WHEN TWO STARS COLLIDE

Two lost souls find each other in this emotional, gender-swapped novel inspired by “Cinderella.”

Eighteen-year-old Cinder Kato, who has Japanese and Scottish ancestry, performs music incognito on a popular video-sharing platform under the stage name Umbra. With his eyeliner, tattoos, and lip piercing, not to mention a less-than-perfect, secret-filled home life with an abusive stepfather, he self-identifies as a dark soul, channeling his pain into his musical talent. Beautiful, blond Henrietta Cunningham, who’s cued white, is the 18-year-old star of a hit rom-com TV series. Outwardly, Henri exudes confidence, when in truth, she’s quite naïve, suffers from anxiety, and needs to find her own path, free from the influence of others. After Cin rescues Henri from embarrassment at school, she pours out her true fears and regrets to him, and he becomes her safe person. Afraid to have a negative impact on the fragile Henri, Cin, who’s filled with rage and other intense emotions, is unable to admit his true desires and affection. In true fairy-tale fashion, both of them are looking for happiness, and they ultimately find it in each other, triggering an intense mutual desire to fulfill their needs. This passionate, sexy, angst-filled story will appeal to romance readers who appreciate strong characterization.

An intense and absorbing tale of first love.