Star-Crossed

Townsend Harbor, Book 4

By: Kerrigan Byrne, Cynthia St. Aubin

Narrated by: Teddy Hamilton, Stella Hunter

Everyone thinks LYRA MCKENDRICK is magic. She's not, for the record, just a lawyer who predicted a few outcomes that were blown out of proportion in the robust Townsend Harbor rumor mill. After a messy breakup in which she lost her thriving practice, she's returned to her hometown to lick her wounds and is persuaded by a local town cook to capitalize on her cringe-worthy reputation by running the local new-age shop. When one of Townsend Harbor's many ancient trees threatens her plumbing, she engages Cypress Forrester, aka "Cy the Tree Guy," to rid her of the problem. Instead, he seems intent on becoming one.

Cy's family have been arborists and healers for generations, and they're firm believers in the mysticism of trees, among other things. When she hires him to chop down an endangered tree to save her business, they find themselves on opposite ends of a battle neither of them is willing to lose. As a man tethered by indigenous roots to the earth, Cy immediately realizes Lyra is a woman who lives in her head. It's how she always finds "practical" explanations for the series of unexplained, serendipitous coincidences that keep thrusting them together. Alone. But he realizes that he must tempt her out of her thoughts and back into her body, and what better way to do that than by a thorough seduction?

Contains mature themes.

©2023 Cynthia St. Aubin, Kerrigan Byrne (P)2023 Tantor Media

Relatable

Lyra is super relatable. Cy is dreamy, and his rambling in the hospital room is laugh out loud awesome.

First book review ever because this series is THAT GOOD

Loves:
My two FAVORITE narrators.
Captivating without being stressful.
Great spice levels.

Personal bonus:
I extra love this series because I am from Washington State and now live in Australia. These books remind me of the best parts of home. I love the casual reference to local cities and highways, it sometimes makes me miss home, in the happy/sad way.

More bickering than banter

This was an alright romance involving Lyra, twin to the previous book’s FMC. There were a few things that didn’t quite work for me, including the kid focus (lots of ovaries clenching at cute foster kids, etc), the “banter” that felt more like bickering, and the odd gimmick of Lyra as an environmental lawyer running a new age shop (her skepticism often felt more like disdain for her clients’s beliefs). It was also a second chance romance than proceeded at a glacial pace for insufficient reasons on both their parts.

Cy was a great character, as was his extended Native American family (especially his sister). I loved how he was so caring and loyal to the entire town. There were some funny moments and a lot of sweet moments. It’s just that overall this was more of a merry go round than a rollercoaster.