Will I turn to ice without your warmth? Will I shatter on the wind? Will every atom blow away? If there’s a part of me that remains, I’ll find you again. I’ll be the snowflake on your eyelash. The wind in your hair, the breeze that caresses your cheek.

I’ve said it a hundred times and I’ll likely say it a hundred more, but Tal Bauer really is in a league of his own. His writing is just beyond beautiful and so very emotional, even when nothing particularly emotional is happening.

I wasn’t actually all that excited about reading the continuation of Sasha and Sergey’s story, because they had such a rough time during the Executive Office series (which you should read first to get the whole story). It was hard to see how they could make things work without emotionally wrecking the reader. But, I was pleasantly surprised by how low angst this was. I don’t actually think I cried more than once, which is miraculous and unprecedented for me.

It was very much focused on Sasha’s spiritual journey and him accepting his sexuality, which was equally heartbreaking and beautiful. I had no idea about the extent of his trauma and the abuse he’d endured, and although that sucked, it was nice to finally get to know the angry Russian.

As I understand it I’m in for a helluva time in terms of action and suspense in Stars, which I’m mega stoked about.

Anyway, Tal is best and everyone else sucks. That’s how I feel whenever I try to read something else after one of his books anyway, lol.

Until the sun swallows the planet, and their long-dead particles were absorbed into the nuclear furnace of the star. Until they were spat back out, remade as elements. Until they found each other in another life, on another planet. Until they fell in love again, and again, and again. Until time stopped, and their elements came together in perfect union. And he was never parted from Sergey ever again.

⬇️ Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️

⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Russian president
Hard-fought HEA (after book 2)
Age gap
Duology
Read the Executive Office series first
Loves giving blowjobs
Coming before getting inside
Epic love
Romantic suspense
Past trauma
Intercrural sex
Spiritual journey
Hands-free orgasm
Aspiring astronaut

⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Intense internalized homophobia (MC)
Alcohol consumption (on-page intoxication)
Panic attacks
References to past sexual abuse/rape of MC (off page, no details)
Self-hatred (MC)
Explicit sexual content
Mention of and references to past hate crime against MC (severe beating)
Self harm — punching wall, ice baths, exercise to point of injury
Mention of animal cruelty (lab animals, died off page)
Graphic corpse details
Brief mention of parent death (past)
MC hospitalized — surgery
MC orally raped and beaten by cousin (past, some details)
Gun violence
On-page murder
Drinking animal urine
Details of butchered animal carcass
Use of homophobic slurs
Homophobia
Indirect ingestion of shrooms (on-page intoxication)

⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: No
Other person drama: No
Breakup: No
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Romantic suspense
Pairing: M/M
Strict roles or versatile: Strict roles
Main characters’ age: 32 and 52
Series: Series (must read Executive Office first)
Kindle Unlimited: Yes
Pages: 282
Happy ending: HFN


Whatever Sasha wanted, whatever he needed, Sergey would give him. He’d give in, if just for one more chance at loving Sasha.

Sasha’s expression fractured. He grabbed Sergey, held on like he was falling and Sergey was the only anchor in the world. “I always came back.”

Two nights, and the agony of abandonment, lay between them. He had oceans of hope, enough dreams to hang from every star in the sky, but the blackness beyond was his fear, his doubt, and he dreaded waking up alone in the morning. Would Sasha be there when his eyes opened?