Retired actor Levi Pritchard left Hollywood behind after he became sick and tired of all the games. Being typecast as an action star after his most famous role was irritating, and rumors about his sexuality were always circulating. Levi chose to leave it all behind and made his home in the sleepy little town of Bluewater Bay, Washington. Several years later, Bluewater Bay is now where the wildly popular TV show Wolf’s Landing is filmed. When the producer and director of the show come calling, Levi can’t turn them down; it’s the role of a life time and something that will really show he’s more than a washed up action star. Though he’s told he’ll have to stay firmly in the closet, Levi takes the role.

Carter Samuels is out and proud, and plays the lead male role on Wolf’s Landing. When he hears that Levi is going to sign on with the show, he’s thrilled. Carter is a fan of Levi’s from before he even became an action star. Carter seeks Levi out at the theater where Levi is directing a local production. The two men hit it off, finding a mutual love of obscure films and other things in common. They become friends, and their feelings quickly move into much more. But they both agree that they can’t have any more than friendship. Levi has to keep his sexuality hidden, both at the producer’s request and because of the tenuous relationship with his family, and Carter doesn’t want to be anyone’s secret.

When Carter meets someone new at a convention, Levi is disappointed but tries to tell himself it is for the best. Carter, however, just can’t move forward with the new guy because he’s so hung up on Levi. It’s the impetus they need to take their relationship to the next level. An explosion of feeling leads to a night together. But the problems between them still remain, and there are circumstances they can’t change. Despite their deep feelings for one another, the timing is all wrong and they know they have to walk away. With both their heart’s broken, can these two men figure out how to make it work between them?

The Bluewater Bay series features books by multiple authors focusing on different couples that have ties to the town and the wildly popular TV show Wolf’s Landing that’s filmed there. They can all be read as stand-alone novels. Starstruck is a great tale of friends to lovers, where both men know they shouldn’t take that step but their attraction and deep feelings for each other will be satisfied with nothing less. They guys are meant to be together, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have to navigate a rough road to get there.

Levi is jaded with Hollywood, and understandably so. After finding huge success as an action star, he can’t seem to get any roles that are anything different. Add to that living in the closet, rumors about his sexuality constantly swirling, and a vindictive ex who tried to out him, and Levi is fed up. We first meet him several years later, after he’s already settled into Bluewater Bay and after Wolf’s Landing has started shooting there. He misses acting fiercely, he really loved it, but the price he had to pay was too high. Witt does a great job of painting Levi. We see his sadness clearly and my heart just hurt for him. Getting offered a dream role on the TV show should make him ecstatic, but having to remain in the closet is nonnegotiable. That’s not a huge issue for Levi at first; he’s firmly hiding anyway. His family is a rough mess, his parents are recovering alcoholics and staunchly conservative, and it’s only recently that the family has started to heal. If he came out, it would ruin that. Levi is reluctant to take the role though, despite wanting it so bad he can taste it, but because he doesn’t want his personal life in the spotlight again. All he wants is to act. I was right there with him as he went through a whole cavalcade of emotions throughout the story. His thoughts and motivations were so clear, I felt for him and wanted nothing more than for him to sort through all his troubles and get exactly what he wanted.

Carter is the perfect match for Levi. He’s out and proud and is still hugely popular. He has a less jaded view of the world, though he’s by no means naïve. His love of old and obscure films may be what began the friendship with Levi, but these guys connect on every level. I really liked the way their relationship slowly built. The connection between them felt real and believable and that part made the story for me. I loved watching them navigate their relationship, and struggling with what they knew they should do being at odds with what they wanted so badly.

And it is a slow build. There were a couple of moments there when I was ready to give the characters a shake and tell them to get on with it. But in the long run, it really worked because these two guys needed that long build up, the false starts and the miscommunication. By the time they finally are ready for each other, it’s perfect.

I have to make mention of one thing that got under my skin though. In the beginning, Levi knows he’s gay and wants to remain hidden. He admits to former relationships with men. There were a couple of places, however, where Levi stated he was bisexual. This stuck out to me, and not in a good way, because it seemed he was saying he was bi and not gay. Previously, he had said he was gay. The inconsistency of it was a little bit irritating.

Overall, though, this was a great story. If you’re in the mood for a true friends to lovers plot, I highly recommend you pick this one up. These two men will endear themselves to you.

There really isn't much to this book, it is all about the relationship between Carter and Levi building. There isn't much angst or drama other than the closeted character aspect. The age difference isn't really even an issue and is only briefly mentioned in passing.

Levi has been in the closet his entire life...because of his career and his family. I honestly think he just got used to it and there really isn't any other reason for it. He finally meets someone that gives him a reason to come out...but it takes some convincing. Levi and Carter become friends first which solidifies their relationship as eventual lovers. They have an emotional connection they realize they don’t want to live without and Levi finally (at almost 40) grows a pair and stands up for what he wants.

The story is a bit predictable; slow at times, frustrating at times but Levi melted my heart a little when he finally admitted to Carter how he felt. That one scene was worth the wait!

Starstruck by L.A. Witt was the first book in Riptide Publishing’s Bluewater Bay universe, a fact that I had forgotten until doing my homework for this review. Obviously it was on my radar once upon a time, as I added it to my Goodreads TBR shelf back in December of 2014, but somehow it took me this long to get to it. I’m so glad I finally did get to it, though, because I enjoyed it so much!! And, I’m particularly glad that I chose to enjoy it in audio format, because the narration was fantastic.

Levi Pritchard moved to Bluewater Bay to escape all the things he hated about Hollywood. Though his role as Chad Eastwick boosted his career and has afforded him a nice life, he got tired of being typecast, and being shoved in the closet by Tinsel Town execs. In Bluewater Bay, even with the growing popularity of Wolf’s Landing, the TV show that is set and filmed in the small coastal town, Levi’s life is quiet and he likes it that way. For the most part. He maybe doesn’t realize how lonely he is, or how much he truly misses acting, until Hollywood comes calling again.

Carter Samuels is more surprised than anyone when one of his idols walks on to the Wolf’s Landing set. He’d heard rumors about Levi since coming to Bluewater Bay—that he was sort of a recluse, and directed plays at the small theater in town—but, hadn’t run into him until now. He’s immediately struck by how attractive Levi is in person, and how badly he wants to get to know him. The two do strike up a friendship, and it quickly becomes obvious that the attraction is far from one-sided, and could potentially be more.

I loved these two together. Even when they were trying to pretend they could just be friends! Their bond was so natural and true and strong. From their shared love of obscure foreign films, and just movie making in general, to the adorable relationship with Levi’s Maine Coons, Link and Zelda, they made such perfect sense as a couple. The roadblock, of course, was Levi’s fear and need to stay closeted, and Carter’s conviction to remain out and true, and not be anyone’s ‘dirty little secret.’ Witt did a great job with the character development, especially Levi’s history and everything he’s been through, and with the conflict set up and resolution. I was feeling all of the frustrations from both Levi and Carter. Good stuff.

Nick J. Russo’s narration was pretty close to flawless. His performance kept me completely engaged and excited to turn the audio back on the second I got into my car. He did a wonderful job with all of the voices, including those of the supporting cast. Speaking of which…quick shout out to Anna, one of the executive producers and directors on the show, who was awesome, and such a good friend to Levi and Carter. I loved her.

The Bluewater Bay series is now eighteen books strong, and I have only read three of them, all of which I loved. And, five more of them are currently available on audio, narrated by Mr. Russo. Looks like I have a lot to keep me busy for a while! Definitely check this one out if you haven’t yet, guys!

Its been a long time since I read these books and to be honest I cannot recall what I thought of them at all.

Mare~Slitsread