Photo credits: Pera Detlic Edited By Vaishali Title: Starfish: A Rockstar Romance Year of Publication: 2019 Author: Lisa Becker Format: Paperback provided Lisa Becker Genre/Themes: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Rockstar romance, Music ISBN: 9781796666465 Review... “Yeah, my dad says I sleep like a starfish,” she laughs. “A starfish?” I repeat… “Yeah, I’m a bunch of limbs all sprawled out in different directions, taking up all the space,” …If she’s a starfish, then I’m a greedy octopus.' As for my first rock star romance? Thank you Lisa Becker for setting the proverbial bar high because Starfish is patently one of the best love affairs I’ve read this year. I absolutely loved this rockstar rom-com. Marin Collins is the female protagonist of this unfeigned story. Brad Ostenhauser is the male lead of this spirited romance. As Marin’s life falls steeply but unexpectedly into a rock star river of songs and sin, this diversion of life might just be a blessing in disguise and a love waiting to unfurl. Fresh out of study, and absolutely aflutter for a privileged chance to work at the most influential public relations company and for a woman who Marin holds in high respect, Marin’s grail is in sight. And with a strong sense of onus and a gutsy volition to consummate her avid aspirations in the tech world, Marin has her sights set on great things. With a career-driven resolve to make something of herself nothing is more important for this smart young woman than paving a successful road in her life and to precisely avoid ever becoming the double of her mother.
Marin hasn’t had many people to depend on, and despite certain difficulty growing up she still fosters feelings unsolved, but also feelings that drive her to be the best at all costs. She can’t lose this game of life, she’s too ardent not to, and without success failure is the next rung in the ladder - and that’s not part of Marin’s plan. Aside from her supportive, extrovert friend Grace to talk, laugh and love with Marin doesn’t have the richest life, it’s missing an openness that Marin herself willfully neglects…Marin doesn’t just want, but she needs this next big opportunity to open fresh doors and impel her sails. With a chance to prove herself Marin is desperate for her prospective employer to give her a long-term position if she does well with this internship. A startling swivel of direction though takes Marin on a disheartening run of feelings from panic to devastation. Marin expected a position in Seattle’s tech world, not to travel on a four month assignment, managing promo for the rock band, Kings Quarters - a famed, upcoming circle of misfits, troublemakers and pranksters.
Marin doesn’t have the luxury of pulling money off of trees so career concentrated she has to be and wants to be. The Kings Quarters are ready for their summer tour, and Marin is going with them! She is dubious of this great opportunity, and Marin is now stuck trailing a group of crazy, wanton musicians from city to city, impeding her plan. This is a new experience for Marin, and as always she works vigorously with her best efforts. Marin isn’t just blindsided by this new instruction, but also by Brad Ostenhauser, the band’s gorgeous lead guitarist. At first notice, Brad puts an instinctive, invisible promise on Marin’s heart. She’s everything he wants in a woman and he’d be damned if he ever let her walk away from him. Though Brad has made a thriving living as a musician, and though music offered him a special source of emancipation, it’s not where his passionate talents lie. A geek at heart, but a musician at play. The life of sex, alcohol, and rock and roll is starting to lose it’s tuneful, spicy flavour for Brad. Marin sees the passionate, smart man behind the guitar and dexterous fingers, so different from his band mates, but Marin’s conflicts come from the heart, and her heart won’t let risk her livelihood or endanger her dignity.
I love Brad as as the male protagonist - he’s absolutely perfect - and wherever a dual perspective is present, I’m there! Brad forms a genial friendship full of hearty laughs and affectionate interest with Marin, but knows that there is much more to them than easy fellowship, if only he can get Marin to trust herself, and trust in possibility. Brad quests to show Marin with steady, cautious steps what they could plausibly have as a budding couple. And as a reader you can plainly see this in the way Lisa Becker expertly veers this budding romance. The author seamlessly portrays the exquisite potential of two people who have much to give even with the diverse backgrounds they come from.
Marin’s future loses its sense of consistency. How can she walk away from the amazing rock star who upgraded her life in the best and most meaningful ways possible? Brad becomes a quandary as well as a relief, one that Marin wants to stay with forever but simultaneously run away from. As tactical as Brad is in his approach to pursue Marin, she doesn’t know if sharing a heated dalliance with someone she has a chargingly heated chemistry with is worth risking her credibility. But Brad has tunnel vision, and straight ahead is one sight: Marin Collins.
Starfish by Lisa Becker is light on the brain, cheerfully auspicious, heartfelt and beautifully fruitful for the heart. Though the feverish life of a musician is a fast-paced one, Lisa Becker sets a clean pace for this slow-burn romance with layers of friendship and fondness that softens the heart. Saucy secrets, backstage bonanzas, hotel room horseplay, touch and go pranks, Marin definitively learns to always knock before entering. This unique, gentle and spicy romantic drama is full of genuine passion, originality and a believable narrative that cries for any romance reader's attention.
Starfish has some great scenes and fun settings with enjoyable banter and naughty innuendos that punctuate the dialogue with hearty laughter and zesty incentives. How can you have a rockstar romance without an essential measure of steam? I don’t think you can, and Lisa Becker melds this character driven story with a storyline that emphasises the bond between our two protagonists in a bewitching way that drew tears from me come the tear-jerking conclusion.
A feel-good, emotionally wholesome story with the telltales of an obliging romance. Not only do Marin and Brad have hospitable hearts, but this story is all heart with ample love that abounds with with sexy dialogue, heat and something much deeper. An adorable friendship with a sizzle of the forbidden, Lisa Becker writes with a penchant for playful, heartfelt romance with sizzling moments of libidinous tension. I loved this book as much as Brad loves bacon.
Brad is the perfect mix of naughty and nice, but overriding his mischievousness is a solicitous nature that’s warm and tender. Marin complements Brad as much as she does this story and we watch as she decides how and if to say yes to fortuity and love.The writing style of this was crisp, simple to trail and easy to fathom. An absolute joy and pleasure to have a front-row seat watching this starfishy romance unfold. One that shines a direct spotlight on Brad and Marin with a favourable beam. Unceasing attraction, perpetual connection and a lasting bond Starfishprocures the ageless thought of a romance that instills hope to the muddled heart and a pledge to the cautious mind, with plenty of bodily sensations to keep the reader occupied. Special props to Edgar, I think we could all use a masseuse like that at least once in our lives. I continuously wondered what relevance this title had to the story, and once I found out I grinned through the entire thing…
I gave this books 5 stars -Content Warning/Listing Drug abuse, swearing and sex scenes. A big thank you to the author for my copy of Starfish in exchange for a review! Thank you Penny for getting in touch and thank you dearly Lisa for sending a physical copy to me all the way from California to the UK. It was an absolute joy to read this. --------------------------------------- M Y R A T I N G S Y S T E M: ★ - 1 star: I did not like the book ★★ - 2 stars: The book was okay ★★★ - 3 stars: It was a good, solid read ★★★★ - 4 stars: A great book ★★★★★ - 5: A phenomenal read --------------------------------------- _____________________________________________________ R E L A T E D P O S T S: ● Bookish Promo: 'Dear Future Self: A Starfish Novella' _____________________________________________________ THIS PART WILL CONTAIN SPOILERS! F A V O U R I T E P A R T S: 1) Visit to Ojai 2) Starfish necklace 3) ‘One night is never enough’ 4) Marin talking about her period with Brad 5) The two epilogues! F A V O U R I T E Q U O T E S: ‘Dear Lord. She’s like all my hot geek girl fantasies come true.’ “You’re stuck with me. We are going to be friends until we’re old and gray. We’re going to have good times, bad times, and awkward, uncomfortable times. We are going to make each other laugh, smile, throw things, and squirm, It’s what friends do and it’s all part of the deal. Got it?” “I always say: go with your gut. What does your gut say?” I shrug, tears welling. “My gut always wants tacos,” ‘In this moment, I know the song is beautiful but inaccurate. I’m the one who doesn’t deserve him.’ ‘Because that perfect moment Your perfect touch I’d give up anything I miss it so much One night is never enough ‘I ain’t too proud to beg just like the Temptations I hope my sincerity creates a revelation You and I should be the two in an equation Because I love you, my starfish.’ “You may no longer be in a band, B., but you’re still a rock star in all the ways that count.” I love interacting with fellow readers, reviewers, bloggers and writers. Hearing about reader opinion is the fuel to my reader appetite, so get in touch and comment below! SHARE ON FACEBOOK Leave a comment and let's talk about |
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