When the Stars Come Out: A Cottonbloom Novel

Laura Trentham

Jan 2018 · St. Martin's Paperbacks

About this ebook

Cottonbloom. A beautiful, faraway place where a woman can escape her past—and find reason to stay forever. . .

Willa Brown never planned to stay in Cottonbloom. She was on the way to somewhere else when she landed there and found work at the Abbot brothers’ garage. . .and a sense of comfort and safety that she had never known. The same holds true for Jackson Abbott himself. With one glance in her direction, he can make Willa’s heart melt. But what begins as an unrequited crush turns into something far more powerful than Willa could have ever imagined. . .

Jackson’s most meaningful relationship has always been with his car—and he’s not afraid to admit it. Still, he can’t help but become emotionally entangled with his new star mechanic Willa, who is definitely hiding some dark secrets of her own beneath the hood. Jackson desperately wants Willa to trust him, and to seek protection in his arms. But even as the two slowly surrender to their shared attraction, the danger lurking in Willa’s past remains a stubborn obstacle. Can she open up enough to give them both a chance at having real and lasting love?

Ratings and reviews

A girl has to have a few secrets. In Willa's case secrets are a way of life. Her demons are well hidden but her fears hover close to the surface. On the run from her past, a charming piece of heaven catches her eye and convinces her to put down roots, while looking over her shoulder every step of the way. Trouble finds her when she meets a sexy guy, willing to take a chance on a drifter like her. Jackson Abbott has a good heart, reliable soul and a sense of family that draws her in, even as she pulls away. Jackson is equally intrigued about the spitfire with haunted eyes, hot body and mad mechanic skills. He knows she's hiding something and wants her trust even as he craves her heart. Will he convince the drifter to stop running? When the Stars Come Out takes a walk on the wild side with a fiery heroine and sizzling attraction. Willa is a masterful illusionist and Jackson has all the tricks to figure her out. Suspenseful, sweet and seductive.

The fifth book in the Cottonbloom series by author Laura Trentham, WHEN THE STARS COME OUT is Jackson's and Willa's story. As a fan of series that cover the lives and relationships of members of a family, this one satisfied on every level, and made for a very enjoyable read. The relationship between Willa and Jackson is layered, ease and camaraderie infused with an undercurrent of emotional tension. For two years, they've worked side by side, but only as the secrets of Willa's past threaten to send her away from Cottonbloom do the two of them understand that there's so much more between them than friendship. When the two of them finally acknowledge the spark between them, things get really interesting, and friendly co-workers become so much more. Since I just started this series with the previous book, there is still some backstory for me to catch up on, but Laura writes each book as a standalone, so it is possible to read WHEN THE STARS COME OUT without having read the others. I find that I'm enjoying the story arc and the characters so much, though, that I'd like to go back and read the first books, as well as continue with Mack Abbott's story, the upcoming SET THE NIGHT ON FIRE. WHEN THE STARS COME OUT is an easy 4 stars for me, and one that I would readily recommend. Fans of contemporary romance, family sagas, of series with a Southern setting, and storylines that cross over between books, will enjoy the Cottonbloom series, and should add these books to their TBR.

Although there is no real violence in this novel, there is a strong element of suspense, and the reader is carried on one wave of tension after the other, right through to the end. Being ultra feminine myself, I always stand in awe of women who can do mechanical stuff and are not afraid to get some grease on their hands. I loved the characters in this book starting with Willa and Jackson, but the secondary characters are just as interesting and some even bring a light-hearted element into an otherwise very serious scenario. So many facets of running from one’s past and the need for healing were brought out in this story. Accepting River’s adoration and protection was a starting point for Willa as she allowed herself to start feeling again. The attraction between Willa and Jackson simmered all the way through, and when the relationship took a step forward, it was tastefully done. The book is very well written and although it is part of a series, it is nevertheless a stand-alone. The conclusion came to surprising end and the ground work was laid for a future book in this series. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

About the author

An award-winning author, Laura Trentham was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although, she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years.

She writes sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. The first two books of her Falcon Football series were named Top Picks by RT Book Reviews magazine. Then He Kissed Me, a Cottonbloom novel, was named as one of Amazon’s best romances of 2016. When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she's shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry that is almost as big as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand.