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Sprinkled in the Stars
AJ Beckett is just trying to get Parker, her seven-year-old autistic daughter, through life in one piece. As a paramedic, AJ puts others’ needs above her own; in her personal life, she keeps everyone an arm’s length away. That distance disappears when a chance run-in with actor Melanie Cooper leaves her sticky, angry, and fed up.
Melanie Cooper has just signed her last movie. The media keeps portraying her as cold and hard to work with, and Mel has absolutely nothing more to give. As she begins to imagine a new life, a challenging part of her past comes back on the scene, determined to cause problems for Mel.
After a series of coincidental meetings, AJ battles her desire for control while Mel struggles with trust. Despite the challenges and complications, Mel finds herself drawn to the Beckett ladies, and AJ can’t deny their connection, either.
Falling in love has never been so sweet.
Genre: Romance
Cover: Cath Grace Designs
Editor: Kat Jackson
Words: 86,000
Melanie Cooper has just signed her last movie. The media keeps portraying her as cold and hard to work with, and Mel has absolutely nothing more to give. As she begins to imagine a new life, a challenging part of her past comes back on the scene, determined to cause problems for Mel.
After a series of coincidental meetings, AJ battles her desire for control while Mel struggles with trust. Despite the challenges and complications, Mel finds herself drawn to the Beckett ladies, and AJ can’t deny their connection, either.
Falling in love has never been so sweet.
Genre: Romance
Cover: Cath Grace Designs
Editor: Kat Jackson
Words: 86,000
287 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
June 26, 2022
I was kinda hoping for a Notting Hill type vibe so my expectations were quite high. It was cute in parts, steamy in others but in about 2 hours time I won't remember the names of the main characters. Just okay for me.
September 5, 2021
A beautiful, warm story of love, differences and family with great characters. The child character of Parker (7) especially stands out. I am so looking forward to Morley's next book -- cannot believe this is her debut novel.
5 stars
5 stars
February 8, 2022
Hollywood.
My first audiobook since I moved to the Storytel platform and it's a heartwarming listen that I genuinely like. It's a story about a Hollywood actress falling for a single mother of an autistic child and the author managed to avoid every opportunity for angst, making it an easy listen for me.
I was half-half about this before I started because while I enjoy the celebrity trope, I tend to get picky when kids are involved. Plus, I raised my eyebrows at a few coincidences in the storyline at the beginning. But I found seven year old Parker adorable and I love the friendship she has with Melanie. Melanie seems to understand Parker in ways that even her own mother, AJ, sometimes can't and I love how good Melanie is with her. I also love AJ for enabling this bond. The adult main characters are really likeable too, especially Melanie, who manages to retain her innocence and humility despite being an established celebrity. I felt the chemistry between Melanie and AJ but what I enjoyed more was the three of them together as a family.
The audiobook is narrated by Abby Craden, which of course means I can listen to this all day long, because, well, it's Abby Craden. For people who prefer reading, the book is also on Kindle Unlimited.
My first audiobook since I moved to the Storytel platform and it's a heartwarming listen that I genuinely like. It's a story about a Hollywood actress falling for a single mother of an autistic child and the author managed to avoid every opportunity for angst, making it an easy listen for me.
I was half-half about this before I started because while I enjoy the celebrity trope, I tend to get picky when kids are involved. Plus, I raised my eyebrows at a few coincidences in the storyline at the beginning. But I found seven year old Parker adorable and I love the friendship she has with Melanie. Melanie seems to understand Parker in ways that even her own mother, AJ, sometimes can't and I love how good Melanie is with her. I also love AJ for enabling this bond. The adult main characters are really likeable too, especially Melanie, who manages to retain her innocence and humility despite being an established celebrity. I felt the chemistry between Melanie and AJ but what I enjoyed more was the three of them together as a family.
The audiobook is narrated by Abby Craden, which of course means I can listen to this all day long, because, well, it's Abby Craden. For people who prefer reading, the book is also on Kindle Unlimited.
August 7, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Sprinkled in the Stars is my first book by this author, and it is also her impressive debut.
The worlds in which the two MCs live could hardly be more different. Melanie Cooper is a famous and successful actress who is considering quitting the business because she is fed up with celebrity status and would rather not be in the spotlight all the time.
In addition, AJ Beckett, paramedic and single mom of the autistic daughter Parker, was financially strapped and without the help of her sister could not possibly bring everything under one hat.
At first glance, you think they don't fit together at all. But the deeper we dive into the story, the more similarities we discover. Some reviewers criticize the first few meetings of the MCs are somewhat contrived, that may be, but hey it's fiction, I can turn a blind eye, it does not always have to correspond to the harsh reality of our lives, but that's just my opinion.
Melanie and AJ impressed me with their ability to talk to each other without annoying and unnecessary misunderstandings (which often lead to a conflict before they are resolved). Questions are asked and answered as adults are supposed to do. AJ had to learn to accept help and gifts and Melanie, who has trouble interpreting and understanding the body language and facial expressions of others, had to learn that her often well-intentioned actions can also cause the opposite.
The absolute star of the story is Parker. I have friends who have daughters on the autistic spectrum, and I learned a lot from them about this impairment. Violet Morley did a fantastic job in showing what it can mean to have an autistic child. For example, Parker doesn't like physical contact, that too much noise or lights can totally overstimulate Parker and lead to a meltdown. She also showed very nicely how AJ dealt with her in these situations to bring her back from a meltdown. And it also shows what kind of incredible control it often requires from AJ. And I know from my friends that it sometimes takes longer until the child is calm again, and how exhausting this can be for the parents.
AJ's protective instinct and desire to control and Mel's insecurity to trust, and the paparazzi are only some of the hurdles they had to overcome. But when AJ sees how well Mel handles Parker and understands her as the only one, besides her sister Kate and AJ herself, there is no reason to resist the feelings anymore. And there are also some very likable secondary characters too, like AJ’s sister and Mel’s brother and fiancé.
A heartwarming story about social status, autism, and financial inequalities. With little drama but a lot of feelings. It made me smile and Parker captured my heart immediately.
I bought this book in the FB go fund me “Auction for Annabel” and I hope Annabel got and will still get all the help she needs so that she can live a hopefully good life. All the best Annabel, I’m thinking of you.
And thank you Violet Morley to participate in this auction too.
Sprinkled in the Stars is my first book by this author, and it is also her impressive debut.
The worlds in which the two MCs live could hardly be more different. Melanie Cooper is a famous and successful actress who is considering quitting the business because she is fed up with celebrity status and would rather not be in the spotlight all the time.
In addition, AJ Beckett, paramedic and single mom of the autistic daughter Parker, was financially strapped and without the help of her sister could not possibly bring everything under one hat.
At first glance, you think they don't fit together at all. But the deeper we dive into the story, the more similarities we discover. Some reviewers criticize the first few meetings of the MCs are somewhat contrived, that may be, but hey it's fiction, I can turn a blind eye, it does not always have to correspond to the harsh reality of our lives, but that's just my opinion.
Melanie and AJ impressed me with their ability to talk to each other without annoying and unnecessary misunderstandings (which often lead to a conflict before they are resolved). Questions are asked and answered as adults are supposed to do. AJ had to learn to accept help and gifts and Melanie, who has trouble interpreting and understanding the body language and facial expressions of others, had to learn that her often well-intentioned actions can also cause the opposite.
The absolute star of the story is Parker. I have friends who have daughters on the autistic spectrum, and I learned a lot from them about this impairment. Violet Morley did a fantastic job in showing what it can mean to have an autistic child. For example, Parker doesn't like physical contact, that too much noise or lights can totally overstimulate Parker and lead to a meltdown. She also showed very nicely how AJ dealt with her in these situations to bring her back from a meltdown. And it also shows what kind of incredible control it often requires from AJ. And I know from my friends that it sometimes takes longer until the child is calm again, and how exhausting this can be for the parents.
AJ's protective instinct and desire to control and Mel's insecurity to trust, and the paparazzi are only some of the hurdles they had to overcome. But when AJ sees how well Mel handles Parker and understands her as the only one, besides her sister Kate and AJ herself, there is no reason to resist the feelings anymore. And there are also some very likable secondary characters too, like AJ’s sister and Mel’s brother and fiancé.
A heartwarming story about social status, autism, and financial inequalities. With little drama but a lot of feelings. It made me smile and Parker captured my heart immediately.
I bought this book in the FB go fund me “Auction for Annabel” and I hope Annabel got and will still get all the help she needs so that she can live a hopefully good life. All the best Annabel, I’m thinking of you.
And thank you Violet Morley to participate in this auction too.
June 24, 2021
4.5 stars
I liked this book very much. Good writing, nice story and charming characters. No angst, which is a plus in my book. And no breaking up for a silly reason at about 80% of the book, but good communication between the mains.
Parker, one of the important characters has autism and Mel, one of the MC’s, might be on the spectrum too. I liked reading about them and seeing how AJ, Kate, Andrew and Rob treated them with loving respect and how they were able to cope with their difficulties and tried to overcome them.
There are only a few small things that I liked less. One is that the story sometimes dragged a bit, especially after the beginning until AJ and Mel started to take their attraction more serious. It’s only a very minor point. The other comment I have is that it’s not clearly resolved who wrote the negative pieces about AJ on social media/in the press. There is just a hint who might have done that as AJ thinks about it, but nothing more.
This book left me with a good feeling. I’d read another book by this author.
I liked this book very much. Good writing, nice story and charming characters. No angst, which is a plus in my book. And no breaking up for a silly reason at about 80% of the book, but good communication between the mains.
Parker, one of the important characters has autism and Mel, one of the MC’s, might be on the spectrum too. I liked reading about them and seeing how AJ, Kate, Andrew and Rob treated them with loving respect and how they were able to cope with their difficulties and tried to overcome them.
There are only a few small things that I liked less. One is that the story sometimes dragged a bit, especially after the beginning until AJ and Mel started to take their attraction more serious. It’s only a very minor point. The other comment I have is that it’s not clearly resolved who wrote the negative pieces about AJ on social media/in the press. There is just a hint who might have done that as AJ thinks about it, but nothing more.
This book left me with a good feeling. I’d read another book by this author.
June 14, 2021
Being on the spectrum myself I'm always excited to read books with characters that are on the spectrum.
This book is about AJ that is a paramedic and lives together with her 7-year-old autistic daughter Parker at her sisters. Money was always tight for them, but AJ does everything she can that also Parker's special needs get covered. Her protective side and how she is looking after Parker are very sweet. I also loved how her sister Kate belongs to their routine.
Mel on the other hand is an actress that has no issues with having too less money. But money can't buy you happiness. Money also doesn't help people understand that even if you're a celebrity you might still not everything that comes with it. So in the public eye Mel is mostly seen as the ice queen. When Mel and AJ meet, AJ gets to see this ice queen side and she isn't very happy about that. But circumstances make them meet again and again and AJ's opinion starts to change.
Both must deal with their insecurities first and having Parker also means for AJ that she can't just think of herself. But when AJ realises that Mel understands Parker better than most of the other people, her heart melts more and more. I just loved all the scenes with Parker. I also loved how AJ and Mel gets closer and start to know each other first before they act on their attraction. And well you definitely get to feel their attraction to each other. I had to smile several times how they were checking each other out.
Finishing the book I was totally happy with the outcome. There wasn't much angst and AJ and Mel were great figuring things out. There were also some wonderful side characters with AJ's sister Kate, Mel's brother Rob and his husband Andrew. The wonderful Parker itself was more of a main character for me than a side character. 😊
I only have one little complain about the story. On the one hand I loved how Mel's issues were treated in the book. On the other hand I would have loved to see, if the story went a bit deeper there. Personally I think it's something that needs to be processed fully and it was handled a bit too much in the passing. But that didn't let me enjoy the story any less and I definitely highly recommend it. And thinking of that this beautiful story is a debut novel, I can just say well done. I'm looking forward very much to read more by this author.
This book is about AJ that is a paramedic and lives together with her 7-year-old autistic daughter Parker at her sisters. Money was always tight for them, but AJ does everything she can that also Parker's special needs get covered. Her protective side and how she is looking after Parker are very sweet. I also loved how her sister Kate belongs to their routine.
Mel on the other hand is an actress that has no issues with having too less money. But money can't buy you happiness. Money also doesn't help people understand that even if you're a celebrity you might still not everything that comes with it. So in the public eye Mel is mostly seen as the ice queen. When Mel and AJ meet, AJ gets to see this ice queen side and she isn't very happy about that. But circumstances make them meet again and again and AJ's opinion starts to change.
Both must deal with their insecurities first and having Parker also means for AJ that she can't just think of herself. But when AJ realises that Mel understands Parker better than most of the other people, her heart melts more and more. I just loved all the scenes with Parker. I also loved how AJ and Mel gets closer and start to know each other first before they act on their attraction. And well you definitely get to feel their attraction to each other. I had to smile several times how they were checking each other out.
Finishing the book I was totally happy with the outcome. There wasn't much angst and AJ and Mel were great figuring things out. There were also some wonderful side characters with AJ's sister Kate, Mel's brother Rob and his husband Andrew. The wonderful Parker itself was more of a main character for me than a side character. 😊
I only have one little complain about the story. On the one hand I loved how Mel's issues were treated in the book. On the other hand I would have loved to see, if the story went a bit deeper there. Personally I think it's something that needs to be processed fully and it was handled a bit too much in the passing. But that didn't let me enjoy the story any less and I definitely highly recommend it. And thinking of that this beautiful story is a debut novel, I can just say well done. I'm looking forward very much to read more by this author.
April 3, 2023
Warm and fuzzy.
Love the characters and of course Abby Craden’s performance!
IHS reading challenge single parent
Love the characters and of course Abby Craden’s performance!
IHS reading challenge single parent
January 22, 2022
Review of Sprinkled in the Stars by Violet Morley, narrated by Abby Craden
I’m not sure why this author has escaped my lesfic radar until now since she’s written two books already, this being her impressive debut. I have to admit that probably I wouldn’t have read this book anytime soon if the audiobook version wasn’t narrated by Abby Craden. A typical case of choosing a narrator over a story but I’m glad I did it as this was a good listen.
AJ Beckett’s life isn’t easy, as a single mother of a 7-year-old autistic child, she’s struggling emotionally and financially. Melanie Cooper is a famous actress who is tired of the pressure of being a celebrity and ready to retire. When both women accidentally meet, neither of them was ready to embrace their intense connection. But as they get to know each other, trying to fight their mutual attraction is futile.
This is a celebrity, opposites-attract romance with an ice queen and a very cute kid thrown in the mix. I’m sure it will catch the attention of many readers who are fans of these tropes. The main characters are very different from each other but their attraction makes perfect sense and their interactions sound realistic and natural.
Despite that both characters are likeable, Parker (AJ’s autistic 7-year-old daughter) steals the show. I know very little about children with autism but Parker’s sensory overload when facing certain stimuli, her taking things very literally, and her avoidance of physical contact, among others, seemed authentic. I have to give praise to AJ for knowing how to deal with her daughter’s reactions and keeping calm and collected. As a parent myself, I would love to behave like that all the time… This novel also features an adult in the spectrum who also seemed genuine to me.
Having said that, I’m not convinced by the three very coincidental meet-cutes between the mains. I didn’t find them believable and it kept the main characters separated from each other for a longer period of time than I would have preferred. However, I’m glad that I kept on listening despite some pacing issues because the story piqued my interest later on.
I know I sound like a broken record but Abby Craden’s narration is as awesome as always. I loved her performance of Parker, her little girl voice and her mood changes are very well done. Even better than her performance of the twin girls in Three reasons to Say Yes by Jaime Clevenger. Ms. Craden’s voices for both main characters and her performance of emotions are spot on. It certainly improved my enjoyment of the story. 4 stars.
Length: 7 hours and 24 minutes
I’m not sure why this author has escaped my lesfic radar until now since she’s written two books already, this being her impressive debut. I have to admit that probably I wouldn’t have read this book anytime soon if the audiobook version wasn’t narrated by Abby Craden. A typical case of choosing a narrator over a story but I’m glad I did it as this was a good listen.
AJ Beckett’s life isn’t easy, as a single mother of a 7-year-old autistic child, she’s struggling emotionally and financially. Melanie Cooper is a famous actress who is tired of the pressure of being a celebrity and ready to retire. When both women accidentally meet, neither of them was ready to embrace their intense connection. But as they get to know each other, trying to fight their mutual attraction is futile.
This is a celebrity, opposites-attract romance with an ice queen and a very cute kid thrown in the mix. I’m sure it will catch the attention of many readers who are fans of these tropes. The main characters are very different from each other but their attraction makes perfect sense and their interactions sound realistic and natural.
Despite that both characters are likeable, Parker (AJ’s autistic 7-year-old daughter) steals the show. I know very little about children with autism but Parker’s sensory overload when facing certain stimuli, her taking things very literally, and her avoidance of physical contact, among others, seemed authentic. I have to give praise to AJ for knowing how to deal with her daughter’s reactions and keeping calm and collected. As a parent myself, I would love to behave like that all the time… This novel also features an adult in the spectrum who also seemed genuine to me.
Having said that, I’m not convinced by the three very coincidental meet-cutes between the mains. I didn’t find them believable and it kept the main characters separated from each other for a longer period of time than I would have preferred. However, I’m glad that I kept on listening despite some pacing issues because the story piqued my interest later on.
I know I sound like a broken record but Abby Craden’s narration is as awesome as always. I loved her performance of Parker, her little girl voice and her mood changes are very well done. Even better than her performance of the twin girls in Three reasons to Say Yes by Jaime Clevenger. Ms. Craden’s voices for both main characters and her performance of emotions are spot on. It certainly improved my enjoyment of the story. 4 stars.
Length: 7 hours and 24 minutes
February 22, 2022
Parker, AJ's seven year-old daughter, is the highlight of this story. She is heartbreakingly authentic in her autistic glory. Morley has done a very hard thing, here. There's a reason most authors with autistic characters select the high-functioning end of the spectrum. Parker is not high-functioning. So that was outstanding.
Everything else felt like ball bearings in a dryer. Klunky, is what I'm trying to say. For anyone even a little bit visual, you have loads of things that simply don't work. Like someone doubling over in laughter as they walk through a door. It isn't that the thing wasn't actually funny (it wasn't that funny), just that someone doubling in laughter walking through a doorway is absurd. This kind of thing happens a lot and it pushes me out of the narrative every time. It's a little like the author thinks we're viewing the story through the wrong end of a telescope so she's exaggerating all the movements so people can see.
And it isn't helping that every character seems made of candy floss. They're so fragile, each in their own way and that makes for a ton of brittle interactions. And I can't help feeling like Melanie would be eaten alive if she were actually a famous actress. She's desperately naïve, which is actually kind of charming. But she's a power player in Hollywood who doesn't seem to have any power at all. Like, for example, her nasty, manipulative, gaslighting ex is somehow integral to the movie she's currently shooting? How is that even possible? Any director who let that situation develop without intervening is a stone-cold idiot. Of course, it sounds like he is just that, but that's back to the problem that this doesn't even begin to make sense as a thing that can happen.
It took forever for the two to actually meet. Like, quarter of the story long. I gave it a couple chapters after that point to see if it'd smooth out once they had some solid interaction (beyond tripping over one another). It didn't smooth out.
I'm giving this a second star because Parker is so perfect. Morley shows some talent there. But her visual cues need to align better with things that can happen for me to feel comfortable in her stories.
Everything else felt like ball bearings in a dryer. Klunky, is what I'm trying to say. For anyone even a little bit visual, you have loads of things that simply don't work. Like someone doubling over in laughter as they walk through a door. It isn't that the thing wasn't actually funny (it wasn't that funny), just that someone doubling in laughter walking through a doorway is absurd. This kind of thing happens a lot and it pushes me out of the narrative every time. It's a little like the author thinks we're viewing the story through the wrong end of a telescope so she's exaggerating all the movements so people can see.
And it isn't helping that every character seems made of candy floss. They're so fragile, each in their own way and that makes for a ton of brittle interactions. And I can't help feeling like Melanie would be eaten alive if she were actually a famous actress. She's desperately naïve, which is actually kind of charming. But she's a power player in Hollywood who doesn't seem to have any power at all. Like, for example, her nasty, manipulative, gaslighting ex is somehow integral to the movie she's currently shooting? How is that even possible? Any director who let that situation develop without intervening is a stone-cold idiot. Of course, it sounds like he is just that, but that's back to the problem that this doesn't even begin to make sense as a thing that can happen.
It took forever for the two to actually meet. Like, quarter of the story long. I gave it a couple chapters after that point to see if it'd smooth out once they had some solid interaction (beyond tripping over one another). It didn't smooth out.
I'm giving this a second star because Parker is so perfect. Morley shows some talent there. But her visual cues need to align better with things that can happen for me to feel comfortable in her stories.
April 13, 2023
First book of Violet Morley I've read and was impressed. A good story which kept me fully engrossed. Felt real and loved the back characters. Recommended.
March 22, 2023
This is a debut? It’s a strong one.
Yes, it has some coincidences and seemingly too easy things in this Hollywood romance, but it’s so nice and comfortable I don’t mind. I just want to be wrapped up in this story.
I never thought I would say that about a book that has a kid as a very prominent secondary character. This particular kid character is crafted beautifully, I appreciate how the author portrays this kid on the autism spectrum. It also shines a light on one of the mains possibly being in the spectrum.
Just a warm and fuzzy story, perfect reading in this very rainy spring day.
Yes, it has some coincidences and seemingly too easy things in this Hollywood romance, but it’s so nice and comfortable I don’t mind. I just want to be wrapped up in this story.
I never thought I would say that about a book that has a kid as a very prominent secondary character. This particular kid character is crafted beautifully, I appreciate how the author portrays this kid on the autism spectrum. It also shines a light on one of the mains possibly being in the spectrum.
Just a warm and fuzzy story, perfect reading in this very rainy spring day.
June 17, 2021
Brilliant debut story. This is definitely an author to look out for.
I loved the mains, but Parker stole the story for me.
I loved the mains, but Parker stole the story for me.
January 25, 2022
AnnMaree Of Oz remarked in her review that the coincidences in the first chapters were too blatant and deterred her from enjoying the book. And this sparked my interest...
Having read the book (as well as the two novels she recommended instead), I have to concur with her. It was far-fetched! However, the other reviews I read made me dig my heels in. And I'm not sorry! Ms Morley shows potential as an author and I shall keep an eye out for her in the future.
The main thing that stood out for me was Parker. She's on the autism spectrum and it was handled quite delicately. It is a constant presence in the story, but never really dealt with head-on. This may be viewed as a positive or a negative, depending on the reader...
The main characters felt a bit flat at times, but this is Ms Morley's first venture out into public scrutiny, so I have to give her the benefit of the doubt. The diverse array of supporting characters were written better and featured enough to add to the story without being overbearing.
Lastly, the collection of coincidences initially irritated me a bit and it did feel far-fetched. However, Ms Morley handled this brilliantly! She didn't take her "meet-cute" plot too seriously and the MCs joke about it and later on laugh when they admit it was ludicrous.
Having read the book (as well as the two novels she recommended instead), I have to concur with her. It was far-fetched! However, the other reviews I read made me dig my heels in. And I'm not sorry! Ms Morley shows potential as an author and I shall keep an eye out for her in the future.
The main thing that stood out for me was Parker. She's on the autism spectrum and it was handled quite delicately. It is a constant presence in the story, but never really dealt with head-on. This may be viewed as a positive or a negative, depending on the reader...
The main characters felt a bit flat at times, but this is Ms Morley's first venture out into public scrutiny, so I have to give her the benefit of the doubt. The diverse array of supporting characters were written better and featured enough to add to the story without being overbearing.
Lastly, the collection of coincidences initially irritated me a bit and it did feel far-fetched. However, Ms Morley handled this brilliantly! She didn't take her "meet-cute" plot too seriously and the MCs joke about it and later on laugh when they admit it was ludicrous.
June 7, 2021
Excellent!
An amazing story about a celebrity and a paramedic. About two different women in different places in their lives. One has a successful acting career and was filming her very last shots. She was known as cold and aloof. The other is struggling and has a nonexistent life outside of work or her daughter and sister. She didn't know how to let someone in. Being run over was their first confrontation and one they wanted to forget very quickly. A serious accident shakes their lives. I was inmediately captivated by this author's story telling and how she brought the characters to life. I could easily feel all the emotions. Parker stole my heart. Her unconventional responses and beautiful, brilliant mind brought a smile to my face. I can highly recommend Sprinkled In The Stars and I hope this new author will soon launch another book. I'm definitely going to follow her.
An amazing story about a celebrity and a paramedic. About two different women in different places in their lives. One has a successful acting career and was filming her very last shots. She was known as cold and aloof. The other is struggling and has a nonexistent life outside of work or her daughter and sister. She didn't know how to let someone in. Being run over was their first confrontation and one they wanted to forget very quickly. A serious accident shakes their lives. I was inmediately captivated by this author's story telling and how she brought the characters to life. I could easily feel all the emotions. Parker stole my heart. Her unconventional responses and beautiful, brilliant mind brought a smile to my face. I can highly recommend Sprinkled In The Stars and I hope this new author will soon launch another book. I'm definitely going to follow her.
November 13, 2022
8/10
I read/listened to this a couple of months ago but forgot to log in here. So, naturally, I don't rememeber too many details.
The sapphic books with kids are always my favourite kind of rom coms plus it's a hollywood one as well so I was happy to find out that I actually liked the book.
Parker is definitely the best and I remember liking her a lot. Especially the loving trio Parker, AJ and Mel made up.
Can't say that this is my favourite one, yes it has odd bits that I wasn't a fan of, but it's definitely worth checking it out for it's qualities.
10/10 audio
Abby Craden.
I read/listened to this a couple of months ago but forgot to log in here. So, naturally, I don't rememeber too many details.
The sapphic books with kids are always my favourite kind of rom coms plus it's a hollywood one as well so I was happy to find out that I actually liked the book.
Parker is definitely the best and I remember liking her a lot. Especially the loving trio Parker, AJ and Mel made up.
Can't say that this is my favourite one, yes it has odd bits that I wasn't a fan of, but it's definitely worth checking it out for it's qualities.
10/10 audio
Abby Craden.
February 21, 2022
This is such a lovely story.
Parker's the cutest.
Parker's the cutest.
February 13, 2022
I've had this book on my radar as to be read for a while now after a few really positive reviews came out late last year and early this year, but additionally some people criticizing the meetcute for the characters cooled me on it at the same time. So after I started it I fell... right in the middle of the two camps but overall did enjoy this book overall.
Sprinkled in the Stars follows AJ Beckett and Melanie Cooper. Melanie is an A-list movie star who is completely over the life of a celebrity after feeling drained of creative passion, having no privacy, and being painted as cold by the press. At the same time AJ Beckett is a single mother struggling to make ends meet while raising her autistic 6 year old daughter Parker. AJ and Melanie keep meeting and it doesn't always go well, but when encouraged to open up to each other new worlds begin to open up to each.
So I'm gonna start this review with my criticism and then move into the book's strengths which is not how I normally outline my reviews but I think it's fitting for this book.
I wasn't a fan of the circumstances that drove Melanie and AJ together. Or at least the first few times. It really seemed really contrived and cringy to me and not funny or entertaining to me- in a literary standpoint. I understand why some people found this a turn off to the book and not finishing.
Fortunately, I loved all of the characters individually. Melanie, AJ, and Parker are all really lovable, nuanced, and interesting to me. And I figured that I persevere into the book when they all are comfortable with each other that I'll get into the book a lot more as I was into the characters. And fortuitously, this decision 100% worked. To me, when the book started to get going it really got going. The chemistry between Mel and AJ clicked for me, and I loved how both women interacted with Parker, particularly Mel. It was great and so heartwarming.
This was Violet Morley's debut and I'll be definitely looking forward to other books by her. The plot left a little to be desired by me, but the character work was lovely. 4/5
Sprinkled in the Stars follows AJ Beckett and Melanie Cooper. Melanie is an A-list movie star who is completely over the life of a celebrity after feeling drained of creative passion, having no privacy, and being painted as cold by the press. At the same time AJ Beckett is a single mother struggling to make ends meet while raising her autistic 6 year old daughter Parker. AJ and Melanie keep meeting and it doesn't always go well, but when encouraged to open up to each other new worlds begin to open up to each.
So I'm gonna start this review with my criticism and then move into the book's strengths which is not how I normally outline my reviews but I think it's fitting for this book.
I wasn't a fan of the circumstances that drove Melanie and AJ together. Or at least the first few times. It really seemed really contrived and cringy to me and not funny or entertaining to me- in a literary standpoint. I understand why some people found this a turn off to the book and not finishing.
Fortunately, I loved all of the characters individually. Melanie, AJ, and Parker are all really lovable, nuanced, and interesting to me. And I figured that I persevere into the book when they all are comfortable with each other that I'll get into the book a lot more as I was into the characters. And fortuitously, this decision 100% worked. To me, when the book started to get going it really got going. The chemistry between Mel and AJ clicked for me, and I loved how both women interacted with Parker, particularly Mel. It was great and so heartwarming.
This was Violet Morley's debut and I'll be definitely looking forward to other books by her. The plot left a little to be desired by me, but the character work was lovely. 4/5
June 4, 2024
Cute, interesting and very engaging. I liked how well Parker was written.
August 10, 2022
Two very different main characters find their way towards each other despite all the posing obstacles. I really liked Parker and the way her relationship with Melanie evolved. The "accidental" ways Melanie and AJ kept running into each other weren't very believable and the stalling before they finally got together was a bit annoying at times. But overall I liked the book, it was a nice, heartwarming read.
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
August 11, 2021DNF 30% in. Kindle Unlimited.
Nothing inherently wrong here - but I found there to be far too many convoluted coincidences tying the characters in, making them intertwined in far too unbelievable ways. Which made me suspend my belief, and had my eyeballs rolling.
It overall felt like an attempt at Finding Jessica Lambert mixed with A Wish Upon a Star but without the same charms - so I'd recommend those two over this.
Nothing inherently wrong here - but I found there to be far too many convoluted coincidences tying the characters in, making them intertwined in far too unbelievable ways. Which made me suspend my belief, and had my eyeballs rolling.
It overall felt like an attempt at Finding Jessica Lambert mixed with A Wish Upon a Star but without the same charms - so I'd recommend those two over this.
June 3, 2021
Beautiful love story! The book touches on autism in a way that I can relate to personally. But it’s not about autism, It’s about people in different places in life, compatibly, growth, and great chemistry. The angst is very low, and the characters development seemed realistic which isn’t always the case. The story kept me engaged all the way through, and I loved the humor, and by the end I was misty eyed and left feeling really positive. I would and will read this one again. It’s definitely a feel good book.
January 10, 2022
5 Stars!
I really enjoyed this book. For me in the top 10 for 2021.
I really enjoyed this book. For me in the top 10 for 2021.
January 30, 2022
This was a solid debut - made even brighter with Abby Craden narrating. It wasn't without some issues, but still I enjoyed it. It's set in LA but these women kept running into each other which is HIGHLY unusual because there are four million people there. Of course I think that was part of the "they were meant to be - the universe keeps throwing them together" aspect of the story, but it was still a stretch.
Melanie had a truly villainous ex that kept showing up and I wasn't quite clear on how she put up with her in the first place and why she was incapable of setting firm boundaries with her. I think that was supposed to be one of the tells that she might also be on the spectrum. But there was one particular scene where I almost wrote Melanie off for not taking a stronger stand with her. Mel got better, but really struggled.
AJ also seemed to be two completely different people at times so some of what she did seemed completely out of character. She was so strong and confident in many ways and an insecure kitten in others. There was a secondary storyline that had to do with paintings AJ produced that would have benefited from being more fleshed out.
It was a bit hard to see how AJ would have been open to having a relationship with a celebrity when her autistic daughter was so triggered by the chaos surrounding Melanie.
That said, Morley did a lot right. Primarily with Parker. She wrote Parker so sensitively and provided a lot of information that helps readers understand what it was like for not only her, but also AJ as the parent of a child with autism. The struggles, the triumphs, the coping tools and mechanisms that AJ used to help Parker through difficult periods were very insightful.
I also loved that Parker was AJ's priority first and foremost - even when she was falling in love with Mel. It was also sweet that Mel related to Parker in many ways - not really understanding why she did so strongly. How that played out was one of the sweetest parts of the story.
The experiences with paparazzi and horrible gossip rags were sadly accurate and it's certainly understandable why some people would rather walk away than continue putting up with that. People can be so cruel.
One of the things I appreciated most was that this book didn't follow the dreaded "black period" at the 80 percent mark of the book. It's not that Mel and AJ weren't without their struggles, but those were addressed throughout the story and they were just able to go with the flow, learn to communicate and grow together. Kudos to Morley for not falling into that trap.
Overall, this was an enjoyable listen and I look forward to more from this author!
Melanie had a truly villainous ex that kept showing up and I wasn't quite clear on how she put up with her in the first place and why she was incapable of setting firm boundaries with her. I think that was supposed to be one of the tells that she might also be on the spectrum. But there was one particular scene where I almost wrote Melanie off for not taking a stronger stand with her. Mel got better, but really struggled.
AJ also seemed to be two completely different people at times so some of what she did seemed completely out of character. She was so strong and confident in many ways and an insecure kitten in others. There was a secondary storyline that had to do with paintings AJ produced that would have benefited from being more fleshed out.
It was a bit hard to see how AJ would have been open to having a relationship with a celebrity when her autistic daughter was so triggered by the chaos surrounding Melanie.
That said, Morley did a lot right. Primarily with Parker. She wrote Parker so sensitively and provided a lot of information that helps readers understand what it was like for not only her, but also AJ as the parent of a child with autism. The struggles, the triumphs, the coping tools and mechanisms that AJ used to help Parker through difficult periods were very insightful.
I also loved that Parker was AJ's priority first and foremost - even when she was falling in love with Mel. It was also sweet that Mel related to Parker in many ways - not really understanding why she did so strongly. How that played out was one of the sweetest parts of the story.
The experiences with paparazzi and horrible gossip rags were sadly accurate and it's certainly understandable why some people would rather walk away than continue putting up with that. People can be so cruel.
One of the things I appreciated most was that this book didn't follow the dreaded "black period" at the 80 percent mark of the book. It's not that Mel and AJ weren't without their struggles, but those were addressed throughout the story and they were just able to go with the flow, learn to communicate and grow together. Kudos to Morley for not falling into that trap.
Overall, this was an enjoyable listen and I look forward to more from this author!
November 12, 2024
3.75
I was genuinely hooked at the beginning of this book! It kicked off with a strong start, featuring ice queen Mel repeatedly crossing paths with AJ and her daughter Parker. It set up what seemed to be the perfect foundation for a heartwarming romance. And to be fair, there were plenty of sweet moments: 7-year-old Parker, who is on the autistic spectrum, bonding with Mel (who discovers from AJ that she's on the spectrum too) was a touching thread throughout the story. The cozy family gatherings with Kate, Andrew, and Rob also added a wholesome warmth.
However, something shifted for me after Mel has an accident on the set of her new movie and AJ, the paramedic, swoops in to help. Suddenly, Mel seems to do a complete 180 — her ice queen demeanor melts away, and she becomes surprisingly clingy and needy, almost desperate for AJ’s attention. It was such a stark contrast to the confident, guarded Mel we got to know in the first few chapters, and it threw me off. From that point on, it felt like Mel's interest in AJ and Parker was driven more by loneliness than genuine connection.
I was genuinely hooked at the beginning of this book! It kicked off with a strong start, featuring ice queen Mel repeatedly crossing paths with AJ and her daughter Parker. It set up what seemed to be the perfect foundation for a heartwarming romance. And to be fair, there were plenty of sweet moments: 7-year-old Parker, who is on the autistic spectrum, bonding with Mel (who discovers from AJ that she's on the spectrum too) was a touching thread throughout the story. The cozy family gatherings with Kate, Andrew, and Rob also added a wholesome warmth.
However, something shifted for me after Mel has an accident on the set of her new movie and AJ, the paramedic, swoops in to help. Suddenly, Mel seems to do a complete 180 — her ice queen demeanor melts away, and she becomes surprisingly clingy and needy, almost desperate for AJ’s attention. It was such a stark contrast to the confident, guarded Mel we got to know in the first few chapters, and it threw me off. From that point on, it felt like Mel's interest in AJ and Parker was driven more by loneliness than genuine connection.
September 9, 2021
This was a pretty cute, closed door, sapphic romance between a single mother and a movie star. There’s also neurodiverse rep as AJ’s daughter Parker has autism and it’s discussed that Melanie is on the spectrum as well.
The beginning (the first 30%) was very slow to me. We see AJ and Mel orbiting each other and sometimes crossing paths, but it takes a while before they officially meet and have a real conversation.
I thought it represented the struggles of being a single parent and of dating someone in the limelight (with a famous ex and lots of tabloid coverage) well.
I really liked the relationship that developed between Mel and AJ’s daughter, Parker, but some parts of the book felt underdeveloped to me. Parker at times seems so young but then in other times she speaks eloquent words of wisdom. The whole subplot of AJ also being an artist and being taken advantage of by a place that was selling her art without her knowledge wasn’t really talked through.
The beginning (the first 30%) was very slow to me. We see AJ and Mel orbiting each other and sometimes crossing paths, but it takes a while before they officially meet and have a real conversation.
I thought it represented the struggles of being a single parent and of dating someone in the limelight (with a famous ex and lots of tabloid coverage) well.
I really liked the relationship that developed between Mel and AJ’s daughter, Parker, but some parts of the book felt underdeveloped to me. Parker at times seems so young but then in other times she speaks eloquent words of wisdom. The whole subplot of AJ also being an artist and being taken advantage of by a place that was selling her art without her knowledge wasn’t really talked through.
June 3, 2021
Fantastic
As a mother of an ASD child, this story was so wonderful. People with ASD are a gift to be cherished and this book highlights many aspects of that. I enjoyed seeing ASD as an adult character and as well as a child.
As a mother of an ASD child, this story was so wonderful. People with ASD are a gift to be cherished and this book highlights many aspects of that. I enjoyed seeing ASD as an adult character and as well as a child.
September 22, 2021
This is certainly a very sweet, nice and sappy story. But, unfortunately, it's also silly, far-fetched and a tad unrealistic. Anyway, it's a very good debut novel.
April 6, 2023
I made it to 74% done but couldn't finish. I hate to give a one star but I can't muster up an "It was okay" 2-stars. It's not often I feel bad for the narrator for having to read a book but this one made me think about that several times.
So here are the things that really did not work for me:
- too many coincidences and connections. This is LA not a small town where everyone knows each other. I might have bought even some of it had they been in the same industry or social standing but no. It was too much. Too many characters associated with Mel and AJ had contact with each other when even one or two would have been suspect.
- Mel's ex and anything having to do with the media (paparazzi, articles, social media) was SO OVER THE TOP mean that it was just unreal. Again, just too much.
- The writing itself wasn't great. I mean, odd phrases or things that made no sense. Like "The coast of the bright light was clear" when referring to a light being shone in someone's eyes. I know that's not a huge deal but there were other things with the writing that made it hard to get into the story and to connect to the characters.
It takes a lot for me to get this far in a book and still quit but it was aggravating. I liked the premise a lot and kept waiting for the action and character depictions to get better for me. But they didn't.
Just took a peek at other reviews and I'm very much in the minority. Glad others were able to ignore or didn't notice the things that killed this reading experience for me.
So here are the things that really did not work for me:
- too many coincidences and connections. This is LA not a small town where everyone knows each other. I might have bought even some of it had they been in the same industry or social standing but no. It was too much. Too many characters associated with Mel and AJ had contact with each other when even one or two would have been suspect.
- Mel's ex and anything having to do with the media (paparazzi, articles, social media) was SO OVER THE TOP mean that it was just unreal. Again, just too much.
- The writing itself wasn't great. I mean, odd phrases or things that made no sense. Like "The coast of the bright light was clear" when referring to a light being shone in someone's eyes. I know that's not a huge deal but there were other things with the writing that made it hard to get into the story and to connect to the characters.
It takes a lot for me to get this far in a book and still quit but it was aggravating. I liked the premise a lot and kept waiting for the action and character depictions to get better for me. But they didn't.
Just took a peek at other reviews and I'm very much in the minority. Glad others were able to ignore or didn't notice the things that killed this reading experience for me.
June 10, 2021
Great debut novel!
Very sweet heartwarming story! I look forward to reading more of this author and seeing them grow. For a debut, I didn’t feel this had too many bumps in the story and the MCs along with the secondary characters all were likable and were multidimensional. Great book for by the beach or next to a fire!
Very sweet heartwarming story! I look forward to reading more of this author and seeing them grow. For a debut, I didn’t feel this had too many bumps in the story and the MCs along with the secondary characters all were likable and were multidimensional. Great book for by the beach or next to a fire!
Read
January 15, 2023DNF
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