Review ♥ Star Struck by Laurelin Paige

 A Review by Wendy

3 Hidden Pasts Stars
* * * 

Spoiler Free

It is a known fact, the pasts we have, leave a mark on us... and sometimes, no matter the success or careers we have achieved... Those pasts, the pain, harsh words and shame can be difficult to shake. And when we allow ugly words said by ugly people continue to play a loop in our minds... it can cause fake walls to be built to hide behind. 

Heather Wainwright has worked hard to get where she is... She is at the top of her acting career and is well respected...except she does have one little flaw...

She has a reputation for being a Diva... A Pain in Ass...
Oh, she is nice and sweet when need be... but she can become a bit demanding..

She has recently broken up with her ex... He couldn't seem to keep his hands off his last co star...
And what's sad is Heather is not all that heart-broken as she has not always be virtuous on her sets either.

We meet Heather as she is taking over the Spokesperson duties this year of a special pet charity of hers, Urban Arts Theater Company. They are know to reach work with communities and provide children in poverty a place to dream, act and learn. Heather was one of those children and she will always donate her time for any of their events. They do a special one every year called the 24 Hour plays... where everything from the idea, writing and then the performance happen in a 24 hour period. It is out of the box thinking and the public love the innovative plays they get to see while donating to the cause.

This year Seth Rafferty, a well established Production Designer has offered to do sets for all of the plays. Usually they haven't had sets. The sets will then be auctioned off with all of the proceeds going to Urban Arts, a huge bonus for their fundraising.  Seth was thrilled to participate as he had history with the group, too. They gave him a way to see what was possible and from his first experiences holding tools and making sets, he knew his path.

These two meet and at first all things are charming, flirty and chemistry off the charts...Heather cannot believe how handsome Seth is and all of her lady bits are directing her to want more than chitchat...Seth is right there with her...although he is a little more hesitant... Actresses in the past have burned him... and he has seen snobby behavior from many...

As life would have it, intros start to happen and Heather realizes Seth is "just the carpenter" part of the lowly crew...She has made it a habit to never mix with crew...That loop in her head of being told "you will never amount to anything" has kept her away from ever being that person...who was told she was trashy and not worthy...

Seth, on the other hand, let's Heather continue to think he's the carpenter...he has no use for shallow snobby women and even though she knocks his socks off and he wants to show her whose boss in his bed...He will not give her the excuse to all of a sudden like him because of his different position or acceptable career.

Naturally, these two have chemistry off the page...and both cannot stop thinking about each other...There is an explosive moment where each cannot resist... and then the fight to pretend it never happened....

Star Struck is an earlier work of Paige. It has been re edited with a new cover. If you have been a Paige reader, you will see in this earlier work she is getting her writing legs under her. I felt there was an influence and nod to what was popular in 2014...an influence of what was happening in romance then...lots of sexy times with a rougher feel...Heather's arc had growth and Seth was the one who showed her all she could have if she wanted...

The story was easy to follow with a low threshold of angst. 

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

 About Laurelin Paige
NY Times & USA Today Bestselling author Laurelin Paige is a sucker for a good romance and gets giddy anytime there’s kissing, much to the embarrassment of her three daughters. Her husband doesn’t seem to complain, however. When she isn’t reading or writing sexy stories, she’s probably singing, watching Game of Thrones and the Walking Dead, or dreaming of Michael Fassbender. She is represented by Rebecca Friedman and Friedman Literary.