Star Crossed by Christine Ashworth

Star Crossed

By: Christine Ashworth

Since she was thirteen, Jenna Stone had an over bearing mother, one who freely bartered her daughter, marketed her and even pimped her. Yes you read this right, Elaine Stone was not the perfect mother, and yes, she did this, all for her own fortune and fame. Jenna felt like she was just an object to her mother, nothing more.

Jenna however, did enjoy once being a star herself. But the thing she truly missed about it, was being special. However now with her upcoming movie deal, this might make her big time famous, or at least she hopes it will. It doesn’t hurt a girl to dream.

Now there may be a further problem, there is a co-star from WWII, period drama that she let get close to her, and she knows she can’t let that happen again. He wasn’t right then, he couldn’t be right this time. She needed to stay focused.

Dane Hadley loved his success as rock star, until his band broke up, and returning to acting seems like the best way to keep the money rolling in. The thing is, now his co-star is the only girl he ever loved-the only woman who crushed his heart- the beautiful Jenna Stone.

Dane and Jenna must once again work together. In the beginning, it is nothing but business, that is, until it just isn’t.

Jenna wants a true chance at something better than the ever famous Hollywood style love stories. She wants the cake and eat it too, and live happily ever after. 

This is a book about having a past, and making a change from the past, and making a difference. A successful difference, and becoming someone and something, and making yourself proud. This book, “Star Crossed” is a five star romantic read. I felt pulled in, involved with the characters, and I could truly relate with them. Mothers make mistakes, Children don’t come with a manual, but this mother? She used her child to benefit herself. In the old days, this happened a lot, especially in the acting careers, look it up. Joan Crawford, for example. 

I have had the pleasure of the research of these types of events where parents used their children to enable their own career advancement. And I find it upsetting, but like I said, not unusual.

But luckily, Jenna doesn’t let things like this hold her back. She knows the best way to succeed, is to keep pushing forward. 

Dane Hadley, also knows to not stop, but keep striving forward. Just because his band has ended, he doesn’t want to fall flat on his face, he knows he needs money to succeed. His choice was wise, which some have done differently when their bands have ceased to exist, and chose drugs, and to give up. I was pleased Dane kept his chin up, and kept moving forward. He even kept his focus straight ahead, and his head in the game, and knew he still loved Jenna, and felt that he could rekindle their relationship.

“Star Crossed” was beautifully written by Christine, and I truly enjoyed it. I always love how Christine writes, she has a beautiful talent that I have always enjoyed since I first read her work. She always pulls me into her writing, and I am right there within the pages. You need to read this, you’ll totally enjoy every minute of it!

Here are my questions for Christine:

1. What led you to write this book and how long did it take?

I wrote Guarded Star first, and when I was looking to pitch it, I realized that I needed two more books to round out a series, which would make it more appealing to a publisher. So I came up with the back-of-the-book blurbs for Star Crossed and the next one, Rising Star.

2. Jenna Stone's own Mother? Seriously? What kind of Mother does that!?

Some stage mothers are horrible. Some parents are horrible. I do not, however, know anyone personally who was so inflicted with a mother like Elaine Stone.

3. Do you have photos or descriptions of Jenna or Dane?

Jenna is a natural blonde - okay, just think Pamela Anderson in looks, but without the surgically enhanced boobs. For Dane? Think a cross between Bret Michaels of Poison and Adam Levine. I know. Sorry.

4. What are you working on now?

Soon I'll have edits on Rising Star, which is the story of a stand-up comedienne, Maria Theresa Juanita Martinez-Coleman and a wealthy black ops club owner named Randall Blue. It's a funny, heartfelt story that I love.

5. What can you suggest to anyone wanting to become a writer? Is it really hard to do?

Writing is discipline. Pure and simple. Just like anything else you want to get really, really good at - speaking a foreign language, or painting, or learning to code in Ruby, or totally winning at Mass Effect. It all boils down to discipline. Second? Be humble. Learn your craft. For me, not being humble (thinking I knew it all already) cost me several years.

6. What led you to be a writer?

My father, Chet Cunningham, has been writing since he sold his first novel in 1968. He has over 350 novels published by most of the major publishers since then; I hope to pass his mark. Which means I'd better write faster.

7. What all education have you had?

Um. ?? Varied and sundry, and none of it has led to a degree. So.

8. What did/do you want to be when you grow/grew up?

I wanted, very much, to be first a ballet dancer, which I was until I was 19. When the Romanian Ballet Master teaching class that day yelled at me for yawning during plies at 10 in the morning, I promptly screamed back at him, stalked out of the room, and quit. Needless to say the entire company was shocked. I moved to musical theater, then moved to Los Angeles (and married an actor), and finally found myself in the business world.

9. Where is your favorite place to write?

I have several. First, my office - which is the laundry room. Second, any Starbucks. Third, the Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in my town.

10. Please provide for us your social and book links:

Star Crossed

Face Book

Twitter

Website and Blog

11. Anything to add:

I'm looking for people who are interested in reviewing and being a part of a Street Team. I'm fairly new to the game, so the perks aren't great right now...but hopefully the rewards in the future will be fabulous.

About the Author:

Christine Ashworth grew up in San Diego, fell in love with another dancer, and married him. She has two tall sons and lives in the Los Angeles area of California. She has been writing with an eye to publication since 2000, and has no plans to stop. Still 17 at heart, she is a romantic and a former ballet dancer, and hopes to one day match her fathers' record of over 350 published fiction books.

Star Crossed by Christine Ashworth
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Since she was thirteen, Jenna Stone had an over bearing mother, one who freely bartered her daughter, marketed her and even pimped her. Yes you read this right, Elaine Stone was not the perfect mother, and yes, she did this, all for her own fortune and fame. Jenna felt like she was just an object to her mother, nothing more.

Jenna however, did enjoy once being a star herself. But the thing she truly missed about it, was being special. However now with her upcoming movie deal, this might make her big time famous, or at least she hopes it will. It doesn’t hurt a girl to dream.

Now there may be a further problem, there is a co-star from WWII, period drama that she let get close to her, and she knows she can’t let that happen again. He wasn’t right then, he couldn’t be right this time. She needed to stay focused.

Dane Hadley loved his success as rock star, until his band broke up, and returning to acting seems like the best way to keep the money rolling in. The thing is, now his co-star is the only girl he ever loved-the only woman who crushed his heart- the beautiful Jenna Stone.

Dane and Jenna must once again work together. In the beginning, it is nothing but business, that is, until it just isn’t.

Jenna wants a true chance at something better than the ever famous Hollywood style love stories. She wants the cake and eat it too, and live happily ever after.

This is a book about having a past, and making a change from the past, and making a difference. A successful difference, and becoming someone and something, and making yourself proud. This book, “Star Crossed” is a five star romantic read. I felt pulled in, involved with the characters, and I could truly relate with them. Mothers make mistakes, Children don’t come with a manual, but this mother? She used her child to benefit herself. In the old days, this happened a lot, especially in the acting careers, look it up. Joan Crawford, for example.

I have had the pleasure of the research of these types of events where parents used their children to enable their own career advancement. And I find it upsetting, but like I said, not unusual.

But luckily, Jenna doesn’t let things like this hold her back. She knows the best way to succeed, is to keep pushing forward.

Dane Hadley, also knows to not stop, but keep striving forward. Just because his band has ended, he doesn’t want to fall flat on his face, he knows he needs money to succeed. His choice was wise, which some have done differently when their bands have ceased to exist, and chose drugs, and to give up. I was pleased Dane kept his chin up, and kept moving forward. He even kept his focus straight ahead, and his head in the game, and knew he still loved Jenna, and felt that he could rekindle their relationship.

“Star Crossed” was beautifully written by Christine, and I truly enjoyed it. I always love how Christine writes, she has a beautiful talent that I have always enjoyed since I first read her work. She always pulls me into her writing, and I am right there within the pages. You need to read this, you’ll totally enjoy every minute of it!

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