Starlight is fantastic - one of the best romances of 2012. I've read other books by Carrie Lofty and she is always good but this is the first book of hers that I think borders on perfect. The balance of historical accuracy, sexual tension, the building of the relationship, dialogue - it was not only a "technically" excellent novel, it got under my skin. The two don't necessarily always occur in tandem.
The details about the factory and how unions and bosses interacted were unexpectedly interesting as well and the uniqueness of a romance set largely in a Scottish textile mill kept my attention. But Lofty didn't make the mistake of relying too much simply on the unusual setting for effect the way some authors do.
I usually don't care for books where one of the characters has been in love or married before. That was not a problem at all here, Alex's marriage to Mamie and it's effects on him only enhanced the book and didn't overtake his relationship with Polly.
The primary villain, Mamie's father was an absolutely horrible human being (not portrayed as an awful person with "nuance") and you know what? Sometimes that's okay. There are truly awful people who do terrible things all the time on this earth and on occasion I like when the author doesn't sugarcoat the villain with unnecessary excuses.
Polly and Alex's relationship was both blazing hot and incredibly powerful and emotionally satisfying to read. I read a lot of erotica and romance novels and this has some of the best sexual tension and scenes I've read. But the author gives more than equal time to the actual building of a relationship and showing what each can provide the other emotionally which makes what would otherwise be an unconvincing match (a wealthy mill owner and a factory girl and union leader's daughter) feel almost inevitable.
This book is a keeper.
The details about the factory and how unions and bosses interacted were unexpectedly interesting as well and the uniqueness of a romance set largely in a Scottish textile mill kept my attention. But Lofty didn't make the mistake of relying too much simply on the unusual setting for effect the way some authors do.
I usually don't care for books where one of the characters has been in love or married before. That was not a problem at all here, Alex's marriage to Mamie and it's effects on him only enhanced the book and didn't overtake his relationship with Polly.
The primary villain, Mamie's father was an absolutely horrible human being (not portrayed as an awful person with "nuance") and you know what? Sometimes that's okay. There are truly awful people who do terrible things all the time on this earth and on occasion I like when the author doesn't sugarcoat the villain with unnecessary excuses.
Polly and Alex's relationship was both blazing hot and incredibly powerful and emotionally satisfying to read. I read a lot of erotica and romance novels and this has some of the best sexual tension and scenes I've read. But the author gives more than equal time to the actual building of a relationship and showing what each can provide the other emotionally which makes what would otherwise be an unconvincing match (a wealthy mill owner and a factory girl and union leader's daughter) feel almost inevitable.
This book is a keeper.
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