Beneath the Stars
Alina has known Chase since she was a child and he moved in with his foster family next door. She loved him from the start, but he was older and his sister was her best friend. They finally get together after many years as close friends, but Chase only knows abandonment and he runs from their connection. Both of them try to forget one another, until Chase comes back to town--only to find he and Alina have to work together. Can she trust that he'll really stick by her this time?
This small-town, second-chance romance novel had me hooked, but I did have a few quibbles. Namely, the abundance of side stories and the complications that kept the two apart. There were some real issues here--addiction, abandonment, and mental health--and to make miscommunication about other women the thing that kept them apart felt like missed opportunity to add depth to the story. The stories were likely setting the state for the future books in this series, so I can give them a pass--sometimes it's nice to stay in the same world, with familiar characters. I'd be willing to give the next one a try.
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Publisher’s Description
Alina Carson meets Chase Adams when she’s eleven years old, after he moves in down the street carrying nothing but a chip on his shoulder and dimples in his cheeks.
Immediately she falls, loving him before she even knows what loving is. But becoming best friends with Chase’s little sister means that he’s off-limits, no matter how much their connection screams for something more.
Chase never cared much for following the rules. Abandoned by everyone who was supposed to love him, he’s broken and insecure, choosing to push others away before they have a chance to hurt him. But there’s something about the girl with golden hair, and before he can stop himself, he’s sneaking through her window, whispering his deepest secrets beneath her glow ‘n stick stars.
As time goes on and they get older, he decides to give their love a chance, no matter what anyone else thinks. But old habits die hard, and when tragedy strikes, Chase is back to doing what he does best.
Ruining everything.
Chase disappears, and years pass, leaving Alina with no choice but to pick up her broken pieces and move on. Until one day, he’s back. All grown up and taking over his family’s business.
When Alina and Chase are thrown together and forced to work in the same building, old feelings resurface, and Alina quickly realizes that Chase is on a mission, determined to right the wrongs of his past.
Starting with her.