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Bay of Stars
Early Mills & Boon romance novel.
- GenresRomanceHarlequin Romance
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1980
33 people want to read
About the author
Robyn Donald
448 books146 followersRobyn Elaine Donald was born on 14 August 1940 in Northland, New Zealand. She was the oldest child in her family, and as a child, she thrilled her four sisters and one brother with bloodcurdling adventure tales, usually very like the latest book she'd borrowed from the library.
Robyn owes her writing career to two illnesses. The first was a younger sister's flu. She was living with her husband and Robyn and spent most of that winter acquiring, suffering, and recovering from various infections. One day she croaked that she had read everything on Robyn's bookshelves, so would Robyn please buy her something cheerful and sustaining. Robyn found three paperbacks- one Mills and Boon Modern Romance novel and a couple of other romances. Robyn read them, too, of course, and so enjoyed them she spent the next couple of years hunting down more Mills and Boon books. This was much more difficult then than it is today, so she decided to write her own, and for the following busy 10 years she wrote and hoped that one day she would finish a manuscript good enough that was good enough to send to a publisher.
The second illness was her husband's, and it was bad a heart attack. He was so young it terrified them all. While he was recovering, he suggested that Robyn finish the manuscript she was writing and send it off. It wasn't a perfect manuscript, but the doctor had said to humour her husband, so she finished the manuscript, edited it as best she could, and sent it off. Three months later, she was astounded to read a letter from the editor saying that if She made a few revisions they would buy her novel Bride at Whangatapu.
Published since 1977, Robyn sees her readers as intelligent women who insist on accurate backgrounds, so she spends time researching as well as writing.Robyn Donald sometimes thinks that writing is much like gardening. It's a similar process creating landscapes for the mind and emotions from the seeds of ideas and dreams and images. Both activities can also lead to moments of extreme delight, moments of total despair, and backache.Now Robyn lives in the Bay Islands. She continues writing, and also finds time for a very supportive husband, two adult children and their partners, a granddaughter and her mother, not to mention the member of the family that keeps her fit - a loud, cheerful, and ruthlessly determined "almost" Labradordog.
Robyn owes her writing career to two illnesses. The first was a younger sister's flu. She was living with her husband and Robyn and spent most of that winter acquiring, suffering, and recovering from various infections. One day she croaked that she had read everything on Robyn's bookshelves, so would Robyn please buy her something cheerful and sustaining. Robyn found three paperbacks- one Mills and Boon Modern Romance novel and a couple of other romances. Robyn read them, too, of course, and so enjoyed them she spent the next couple of years hunting down more Mills and Boon books. This was much more difficult then than it is today, so she decided to write her own, and for the following busy 10 years she wrote and hoped that one day she would finish a manuscript good enough that was good enough to send to a publisher.
The second illness was her husband's, and it was bad a heart attack. He was so young it terrified them all. While he was recovering, he suggested that Robyn finish the manuscript she was writing and send it off. It wasn't a perfect manuscript, but the doctor had said to humour her husband, so she finished the manuscript, edited it as best she could, and sent it off. Three months later, she was astounded to read a letter from the editor saying that if She made a few revisions they would buy her novel Bride at Whangatapu.
Published since 1977, Robyn sees her readers as intelligent women who insist on accurate backgrounds, so she spends time researching as well as writing.Robyn Donald sometimes thinks that writing is much like gardening. It's a similar process creating landscapes for the mind and emotions from the seeds of ideas and dreams and images. Both activities can also lead to moments of extreme delight, moments of total despair, and backache.Now Robyn lives in the Bay Islands. She continues writing, and also finds time for a very supportive husband, two adult children and their partners, a granddaughter and her mother, not to mention the member of the family that keeps her fit - a loud, cheerful, and ruthlessly determined "almost" Labradordog.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 19, 2021
Gentle tale of a pop star falling for a university student while he stays at the private resort/home where she works in the summer. Heroine thinks he’s using her to fill the time or to find inspiration for his song writing.
Hero also hangs out with the caretakers and the other locals, so his interest in her is hard to pin down. Heroine is at peak angst when an actress OW shows up to spend the remainder of the holiday with the H.
Heroine returns to university thinking hero was not sincere. All the love songs on his new album don’t convince her, either.
Hero finally tracks her down after she finishes her degree for an HEA.
This was a surprisingly sweet and wholesome story with low angst. Unusual for a Robyn Donald story. Lots of NZ descriptions, though.
Heroine on cover looks like Julie from the Love Boat. I guess hero is playing on the Lido deck as a special guest. 😊
Hero also hangs out with the caretakers and the other locals, so his interest in her is hard to pin down. Heroine is at peak angst when an actress OW shows up to spend the remainder of the holiday with the H.
Heroine returns to university thinking hero was not sincere. All the love songs on his new album don’t convince her, either.
Hero finally tracks her down after she finishes her degree for an HEA.
This was a surprisingly sweet and wholesome story with low angst. Unusual for a Robyn Donald story. Lots of NZ descriptions, though.
Heroine on cover looks like Julie from the Love Boat. I guess hero is playing on the Lido deck as a special guest. 😊
December 15, 2020
One of RD's earlier works and no slut shaming in sight!!! ...
March 2, 2023
A stubborn girl refuses to fall for the famous composer
January 22, 2021
I found the nature descriptions almost incomprehensible. I could never picture in my mind what the author was describing except when she would say something plain and clear like the bay or the house overlooking the bay. Underneath it all I could hardly accept an older famous man falling for a 19-year-old teenager.
May 6, 2022
Lorena was still studying at collage yet this did not prevent her from having a job at Waiwhetu Island in summer vacations for three years at a raw to earn her living. She simply loved the island and adored both her elderly employers, Sel and peggy. However, her pleasure and tranquality in the island seemed to evaporate the moment she met Bourne Kerwood, the famous composer. He insulted her in their first meeting and then dared to suspect her motives in being in the island with him and eventually he relentlessly and purposfully started to seduce her as he saw her as a real tease! It was too much for Lorena to handle, especially when she was not immune to his seduction plans!
It was ok. Not so much happened and no real angust, yet it was ok to pass a little time in a boring day.
It was ok. Not so much happened and no real angust, yet it was ok to pass a little time in a boring day.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 29, 2020
Was she only a diversion?
Superstar Bourne Kerwood was a famous singer and composer, and Lorena an unsophisticated university student.
Despite herself, Lorena knew she was succumbing to his undeniable charm. But what could he see in her--other than someone to alleviate his boredom when he wasn't writing his songs!
He had no right to make casual love to her. She wasn't Mount Everest--to be conquered just because she was there!
Superstar Bourne Kerwood was a famous singer and composer, and Lorena an unsophisticated university student.
Despite herself, Lorena knew she was succumbing to his undeniable charm. But what could he see in her--other than someone to alleviate his boredom when he wasn't writing his songs!
He had no right to make casual love to her. She wasn't Mount Everest--to be conquered just because she was there!
May 25, 2021
Snooze fest. I tried but I couldn’t come in the book.
In the end DNF. And yes the heroine was too young.
In the end DNF. And yes the heroine was too young.
March 5, 2012
This very early work by Robyn Donald was published in 1981 and I was thrilled that it held the test of time. The setting is a remote area of New Zealand, lush and beautiful. Our heroine is a nineteen year old university student who works on a private estate each summer. The estate's owner leases out his beautiful home to all types of wealthy people who seek solitute. Bourne is a very popular American singer songwriter and he's come to New Zealand for inspiration and quiet to write his next album. From the moment they meet, Lorena realizes that the handsome celebrity is a risk to her heart. And Bourne recognizes that she is a young woman not easy to dismiss. This is a charming lovestory, told with the flare and wit we've come to know from Ms. Donald.
September 27, 2010
Ah, the dangers of re-reading an old favorite. I still quite enjoyed it, but it was showing its age. Our hero was a bit nastier in spots than I remembered, and our heroine a bit dumber in spots.
But oh, the scenery. I hope the NZ Tourist Board was paying Donald a stipend. This book (and several of her others) fueled my desire to see Bay of Islands for myself. And it is just as beautiful as she described.
But oh, the scenery. I hope the NZ Tourist Board was paying Donald a stipend. This book (and several of her others) fueled my desire to see Bay of Islands for myself. And it is just as beautiful as she described.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews