flawless dynamic and a sweet forbidden love that delivers all the way to the heart!

Book Details

Title: Beneath The Stars

Author: A.L. Jackson

Series: Falling Stars, #4

Publication Date: February 22 2021

Publisher: Self Published

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Narrator: Zachary Webber, Andi Arndt

Length: 11 Hours + 12 Minutes

Tropes/Character Types: Rock Star, Protective Alpha Male, Tortured Hero, Softer FMC, Forbidden Love, Brooding Hero

Spice Level: Steamy-the sexual content is more explicit in the language and tone, heavier amount of sexual scenes.

POV: Duo POV

Music Song That Is Themed After This Book: Hold On by Wilson Phillips

From NYT and USA Today bestselling author A.L. Jackson comes a friends-to-lovers romance about an unattainable rockstar and his best friend’s younger sister…

Maggie Fitzgerald is the last girl I should think about taking to my bed.

On the cusp of turning 21, she has her whole life waiting out ahead of her. Sexy AF while still radiating an innocence that I know better than to taint.
And here I am, itching to reach out and touch a girl who is so forbidden that just thinking about her feels like committing a mortal sin.
Thing is, I love playing with fire.

Rhys Manning is everything I shouldn’t want.

Country-rock’s newest superstar.
Fun. Wild. Ready to show the world a good time.
He’s so off-limits it isn’t even funny.
So out of reach he might as well be a poster tacked on my wall.
Too bad every time he looks at me, my heart races out of control.

Now, I’m stuck living with him for the entire summer…

We’re only supposed to be friends. Still, I should have known it was a terrible idea when I started sneaking into his room. Especially when it’s clear he’s keeping secrets.
Secrets that might destroy us both.
One touch, and I want more.
One kiss, and I’m spiraling out of control.
I know it’s reckless to start dancing in the flames.
But in exchange for getting to spend one night with this brooding bad boy? I might be willing to get burned…