Beneath the Stars: A Small Town Second Chance Romance (Sugarlake Series, Book One): 1

I love childhood romances which turn into second chance romances. I also think this book is written very well. However, much as I as wanted to love it, I just couldn’t. Chase should have been my perfect broken hero who claims his perfect soft heroine who loves him unconditionally, but he just missed each and every opportunity and in the process what the reader gets is basically knowing that they never really get together from the ages of when she’s 11 right upto around when she’s nearly 30. He’s not her first, he doesn’t even know for a year after she gives her v card that he isn’t her first, he doesn’t really care for her during the brief time he’s her boyfriend (they don’t even do it during that time), he doesn’t support her when she’s in a bad spot with her mom and doesn’t even try to right his wrongs in the past part of the story line after what happens to her mom, he doesn’t try to check in on her via his parents or Jax in all that time that he’s away and he’s not even having issues of emotionally cheating on his current girlfriend when he comes back home in his 30s. In the end that’s what makes it disappointing- that it never feels like he loves her - he is very clearly in lust with her though. Also, it gets a bit too long winded and boring towards the end - it needs a bit of editing. It’s well written though - esp considering this is the author’s debut novel

I loved this book so much 🥺I've been wanting to read this for a while and it was worth the wait. Every second was so emotive and I cried, laughed, smiled and cried some more. Emily McIntire took a simple boy-meets-girl story and turned it into a tale of grief, first love, first heartbreak, substance abuse and finding your way in life. It was a wonderful and so unbelievably beautiful way of tackling issues and I was blown away.It also didn't help that it was super steamy and gave me all the sexy romance scenes I need in my life. Who doesn't love a hottie like Chase?! Or a complete badass female like Goldi!?

I saw this reccommended on tiktok so decided to try it.For me, that starting age of this book was way too young and way too intense for they ages they were, so it made me a bit uncomfortable to read.Also, everything is described in so much detail that it takes a long time to actually pick up and give a storyline, although there isn't really one other than the romance plot, it starts to get interesting towards the end but nothing comes of it because it's just setting up the second book.I really wanted to like this book and usually fly through them but this has took me ages to finish because there's just not enough going on to keep my attention and things get repeated a bit when the chapters are being told from different viewpoints.

Beneath the stars not only has a beautiful cover but its also a beautiful book about love, loss and second chances.Filled with plenty of angst, my poor heart was beating extra hard in places. Forgivness and understanding help to heal a broken heart and I was rooting for Chase and Alina; his goldi, from the very beginning.Finding their soul mate at age 11 and 13 I loved we got to meet them as children whose love grew and blossomed into so much more than friendship.Flashes of their younger years give you the backstory in part one. Chase is troubled. After him and his younger sister were abandoned by their mother at a young age he is full of animosity and hurt. Alina is the one good thing in his life, and yet he struggles to open up causing a distance between them that breaks both their hearts in the end.Can they find a second chance at love in adulthood? I preyed that they would. But it wouldn't be easy. Alina was devastated by Chases actions and the one night she needed him most, he wasn't there.Tension between them grows.Sparks fly when they are near each otherAnd when two souls are connected like theirs, they are destined to find their way back.I loved this book. If you're looking for a steamy second chance romance with anguish, heartbreak and healing, this is one for you

Reading through Beneath The Stars, you'd assume Emily has been writing novels for years. So the fact that this is her debut novel leaves me in awe at what the future holds for this author.From page one, you are thrown into the real world. A world where everything isn't perfect and life isn't a pretty picture. The way Emily builds her characters, connecting you to them is nothing short of perfection. Each character, main or otherwise are relatable. You get their stories and you understand their struggles. You feel their emotions and you experience their lives alongside them.Alina and Chase - their push and pull romance is still raw for me. They meet as children and you just know they are destined to be together but it's not that easy. Their journeys will break you, fix you, break you again, and fix you again. Their development is beautifully written. Emily deals with some very real and dark issues in this novel, including that of Chase's mental health that is the real world is taboo and kept secret.Jax - I could write pages about the perfect character Emily has created but I can't ruin anyone's experiences here. Let's just say that the novel for him alone is well worth the read! Each side character you want to read more about, you want to know their backstories as well as their futures. That's the beauty that Emily has poured into her characters.If you enjoy angst and painful second chance romances then look no further. Sugarlake is your place.

This author was recommended to me when I asked on an online book club for new authors to read. Not sorry I picked up this recommendation. Sweet town romance clashes with hot and steamy. I've now finished all three in this series and very much looking forward to the next one.

I've not read for ages, and the last books I read were the 'After' books... which I loved and I haven't found anything since; until now! Discovered this book after looking for a gift for a friend, I bought it; however I ended up reading it and I've bought another copy for her!Great book, couldn't put it down and was so easy to get into! Ready to order book 2!