Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book

Crossing Stars #2

To Catch a Falling Star

Rate this book
It’s been five years, but Melody still mourns the death of Tim, her soul mate and beloved husband who never had a chance to hold their daughter. Mel and her daughter have the love and support of Mel’s brother Will and sister-in-law Portia, the famous Oscar-winning actress-turned-mother. Mel works three jobs and mothers Ella, but she spends her mornings facing the demons of her grief. Her faith and her father, the pastor, helps Mel grapple with her grief.

Portia opens her home to her childhood friend Tarry Francis, a successful, womanizing rock star. He’s trying to beat his addictions. Again. He’s going through the motions, but needs his drugs and rowdy lifestyle to keep his childhood pain in check. Tarry’s privileged upbringing contrasted with his cruel parents, who starved him of affection. Who can fix that?

Mel is forced to counsel Tarry, but he’s so damaged and unwilling to try that she’s not sure anyone can help fix him. She gives him a special coin. Could this open their hearts to each other and fuel their love? Is this a step forward that will free them to catch the falling stars? Or will Mel remain faithful to her first love?

Rich in meaning, To Catch a Falling Star is about two lovers whose hearts struggle to open to find the magic of the journey of love. It’s a joyful and passionate story about overcoming challenges to lead us to love and the fulfillment of our dreams.

To Catch a Falling Star is the stunning follow-up novel to L. Duarte’s debut Chasing Stars about Portia and Will’s romance. A spiritual and playful read, L. Duarte has provided readers the chance to believe in healing a broken heart.

300 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

4 people are currently reading
644 people want to read

About the author

L. Duarte

7 books230 followers

I have found that there is only one thing better than reading, and that is writing. I am always torn between the two. I am also frequently torn between chocolate and coffee. However, I emphatically do not like the month of February, lies, and flies. For me, bravery is defined by the courage to do what we fear the most. I live in Connecticut with my husband and two children. Drop a few lines. I would love to hear from you.


Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
32 (44%)
4 stars
30 (41%)
3 stars
4 (5%)
2 stars
5 (6%)
1 star
1 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Wendy'sThoughts.
2,670 reviews3,280 followers
February 11, 2018
4 Solid, Believing, Hopeful, Accepting Stars
* * * * Spoiler Free
To Catch a Falling Star is the second in the series of Crossing Stars By L. Duarte. In this book, we continue on the journeys of our main three characters, Portia, Tarry and Nillie. In the first book, Portia found Will and became part of an amazing family. Through this connection, Tarry, the original lost little boy who became the notorious rock star, meets Will’s sister, Mel. This is their story.

SHE…..
Sees herself as average, unimportant not physically special
Sees herself as a devoted mother to Ella, a police officer and therapist willing to create the loving environment for her daughter like her parents
Sees the storybook love story of her marriage to Tim as everything it was and feels there is nothing for her in the future
And she holds on to Tim daily by allowing herself a 30 minute period to continue mourning his loss and her heartache alone without her family knowing this need continues.

HE…..
Is lost and finally has reached that place where something must happen or he will perish
Is at first hostile to any assistance as he has done it all before and when he relapses, the medical mumbo jumbo will justify the failure
Becomes aware, for the first time, of people besides Portia and Nillie, who actually listen to his thoughts and care about him as a person not product
And he falls deeply in love with Mel, wanting to be the right kind of man for her and Ella

TOGETHER
They fight for love, respect, understanding and overcoming the selfish indulgence of pain. This fight is hard for both of them yet the outcome is so positive and spiritually rewarding.


This author has taken subjects which are difficult but all too common today. She has given three dimensional experiences to a two dimensional medium. These people feel real, their pain is real and through the story we see how some things are just meant to be and all will come full circle in the end.

There were moments in this book when I found it hard to breath and see the pages… as my heart was that full.

These books are stand alone yet connected... done by an author who is spreading her wings and taking flight. I look forward the next journey as I know she will not lead me astray.

Chasing Stars (Crossing Stars, #1) by L. Duarte Chasing Stars (Crossing Stars, #1)
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A gifted copy was provided by author/publisher for an honest review.

For more Reviews, Free E-books and Giveaways

 photo banner_zpsb3ab83a0.jpg
Profile Image for Renee.
1,276 reviews27 followers
December 26, 2013
"The paths of our journeys cross with unlimited sorrows, unreachable goals, and unattainable dreams"

This is book 2 of the series. It takes a fast forward to five years after book 1. The focus is Melody, the sister of Will from book 1. I know in book one I was harsh on the character, but once I got to know her, I loved her. She came across to Portia as being very opinionated. This doesn't change. She is still mourning the death of Tim, her husband who was killed. The thought of her having Ella alone ten days after Tim is mortally wounded in Afghanistan is horrific. The fact that she has not come very far is shocking to me. I liked how Mel seemed content as she ritualized her life. She gave herself a set time each day to talk to Tim, pray, or grieve. It is a heartbreaking story, one that I found so touching.

"I follow him. I've followed him since I was five. We met during my first week of kindergarten. I fell in love"

Her life is, in my opinion, not being lived the way Tim would want. She does so much for others, I guess keeping busy was her way of not thinking. Her partner Lucas is in this book playing a very important role for her. This is another platonic friendship that is sort of the author's style. In the same way very similar to Tarry and Portia. Portia opens her home to Tarry. She play a minor role as does Will in his struggles dependency.

The way they get together is what I call divine intervention. Sometimes fate jumps up placing people where you need the in your life. This for me was the moment when I though God is here telling her to live. The messages were there sometimes louder, bolder, and as big as a neon sign. Tim being the competition for Tarry was hard. How do you compete with memories? How can she come to realize that she has got to live?

"Please forgive me Tim, I whisper. A gut-wrenching pain swamps my heart" Words like these will keep you thoroughly entertained. There are so many passages that made me appreciate this author. Another quote "Why does he have to be so handsome and carnal. I swallow hard. Every pore of his body emanates sensuality" OMG swooning big time for Tarry.

So when the court orders Tarry to complete court ordered counseling sessions and stay sober, he turns to best friend Portia. Dan, her father in-law is pivotal in Tarry's sobriety. This is where the brilliant faith aspect comes into the scheme. Dan is away with Maritza, so Melody does the beginning sessions with Tarry. The old Mel comes on like a bulldozer "It's okay to have a bad day. But, try to be present in your next session, will ya? Or I'll drop your ass. I'm not here to waste time" Immediately you are thrust into the Mel takes no prisoners arena. I enjoyed the fact that the characters each had a distinctive personality.

The best parts of Tarry's recovery were his sessions with Dan. The way Dan grins just annoys Tarry to no end. He is so unfamiliar with faith that when Dan says "So I ask you this morning. What melody has heaven whispered in your heart today" Tarry is the opposite of Dan so he really needs a push to find his purpose.

There is a lot to learn for those of you never knowing an addict. He struggles every minute to stay sober. Most of the time his withdrawals seem so real that I visioned Tarry scratching himself in a fit of need. The descriptions are just amazingly vivid. You as the reader will be thrown into Tarry's love for getting high as well as his struggles to stay clean.

This is a brilliantly plotted book. I am so glad to have read it and call the author my friend. I believe in her so much. I am feeling proud knowing this is yet another great novel. PLEASE support the indie authors and share your reviews, thoughts and then click recommend! This is another read it right now type books.
Profile Image for Sinister_reader.
197 reviews2 followers
May 16, 2015
book 1 being something that I would have never picked up, but I fell madly in love with. I gave 10 stars to on style because even through it was complete out of my range it drew me in and kept me there the entire time.
now book 2, was more my style and she's done it again. you have captured my heart with your gut wrenching, heart breaking, it shouldn't be this hard, love story. I love that is not all rainbows and unions, not even up to the very end. I recommend this book, a hundred times over. ( not saying the editing it prefect, but the story is)
Profile Image for Melanie.
460 reviews17 followers
March 26, 2015
Zwischen 4 und 5 Sternen. Ich muss mich noch entscheiden ;) Review folgt.
Profile Image for Doris.
1,057 reviews
November 22, 2015
*Received ARC copy for honest review*

As I close this book, I'm at ease and take the story in. What a wonderful, touching story...

To catch a falling star


"I grew up believing in fairy tales."

But Melodys marriage doesn't have a happy ending. Her husband Tim died in Afghanistan.

"Why am I like this? I wish I wasn't such a weak person. [...] I guess inside I know I'm beyond repair."

Tarry is a rock star. Infamous, notorious, self-destructive. After the third overdose he's court commited to rehab and psychological help. Mel, sister-in-law of his best friend Portia, counsels him, while her dad, the preacher, is on holiday.

"I don't want to ever love a man as much as I loved Tim."

But Tarry is sexy, charming and his sad eyes are dangerous to her vow. And so their story begins...

~*~

The second book in L. Duartes Crossing star trilogy has another - a darker - meaning than her first one. It's about loss, grief, battling your own demons but there's also a story about new beginnings, love, family and faith.

In Book 1 Mel was introduced to the reader as a woman, who protects her family; as a loyal person, who appears to be harsh to Portia. In this book you'll meet her five years later - as a widow and mother. She's so strong and brave on the surface, but deep inside you can feel her grief and pain. Her guilt for wanting a man, who's not her husband.

I don't know any addict, but reading about Tarrys withdrawl and his struggle against the drugs felt so real, it was emotional. I found myself battling with him against his demons, feeling his desperation and hoplessness. Melody and Ella give him a new meaning of life. A reason for fighting.

Faith plays an important part in this book too and I really, really love the way Luciana intertwined it in this story.

At least: The title "To catch a falling star" fits perfectly! Can't wait to read the next one!

Thank you very much, Luciana, for this book - it ranks among "my very best".

Profile Image for Thedarkerhalf.
69 reviews3 followers
January 18, 2014
Hello Readers,

So in the interest of being completely honest, as you deserve, this book was so much more my style then the first. When I was asked to review To Catch A Falling Star I was also given Chasing Stars, which is a decent book, just not my style. Book 1 is wonderfully written with interesting characters I just found it to be a tad too spiritual for my personal taste. It was still a great read, but the follow up was just amazing. There is still some religion but I felt like it was better placed for me this time around. Duarte does a great job giving you real characters and real emotion in this book. You can so feel for Tarry and Mel during both their struggles. And they both have their own very different demons to deal with. Mel the loss of her true love and being a single mother, while Tarry has the gritty struggle of drug addiction.

For readers who are following the series in order this is also a wonderful way to check in on Will and Portia. Five years have past since their story and the time jump is very refreshing. The author not only shows us growth in the characters, but their growth as a writer. The situations are relatable even though Tarry is world famous and most of us will ever have to worry about trying to be normal while our secret boyfriend is on a world tour. Even through all of that though, my heart still stopped a few times while I was reading. This is my favorite book in the series so far and I really hope we get to read about Nillie. I know I mentioned the time jump already but I think it warrants special attention, one of the most pleasing things about this book is how grounded it is. We don't see this relationship evolve over 90 days of recovery and like magic it's Happily Ever After. This book takes place over like a year, and every day believable.

I don't want to say to much more and spoil the story for you so I'll just say, bottom line unless you are a hard core atheist this series is a very sweet way to spend some time.

Happy Reading

~Notte
Profile Image for ❤️Melanie G.📖💛.
2,235 reviews
April 20, 2015
****4 Spread Your Wings and Fly Stars****

Melody & Tarry's story was one filled with heartache, despair and longing. I really enjoyed getting to know Tarry in more depth and seeing what caused all his destruction. Melody and Ella were perfect for him once Melody accepted her loss and moved forward.

Great read and I just wonder if Nillie will get her own story. I however did miss the bond, friendship that Tarry, Nillie and Portia shared in the first book.
Profile Image for Yelena Bosh.
409 reviews41 followers
October 4, 2016
Another stunning story by the amazing L. Duarte!

Review to come..

<3
Profile Image for Fran.
788 reviews83 followers
August 29, 2014

"There is the good, the ugly, and everything in between."


Well, this is simply beautiful. I can't even begin to describe how much I love this. For the record, I don't always review everything that I read (I'm a terrible "book blogger"), much less write an 'inspired' review at that. But for my third book of 2014, I already know that this is going to end up as one of my favorites this year.

It's one thing to enjoy a good read but it's entirely a bigger deal when a book tugs at the heart, and this - powerful and magical. I guess it helps that L. Duarte's writing is still as brilliant as ever. It's so poetic, like a thoughtful melody (no pun intended).

To Catch a Falling Star is the second book of the Crossing Stars series. Although it can technically be read as a standalone, I would suggest reading Chasing Stars first to get a better feel and understanding of the characters' backgrounds.

This sequel tells the story of Tarry - the notorious rockstar and the best friend of Portia and Nillie whom we first meet in Chasing Stars - and Melody who happens to be the sister of Portia's husband, Will.

Melody still grieves for her husband and soulmate as she tries to carry on and raise her five-year-old daughter, working three jobs and putting on a happy face for Ella. On the other hand, Tarry is trying to beat his drug addictions to save himself and his career from further downward spiral. When she's forced to counsel him, sparks fly between them. Each encounter ignites the palpable sexual tension between the two polar opposites. But the question is, is there real hope for them? Will they get the happily ever after that they both deserve?


Our fairy tale is what we write on the blank pages of our lives as we go through the unique journey allotted to us.


The book opens with a prologue of a thirteen-year-old Melody and Tim as he asks her to marry him under 'a symbolic tree'. Right from the start, they seem to be destined to be soulmates.

At 10%, as I finish reading Tim's letter to Melody which he wrote just before he left for his assignment in Afghanistan (where he eventually gets killed), I become emotional. I especially like the part about the legend of the coin. There is also another letter somewhere in the story and I have to say, they both remind me of those Nicholas Sparks novels I like. The words are full of melancholy and I can't help but be moved by them.


"You alone, are responsible for your stars. Your parents did you wrong. Life did you wrong. It's about damn time you do it right."


Tarry. My heart broke for him. I truly felt how lost he was and how much he suffered for all his bad choices in life, and his lack of parental love and guidance. I just couldn't help but root for him to get better because behind his bad boy persona, he was but a genuinely good person, who lived through unfortunate circumstances.


"Mel, singing is one thing I do damn well in this life. I'll provide the music."


When he started showing signs of feeling and being alive, I was so happy for him. At 25%, I was already well on my way to being in love with him myself. Swoon. But I did have just one tiny bit of an issue with him. He repeatedly mentioned the word pussy. What was up with that? Hey, I'm no prude but it just seemed kind of weird or redundant, or something.


I silently vow never to take for granted the beauty of my past, the joy of my present, nor the promises of my future.


Luciana was so right when she told me that I'll probably enjoy this more than I did the first book. Let me tell you, I really, really loved this one A LOT MORE. Although still a spiritual read and thought-provoking, I really appreciated how MUCH steamier this was than CS. I loved, LOVED the sizzling sexual tension between Melody and Tarry especially when she acted hot and cold towards him. When things finally did start happening, I swear, the steamy scenes were just so HOT! And there were more than enough, thank you very much. Sorry for being overly redundant but I was so excited about getting more action, if you know what I mean.

Most of all, I love how this book not only made me smile, it made me think and really feel. To Catch a Falling Star is a story of knowing your self-worth and moving on, and against all odds, learning to be happy and love again. If you're the type who likes to read smart and meaningful love stories then this one's for you.


"I need shaving. Badly."




*ARC provided by the author




***Check out my blog:


Image and video hosting by TinyPic
Profile Image for Sorcha O'Dowd.
Author 2 books51 followers
December 27, 2013
I received an ARC of 'To Catch a Falling Star' in exchange for an honest review.

I always lament when I start an amazing book just before Christmas. With all the festivities, helping my parents prepare for the annual 'have the whole family over for boxing day' bash, having to remove my nose from a book long enough to have christmas dinner is a tough chore, especially when reading a book as wonderful, emotional and heartbreaking as 'To Catch a Falling Star'.

I absolutely adored the first book in this series 'Catching Stars' which told the story of Portia and Will, and I was so pleased that author L. Duarte was able to not only meet the brilliant level of 'Chasing Stars' but also to exceed it and literally have me travelling to the stars as I read this
beautiful story.

L. Duarte's beautiful writing style always has the ability to bring me to tears in the space of a second. Her gorgeous prose had me so connected to the story, and I found myself so invested in Tarry's personal development of overcoming his demons and his fight against addiction, as well as the beautiful relationship that he and Mel begin to develop when they are both at the lowest points of their lives.

What I really loved about 'Chasing Stars' was how not everybody got their happily ever after. I really liked how Tarry was still spiralling despite his best friends finding solace in their life. To be able to read Tarry's story from his own perspective, to see the struggle he had and the way his mind worked through the addiction that plagued him was a real priviledge. Tarry's internal dialogue was written to absolute perfection and I felt so connected to him as not just a character but as a real man who was struggling to find his true self. To see his connection with music and how he expressed his inner demons through singing and composing was great, and I loved how he shared this with Mel.

Mel was another great character who I really connected with. I've always been one of those people who is sceptical of second love. I've not experienced love for myself so I suppose the romantic in me always believes that you can't love another person after your first husband dies. Reading Mel's story completely widened my view on this. The story was tackled so beautifully and with such grace that I finally began to understand how Mel was finally able to think of Tim and their time together fondly rather than wallowing in his absence. I loved how we were given glimpses into Mel and Tim's past, it made him seem so real to me, and I mourned his loss with Mel and understood her fear of falling in love again. This was delicately approached and I can't say how much I loved this story and the pace of the development of Mel and Tarry's relationship.

With her beautiful storytelling and her creation of realistic and relatable characters, L. Duarte has become one of my favourite authors who I would read time and time again. 'To Catch a Falling Star' is on my list of favourite books for 2013, and I can't wait to see more of L. Duarte's work.

5 Stars and a definite recommended read. This book will have you travelling to the stars!
Profile Image for Kelli.
227 reviews17 followers
January 10, 2014
*pictures to come*

She did it again, my friends! L. Duarte' s To Catch A Falling Star is another book worthy of a wild and crazy touch down dance. If you have yet to read Chasing Stars, turn around right now, head to your preferred book provider and snatch that shit up! Then, after you have successfully bled your eyes dry from tears of pure bookgasm awesomeness, feel free to continue reading my review. THEN, find a nice, comfy chair and a bottle of wine and/or tequila and snuggle up with To Catch A Falling Star. You won't find yourself regretting it!

Assuming you heeded my warning and have read Chasing Stars already, you should have a bit of an idea as to where this book is headed. TCAFS is Mel and Tarry' s story.

The end of Chasing Stars broke my heart, poor Mel! Well, this book starts 5 years later. Mel is now a single mom and widow trying to hold herself together for the sake of her daughter. Her heart was shattered the day she was given the news of her husband's unfortunate and tragic death while fighting in Afghanistan. It wasn't supposed to happen, not to them. Not to their daughter who will never hear her father's voice, never feel the comfort of his arms holding her tight, never see the pride in his eyes as he walks her down the aisle at her wedding. Being a priest's daughter, Mel is having a hard time finding the answer to the one question she needs most; why?

Tarry, Tarry, Tarry... As we know, he is a famous rock star and has definitely been living up to the stereotype. Drugs, sex, rock and roll; all of it in excess. He's given up trying to fill the emptiness in his heart. He's a broken soul and is well on his way to finally hitting rock bottom. His only escape from the darkness in his life is drugs and a lot of meaningless sex. His label is at its wits end with Tarry and have given him an ultimatum. He has one last chance to turn his life around or else he will lose everything he's worked so hard for.

Tarry is in for the shock of his life when fate brings him back to the place where he first saw the woman who crawled under his skin when he first laid his eyes on her. He knows he has no chance in hell with Mel, but that doesn't mean he won't try to woo her with his charm.

Mel never thought she'd find love again after losing her husband. But, seeing Tarry again after so many years changes something inside of her. She desperately tries to fight it, but the pull to this broken man is far too strong. As the saying goes, opposites attract and their lives couldn't be anymore opposite. However, they may just find that they aren't so different deep below the surface.

There is so much more to this story than meets the eye. This isn't your typical "broken boy meets lost girl who turns his life upside down"... No... there is wayyyyy way way more! This author is the literary version of Mike Tyson. I think she enjoys kicking the shit out of my insides with her words... sadistic little she-devil! She has the ability to use words as someone would use a pair of nun chucks and then throw emotional right hooks to your mind. I laughed, I cried, I wanted to throw my kindle, but damn what a ride it was!
Profile Image for Lindsey Gray.
Author 24 books139 followers
January 26, 2014
The pains of addiction and grief can be very similar. The soul gripping terror as one fights with addiction can be just as devastating as the loss of the love of a lifetime. L. Duarte tackles these two intense subjects with Tarry and Melody in the follow up novel to Catching Stars.

I was drawn to this book initially because of Melody, or Mel as she is referred to for most of the novel. Her grief is overwhelming even five years after the death of her husband, Tim, while he was serving in Afghanistan. I know, being drawn to a story about the loss of a loved one might sound weird. I have personally dealt with and seen so many people go through the stages of grief, I was curious how Duarte would write about it. Mel's journey is not taken in any sort of traditional sense. When a rock star fresh out of rehab, Tarry, walks back into her life, her grief takes on new life with the guilt of wanting someone new.

Tarry's sojourn into the abyss of addiction had been years in the making. With parents that paid more attention to the bottom of their shoes, Tarry was left with a gaping hole in his life that he eventually filled with deadly vices. When Mel's brother, Will, and her sister-in-law, Portia, take charge of Tarry's continuing recovery after he leaves rehab, he is thrown into Mel's life and rocked her in a way his music never could.

The story is told from both Mel and Tarry's point of view. I really loved that I was able to see into both of their heads as they dealt with their staggering attraction while trying to make it through each day sane. The story Duarte splices together is one of fate conspiring to bring together like souls. From the outside, Tarry and Mel look to be the opposite of what the other needs, yet, the two eventually become the balm to the other's wounds. With a cast of supporting characters to help them each on their own paths, Tarry and Mel attempt to follow a path together.

I applaud Duarte for the inventiveness and originality of the plot, the strength of the character development, and bringing forth the idea that fate can lead you to exactly where you need to be.

To Catch a Falling Star is the second book in the Crossing Stars series, but can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to L. Duarte and Written Elegance Blog Tours for inviting me to be part of the To Catch a Falling Star tour and gifting me with a copy in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for The Hive.
64 reviews1 follower
April 9, 2014
Liz’s Review:
To Catch a Falling Star by L. Duarte, is the second book in the Crossing Stars series. In the first novel, Chasing Stars, we met Portia and Will and watched as they worked through their individual troubles and fell in love.
Now we follow Melody, Will’s sister. For the last five years she has mourned the loss of her husband, closing herself off and creating a cocoon around herself and her daughter. Melody takes care of everyone but herself, never allowing anyone into her life...or her heart.
Tarry Francis is a drug addicted rock star who is spiralling out of control. When the death of his ‘girlfriend’ lands him in rehab, he has to learn how to live. After being ordered by a judge to get counseling, he moves in with his best friend, Portia, and her husband, Will.
Melody agrees to counsel Tarry, but finds herself attracted to another man for the first time since she met her husband. As she tries to distance herself, Tarry realizes that she is all he wants. With the help of faith and the promise of new love, they help each other heal and find their salvation in each other.
When I first started reading this book, I wondered how I would ever get through it. It isn’t the type of story that I typically choose. However, the more I read, the more absorbed I became. L. Duarte has a way of drawing you in and keeping you until the very end. As I read the final chapter, I found myself reaching for the tissues and sobbing like a baby. The love between these two characters is astounding and truly helps you to believe in the power of faith. Is it possible to have two soul-mates? Read and decide for yourself.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 honey pots
Profile Image for Melou53.
245 reviews
December 27, 2013
Received ARC from author for an honest review.

Had to keep the tissues close. Such a moving story. This is the second book in the series Crossing Stars. This story is the secondary characters from Chasing Stars, Tarry and Melody.

Melody is Will's adopted sister who was very protective of him in the first book. She was pregnant and lost her husband in the war in Afghanistan. She and her 5 year old daughter are living with his ghost, because Mel does not know how to let go of what once was.

Tarry Francis, bad boy rock star and best friend of Portia's, has hit rock bottom and been court ordered to counseling for drugs and alcohol. But his problems seem to be deeper than they look. He is staying in Will and Portia's barn converted guest house while trying to piece his life back together after overdosing.

The author takes you through the stages of recovery from drug abuse and grief with this couple. Melody believing she could never love again and Tarry believing he is unlovable. A sweet and endearing read that brings out the spirit of true love. I liked the first book (author's debut novel) and this one was even better for me. The story has a great flow and keeps you interested from beginning to end.

"LIFE IS FULL OF UNSEEN MIRACLES, FULL OF UNSOLVED MYSTERIES. AT TIMES, WE CATCH
A GLIMPSE OF THEM AND IT IS ENOUGH TO MESMERIZE US. THE SIGHT OF A MIRACLE OR
THE INSIGHT OF A MYSTERY IS A WONDER TO BEHOLD."

Good luck Ms. Duarte in you future writings and thanks for the opportunity to read and review.
Profile Image for Crystal.
Author 3 books89 followers
December 31, 2013
Another poetic story from the very talented L. Duarte. Her words are like reading music written in paragraph form. To Catch a Falling Star is the story of Tarry and Mel (Melody). Both are broken souls searching for solace from their own, and very different, sources of pain. Mel is still recovering from the death of her husband. In fact, I would have liked to see MORE of her day-to-day struggles before she started to feel conflicted. Tarry is recovering from a drug addiction that he used to dull the feelings of abandonment from his childhood.

The attraction and desire is palpable between these two, the struggles are obvious, and their insecurities are real. They both need each other, but they fear the potential for loss. Duarte's description of grief and addictive behaviors is right on. You can clearly see how they are coping, or rather, not coping. I was completely drawn in. Anytime You want to smack a character for their behavior, you know you're emotionally involved in the story.

This book is much steamier than the first in the series, Chasing Stars. In some ways I loved that, the sex scenes are very well written and enticing. But I did miss some of the sweetness of the first one. This was full of lust and angst, both of which I enjoyed immensely! The religious aspect, while still present, was less obvious and it seemed to work better for the direction of this work. Overall I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a heartwarming read with a bit of spice!
Profile Image for Emily.
5,830 reviews543 followers
January 23, 2014
Addict, lost, and circling the drain is a perfect way to describe Rock Star Tarry Francis. His latest dance with death has left him in the care of rehab and now seeing a therapist. With a chip on his shoulder he sees Melody again, they had met before at his best friend's wedding, this time though he would rather be anywhere else but spending time with her.

Melody is not a therapist by trade but as a favor she agrees to see Tarry until her dad gets back and takes over his care. She sees something in Tarry that reminds her of the husband she lost, but she has something to live for, her daughter. Wanting to give Tarry a spark they become friends of sorts after their sessions end. Tarry realizes he does have something he wants to work towards, being the man that Melody would want in her life.

A wicked passionate story ensues. This one had me in tears. I was rooting for Tarry, he is not quite likable at first, big chip on his shoulder but you see him grow so much that you just want to hug him. Melody is a rock, but she is dealing with moving on from her late husband even after five years. There are hiccups along the way but it is so worth the ride until the very end.
Profile Image for R. Matthews.
Author 3 books200 followers
December 28, 2013
To Catch a Falling Star is the touching story of Melody and Tarry. These two characters seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. Melody is a hardworking mother and recent widow, just trying to find the strength to get up every morning and Tarry is a famous rocker and bad boy, dealing with an awful upbringing and, consequently, a deadly drug habit. An unlikely pair, these two manage to find a deep connection and attempt to heal themselves in the process. It's an emotional, sexy read that will definitely tug at the heart-strings and I highly recommend it!

I'm so happy for this author. She has set her mind to writing and has done a beautiful job. Having read her first work and now this, I'm thrilled for her that she has grown as a writer from book to book, which is what we're all striving for, right? I'm looking forward to her next work!

FYI:
Yes, this book is technically stand alone, but I'd say the story does 'piggy-back' the first and recommend reading Chasing Stars first.

Also, if you've read Chasing Stars, you should know that To Catch a Falling Star, while still with great values, is MUCH steamier than the first one (in a great way!) so be prepared!
Profile Image for Fatima.
48 reviews2 followers
January 15, 2014
First and for most let me thank Luciana for send me an ARC of this beautiful story.

To Catch a Falling Star tells the story of Will's sister, Mel and Portia's best friend, Tarry. Form the very first moment that they met in Chasing Stars, I knew there was a connection between them. Imagine my happiness my glee when I found out this story was about them. Their attraction was evident from the very beginning but they both had obstacles they had to overcome in order to get their HEA. Mel has lost her husband and still can't get over the fact that he is gone and Tarry battles addiction and they both fight to overcome their issues and when they do they get the ferry tale ending they both deserve. Im not really good at reviews without giving too much away, so I'm going to leave it at that, but before I finish, I just wan to say that this was such a beautiful story that pulled at my heart strings. If you're was sensitive as I am make sure you have some tissues within reach.
Profile Image for Peach.
785 reviews2 followers
January 13, 2014
This is the second book of the series and focuses on the couple Melody and Tarry. Melody was a young widow with a five-year daughter and was still bitter about losing her husband (her soulmate) in the war. Brought up as a pastor’s daughter, she was immersed in being a great mom to her daughter, Elle and making ends meet by doing double shifts as a police officer. On the other, Tarry was an extremely damaged rock and roll superstar who had ODed three times and was a notorious womanizer. Their paths crossed and their attraction and connection to each other was strong. The story was about their journey to heal each other and handle obstacles thrown in their paths. I enjoyed the book – the opposite attract romance, the clandestine relationship, the steamy scenes, and the spiritual element.
Profile Image for Cecily Bonney.
1,032 reviews5 followers
December 31, 2013
I am truly in love with this story.

Tarry and Melody are so broken, sad, lost, and simply beautiful. I can not get enough of this story.

Tarry has gone through so much in his life that he has been lost for years

Melody is still grieving over her husband Tim.

This story is about fate in my opinion and I love it!!!! I feel like I am cheating on Will and Portia but I have to say this story is for the books!

I am jealous of them two! Tarry is the kind of man most woman want, with flaws and all

Outstanding job on this story. Chasing Stars was a very great book, but u just took this story and rocked it out!!!

I loved it! Definitely a double reader!

please read Chasing Stars
Profile Image for Danielle.
807 reviews43 followers
April 5, 2015
I liked this book maybe a little better than the first one. I loved Tarry and Mel and how they helped each other overcome the things in their life. I loved Pastor Dan. He really helped Tarry in his struggles even when Tarry had no idea what he was talking about. The religious aspect was there but there was a little more steam than the last one. I just loved it. I think this author has brought something a little different to this genre and cant wait to see what is next.
Profile Image for Kathryn.
257 reviews1 follower
February 23, 2016
Somehow I made it to the end even though by 20% I was struggling to finish. I'm not a skimmer, I'm afraid I'll miss something important, but most of the middle of this book I skimmed right thru. There was so much more unnecessary "filler" and lengthy descriptions than the first book that it just felt like all the important parts where buried. While it wasn't quite the grammatical train wreck that the first book was, it wasn't much better. I still can't figure out how "in" and "on" can be confused almost every time they are used and so many missing words. At times everything would flow really well and then suddenly it would become really stilted. There was an obvious increase in vulgarity with this book from the first and at times it almost felt like words where just thrown in to get them in there. I'm not sure why there was still no editing by the 2nd book, while I don't expect perfection there is a huge difference between a few errors and constant errors that just about ruin a book no matter how great the story is. The story has potential if only it had been well written.
79 reviews1 follower
May 5, 2014
I got this book as a giveaway on Goodreads.

Apparently this is 2nd in the book series. The characters are the stereotypical goodlooking handsome rockstar coming across a really struggling to make ends meet widow. The gist in the story is that the characters in the movie try really hard to come out of the sorrow and move on with their lives. The relation which begins as lust initially then transforms to a full fledged strong love story.

Little too impractical for my taste where few incidents mentioned are hard to believe like the Oscar winning actress has quit her career and the female protagonist handling three careers etc.

I didnt like the appearance of the Asian woman. Didn't understand much of the reference to the story..It was a little too much to handle. And the letter part from Tim, is it serendipity???!!!I think so...
1 review
August 28, 2016
I just read the summary and it's great. Oh I can't wait to see all of it.
Profile Image for Sarah.
83 reviews3 followers
September 1, 2015
Slight improvement on #1. Dialogue less stilted and characters acted more naturally but still...not for me!
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.