Star Dust by Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner
Historical Romance (1960’s)
Released: October 14, 2015
Self Published

Reviewed by Mandi

When Emma Barry and Genevieve Turner submitted this for review, I was so happy. The premise – a 1960’s romance starring an astronaut hero who falls for his newly divorced neighbor? Sign me up!

Anne-Marie Smith is newly divorced, and can feel the stares and judgment all around her. But she will take all that snobbery for not having to spend another minute with her cheating husband. Anne-Marie’s parents are very wealthy (and can’t believe she got divorced – the drama) and they want her and her two kids to continue to live a decent lifestyle. So they buy her a brand new house in a brand new development, where it’s known many astronauts and their wives live. Anne-Marie is more worried about getting her kids adjusted to a new house and new schools than to be impressed by astronauts roaming the streets. Okay, maybe she is a little impressed, especially when she meets her famous neighbor Commander Christopher Campbell, or Kit. Years ago, when the Soviets beat the Americans by getting the first satellite into space, Kit made it his mission in life to orbit the Earth before them – and now he is very close. He is the second in place to leave Earth, and has been training relentlessly. Kit is single and in very good shape, and doesn’t know what to do with a single mom neighbor. She is cute but puts out a very chilly vibe when she looks at him.

Anne-Marie can’t help but lust after Kit when he goes running shirtless down the street. But she has responsibilities! She has a new job as a travel agent! Darn it – she can’t be wooed by a hottie astronaut!

But she is wooed. She is wooed big time, and their secret affair turns into feelings and a very sexy and cute romance develops.

Being set in the early 60’s, women didn’t go around and get divorced so much

“Can you even imagine what she must be like?” Carruthers said. “A woman who’d actually leave a man? Or who was so shrewish that he left her?”

But don’t worry about Anne-Marie. Although her parents bought her a house, she gets a job. She doesn’t mope around and whine people whisper about her, she puts her head up and goes on with her life. She is overwhelmed at times – and annoyed when a certain neighbor shows up to help  her all the time, but she has confidence and lots of spirit.

Kit falls hard for Anne-Marie, which surprises him. He usually feels awkward around kids, feeling pressure to live up to the hero they see in him. But he takes to Anne-Marie’s kids quick. He knows the press and gossip can get to even the best astronaut wife, so he tries to shield that from her the best he can. He is the one that pushes for more, and he courts her and it’s all just very sweet.

“I think about you all the time. Well, you and the stars. You’re all bound up together n ow. You have been for weeks.” He paused and swallowed, and then with heartbreaking earnestness, he said, “Have dinner with me.”

He’d phrased it as a statement, but she could hear the entreaty. That was what surprised her, made her “What?” come out sharp and baffled.

“I want to take you to dinner. I want to bring you flowers. I want to pursue you. And I want to kiss you.”

Oh you dreamy astronaut.

Anne-Marie befriends some of the other wives, and they start to form friendships. I want to say it’s a cute contemporary because that is how it felt, but I guess I have to say it’s a cute historical. I was so glad to see another book is coming featuring another astronaut hero.

Grade: B

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