Touching Stars (Shenandoah Album) (Hardcover)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The setup of Richards's 50-somethingth book is wince-inducing: Gayle Fortman's ex-husband, hot-shot TV journalist Eric, has had a nasty run-in with the Taliban; at Gayle's invitation, he returns to the Shenandoah Valley, Va., B&B they bought together to convalesce. Eric, who is in a relationship with L.A.-based fellow journo Ariel Kensington, knows little about the three sons he left behind 12 years ago: 13-year-old Dillon, 16-year-old Noah and 18-year-old Jared. Over 500-plus pages, each boy confronts his father in his own way, while Gayle harbors hopes that Eric will stay. Sidelines include Jared's relationship with hot-to-trot Brandy Wilburn (which may jeopardize his chances at an MIT scholarship), and a neighbor, Travis Allen, waiting in the wings for Gayle. Romance Writers of America award–winner Richards gets the emotions right and writes credible dialogue when the adults speak to children. The result is a fine, light family melodrama. (July)
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From Booklist

Twelve years ago, Gayle and Eric Fortman divorced, leaving Gayle to raise their three sons alone while trying to make a success of their sprawling country inn nestled in Virginia's tranquil Shenandoah Valley. It was no place for adrenaline-charged broadcast journalist Eric, who was more at home in the world's most dangerous combat zones until the day he nearly died covering the war in Afghanistan. Weakened and traumatized by his ordeal, Eric is invited to spend the summer recuperating at Gayle's bed-and-breakfast, where he can not only restore his health but also repair his damaged relationships with his sons. It's an uphill battle on both fronts, and Eric is surprised to find that it's easier to mend a shattered spirit than it is to win his family's trust and respect. Magically interpreting the emotional resonance of love and loss, betrayal and redemption through luminously drawn characters, Richards' latest installment in her irresistible, quilt-inspired Shenandoah Album series glows with transcendent warmth, wisdom, grace, and compassion. Haggas, Carol

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 528 pages
• Publisher: Mira; Library ed edition (July 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0778324729
• ISBN-13: 978-0778324720
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #533,981 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heartwarming!, September 26, 2007

By	Country Woman (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This is the 4th of the Shenandoah Quilt series by Emilie Richards. Each book is great, this one is the heartwarming story of a divorced mother of three deals with the day to day running of a bed & breakfast will raising her sons. Then, her ex-husband comes back into her life. Will they get back together or is there someone new in her life?

Each book stands alone, but if possible read them in order. Characters from previous books show up in each new one.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Touching & Sentimental, October 22, 2007

By	Busy Mom (Ohio) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I love Emilie Richards' books ~~ I have been hooked on them for the last six years and will read them whenever I can get my hands on one. However, this book is definitely not her best one. I am disappointed as it is lackluster in comparision to "Endless Chain," which I adored or even "Whiskey Island," which got me hooked on her books.

This book focused on Gayle, who runs the local bed and breakfast place in Shenandoah Valley, Va., and her relationship with her ex, Eric, who is a hotshot TV journalist who was captured by the Taliban in Afghanistan. He comes home to recover and to get to know his sons that he has neglected over the last 12 years. There's three of them, Jared, the eldest who just graduated high school; Noah, the artistic and sensitive middle son; and Dillon, the youngest and most hyper of the three ~~ and one that Eric doesn't know at all. Gayle has raised the sons by herself all those years and still carried a torch for her ex. This book explores their relationship as well as their relationships with their sons.

It is a sweet and endearing book ~~ but for some reason, the characters are not as memorable as Helen Henry or even Sam, the local minister. There is a story tied in from the past where Lincoln's assassin might have taken shelter in one of the local farmhouses just after Lincoln was killed. But I got the feeling that this book was hurried and not well-thought out as her other books ~~ which is disappointing. But at the same time, I was still engrossed enough to finish the book. It's a perfect summer beach read ~~ but if you want to know the author better, I really suggest reading "Whiskey Island" and "Iron Lace" ~~ some of her older books. They definitely satisfy the reader in me who always want a good story told as well as a good mystery.

10-22-07

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ------Excellent read concerning many family issues------, February 1, 2008

By	Judith Miller (Bluemont, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In TOUCHING STARS, author Emilie Richards again exhibits her wonderful ability to create realistic characters and interesting stories. This book is in her Shenandoah Album Series. All of the books in this series have some quilters living in the stories and there's always a quilt on a frame waiting to be finished.

Gayle Fortman is the divorced mother of three sons. They make their home in Virginia's beautiful Shenandoah Valley. Gayle's a smart and very resourceful woman who also runs a successful Inn that she named Daughter of the Stars. Her former husband Eric is a well-known television newscaster who travels the world reporting on various stories. After the divorce their relationship has not been close, but usually friendly. Her biggest regret is that her boys never had a father who was there when they needed one. Over the years they had not see their father enough and his relationship with his youngest son is almost non-existent. When Eric experiences a horrible attack on his life in the Middle East, he is wounded and traumatized. Gayle invites him too stay and recuperate at the Inn. Having Eric with the family again causes many feelings of old resentments and also a longing for what could have been. It also makes them wonder if the family could be together again.

TOUCHING STARS also contains a second story. A local summer day camp for teenagers is doing an archaeological dig on a nearby property. There is some mystery about the family that had lived there during the Civil War and the students and their teacher hope to find an answer to some old questions. This aspect of the book was particularly fascinating to me!

The author's choice for the name of her Inn and the book's title came from the word SHENANDOAH which means "Daughter of the Stars," and it's the American Indian name used for both the river and the beautiful valley. The Inn also has numerous "star" quilts in many of the rooms.

The other books in the Shenandoah Series are: WEDDING RING, ENDLESS CHAIN and LOVER'S KNOT. I recommend them all!

Judith Miller