When the Stars Come Out by Laura Trentham

Cottonbloom. A beautiful, faraway place where a woman can escape her past—and find reason to stay forever in Laura Trentham's When the Stars Come Out. . .

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?

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EXCERPT

“I’m not a damn car.” Anger heated her voice.

“I know that.”

“Do you?” She stopped and he turned to face her. “You haven’t spared a thought about how much you pay me or what I wear or why fall is my favorite season for two years.”

“I know and that’s my bad. I should have been paying more attention to you.”

She made a scoffing sound. That’s exactly what she didn’t need. Everything depended on her staying under the radar. “You want to fix me like I’m some broken-down car. Or fix my problems or whatever. But that’s not how people work. Maybe I’m unfixable.”

Half his face was in shadows from the setting sun. Even in the best of times it was difficult to get a read on his mood, but the roughness in his voice was more pronounced than usual. “I don’t want to fix you. I want to help you. I want you to trust me.”

Review: Unraveled by Lauren Dane

The sharpest ache comes from wanting what you think you can't have

Maybe Dolan has lived independent, free-spirited and unattached since leaving home at sixteen. Whiskey Sharp, Seattle's sexy vintage-styled barbershop and whiskey bar, gave her a job and a reason to put down roots. Cutting hair by day, losing herself drumming in a punk rock band by night, she's got it good.

But a longtime crush that turns into a hot, edgy night with brooding and bearded Alexsei Petrov makes it a hell of a lot better.

Maybe's blunt attitude and carnal smile hooked Alexsei from the start. Protecting people is part of his nature and Maybe is meant to be his even if she doesn't know it. Yet. He can't help himself from wanting to protect and care for her.

But Maybe's fiery independent spirit means pushing back when Alexsei goes too far. Still, he's not afraid to do a little pushing of his own to get what he wants her in his life, and his bed, for good. Maybe's more intoxicating than all the liquor on his shelf and he's not afraid to ride the blade's edge to bind her to him.

Lauren Dane is one of my favorite contemporary romance authors.  I know what to expect every time I read one of her books. Unraveled gave me something new, and I wasn't that certain about it. 

Maybe and Alexsei are very reflective of Ms. Dane's typical heroine and hero. The first half of the book flowed well, with Maybe revealing more and more of herself to her neighbors, The Orlovs, Alexsei's aunt and uncle.  Maybe and Alexsei have intense chemistry, so there was no doubt they would get together -- and stay together for a while -- despite the road block of Alexsei's ex-girlfriend. 

The story behind Maybe's nickname is a cute one; it came way later that I thought it should have.  Granted, Alexsei has only every known her as Maybe, and there needs to be a legitimate reason to share that with the reader. 

Maybe and her sister, Rachel, have not had an easy life, although Maybe accepted who her parents were long before Rachel does. That they still have a relationship with their parents -- Maybe trying for Rachel's sake -- is really confusing.  Rachel will be the heroine of book 2, Jagged (March 2018), so maybe more of her trauma will be revealed.  Based upon how their parents repeatedly act and things Maybe says happened previously, I kept wondering why both women didn't end communication with them once and for all.

Since I am interested in learning more about Rachel, I will probably read Jagged. 

(A very special thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of Unraveled.)