Review: 5 stars!  Star-crossed (stand-alone).  Debutante, step-brother, friend & unsuspecting teacher play a sinister game of seduction!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 9, 2014
“It's a scary thing, feeling nothing at all. It only serves to remind you that you're capable of anything. Even if it ends in disaster.”Star-crossed (stand-alone) follows socialite and high school senior Kaitlyn Laurent during her last semester of high school.  Set against the backdrop of the school’s theater production of Romeo and Juliet four people, three students and one teacher,get caught up in a sinister game of seduction.It started as a bet between Kaitlyn and her step-brother Marius St. Vincent.  It involved seducing Trinity Preparatory Academy’s new classic literature and drama teacher William Tennant.  Details to unfold with story, but at stake were a fortune and Kaitlyn’s virginity.  Also vying for her heart is her new friend, Tyler Dawson.KAITLYN LAURENT, KAIT aka “Juliet”: 18 years/American/high school senior, Trinity Preparatory Academy/debutante/socialite/$$$$/dark brown hair/brown eyes.Kaitlyn Laurent feels trapped by her family legacy and social status.  Her life has already been planned by her father and she desperately is looking for a way out.Star-crossed is Kaitlyn’s journey of self-discovery, personal growth and dealing with the consequence of her actions.  Eight words to describe Kaitlyn: Captivating, strong, reflective, lost, bored, determined, smart and misguided.“I just wanted to ow what it would be like to spend some time in the arms of someone who could give me an experience to look back on; a blanket of poignant nostalgia that I could wrap myself in after evenings spent in the same settled routine.”MARIUS ST. VINCENT: 18 years/American/high school senior, Trinity Preparatory Academy/$$$$/gold-blond hair/pale blue eyes.Marius St. Vincent is Kaitlyn’s step-brother through their parents’ marriage a couple of years back  He’s the heartthrob of Trinity Prep with girls pining for him long after he seduced and left them as his heart belongs to Kaitlyn.What works in his favor is the friendship they shared before they became family and his apparent and vulnerable, though twisted and at times devious, love he has for Kaitlyn.Eight words to describe Marius: Jaded, flawed, devious, loyal, vulnerable, intense, sexy and ruthless.“You're beautiful ,” he said. “You know that? You've got that just-f*****d look in your eyes. Even though I know you haven't sealed the deal yet.”WILLIAM TENNANT, WILL aka MR. TENNANT: 28 years/British/Oxford graduate/Teacher-classic literature & drama/$$$/black hair/black-brown eyes.William Tennant, Will aka Mr. Tennant is Kaitlyn’s new classic literature and drama teacher at Trinity Prep.  He came from an affluent past in Great Britain, carrying a past and secrets.What works in his favor is their undeniable attraction to each other, him unknowingly entering a game of seduction and though smitten by his seductive pupil tries to fight his attraction…. A forbidden secret relationship built on lies and deception…“I knew who the real victim was, and it wasn't me. If there were some fragment of this inevitable explosion that wrote out my name in blood across the tracks, I would smear it and cry hearsay. Mr. Tennant was the victim.”All the students admire him; the girls want him and the boys want to be him.  Eight words to describe Will: Captivating, charming, enigmatic, lovable, vulnerable, composed, smart and honorable (yes!).“He was the kind of man that those who can write, would write about. Pure poetry-murmuring lips and ink-black eyes that made me wish I could put a pen to paper. Looking at him was the most exquisite torture, like chocolate slowly melting over your tongue.”TYLER DAWSON aka “Romeo”: 18 years/ American/high school senior, Trinity Preparatory Academy/scholarship student/dark brown hair/green eyes.Tyler Dawson is Kaitlyn’s new friend; he is the “poor kid attending on a scholarship”.  Playing a part in theater production with Kaitlyn allows for their friendship to develop, but soon is overshadowed by his blossoming feelings for her and the lies she tells to protect herself.What works in his favor is that he is both vulnerable and expressive in his loyalty and friendship and normalcy he offers which  would be an excellent foundation for something deeper.Eight words to describe Tyler: Lovable, vulnerable, smart, loyal, insecure, strong, attentive and ambitious.“Tyler Dawson wore his affections like a lovingly patched-up sweater; worn ragged but still entirely beloved.”Star-crossed mesmerized me with the persistent sinking feeling that there’s no way this devious game could end well.  I was fretting and wondering until the very last page, leaving me with a somewhat surprising albeit welcome and wonderful ending.  A few assuring lines gave hints a few years into the future, but I’d welcome a real epilogue!The story-telling was eclectic almost lyrical and enjoyed every moment of this angsty and beautifully told tale! I was captivated by each of the four players as they each enacted a significant part in this <b>doomed game of seduction!“Give me a sea of strangers, and all I'll see is you.”***Kaitlyn’s rating: 5 starsWilliam’s rating: 5 starsTyler’s rating: 5 starsMarius rating: 5 starsSex scenes rating: 4.5 starsSex scenes frequency: 4 starsStoryline concept rating: 5 starsStorytelling skills rating: 5 starsStory ending rating: 4.5 starsBook editing rating (5 = no edits spotted): 4 stars************************************************Overall rating: 5 starsWould I recommend this book: Yes.Would I re-read this book: Yes.Would I read future books by this author: Yes.