Title: Starlight (Starlight Trilogy Book #1)
Author: Alexandra Richland
Release Date: May 1, 2013
Genre: Historical Romance
Cover Design by:  Rakestraw Book Design

Book description:

October 1952 finds eighteen-year-old Marie Bates relocating from her rainy hometown in the Pacific Northwest to the sun-soaked streets of Los Angeles, California. Marie’s plans for a teaching career take an unexpected turn when she’s asked to take a screen test at a major motion picture studio.

Renamed Elizabeth Sutton by the studio heads, she lands her first role as an extra. On set, Elizabeth spies Aidan Evans, a rebellious, twenty-three-year-old Method actor from New York. Aidan is branded as a stuck-up troublemaker by his famous Hollywood peers, but Elizabeth suspects a tragic secret lurks behind his steely facade.

As their careers hit the fast track and friendship evolves into romance, the expectations of Hollywood stardom threaten to shine a spotlight on Aidan’s dark past before he can make peace with it. Elizabeth must help Aidan confront the painful event that shattered his life and conquer a terrifying truth before it destroys him and their future together.

The first book in the Starlight Trilogy, Starlight is a story of love and redemption set against the backdrop of the final years of Hollywood’s Golden Age.

Excerpts from Starlight by Alexandra Richland

Excerpt #1:

Constance talked to two other girls while she waited for her call. One was petite with short black hair, wearing a bright orange wool sweater and tight black pants. Aidan figured she was Connie’s assistant because she wasn’t dressed like any of the other actresses on set.

The other girl was petite, too, but not as short as Orange Sweater Girl. She was dressed in a sparkly black dress and stood with her back to him. Despite the fact that Constance and Orange Sweater Girl were the most animated in their trio, Aidan felt drawn to the other broad more. He admired her nape and the curve of her hips . . .

And then she turned around.

Aidan swallowed hard, unable to hide his fascination. Her brunette hair was curled and pinned up on her head and her flushed cheeks lent her face an angelic glow. She wasn’t pretty in a Constance Murphy kind of way, but a true knockout; the girl-next-door type, despite her fancy outfit.

When her dark eyes locked on his, he had to stop from gaping. He forced himself to look away to avoid humiliation, and with the action, his heart squeezed. He searched for an alternative reason to stick around without looking out of place, deciding to wait until she wasn’t looking his way before he glanced at her again. His eyes landed on the cameraman standing next to him.

He hated small talk but offered his hand anyway. “Hey.”

The cameraman’s eyes brightened. “Hey, it’s Aidan, right?”

“Yeah,” he mumbled, not the least bit surprised the man knew his name. There was plenty of gossip traveling around the studio about him since he’d been chosen for the role of Spike.

“I’m Christopher. Nice to meet you.” He shook Aidan’s hand. “So what are you doing here?”

Aidan shrugged. “I just came to check out the set.”

“Well, you won’t see much here. It’s a typical, fluffy Mertz romance picture called Checkmate. Nothing like the brilliant film you’re doing.”

Aidan’s mind focused elsewhere as the cameraman droned on about Spike Rollins. Unable to stop himself, he took a risk and glanced over at the Brunette a couple of times. He was unnerved to discover that she was still looking at him. As the cameraman started talking about some new lenses the studio recently acquired for all of their cameras, Aidan listened halfheartedly, nervous as to why he’d held the Brunette’s interest for this long. Then Orange Sweater Girl pointed at him. He froze.

The Brunette’s blush reappeared as she swatted her friend’s hand down. Orange Sweater Girl giggled and Aidan’s joy plummeted. Had he become the butt of some cruel joke?

As the three young women conversed, he wondered what role the Brunette played in the motion picture. Her makeup wasn’t over the top; she didn’t look like a typical Mertz Studios manufactured star, and being the avid movie fan he was, he didn’t recognize her from any of the films he’d ever seen.

“Places, everyone,” the director called.

Excerpt #2:

Aidan cleared his throat. “Beth?”

“Yes, Aidan?”

“May I place a kiss on your cheek?”

“A kiss?” Heat fanned across her face. “Why, yes. I . . . I’d like that very much.”

“I’m sorry I’m asking you in my car––”

“I don’t mind, honest.” She felt her blush deepen.

Aidan draped his right arm over her seat and moved closer . . . closer. Then, finally, his lips were near hers.

“I had a wonderful time with you today,” he murmured.

“Me too.” Beth closed her eyes.

Aidan pressed his lips to her cheek, his hand stroking the other side of her face. He kissed her cheek again, followed by her jaw, stirring something warm and pleasurable deep inside her
that she’d never felt.

Beth took in a sharp breath as he moved lower . . . lower. When his lips met her neck, desire rippled from her head to her toes and she let out a gasp.

About Alexandra Richland:

I am a twenty-nine-year-old nurse from Toronto Canada. I enjoy writing, running, reading, and collecting 1950s Hollywood memorabilia.

My modern day adventure, romance, and mystery novel, Frontline, will be available shortly in various e-book formats.

My short story, Gilded Cage, is currently available for purchase on Amazon and Smashwords.

Connect with Alexandra!

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