Solid, satisfying read ( )

I need to begin that I love, love, love Alice's character. She went through a horrible event that no woman should have to endure but sadly is completely accepted in academia and many other professions. Why does our society attack the woman that is involved with sexual harassment and sexual assault? She did nothing wrong!?! But yet, she is the one who is put under a looking glass from how she dresses to her sexual partners to her dating life! Yet, the man that committed the crime is not!?! Ok, I'm off my soapbox. I just had to get that off my chest. Yes, it all does pertain to the book since this is what Alice had to endure and Griffin helped her work through those emotions.

Also check out the excerpt of the book here
Alice Carlisle is in a rut. She should be finishing off her PhD dissertation, instead she's working as an extra on a television show and avoiding her roommate since said roommate wants her to move out. Not until one of the show's front runners, Griffin Beach starts to show an interest does her luck begin to change. Interest in having Alice as his dog sitter and house sitter while he's filming in Atlanta after the show ends. Alice moves in before he leaves since she lovely roommate wanted her out immediately to move his new boyfriend in. Alice and Griffin begin a friendship and an odd flirtation before Griffin leaves. What starts out as a business relationship becomes much more complicated.

Griffin is an up and coming star. He's slated to start in three movie roles after his sitcom ends. He's never really had a roommate before preferring his solitude and privacy. He gets very little of both recently since he's becoming more popular and famous with each role he accepts. The movie of a lifetime is turning out to be a complete disaster. He was looking forward to working with this director, but the man is a complete tool. Griffin fears that this will be the director's first flop that spells trouble for Griffin's career as well. He enters a fake relationship with his co-star to save the movie. This fake relationship comes at a price for him--Alice.

Griffin gave Alice the strength to tell her adviser the truth behind why Alice stopped working on her dissertation. A weight lifted off her shoulders by sharing this information. It also gave Alice the motivation to return to working on the dissertation. Once Alice can see the final light of her work--she has complications--named Griffin. Griffin returns from Atlanta. She can't wait to see him until she finds out about his fake relationship. She thought they were at least friends--friends tell each other when they are in a relationship, right?

Both Alice and Griffin want more than a friendship. Can Alice find a way to accept the pitfalls of Griffin's occupation? Can Griffin find a way to protect Alice from the paps? Will they find a way to be together even though they each have issues with their occupations? ( )

Susannah Nix is definitely a must read author for me. The Starstruck series is so good, I love all the characters and their stories. The stories draw me in but the characters are what keep me coming back because I truly want to see where the end up. ( )

Rising Star (Starstruck) by Susannah Nix  
 
The appeal of Rising Star for me hinged heavily on Alice. Alice is a character that readers can see pieces of themselves in. Nix created a character that was fascinating not because she lost her heart to a movie star, but because she stayed true to herself while doing it. Susannah Nix dared to show how awkward can be beautiful. Rising Star is right at the head of class when it comes to empowerment and that's a message that never gets old. ( )