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First Star
The stalking incidents begin slowly. . .
Alex Dumont’s budding relationship with Kell Sagen, a local building contractor and single father, heats up quickly, igniting her slow-burning stalker. As the stalker escalates attention on Alex, is he also the one vandalizing Kell’s construction sites?
Blood is not always thicker than water. . .
Alex discovers that her sister, Josie, did not die in childhood as her parents had led her to believe. Heartbroken and angry by their devious callousness, she is elated at the prospect of reuniting with her twin. She hires a PI to find Josie. Is she well? Is she happy? Is she still alive?
A new love, a deadly stalker. . .
When her stalker turns violent, Alex fears for Kell’s life and the safety of his daughters. To protect them, she decides to distance herself from the man she loves and his family. In the stalker’s eyes, is it too little, too late? Alex is about to find out.
Alex Dumont’s budding relationship with Kell Sagen, a local building contractor and single father, heats up quickly, igniting her slow-burning stalker. As the stalker escalates attention on Alex, is he also the one vandalizing Kell’s construction sites?
Blood is not always thicker than water. . .
Alex discovers that her sister, Josie, did not die in childhood as her parents had led her to believe. Heartbroken and angry by their devious callousness, she is elated at the prospect of reuniting with her twin. She hires a PI to find Josie. Is she well? Is she happy? Is she still alive?
A new love, a deadly stalker. . .
When her stalker turns violent, Alex fears for Kell’s life and the safety of his daughters. To protect them, she decides to distance herself from the man she loves and his family. In the stalker’s eyes, is it too little, too late? Alex is about to find out.
402 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2013
4 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Ann Simas
69 books99 followersAnn Simas lives in Oregon, but she is a Colorado girl at heart, having grown up in the Rocky Mountains. An avid word-lover since childhood, she penned her first fiction “book” in high school. She particularly likes to write a mix of mystery-thriller-suspense with a love story and paranormal/supernatural elements. Simas currently has 25 books in print. Both are available in paperback and in ebook format.
An award-winning watercolorist and a budding photographer, Ann also enjoys needlework and gardening in her spare time. She is her family’s “genealogist” and has been blessed with the opportunity to conduct first-hand research in Italy for both her writing and her family tree. The genealogy research from century’s old documents, written in Italian, has been a supreme but gratifying and exciting challenge for her.
An award-winning watercolorist and a budding photographer, Ann also enjoys needlework and gardening in her spare time. She is her family’s “genealogist” and has been blessed with the opportunity to conduct first-hand research in Italy for both her writing and her family tree. The genealogy research from century’s old documents, written in Italian, has been a supreme but gratifying and exciting challenge for her.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 17, 2015
I wish I may, I wish I might....... Alex is a woman who has survived an emotional abusive childhood. All she wants is a family of her own to love.
Her best friend, Dani, talks her into checking out the single guys who go grocery shopping .. evidently the grocery stores are the new single clubs. Amid lots of laughter, Alex happens upon a young girl, sitting in the aisle, munching oreo cookies. After much ado, she is returned to her father and sister. And when I tell you, the father, Kell, is hot .. I'm talking hotter than an Arizona summer.
It doesn't take long for Alex and Kell to connect mentally, as well as physically, but Kell is somewhat gun shy. In the middle of this confusing, for Alex, relationship, Alex accidentally discovers that her twin sister, who according to her parents had died, is alive and well.
Alex also has a stalker. The stalker knows her every move........ where she goes, who she talks to. He leaves creepy phone messages and somehow finds a way into her house to leave her 'presents'.
This book is multi-layered with an undertone of danger and the fear of not knowing where it's coming from. The suspense starts slow with the tension ratcheting up bit by bit until the explosive finale.
This is Romantic Suspense at its best. The characters are well-written. The plot is tight. I think we're going to see a lot more from this author.
August 2, 2015
Star light, star bright… Wishes come true?
What do you do when you find a precocious cherub crying and stuffing her face with Oreo cookies in the middle of the grocery store aisle? Why you help her find her missing daddy of course. And so begins Alex’s step down the path to love and instant motherhood. Well sort of at any rate, first she has to deal with a stubborn Kell who wants nothing to do with a permanent relationship. Then there is the pesky stalker that makes life a living hell. This is what happens when you’ve given up on the male gender and have decided to forget about looking for love. Love finds you whether you’re ready or not.
Alex Dumont is in her early thirties. While she would love nothing more than to be a wife and mother, she’s given up on those dreams. Instead she fills her days selling real estate and writing a column for the local newspaper. Not too long ago she was married to a very wealthy real estate mogul her parents steered her into marrying. Just one act of domestic violence on his part and Alex kissed her marriage good bye. Alex has had enough of loveless relationships. After all she grew up in one. In fact she’s discovered her uncaring, society minded parents have lied to her for the past twenty five years. Her identical twin didn’t die but rather they had her institutionalized. So life for Alex becomes all about searching for her missing sister, falling in love with the new contractor in town and dealing with the ever more violent attentions of her stalker. A stalker who escalates in perversity as her relationship with Kell continues to develop.
Kell Saben is drawn to Alex from the moment he meets her. She’s sweet, caring and sexy as all get out. But as much as his libido is leading him, Kell wants nothing to do with potentially bringing another permanent relationship into his kids’ life that might eventually devastate them. They’ve already experienced abandonment by their mother and he’s not about to expose them to the possibility of it happening again. He has his hands full with five year old, Meggie’s epileptic attacks and her cookie fiend three year old sister, Emily. Even so this man is so full of love and laughter when it comes to his girls. The relationship between Kell and Alex is a bit strained if not sexually charged. Kell is keeping secrets and Alex has to question staying in any form of relationship with him other than business. But as tensions increase these two fall just that bit farther into an undeniable love for one another.
First Star is full of suspense and just a few twists. Alex is one woman that has definitely had enough of her stalker and she’s not waiting for anyone else to save her. Kell is one protective hero that realizes almost too late just how much he’s fallen down the rabbit hole of love. If these two aren’t enough, you will absolutely fall in love with Meggie, Emily and Ms. Simas’ other secondary characters. Well I suppose that’s the point as a few of them have their own cameos in the series. I’m definitely looking forward to see where life takes a few of them. This is one well written romantic suspense, I will gladly recommend.
What do you do when you find a precocious cherub crying and stuffing her face with Oreo cookies in the middle of the grocery store aisle? Why you help her find her missing daddy of course. And so begins Alex’s step down the path to love and instant motherhood. Well sort of at any rate, first she has to deal with a stubborn Kell who wants nothing to do with a permanent relationship. Then there is the pesky stalker that makes life a living hell. This is what happens when you’ve given up on the male gender and have decided to forget about looking for love. Love finds you whether you’re ready or not.
Alex Dumont is in her early thirties. While she would love nothing more than to be a wife and mother, she’s given up on those dreams. Instead she fills her days selling real estate and writing a column for the local newspaper. Not too long ago she was married to a very wealthy real estate mogul her parents steered her into marrying. Just one act of domestic violence on his part and Alex kissed her marriage good bye. Alex has had enough of loveless relationships. After all she grew up in one. In fact she’s discovered her uncaring, society minded parents have lied to her for the past twenty five years. Her identical twin didn’t die but rather they had her institutionalized. So life for Alex becomes all about searching for her missing sister, falling in love with the new contractor in town and dealing with the ever more violent attentions of her stalker. A stalker who escalates in perversity as her relationship with Kell continues to develop.
Kell Saben is drawn to Alex from the moment he meets her. She’s sweet, caring and sexy as all get out. But as much as his libido is leading him, Kell wants nothing to do with potentially bringing another permanent relationship into his kids’ life that might eventually devastate them. They’ve already experienced abandonment by their mother and he’s not about to expose them to the possibility of it happening again. He has his hands full with five year old, Meggie’s epileptic attacks and her cookie fiend three year old sister, Emily. Even so this man is so full of love and laughter when it comes to his girls. The relationship between Kell and Alex is a bit strained if not sexually charged. Kell is keeping secrets and Alex has to question staying in any form of relationship with him other than business. But as tensions increase these two fall just that bit farther into an undeniable love for one another.
First Star is full of suspense and just a few twists. Alex is one woman that has definitely had enough of her stalker and she’s not waiting for anyone else to save her. Kell is one protective hero that realizes almost too late just how much he’s fallen down the rabbit hole of love. If these two aren’t enough, you will absolutely fall in love with Meggie, Emily and Ms. Simas’ other secondary characters. Well I suppose that’s the point as a few of them have their own cameos in the series. I’m definitely looking forward to see where life takes a few of them. This is one well written romantic suspense, I will gladly recommend.
June 11, 2015
When I picked up this one I got a double treat-discovery of a new author to me and a fabulous romance thriller that had that WOW factor to it. The teaser of suspense and intrigue beckons to you at the beginning so in you go. Novel way to open also two friends are in the grocery store because one of them gets the idea that is the way maybe to find a decent guy to date. Alexandra and Dani are quite the pair as you read but surprisingly they run into a little girl instead. Of course that little girl is attached to a dad hehe. The author now has you glued for the count to see just where she will take you in this novel. Alexandra is the main character who will meet up again with the father Kell. As their relationship builds she will provide some interesting twists and turns. As you go along facets of their past and present is revealed and in all this a dangerous stalker. She will also have a secret revealed through a box that will shake up her world that will have her hiring a PI. I am telling you this is one novel that flows so well that has alot of elements but none choke out the other. The romance is just right also woven in all the suspense. The characters add just the right richness that you sometimes forget where you are you are so immersed. Knuckle whitening scenes not forgotten because they are truly needed in a excellent suspense thriller,by the time you reach the crescendo you will be thrilled with the wrap up but sadden that it is over (for now I hope). received a copy for a honest review.
February 27, 2016
First Star starts out kind of funny with the main character, Alex, and her friend, Dani, going to a grocery store to pick up guys. When they found a little girl eating a bag of Oreo's they stopped to help her. After she told them her dad and Meggie were lost, they took her to customer service to have her dad, Kell, paged. Alex and Kell kept meeting up and became attracted to each other. They both have issues with attachments that they struggle with so don't want to commit. Kell doesn't want a relationship because of his ex-wife's desertion and Alex has a stalker that she doesn't want Kell and the girls to get involved with. It's a bit alarming that the stalker knows everything she does.
This is a great suspense with trying to figure out who the stalker is. But, I'll tell you, you'll never guess. Then there's Alex finding out that the sister she thought was dead, isn't. There was so much going on in this story but it never felt over-whelming. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the story flowing and the suspense high.
I loved the characters and how they were developed. I liked that Alex was willing to give up seeing Kell and his girls in order to protect them from her stalker. As for Kell, I did want to shake some sense into him a couple of times because he wouldn't consider getting into a relationship because of the impact it might have on his daughters. I loved Emily and Meggie. They were so cute in both what they said and did.
I won this book in a Just Romantic Suspense giveaway and I'm glad I did. This is a really good romantic suspense that I highly recommend.
This is a great suspense with trying to figure out who the stalker is. But, I'll tell you, you'll never guess. Then there's Alex finding out that the sister she thought was dead, isn't. There was so much going on in this story but it never felt over-whelming. The author did a wonderful job of keeping the story flowing and the suspense high.
I loved the characters and how they were developed. I liked that Alex was willing to give up seeing Kell and his girls in order to protect them from her stalker. As for Kell, I did want to shake some sense into him a couple of times because he wouldn't consider getting into a relationship because of the impact it might have on his daughters. I loved Emily and Meggie. They were so cute in both what they said and did.
I won this book in a Just Romantic Suspense giveaway and I'm glad I did. This is a really good romantic suspense that I highly recommend.
July 30, 2015
FIRST STAR
by Ann Simas
Reviewed by Terri Parks Allen
The stalking incidents begin slowly. . .
Alex Dumont’s budding relationship with Kell Sagen, a local building contractor and single father, heats up quickly, igniting her slow-burning stalker. As the stalker escalates attention on Alex, is he also the one targeting Kell’s construction sites?
Blood is not always thicker than water. . .
Alex discovers that her sister, Sasha, did not die in childhood as her parents had led her to believe. Heartbroken and angry by their devious callousness, she is elated at the prospect of reuniting with her twin. She hires a PI to find Sasha. Is she well? Is she happy? Is she still alive?
A new love, a deadly stalker. . .
When her stalker turns violent, Alex fears for Kell’s life and the safety of his daughters. To protect them, she decides to distance herself from the man she loves and his family. In the stalker’s eyes, is it too little, too late? Alex is about to find out.
This is the first book I have read by Ann Simas. What a wonderful read. It was full of action, mystery, and sweet sweet romance throughout the book. I didn't want to put it down. Alex has had an emotional rollercoaster of a life and she is such a wonderful person to have overcome it all. All these characters were great, especially Kell's daughters, Meggie & Emily. Out of the mouths of babes those 2 were. This crazy stalker had me guessing the whole time, and I had it narrowed down to who I thought it was and I was wrong of course. I highly recommend reading! Thank you!
by Ann Simas
Reviewed by Terri Parks Allen
The stalking incidents begin slowly. . .
Alex Dumont’s budding relationship with Kell Sagen, a local building contractor and single father, heats up quickly, igniting her slow-burning stalker. As the stalker escalates attention on Alex, is he also the one targeting Kell’s construction sites?
Blood is not always thicker than water. . .
Alex discovers that her sister, Sasha, did not die in childhood as her parents had led her to believe. Heartbroken and angry by their devious callousness, she is elated at the prospect of reuniting with her twin. She hires a PI to find Sasha. Is she well? Is she happy? Is she still alive?
A new love, a deadly stalker. . .
When her stalker turns violent, Alex fears for Kell’s life and the safety of his daughters. To protect them, she decides to distance herself from the man she loves and his family. In the stalker’s eyes, is it too little, too late? Alex is about to find out.
This is the first book I have read by Ann Simas. What a wonderful read. It was full of action, mystery, and sweet sweet romance throughout the book. I didn't want to put it down. Alex has had an emotional rollercoaster of a life and she is such a wonderful person to have overcome it all. All these characters were great, especially Kell's daughters, Meggie & Emily. Out of the mouths of babes those 2 were. This crazy stalker had me guessing the whole time, and I had it narrowed down to who I thought it was and I was wrong of course. I highly recommend reading! Thank you!
June 6, 2015
First Star
By: Ann Simas
Alex is a quiet real estate agent going through the motions in her life. Because of past relationships she's not in any hurry to find her next mistake.
Kell is an architect/builder starting his life over in a new town with his adorable little girls. Having his hands full with work, the girls and gun shy from a bad marriage he's not looking for a relationship.
Alex who has only been bothered by a stalker suddenly finds herself in over her head. Getting help from the police and a PI may not be enough to protect her from the stalkers increased torment.
Alex and Kell are both hiding their pasts. Can they trust each other and open their lives to the other? Mistrust, self preservation, and hidden truths combine in an attempt to destroy any chance these two have at romance; and any chance Alex has to escape her stalker.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was such a story of give and take, learning to trust and sheer perseverance. The author did a fantastic job of taking the reader into the minds and hearts of the characters. The secondary characters were a wonderful addition and I found myself eagerly waiting to see what would happen next. This is not one of the cookie cutter one hour generic reads, no, this is a journey with characters that will have you absorbed until the last word.
By: Ann Simas
Alex is a quiet real estate agent going through the motions in her life. Because of past relationships she's not in any hurry to find her next mistake.
Kell is an architect/builder starting his life over in a new town with his adorable little girls. Having his hands full with work, the girls and gun shy from a bad marriage he's not looking for a relationship.
Alex who has only been bothered by a stalker suddenly finds herself in over her head. Getting help from the police and a PI may not be enough to protect her from the stalkers increased torment.
Alex and Kell are both hiding their pasts. Can they trust each other and open their lives to the other? Mistrust, self preservation, and hidden truths combine in an attempt to destroy any chance these two have at romance; and any chance Alex has to escape her stalker.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book! It was such a story of give and take, learning to trust and sheer perseverance. The author did a fantastic job of taking the reader into the minds and hearts of the characters. The secondary characters were a wonderful addition and I found myself eagerly waiting to see what would happen next. This is not one of the cookie cutter one hour generic reads, no, this is a journey with characters that will have you absorbed until the last word.
May 8, 2014
First Star is a spellbinding romantic thriller that will leave readers on the edge of their seats and have them yearning for more.
Alex is and independent person. She doesn't need a man in her life, but that's exactly what she gets, times two. One in the form of an attractive builder and the other in the form of a terrifying stalker. Alex falls quickly for Kell which enrages her stalker and his threats are chilling. On top of it all, Alex inadvertently uncovers some family documents that prove her twin sister, Josie, is not deceased as her parents eluded, but very much alive. Alex's life seems to be one complication after another and danger lurks around every corner. Can Alex uncover the truth about her stalker, forge a new relationship with her sister, and build a lasting relationship with Kell before it's too late?
First Star is fast paced filled with intriguing and well developed characters that captivate readers and draw them into the suspense. Readers will also entertained by the passionate love affair developing between Kell and Alex as well as shocked by the events that lead to the stalker.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of First Star.
Alex is and independent person. She doesn't need a man in her life, but that's exactly what she gets, times two. One in the form of an attractive builder and the other in the form of a terrifying stalker. Alex falls quickly for Kell which enrages her stalker and his threats are chilling. On top of it all, Alex inadvertently uncovers some family documents that prove her twin sister, Josie, is not deceased as her parents eluded, but very much alive. Alex's life seems to be one complication after another and danger lurks around every corner. Can Alex uncover the truth about her stalker, forge a new relationship with her sister, and build a lasting relationship with Kell before it's too late?
First Star is fast paced filled with intriguing and well developed characters that captivate readers and draw them into the suspense. Readers will also entertained by the passionate love affair developing between Kell and Alex as well as shocked by the events that lead to the stalker.
I highly recommend picking up a copy of First Star.
August 25, 2015
This book has so many multi-layered with an undertone of danger and you do not know when the fear of not knowing where it's coming from. This book is a major page addiction you have some stalking, terror, major family deception that you will have a hard time putting the book down. The characters are so life like that you feel a part of them Alex has had some many rollercoaster of all emotion in her life., I really love Kell's daughters, Meggie & Emily, you never knew what they were going to say. Alex has some crazy stalker that had me guessing the whole time who it could have been and I was wrong of course. Can’t wait for the next book. I highly recommend reading!
OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE BOOK
The suspense starts slow with the tension ratcheting up bit by bit until the explosive finale. I highly recommend reading!
OVERALL IMPRESSION OF THE BOOK
The suspense starts slow with the tension ratcheting up bit by bit until the explosive finale. I highly recommend reading!
June 19, 2015
First Star
By Ann Simas
Reviewed by Jaime Kurp
Wow, wow! When I first started reading I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy the book. But boy was I wrong. I loved the twist the author did with the stalker. I was for sure it was one guy, every time he appeared in the story my creep radar was going off. But who I thought was the stalker turned out not to be. I loved the Kell’s girls, they are so sweet and make your heart melt. This is another story that you will need tissues for. The characters deal with broken families and they survive. Loved this book and can’t wait to read the others in the series.
By Ann Simas
Reviewed by Jaime Kurp
Wow, wow! When I first started reading I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy the book. But boy was I wrong. I loved the twist the author did with the stalker. I was for sure it was one guy, every time he appeared in the story my creep radar was going off. But who I thought was the stalker turned out not to be. I loved the Kell’s girls, they are so sweet and make your heart melt. This is another story that you will need tissues for. The characters deal with broken families and they survive. Loved this book and can’t wait to read the others in the series.
June 23, 2015
first star by ann simas
reviewed by kaila for cbr
omg wow... this story was so amazing. so many different things involved in it. i fell head over heels for the characters.. i love that certain things happened which made me very happy.. and some sad things.. i loved that he finally admits and figures out love. the kids were totally adorable and i love flann. i am so glad i was about to review this one. it is amazing
reviewed by kaila for cbr
omg wow... this story was so amazing. so many different things involved in it. i fell head over heels for the characters.. i love that certain things happened which made me very happy.. and some sad things.. i loved that he finally admits and figures out love. the kids were totally adorable and i love flann. i am so glad i was about to review this one. it is amazing
July 27, 2015
First Star
Wow what a rush. Started last night and did not want to put this book down! If you like romance, adventure, and mystery all wrapped in a nice little bow this is it. Alex is a real-estate agent and seems to having everything going for her except for a stalker problem. Kel is a nice guy who had a bad breakup with his wife abandoning him and her children. When these two are together the sparks fly and her stalker is getting meaner....
Wow what a rush. Started last night and did not want to put this book down! If you like romance, adventure, and mystery all wrapped in a nice little bow this is it. Alex is a real-estate agent and seems to having everything going for her except for a stalker problem. Kel is a nice guy who had a bad breakup with his wife abandoning him and her children. When these two are together the sparks fly and her stalker is getting meaner....
July 21, 2015
This is my first book by this author and definitely won't be my last. A wonderful romance and mystery with a fresh voice. Recommended for a cozy night!
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews