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Hubble Bubble
Sternenzauber
„Dich hat der Himmel geschickt!“, hätte Clemmie Coddle gerne einmal gesagt. Doch weder in der Liebe noch im Beruf scheinen die Sterne es gut mit ihr zu meinen. Dabei weiß Clemmie genau, was sie will: ein Feuerwerk entfachen – und das nicht nur im übertragenen Sinn. Sie liebt die bunten Farben, die man bei Nacht an den Himmel zaubern kann. Als ihr dann ein Rezept für einen ganz besonderen Feuerwerkskörper in die Hände fällt, macht sie sich gleich ans Werk. Denn angeblich sollen Wünsche in Erfüllung gehen, wenn die Funken sprühen. Vielleicht klappt es dann auch mit der Liebe – sie hätte da auch schon jemanden im Sinn …
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 8, 2007
12 people are currently reading
803 people want to read
About the author
Christina Jones
85 books192 followersI've written all my life, but only became a published novelist in 1997. Before that, I wrote short stories and newspaper articles for pin money while doing a series of naff jobs. In fact I've had twenty seven jobs and been sacked from nineteen of them for writing when I should have been working. I've been, among other things, a shop assistant, waitress, cleaner, secretary, factory worker, market-researcher, nanny, bookseller, night-club dancer, civil servant, blood donor attendant, fruit-picker and barmaid. I'm now, apparently, a Real Writer.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Writing for a living is wonderful - a dream come true - and I now manage to combine writing novels, short stories and articles with not doing the housework, not doing the gardening, not cooking much, but at least attempting to look after my husband - the Toyboy Trucker - and my daughter and our 17 rescued cats.
I was born in Oxford and have lived in Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Hampshire, Oxfordshire, Northumberland, London and Jersey. I blame my parents both for my itchy feet and my romantic soul. My Dad was a circus clown - Poor Billy, Prince of Laughter Makers - and my Mum who trained as a teacher, came from an army family, and had lived in six countries before she was 15. They met and fell in love while the circus was off the road and my Dad was working as Santa Claus in a department store. My Mum, at home for Christmas, was the fairy in his grotto. I was entranced by the way they met, that they were from such different backgrounds, and that their love for one another managed to survive every obstacle and objection thrown in its path. Every book I've written has their story at its core.
I grew up in a Berkshire village, in a tight, happy, secure and very working class community. My childhood was idyllically happy, and my friends from those days are still my best friends now. My novels reflect this community spirit, and all have small groups of people - crossing class, age and gender - who are friends and work together through the roller coaster ride of life. Also, because the women I grew up with were, by necessity, tough and go-getting with a sense of humour, my heroines are gutsy and strong. Real women in real situations. And the fact that the backgrounds to my books mirror my own past experiences is no coincidence, either.
My parents were great storytellers and avid readers, and taught me to read long before I started school, so I started writing my own stories at about five years old without thinking it in the least odd. Writing was an obsession, a friend, a way of life. I had my first short story published at 14, still blissfully unaware this was unusual. However, having a novel published was my life's ambition - and one that took another thirty writing years to achieve.
Having won a couple of awards for my short stories, I joined the Romantic Novelists' Association in 1993, and was lucky enough to be voted runner-up for the New Writers' Scheme Award at my second attempt in 1995. Dancing in the Moonlight was published by My Weekly Story Library, and as it didn't have an ISBN wasn't classed as a novel. I was, of course, ecstatic at this literary elevation - and it was at the RNA Awards Lunch that I was approached by an agent who suggested I should try writing full length commercial fiction. Going the Distance was the result, and amazingly it was sold to a publisher straight away and then, equally amazingly, chosen for the 1997 WH Smith Fresh Talent Promotion - and I haven't (touch wood and fingers and all other extremities crossed!) - looked back since.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews
September 16, 2009
Clemmie has a problem – she’s had almost as many jobs as she’s had birthdays and her lovelife is on the critical list.But with the big 3-0 looming she’s determined to transform herself from unemployed singleton to loved-up success.
Trouble is Clemmie’s dream job would be working for local entrepreneur Guy Devlin, owner of the famous pyrotechnics company, The Gunpowder Plot.
He’d also be high on her list of candidates for significant other too. But Guy has a whole veritable cargo hold of baggage – avaricious ex-wife, a host of monster ex-step children.
He’s not even looking for an assistant. And if he was a quirky amateur firework maker with a penchant for cream cakes and big explosions wouldn’t be high on his list.
Having enjoyed Christina Jones’ first novels – Going The Distance, Stealing The Show, Running The Risk and Tickled Pink, I was worried that her change of genre – from regular chick-lit to magical romantic comedies – wasn’t the kind of chick-lit I enjoyed so it’s taken me ages to read one of her newer novels. However I had no reason to worry – Heaven Sent was fantastic and just as good as Christina’s earlier novels.
It’s a relatively short novel, 253 pages, but it was a brilliant, fast read. I absolutely loved the firework aspect to the novel as I love fireworks. As is usual with Christina’s novels we caught up with all her characters from her previous novels: Drew & Maddy, Ellis & Lola, Flynn & Posy and all of the characters from Christina’s magical novels. I love it when authors bring us up-to-date with their old characters. It’s a nice touch and something authors do rarely.
I loved Clemmie as the main character, she was boho, she was fun and she was a very likeable character. I loved YaYa and the whole drag-queen aspect of the book, Christina always gives us quirky characters and YaYa was definitely quirky. Guy was brilliant and I loved the irony of him being called Guy and him working at/owning The Gunpowder Plot. The relationship/friendships between Guy, YaYa and Clemmie were really believeable and well written – again, something Christina is good at doing, developing the friendships and relationships.
Helen was our villain of the story and drove me insane. As always she was your typical villain: spiteful, two-faced and trying to cause trouble.
I enjoyed the plot of the story too: Clemmie and Guy trying to figure out a mysterious formula for the best firework ever which may or may not have magic powers. It was a great addition to the firework plot and it was great wondering if they would figure it all out.
Sure the ending is typical chick-lit and you know it’s coming a mile off but as I said before, Christina develops the relationships and friendships so much that you want it to end that way. And you know what, I don’t mind typical endings. If I wanted unhappy endings I would read something else, something miserable.
I loved the magical element, it’s great for authors to steer away from the whole formulaic chick-lit and try something new, something different. It’s something you can read and escape to and I love it. I’ll definitely have to get all of Christina’s magical books as they are fab.
I still enjoy Christina’s older novels but it’s good to know she can change her genre slightly and still have a great book on her hands!
Rating: 5/5
Trouble is Clemmie’s dream job would be working for local entrepreneur Guy Devlin, owner of the famous pyrotechnics company, The Gunpowder Plot.
He’d also be high on her list of candidates for significant other too. But Guy has a whole veritable cargo hold of baggage – avaricious ex-wife, a host of monster ex-step children.
He’s not even looking for an assistant. And if he was a quirky amateur firework maker with a penchant for cream cakes and big explosions wouldn’t be high on his list.
Having enjoyed Christina Jones’ first novels – Going The Distance, Stealing The Show, Running The Risk and Tickled Pink, I was worried that her change of genre – from regular chick-lit to magical romantic comedies – wasn’t the kind of chick-lit I enjoyed so it’s taken me ages to read one of her newer novels. However I had no reason to worry – Heaven Sent was fantastic and just as good as Christina’s earlier novels.
It’s a relatively short novel, 253 pages, but it was a brilliant, fast read. I absolutely loved the firework aspect to the novel as I love fireworks. As is usual with Christina’s novels we caught up with all her characters from her previous novels: Drew & Maddy, Ellis & Lola, Flynn & Posy and all of the characters from Christina’s magical novels. I love it when authors bring us up-to-date with their old characters. It’s a nice touch and something authors do rarely.
I loved Clemmie as the main character, she was boho, she was fun and she was a very likeable character. I loved YaYa and the whole drag-queen aspect of the book, Christina always gives us quirky characters and YaYa was definitely quirky. Guy was brilliant and I loved the irony of him being called Guy and him working at/owning The Gunpowder Plot. The relationship/friendships between Guy, YaYa and Clemmie were really believeable and well written – again, something Christina is good at doing, developing the friendships and relationships.
Helen was our villain of the story and drove me insane. As always she was your typical villain: spiteful, two-faced and trying to cause trouble.
I enjoyed the plot of the story too: Clemmie and Guy trying to figure out a mysterious formula for the best firework ever which may or may not have magic powers. It was a great addition to the firework plot and it was great wondering if they would figure it all out.
Sure the ending is typical chick-lit and you know it’s coming a mile off but as I said before, Christina develops the relationships and friendships so much that you want it to end that way. And you know what, I don’t mind typical endings. If I wanted unhappy endings I would read something else, something miserable.
I loved the magical element, it’s great for authors to steer away from the whole formulaic chick-lit and try something new, something different. It’s something you can read and escape to and I love it. I’ll definitely have to get all of Christina’s magical books as they are fab.
I still enjoy Christina’s older novels but it’s good to know she can change her genre slightly and still have a great book on her hands!
Rating: 5/5
February 16, 2017
OK..Well this is a nice mood changer.. If you're in a terrible mood, you can go on with this. I just started it for this Valentine's day. And it is not a disappointing one too. But if you are seeking for a divergent one, its not your cup of coffee. It has a much more predictable story . And like always a cheesy happily ever after. Apart from the story you could know more about the pyrotechnics. (I am a lover of fireworks and everyone is I know.. hehe). the fireworks give colors not only to the sky here but also to the story.
July 5, 2021
Quite a quirky novel
June 28, 2011
Clemmie Caddle is 30 she has had as many jobs as her age, she is single and is in love with Guy Devlin, however he is attached, she’s never actually spoken with him and he doesn’t know that she exists, Phoebe Clemmie’s best friend , says she has a bad case of “fantasy lust”.
Clemmie has a degree in Chemistry and should put it to some use, her dream job would be working for Guy Devlin he owns the Pyrothenics Company, the Gunpowder plot, as she is knowledgeable about Fireworks.
Her dream comes to reality, but Guy just doesn’t have a partner but an ex-wife and children. However is there a chance for Clemmie after all?
I found this book to be a quick read at 253 pages, very easy to read and follow, I really enjoyed this book, I would definitely recommend.
Clemmie has a degree in Chemistry and should put it to some use, her dream job would be working for Guy Devlin he owns the Pyrothenics Company, the Gunpowder plot, as she is knowledgeable about Fireworks.
Her dream comes to reality, but Guy just doesn’t have a partner but an ex-wife and children. However is there a chance for Clemmie after all?
I found this book to be a quick read at 253 pages, very easy to read and follow, I really enjoyed this book, I would definitely recommend.
August 9, 2010
A quirky fun novel about Clemmie Coddle, a single firework fanatic who can't hold down a job because the only thing she really wants to do is make fireworks. Then a chance job oppurtunity comes up with The Gunpowder Plot, whose owner Guy Devlin has pre-occupied the thoughts of Clemmie for quite some time. They fall in love after many obstacles and of course there's a splendid happy ever after. It was a nice light read with lots of laughs.
March 20, 2010
Kurzweiliger, wenn auch nicht gerade unvorhersehbarer, romantischer Lesespaß. Ganz schön finde ich, dass Jones' Bücher "Sommernachtszauber", "Sternenzauber" und "Zimt und Zauber" in derselben Gegend spielen und einige Charaktere immer wieder vorkommen.
Natürlich sind auch die Geschichten ähnlich angelegt (Magie, etc), aber bei Liebesromanen finde ich das nicht so störend. ;)
Natürlich sind auch die Geschichten ähnlich angelegt (Magie, etc), aber bei Liebesromanen finde ich das nicht so störend. ;)
January 12, 2011
Oh I loved! I love! I could not put it down and cannot wait to read another book by Christina Jones.
Did a full review on Heaven Sent by Christina Jones
Did a full review on Heaven Sent by Christina Jones
March 21, 2008
Quite hard to get into but really good at the end
January 6, 2011
Another lovely book, this time set around the fireworks industry. I love the way she combines magic and romance.
September 2, 2025
You don't become "gay" when the woman you date happens to have a dick and when you dated multiple women in the past (and were married to one). All the person you dated were woman and identified as such, cis or not.
This incredibly heterosexual and ignorant point of view made me feel insulted as I was reading this fun, sweet, adorable love novel. That's what I will remember most, unfortunately: it was written by a heterosexual person with no knowledge of queerness. (ok this was written in 2007 and we were uninformed then, it makes me feel slightly better like maybe the author got more educated since, like Meg Cabot)
This incredibly heterosexual and ignorant point of view made me feel insulted as I was reading this fun, sweet, adorable love novel. That's what I will remember most, unfortunately: it was written by a heterosexual person with no knowledge of queerness. (ok this was written in 2007 and we were uninformed then, it makes me feel slightly better like maybe the author got more educated since, like Meg Cabot)
July 8, 2022
Perfect for one of those I’m spending the day reading books… absolutely 100% feel good, take it to the beach, curl up on a rainy day, read it on a long journey… I’ve read loads of Christina Jones and this as always doesn’t disappoint… no spoilers here, you have to read it for yourself 🤓📚
October 14, 2025
This was so so cute!! I just love reading books that are hidden gems and this is definitely one of them!! I adored the characters and the plot, the writing was beautiful and it was a perfect length page-wise. I am very very happy I read this!
June 1, 2017
3.5/5
Such a whitty, smoothly written, and exciting romance :)
Two pyrotech's come together for an hilarious and very sweet romance. Fireworks both in the air and between co-workers!
Such a whitty, smoothly written, and exciting romance :)
Two pyrotech's come together for an hilarious and very sweet romance. Fireworks both in the air and between co-workers!
November 2, 2017
Really enjoyed this feel good story , lovely easy to read.
December 24, 2020
I am definitely keeping this book, to read again, fabulous story, romance and humour a plenty.
July 30, 2021
another fabulous book from Christina Jones.
January 10, 2023
I have read this book more than once and love it every time.
August 26, 2024
boringly written, couldnt complete
February 4, 2025
Struggled to get through this. Just wasn't for me
October 21, 2021
This was another amazing book
April 30, 2024
Great fun!
I read this for Bonfire Night/November Reads – with a lead character called Guy who owns a pyrotechnic company called The Gunpowder Plot, it was perfect. The story starts on May Day and leads up to Christmas with Bonfire Night somewhere in between. Ultimately a romance novel, but with lots of other action in between about finding the job of your dreams, being who you are, honouring someone’s final wishes, solving a mystery and being part of a community. So that’s definitely a plus for me.
Working in a physics department at a university, I was definitely interested in reading about the perfect firework formula for the best firework ever invented. This is an opportunity to bring in the magical realism elements too, which adds another layer to the story without being too fantastical. These things can happen! It’s great too to see this as part of an ongoing story of the villages of Fiddlesticks, Hazy Hassocks, and all the resident characters who become your mates in the end.
A great addition to the book series and a fun read.
I read this for Bonfire Night/November Reads – with a lead character called Guy who owns a pyrotechnic company called The Gunpowder Plot, it was perfect. The story starts on May Day and leads up to Christmas with Bonfire Night somewhere in between. Ultimately a romance novel, but with lots of other action in between about finding the job of your dreams, being who you are, honouring someone’s final wishes, solving a mystery and being part of a community. So that’s definitely a plus for me.
Working in a physics department at a university, I was definitely interested in reading about the perfect firework formula for the best firework ever invented. This is an opportunity to bring in the magical realism elements too, which adds another layer to the story without being too fantastical. These things can happen! It’s great too to see this as part of an ongoing story of the villages of Fiddlesticks, Hazy Hassocks, and all the resident characters who become your mates in the end.
A great addition to the book series and a fun read.
July 21, 2013
This is the first book I read by Christina Jones and it was the one that got me hooked.
I just love the way that we get a little magic wrapped in a love story of gunpowder and plot. I´ve slowly collected quite of few of Christina´s books and have 3 now sat on my shelf waiting for me to read them which I will with great pleasure.
Would I recommend this book....you bet I would...Can I wait to read more by Christina Jones no I can´t and so it´s lucky I have a birthday due soon, guess whose going to be busy buying books. LOL.
I dare you to read it and not find yourself wanting more of this lovely author.
I just love the way that we get a little magic wrapped in a love story of gunpowder and plot. I´ve slowly collected quite of few of Christina´s books and have 3 now sat on my shelf waiting for me to read them which I will with great pleasure.
Would I recommend this book....you bet I would...Can I wait to read more by Christina Jones no I can´t and so it´s lucky I have a birthday due soon, guess whose going to be busy buying books. LOL.
I dare you to read it and not find yourself wanting more of this lovely author.
August 21, 2014
Unless you've read - and liked - many of Christina Jone's past books, most of this will be boring for you. She uses this book as an excuse to check back in on some of her favorite characters from several of them...unfortunately for me, not any of them my favorites. After everyone's been checked in on, it then ends abruptly. And on top of it, the hero is a 30-something goth with long messy hair and lots of black layered clothing. Which is not exactly a fashion statement I ever want to see an adult man making.
November 3, 2013
Magic, mayhem, and fireworks abound in this novel that finds Clemmie loving a man she has only seen once. She can't keep a job; her job record has as many as positions as her age (thirty). Love has eluded her as her friends and new acquaintances all are getting married. Landing a dream job brings her close to her dream man, but there are plenty of complications. A bit of magic mixed with fireworks brings about wishes and desired results. Will it work for Clemmie? Will she get the man of her dreams(AKA Guy Devlin)? A cute romance with memorable characters.
November 3, 2014
I got this book from a friend of mine and will be rather glad to give it back. I've always been a reader of what is often referred to as chick-lit style books, and can easily say this isn't one of the best. I managed to read this book on two train journeys, but even then it didn't hold my attention like I hoped it would. I've always liked the idea of just 'falling' into your dream job and as a result meeting the right guy, but for me, it's a little too far fetched and cheesy. I think I'll be returning to my real life/history books after this for a bit.
October 2, 2012
Initially I had a tough time getting into this - I was overwhelmed by all the fiddly albeit somewhat amusing names of towns and people which I tried somehow to retain as I figured they might have later significance...? Many weren't essential in the long run. I did warm to this sweet little story, with rather unusual characters - haven't read many stories about fireworks experts, I have to say. I took this from the bookbox and will see whether I replace it or send it on with the box.
August 2, 2011
this is the kitsch and schmaltz book I am reading at the moment, I sometimes have to....
ok, yeah well, even for a romantic novel this one is very predictable. However nontheless, the idea is quite original if somewhat 'magical'. It's a nice read when you are looking for something where you don't have to think, and to get your mind of things. Which is exactly what I was looking for ;-)
ok, yeah well, even for a romantic novel this one is very predictable. However nontheless, the idea is quite original if somewhat 'magical'. It's a nice read when you are looking for something where you don't have to think, and to get your mind of things. Which is exactly what I was looking for ;-)
August 20, 2014
A bit disappointing. I've quite enjoyed the other books in this series but this one had some problems. It oddly had very little interaction between the main protagonists (odd in a romance), there were far too many references to characters from previous books - a cute idea but if you don't know the characters it's hard to care about them and an incredibly abrupt ending.
November 14, 2016
It was really lovely sweet sweet and sweet :)
Ending:
Feels:
Awestruck seeing beautiful fireworks on beautiful dark night, feeling all giddy inside with silly grin. Thats how I felt after finished it.
Ending:
Feels:
Awestruck seeing beautiful fireworks on beautiful dark night, feeling all giddy inside with silly grin. Thats how I felt after finished it.
June 4, 2008
I was really looking forward to reading this after loving Love Potions and the previous books in the series.
This is ok, but nowhere near as good as her previous books. Very little romance in it and not enough interaction with Guy, the delicious male love interest.
This is ok, but nowhere near as good as her previous books. Very little romance in it and not enough interaction with Guy, the delicious male love interest.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 43 reviews