The Light of Stars by Jenelle Hovde is a standalone novel taking place in the early 1800s. According to the author’s website, this book is based on a true story. This takes the intrigue of the story up a few notches. Varying moments of frustration and exasperation happen when the characters behave naively. The characters of both of the grandfathers are certainly villainous characters one loves to hate.
Learning about the expectations placed on members of the upper class and wealthy it is a wonder any of them survived the Regency period and went on to do anything useful in society. As the tale progresses, the reader can see the silliness of the character’s choices. Then other characters make wiser choices and things continue to progress.
Romance and untold secrets carry the plot along rather nicely. Readers will feel deeply connected to the main character of Kitty Grenville and annoyed with her all at the same time. Sebastian Sinclair felt as though he was ultimately the real show stealer of this book. He came back from a life of poor choices and moved forward with courage and bravery.
Review of a Digital Advance Reader’s Copy Provided by the Publisher
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Two people have a sword duel and one cuts the other, blood is mentioned; it is reported a man was shot and bled; a male raises his hand to strike a female; children are ripped from their mother’s arms by force; report a person had his workers whipped; report a person was beat to death; several scenes with gunshots and blood, including a fatality; report a person was murdered.
Sex/Nudity: Report a character was drinking heavily and carrying on with women; a few vague implications of non-married male characters being involved with women to whom they are not married; characters kiss and embrace; a generalization implying married characters engaged in sexual activities, but it is not specific and can only be presumed.
Mature Subject Matter:
Death of parents, dishonesty.
Drug/Alcohol Use:
Many scenes where characters consume alcohol of varying kinds; several references to people using opium, but it is never described.
