Once upon a Star

Rating:
Summary: A Truly Wonderful Anthology!
Review: "Once Upon a Star" is a delightful anthology filled with four fantastic tales of magic and true love. Every story is well-written and utterly enthralling, making it nearly impossible for me to pick a favourite. Each of these four talented authors shines in the original and intriguing stories they have created.

"Ever After" by Nora Roberts tells the story of Allena Kennedy, who just can't find her place in the world. While in Ireland helping her stepsister Margaret run her tour company, Allena buys a beautiful star pendant. The next thing Allena knows, she has missed the ferry she was supposed to be taking, but then finds a boy with a boat to take her where she needs to go. But Allena ends up on Dolman Island, miles from where she should be, in the midst of a wild storm.
Reclusive Conal O'Neil finds Allena out in the storm and reluctantly brings her back to his home. Though at first he is rude and standoffish, Conal can't resist Allena's charms, as she makes his house feel like a home for the first time in years. But Conal knows from the star pendant around Allena's neck that she is the woman the fates have chosen for him. Determined to make his own destiny, and not allow his life to be dictated by fate, Conal tries to push Allena away, and may just be throwing away his one chance at happiness and true love!
Being a Nora Roberts story, "Ever After" is undeniably a fabulous read.

"Catch A Falling Star" by Jill Gregory is a wonderful historical romance with just a dash of magic thrown in. Princess Lianna of Penmarren has promised to marry Ambrose the Barbarian to keep peace in her father's land. But Lianna is terrified by the prospect, as Ambrose is a ruthless warrior who supposedly murdered his first wife. The day before the wedding is planned, Ambrose arrives in the middle of the night demanding Lianna marry him at once and return to his home at Crow's Keep. Ambrose's homeland of Blackenstar is once again under attack, and he must go at once to defend it. So Lianna marries Ambrose, counting on her father's promise that a great army will come to rescue her soon.
But as Lianna gets to know Ambrose, she finds he is not the heartless monster she has heard about. Lianna discovers the real Ambrose, a fair and compassionate man who his people regard with affection and respect, forced to defend his lands against a never-ending onslaught of invaders. Lianna finds incredible passion and tenderness in Ambrose's arms, and falls deeply in love with him. But soon the day Lianna has dreaded comes, when she learns the attack on Crow's Keep is imminent. Will Lianna find a way to save Ambrose's home? And will Ambrose believe that Lianna truly loves him, or will he be too shattered by her apparent betrayal to see the love she feels in her heart?
This was an excellent tale, that had me really caring about Ambrose and Lianna, and praying for a happy ending.

"The Curse of Castle Clough" by Ruth Ryan Langan tells the story of Lord Robert Cameron. Rob's heartless and incredibly wealthy ex-brother-in-law, Griffin Mackenzie, lent his late father fifteen million pounds for his many debts. Knowing Rob will never be able to come up with that much money, Griffin gives him one month before Castle Clough becomes his. Desperate to keep his beloved home from Griffin, Rob hires a highly regarded auction house in the U.S. to sell his precious family heirlooms in hopes of raising the money that way.
When Professor Estelle Sinclair arrives, she is in awe of Castle Clough's beautiful antiques. But when she finds out about Rob's plight from a helpful spirit, she joins him in his fight, and falls head over heels in love. As Estelle and Rob search for a way to save Castle Clough, they get a glimmer of hope from their spirit helper, the ghost of a young boy named Jamie. If Jamie can just lead them to the "Star of Scotland", a priceless diamond lost hundreds of years ago; their problems would be solved. But does the Star of Scotland really exist? And if so, will they be able to find it before Castle Clough is lost to the Cameron family forever?
This was a heart-warming tale containing a truly lovely romance and just the right dose of fantasy. I loved everything about it!

"Starry, Starry Night" by Marianne Willman is an excellent tale that rounds out the book perfectly. Lily Kendall is on a much-needed vacation in St. Dunstan's village in Cornwall. When she takes a nighttime walk along the beach, she gets caught by the rising tide, and narrowly escapes a watery grave because of a star-shaped window and the help of a handsome and mysterious man. The man, Rees Tregarrick, takes Lily home, leaves her with his housekeeper then rudely disappears. But when Lily awakes the next morning, she is no longer in Rees' home, but instead in a museum where Rees Tregarrick lived over a hundred years ago. Confused and off-balance, Lily is convinced it was all a dream.
Several more encounters with Rees, however, convince Lily that she has somehow found a doorway into the past. But Lily has fallen deeply in love with Rees, and wants to spend her life with him. Are Rees and Lily destined to spend separate, lonely lives yearning for what can never be? Or is their love strong enough to overcome time itself?
This is beautifully written and captivating tale that left me sighing over the magic of true love.

"Once Upon a Star" is a superior romance anthology that doesn't contain even one poor story. I loved all the tales in this book, and I highly recommend it. This is a terrific read and one you definitely don't want to miss!

Rating:
Summary: A Truly Wonderful Anthology!
Review: "Once Upon a Star" is a delightful anthology filled with four fantastic tales of magic and true love. Every story is well-written and utterly enthralling, making it nearly impossible for me to pick a favourite. Each of these four talented authors shines in the original and intriguing stories they have created.

"Ever After" by Nora Roberts tells the story of Allena Kennedy, who just can't find her place in the world. While in Ireland helping her stepsister Margaret run her tour company, Allena buys a beautiful star pendant. The next thing Allena knows, she has missed the ferry she was supposed to be taking, but then finds a boy with a boat to take her where she needs to go. But Allena ends up on Dolman Island, miles from where she should be, in the midst of a wild storm.
Reclusive Conal O'Neil finds Allena out in the storm and reluctantly brings her back to his home. Though at first he is rude and standoffish, Conal can't resist Allena's charms, as she makes his house feel like a home for the first time in years. But Conal knows from the star pendant around Allena's neck that she is the woman the fates have chosen for him. Determined to make his own destiny, and not allow his life to be dictated by fate, Conal tries to push Allena away, and may just be throwing away his one chance at happiness and true love!
Being a Nora Roberts story, "Ever After" is undeniably a fabulous read.

"Catch A Falling Star" by Jill Gregory is a wonderful historical romance with just a dash of magic thrown in. Princess Lianna of Penmarren has promised to marry Ambrose the Barbarian to keep peace in her father's land. But Lianna is terrified by the prospect, as Ambrose is a ruthless warrior who supposedly murdered his first wife. The day before the wedding is planned, Ambrose arrives in the middle of the night demanding Lianna marry him at once and return to his home at Crow's Keep. Ambrose's homeland of Blackenstar is once again under attack, and he must go at once to defend it. So Lianna marries Ambrose, counting on her father's promise that a great army will come to rescue her soon.
But as Lianna gets to know Ambrose, she finds he is not the heartless monster she has heard about. Lianna discovers the real Ambrose, a fair and compassionate man who his people regard with affection and respect, forced to defend his lands against a never-ending onslaught of invaders. Lianna finds incredible passion and tenderness in Ambrose's arms, and falls deeply in love with him. But soon the day Lianna has dreaded comes, when she learns the attack on Crow's Keep is imminent. Will Lianna find a way to save Ambrose's home? And will Ambrose believe that Lianna truly loves him, or will he be too shattered by her apparent betrayal to see the love she feels in her heart?
This was an excellent tale, that had me really caring about Ambrose and Lianna, and praying for a happy ending.

"The Curse of Castle Clough" by Ruth Ryan Langan tells the story of Lord Robert Cameron. Rob's heartless and incredibly wealthy ex-brother-in-law, Griffin Mackenzie, lent his late father fifteen million pounds for his many debts. Knowing Rob will never be able to come up with that much money, Griffin gives him one month before Castle Clough becomes his. Desperate to keep his beloved home from Griffin, Rob hires a highly regarded auction house in the U.S. to sell his precious family heirlooms in hopes of raising the money that way.
When Professor Estelle Sinclair arrives, she is in awe of Castle Clough's beautiful antiques. But when she finds out about Rob's plight from a helpful spirit, she joins him in his fight, and falls head over heels in love. As Estelle and Rob search for a way to save Castle Clough, they get a glimmer of hope from their spirit helper, the ghost of a young boy named Jamie. If Jamie can just lead them to the "Star of Scotland", a priceless diamond lost hundreds of years ago; their problems would be solved. But does the Star of Scotland really exist? And if so, will they be able to find it before Castle Clough is lost to the Cameron family forever?
This was a heart-warming tale containing a truly lovely romance and just the right dose of fantasy. I loved everything about it!

"Starry, Starry Night" by Marianne Willman is an excellent tale that rounds out the book perfectly. Lily Kendall is on a much-needed vacation in St. Dunstan's village in Cornwall. When she takes a nighttime walk along the beach, she gets caught by the rising tide, and narrowly escapes a watery grave because of a star-shaped window and the help of a handsome and mysterious man. The man, Rees Tregarrick, takes Lily home, leaves her with his housekeeper then rudely disappears. But when Lily awakes the next morning, she is no longer in Rees' home, but instead in a museum where Rees Tregarrick lived over a hundred years ago. Confused and off-balance, Lily is convinced it was all a dream.
Several more encounters with Rees, however, convince Lily that she has somehow found a doorway into the past. But Lily has fallen deeply in love with Rees, and wants to spend her life with him. Are Rees and Lily destined to spend separate, lonely lives yearning for what can never be? Or is their love strong enough to overcome time itself?
This is beautifully written and captivating tale that left me sighing over the magic of true love.

"Once Upon a Star" is a superior romance anthology that doesn't contain even one poor story. I loved all the tales in this book, and I highly recommend it. This is a terrific read and one you definitely don't want to miss!

Rating:
Summary: A Truly Wonderful Anthology!
Review: "Once Upon a Star" is a delightful anthology filled with four fantastic tales of magic and true love. Every story is well-written and utterly enthralling, making it nearly impossible for me to pick a favourite. Each of these four talented authors shines in the original and intriguing stories they have created.

"Ever After" by Nora Roberts tells the story of Allena Kennedy, who just can't find her place in the world. While in Ireland helping her stepsister Margaret run her tour company, Allena buys a beautiful star pendant. The next thing Allena knows, she has missed the ferry she was supposed to be taking, but then finds a boy with a boat to take her where she needs to go. But Allena ends up on Dolman Island, miles from where she should be, in the midst of a wild storm.
Reclusive Conal O'Neil finds Allena out in the storm and reluctantly brings her back to his home. Though at first he is rude and standoffish, Conal can't resist Allena's charms, as she makes his house feel like a home for the first time in years. But Conal knows from the star pendant around Allena's neck that she is the woman the fates have chosen for him. Determined to make his own destiny, and not allow his life to be dictated by fate, Conal tries to push Allena away, and may just be throwing away his one chance at happiness and true love!
Being a Nora Roberts story, "Ever After" is undeniably a fabulous read.

"Catch A Falling Star" by Jill Gregory is a wonderful historical romance with just a dash of magic thrown in. Princess Lianna of Penmarren has promised to marry Ambrose the Barbarian to keep peace in her father's land. But Lianna is terrified by the prospect, as Ambrose is a ruthless warrior who supposedly murdered his first wife. The day before the wedding is planned, Ambrose arrives in the middle of the night demanding Lianna marry him at once and return to his home at Crow's Keep. Ambrose's homeland of Blackenstar is once again under attack, and he must go at once to defend it. So Lianna marries Ambrose, counting on her father's promise that a great army will come to rescue her soon.
But as Lianna gets to know Ambrose, she finds he is not the heartless monster she has heard about. Lianna discovers the real Ambrose, a fair and compassionate man who his people regard with affection and respect, forced to defend his lands against a never-ending onslaught of invaders. Lianna finds incredible passion and tenderness in Ambrose's arms, and falls deeply in love with him. But soon the day Lianna has dreaded comes, when she learns the attack on Crow's Keep is imminent. Will Lianna find a way to save Ambrose's home? And will Ambrose believe that Lianna truly loves him, or will he be too shattered by her apparent betrayal to see the love she feels in her heart?
This was an excellent tale, that had me really caring about Ambrose and Lianna, and praying for a happy ending.

"The Curse of Castle Clough" by Ruth Ryan Langan tells the story of Lord Robert Cameron. Rob's heartless and incredibly wealthy ex-brother-in-law, Griffin Mackenzie, lent his late father fifteen million pounds for his many debts. Knowing Rob will never be able to come up with that much money, Griffin gives him one month before Castle Clough becomes his. Desperate to keep his beloved home from Griffin, Rob hires a highly regarded auction house in the U.S. to sell his precious family heirlooms in hopes of raising the money that way.
When Professor Estelle Sinclair arrives, she is in awe of Castle Clough's beautiful antiques. But when she finds out about Rob's plight from a helpful spirit, she joins him in his fight, and falls head over heels in love. As Estelle and Rob search for a way to save Castle Clough, they get a glimmer of hope from their spirit helper, the ghost of a young boy named Jamie. If Jamie can just lead them to the "Star of Scotland", a priceless diamond lost hundreds of years ago; their problems would be solved. But does the Star of Scotland really exist? And if so, will they be able to find it before Castle Clough is lost to the Cameron family forever?
This was a heart-warming tale containing a truly lovely romance and just the right dose of fantasy. I loved everything about it!

"Starry, Starry Night" by Marianne Willman is an excellent tale that rounds out the book perfectly. Lily Kendall is on a much-needed vacation in St. Dunstan's village in Cornwall. When she takes a nighttime walk along the beach, she gets caught by the rising tide, and narrowly escapes a watery grave because of a star-shaped window and the help of a handsome and mysterious man. The man, Rees Tregarrick, takes Lily home, leaves her with his housekeeper then rudely disappears. But when Lily awakes the next morning, she is no longer in Rees' home, but instead in a museum where Rees Tregarrick lived over a hundred years ago. Confused and off-balance, Lily is convinced it was all a dream.
Several more encounters with Rees, however, convince Lily that she has somehow found a doorway into the past. But Lily has fallen deeply in love with Rees, and wants to spend her life with him. Are Rees and Lily destined to spend separate, lonely lives yearning for what can never be? Or is their love strong enough to overcome time itself?
This is beautifully written and captivating tale that left me sighing over the magic of true love.

"Once Upon a Star" is a superior romance anthology that doesn't contain even one poor story. I loved all the tales in this book, and I highly recommend it. This is a terrific read and one you definitely don't want to miss!

Rating:
Summary: Not as good as the others...
Review: Always the fan of Nora Roberts, I grabbed "Once Upon A Star" thinking it would be just as good as the other three "Once Upon A..." novels. I'm sad to say that I only liked this one a little. Out of the four stories, I enjoyed "Catch A Falling Star" and "The Curse of Castle Clough" the most. They had great storylines and characters and I could really imagine these stories taking life in my imagination. The other two: "Ever After" and "Starry, Starry Night" just weren't my cup of tea. I just couldn't find myself getting interested.

Here's a rundown on each story:

"Ever After" by Nora Roberts:
Allena Kennedy has a knack for messing things up. She's never really lived a stable life, jumping from job to job and never worrying about her future. Now she's working for her stepsister Margaret's travel company (against her sister's better judgement I might add) when she goes to Ireland to assist Margaret with some tourists. There she gets lost and winds up on an isolated island in the care of handsome stranger Conal O'Neil. Conal is not too happy to have Allena thrust into his life. But here she is making herself at home, tending gardens, cooking, and tugging at every ounce of restrain that Conal has. The star pendant she wears around her neck is proof that she's destined to be his true love, but being a man used to making his own decisions, Conal decides to fight the Fates and decide for himself whether or not he'll allow himself to love Allena or not.

"Catch A Falling Star" by Jill Gregory
Princess Liana of Penmarren has been betrothed to Ambrose the Barbarian, a man who's castle (Crow's Keep) is said to be cursed and who man who supposedly killed his first wife when she could not produce an heir. So in the middle of the night Ambrose hastily comes for his bride and they are married so he can return to Crow's Nest, fearing that it will soon be under attack. Ambrose fears not, because she has it on great authority that her cousin Constantine will soon be for her and he will defeat the vicious Ambrose and take her back home. This changes though when passion takes Liana and she soon finds herself falling in love with the Barbarian.

"Catch A Falling Star" by Ruth Ryan Langan
Lord Robert Cameron is trying desperately to hold on to his family's castle and land. His brother-in-law Griffin McKenzie is desperately trying to snatch Rob's home from him to even out a fifteen million pound debt Rob's father owed. Griffin decides to give Rob one month to come up with the money or sign over possession of the castle, knowing full well that he'll never accomplish it. Rob, hoping to raise the money brings in an American appraiser Estelle Sinclair. Estelle has extensive knowledge of Scottish antiquities and is floored when she enters the castle. Never in her life has she seen such wonderful, expensive antiques. She's also floored when she meets Lord Rob, who also shares a mutual attraction to the lovely American. Knowing that they have only one month to raise the money, Estelle and Rob begin working on finding a way to keep the Cameron property away from Griffin. They find a little help along the way from a young spirit who resides in the playroom where Estelle's office is located.

"Starry, Starry Night" by Marianne Willman
Lily Kendall has just found herself lost in Cornwall, England. She is rescued by a mysterious stranger who disappeers in the night. Rees Tregarrick finds himself attracted to a woman dressed in a white dress. The tragedies of what occurred in the past and the hope for what lies ahead in the future brings Lily and Rees together.

Gennie Bailey-Rogers

Rating:
Summary: It's Magical
Review: Having read ONCE UPON A CASTLE, I couldn't wait to read ONCE UPON A STAR. I can honestly say, each author has her own magic and each story has it's own enchanting gift of entertainment.

Ever After by Nora Roberts You know Nora Roberts; she's yet to write one that isn't a winner. The woman can paint a picture with her words--it's amazing! Allena buys a magical necklace and finds herself on a magical trip. When Conal meets Allena, he realizes his fight with the past is going to be even more difficult than he ever imagined. A fanciful, entertaining read.

Catch A Falling Star by Jill Gregory Jill Gregory's historical short story is light on magic and heavy on romance. I love historical reads and found this one enjoyable. Princess Lianna is being forced into a marriage with Ambrose the Barbarian. She hates the thought of being married to a barbarian and resents that he will not let her use her special gift. While Ambrose fights for the right to keep his inherited property, Lianna finds her self fighting for the right to keep her heart. They will teach you a lesson in love and loyalty.

The Curse of Castle Clough by Ruth Ryan Langan A ghostly read. This is one of two that I enjoyed the most. Warming up to the characters (especially Jamie) was no problem at all! When dropped off at her next assignment, the driver warns Estelle that the castle is cursed. Her job is to estimate and sell some family antiques for Lord Cameron, who is being forced to liquidate his precious family heirlooms. A delightful read!

Starry, Starry Night by Marianne Willman This is the second of the two that I enjoyed the most. It's a Time Travel that will captivate you, and a romance that will move you. After coming to Cornwall, Lily finds her self lost and in danger. A stranger appears to save her, yet disappears again. Rees finds himself haunted by the site of a woman in a white dress, and each time he reaches for her, she disappears. A wonderful experience of love reaching through time.

A great read.

Rating:
Summary: It's Magical
Review: Having read ONCE UPON A CASTLE, I couldn't wait to read ONCE UPON A STAR. I can honestly say, each author has her own magic and each story has it's own enchanting gift of entertainment.

Ever After by Nora Roberts You know Nora Roberts; she's yet to write one that isn't a winner. The woman can paint a picture with her words--it's amazing! Allena buys a magical necklace and finds herself on a magical trip. When Conal meets Allena, he realizes his fight with the past is going to be even more difficult than he ever imagined. A fanciful, entertaining read.

Catch A Falling Star by Jill Gregory Jill Gregory's historical short story is light on magic and heavy on romance. I love historical reads and found this one enjoyable. Princess Lianna is being forced into a marriage with Ambrose the Barbarian. She hates the thought of being married to a barbarian and resents that he will not let her use her special gift. While Ambrose fights for the right to keep his inherited property, Lianna finds her self fighting for the right to keep her heart. They will teach you a lesson in love and loyalty.

The Curse of Castle Clough by Ruth Ryan Langan A ghostly read. This is one of two that I enjoyed the most. Warming up to the characters (especially Jamie) was no problem at all! When dropped off at her next assignment, the driver warns Estelle that the castle is cursed. Her job is to estimate and sell some family antiques for Lord Cameron, who is being forced to liquidate his precious family heirlooms. A delightful read!

Starry, Starry Night by Marianne Willman This is the second of the two that I enjoyed the most. It's a Time Travel that will captivate you, and a romance that will move you. After coming to Cornwall, Lily finds her self lost and in danger. A stranger appears to save her, yet disappears again. Rees finds himself haunted by the site of a woman in a white dress, and each time he reaches for her, she disappears. A wonderful experience of love reaching through time.

A great read.

Rating:
Summary: Great reading to tickle your fancy and make you smile
Review: I have not yet read the first in this series, Once Upon A Castle, but I definitely preferred this 2nd anthology to the third one, Once Upon A Dream.

The Nora Roberts novella, first in the book, is really wonderful. Nora is at her best when she combines elements of magic in her romance stories, and this is no exception. Wonderful characters are esy to care about, especially Allena the misfit, and the ending is extremely satisfying, as always.

The second novella is a straightforward historical romance, with just a hint of magic surrounding our hero and his unfortunate curse. While the characters are less well developed, the political intrigue is fun, and the heroine is quite independent, which is a nice switch.

The third story may be the best (sorry, Nora). The characters are all wonderful, especially the lovable scheming old uncle and the family ghost. I really loved the story, which was a lovely mystery/romance/ghost tale with interesting twists and turns.

The final tale has a different feel to it -- it's very impressionist, with lost of description and not much plot. It has a dreamy tone, and what little story there is is interesting; it's just all kind of vague. I liked it, but it was a little disconcerting after the first three story-driven novellas.

Overall, this is a delightful read, perfect for when you need a quick escape.

Rating:
Summary: My first book by Nora Roberts
Review: I just bought this book yesturday, i wanted to buy the first one,buy the book store was out so i bought the 2nd one. i have heard that her books are very good. exspecialy if you like romance novles which i do. this will be the first book to read of hers but i have heard great things about her books and i love stories thats deal with love,spells,enchantment,and happy ever-afters. its like they seem to take you away form reality for a while, kinda like a vacation. i mean where else can you get your very own get away and not go anywhere for under 20$?....only in a book. im sure i will be pleased with this book,im planning on buying the other 2 in this series and many more of Nore Robert's books.

Rating:
Summary: These short stories are delightful!
Review: I really enjoyed these short reads. They are just the perfect length. I loved the originality of them and encourage everyone to read them. I read a story each night and found myself dreaming of the wonderful plots and characters in the book.

Rating:
Summary: Compilations of good short stories
Review: I wouldn't say that this book is great nor a waste. The stories were pretty good actually even though I find the pace quiet slow and some of the stories do not keep with the track. I simply adore the story by Jill Geogery, 'Catch a Falling Star'. It was wonderfully woven, and the love that flourish between Lianna and Ambrose was wonderfully done. I pitied Ambrose for his dark past and I adore Lianna for her stubbornness to stand for her own love. As for Nora Roberts story, entitled 'Ever After', the story is as enchanting as it was in a romantic faraway place that any woman could dream of; on an island, with your man, far from civilisation. The other two stories do come to my standard although I didn't enjoy the stories very much. But, I do encourage you, if you love these authors, do buy the book since I consider it will worth your money.