He’s tormented by dark addictions. She’s fighting for a lifelong dream. Can they rise from the ashes of despair and find happily ever after?
Mikel Evans is broken. With all his attention focused on dealing with blackmail and a drug dependency, his day-to-day is barely survivable. So when he reflexively steps up to defend his best friend’s little sister, he’s blindsided when she leans in for a kiss.
Remy Stone is done bottling up her emotions. And now that she’s finally caught Mikel’s eye, she’s determined to pursue the relationship despite the red flags. But when his violent past lands her in the hospital and reveals her own hidden truth, Remy’s resolve falters.
Trapped in a vicious cycle of temptation and relapse, Mikel knows the only way out is to bare his soul of its twisted secrets. And though Remy wants him with all her heart, she fears his demons will always come between them.
Can the embattled couple defeat the monsters that threaten their love?
A Fallen Star is the emotional first book in the Shattered Cove romance series. If you like steamy relationships, damaged heroes, and stories of second chances, then you’ll adore A. M. Kusi’s gritty tale.
A. M. Kusi is a wife-and-husband romance author team. Our novels feature diverse characters, are spicy, socially relevant, emotional, and always have a happy ending.
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Wow! This one blew me away. I was so intrigued the entire time. So many twists and turns, just when you think it's settling down something new happens to keep you gripped. This totally gives me Colleen Hoover vibes, but with more twists and gripping moments. Absolutely LOVED it! I'm now going to get every book by this author so I can devour them!
This is one of those stories that will have your heart broken and then put it back slowly piece by piece. Remy has been in love with Mikel forever but Mikel know that she is off limits being the best friend to her brother. But also because he has his own demons and didn't think he was good enough for her. Will he be able to let go of his past, face his demons and become the man that Remy needs in her life?
This was my first story by this author and I enjoyed it. But Remy knew what she wanted and she was ready to fight for it. Some parts were a bit slow. But the story overall was definitely a good one.
Remy has had a crush on Mikel, her brother's best friend, forever. Mikel knows the bro code and knows Remy is off-limits... or is she?
Remy is young and smart, but naive. When she decides it's time to make her move on Mikel, it's time and consequences be damned. Mikel can't fight how he feels and gives in, thankfully with the blessing of Remy's family who already thinks of Mikel as a member of the family.
Unfortunately, Mikel has lived a tough life. He's gotten caught up in a life he knows will tear them apart. He knows he isn't good enough for Remy and Mikel is one mistake from losing everything: Remy, his best friend, the life he's trying to build. Remy knows part of Mikel's secret, but she doesn't know just how far his secrets go. Her naivete shows when she thinks she's helping Mikel, but in reality she's enabling his lifestyle. And then it blows up. His demons, real and imagined, come for him, and her, and everything he's worked so hard for.
The character development for Remy and Mikel is spot on, as is the introduction of the rest of their family members. I was invested in all the characters and what their futures would hold. The family bonds are strong, even with hardships and traumas of the past. The story line was great, it moved at a good pace with no extra fluff, angst, or unnecessary subplots. Everything in the story had a purpose.
A Fallen Star is a story of puppy love, which turns to young love, and evolves into true love. Their story is one of a reversal of family cultural stereotypes. It's a story of hope and forgiveness. A Fallen Star is a great start to the series and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.
This is an ARC review. All opinions are solely my own.
A Fallen Star is book 1 in A.M. Kusi's Shattered Cove series. Personally, I found it difficult to connect with these characters so I'm interested to see how the rest of the series plays out.
Remy and Mikel have always been in each other's life. Now that Remy is older she wants Mikel. Mikel tries to resist. There's lots of life lessons and drama.
I did not find it super believable that Remy wasn't aware of Mikel's lifestyle or issues. She's close with her family and he's close with her family. I feel like this would have been discussed.
Overall, this book has the feelings of a Kate Stewart-esque novel.
* I received an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review *
This was my first-time reading A.M. Kusi. I had a hard time getting into this book. Usually when you read a book about dating a best friend’s sister there is a buildup and fear of being caught. There was minimal buildup and Remy’s brother seemed okay with them dating.
Remy was naive and it was obvious she had lived a sheltered life. While Mikel did leave her in the dark on things, she was not great at dealing with what was going on with him. The mood swings he was experiencing obviously should have been a sign for her that he needed help whether she agreed to keep his secret or not. Also, I think it was crazy for her to think just because he said he would stop taking drugs that automatically it would happen. She should have really gotten into why he needed them in the first place.
Mikel had a rough life and obviously is struggling with those demons of his past. While I understand he felt a lot of remorse and shame for what he had done in the past I was annoyed that he did not at least tell his brother. It does not matter what his career is he would have helped him.
I think we needed some more character depth from the beginning because I was starting to lose interest in the first half of the book. I think it would have been better if the book started in the present and shown flashbacks. The second half of the book was more interesting, and I do not think we needed to see their relationship starting from the beginning. The whole best friend's sister trope was not really a big topic, so it really is not necessary in my opinion.
While the second half of the story was more entertaining the first half did not leave me that interested in the rest of their story. There was a disconnect with me with both characters, and I was ready to give up on reading the book. If you like the characters then definitely continue reading because the storyline does get better it just starts off slow.
From the moment you meet Remy Stone, I dare you not to fall in love with everything about her; she is an excellent sister, a hard worker, and a damn good friend; you can't help but want the best for someone that it's clear from the word go is such a good person and who's love for her brother's best friend, Mikel, shines from the instant she says his name.
Mikel is sexy and strong with a traumatic past and a strong resistance to the idea of getting tangled up with his bestie's amazing little sister; and the slow slide that follows, and the fight to stop it along the way is painful, relatable, and impossible to resist.
'A Fallen Star' is a beautiful read that romance lovers should not miss.
This heroine was more naïve than I prefer my heroines but it was understandable given her age and the way her parents protected her from experiencing the world. I enjoyed this story and I look forward to reading the next two books in the series.
Pet peeve: no complete picture of what the hero looks like, just tidbits--here and there, unless I overlooked it. If so, I'll come back and revise this temporary review ... maybe!
I received this free eARC novel from the author and Wildfire Marketing Solutions. This is my honest review.
Mikal and Remy are complete opposites from the beginning to the end of this novel, which of course means they are perfect for each other.
I really feel for Mikal. He had a crappy childhood which had made him suffer for the rest of his life. He made bad decisions that had lasting effects and he really had PTSD as a result. Remy was a temporary cure and made him forget for a moment his dark part, but not even her love and her pureness was able to heal him completely.
Remy was so naive at the beginning of this book, but by the end she had been through her share of pain and growing up.
I really enjoyed this novel and this was my first book by this author. I'm very invested in this series and the other characters I'm hoping will have their own story, so I will definitely be in the look out for the next book in this series!
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ AM Kusi is a new to me author and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed her writing. Her words and the emotions she evoked held me captive from start to finish.
I love a good angsty book and this had all the feels. The butterflies from young love, the angst with addiction ruling the hero’s life and decisions, heartbreak, hope and happiness. There was so much jammed into this one book it was like an emotional rollercoaster, but the characters nor plot felt underdeveloped. It was paced perfectly in my eyes with enough time to connect to both main characters and their love story but also the drama woven into the storyline.
Something that I really liked was the mention of the stars and astrology. Personally, I think it was a great addition to the book and gave more depth to Mikel and his character.
I’m cannot wait for the next instalment in the Shattered Cover series and to read Andre and Mia’s story.
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
The beginning of the book started a little slow for me, but it didn't detract from the story and it was important for the packed second half of the book.
Remy was a fantastic heroine. She was driven and a bit naive, but her naivety wasn't born of idiocy. She was a bit sheltered, a lot intelligent, and one of the most caring heroines I have ever read. She was put into situations in which she could have became bitter and angry, but instead turned to education and hard decisions. I'd argue that she had a lot of growing to do, and it was beautiful to watch her story unfold.
Mikael (I hope I'm spelling this right) was a whole different story. His growth throughout the story was believable and multi-dimensional, his heart was huge but misguided. There were times that I wanted to throttle him, and times I wanted to hug him. But no matter what, I rooted for him the whole time.
I try not to give any spoilers in my review, and I apologize if this next part is spoiler-y.
**
H had an addiction, and one of the most compelling aspects of this story for me was the recognition, the sensitivity to addiction and how loved ones interact with that addiction, and ultimately, it captured well the user's version of why they continued to turn to drugs and the loved one's honest care and support without being an enabler. It was poignant and beautiful and I was really proud of these authors for taking such a delicate topic and making it approachable.
This was my first novel by A.M. Kusi and it definitely won't be my last.
This is the first I have read by this author and I have to say for the most part I enjoyed the book as a whole. While I found the start of the story a bit slow, you get that angsty passion as it slowly builds up. While Remy is young and naive in a lot of ways, she loves with her whole heart and I really loved that about her. Her build through the book is what kept me going and enjoying the connection she has with Mikel. Mikel is a tough nut to crack. He feels he doesn’t deserve Remy but he cannot deny his attraction to her and his want for her. As these two go through the motions, it was very raw and emotional at times. Overall, this was a decent read. I had moments where I struggled but overall, I enjoyed it for what it is. It is a raw coming of age story but it will keep you on your toes with the passion that these two have.
A Fallen Star by A.M. Kusi was an emotional and touching story. Remy Stone has loved her brother’s best friend for what seems like forever. All she ever wanted was for him to notice her. But for Mikel, his demons were too much to bear, much them lay them on a woman like Remy. Remy was sweet, caring and very likable. Mikel was hardest on himself, but truly cared for Remy. Though their attraction and chemistry is intense, can they truly let the other in? Their journey was not easy, but you could feel their love on every page. A poignant story of hope and forgiveness.
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog. Happy reading!
I have always been a lover of words. They are soothing and therapeutic. Whether in a poetic form, set to the background of music, or used to lovingly scold a child, and even sometimes reprimand an adult. Yet, they can be harmful and offensive. When spoken in anger, when used to berate or simply stated to tear down instead of build-up.
Then are words that are put to paper. The ones that cause you to find your most comfortable spot, grab a beverage of your choice (cabernet sauvignon for me), a blanket on those cool days and you lose yourself in those words. The words that sometimes strike as too real, the words that take you on a journey, the words that show you love, the words that heal you, the words that consume you.
I said all that above to give you a glimpse of what you will find in A Fallen Star. Every word is filled with meaning, purpose and gives truth to this phenomenal, amazing story of life.
Wanting to be a better person is not always as simple as it sounds. Mikel’s life is filled with demons from the past and the present. They latch on to him; heart, mind, body and soul. They trigger his every thought, action, and reaction.
Living through the unthinkable is sometimes . . . unthinkable. Surviving and still being able to love unconditionally is everything we see in Remy. It takes unsurmountable strength to push through the barriers set before her. But she is strength personified.
Mikel and Remy’s story is not going to be filled with sugar, spice and everything nice. It is going to capture the harsh, ugly side of the road to redemption. Not in just one aspect but in so many of the trials and tribulations life throws at us. Yet, it also shows that love can overrule every obstacle to get you to that HEA.
As compelling as the story line is and trust me it is. It is “the voice” of the authors that encompass me. There is something special about this husband and wife team. Something magical with how they can give so much story, with so little time, and never miss a thought. I felt as though I had lived the life of each character and that still was not enough. And I am glad to say it will not have to be. There will be more to come.
Being in my top five reads of 2020, five stars is not enough. Ten stars is not sufficient. A galaxy of stars would not compare to A Fallen Star.
“Completion. Connection. The stars were aligned. Death of the old, rebirth of the new. The end and the beginning. Life and death.
A second chance.”
I love a guaranteed HEA. I know that no matter what happens during the course of the book it’s going to have a happy ending. And I really had to repeat that during this book because MAN did my heart hurt sometimes.
Remy and Mikel were a beautiful story of overcoming past demons. A true second chance love story. I loved how the author portrayed the growth of both characters. Truly fantastic job of how experiences shape and change a person.
Highly recommend this book for a guaranteed HEA! This is a standalone in a new series!
If you are looking for a book that could give you all the feels, that could shatter you and make you whole again this one so for you and you can thank me later, great characters and each one of them gives something new to the story making it beautiful, you will fall for them hard through the book while you live with them all that the need to go through, this one definitely goes to me bookshelf of favorites, can't wait to read the next ones
What a great read, when I first received the book to read I had no clue what I was getting into. I experienced emotions in a book that I hadn’t felt in long time. From the beginning I knew Remy and Mikel was going to be a complex couple and I didn’t know how this was going to work out. But they they fought and overcame so much. I was so captivated by their story that I stayed up all night because I needed to know how did their story end, and I all I have to say is this read was well worth the sleepless night. If you’re looking for a refreshing, intriguing, GREAT LOVE story this is the read for you. So go ahead and jump in on what is a great STORY you will not be disappointed!!!
This book is heartbreaking in so many ways. First loving someone with addiction has to be one of the hardest things a person can do, but letting that person go so they don’t bring you down with them and letting them hit rock bottom has to be even harder. Remy loves Mikel so much but she lets him go, she never stops loving him though and five years later when he comes back a sober person ready to face his demons she is ready for him.
Such a great, real story. First time reading anything from these authors and am very excited to continue with the series.
**I was generously provided with an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest review.**
Remy starts off as shy and naive h. As the story develops, she becomes strong and independent. Mikel is a tortured soul. Remy helps him be better and realize his worth. Good storyline.
A romance that was tangled up with raw darkness from the hero’s traumatic past, A Fallen Star had not only a gritty, heartbreaking side, but it was also all about second chances and a love so meant to be, nothing could stand in its way.
“You’re not the villain of this story, but the hero. A fallen star is still a star.”
This is the first book I’ve read by husband and wife duo, A.M. Kusi, and wow! I was pretty much blown away by how epic a romance this was and just how intense things got emotionally. I won’t lie…it was a very tough story to read in some respects due to what our hero Mikel got himself caught up in and the terrible things that happened to him as a child... Read More
A lovely story of a love that triumphs over many obstacles, mostly a broken man with an obscure past.
Remy Stone has always been in love with Mikel. She was a shy girl, the kind that always follows the rules, until she decides to break that pattern and go after her man. She’s eighteen and decided to live her life on her terms.
Mikel Evans had an abusive childhood, has dark secrets in his life, strange dependencies on unsavory people. His best friend and business partner is Andre, Remy’s older brother. They have a construction company. He’s always been aware of Remy but he knows he’s not good enough for her. When she comes after him, he resists as long as he can, but he really wants her, so it’s hard to resist.
And here is when I screeched to a halt. Since when is it good for a woman to pursue a man so relentlessly? I had a huge problem with this part!
Once they start dating, a lot of problems surface. Mikel has a dark past, dark habits, dark friends. He tries to live two lives, the good one with Remy, and the dark one he’s chained to. Of course everything eventually implodes!
The plot of the story is great, the pace of the writing not that great. Although I loved the story (minus the begging!), I read about the angst but didn’t feel the angst. At no time did I feel a knot in my throat from the feelings exposed in the dialogues. I could understand the reason for all the tears but had no compulsion to cry myself.
Even so, it was a lovely story about redemption and forgiveness; family love and support. One bright moment in this story was that when Andre learned that Mikel was dating his baby sister, he didn’t invoke the dreaded bro code. He didn’t jump down Mikel’s throat for loving his little sister, since he himself loved Mikel like a brother. Mikel was loved and well received by Remy’s family, which was as I expected, being a family friend like he was. I never did understand or accept the bro code!
I liked that the story evolves and shows how Mikel and Remy mature. At the same time, I hated Mikel’s habit of protecting Remy by withholding information that she needed to be safe.
A Fallen Star is a beautifully written steamy romance read which manages to discuss the issue of drug abuse pretty accurately.
The Male MC Mikel had a traumatic childhood due to which he turned to drugs for pain relief without realizing how much badly he got sucked into the horrors of it.
Remi on the other hand was brought up in a protective environment under her protective brother Andre, who is Mikel’s best friend. One night when Remi was out and had an very passionate kiss with Mikel, her crush on Mikel became very much real. However due to his past Mikel is pushing her away until he doesn’t but things just doesn’t stop there.
Please pick up this book if you are exploring the adult romance genre or just need a quick read to escape to. This book deals with the topic of drug abuse very intricately and the whole Shattered Cove series is just amazing!
A Fallen Star is one of the best romance books I’ve read. The story of Remy and Mikel is raw and real. I love Remy’s naïveté and the way she transforms into a stronger version of herself throughout this book. Although Mikel is an interesting character, I wanted to throttle him in certain situations, but at the same time my heart had a soft spot for him due to the relation of addiction and everything that goes along with it. My heart ached for the little boy in him who never got the love he needed. This book took me through so many emotions and although their relationship left me satisfied at the end, I wanted more! I definitely recommend this book.
When I read the blurb about this book I was so intrigued and I wanted to love this book, but something there was something that kept me at arm's length. Remy and Mikel have always been in each other's lives. Now they are older. One would think that with this information these two would be more aware of how the other lives.
This book was well written. There was plenty of drama in this book. While I enjoyed the writing I had a hard time connecting with these two. I'm interested to see what A. M. Kusi has for us in the upcoming books.
This is the first book that I have read by this couple A.M. Kusi. And it was recommended by my cousin Renita. And when she recommends a book, I know that it was going to be great. And it set me on an emotional roller coaster. Love, anger, fear, shocked, and sad. And they also made me think that Remy was gone at the end. I was so sad. But it did make me happy that there was a HEA even when I thought there was none.
With a tragic childhood he's tired every way he knows how to forget & choices no one here made, Mikel Evans would never dream of having anything as pure and wonderful as Remy Stone in his life. Never mind she's his best friends younger sister. She's far too good for the likes of him. But somehow Remy works her way into Mikel's heart, showing him kindness and love. Something he's never really known aside from his two siblings and best friend. Just when he can almost see a happy further for them, Mikel's demons come back with vengeance, putting Remy in harm's way. And it will be the fight of his life to find a way through this darkness. He can only hope he'll be able to have Remy by his side when it's over.
Remi is sure probably everyone in her family and her friends know about her long-standing crush on Mikel. Now that's she's graduated high school and is planning out her next few years, seeing if there's something between her and Mikel is at the top of her list. Remy is delighted to find out he feels the same strong attraction she does. Only, she didn't realize exactly how tortured Mikel has felt for years. The trouble he's in is pretty bad. Even though Remy knows love can conquer all, it has to be a two-way street- but she's not sure he's ready to let go of his painful past quiet yet.
Favorite quotes 💬 : "Being with animal was emotionally draining sometimes."
"She was still at risk for a miscarriage, but for now, her baby was alive."
"A lifetime. She owed him that much for keeping his child a secret from him."
"Old habits died hard, if they died at all."
"His last thread of hope was cut as she flatlined."
"That's not fair. He's past doesn't dictate his future."
"The things he had to do sometimes made his own skin crawl."
"It was time to say goodbye to the fantasy & get back to his same reality."