Yesterday's Stardust

Lost Sanctuary #2

by Becky Melby

Journalist Dani Gallagher finds a tattered diary written in the Roaring Twenties—and clues to a lost treasure. Chef Nicky Fiorini helps unravel the clues, and attraction ignites, but Dani is hiding her own secret. In hopes of a great story, she’s using questionable means to gather information on a local teen gang. Just as she and Nicky are on the verge of solving the mystery, internal fighting breaks out in the gang. Dani is caught the middle, and Nicky is furious. Then the diary leads to a hidden room and a shocking discovery, but have they missed the real treasure?

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Christian Contemporary Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Historical Fiction, Contemporary Romance

315 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2012

About the author

Wisconsin resident Becky Melby is the author of more than 20 titles, including her latest, Candles in the Rain, plus the Lost Sanctuary Series, four books in the Guideposts cozy mystery series Secrets of Wayfarers Inn, and a novella in A Door County Christmas. Married for 48 years, mother of four, grandmother to sixteen, Becky thrives on writing, reading, camping, rides on the back of a silver Gold Wing, and time with family. Connect with her at www.beckymelby.com or Facebook.

Reviews

[Iola · Rating 4 out of 5]

In 1924, 15-year-old Francie Tillman of Osseo, Wisconsin, runs away from home to join her sister in Chicago and follow her dream of being a fashion designer. But life doesn’t always work out how you planned, and she finds herself living her sister and illegitimate nephew under the ‘protection’ of local bootleggers who control her every move with threats to her family.

In the present day, award-winning journalist and Christian Dani Gallagher is finding that it's harder to write the story when there is a personal connection. In following up a story about a gang suicide, she meets handsome chef Nicky Fiorini, and his sister, Renata. Dani finds a diary that seems to link to Nicky’s restaurant, so the two of them read together and discover Francie’s story. Meanwhile, Renata is facing problems with her gang boyfriend, but has no way to escape his influence, and Dani wants to help, to share God’s love with Renata and the other gang ‘sisters’.

The story alternates back and forward between the past and the present, with gradual clues showing the physical links between the past and the present, and the underlying theme of change: the more things change, the more they stay the same, as Francie and Renata face similar problems decades apart. There is also the hint of a romance between Dani and Nicky, if he will allow himself to trust God again.

The past-and-present is an interesting plot device, and Melby works it to her advantage. I was also impressed by her use of language (I particularly like Roman Catholic Nicky’s thought that “he knew the exact moment he’d stopped praying to the figure on the cross and started talking to the living God. He also knew the exact moment he’d stopped”) and the sense of mystery.

Recommended, perhaps not so much because of the story but because of the way Becky Melby uses Yesterday’s Stardust to challenge us, as Christians, to step out of our comfort zone and see the downtrodden in society the way Jesus would - and to do something about it. Her reasoning as to why teens join gangs is chilling.

This is the second book in Becky Melby’s Lost Sanctuary series, and it is much better than the first (Tomorrow’s Sun), in that the characters are much more human and therefore likeable. The stories are designed to be read as stand-alone novels, as they are related only in theme: a contemporary romance playing against the historical suspense.

Thanks to Barbour and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've loved reading this Lost Sanctuary series. Love the dual timeline and the way events in the 1920s parallel events in present day. So artfully written! There's never a good place to stop reading so be prepared to lose yourself in two amazing worlds. I was as anxious as Dani to uncover the secrets in Francie's journal.

The romance is stupendous -- my favourite kind -- all gnarly and confusing with lots of sparks flying. Their first meet is fraught with tension and humour which sets the tone for the whole book. When I wasn't laughing over Nicky and Dani's antics, I was tearing my hair out over their double dose of stubbornness. Each keeping secrets from the other while delving into secrets of the past. Lots of fodder for rabid reading!

A solid faith thread winds its way through the story as Nicky and Dani struggle to find God's will for their lives. Nicky's bitterness has left him distanced from God. Dani's desire to excel at journalism often clashes with her drive to make a difference in people's lives. This book has it all -- romance, mystery and faith -- in measured doses of pure delight.

[JanetW · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved the way this went between two time periods & how it related to current day.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday's Stardust by Becky MelBy
4 STARS
I admit to listening to the book on my kindle and sometimes I got lost for a few seconds as it switched back and forth from the 1920's to 2012. If I was reading I would not got lost as often.
One thing I loved was the questions they ask you at the end makes me think of the story a little different way.
Dani is a reporter for a newspaper and gets involved in her stories. While they are discussing story ideas she gets a phone call from a teenager she interviewed a few months ago China. China is mad that Dani told her to leave her abusive boyfriend and she did. Now her boyfriend shot himself because she left. China blames Dani.
Dani goes back to where the shooting happens and realized China was taken in for questioning by the police. After the cops left the apartment Dani went in and then realized it would not look good if she is caught their. She is worried about China.
She decides after dinner at the Italian restraunt across from China's apartment to stake out the apartment from her car. Dani finds a journal from the 1920's
The story goes from the 1920's to now and how the people are going through some of the same problems.
Nicky is a chef at his family restraunt that has been in his family for generations. He is also the manager. He calls the police because he thinks someone is drunk or dead parked in front of his restraunt in a stolen car owned by Vito. Dani had fallen asleep in the car that she borrowed while hers was getting fixed. The policeman is Todd Nicky's cousin. After they called Vito and he confirmed that he loaned Dani his car they let her go.
Vito and his wife had Dani over for dinner and set her up with Todd but also was Nicky and his sister Rena was their.
Francie was raised on a farm in the 1920's. She spied on her father and his business of selling moonshine. She wanted to go to Chicago and help her sister with raising her nephew. Her parents were keeping it a secret that her sister Suzette wanted her help. Francie saw two of her dad customers in his barn while he was gone and decided to help them with buying the moonshine and when she over heard them saying they were going to Chicago she asked if she could go with them. They said yes if your ready to go in 15 minutes.
Francie age 15 went with them and found out they were crooks and was almost killed. She had to do what they said or else they could kill her or her family especially her nephew. Also was given lots of stuff so she could play certain roles they wanted her to play. Francie could not figure a way out of the mess without having to leave her nephew and sister their.
back in the present Dani is looking to help China. She knows about the gang she is in. She also finds out that Rena is in a gang and feels trapped in it.
Nicky has no idea his sister is in the gang. Dani shares the journal with him but they only read in order no skipping ahead. Nicky wants to date her. Todd wants to take Dani on a ridealong and show her the neighborhood. Dani and Evan her cameraman go undercover. They are both Christians and Dani decides she wants to help the kids more. She does not let anyone but Rena know she is moving into the now available apartment across from the restraunt.
The two stories come together really good and you get drawn in Francine story and want to know what happened to her did she ever get out from the mob?
Can Dani help Rena, China and some of the other teens or are they stuck in the gang for life.
I really enjoyed reading Yesterday's Stardust and look forward to reading more books from Becky. I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review from Netgalley.
06/01/2012 PUB Barbour Publishing Inc.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Like the first book in this series "Tomorrow's Sun" , author Becky Melby has found a creative way to interweave both past and present times together into one story. We read in Tomorrow's Sun , how the main character who had made her peace doing up an old house found letters that had been written in the house and a miracle was performed in her life. I found Yesterday's Stardust, a tad more exciting as the main character in this novel Dani is a reporter that is hoping to make her way up the ranks and one day I dream of being a journalist for an actual magazine or one day running my own. The story starts in the year 1928, outside a restaurant where a women and her husband lain after a gunshot , then it flashes to the present day where we read as Dani , a new hotshot reporter has just won an award on her latest newspaper piece about Electronics and the Neglect they cause on Children, this part did get my mind thinking as we are now living in an age of technology and many parents spend their time on Facebook and Pinterest and once involved can forget about their children and of course that is how accidents occur. The story starts to get interesting about half-way through , so readers please be aware that the book is slow to start. Dani finds a diary which details the life of a young girl in 1928 and in the diary, there are reports about the murder which happened outside Nicky's restaurant and it detailed involvement of the mob , drugs etc. Has Dani stumbled into something big , something that could put her career on the map for all to see ? Dani, ever the curious reporter goes to investigate but soon she finds herself deep in doo-doo and soon it seems that the deeper she goes, the more dangerous it gets and when she is shot at , it seems that somebody wants this kept quiet ? What happened all those decades ago and why does nobody want the past to be brought up ?
Find out all this and more in Becky Melby's new novel released in June , "Yesterday's Stardust".

[G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday's Stardust follows characters in duel stories across almost one hundred years, from the height of the depression to the desperation of today's decaying inner city. Danielle is a reporter following a story with a soft heart for those in need, when she joins a gang and meets a local restauranteurand his sister. They find an old diary of a woman entangled with the mob running illegal alcohol and other swindles, all the while trying to care for her nephew and his mother. When Dani is almost killed, things fall apart and only God can put the pieces back together.

Great story, greet characters, and excellent job of weaving the past with the future so that the two stories build on each other increasing the interest and the suspense. I love the added interest of the older story in the diary and the links to the current story. This is an excellent example of romantic suspense with historical aspects thrown in, i cried, laughed and totally enjoyed the whole story, all the while the story makes the reader think about what they could be doing to help those less fortunate.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com.

[IrenesBookReviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book intriguing. I liked how the author intertwined the two stories going on, one now and one set in the 1920’s. The main character, Dani, finds a journal from the 20’s and it sends her on a discovery mission. Her life is already complicated with a story involving a local gang. There is also a romance between Dani and another main character Nicky.

All the characters are interesting and the story itself holds your interest. I did find parts to be confusing but once I got into each story and remembered the right characters for the right story it read pretty fast. I think this book would be good for anyone who likes a good mystery as well as historical Christian fiction. I enjoyed this writer’s style and will be reading more of her books. I gave this book 4/5 stars because although the story itself held my interest, I did get confused a few times on what was happing.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.

[Gina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yesterday's Stardust is a great story with themes of gangs, the roaring twenties, farm anf city life, old and new. I am typically not a fan of books that jump time between two stories but this one is so riveting I could not resist. Francie is the girl of the 20's while Dani is the girl of present day. Both leads some pretty exciting lives from farm girl to gangsters girl/designer for Francie and Journalist to non profit work for Dani. It really is a great tale of two lives and the changes they go through.

Each girl has a love in her life, a side to it that involves gangs both past and present. It is so fun to go along and learn a bout that life. In the end though the love story is what melts my heart and the surprise characters that come toward the end of the book. actually all of the surprises.. won me over! If you looking for the story of love and passionate career, a little fear and drama, this is your next must read!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Yesterday's Stardust moves between present day and the 1920s, and in the present we get both Dani and Nicky's perspectives. At times the jumping around was a bit much, but overall I really liked the story.

Dani was brave, bordering on foolish at times, but I liked that the risks she took were much more for helping the girls that were sucked into gangs than for her career.

The romance was a bit complicated, but the realistic pace was somewhat refreshing.

I'm not sure how accurate the gang life was, but it was eye opening.

I'm definitely interested in reading more of Becky Melby's books.

Thanks to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for giving me the chance to read the ARC.

[Heather Bridson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ok, this book just was not for me. The writing was well done, the author painted a wonderful picture of the areas and the characters were well developed and allowed the reader to care about them. To me, the story was kind of flat. The jumping around in time was just not something I enjoyed. I had to force myself to read instead of enjoying it. I'm very sorry but this book just wasn't worth the struggle to read it. Its almost like it took extra effort due to the jumping around in the different stories.
Now the characters were great. I just wish the author had made it more of a smooth transition.

[Audrey Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you! I can't wait to read it!! June 15th - I received it! Delivered to my front door today! Thank you very much!
This was a different type of then and now book. I liked it. I liked that the story got down to the level of dealing with the gangs on the streets, the mob, teens on the streets, etc. in a real way, not a perfect way where everyone and everything turns out perfect.
Yes it has a happy ending but there is a lot of painful lessons learned and things that do go wrong in the many years between the beginning of the diary and the end of the final story.
I enjoyed reading this book.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this from GOODREADS, I will admit that I usually do not read books with a religious tone, however, a friend enjoyed this author so I wanted to try. The story was good, it tool me awhile to get used to the different stories, there were several going on, present and past. I did enjoy the story though, the characters were humble, honest workiing people, in the present, there was a little bit of saving teenagers that were headed down the wrong path, and there was also a mystery about the family business, which wrapped up at the end. So thank you GOODREADS....again a great win!

[Traci · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the intertwining of decades. The book bounced between the 20's and Francine's life dealing with the mob and today dealing with gangs. The search for God's desire for how to handle situations against being safe were continually battled. I enjoyed the book and am looking forward to reading more in the series and more by the author.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

YESTERDAY'S STARDUST is book 2 in the Lost Sanctuary series. It did not feel like I missed anything by not reading the first book. It was a dual timeline book, with one set during contemporary times, the other during the 1920s, partly through diary accounts. The characters were complex, the storyline very engaging, and the romance sweet. I enjoyed the book.

[Lois · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end was the best, if you can get there! The switching back and forth , really made it difficult to stay in the story, like reading two books at once! My take away lesson is , be the church to those who need to find Jesus as protector, purpose, savior!

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! The author does a good job on her characters and plots. She skillfully weaves generations and heart cries, leaving a message applicable to your own life. Well worth reading!

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this book started out slowly for me, the last third of it whizzed by. I liked the historical part best, and was surprised at the way the 'what happened to Francie?' question was ultimately answered. I also liked the solution that Evan and Dani came up with the help of some of the Sisters.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review to come soon.

[Jenifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Predictable and I didn't completely buy the love story.