REVIEW: Debbie Macomber's Starry Night

Hallmark Style Romance

If you chain-watch Hallmark Christmas movies during the holiday season and suffer withdrawal when they are over, Starry Night is the book for you.

A few of Debbie Macomber's Christmas novels have been adapted to Hallmark movies, and even though this isn't one of them, it has all the markings of the brand.

Unlike other holiday novels, Macomber purposely left "Christmas" out of the title to make her work stand out from the rest, but it does take place during the Christmas season.

Plot Summary

Carrie Slayton loves writing for a Chicago newspaper, but her talent is wasted covering the society page. She craves a challenge and more meaningful assignments.

Carrie's editor begrudgingly offers her any position she wants, with one stipulation--she has to find and interview Finn Dalton, the best-selling author of Alone, a book about living in and loving the Alaskan wilderness.

No one has ever seen a picture of Finn, let alone been able to track him down for an interview. Finding him is like seeking the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Determined to boost her career, Carrie braves the elements of Alaska and winds up smack dab in the middle of Finn's remote cabin, and the bush pilot can't return for her until the snow storm abates.

Finn is furious and barely utters a word during her intrusive and unwelcome visit. He refuses to be interviewed because he values his privacy.

Still, in typical romance fashion, a few days is all it takes for two people to fall in love, especially under a canopy of beautiful stars in the clear Alaskan sky.

Despite the distance between them once Carrie returns to Chicago and Finn remains in Alaska, the reader soon discovers true love always finds a way to overcome impossible odds.

Excellent Character Development

After reading two of Macomber's Christmas novels and remaining highly unimpressed, I am pleasantly surprised how much better this one is.

The reader feels like a fly on the wall watching the characters interact, and Macomber skillfully captures their thoughts and feelings and executes their reactions realistically.

In other romance novels, the hero gets emotionally wounded and lashes out, causing the heroine to do the same. I hate that. Macomber doesn't do it.

When conflict arises, Carrie reacts like an ordinary person in her situation would, and it's more believable. She doesn't play games or act coy. In fact, when she has the choice to be petulant, she lovingly launches herself into Finn's arms. No long, drawn-out misunderstandings. Macomber cuts through all of that to get the couple together without prolonged ado.

Finn is the rugged embodiment of the Alaskan tundra. He's tough, strong, and all male. No matter what our culture tries to tell us about gender, this is the kind of man real women want, so long as they aren't jerks.

Starry Night Is Clean

Heavy kissing is all the reader gets from this novel, which is more than enough. The reader can feel the spark between the characters, and for those of us who have forgotten what young love feels like, it's a sweet reminder.

Can Long-Distance Relationships Work?

Long-distance relationships pose unique challenges, and statistically, many fail. Macomber renews faith that when two people are right for each other, it is possible to find solutions that work.

The only unrealistic part about this is that our characters have jobs that allow for flexibility. Many people can't quit their jobs and find comparable employment that easily.

Bonus Material

At the conclusion of the novel, Macomber includes a bonus read--a short story she wrote entitled, Lost and Found in Cedar Cove. Some versions of this book even include annual letters Macomber sent to friends and family back in the 1980's along with a one-on-one interview with her. Check your local library if online versions don't include all these extras.

In real life, Macomber's husband loves Alaska, and two of her friends who are total opposites still fell in love. Hence, her inspiration for this novel.

#DebbieMacomber #StarryNight

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