{"id":50591,"date":"2020-03-06T08:00:46","date_gmt":"2020-03-06T13:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=50591"},"modified":"2020-05-30T04:30:10","modified_gmt":"2020-05-30T08:30:10","slug":"release-arc-review-kiss-the-stars-falling-stars-1-by-a-l-jackson","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/?p=50591","title":{"rendered":"Release & ARC Review: Kiss the Stars (Falling Stars, #1) by A.L. Jackson"},"content":{"rendered":"

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KISS THE STARS is live!<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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Amazon\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Audio<\/a><\/strong><\/h4>\n

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Synopsis<\/strong><\/h4>\n

A Falling Stars STAND-ALONE NOVEL from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson . . .<\/strong><\/p>\n

A single mother.
\nAn up-and-coming drummer with a sordid past.
\nTheir paths never should have crossed.
\nBut when a senseless crime rocks Mia West\u2019s entire world, she agrees to spend the summer hiding out at her rock-star brother\u2019s mansion in Savannah until the storm blows over.
\nWhat she never expected was the gorgeous, brooding drummer living in the guest house.
\nHis darkness a lure.
\nHis gaze a trap.
\nShe knows better than to go after what will hurt her most.
\nLeif Godwin has two focuses in his life: his band, Carolina George, and seeking retribution for what was stolen from him.
\nMia was never supposed to be a part of the equation.
\nHer eyes an appeal.
\nHer body a temptation.
\nTouching her is nothing but a sin.
\nBut will loving her destroy them all . . .<\/p>\n

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Add to Goodreads<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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Review<\/strong><\/h4>\n

3 stars<\/b><\/p>\n

An emotional and angsty rockstar romance, this is a story of heartbreak, redemption and second chances, and the first book in A.L. Jackson\u2019s Falling Stars<\/em> series.\u00a0 It\u2019s a gorgeous story, dripping with passionate, poetic prose, with strong themes of family and friendship that Jackson writes so well.\u00a0 This series is a spin-off from the Bleeding Stars<\/a>\u00a0series, which I absolutely love, and while there is quite a bit of character crossover, this book can be read as a standalone.<\/p>\n

I have some very mixed feelings about this book, so please bear with me as I purge my thoughts.<\/p>\n

Mia West is the younger sister of Lyrik, lead guitarist for rock back, Sunder, and hero of Where Lightning Strikes<\/a>. She is the single mother to two children, and is dealing with heartwrenching grief after the tragic death of her best friend, and she has escaped to her brother\u2019s home in Savannah to relax and regroup.<\/p>\n

Leif Godwin is the drummer for up-and-coming country rock band Carolina George. He is a friend of Lyrik\u2019s, and when he is asked to temporarily fill in as the drummer for Sunder while they record their new album, he agrees, and is set up in a guest house on Lyrik\u2019s property. A mostly solitary man, he has been through hell and is constantly plagued by his demons, but he relishes in it, dreaming of the day when he will take vengeance against the people that destroyed his world.<\/p>\n

From the moment Mia and Leif meet, they share an intense connection that neither of them are able to deny, and when they wind up living on the same property, they see more and more of each other as Leif is reluctantly pulled into the Sunder world and the family that they have formed together. But as potent as the sexual tension is, Leif isn\u2019t prepared to act on the mad lust that sizzles between them. He\u2019s been through hell and he doesn\u2019t want to drag anybody else into that, so instead we get this painfully angsty \u2018I\u2019m no good for you, I need to push you away\u2019 storyline.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou won\u2019t want to get inside me, Mia. Know you think you do, but I promise you, that is not a place you want to be. You can\u2019t fix me.\u201d The words were gruff and low. A warning.
\n\u201cAnd what if I were to like what I was to see?\u201d
\nHis dark chuckle curled in the space between us, and his hand was reaching out, tilting up my chin. \u201c\u2026 I am no good, Mia. You don\u2019t know me, and I promise, you don\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

And this\u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cI will destroy you, Mia, just like I destroy every good thing I have ever done.\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

*sigh*<\/p>\n

For me, this is a storyline that gets really old, really fast, but as frustrating as it can be, it provides a good opportunity for us to see how strong and confident Mia is. Despite what she\u2019s been through, she\u2019s a woman who knows what she wants, and she doesn\u2019t hold back her feelings, and I love that about her!<\/p>\n

\u201cWhy does it feel like I have known you my entire life? Like you\u2019re a piece that\u2019s been missing, and now that you\u2019re here, I\u2019m whole?\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t give you what you deserve, Mia.\u201d<\/em>
\n\u201cThen give me what I want.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The tension builds as the feelings between Leif and Mia escalate, and you can\u2019t help but feel their chemistry. And as Leif gets drawn deeper and deeper into Mia\u2019s world, and her family, he falls not only for her, but for her children, and when he finally reaches his breaking point the love story explodes and it\u2019s hot, passionate, and super intense.<\/p>\n

A rumble of need curled up his throat. \u201cI will ruin you.\u201d
\n\u201cI want you to,\u201d I begged.
\nI was already there.<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I loved seeing Leif and Mia together, and I loved watching Leif open up and begin to accept everything that Mia and her children bring to his life. Is it instalove? No, not really, but it\u2019s pretty damn fast, and there is that \u2018I can feel when you enter the room\u2019 thing happening, which can be a little surreal. But Leif is still haunted by all that he has been through, and when danger from his past begins to seep into his present, he will be forced to confront everything all over again as he figures out and fights for the future that he wants.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf I let myself fall, would you be there to catch me? Just for a little while?\u201d<\/i><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It\u2019s a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for them, made all the more intense as we try to follow the clues to understand Leif\u2019s background. The full story isn\u2019t revealed until almost the end of the book, so there\u2019s a whole lot of build-up to his backstory, which is truly tragic and yes, it does explain why he\u2019s so intent on punishing himself. But it ties together really nicely with the developing love story and it brings some unexpected excitement as the story builds to its close.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a great story. I liked Leif and Mia, and I loved catching up with the Bleeding Stars <\/i>crew again, but the problem I had with this book was the writing style. *sigh*. A.L. Jackson\u2019s writing is becoming more and more poetic and dramatic with each book and I\u2019m sadly struggling to adapt to the change. I\u2019m sure that it resonates with a lot of readers, but I\u2019m not a fan, and as much as I love her stories, the purple prose is really turning me off and I find myself becoming disconnected from a book that I am desperately trying to lose myself in, and struggling to get through it.<\/p>\n

Here are some examples…

<\/span>Spoiler title<\/div>
<\/i><\/p>\n

Emily\u2019s voice had to be one of the most unforgettable things I would ever hear.
\nA silky, whiskey-laden lullaby.
\nEnthralling.
\nSpellbinding.
\n\u2026
\nMy body swayed and the music played and my broken heard raced out ahead to the beat of the drums.
\nLifted.
\nRisen.
\nTaken.<\/i><\/p>\n

There was a knock outside the main door.<\/em>
\nHeavy.<\/em>
\nFilled with implication.<\/em><\/p>\n

I eased up behind her, needing to seep into her warmth.<\/em>
\nNearly buckled at the knees when I caught sight of the picture she was painting.<\/em>
\nSlayed.<\/em>
\nCleaved in two.<\/em><\/p>\n

Could barely get the lyrics to scrape free, their truth bottled deep, vying to be heard.<\/em>
\nRecognized.<\/em>
\nAccepted.<\/em>
\n\u2026<\/em>
\nMy chest tightened when I saw who was calling.<\/em>
\nUnease.<\/em>
\nAnticipation.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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Metaphors and adjectives and broken-up paragraphs, over and over and over again, from both perspectives, throughout the entire book, to the point where it started to overpower the story for me.\u00a0 It\u2019s one of those situations where there\u2019s so much descriptiveness going on that when somebody speaks, you have to go searching back for the previous line of dialogue because you have forgotten what they are responding to.\u00a0 That sort of writing really turns me off, and sadly, I just couldn\u2019t deal.\u00a0 But this is very much a personal thing, and like I said, I\u2019m sure others will love it, it\u2019s just not for me.<\/p>\n

We are introduced to the other members of Carolina George who will go on to have their stories told in the rest of the series, and they look like a great bunch.<\/p>\n

Great story, I just didn\u2019t feel it as much as I wanted to.<\/p>\n

3 stars<\/p>\n

An Advanced Review Copy was generously provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.<\/i><\/p>\n

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Falling Stars<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\" \u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

Kiss the Stars (#1)
\n<\/strong>Review<\/a>
\nBuy: Amazon\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

Catch Me When I Fall (#2)
\n<\/strong>Buy: \u00a0Amazon\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback\u00a0<\/a> | Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

Falling into You (#3)
\n<\/strong>Buy:\u00a0 \u00a0Amazon<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 Audio<\/a><\/p>\n

Beneath the Stars (#4)<\/strong>
\nBuy:\u00a0 Amazon\u00a0<\/a> |\u00a0 Paperback\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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About the Author<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"A.L. Jackson is the New York Times & USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance. She writes emotional, sexy, heart-filled stories about boys who usually like to be a little bit bad.<\/p>\n

Her bestselling series include\u00a0THE REGRET SERIES<\/a>,\u00a0CLOSER TO YOU<\/a>, and\u00a0BLEEDING STARS<\/a>\u00a0novels. Grab A.L. Jackson\u2019s latest novel, MORE OF YOU, the first stand-alone novel in her brand-new\u00a0CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART<\/a>\u00a0series.<\/p>\n

Her bestselling series include\u00a0THE REGRET SERIES<\/a>,\u00a0CLOSER TO YOU<\/a>,\u00a0BLEEDING STARS<\/a>,\u00a0FIGHT FOR ME<\/a>, and\u00a0CONFESSIONS OF THE HEART<\/a>\u00a0novels.\u00a0\u00a0Grab A.L. Jackson\u2019s latest novel, HOLD ON TO HOPE, a best friends-to-lovers stand-alone\u00a0romance.<\/p>\n

If she\u2019s not writing, you can find her hanging out by the pool with her family, sipping cocktails with her friends, or of course with her nose buried in a book.<\/p>\n

Be sure not to miss new releases and sales from A.L. Jackson \u2013 Sign up to receive her\u00a0NEWSLETTER<\/a>\u00a0or text \u201caljackson\u201d to 33222 to receive short but sweet updates on all the important news.<\/p>\n

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Facebook<\/a>\u00a0 |\u00a0 FB Reader Group<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Amazon
\n<\/a>Bookbub<\/a> \u00a0|\u00a0 Twitter<\/a>\u00a0 | \u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Check out our\u00a0A.L. Jackson Author Spotlight<\/a>\u00a0for more great reads!<\/strong><\/h4>\n

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 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  KISS THE STARS is live! Amazon\u00a0 |\u00a0 Paperback\u00a0 |\u00a0 Audio   Synopsis A Falling Stars STAND-ALONE NOVEL from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson . . . A single mother. An up-and-coming […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":49737,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","yasr_overall_rating":3,"yasr_post_is_review":"","yasr_auto_insert_disabled":"","yasr_review_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[297,52,94,9,1036,29],"tags":[35,59,1131,48],"class_list":["post-50591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-angsty","category-drama","category-rockers","category-romance","category-single-parent","category-steamy","tag-a-l-jackson","tag-arc","tag-falling-stars","tag-review"],"yasr_visitor_votes":{"stars_attributes":{"read_only":false,"span_bottom":false},"number_of_votes":0,"sum_votes":0},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/Kiss-The-Stars.jpeg?fit=200%2C300&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7gaNL-d9Z","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=50591"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/50591\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/49737"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=50591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=50591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.escapistbookblog.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=50591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}