A single mother.An up-and-coming drummer with a sordid past. Their paths never should have crossed. But when a senseless crime rocks Mia West’s entire world, she agrees to spend the summer hiding out at her rock-star brother’s mansion in Savannah until the storm blows over. What she never expected was the gorgeous, brooding drummer living in the guest house. His darkness a lure. His gaze a trap. … darkness a lure.
His gaze a trap.
She knows better than to go after what will hurt her most.
Leif Godwin has two focuses in his life: his band, Carolina George, and seeking retribution for what was stolen from him.
Mia was never supposed to be a part of the equation.
Her eyes an appeal.
Her body a temptation.
Touching her is nothing but a sin.
But will loving her destroy them all . . .
A Falling Stars STAND-ALONE rock-star romance from NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author, A.L. Jackson . . .
“An epic rocker romance, and top 2020 and lifetime read! ⋆⋆⋆⋆⋆ but worth 10 soul-kissing stars!” Karen, Bookalicious Babes Blog
“Edgy and sexy and sure to have you clinging to every hauntingly beautiful word from beginning to end. Move aside Lyrik West . . . Leif Godwin takes intense, broody, and sullen to a whole new level, and I AM HERE FOR IT.” – NYT and USA Today bestselling author, Molly McAdams
“I’m dead. Deceased. Put a fork in me. I’m flooded with feels and adrenaline and awe after reading this glorious book! My heart is beating so fast right now. HOLY CRAP! Steam, suspense, and FEELS, FEELS, FEELS! I can’t recommend this one highly enough!” –Lauren Rowe, USA TODAY & International Bestselling Author
“Absolutely adored this story…I expected nothing less with this bloody amazing author. She truly is one of my author Rockchicks.” Kimhe Rockchick
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Heartwarming and sooooo hot, AL Jackson has a home run here!
Hot standalone rockstar read!!!
A rock star story from AL Jackson is just what this world needs!!
A new Rockstar Romance from A.L. Jackson
“But sometimes you had to wander lost before you found out where you belonged.”
I bought this book because of its title. “Kiss the Stars” drew me in. I had never read anything else by A.L. Jackson, but now that this is over… I need to have all her books. But I need to take my time reading them, because if they’re all like this… damn, what an emotional ride. I’m not sure I was ready for this, but now I want more.
“The man lost. A wanderer who raged as he searched through the earth for where he fit.”
Leif broke me. Like, seriously. From the start, you know that he feels like he’s dark, undeserving, a demon, unworthy of anything good in his life. You just don’t know why… and that is revealed as you keep reading. And as you find out more, your heart breaks for him, little by little – mine did. I found myself fighting back tears, because he’s been through so much and he has the most beautiful heart.
“‘You got me, Mia. You fucking got me. And that is my honest.'”
Mia was such a strong character, in my opinion. She’s been through hell as well, and someone who was dear to her was murdered in front of her. It shook her, and she doesn’t feel safe, but she’s not helpless and she’s a fighter. She has the best brother and the best friends (or family) in her brother’s band. And she has her kids. But there’s something missing, and sometimes we don’t know something’s missing until we find it and we realize we can’t live without it. Funny, isn’t it?
“Tell me baby, Is it worth dying, For everything you’ve been living for?”
Leif and Mia are wonderfully written. The music backdrop was everything I wanted.
But what really draws you in is the story between the two of them and how they connect on so many levels. When they meet at a party, yes, there’s instant attraction and undeniable chemistry, but there’s also magic in the air.
The kind of magic that exists when something is somehow meant to be, and it doesn’t matter how hard you try to run, it still gets you.
“‘Kissing you feels like kissing the stars.'”
A friend asked me today what this book was like. And I answered “It’s heavy, and it’s so inspiring at the same time”. I think she was confused by my answer, and that’s fine. It feels heavy, but it leaves you feeling like anything is possible, and that you can conquer the freaking world when you have the right people by your side.
Leif and Mia caught their own falling star and found themselves in each other. The guy who thought he was irredeemable and the girl who was hiding and afraid are none of those things anymore. And that’s because love can heal you, if you trust it can.
I had never before read anything by AL Jackson so I thought Kiss The Stars would be a nice jumping off point and WOAH this book was gooood! Right off the bat I felt sucked into the story and couldn’t flip the pages fast enough. I needed to know more about Leif and Mia. The sparks (more like flames) between them were intense, you can feel the steam and emotions coming off the pages. They were both in such dark places having been through so much tragedy. This book had a suspense vibe too because all that tragedy was still haunting them as they both tried to navigate a way out of it. Unraveling their past and then seeing their bond grow as they both let their walls down was nothing short of beautiful. Another thing I couldn’t help but fall in love with were Mia’s family which included her brother Lyrik and his band Sunder. WOW these fellas gave me hotholes vibes with a musician sort of twist and I was here for it! I found out that they all have their own books in her Bleeding Stars series so I will definitely be reading all of those. This book sang to my soul and I cannot wait to see where the next book takes me.
My oh my…LIEF GODWIN is my hero! His past is so tragic and heartbreaking. I just wanted to hug him and never let go. When Lief and Mia met, they had a connection. It was one neither of them could fight and I for one am glad they couldn’t! Talk about smoking hot! Another thing I love about Kiss the Stars is how protective Lief was over Mia and her kids. The story was incredible!
One last thing, I have to mention is how much I loved getting glimpses into the lives of the Sunder crew! There is just something about these super famous, super sexy rock Gods as family men. The bond these people have is perfection!
Kiss The Stars is the first book in the Falling Stars series by A.L. Jackson but fans of her work will recognize some familiar names from previous books. I have always been a fan of rockstar romances so when Amy announced Carolina George was getting their own series I was beyond excited to devour every word! No other author can make me feel so many emotions throughout a book and still leave me craving more in the end like her.
Mia West is the baby sister of Lyrik West (yes the one and only rock god from Sunder) but more importantly she is a single mom to two adorable kids that count on her to be their everything. Finding refuge in her brother’s secluded and well protected home she attempts to heal from a tragic past.
Leif Godwin is the drummer from Carolina George and prefers to keep to himself. The rockstar way of life isn’t really his thing so he prefers to be alone rather than party any day of the week. Leif has his own difficult past and uses his music to try and work through all his demons. The last thing he ever expected was a beautiful, broken women to fall into his world and make him reevaluate things.
This was a slow burning romance with all the feels that I gave 4 stars.
Kiss the Stars by AL Jackson is a stand-alone in her Falling Stars Series.
Meet Mia West. She spend the summer at her brother’s home and meet Leif.
Leif Godwin is an up and coming drummer. He’s a man driven by revenge and his band.
Both don’t really fit, but their insta-chem is through the roof high.
Kiss the Stars finds AL Jackson at her finest. It’s an unputdownable read. A story of heart-break, sorrow, guilt and second chances with just the right amount of drama and danger to keep me in suspense.
I recommend the book, 5 stars.
This is a strangers to lovers stand alone book. It does follow the characters from Bleeding Stars, A Stone in the Sea Series. This can be read as a stand-alone as the characters are explained.
In this book we have Mia, who is the sister of Lyric, the lead singer of Sunder. The band have moved out of LA to Savannah, to record the next album.
The band’s drummer Zee, is out for a few months. The band brought in Leif Garrison, to be a back up drummer while Zee is out and he can help them record the new album. He is currently a drummer for Carolina George, a small country band, but they are on the rise.
Every time Mia and Lief, get into them same room together you can feel the heat off of both of them. It’s as if Mia & Lief we’re together in a past life. Mia has suffered a recent tragedy. Lief has a huge whole in his heart from his own past tragedy. They need each other to complete each other and help each other mend and heal.
Will Leif be able to open up about his past? Or will he ruin things with Mia before they begin by not opening up to her? Will Mia be able to open her heart again?
I did receive a free ARC copy of this book. I am freely leaving an honest review.
LOVED this story! I loved everything about it. The cover, the storyline, the hero, the heroine, and all the secondary characters that made Leif and Mia’s story exceptional. I love all the heart, heat, and humor that A.L. Jackson puts in her stories, but I especially love the suspense. I enjoy a good romance, but I live for a good romantic suspense story. Kiss The Stars was everything I have come to love from this author. I love her writing style and how she uses her words to express so much emotion. I get lost in all the feels and before I know it, I am completely consumed. I loved Leif. Especially envisioning him as Chase Mattson! He was such a beautifully broken hero. One of my favorites! I highly recommend!
Review by Lys
If you have missed A L Jackson’s rockers, the boys from Sunder are back in supporting roles in the excellent Kiss The Stars.
Mia West is the younger sister of Lyrik and she runs into some trouble just before the band brings Carolina George (a band we’ve seen mentioned in other books) drummer, Lief, in to help in an album. Lief is carting his own freight train of baggage.
Mia and Lief were magnetic from the time they met. It was pure pleasure watching them navigate their sizzling chemistry while dealing with past pain and present struggles. This is a couple I couldn’t help rooting for, I really wanted them to figure out a path to happy.
Add in the family that is Sunder and this was a great time to see where previous favorites are now as well as meeting some brand new friends!
Kiss the Stars is the first in the Falling Stars series and can be read as a standalone. It will follow the band Carolina George, but you will see this as a spin-off from the Bleeding Stars series that followed the band, Sunder. We get the see the now of the Sunder band family and friends, but this story will focus on Mia West (sister of Lyric) and Leif’s story.
Holy Wowzer! You will be Kissing and thanking the Stars as this story unfolds. It is full of mystery and suspense, but you can feel the love by these characters. Leif takes up a temp assignment while still focusing on his band, Carolina George. What he didn’t expect was Mia! She’s a temptation that aids in some great songs, but as the story unfolds will loving her destroy her (and himself)? Um, not saying, just know while you will have to close your mouth from gaping a few times, it will smile with how all prevails.
I have not read all books in the Bleeding Stars series (one day I will), but whether you read one or all you can easily follow the Sunder, Caroline George and Mia story. There is not one story that won’t have you Falling or Bleeding in love with in the end. I hope that in the future we will get another spin-off of the children in this band of family and friends.
AL Jackson never fails to bring the heart wrenching angst. Kiss the Stars will break your heart and put it back together piece by piece. A fabulous must read!
Some authors words are like poetry to your heart. They draw you in to the depths of an ocean overflowing with emotions that surge around you. This is exactly what AL Jackson does each and every time and with Kiss The Stars she took it that step further. Leif and Mia were two broken souls who are drawn to each other like the waves crashing on the beach. There was another character in their story that reached in and grabbed hold of my heart and relentlessly held on and that was Penny. As the words of their journey embedded their way into my soul, the tears fell long and hard but I felt the hope, the light and the warmth that it promised. Their connection felt like a storm was raging around them and they were situated in the eye of it, where only the peace could be felt while they held tight to each other. A story that will have you hopelessly and irrevocably love drunk on their passion, fire and energy. A story that pulls you from the darkness to the very edge of the light, showing you glimmers of the want, the need and the overwhelming desire. Their love was like the stars even when you couldn’t see it, you knew it was there. If you want my honest, this is a story that will always own a part of my heart and soul and is one of the most profound love stories I have ever read.
How do you come back from something so tragic that shatters such a deep place in your soul? How do you find that love you thought you would never get again? Between Mia and Lief, these two have such a tragic and emotional past that they find each other in the darkest place. What I loved about this book is the whole connection that these two have. It was magnetic. Poetic even. While the passion in this story is sizzling, I think what drew me in was the whole concept behind why Mia and Lief are the way they are and how they find each other.
As things play out in this story, I found I could not put this book down. I needed answers. I needed to know why certain things happened and how they are all connected in the long run. It blew my mind and had me almost in tears at points. I have been a huge fan of Jackson and I think this is one of her best books due to the fact that there is so much depth to it both emotionally but mentally. Seeing Lief fight his demons. Seeing Mia grow with the help of her family but mostly because of Lief. It was utter brilliance and is so one that needs to be read!
How do you put into words a story that pulls all the emotion from you? This book was more than just that, it was so much more than words on a page, I felt every word and it was brilliant images playing out. A.L. Jackson is a master at creating magic with her words and with this heart-wrenching, gripping, all-consuming read you will absolutely FEEL EVERYTHING! Leif and Mia’s story is a powerful, emotional page-turner about loss, vengeance, forgiveness and discovering that no matter what everyone deserves a second chance at love. If you think you’ll be able to read this book without consequences you’re so wrong because this story will ruin you, you won’t be able to stop thinking about it long after reading! Definitely at the top of my best reads list!
Nobody writes a subtle romantic suspense like A.L. Jackson. The way it slowly builds and then smacks you in the face out of nowhere. And Kiss the Stars was no exception to that winning formula. Plus getting to catch up with the guys (and gals) from Sunder was a nice bonus.
I LOVED Mia. Her vulnerability and strength. Her talent and compassion. Her wit and desire. How she did what she had to in order to keep her children safe. How she couldn’t seem to stay away from Leif. The man hiding in the shadows.
Oh Leif. He was a tough nut to crack but under the pain and guilt was a heart of gold. A heart that wanted more than what he was born into. A heart that craved music and art and passion. Happiness. He felt it all with Mia but he wouldn’t let himself have it. He couldn’t with all the guilt he was drowning in. My stomach dropped when I heard what all he had lived through. What he was still living with.
But oh the longing and anticipation. I was waiting for the moment when Leif would give in to what he wanted. Give into Mia. And it was so dang worth the wait. But when Leif’s past and Mia’s present collide, it rocked everything.
Talk about the most unexpected of twists. My heart was racing and I couldn’t read fast enough to see exactly what would happen. How it would all play out. I still have whiplash from the turn Kiss the Stars took. But that ending…it was everything Mia and Leif and their no longer broken hearts deserved.
If you have read A.L. Jackson’s A Stone in the Sea Series you will be familiar with the boys from Sunder especially Lyric. If you haven’t read that amazing series, don’t worry because you can read this as a stand alone, but…. you will definitely want to dive into those Sunder men once you read this book!!
What i can say about this book is this.. your emotions will be attacked and taken prisoner right from the start. The book hits hard right the the word go!
Mia is Lyric’s sister, a mother with two adorable lil kids, but a woman who has had her heart and soul broken, through trauma and loss.
Leif is to be relief drummer for Sunder’s new album and the attraction between him and Mia is hotter than Hades !!!! Leif has a questionable past, a dangerous edge to him but he’s also a man carrying grief and pain, he might ooze sex but he’s definitely a man that has solidly built his walls.
Omg my heart broke for these two people, both desperately need love yet both fight and reject it. A.L. Jackson has poured so much heart and pain into this book, it just eats you alive and consumes you. How she navigated their story blew me away, how could two people so broken even find healing for themselves let alone as a couple. No matter how strong their attraction, this wasn’t going to be a Happy ever After !!! Or could it… there were twists in this book i didn’t see coming, there was laughs in this book that brought me to tears, but the love that swirled out of these pages give me both Pain and Hope!! This couple had to go through personal hell to find themselves, yet you wanted to share every good and painful part of it with them. The Sunder family yet again show that family strength, love and protection. They say love is worth fighting for and I loved this couples battle to win the War !!! I both Loved and Hated this book, it pulled my emotions to breaking point but it also rebuilt me in the most beautiful way!!! #LeifandMia Romance at its very best !!!
I’m a huge fan of A.L. Jackson’s Bleeding Stars series; they’re some of my favorite Rock Star Romances, so the fact that Jackson returns to this setting in her new release, Kiss the Stars, felt like coming home again, catching up with old friends and making new ones along the way.
What I always find interesting about Jackson’s heroes and heroines are how the pairings, at first glance, don’t seem to make sense, partially due to the fact that they appear to come from two very different situations and perspectives and also because of the amount of work that they are putting in to heal themselves from a painful past of heartbreak and sorrow, which means that adding another person to the mix seems more detrimental than helpful. But as the characters’ personalities evolve and the time spent together helps to delve deeper into who they are and what they want and even need, it’s at that point when it becomes abundantly clear just how perfectly imperfect their connection is and how essential they become for one another’s growth and stability.
Mia West and Leif Godwin couldn’t be more different and their outlooks on life in general puts them on seemingly opposite ends of the spectrum. But Mia doesn’t give up easily and once she acknowledges the connection she feels to Leif, she does what she needs to in order to prove that he’s worthy of her regardless of his persistent feelings to the contrary. There’s a lot to sort through and work to be done for these two to make something long lasting, but Mia’s refusal to give up and Leif’s capitulation once he realizes just how deeply he feels for her and how full his life is with her in it, even the biggest obstacles and fears won’t prevent them from kissing the stars.
The best part about heading back to a much loved setting is that old characters stop by and readers get to catch up with everything that’s been happening in their lives since we left them to ride off into the sunset.
What I appreciate the most about A.L. Jackson’s characters and the way she crafts them is that they’re flawed and imperfect in ways that readers can relate to and while they may have endured painful pasts and they may still be fighting those demons, there’s always hope for redemption…hope for putting their respective pasts behind them and realizing that they are worthy of all the wonderful things that life offers.
And that’s what emotional romances do…they provide an opportunity for love, even when those involved don’t feel like they deserve it.
4.5 Poison Apples