A Sky Full of Stars

Brambleton #1

by Fay Keenan

Charlotte James prefers having her head in the stars to having her feet on the ground.

Moving around for her job as an astronomical archivist gives Charlotte plenty of opportunity to avoid putting down roots. When she accepts a post in the idyllic Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition, all that is on her mind is a chance to preserve the treasures of this remarkable place and another summer without having to settle down.

Tristan Ashcombe is managing the development of Observatory Field and as far as he’s concerned, the sooner the observatory is razed to the ground the better. The building holds complicated memories for him and his family, memories he’s ready to put behind him.

But as Charlotte’s work begins to unravel mysteries from a complex past, she realises that there’s more to Tristan and Lower Brambleton than first impressions would suggest. Will Charlotte discover more than she bargained for, will she manage to avoid losing her heart in the process or is her fate already written in the stars?

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Adult, Fiction

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 18, 2025

About the author

Fay Keenan lives and works in Somerset. When Fay is not chasing her children around or writing, she teaches English at a local secondary school. Fay writes ‘heart thumping romantic fiction’ and likes to cover subjects of interest in her novels, including UK Parliament, the Air Ambulance and the international cider making industry. Her novels explore relationships, country living and hopefully have a good sprinkling of escapism, too!

Reviews

[Srivalli (Semi-Hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.7 Stars

One Liner: A bit slow but nice

Charlotte is an astronomy archivist used to spending most of her time alone in old buildings, trying to digitize records and save them for the future. She accepts another such job in the Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition. It’s just another place for her, though quite a few locals are more than happy for the building to be razed so that they can move on.

Tristan Ashcombe is one such man. While the first impressions weren’t great, Tristan and Charlotte soon find themselves drawn to each other. As Charlotte finds something unusual in the old records, it presents a possibility of something significant for her and Tristan, but not without some risk.

The story comes in Charlotte (more %) and Tristan’s third-person POVs.

My Thoughts:

The story started slow and had the same pace almost throughout. However, I did like the descriptions of the place so it wasn’t boring. Locals might find it excessive but I like it when I can visualize a new setting.

The FMC’s career and her approach to it are well-presented. I like that she tries to balance between documenting and digitizing the past but not getting too attached to it.

Comet, the cocker spaniel is adorable! Cute dogs are always a plus in books. There are cute kids too, though we don’t meet them much.

The MMC is a grump with a golden heart and past trauma. It doesn’t take long for him to show his softer side.

However, the romance between the couple doesn’t feel organic. It’s too fast, with not enough chemistry to create the impact it should. Maybe they felt it but I couldn’t see it. Also, this should have been a slow burn.

The sort of mystery about the past had my attention coz it seemed like it had better potential than the love track. Do note that the mystery is not in the thriller sense but in the family drama vibe.

While there is a third-act breakup, it makes sense here. The message that it’s not our responsibility to ‘heal others’ but they should make an effort for themselves is spot on.

We get an epilogue too, which gives us a nice HEA. Another aspect I like is how development is not always damaging. Here, it creates the required infrastructure and housing without damaging the surroundings. It’s all about finding the right balance.

To summarize, A Sky Full of Stars is an entertaining story though the romance could have been better. The family dynamics are well done, though!

Thank you, Rachel's Random Resources and Boldwood Books, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

#NetGalley

[Phrynne · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started well with a really original protagonist and an interesting setting. Charlotte is an astronomical archivist at Bristol University and she is sent to archive the records of an observatory which is about to be pulled down. Definitely an unusual start for a cosy romance!

The story however meets the normal cosy standard where boy meets girl, they don't like each other, they fall in love, there's a misunderstanding, they split up........etc. etc. Nothing wrong with that of course but it did go on for rather a long time and I was not sufficiently involved with either of the characters to care much. So for me it was just a pleasant, light read. Three stars.

Thanks to Netgally and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Gloria · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an interesting and different premise with one of the main characters, Charlotte is an astronomical archivist associated with a university in Bristol in England. She is on a summer assignment to archive the records of an observatory before it is torn down to build a housing community in Lower Brambleton and is staying as a lodger in the annex of an older lady's home. Lorelai and her adult twin grands have a connection to the observatory and Charlotte gets pulled into their family dynamics.. This story was slow going at the beginning but does have some mystery and secrets that were interesting to unravel. Small village life and romance add to the story.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts.

[Erika · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘A Sky Full of Stars’ is a heartfelt, captivating story about a whirlwind romance, a beloved observatory, and an uncovered mystery.

Charlotte is an astronomical archivist, recruited to a project of archiving an observatory that is scheduled for demolition in the quaint English village of Lower Brambleton. When Charlotte meets her landlady for the summer, Lorelai, and begins to learn more about the history of the town, Charlotte begins to wonder if she bit off more than she could chew with this project.

I really enjoyed both protagonists, Charlotte and Tristan, and felt that they were both complex and very likeable. Charlotte’s adorable dog, Comet, needs to be mentioned as well, as he brought so much comedic relief (and cuteness!) to the story.

This is a very layered story about love, family, grief, astronomy, and well-kept ancestral secrets. Charlotte’s job was so interesting to me, and made for a very unique plot. I couldn’t put the book down as she began to uncover more clues to solve this mystery, while exploring her budding romance with Tristan. They fall fast, but that definitely doesn’t mean it’s smooth-sailing for them.

This book really touches on how a single tragedy can impact an entire village.

By the end of this heartfelt book, I found myself longing to spend a summer in Lower Brambleton, and to visit the local pub with Charlotte, Tristan, and their friends.

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

[Carol (Reading Ladies) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sky Full of Stars is a heartfelt romance that features a unique premise and is set in an old observatory.

Charlotte travels around the country as an astronomical archivist. This summer she accepts a job in the village of Somerset where she will archive the contents of an old observatory before its demolition. She’s excited about preserving its treasures and meets Tristan who is managing the project. It turns out that Tristan has complicated feelings about the project and Charlotte’s work begins to expose the truth behind a family tragedy.

There’s a cute dog! (named Comet, of course!)

I enjoyed this unique and atmospheric setting! The author provides vivid descriptive details so that we can imagine ourselves in this abandoned observatory in an isolated setting. I also enjoyed the quaint community.

The author slowly unfolds this complicated family drama as Charlotte makes discoveries through her archival work. A Sky Full of Stars is an example of good balance between character-driven and plot-driven.

This heartfelt story includes many layers: a slow-burn romance with an entertaining first encounter (opposite of meet-cute), family tragedy, family secrets, grief, quaint rural community, family relationships, relatable characters, healing, and astronomy.

Content Consideration: death of parents (in the past)

Fans of a unique setting, complicated family drama, and slow-burn romance will likely enjoy this engaging and poignant story.

Thanks #NetGalley @BoldwoodBooks for a complimentary eARC of #ASkyFullOfStars upon my request. All opinions are my own.

For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com where this review was first published.

[Voyage · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Sky Full of Stars" sounded like the kind of book I usually enjoy, but I didn't know the author and no one had rated it on Goodreads yet (as I had access to an advanced copy), so I had no idea what to expect. I ended up very pleasantly surprised!

This book is a lovely romance, with a hint of mystery, a bit of drama, and a well-rounded story that isn't only about love, but also about friendship, family, grief, and so much more. The two protagonists, Charlotte and Tristan, are very well developed, and endearing despite (or thanks to) their flaws. Charlotte's an astronomical archivist, and she has to archive the documents from a rural observatory that is going to be destroyed. The two characters definitely didn't have a meet-cute, and I wondered how Tristan would redeem himself after his first appearance in the story, but as we get to know him, we get to understand his complex character and the scars he hides. We also get to know his family and friends, who are also well developed, which is what we like to see in secondary characters!

Lastly, and I must really applaud this, because it is so rare in a romance (yet so relatable): Charlotte and Tristan, while attracted to each other, were still a bit nervous and hesitant every time they had to cross a new step in their relationship. Tristan would pepper his sentences with "er..." or would stumble on his words. This felt a lot more realistic than characters who jump into each others' arms without hesitation.

Finally, two big bonus points for me were the setting, which had a strong presence and really added to the story, and the very well researched topic of astronomy — the author seemed to have done an excellent and thorough research of this subject. Oh, and I also loved that it took place in rural England and was written by a Brit, it's a nice change from the American rom-coms I usually read.

I read this book in one sitting during a long, long flight/bus/train journey, and it got my head off the nightmarish journey, so it's high praise indeed! I will definitely be reading more books from this author.

*I received a free eARC on Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion*

[Carlina Kinch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to say thank you from the bottom of my heart to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of being able to read this book.

I enjoyed this book, the characters were real, and endearing. This was a decent story, there were a few timeline issues that should have been caught. Sometimes the main character felt like she should be the smartest person because of all of her knowledge but a lot of the time she didn't. She always seemed to need to be directly told something instead of literally hearing it already being said. That was honestly kind of annoying. I didn't like going back and forth double checking that a character had actually already said the important thing that should have been obvious to the main character, when they turned around and actually directly said it. It pulled away from the story a lot. Other than that this was a good story, and I really loved the justice some individuals got in the end and the ending. It was honestly a perfect ending and I've really missed having a book like this with a perfect ending.


Thank you very much from the bottom of heart again for allowing me to be able to read this book!

[SelkieReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is quite different from my usual book choices. I’m not usually in to mystery vibes. But I enjoyed this one quite a bit. There’s a lot of emotion tied into the mystery of the scenario that the characters find themselves in and a lot of of hurt for many of the characters.
So much so that the majority of the characters see it as a cut and dry means to an end for our FMC to come in and clean out what is essentially an old observatory.
However, as with most small towns, she soon finds she’s fitting off quite a lot more than she can chew. And at this archiving is anything but cut and dry.
In its heart this book is about romance but it’s also about family, love, betrayal and what people are capable of.

[Zainab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked the premise of this story and found the characters to be adorable, but it was a bit too slow for my liking and had a lot of description.

[Jessica Milliner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent read. It's a love story with something else. The main character Charlotte has that bit of something when she’s felt something. A lot more than the sky full of stars.

[Asia · Rating 1 out of 5]

1/5
This definitely wasn't my favourite book. I actually didn't like it, and I had to force myself to finish it in the first place.
First, the writing. I was annoyed with some of the phrases and the overall tone and style. In the first few chapters the author was hell-bent on saying how "remote" and "rular" the village was (as if that made it worse than a city), thatt the main character "can be locked in the basement" because apparently that's what happens in every countryside, but what really annoyed me was the description "suprisingly modern bathroom". Seriously?
What, just because it's a countryside it means they don't have a bathroom, only a privy instead? Seriously that's how the writing comes across. Idk if the author has ever been in the countryside or if she only saw pictures but it smells of prejudice. It was immediatelly off-putting to me.
Then, the style. The author was all "tell, don't show," and we had several instances of this: we're told that Charlotte was hired to archive the files from the observatory, but in the whole book, we only see her do it on page once. And only at 43% of the book. She had been hired to do it off-page at the beginning of the book (the first chapter has her packing and driving to the "rural" village), and yet, for the first 40+%, we don't see her do the job she was actually hired to do. We then have this happen at the end, where the characters get back together after the third act breakup. Except they don't even talk. Instead, MMC reads the letter FMC has written him (off page), and the they suddenly start making out and dating. There was no resolution! No explanation! And we don't even get to see the damn letter once. That was too frustrating.
The characters were bland. I wan't invested in the story or the relationships and it wasn't believable to me that they were in love. The were no sparks , nothing. I was more interested in the discovery MMC's parents made decades ago than the love story between MCs. Although I hated that FMC called her ex for the advice instead of her professor tbh. And both main characters were weird.
Charlotte seems dumb and naive. We get everything spelled out and she makes connections pages later and is always so shocked when it was made so clear to everyone. She was told that the owners made a stipulation for her to do her job, and when Lorelai revealed it was her, Clarlotte still hadn't realized Lorelai was the owner until it was spelled it out to her.
Tristan is a bit of an enigma. Grumpy and bothered, very angry with Charlotte the first 2 times he met her, on the third meeting he was suddenly all smiles and humour? Wha's that guy?
Charlotte was also super indecisive. When Tristan's sister interfered, Charlotte got rightfully angry and called her out, but as soon as the sister said, "you're here now, you should talk," she suddenly changed her mind. After calling her out like that and her not only reluctance but anger when she realised she's been manipulated, she just took it? I applauded her for standing up for herself as soon as she figured out what happened. But 2 seconds later, she changed her mind and let herself be manipulated, and it was just so stupid. I didn't care about them getting back together by that point, but I would if she decided to go back home back then and try and talk things through some other time, when they were both ready for it. Instead, the author rushed the happy ending with no character arc, and it was just so badly done.
The rescue was so dramatic, I didn't like that very much. I much preferred when MMC was a damsel in distress, and to suddenly have a role reversal and FMC was the one in trouble was jarring and unnecessary. I'd rather she save him from the panic attack than him coming to himself and having to save her.
All in all, the book wasn't for me. I didn't connect with the characters, and I honestly didn't care whether they got together or not. The backstory about MMC's parents was way more interesting for me. The writing was not my cup of tea, I definitely prefer books that show me what happens instead of having it all play out off-page. Even the ex had been more interesting than the main couple!

Thak you, NetGalley and Boldwood books for providing me with the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Anne Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t know how much you know about eclipsing binary stars and the way new astronomical discoveries are recorded and attributed – I certainly learned a lot as I read this book, but (worry not!) the author always keeps the science the right side of understandable. But it’s also simply fascinating – there’s something I always rather enjoy about a book that sends me into Google’s depths with a thirst to find out more. But this book, of course, has a romance at its heart – with mystery, drama, family complications aplenty – and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.

Charlotte is an astronomical archivist (go on, you might like to google too…) attached to the University of North West Wessex’s Astronomy Department – but with summer on an empty campus ahead, and the need for some distraction from her recently broken heart, accepts a summer assignment to archive the records of a decommissioned and soon to be demolished observatory in the Somerset village of Lower Brambleton. Her accommodation is the annex of Lorelei’s house, where she’s made particularly welcome – along with her characterful dog Comet, always at her side.

Her first contact with Tristan is less than auspicious – he’s the project manager for the housing development that will be built on the cleared site, and there’s a major misunderstanding about her right to be present on the rundown and dangerous site. But it turns out he’s one of the good guys at heart – and also one of Lorelei’s twin grandchildren, glad of her presence as the elderly lady seems to becoming increasingly confused. Their friendship grows, becoming a real and convincing romance – but Charlotte’s discoveries at the observatory threaten that, along with her strong sense of right and wrong, stirring up the past. Tristan has a particularly tragic family history, something he’s never fully come to terms with, and he’d far prefer that the memories remained buried.

All the characters in this book are beautifully drawn and developed – not just Charlotte and Tristan, both of whom I entirely took to my heart, but the supporting cast of friends, family and community too. The mystery that Charlotte uncovers certainly keeps the pages turning – deeply intriguing – and leads to some scenes of particularly well written drama. The author, as always, has a fine emotional touch – there’s plenty of lightness and laughter, real warmth to all the relationships (and I particularly shared the couple’s enjoyment of a day out in nearby Bristol, and the perfect spot where they shared their first kiss), but with some darker edges to the story sensitively handled and more than a touch of heartbreak.

And I have to say I thought it was the perfect start to a new series – with a few characters introduced whose stories are crying out for books of their own. I’ll be looking forward to more visits to Lower Brambleton – and this first-in-series is one I’d very much recommend.

[Lghiggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Dr. Charlotte James, a historical astronomical archivist at the University of North West Wessex, said goodbye to the last of the departing undergraduate students she supervised in dormitory housing, she moved for five weeks to Brambleton. With incredible timing, because she had just broken up with a boyfriend who returned to the U.S., Charlotte was offered a temporary job archiving the remaining documents at the Lower Brambleton Observatory, which was being decommissioned. A housing development is scheduled to replace the observatory when archiving and demolition of the structure are complete.

Although the site is remote, Charlotte is provided nice housing in an annexe to Lorelai Ashcombe’s cottage. It is within walking distance of the observatory with a nice area for her cocker spaniel, Comet, to play. Lorelai raised twins Tristan and Thea (her grandchildren) when their parents, both astronomers, died in a car accident. Mystery shrouds the observatory as well as the Ashcombe family. Many years later, they are still trying to recover from the trauma of the unexpected deaths. Charlotte’s discovery of an important document may change the way certain family members are perceived.

Tristan and Charlotte have a rocky start as he is very protective of his grandmother and fearful of her taking in strangers. It doesn’t help that their first accidental meeting occurred when Comet decided to explore the observatory site fenced off in preparation for demolition. The enemy to lover trope appears early in the book, and Tristan and Charlotte’s initial, bristly response to each other is fairly quickly resolved. Then the story branches out to Charlotte’s finds at the site’s records room and her interaction with various family members. A resident and aficionado of Bristol, she finds she also enjoys the quiet and beauty of Brambleton and the new friends she makes in the area. The denouement of the novel showcases a lot of breath-holding action followed by a satisfying conclusion.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[RomanceByTheBook · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sky Full of Stars is a charming romance with a mysterious twist.

This book was a fun and entertaining read. I adore cozy English romances because they often leave me feeling happy and require nothing from me. I can just sit back and enjoy the story unfolding on the pages. I liked this book; it was surprisingly interesting, contained a mystery that was well thought out, and captured my attention. Charlotte has taken on a summer job cataloguing items at an old Observatory Field in a small English town. Charlotte quickly realizes that this Observatory has a rich and secretive history that seems connected to Tristan’s family. I liked the mystery surrounding the Observatory and Tristan’s family because it was interesting and filled with drama and tragedy. The ending has some pretty dramatic twists and had me frantically turning the page. The mystery aspects of the story also worked really well with the overall romance that was unfolding. It was a great tool to use to have Tristan and Charlotte spend more time together.

I enjoyed Tristan and Charlotte’s chemistry. They have that angry, stiff banter happening between them for the first part of the book, which is right up my alley. There is just something so satisfying about watching that angry banter turn into something softer and romantic. I loved watching as Lorelai (Tristan’s grandmother) and Comet (Charlotte’s dog) play matchmaker and create situations where the two MCs have to spend time together. It was really cute and a lot of fun… mainly because Comet’s actions often led to moments of messy chaos. Even though this is a charming romance, these two characters face some real and challenging hurdles that they have to overcome in order to become a couple.

A Sky Full of Stars is a fabulous romance with a lot of heart, drama, and romance.

Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Sky Full of Stars by Fay Keenan

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to Rachel's Random Resources and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Blurb

Charlotte James prefers having her head in the stars to having her feet on the ground.

Moving around for her job as an astronomical archivist gives Charlotte plenty of opportunity to avoid putting down roots. When she accepts a post in the idyllic Somerset village of Lower Brambleton to archive an old observatory before its demolition, all that is on her mind is a chance to preserve the treasures of this remarkable place and another summer without having to settle down.

Tristan Ashcombe is managing the development of Observatory Field and as far as he’s concerned, the sooner the observatory is razed to the ground the better. The building holds complicated memories for him and his family, memories he’s ready to put behind him.

But as Charlotte’s work begins to unravel mysteries from a complex past, she realises that there’s more to Tristan and Lower Brambleton than first impressions would suggest. Will Charlotte discover more than she bargained for, will she manage to avoid losing her heart in the process or is her fate already written in the stars?

My Opinion

A Sky Full of Stars was such an interesting premise. Charlotte and Tristan were both likeable characters although my favourite character was definitely Comet the dog. Fay Keenan is an author that I enjoy reading and A Sky Full of Stars was no exception. A delightful read.

Rating 4/5

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Sky Full of Stars" surprised me in the best way possible! This is a love story...not a rom-com, but a love story full of complex emotions and deep family connections. Dr. Charlotte James takes a summer position in a small village in Lower Brambleton to take lead in the final archiving of historical material at Observatory Field. What she didn't know, is that this derelict observatory would be shrouded in mystery. Charlotte wasn't prepared to find original astronomical findings dating back decades and family secrets; she also definitely wasn't planning on falling in love with the town and its people...especially a certain someone with deep connections to the observatory.

Regarding content: this book was very low on spice (one description of sex that was really closed door and very few swear words. I would rate PG+.

The only thing that was difficult for me (as an American reader) is that this book was clearly written/set in the UK and full of British prose. There were many words that just aren't in my dialect. While distracting at times (only because I wanted to understand every single word in this wonderful book), I still completely loved it!. This story is also written in 3rd person (I know some readers do not prefer that styled). 4.5/5 stars for me! *I received a complimentary copy from the author/publishing company via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

[Lily · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this unique and interesting new novel, readers follow astronomical archivist Charlotte as she arrives for a job in Lower Brambleton, a village in Somerset, to archive the contents of an old observatory slated for demolition where she meets Tristan Ashcombe, who’s in charge of managing the project that will replace the observatory (and his complicated family memories). As she works on the observatory project, Charlotte discovers mysteries about Tristan’s family and Lower Brambleton that reveal much more about this place than she had imagined. A unique premise for a novel incredibly brought to life, readers will love Charlotte’s character development and her growing relationship with Tristan, who has his own unique path that readers will love. The characters are the stars of this novel, but the settings of Lower Brambleton and the observatory are equally important and are described in such vivid detail that they feel real. The emotional throughline and the mystery of the observatory are also well-written and pull readers into the story in some fantastic ways, and this adds a lot to characters’ development in the novel. Intriguing, whimsical, and entertaining, fans of Fay Keenan’s other books will love this charming and heartwarming cozy romance novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the advance copy.

[Jenny Sligh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming and cozy romance set in the Somerset countryside of Southwest England with touches of academia, star gazing, and family intrigue. A Sky Full of Stars is full of warm fuzzies, and is certainly a nice way to spend a long weekend.

Sweet and pastoral romance blooms when an historical/astronomical archivist meets an estate developer with family ties to the local observatory schedule for demolition. The grumpy meet cute slowly simmers into a darling closed door romance. All while you are rooting for the cantankerous and handsome 30 something fella, Tristan, to open his heart to the smart and slightly damaged academic, Charlotte, scientific discoveries are afoot that may shed some light on the untimely death of Tristen’s parents years before.

This book is lovely: closed door romance with darn near ZERO spice (so that’s nice if you aren’t a spicy person), and yet the romance has a sweet build up, so you still get all that lovely anticipation. There is a cocker spaniel named Comet, here’s a quirky gramma, and lovely walks in the woods. There is also an underlying mystery that adds an element of intrigue that doesn’t exist in many romance novels.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

[Colin Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte is an astronomical archivist who takes a summer job collating the records at an obsolete, decrepit observatory that is due to be demolished to make way for a development of new homes. She lodges with an old lady at the end of the village, a short walk from the observatory but on her first visit there she is met by a very rude man who accuses her of trespassing, only to find that he is Tristan, who is managing the development. Cue a potential romance between the two, but also a mystery found hidden in the records.
Set in an idyllic village in Somerset this, for me, is a great start as I enjoy books set in these small communities. Tristan is suffering from a tragic event in his past, related to the observatory, which he is still struggling to come to terms with.. It is interesting to see how these two start falling for each other against this backdrop. I also have a passing interest in astronomy, which added to the story for me, with that mystery party of this. In summary a slow burn romance, with astronomical connections and a touch of mystery.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

[Pam Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an enjoyable escapist read with the central character, Charlotte removed from her usual life in the city of Bristol and settled in the countryside for the summer away from all her familiar sights and friends. Her life as an archivist means that she enjoys working alone and is looking forward to this the first of her solo jobs. Employed to archive all the paperwork from a now ruined Observation Tower, she finds a mystery within the paperwork which she is compelled to follow. Charlotte takes to village life and finds herself making new friendships.
Tristan Ashcombe , who Charlotte meets early in the story, turns out to be a very complicated character with a family connection to the Observation Tower Charlotte is working in. Charlotte is staying in the annexe to his grandmother's bungalow, a feisty and sharp lady who Charlotte strikes up a friendship with. I also enjoyed getting to know Charlotte's little cocker spaniel, a mischievous but lovable scamp who plays a part in the story. This is an entertaining story which turns up a few surprises and introduces some warm and likeable characters.
In short: romance and mystery
Thanks to the publisher

[Brendi Zapata | bookishbrendiboo · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5

SPOILER-FREE SYNOPSIS:
Charlotte is an astronomical archivist who accepts a job in Somerset village of Lower Brambleton archiving an old observatory before its demolition. Tristan is the project manager overseeing the development of the new homes being built to replace the observatory. Tristan is eager for the observatory's demolition due to its connection to traumatic family memories. As Charlotte sorts through the astronomical research in the observatory, she uncovers breakthrough research tied to Tristan's complex family history. 

The cover, book title, and the premise surrounding astronomy really drew me to this book and I was excited when I was approved for the ARC! Unfortunately, I feel like this one fell short. The pacing was slow and the story really felt like it dragged while the romance felt really rushed. There was also some lying by omission (not a fan of miscommunication in a book) that drove me crazy. I also felt like there was no chemistry between Charlotte and Tristan and it was really just outside forces (Lorelai and Thea) trying to bring them together. I had thoughts to DNF, but I was curious enough about the family research plot to see it through. 

Review: ⭐⭐💫
Genre: romance, women's fiction
Tropes: slow burn, small town

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for this arc.

I loved the astronomy parts of the story.  Charlotte's job is just so interesting and cool.  I have been a part of academe before so I kinda related to her a bit.  The competency and confidence in her job, how she knew about research ownership and authorship, knowing how and who to consult with, it just brought me back.  The constant presence of her loyal but sometimes naughty cocker spaniel, Comet (such a cool name!) is also one of things I liked about this book.  An MC who is a loving and responsible pet owner is immediately a big plus for me.

Having said that, it did start off a little slow. I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two leads.  I feel like they were not compatible enough. The romance could've taken a backseat and it wouldn't affect how the story unraveled, and I did like it towards the end.  I was wondering what the conflict could be and I'm satisfied with the resolution. (of the plot, not the romance)

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fay Keenan has done it again with this heartwarming romance where astronomical archivist Charlotte James finds herself in Lower Brambleton. She is there to archive the contents of the observatory before it is demolished to make way for a new housing development. Tristan Ashcombe is the person responsible for managing the development and thinks that the sooner the observatory is demolished the better. It’s not long before Charlotte realises that there is a very emotional and complex history attached to the site. The first meeting between Charlotte and Tristan doesn’t go too well but as they get to know each and she starts to unravel the secrets of the observatory they become closer. I loved how the characters interacted and how the heartbreaking and heartwarming moments were described. It was obvious that Fay has done her research on the topic of astronomy and I found elements of this fascinating. Can’t wait for the next one in what promises to be another great series from one of my favourite authors

[Elaine - Splashes Into Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte James is an astronomical archivist
So archiving an old observatory is a chance not to be missed.
Even though it mean working in an isolated place
Sorting it out before is demolished will set the pace.

There are complicated memories for many who live there
With family dramas and as well as history to share.
There are surprise findings and revelations, too,
As well as a mystery to work her way through!

A delightful dog, a lovely temporary landlady, too,
Grown up twins and so much to do.
Who'd have thought there'd also be a chance
For a truly heartwarming romance?

A story where discoveries made in the past
Are brought to light and understood at last.
There's grief, healing, love and danger, too
In this brilliant read I highly recommend to you!

For my copy of this book I say a huge thank you
As I share with you this, my honest review.

[Tamara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heartwarming romance set in Somerset as an observatory is being decommissioned ready for demolition.

Charlotte is an astronomical archivist, who takes on a post over the summer to sort through and archive the remaining contents of the observatory before developers move in to develop the site into a new housing estate.

When she first bumps into Tristan they don't get off to the best start. He assumes she is a careless tourist, ill-dressed for the conditions and with an unruly dog he has to help rescue. Fortuitously, she is also staying next door to his grandma, who is able to employ a few little tactics to encourage their budding friendship and potential romance.

But as Charlotte sorts through the files she makes a surprising discovery, with links to a tragedy the family suffered years before.

[Book Escapes Babs · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a real treat to discover a new book by Fay Keenan, and even better, it looks like the start of a new series. Charlotte is a fabulous, fiercely independent protagonist, and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting her. Her work at the University of Bath led to the opportunity to archive and log the records at an observatory in Somerset, which is scheduled for demolition. She found a local holiday let in the annexe of a house in the local area and, accompanied by her little dog, slowly got to know her new landlady. We soon learn more about exactly how independent Charlotte is, and she really doesn’t need a man to complete her life.
Tristan is focused on project managing the demolition of the observatory at Lower Brambleton and overseeing the construction of the new housing development on the site. The hardest part of his responsibilities is the complicated memories that are wrapped up with the site’s past. I really took to Tristan and felt myself hoping that he would find the closure that he was clearly craving and lay the ghosts of his past to rest.
The clear but initially restrained attraction between Tristan and Charlotte made for a delicious romance that was equal parts perfect and messy. I particularly adored digging deeper into their shared connection. Although it may have seemed initially tenuous, the way their shared connection grew stronger was beautifully managed. Their reasons for being cautious were well-founded and totally relatable.
There are a number of terrific characters that we meet in this book that I can already imagine featuring in future stories. In particular, I would love to see Tristan’s sister find her happily ever after.
I’m always in awe of the skills of the authors from Boldwood Books and have thoroughly enjoyed reading some of the amazing books that they have created. I certainly enjoyed learning more about the stars, even though my husband used to love visiting his local observatory.

[Paula Pugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Splendid story with a taste of love under the stars. University astronomy archivist, Charlotte, receives a paid summer job to archive the papers in an out of commission and falling to disrepair observatory. She lodges with a woman whose family owned the property. Along the way, she meets the woman’s grandson who is in control of the land development company that is tearing down the observatory. Falling for each other was written in the stars. When Charlotte discovers papers of value that bring shockwaves to the family. Slow reading at times. A very enjoyable novel.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[DinaReadsBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book started off with a strong premise and a lot of potential. I binged the 1st 60% of the book in a day. But after that it went downhill. The story slowed down to a CRAWL and was such a chore to finish.

The chemistry between the two main characters never clicked for me and their story seemed too rushed. The writing was also too descriptive at times for my taste (I don't need to know every organic and artesian product on the grocery store shelves.)

The book did have a cozy feel and a slight air of mystery which helped me push through the last 40% of the book.

I received a free arc of the book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

[Roo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoying reading this book, charlotte has just accepted a job at an old observatory and she’s excited to get started. She’s found accommodation with an old lady that will also accept her dog. She’s out a walk when she bumps into a very grumpy man, she doesn’t know that she will be working with him the next day. Will love blossom among the stars? This is a lighthearted feel good read, read in one sitting and found some parts funny. The characters and location are perfect and some truths that will uncover makes it a perfect read. A 5 star read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for a copy.

[Sunstarandsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to the author & publisher for the ARC.

This book didn't quite hit the mark for me, although there were a lot of things that I really liked about it.

Let's start with what worked:

* Firstly, the writing is really descriptive and eloquent. I really felt absorbed into the small, quaint town of Lower Brambleton and the Observatory, which is at the center of this plot.
* I loved all the characters - they felt really intimate and unique, which played into the small town feel
* Love LOVE the astronomy backdrop. I love books that explore new topics & settings - which is what convinced me to read this book in the first place

What I didn't like as much (personal preference):
* It was very very very slow burn. The first 30% of the book is just Charlotte exploring the town & Observatory. We don't really see Tristan till the second 30%.
* Once Tristan enters the scene - it all moves too quickly, almost like we're making up for lost time ...
* The suspense plot wasn't as interesting and some of the character reactions felt overblown - that was a bit of a letdown
* I wish the author had traded off some of the scene descriptions (as much as I loved them) for character's emotions and background - felt like we didn't get enough of the latter