To be honest, this book seriously annoyed me at times. Yes, there is romance. Yes, there are some memorable characters. Unfortunately, for me, they were memorable because I didn't like them, and that was what made me struggle to finish this one. It took me an inordinate amount of time to read this book, and even longer to think of what to say in a review about it.

Whilst, as always, this author is an amazing writer that has a way with words, I just didn't feel the same about this book as I do many of her previous titles. For me, there was something lacking in this novel. I still can't quite figure out why, but I never felt close to the story and when I finished it, I was more than ready to move on to something else.

These, of course, are just my opinions. I encourage you to read the book and decide what you think.

This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher, provided through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

It's been awhile since I read an Anne Stuart book but its usually a romantic suspense plot. But When The Stars Fall Down is definitely something quite different. Its purely contemporary romance with a female protagonist that is extremely broken on the inside despite her icy facade hiding it very well. In terms of character development and emotional depth this is definitely Anne Stuart. The author never pulls any punches and this is no exception. What Jessica's character has gone through and continuously is going through hits a lot of truths. Springer's character on the other hand is also typical Ms. Stuart, she does asshole heroes really well and this guy is no exception. These heroes also get their comeuppance eventually. This book has a lot of triggers for women and the way Springer and Jessica get together will probably not agree well with some readers. Nevertheless When The Stars Fall Down is a compelling read, uncomfortable, emotional, often times almost hopeless but it does really great in eventually lifting up the human spirit.

Originally written in nineteen-eighty-five, this is the story of one woman’s battle to overcome the trauma of a sexual attack in her teens from a trusted family friend.

Jessica Hansen, has built a reputation of being an ice princess. When her fiancé and his father barter her personal ‘assets’ in an important merger, Jessica attempts to go through with her part, but has an emotional breakdown.

Springer MacDonald, her best friend’s son, steps in to save the damsel in distress, though he’s cynical of her motives. He can’t deny his fierce attraction though and soon the two have an explosive encounter.

Afterward, Jessica leaves her career and fiancé, packs her car and heads to Vermont and the birth of her son without telling Springer she was pregnant. When he finds out he’s angry, hurt, and feels betrayed.

Will these two overcome the past and find true love in their future?

I give When the Stars Fall Down 4 lovely kisses- an enjoyable read.

Anne Stuart creates a sizzling romance with heroine Jessica Hansen. She is climbing the corporate ladder but her morals are being compromised on her way to the top. When she meets Springer, she can't deny the chemistry between them and it makes her question how important her career is. Jessica is given a new challenge to ghostwrite the Matt Decker series so she goes to Vermont to start her new career. Springer soon follows and they fall in love. I would have liked Springer to have been reconciled with his Dad. Otherwise a wonderful, romantic, escapist read. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to review this book.

This was a slow start I almost gave up. The story got better and I was hoping it would have gone on a bit longer. I wanted to smack Jessica in the beginning but she came around. There were a few surprises and I think there could be more stories off this book.

Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) provided by the Author and Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an fair and honest review.

It's really hard to believe that this book was a Rita Award winning title. There were several times I would have chucked this book against the wall, if it had been an actual book and not a Kindle download, but you all know what I mean. I like Anne Stuart for her anti-hero Heroes, her wonderful descriptive writing and her unique plots. Sorry to say that the only element present in this book is the anti-hero Hero. But, you do get an anti-heroine heroine and some of the best sex scenes ever written. To bad I couldn't care less about these two as people.

Our heroine, Jessica Hansen, has had a very successful career and she has built it with the reputation of being an Ice Princess. A rep that is well earned. In trying to close a particularly important merger, Jessica needs to use everything in her personal arsenal, with the tactic approval of her fiancé and his father. Then she meets Springer MacDonald, her best friend's son, and takes a good look at what her life has become and doesn't like what she sees. Add to that the ghosts from Jessica's past that rear their ugly heads and it takes everything Jessica has to play off her minor breakdown as no big deal.

After that encounter with Springer, Jessica is no longer satisfied with the way her life is. She takes her bonus money, packs her car and heads to Vermont. There she finds peace and friendship and the birth of her son is beyond anything that Jessica could imagine. One small sticking point, she never bothered to tell Springer she was pregnant. When he finds out . . . well, let's just say it isn't pretty.

Is it possible for two people to put their demon pasts aside and come to love each other? Of course it is or 99% of romance books would never be written.

WHEN THE STARS FELL DOWN is a very nice Anne Stuart story, but I mistakenly thought this was a new book. It is not; it is the re-release (reworked and reedited perhaps?) of a rather old AS book from 1985 called ‘Banish Misfortune’. The book does have a rather meaty storyline for a category romance.

When we first meet heroine of the piece, Jessica, her almost-fiance is trying to pimp her out to seal a business deal. Springer McDowell (terrible name for an H) comes east from his home in California to try to repair his relationship with his father. He sleeps with Jessica after he rescues her from the lecherous businessman, and an attraction forms between the two of them.

Jessica then disappears to a marvelous isolated house on a Vermont lake (Vermont is almost another character in the book) and meets a Scotsman and an intriguing neighbor. The story unfolds amazingly easily; but always in surprising and honest ways. I enjoyed it, and I can understand why it is so beloved by Anne Stuart fans. Stuart always writes it straight; no one is perfect in her books, even the leads, nor is anyone completely painted black.

WHEN THE STARS FELL DOWN is a very good story, if dated. I do wish I had known this was such an old Harlequin category romance before I began reading it. I would have read it anyway, as I adore AS; but I would have been more prepared for the dated storyline.

Mo one who knows Jessica Hansen would guess that behind her successful life and calm demeanor, lies a frightened and conflicted woman. She makes a monumental error in judgment and flees to an old house in Vermont to try ro start over. Just when Jessica believes she can get past her mistakes, her biggest mistake shows up on the doorstep, threatening everything she’s built. Stuart is one of my favorite suspense authors, her characters are so multi-layered and complex