When the Stars Come Out by Laura Trentham – Review, Interview, Tour & Giveaway

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Description:
Willa Brown never planned to stay in Cottonbloom. She was on the way to somewhere else when she landed there and found work at the Abbot brothers’ garage. . .and a sense of comfort and safety that she had never known. The same holds true for Jackson Abbott himself. With one glance in her direction, he can make Willa’s heart melt. But what begins as an unrequited crush turns into something far more powerful than Willa could have ever imagined. . .

Jackson’s most meaningful relationship has always been with his car—and he’s not afraid to admit it. Still, he can’t help but become emotionally entangled with his new star mechanic Willa, who is definitely hiding some dark secrets of her own beneath the hood. Jackson desperately wants Willa to trust him, and to seek protection in his arms. But even as the two slowly surrender to their shared attraction, the danger lurking in Willa’s past remains a stubborn obstacle. Can she open up enough to give them both a chance at having real and lasting love?

Review:

When the Stars Come Out by Laura Trentham is the 5^th book in her wonderful Cottonbloom series.  I have enjoyed every book in this series, and this book is no different….I loved When The Stars Come Out.

Willa Brown, our heroine, has worked at the Abbot garage for the two years she has been in Cottonbloom.  Willa loves her job, as she grew up fixing cars, but she keeps secrets about her past life, knowing when anyone gets too close, she will run.   Jackson Abbot and the rest of the Abbot boys think highly of Willa, as one of the best mechanics.  Jackson has always befriended Willa, as his whole life is about cars, but now he begins to see her in another light.  Willa has always been attracted to Jackson, but hides how she feels.  Jackson and the family sense that Willa is hiding something, and Jackson begins to fear she will leave, and gives her a big raise to keep her.  In a short time, both will begin to spend more time out of the garage, as Jackson tries to help her, since her makeshift living quarters are bad.  When a mutt comes to Willa one day, she feeds him and earns his trust, and soon River (the mutt) will follow her to work, and the boys will also accept River. 

Soon Willa and Jackson, will act on their feelings, and a steamy romance will start.  Willa still looks over her shoulder, not trusting how happy she is with Jackson. He is determined to get her to talk and find out what she is running from.  He never thought he would fall in love, but now that he loves Willa, he will do anything to keep her.  I really did enjoy Sutton’s new friendship with Willa, and the fun of watching her help Willa dress up to attend a New Year’s Party.  When she realizes that she loves Jackson, she does reveal some truths to him, and though scared, will go back home to bring some kind of closure.  Jackson will get help from his family to find and help Willa, which was very nicely done. 

There is a side story about  the bad brother, Ford,  who is putting the garage at risk by selling his share to someone else.  This will lead to the next book, with I think Mack as the hero. 

I really loved Jackson and Willa together; as their romance was sweet, sexy and emotional.  Jackson was not only sweet and caring, but he was a hunk.  Willa was a strong, independent & likable heroine;  with some sassy humor.

When The Stars Come Out reads very well as a standalone.  It was a wonderful storyline, and great to see all the other characters that we have come to know from the previous books.   Laura Trentham once again gives us a wonderful story, great characters, fabulous couple, heartwarming small town atmosphere, and a sweet wonderful romance. You should be reading this series, and I can’t wait to return to Cottonbloom.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied for review

Hi Laura.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today.We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.   

TRC:  Would you please tell us something about yourself?

Laura:  I am a former chemical engineer and stay-at-home mom who has always been an avid reader. Once my youngest started school, I needed something to occupy me. Going back to engineering wasn’t attractive because I didn’t want to put the kids in daycare if I could help it. In January 2012, I dropped the kids off at school, sat down at my computer, and started what would be An Indecent Invitation, Book 1 of my Regency romance series Spies and Lovers. Six weeks later when I triumphantly typed The End, I didn’t know what a mess it was. But I learned. And learned and learned and rewrote and rewrote that book. That book got me an agent, finaled in the Golden Heart®, and was my first manuscript to sell to a publisher. I was in my early 40s. To me it’s a lesson in reinvention and following your passion no matter how old you are. What’s more important is how hard you’re willing to work and how willing you are to learn.  

TRC: You write such wonderful romances in each book of your Cottonbloom series.  Can you give us a brief description of When the Stars Come Out, and how you continue to come up with ideas for this series. 

Laura: When the Stars Come Out is the 5^th book in the Cottonbloom series but can be read as a standalone. It’s set in the Louisiana side of Cottonbloom and features Willa Brown, a female mechanic who works at Abbott Brothers Garage and Restoration. She’s hiding from her past and nurturing a crush on Jackson Abbott. Jackson is a broody loner (and twin brother of Wyatt from Leave the Night On) who finally notices Willa as more than his right-hand woman in the garage. It’s both a dream and nightmare situation for Willa who is terrified her past will put Jackson in danger.

My husband is a classic car lover and restores them in his spare time. I’ve watched many, many hours of car shows. I got the idea for the Abbott Brothers from a show called Fast and Loud which is a reality show set in a car restoration business in Texas. But I get ideas from news stories, music, and even commercials.  

TRC:  What is your writing process?  Do you like to write at specific times, in a special place? 

Laura:  Process? I don’t need no stinkin’ process! (<- Blazing Saddles reference:) I don’t do much (any) preplotting. I get an idea, which invariably includes the opening scene, and I sit down to write it. I let the story naturally unfold. This is where having a science background of logical cause and effect relationships helps. Although the discoveries along the way are exhilarating, it can also be a little scary, because I have a fear that *this time* it’s not going to work. Somehow I seem to find my way to the end of every book. I have school age kids so by necessity I write while they are in school. I’m not a writer who needs a ritual. I have an office in my house, but sometimes I like kicking back on the couch with my laptop. I actually get more words down if I’m forced out of my house (the internet is a productivity killer.) I’ll also use my phone and dictate while I’m in car line if I get behind. Basically, I prescribe to the Tim Gunn Make It Work mantra. 

Thank you, Laura for answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with When the Stars Come Out. 

An award-winning author, Laura Trentham was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although, she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years.

She writes sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. KISS ME THAT WAY, Cottonbloom Book 1, won the Stiletto Contest for Best Long Contemporary and finaled in the National Readers Choice Award. THEN HE KISSED ME, Cottonbloom Book 2, was named an Amazon Best Romance of 2016 and was a finalist for the National Excellence for Romance Fiction. TILL I KISSED YOU, Cottonbloom Book 3, is a finalist in the Maggie contest. LEAVE THE NIGHT ON, the latest Cottonbloom book, was named an iBooks Best Book of the Month and a Recommended Read from NPR.

When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she’s shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry that is almost as big as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand.

Social Media Links

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Bookbub:https://www.bookbub.com/authors/laura-trentham

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Enter to win the first four (4) books in the Cottonbloom series!
Kiss Me That Way, Book 1
Then He Kissed Me, Book 2
Till I Kissed You, Book 3
Leave the Night On, Book 4
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