Starstruck by L.A. Witt

Starstruck

by L.A. Witt

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Published by: Riptide Publishing November 3, 2014
Genres: LGBT Romance, Film Industry
Rating: Overall, 3.75 Stars

NOTICE: I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Hollywood is full of dirty secrets, but Carter refuses to be Levi’s.

Retired action star Levi Pritchard has made a quiet life for himself in the sleepy logging town of Bluewater Bay, Washington. But then Hollywood comes to film the wildly popular television series Wolf’s Landing, and Bluewater Bay isn’t so sleepy anymore. His retirement doesn’t stick, either, because he’s offered a part on the show—exactly the kind of complex role he’d always wanted, one that would prove him more than a glorified stuntman. The only catch? He has to stay in the closet—no matter how attractive he finds his co-star.

Carter Samuels is the critically-acclaimed male lead on Wolf’s Landing. And now, the man who inspired him to take up acting—and made him realize he’s gay—is joining the cast, and sparks fly between them instantly. But Carter is out and proud and determined to stay true to himself.

Remaining just friends is the only thing to do, as both the studio and Levi’s disapproving, dysfunctional family keep reminding them. Except their friendship deepens by the day, tempting them with what they can’t have but both desperately need.

Swoon. Carter and Levi. Levi and Carter. You can't help but spend the entire read wanting them to overcome their obstacles and get together.

Levi, almost 40, has spent his entire film career in the closet due to societal pressures from family and the industry. He even publically denied a long-term relationship with another well-known star just to keep himself in the closet. While he just wants to be himself, he's been closeted for so long, he doesn't know how to take the leap of faith and tell the world who he is.

Carter is 23 and out and accepting of himself. He always admired Levi's movies growing up and Levi himself made him realize he loved acting - and that he was gay.

When Levi and Carter meet, sparks fly, but Carter doesn't want to be in a secret relationship, so the two decide to become friends. What follows are hang out after hang out in which the two pretend they're nothing more than friends, but in which the reader gets to see how each is affected by the other.

Heat flies when the two have their first scenes together on the tv show. Carter can't remember his lines when he looks at Levi, and the only thing he can think to do about it, is to act on those feelings.

Ultimately, Levi must make a choice: is he willing to risk his image in the film industry and with his family to fight for the person he loves?

I really liked this book, although some of the scenes while they were becoming friends were a bit too alike the one before. It got a tad boring, but I loved it anyway. The ending was fabulous, butg I'll let you read that yourself!