Leo and Caleb have been through hell—addiction, destruction, and even a five year separation—but they’ve come through on the other side with their love stronger than ever.
Caleb knows he’s earned Leo’s forgiveness. He wants to believe he deserves it, but just when Leo needs him more than ever, a voice in his head insists that maybe he doesn’t. It’s so loud, he can’t block it out. So loud, he’d … loud, he’d do anything to silence it.
Including risking everything he and Leo, and the rest of Star Shadow, have built together.
Extraordinary Things is a continuation of Leo and Caleb’s love story from Terrible Things. It should not be read as a standalone.
more
Falling in love can be easy. Holding onto that love may be much more difficult. When the boys in the band break apart, coming together, trusting each other, and starting again is really hard. Add in a broken love affair and tensions are high.
Luckily their love is strong and therapy helps…a lot!
I totally enjoyed Extraordinary Things, the final book in the Star Shadow series. It really helped finish the series going back to the first 2 MCs, Leo and Caleb and give them a finality. All the other band members had plenty of air time in this book too, but it was at the heart about Leo and Caleb figuring out how to be a couple after the first flames are over. It was hot, sexy and full of personal growth. I definitely recommend this book and the entire series.
Beth Bolden captured me from the first chapter of Terrible Things, the heart break experienced by Leo was palpable, and just jumped from the page. So many feels! This is a review of the whole Star Shadow series.
It looked behind the glamour and glitz of the entertainment world, and opening your eyes to the betrayal of Star Shadow, by people who they trusted. It was quite emotional tracking the band’s naivety from the start of the series, to how things ended up broken.
Throughout the series Ms Bolden described the struggle and heartache Star Shadow experienced, especially in Leo and Caleb, their story is the most heart breaking of all the MCs… I liked that the author didn’t give the couple a quick fix. Leo’s heart was broken into pieces, and there was no way he was coming back from that magically fixed, when Caleb appeared again.
The remaining books in the series aren’t as dark as the initial story. Still, they’re good reads, and it’s interesting to read how the other band members interact with Leo and Caleb, I loved how protective they were of Leo, especially Diego and Benji.
I enjoyed all of the books in the series. I loved how all the men came together, to help each other find their partners. Diego and Benji are really sweet together, it takes a while for them to sort their relationship, they’re very different and often see things from different perspectives, that they often come to loggerheads. Still, it’s obvious that they’re meant for one another, I enjoyed the light relief which was provided by Diego’s daughter, Ana, provided.
Amongst all the angst of books 1,2 and 4, Felix and Max’s book is somewhat light hearted. This a gentle read, two guys coming together when they need one another, it’s quite a predictable story, but that doesn’t take away from the reading of it. I love a good friends to lovers story, and this fulfilled all the requirements. I could have shaken them both at times, the miscommunication between them was maddening, considering they reckon they best friends. Still, a nice read, and it was also interesting to see how the MCs from the other books were getting on.
Such a good read, and great writing and well fleshed out characters, as expected from Beth Bolden. If you like loads if feels, emotion and angst, you’ll enjoy these books.
This book picks up after the Grammy’s. It overlaps Felix and Max’s story, and some of the scenes we’ve been through already, but now see from a different perspective. It dives deeper into Caleb’s struggles with his past, choices, and recovery, and how it’s affecting his relationship with Leo.
I was fascinated with the interludes. They went back in time, to previous scenes, but show them from Caleb’s perspective. It gives us more insight into his journey and thought process.
After their hard-fought reconciliation, it’s hard to see Caleb and Leo still struggling. The life of a recovering addict never ends with recovery. It evolves, but it’s a lifelong process. Caleb has lots of internal struggles, and not being able to forgive himself is one of the biggest ones. It’s heartbreaking to watch. Caleb isn’t done learning things, and this process doesn’t mean they won’t get a HEA. It just means there’s more work to be done beforehand. Leo is supportive throughout the entire process.
I’ve really enjoyed this series, so I’d never turn down more time with these fellas. It was good to get snippets of what Benji, Diego, Max, and Felix have been up to. Overall, this was a good addition to the series, and I’d highly recommend it.
**Copy provided to Bayou Book Junkie for my reading pleasure. A review wasn’t a requirement. ***
This series has given me three couples to adore. Leo and Caleb were the first introduced in Terrible Things, and they broke my heart and put it back together. This wrap up to the series goes back to Leo and Caleb, and it just reinforces their love for each other, and my love for them. We see more about the fears Caleb experienced when he came back to Star Shadow, the band he abandoned when he hit rock bottom with his alcoholism. There are some great flashbacks, along with very sweet and loving scenes between Caleb and Leo as the strong couple they are now. This story shows that things are not always perfect, and love isn’t always smooth sailing. However, a couple as devoted as these men can make it through.
It was great to see the other couples as well, and I loved the mushy love each couple exhibited. This was a lovely wrap up for a fabulous series. I loved it so much!
From the very first book, the guys from Star Shadow regularly tore my heart out, stomped on it and put it together in the best way. The perspective of reading book 4 made me feel prepared. I thought I knew what to expect.
I was so, so wrong!
To say Beth Bolden created a masterpiece is still not enough! The brilliant culmination of Leo and Caleb’s story is written with such finesse it left me absolutely speechless! The healing, the doubts, the turmoil in this book is so visceral it makes it impossible to remain impartial. The reader is sucked into the story totally and completely, from the very first page! The glimpses of the situations from book 1 shown from Caleb’s perspective are an absolute gem!
I thought book 1 was a complete story, but with book 4, they paint such a more wholesome picture! And a beautiful one at that!
I remember that when I read “Terrible Things”, one of my critics was that you never read Caleb’s POV, and I kind of disliked him at first because I just couldn’t accept the hurt he caused Leo. Now I am floored by the intensity and depth of his feelings and the daily struggle he faces to be the man Leo deserves and loves. Be prepared to be pulled into continuous self-analysis, self-doubt, and self-downgrading. But you will also have a chance to reconnect with all the band members of Star Shadow, see how they interact with Caleb and accept him back among them, read about the development of their own stories and just be emerged in the world of these men, who are one big family, with their faults, defects, but also ready to make amend, forgive and love. Wonderful final book of the series! I will miss all of them.
This is the fourth and last book in the Star Shadow series and it isn’t a standalone book. In this book we follow again Caleb and Leo and this time it’s from Caleb’s point of view. I will admit that I was a bit scared to read it because Leo and Caleb went through a lot of pain before getting their happily ever in book one and I didn’t want them to suffer more. I was pleasantly surprised because even though they had their ups and downs and they had to work on their relationship they weren’t really in danger of breaking up. I loved how they communicated and how they showed their love. I love all the couples in the series but those two have stolen my heart. Their relationship felt so realistic. They’re people with flaws and they will disagree but in the end they will stay together and fight for their happiness because they love each other so much. And their love is just epic.
I really enjoyed seeing the other couples again, and I adored the interludes. It was great reading scenes from book one from Caleb’s pov.
I thought that the book was perfect, a great addition and a great way to close the series. I couldn’t stop reading it and at the same time I didn’t want it to end. I’m going to miss Star Shadow, I really loved following their journey.
5/5 stars
I received an ARC of this book for an honest review
Leo and Caleb have been on a rollercoaster of emotional pain and really put through the wringer. Seeing theses wonderful characters fight so hard for their happy ending made me so glad that I picked up book one, Terrible Things, all those months ago. I was there at the beginning of their story and I am so happy to be here for their much deserved (and fought for) happy ending. I highly recommend starting with book one because not one minute of this amazing story is to be missed.
I was so nervous to read this because I loved the way Leo and Caleb’s story turned out. But I needn’t have worried. It is deeply emotional and this time, getting Caleb’s POV just hit me hard. Although they’ve been happy for the past two years, Leo and Caleb still have things to work on, and Caleb has to work through his ongoing recovery and finally forgiving himself. Despite the bit of angst that comes with this, Leo and Caleb are rock solid and super sweet. And getting to see all the other band members on top of this makes for a wonderful conclusion to this series, with solid HEAs all round. I’ll be re-visiting these guys for sure!
This story was from Caleb’s POV and it was incredible. Learning his side, his thoughts and feelings were heart breaking for me personally. I cried ugly tears at times. The story delves deep into Caleb’s mind, his insecurities and love for Leo. This story was fantastic. I loved how we got to see Benji and Diego’s wedding. I’m going to miss these guys and the incredible world that Beth Bolden created!!
I am voluntarily leaving a review form an ARC that I received. My reviews are solely based on my thoughts and opinions.
Extraordinary Things is the fourth book in the Star Shadow series by Beth Bolden. This contemporary M/M romance about rockstars, second chances, forgiveness, and true love is emotional and wonderful. Leo and Caleb’s love story had me feeling so many feelings and beeding to see these two find their way together into forever.
Wow ,a wonderful, angsty , heartfelt journey with the guys from Star Shadow. This book brought the story to full circle, Leo and Caleb… An epic star crossed love from when they first met. Five years of angst, heartbreak, addiction and remorse… This was what Caleb needed, a chance to purge his past and his pain and love and trust himself again… Loving Leo was easy. Keeping that love was hard. Caleb battled his internal demons and doubts. He needed to forgive himself.
Loved it. Sad to see the end.
Leo had forgiven Caleb for leaving him, imploding the band when he left. Star Shadow had come out the other side, bigger and better than ever.
Caleb had never forgiven himself for hurting Leo. The doubts piling around him, making him doubt himself.
Leo was the fire that drove Caleb. His reason for breathing.
Leo felt the same. “The pain is a reminder that joy exists”.
This was a nice ending to the Star Shadow story. Well written. Even though it was Caleb’s story it showed a lot of insight to Leo’s thoughts. I think this series is my favorite of the author’s work.