Having lived the majority of your life at below poverty, what would you do if you found out that an extremely wealthy man you have only met once, has stipulated in his will that his son could only inherit his immense fortune if he married you? Would you allow yourself to 'be sold off' like a possession to a man you have never met knowing the wealth will support your family in a way you could never imagine? Would your understanding of your self worth and true value prevent you from being treated no better than an inanimate object? Eighteen year old Viktoria Hale found herself asking those very questions.

Early in Vika Hale's life her father had a good job that provided well for his wife and two daughters. The fall of the local mining production on their planet of Philomenus, and the loss of his job, changed their whole existence. The Hale's could no longer afford to live their luxurious lifestyle, let alone eat. At young ages, Vika and her sister were forced to work backbreaking, demeaning jobs to help their family barely survive. Vika and her sister were more fortunate then some. A personal teacher was provided by an unknown, wealthy benefactor Vika met once when she was a very little girl. The education came at a cheap price, Vika was required to provide blood for DNA testing, undergo psychological and mental tests, as well as provide a yearly photo.

Over the years Regis Chapin had vetted many young girls to become the wife of his only son Leo. Upon Regis' death it became clear by a stipulation in his will that Vika was Regis' choice. Leo must return home from school abroad and marry Vika in order to inherit his father's vast wealth. During his trip home his freighter explodes killing everyone on board, including Leo. What does this mean for Vika? Where does this leave her?

Cristin Terrill's story had me engaged from the very first page. 'The Stars Between Us' tells the story of life on two very different planets. One filled with wealth, parties, and prestige and the other poverty, desperation, and struggles. On occasion I did find myself struggling to understand Vika Hale. At times she came across as self-absorbed and shallow, but then I would contemplate the extreme life choices an eighteen year old was being forced to make and better understand her plight. Not just any eighteen year old, but a young woman who was forced to live most of her life struggling to survive. Wouldn't anyone in her situation revel in the wealth and sophisticated lifestyle they were suddenly thrust into? Throughout the story we get to see Vika grow and mature into a deeper character.

Cristin Terrill is a new author for me and an instant book buy now that I have gotten a taste for her craft of writing.
The story itself is not completely original. Premise of a poor girl, "Vika", finds out she has the opportunity to live a better life by marrying the Chapin heir, only to turn out he died in an explosion. Or did he? However, it does not end there for our heroine. She gets offer the chance to experience wealth under the charity and goodwill of the couple who received a nice windfall of being name the heir of the Chapin empire. Everything seemed to be going well for Vika until a sinister explosion makes her question if the Chapin heir death was a coincidence or planned. Together with Sky, they hunt for the answers. Along this journey, we see growth in both characters and justice they both deserve.

What I loved about this book is it kept me guessing differently. I thought I knew what this was all about but I was pleasantly surprised. Vika was a strong heroine. Her emotions were realistic for any girl pushed into a different environment but she did cave nor did she lose herself ultimately.

Overall, I throughly enjoyed this novel. All the plot twist and answers were complete by the end of the novel and the ending was poetic. HEA