Starlight

(The Christies #2)

Author: Carrie Lofty

Publisher: Pocket Books

Release Date: 6/26/12

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: ARC provided by The Novel Sidekick

Buy: Amazon and Barnes&Noble

Author’s Website: www.carrielofty.com

Description

An esteemed astronomer, Alex Christie, the eldest and most steadfast of the Christie siblings, has never possessed his late father's ruthless business drive. But to protect his frail infant son from his cruel father-in-law's bid for custody, the young widower must undertake Sir William Christie's posthumous million-dollar challenge: to make a Glasgow cotton mill profitable. At sea in an industrial world of sabotage and union agitation, Alex meets Polly Gowan, daughter of a famed union leader, who hopes to seize a mysterious saboteur without involving the police. Because a sympathetic mill master would aid her cause, Polly becomes Alex's guide to urban Scotland. From soccer games to pub brawls, Alex sees another side of life, and feels free for the first time to reveal the man--vital and strong--behind his intellectual exterior. Polly is utterly seduced. Their ambitions, however, remain at odds: Alex vows to earn the mill bonus to save his child, while Polly fights for the needs of her people. Is there strength enough in their sparkling passion to bind them together in their quests-- and in a lasting love that conquers all?

Review

Once again Carrie Lofty has dazzled me! I so love this series. The characters are funny, charming and totally likable, even when they're being difficult. And let me tell you, Polly and Alex are just that! Even the secondary characters are really entertaining. I loved the setting for this one. I don't know much about this kind of history to know if she got it all right but her descriptions and details felt totally realistic. I found the whole Scottish mill setting fascinating and I'd love to learn more about it now that I've read this book.

Alex is my kind of leading male character, strong in mind and body, utterly charming and a little tortured inside. Something about a man with troubles to be solved really gets me. Struggling to raise his infant son and keep him away from his late wife's disgusting father gave him the depth emotionally he needed to convince me. From the beginning of the book I was rooting for him to succeed with his father's plan for him so he could get rid of that vile man and when Polly showed up I was rooting for him to fall for her too. 

Polly is a scheming little firecracker. I so loved her, she really gave Alex a run for his money... literally! Her loyalty to her people was admirable and the woman sure had spirit, that's for sure. And I loved her family, wish there would have been more about them, I didn't get enough.

This story had it's ups and downs with a little twist here or there and I just couldn't put it down. Starlight is a very entertaining read. I recommend all historical romance lovers pick this book up today. You won't regret it!