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Yorktown Towers #4
Cry for the Moon
There's nothing like the brisk autumn nights of the North
As cold winds rattled through broken windows and loose doors. Farnum's Castle felt like an icebox. Marielle Brandt couldn't complain to the landlord - she was the landlord, having inherited her husband's mounting debts and title to the weirdest apartment building in the history of human habitation.
The plumbing was shot, the stairs were treacherous and the place was haunted. The tenants were a raggle-taggle group of refugees, witches and warlocks. But he weirdest part was that Farnum's Castle felt like home, and the tenants like family. Especially Simon Zebriskie, who gruffly dispensed help and advice, and felt like someone Marielle had been seeking all her life to warm her heart on even the coldest Chicago night.
As cold winds rattled through broken windows and loose doors. Farnum's Castle felt like an icebox. Marielle Brandt couldn't complain to the landlord - she was the landlord, having inherited her husband's mounting debts and title to the weirdest apartment building in the history of human habitation.
The plumbing was shot, the stairs were treacherous and the place was haunted. The tenants were a raggle-taggle group of refugees, witches and warlocks. But he weirdest part was that Farnum's Castle felt like home, and the tenants like family. Especially Simon Zebriskie, who gruffly dispensed help and advice, and felt like someone Marielle had been seeking all her life to warm her heart on even the coldest Chicago night.
252 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1988
34 people are currently reading
102 people want to read
About the author
Anne Stuart
204 books2,062 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
November 1, 2019
Widowed heroine (Marielle Brandt from New York) inherits a rundown apartment building called Farnum's Castle in Chicago. Once she arrives she meets the tenants, a very odd assortment of characters. And she wonders how she is going to make ends meet. (She also has two young children.) The building needs a lot of repairs, some of the tenants are staying without paying. But they start to grow on Marielle and she wants to try her best for them. She also meets attractive hero (Simon Zebriskie, who works at a radio station) who is also living in the building. It is said Farnum's Castle may be haunted by the ghost of the previous owner. Maybe it is he who is making noises in the night? As time goes by the attraction between Marielle and Simon grows...
This was a very fun read. The characters were such a strange group of people, they were interesting to get to know. I liked the setting of Farnum's Castle, with its crumbling interiors, creepy dark halls, etc. Simon and Marielle made a nice couple. The story had a bit of a mystery to it, with someone trying to sabotage the apartment building, and a possible ghost.
A charming story by Anne Stuart.
This was a very fun read. The characters were such a strange group of people, they were interesting to get to know. I liked the setting of Farnum's Castle, with its crumbling interiors, creepy dark halls, etc. Simon and Marielle made a nice couple. The story had a bit of a mystery to it, with someone trying to sabotage the apartment building, and a possible ghost.
A charming story by Anne Stuart.
April 22, 2018
I really enjoyed this one, the hero, the residents, her kids, all of it! The romance totally worked for me.
June 30, 2018
Closer to 3.5 Stars
Welcome to Farnum's Castle. Marielle Brandt, a widow and young mother, owned nothing except this property. It was the only thing bequeathed to her by her deceased husband, after several years of a disinterested marriage and a mountain of debts. At least she had her two wonderful children.
A crumbling apartment building, a group of oddball bohemian tenants and Simon Zebriskie, the unofficial caretaker, all-around do-gooder and most-of-the-time maverick. He was the glue that kept everything running in their 'home'. Call him Mr. Fix-It; he kept the harmony flowing among a unique group of destitutes.
And then there were those mysterious bumps in the night. Eerie sounds that confounded everyone in the building. The big question was 'what is going on?'.
I read this book years ago and enjoyed it. It is the story of an eclectic group of people who probably would have passed each other on the street under normal circumstances. Instead, they lived together, helped one another and gave each other purpose. And somewhere along the way, a heartwarming romance developed between Marielle and Simon.
Welcome to Farnum's Castle. Marielle Brandt, a widow and young mother, owned nothing except this property. It was the only thing bequeathed to her by her deceased husband, after several years of a disinterested marriage and a mountain of debts. At least she had her two wonderful children.
A crumbling apartment building, a group of oddball bohemian tenants and Simon Zebriskie, the unofficial caretaker, all-around do-gooder and most-of-the-time maverick. He was the glue that kept everything running in their 'home'. Call him Mr. Fix-It; he kept the harmony flowing among a unique group of destitutes.
And then there were those mysterious bumps in the night. Eerie sounds that confounded everyone in the building. The big question was 'what is going on?'.
I read this book years ago and enjoyed it. It is the story of an eclectic group of people who probably would have passed each other on the street under normal circumstances. Instead, they lived together, helped one another and gave each other purpose. And somewhere along the way, a heartwarming romance developed between Marielle and Simon.
November 18, 2019
"Cry for the Moon" is the story of Marielle and Simon.
Recently widowed Marielle Brandt moves to Farnum's Castle with her two kids, after she is left with her shitty dead husband's debts and forced to make life changing decisions to sustain her family. Expecting the place to be habitable and a source of income, she soon finds it might not just be haunted, but is also home to eccentric tenants, vandalizing ghosts, and an enigmatic radio presenter Simon Zebriskie.
Soon her life is filled with quirky neighbors, creepy ghosts, and despite her trying to resist- an enigmatic sexy man who might give her all happiness she has always yearned for.
Interesting story with likable characters, but gets somewhat lost in the ghost shenanigans, and not the MCs love story. More a thriller than a romance.
Safe
3/5
Recently widowed Marielle Brandt moves to Farnum's Castle with her two kids, after she is left with her shitty dead husband's debts and forced to make life changing decisions to sustain her family. Expecting the place to be habitable and a source of income, she soon finds it might not just be haunted, but is also home to eccentric tenants, vandalizing ghosts, and an enigmatic radio presenter Simon Zebriskie.
Soon her life is filled with quirky neighbors, creepy ghosts, and despite her trying to resist- an enigmatic sexy man who might give her all happiness she has always yearned for.
Interesting story with likable characters, but gets somewhat lost in the ghost shenanigans, and not the MCs love story. More a thriller than a romance.
Safe
3/5
January 7, 2018
Widow of six months, Marielle Brandt turns up with her five year old daughter Emily and eighteen month son Christopher at the doorstep of Farnum’s Castle, against all the advise doled out by the elderly attorney, who from the onset tries to convince her to sell the derelict building which Marielle is now to call home.
Left destitute with a mountain of debt by her husband, Marielle leaves behind a life which she particularly wouldn’t miss. The attorney goes as far as to tell her that the building is haunted, which does not in the least deter a very undaunted Marielle. The determination with which she was going to make Farnum’s Castle perhaps borne a bit out of the fact that she has nowhere else to go.
When one of the tenants of the building, the mysterious Simon Zebriskie encounters the very young Marielle, whom he considers so owing to perhaps his failed marriage from before, he is distrustful. Not so much because she is untrustworthy, but a distrust that stems from a side of himself that he had thought had gone dormant that comes to life with Marielle’s presence.
Simon is a man paying penance for something that had meant the end of life as he had known it, which had afforded him a life of luxury that is a distant memory from what his life is like now. With an odd cast of secondary characters who magically brings the “Gothic” side of the story alive, Cry for the Moon is once again a testament to Anne Stuart’s ability that remains unrivaled even with the multitude of romance writers out there.
A book written when I was in my early childhood, and yet even today stands firm with the test of time is exactly why I would always pick an Anne Stuart to chase away my reading blues. In Simon, there is the deliciously tender hero that any reader would fall in love with. Minus the anti-hero qualities that makes Anne Stuart so famous in the development of heroes in her novels, Simon is a man haunted by a past that makes him aloof and reluctant in many ways to confront his rioting emotions when it concerns Marielle.
Marielle on the other hand, is the strong, kind, and yet emotionally scarred heroine that anyone would root for. Her reluctance to step into anything with Simon comes from a marriage that had failed her miserably when all had been said and done. Having gotten married at a young age, Marielle would rather forge ahead on a path of her own making and do it alone, and yet, she cannot help but be ensnared by the passion that rises to the surface and explodes with every deliciously lazy kiss that Simon lays on her.
Beautifully rendered, Cry for the Moon belongs in the collection of gems with which Anne Stuart has enriched the reading lives of many a romanceaholic like myself. Recommended.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Left destitute with a mountain of debt by her husband, Marielle leaves behind a life which she particularly wouldn’t miss. The attorney goes as far as to tell her that the building is haunted, which does not in the least deter a very undaunted Marielle. The determination with which she was going to make Farnum’s Castle perhaps borne a bit out of the fact that she has nowhere else to go.
When one of the tenants of the building, the mysterious Simon Zebriskie encounters the very young Marielle, whom he considers so owing to perhaps his failed marriage from before, he is distrustful. Not so much because she is untrustworthy, but a distrust that stems from a side of himself that he had thought had gone dormant that comes to life with Marielle’s presence.
Simon is a man paying penance for something that had meant the end of life as he had known it, which had afforded him a life of luxury that is a distant memory from what his life is like now. With an odd cast of secondary characters who magically brings the “Gothic” side of the story alive, Cry for the Moon is once again a testament to Anne Stuart’s ability that remains unrivaled even with the multitude of romance writers out there.
A book written when I was in my early childhood, and yet even today stands firm with the test of time is exactly why I would always pick an Anne Stuart to chase away my reading blues. In Simon, there is the deliciously tender hero that any reader would fall in love with. Minus the anti-hero qualities that makes Anne Stuart so famous in the development of heroes in her novels, Simon is a man haunted by a past that makes him aloof and reluctant in many ways to confront his rioting emotions when it concerns Marielle.
Marielle on the other hand, is the strong, kind, and yet emotionally scarred heroine that anyone would root for. Her reluctance to step into anything with Simon comes from a marriage that had failed her miserably when all had been said and done. Having gotten married at a young age, Marielle would rather forge ahead on a path of her own making and do it alone, and yet, she cannot help but be ensnared by the passion that rises to the surface and explodes with every deliciously lazy kiss that Simon lays on her.
Beautifully rendered, Cry for the Moon belongs in the collection of gems with which Anne Stuart has enriched the reading lives of many a romanceaholic like myself. Recommended.
Rating = 4/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
November 26, 2023
4 stars!
How does Anne Stuart do this? This book was first published in 1988, and although certain aspects of this book are certainly dated, the story, characters, and plot stand the test of time.
I read this book just in time for Halloween, and it certainly had a gothic and spooky feel to it. Marielle is widowed and has inherited a "haunted" mansion. There are tenants living in it and each tenant has their own story and background. I love how Anne Stuart often will gift you with a secondary romance within the pages of her novels. It's like you get two for the price of one:).
I loved the slow-build romance between Marielle and Simon and was entertained throughout the entire book, which was a quick read.
I love this author so much and am thankful that she has such an extensive backlist that I am still enjoying stories by her for the first time!
How does Anne Stuart do this? This book was first published in 1988, and although certain aspects of this book are certainly dated, the story, characters, and plot stand the test of time.
I read this book just in time for Halloween, and it certainly had a gothic and spooky feel to it. Marielle is widowed and has inherited a "haunted" mansion. There are tenants living in it and each tenant has their own story and background. I love how Anne Stuart often will gift you with a secondary romance within the pages of her novels. It's like you get two for the price of one:).
I loved the slow-build romance between Marielle and Simon and was entertained throughout the entire book, which was a quick read.
I love this author so much and am thankful that she has such an extensive backlist that I am still enjoying stories by her for the first time!
November 3, 2024
I read this in 1990 and re-read this week. I still like it very much. It was funny and sweet. Plot points are recapped in other reviews so will just say that what struck me most in the re-read was the epilogue, which takes place about 4 weeks after the story ends. In that time, the h has managed to get enough cash out of the treasure to do some impressive renovation to the apartment building, including a new heating system, new elevator and a newly renovated downstairs suite where a wedding is held and immediately followed by a Thanksgiving feast. Having just spent 4 months trying to get my house painted and some basic home repairs done- none of which is yet to be completed- I really appreciated the fairy tale where contractors show up, work gets done, a wedding is staged, and no one turns a hair.
October 19, 2024
My most surprising read of the year. I didn't know what to expect and at first, I also didn't know what to make of what I read but I was intrigued and the more I read the more the book sucked me in. It has a touch of gothic, a mix of romance, crime and fun and I liked it a lot. I believe it is the last book in a series which I didn't realize when I bought the book but Marielle's story is the last one of four friends who lived in New York but all found their happiness and love somewhere else. In Marielle's case an old rundown building in Chicago with the oddest mix of tenants ever. I most enjoyed the royal family of some never heard of eastern country which was under government protection. I had to laugh out loud quite often and I especially enjoyed the slow romance between grumpy pessimistic Simon and cheery but beat down Marielle. A very sweet and surprisingly good read.
December 29, 2023
Missed an old friend
this was the year that I met Anne Stuart and she has become one of my favorite authors. It is fitting that on the full moon in 2023 I saved this book for last. it is a great book. I can’t remember if I’ve ever read about a quirkier place where strangers become family and that gives me hope.
this was the year that I met Anne Stuart and she has become one of my favorite authors. It is fitting that on the full moon in 2023 I saved this book for last. it is a great book. I can’t remember if I’ve ever read about a quirkier place where strangers become family and that gives me hope.
March 12, 2024
This wasn’t my favorite Anne Stuart book because it felt predictable but it still was a good read.
November 23, 2024
Quirky characters! Brief steamy sex.
February 7, 2008
Another winner!!!
Cry for the Moon, has widowed Marielle Brandt moving into an apartment house with her small child. Her husband was into big debt for his death and this is the only piece of property left to her. She arrived to find the place like something out of the Adam's Family, nearly falling down and the only thing that is keeping it running is Simon Zebriskie, who has taken on protecting the oddball inhabitants of the ancient building. It is haunted, has the weird crew of misfits, yet Marielle finds Simon and the Adam's Family mansion, her new home and is strangely charmed by it all. As great tribute to the Old Dark House!!
Cry For the Moon has some gothic elements - haunted old house, weird residents - but somehow the atmosphere is much lighter. Both Marielle and Simon are interesting characters on their own and it's fun to read their thoughts to themselves regarding each other. Simon fights his attraction to Marielle and fgoes to the point of trying to set her up on a date with someone else.
All the residents in the building are some sort of social misfits and they make a nice set of secondary characters along with Marielle's two kids. The mystery was also well done, I at least had no ideia who was behind the problems, but what took center stage for me was the relationships that developed between all of them. All described in a quite funny, feel good way and I was charmed by it all.
Grade: B
Cry for the Moon, has widowed Marielle Brandt moving into an apartment house with her small child. Her husband was into big debt for his death and this is the only piece of property left to her. She arrived to find the place like something out of the Adam's Family, nearly falling down and the only thing that is keeping it running is Simon Zebriskie, who has taken on protecting the oddball inhabitants of the ancient building. It is haunted, has the weird crew of misfits, yet Marielle finds Simon and the Adam's Family mansion, her new home and is strangely charmed by it all. As great tribute to the Old Dark House!!
Cry For the Moon has some gothic elements - haunted old house, weird residents - but somehow the atmosphere is much lighter. Both Marielle and Simon are interesting characters on their own and it's fun to read their thoughts to themselves regarding each other. Simon fights his attraction to Marielle and fgoes to the point of trying to set her up on a date with someone else.
All the residents in the building are some sort of social misfits and they make a nice set of secondary characters along with Marielle's two kids. The mystery was also well done, I at least had no ideia who was behind the problems, but what took center stage for me was the relationships that developed between all of them. All described in a quite funny, feel good way and I was charmed by it all.
Grade: B
November 4, 2008
CRY FOR THE MOON - Good
Stuart, Anne - standalong
As cold winds rattled through broken windows and loose doors. Farnum's Castle felt like an icebox. Marielle Brandt couldn't complain to the landlord - she was the landlord, having inherited her husband's mounting debts and title to the weirdest apartment building in the history of human habitation.
The plumbing was shot, the stairs were treacherous and the place was haunted. The tenants were a raggle-taggle group of refugees, witches and warlocks. But he weirdest part was that Farnum's Castle felt like home, and the tenants like family. Especially Simon Zebriskie, who gruffly dispensed help and advice, and felt like someone Marielle had been seeking all her life to warm her heart on even the coldest Chicago night.
I enjoyed this. I liked the Chicago setting, the characters, the apartment building and their relationship. Very nice.
Stuart, Anne - standalong
As cold winds rattled through broken windows and loose doors. Farnum's Castle felt like an icebox. Marielle Brandt couldn't complain to the landlord - she was the landlord, having inherited her husband's mounting debts and title to the weirdest apartment building in the history of human habitation.
The plumbing was shot, the stairs were treacherous and the place was haunted. The tenants were a raggle-taggle group of refugees, witches and warlocks. But he weirdest part was that Farnum's Castle felt like home, and the tenants like family. Especially Simon Zebriskie, who gruffly dispensed help and advice, and felt like someone Marielle had been seeking all her life to warm her heart on even the coldest Chicago night.
I enjoyed this. I liked the Chicago setting, the characters, the apartment building and their relationship. Very nice.
April 5, 2013
This was a very predictable romance thriller novel. But it also had some funny parts. When recently widowed Marielle Brandt inherits an old haunted apartment building in Chicago, she moves her two kids and finds an assortment of tenants who are just like her, broke and no where else to live. Of course there is Simon Zebriskie, who is the love interest, who resists at first because of the age difference. An easy fun read.
February 20, 2012
my Favorite Samhain read
May 26, 2021
Such a fun read! I'll have to read it again. I've read it a bunch of times. It's due to be read again. :)
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews