Under Southern Stars by Cari Blake — A Review

Under Southern Stars by Cari Blake — A Review

Cari Blake’s debut contemporary romance, Under Southern Stars, blends heartfelt romance with the high-stakes chaos of a metropolitan ER in New Zealand. Sophia Mitchell is an ER charge nurse and recently divorced single mother, still healing from a toxic marriage and a manipulative ex-husband. Enter Jack McKenzie: a kind, capable New Zealand paramedic armed with steady coffee, quiet charm, and an impressive amount of patience, who slowly begins to break through her defenses.

The hospital scenes are where the book truly excels, offering a sense of realism that makes the setting feel lived-in. Sophia is most compelling in her professional role, especially when protecting her staff. Jack is every romance-reader’s dream—patient, capable, great with kids, and made even more charming by his New Zealand accent and constant coffee offerings.

That said, the story is fairly predictable does drag in a few places. Sophia frustrated me more than once, and the central relationship conflict could have been resolved with a single honest conversation. Jack’s “secret rich guy” subplot also felt unnecessary and overly manufactured.

The audiobook, however, was a definite highlight. Dual narration made for an easy, enjoyable listen—perfect for long drives or multitasking. While a few accent choices were a tad questionable, they weren’t distracting enough to diminish the experience.

If you enjoy medical romances, single-parent protagonists, low-stakes drama, and guaranteed happily-ever-afters, Under Southern Stars is worth a listen.

★★★★☆

(Audio ARC provided by Victory Editing NetGalley for review purposes. This is my honest opinion.)

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