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Falling Stars
New York Times bestselling author, Loretta Chase shares an enchanting Regency Christmas novella about romance, forgiveness...and a second chance for a once in a lifetime love.
Ten years ago, dashing Marcus Greyson and naïve Christina Travers fell madly in love—and parted in anger. Now, wiser and more seasoned, both know better than to trust the wayward impulses of the heart.
But some feelings never fade; and the joys of Christmas and family just might rekindle a certain, special spark...
This novella was previously published in A Christmas Collection anthology
"One of the finest romance authors of all time." –Julia Quinn
"Wickedly witty, warm, and engaging." –Stephanie Laurens
Ten years ago, dashing Marcus Greyson and naïve Christina Travers fell madly in love—and parted in anger. Now, wiser and more seasoned, both know better than to trust the wayward impulses of the heart.
But some feelings never fade; and the joys of Christmas and family just might rekindle a certain, special spark...
This novella was previously published in A Christmas Collection anthology
"One of the finest romance authors of all time." –Julia Quinn
"Wickedly witty, warm, and engaging." –Stephanie Laurens
64 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 1992
About the author
Loretta Chase
49 books3,702 followersLoretta Lynda Chekani was born in 1949, of Albanian ancestry. For her, the trouble started when she learned to write in first grade. Before then, she had been making up her own stories but now she knew how to write them down to share. In her teenage years, she continue to write letters, keep a journal, write poetry and even attempt the Great American Novel (still unfinished). She attended New England public schools, before she went off to college and earned an English degree from Clark University.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
After graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America RITA.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 77 reviews
December 10, 2015
3.5 stars
Cute and heartwarming second-chance Christmas novella completed with twinkling stars, adorable children, and sparkling diamonds. It captures spirit of the season and good will. I'm not necessary a fan of second-chance romance trope but I liked the story as it escapes clichés. The protagonists were pretty immature when they first met and the time apart provided them with the opportunity to grow and have a better chance of HEA.
Cute and heartwarming second-chance Christmas novella completed with twinkling stars, adorable children, and sparkling diamonds. It captures spirit of the season and good will. I'm not necessary a fan of second-chance romance trope but I liked the story as it escapes clichés. The protagonists were pretty immature when they first met and the time apart provided them with the opportunity to grow and have a better chance of HEA.
January 10, 2017
Three reasons to read this novella. Loretta Chase wrote it. Old Latin Teacher on Amazon, who is not profligate with her stars, gave it five. And it costs only $1.99.
February 19, 2016
I thought this novella was really cute. If you like children, you'll like this, because Christina's twin girls, Delia and Livy, are a major part of the book.
Christina's daughters were adorable! I thought they were the best part of the novella. They both immediately got attached to Marcus, and I absolutely loved all of their interactions. Like I said, if you love children in books, I think you'll love this one.
Even though they're the ones who latch onto him first, he finds himself reciprocating the attachment. I love that with Christina's children, Marcus bore no ill will towards them, even though they're from Christina's previous marriage (to a man she married after she refused Marcus). He's not at all stand-offish or cold, even before he decides he wants to make a play for Christina, which I totally loved.
The romance between Marcus and Christina was cute. He doesn't push her away or want to get over the attraction by sleeping with other women. When he first sees her, he feels he needs to get away and sort out his thoughts, but he never makes mention of doing so with other women, which I loved (because I've read faaaar too many Hs who think this BS in romance novels).
And even when Marcus was being kind of an ass because he doesn't want to feel vulnerable, I adored that Christina wasn't afraid to take him on one-on-one.
This is a second chance romance, so there was a separation (a decade, in this case). The thing I liked about their separation was that it wasn't based on a Big Misunderstanding.
Now, what I didn't like about the story was mentions of Marcus's mistresses. Sure, there weren't sexual details of them, but I could do without any mentions at all of them. And I also hated this:
Really? Really? Did we need this line? I hated the difference in how it says he'd been with other women and fallen in and out of love...but Christina? Her husband was her one and only partner. She also makes it clear that she didn't love him. She says that, after Marcus, she picked up the pieces of her broken heart and was a good wife to Arthur, and also that she was fond of him, but there was no mention of love. Marcus, on the other hand has been in and love of love half a dozen times, had multiple mistresses and who knows how many other sex partners, with even a mention of a latest one. Christina, in comparison, has been in mourning for the last two years.
So yeah, if that had been left out, I would've rated this book higher, but the above soured my experience of the book more than a bit; not even Christina's adorable daughters could make up for that.
Oh! And! I get that this is novella, but I was super disappointed with when they finally consummated their relationship. I waited over nine-tenths of the novel for it to happen, and then it's a couple of paragraphs?? It's not that I wanted a multi-page, instructional play-by-play, but something more than a single-page euphemistic scene would've been nice! Again, disappointed, to say the least.
“Your eyes are two colors,” [Delia] told him. “There is green and little gold speckles. Did fairies do that?”
“They might have done.”
“It is very pretty. I wish I had fairy gold in my eyes.”
He stood up and pulled on his gloves. “You have fairy silver,” he said. “Like a blue sky with silver dust. It is much, much prettier.”
“A blue sky with silver dust.” She considered. “And Livy, too, then. And Mama.”
“Yes.”
“Yes,” she repeated with a satisfied nod. She took his hand, and looked up at him, and smiled.
Christina's daughters were adorable! I thought they were the best part of the novella. They both immediately got attached to Marcus, and I absolutely loved all of their interactions. Like I said, if you love children in books, I think you'll love this one.
He’d discovered that looking after little girls was nothing like minding rough-and-tumble little boys. Christina had called her daughters hoydens, but they seemed to Marcus the most fragile of china dolls. Out of doors, he found himself worrying that they weren’t dressed warmly enough, then that they were over warm, and would take a chill in consequence. Every game seemed too rough; all the places he’d taken for granted as perfectly safe for children abruptly became fraught with perils.
Even though they're the ones who latch onto him first, he finds himself reciprocating the attachment. I love that with Christina's children, Marcus bore no ill will towards them, even though they're from Christina's previous marriage (to a man she married after she refused Marcus). He's not at all stand-offish or cold, even before he decides he wants to make a play for Christina, which I totally loved.
The romance between Marcus and Christina was cute. He doesn't push her away or want to get over the attraction by sleeping with other women. When he first sees her, he feels he needs to get away and sort out his thoughts, but he never makes mention of doing so with other women, which I loved (because I've read faaaar too many Hs who think this BS in romance novels).
“But you are quite right regarding my height,” she said. “I did grow another half-inch. How keenly observant you are.”
Twin sparks lit his eyes. “I did not mean a mere half-inch. I must have confused you with some other girl. There were a great many of them, as I recall.”
“Ah, well, you mustn’t mind the error,” Christina answered in tones laden with compassion. “Failure of memory is common with advancing age—it cannot be helped.”
And even when Marcus was being kind of an ass because he doesn't want to feel vulnerable, I adored that Christina wasn't afraid to take him on one-on-one.
This is a second chance romance, so there was a separation (a decade, in this case). The thing I liked about their separation was that it wasn't based on a Big Misunderstanding.
Now, what I didn't like about the story was mentions of Marcus's mistresses. Sure, there weren't sexual details of them, but I could do without any mentions at all of them. And I also hated this:
He’d been too busy to be lonely. And there had been other women. He had fallen in and out of love half a dozen times at least.
Really? Really? Did we need this line? I hated the difference in how it says he'd been with other women and fallen in and out of love...but Christina? Her husband was her one and only partner. She also makes it clear that she didn't love him. She says that, after Marcus, she picked up the pieces of her broken heart and was a good wife to Arthur, and also that she was fond of him, but there was no mention of love. Marcus, on the other hand has been in and love of love half a dozen times, had multiple mistresses and who knows how many other sex partners, with even a mention of a latest one. Christina, in comparison, has been in mourning for the last two years.
So yeah, if that had been left out, I would've rated this book higher, but the above soured my experience of the book more than a bit; not even Christina's adorable daughters could make up for that.
Oh! And! I get that this is novella, but I was super disappointed with when they finally consummated their relationship. I waited over nine-tenths of the novel for it to happen, and then it's a couple of paragraphs?? It's not that I wanted a multi-page, instructional play-by-play, but something more than a single-page euphemistic scene would've been nice! Again, disappointed, to say the least.
November 26, 2020
A cute heartwarming uncomplicated read. A little chaste for my taste, and unfairly I never give novellas too high a rating so I shouldn’t really read them as I find them all too short. great writing though.
December 27, 2023
This concludes my 14 attempts, 12 completed holiday reads, and what a way to go out.
A second chance, kids, and a widow. Banter & pretty settings and great tension. Thanks to guiltless pleasures for the review of this little gem.
A second chance, kids, and a widow. Banter & pretty settings and great tension. Thanks to guiltless pleasures for the review of this little gem.
December 9, 2017
(Probably 4 stars, but what the heck, I liked it a lot.) This story first appeared in a 1992 anthology, A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION. I never read it then, 23 years ago, but it has held up well. As a matter of fact, it has probably improved by virtue of the lackluster competition it has this year from 2015 Christmas stories and novellas. I've read several 2015 releases and so far have not really enjoyed any, so this story was like a breath of fresh air.
It's a second-chance romance that gave me the warm fuzzies. The attraction between H and h is palpable, the dialogue is fun and witty, and the heroine's young daughters and their budding relationship with the hero is actually quite delightful. (And this is said by a grouchy, curmudgeon reviewer who doesn't usually like children in a romance.)
Ten years ago 18-year-old Christina attended the wedding of a dear friend. There she met the 24-year-old brother of the friend's husband-to-be and there's a grudging but very strong mutual attraction. Unfortunately, the stars are not well aligned for this romance. They separate and In the 10-year interim, Christina marries, has twin daughters and is widowed. She and hero Marcus meet again for the first time since that wedding at the home of her friend and friend's husband, sister-in-law and brother of Marcus.
And there you are. Will they make a go of their second chance or is there too much bitterness and misunderstanding between them? Hint: It's a romance. So maybe no surprises, but as long as Chase is in fine writing form (and she is here) whatever she offers is well received by me. This story is cute, romantic and gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling. It may not be a 5-star romance for everyone, but it is for me, in spite of costing more than it should for an only-64-page recycled story.
It's a second-chance romance that gave me the warm fuzzies. The attraction between H and h is palpable, the dialogue is fun and witty, and the heroine's young daughters and their budding relationship with the hero is actually quite delightful. (And this is said by a grouchy, curmudgeon reviewer who doesn't usually like children in a romance.)
Ten years ago 18-year-old Christina attended the wedding of a dear friend. There she met the 24-year-old brother of the friend's husband-to-be and there's a grudging but very strong mutual attraction. Unfortunately, the stars are not well aligned for this romance. They separate and In the 10-year interim, Christina marries, has twin daughters and is widowed. She and hero Marcus meet again for the first time since that wedding at the home of her friend and friend's husband, sister-in-law and brother of Marcus.
And there you are. Will they make a go of their second chance or is there too much bitterness and misunderstanding between them? Hint: It's a romance. So maybe no surprises, but as long as Chase is in fine writing form (and she is here) whatever she offers is well received by me. This story is cute, romantic and gave me a warm and fuzzy feeling. It may not be a 5-star romance for everyone, but it is for me, in spite of costing more than it should for an only-64-page recycled story.
January 7, 2022
I read this book over the Christmas holiday and it combined everything I love about Loretta Chase’s books in a small package - an engaging story, delightful characters (especially the children), a charming second-chance romance and a sprinkle of magic.
December 26, 2023
This is actually a reread of a novella I never put into Goodreads the first time around. I think I recall giving it four mind-stars the first time around (about a year ago). BUT, this time, it’s five stars. I have a lot of romances under my belt now, and a lot of romance novellas that failed to make the grade because they tried to do too much in too few pages.
Naturally, Queen Loretta avoids this trap, using backstory to add depth AND to give us a reason for this second-chance romance that actually holds up (external forces, rather than miscommunication).
As a holiday novella, it has everything you’d want: angels, cute kids, waltzes, snow, falling stars… It’s definitely one of Chase’s sweeter stories, but she adds sharpness and humor in the way only she can.
Naturally, Queen Loretta avoids this trap, using backstory to add depth AND to give us a reason for this second-chance romance that actually holds up (external forces, rather than miscommunication).
As a holiday novella, it has everything you’d want: angels, cute kids, waltzes, snow, falling stars… It’s definitely one of Chase’s sweeter stories, but she adds sharpness and humor in the way only she can.
December 8, 2016
3.5 Stars
This was really different from any other Loretta Chase I've read. It actually reminded me more of something Mary Balogh would write- it's short and sweet and honestly a bit saccharine, with none of the banter or humor I'm used to with LC. It's a very short story, so there isn't much time for plot to develop. Everything falls into place extremely easily, and in fact there are a lot of almost magical references to angels and stars sort of bringing everything together in an inexplicable way. The MC's fell in love ten years prior in a short two week series of secret meetings, but it didn't work out, and they were both left bitter about it. I was thinking for most of the book that it was due to some big misunderstanding, but it wasn't in the way that I thought. Suddenly, the two are brought back together with one having never married and the other a widow with two twin daughters, and I probably don't need to explain further.
There's not a lot of action here; most of the story is descriptions of feelings past and present and memories being brought back to the surface. The characters are somewhat developed, but a lot of questions were left unanswered. I think this could have been really good if it had been fleshed out more, but there just weren't enough pages to really do so. There were some cute moments with Christina's daughters and Marcus, but the renewed "courtship" between Marcus and Christina felt rushed and glossed over. Everything happens very quickly, and much really only happens because of intuition and "fate". Christmas is in the background without playing much of a major role in the story itself.
I liked this, and it was a cute read for December, but it's not something I'd probably read over and over again. It probably could have become a full novel with some more plot events, and I kind of wish it would have.
This was really different from any other Loretta Chase I've read. It actually reminded me more of something Mary Balogh would write- it's short and sweet and honestly a bit saccharine, with none of the banter or humor I'm used to with LC. It's a very short story, so there isn't much time for plot to develop. Everything falls into place extremely easily, and in fact there are a lot of almost magical references to angels and stars sort of bringing everything together in an inexplicable way. The MC's fell in love ten years prior in a short two week series of secret meetings, but it didn't work out, and they were both left bitter about it. I was thinking for most of the book that it was due to some big misunderstanding, but it wasn't in the way that I thought. Suddenly, the two are brought back together with one having never married and the other a widow with two twin daughters, and I probably don't need to explain further.
There's not a lot of action here; most of the story is descriptions of feelings past and present and memories being brought back to the surface. The characters are somewhat developed, but a lot of questions were left unanswered. I think this could have been really good if it had been fleshed out more, but there just weren't enough pages to really do so. There were some cute moments with Christina's daughters and Marcus, but the renewed "courtship" between Marcus and Christina felt rushed and glossed over. Everything happens very quickly, and much really only happens because of intuition and "fate". Christmas is in the background without playing much of a major role in the story itself.
I liked this, and it was a cute read for December, but it's not something I'd probably read over and over again. It probably could have become a full novel with some more plot events, and I kind of wish it would have.
January 6, 2021
Ten years ago, Marcus Greyson and Christina Travers hit it off at Christina's bff's wedding. They flirted MADLY, discussed ELOPEMENT, and then PARTED IN ANGER. Now that everyone's older and wiser, can these two FIGURE OUT THEIR SHIT?
1. A Loretta Chase I haven't read? STOP THE PRESSES.
2. I have spoken at length about my aversion to second-chance romances. I have dislikes. We know this. HOWEVER, this is a decent second-chance romance. I have complaints—OF COURSE I HAVE COMPLAINTS—but overall, this did a fantastic job of setting up the original attraction (and that's what it is: an attraction, a possibility of more—not The Truest Love That Ever Trued and/or Loved), and then went about examining what it would actually take to get two separated people back together.
Like, for example, both Marcus and Christina hurt when they see one another for the first time, and then have cold exchanges, then they fight, then they reestablish some habits, then they openly discuss their separation, then they move towards a new definition of a future, together.
It's that breakdown of why they broke down that worked so well, because it acknowledges that they have changed in some particulars and what attracted them to each other in the first place wasn't just physical: it was a mental and emotional curiosity for the world around them, and the fact they both like to argue and learn.
2. That said, it's still a second-chance romance so I'm not like ecstatic about it or anything.
3. I think I wanted Marcus's determination to court Christina 'properly' to be more overt. At one point he says he will make himself indispensable to Christina, so that she realizes she cannot do without him, but that felt smarmy instead of romantic because it read as manipulative instead of emotional.
4. I also wanted Christina to seize her 'free woman' persona a bit more firmly: there's hints of it, but it's so faint as to be basically useless. Other than fleeing the limiting Aunts to Paris, what does Christina want from the world? I honestly couldn't say.
5. The required sex scene was kind of terrible?
6. I also DID NOT MIND the children in this which is ALSO shocking. There were a few asides from Marcus about how he wished he had children with Christina, almost a like-in-kind replacement of her twins, which is SUPER GROSS and which the narrative does not push back on AT ALL, so that's a thing. (Like he doesn't even turn around and go "yeah but if Christina and I HAD gotten married and had children, these ABSOLUTE MONSTERS I CHERISH AND LOVE WOULD CEASE TO EXIST", which is FUCKED UP???? Like???)
7. Apparently I have a LOT TO SAY ABOUT A VERY SHORT NOVELLA. SORRY NOT SORRY.
1. A Loretta Chase I haven't read? STOP THE PRESSES.
2. I have spoken at length about my aversion to second-chance romances. I have dislikes. We know this. HOWEVER, this is a decent second-chance romance. I have complaints—OF COURSE I HAVE COMPLAINTS—but overall, this did a fantastic job of setting up the original attraction (and that's what it is: an attraction, a possibility of more—not The Truest Love That Ever Trued and/or Loved), and then went about examining what it would actually take to get two separated people back together.
Like, for example, both Marcus and Christina hurt when they see one another for the first time, and then have cold exchanges, then they fight, then they reestablish some habits, then they openly discuss their separation, then they move towards a new definition of a future, together.
It's that breakdown of why they broke down that worked so well, because it acknowledges that they have changed in some particulars and what attracted them to each other in the first place wasn't just physical: it was a mental and emotional curiosity for the world around them, and the fact they both like to argue and learn.
2. That said, it's still a second-chance romance so I'm not like ecstatic about it or anything.
3. I think I wanted Marcus's determination to court Christina 'properly' to be more overt. At one point he says he will make himself indispensable to Christina, so that she realizes she cannot do without him, but that felt smarmy instead of romantic because it read as manipulative instead of emotional.
4. I also wanted Christina to seize her 'free woman' persona a bit more firmly: there's hints of it, but it's so faint as to be basically useless. Other than fleeing the limiting Aunts to Paris, what does Christina want from the world? I honestly couldn't say.
5. The required sex scene was kind of terrible?
6. I also DID NOT MIND the children in this which is ALSO shocking. There were a few asides from Marcus about how he wished he had children with Christina, almost a like-in-kind replacement of her twins, which is SUPER GROSS and which the narrative does not push back on AT ALL, so that's a thing. (Like he doesn't even turn around and go "yeah but if Christina and I HAD gotten married and had children, these ABSOLUTE MONSTERS I CHERISH AND LOVE WOULD CEASE TO EXIST", which is FUCKED UP???? Like???)
7. Apparently I have a LOT TO SAY ABOUT A VERY SHORT NOVELLA. SORRY NOT SORRY.
December 20, 2024
A LONELY MAN NOT JUST FALLING IN LOVE WITH A WIDOW BUT COMING TO ADORE HER CHILDREN AS HIS OWN WILL DO IT FOR ME EVERY TIME
December 27, 2025
2023 reread: this likely starts my annual tradition of rereading Falling Stars. It's sweet and romantic.
Falling Stars may be one of my favorite Christmas novellas to date. First, Loretta Chase can write children into a romance like no other, and I'll never mind reading them in her books. This short, sweet story captures a gorgeous Christmas element of love and family as well as a light touch of steam.
Falling Stars may be one of my favorite Christmas novellas to date. First, Loretta Chase can write children into a romance like no other, and I'll never mind reading them in her books. This short, sweet story captures a gorgeous Christmas element of love and family as well as a light touch of steam.
August 19, 2017
A charming tale of courtship featuring great portrayals of children (I've tried the pillow over the head trick to escape their screeching with similar low levels of success) and an adorable if hard-headed hero.
I do like that they cleared the air about the past early on in a mature manner. The heroine did a good job defending herself and pointing out how things were from her perspective.
Oh and I rather appreciated that the previous husband wasn't a villain. I don't know why romance tends to insist no one can have a happy previous relationship.
All the agonizing they did over outfits and what to wear when they knew they would encounter each other was quite cute. As were his attempts at wooing.
A quick, fun and satisfying read/ short story done right.
I do like that they cleared the air about the past early on in a mature manner. The heroine did a good job defending herself and pointing out how things were from her perspective.
Oh and I rather appreciated that the previous husband wasn't a villain. I don't know why romance tends to insist no one can have a happy previous relationship.
All the agonizing they did over outfits and what to wear when they knew they would encounter each other was quite cute. As were his attempts at wooing.
A quick, fun and satisfying read/ short story done right.
December 9, 2015
Really cute story about second chances and rekindling a former love. I loved Marcus and Christina and Christina's darling children. I enjoyed the falling stars descriptions and their scene at the end was magical! I really wish this would have been longer than a novella because the build up would have been wonderful.
December 7, 2015
This was so cute!!
October 23, 2020
Ameiii
🥰🥰🥰
Curto, mas simples e delicado, tudo nessa simples conto, é fantástico, prova como o amor sobrevive ao tempo...
📚📚
Loretta Chase arrasou novamente com essa linda história.. Tudo é delicado e encantador...
Christina Travers e Marcus Greyson
É um lindo casal, e as filhas dela são o encanto mais fofo de toda a story... 🥰🥰
#BoaLeitura🎀 #GoodReading
🥰🥰🥰
Curto, mas simples e delicado, tudo nessa simples conto, é fantástico, prova como o amor sobrevive ao tempo...
📚📚
Loretta Chase arrasou novamente com essa linda história.. Tudo é delicado e encantador...
Christina Travers e Marcus Greyson
É um lindo casal, e as filhas dela são o encanto mais fofo de toda a story... 🥰🥰
#BoaLeitura🎀 #GoodReading
March 26, 2016
The hero and heroine are reunited 10 years after falling love and breaking each other's hearts. This helps to establish a connection even though the book is a novella. There's a bit of angst, a bit of seething, a bit of pining, and a bit of Christmassy sentiment. It quite worked for me.
December 16, 2015
Such a lovely story about second chances. It worked so well even with only 50 pages ;)
December 15, 2015
One of the better novellas/short stories! LOVEEED the bonding between Greyson and Christina's twin daughters, it was sooooooo cute. And I love the Christmas vibe---- very very magical and pretty!
December 11, 2025
This was great but it’s Loretta Chase so are we really surprised?
I’m not sure how she does it but Loretta can conjure up yearning in less than 6 pages and that’s what you call talent.
Marcus and Christina had a brief fling 10 years ago. Life got in the way and she went on to marry and have twins, while he went on to focus on his work. Flash forward Christina is a widow and Marcus is rich but lonely. They’re thrust together for Christmas as Christina’s best friend had married Marcus’ brother. Old feelings ignite and they can’t stay away from each other.
This was so cute. I tend to go for novellas that have more emotional depth than trying to pack in as much spice as possible in a shorter word count and this delivered! I had a huge grin on my face towards the end. The banter, the tension and the yearning were exquisite. I’m really hoping that this type of histrom makes it back to the forefront.
I’m not sure how she does it but Loretta can conjure up yearning in less than 6 pages and that’s what you call talent.
Marcus and Christina had a brief fling 10 years ago. Life got in the way and she went on to marry and have twins, while he went on to focus on his work. Flash forward Christina is a widow and Marcus is rich but lonely. They’re thrust together for Christmas as Christina’s best friend had married Marcus’ brother. Old feelings ignite and they can’t stay away from each other.
This was so cute. I tend to go for novellas that have more emotional depth than trying to pack in as much spice as possible in a shorter word count and this delivered! I had a huge grin on my face towards the end. The banter, the tension and the yearning were exquisite. I’m really hoping that this type of histrom makes it back to the forefront.
June 28, 2022
Great second chance novella 💕 the heroine is a widow with 7-yr old twins who are just so sweet. My favorite is the ending — it all made sense why falling stars was the title and it was just so incredibly heartwarming.
avoid
September 16, 2023Self note
not for me
- 10yr separation
-single mom
- h married another, didn’t love him, and had kids with this om.
- H had numerous Ow/mistresses and fell in love with a few of them too.
not for me
- 10yr separation
-single mom
- h married another, didn’t love him, and had kids with this om.
- H had numerous Ow/mistresses and fell in love with a few of them too.
December 18, 2019
Eh. This is clearly Chase before Chase-- this book came out before Lion's Daughter, the first of the Scoundrels series.
It's a second-chance romance of two people who meet each other ten years after they fell in love and fell apart.
There are some elements of sweetness and bickering, nice kids, a nicely described hero and heroine (both are attractive, everyone finds both of them attractive, as opposed to the snoozey "he's so hot, she's not" trope that so many writers like). Also, Christmas!
But the humor's not quite there, the dialogue could be tighter, and nothing feels quite fleshed out. Probably inevitable with a novella? It certainly feels like a traditional regency, and is written in a Balogh/Burrowes-ish style, which feels weird to say about a Chase book.
Anyway, I didn't love it. Nor do I hate it. I spent a dollar on it, so I can't resent that!
It's a second-chance romance of two people who meet each other ten years after they fell in love and fell apart.
There are some elements of sweetness and bickering, nice kids, a nicely described hero and heroine (both are attractive, everyone finds both of them attractive, as opposed to the snoozey "he's so hot, she's not" trope that so many writers like). Also, Christmas!
But the humor's not quite there, the dialogue could be tighter, and nothing feels quite fleshed out. Probably inevitable with a novella? It certainly feels like a traditional regency, and is written in a Balogh/Burrowes-ish style, which feels weird to say about a Chase book.
Anyway, I didn't love it. Nor do I hate it. I spent a dollar on it, so I can't resent that!
May 24, 2024
A very sweet holiday Regency, and I love me a previously unread Loretta Chase, but...
Change the slant or tone of this book just a tinge, and it becomes horror. Hmmmmm.... Troubling.
Sorry, but I can't turn off my common sense entirely when reading.
Change the slant or tone of this book just a tinge, and it becomes horror. Hmmmmm.... Troubling.
Sorry, but I can't turn off my common sense entirely when reading.
January 7, 2021
Meh. Look, this is fine. It's fine. I just didn't think anything got more than fine. It's a sweet story. I do like that the two characters weren't portrayed as soulmates (i.e. that any previous relationships weren't utterly demonized). But I also found it way too underdeveloped (to be fair, it's a novella), and full of slightly-too-perfect children. I know it's a Christmas story, but...
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December 25, 2025Its two star give another chance
at snow time went sun again to fire day
music go heaigh thes time
like a gd moon come after long abscinc
what candle be light for
forgvniss
love
care
joy go round over many dialog talk
slap the past and go on
love coal cant be cold
run throw cold forest of past was tired game
went in worm whisper of forgiv was big to be team
gd love return
gd love return
at snow time went sun again to fire day
music go heaigh thes time
like a gd moon come after long abscinc
what candle be light for
forgvniss
love
care
joy go round over many dialog talk
slap the past and go on
love coal cant be cold
run throw cold forest of past was tired game
went in worm whisper of forgiv was big to be team
gd love return
gd love return
January 23, 2021
An oldie, but a goodie. And here I thought I had read all of Loretta Chase's books. Onto the other newly discovered unread Loretta Chase book, "Royally Ever After." 😁
December 26, 2025
4/4.5 stars. I cried twice with this historical romance set during Christmas time. It held my heart. I would say it had less Christmas dressing, but more Christmas meaning of love, forgiveness, understanding, family, and magic. I also love falling star lore and magic, so I was easily sold. It did have a bit rough start, but then it hust built perfectly. What a lovely romantic and holiday story.
December 31, 2022
Wonderful Christmas story
This is a truly lovely reunion-romance novella. The 34-year-old hero, Marcus, is a terrific combination of sexy and sweet--an early prototype for what is currently called a "cinnamon roll" hero. I also love the heroine, Christina, who is both intelligent, witty and kind. She is a wonderful mother to her adorably precocious, 7-year-old, twin daughters, and it is obvious that Marcus will become a fabulous stepfather to them.
I have read this story many different times over the years and will read it many more times in the future. It is one of the best things that LC ever wrote, and she has written a lot of amazing books.
This is a truly lovely reunion-romance novella. The 34-year-old hero, Marcus, is a terrific combination of sexy and sweet--an early prototype for what is currently called a "cinnamon roll" hero. I also love the heroine, Christina, who is both intelligent, witty and kind. She is a wonderful mother to her adorably precocious, 7-year-old, twin daughters, and it is obvious that Marcus will become a fabulous stepfather to them.
I have read this story many different times over the years and will read it many more times in the future. It is one of the best things that LC ever wrote, and she has written a lot of amazing books.
December 6, 2019
If you're on the lookout for second-chance romance plus some Christmas magic, then this novella is perfect for you. With cute kids, Christmas gifts, and literal falling stars, it's high on the cheese-factor. It's not quite high enough to make the grade for a made-for-TV movie, mostly because it's missing Christmas trappings (no tree, no mistletoe, no stockings, no snowy montage walking through the streetlamps...) - but they are also missing because of the historical time period.
All that aside, if you like Loretta Chase, Christmas cheese, or both, you will enjoy Falling Stars.
2-Word Summaries:
Laine: Second chance.
Meg: Xmas magic.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
All that aside, if you like Loretta Chase, Christmas cheese, or both, you will enjoy Falling Stars.
2-Word Summaries:
Laine: Second chance.
Meg: Xmas magic.
www.linktr.ee/plottrysts
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