Release Blitz: Falling Like Stars: Emma Scott
Photo: Blake Cheek @unsplash.com
In the dazzling world of Hollywood where fame and glamour reign supreme, award-winning megastar Zachary Butler longs for something more than red carpet events and paparazzi flashes. As he navigates fame and tries to extricate himself from his celebrity ex-fiancée, he discovers an unexpected spark with Rowan Walsh, a production assistant on his latest project.
Rowan, haunted by a devastating moment in her past, shields her heart behind walls of guilt, letting no one in. But Zachary's genuine affection and desire for a meaningful life begin to chip away at her defenses. As their connection deepens, Rowan must battle the self-destructive patterns that have held her back from embracing her passions and finding true love, while Zachary must reveal his own hidden scars—wounds he's borne in silence for years—if he hopes to heal.
Can Zachary and Rowan confront their pasts to build a future together, or will the storms of scandal, tangled relationships, and the scrutiny of stardom ruin their hopes for a perfect Hollywood ending?
Photo: Tori Wise @unsplash.com
Rowan is a PA in Hollywood not really living her full dream. But she at least works on the set while also being a little reckless in her own life and being emotionally unavailable. She gave up her dreams after a tragic event in her teens so it feels safer for her this way.
Zachary Butler is the big hot man of Hollywood. He’s a phenomenal actor who takes his craft very seriously, but he’s also a good guy who is personable, kind, caring, humble, and just wants a real relationship and family. Unfortunately, the girl he thought would be his partner was led of course by the fame and glam of Hollywood and became toxic in his own life.
These two opposites share a couple of moments while working on a movie and they find refreshing honesty and a natural rapport and they build on that during the next times they see each other. Rowen challenges Zachary and doesn’t treat him like a movie star or fawn all over him. His celebrity is stripped down to the man that he is. But Zachary can tell that Rowan's walls are sky high and he has to tread lightly, but he is drawn to the woman and her witty and honest comments. They have conversations and banter, and there is an underlying chemistry between them.
But her past holds pain and tragedy that she has held onto for a long time. And he uses his acting as a release for some of his own pent-up emotions. There are grumpy-sunshine and hurt-comfort vibes and it is set in the movie-making industry. I adored Zach. He is just the sweetest hero with a heart of gold. I just wanted him to find all the happiness he craved. I had a harder time with Rowan. She was so closed-off and emotionally unavailable at first it was kind of harder to connect with her, but I did like seeing her take charge of her situation finally and begin to seek help.
This book dealt with some difficult topics and I felt the author handled them with care. It illustrates the importance of mental health and therapy, being vulnerable, and finding positive ways of coping with past trauma, grief, and toxic personalities. Both of the characters had issues they needed to work through personally, and they needed to be vulnerable with each other to deal with issues together so that they could find a way forward.
I would have liked to see a bit more relationship development between the characters though, especially towards the beginning. It felt a bit insta and during their early phase they were falling into their own poor coping mechanisms and miscommunication. But I did like the way that the characters began to want to protect the other one in their own way and develop empathy and understanding of the other's issues and wanted to support them. There is definite angst, drama, and external forces putting pressure on them, and they also have their own demons to deal with all while being the subject of media scrutiny.
I really liked his brother Jeremy and her friend JJ. They were fun, interesting, and caring. I wonder if perhaps, they might show up in a future story
Zachary Butler is the big hot man of Hollywood. He’s a phenomenal actor who takes his craft very seriously, but he’s also a good guy who is personable, kind, caring, humble, and just wants a real relationship and family. Unfortunately, the girl he thought would be his partner was led of course by the fame and glam of Hollywood and became toxic in his own life.
These two opposites share a couple of moments while working on a movie and they find refreshing honesty and a natural rapport and they build on that during the next times they see each other. Rowen challenges Zachary and doesn’t treat him like a movie star or fawn all over him. His celebrity is stripped down to the man that he is. But Zachary can tell that Rowan's walls are sky high and he has to tread lightly, but he is drawn to the woman and her witty and honest comments. They have conversations and banter, and there is an underlying chemistry between them.
But her past holds pain and tragedy that she has held onto for a long time. And he uses his acting as a release for some of his own pent-up emotions. There are grumpy-sunshine and hurt-comfort vibes and it is set in the movie-making industry. I adored Zach. He is just the sweetest hero with a heart of gold. I just wanted him to find all the happiness he craved. I had a harder time with Rowan. She was so closed-off and emotionally unavailable at first it was kind of harder to connect with her, but I did like seeing her take charge of her situation finally and begin to seek help.
This book dealt with some difficult topics and I felt the author handled them with care. It illustrates the importance of mental health and therapy, being vulnerable, and finding positive ways of coping with past trauma, grief, and toxic personalities. Both of the characters had issues they needed to work through personally, and they needed to be vulnerable with each other to deal with issues together so that they could find a way forward.
I would have liked to see a bit more relationship development between the characters though, especially towards the beginning. It felt a bit insta and during their early phase they were falling into their own poor coping mechanisms and miscommunication. But I did like the way that the characters began to want to protect the other one in their own way and develop empathy and understanding of the other's issues and wanted to support them. There is definite angst, drama, and external forces putting pressure on them, and they also have their own demons to deal with all while being the subject of media scrutiny.
I really liked his brother Jeremy and her friend JJ. They were fun, interesting, and caring. I wonder if perhaps, they might show up in a future story
Rowan Walsh is emotionally closed off after tragedy strikes several times in her youth. Feeling like she doesn’t deserve the dreams she once held, she works as a PA in Hollywood to remain close to her dreams without actually having them. When she catches the attention of one of Hollywood’s hottest stars, she starts to think maybe it’s time to work through the grief she’s been holding like a shield for so long.
Zachary Butler works long hours and back to back projects to keep his mind busy. He has the attention of the public and every move in his relationships are scrutinized. As he breaks up with his longtime girlfriend and one time co-star, his moves are watched closely and though he is trying to distance himself, she refuses to let him go without a fight.
They found a quick camaraderie while working on the same set and for the first time, each felt like they had found someone they could rest with. They had an easy rapport that came easily even if it ignored the heavy things going on in the background and the past.
This had a lot going on. Each of the characters had their own emotional battles they were fighting. But despite the depths and seriousness of the things they were dealing with, I never really felt the strong emotions I expected while reading. Something kept me from fully connecting with these characters. I think with as heavy as the book’s opening was I was expecting those heavy emotions to continue throughout. Instead, the bulk of the book felt a lot lighter than I was anticipating. I appreciated the way Rowan began to face her grief and sought help when her feelings became overwhelming. She had been repressing those emotions for a long time, so there was a lot to work through. Zachary seemed to have everything together, but as the story progressed, it became clear that his previous relationship was not just toxic, but abusive as well. The handling of these very difficult subjects was sensitive and careful.
This was full of drama, grief, vulnerability and healing. I loved the way Zachary’s family and Rowan’s friend could see through the main characters and accepted them as they came while also wishing the best for them.
Emma Scott
Emma Scott is a USA Today and Wall St. Journal bestselling author whose books have been translated in six languages and featured in Buzzfeed, Huffington Post, New York Daily News and USA Today's Happy Ever After. She writes emotional, character-driven romances in which art and love intertwine to heal, and in which love always wins. If you enjoy emotionally-charged stories that rip your heart out and put it back together again, with diverse characters and kind-hearted heroes, you will enjoy her novels.
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