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Light in the Dark #2
When Stars Collide
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.
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.
First published January 1, 2016
About the author
Micalea Smeltzer
79 books5,970 followersMicalea Smeltzer is an author from Northern Virginia. Her two dogs, Ollie and Remy, are her constant companions. As a kidney transplant recipient she's dedicated to raising awareness around the effects of kidney disease, dialysis, and transplant as well as educating people on living donation. When she's not writing you can catch her with her nose buried in a book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 248 reviews
August 10, 2016
I'm a sucker for a brother-best-friend book, as many of you already know. So when I read this blurb I just had to have this book because it sounded amazing. And I did like the overall storyline. Unfortunately, though, there was also something missing for me that makes this book a hard one to rate.
This is my first book by Micalea Smeltzer, which means I didn't read the first in this series. And that's possibly where some of my problem came from, because I felt like there was a lot not said about Xander and Thea that was maybe explained or shown in the first book. I liked them together, I just wanted to understand them more than I did.
I'm really not even sure if reading the first book would have helped, but maybe I would have known more about the characters that way and this wouldn't have seemed like such a rush book. From the very beginning I had trouble getting into the story because I knew almost nothing about the characters. The whole opening scene felt rushed and there wasn't enough explanation for me to truly get into the book.
While I enjoyed getting the parts of their romance that were shown, it all happened a little too fast for me. It wasn't a short book but it just seemed like all of the different scenes came and went rather quickly and were skimmed over. I would have liked if we had a more in depth look at these characters.
Overall, I still recommend this book for anyone that enjoys the brothers-best-friend trope. Though, I would highly recommend reading the first book before starting this one to hopefully learn more about the characters.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
August 27, 2016
4,5-5 STARS
Such a lovely, sweet, cute, fast paced story! I enjoyed it more than I expected! This is my first book by this author and I intend to read more!
Thea and Xander always avoided their feelings and the connection they have due to the fact that Thea's brother is Xander's best friend but after a night in Vegas everything changes! Now they are married and they have to try and see if they can stay together as a couple.
I loved the storyline, it was nice seeing Thea and Xander trying to work on a relationship! Their relationship has everything a couple could have! Family issues, a little drama, friend issues, super cute moments and funny. There was a perfect balance of everything to make the story entertaining!
Both characters were sweet, funny and adorable! Now I'm even more excited for the next book
Such a lovely, sweet, cute, fast paced story! I enjoyed it more than I expected! This is my first book by this author and I intend to read more!
Thea and Xander always avoided their feelings and the connection they have due to the fact that Thea's brother is Xander's best friend but after a night in Vegas everything changes! Now they are married and they have to try and see if they can stay together as a couple.
I loved the storyline, it was nice seeing Thea and Xander trying to work on a relationship! Their relationship has everything a couple could have! Family issues, a little drama, friend issues, super cute moments and funny. There was a perfect balance of everything to make the story entertaining!
Both characters were sweet, funny and adorable! Now I'm even more excited for the next book
September 17, 2016
**ARC provided by NetGalley for honest review**
I loved this book! When I requested a arc for this book I didn't realize that I had read the first book, Rae of Sunshine was an Amazing book so I was so very excited to receive this arc! This book is about Xander and Thea which Xander is Thea's brothers best friend. They have grown up together and are very close. Now I will say I think to enjoy this book better you would need to read the first book, I'm sure it could be read as standalone but again I would recommend reading Rae of Sunshine!
Okay so here it goes the book opens up to the hero and h waking up in Vegas married. The h is freaking out because of her brother, she is scared of how he will react. Xander is not as worried just because he is tired of hiding his feelings for Thea ( swoon ). They both have feelings for one another and have for sometime, now the h is talking about going back to the place they were married and getting them to undo it. The hero is totally against this but in the end does what the h wants. So they go back to where they were married and the man says there is nothing that he can do for them. The hero makes the h a deal, give him the summer to show her that this marriage can work and if it doesn't he will go thorough with the divorce. What I loved about this book is that there really isn't any back and forth and no pushing away, they stay together the whole book. Now in a lot of brothers best friend type books there is a lot of that and it drives me crazy so I loved that! Xander was my favorite I loved how much he loved Thea and he was such a sweetheart! Now I know a lot of my friends love reading OTT alpha heroes I would say Xander is more beta he is sweet and understanding and gives the h time to figure out what she wants. There was a part closer to the end where his alpha does come out when protecting his girl and I ate it up lol. Thea was good, got a little frustrated with her in the beginning just because she was so worried about what her brother would think that she didn't realize she was hurting the hero. We get a few steamy sex scenes, not too detailed but still hot. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is wanting a sweet and light read!
Safety Note: neither virgins, no talk about past relationships. Condoms are used and I assume always have been. I mean really this book is just about them no ow/om drama or anything like that.
I loved this book! When I requested a arc for this book I didn't realize that I had read the first book, Rae of Sunshine was an Amazing book so I was so very excited to receive this arc! This book is about Xander and Thea which Xander is Thea's brothers best friend. They have grown up together and are very close. Now I will say I think to enjoy this book better you would need to read the first book, I'm sure it could be read as standalone but again I would recommend reading Rae of Sunshine!
Okay so here it goes the book opens up to the hero and h waking up in Vegas married. The h is freaking out because of her brother, she is scared of how he will react. Xander is not as worried just because he is tired of hiding his feelings for Thea ( swoon ). They both have feelings for one another and have for sometime, now the h is talking about going back to the place they were married and getting them to undo it. The hero is totally against this but in the end does what the h wants. So they go back to where they were married and the man says there is nothing that he can do for them. The hero makes the h a deal, give him the summer to show her that this marriage can work and if it doesn't he will go thorough with the divorce. What I loved about this book is that there really isn't any back and forth and no pushing away, they stay together the whole book. Now in a lot of brothers best friend type books there is a lot of that and it drives me crazy so I loved that! Xander was my favorite I loved how much he loved Thea and he was such a sweetheart! Now I know a lot of my friends love reading OTT alpha heroes I would say Xander is more beta he is sweet and understanding and gives the h time to figure out what she wants. There was a part closer to the end where his alpha does come out when protecting his girl and I ate it up lol. Thea was good, got a little frustrated with her in the beginning just because she was so worried about what her brother would think that she didn't realize she was hurting the hero. We get a few steamy sex scenes, not too detailed but still hot. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is wanting a sweet and light read!
Safety Note: neither virgins, no talk about past relationships. Condoms are used and I assume always have been. I mean really this book is just about them no ow/om drama or anything like that.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 11, 2016
When I saw the blurb for this one I immediately signed up for the ARC and one clicked the first book in the series. I loved the premise of the book and I desperately wanted to read it. Unfortunately, life happened and I didn’t get around to reading the first book before suddenly this one was on my kindle. So I checked and double checked to make sure I could read this one as a standalone before I started this one.
And while I really liked the storyline I just never managed to get into the book. I honestly can’t even pinpoint exactly why it didn’t work for me. Maybe I did need to read the first book and then I would be raving about the awesomeness of this one like everyone else seems to be. Or maybe I just had so much of that damn life going on I wasn’t able to fully engage but it was just meh.
I loved Xander and there was a scene in this book that cemented him as perfection despite him annoying me throughout the book but Thea I honestly could take or leave. She had moments where I wanted to slap her and tell her to grow up. I felt like it was a young adult book presented as a new adult one and most of that landed on Thea.
But again I want to say that although it didn’t work for me maybe if I read the first one and maybe if life wasn’t insane this one might have worked for me. Maybe.
Check out my reviews here
And while I really liked the storyline I just never managed to get into the book. I honestly can’t even pinpoint exactly why it didn’t work for me. Maybe I did need to read the first book and then I would be raving about the awesomeness of this one like everyone else seems to be. Or maybe I just had so much of that damn life going on I wasn’t able to fully engage but it was just meh.
I loved Xander and there was a scene in this book that cemented him as perfection despite him annoying me throughout the book but Thea I honestly could take or leave. She had moments where I wanted to slap her and tell her to grow up. I felt like it was a young adult book presented as a new adult one and most of that landed on Thea.
But again I want to say that although it didn’t work for me maybe if I read the first one and maybe if life wasn’t insane this one might have worked for me. Maybe.
Check out my reviews here
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August 31, 2016DNF
I’m a sucker for this premise, brother’s best friend romance, but I’m starting to realize they never live up, and sadly this one is no exception. Initially I was pleased that Xander sported a “who cares about your brother attitude.” It was off to a good start as I hate when two consenting adults cave to the old fashion ideals of an often unlikeable, sexist older brother. So I liked Xander right off the bat. It’s Thea though that I had a problem with. She comes across as whiny and irrational. She gets her dream of being with the boy she’s always wanted and then proceeds to incessantly complain about the way it came about. Gee, I don’t know but if I woke up naked and married to the man I always lusted for I don’t think I’d be bitching about a divorce. And that’s exactly what Thea does—tell him they need to get a divorce. Even after Xander tells her that he doesn’t want it to end and has no intention of ending it, she agrees to try it for three months even though she tells the reader she has every intention of ending it after the three months are up. Is this any way to treat a guy that you have been crushing on for years?
All in all I could not connect with the story and the characters as I simply did not feel their chemistry. It boils down to two main reasons. 1) I had a hard time buying that they had this crazy wonderful sex and yet she still wanted to walk away so easily. 2) While this is supposed to be a stand alone, I felt like I was walking in on the middle of their story. The opening needed more development (i.e. what lead up to their crazy Vegas night as well as the consummation of the marriage.)
I’m a sucker for this premise, brother’s best friend romance, but I’m starting to realize they never live up, and sadly this one is no exception. Initially I was pleased that Xander sported a “who cares about your brother attitude.” It was off to a good start as I hate when two consenting adults cave to the old fashion ideals of an often unlikeable, sexist older brother. So I liked Xander right off the bat. It’s Thea though that I had a problem with. She comes across as whiny and irrational. She gets her dream of being with the boy she’s always wanted and then proceeds to incessantly complain about the way it came about. Gee, I don’t know but if I woke up naked and married to the man I always lusted for I don’t think I’d be bitching about a divorce. And that’s exactly what Thea does—tell him they need to get a divorce. Even after Xander tells her that he doesn’t want it to end and has no intention of ending it, she agrees to try it for three months even though she tells the reader she has every intention of ending it after the three months are up. Is this any way to treat a guy that you have been crushing on for years?
All in all I could not connect with the story and the characters as I simply did not feel their chemistry. It boils down to two main reasons. 1) I had a hard time buying that they had this crazy wonderful sex and yet she still wanted to walk away so easily. 2) While this is supposed to be a stand alone, I felt like I was walking in on the middle of their story. The opening needed more development (i.e. what lead up to their crazy Vegas night as well as the consummation of the marriage.)
August 6, 2016
I can't wait for you guys to read this book! I'm so happy to finally bring you Xander & Thea's story!
August 30, 2016
“Are we all fools to think there is such a thing as true happiness in this world? Or are we all destined to live a lie spun of our own delusions?”
“I kiss her like she’s the sun, and moon, and stars all wrapped in one. She’s everything in this world that dreams are built upon.”
“It’s stupid to cry over this, but the love I feel for him honestly scares me. It’s intense and all-consuming. The kind of love that has the power to destroy you if things go wrong.”
Micalea Smeltzer never ceases to amaze me. Her writing is flawless and so easy to get lost in. With each book she writes, she finds away to obliterate the bar I’ve set for her books and makes me fall desperately in love; not just with the story, but with the characters too..
When Stars Collide is one of my favorite book troupes. It’s a fantastic friends to lovers romance. I fell in love with the story-line from the very first chapter. From the moment I read that Thea and Xander got married in Las Vegas, I just knew this was going to be a great story. And let me tell you, I was not wrong. This story was captivating and a whole lot of fun. I loved watching Xander and Thea fall in love and how hard they worked to make their relationship work. The road to HEA for the two of them was not easy. There was a lot of bumps in the road and obstacles to overcome, but I just knew that what these two shared was strong enough to get them through just about anything that life decided to throw at them.
I adored Thea from the moment I met her. I found her so easy to relate to and to connect with. She had been in love with Xander for such a long time, that I could totally understand her reservations about her relationship with Xander. It had to be terrifying to finally get what you’ve always wanted. She was afraid that it was too good to be true. And Xander…He was so sweet and so in love with Thea. Sure they got married young, but he also has always been in love with Thea and was determined to show her that what they have is real and worth fighting for.
When Stars Collide was a quick and easy read for me. I devoured it in just a few hours. The story-line was so much fun and so entertaining. The characters were easy to relate to and made you feel like you’ve know them forever. This story is filled with just the right amount of drama, romance and steamy moments. There was also a few surprising twists thrown in along the way. Thea and Xander’s story took my emotions for one heck of a ride and enjoyed every moment of it.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
“I kiss her like she’s the sun, and moon, and stars all wrapped in one. She’s everything in this world that dreams are built upon.”
“It’s stupid to cry over this, but the love I feel for him honestly scares me. It’s intense and all-consuming. The kind of love that has the power to destroy you if things go wrong.”
Micalea Smeltzer never ceases to amaze me. Her writing is flawless and so easy to get lost in. With each book she writes, she finds away to obliterate the bar I’ve set for her books and makes me fall desperately in love; not just with the story, but with the characters too..
When Stars Collide is one of my favorite book troupes. It’s a fantastic friends to lovers romance. I fell in love with the story-line from the very first chapter. From the moment I read that Thea and Xander got married in Las Vegas, I just knew this was going to be a great story. And let me tell you, I was not wrong. This story was captivating and a whole lot of fun. I loved watching Xander and Thea fall in love and how hard they worked to make their relationship work. The road to HEA for the two of them was not easy. There was a lot of bumps in the road and obstacles to overcome, but I just knew that what these two shared was strong enough to get them through just about anything that life decided to throw at them.
I adored Thea from the moment I met her. I found her so easy to relate to and to connect with. She had been in love with Xander for such a long time, that I could totally understand her reservations about her relationship with Xander. It had to be terrifying to finally get what you’ve always wanted. She was afraid that it was too good to be true. And Xander…He was so sweet and so in love with Thea. Sure they got married young, but he also has always been in love with Thea and was determined to show her that what they have is real and worth fighting for.
When Stars Collide was a quick and easy read for me. I devoured it in just a few hours. The story-line was so much fun and so entertaining. The characters were easy to relate to and made you feel like you’ve know them forever. This story is filled with just the right amount of drama, romance and steamy moments. There was also a few surprising twists thrown in along the way. Thea and Xander’s story took my emotions for one heck of a ride and enjoyed every moment of it.
*I was provided an ARC copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review*
August 10, 2016
☆☆☆☆A FOREVER KIND OF LOVE STARS!!!☆☆☆☆
“Some things are meant to be and will find a way no matter the circumstances.”
What will you do when you wake up naked in bed with your brother's bestfriend?The one you had a crush on for forever?The one you fantasize on marrying someday? And then suddenly everything begans flooding back...
Drinks.
Kissing.
Laughters.
Confessions of love and desire.
A wedding chapel.
Vows.
Rings.
A contract.
You're married after all and you can't even barely remember....
There's no doubt really that it's the blurb of this book that caught my attention. I just love reading plots like this and even if it seems cliche, I still look forward on reading the book because I believe every plots like this comes in every unique way possible.
When Stars Collide is a lighthearted read with little to no angst but I love how it was written though. Even if it was never that short of a story I managed to finish this up in a matter of hours. That's a proof enough that I enjoyed it. The characters although I haven't read the first book are so fun to read and easy to love. Xander and Thea is no different, I love these characters to pieces, and reading their story is a fun journey. I caught myself smiling and swooning. And what I love most about it is that there are no unnecessary drama pertaining to their "Vegas wedding", instead they both decided to work for it and give it a chance. They handled it with maturity despite their young age. So, yes they both deserved all the hugs and kisses because both of them nailed it to proving that what happened was real and that all is not fair in love and war.
Xander and I are like two stars colliding—I always thought we’d turn into a black hole, but right now, in this moment, I see that’s not it at all. No, we’ve simply merged into one, making a larger, more magnificent star.
To the author, well she deserves a round of applause and a tackle hug for giving us this story. It's a good read and it was written well. If you love something light to read but fun and full of love with just the right amount of sexy and sweet moments?Then this book is for you.
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*
“Some things are meant to be and will find a way no matter the circumstances.”
What will you do when you wake up naked in bed with your brother's bestfriend?The one you had a crush on for forever?The one you fantasize on marrying someday? And then suddenly everything begans flooding back...
Drinks.
Kissing.
Laughters.
Confessions of love and desire.
A wedding chapel.
Vows.
Rings.
A contract.
You're married after all and you can't even barely remember....
There's no doubt really that it's the blurb of this book that caught my attention. I just love reading plots like this and even if it seems cliche, I still look forward on reading the book because I believe every plots like this comes in every unique way possible.
When Stars Collide is a lighthearted read with little to no angst but I love how it was written though. Even if it was never that short of a story I managed to finish this up in a matter of hours. That's a proof enough that I enjoyed it. The characters although I haven't read the first book are so fun to read and easy to love. Xander and Thea is no different, I love these characters to pieces, and reading their story is a fun journey. I caught myself smiling and swooning. And what I love most about it is that there are no unnecessary drama pertaining to their "Vegas wedding", instead they both decided to work for it and give it a chance. They handled it with maturity despite their young age. So, yes they both deserved all the hugs and kisses because both of them nailed it to proving that what happened was real and that all is not fair in love and war.
Xander and I are like two stars colliding—I always thought we’d turn into a black hole, but right now, in this moment, I see that’s not it at all. No, we’ve simply merged into one, making a larger, more magnificent star.
To the author, well she deserves a round of applause and a tackle hug for giving us this story. It's a good read and it was written well. If you love something light to read but fun and full of love with just the right amount of sexy and sweet moments?Then this book is for you.
*ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review*
October 3, 2016
Although I hadn't read the first book in this series, I didn't feel like I missed anything by starting with number two. This can definitely be read as a stand alone novel. I really liked the characters in this series (and plan to go back and read book 1). I really enjoyed the story in this one. Although it's based on a fairly typical premise (brother's best friend), I found it to be unique and interesting.
I really liked Xander and Thea ... their banter was great, their relationship felt very real. I had a bit of an issue with the idea that Thea, who has loved Xander for years, would react the way she did to their waking up married in Vegas. But, I was able to overlook that as the story moved past that. Beyond the romance (which I think was quite well done), this novel explores themes that I don't typically see in your average romance such as child abuse and family violence. And, I think it explored it rather well. It was handled effectively and gave the story itself that something special.
All in all, I recommend this one and plan to go back and read the first novel in the series!
I really liked Xander and Thea ... their banter was great, their relationship felt very real. I had a bit of an issue with the idea that Thea, who has loved Xander for years, would react the way she did to their waking up married in Vegas. But, I was able to overlook that as the story moved past that. Beyond the romance (which I think was quite well done), this novel explores themes that I don't typically see in your average romance such as child abuse and family violence. And, I think it explored it rather well. It was handled effectively and gave the story itself that something special.
All in all, I recommend this one and plan to go back and read the first novel in the series!
Want to read
July 5, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (7/5/2018)!💝
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.
Book two in the Light in the Dark series but can be read as a standalone.
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.
Book two in the Light in the Dark series but can be read as a standalone.
September 28, 2016
I've read all this author's contemporary books and one of her paranormal series, and I'm a really big fan of hers, so when I heard that she was writing a second book in the Light in the Dark series, I was really excited! I loved Rae of Sunshine a lot, and I was hoping that the characters in this book would get their own book, so I'm really happy that the author made it happen! After reading, I can say that I freaking loved this book! There were times where it made me grin like an idiot and then there were times where it made me nearly cry lol! It was very emotional lol! The plot also developed at the perfect pace and it only took me a few sittings to read! I was reading a few more chapters every chance I had and I absolutely devoured it! The plot also had plenty of really, really hot scenes in it! I wasn't expecting them to be so hot, but I was really happy that they were! I loved the few twist and turns in the plot too, and I wasn't expecting the plot to go in the overall direction it did! The characters were also amazing and made this book even better! Thea was the main female character, and she was someone who was content and happy with her life until she did something completely unexpected and her life flipped upside down! I loved Thea in this book! I could understand her resistance at the beginning of this book, but I was really happy that she gave her love interest a chance to prove that they could be happy together! Thea was also a very funny character and she did make me laugh quite a few times! I also loved her personality and she was easy for me to connect with! I just loved her! Xander was the main male character, and he was seriously hot! I just completely adored Xander in this book! He was such a lovely guy and he knew how to treat Thea! He always made sure she was okay and it was easy to see how deep his feelings for her were! Xander was also very protective of Thea and he showed this several times in this book! Xander was also someone who didn't want to disappoint the people he loved, so he did hide a few secrets in this book! I could understand why he did, but I wish that he had been more open because he deserved to be happy and in the career he wanted! I loved that this book was written from both Thea and Xander's point of views! I was hoping it was going to be, so I'm really happy it was! It helped me connect more with both characters and allowed for more things to happen in the plot! It was also fun to have Cade and Rae, who were the main characters in Rae of Sunshine, be secondary characters this time lol! I'm also really excited that this author is going to give secondary characters in this series their own book too! I can't wait to read it and I'll definitely be on pins and needles waiting for it to release! The cover for this book is stunning! I love how well it suits the cover for the first book and the models on the front are the perfect Thea and Xander! I love it! Big thank you to Micalea and Give Me Books for an ARC of When Stars Collide!
August 10, 2017
3 Stars
When Stars Collide is the second novel in the Light in the Darkness-series and follows Xander and Thea. I loved Cade and Rae’s story and got super excited when Micalea announced to make a whole series about it!
Xander and Thea are in Vegas, get drunk and get married. Cliché, isn’t it? At least that’s what I thought when I first read the blurb. But in all honesty, I was looking forward to it because I haven’t read a novel with this storyline, yet. After waking up married, Thea decides to get an annulment ASAP but Xander convinces her otherwise. He wants the whole summer to convince her that being married to him is not as bad as it seems – because after all he has feelings for her for quite some time and so does Thea for him.
I love Micalea and I love her books but this novel was not as exciting as I hoped it would.
The novel starts off real great and the wedding in Vegas is a constant topic between Xander and Thea. But as the story continues they talk less and less about it and other issues become more and more permanent. To me, the story has one too many issues. Besides the wedding, there are two to three other issues the characters have to deal with and it felt all too much.
The ending of the novel felt a little too dramatic and too forced. Like the novel had to end with a big “boom” because it was lacking of dramatic scenes.
The cheese-level in this novel was not as high as in Rae of Sunshine, tho.
Xander and Thea were great together, but Thea was way too dramatic and too annoying.
If you’ve read Rae of Sunshine you probably will read When Stars Collide, too. This book is rather a book for fans of Micalea only, I think.
I hope Dark Hearts will be a bit better.
**********
Review to come!!
When Stars Collide is the second novel in the Light in the Darkness-series and follows Xander and Thea. I loved Cade and Rae’s story and got super excited when Micalea announced to make a whole series about it!
Xander and Thea are in Vegas, get drunk and get married. Cliché, isn’t it? At least that’s what I thought when I first read the blurb. But in all honesty, I was looking forward to it because I haven’t read a novel with this storyline, yet. After waking up married, Thea decides to get an annulment ASAP but Xander convinces her otherwise. He wants the whole summer to convince her that being married to him is not as bad as it seems – because after all he has feelings for her for quite some time and so does Thea for him.
I love Micalea and I love her books but this novel was not as exciting as I hoped it would.
The novel starts off real great and the wedding in Vegas is a constant topic between Xander and Thea. But as the story continues they talk less and less about it and other issues become more and more permanent. To me, the story has one too many issues. Besides the wedding, there are two to three other issues the characters have to deal with and it felt all too much.
The ending of the novel felt a little too dramatic and too forced. Like the novel had to end with a big “boom” because it was lacking of dramatic scenes.
The cheese-level in this novel was not as high as in Rae of Sunshine, tho.
Xander and Thea were great together, but Thea was way too dramatic and too annoying.
If you’ve read Rae of Sunshine you probably will read When Stars Collide, too. This book is rather a book for fans of Micalea only, I think.
I hope Dark Hearts will be a bit better.
**********
Review to come!!
August 30, 2016
4 Stars
Review by Jen Skewes
This is the second book in the Light in the Dark series. While it is not necessary to read the first book I think that reading it would give you a better understanding of the relationships involved in this book. I was so excited for this book. I loved Thea and Xander’s characters in the first book and could not wait to see how their story would turn out.
Xander and Thea’s brother Cade are best friends. They have been for as long as they can remember. But growing up Thea and Zander were very much friends as well. For years the two of them have wanted each other but neither one of them opened up about their feelings because of fear. They were both afraid of how Cade would react, especially given the fact that he expressed to Xander on numerous occasions how he is against him and Thea being anything more than just friends. The three of them are in Vegas for a business trip. When Thea wakes up on their last morning there in bed with Xander she flips out. But that is not the worst of it. Because not only has she slept with the man that she has crushed on but she is also married to him. Now what? How do they go home and explain to their families that while in Vegas they got married? For one her brother will be pissed and their close relationship could be ruined over this. But she is also only 19 years old and marriage is not something that she has thought of right now. But then you have Xander whose feelings on being married to Thea, is the complete opposite. He wants to stay married to her and somehow he convinces her to give them 3 months together and if after the three months are up if she wants a divorce he will give her one. But they decide to wait to tell their families. What will happen at the end of the three months? It seems to me that this can go wrong in so many ways and so many relationships can be destroyed because of it. Will these two people who have wanted each other for so long get their happily ever after.
I really enjoyed this book but what I loved most about it, or should I say who I loved the most was Xander. He knew how he felt about Thea. For him it has always been her and he had every intention of proving to her how much he loved her and how good they were together. I loved his dedication to their marriage and to Thea as well. He was just a completely swoon worthy book boyfriend who was patient, kind and just someone you will fall in love with.
Thea was a likeable character but while I understood her hesitation about the whole marriage thing at the same time this is her dream guy. The guy that she has been in love with for the longest time, you would think she would want to scream it from the roof tops. But at the same time I totally understood her fear. I really enjoyed her as a heroine and loved her and Xander together.
When the Stars Collide is a quick, sweet story with not too much angst. The issues these two faced had everything to do with their families and their fears. I loved how they communicated with each other and how they were mature enough to both try to make this work. Thea agreed to give it the three months but she really did put her heart into it. Actions speak louder than words and I think they both proved that. They were so good together. I loved the relationship she ha with her brother and her best friends. And it was great to see them in this book and the big part that they played. another wonderful job by Ms. Smetzler
Review by Jen Skewes
This is the second book in the Light in the Dark series. While it is not necessary to read the first book I think that reading it would give you a better understanding of the relationships involved in this book. I was so excited for this book. I loved Thea and Xander’s characters in the first book and could not wait to see how their story would turn out.
Xander and Thea’s brother Cade are best friends. They have been for as long as they can remember. But growing up Thea and Zander were very much friends as well. For years the two of them have wanted each other but neither one of them opened up about their feelings because of fear. They were both afraid of how Cade would react, especially given the fact that he expressed to Xander on numerous occasions how he is against him and Thea being anything more than just friends. The three of them are in Vegas for a business trip. When Thea wakes up on their last morning there in bed with Xander she flips out. But that is not the worst of it. Because not only has she slept with the man that she has crushed on but she is also married to him. Now what? How do they go home and explain to their families that while in Vegas they got married? For one her brother will be pissed and their close relationship could be ruined over this. But she is also only 19 years old and marriage is not something that she has thought of right now. But then you have Xander whose feelings on being married to Thea, is the complete opposite. He wants to stay married to her and somehow he convinces her to give them 3 months together and if after the three months are up if she wants a divorce he will give her one. But they decide to wait to tell their families. What will happen at the end of the three months? It seems to me that this can go wrong in so many ways and so many relationships can be destroyed because of it. Will these two people who have wanted each other for so long get their happily ever after.
I really enjoyed this book but what I loved most about it, or should I say who I loved the most was Xander. He knew how he felt about Thea. For him it has always been her and he had every intention of proving to her how much he loved her and how good they were together. I loved his dedication to their marriage and to Thea as well. He was just a completely swoon worthy book boyfriend who was patient, kind and just someone you will fall in love with.
Thea was a likeable character but while I understood her hesitation about the whole marriage thing at the same time this is her dream guy. The guy that she has been in love with for the longest time, you would think she would want to scream it from the roof tops. But at the same time I totally understood her fear. I really enjoyed her as a heroine and loved her and Xander together.
When the Stars Collide is a quick, sweet story with not too much angst. The issues these two faced had everything to do with their families and their fears. I loved how they communicated with each other and how they were mature enough to both try to make this work. Thea agreed to give it the three months but she really did put her heart into it. Actions speak louder than words and I think they both proved that. They were so good together. I loved the relationship she ha with her brother and her best friends. And it was great to see them in this book and the big part that they played. another wonderful job by Ms. Smetzler
September 30, 2016
What would you do if you woke up in Vegas realizing you were naked and the guy next to you was naked as well? Now let’s add in the fact that this naked man in bed with you is your brother’s best friend and he tells you that you got married last night. It’s ok though because you have really loved him your whole life…NOT!! Loving Xander is beside the point especially since you didn’t know he felt the same way about you plus your brother has threatened said best friend to keep clear of his little sister. Thea’s first plan of action…besides getting some clothes on as fast as she can is getting a divorce. Divorce is the farthest thing from Xander’s mind. He’s glad that they are married and gets Thea to stay that way for three months and if she still wants a divorce after that time he will agree to give her the divorce she wants. Now Xander has to prove it to Thea that they are meant to be. Since Xander and Thea share a home with Thea’s brother and Xander’s best friend, Cade and his girlfriend, Rae you would think that it would make it a little easier for Xander to convince Thea of their relationship. The only thing that separates their two bedrooms is a shared bathroom which would make things very convenient to say the least. Their one night in Vegas may have been a quick but hot encounter and one that both of them had really been fantasizing about for years.
This book will melt your heart and break your heart. Besides Xander and Thea’s secret marriage there are some pretty heavy issues that take place as well, such as abuse. There are many life choices that are made with still being able to give you the HEA that you were hoping for. The journey that the author takes you on from the first page of this book until the last will have you wondering why you didn’t read this book earlier! I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
This book will melt your heart and break your heart. Besides Xander and Thea’s secret marriage there are some pretty heavy issues that take place as well, such as abuse. There are many life choices that are made with still being able to give you the HEA that you were hoping for. The journey that the author takes you on from the first page of this book until the last will have you wondering why you didn’t read this book earlier! I can’t wait for the next book in this series.
This book was provided as an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.
September 4, 2019
I got my hands on the ARC of this absolutely amazing book and immediately fell in love with it... ;) it's a second book in a series, and I think it’s pretty connected to the events and characters from that first story, but from the perspective of a person who read it as a complete standalone, it works just fine :) even better than just fine based on how much I loved it ;) although we are thrown right in the middle of action, when our main couple wakes up in Vegas after a pretty wild night and they discover that they got married... ;) but I am getting a bit ahead of myself, so let me back up for a second and start by telling you a bit more about our couple first ;)
Sooooo... Thea and Xander ;) *sighs happily* I loved them both equally, which is not as common occurence as you might think... ;) usually one part of the main couple is more annoying, or quite the opposite, so swoonworthy that I forget my name ;) but this time both of them were truly fantastic and I cannot pick my favourite ;) we have Thea, a sassy and hilarious student who made me smile all the time… I could not believe some of the things that left her mouth ;) I loved that she wasn’t just a one dimensional person... yeah, she could be sassy and fun, be she also had moments when she acted shy and vulnerable... and don’t even get me started on Xander... because *sighs dreamily* ;) my oh my… he’s definitely up there very near the top of my favourite book boyfriends list ;) he’s totally swoonworthy... I just... I can’t... I have serious problems describing him to you, because to do that I need to think about him... and once I start to do that... I just... *sighs dreamily* see?!? ;) don’t get me wrong, he’s not perfect by any means, but he’s the kind of "real" like Thea... an ultimately good character with some flaws... yes, he makes mistakes, but you can’t help to understand his reasons... ;)
Now let’s take a minute to talk about them together... because as much as I love them individually, I absolutely adore them as a couple... ;) they were friends first... for years to be exact, but there was always something a little bit more beneath that friendship... but because of a few other factors... more about them in a second... ;) they never pursued those feelings... until one time when they finally erupted ;) and they ended up married ;) although to be honest, I understand their hesitation… not only there were other people involved... I mean family members, no love triangles ;) but it’s scary to risk losing one of the closest people to you… but sometimes it’s soooo worth it ;) like in this case, because… *sighs dreamily* they were absolutely stinking cute together ;) not to mention that my favourite part was the fact that all the drama near the end of the book was outside of them… there wasn’t any stupid fights, any unnecessary angst or misscommunications... ;) and I couldn’t be more happy about it ;) I’m not gonna say anything else, because I don’t want to spoil you some very fun stuff, but trust me... it was absolutely delightful ;)
Besides our totally fantastic main couple, we of course have quite a few secondary characters ;) there’s of course Cade and Rae ;) the main couple from that previous book I mentioned ;) Cade is Thea’s older brother and Xander’s best friend and he was that reason who kept them apart for so long... so you can imagine his reaction on all that... don’t worry, it all ends well ;) he and Rae are definitely a cute couple and I am more than curious to go back and read all about them ;) especially since Rae was Thea’s roommate at freshman year at college... so I know that I will see again all my awesome people ;) there were of course a few more, but I wat to mention two different families... first, we have Xander’s parents and siblings... ;) they are so fun, and even if they joke around and tease, you know it’s not mean and that they will support one another when it truly counts... on the other hand we have Thea’s parents... now here’s the tricky part... I don’t want to tell you exactly what is going on with them, because that might be considered a spoiler, but what I can say is that the majority of that situation is resolved in this book ;)
What can I say... ;) I absolutely loved this book ;) if I could give it more than 5 stars, I totally would ;) it was funny, romantic, emotional and just... *sighs happily* just perfect ;) oh... I can’t believe I almost forgot to mention... there’s the cutest dog in this story as well... ;) because swoonworthy characters and phenomenal writing style just wasn’t enough ;) we have 2 POVs, which gives us the opportunity to glimpse into the minds of both of our main characters ;) we have an absolutely lovely story of friends who finally admit the feelings they’ve been having for each other for some time… and they are so fantastic together ;) we have interesting secondary characters who add even more layers to this story... and we can’t forget about the absolutely amazing writing style... seriously people, I am in love ;) it was my first book written by this author, but it will definitely not be the last ;) I could not put it down... it was hilarious, surprising, swoonworthy and emotional in all the right places ;) I cannot recommend you this book enough ;) if you are already a fan of this author or if you are brand new to her, just like yours truly, be sure to give this story a try ;) you will not regret it ;)
XOXO
A
Sooooo... Thea and Xander ;) *sighs happily* I loved them both equally, which is not as common occurence as you might think... ;) usually one part of the main couple is more annoying, or quite the opposite, so swoonworthy that I forget my name ;) but this time both of them were truly fantastic and I cannot pick my favourite ;) we have Thea, a sassy and hilarious student who made me smile all the time… I could not believe some of the things that left her mouth ;) I loved that she wasn’t just a one dimensional person... yeah, she could be sassy and fun, be she also had moments when she acted shy and vulnerable... and don’t even get me started on Xander... because *sighs dreamily* ;) my oh my… he’s definitely up there very near the top of my favourite book boyfriends list ;) he’s totally swoonworthy... I just... I can’t... I have serious problems describing him to you, because to do that I need to think about him... and once I start to do that... I just... *sighs dreamily* see?!? ;) don’t get me wrong, he’s not perfect by any means, but he’s the kind of "real" like Thea... an ultimately good character with some flaws... yes, he makes mistakes, but you can’t help to understand his reasons... ;)
Now let’s take a minute to talk about them together... because as much as I love them individually, I absolutely adore them as a couple... ;) they were friends first... for years to be exact, but there was always something a little bit more beneath that friendship... but because of a few other factors... more about them in a second... ;) they never pursued those feelings... until one time when they finally erupted ;) and they ended up married ;) although to be honest, I understand their hesitation… not only there were other people involved... I mean family members, no love triangles ;) but it’s scary to risk losing one of the closest people to you… but sometimes it’s soooo worth it ;) like in this case, because… *sighs dreamily* they were absolutely stinking cute together ;) not to mention that my favourite part was the fact that all the drama near the end of the book was outside of them… there wasn’t any stupid fights, any unnecessary angst or misscommunications... ;) and I couldn’t be more happy about it ;) I’m not gonna say anything else, because I don’t want to spoil you some very fun stuff, but trust me... it was absolutely delightful ;)
Besides our totally fantastic main couple, we of course have quite a few secondary characters ;) there’s of course Cade and Rae ;) the main couple from that previous book I mentioned ;) Cade is Thea’s older brother and Xander’s best friend and he was that reason who kept them apart for so long... so you can imagine his reaction on all that... don’t worry, it all ends well ;) he and Rae are definitely a cute couple and I am more than curious to go back and read all about them ;) especially since Rae was Thea’s roommate at freshman year at college... so I know that I will see again all my awesome people ;) there were of course a few more, but I wat to mention two different families... first, we have Xander’s parents and siblings... ;) they are so fun, and even if they joke around and tease, you know it’s not mean and that they will support one another when it truly counts... on the other hand we have Thea’s parents... now here’s the tricky part... I don’t want to tell you exactly what is going on with them, because that might be considered a spoiler, but what I can say is that the majority of that situation is resolved in this book ;)
What can I say... ;) I absolutely loved this book ;) if I could give it more than 5 stars, I totally would ;) it was funny, romantic, emotional and just... *sighs happily* just perfect ;) oh... I can’t believe I almost forgot to mention... there’s the cutest dog in this story as well... ;) because swoonworthy characters and phenomenal writing style just wasn’t enough ;) we have 2 POVs, which gives us the opportunity to glimpse into the minds of both of our main characters ;) we have an absolutely lovely story of friends who finally admit the feelings they’ve been having for each other for some time… and they are so fantastic together ;) we have interesting secondary characters who add even more layers to this story... and we can’t forget about the absolutely amazing writing style... seriously people, I am in love ;) it was my first book written by this author, but it will definitely not be the last ;) I could not put it down... it was hilarious, surprising, swoonworthy and emotional in all the right places ;) I cannot recommend you this book enough ;) if you are already a fan of this author or if you are brand new to her, just like yours truly, be sure to give this story a try ;) you will not regret it ;)
XOXO
A
March 13, 2017
3.5 stars
August 31, 2016
I guess I will be once again in the minority but I can only give 3 stars to the book, because I love how the author writes but not how she develops the story.
See, this is a friends-to lovers story, a funny and easy read that keeps you entertained, because Micaela writes wonderfully about the couple. This couple (Thea and Xander) wake up married after a fun night in Vegas, the problem is not that they are married because they like-love each other, the thing is how will Thea's brother react? And how she can truly believe the boy she married is in love with her? You see, is scary. He needs to prove her they are the real deal and well, there's the best friend's brother issue.
And I get, that was what attracted me about this story, the synopsis captured me in a way that I was almost signing when I had this book in my hands but once I started, the book lost my attention. When I wasn't feeling really connected (something I didn't expect) I read the first book in the series, and no, I didn't like that one.
In fact, what I liked about book one was the little hints I received from this couple!! I was expecting a mind-blowing chemistry, and boy, did I receive it but I don't how, I lost focus and the book turned to be something normal nothing that would turn my world upside down.
When I say that it's not fully developed, I guess there was something missing from this one. A little more of excitement, or a little more of angst between this couple would have been better for me.
Overall this was a sweet and light read, a sweet friends to lovers romance that I recommend! I guess it wasn't my time for this one!
*I received an arc in exchange of an honest review*
See, this is a friends-to lovers story, a funny and easy read that keeps you entertained, because Micaela writes wonderfully about the couple. This couple (Thea and Xander) wake up married after a fun night in Vegas, the problem is not that they are married because they like-love each other, the thing is how will Thea's brother react? And how she can truly believe the boy she married is in love with her? You see, is scary. He needs to prove her they are the real deal and well, there's the best friend's brother issue.
And I get, that was what attracted me about this story, the synopsis captured me in a way that I was almost signing when I had this book in my hands but once I started, the book lost my attention. When I wasn't feeling really connected (something I didn't expect) I read the first book in the series, and no, I didn't like that one.
In fact, what I liked about book one was the little hints I received from this couple!! I was expecting a mind-blowing chemistry, and boy, did I receive it but I don't how, I lost focus and the book turned to be something normal nothing that would turn my world upside down.
When I say that it's not fully developed, I guess there was something missing from this one. A little more of excitement, or a little more of angst between this couple would have been better for me.
Overall this was a sweet and light read, a sweet friends to lovers romance that I recommend! I guess it wasn't my time for this one!
*I received an arc in exchange of an honest review*
August 9, 2016
When Stars Collide by Micalea Smeltzer was a first for me from this author. I love a good sports romance and add in falling for your brothers best friend and you have yourself a winner in my book. I devoured the story of Thea and Xander. It was both sweet and sexy. For those that don't love the sport aspect then this one won't bother you all, there is not a lot of football lingo. There was also the perfect amount of heat. Not too much where it's every other page just the right amount and don't let me forget the part about them being good too!
The story centers around Thea and her brothers best friend Xander. They wake up in Vegas married but don't want to tell their friends and family until they know it's a worthy relationship. This couple goes through quite a few struggles with his family and hers but in the end they make every mistake possible while trying to find their way.
I loved the story I felt is was perfectly balanced in every aspect. It was well written and I highly recommend this book! It kept me up late reading. 1-click it you won't be disappointed. I was given this ARC for my honest opinion.
The story centers around Thea and her brothers best friend Xander. They wake up in Vegas married but don't want to tell their friends and family until they know it's a worthy relationship. This couple goes through quite a few struggles with his family and hers but in the end they make every mistake possible while trying to find their way.
I loved the story I felt is was perfectly balanced in every aspect. It was well written and I highly recommend this book! It kept me up late reading. 1-click it you won't be disappointed. I was given this ARC for my honest opinion.
September 26, 2016
I received this ARC from the NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the 'Light in the Dark' series but can be read as a standalone. I would highly recommend reading the first book before to get better understanding of character's background.
Thea and Xander get drunk in Vegas and end up getting married. When Thea wakes up next morning with a hangover and wedding ring on her finger she is ready to get it annulled. She always had a crush on Xander but getting married to him is a big step she is not entirely sure she is ready for. Xander convinces her to give her till the end of the summer to win her heart and change her mind about their quick marriage. This book also deals with a heavy subject of domestic abuse. My heart breaks reading what Thea's brother Cade and their mom went through in the hands of her father.
'Abuse is one of those things you know about, but don't really think about until you're confronted face to face with it.'
This was my first time reading a book by Micalea Smeltzer but it won't be the last. A good,emotional, funny at times, sweet story with characters going through really hard issues.
This is the second book in the 'Light in the Dark' series but can be read as a standalone. I would highly recommend reading the first book before to get better understanding of character's background.
Thea and Xander get drunk in Vegas and end up getting married. When Thea wakes up next morning with a hangover and wedding ring on her finger she is ready to get it annulled. She always had a crush on Xander but getting married to him is a big step she is not entirely sure she is ready for. Xander convinces her to give her till the end of the summer to win her heart and change her mind about their quick marriage. This book also deals with a heavy subject of domestic abuse. My heart breaks reading what Thea's brother Cade and their mom went through in the hands of her father.
'Abuse is one of those things you know about, but don't really think about until you're confronted face to face with it.'
This was my first time reading a book by Micalea Smeltzer but it won't be the last. A good,emotional, funny at times, sweet story with characters going through really hard issues.
August 30, 2016
I loved Thea and Xander. This book was such a sweet, fun, fast paced story. I loved reading about two friends that already loved each other fall in love with each other.
My Thoughts
Thea and Xander wake up in Vegas married. He persuades her to give the marriage the summer to work. It sounds silly, but for these two that had so many feelings for each other it was the perfect story. There was a lot going on outside of their relationship that weighed on them, but I they were able to come through everything with the other by their side.
Thea and Xander and their relationship was my absolute favorite part of this story. They were best friends that ended up getting married and having a crazy night of sex. Aside from a few awkward moments at the start they fell into stride of still being each others best friend but so much more at the same time. They were so cute, so sweet, so sexy together that I wanted to keep reading about them. I would love to see more from Thea and Xander and Cade and Rae.
A review copy was provided by Give Me Books, for an honest review.
My Thoughts
Thea and Xander wake up in Vegas married. He persuades her to give the marriage the summer to work. It sounds silly, but for these two that had so many feelings for each other it was the perfect story. There was a lot going on outside of their relationship that weighed on them, but I they were able to come through everything with the other by their side.
Thea and Xander and their relationship was my absolute favorite part of this story. They were best friends that ended up getting married and having a crazy night of sex. Aside from a few awkward moments at the start they fell into stride of still being each others best friend but so much more at the same time. They were so cute, so sweet, so sexy together that I wanted to keep reading about them. I would love to see more from Thea and Xander and Cade and Rae.
A review copy was provided by Give Me Books, for an honest review.
August 28, 2016
♡♡Reviewed for CherryOBlossoms Promotions ♡ ♡
I gave this book 4.5 stars!
I'm a big sucker for best friends turns to lovers and this book didn't disappoint. I found the storyline to be the same as others but also soo different. Xander and Thea are easy to love and the secondary characters just add to the emotions that this book needs.
Xander and Thea have been friends for years. Xander is Thea's brothers best friend. So when the 3 of them goes to Vagas, Thea didn't relize she would come home as a married woman. Thea wakes to be married to the one and only Xander. She wants a annulment, but Xander wants the summer to convince she the one. With their secrets can these two stay married and remain friends or will they find out their isn't a happy life?
Love how the author use really life and doesn't sugar coat about the issues. Very well written and I will be checking out more of her works.
I gave this book 4.5 stars!
I'm a big sucker for best friends turns to lovers and this book didn't disappoint. I found the storyline to be the same as others but also soo different. Xander and Thea are easy to love and the secondary characters just add to the emotions that this book needs.
Xander and Thea have been friends for years. Xander is Thea's brothers best friend. So when the 3 of them goes to Vagas, Thea didn't relize she would come home as a married woman. Thea wakes to be married to the one and only Xander. She wants a annulment, but Xander wants the summer to convince she the one. With their secrets can these two stay married and remain friends or will they find out their isn't a happy life?
Love how the author use really life and doesn't sugar coat about the issues. Very well written and I will be checking out more of her works.
September 20, 2016
I received a copy of this book for free via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Ugh, this was just as gooey and great as I hoped it would be! I loved Xander and Thea and their chemistry was off the charts. Shout out to Cade for being a great big brother and a grounding force. There is some family drama and some big life changes thrown in the mix that gave this some nice depth. I would recommend picking this up if you love a cute and quick romance read.
Ugh, this was just as gooey and great as I hoped it would be! I loved Xander and Thea and their chemistry was off the charts. Shout out to Cade for being a great big brother and a grounding force. There is some family drama and some big life changes thrown in the mix that gave this some nice depth. I would recommend picking this up if you love a cute and quick romance read.
July 29, 2017
One word for this book: EPIC! While I love Micalea's books, this one might be my favorite. I adored Thea! Since I didn't read book one in the series, the plot unraveled with lots of surprises. The chemistry between Thea and Xander was explosive. Tension, the yummy kind. Must read! Five glittery stars!
April 6, 2017
* 4-4.5 stars *
When Stars Collide is book #2 in Light in the Dark series.
Other books:
1. Rae of Sunshine: review.
Although I wasn't the biggest fan of Rae of Sunshine I loved Thea and Xander's story.
Thea and Xander have been friends forever. At least half of that time the sparks between them were so strong they could cause a fire. So when they wake up in Vegas naked and married, things shouldn't seem so bad. But they do because, apart from being her friend, Xander is also her brothers BEST friend. Thea is scared of what her brother would think, but Xanders isn't about to let go the person he always wanted. They decide to try it out and keep it a secret from everybody else, but even the best-kept secrets find their way out in the light.
Those two are hilarious.
Thea is like a living, breathing, walking tornado. But seriously. I'm not sure if I could be her friend, but I know if I was I wouldn't be bored. She is also a good friend and sister. She's funny and smart and sweet. A little bit lost in the aspect of her future and she worries too much most of the time, but that's just Thea.
Xander, just like Cade, is a sweety. Seriously, where do you find a guy like that? She watches silly, girly shows with Thea. He's always there to bring her back to Earth when she starts floating around. He's caring and protective. He loves animals.
And my favorite Xander quote:
There are other secrets they both are hiding from each other, or in Xander's case think they are hiding. Also, there was a lot of drama with family members finding out about their marriage and also, with Thea and Cade's dad. We'll finally get a conclusion to whole 'Asshole dad' thing.
You also get to see other characters like Rae & Cade, Jace & Nova. I really am looking forward to Jace & Nova's story, but also to the second book for both of those couples. If Thea was this hysterical about the thought of having a baby, what will happen when she actually is pregnant I don't even want to imagine. Fun times await us.
When Stars Collide is book #2 in Light in the Dark series.
Other books:
1. Rae of Sunshine: review.
Although I wasn't the biggest fan of Rae of Sunshine I loved Thea and Xander's story.
Thea and Xander have been friends forever. At least half of that time the sparks between them were so strong they could cause a fire. So when they wake up in Vegas naked and married, things shouldn't seem so bad. But they do because, apart from being her friend, Xander is also her brothers BEST friend. Thea is scared of what her brother would think, but Xanders isn't about to let go the person he always wanted. They decide to try it out and keep it a secret from everybody else, but even the best-kept secrets find their way out in the light.
Those two are hilarious.
Thea is like a living, breathing, walking tornado. But seriously. I'm not sure if I could be her friend, but I know if I was I wouldn't be bored. She is also a good friend and sister. She's funny and smart and sweet. A little bit lost in the aspect of her future and she worries too much most of the time, but that's just Thea.
I close my eyes at the thought. If I have to pee on that stupid little stick then I'm making Xander go to the store to buy it. No way in hell am I buying one of those. Nope.
If loverboy's super sperm fertilized one of those precious eggs, the least he can do is buy the damn test.
Xander, just like Cade, is a sweety. Seriously, where do you find a guy like that? She watches silly, girly shows with Thea. He's always there to bring her back to Earth when she starts floating around. He's caring and protective. He loves animals.
Even though I wasn't the one hurt, I cried too, because even then her pain was mine, her joy was mine, and every other emotion in.between was mine too.
And my favorite Xander quote:
"My sister", he repeats...
"I love her", I say, holding my head hight.
Cade snorts. "You think you love her?... You've never even had a real girlfriend and you think you love her?"
I grow angry. "Because it's always been her!" I yell back. "Always."
There are other secrets they both are hiding from each other, or in Xander's case think they are hiding. Also, there was a lot of drama with family members finding out about their marriage and also, with Thea and Cade's dad. We'll finally get a conclusion to whole 'Asshole dad' thing.
You also get to see other characters like Rae & Cade, Jace & Nova. I really am looking forward to Jace & Nova's story, but also to the second book for both of those couples. If Thea was this hysterical about the thought of having a baby, what will happen when she actually is pregnant I don't even want to imagine. Fun times await us.
It's hard to overcome my mind shouting about how wrong this is, how we're doing everything backward. After all, it's not first came marriage, then comes love, but neither Xander nor I have ever played by the rules, so why start now?
March 19, 2017
When Stars Collide was absolutely incredible and I truly loved reading Xander and Thea's story. Everything from the writing style to the storyline and characters was amazing, and I couldn't have asked for anything better. It had the perfect balance of romance, humor, and drama, and I loved reading every single page. It was more light-hearted and romantic than Rae of Sunshine, which I was grateful for, but it definitely had its share of serious moments as well. The pacing of the story was excellent and I was never once bored. Ms. Smeltzer did an amazing job with every aspect of this book and it might just be one of my favorite novels from her!
I loved Xander and Thea so much and was so happy to finally read their story, especially from both of their POV. Their relationship definitely began unconventionally, but I loved how it progressed from beginning to end. I loved the natural and effortless relationship they had with each other and thought they made a perfect couple. Xander and Thea's banter with one another was extremely entertaining and I found myself laughing on more than one occasion. They both dealt with rough patches and difficult situations throughout, but I loved that they had each other to lean and rely on at the end of the day. I loved getting to see some familiar faces, namely Cade, Rae, Jace, and Nova, and I was thrilled that a few of them were able to finally get some closure and peace to certain events that took place in Rae of Sunshine and this book as well. I was extremely happy with the conclusion to Xander and Thea's first book, and I cannot wait to start Jace and Nova's story in Dark Hearts next!
For more book reviews and other content, please visit my blog: https://theromancebibliophile.com/
I loved Xander and Thea so much and was so happy to finally read their story, especially from both of their POV. Their relationship definitely began unconventionally, but I loved how it progressed from beginning to end. I loved the natural and effortless relationship they had with each other and thought they made a perfect couple. Xander and Thea's banter with one another was extremely entertaining and I found myself laughing on more than one occasion. They both dealt with rough patches and difficult situations throughout, but I loved that they had each other to lean and rely on at the end of the day. I loved getting to see some familiar faces, namely Cade, Rae, Jace, and Nova, and I was thrilled that a few of them were able to finally get some closure and peace to certain events that took place in Rae of Sunshine and this book as well. I was extremely happy with the conclusion to Xander and Thea's first book, and I cannot wait to start Jace and Nova's story in Dark Hearts next!
For more book reviews and other content, please visit my blog: https://theromancebibliophile.com/
May 5, 2020
2.5
I loved the first book to the series and was excited for this book. Unfortunately this book really lacked substance. We could have used some flashbacks to help us really get the feel for Thea and Xander’s relationship. Heck it would have helped if we could have even started the book with the night of the wedding. I was also not a fan of the author not including anything about their history. There was no information, and we weren’t even witness to their first experience together, it happened the night before after their wedding. It could have been their first or each could have been with a hundred other people. No way to know. These two claim to have been in love for years. Basically always knowing the other was the one, just both afraid of an issue with her brother. I’m not a fan of the trope where two people are in love, but are are out screwing other people. I am also not a fan of authors that are too afraid to take a stand in either direction and use vague statements instead (as we saw here).
I loved the first book to the series and was excited for this book. Unfortunately this book really lacked substance. We could have used some flashbacks to help us really get the feel for Thea and Xander’s relationship. Heck it would have helped if we could have even started the book with the night of the wedding. I was also not a fan of the author not including anything about their history. There was no information, and we weren’t even witness to their first experience together, it happened the night before after their wedding. It could have been their first or each could have been with a hundred other people. No way to know. These two claim to have been in love for years. Basically always knowing the other was the one, just both afraid of an issue with her brother. I’m not a fan of the trope where two people are in love, but are are out screwing other people. I am also not a fan of authors that are too afraid to take a stand in either direction and use vague statements instead (as we saw here).
July 10, 2019
Overall Opinion: I'm usually not a fan of tropes where a couple accidentally gets married in Vegas or fake marriages, but I actually enjoyed this book. The couple in the book just had natural chemistry, and I loved their friendship they shared before any romantic feelings happened. Thea and Xander had many scenes where they just hung out watching tv or playing with their dog, and I liked how undramatic their lives were. I will say that the end of this book felt rushed since the author carried on a plot line from the first book in this series about Thea's brother. I do like the message she included about it though. This book was also fast paced, so there wasn't any lulls in the story.
Recommend: I would definitely recommend this contemporary series so far, and I can't wait to read Thea and Xander's sequel book. A 4/5 stars book.
Recommend: I would definitely recommend this contemporary series so far, and I can't wait to read Thea and Xander's sequel book. A 4/5 stars book.
April 6, 2017
Loved this book. Thea and Xander are one of the best couples ever!
June 14, 2018
There are so many great brother‘s best friend romance novels out there. This is not one of them.
Especially the heroine is exhausting and so damn unlikeable.
2,5 stars.
Especially the heroine is exhausting and so damn unlikeable.
2,5 stars.
July 16, 2021
maybe this author just isn't for me :/
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