Customer Reviews

Under a Lucky Star (Star Trilogy)

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

 

 

I loved this book. So far I've liked everything by Farr but this one really hit all the right chords. Memorable characters, lovely prose, poignant story, great fantasy. Including the comeuppance for the "villain" of the piece toward the end which I thought was perfect. Very satisfying on many levels. What I think this author does best is she leaves you smiling at the end of every book, but she does it a different way every time. I can't understand why some people who post reviews admit in the reviews that they haven't even read the book. Lots of us have Farr on our auto-buy list. I guess I'm just a fan, but I read a lot of romance and I think this author is something special. I recommend this book for anyone looking for a really good read that will leave you with a smile on your face.

Once again Diane Farr has created a wonderful and entertaining story. Farr's storytelling ability is exceptional as she has the ability to keep the reader's attention with her witty and humorous dialog. I have read all of her books and found each one to be entertaining, but not repetitious. I look forward to more works from this delightful author.

The lovely Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam (also known as 'Frost Fair' because of her excessive icy reserve) was only seventeen when her parents launched her on London society, with the stern admonishment that she reserve all her charms for her excessive rich suitors. In fact, Lady Cynthia's mother, Lady Ballymere, has already set upon the repulsive, but rich, Sir James Filey as a potential husband for Lady Cynthia. But one magical night, Lady Cynthia meets Derek Whittaker at the opera. Handsome, honourable and kind, Derek is everything that Sir James is not, and fits Lady Cynthia's notion of what the ideal husband should be. But Derek is also poor, and knowing full well that her parents will never countenance Derek as a potential suitor, the dutiful Lady Cynthia deliberately cuts him out of her life even though the deed costs her a lot of pain and anguish. Now, three years later, Derek and Lady Cynthia meet again at Oldham Park, the Duke of Oldham's family estate. Derek is visiting his heavily pregnant sister, Natalie (Natalie's married to Lord Malcolm, the duke's younger son), while Lady Cynthia and her mother are guests of Lady Hannah (the duke's granddaughter & Lord Malcolm's niece). And while Lady Cynthia feels quite overwrought about meeting Derek again, esp after their painful parting, she's nevertheless quite surprised to find that the feelings he aroused in her is still there and as strong as ever. But her mother wants her to snare yet another rich young man. Suddenly the dutiful Lady Cynthia is filled with rebellious thoughts about fulfilling her own needs and desires. Can a young lady who has spent years bending towards her mother's will suddenly rebel? And does Derek still care for her, or has she destroyed whatever tender feelings he ever had for her? For a meek young lady used to doing whatever her mother has told her to do, Lady Cynthia is going to have to do some hard thinking about her future, and whether or not Derek and love will have any part in it...

"Under a Lucky Star" is a follow-up to "Under a Wishing Star;" and again Diane Farr has penned another quiet little gem of a Regency-era romance novel. While the story is a very simple one with very few frills and fancies, Ms Farr's vivid portrayal of the love and attraction that bounds Lady Cynthia and Derek together is affecting and is what makes this novel an engrossing read. Will the Lady Cynthia and Derek be successful in their quest for a happily ever-after ending or will Lady Ballymere thwart them at the very end? Even though this is a romance novel and we know that a happily ever-after ending is ensured, there were a few suspenseful moments when I really did wonder about how this sought after ending would be achieved! Another thing that made this novel a fresh and compelling read was Ms Farr's wonderful portrayal of Lady Cynthia. Lady Cynthia as a heroine may not be everyone's cup of tea. She's almost too passive and gives in to her mother's demands at almost every turn. On the other hand the authour's portrayal of the heroine is very accurate and in keeping with what she's was trying to convey: the anguish an obedient and dutiful child would have to face as she tries to balance her own needs and desires with the needs and wants of her parents. And Lady Cynthia's moments of rebellion, when they came, were most welcome.

While not everyone may appreciate this quiet little gem, readers who enjoy character driven novels that are smoothly paced and intelligently executed will indeed enjoy "Under a Lucky Star."

Diane Farr has written a wonderful romance with a hero that believes in love at first sight and doesn't let that love die for years. If you like beta heroes that are just too good to be true this story is for you.
Derek is a simple man. He is not a duke or any other lord. He is a secretary to one though. One night at the opera he saves Cynthia, a young lady who is hiding from her soon to be fiancé. They share some kisses and then from there on out their feelings are set forever.
But their happily ever after is not an easy one. Cynthia must marry a very rich man to save her selfish parents who spend money like there's no tomorrow. When Derek and Cynthia meet at a party, she gives him the ultimate cut and Derek is heartbroken.
Three years later they meet at a house party and Derek soon realizes things are not what they seem. The chase is on for Cynthia to become his.
Derek's pursuit of Cynthia is beyond sweet and Cynthia wants to be caught but she is constantly at odds with her mother and the guilt of her parents' spending. Derek and Cynthia find some hope with a lot of kissing. For those who don't like those passionate over the top love scenes, this book is for you and also recommended for teens.
A truly exceptional and sweet romance between two people who belong together from the moment their eyes and lips met.

Katiebabs

Under the Wishing Star (Star Trilogy (Paperback))

It was love at first sight for Mr. Derek Whittaker and Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam, but alas, their love was not meant to be! There were too many obstacles in their path. Mainly, her father's zest for high living and horseflesh! As a daughter, duty called and whether she liked it or not, Lady Cynthia had to marry into money. Yet, as a gently raised woman, she felt very vulgar, very used, and very intimidated. Her obedient daughterly obligation was turning into serious resentment.

Derek Whittaker was a young man from a good family and he fell head over heels for the lovely, exquisite beauty known to society as the "Frost Fair." However, Cynthia Fitzwilliam was leagues above Derek Whittaker. She was the daughter of an earl and he was but a gentleman's lowly secretary. Yet, Derek hoped for more and Lady Cynthia obliged him - by giving him the direct cut!

Three years pass and the ill-fated embassy ball is now but a bitter memory. Nevertheless, fate intervenes, and again Derek Whittaker and Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam meet. However, the details are drastically changed. Now, Derek Whittaker is the master at Crosby Hall, his ancestral estate. His sister is married to the Duke of Oldham's son and Derek is no longer a foolish young man with stars in his eyes! This time he knows, full well, that no one that can ever win Cynthia's hand . . . they can only buy it! And this time, Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam will not humiliate and destroy him . . . too badly!

Comments:
UNDER A LUCKY STAR is charming, and sweet, and watching the hero woo and pursue his ladylove is pure magic. In addition, Farr's heroine delightfully changes from an unflappable, cool girl into a warm and sparkling woman. Yet, Ms. Farr's handling of Lady Ballymere (Cynthia's mother) truly makes this story entertaining. The colorful shrew jumped from the pages screeching . . . "scheming and selfish!" What an exceptional secondary character!

UNDER A LUCKY STAR is definitely a "feel warm" kind of book and yet, it was disappointing at times. Perhaps it was a little too tame or a little too tedious for this reader. However, Diane Farr did control the late Georgian setting and delivered a bona fide historical novel. So, if your romance reading moves toward the gentle and sweet, than UNDER A LUCKY STAR is definitely your ticket!
Grade: B-

MaryGrace Meloche.

In 1803, a bored Derek Whittaker wanders around the theater when he meets Lady Cynthia Fitzwilliam. He rescues her from her suitor Sir James Filey and the two soon share a delightful kiss before she returns to her family's box. A few days later, Cynthia, the daughter of an Earl, snubs Derek, a landless secretary. Not long afterward her parents announce that Cynthia and James will marry.

Three yeas later, Derek now owns property. He travels to visit his pregnant sister, but is distraught to find Cynthia and her mother there. Since James died before she married him, Cynthia's new target is a young wealthy lord. However, Derek realizes that he still loves Cynthia and believes she feels the same way. Now if she would only show the backbone to rid herself of her family of leeches that blame their poverty on her not their gambling father.

Regency romance readers will delight in Diane Farr's UNDER A LUCKY STAR. The story line stars an atypical female protagonist who seems to reflect the era more than the usual fiery independent in your face heroine. Instead Cynthia is under the thumb of her mother and is responsible for taking care of her family by marrying money. Only love and the desperate urging of Derek and her best friend give Cynthia the courage to go after what she desires while providing sub-genre fans with a great treat.

Harriet Klausner

I loved this book the characters are very well drawn and perfect for each other. Its gotten great reviews all over the web so I picked it up and thought it was great. I'm a sucker for love at 1st sight and this was the best depiction of that I have seen, Farr really made it belivable, which is hard to do. Also the heroine is the type of heroine who usuually makes you roll your eyes, wishy washy, with heroines like this you usually wish she'd just get a clue and go be with the hero, but the author showed us all the reasons for her behavior and made me sympathisize and root for her. Very well done and the hero is to die for.

This was a very nice book, but I felt it was like vanilla pudding--bland and easy to swallow. I feel it was okay, but the characters just never came to life for me. I thought the premise was a good one. I had read Under a Wishing Star and liked that book better. I think it was Cynthia's character that I really didn't care for. I know she had her reasons for behaving the way she did and she did make a turn for the better, but I felt it came too late. I know it did for me, because I was just reading the book to finish it by then. There was nothing bad about this book, but there was nothing to make it stand out. I do feel that the author has a lot of talent. I would like to see her really hit a home one with her next book. I feel she could do it and forget about the pudding.

I picked this book up because of the recent reviews but I have to say that it is mediocre at best. It starts out well but by the middle goes downhill. It just didn't hold my interest at all. I couldn't even finish it. I didn't care if they got together or not. The main characters where pretty one-dimentional. I give it three stars for drawing me in at the beginning. Maybe one day I'll go back and finish it. Maybe. Also, one thing that really annoys(sp) me is when I'm reading a Regency-era book and it's filled with contractions!).

It was slow, the heroine was annoying, and the hero not memorable. After 4-5 chapters, I skipped to the end to see how they got together. It, too, was nothing apecial.

Not much of a review, but it wasn't much of a book either.