"Starry Night"--by Debbie Macomber--’Tis the season for romance, second chances, and Christmas cheer-Filled with all the comforts and joys of Christmastime, Starry Night is a delightful novel of finding happiness in the most surprising places. (see my review)

  

Starry Night

Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author.

Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a megabestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives.

Digging deep into Finn’s past, Carrie develops a theory on his whereabouts. It is the holidays, but her career is at stake, so she forsakes her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she even expected. And soon she is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart.

MY REVIEW:  A woman longing to change her life and a man who resists change are caught in the romantic spell of Alaska's Northern Lights in author Debbie Macomber's "Starry Night". Carrie Slayton has a successful career as a society page columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times, but it's not the career she imagined. She'd envisioned working as a reporter, doing interviews, and writing features such as human interest stories. Moving back to the Northwest to be closer to her family and look for employment in the Seattle job market was sounding better and better. When she hands in her two-week notice, her boss gives her a challenge--if she scores an interview with reclusive and elusive author Finn Dalton, she can name her own assignments. Carrie starts her sleuthing by reading Finn's book, "Alone", a survivalist's bible of sorts, and by researching him on the internet. After reviewing birth records, and following a trail, Carrie finds Finn's mother, Joan, who had left her son and husband behind many years ago. A Louisiana native, Joan just couldn't handle living in Alaska full time, and her husband would not compromise. Eventually she made the heart-wrenching decision to leave, with Finn choosing to stay behind with his father. Finn had never forgiven his mother for leaving. After an emotional meeting with Joan, Carrie heads north to Alaska, bearing Finn's father's wedding band, which was sent by Joan. After arriving in Alaska, it takes some persuasive pleading on her part, but she convinces Finn's friend Sawyer to fly her to Finn's cabin. Sawyer is unable to contact Finn, and he deposits Carrie on a frozen lake and flies right back out into a worsening snow storm. Carrie is brought in from the storm by an unwelcoming Finn and his very large dog, Hennessey. The last thing Finn expected was for his buddy Sawyer to drop off an uninvited, unwanted, albeit beautiful and very appealing, female reporter at his front door. After his mother's betrayal, and being hurt by a woman he'd thought he loved, Finn considered himself immune to females of all sorts. Somehow, Carrie was different. He found himself telling her about aspects of his life that he had previously kept closely guarded. There is an undeniable attraction between the two, but they maintain a respectful distance. When the time comes for Carrie to leave, she knows she will be leaving a piece of her heart behind. As Finn helps Carrie to Sawyer's waiting plane, he gives her a shattering kiss and asks her not to write the story. Back at work, Carrie is faced with a an emotional dilemma--write the story and betray Finn's trust, or give up the biggest opportunity of her career for someone whom she just met and may never see again. How will Carrie choose, and will she ever see Finn again? Debbie Macomber is such a wonderful storyteller, and I read this charming, involving romance all in one sitting. The story is very well-paced, and the characters are quite appealing. Recommended for romantic dreamers who believe in second chances.

Book Copy Gratis Amazon Vine

 

Praise for Starry Night
 
“Contemporary romance queen Macomber (Rose Harbor in Bloom) hits the sweet spot with this tender tale of impractical love. . . . A delicious Christmas miracle well worth waiting for.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
 
“[A] holiday confection . . . as much a part of the season for some readers as cookies and candy canes.”—Kirkus Reviews
 
“A sweet contemporary Christmas romance . . . [that] the best-selling author’s many fans will enjoy.”—Library Journal
 
“Macomber can be depended on for an excellent story. . . . Readers will remain firmly planted in the beginnings of a beautiful love story between two of the most unlikely characters.”—RT Book Reviews (Top Pick, 4½ stars)
 
“Macomber, the prolific and beloved author of countless bestsellers, has penned a romantic story that will pull at your heartstrings with its holiday theme and emphasis on love and finding that special someone.”—Bookreporter
 
“Magical . . . Macomber has given us another delightful romantic story to cherish. This one will touch your heart just as much as her other Christmas stories. Don’t miss it!”—Fresh Fiction

 

Debbie Macomber

 

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Thirteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2021, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include It’s Better This Way (July) and Dear Santa (October). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, an adult coloring book, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and five have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.  

http://www.debbiemacomber.com/