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Beth Bolden
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Terrible Things (Star Shadow #1) Kindle Edition

by Beth Bolden (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 out of 5 stars 351 ratings

When Caleb Chance walked out of a sold out concert five years ago, leaving his best friends, millions of his fans and his lover behind, Leo knew he would never forgive.

Some things, no matter how justifiable the cause, are unforgivable.

But the last thing Leo ever expected was for Caleb to show up again, clean and sober and wanting to get Star Shadow back together. Leo isn’t interested in ever being in the spotlight again, but maybe this might be the worth the risk.

Leo will have to dig down, and find the strength to confront the love of his life again. He’ll have to reject all the disasters of his past, and discover the possibility for hope and forgiveness in his future. But most of all, he’ll need to face every terrible thing he’s been carrying inside him.

But maybe some things aren’t so terrible after all.

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  1. Book 1 of 4
    Star Shadow
  2. Print length
    423 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publication date
    January 19, 2019
  5. File size
    2.9 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Kirt Graves was great, just like always. He made you feel what Leo felt, the love he had for Caleb.-- "Love Bytes Reviews"

About the Author

Beth Bolden has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. She's published twelve novels and four short stories, including The Rainbow Clause and the Kitchen Gods series. A lifelong Oregonian, Beth has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband. She still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to start a chapter of Keeping Durham Weird.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07MYNX68Z
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon Digital Services (January 19, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 19, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.9 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 423 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 351 ratings

About the author

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Beth Bolden

Beth Bolden

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A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published twenty novels and six short stories.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
351 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book an incredibly emotional story that teaches valuable lessons about forgiveness, with one review noting how it puts readers through the ringer of emotions. Moreover, they appreciate the romance, with one review highlighting how Leo and Caleb feel like soulmates, and the writing quality, with one noting the author's adeptness at handling complicated relationships. Additionally, the book receives positive feedback for its readability, character development, and humor, with one customer describing it as a good rockstar and m/m romance read.

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17 customers mention "Emotional content"12 positive5 negative

Customers find the book emotionally engaging, describing it as an incredibly emotional and angsty story that teaches valuable lessons about forgiveness.

"...Caleb and Leo’s story was heart-wrenching and beautiful. Sometimes life isn’t sunshine and roses. Life can be hard and painful, and still be good...." Read more

"...the story entirely from Leo's point of view, she puts the reader through the ringer off emotions...." Read more

"Really liked this book, it really dealt with forgiveness and how it takes time. Also that you can forgive but you remember the pain...." Read more

"...sexy, seductive, interesting, morally sound and most importantly food for thought. I highly recommend this book to the mature reader and Listener...." Read more

8 customers mention "Story quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story of the book, with one noting its incredible imagination and another finding it more realistic.

"...Good story, can’t wait to start reading book 2." Read more

"...She really put heart and soul into the words, into the story, and created beautiful characters...." Read more

"...Yes, it was all there. The makings of an epic story, as Caleb Chance Leo’s ex-boyfriend and former bandmate returns after 5 long years of him..." Read more

"...book, the angst got a fraction too much, but the story came back on track reasonably easily." Read more

6 customers mention "Romance"6 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the romance in the book, describing it as sweet and romantic, with one customer noting how Leo and Caleb felt like soulmates.

"...Caleb and Leo’s story was heart-wrenching and beautiful. Sometimes life isn’t sunshine and roses. Life can be hard and painful, and still be good...." Read more

"‘Terrible Things’ is a sweet story about friendship, love, and forgiveness...." Read more

"...Leo and Caleb felt like soulmates, two people meant to be together, a little I wish Leo had moved on here/there for his own sake...." Read more

"...I usually hate slow burns, but this one was so delicious. It was romantic, sexy, seductive, interesting, morally sound and most importantly food for..." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book to be a good read, with some noting it's the best book by Bolden, while another customer describes it as a good rockstar and m/m romance read.

"This is the best book Beth Bolden had written. She really put heart and soul into the words, into the story, and created beautiful characters...." Read more

"Really liked this book, it really dealt with forgiveness and how it takes time. Also that you can forgive but you remember the pain...." Read more

"This is my first book from this author. I love a good rockstar and m/m romance read so I was excited to read this story. It was a good read...." Read more

"It's a lot of fun. I enjoyed this book a lot. It's filled with a lot of sexual tension and pining, which I love...." Read more

4 customers mention "Character development"4 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the characters in the book.

"...The side characters were very present throughout the story, so you get to know them very well...." Read more

"...put heart and soul into the words, into the story, and created beautiful characters...." Read more

"...This is an incredibly emotional story with characters you'll love. You'll feel their pain, their love and their torment...." Read more

"...It was a good read. I enjoyed the characters, the drama and the laughs...." Read more

4 customers mention "Writing quality"4 positive0 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, with one customer noting the author's adeptness at handling complicated relationships and another mentioning the well-fleshed out narrative.

"...guys felt for each other and were too afraid to act on was written incredibly well...." Read more

"...Kirt Grave's performance was awesomeness. The narration was perfect...." Read more

"...is proof positive that this talented author is adept at writing about complicated relationships that appear to crash and burn, but are revived by..." Read more

"I like a well fleshed out book and this was to say the least, but there is fleshed out and then there is this book...." Read more

3 customers mention "Humor"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book humorous, with one mentioning it's a lot of fun and another describing it as interesting.

"...It was romantic, sexy, seductive, interesting, morally sound and most importantly food for thought...." Read more

"...It was a good read. I enjoyed the characters, the drama and the laughs...." Read more

"It's a lot of fun. I enjoyed this book a lot. It's filled with a lot of sexual tension and pining, which I love...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • OldLadyStauffer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story! I’m Obsessed with This Series!
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    4.5 Stars

    Sometimes forgiveness is just too much to ask for. When Leo’s love of his life, Caleb, disappears without a trace, he took away everything that was good with him, leaving Leo broken and caring very little about anything. Leo merely existed. Then, five years later, Caleb returns, expecting to get their band back together for a reunion tour. It was a very big ask. When the other band members want to do it, Leo feels he has no choice. It’s going to be a long road to travel, and no one knows what it’s going to look like on the other side.

    The book started off slow, in my opinion, but it had to set up the story, so I tried not to focus on it too much. Once I got a few chapters in, I quickly became obsessed with these guys. I could feel their emotions in the words, and I could picture the story clearly as I continued reading. Caleb and Leo’s story was heart-wrenching and beautiful. Sometimes life isn’t sunshine and roses. Life can be hard and painful, and still be good. There’s no doubt they loved each other. It’s just a question of is it enough and can there be forgiveness.

    This is book one in the series, and I feel like the author did a beautiful job setting it up. The side characters were very present throughout the story, so you get to know them very well. I’m really looking forward to reading more from the author, and I’m definitely looking forward to the other books in this series.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • SweetMama2
    4.0 out of 5 stars Friendship, Love, and Forgiveness 🖤
    Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    ‘Terrible Things’ is a sweet story about friendship, love, and forgiveness. It was a slow starter for me, I’ll be honest - I had a REALLY difficult time getting into it. The beginning is shallow depth, lacks word building, and extremely angsty from the start. But I pushed on and got hooked. The relationship between Leo & Caleb is just ... UHG!! ... you have to find out how they reconcile!! I also loved reading the relationships between all the other characters. Good story, can’t wait to start reading book 2.
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  • Sarah M.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book by Bolden
    Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is the best book Beth Bolden had written. She really put heart and soul into the words, into the story, and created beautiful characters.
    With the story entirely from Leo's point of view, she puts the reader through the ringer off emotions.
    If this isn't one of my top 5 read this year, I'll be shocked. 10/10 would read again.
    Helpful
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  • Amanda Thatcher
    3.0 out of 5 stars 3/5 Stars as for me it lacks a little sizzle
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    I should preface this by saying that this book was recommended to me by someone in a M/M Romance Book Club on Facebook.

    I'd requested a read similar to that of the Fallen Angel Series by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank because I loved Halo and Viper's sizzling hot chemistry amidst the highs and lows of stardom and the Star Shadow series was the first in the grouping, though I was warned that few would compare to Halo and Viper and, in this case, they weren't wrong.

    Granted, I wasn't expecting carbon copies of characters as each writer has their own style, but the storyline itself held a little more excitement for me than the actual read itself. I mean, it's all there, right? The tale of a boyband whose members were catapulted into the throws of stardom before they were necessarily ready for the fall-out of the fame that they all craved, including the fact that two of the key members had to hide their sexuality from the world, Leo even forced into having a pseudo-girlfriend to keep up appearances.
    Yes, it was all there. The makings of an epic story, as Caleb Chance Leo’s ex-boyfriend and former bandmate returns after 5 long years of him basically being off the grid, not only opening old wounds, but forcing each band member to worry about the creation of new, as Caleb essentially ties the band’s hands and forces them into a reunion tour of sorts, though with age and maturity comes the ability to write their own rules.
    Still, for me it was lacking. Perhaps it was because for me it sizzle that can come with characters who share an undeniable chemistry. Or maybe it was that I found a lack of palpable angst that you would assume comes from a story with this kind of lead-in, but there is something missing at least if you’re used to the hotter more fast-paced tales within a M/M tale.

    3/5 stars. Not awful, but not exactly what I was looking for.
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  • Paperbackreader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyed, deals with forgiveness
    Reviewed in the United States on April 2, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Really liked this book, it really dealt with forgiveness and how it takes time. Also that you can forgive but you remember the pain. I felt the characters pain while reading, and give total kudos to the author. Leo and Caleb felt like soulmates, two people meant to be together, a little I wish Leo had moved on here/there for his own sake. while enjoyed the series bk#1 is my favorite, I appreciate book #4 giving additional story arc to Leo/Caleb and being able Caleb’s POV to scenes in book #1. I actually read 1-4 then reread book 1 now knowing more of Caleb’s POV.
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  • Lorraine, New Zealand
    4.0 out of 5 stars Deep love
    Reviewed in the United States on July 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The love between the two ex-boy band members was so extra-ordinarily deep that it all but hurt me, right in the soul, to read about it.
    With the reunion tour, things got even more distracting for the pair who had been apart, but still in love, for so many years. The yearning both guys felt for each other and were too afraid to act on was written incredibly well.
    About half-way through the book, the angst got a fraction too much, but the story came back on track reasonably easily.
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  • Joy
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thumbs Up!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This was a read and listen for me. Kirt Grave's performance was awesomeness. The narration was perfect. However, what most people don't understand is that Kirt's performance can only be great if what he's reading is greatness! That being said I'd like to give a shout out to the author, Beth Bolden. Thank You for sharing with us readers your incredible imagination. I loved this romance. It is what I would call a slow burn. I usually hate slow burns, but this one was so delicious. It was romantic, sexy, seductive, interesting, morally sound and most importantly food for thought. I highly recommend this book to the mature reader and Listener. Thank You Beth for Sharing.
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • emse
    3.0 out of 5 stars Drama mit Längen
    Reviewed in Germany on December 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Es war Drama , Drama, Drama ohne Ende und lang und breit ausgewalzt, sodass es im Endeffekt schon ein bisschen langweilig war. Die weiteren Teile der Serie locken mich auch nicht wirklich .
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  • Liash
    5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely loved it!!
    Reviewed in Australia on May 26, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I'm a sucker for a good rock star romance, especially one with a bit of grit - this would have to be one of my favourites! From the very start, I was taken on a rollercoaster of an emotional journey. It was heartbreaking, devastating, and yet hopeful.

    Told solely from Leo's perspective, we meet him 5 years after Caleb disappeared from their lives with no explanations. As the story progresses, more is revealed by both Leo and Caleb as to what life was like back then, and what really went down. The story shows a very dark and manipulative side of the music industry - I'm saddened to think that this sort of thing happens in real life, but the reality is that it does.

    There was no magical fix for Caleb and Leo. It took time, lots of conversations and explanations, and a building of trust between them again. These two are soulmates - that much was obvious from the small 'interlude' chapters that flashed back to when they first met as teens. The chemistry between them, and the pull it brought with it, was palpable - which just made it hard for them to keep their distance until they were truly read to commit to anything. Both of them had their weak moments, and what may have seemed like indecision actually showed how strong they both were that they could pull back and pursue an adult relationship that was healthy for them both rather than the one they had as teens.

    The story was gripping, and I loved being part of their shows and having the description if them on stage as a group. I definitely looked at Coldplay's 'The Scientist' in a different light after reading this - great perspective! The interactions between all 5 band members were well written, natural and also showcased what some of the other characters were going through - I can't wait to read their books and hopefully see their HEA too.

    I would definitely recommend this, and look forward to more in this series and by this author.
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  • P3
    4.0 out of 5 stars This was a saga
    Reviewed in Canada on July 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The writer said it took her five years to write this book and I can understand why, because that's how long I felt it took me to read this book.
    .
    This is good book but it needs an editor.
    Report
  • SMorris
    4.0 out of 5 stars Terrible Things - Star Shadow Series
    Reviewed in Australia on July 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This read was a real emotional roller coaster of a ride. At first I found Leo a bit exhausting, but once you understand his deep, profound love for Caleb it all makes sense. Caleb was dealing with so many demons and his deep, profound love for Leo was intense. The Star Shadow rock group are a gorgeous band of brothers that have all come together to make this a beautiful story. Now I’m onto book #2 - Impossible Things 😍📚🎶
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  • Shelby
    3.0 out of 5 stars was this an AO3 fanfic .
    Reviewed in Australia on June 6, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Loved the fanfic , nice to see it published, Larry for the love, good storyline well told enjoyed it (again)
    Report

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