Member Reviews
It has been a while since I've read a book from the amazing Gerri Hill, so there was a lot of excitement in picking up this book. A very gentle and relaxing read, sweet with minimal (almost zero) angst.
The main characters of Lexie and Kyler just click, even though on paper they're definitely not supposed to. As friends, they don't worry about the paper and then the boundaries disappear.
I love all books by this author, can highly recommend. Just wonderful. The main characters are well developed and its so well written you feel personally involved in the journey.
What a cute book! Look, Gerri Hill books are always well written. There is no way not to understate that achievement. When I buy one of her books, I just know that there is a solid story that's been thought out and written well. This one is adorable, and now I want to move to a little town in Texas? That can't be right...
Kyler is a solid lead who is the solid "rock" friend to Lexie's brother & her parents. Her past had mainly been dealt with at the start of the book, but she still had no interest in being set up with Lexie. Lexie had more of an arc to overcome, with her current life basically in upheaval. The cute part starts once outdoorsy Kyler gets talked into sharing her world with city girl Lexie.
There is a lot of hiking and bird watching, but I was completely entertained because their friendship and chemistry was so lovely. I never thought I would say bird watching in a book would be entertaining. That should say it all.
I'd definitely recommend this book to other readers.
I appreciated and enjoyed the self-reflection by the characters as they contemplated life and where to go from here. What I most appreciated was the different ways they supported each other. Nice to some extent slow burn romance. Lexi Walton, IT person, use to an uptempo urban lifestyle in Austin, Texas but depth and connection is lacking. Kyler Clemons, park ranger, content with her life in the remote Davis Mountains of West Texas. Lexi mother and brother are wonderful and important characters in the story. Mark is heart broken but very much supportive of his family. Susan is a caring and not too pushy mother. While reading, I thought this would be an interesting and satisfying place to live. Loved how the author described the environment, e.g. birds, sky, and terrain.
Although repetitive to some extent, I thought, as we process and think, we do go back and forth with our decision making.
This book leaves behind fast city life, social media, influencers and streaming entertainment.
Lexie moves in with her parents at their lodge in the mountains of West Texas. After losing her job and getting out of a toxic relationship, it feels like starting from zero for Lexie. She has to get used to living in a tiny town where people spend time hiking, bird watching and just hanging out.
Park ranger Kyler was banned to West Texas after being caught with her boss' wife. But she came to love the mountains and now enjoys her simple life there. Even becoming an avid bird watcher. Kyler and Lexie become fast friends and more.
Can Lexie let go of her desire to go back to city life and build a new one in the mountains?
This is a warm comfortable book to read in these crazy pandemic times where bad news is dominating internet and TV 24/7.
This is very nice book. I like that the characters are different and almost opposite. I say almost because in the end they have a lot in common.
I like every book from Gerri, but this one felt a bit slow. It might be me, I am not sure.
I like the places describe and all main characters did together, but I never read book of Gerri for more than couple of days, no matter how busy I was.
This one took me a week....and I felt like the last few chapters were the best. It kept my attention till the end.
There was noting I did not like in this book though, but it was a slower development. Nothing unusual happened.
The best thing that stuck with me was the self development. Lexie really did not need much to be happy and most of us feel the same.
Lexie has been laid off from her job in Austin and her savings are draining. Her parents run a lodge in the mountains in West Texas and offer her a job for a few months while she figures out her life. Lexie loves her life in the city, and is not keen to be moving somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Kyler is a Park Ranger in the area, and when Lexie arrives its nice to hang out with someone her own age. As the two women spend time together, Lexie begins to open her eyes to life in the mountains, and her burgeoning attraction to Kyler. But Lexie's life is in the city? Isn't it?
This wasn't one of my favourite Gerri Hill's books, I find one is excellent and the next not so much. This one was really repetitive. Kyler talking about her bird watching insecurities - it really wasn't a problem or so weird that that was her interest, but she kept talking about how weird it was. Then, with Lexi talking about her usual weekend plans, I kept thinking my kindle had messed up and I was reading the same page over again, but it was just repetitive. I really did enjoy all the characters, from Kyler and Lexie, to Lexie's family, it was a really nice feel good atmosphere. Gerri Hill also did a wonderful job describing the setting, it really showed the love and appreciation for such a beautiful area. I loved experiencing it though the eyes of characters who evidently love the area and the natural beauty.
I received an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’m a huge fan of Gerri Hill and although this wasn’t my favourite work of hers it was a decent read. The setting was so well described it left me longing to go stargazing and hiking somewhere out in the wild. Kyler was such a relatable and likeable character, and had great chemistry with Lexie. The supporting characters, like Lexie’s family, were also very well written and the cosy small town vibe jumped off the pages. I felt like I was there with them. My only complaint is Lexie - she constantly seemed to be going on and on about her life back in the city and about how Kyler wasn’t her type, which I found off putting.
Very cute book. I must say I don't usually agree with Gerri books but this one is really good. beautifully written and I finished it fast. however, I wanted real drama but got none. plus there was repetition here and there. Not major to the point of getting me annoyed but I noticed them nevertheless. Moreover, I felt like we needed to hear from Kyler more, specially getting to meet her family but that never came and somehow I was disappointed.
Over all this is highly recommended since it's quite entertaining to read.
If you are looking for a great book to read as you curl up in front of a fire on a cold wintery night, then look no further than The Stars at Night by Gerri Hill. This is a lovely slow-burn romance about two unlikely people, city girl Lexi Walton and park ranger Kyler Clemons, set in the beautiful Davis Mountains of West Texas.
The characters we meet in the story are all realistic people that we would love to meet and be friends with. Both Lexi and Kyler are easy to connect to. Their chemistry is very strong even though they both fight it to begin with because they don’t believe they are compatible. The romance builds slowly as they both are drawn to each other in spite of that belief.
The setting is what really makes this tale special. Ms. Hill has done an excellent job describing where this story takes place. We can feel the cold wind, hear the rustle of the birds in the bushes by the hiking path, smell the ponderosa pine, and see the brilliance of thousands of stars in the sky. Add two lovely women falling in love in this spectacular setting, and you have an awesome story well worth reading.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
Rainbow Reflections: http://rainbowreflections.home.blog/
In the midst of post election frenzy and continuing vote counts it is nice to settle in for a gentle read. Lexie looses her computer management job due to a merger. After months of not finding new work in Austin she takes her parents up on an offer to help run their rustic lodge. It is 7 hours away in the Davis Mountains of West Texas next to a state park. Her brother Mark runs a restaurant and bar next door. She is going to try it for six weeks to see if she enjoys the work and can embrace the remoteness of the location. It is a big change for a city girl.
I like that the author doesn't make Lexie a fish out of water. She enjoys the beauty of the landscape and nature around her. She loves reuniting with her family realizing she misses them in her life. And she enjoys her new friendship with her brothers best friend Kyler who is a park ranger. Kyler takes Lexie hiking and mountain biking. This is a friends to romance that moves at a gentle pace (in a short period of time). There is attraction and flirting but also fear of crossing the friendship line when Lexie isn't sure if she is staying. The side characters especially Mark's story add depth to the plot. Kyler loves the mountains and her life as a ranger. She is happy in her world but has own insecurities.
I am new to the author and while the book didn't blow me away I've already checked my library to see other books she has written. Thanks to NetGalley and Bella Books for the ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.
This has been more or less a Christmas-themed story, but deep down I don't know if it should be classified in that section. Anyway, inside the story is the celebration of Christmas, so it is Christmassy. But putting this consideration aside, I think the story lacks substance. It has been a fairly simple topic and the author has stretched it too much, resulting in repetitiveness.
Lexie is a woman who lives in an urban environment, she is a hundred percent urbanite, she cannot live without what the city offers her, that is crystal clear, isn't it? But her circumstances change and her work situation does not allow her to stay in the city and also, with Christmas close, she must go to spend the holidays with her family who owns a small camping site in the mountains. Just to spend the holidays, not to stay to help her parents or her brother. Far from getting involved with her brother's female friend who works in the national park where the campsite is located. No way. Because that friend, Kyler, is totally opposite to her, in character and vital goals. Kyler is definitely the outdoor type where Lexie is so urban. And this incompatibility, mentioned by all the characters in the novel, both of them included, is remembered in each chapter. So the story gets lost in denials and not wanting Lexie to feel pressured. They are all so correct in that regard. Lexie is not to be upset, it seems to be everyone's premise.
I think a little less focus only on Lexie and less details of nature and more real feelings between all the protagonists would have helped make this story better.
“I love it here.” This sentence comes back a lot in Gerri Hill’s latest romance novel and I love it because it echoes what I think very often about where I now live.
Leaving the life you know in a busy and exciting – at least on the surface – city for a much slower, quieter but also more tangible life in the mountains or, in my case, by the sea, isn’t for everyone, I guess. It definitely was the right choice for me (take a look at my Instagram if you have any doubt), and it turns out to be the right choice for both main characters in The Stars at Night.
Working at the Davis Mountains State Park was never Kyler Clemons’s plan. She loved the beach life of Mustang Island, but getting caught with your boss’s wife (which reminded me of Hill’s No Strings at first) can have unforeseen consequences. Positive consequences, since a few years later, she’s happier than she’s ever been. She loves the mountains, loves learning about birds, loves the people, especially her best friend Mark and his parents. After she loses her job in the tech industry and can’t seem to find a new one, Lexie Walton, Mark’s sister, allows her parents to convince her to come and see whether she’d enjoy running their lodge while they travel. Lexie’s life in Austin is the complete opposite of what she expects to find in the mountains, but she needs a change of scenery so she agrees to a trial run for a couple of months, until after the holidays.
You know how sometimes you meet someone and you just click? That’s what happens between Kyler and Lexie, just like Lexie’s family predicted. Both women are convinced this connection they feel is friendship, which is all they want, but when colours are a little brighter, the air a little sharper, the smells a little sweeter when you experience them with that new friend, it’s usually called falling in love, whether you’re ready for it or not. Lexie is aware that one of the reason she’s enjoying this new place and such a different way of life is Kyler, and neither can deny the attraction, but if Lexie fights it so hard, it’s because she really does need a friend. She needs to reevaluate her life and her wants and desires, and is weary of making what could be the right choices for the wrong reasons.
Besides chemistry, which she writes very convincingly, Gerri Hill always excels at describing nature and everything that there is to love in nature (that’s one of the things I liked most when I was translating Storms), and it’s once again one of the strongest points of this book.
The Stars at Night is a light and quick read, full of joy and feelings and not a lot of angst. It’s sexy and mellow, romantic and flirty. Exactly what I want to read on a rainy day.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
This one is a bit of an odd one to review for me. It’s a nice read, it’s a pleasant book, tranquil in tone and setting, I really enjoyed reading it - but it didn’t excite me. It’s my first read of a Hill book (I know - another author I need to find time for) so I was really surprised to find that it didn’t make me want to grab all of her back catalogue. To be fair - I suspect the lack of excitement for me is probably due to the very laid back nature of the book, which is in this case is appropriate and works perfectly.
Kyler is a park ranger - transferred out to her remote state park after getting caught hooking up with her boss’s wife. I love how the book explores her having fallen in love with her new surroundings, her new hobbies and her sweet embarrassment about them.
Lexie’s parents run the lodge at the state park. She’s been made redundant from her job and is feeling lost so takes takes up the offer to try running the lodge for them. She’s more a city girl and the park is a bit of a culture shock for her. Much like with Kyler the narrative around her realising what the environment, a quieter life and family mean to her make the book.
The secondary characters are great. Lexie’s brother and parents closeness to both Kyler and Lexie allow us to see different sides of both MCs. I loved the communication between all of the characters in this story. The book just feels so open, peaceful and grown-up in character outlook - it’s very refreshing.
Whilst I can’t instantly think of any comparators to this book, I will definitely be checking out more Hill in the future and would recommend this to any fans of wlw romance.
I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am a give fan of Ms. Hill's books so was exited to start this new on from her. This one takes place in West Texas, a place I have never been, but with usual style and flare, Ms. Hill makes me feel like I am there. The MC of this story are Kyler, a park ranger, and Lexie, a young woman who is down on her employment luck.
I read this more as a city girl meets country girl, in that Lexie looses her job and her parents invite her to come help run the mountain lodge they own with her brother (he owns the bar and grill). You get a good feel for both of the MC backgrounds, and I do love how the brother fits right in on helping them both, although his own story is a bit sad.
The storyline is a bit on the slow side, I think of this book more as a life reflection (right choices, right job, right friends, right life path) and it is mainly around Lexie's life and where is has been and where she is going. There is also a good backstory for Kyler, but it seems she has finally found her place in the world (even with a few missteps with twins and a wife of a boss). There is a lot of should I/shouldn't I with life choices, all done while hiking, biking, around the campfire and looking up at the night sky-a very nice slow burn romance as well that is not overly done in the bedroom.
All and all, a nice winter read by the fire with a glass or two of wine.
I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.
To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Enjoyable slow burn read
Kyler Clemons is a Texas State Park Ranger in the remote Davis Mountains in West Texas. She was transferred there from Mustang Island State Park near Corpus Christi after an affair with her boss's wife. She initially went through some cultural shock after her transfer from the Gulf Coast, but after four years she has adapted to life in a small town with nature at her doorstep. She is close friends with the lodge owners and their son, Mark. The lodge is adjacent to the state park.
Lexie Walton lives in Austin and was made redundant in her job when her company was brought out a little under a year ago. She has searched for other technology jobs in the Austin area, but hasn't found anything suitable. She is running out of funds and reluctantly decides to take her parents up on a trial offer to help them run the lodge. They hope to train Lexie and if she likes the area and the job, they want to purchase an RV and take some extended trips.
The story details Lexie meeting Kyler and how Lexie adjusts to such a drastic change, albeit on a trial, in her work and her day-to-day life. Not too long after meeting for the first time, the flirting between Lexie and Kyler commences. However, they both agree that they "are not each other's type". Kyler enjoys nature, birdwatching, sunsets/sunrises, seeing the stars at night, mountain biking, and football. In Austin Lexie enjoyed hanging out with her friends, barhopping on Six Street, Sunday morning brunches with her friends, and working out an indoor gym. Kyler begins to introduce Lexie to some of her hobbies and they grow closer and closer. The flirting becomes more intense.
I enjoyed the simplicity of this book and the activities, I felt engaged with all of the characters, and the flirting was playful and spoke the words that neither Lexie or Kyler could at the time. 4.5 stars
I received an ARC from Bella Books and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
When Lexie loses her job and not knowing what to do her parents convince her to help them and her brother run their rustic lodge and restaurant in the Davis mountain in region area of Texas. As she gives it a trail run to see if this what she wants to do she starts enjoying the mountains and the beauty of it.
Kyler is the park ranger after a scandal that brought her to Davis Mountain state park she thought she would hated there but she learn to enjoy the mountains and does things she didn’t think she would enjoy and gets to spend time with her best friend Mark who happen to be Lexie brother who has his own story that have you heartbroken for him but hoping he has a happy ending. Lexie and Kyler relationship and chemistry was great like how they got to know each other the dialogue was great seeing the beauty of nature through their eyes was great to.
I received an ARC copy of this book from the Publisher via Netgalley and voluntarily leaving my review.
4.25 stars. This was the soft, sweet romance I needed while simultaneously reading a harrowing WWII novel. This was my first Gerri Hill book, but it won’t be my last.
Kyler is so gentle and understanding and her enthusiasm for her home/workplace is infectious. I could also see myself falling in love with a remote-ish life in the mountains, and through her perspective, I was able to indulge that dream a bit. I thought Lexie would turn out to be an ice queen, but she isn’t at all. She’s bubbly, flirty, and nearly as kindhearted as Kyler. Lexie’s and Kyler’s dynamic reminded me a lot of that of the mains in Jae’s Paper Love. Their romance is a slow-burn (well, at least in the scope of the novel) and the cuteness kept escalating until the end. I also loved Mark, Lexie’s brother. His story arc is touching, and I nearly cried for him in the end!
One random thing I loved was Kyler’s descriptions of her interests. She loves birdwatching and astronomy, but she’s sometimes insecure because she’s not an “expert.” That was…so refreshing?? I related so hard, and I really appreciated that Hill included that kind of inner monologue.
Unfortunately, I had some issues with the liberal uses of the word “crazy” and “normal” to describe other people. I’m fine with these words to describe situations or one’s own mental state, but in this case it was a little off-putting. I think Hill could have used other words in these scenarios.
While this was cozier/more laid-back than knock-my-socks-off, it sure was enjoyable and greatly welcomed.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books in exchange for an honest review.
This read was a very welcome distraction and the perfect book to de-stress for a few hours. The author welcomed you into a world where the beauty of nature soothed the soul and opened the mind to alternative means of enjoying life.
When Lexie lost her job due to an acquisition, she left the city life she loved in Austin to travel 7 hours to her family’s rustic lodge and restaurant located in the Davis Mountains region of west Texas. Her parents wanted her to stay there with them and her widower brother to help run the place. So Lexie decided to give it a six week trial run until after the holidays. She thought should would be miserable without her friends and the exciting city nightlife, but was surprised by the tranquillity of her surroundings and the beauty found there…including the very helpful park ranger who was also her brother’s best friend.
The characters were very likable and dealt with realistic problems such as the sudden lot of a job or a loved one. I liked how Kyler and Lexie had meaningful conversations about many diverse topics. I especially loved how the author allowed her characters to get to know each other and develop a strong friendship while they explored the beautiful mountain setting whether biking, hiking, or driving. Even though Lexie was considered a city girl, she loved learning about her surroundings such as the many different wild animals she encountered during their walks, the beautiful birds that she found eating at the many bird feeders around the area, the mesmerizing night sky of stars and constellations, and the early morning/late night radiant sunrises/sunsets she grew to love. Kyler helped Lexie see the beauty of life apart from what she was used to or familiar with; this opened up a whole new world for Lexie. I also liked how the author pulled the reader into these scenes with her very vivid descriptive writing.
Even though the women were attracted to each other, they did not want to cross the friendship line. Lexie wasn’t sure she wanted to remain in this remote area as the friendship developed or if she was ready to permanently let go of her career and city life she enjoyed her entire life. I liked the way the author allowed Lexie to make this life-decision based on how she made other important decisions in her life. She kept it real.
The secondary characters, especially Lexie’s brother, added to the emotional depth of this story. The support he received from his family and especially Kyler was heartwarming. The only slight problem I had with this story was the late introduction of a young mother and son. I wished they were introduced much earlier to bring a certain character a bit more happiness and perhaps love.
Overall, this was a beautifully written feel good story. The very descriptive setting, which I loved, will leave you with peaceful thoughts, a sense of tranquility, and a yearning to experience that type of setting in person.
An ARC was given for an honest review.
One of the highlights this year, when a new Gerri Hill book comes out you just drop everything and devour her book.
This little gem was such a feelgood book, 2020 being the pain that it is, escaping to this wonderful scenery was magical.
The characters and their interaction was fun, hilarious and hot, just made you smile being there with them.