Starstruck

How can someone write so well and have such a weak plot? The answer is, of course, that Hiatt attempts to give her teen romance a sci-fi spin and fails. The premise is so flimsy that it's unbelievable. It reminded me a little of Twilight, only the high school loser is in love with an alien instead of a vampire. This isn't entirely fair since Hiatt's writing is better than Meyer's, but the pacing is so slow that I had to force myself to keep reading the book. The romance part with all its angst and girl drama is good, the long-lost Martian princess part is not. It's dull. Sorry but I can't recommend this to anyone older than the protagonist (15), and definitely not for anyone who likes serious sci-fi.

This was a perfectly lovely teen story full of romance and angst set against a background full of Martians. Really enjoyed the idea of where Martians originally came from and their missing royalty. Definitely a PG rated story that was a pleasant break from heavier reading.

I bought this for my fifteen-year-old granddaughter. The response I received from her was, “it was the most, boring, silly book i’ve Ever tried to read. I hope I never hear or see the name Rigel again I will be a happy person. The author had his name in every Starstruck sentence.”

I was totally crazy about this book, got the sequel immediately. Its AMAZING!!!!!!, and so original I have not read anything like it in a long time, the combination of E.T, romance and monarchy just makes it epic. I hope it continues like this, Brenda Hiatt did a very good job.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. The writing style is mature enough for adults yet easy enough for even very young adults to understand the vocabulary. It is a great read for young adults as well as older adults who enjoy a little romance. I highly recommend this book.

This was a very amazingly written book with descriptive imagery that really stood out to me and I think that is the main reason I liked this book. It is one of those books that even if you find the plot line a little stereotypical or even sci-fi predictable it will still be good. This is not to say it wasn't a good plot line, it had surprises and romance and everything a good book should have it just isn't my genre or normal interest so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this book and decided to read it. For anyone who is into things a little out of this world it truly is a well written and interesting book.

Marsha knew nothing about her past, except that her aunt and uncle had raised her after her adoptive parents had died in a car accident. There seemed to be a strange attraction between her and Rigel, a new student in her school, but who would have ever guessed what drew them to each other? Well-written, attention-holding, clean novel with romance, teen jealousy, and intrigue.

Absolutely LOVED M and Rigel's connection! Sure makes me with the bonding thing existed in real life :) One of my fave YA's this past year. Couldn't put this down, nor the sequel. Can't wait for the next installment!

The only thing I didn't like about this, was it was a bit predictable. SPOILER:::::: For instance, when he said he was a martian and that she was a martian... Who didn't see that coming? Come on. Other than that, it was good

I was totally crazy about this book, got the sequel immediately. Its AMAZING!!!!!!, and so original I have not read anything like it in a long time, the combination of E.T, romance and monarchy just makes it epic. I hope it continues like this, Brenda Hiatt did a very good job.

I really enjoyed this book and am looking forward to the next one. The writing style is mature enough for adults yet easy enough for even very young adults to understand the vocabulary. It is a great read for young adults as well as older adults who enjoy a little romance. I highly recommend this book.

This was a very amazingly written book with descriptive imagery that really stood out to me and I think that is the main reason I liked this book. It is one of those books that even if you find the plot line a little stereotypical or even sci-fi predictable it will still be good. This is not to say it wasn't a good plot line, it had surprises and romance and everything a good book should have it just isn't my genre or normal interest so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this book and decided to read it. For anyone who is into things a little out of this world it truly is a well written and interesting book.

Marsha knew nothing about her past, except that her aunt and uncle had raised her after her adoptive parents had died in a car accident. There seemed to be a strange attraction between her and Rigel, a new student in her school, but who would have ever guessed what drew them to each other? Well-written, attention-holding, clean novel with romance, teen jealousy, and intrigue.

This book was a nice romance book. It was the cliche football captain and quiet girl though and that sort of makes it uninteresting. The fact that they are Martians is hard to believe from the back story that they have about the creation of their race. It sort of ruined it. But nothing could even ruin it even further for me when Marsh suddenly was the long lost Martian princess. Yes I know that there are many bestsellers that have this same sort of plot but it just did not work for me in this book. Some parts were good however like the part where the two characters are bonded time eachother and have a rare capability. In all, it was a good but very cliche book.

I get a lot of free and cheap books. In my experience they are hit and miss and by this point I'm not even sure I pay attention to the titles anymore. I just read because reading is healthy (we're supposed to be reading often) I just love stories and books.

The concept of martians is always interesting if you don't resort to "the little green guys". The romance is so cheesy it made me laugh often. I'd say teenage girls would love this book. What I didn't like was the whole "I'm not sure if I'd object if he was after my virtue" nonsense. Spoiler: he's not in this book at least. If you want to laugh, snort or giggle depending on your level of cheesy tolerance read it. I

I received an advance copy review this book and I voluntarily give my review.

First off this book too long time to read I kept putting it down rude little put it down put it down put it down I finally got to it

The premise of this book was interesting. I started it and was excited. I had a really hard time getting into it at first though. There was just too much disjointedness for me. Lots of pointless details about her life and emphasis on how unpopular M is. I tried really hard to like it but I have to say the story just wasn't gripping.

Here were my main problems with it:
1. M is super unpopular and a dork, which is emphasized throughout the entire book. She has a very low opinion of herself. However all the stuff that makes her dorky or unpopular goes away with the touch of a guy. I just don't think that is good. She should be able to be strong and leader because she learns and grows as a person and the boy should support her and back her up.

2. As soon as R starts spending time with M, she ditches her best friends. I get that R and M share a special bond, but those girls were the best thing in M's entire life and she just ditches them. For a boy again.

3. The whole Martians thing was kind of not done well either. First of all, they are not Martians or aliens. They are genetically modified humans who are descended from humans kidnapped and put on Mars a long time ago. And they live underground in A human safe habitat. They are humans.

4. No one communicated with anyone. Everyone kept secrets and it just didn't seem right. If I was shooting lightning, I'd be trying to figure things out. And if I had that special bond, I would have said something. The adults would have know. That not being together would make them sick. Or even if I'd have been scared to tell them, when I got physically sick I think it would be time to say something.

Overall it was a good try and I did finish the book. But there were waaaay too many of issues for me.

It was alright, I'm not hooked enough to want to read the rest of the series. It was very YA but I knew that going in so I wasn't disappointed.
The story was different from other books I've read and interesting and the romance was sweet but I'm fine with the ending of the first book and don't feel the need to read the next books.

The theme of this book wasn't really my cup of tea. I enjoy supernatural books but extraterrestrial isn't my thing.
The characters are okay and I figured out where the story was going less than halfway through.
I was drawn in enough to finish the book but I almost didn't complete it a few time. So three stars.

This book was a nice romance book. It was the cliche football captain and quiet girl though and that sort of makes it uninteresting. The fact that they are Martians is hard to believe from the back story that they have about the creation of their race. It sort of ruined it. But nothing could even ruin it even further for me when Marsh suddenly was the long lost Martian princess. Yes I know that there are many bestsellers that have this same sort of plot but it just did not work for me in this book. Some parts were good however like the part where the two characters are bonded time eachother and have a rare capability. In all, it was a good but very cliche book.

I get a lot of free and cheap books. In my experience they are hit and miss and by this point I'm not even sure I pay attention to the titles anymore. I just read because reading is healthy (we're supposed to be reading often) I just love stories and books.

The concept of martians is always interesting if you don't resort to "the little green guys". The romance is so cheesy it made me laugh often. I'd say teenage girls would love this book. What I didn't like was the whole "I'm not sure if I'd object if he was after my virtue" nonsense. Spoiler: he's not in this book at least. If you want to laugh, snort or giggle depending on your level of cheesy tolerance read it. I

I received an advance copy review this book and I voluntarily give my review.

First off this book too long time to read I kept putting it down rude little put it down put it down put it down I finally got to it

The premise of this book was interesting. I started it and was excited. I had a really hard time getting into it at first though. There was just too much disjointedness for me. Lots of pointless details about her life and emphasis on how unpopular M is. I tried really hard to like it but I have to say the story just wasn't gripping.

Here were my main problems with it:
1. M is super unpopular and a dork, which is emphasized throughout the entire book. She has a very low opinion of herself. However all the stuff that makes her dorky or unpopular goes away with the touch of a guy. I just don't think that is good. She should be able to be strong and leader because she learns and grows as a person and the boy should support her and back her up.

2. As soon as R starts spending time with M, she ditches her best friends. I get that R and M share a special bond, but those girls were the best thing in M's entire life and she just ditches them. For a boy again.

3. The whole Martians thing was kind of not done well either. First of all, they are not Martians or aliens. They are genetically modified humans who are descended from humans kidnapped and put on Mars a long time ago. And they live underground in A human safe habitat. They are humans.

4. No one communicated with anyone. Everyone kept secrets and it just didn't seem right. If I was shooting lightning, I'd be trying to figure things out. And if I had that special bond, I would have said something. The adults would have know. That not being together would make them sick. Or even if I'd have been scared to tell them, when I got physically sick I think it would be time to say something.

Overall it was a good try and I did finish the book. But there were waaaay too many of issues for me.

It was alright, I'm not hooked enough to want to read the rest of the series. It was very YA but I knew that going in so I wasn't disappointed.
The story was different from other books I've read and interesting and the romance was sweet but I'm fine with the ending of the first book and don't feel the need to read the next books.

The theme of this book wasn't really my cup of tea. I enjoy supernatural books but extraterrestrial isn't my thing.
The characters are okay and I figured out where the story was going less than halfway through.
I was drawn in enough to finish the book but I almost didn't complete it a few time. So three stars.

Hiatt develops the world surrounding this novel so naturally that even the most implausible situation seems not only plausible but completely and utterly possible. I was so wrapped up in this story that I could think of nothing else. At the same time, I had to take a step back, thinking ‘could you just imagine.’ And was my imagination ever running wild. This novel is written in such a manner that it is approachable to a teen audience but also won’t turn off older readers. Hiatt kept me guessing and kept me entertained throughout.

You really get to know the main characters in this novel inside and out. It’s quite a revealing experience and makes the novel much more personal for the reader. I also appreciated the fact that the characters were high school students written like high school students. There wasn’t some large discrepancy between what their lives should be and what they are, well, except for the Martian bit. The supporting cast was also quite intriguing. They were all such unique individuals that it made the cast seem like a real community.

As a whole, this was a brilliant introduction to the series. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next instalment.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

Prior to reading this on Bookviser (as a FREE gift from Brenda), I was an avid book reader. For some reason, this year, I haven't been able to read an 'actual' book. I would pick up book after book (from all of my favorite authors) but just could NOT get back into the reading mode. So one day, I received a newsletter from Brenda Hiatt, giving away her book 'Starstruck' as an E-book. So I thought to myself 'Why not?'

I immediately was impressed with this book. It had a great storyline, interesting characters, and was easily going to be a series that I was going to look forward to finishing. By reading my first E-book, 'STARSTRUCK', this got me back into reading.....just not an actual, hands-on, book.

I would highly recommend checking this book out, as well as her other books. Enjoy :)

“I boarded the bus on the first day of school with a weird sense of anticipation. Even after nine years as the class dork, I couldn’t quite squelch a fizzy little hope that this year would be different.” Thus begins Marsha’s sophomore year in high school, a year in which her life would change in ways that she never could have imagined.

Marsha is a kind-hearted astronomy geek who has two good friends but otherwise, she is shunned. She suffers from bad acne, wears thick glasses, and is very bright. This combination of characteristics would doom her chances for popularity in nearly any high school. The opening of this novel had me hooked immediately, and I was expecting a heart-warming coming of age story. I was not disappointed, but I also got so much more.

The school’s new quarterback, also a sophomore, is immediately attracted to Marsha, to the disgust and dismay of the cheerleaders. But again this isn’t a love story, although Rigel and Marsha are attracted to each other. This story has a great deal more depth and a real mystery to be solved. Rigel and Marsha need to work together against formidable odds to save not only the small town of Jewel, Indiana, but possibly the entire earth.

This is a fast-paced exciting story, but it is also one with a great deal of heart and the characters are very real. I felt as if I were walking into any small high school filled with teen angst, but what separates this novel from others are the deep secrets within Marsha’s past. She comes across knowledge that would cause most people, even those a good deal older, to panic, and she does have her fear-driven moments, but she also is able to handle difficult situations with amazing courage.

Readers who enjoy suspenseful fantasy and coming-of-age stories are sure to enjoy Starstruck. The author indicates that this is the first in a new series, and I, for one, hope that there are many more novels to come.

Originally posted at Long and Short Reviews.

Starstruck is a really sweet YA paranormal novel that fans of the genre will love! With its unique paranormal storyline and characters that teens will relate to, I think that this book is a definite winner.

I can't really summarize the book any better than the synopsis does without giving away spoilers, so I'll just jump directly into my review.

The negatives:

Some clichés.
There were some parts of this book (especially the beginning) that felt a bit too typical YA. The uncool, "nothing special about her" protagonist falls for the mysterious ultra-cool guy. Most of the first half or so of the book was dedicated to the romance blossoming between M and Rigel, so it felt a little cliché. Still, I found myself enjoying the story anyway and, luckily, the second half of the book really improved - once you find out the paranormal secret, the book gets much more unique and interesting!

What I LOVED:

M.
Even though I said that M is a pretty typical YA heroine, I still found myself really liking her. I appreciated that she was intelligent and a bit geeky without being overly self-deprecating or a total loner (I loved her best friends Bri and Deb - I thought that those friendships seemed very realistic both when they were getting along and when they were fighting!). I also liked that when things start to get crazy (in a paranormal sort of way), she doesn't automatically believe everything that she's told - she responds in a very realistic way!

Rigel.
Rigel was a very swoon-worthy love interest. He was also sweet and smart - an all-around good guy - and I was definitely rooting for M and Rigel to be together. I loved that he put M's interests and happiness above his own and he didn't abandon her, even when it seemed that he might have to!!

M's aunt and uncle.
The tension between M and her aunt and uncle (especially her aunt) added a really interesting dynamic to the story and made M a more sympathetic character. I hope that, in future books, we get to see those relationships develop even more and come to understand a little bit more about what makes M's aunt treat M the way she does. We definitely get part of the story in this book, but I would love to see even more!

The unique paranormal story.
I can't say too much about the paranormal aspect of this book without spoiling things, but I was happy that it was very unique and interesting. I loved the literal sparks that flew between M and Rigel and the fact that this book came to a satisfying conclusion, but left us with room for more books in the series because the paranormal storyline is definitely not finished!

I highly recommend Starstruck to fans of YA paranormal romance! I can't wait to see what Hiatt has in store for us in future books! 4/5 stars.

***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***

STARSTRUCK lives up to the power of its title. Like M, I too was the nerdy girl in a small town school who never quite fit in. Accomplished author Brenda Hiatt has captured well the themes of a great coming-of-age story: identity, one's place in the social structure, the need to love and be loved, and the certain knowledge that the adults in one's life simply don't understand.

From high school social politics to interstellar political drama, Hiatt takes us on a star-studded journey to identify the real M. Complete with a star quarterback named Rigel and a story of star-crossed lovers, this novel will be a satisfying fantasy read for every "ordinary" girl who, like M, dreams of becoming more. Fans of TWILIGHT and HARRY POTTER may hear faint echoes of their favorite scenes and will find new favorite scenes to join them.

Read and enjoy! You too may become STARSTRUCK.

I actually enjoyed this book and took it for what it was, a young YA romance book with a sci-fi twist. Even though I'm probably way too old for the genre! I loved the characters, especially M and her connection with Rigel was spot on. I liked the author's writing style, finding it easy to read and humorous. The plot generally moved well and the storyline intriguing.

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, fun and at times exciting. But to be honest it got exciting mostly at the end. I kind of think of this book as a build-up-to-it book. Thanks to that it ended in a way that makes me want to read more. It was never boring though but it didn't really happened all that much in the first part of the book.

I liked the characters in the book, they are both really lovable. Marsha is very down to earth but also very much like a teenager with the crush on one of the hottest guys at school and the insecurities that most teenage girls has. I like that The author made Marsha real. She didn't feel like a grown up in a teenage girls body like many characters does in YA books.

I like the plot of the story and the author keeps your interest even during the parts when not all that much happens which is good. Over all it was a really good read that I enjoyed. I definitely want to read the next book in this series and I'm curious how the author will develop this story.

**I got this book in exchange for an honest review**

This was a brilliant book, a fantastic story line with a bit of romance, action, sci fi and school drama. I think in years to come this series will be the perfect series to end my school days books on- I'm coming up to the big 21 and feel that my reading preferences are maturing very very gradually with me.

The two main characters Marsha (m) and Rigel are in my opinion a match made in heaven, despite them being from opposite ends of the secondary school (high school) social chart. They are both realistic and rebellious teenagers- but not in the obvious way. Rigel is rebelling against his jock friends and their idea of his ideal girl (Trina) whereas M is rebelling against her aunt and uncles very strict rules as well as reaching for the boy who would normally be out of her league. It is that which makes them an instantly attractive couple to the reader as well as setting loyalties with them as a couple- you can't help but support the underdog.

The secondary characters make an already interesting story that little bit more realistic- I think most people can relate to overprotective family members, as well as super supportive family members, Best friends who fall out over boys and as always the rival who is almost always win the affections of a boy you like before you say hi.

The pacing of the story was superb, giving the reader question then answer guiding us along this magnificent story right until the very end.

The story line was great and forever interchanging the boy meets girl aspect is not the only thing that is great in this book.

I have loved this book, will defiantly get the second instalment 3.5 rating but just because I'm a risky bit more mature than I was last week.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed Starstruck and look forward to reading the sequels and finding out what happens next.

What first drew me in was that M reminded me of myself when I was her age, and as a great grandmother let me tell you that was a lot of years ago.
As I read I found it to be a fun combination of romance, fantasy, mystery and save the world.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed Starstruck and look forward to reading the sequels and finding out what happens next.

What first drew me in was that M reminded me of myself when I was her age, and as a great grandmother let me tell you that was a lot of years ago.
As I read I found it to be a fun combination of romance, fantasy, mystery and save the world.

The idea behind Starstruck was really fun and inviting for me. I loved the way Brenda Hiatt set up the Martian world. She not only included stuff about who the Martians are as a people and how their bodies work, but she went into Martian politics too. Learning about this world on Mars that Hiatt created was probably my favorite part about this whole reading experience.

I wasn't fond of the characters, though, nor was I fond of the romance between Marsha and Rigel (serious case of insta-love. I was not amused.), and it's incredibly difficult for me to like a book if the characters bother me, no matter how interesting the plot may be. Even though Marsha and Rigel are my age, I felt like they acted a lot more juvenile than most sophomores would. Marsha seemed much more concerned about making sure she and Rigel would always be together than she did about saving the world. I can understand boy-crazy, but boy-crazy to the point where said boy is all you care about becomes really annoying to read about.

Despite, what I feel anyway, were flaws in the main character, Starstruck was a pleasant read. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fun younger YA, maybe even MG, paranormal romance.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Surprisingly enchanting! I knew going into it that it fell under the teen fiction genre and while I typically am not fond of reading books set in highschool times since I wasn't fond of high school while I was in it, this book definitely put a whole new twist on it. I found myself completely entranced and could not put it down! Cover to cover in one night and look forward to the next in the series!

The nerd-girl story turned it on its head in an engaging, delightful way. I was born in a town much like Jewel, and the middle of nowhere is just how a teenager would describe it. Flat, boring, cornfields, high school, and football, Hiatt gets it all right. Including the out of place feeling of a kid who doesn't quite fit. With just the right amount of teen angst--meaning not too much--she sets you up for the twist that should be a stretch, but it all works. Can't wait for the next one in the series!

I felt that the storyline had a good start, but that the author skimped over what I would consider to be more interesting details. For instance, when we learn why our main characters Marsha and Rigel have such an instant attraction to one another, as well as, similar "abilities" or strange things happening around them, the details are glossed over like they're discussing something much less significant instead of a possible ending of Earth as they know it.
I also felt that it dragged and more than once did I consider not finishing the book, as much as I hate to do so. I didn't connect with the characters and felt this story could be much better written with more feeling from the author.
I read this for free as part of a collection of books by other authors in a similar genre and don't think I'll be purchasing any other books in the series.

This was amazing and loved it all. M known to her friends had so much to deal with her friends didnt know half of it and a couple times gave her the cold shoulder because she had a boyfriend but M just kept battling on cant wait to see what happens next.

This book is a grat quickread if you like science fiction. It is adventurous and plays into the catagory of avaeage girl who is unpopular finds out she is a princess. Add alians and romance and you have the book. I enjoyed throwly and am looking forward to the next book since I was left with a small clifhanger.

This is without a doubt one of the worst books, I have ever read. I bulled my way through this and 1/4 of the way through the second book thinking I must be wrong when so many people thought it was so wonderful. Of course it never occurred to me that I had never heard of any of these awards. Unfortunately it is a dull pedestrian novel and you can predict the path the novel will take in the first few pages. I am through with self-published books, they waste my time. I am so grateful for publishers who protect us from authors who are still developing and for the most part wait until the author has matured. As my daddy always said "You get what you pay for". I read the free Kindle edition. Enough said!

I enjoyed Starstruck by Brenda Hiatt more than I expected, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I won a copy at a facebook party and am so glad I did.

Starstruck features a bookish, unpopular and clumsy high-school heroine, Marsha (M to her friends). Rather than being a cliched YA character with a weak personality, M has a lot of self confidence, but even she is surprised when the new star quarterback at her school takes an interest in her and not only because she pronounces his name correctly. Rigel has a secret and he knows something about M too. When M learns the truth about her mysterious birth parents, her world turns upside down in the best possible way. The plot kept me guessing and the characters were so engaging, I had a hard time putting the book down. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a bit of shopping to do for book 2.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I actually loved this book !!!!!!!!!! I was so surprised at how the author took a plot line that is familiar and made it all new. Starstruck is the first book of a series that deals with aliens from Mars. Marsha (who is called M by everyone but her aunt) is an orphan who was adopted and then orphaned again when her parents are killed in an accident. Her Uncle and Aunt in a little tiny town take her in. Her Aunt is extremely sour and strict. A very hard life for this girl who feels abandoned by all. M is just starting high school and has two girlfriends. She is geeky and doesn't not have any young men interested in her and is picked on my the cheerleading squad and so the rest of the school on a regular basis. All this make her wish she lived somewhere else.
In starts a new kid, a quarterback who plays like an NFL pro. His name is Rigel and he has lots of secrets to suppress. M has always had an issue with electrical appliances and gadgets. She blows them up. Doesn't know why, she just has this electrical charge she has always had. When Rigel introduces himself they shake hands "and sparks fly - literally". The longer she is around Rigel the more beautiful she becomes. Her skin clears up, her hair glistens, her eyesight perfects itself, she is stronger and faster than she has ever been. She can read a book in almost a night. All very curious. Rigel is a better quarterback when she is around. He actually has to reign himself in so he doesn't look too good.
It turns out Rigel is her soul mate and M is a Martian princess who's parents were sovereigns and were murdered. All this is a lot to take but when Rigel has his parents explains that it is true it becomes more of a reality. As they get closer they find that they have to spend time together as they have a bond that is a one in a million thing and has not happened in centuries. When they are away from each other they get sick and weak and cannot function. Together they are perfect and extremely smart and strong. The books leaves you wondering what is going to happen as they are bringing people from Mars to check and see if she is what they say she is.
Although M is confused and not understanding the full story she is feeling good about belonging to someone and somewhere she has a home other than the place she now lives. Finished the free book and went on to read the next two. Eagerly awaiting the last book of the series. Awesome read.

I really, really enjoyed this young adult sci-fi romance. A nerdy 15 year old girl comes alive when a handsome, smart, quarterback joins her school and—gasp—notices her! It gets complicated when he tells her he’s from Mars, but the story is well written, the characters realistic, the dialogue crisp and the romance clean. I wholeheartedly recommend this book.

Marsha is not what you would call the popular girl. In fact Marsha is just the opposite. Geeky and acne prone with bad eyesight. Marsha never knew her parents and was raised by her aunt and uncle. Her and her aunt always seem at odds. Marsha has two best friends Bri and Deb and they are loyal friends.

Marsha has always had a crush on Jimmy, till a new guy walks into class and Marsha can not even think. His voice pulls her in and she can not even focus on anything else. Marsha knows he could never be interested in her. Riley is gorgeous popular and the new star quarterback and every girls dream. One touch changes him and Marsha forever.

Weird tings start to happen to Marsha her acne clears up, she can now see with out glasses. Riley starts throwing harder and running faster. Their chemistry is magnetic and every time they touch electricity flows through them. Marsha goes from not knowing her past to really finding out who she is, what she is made of and what she will become.

Starstruck was so detail oriented. I felt like I read a book that if turned into a TV series would be two seasons long. The writing and story was so good I could see it as a TV show. I absolutely loved watching Marsha grow through his book. She never changes who she is and never compromises her values but becomes the best version of herself. I can not wait to read Starcrossed. This is a must read Alien book. Fans of Alienated will love this book.

Brenda Hiatt's, Starstruck, Series and Book 1, is a hit! This Teen/Paranormal/Science Fiction storyline is original, creative and out of this world. Hiatt's, hero's, M (15 yr old, Marsha Truitt, townie and smart, geeky wallflower) and Rigel Stuart (almost 16, and the handsome new quarterback) are wholesome Sophomores. In a small Midwestern town, time stands still for the new and dreamy couple. M and Rigel are pulled together, inseparable, and by remaining close their athletic abilities are super enhanced, M 's, appearance glows and she can even toss her glasses. When the kids put their minds together, why, there's almost nothing that they can't handle. Rigel has loving, kind and like minded parents and a grandfather that help the young couple with growing pains. Their friends, the football team, Trina the arch nemesis, Aunt Theresa a crusty fool, and some really bad dudes, complicate M and Rigel's, happiness and even the Homecoming Dance. Enjoy some terrific reading with Brenda Hiatt's, Book 1 Starstruck and Book 2 Starcrossed, for their uncommon themes, hilarity and unexpected, brilliance. ... (Hiatt writes, how I'd imagine she speaks, comfortable with a natural crack-me-up sense of humor. Both Books 1 and 2 have so many ... Hiattisms! I can't remember the last time I physically laughed while reading, causing my family to ask, "what's so funny?" In just the first few pages Brenda describes, M, as a bookwworm, astronomy outcast who's clumsy, has mousy, frizzy, brown hair, acne, thick glasses and supersonic static cling. M, is so hoping the new school year isn't as terrible as previous years. (Hiattisms = Brenda's, writings, of M's, off handed descriptions and views of mundane people, places, things, activities and all of her peer's, interactions ... that crack me up! "marginally less awkward than I was last year"; "the smell of past humiliations"; "Bri's, a bit on the geeky side, but with more style"; "it's not like they meant to fall off a mountain and die a few years after adopting me"; "I got teased for my weird ability to generate sparks, and for frying electronics on a regular basis"; "I really couldn't blame the teacher, since last year I'd killed four of his computers"; "I hadn't been able to wear a digital watch ... well ever. My aunt wouldn't get me a cell phone for the same reason, and she was wary of me frying her microwave"; "today had to be either a fluke ... or a prank"; "he nodded as though I'd said something intelligent"; "luckily he walked away before I launched completely into babble mode". ... TRUST ME THE BOOK IS A FUN READ & CUTE!

This is the first book of the series where M, short for Marsha is a nerdy, awkward 15-year-old teenager living her life in small town Jewel Indiana. M lives a tragic life, being orphaned and now living with her disapprovingly strict aunt and brainless uncle. Life changes for her when the new student (a very attractive new student) Rigel, starts paying more attention to M. M finds her acne clears up, she know longer needs glasses and weird things are happening. Rigel is more mysterious and intriguing and more interested in hanging out with M over the popular crowd. As M navigates her high school life, between homework, friend drama, learning more about Riger and bullies, life with Riger becomes more interesting than she could have imagined.

This was an amazing opening book to a really intriguing series. The huge revelation of the book was not what I thought it would be, but it was good. Hiatt does a great job of creating an uneasy, unusual tension between Riger and M that you are dying to know what the secret is. In the beginning of the series, and in this book, I felt M was very spineless. She should have stood up for herself more when her friends start to ditch her. Riger is swoon worthy and extremely sweet to M. Their bond and love is described so well, it makes it very plausible. The book time frame is a little confusing as the first book only takes place in a span of a few months. I thought it was a great first book, fast-paced and easy to read. 3.5/5

Hiatt develops the world surrounding this novel so naturally that even the most implausible situation seems not only plausible but completely and utterly possible. I was so wrapped up in this story that I could think of nothing else. At the same time, I had to take a step back, thinking ‘could you just imagine.’ And was my imagination ever running wild. This novel is written in such a manner that it is approachable to a teen audience but also won’t turn off older readers. Hiatt kept me guessing and kept me entertained throughout.

You really get to know the main characters in this novel inside and out. It’s quite a revealing experience and makes the novel much more personal for the reader. I also appreciated the fact that the characters were high school students written like high school students. There wasn’t some large discrepancy between what their lives should be and what they are, well, except for the Martian bit. The supporting cast was also quite intriguing. They were all such unique individuals that it made the cast seem like a real community.

As a whole, this was a brilliant introduction to the series. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next instalment.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.

Prior to reading this on Bookviser (as a FREE gift from Brenda), I was an avid book reader. For some reason, this year, I haven't been able to read an 'actual' book. I would pick up book after book (from all of my favorite authors) but just could NOT get back into the reading mode. So one day, I received a newsletter from Brenda Hiatt, giving away her book 'Starstruck' as an E-book. So I thought to myself 'Why not?'

I immediately was impressed with this book. It had a great storyline, interesting characters, and was easily going to be a series that I was going to look forward to finishing. By reading my first E-book, 'STARSTRUCK', this got me back into reading.....just not an actual, hands-on, book.

I would highly recommend checking this book out, as well as her other books. Enjoy :)

“I boarded the bus on the first day of school with a weird sense of anticipation. Even after nine years as the class dork, I couldn’t quite squelch a fizzy little hope that this year would be different.” Thus begins Marsha’s sophomore year in high school, a year in which her life would change in ways that she never could have imagined.

Marsha is a kind-hearted astronomy geek who has two good friends but otherwise, she is shunned. She suffers from bad acne, wears thick glasses, and is very bright. This combination of characteristics would doom her chances for popularity in nearly any high school. The opening of this novel had me hooked immediately, and I was expecting a heart-warming coming of age story. I was not disappointed, but I also got so much more.

The school’s new quarterback, also a sophomore, is immediately attracted to Marsha, to the disgust and dismay of the cheerleaders. But again this isn’t a love story, although Rigel and Marsha are attracted to each other. This story has a great deal more depth and a real mystery to be solved. Rigel and Marsha need to work together against formidable odds to save not only the small town of Jewel, Indiana, but possibly the entire earth.

This is a fast-paced exciting story, but it is also one with a great deal of heart and the characters are very real. I felt as if I were walking into any small high school filled with teen angst, but what separates this novel from others are the deep secrets within Marsha’s past. She comes across knowledge that would cause most people, even those a good deal older, to panic, and she does have her fear-driven moments, but she also is able to handle difficult situations with amazing courage.

Readers who enjoy suspenseful fantasy and coming-of-age stories are sure to enjoy Starstruck. The author indicates that this is the first in a new series, and I, for one, hope that there are many more novels to come.

Originally posted at Long and Short Reviews.

Starstruck is a really sweet YA paranormal novel that fans of the genre will love! With its unique paranormal storyline and characters that teens will relate to, I think that this book is a definite winner.

I can't really summarize the book any better than the synopsis does without giving away spoilers, so I'll just jump directly into my review.

The negatives:

Some clichés.
There were some parts of this book (especially the beginning) that felt a bit too typical YA. The uncool, "nothing special about her" protagonist falls for the mysterious ultra-cool guy. Most of the first half or so of the book was dedicated to the romance blossoming between M and Rigel, so it felt a little cliché. Still, I found myself enjoying the story anyway and, luckily, the second half of the book really improved - once you find out the paranormal secret, the book gets much more unique and interesting!

What I LOVED:

M.
Even though I said that M is a pretty typical YA heroine, I still found myself really liking her. I appreciated that she was intelligent and a bit geeky without being overly self-deprecating or a total loner (I loved her best friends Bri and Deb - I thought that those friendships seemed very realistic both when they were getting along and when they were fighting!). I also liked that when things start to get crazy (in a paranormal sort of way), she doesn't automatically believe everything that she's told - she responds in a very realistic way!

Rigel.
Rigel was a very swoon-worthy love interest. He was also sweet and smart - an all-around good guy - and I was definitely rooting for M and Rigel to be together. I loved that he put M's interests and happiness above his own and he didn't abandon her, even when it seemed that he might have to!!

M's aunt and uncle.
The tension between M and her aunt and uncle (especially her aunt) added a really interesting dynamic to the story and made M a more sympathetic character. I hope that, in future books, we get to see those relationships develop even more and come to understand a little bit more about what makes M's aunt treat M the way she does. We definitely get part of the story in this book, but I would love to see even more!

The unique paranormal story.
I can't say too much about the paranormal aspect of this book without spoiling things, but I was happy that it was very unique and interesting. I loved the literal sparks that flew between M and Rigel and the fact that this book came to a satisfying conclusion, but left us with room for more books in the series because the paranormal storyline is definitely not finished!

I highly recommend Starstruck to fans of YA paranormal romance! I can't wait to see what Hiatt has in store for us in future books! 4/5 stars.

***Disclosure: This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are my own***

I received this book free in exchange for an honest review. Marsha is a fifteen year old girl who was adopted at an early age. Her adopted parents died and she was handed over to the sister's brother. She's quite, has acne, thick glasses and bullied by a cheerleader. She loves the stars. A new boy starts school and they notice each other. When they touch sparks fly. Why is he even talking to her. He's star quarterback and she a nobody. Strange things start happening to her that are so mysterious. Is it because of him and do he know why. She has to have answers. What she finds out is so unbelievable. I really enjoyed this book. There is romance, mystery, secrets and danger. It is worth a read from teens and some adults. I will be reading the others in the series to see how her life continues.

STARSTRUCK lives up to the power of its title. Like M, I too was the nerdy girl in a small town school who never quite fit in. Accomplished author Brenda Hiatt has captured well the themes of a great coming-of-age story: identity, one's place in the social structure, the need to love and be loved, and the certain knowledge that the adults in one's life simply don't understand.

From high school social politics to interstellar political drama, Hiatt takes us on a star-studded journey to identify the real M. Complete with a star quarterback named Rigel and a story of star-crossed lovers, this novel will be a satisfying fantasy read for every "ordinary" girl who, like M, dreams of becoming more. Fans of TWILIGHT and HARRY POTTER may hear faint echoes of their favorite scenes and will find new favorite scenes to join them.

Read and enjoy! You too may become STARSTRUCK.

I actually enjoyed this book and took it for what it was, a young YA romance book with a sci-fi twist. Even though I'm probably way too old for the genre! I loved the characters, especially M and her connection with Rigel was spot on. I liked the author's writing style, finding it easy to read and humorous. The plot generally moved well and the storyline intriguing.

I really enjoyed this book. It was interesting, fun and at times exciting. But to be honest it got exciting mostly at the end. I kind of think of this book as a build-up-to-it book. Thanks to that it ended in a way that makes me want to read more. It was never boring though but it didn't really happened all that much in the first part of the book.

I liked the characters in the book, they are both really lovable. Marsha is very down to earth but also very much like a teenager with the crush on one of the hottest guys at school and the insecurities that most teenage girls has. I like that The author made Marsha real. She didn't feel like a grown up in a teenage girls body like many characters does in YA books.

I like the plot of the story and the author keeps your interest even during the parts when not all that much happens which is good. Over all it was a really good read that I enjoyed. I definitely want to read the next book in this series and I'm curious how the author will develop this story.

Totally LOVED this story, I could not put it down! It was so surprising with it being a high-school romance story with galactic implications. The characters, well most of them, in the story were easy to fall in love with and fun to read about. The typical teenage angst was ever present, but it was fun and lighthearted. It portrayed it very well and accurate!
I cannot wait to read the next one!!!
I would recommend and think this book is great for adults and teens!!
I was given this book to read in return for an honest review!

**I got this book in exchange for an honest review**

This was a brilliant book, a fantastic story line with a bit of romance, action, sci fi and school drama. I think in years to come this series will be the perfect series to end my school days books on- I'm coming up to the big 21 and feel that my reading preferences are maturing very very gradually with me.

The two main characters Marsha (m) and Rigel are in my opinion a match made in heaven, despite them being from opposite ends of the secondary school (high school) social chart. They are both realistic and rebellious teenagers- but not in the obvious way. Rigel is rebelling against his jock friends and their idea of his ideal girl (Trina) whereas M is rebelling against her aunt and uncles very strict rules as well as reaching for the boy who would normally be out of her league. It is that which makes them an instantly attractive couple to the reader as well as setting loyalties with them as a couple- you can't help but support the underdog.

The secondary characters make an already interesting story that little bit more realistic- I think most people can relate to overprotective family members, as well as super supportive family members, Best friends who fall out over boys and as always the rival who is almost always win the affections of a boy you like before you say hi.

The pacing of the story was superb, giving the reader question then answer guiding us along this magnificent story right until the very end.

The story line was great and forever interchanging the boy meets girl aspect is not the only thing that is great in this book.

I have loved this book, will defiantly get the second instalment 3.5 rating but just because I'm a risky bit more mature than I was last week.

"I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review"

I wasn't expecting Starstruck to be such an amazing book I found my self with a smile trough out the first sharpters of the book. The conversations and all the antics that happened to M are funny, her friends are funny and I truly enjoy them.
The plot was predictable but enjoyable nonetheless.
Rigel has a secret and it's bigger than even M can imagine, which isn't saying, much from the first time that he tells her the secret even before that, it's obvious what's going on, well to everyone but M I think :)
Like I said the plot is predictable but it's a quick, funny, nice and awesome story.

Would I recommend it? Yes, yes I would! :)

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

I enjoyed Starstruck and look forward to reading the sequels and finding out what happens next.

What first drew me in was that M reminded me of myself when I was her age, and as a great grandmother let me tell you that was a lot of years ago.
As I read I found it to be a fun combination of romance, fantasy, mystery and save the world.

The idea behind Starstruck was really fun and inviting for me. I loved the way Brenda Hiatt set up the Martian world. She not only included stuff about who the Martians are as a people and how their bodies work, but she went into Martian politics too. Learning about this world on Mars that Hiatt created was probably my favorite part about this whole reading experience.

I wasn't fond of the characters, though, nor was I fond of the romance between Marsha and Rigel (serious case of insta-love. I was not amused.), and it's incredibly difficult for me to like a book if the characters bother me, no matter how interesting the plot may be. Even though Marsha and Rigel are my age, I felt like they acted a lot more juvenile than most sophomores would. Marsha seemed much more concerned about making sure she and Rigel would always be together than she did about saving the world. I can understand boy-crazy, but boy-crazy to the point where said boy is all you care about becomes really annoying to read about.

Despite, what I feel anyway, were flaws in the main character, Starstruck was a pleasant read. I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a fun younger YA, maybe even MG, paranormal romance.

"I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review." And honestly it is incredible!! Very clean! Extremely well written! Moves quickly and grabs your attention ! Had trouble putting it down. Caught myself thinking about the characters later! Sweet romance with an out of this world twist! Can't wait for the next one!

The nerd-girl story turned it on its head in an engaging, delightful way. I was born in a town much like Jewel, and the middle of nowhere is just how a teenager would describe it. Flat, boring, cornfields, high school, and football, Hiatt gets it all right. Including the out of place feeling of a kid who doesn't quite fit. With just the right amount of teen angst--meaning not too much--she sets you up for the twist that should be a stretch, but it all works. Can't wait for the next one in the series!

I felt that the storyline had a good start, but that the author skimped over what I would consider to be more interesting details. For instance, when we learn why our main characters Marsha and Rigel have such an instant attraction to one another, as well as, similar "abilities" or strange things happening around them, the details are glossed over like they're discussing something much less significant instead of a possible ending of Earth as they know it.
I also felt that it dragged and more than once did I consider not finishing the book, as much as I hate to do so. I didn't connect with the characters and felt this story could be much better written with more feeling from the author.
I read this for free as part of a collection of books by other authors in a similar genre and don't think I'll be purchasing any other books in the series.

This was amazing and loved it all. M known to her friends had so much to deal with her friends didnt know half of it and a couple times gave her the cold shoulder because she had a boyfriend but M just kept battling on cant wait to see what happens next.

This book is a grat quickread if you like science fiction. It is adventurous and plays into the catagory of avaeage girl who is unpopular finds out she is a princess. Add alians and romance and you have the book. I enjoyed throwly and am looking forward to the next book since I was left with a small clifhanger.

This is without a doubt one of the worst books, I have ever read. I bulled my way through this and 1/4 of the way through the second book thinking I must be wrong when so many people thought it was so wonderful. Of course it never occurred to me that I had never heard of any of these awards. Unfortunately it is a dull pedestrian novel and you can predict the path the novel will take in the first few pages. I am through with self-published books, they waste my time. I am so grateful for publishers who protect us from authors who are still developing and for the most part wait until the author has matured. As my daddy always said "You get what you pay for". I read the free Kindle edition. Enough said!

I absolutely love this book great plot amazing beginning middle and end just wish get the other free to but i'd recommend this book to as many people as possible one favorite so far look forward to read more!!!????

Starstruck is an amazingly fun and quick read that immerses you in a new world that you aren't ready to leave when it's over. It fills the void for those of us who miss Harry Potter: a coming of age story for a strange/ nerdy girl who learns that she is incredibly special and there is a whole other world that exists where she really belongs. The characters and story are so engaging throughout that I couldn't believe how quickly I whipped through it. Please hurry up and release book two!

As a teacher and lover of young adult fiction, I feel so lucky that I got to read this book pre-release! This is an engaging story that many readers will enjoy. Although it has similarities to other popular young adult fiction (an awkward female protagonist, handsome boy, unusual abilities, supernatural twists), they are combined in a way I haven't read before. I can't wait to read more in the continuation of this series - it's got me hooked!

"I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review." And honestly it is incredible!! Very clean! Extremely well written! Moves quickly and grabs your attention ! Had trouble putting it down. Caught myself thinking about the characters later! Sweet romance with an out of this world twist! Can't wait for the next one!

I picked up the book one evening to read a chapter to relax before going to bed. 5 chapters later, I had to force myself to put it down. The characters are interesting and make the reader willing to invest in getting to know them. The dialogue is crisp and realistic. I loved finding a strong teenage girl as the protagonist. As a teacher, I read a great deal of YA fiction, and I know my 7th, 8th, and 9th grade girls will eat this series up! I can't wait to read the next book.

I had the privilege of reading this book pre-release. Fans of YA are sure to enjoy this novel (and the rest...yes, folks it's a series!). Don't most teens feel they've been born into the wrong family? Well, the answer to Marsha Truitt's wondering is out of this world. I won't spoil the fun by telling more.