Book Review | Starcrossed by Carla Caruso

Today I’ll be sharing my book review on a new novel by one of my favorite authors, Carla Caruso. I recently shared an excerpt of the novel Star-crossed, a fabulous interview with Carla AND a fun guest post written by the author herself.

If you’ve never read any of her novels, you’re seriously missing out! Check out my reviews on her other novels here: The Astonvale Novels [#1. A Pretty Mess] [#2. Pretty Shore] [#3. Pretty Famous] Stand alone novels and novellas [Secret Santo] [Unlucky for Some]

Star-crossed by Carla Caruso

Published: June 1, 2015

Book Blurb: Is love really written in the stars?

Fledgling romance author Simona Gemella is hoping the rugged wilderness of South Australia’s Kangaroo Island will help reignite her creative spark after her husband walked out.

She’s joined her best friend, Nessie, on a health and wellness retreat at a mysterious old manor on the island, run by an astrology guru.

Though Simona’s sworn off men, she can’t help being distracted by a dangerously handsome man with a scorpion tattoo – Denham Cobalt – who’s also staying at the manor. Then strange things start to happen, including uncanny accidents and even a possible murder.

It all culminates at a masquerade party on the night of a total lunar eclipse. Will Simona survive – with her heart intact?

Book Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | Goodreads

My Review

Simona is a 28-year-old workaholic, recent divorcée that just debuted her first novel. She’s all about romance and happy endings, even if they don’t exist in real life. Her husband lacked the romance that Simona craved and instead, she poured her feelings into the pages of her writing. Is she capable of putting her recent diminished marriage behind her and move on with her life or will she barricade her heart to any possible suitors?

Nessie, Simona’s best friend from high school, has decided the two of them need to get away from it all and go on a health retreat. The two friends are worlds apart when it comes to their personalities, like yin and yang or day and night. Nessie is a bit more out there, while Simona is more on the reserved side. Nessie has a love of astrology and Simona chooses to showcase her creativity by writing. The two of them set out to their health retreat at a regal manor on Kangaroo Island.

Star-crossed is not your classic girly chick-lit novel. Caruso has put her classic touch of built in suspense with a small creepy factor, but in the best way. Much like in her previous novels, Carla is fabulous at spinning a mysterious thread throughout the story. It was entertaining, humorous, and suspenseful, with a bit of romance thrown in the mix. This was a great read that left me turning the pages, eager to know what was going to happen next.

In a nutshell, this novel was the perfect mixture of sass and suspense with just the right amount of romance mixed in. Another 5 star read from Caruso. <3

My Rating: 5/5 Stars

About the Author: Carla Caruso

Author Bio: Carla Caruso was born in Adelaide, grew up amid a boisterous extended Italian family – yet somehow managed to become a bookworm…

Carla always wanted to be a novelist, annoying the kindergarten teachers by dictating long, detailed stories to them. It just took her a while to realise her childhood dream – journalism seemed a more practical course. Her media career has included stints as a newspaper and magazine journalist, government PR and fashion stylist. These days, she works as a freelance journalist and copywriter. She began seriously writing fiction three years ago when she went freelance full-time.
The romance genre appeals as she is a sucker for rom-coms (especially if Channing Tatum is in the mix) and likes to think her Italian ancestry means she lives with passion. Hobbies include watching trashy TV shows, fashion (her mum named her after Carla Zampatti!), astrology and running.