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A Chance At True Love
Star Bright….
A haunting mistake that brought them all together…
Maria’s fear and hate for men is solidified by Ricky’s abuse and his obsession to kill her. In an effort to save her son, she runs away and crosses paths with Dave, a man going through his own tribulations with his wife. He is determined to protect her, show her that not all men are evil and that true love exists. And he in turn, finds a woman worthy to be a mother to his daughter.
Maria finally finds peace in her new roles as a mother, a wife and a home maker but that dream is short lived when a ghost from her past threatens to take it all away from her in the most brutal and torturous way.
But Maria isn’t alone anymore, her father finally shows up to do what he was supposed to five years ago. Protect his daughter.
A haunting mistake that brought them all together…
Maria’s fear and hate for men is solidified by Ricky’s abuse and his obsession to kill her. In an effort to save her son, she runs away and crosses paths with Dave, a man going through his own tribulations with his wife. He is determined to protect her, show her that not all men are evil and that true love exists. And he in turn, finds a woman worthy to be a mother to his daughter.
Maria finally finds peace in her new roles as a mother, a wife and a home maker but that dream is short lived when a ghost from her past threatens to take it all away from her in the most brutal and torturous way.
But Maria isn’t alone anymore, her father finally shows up to do what he was supposed to five years ago. Protect his daughter.
Unknown Binding
First published March 20, 2012
4 people are currently reading
123 people want to read
About the author
Christina OW
22 books82 followersChristina OW loves reading novels that take her on a ride of wild emotions. Books have always been an escape for her, for a few hours she gets to live the lives of characters she grows to cherish and admire. She's always had an active imagination and because of it has lived in her head more than she has been in the outside world. She always imagined scenarios and wondered how they would turn out in the end, and what kind of emotions they would invoke. Thus began her writing career.
Besides her twin sister, her pajamas are her best friend. She'd rather curl up on the couch with a good book than join the night life. Raised by a selfless mother who put up with the twins playing pranks all the time, Christina feels she owes her mother a lot and strives to make her proud every day.
Besides her twin sister, her pajamas are her best friend. She'd rather curl up on the couch with a good book than join the night life. Raised by a selfless mother who put up with the twins playing pranks all the time, Christina feels she owes her mother a lot and strives to make her proud every day.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
April 21, 2012
After a long time of not reading, I could not put this book down. It made me seek more like it.
August 7, 2012
Run down:
Star Bright is a book the kind of dark situations you may sometimes come across in real life. Though the plot may sometimes come across as far-fetched, the reader has to realize that portions of this book are purely through. It's more of an unwinding tragedy to put it simply, with characters struggling to find their 'happily ever after' in a world where every thing seems to be going wrong.
The characters were developed according to their situations and were interesting to watch. The romace was sweet and you could feel the stress beneath it from Maria's past. The writing was good, with the habitual book flaws and typos, though at times it did not hold my attention.
The Rest:
When I started this book and saw the first quote (written by the author herself), I should have gone 'aww' and decided the book was a bit too cheesy (that was how I'd reacted to the last self-made quote I'd acknowledged in a book). However, I didn't, so I knew it had to be worth it.
As the story went along, I was pulled in and out of attention. There were moments when I was anticipating the next chapter for certain characters, while there were moments where my short attention span refused to let me read.
The novel starts slowly, but allows you to quickly unwind the world Maria and Dave live in. They start off in two different places with two different situations. While Dave is a big shot lawyer with a daughter and a wife he really wants to get rid of, Maria is a waitress at a degrading bar, with a son she has to provide for, and a boyfriend who takes abuse to a new level.
I first decided the boss of Maria's cafe was a sexist ultra-annoying person without even reading much about him. The fact that he forces his employees to walk around practically half-naked is cruel and despicable. Maria on the other hand, instantly came across as caring despite her situation. As the novel went along though, her fear made me angry. It seemed to encompass her whole character, and left few points to it:
Protective of children
Fears abuse and is suspicious of all men
Protective of her heart
Vengeful
Caring to those she isn't suspicious of
At times feisty
Of course, I may be wrong, but in thought, that is what pops out. A main character's personality can often be drowned out in a novel of this large structure, so it is understandable. The years of abuse greatly affected her character. There were moments when her personality shone through though, like at the cafe after Dave's incident.
All in all, her reaction to Ricky was understandable, but it upset me how little she defended herself and her son. Maria strengthened over time, but when Ricky came back for her, the fact that she in the end started begging like she always had made the novel endearing, but disappointed me. I'd expected her to finally stand up to Ricky, but instead, all the men in her life were the ones to solve her problems.
Another issue was how she jumped out of an abusive relationship just to enter one with Dave, though nothing like Ricky, who was quite controlling. Dave showed her a love that was both adorable and frustrating, and though she stood up to him, and all his decisions were good ones, she still did whatever he said like an abandoned puppy. I find myself wishing that all the strength she'd grown hadn't dissolved like smoke.
Dave was a good male character, and his personality was really clear to the reader. There wasn't much confusion about who was and how he felt about things. However, there were moments where his character could have been seen as inconsistent for the sake of the plot. For example, what happened in the cafe when he left. Dave's parental side says that is impossible, while Dave's angry side says it is very possible. If you read it, you can see why this situation is odd.
Other characters, such as Maria's family members were impressive, but their situations were slightly flawed. Edna was a strong character and I instantly loved her when she slammed a chair on Ricky's back. However, during the situation with Maria's father around the end, she proved cruel but honest. The fact was, she was telling the truth. In the end I was forced to decide that Edna was right, she shouldn't have done all those things. I felt sorry for Maria and seriously pitied her situation.
I feel the need to mention the first Jane, Maria's best friend. She was a kind character and likable. However, she wasn't a huge particpant in this novel, though she was in Marias's life. I can't complain much about this, but I feel like she should have been there more. As for the second Jane, her character was slightly inconsistent but she managed to come across as mightily annoying, though her love for her daughter did earn her brownie points. This kind of character usually makes a book more interesting for me though. However, I wished Maria would have confronted Jane and all the other workers who had begun to treat her badly because of Jane.
As for Michael and Izzy (full name Elizabeth) they were ADORABLE. I could paractically see them through the book. Michael was so brave, as the author intended, and sometimes came across braver than Maria, who was much older than him. When it came to Elizabeth, I could just tell she was cute. ESPECIALLY with the way she copied Michael. SOOOO CUTE. Their relationship was one of the sweetest things in this book, and it made me smile watching how Izzy instantly looked up to Michael. I could imagine their future in a YA romance. Izzy falls in love with Michael's best friend or his arch enemy and Michael is determined to protect his sister. *SIGH* It brings me joy.
Now, about the plot. It was great, and the characters translated well, but the repetition in events was a really difficult subject to write, and though Christina OW was mostly successful, there were few flaws as this type of writing is very difficult.
Then the romance. The romance in this book was the kind that snuck up on you, labelled with adult situations and fear for the future. I loved Dave's attempt to win over Maria, but her situation left a dark cloud on everything she wanted. The romance was compromised after Maria's father made a comment on why Dave cared about Maria so much. This bit confused me, as when it comes to romance books, my thoughts are: Dave should love Maria because of Maria. It made me question if Dave was defending himself against the truth, that he was stolen by Maria's looks and how she treated children. If that was it, I would have been bitterly disappointed.
In the end, I adored this novel a lot. It was new fresh and broached difficult subjects without getting over the fact that it was a book and readers were meant to read and enjoy it. I look forward to more novels from Christina, but wish that next time, her main heroine will be a stronger no-nonsense. BTW, I would have liked the novel more if there was more involvement on Maria's part with Dave's parents and his ex-wife.
Thanks for reading :)
This review will be available on my blog on the 08/08/12 (wednesday) at the folowing URL:
http://heartbeatpom.blogspot.com/2012...
Star Bright is a book the kind of dark situations you may sometimes come across in real life. Though the plot may sometimes come across as far-fetched, the reader has to realize that portions of this book are purely through. It's more of an unwinding tragedy to put it simply, with characters struggling to find their 'happily ever after' in a world where every thing seems to be going wrong.
The characters were developed according to their situations and were interesting to watch. The romace was sweet and you could feel the stress beneath it from Maria's past. The writing was good, with the habitual book flaws and typos, though at times it did not hold my attention.
The Rest:
When I started this book and saw the first quote (written by the author herself), I should have gone 'aww' and decided the book was a bit too cheesy (that was how I'd reacted to the last self-made quote I'd acknowledged in a book). However, I didn't, so I knew it had to be worth it.
As the story went along, I was pulled in and out of attention. There were moments when I was anticipating the next chapter for certain characters, while there were moments where my short attention span refused to let me read.
The novel starts slowly, but allows you to quickly unwind the world Maria and Dave live in. They start off in two different places with two different situations. While Dave is a big shot lawyer with a daughter and a wife he really wants to get rid of, Maria is a waitress at a degrading bar, with a son she has to provide for, and a boyfriend who takes abuse to a new level.
I first decided the boss of Maria's cafe was a sexist ultra-annoying person without even reading much about him. The fact that he forces his employees to walk around practically half-naked is cruel and despicable. Maria on the other hand, instantly came across as caring despite her situation. As the novel went along though, her fear made me angry. It seemed to encompass her whole character, and left few points to it:
Protective of children
Fears abuse and is suspicious of all men
Protective of her heart
Vengeful
Caring to those she isn't suspicious of
At times feisty
Of course, I may be wrong, but in thought, that is what pops out. A main character's personality can often be drowned out in a novel of this large structure, so it is understandable. The years of abuse greatly affected her character. There were moments when her personality shone through though, like at the cafe after Dave's incident.
All in all, her reaction to Ricky was understandable, but it upset me how little she defended herself and her son. Maria strengthened over time, but when Ricky came back for her, the fact that she in the end started begging like she always had made the novel endearing, but disappointed me. I'd expected her to finally stand up to Ricky, but instead, all the men in her life were the ones to solve her problems.
Another issue was how she jumped out of an abusive relationship just to enter one with Dave, though nothing like Ricky, who was quite controlling. Dave showed her a love that was both adorable and frustrating, and though she stood up to him, and all his decisions were good ones, she still did whatever he said like an abandoned puppy. I find myself wishing that all the strength she'd grown hadn't dissolved like smoke.
Dave was a good male character, and his personality was really clear to the reader. There wasn't much confusion about who was and how he felt about things. However, there were moments where his character could have been seen as inconsistent for the sake of the plot. For example, what happened in the cafe when he left. Dave's parental side says that is impossible, while Dave's angry side says it is very possible. If you read it, you can see why this situation is odd.
Other characters, such as Maria's family members were impressive, but their situations were slightly flawed. Edna was a strong character and I instantly loved her when she slammed a chair on Ricky's back. However, during the situation with Maria's father around the end, she proved cruel but honest. The fact was, she was telling the truth. In the end I was forced to decide that Edna was right, she shouldn't have done all those things. I felt sorry for Maria and seriously pitied her situation.
I feel the need to mention the first Jane, Maria's best friend. She was a kind character and likable. However, she wasn't a huge particpant in this novel, though she was in Marias's life. I can't complain much about this, but I feel like she should have been there more. As for the second Jane, her character was slightly inconsistent but she managed to come across as mightily annoying, though her love for her daughter did earn her brownie points. This kind of character usually makes a book more interesting for me though. However, I wished Maria would have confronted Jane and all the other workers who had begun to treat her badly because of Jane.
As for Michael and Izzy (full name Elizabeth) they were ADORABLE. I could paractically see them through the book. Michael was so brave, as the author intended, and sometimes came across braver than Maria, who was much older than him. When it came to Elizabeth, I could just tell she was cute. ESPECIALLY with the way she copied Michael. SOOOO CUTE. Their relationship was one of the sweetest things in this book, and it made me smile watching how Izzy instantly looked up to Michael. I could imagine their future in a YA romance. Izzy falls in love with Michael's best friend or his arch enemy and Michael is determined to protect his sister. *SIGH* It brings me joy.
Now, about the plot. It was great, and the characters translated well, but the repetition in events was a really difficult subject to write, and though Christina OW was mostly successful, there were few flaws as this type of writing is very difficult.
Then the romance. The romance in this book was the kind that snuck up on you, labelled with adult situations and fear for the future. I loved Dave's attempt to win over Maria, but her situation left a dark cloud on everything she wanted. The romance was compromised after Maria's father made a comment on why Dave cared about Maria so much. This bit confused me, as when it comes to romance books, my thoughts are: Dave should love Maria because of Maria. It made me question if Dave was defending himself against the truth, that he was stolen by Maria's looks and how she treated children. If that was it, I would have been bitterly disappointed.
In the end, I adored this novel a lot. It was new fresh and broached difficult subjects without getting over the fact that it was a book and readers were meant to read and enjoy it. I look forward to more novels from Christina, but wish that next time, her main heroine will be a stronger no-nonsense. BTW, I would have liked the novel more if there was more involvement on Maria's part with Dave's parents and his ex-wife.
Thanks for reading :)
This review will be available on my blog on the 08/08/12 (wednesday) at the folowing URL:
http://heartbeatpom.blogspot.com/2012...
January 20, 2013
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review through the We Love YA Books! group on Goodreads.
Maria has been in a physically abusive relationship with the father of her child, Michael. The abuse has escalated over the years to the point where her life and the life of her son are in immediate danger if they don't leave; however, if they try to leave, that's when they're in the most danger of all. This book puts you in the shoes of Maria--many people don't understand why someone would choose to stay with his or her abuser (for the sake of simplicity, I am going to use feminine pronouns since this story is about an abused woman rather than an abused man; however, I recognize there are also men who are abused by women), especially if she also has a child or children to think about.
I've never been in a relationship like this, so I admit I'm one of those people who don't quite understand. At a previous job, I worked with abused women, all of whom had children, and some of whom, like Maria, had very visible effects of the abuse they suffered at the hands of their abuser. Looking in from the outside, it seems like it should be a no brainer, but this book will cause you to think differently. You will be inside the mind of what an abused woman feels like, thinks about, and fears. Sometimes it will be uncomfortable, but I think it's really important to be able to step into someone else's shoes without harm to yourself in order to learn about other people and their struggles in life.
This book gave me insight into what it would be like to be in an abusive relationship, and I still can't imagine what it would be like. I don't want to be able to imagine what it would be like either. Horrifying and inexcusable are two words that came to mind as I read, and the scenes where Maria is assaulted by her boyfriend had me feeling physically ill and disgusted that someone who says he loves you can treat you that way. He took his anger out on her and her son, and no one should ever take his or her anger out on someone no matter the circumstances.
Dave the second main character, and he is having issues with his wife--an incredibly selfish woman who is also a poor excuse for a mother. They have a young daughter together, but all his wife ever wanted from him was his money--he's a successful lawyer and also comes from a wealthy family. He decides to divorce her and begins the proceedings.
Every other chapter alternates between Maria and Dave's points of view, which I appreciated and felt I was able to get to know them better this way with their thoughts and motivations. The story was absolutely riveting--I had no idea what to expect next. While I was captivated by the story itself, there were many spelling and grammatical errors which normally I can overlook and for the most part I did, but sometimes the grammatical errors caused some confusion in the action. Without the confusion, I would have given this book a higher rating.
The characters were also a bit cartoonish to me--all of them were quick to anger and often made poor decisions, especially the scene when Maria, Dave, and Maria's parents are all arguing in front of the children. That was just painful and awful, and I didn't agree with their actions at all. If they had seemed more natural, with dialogue that wasn't stilted at times, then again, this would have caused me to give the book a higher rating. I also thought it would have been more believable and realistic if Maria's trust in Dave had been built up more slowly along with their entire relationship. It should have taken more time--an abused woman wouldn't just jump into another relationship. I would think she'd be too afraid to find herself in another abusive relationship and have a difficult time trusting someone.
Maria's son, Michael, doesn't speak or act like a four-year-old little boy, but I believe this was done intentionally by the author to make a point--Michael has been through too much, especially for his young age, and he has been forced to grow up faster than other kids due to the abuse he lives with. He became Maria's parent, trying to protect her from his father and make up for the love she wasn't receiving. He took on too much responsibility, and I know that's definitely something children of abused parents are prone to do. They lose the carefree nature of childhood and that is instead replaced with fear, dread, and stress, that which an adult has a hard enough time handling let alone a child.
Overall, the story itself was realistic and definitely worth reading, which kept me turning the pages until the very end.
Maria has been in a physically abusive relationship with the father of her child, Michael. The abuse has escalated over the years to the point where her life and the life of her son are in immediate danger if they don't leave; however, if they try to leave, that's when they're in the most danger of all. This book puts you in the shoes of Maria--many people don't understand why someone would choose to stay with his or her abuser (for the sake of simplicity, I am going to use feminine pronouns since this story is about an abused woman rather than an abused man; however, I recognize there are also men who are abused by women), especially if she also has a child or children to think about.
I've never been in a relationship like this, so I admit I'm one of those people who don't quite understand. At a previous job, I worked with abused women, all of whom had children, and some of whom, like Maria, had very visible effects of the abuse they suffered at the hands of their abuser. Looking in from the outside, it seems like it should be a no brainer, but this book will cause you to think differently. You will be inside the mind of what an abused woman feels like, thinks about, and fears. Sometimes it will be uncomfortable, but I think it's really important to be able to step into someone else's shoes without harm to yourself in order to learn about other people and their struggles in life.
This book gave me insight into what it would be like to be in an abusive relationship, and I still can't imagine what it would be like. I don't want to be able to imagine what it would be like either. Horrifying and inexcusable are two words that came to mind as I read, and the scenes where Maria is assaulted by her boyfriend had me feeling physically ill and disgusted that someone who says he loves you can treat you that way. He took his anger out on her and her son, and no one should ever take his or her anger out on someone no matter the circumstances.
Dave the second main character, and he is having issues with his wife--an incredibly selfish woman who is also a poor excuse for a mother. They have a young daughter together, but all his wife ever wanted from him was his money--he's a successful lawyer and also comes from a wealthy family. He decides to divorce her and begins the proceedings.
Every other chapter alternates between Maria and Dave's points of view, which I appreciated and felt I was able to get to know them better this way with their thoughts and motivations. The story was absolutely riveting--I had no idea what to expect next. While I was captivated by the story itself, there were many spelling and grammatical errors which normally I can overlook and for the most part I did, but sometimes the grammatical errors caused some confusion in the action. Without the confusion, I would have given this book a higher rating.
The characters were also a bit cartoonish to me--all of them were quick to anger and often made poor decisions, especially the scene when Maria, Dave, and Maria's parents are all arguing in front of the children. That was just painful and awful, and I didn't agree with their actions at all. If they had seemed more natural, with dialogue that wasn't stilted at times, then again, this would have caused me to give the book a higher rating. I also thought it would have been more believable and realistic if Maria's trust in Dave had been built up more slowly along with their entire relationship. It should have taken more time--an abused woman wouldn't just jump into another relationship. I would think she'd be too afraid to find herself in another abusive relationship and have a difficult time trusting someone.
Maria's son, Michael, doesn't speak or act like a four-year-old little boy, but I believe this was done intentionally by the author to make a point--Michael has been through too much, especially for his young age, and he has been forced to grow up faster than other kids due to the abuse he lives with. He became Maria's parent, trying to protect her from his father and make up for the love she wasn't receiving. He took on too much responsibility, and I know that's definitely something children of abused parents are prone to do. They lose the carefree nature of childhood and that is instead replaced with fear, dread, and stress, that which an adult has a hard enough time handling let alone a child.
Overall, the story itself was realistic and definitely worth reading, which kept me turning the pages until the very end.
July 16, 2012
Oh My Gosh!!!! Loved it, Loved it!!!
Good story about domestic abuse and how it can make a person realize they are stronger than they think and how a mother sacrifices her happiness for her family. It’s not all negative; it has more happy moments than sad and a very good ending!!! I recommend this read and am giving it five starts, if I could give more than this story deserves them all. This is a page turner and something is always happening it will blow your mind.
Maria is a battered female that lives with her abusive husband Ricky, her mother and her 4 yr old son. She has lived with the abuse for so long that it has progressively gotten worse over the years. So Maria either has to leave or let Ricky kill her and her child. You will not believe all the hell Maria goes threw with this crazy man. She is always looking behind her and then she is looking over her shoulder constantly afraid of her own shadow. Until she meets Dave and he promises her something huge!!!! Dave comes into the picture with his crazy wife Amy another pair made in hell!!! Amy and Ricky are made for each other and should have married instead of the other two unfortunate soles they ended up with. Beautiful Izzy is an angel and Michel is a strong smart four year old boy who is very protective of those he loves and brave when he stands up to his father.
You fall in love with Dave and his kindness and his being rich does not hurt either, can I keep him? Beautiful story, I could not put it down, a keeper on my shelves.
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Good story about domestic abuse and how it can make a person realize they are stronger than they think and how a mother sacrifices her happiness for her family. It’s not all negative; it has more happy moments than sad and a very good ending!!! I recommend this read and am giving it five starts, if I could give more than this story deserves them all. This is a page turner and something is always happening it will blow your mind.
Maria is a battered female that lives with her abusive husband Ricky, her mother and her 4 yr old son. She has lived with the abuse for so long that it has progressively gotten worse over the years. So Maria either has to leave or let Ricky kill her and her child. You will not believe all the hell Maria goes threw with this crazy man. She is always looking behind her and then she is looking over her shoulder constantly afraid of her own shadow. Until she meets Dave and he promises her something huge!!!! Dave comes into the picture with his crazy wife Amy another pair made in hell!!! Amy and Ricky are made for each other and should have married instead of the other two unfortunate soles they ended up with. Beautiful Izzy is an angel and Michel is a strong smart four year old boy who is very protective of those he loves and brave when he stands up to his father.
You fall in love with Dave and his kindness and his being rich does not hurt either, can I keep him? Beautiful story, I could not put it down, a keeper on my shelves.
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December 22, 2014
This is the first book that I read by this autor and I liked it. The topic of the book was serious and dealt with domestic abuse which is shocking. There were romantic aspects to the story but it was very clean in what happened. I loved Michael, Maria's son.
Maria has been through so much abuse it is a wonder that she survived. She manages to escape to NY. Michael gets her a jo. He is so grown up for a 4 year old it is shocking.
Dave has an ex-wife from hellas a lawyer he works long hours his still wife isn't interested in their daughter. Dave kicks her out.
As I said I really liked this book it is worth the read but you need to take the time to read it.
Maria has been through so much abuse it is a wonder that she survived. She manages to escape to NY. Michael gets her a jo. He is so grown up for a 4 year old it is shocking.
Dave has an ex-wife from hellas a lawyer he works long hours his still wife isn't interested in their daughter. Dave kicks her out.
As I said I really liked this book it is worth the read but you need to take the time to read it.
July 16, 2012
Wow, this was an intense read! I couldn't stop turning the pages and got so wrapped up in Maria's story right from the first page! Then we meet Dave and I was totally into his story too! These two people went through so much garbage and you just had to wonder if they were ever going to find peace and happiness.
I would recommend this book to everyone and can't wait to read more by this author! She knows how to grab your attention and she does not let go. Great job Christina and good luck!
I would recommend this book to everyone and can't wait to read more by this author! She knows how to grab your attention and she does not let go. Great job Christina and good luck!
April 21, 2012
I really loved it!
June 20, 2012
Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful. Full of suspense. Kept me glued to the very end!
June 5, 2013
Christina OW makes an impressive debut with this high-octane romantic thriller. This Dickensian tale is an often-heartbreaking examination of fatal beauty, emotional and physical spousal abuse, child endangerment, murder, violence, class, and ultimately the triumph of the human spirit over extreme circumstances.
Maria Martinez, a beautiful and angelic 22-year-old half-Latina single mother of a four-year-old boy Michael, hates her job as a waitress in a small café. But what’s a young working class woman with no college education to do in the small town of Jacksonville, Mississippi? Forced to wear a revealing uniform, she is tormented by the unwelcome attention from sexist customers, partly because of the basic indignities, but mostly because of her sadistically abusive, and over-jealous live-in boyfriend Ricky, Michael’s father. She endures much from Ricky—bruises all over her body, broken bones, lacerations—but when the abuse extends to her son, she realizes it’s time to escape.
But leaving is not so easy. Ricky’s enthusiastic abuse borders on the lethal. Ultimately, with the help of her mother Edna, Maria makes a last-ditch effort to escape, resulting in a presumed fatal house fire.
In New York City, handsome, wealthy and successful attorney Dave Greer is battling his own domestic war. His baby daughter Izzy (short for Elizabeth) is his world and he is a devoted parent. The same can’t be said for his tramp-of-a-wife Amy, who often leaves the young girl home alone while she entertains sexual partners and a life of social debauchery outside of her marriage and parental responsibilities.
Fed up, Dave finally asks for a divorce. But not ready to abandon the lifestyle Dave’s wealth and position affords her, Amy fights tooth-and nail to hold on to this loveless marriage.
Back in Jacksonville, Maria’s reprieve from Ricky is short lived, and she realizes there’s only one way she can save herself and her son. She moves him to New York City, where they change their names and alter their identity.
Through serendipitous circumstances, Dave and Maria meet. It turns into a cautious friendship, ultimately resulting in Maria becoming Dave’s live-in Nanny, after Dave tumultuous divorce from Amy and his attaining sole custody of Izzy.
Baby Izzy and now five-year-old Michael become like brother and sister, and Dave (who has enrolled Michael in a swank private school) and Maria become more like devoted parents to each other’s child, turning this employee-employer situation more into a fairy tale family setting.
In spite of Maria’s hesitation, due to the abuse she suffered during her relationship with Ricky, a tepid romance begins between Dave and Maria. And just as they are about to venture further, evil rears its ugly head, threatening to undo what they have so carefully built.
Star Bright is a very passionate book. It’s fearless in its examination of deep emotion and the bitter struggle for happiness against all odds.
There is plenty on edge-of-your-seat action, and there is no shortage of drama in these brisk 332 pages.
Watching Maria evolve from a put-upon, shrinking violet victim of abuse to a survivor who finds her voice and conviction against all odds will have one cheering for this warrior beauty. And much should be said about how Ms. OW admirably explores masculine tenderness and family devotion in the character of Dave.
The only challenges in this book are some minor punctuation and grammatical faux pas. But even these don’t get in the way of a gripping story, thrillingly told by a writer of great promise.
-Reviewed by Stanley Bennett Clay
Maria Martinez, a beautiful and angelic 22-year-old half-Latina single mother of a four-year-old boy Michael, hates her job as a waitress in a small café. But what’s a young working class woman with no college education to do in the small town of Jacksonville, Mississippi? Forced to wear a revealing uniform, she is tormented by the unwelcome attention from sexist customers, partly because of the basic indignities, but mostly because of her sadistically abusive, and over-jealous live-in boyfriend Ricky, Michael’s father. She endures much from Ricky—bruises all over her body, broken bones, lacerations—but when the abuse extends to her son, she realizes it’s time to escape.
But leaving is not so easy. Ricky’s enthusiastic abuse borders on the lethal. Ultimately, with the help of her mother Edna, Maria makes a last-ditch effort to escape, resulting in a presumed fatal house fire.
In New York City, handsome, wealthy and successful attorney Dave Greer is battling his own domestic war. His baby daughter Izzy (short for Elizabeth) is his world and he is a devoted parent. The same can’t be said for his tramp-of-a-wife Amy, who often leaves the young girl home alone while she entertains sexual partners and a life of social debauchery outside of her marriage and parental responsibilities.
Fed up, Dave finally asks for a divorce. But not ready to abandon the lifestyle Dave’s wealth and position affords her, Amy fights tooth-and nail to hold on to this loveless marriage.
Back in Jacksonville, Maria’s reprieve from Ricky is short lived, and she realizes there’s only one way she can save herself and her son. She moves him to New York City, where they change their names and alter their identity.
Through serendipitous circumstances, Dave and Maria meet. It turns into a cautious friendship, ultimately resulting in Maria becoming Dave’s live-in Nanny, after Dave tumultuous divorce from Amy and his attaining sole custody of Izzy.
Baby Izzy and now five-year-old Michael become like brother and sister, and Dave (who has enrolled Michael in a swank private school) and Maria become more like devoted parents to each other’s child, turning this employee-employer situation more into a fairy tale family setting.
In spite of Maria’s hesitation, due to the abuse she suffered during her relationship with Ricky, a tepid romance begins between Dave and Maria. And just as they are about to venture further, evil rears its ugly head, threatening to undo what they have so carefully built.
Star Bright is a very passionate book. It’s fearless in its examination of deep emotion and the bitter struggle for happiness against all odds.
There is plenty on edge-of-your-seat action, and there is no shortage of drama in these brisk 332 pages.
Watching Maria evolve from a put-upon, shrinking violet victim of abuse to a survivor who finds her voice and conviction against all odds will have one cheering for this warrior beauty. And much should be said about how Ms. OW admirably explores masculine tenderness and family devotion in the character of Dave.
The only challenges in this book are some minor punctuation and grammatical faux pas. But even these don’t get in the way of a gripping story, thrillingly told by a writer of great promise.
-Reviewed by Stanley Bennett Clay
July 23, 2012
Wow...this book has blown me away! I absolutely loved it! My typical read is young adult books that are in the paranormal genre. I got word this book was offered as an ebook for free and took the opportunity to read something for free AND outside my norm. I'm really glad I took the chance with it.
Maria is a young mother of a 4 year old son, Michael. They are living in a home with her husband and Michael's father, Ricky, who has been abusive since almost forever, and also with her mother, Edna. Ricky leaves bruises, cigarette burns, breaks her bones, and emotionally deflates her. Maria finally has enough when Ricky goes after Michael. In an attempt to leave Ricky for good, Maria, along with Michael and Edna, flee the home. Maria thinks Ricky is finally dead after a house fire, but soon learns better. She is forced to take Michael and flee her home town and take shelter elsewhere. She finds Dave in her new life and the intense story has just begun!
The story was full of life and surreal emotions. I really enjoyed the story that involved Maria and Michael, but I also enjoyed that the book included a whole seperate story with Dave. The two seperate stories helped appreciate the outcome so much more! I also really liked that Dave was a typical male, not some sculpted creation all women swoon over in their fantasies. He is swoon worthy, but not because of his physique we are supposed to imagine through every little detail the author offers. He was a real father, a true "boyfriend" to Maria, and he was serious business when it came to his life!
The book is full of such emotion and makes you appreciate the healthy relationship you have. I've done quite a bit of research on domestic violence during my undergradute. The book depics what a real relationship suffering from domestic violence is truly like, what a female going through that is really like. I appreciated the authors ability to make it feel so real! There were times I felt Maria was too relaxed and too easy, but for the most part I felt it was right on. I absolutely loved that Maria was able to find someone like Dave after the HELL she had been through. We all hope for a prince charming like that :)
Maria is a young mother of a 4 year old son, Michael. They are living in a home with her husband and Michael's father, Ricky, who has been abusive since almost forever, and also with her mother, Edna. Ricky leaves bruises, cigarette burns, breaks her bones, and emotionally deflates her. Maria finally has enough when Ricky goes after Michael. In an attempt to leave Ricky for good, Maria, along with Michael and Edna, flee the home. Maria thinks Ricky is finally dead after a house fire, but soon learns better. She is forced to take Michael and flee her home town and take shelter elsewhere. She finds Dave in her new life and the intense story has just begun!
The story was full of life and surreal emotions. I really enjoyed the story that involved Maria and Michael, but I also enjoyed that the book included a whole seperate story with Dave. The two seperate stories helped appreciate the outcome so much more! I also really liked that Dave was a typical male, not some sculpted creation all women swoon over in their fantasies. He is swoon worthy, but not because of his physique we are supposed to imagine through every little detail the author offers. He was a real father, a true "boyfriend" to Maria, and he was serious business when it came to his life!
The book is full of such emotion and makes you appreciate the healthy relationship you have. I've done quite a bit of research on domestic violence during my undergradute. The book depics what a real relationship suffering from domestic violence is truly like, what a female going through that is really like. I appreciated the authors ability to make it feel so real! There were times I felt Maria was too relaxed and too easy, but for the most part I felt it was right on. I absolutely loved that Maria was able to find someone like Dave after the HELL she had been through. We all hope for a prince charming like that :)
August 6, 2012
This book started off reasonably well and I think the general plot was good, as were the adult characters. I really felt for Maria and wanted to help her and David in the life they were trying to forge together. The author was also great at keeping the momentum going and the tensity of the book from beginning to end.
Unfortunately that's where the good things about this book ended. It really needed to be formatted with breaks when the pov switched to another character. There were chapter breaks but during a chapter the pov could be from any one of the main characters heads and it was very confusing when it switched from one paragraph to the next to the point I had to re-read bits often to try and work out who it refered to and what they were all doing.
On top of that the kids were really unbelievable. Michael was meant to be only four but he sounded like a young teenager or a ten year old at youngest. He did things and said things I just wouldn't expect from a kid that age, even one in his situation. If it had just been Michael I would have accepted that the author tried to deliberately make him sound older than he was because of what he had been through but the same happened when Izzy started talking. She was doing and occasionally saying things I just wouldn't expect from a kid her age.
There were a few other minor typos I noticed but it was mostly the formating and kids that needed an overhaul.
Unfortunately that's where the good things about this book ended. It really needed to be formatted with breaks when the pov switched to another character. There were chapter breaks but during a chapter the pov could be from any one of the main characters heads and it was very confusing when it switched from one paragraph to the next to the point I had to re-read bits often to try and work out who it refered to and what they were all doing.
On top of that the kids were really unbelievable. Michael was meant to be only four but he sounded like a young teenager or a ten year old at youngest. He did things and said things I just wouldn't expect from a kid that age, even one in his situation. If it had just been Michael I would have accepted that the author tried to deliberately make him sound older than he was because of what he had been through but the same happened when Izzy started talking. She was doing and occasionally saying things I just wouldn't expect from a kid her age.
There were a few other minor typos I noticed but it was mostly the formating and kids that needed an overhaul.
August 17, 2012
This is such a beautiful story! +.+
I loved to follow the story of Maria Martinez! :)
She was this incredibly strong woman and loving mother, who was tortured both physically and psychologically by a spineless coward, but still had the presence of mind to fight for her own life and the life of her little son, Michael.
She has to run away so that she and her son won't be killed by her son's father, Ricky, and starts a new life in another city.
Of course, she is constantly fighting her inner demons and her tormented past, and doesn't realize, at first, that she has, in fact, a lot of strength inside her.
But I'm glad that, along the way, she found someone to love and to cherish her - Dave Greer.
He taught her that not all men are bastards and that love is not and unreachable ideal.
And, of course, that she deserved to be free of all the fear and pain and be happy. +.+
But hell, how she suffered until she could have her happy ending! :S
This book was really a huge emotional roller coaster so I totally recommend it.
I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for how the punctuation was place. This, in my opinion, made the process of reading a bit more difficult.
But it is really a great book! You won't regret reading it!
I loved to follow the story of Maria Martinez! :)
She was this incredibly strong woman and loving mother, who was tortured both physically and psychologically by a spineless coward, but still had the presence of mind to fight for her own life and the life of her little son, Michael.
She has to run away so that she and her son won't be killed by her son's father, Ricky, and starts a new life in another city.
Of course, she is constantly fighting her inner demons and her tormented past, and doesn't realize, at first, that she has, in fact, a lot of strength inside her.
But I'm glad that, along the way, she found someone to love and to cherish her - Dave Greer.
He taught her that not all men are bastards and that love is not and unreachable ideal.
And, of course, that she deserved to be free of all the fear and pain and be happy. +.+
But hell, how she suffered until she could have her happy ending! :S
This book was really a huge emotional roller coaster so I totally recommend it.
I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for how the punctuation was place. This, in my opinion, made the process of reading a bit more difficult.
But it is really a great book! You won't regret reading it!
August 2, 2012
I totally loved this book.. It pist me off, made me laugh, made me cry...
Awesome book, considering what its about...
Awesome book, considering what its about...
December 18, 2013
This book was a great and easy read. The characters are memorable and the story is well-designed.
November 17, 2017
I received this book for free in exchange of a honest review as part of the Read It and Reap program ongoin in the Shut up & Read Group
I enjoyed the general plot and the writing is clean and easy. I liked the change of point of views and the fact that it described both main characters thoughts without dwelling on too deep and detailed descriptions.
The main theme is without doubt domestic violence and its consequences, not only on the main victim but also on those who were forced to assist it and weren't able to do something and on those who are trying to build a future with that person. It may feel surreal at some points, you may think "there's no way someone could survive this" - I did - but truth is I have no idea of the gravity that domestic violence can reach and hope I'll never have to find out in first person.
I appreciate how Maria managed to stay focused on the role she loves most, being a mother. Her ability to maintain concentration and fight for her child is like a message that "you can do it, you can overcome this".
Other topic I enjoyed was the importance of communication. Keeping secrets thinking it's the best way to protect someone didn't work. It never works. You know it as soon as you read it and you know something bas is going to happen and here it happened more than once.
There are some elements that maybe were supposed to surprise you, but I saw them coming immediately. It's not a huge problem though, maybe it's because after reading different stories the reader becomes used to some patterns.
I enjoyed the general plot and the writing is clean and easy. I liked the change of point of views and the fact that it described both main characters thoughts without dwelling on too deep and detailed descriptions.
The main theme is without doubt domestic violence and its consequences, not only on the main victim but also on those who were forced to assist it and weren't able to do something and on those who are trying to build a future with that person. It may feel surreal at some points, you may think "there's no way someone could survive this" - I did - but truth is I have no idea of the gravity that domestic violence can reach and hope I'll never have to find out in first person.
I appreciate how Maria managed to stay focused on the role she loves most, being a mother. Her ability to maintain concentration and fight for her child is like a message that "you can do it, you can overcome this".
Other topic I enjoyed was the importance of communication. Keeping secrets thinking it's the best way to protect someone didn't work. It never works. You know it as soon as you read it and you know something bas is going to happen and here it happened more than once.
There are some elements that maybe were supposed to surprise you, but I saw them coming immediately. It's not a huge problem though, maybe it's because after reading different stories the reader becomes used to some patterns.
September 18, 2023
This book is too drawn out, overly long and kinda' boring, if it was 200 pages and the author cut out all the boring crap it would be a great read. I really disliked Maria/Paula Dave was way too good for that inept half brained woman.
August 31, 2012
This review was first published on www.booksaresanity.blogspot.com
I was really surprised by how much I was drawn into this story once I started reading it! I kept coming back to it and picking it up, needing to find out what would happen next. Star Bright is full of action, suspense, love, hate, and abuse. The characters are believable and there is something about the book that kept me coming back for more; I really loved that about the book! I felt a lot of sympathy for Maria and you could feel her fear and her emotions well throughout the book. Dave was a great character also and I liked how he showed his priorities in his life. I would have given the book five stars but I had to take off for a couple of things. There were many punctuation errors and grammatical errors and it became bothersome after awhile. Also throughout the book the POV would change without cluing the reader in on it. It would take me a paragraph and a half and then I would have to re-read it to figure out that someone else was talking. Also, I felt that for a YA book talking about affairs is more of an adult romance book subject. Obviously this is just my personal opinion. Other than that the story drew me in until I had finished the last page! (For those who want to know this book does contain moderate cussing) Three and a half stars.
I was really surprised by how much I was drawn into this story once I started reading it! I kept coming back to it and picking it up, needing to find out what would happen next. Star Bright is full of action, suspense, love, hate, and abuse. The characters are believable and there is something about the book that kept me coming back for more; I really loved that about the book! I felt a lot of sympathy for Maria and you could feel her fear and her emotions well throughout the book. Dave was a great character also and I liked how he showed his priorities in his life. I would have given the book five stars but I had to take off for a couple of things. There were many punctuation errors and grammatical errors and it became bothersome after awhile. Also throughout the book the POV would change without cluing the reader in on it. It would take me a paragraph and a half and then I would have to re-read it to figure out that someone else was talking. Also, I felt that for a YA book talking about affairs is more of an adult romance book subject. Obviously this is just my personal opinion. Other than that the story drew me in until I had finished the last page! (For those who want to know this book does contain moderate cussing) Three and a half stars.
November 11, 2015
I'll write the reviews of readers who have read my book.
I hope you'll add your own once you've read it!
HAPPY READING!! ;)
“I read it so fast the first time,I went back and read it again! Fast read, fun story!! You don’t know what you are missing.”
“When I seen that it was a Romance/Suspense, I thought hum ok? I love both let’s check it out. I was surprised! This is a great read. Lot’s of suspense, with just the right amount of romance thrown in.” Cynthia Ann “Lovin Books” (Kindle Edition)
“It has been a long time since I had read a book and I just could not put this one down. It kept me captivated and engaged.” (Smashwords)
“What a wonderful story. I couldn’t put it down, my house work went undone until I finished it.”
“I read it so fast the first time,I went back and read it again! Fast read, fun story!! You don’t know what you are missing.”
“Great story. Kept me glued to the end.”
"Romance and Suspense all in one. Loved this book. Had to read it twice in one week it was so good.Kept me glued to my seat until the very end. Easy to follow the emotions of the characters, feel what is going on. Highly Recommend..." Barnes & Noble
Here is an excerpt from Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/extreader/r...
I hope you'll add your own once you've read it!
HAPPY READING!! ;)
“I read it so fast the first time,I went back and read it again! Fast read, fun story!! You don’t know what you are missing.”
“When I seen that it was a Romance/Suspense, I thought hum ok? I love both let’s check it out. I was surprised! This is a great read. Lot’s of suspense, with just the right amount of romance thrown in.” Cynthia Ann “Lovin Books” (Kindle Edition)
“It has been a long time since I had read a book and I just could not put this one down. It kept me captivated and engaged.” (Smashwords)
“What a wonderful story. I couldn’t put it down, my house work went undone until I finished it.”
“I read it so fast the first time,I went back and read it again! Fast read, fun story!! You don’t know what you are missing.”
“Great story. Kept me glued to the end.”
"Romance and Suspense all in one. Loved this book. Had to read it twice in one week it was so good.Kept me glued to my seat until the very end. Easy to follow the emotions of the characters, feel what is going on. Highly Recommend..." Barnes & Noble
Here is an excerpt from Smashwords http://www.smashwords.com/extreader/r...
December 21, 2016
I want to start off by saying that I enjoyed Maria and Dave’s story very much. It was character and story driven but there were so many grammatical and editing errors that I could not rate it higher than I did. At first that really took me out of the story but once I was able to put those mistakes aside, I was enthralled in the story. I thought their relationship progressed at a steady pace and that fit with what she had been through. Michael stole the show BUT he was too grown up even for the circumstances he went through. I also would’ve loved an epilogue.
December 17, 2014
4 stars. I have to admit, this book from Chapter 1 had me so involve in reading that I couldn't put it down. It was emotional, it was great. Cheers to the Author.
January 11, 2018
This was a wonderful book! It was suspenseful, interesting, and kept me hooked from the moment I started.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews