Customer Reviews

Shower of Stars (Berkley Sensation)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Now, why is it that these "marriages of convenience" are always more than they seem on the surface? Although "Charlie" Berglund & Jack Lanett are oil & water, they sure do suit one another - - even if they don't realize it. Throw a Kuvasz (a great big white dog) in the mix & it's a wonderful story about 2 people who need each other for different reasons, then find they are really soulmates. I bought this book on a whim & now am seeking the author's first book (A Bridge to Love) because I enjoyed this one so much. Go Nancy!

A Shower of Stars is a beautifully written, intricate love story about a journalist, Charlotte "Charlie" Bergland, who is trying to get an interview with a meteorite hunter, Jack Lanett. Their first meeting involves rescuing a hundred-pound dog from a hit-and-run, and continues from there. Charlie is recovering from a painful divorce and is in the process of adopting a baby from China. Jack is a very private person who will reveal nothing about his past and is reluctant to grant interviews, but his enchantment with her long, blonde hair allows her this chance for an exclusive article.
When Charlie's caseworker suggests she find work closer to home she decides to write a book about Jack. Reluctant to have her delve into his secrets he counters with a marriage proposal, for "business purposes" only and Charlie reluctantly accepts. Passion erupts between them, and an emergency brings a nine-year-old foster child into their lives and hearts. Danger and intrigue challenge their budding romance, with a heart-stopping climax. A very satisfying conclusion to this wonderful romance had me sighing in pleasure!

Just like in her debut novel, A Bridge to Love, Nancy Herkness presents us with a dark, dashing meteorite hunter with roots and secrets tied to his troubled childhood in Georgia. Her previous novel's Randall Johnson was from Texas who also overcame extreme adversity to become a force to be reckoned with in the world of big business.

Jack Lanett is a meteorite hunter who overcame his juvenile record to become world renowned for his prowess at locating these finds coveted by both the academic research community and private colletors. Charlotte "Charlie" Berglund is a journalist looking to interview Jack for the New York Times. After their first encounter which involves rescuing an injured dog outside Jack's building, Jack agrees to a future interview.

In addition to Charlie's penchant for rescuing injured and stray animals and fostering them until suitable homes can be found, she is in the process of adopting a baby girl from China. Her previous marriage ended after several miscarriages and her ultimate inability to bear children of her own. After another failed attempt at a relationship, Charlie is trying to be strong and independent to create the family environment that she never had as a single parent.

When the case social worker voices reservations about Charlie's career as an adverture writer with routine travel to dangerous locales, Charlie approaches Jack to write a book on his big meteorite discovery to stay closer to home and proof that she can provide a safe income and home environment for a child. When Jack refuses and counter offers to marry her in a marriage of convenience to appease the social worker, Charlie reluctantly agrees.

Along the way, as Jack shares his annual pilgrimage to watch the meteorite showers in the forest near the Poconos, both Charlie and Jack start to build a bond which grows deeper than the strictly business tie they had agreed on.

As an aside, it was like visiting cherished friends to see a brief reappearance of Randall and Kate Johnson (from A Bridge to Love) at the media event for the viewing of Jack's Sahara-Mars meteorite at the Museum of Natural History. It would make sense that Jack and Randall would travel in the same circles.

I can't wait for Nancy's next book!

In Shower of Stars, Nancy continues her wonderful talent for writing characters that the reader starts to care about (be it like or dislike) on the first 'meeting'. I freely admit to being more of a Louis L'Amour than 'amour' reader, but this book held my attention, and more, all the way through. In addition to the personalities, the details of the characters professional lives ring true and the dialog is a pleasure to read aloud (my way of determining if it really 'works').
Enough enthusiastic praise, and time for a suggestion. If the women fans of romance novels need to try and help their spouses, boyfriends, fathers, brothers, or sons understand what makes the genre so compelling, this could be just the book to hand them. It is a plain good read by any standards and it might give them some ideas.
(It only gets 4 stars because there are no pioneers, pirates, or presidents).

Loved the story line, loved the characters. Ms. Herkness has a winner, and I have a keeper.

In Manhattan, freelance reporter Charlie Bresland is conducting an interview of famous meteorite hunter Jack Lanett for the New York Times. Jack and his partner Miguel MacPherson are controversial figures because they sell many of their findings to the highest bidder. Currently thy have on auction a Shara-Mars gem that has angered bio-astronomer Dr. Peter Burke who believes all findings belong to science not a collector, but never takes the monetary or on site risks outside his Princeton classroom to retrieve a rock.

After an incident with a dog and his insistence she wear her hair down, Charlie proposes to write a book on Jack, an endeavor he opposes because he has a secret to hide. She explains that she must change jobs from real life adventure writer to a more sedate job so she can adopt a child. Jack shocks her when he tenders a different option; he proposes marriage. Already attracted to Jack, Charlie considers whether marriage will give her everything she wants: a loving husband, a cherished child, and a loyal dog, but can she keep a secret if he reveals to the woman he is falling in love with what he has hidden from the world.

Though Charlie's obsession to adopt and her need to rescue cats and dogs are not clarified until late in the novel, fans will appreciate this starring two individuals with different reasons to marry. The altruistic Charlie wants to do the right thing for society while Jack has a secret he dreads surfacing. Readers will appreciate this fun tale of two people falling love though they wedded for the wrong reasons.

Harriet Klausner

Charlie Berglund wants a child so bad she can taste it. But when the social worker tells her that her job may cause her a problem with adopting a baby from China Charlie decides to write a book on Jack Lanett the meteorite hunter. Jack doesnt want to have a book written about himself because of a secret hes hiding so he makes a proposal....of marriage. Soon these two strike up a romance thats HOT! Will Charlie get her baby and maybe the sexy meteorite hunter too? You will see as soon as you read the book! :-) Nancy Herkness has written another winner! Sexual tension right from the jump and an unforgettable story! Get this one you will devour every page of it!

Nancy Herkness has penned another gem of a book in Shower of Stars.

Charlotte "Charlie" Berglund has bagged an interview with hotshot meteorite hunter Jack Lanett. Their first meeting is electric. Charlie has always wanted a child but after several miscarriages and a failed marriage, she is looking to adopt.

Jack is intrigued by Charlie. She is different from the other women he has known. Jack has overcome a troubled past to become the man he is today.

Jack proposes a marriage of convenience when Charlie encounters a roadblock in her quest to adopt. What starts out as a simple arrangement grows into an all-consuming passion.

Shower of Stars is a book to treasure. Jack and Charlie have a tangible connection. The passion and chemistry is outstanding. I really enjoyed all the facets of this book.