When Stars Collide by Micalea Smeltzer is my second ARK from this author and my first Release Blitz event! I was super excited to read this book after snagging a copy of Ray of Sunshine for FREE -- the first book in Smelter's 'The Light in The Dark' series.Rae of Sunshine, Cade and Rae's story, is where we first meet Thea and Xander, the main characters in When Stars Collide. While they are present in Ray of Sunshine they are only secondary characters. Each of these books can be read as a stand alone.
I've read a few books from this author and I have to say I got really excited about the premise of this book. Once I read the blurb I knew I had so know more!
The Blurb
We were like two stars orbiting each other—dancing around the possibility that one day we might collide. When we finally did, we opened up a black hole, obliterating everything around us. No one would be the same. Least of all, us.
Waking up in Vegas married to the guy of your dreams sounds like a good thing, right? Not when you’re Thea Montgomery and said guy is your brother’s best friend.
Thea and Xander have always avoided the connection between them because her brother would never approve. Now, they’re married— the strongest bond you can have as a couple—and they’re not even a real couple…unless they want to be.
Thea wants an annulment immediately, but Xander’s waited too long to see her become his and he won’t let her go easily.
If she wants a divorce, fine, but he wants the summer to convince her that he’s the one. If at the end of the summer she still wants to end their marriage he’ll sign the papers, but until then...
All is not fair in love and war.
While an impromptu marriage is not ideal and keeping said marriage a secret is far from ideal... sooner or laters someone is going to find out... right?! Thea hopes it's just not Cade, her over protective older brother. Keeping their new marital status a secret from their roommates, Cade and Rea, only makes the situation more complicated for the newly weds.
What I liked most about this book is that Xander is so caring and patient with Thea, even when he doesn't agree with her -- primarily her insistence in getting a divorce. They've been friends for a long time and you can see that hasn't change as they struggle to deal with the ramifications of their Vegas nuptials and the curveballs life throws at them along the way.Rea, Thea's best friend and Cade girlfriend, doesn't have a larger presents in this story. I feel that unless you read Rea of Sunshine, her character is not very developed in this story. The same can be said for Cade. Cade is much more than the over protective brother and we didn't get to see his playful side very much in this story. Luckily, Smeltzer does a good job at communicating the important details from Rea of Sunshine we need to know to understand character relationships.
Overall, this was a good read. In fact, my husband kept making fun of me for the goofy grin I would get on my face while reading on the sofa next to him. There are so many cute moments between Xander and Thea you can't help but like them as a couple.
I did think that the blurb is a little misleading when it come to Thea's feeling about her relationship with Xander, particularly after they return home and have gotten over the shock. I won't say more to keep this as spoiler free as possible, but I thought that aspect of the story was a little inconsistent.
Simply put... When Stars Collide is a cute love story of two people being unexpectedly connected. Watching them navigate what that means for their future is what makes this story special and worth the read!
Personally, I don't think Smelter's 'The Light in The Dark' series is my favorite of hers. These book would be a good starting point of anyone wanting to read their first Micalea Smeltzer novel, but I did prefer the two books I've read in her 'Us' series and I can't say enough good things about Bring Me Back (loved it!).
When Stars Collide is available August 30th, 2016 for $0.99 for a limited time only!
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Excerpt
Holy mother of all hangovers.
I’d succumbed to the lure of Vegas and gotten completely wasted. Granted, that’s what everyone did in Las Vegas but I like to think I usually have more sense than the social norm.
I rub my eyes and blink them open. The hotel room comes into formation around me. The walls are a warm golden color and the flat screen on the wall plays some home improvement show. I can see the bathroom from the bed, the tiled walls and large soaking tub.
I roll over onto my side, hoping I can sleep off the hangover, and reel back.
“Oh my God,” I cry, flailing in bed.
My legs kick the sleeping guy beside me.
Not just any sleeping guy.
Oh no.
Xander Kincaid, my brother’s best friend, lays in the bed beside me.
His dark hair tumbles over his forehead and his cheeks are covered with several days worth of scruff. His chest is bare and…holy shit. He’s naked.
I look down.
Oh God, I’m naked too.
“What’s wrong?” He asks, reaching his left hand out to pull me closer to him. That’s when I see it.
“Is that a wedding band?” I scream shrilly.
His eyes narrow. “You don’t fucking remember?”
I shake my head and look at my own hand. A thin silver band rests on my finger. “What did we do?”
He sits up in bed and I try to ignore how adorably rumpled he looks with his hair sticking up.
Everything begins flooding back to me in quick bursts.
Drinks.
Kissing.
Laughter.
Confessions of love and desire.
A wedding chapel.
Vows.
Rings.
A contract.
“We’re married,” I whisper. “Holy shit.” It’s all I’ve ever wanted—to be with Xander, but not like this. Never like this. “My brother is going to kill us.”
[Unedited and subject to change.]
