“6 Devastatingly Beautiful and Brilliant Bleeding Stars but Worth the Whole Constellation.I felt every burn…every blaze…every beautiful and brilliant word…I FELT IT ALL.” – Karen McVino, Bookalicious Babes BlogFrom NYT & USA Today Bestselling Author A.L. Jackson comes the next seductive, unforgettable Bleeding Stars Stand-Alone Novel… never been known as a fighter, but he’ll never regret fighting for her…
I’m Zee Kennedy.
Quiet. Reserved. Predictable.
When my brother died, everyone thought I was just the good guy who stepped up to take his place in the band.
No one knew what I was hiding. The one thing I’ve been fighting for.
For six years, I’ve never lost focus.
Not until one chance encounter with Alexis Kensington.
Now she’s become my greatest temptation.
I knew better than to touch her, but now that I’ve had a taste, I can’t get enough.
Her kiss becomes my air. Her body my salvation.
She needed a savior and somehow she became mine.
Taking her was a betrayal. But keeping her means risking everything.
One look at Alexis Kensington, and I know she’s worth the fight.
Will my past continue to keep me down or will I finally find the strength to pull myself up and Stand…
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Audio review from 2018
This book was a little annoying with how drawn out his secrets were. There was a time I yelled at “him” to just tell her everything lol
However that means I was passionate about the characters right?
His love for her was beautiful and tortured but once he was able to finally let go and let her in 110 percent I just couldn’t stop smiling!!
And that epilogue was EPIC!!
The angst factor was strong in this one! I equally loved and wanted to knock some sense into Zee throughout the entire story. Alexis was pure and sweet and everything that Zee deserved. It took them awhile, but they finally got the forever they both wished for. This was a great conclusion to this series.
This book just about broke my heart. Everything Zee sacrifices is heartbreaking. He basically gave up his dreams to take his brothers place as penance. All his secrets were just crushing him. Then he meets Alexis and he finally sees what his life could be like and that he could be truly happy. I loved these two together. Their chemistry was great and they were pretty perfect for each other. They definitely had some hiccups and Zee kept trying to push her away. I didn’t think he should have taken on everything he did. Yes he made mistakes but what he gave up was sad and in the end he really didn’t deserve to take it all on but he did anyways. I was happy when everything finally came out and her could be happy and move on. Loved this series and look forward to reading more by this author.
I am utterly devastated this series is over! This series is probably my favorite Rock series of all time and to have Zee and Alexis’s story bring everything together was the cherry on the cake! What an amazing book! What an amazing series and I’m so happy I read it!
There comes a time in life, when you discover that one series! That will rock you to the ever-loving core and move you from the foundation you’re standing on. Coming at you like a jolting earthquake. Splintering you to the depth of your soul! leaving you lost, wounded and whole at the same time! Now, this is The Bleeding Stars Series!
So, for it to come to an end. It’s both bitter and sweet!
I went into this book worried! Was Stand going to hold up to the previous books? Were we going to have a closer? How would it end?
Let me say Stand literally took my breath away, right from the get-go! Just full force and with a vengeance Stealing part of me along the way!
Stand is a lyrical dream of power and strength! That will steal your mind, body, and soul! With its infectious own brand of poetic and visionary fluidity! That grabs you in its story. Only to fill you with hope, desire, and that ever-present fire that stirs in all of us! Wishing we could be ZEE and LEX!!!
That powerful kinetic energy that morphs into sheer energy moving the storyline. In a momentous flow! Not letting you leave the pages. Not for a minute because you must consume it till you are one with it! Even at the end. You’re lost without the words! How do you describe a masterpiece? How do you describe brilliance? You can’t! Other than diving in and seeing for yourself!! Which is all A.L. Jackson! A mind-blowing 10stars!!!
Great series ending. I started with Ash’s story on a recommendation. I loved Ash and Willow but Zee intrigued me.
Zee and Alexis are a great couple. He saves her, literally. But she gives him light, freedom and song.
Their story really is beautiful.
This book is actually my first read from this author and it definitely won’t be my last one. Although I couldn’t really follow from the beginning, I enjoyed reading it. Definitely worth the read and a story you’ll enjoy from beginning until end.
*Fear nothing, live life*
Zachary has lost so much in his life and has a lot to deal with from his past. The past is always hovering over him and although it’s hard to move on, he tries to do everything in his power to do the right thing, even sacrifice his own love. When Alexis comes into his life she’ll try to make him see that he is worthy to be loved and live his life like he has always wanted. But Alexis also has troubles to bare and when her past and his past come together, they’ll both have to fight for what they want…
“And with you is where I’m found.”
Zee, Sunder’s drummer, riddled with mistakes and regret becomes savior for Alexis, filled to the brim with her own. Enchanting, emotional, riveting, you find yourself seeking the entire story, but only being fed strategic morsels until you feel you might combust. Each powerless to stay away, hesitant to solve the issues at hand that continue to tear them apart. Completely electric, love of a lifetime that each of the Author’s books has always been for me.
‘ “Fall with me”, I whispered. He leaned down, lips just brushing mine, and Zachary Kennedy murmured his truth. “I already jumped.” ‘
Triumphant, earth shattering realizations for these characters that resulted in me grinning like a fool, reducing me to happy tears, and melted me to a puddle on the floor. The end cannot be missed!!
“You were everything I’d ever wished for. Before I even knew what that meant.”
~~~Erika, Book Haven Book Blog
“An angel. The brightest light in the midst of my darkness.”
It has been more than two years since the first book in the Bleeding Stars series A Stone in the Sea released. It is always difficult to say goodbye to characters that you have spent so many hours with. I love the Sunder boys, they are such complex and intriguing guys and all of them except Zee had found their HEA. I wanted to know more about Zee, just like with the other guys there was something weighing down on him. There was a secret that kept him from fully living his life.
“You being here for a day is more than enough. Sometimes it gets old, living in the shadows. Somehow they’re not quite so dark when you’re around.”
He met Alexis at the right place and time, things could’ve gone so horribly wrong if he wasn’t there at that moment. There was insta-love between them, which I didn’t like in the beginning. However I should’ve known that AL Jackson would tell an emotional and beautiful story in her own way. I didn’t agree with Zee making the decisions he made, however I understood them. Alexis was such a sweet and loyal character. She was definitely perfect for Zee, who kept pushing her away (which he wasn’t that successful in). There was just something between them that he couldn’t ignore. We also get the final pieces to the puzzles of this series. We finally know what really happened and it was very heartbreaking. Stand was a great conclusion to this awesome series, and I can’t wait to see what AL Jackson comes up with next. Hopefully she’ll decide to write a novella about the guys in the future.
“You make me remember what it’s like to feel. What it’s like to want someone in a way that makes me feel I’m going out of my mind. Coming out of my skin.”
This book was bittersweet. The sad end to the Sunder boys with the last man standing in the group. Zee has always been the quiet one, a cloud of mysteriousness, but always there to support his family. If you know me or have read any review I’ve written about this series, then you know The Bleeding Stars series is my favorite. In typical Amy fashion she has blown me away. Swept me off my feet. Shattered my heart into a million pieces and tenderly put it back together again.
A.L. Jackson has to be the most beautiful writer I have ever had the pleasure of reading. Its poetic and flows so smoothly. I love how she easily describes her characters feelings. I feel the heaviness of Zee’s guilt in each word. The desperate hope Alexis clings to. The weight of the chains that hold them down and make them prisoners. I love it all and I just couldn’t get enough.
Zee, my beautiful drummer boy and the youngest of the Sunder boys. I loved seeing what kind of person he was. His life was so secretive and mysterious throughout the whole series that I really had no idea what to expect from him. His story really broke my heart. Zee walked away from his own hopes and dreams to fulfill a promise to his brother Mark that he would keep the band together. He has shouldered the responsibility of taking care of the guys at the expense of his own happiness. The weight is unbearable and made my chest seize at his despair. Not only that, but Zee has his own secrets that keep him prisoner and any attempt at happiness can have everything going up in flames. But when he saves Alexis one night down a dark alley, he finds his light, his salvation. Alexis’ story is all to similar to Zee’s. I loved that they were able to see their own faults in each other. Alexis was just headed down a road Zee had already been down and he knew what would be store for her. He felt compelled to protect her. They breathed life back into each other. Healed one another. It was just a beautiful story and I love absolutely love these characters.
The Bleeding Stars series is one of my all-time favorites. I can reread it a dozen times and it will still have the same affect on me. While these characters stories make me cry, they also lift me up. I get way too many laughs from seeing this fun loving, ever growing family. This is hands down the best rockstar series I have ever read. Zee and Alexis will sink into your heart make you fall in love with them. If you don’t read this book, you are seriously missing out. Highly recommend.
Emotional 5 Star Goodbye…..I knew this final book would be an emotional goodbye to one amazing series! I normally finish a book in one day but I just couldn’t do it with Stand, I needed to savor every word, paragraph and chapter of this book! AL Jackson’s stunning words that made Zee and Alexis’ story destroyed me in a heartbreakingly beautiful way with such raw emotions. I couldn’t put this book down and inhaled every page like a lyrical masterpiece. You will not be able to read this story without feeling like you are losing a piece of yourself but knowing you are closing the book on a phenomenal story!
4.5 Zee Stars! I always was curious about Zee’s story and AL Jackson does not disappoint! In Stand, the story has come a full circle. A must read!
Oh my, oh my, oh my!
Somehow I never got the significance of Bleeding Stars, maybe I missed the wrong books (I need to catch up), maybe it wasn’t expressed before…but WOW!
As usual AL Jackson made sure that there is no possible way you can make it through this book without tears. No way you won’t die a little bit on the inside. She made sure that you ached with loss, fear, and heartache. I may have suggested she was being mean, but really it’s a gift.
My favorite stories are the ones you connect with, feel, and hurt with. When characters consume your thoughts long after their story is done, that is magic. The Bleeding Stars series is nothing but magic. Sunder feels like my home away from home…if I knew a bunch of ridiculously hot rock stars and hung out with them.
Stand is Zee’s story. It’s a convoluted mess of secrets, shame, and longing. I guess we should have expected nothing less from the straight and narrow addition. I was surprised. Zee was like my little brother and to see his flaws, faults, and shame. I just want to snuggle him more. I know you will too.
Before I go and mourn another ending and start up a petition for another Bleeding Stars book, I want to share a quote that made me want to hug my own insides. The whole scene would be spectacular to share but this line alone rocked me to my core…
“Maybe you’ve just forgotten how to wish.”
It’s a simple truth and a poignant one.
AL Jackson never forget how to wish…
“Don’t you know falling stars aren’t for wishing on? They’re a wish finally falling free. Somewhere out there…someone has a wish coming true.
Stand is a devastatingly beautiful and heart-wrenching story about sacrifices, atonement, and love. The unbelievably raw and conflicting emotions portrayed makes your heart weep, yet soar at the same time. The pain and heartache each character endures in the story proves that not all love is carefree and uncomplicated. The harrowing actions of others brought the characters together, but it was up to them whether their grievous situations could bring them closer, or tear them apart.
“Living is a choice. We decide how we wake up each morning and face the day. Either we’re led by hope or ruled by fear. And I won’t let circumstances define me. Maybe I’m a fool, because I will stand or I will fall, but I will never, ever allow fear to clip my wings.”
A.L. Jackson’s writing was phenomenal! She has this extraordinary way of evoking such strong emotions through her characters, entangling her readers with the outcome of the story. Although parts of Stand were tougher to get through than others, it still holds a powerful message that faith and fear can coincide, as long as you take the risk on the unknown.
A compelling love story that bleeds intense emotions.
I loved this series and am sad it is over. But I am so happy for all of the band that they all found there lobster.