Title: Rewrite the Stars
Author: Lindsay Hameroff
Genre: Romance
Rating: 4 out of 5
A sparkling romance between an ex-actress and her contractor, reminding us that it’s never too late to rewrite our destiny.
Semi-retired actress Marissa Morgan has played many parts in her life. But these days, her primary role is mother of two. Since hitting pause on her career, she’s worked hard to give her kids a normal childhood and shield them from the spotlight. So when her ex-husband announces his high-profile engagement and a media storm ensues, Marissa and her kids flee Los Angeles for a summer at her recently inherited Poconos lake house.
The long-vacant house needs major TLC, so Marissa hires a home renovation company to do repairs. But when the project hits a snag and Marissa finds herself sharing space with the crew, including Jesse, the handsome (and vaguely familiar) foreman, her plans for a drama-free summer hit choppy water.
Jesse doesn’t expect Marissa to remember him; they were just kids when they last played together at the lake. But he’s never forgotten her; he’s spent the last two decades quietly following her career, even as his own dreams fell apart. And now that she’s stumbled back into his sleepy hometown, Jesse’s predictable life has gotten a lot more complicated.
As the summer days pass, Marissa finds herself centering her own needs for the first time in years—and that includes giving into her mounting attraction to Jesse. Soon, she finds herself wondering if their fling could become something more.
After an unexpected career opportunity falls into Marissa’s lap, it feels like the stars have finally aligned. But when new complications arise, the pair wonder how they’ll fit into each other’s future. Can Marissa and Jesse chart a new course together, or is it too late to rewrite the script for a happily ever after?
This was a sweet romantic read. Not quite a second-chance romance, but I really enjoyed it. The Hollywood/social media drama Marissa has to live with is horrifying to me, but she deals with it with aplomb and serenity—on the surface anyway. I enjoyed seeing her step into becoming a person willing to stand up for herself and her own needs, not just caving to the demands of Hollywood, her ex-husband, and even her kids. This would be a perfect summer weekend read.
Lindsay Hameroff is from Baltimore. Rewrite the Stars is her newest novel.
(Galley courtesy of St. Martin’s Press | St. Martin’s Griffin in exchange for an honest review.)
Tomorrow Is Another Day 