Star Bright by Staci Hart

✨ Star Bright is Almost HERE! ✨ 

The party of the century starts AT MIDNIGHT TONIGHT! 

Everything you've heard is true--this book lives up to all the hype. Gossip Girl meets Gatsby in this story that's so much more than you even realize. The romance. The glamour. This group of friends and all the laughs and love they inspire. Get ready for the thrill of a lifetime. Pick up Star Bright TODAY! Trust me--you won't regret it.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2z94C2f
AppleBooks: https://apple.co/2QElROu
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3akNWm5
B&N: https://bit.ly/2W4isvy

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Stella Spencer has one enemy—her secrets.

The world’s obsession with the Bright Young Things is real. Every lavish party thrown by the most exclusive group in New York is a spectacle, stalked not only by the media, but by the police commissioner, who’s declared war. He’s out to ruin everyone’s good time, starting with uncovering the mysterious benefactor leading the group, thus answering the question on everyone’s lips.

Who is Cecelia Beaton?

And no one knows it’s Stella.

If society finds out the truth, her plans will unravel. And with one smoldering look from a stranger, her carefully ordered world catches fire.

Levi Hunt has one plan—get the story.

His future at Vagabond magazine depends on his ability to do the one thing no one can: infiltrate the Bright Young Things. If he can find out who Cecelia Beaton is, he’ll earn enough notoriety to permanently secure his career.

His dreams are at his fingertips, so long as he doesn’t blow his cover. But one night with the brightest, most brilliant young thing of all, and he knows he’ll have to make a choice.

The job he loves or the woman of his dreams.

Secrets and lies. Love and laughter. And two people with something to hide and everything to gain.

Welcome to the party.

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My review:

☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ 5 Brightly Shining Stars ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆

Oh my WORD! ☆ ☆ Staci Hart is a brilliant storyteller – the more of her work that I read, the more I want! I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I started reading Star Bright – high society glamour and drama with a dash of lush romance, perhaps? The teasers had me on the hook refreshing my Kindle waiting for this one to be delivered as I just knew it would be a unique and exciting telling - fresh, and flawless. By page 2, I was swept away to NYC on the wings of Ms. Hart’s powerfully evocative writing.

As we enter our first party, you can FEEL the emotion and the atmosphere of the party come right off the page. I adore our heroine Stella – she’s got a lovely, fierce, and caring heart; I would love to know her! Levi is the yin to her yang, with charm to spare and a secret that could endanger the both the tribe she’s collected and the world that she’s built for them all. Cue the larger-than-life BYTs, costumes for days, glitz, gossip, conflict, and lust, combine it all with minstrel-like magic, and you’ve got an unputdownable winner. I always love a good romance, but the best thing about this book was the STORY; the energy of the characters, the slow burn of true chemistry, and how the reality of our times (secrets, social media, society) shapes it all.

Star Bright is a gorgeous story that will speak to your soul. If you’re looking for frivolity and superficiality – look elsewhere! Staci Hart has SUCH a way with words, and an amazing attention to detail that brings her stories instantly to life. The combination of heat and charm, dazzle and depth brings Stella, Levi, and all the rest of the BYT to truly glorious living color. [side note - I NEED Z’s book]. The struggles of each character, with their believable self-awareness and complex mindset brings us the richness of content that I’ve come to expect when being swept up in a Staci Hart novel. Nothing in this book feels contrived – even the angst and conflict come about just as they should. What a perfect read to lose yourself in.

Until that next glimpse of foiled letters sprinkled across rich, heavyweight cardstock comes your way...remember that life is for living. I think we could all benefit from having a little Cecelia Beaton in our lives!

My general rating rationale:

3 – Perfectly fine story, perhaps some minor editorial errors. Entertaining. Typically with this rating I feel like there could have been MORE – be it believably/relatability, character development, internal dialogue, explanations or depth, richness to the overall storyline, etc. May lose a bit of engagement here and there but always finish reading.

4 – A very good book. Engaging, with well-developed characters, a great plot, relatable scenarios; keeps you invested to the last page. Would recommend to reader friends.

5 – Can’t say enough amazing things, loved the characters, fabulously detailed plot, a quick hook, intense investment in both story and characters (including supporting characters) throughout the book. Will tell anyone who will listen that they should read it.