BENEATH THE STARS BY EMILY MCINTIRE

Emily McIntire is a new to me author and I’m glad I started reading her. Beneath the Stars is the epitome of a southern romance and I loved the characters twang and the authenticity in regard to the true south!

Rating: ★★★★
​Release Date: September 1, 2020
Genre: Second Chance | Small Town | Southern Romance
Series: Sugarlake series#1 (can standalone)
Pages: 406 pages
Format: eBook. Source: ​Kindle Unlimited. ​

Alina
I was eleven when I met Chase Adams. I loved him before I knew what lovin' was.
I pulled, he pushed.
I gave, he took.
I loved... I lost.
Now he's back. All grown up and sexy as sin.
But things changed while he was gone. So, he can show those dimples and flex those muscles all he wants. It won't change a thing.
Chase Adams is nothin' but a lost memory. I'll do everything I can to keep him that way.


Chase
Growing up, there were only two women I ever loved.

​Neither one of them ever really loved me back.
Until her. Alina. My Goldi.
She was everything that's good. I was the bad.
She was the brightest goddamn star. I was the black hole shredding her to pieces.
I loved her wrong, losing her to my demons.
But now I'm back. A better man.
I'll do everything I can to make her remember us, even if all she wants is to forget.

***
Beneath the Stars is a full-length, interconnected standalone featuring strong language, and mature situations which may be considered triggers for some. Reader discretion is advised.

Please note that while there is a HEA for the main characters at the end of this book, since it is an interconnected standalone, there are themes and side stories that run through the series and may not be resolved immediately.

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READ MY BOOK REVIEW

My Rating: 4 stars
Genre Small Town | Second Chance | Southern Romance

Review Snapshot : Emily McIntire is a new to me author and I’m glad I started reading her. Beneath the Stars is the epitome of a southern romance and I loved the characters twang and the authenticity in regard to the true south!

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I really enjoyed reading this one. I have a thing for southern romances and this one was pretty strong for the category. There were a few problematic pieces for me (like, why is the cover model BRUNETTE when Alina is depicted as a blond; AKA Goldi) but I feel as a whole, it was surprisingly good. Lately I’ve been going between reading new to me author or old favorites so it’s nice to find someone new to read like I have with Emily. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Eli and Becca in the next story. Also, I do hope we get some answers about a certain missing sister as I hate it being unresolved.

Anyway, I’m going to keep this review rather simple because I don’t have a whole lot to say (and writing reviews has been harder for me as I manage this book slump I’ve been in for MONTHS) so I’ll give you the lowdown of my specific likes and dislikes!

︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙︙

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗟𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞

● As I mentioned above, the southern twang from the characters was absolutely PERFECT. You can tell the author either lives in the south or is familiar with it. I hate it when authors TRY too hard to make a book feel southern and just don’t pull it off. Thankfully, that’s not the case here.

● This isn’t JUST a romance. The author tackles addiction issues and presents them realistically. You’re able to see the ramifications on both the people with the addictions and how if affects those around them. I really appreciated this.

● Their relationship was messy. I know this seems like a silly LIKE but here me out. When most people fall in love as kids, they let stupid crap get in their way- they are KIDS after all. Everything is heightened, the drama is ALWAYS over the top, and miscommunication is more prevalent than rational communication. So, it makes sense that it didn’t work well for them as kids because frankly, being in love at 13+ isn’t really a forever kind of love (at that point) right? Therefore, I think the messiness was necessary for their age group and what each of them went through. The best way I can describe is authentic.


𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜 𝗗𝗜𝗦𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗦 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗞

● Alina aka Goldi is described as a blond yet the cover photo is of a brunette. Little details like that always grate in my nerves LOL.

● The unresolved issues with Chase’s sister aggravated me especially because THEIR love story is completed. How will I know what happened with her? I hope I’m told in the next book.

● Chase got back into Alina’s good graces WAY too easily. For something that was so MESSY when they broke up it sure was easy for them to get back together. I wanted a little more angst.

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

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