Review: Starry Night: A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber

A Christmas Novel by Debbie Macomber

Published October 8th 2013 by Ballantine Books

(first published January 1st 2013)

Hardcover, 256 pages

Series: Stand-Alone

Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance
Heat Rating: Kissing

Source: From the publisher through Netgalley in exchange of an honest review!
Amazon | The Book Depository |  Goodreads

Summary from Goodreads

’Tis the season for romance, second chances, and Christmas cheer with this new novel from Debbie Macomber.

Carrie Slayton, a big-city society-page columnist, longs to write more serious news stories. So her editor hands her a challenge: She can cover any topic she wants, but only if she first scores the paper an interview with Finn Dalton, the notoriously reclusive author.

Living in the remote Alaskan wilderness, Finn has written a mega-bestselling memoir about surviving in the wild. But he stubbornly declines to speak to anyone in the press, and no one even knows exactly where he lives.

Digging deep into Finn’s past, Carrie develops a theory on his whereabouts. It is the holidays, but her career is at stake, so she forsakes her family celebrations and flies out to snowy Alaska. When she finally finds Finn, she discovers a man both more charismatic and more stubborn than she even expected. And soon she is torn between pursuing the story of a lifetime and following her heart.

Filled with all the comforts and joys of Christmastime, Starry Night is a delightful novel of finding happiness in the most surprising places.

I am going to let you in on a little secret. This is my first book by Debbie Macomber. The woman who wrote 30 books already, and I the romance reader has managed to only just read one of her works. I have to admit, I am a little ashamed. Of course I think part of the reason is I get skittish around authors that have written that many books. My husband always said that the authors he had read, after a certain amount of works the quality begins to dwindle. Well, I don't know about that because Starry Night by Debbie Macomber was a fantastic holiday treat!

Carrie is social columnist and her dream was always to write pieces that actually meant something. When her boss presents her with an assignment that's doomed to come out as a failure - Carrie uses the opportunity to prove herself in hopes she would get noticed after this piece.

Finn Dalton is a recluse author that wrote a hit best seller that has been number one for months now. The probably is, no one actually knows who Finn Dalton is, what he looks like or where he lives. Hundreds of reports want to interview the man but the trailer always ends up cold.

When Carrie finally finds Finn, her job isn't the only thing at stake but so is her heart.

There is just something about Debbie's writing that's pure magic. The simplicity and beauty of this book just drew me right in. The dynamic relationship between the two characters had me falling in love with the both of them. Finn and his manly  man's personality and Carrie the girl who would not give up on him. Starry Night really was a lovely romance with holiday cheer that just warms your heart. I loved reading it, and enjoyed Macomber's writing style. She really does have her ways with words that weaves a wonderful story.

I loved Finn, I loved his personality and I loved the fact that he had a dog that was named Hennessy. I also enjoyed the setting in the first half of the book. I always dreamed of going to Alaska. Not so much looking forward toward the bitter cold, but all the stars and aurora borealis. Yes please, I want to see! I imagine the view is beyond describable even in the book. 

I thought the gestures behind their feeling that these two characters showed each other was very sweet. Especially the symbolic gifts that Finn had given Carrie, especially the last one that had me giggling. I loved how Carrie went about the interview and writing the piece, to be honest she had me guessing about her actions the entire time.

I have to admit it was hard to part ways with Carrie and Finn, but at least the ending was everything I could ask for.

If you are looking for a clean light romantic read that leaves you warm and fuzzy on the inside, this book might be for you.