Here's another refreshing addition to the Christies series. As with Flawless (Book 1), Starlight's setting was equally original. This time Alex found himself in industrial Glasgow fraught with union challenges and self-serving mill masters. I can't help but wonder where in the world are the two remaining Christie siblings going to end up? What type of business must each one make profitable in order to claim their inheritances?
I enjoyed watching the intellectual Alex try to deal with his overwhelming physical attraction for Polly, especially considering how he lived a monk-like existence during his first marriage. And Polly was gritty and sometimes crude--but always genuine. Both were seemingly on opposite sides of the fence in both character and ambition; the appeal was in watching them match wits and staying true to their goals while desperate to find common ground.
The brutal mill overseer who was the unofficial law wasn't the only villain here; Alex's disgusting and abusive father-in-law threatened to sue for sole custody of his infant grandson and ultimately took extreme measures to make it happen. The climax was a thrilling way for our hero to save the day!
I recommend Starlight to anyone who is looking for an informative yet exciting view into a romance that bloomed in the midst of the seedy and oftentimes oppressive industrial-age Glasgow. It's definitely a four-star read.
I enjoyed watching the intellectual Alex try to deal with his overwhelming physical attraction for Polly, especially considering how he lived a monk-like existence during his first marriage. And Polly was gritty and sometimes crude--but always genuine. Both were seemingly on opposite sides of the fence in both character and ambition; the appeal was in watching them match wits and staying true to their goals while desperate to find common ground.
The brutal mill overseer who was the unofficial law wasn't the only villain here; Alex's disgusting and abusive father-in-law threatened to sue for sole custody of his infant grandson and ultimately took extreme measures to make it happen. The climax was a thrilling way for our hero to save the day!
I recommend Starlight to anyone who is looking for an informative yet exciting view into a romance that bloomed in the midst of the seedy and oftentimes oppressive industrial-age Glasgow. It's definitely a four-star read.
Starlight is fantastic - one of the best romances of 2012. I've read other books by Carrie Lofty and she is always good but this is the first book of hers that I think borders on perfect. The balance of historical accuracy, sexual tension, the building of the relationship, dialogue - it was not only a "technically" excellent novel, it got under my skin. The two don't necessarily always occur in tandem.
The details about the factory and how unions and bosses interacted were unexpectedly interesting as well and the uniqueness of a romance set largely in a Scottish textile mill kept my attention. But Lofty didn't make the mistake of relying too much simply on the unusual setting for effect the way some authors do.
I usually don't care for books where one of the characters has been in love or married before. That was not a problem at all here, Alex's marriage to Mamie and it's effects on him only enhanced the book and didn't overtake his relationship with Polly.
The primary villain, Mamie's father was an absolutely horrible human being (not portrayed as an awful person with "nuance") and you know what? Sometimes that's okay. There are truly awful people who do terrible things all the time on this earth and on occasion I like when the author doesn't sugarcoat the villain with unnecessary excuses.
Polly and Alex's relationship was both blazing hot and incredibly powerful and emotionally satisfying to read. I read a lot of erotica and romance novels and this has some of the best sexual tension and scenes I've read. But the author gives more than equal time to the actual building of a relationship and showing what each can provide the other emotionally which makes what would otherwise be an unconvincing match (a wealthy mill owner and a factory girl and union leader's daughter) feel almost inevitable.
This book is a keeper.
The details about the factory and how unions and bosses interacted were unexpectedly interesting as well and the uniqueness of a romance set largely in a Scottish textile mill kept my attention. But Lofty didn't make the mistake of relying too much simply on the unusual setting for effect the way some authors do.
I usually don't care for books where one of the characters has been in love or married before. That was not a problem at all here, Alex's marriage to Mamie and it's effects on him only enhanced the book and didn't overtake his relationship with Polly.
The primary villain, Mamie's father was an absolutely horrible human being (not portrayed as an awful person with "nuance") and you know what? Sometimes that's okay. There are truly awful people who do terrible things all the time on this earth and on occasion I like when the author doesn't sugarcoat the villain with unnecessary excuses.
Polly and Alex's relationship was both blazing hot and incredibly powerful and emotionally satisfying to read. I read a lot of erotica and romance novels and this has some of the best sexual tension and scenes I've read. But the author gives more than equal time to the actual building of a relationship and showing what each can provide the other emotionally which makes what would otherwise be an unconvincing match (a wealthy mill owner and a factory girl and union leader's daughter) feel almost inevitable.
This book is a keeper.
