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After several angsty reads, I was really in the mood for a pick-me-up, and Diane Farr’s Under the Wishing Star fit the bill perfectly. This is a funny, sweet, uncomplicated, and touching love story.
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Natalie Whittaker is an unsophisticated young woman of good (but not noble) birth. Her martinet brother and his spoiled wife have returned from London to the country estate and have done everything in their power to make her miserable. While taking a walk she meets a charming little girl named Sarah. When the child’s governess seems about to punish Sarah for talking to Natalie, she intervenes. Sarah’s father is Lord Malcom Chase, a noble-born widower who immediately sees that Natalie has a rapport with Sarah. He sacks the governess and begs Natalie to take her place. Although Natalie has no need of a position, she longs to escape from her brother so much that she agrees to become Sarah’s governess. When Natalie’s brother refuses to allow Natalie to humiliate the family by becoming a servant, Malcom instead asks Natalie to marry him. Being a levelheaded woman, she refuses.
I liked these characters. Malcom is an extremely charming hero – he’s not a rake or a spy, just a good-hearted man who’s trying to do what’s best for his lonely child. He is interested in Natalie at first strictly because she would be a good governess (or a good stepmother) for Sarah. But the more time they spend together, the more Malcom realizes that she suits him, too. But Malcom is troubled by the memory of his first wife. He wants a nice easy friendship between himself and his next wife – not love. Natalie is sensible and intelligent, but very inexperienced. Living her entire life in a small village, she is naturally sensitive to gossip, and she finds Malcom’s pursuit of her embarrassing. The reason for her refusal of him is simple: she is head-over-heels in love with him, and cannot bear the idea of marrying him if he doesn’t love her in return.
The third character who makes this romance work so well is, surprisingly, Sarah. I am not usually fond of children in romances, but the author makes Sarah both realistic and quite likable.
There’s nothing earth-shaking or original in this book, but the author is extremely talented. She takes a simple story, and tells it with such skill that it glows. The book focuses on the complicated relationship of two people, both wanting to protect their hearts, both wanting to do what’s right for a little girl. The scene in which Malcom falls in love with Natalie is breathtakingly romantic. The scene in which they reconcile all their differences nearly made tears come to my eyes. There’s a wonderful scene towards the end of the book, in which Malcom tells Sarah a story which is meant for Natalie’s ears. This sequence is so funny and so adorable, I had to read it twice.
There’s a deus ex machina at the end, which brings about the comeuppance of Natalie’s brother. He deserved it, but this plot twist struck me as slightly out of place. That’s really my only complaint about this book, and it’s mostly a quibble.
I heartily recommend Under the Wishing Star, especially if you’re coming off a series of high-drama reads, or if you’re experiencing a little too much high drama in your own life. A lovely story about lovable people, set in a sunny, fairy-tale Regency England – ahh. That’s just what I needed.
Grade: B+
Book Type: European Historical Romance
Sensuality: Subtle
Review Date: 28/07/03
Publication Date: 2003
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.