Entangled: Embrace and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of A Star to Steer Her By. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

A Star to Steer Her By is a romance set on a ship during a Semester at Sea. The only thing that Ari has ever wanted for her future is to be a marine biologist, but a horrific accident a few months before threatened to derail her. Facing her fears, will Ari be able to shed the past and focus on the present? Will an attraction to one of the crew, strictly forbidden by the rules, bring Ari's journey to an abrupt close?

There were aspects of the story that I liked, namely the way that Ari did not allow a debilitating injury to derail her entire life. The descriptions of the ship, the living conditions, the work load, and the scenery did a good job of setting the scene. The part of the story that I could have done without was the forbidden love. I did not find it all that believable that someone like Ari, who had looked death in the face and fought back, would have taken chances with her future. Attraction can lead to rash decisions, but it just seemed more likely that the pair would have waited the short few weeks before acting. Readers who like NA romance will find A Star to Steer Her By to their liking, so I would recommend it to those who like the genre.

This is a very interesting premise, but I think took to long to get to the meat of the story. I had a rough time sticking with it and it took months of pick up and putting back down again before I got anywhere with the plot.

Enjoyed it
What I liked:
The writing style
The characters
Standalone
HEA

I look forward to reading more from this author.

I absolutely love the ocean! If I could live in/on the water, I would. I knew that I had to get my hands on this book after reading the blurb. Plus, that cover!? So beautiful! With a forbidden romance, the sea, and a mix of possible suspense/mystery I couldn’t dive in fast enough! The story started off a bit slow for me but once it took off I had a hard time putting it down.

Overcoming your fears can be one of the most challenging parts of life. Many NA novels have this as the center of the story. It was refreshing the way that this was a new take on that theme.

I loved watching Ari overcome so many things and watching her character grow throughout the story. Tristan also has some things to overcome but is always willing to help Ari. Their relationship was fun and at times heart-wrenching. It was enjoyable to watch them come together and help each other come to terms with things from their pasts and move to the future.

The setting was beautifully played out and completely realistic. Beth Anne Miller did a wonderful job of making it seem magical however, also keeping the brunt truth of the less than glamorous side.

I can only hope that we will be getting more of these characters! I feel as if we haven’t heard the end of Ari and Tristan’s story!

4 - "You should be proud of your scars... They're part of who you are." Stars!

Another really good read from the imagination of Beth Anne Miller. We travel from San Juan, through the Caribbean to New York, with the students on the Semester at Sea initiative. Ari Goodman the trainee sailor Tristan MacDougal a member of the crew, a non-fraternization policy clouding the attraction blooming between them.

"The purpose of this semester is to give you guys an experience unlike anything you’ve had before… You will learn about the sea, about sailing, and most of all you will learn about yourself…"

This is also a couple dealing with their own demons, both of them involving the sea in one form or another, and neither of them willing initially to discuss them in great depth, but as the story progresses and their time spent together extends they both start to trust the other with their secrets.

"I’ll get you back in the ocean again… if it’s the last thing I do."

This book coasted along like a pedalo on a man-made lake for me for the first 40% or so, but there was a pivotal point in the story, that from there everything moved forward at a steadier pace. You cannot help but get lost in the authors descriptions of where Tristan and Ari went and I liked that the secondary characters had a positive part to play in the story building between them.

"We’ve come a long way since boarding…"

This is my second read by this author in as many weeks, I have to say that the previous book I read; Under a Storm-Swept Sky just pipped A Star to Steer Her By in the enjoyment stakes, but one thing that Beth Anne Miller delivered on again in spades is a beautifully descriptive narrative of the locale visited and the flora and fauna seen while there.

"It's nice not to be alone..."

The relationship in this one was more of a slow burn, and I can understand why, but I think I would have been more invested in it, if the forbidden aspect had been used to greater effect.

We are like kindred souls, he and I, seeking solace from the sea…

Beth Anne Miller has been one of 2018’s best discoveries for me, and after reading and loving Under a Storm-swept Sky, I couldn’t wait to see what A Star to Steer Her By would bring.

“Your scar tells a story.

Once again she takes us on an emotional adventure as we join US student, Ariana Goodman for her Semester at Sea on Meg, a two masted-schooner where she meets Scottish deck-hand, and the Captain’s son, Tristan MacDougall. On the outside, both Ari and Tristan are focussed on being crew-members, but underneath is a different story with both harbouring their own personal hurts and it’s this that sees them gravitate to one another and slowly open up.

“You are the bravest person I know.”

This was a fairly steady-started, introducing us to those aboard Meg, some of the the technicalities of sailing and generally setting the scene of life at sea. But once it gathered momentum, watching Ari and Tristan fall was a joy to be a part of as they get to know one another, read one another, lean on each other and realise that what they’ve experienced, led them to one another.

“You take my breath away.”

This is a story which makes you feel and for someone who has a fear of the sea (unless standing on a beach), Beth Anne Miller made me want to climb aboard and take in the beauty of the ocean and those who call it home. And for that reason she’s entered auto-read territory.

“It has been my privilege to sail with you all.”

3.75 stars

I wasn't sure quite what to expect from this book being honest. It sounded engaging, so while the first pages didn't suck me in completely, I soon found myself falling in love with the characters and the whole sailing experience. It felt like catching a glimpse of a world (the sailing one) but didn't overwhelm me with technical details. I enjoyed how the sailing trip was portrayed as this magical experience, but didn't try to sugarcoat the less glamorous aspects of it and stayed true to what the experience is. The diving and ocean scenes were so vivid, and I can't help but want to attempt to go diving myself, to see all the beautiful fish and sea mammals and gorgeous view from a boat.

Ari, the heroine, is easily likable and I admired her courage so much. She's been through a tough traumatic experience in the ocean before, and while she's hurting physically and mentally, she was trying, and I couldn't help but be drawn in by that resilient core. I loved her passion and enthusiasm for sailing, and how she worked really hard, even if she did get distracted at times by the handsome crew member. Tristan is swoony, to say the least, and though his looks and Scottish accent would have charmed me anyway, I loved how caring and respectful he was towards Ari. He has some pain of his own to work out, but he also has that deep passion for sailing which easily connected him with Ari. The no hooking up rule between them is a very palpable thing, and while you know they're going to hook up at some point, I did like that the actual physical aspects were slowly intensified along with the emotional connection they shared. The romance was sweet and slowly built up, something I had been slightly worried would get reduced to instalove, but I felt the chemistry and tension every delicious step of the way. Those kisses were seriously swoony, I can attest that the chemistry definitely delivered.

Kevin and Jenny are two side characters who are both enjoyable in their own way. Kevin is a great guy, and I loved his friendship with Ari, they both joke around with each other but you can see the camaraderie is built on their very real bond. Jenny was a character who was introduced as snobby and not quite in touch with the whole sailing thing, but she did win me over, especially after how she thawed down the longer they were on the ship.

It wasn't a full four stars for me mostly because in general, I try to reserve those for books that reach my heart and soul on a different level, and this one didn't quite reach there, unfortunately. I also felt the synopsis is a bit misleading, since the dive excursion occurs quite late in the book, contrary to what I expected. But overall, it was thoroughly enjoyable and I recommend this to anyone who wants to get lost in romance and passion for at least a few hours.

Thank you to Entangled for the review copy.

This is the first time I have read this author and I enjoyed this story. Maybe at the beginning was a little slow but then, the story and the characters won my attention and it was a very entertaining read.


The story is sweet, the romance between the main characters is very well done and all in all it was a nice read!

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley

**3.5 Stars**

This story is Ariana's journey as she conquers her fears and returns to her greatest love...diving. Six months ago, while diving with her twin brother, Josh, Ari was severely injured. Since then, she hasn't been able to return to the water, but as she wants to be a marine biologist, and she's always felt at home in the water, she knows she needs to start moving forward. When the Semester at Sea program begins taking applications, Ari sends hers in. It's for two and a half months and she, along with five other college students, will live on the ship as crew, learning as they go.

On the first day, the students are introduced to the crew. Tristan, a deckhand and the captain's son, is immediately intrigued by Ari and the feeling is mutual. Unfortunately, it's forbidden for the students and crew to get intimately personal. Disobeying this rule, as stated in the contract Ari and the others had to sign, is grounds for removal from the program and a failing grade for the semester. Tristan, dealing with his own emotional pain after the loss of his mother, and Ari try to resist their attraction to one another. They focus instead on becoming friends, but each moment they spend together only intensifies the connection building between them.

What happens when Tristan and Ari succumb to their desires? Can they keep their relationship a secret? Will Tristan and Ari help each other heal? When Tristan and Ari are in danger, can they remain safe? Or will someone be hurt, leading to their feelings being revealed the captain? How will he react? Can Tristan and Ari maintain a relationship when he returns home to Scotland? Or will they find a way to be together? Is there a HEA for them?

One-click now and follow along as Tristan and Ari begin not only the journey toward healing, but also a love that can overcome any storm. This was a unique premise and reading as Tristan and Ari fell in love was intriguing. While this book does imply a HEA for this couple, we aren't given a definite one, but I choose to believe they'll have it.

**I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.**

Ari has been accepted into a semester at sea program, the only problem is that Ari is recovering from a shark attack that happened 6 months ago. Not only was her body affected, but also her mind. Her relationship with her twin brother has not recovered from the accident because they both believe he was the cause of Ari's accident. She almost turned down the opportunity to sail from the Caribbean to New York numerous times, but ultimately she decides to go for it. She is of course, cautious of the water, but she starts to find her rhythm aboard the boat. She is enjoying her lessons and making new friends on her voyage. Ari's interested in one of the deckhands: Tristan. He interests her and pushes her to face her fears. They soon become very close friends and they both realize that they click together. However, it is against the rules for students and boat workers to have any kind of relationship. They both have something to lose that they have worked for their entire lives if they are found out. Tristan helps Ari face her fears and Ari helps Tristan deal with the hurt from his past. They both realize this is not a passing interest and both are afraid of what happens at the end of their voyage. Will their relationship survive the trip and what happens when it's over? Read the book to find out! (Our copy of this book will be available soon for check-out!)

This book was so much fun! It gives a lot of information about sailing and the trials of living at sea. The struggles of Ari seemed very real as she overcomes such a horrific event. She is struggling with herself and her relationship with her family. The growth of Ari was wonderful to see and I loved the developments between Ari and Tristan. There was so much adventure in this story and I found myself cheering for Ari as she confronted her fears. This was such a fun read and I loved every minute of it!

I loved it! It's about getting over one's fears. After her accident, Ari has been afraid of the sea. She has always wanted to be a marine biologist and she simply cannot give up on her dreams, So she decides to spend one semester at sea any way. May be she won't be able to get over her fear but at least she will have given it her best shot. So for her a trip aboard Meg is not about credit hours, or something to add to her resume, it's more than that. And it is important to her.

Tristan has to fight demons of his own but he is always there to help Ari. May be in helping her he is also helping himself. At least they can support each other. And in addition to that have a good time at sea.

I enjoyed reading this book. Although I have no interest in sailing, ships, or the sea but the story is written in a way that it doesn't matter. I liked reading about all those things but mostly I liked reading about Ari and Tristan, their lives, hopes, and dreams, it is an interesting tale of letting past go. Which isn't always easy but sometimes it's what is required in order for us to move on to a successful future. I admire both characters and I'd recommend it to all my reader friends.

Quite the interesting read. I can't speak for other people however I can suggest that you should most definitely have a read for yourself and see if its the right book for you... it was a pleasant read overall.

Happy reading

sorry just couldnt get into it but i will still put up info and well still recommend it to my followers

Every once in a while you stumble upon a book that has the "full package". The kind of book where everything comes together nearly flawlessly and you are as touched and enchanted by the non-romance plot points just as much as you are the romance. A Star to Steer Her By was that book for me - and the fact that it's written by a new-to-me author makes it just that much sweeter.

This book made me uncomfortable - but in the very BEST way. That is - I felt like I was on an adventure. I felt this story and for me - someone who apparently has a slight phobia of the sea - that was sometimes an incredibly uncomfortable experience. I was on the edge of my seat several times over the course of reading this book, pulse pounding, compulsively flipping pages to see what happened next. I had google up on my phone more than once - looking up sea life and sailing terminology and generally throwing myself into this story -- and man, I could not put it down.

It's gripping. Compelling. Fascinating. And tucked in the middle of all this adventure was a romance that was forbidden, sexy, and intensely satisfying.

GAH!

I loved these beautifully damaged characters. I loved how brave Ari was, and how much she grew over the course of this book. I adored the relationships she formed -- the friendships with Kevin & Jenny as well as the romantic relationship with Tristan. I loved the respect Tristan had for Ari and I loved the sweetness she gave to him. Their relationship was a long, slowwwww burn - but mesmerizing, electrifying and frankly - sometimes just adorable.

I'm so glad I stumbled upon this unexpected gem and so happy for the time I got to spend with Ari & Tristan and the rest of the sailing crew. If you're in the mood for a scintillating and swoony romance wrapped up in a whole heap of thrilling adventure -- don't hesitate to pick this one up. ~ 4.5 Stars

This was a great read! Not only was it a wonderful story, but it really made me want to go sailing and scuba diving.

A cool setting. I liked seeing that the author had a similar semester at sea. I liked the premise that Ari is recovering from a shark attack. It was clever how she comes to reconnect with her brother. It was kind of stretch that she and Tristan would run into another shark attack and get shot at. For me, it was close, but the writing was missing that special something that really connects me to amazing characters. The secondary characters were flat and since we knew so few of them, I never felt like the boat had over twenty people on it.

After reading this book, I totally wouldn't mind spending some time at sea!!

I'll be totally honest, when I first picked up this book, I wasn't 100% sure about it. I've never read anything by this author before, but the cover looked amazing and the synopsis sounded so good, I just had to pick it up and give it a chance. And let me tell you, I am so glad I did. From the moment I picked up this book, I was pulled into Tristan and Ari's story. Ari had a love of the sea, but an injury had her questioning everything. However, she was determined to not let her fear rule her. Despite her concerns and fears, she jumps at the opportunity to spend a semester at sea. It's an opportunity of a lifetime and one that she just can't pass up. She's hoping that with time, she can conquer her fears and reclaim her life....As a crew member of the Meg, Tristan has his own issues that he's trying to escape. What he never planned on was Ari. While helping build confidence and heal Ari, Ari was also healing Tristan as well. They were only supposed to be friends, but with each day that passes, their connection would grow even stronger, giving way to a beautiful relationship. However, the road to HEA for these two will not be an easy one. Their relationship is forbidden and anyone finding out could put them both in jeopardy. Will Ari and Tristan find their HEA or will fate keep these two lovers apart?

A Star to Steer Her was a really great story. I was captivated from the moment I read it and fell in love with Ari's story. Ari had so much to overcome, and I loved watching her character grow throughout the story. A Star to Steer Her is a beautiful story about growth, forgiveness and love. I thought this story was well written and I really loved the plot. I thought the characters were a lot of fun and very easy to connect with. I loved the build of Ari and Tristan's relationship. They were amazing friends and I loved the tension that oozed between the two of them. They are the kind of couple that you can't help but fall in love with and hope that they get a happy ending.

A Star to Steer Her is my first book by this author and it certainly won't be my last. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.

Ari has applied for a Semester at Sea from Marine Classroom. She is crazy about the sea and diving. And she gets an acceptance letter. She should be thrilled, but during the waiting period she has been in a terrible accident (shark..) and she has doubts she will be able to dive again.

This is a book about overcoming your fears and facing them. Heads on. And finding love as well, as Ari falls in love with the son of the Captain, Tristan.

I really loved this book! Ari is a great heroine and Tristan helps her with her fears and wants to be there for her. Great NA.