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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I can’t say one single bad thing about Ms Jackson’s writing that alone could move mountains, melt the coldest hearts and trigger your lacrimal glands. From the first moment I met Mia and Leif, sparks erupted before my eyes and I felt the connection between them, between me and them – between us. I have no idea how the author does it but everytime I read her books I’m hit by a strong wave of emotions and assaulted by thousand butterflies.
Kiss the Stars pulled me in so fast and gave me a feeling of belonging. I absolutely adored Mia as a single mother and Leif for treating her kids like they were his own. Speak about too perfect it hurts. My heart ached so much for Mia but mostly for Leif when their backstory was revealed. The last 20 % of the book were an angst filled emotional hell that left me to bleed out on my bedroom floors.
The only reason I can’t give the story a full rating (and it’s a matter of my personal preference) is the plot which was way too similar to the author’s other books. Once I figured it out the middle dragged a tiny bit for me. But overall, Kiss the Stars was another beautifully written tale that touched the deepest crevices of my heart.
RATING: 4.5*
What a read! I miss A.L. Jackson and her rock star men and it had all the feels once again. This time we meet Leif Godwin from the band Carolina George who was asked to cover Sunder’s drummer, Zachary a.k.a. “Zee.”
Mia West was a woman he never saw coming. At the first meeting you can feel an intense connection between the two. Little did they know that they would see each other again. To top it off they are closely connected during his time as a stand in for Sunder down south.
“You’re a fool if you’re standing there questioning if she could love you right now. Question is, after everything, can you love her?”
We have two people with demons they cannot get away from and the need to stay on the down low as much as possible but deemed challenging as he becomes more protective of her safety and her kids. As time passes they decide to take the risk of being something more. When things are slowly revealing their background stories; we are taken for a ride that will have you breaking and hoping that things are still possible after everything.
This is the world I favor from A.L. Jackson. Regardless of what band they are from they are a close knit family that you would wish to be a part of. This story will give you the feels that will have you falling and believing that second chances are possible.
A. L. Jackson is the master at words. I fall more in love with each new book she writes and Kiss the Stars is one of my favorites from her! One of my top reads so far for 2020!
Welcome back to the world of Sunder! I was so excited to dive into this book but also nervous because we all know how A.L. Jackson likes to bring out the feels in all of us whenever we read one of her books. This lady did not disappoint and I don’t think any of us were ready for what was to come with Leif and Mia story.
Mia is the sister to Lyric the guitar player for Sunder. Mia was such a surprise. I wasn’t really sure what to make of her at first with everything this girl has gone through. After life took a very dark turn for her she tried to move and not let it affect her life. Nothing ever works out the way we want it to and we see her picking up the piece, being strong and doing whatever she could do to keep moving for her family. I was blown away by this girl, not afraid at all to go after what she wanted when it came down to it. Fight for what she saw and believed. I loved reading about her the most when it came to her children. She was such an amazing character the more and more I read.
Leif Godwin, man oh man. Could we not have a sexier drummer! There was just something about Leif the second I read about him that I knew he was going to be one of those characters you will never forget about and just fall madly in love with. He was not at all what I was expecting and it was just breath of fresh air. This man has been through something extremely horrific and he became so scarred from it inside and out it was hard at times to see what he would put himself through because he didn’t think he deserved it.
I just loved these two so much. The more I read the more I fell. It was so amazing to come back to this world of Sunder. Seeing all these characters that feel more like family then anything were they are in their lives and how far they all have come. I’m so excited to see what comes next!
Escaping a past that haunts your days and nights isn’t easy. Mia is lucky to have the support of her brother during the days that are the hardest. As the younger sister of Sunder’s lead singer, Mia has the protection of ‘family’ at every turn. Living with Lyric was just supposed to be a temporary measure, but the reality is one that will lead Mia to move into Lyric’s Savannah home. What Mia didn’t expect was to cross paths with a soul as tortured as her own.
Leif knows that he isn’t a ‘good guy’. With a past that is less than stellar, Leif tries his best to carry on in the only way he knows how, through music. Touring with one of the country’s hottest band, Leif knows that he can’t stay under the radar for long. When Sunder comes ‘calling’ about a partnership, Leif finds himself torn over a unique proposition. Nothing could have prepared the drummer for crossing paths with a raven-haired beauty that spoke to his soul.
Kiss the Stars is a journey of two torn souls that long to be connected. Mia’s sole focus is keeping her children safe from harm’s way. Leif knows that tragedy follows in his wake, but he can’t help the desire to protect Mia at all costs. Where will this connection lead? Only time will tell, but the chaos from the past will finally darken both of their doorsteps.
AL Jackson has graced her fans with another glimpse into the lives of everyone’s favorite band from previous books – Sunder!! This standalone will grab you by the hand and lead you on a journey of second chances and finding love through the fog of past transgressions. This novel was definitely one that I recommend bumping up to the top of your reading list. After all – we all long for a love story that leaves you looking towards the stars.
Kiss the Stars by A.L. Jackson gives us a story about a single mom who needs to get away for a bit and a drummer who does not believe he is good enough. She is strong, caring and protective. Leif struggles with the demons from his past that haunt him. Though they do not want to fall for the other, their chemistry is undeniable. I loved the push and pull between them. Sparks flew right off the pages! And Leif was just amazing with her children. Their journey was emotional, angst-filled, a bit suspenseful and will pull at your heart.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Leif and Mia’s story is one that reminds me that everyone that comes into our lives does so for a reason. That reason may not make sense, at least at the time. But everyone has a part to be played. Bad things happen. Good things happen. It’s not always WHAT happens but how it is handled in the end. Everyone we bring into our lives, they come for a reason. And sometimes those people are right where they need to be right when they need to be there. Loved this story. Loved these characters. Absolutely love this author!!
No one does sexy rockstars and angst like AL Jackson!
Ah, Sunder! It feels so good to be back!! These guys and their crazy families is my happy place. You get just enough of the familiar faces to feel right at home, but its a totally new ride with Mia and Leif…aka Drummer Dude.
Mia was more than I was expecting. I loved her spirit and energy. The dynamic between her and Lyrik was so perfect and I loved getting to see so much of him through this story. I have to say that her daughter, Penny, quickly became my favorite character.
Leif was a little hard to pin down. You know that he has a dark past, but you don’t get the details until very late in the story. I started to get a little bored of the constant..”you can’t handle me and my darkness” that seemed to go on forever, but once you get through that this is a fantastic story. Mia and Leif both need each other, even if they don’t know it right away. The writing is the same lyrical style as the rest of AL Jackson’s books and is a joy to read.
All I can say is that once again Amy has knocked us over with a heart-wrenching novel with all the feels. I don’t know how she does it time and time again. Amy’s writing is lyrical, poetic and you get pulled into an intense love story that you can stop thinking about weeks after reading.
Leif and Mia are two broken souls who have gone through so much. Their love story is an emotional rollercoaster that breaks you at times. I can’t say much because it’s a story that you need to unfold on the pages in front of you. But I will say that this book will be HIGH on my Top Reads for 2020.
This is the first book is a spin-off from the Bleeding Stars Series so we get to see other beloved characters from that series. Pick it up. Experience this book. You won’t be sorry.
Where do you even start, and where do you find the words. My heart broke for Leif. What he was living with, what he went through and what he thought he could never have. He thought himself undeserving of love especially because of his past. Mia showed him the love he was capable of and the love that was for him and him alone. Throw in 2 great kids and you have the making of a gazillion star read. These kids were part of the story not just in the background. They made it real. The tears you will cry for Mia and Leif but will have you holding on for dear life. Connected to each word as if you are going through it with them. AL Jackson has a way of making her readers a part of her stories. Feeling what they feel.
It was an instant attraction between Mia and Leif. Even though they never exchanged names the connection was made. When they finally do meet again they both know what had already started. Leif fought it at every turn. Kept telling Mia that he was bad and he didn’t deserve her. His past would ruin her and break her heart. But Mia knew differently. She saw in him what he never could. He was worth the pain that she might experience. She was willing to have her heart broken because of the man she knew he was. Lost in his past he refused to see the good he had to offer. But Mia was able to hold on and together they made beautiful music together along with her kids.
An angsty romance that will leave you breathless!
Ms. Jackson knows how to take characters that you don’t think would ever be a match, and make them into this couple you can’t help but root for. Leif and Mia are the epitome of angst. With devastating pasts, these two make an unlikely connection. Their chemistry is combustible, and I loved every second of it. This is a standalone novel, but it is set in the world of Falling Stars, and there are familiar faces that make it that much sweeter. Kiss the Stars is a gripping novel that makes your heart pound with its intensity. I devoured this book, you definitely don’t want to miss this one!
I was really happy when I read the blurb to this book and realised we were back in the Bleeding Stars universe. It was so good to go back to this world and see how all the previous couples are getting on.
I really liked Mia and Leif, they both have a lot of sadness to overcome but they were very well matched. Mia, dealing with recent trauma and Leif with past.
There is a lot of angst in this book. The reason for only 4 stars is that there is a lot of internal dialogue from these two, especially Leif, and I did feel at times it was too much. There’s so much angst and I just felt it took away from page time with the two interacting. The story for me took awhile to get going and I did start to skim over some of the pages and pages of their own feelings.
Saying that I did really like them both and I loved how they were so drawn to each other and the passion and intensity they felt. The kids are just great, they brought so much needed lightness at times and I thought Brendon was just hilarious.
I didn’t know if AL Jackson could top the Sunder boys. I loved the Bleeding Stars series. But Leif gave them a run for their money. This book was raw, gritty, angsty, heart-wrenching and oh so sexy. Once I started reading I couldn’t put it down I felt every raw emotion that Jackson wrote within the pages and that’s the reason I love her words I love feeling as though I am living the story right alongside her characters. Leif and Mia will capture your hearts this is a must-read.
Wowzers! This one is for sure a sexy, slow burn. Mia is trying to keep her kids safe by hanging at her brother’s home. Leif is protective, hot as hell and definitely not looking to fall for Mia. Together they are fire. Loved everything about them. And getting to hear about the Sunder boys and their families was the best.
Talk about emotion overload! You are literally going to be going through all the feels with this! It’s gripping and heart wrenching, but you also get those heartwarming moments that give you heart eyes . And let’s not forget the laughs (Greyson’s arm made me laugh quite a bit ). These two people, Leif & Mia, are filled with such depth, dealing with their own heartache and tragedies and just trying to find a way to go on. When their souls and hearts collide, it’s like a perfect storm. Nothing is easy, but their story is amazing . Tissues would be helpful…there was sad crying, stress crying, relieved/happy crying…you get the picture. And of course, always awesome to be around our Sunder men & women again. Not to mention the kids. All in all, complete & total love for this!!
Mia and Leif! I loved reading their story. This new Bleeding Stars spin-off series started off with a bang. It was great to see what the Sunder guys were up to as well as meeting new characters. I can’t wait to read more about the group members of Carolina George and I’m sure I will love their stories as well.
First, I have to say I missed those “Sunder” boys so much and their wife’s/ family..It was awesome reading these characters again. Second, the writing in the book was rocking. The story was sad,but sweet. There were sexy parts, heartbreaking parts, and parts where I wanted to crawl inside the book and hurt someone. I love Leif and Mia. They both have been through so much. Both broken and beautiful. This wouldn’t be an Al Jackson book without the twist you never saw coming. I love this spin off!I love the band!I can’t wait to read the other stories. (If you haven’t read The Bleeding Stars series, you’re missing out.)
A billion stars!!! Positively brilliant! AL Jackson is a wicked wordsmith who took my emotions on one heck of a journey! It was all worth it though to experience the collision of these two wounded souls, Leif and Mia, who second chances were meant for. I do not want to say anything specific about their incredible story because you honestly just need to read it for yourself and feel and experience everything about these characters first hand. I loved every single minute of their epic story! It’s truly amazing and full of love, pain, forgiveness, redemption, heat and the love and support of family. Seeing Leif transform throughout this story is a beautiful thing but watching him be the man Mia knows in her heart is simply stunning! Leif is so swoony and Mia is fierce!!! I honestly adore this couple and love this book so much!!! Bravo!!!
Kiss the Stars is AL Jackson’s newest angsty, emotional romance about finding your second chance in world full of pain, regret and loss. My heart almost couldn’t take the emotional ride Leif and Mia were on. Both have something in their pasts that wakes them up at night. Both looking around dark corners for the enemy. Neither looking for someone else but helpless to stop the connection that left them breathless. Leif can’t get close to Mia, he will ruin her. But he can’t stay away. She just keeps pulling him in and getting over his walls. Mia is scared and just wants to keep her kids safe. She sees something in Leif that he can’t see. He’s a good man with a good heart. He’s just broken. She feels complete when they are together. Once he starts, he can’t stop. Leif vows to keep Mia and her family safe. But what happens when the devil is closer than they think? Will he put his own life on the line to save them? Wow. This story made my pulse spike and my mind race! I just kept reading faster and faster because I needed to know what was going to happen! I loved seeing the boys of Sunder and their families again and Mia’s kids almost stole the show! Leif and Mia were more than soul mates. It is something bigger. Something magical. Want my honest? AL Jackson is in a class by herself. Amazing woman, writer and story teller.