Review: A Lovely Debut for a Promising Author...
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 20, 2013
"I am neither perfect nor conceited, but now I understand my worth." -Portia, 'Chasing Stars'.I picked up the debut novel 'Chasing Stars' based on the recommendation of a friend, and I'm glad I did. This is the story of Portia, a selfish movie star, and Will, a painter/tattoo-artist, and how their worlds are changed when fate (or divine intervention) brings them together. The fire and passion during the first meeting is palpable, but each one has their secrets and personal experiences that dictate their goals and actions.Will had a hard childhood, to put it mildly, and now those experiences are strongly tied to his faith and beliefs. Portia, born into a life of privilege, was seen only as an inconvenience to her parents and seeks refuge in her friends and in the arms of a different man each night. In the beginning she is portrayed determined and feisty, and her plan to seduce Will is intriguing, but some of that passion fades and for that reason I couldn't connect with her as much as Will. She went through a great deal of personal growth, which was good to see, but she did it without as much struggle as I would've expected from someone as strong-willed as she is. I love how Will, and faith in general, is explored in the book. It is present and focused without being preachy, which is a very fine line to dance along, and Duarte handled this wonderfully.Duarte has a beautiful way with words, almost poetic at times. Her descriptions leave you with a clear vision of what is happening and you can easily understand the feelings each character is trying to deal with and work through. Ms. Duarte is definitely going on my author watch list, I look forward to seeing more from her and watching her grow as a writer!