Plot: He changed my life.
With a smile, a flick of his wrist and a death-defying stunt.
He was six and I was five.
And now, thirteen years later, I am hopelessly in love.
There is only a slight problem.
He doesn’t know I exist.
He’s the star quarterback.
I’m a science nerd who hides in the shadows.
I don’t need anyone to tell me that college won't change anything.
I know he’s the star of this story.
And I belong in the audience.
Parker Elliot is going to Penmore State University miles away from home. She's leaving her small town because Penmore has a fantastic science department, because she needs to begin exploring the life she wants to lead and because Grayson Waters is the starting quarterback for the Penmore Herons.
Grayson Waters at first glance lives life to the fullest, but he is dealing with more than meets the eye. A con artist father in trouble with local mobsters, an illegitimate brother living close by, the pressure of leading his team to the championship game and a desire to pursue a career outside the football field. Decisions need to be made. For Gray, slipping into the shadows with a pretty and observant brunette might be just what he needs to finally make the right ones.
With a smile, a flick of his wrist and a death-defying stunt.
He was six and I was five.
And now, thirteen years later, I am hopelessly in love.
There is only a slight problem.
He doesn’t know I exist.
He’s the star quarterback.
I’m a science nerd who hides in the shadows.
I don’t need anyone to tell me that college won't change anything.
I know he’s the star of this story.
And I belong in the audience.
Parker Elliot is going to Penmore State University miles away from home. She's leaving her small town because Penmore has a fantastic science department, because she needs to begin exploring the life she wants to lead and because Grayson Waters is the starting quarterback for the Penmore Herons.
Grayson Waters at first glance lives life to the fullest, but he is dealing with more than meets the eye. A con artist father in trouble with local mobsters, an illegitimate brother living close by, the pressure of leading his team to the championship game and a desire to pursue a career outside the football field. Decisions need to be made. For Gray, slipping into the shadows with a pretty and observant brunette might be just what he needs to finally make the right ones.
☆✮ My Review ✮☆
☆ I received an ARC via FMR Book Studio in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! ☆
Stars was a super sweet romance that had a tragic twist that I had not seen coming.
Parker Elliot has been in love with Grayson "Gray" Waters ever since she can remember.
He's the hot and and up and coming next NFL star attending Penmore University the following school year next year ≠ and she's the quintessential girl next door who has always lived next door to Grayson a window away and yet he doesn't know that she exists.
Now following in Grayson's steps to Penmore Uni and majoring in science to one day become a doctor like her father, Parker is one step closer to her unrequited crush. Only... what is a girl to do when she is completely and perfectly content in luring in the background and pining for her the man of her dreams in anonymity? And what happens, when that veil of anonymity that Parker succumbed to is broken and now Grayson can see her with eyes wide open?
Will Parker's undying affections go unreturned?
What will Grayson make of the girl who has been right in front of him but just never noticed?
Is Parker the answer to all of what Grayson has been missing in his life? Can she bring peace to his black and white, chaotic world?
And will Parker ever feel good enough to be loved by someone who is just as lost as her?
I definitely got hooked into this one and I believe that many will as well. Story wise, it was at first a little cheesy but as it progressed I really enjoyed seeing how a childhood crush blossomed into true love and seeing how pure and untainted Parker's care for Gray went. She saw beyond the exterior and knew the real Gray-- the fame, the playboy lifestyle, and his deepest demons that he hid from the world.
Parker was a strong character. Growing up with just her dad after her mom died of cancer was just endearing and empowering. She had no woman figure to guide her through her life and somehow grew up to be a marvelous and respectable young woman that would make any mom proud.
And Gray. With a great mom but shady, non existent father figure, the last thing he wants to be is just like his dad and he wasn't. He was no saint, but, he was an admirable young man whom any lady would be lucky to have as their boyfriend.
I'm not sure who bk2 in this series will feature as the character leads next. My guess is maybe Andy? Although, I would love for there to be more of Parker and Gray, Parker's ex boss/Gray's friend, and what will happen with the aftermath of Parker's friend's new situation.
Definitely, will be crossing my fingers and will be following this author's book titles for sure!!
My Rating:
♥♥♥♥
☆✮ Music Playlist ✮☆
Fire and the Flood - Vance Joy
Here - Alessia Cara
Star - Bryan Adams
Beyond the Blue - Beth Nielsen Chapman
You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
How Deep Is Your Love- Calvin Harris & Disciples
Like a Star - Corinne Bailey Rae
The Fire - The Roots & John Legend
My Body is a Cage - Arcade Fire
Water Under the Bridge - Adele
Answer - Sarah McLachlan
Here - Alessia Cara
Star - Bryan Adams
Beyond the Blue - Beth Nielsen Chapman
You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift
How Deep Is Your Love- Calvin Harris & Disciples
Like a Star - Corinne Bailey Rae
The Fire - The Roots & John Legend
My Body is a Cage - Arcade Fire
Water Under the Bridge - Adele
Answer - Sarah McLachlan
☆✮ About the Author ✮☆
I first started reading romance when I was twelve.
My mother handed me her copy of Nora Robert’s Midnight Bayou and with resignation said, “Here you’ll love it, just skip the sex scenes or at least tell me you did.”
She knew I was young and she hoped I didn’t understand the diverse innuendos, but she also saw early on that I was a hopeless romantic and had a joy and thirst for romance novels that not even she and her protective motherly instincts could stop.
My mother handed me her copy of Nora Robert’s Midnight Bayou and with resignation said, “Here you’ll love it, just skip the sex scenes or at least tell me you did.”
She knew I was young and she hoped I didn’t understand the diverse innuendos, but she also saw early on that I was a hopeless romantic and had a joy and thirst for romance novels that not even she and her protective motherly instincts could stop.