This book has both on-page sex and cursing (including five f-bombs which are easily overlooked if you're sensitive to that sort of thing). Neither of these things overwhelm the story, they just add to it. This is book two of this arc, but you do not have to read book one to appreciate this one. (Although you should because Leave The Night On is also incredible.)

Although I'm new to Laura Trentham's Cottonbloom books, having only read two of them, I have fallen completely in love with this town and its inhabitants. I adore this entire town, but I especially love the Abbott men. They're all so uniquely flawed, but because of Ms. Trentham's incredible writing style, they're also so stupidly lovable that you can't help but fall hard for them. Jackson was totally obtuse and pretty stubborn where Willa was concerned, but those things – coupled with his hilarious inner voice - just made me love him more. And Willa, despite her hot-and-cold attitude was wonderful. Although the way she ran so un-steadily at times could probably be off-putting to some readers, learning about her back story is key to understanding her. If you're annoyed by her at the beginning, be patient, the reasons for her trust issues will become clear as you read.

I mentioned this before, but Ms. Trentham's way of writing a story is phenomenal. I love her style because the characterizations, creative descriptions, and the unique turns of phrase are all so great. This one is loaded with humor – both subtle and blatant - and really fun banter which is something I absolutely love in a book. I highlighted at least fifteen passages that stood out to me and it could very easily been double that number except I was so into the book that I kept forgetting to pause long enough to highlight.

Although I don't want this series to end, I am already anxiously awaiting Mack's book, and to find out if Ford can be redeemed. If anyone can do it, I believe that Ms. Trentham can.

I was very generously granted an ARC of this book via NetGalley and the publisher. I wrote this review for no other reason than because the book was incredible.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGally for an honest review. Wlla is running from her past, and finds a safe haven in the Abbot family garage. After being there for two years Jackson Abbot suddenly notices her.. There is the push pull of romance that neither party is prepared for and small mysteries surrounding brother Ford, and the sale of his share of business. I may have enjoyed this a little more if I had read the previous books in the series.

Enjoyable story, nice addition too the Cottonbloom series. I liked the characters of Willa and Jackson, and enjoyed revisiting Cottonbloom. Good story.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book.

I really liked Jackson, the hero of his story. He is tough, yet protective and kind. Willa’s change was enjoyable to read about even if at times I felt frustrated by her responses to situations but she had a lot of baggage so it was understandable. She’s interesting because of her background and the fact that she is a car mechanic.

I would read other books by this author.

Jackson has surpassed Wyatt as my favorite Abbott brother! I loved the way that his and Willa's relationship evolved. I can't wait for Mack's story. I'm loving this series!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary Advance Reader Copy from NetGalley.

I loved returning to Cottonbloom! Ms. Trentham has written another wonderful contemporary love story. Willa works as an auto mechanic in the Abbott brothers’ garage. She does her job well and tries to keep a low profile so that they won’t find out about her troubled past. She doesn’t want to get romantically involved with anyone because she might have to leave town if her past catches up with her. Jackson Abbott is impressed with Willa’s knowledge and ability to repair cars, but he can’t help but wonder what secrets she is hiding.

I definitely recommend When the Stars Come Out. I can’t wait for Cottonbloom #6! Ms. Trentham has become one of my favorite authors.

​This is only the second book by Laura Trentham I've read, and I still can't figure out how I've missed this series before, it's so good! I've come into it with the stories centred around the Abbott Brothers garage, but don't feel I've missed anything from the rest of the series (well, I'd recommend reading the one before this as it's the start of the garage brothers stories).

This book is about Willa, the only female mechanic working at the garage. She's been working there a while now and has a big crush on Jackson, one of the brothers, but he just sees her as a great mechanic. But then things slowly start to change and Jackson realises that Willa is actually female!

Willa has run away from her life because of events that happened that she blamed herself for, and she has been running and hiding in different towns ever since. She has stayed the longest in Cottonbloom with the garage, but when Jackson starts getting more interested in her and where she came from she gets skittish and starts to think about running again. But Jackson figures this out and she gets persuaded to stay a little longer, especially as she is getting really attached to the people around her, and of course doesn't really want to leave Jackson. She feels safe in Cottonbloom, and around the Abbott brothers, and that feeling, along with Jackson's support, helps her come to terms with the reason she ran away in the first place and confront issues she should have sorted out years ago.

There are some really great characters in this book, and another two brothers that I hope we get stories for next. The writing reminds me of Jill Shalvis's style, which I absolutely love. Some great lines, funny, snarky, emotional. Just a great read and highly recommended. I can't wait for Ella and Mack's story next.

Laura Trentham is a new to me author. This book, When the Stars Come Out, is part of her Cottonbloom series. It has been a good introduction to the series and I plan to read more books in the series.

I enjoyed reading about the Abbott family and their garage and how the Abbotts hired Willa, a very talented mechanic no questions asked. Seeing Jackson Abbott realize that Willa was special and Willa admitting the same about Jackson made for a good story. The author did a good job telling their story leading them to their Happily Ever After.

I received an ARC from the publisher through NetGally for an honest review.

This is my second book in this series and the second book about in the Abbot Brothers story arc and it was totally enjoyable.

I should mention up front that you can skip books 1-3 if you desire but I would grab book 4 & 5 (and I pre-ordered book 6) if you want to have all the needed background.

Jackson and Willa are one of the best matched couples I have read about in a long time, the fact that they have worked together for about 2 years and he just woke up to the fact that she IS a female was entertaining but she has a basket full of secrets and trust and communication is not either one of their strong points so there is a lot to work through but it was a great story on the heels of Wyatt's story in book 4.

Willa has been surviving on her own for about 5 years and pretty much trusting nobody and Jackson is a man of few words so usually this would be a boring story for me but this one will catch you up in their bumpy romance and keep you wondering what all the secrets are that are being withheld from each other (and the reader). The sex is done about right where you don't feel like it is reading literary porn but not for anyone under 17 either, few books manage to find that balance.

Bottom line: 4 Stars and the only reason is I thought it was a bit too many wasted pages of nothing that could have been left out with no depreciation of the story.

Jackson Abbott is Wyatt's twin. The silent kind, he has worked alongside Willa Brown ever since she came to Cottonbush, without really thinking about her as a woman. All the Abbott brothers know that Willa is keeping secrets, most of them have guessed that isn't her real name, but they value her work as a mechanic in their family business and they aren't ones to gossip.

Willa has been on the run since she was eighteen years old, running from what was an idyllic childhood she soon found that life away from her adored father was very different from the sheltered way she spent her first eighteen years. The Abbott family are different. Their father reminded her of her own father and she has been in love with Jackson forever. But when Willa's past looks to be catching up with her will she run like she always does? It takes the fear of Willa leaving for Jackson to wake up to the woman he has been working with for the past few years. Under the baggy thrift shop clothes, bad hair cut and cap permanent wedged on her head is a curvy, beautiful woman.

The romance between Jackson and Willa is set against several mysteries: what has happened to the oldest Abbott brother, Ford? What happened in Willa's past that necessitated her running? Who is trying to buy the Abbott Garage, and why? What happened to the Abbott brothers' mother?

Unfortunately, I have to say that I've come to the conclusion (based on reading two novels and a novella) that Laura Trentham's mysteries tend to evaporate into meh. This book and the last end on a cliffhanger/ teaser for the next book which kind of dissolves into nothing. Ford's story is dismissed at the start of this novel, frankly I don't understand Willa's issue at all, in fact I'd go further and say she acted like a spoilt brat and doesn't seem to have matured, the buyer mystery doesn't go anywhere and Mrs Abbott is also a bit meh.

I didn't like that Sutton decided to give Willa a make-over, kudos to Jackson for not caring.

Overall, I don't really understand how to categorise this. It didn't feel like romance, there wasn't much suspense/ mystery, although it is set in a small town it doesn't have that cozy small town feel. Possibly more damningly, I just didn't like Willa.

However, I'm on a bit of a book downer, I convinced myself that I didn't like the previous book and yet when I read my review I gave it "a solid four and a half stars", maybe read this review bearing in mind that I am clearly dissatisfied with everything I'm reading at the moment!

Do I want to read the next book? I know exactly who it will feature (okay, I'm guessing but I'd bet serious money), probably.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The feelings of Willa and Jackson were tender and their self discovery was so well done, but that was all but diminished for me by the graphic sexual descriptions. I am getting expert at skipping over the objectionable and in this lovely story I was sorry that I had to skip.

I absolutely enjoyed Jackson and Willa's story in when stats come out. Their chemistry is awesome and intense and it kept a smile on face all through the time I read it.

This was a super sweet romance that held a hint of Nora Roberts about it (I think it's the brothers-all-working-together-and-finding-love thing). Willa has been working in the Abbott brothers' garage for two years now, and she's been crushing on Jackson Abbott for just as long. But she needs to keep a low profile and any kind of romance is simply not on the cards.

Jackson is serious, sensible and so focused on his cars that he's never really noticed Willa, until suddenly she might have to leave the garage for good. He can't believe how he possibly missed her - and now he's started seeing her for who she truly is, he's not willing to let her go.

This was a quick and enjoyable read, and I look forward to Mack's story in the series. I loved the brotherhood and their sibling dynamics, and Willa was a great character to get to know - quietly strong and fierce, with a lot of secrets holding her back.

I am excited to announce that this is my first Favorite Book of 2018, and it truly does deserve as much acclaim as it can get! This book brought out so many emotions, taught me lessons on forgiveness and love, and left me with inspiration to be a better person. I loved all of the characters, even the wayward brother Ford and the ex-boyfriend Derrick, because each of them had such a compelling story and brought a unique perspective to the story as a whole. It's one of those books where you can't help but become drawn into the lives of the characters and wish you could learn more about them.

Willa Brown and Jackson Abbott have worked together for two years as employee and boss, and while Jackson has been blind to Willa's true feelings, Willa has been all too aware of his blindness toward her as a woman. Working in an all-male garage will do that for a woman, it seems. But Willa has a secret past that no one knows about and when Jackson realizes he may lose her, he finally begins to understand how important she really is to him. As he works to gain her trust, Willa begins to realize that she must confront her past if she is ever to have a future with Jackson. This is a story of love and redemption, with a hard-won happily ever after.

Willa was an absolute sweetheart, which is why it made me tear up when her secret was revealed. She is incredibly generous, kind-hearted, and entirely undeserving of the mental flogging she has given herself all these years. Living in a trailer park, she doesn't have much, but that doesn't keep her from giving her free time to helping a poor librarian or feeding a stray dog with what little food she has on hand. Jackson was really her perfect match, and it was truly wonderful to see how he was so patient with Willa and tried so hard to earn her trust. He did make a pretty big mistake at one point, and I thought, oh gosh, here it comes, the big explosion. But Willa calmed down and understood him, and he realized he had made a mistake. A humble, patient hero, and a quiet, giving heroine - what more can a reader ask for?

This is the first book I have read by this author, and when I saw it was the FIFTH book in the series, I was ecstatic! I love when I discover a book when the author already has several books written, because then I can go read the rest immediately and not have to wait until she publishes again. The next book in the series is sure to be amazing - it will be focused on Mack Abbott. I am eagerly anticipating that entry into the Cottonbloom series!

When the Stars Come Out (Cottonbloom, #5) by Laura Trentham.....This is the second book with the Abbott brothers...Thanks to #NetGalley for letting me preview this book. Jackson and Willa's story takes up where Wyatt and Sutton's story left off. Jackson has a hard time showing his feelings and Willa is hiding her past. There is some mystery and a lot of laughs and love in this book...I really enjoy these brothers and the aunts...and I love River....I hoping the next book will be Mack's story...could Ella be part of this.

This is the 5th book in "The Cottonbloom Series". I have not read any novels by Laura Trentham before this book. I found her writing style very easy and accessible. "When the Stars Come Out" is the 5th book in the series, but I was able to fully enjoy the book without the background of the other books. I loved the plot and how the story became more complicated and of course, since it is a romance, resolved by the final page. This is the story of Willa and Jackson, two people very similar at their core, yet different in so many ways. Decisions Willa made as a teenager haunt her life for years, but she finds a safe place and a man who loves her. Jackson had his own issues to deal with and Willa helped him along the path too.

I go with the flow of a story when it is a romance, you know the problems will be resolved by the end of the story and I happen to like that. Real life is serious enough with problems that can't always be fixed or solutions are very long term. I enjoy a good romance novel to escape real life and this book was definitely a wonderful escape.

I want to thank the publisher, St. Martin's Paperbacks and Netgalley.com for giving me this book to read and give an honest review.

3.5 Stars.

Over the past couple of years Cottonbloom has become one of my favourite places to visit and and book 5 brings us Jackson and Willa—co-owner and employee of Abbott Brothers Garage, respectively.

“You’ll never be the boss of me, Jackson Abbott.”

Whilst not my favourite of the series, When the Stars Come Out was still an enjoyable visit and there was nothing to dislike in either Jackson or Willa, it was simply a case that the story—in particular with regards to Willa—lacked the oomph that Laura usually injects. But what it was missing for me there was compensated for by Jackson’s gentle protective nature as he shows Willa that he can be trusted with her heart and they cross the line from co-workers to lovers.

“I haven’t had anyone to count on for a long time. It might take some getting used to.”

Aside of the romance is the developing story involving the Abbott brothers with one being AWOL causing headaches all round and readers being given a deeper insight into their past. And with the introduction of Ella Boudreaux, I’m looking forward to heading back to Cottonbloom in the summer to discover what the future holds for her and Mack. Could be some fireworks methinks.

This book is part of a series. I have not read any other books I n the series, but I found this one an acceptable stand-alone. The book tells the story of Willa Brown and her attraction to Jackson Abbott. The attraction is definitely there and definitely on both sides. Jackson, for his part, never really thought Willa in those terms until he realized she was thinking about leaving the Abbott garage, where she has worked alongside Jackson and his brothers for the past two years. Once this occurs, the Jackson-Willa romance begins in earnest. However, as the book progresses, I felt that things move along slowly between the couple. Willa has secrets she is not ready to share with anyone, even Jackson. Jackson himself has a history that has marked him and causes him to tread carefully around any woman, even Willa. Jackson knows Willa has secrets and carefully probes to find out what they are, while Willa, for her part, tries to resist exposing her history and the secrets that are hidden within it. As the story progresses, events occur that lead to more exposure and to the developing relationship between the pair. Jackson’s brothers play a small part in all of this, as this book is mainly focused on the Willa-Jackson pairing.

This book was an interesting but slow read. The story is a real feel-good one, with no surprise or anticipation throughout or with the ending, which. I saw coming almost from the first page. The book provides additional detail about the Abbott brothers and their garage as well as about those with whom the brothers interact and their lives. I enjoyed reading about these wholesome male characters, but, as I said, I found little or no suspense or mystery. The one element of mystery, involving one of the brothers selling out his share of the garage without discussing it with his brothers, was done okay, but did not capture a lot of my interest in the book or its plot. If you enjoy reading about this family, their lives and their garage or about the town of Cottonbloom, this book will definitely satisfy your wants. It just was not a strong, exciting book that kept me on edge. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

Can you stop running from the past? The Abbott boys are still having problems but this time it looks like Ford has sold his share of the business and the boys have no idea to whom it sold it too. What does this mean for their business? Willa is afraid that she is about to lose her job working at the garage, this is her whole life but she can't just run again she needs some more money. Jackson knows that she is hiding something but he has no idea what, can he find out without her running? They have danced around each other for awhile and now is their time. With so much going on around them they still find time to be together but what happens when it is over? They work together and Willa hasn't told him everything about her past will he still want her then? Jackson gets to met his mother which is a surprise and he finds out that she has always loved them but she just couldn't manage all four boys but that doesn't make up for her leaving them. But their dad was a hard fair man that made them into the men they are today. But Willa knows that she has fallen in love with Jackson but it is too much and she runs but Jackson won't allow her to just leave for good. Can she put the past behind her and make peace with her father and be able to move on with Jackson? A great book in the series. The new partner she is going to be a big surprise to the series I think that Mack is going to have his hands full. And hopefully we get to have a wedding in the next one. Can't wait for it. I was lucky enough to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

Although there is no real violence in this novel, there is a strong element of suspense, and the reader is carried on one wave of tension after the other, right through to the end. Being ultra feminine myself, I always stand in awe of women who can do mechanical stuff and are not afraid to get some grease on their hands. I loved the characters in this book starting with Willa and Jackson, but the secondary characters are just as interesting and some even bring a light-hearted element into an otherwise very serious scenario. So many facets of running from one’s past and the need for healing were brought out in this story. Accepting River’s adoration and protection was a starting point for Willa as she allowed herself to start feeling again. The attraction between Willa and Jackson simmered all the way through, and when the relationship took a step forward, it was tastefully done. The book is very well written and although it is part of a series, it is nevertheless a stand-alone. The conclusion came to surprising end and the ground work was laid for a future book in this series. I received a copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.