Genre: Contemporary, Rock ‘n’ Roll
LGBTQ+ Category: Bi, Gay
Reviewer: Maryann
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About The Book
They come from different worlds, but their hearts beat in perfect harmony.
Savion
Once upon a time, my life was a fairytale. Engaged to a beautiful woman, we were planning our perfect future. Then, the sick act of an obsessed man ruined everything. Alone, disfigured, and betrayed, I fled to LA to focus on my work as a paleontologist.
It was there I met Declan.
The gorgeous Viking of a man awakens feelings within me I never knew existed. But no one could ever see beyond my scars, so how can I let myself get close to him?
Declan
Savion is unlike anyone I’ve ever met. The pain of his past allows him to understand my upbringing in a way no one has before. As I get to know him, I’m awakened to the possibility that I’m bi.
I know a relationship with me would be a lot for him to endure. Not only am I much older than him, but my life in the limelight comes with a lot of media attention that can feel stifling. Even so, there’s something about Savvy that makes me ache to protect him.
Whether he realizes it or not, I’m in deep and already hooked. For him, I will risk it all to prove my love. Will the stars align for us or burn out far too soon?
When the Stars Align is a book in the multi-author Road to Rocktoberfest 2024 series. Each book can be read as a standalone, but why not read them all and see what antics our bands get into next? Hot rockstars and the men who love them, what more could you ask for? Kick back, load up your kindle and enjoy the men of Rocktoberfest!
The Review
Declan Mercer is forty-two, and the rhythm guitarist for Orion Skye. The band has just returned from a gig in New York City. Now he’s hoping to have some time to focus on himself.
The only family he truly has is the bandmates of Orion Skye, but even with sold-out concerts, rehearsals, and parties, he still feels lonely. He’s prepared himself to make a much-needed change in his life. Erin may have had her reasons for loving him, but he’s ready to tell her it’s over. They weren’t on the same page, and she never really knew him. He’s never met the right person, the one who just fit.
The bandmates of Orion Skye all have their own quirks, but they are loyal to one-another. Lennon is the lead singer and plays guitar, and his long time lover is Skye. Skye isn’t a band member, but in their teenage years, she wrote songs for the band, and it’s named after her. Lars plays drums, and Jazz play bass. Their manager is Crystelle, and she is always bringing them bad ideas from Hank, a major investor.
Dec returns to his art studio, where a blank canvas awaits him. He was happy once with the artwork hanging on his walls. One painting he’ll always treasure is of his late mother – he finished it on the seventeenth anniversary of her death. He has since lost the inspiration to paint, and hopes it was because of his involvement with the wrong person. Maybe, now with the change in his life, he can rediscover the inspiration to paint.
But something is still missing in Dec’s life.
Savion Hayes, at thirty, works with the Natural History Museum as a paleontologist. He’s very much an introvert, and is trying to put a traumatic experience behind him. He doesn’t just carry the memory – he physically wears the scars – scars which changed his life – and he lost someone he thought loved him. He’s lonely, but he has his best friend and roommate Kelly, who lends him needed support.
On the night of the Museum fundraiser, Savion is standing in front of the giant skeleton of the Gigantoraptor. Dec notices him, and when they meet, there’s a spark between them. Savion offers him a private tour of the museum, and Dec is more than interested. Despite his scars, Dec makes him feel like he’s no longer invisible.
After a few days, Savion and Dec meet again, and a new friendship starts to grow between them. They find things to do together, even if they are new experiences for them both, and their friendship takes a turn and starts to grow into something else. Savion can’t believe that a man such as Dec is even interested in him. He also struggles to trust and feel safe with Dec. Dec is always mindful of Savion’s feelings and worries – he never pushes Savion and always tries to give him the respect and space that he needs.
Savion struggles in Dec’s world. He’s not used to the public notoriety. With the ups and downs in this new budding relationship, Savion has no idea how careful he needs to be. The horror of his past may come back to haunt him. In the midst of it all, Savion is deceived, and the bureaucracy and broken system put his life back in danger. Will he lose all faith? Or will Dec and the band mates of Orion Skye find a way to save Savion?
Shaw has written a powerful emotional story with When Stars Align, part of “The Road to Rocktoberfest 2024” shared author series. It’s a story of self-awakening as Savion struggles with the memories of his trauma. Dec is a solid support for Savion, and is willing to move at his pace to give him the chance to build feelings of security and trust.
I highly recommend When Stars Align – a love story about a sexual awakening that’s heartbreaking and sad at times, but also hopeful and positive, filled with humor and love. Shaw digs deep for this one. Well done.
The Reviewer
Hi, I’m Maryann, I started life in New York, moved to New Hampshire and in 1965 uprooted again to Sacramento, California. Once I retired I moved to West Palm Beach, Florida in 2011 and just moved back to Sacramento in March of 2018. My son, his wife and step-daughter flew out to Florida and we road tripped back so they got to see sights they have never seen. New Orleans and the Grand Canyon were the highlights. Now I am back on the west coast again to stay! From a young age Ialways liked to read.
I remember going to the library and reading the “Doctor Dolittle” books by Hugh Lofting. Much later on became a big fan of the classics, Edgar Alan Poe, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker and as time went by Agatha Christie, Ray Bradbury and Stephen Kingand many other authors.
My first M/M shifter book I read was written by Jan Irving the “Uncommon Cowboys” series from 2012. She was the first author I ever contacted and sent an email to letting her know how much I liked this series. Sometime along the way I read “Zero to the Bone”by Jane Seville, I think just about everyone has read this book!
As it stands right now I’m really into mysteries, grit, gore and “triggers” don’t bother me. But if a blurb piques my interest I will read the book.
My kindle collection eclectic and over three thousand books and my Audible collection is slowly growing. I have both the kindle and audible apps on my ipod, ipads, and MAC. So there is never an excuse not to be listening or reading.
I joined Goodreads around 2012 and started posting reviews. One day a wonderful lady, Lisa Horan of The Novel Approach, sent me an email to see if I wanted to join her review group. Joining her site was such an eye opener. I got introduce to so many new authors that write for the LGBTQ genre. Needless to say, it was heart breaking when it ended.
But I found a really great site, QRI and it’s right here in Sacramento. Last year at QSAC I actually got to meet Scott Coatsworth, Amy Lane and Jeff Adams.
