4.5 stars.

When the Stars Come Out by Laura Trentham is a heartfelt and engaging romance. This latest addition to the beloved Cottonbloom series easily stands on its own, but I highly recommend the previous installments as well.

Willa Brown loves her job at the Abbot brothers garage but she has worked hard to remain under the radar for the past two years. She is more comfortable in her coveralls and blue jeans than frilly, feminine clothes and when not working, she keeps to herself. Maintaining a low profile in town, she has formed an unexpected but very touching friendship with librarian Marigold Dunlap. Willa has also been crushing on one of the co-owners of the garage, Jackson Abbot, ever since they met but she would never act on her attraction for him.

Jackson and Willa make a formidable team while working and although he knows she is clearly hiding something, he has never really tried to persuade her to confide in him. Once Jackson allows himself to really notice how attractive she is under her unflattering but serviceable clothes, he cannot stop thinking about her. Despite not wanting to cross a line that might make her feel uncomfortable, Jackson cannot resist helping her once he knows a little more about her life outside the garage.

Jackson and Willa are one of those couples who are just made for each other. They truly "get" what makes the other person tick and they both enjoy the same activities. They are also incredibly supportive of one another when it comes to the things they are dealing with outside of work. However, Willa has deep trust issues and she is extremely reluctant to divulge her secrets. Jackson truly wants to help Willa, but in his frustration over her inability to completely open up, he makes a decision that might end up jeopardizing their future together. Has Willa grown enough to forgive him when she finds out the truth? Or will she revert to her old pattern of running from problems instead of facing them head on?

When the Stars Come Out is an absolutely delightful romance between two emotionally damaged people. Willa is extremely closed off and incredibly skittish of making another mistake. Jackson has never quite dealt with his mother's abandonment and he and his brothers are also facing uncertainty over the future of the garage. Willa and Jackson have a bit of an uneasy transition from co-workers to lovers but their longstanding acquaintance provides a rock solid foundation for their fledgling relationship. Both Willa and Jackson undergo significant growth individually as they finally face the baggage from their respective pasts. Old and new fans of Laura Trentham will absolutely love this newest addition to the charming Cottonbloom series. ( )

This is the type of setting and plot that I immerse myself in and want to finish in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the interactions between them. ( )

A girl has to have a few secrets. In Willa's case secrets are a way of life. Her demons are well hidden but her fears hover close to the surface. On the run from her past, a charming piece of heaven catches her eye and convinces her to put down roots, while looking over her shoulder every step of the way. Trouble finds her when she meets a sexy guy, willing to take a chance on a drifter like her. Jackson Abbott has a good heart, reliable soul and a sense of family that draws her in, even as she pulls away.

Jackson is equally intrigued about the spitfire with haunted eyes, hot body and mad mechanic skills. He knows she's hiding something and wants her trust even as he craves her heart. Will he convince the drifter to stop running? When the Stars Come Out takes a walk on the wild side with a fiery heroine and sizzling attraction. Willa is a masterful illusionist and Jackson has all the tricks to figure her out. Suspenseful, sweet and seductive.
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This is the second Cottonbloom book I have tucked myself into, and I'm loving every morsel of it, and unlike the last book, it's not so much about falling for someone unobtainable or finding love after being cheated on, When the Stars Come out is about working with someone every day, and not realizing just how much they mean to you, till you know they are going to leave.

So we find ourselves back at the Abbot brothers garage, and the boys are still at each other's throats, with Ford's underhand dealings. But when Willa Brown asks Jackson if she is going to lose her job, it opens Jackson's eyes to just how much he has come to rely on Willa, and how little he knows about her.

Willa is escaping from her past, to keep her family alive, but that doesn't stop her from having feelings about Jackson, but when he starts probing into her life, she gets scared and plans to bolt, Jackson knows she is planning this, but Jackson needs to come to grips with his own past, before he can help Willa.

When The Stars Come Out is such a wonderful book, I love the whole premise of the book, which made the characters so much more enjoyable, and it was a great book to read, on a snowy night.

I give When The Stars Come Out 5 stars.
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Smart, satisfying read with appealing characters...And I liked the ninth step touch near the end. ( )