Customer Reviews

Written in the Stars

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

 

 

In 1894 London, Jack Rutherford and Diana Sanbourne, the children of famous archeologists, are to be married in two days. They even make love for the first time in the British Museum. On their wedding day, Jack is arrested for stealing and selling artifacts from the Alexandria Collection. This leads to the death of his father and the bankruptcy of his family. This betrayal to archeology and herself is the one thing that Diana could not forgive him.

Five years pass and Diana's father Stafford is dying just as he has come close to uncovering the legendary Anthony-Cleopatra "Love Treasure", considered a myth by his peers. Before Stafford dies, he sends word to Diana, pleading with her to complete his quest and exonerate his reputation. She knows that she must honor her father's request. However, Diana also knows only one man, the acrimonious archeological rogue Jack can accomplish this. When they meet for the first time since that ill fated wedding day, the sparks fly, but neither trusts the other because they feel let down by their soulmate.

Take Indiana Jones and place him four decades earlier when archeology is still in its infancy and the reader gets a delicious taste of what WRITTEN IN THE STARS is like. The lead protagonists are a delightful duo, who must overcome their suspicions of each other if they are to find true bliss. The secondary players are a delightfully humorous, witty, and dangerous rogue's gallery. Though the romance is top rate, Katherine O'Neal's historical romantic adventure is so good because of the reverent look at nineteenth century archeology, which comes across as exciting as the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Katherine O'Neal is the reigning queen of the romantic adventure,

Harriet Klausner

If you love steamy romance and romantic adventure, this is the book you've been waiting for. Katherine O'Neal is the best romance writer writing today. This book is fun, fresh, sexy, adventurous, and you won't feel that you've read it before. Do yourself a favor and get it now!

In 1894 London, Jack Rutherford and Diana Sanbourne, the children of famous archeologists, are to be married in two days. They even make love for the first time in the British Museum. On their wedding day, Jack is arrested for stealing and selling artifacts from the Alexandria Collection. This leads to the death of his father and the bankruptcy of his family. This betrayal to archeology and herself is the one thing that Diana could not forgive him.

Five years pass and Diana's father Stafford is dying just as he has come close to uncovering the legendary Anthony-Cleopatra "Love Treasure", considered a myth by his peers. Before Stafford dies, he sends word to Diana, pleading with her to complete his quest and exonerate his reputation. She knows that she must honor her father's request. However, Diana also knows only one man, the acrimonious archeological rogue Jack can accomplish this. When they meet for the first time since that ill fated wedding day, the sparks fly, but neither trusts the other because they feel let down by their soulmate.

Take Indiana Jones and place him four decades earlier when archeology is still in its infancy and the reader gets a delicious taste of what WRITTEN IN THE STARS is like. The lead protagonists are a delightful duo, who must overcome their suspicions of each other if they are to find true bliss. The secondary players are a delightfully humorous, witty, and dangerous rogue's gallery. Though the romance is top rate, Katherine O'Neal's historical romantic adventure is so good because of the reverent look at nineteenth century archeology, which comes across as exciting as the RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK. Katherine O'Neal is the reigning queen of the romantic adventure,

Harriet Klausner

I purchased this book because of the amazon reviews and because it had won an RITA award. I really wanted to like it but was very disappointed. The plot was weak with many implausible twists and turns. I especially disliked the relationship between the two main characters: Jack lied to Diane, never opened up to her (more exposition to the readers than to the woman he was in love with) and did a really incredible 180 degree change that was totally unbelievable. Diane was a weak character, very malleable, allowing herself to be used and abused by Jack without any real strengths. The review seems harsh due to the disappointment of such a great concept leading to such a poor execution.

As another reviewer has noted, this is a memorable and engrossing Indiana-Jones-like story of two archaeologists pursuing Cleopatra's love treasure. It's obvious that they are destined to be together (that is usually the nature of these romances), but they seem impossibly stubborn about getting there. One reviewer has complained that the heroine was too "malleable" and Jack too unrepentant. I have to say that I felt absolutely the opposite in reading this book. The heroine swore her unconditional love to the hero and then literally two days later retracted her vow without ever hearing his side of the story. She let him rot in prison for two years without ever visiting him. Now I understand that we're supposed to feel that they've both been wrong... but I admit I was a little irritated that Diana seemed so much more wrong than Jack. Her hypocrisy and intense mood swings aside, the rapport between the two was good and they were ultimately believable as a couple.

The language occasionally frustrated me, as it is unabashedly contemporary and not in keeping with the novel's setting in 1899/1900. That probably makes this more accessible to many readers, however, and it does help the writing keep up with the rapid pace of the plot. This is a rare historical romance novel in which the suspense of the plot basically overwhelms the fluffier elements. Usually the romantic development is front and center and tangentially someone is trying to kill them, but is genteel enough about it that he doesn't interfere with their playful banter or sensual interludes. Not so in this book, which could stand alone on what in others would be relegated to a subplot. For this reason I can say that I didn't like the ending, even though the romantic plotline wrapped up perfectly; then again, I was irritated by the ending of "Titanic" too. (Hopefully this isn't too much of a spoiler.) In all, this is a book worth reading.

I finished Written In The Stars last night. It was an easy read for me and I truely enjoyed the story. If you like books that are fast paced and sensual, this is a book for you. It was my first Katherine O'Neal book and will not be my last.

In several respects this seemed a very different sort of story for Katherine, yet always her unique style. Her sensual scenes are still some of the best out there.

Full of turns and twists, one can overlook the seemingly superhuman feats performed by Jack and Diana, which could leave you tongue-in-cheek. But the story is so good I didn't care, simply enjoyed the fantasy of Katherine's furtile mind. Besides, it's okay to be larger than life in fiction.

Katherine's stories will turn you wrongside out with passion, and that's the kind of romance we all dream about. -Lee Emory