Wishing Upon a Star:
A new author for me and what a treat this story is.
A lot of romance, intriguing characters, a feisty dog and a tiny mystery.
Arthur a widower who has no desire to wed again meets Julianna under an unusual situation. Interest sparks as each carry on in polite conversation and after an invitation to a get together, we watch the romance story take off until they reach a very happy ending. Rest assured it wasn't an easy journey for either of them. Lots of emotional struggles almost sabotage's a love match.
An enjoyable, passionate, and charming story for a mature reader:
I look forward to reading more of Ms. Sookoo's books.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

FANTASTIC!!! Romancing Miss Quill by Sandra Sookoo is the first in her new series Willful Winterbournes and what a way to start a new series. I have read a lot of Sandra’s books and I find her writing to be better and better with each book that I read. She is a raising star ( no pun intended )!!! So much talent for storytelling and very easy to read. I found this story to be original and had the real feel for the regency era. What I really loved about this book was that the romance between Arthur and Julianna sizzled and they were an older couple. At time I found this sad as the Arthur could not get over the loss of his first wife and It just broke my heart. I also loved the stories of the constellations, and what research must have gone into this book to write it. This second chance at love is truly a worthy read. This story has a commoner that is an astrologer, an Earl that is stuck the past, death, mourning, a scheme, a loving family, a mother who wants them to send the summer at her country estate, a father with an illness, wisdom, pushing the Earl to date again, meeting on top of a hill at night, being invited to a ball, being nervous, feeling like they won’t fit in, being honest, speaking one’s mind and fallen in love. I am highly recommending you read this book… it really was FANTASTIC!!!

A delightful start to a new series that will pull you right in!

He was not interested in trying to find love again. There could never be anyone that could replace his deceased wife and he was now forty four. Attending his mother's midsummer party with his siblings, all he wanted to do was be on his own.

She was not interested in marriage... She was way on the shelf at thirty seven and with the responsibility of taking care of her father, she only wanted to chart the stars. What could be more interesting?

When these two are pulled together by fate it seems and some mysterious notes, the stars seem to be aligned for them and their attraction. Will they chance it?

Arthur Charles Winterbourne, Earl of Ettesmere, has been a widower for five years. He doesn’t believe he can find love again. In fact, he has not tried. He can’t move past losing his wife. His family feels differently. While attending his mother’s midsummer party, Arthur meets Miss Julianna Quill. She studies the stars and takes care of her elderly ailing father. They have an enjoyable and interesting time together. Both of them think they are too old (he, forty-four and she, thirty-seven) to find love now. It seems fate and the stars, helped by some mysterious notes, may help them find what they are missing. Will they take a chance? They may discover that love knows no age. This is a heartwarming story with charming characters. A great beginning to a new series.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Spinster Julianna(37) is an astronomer that has been trying to become of a member of that society for some time now and consistently rejected because she's a woman. Arthur(44) is a widower being "forced" by his mother to spend the summer with her.
Everyone is trying to convince Arthur that it's time to move on and meet someone new but he just feels like he's betraying his wife but when our MC's meet by accident one afternoon when her dog escapes what ensues is a lot of pining, lust, friendship, guilt, anxiety, etc. Arthur is attracted to Julianna and enjoys her company but feels tremendous guilt about betraying his wife's memory. Julianna is lonely and anxious as her father has Alzheimer's and she's not sure what will happen after he's gone, she's never been courted by anyone as she was always much more into her studies so she isn't exactly sure what is happening between her and Arthur.
I liked how straight forward Julianna was about everything, from questions to advice and how all the members of Arthur's family interacted with her. Arthur was a sweet yet sad man and watching him slowly light up as he spends more time with Julianna was lovely.

Arthur Charles Winterbourne, Earl of Ettesmere, at the age of forty-four is done indulging in fanciful matters such as love and romance. When his wife died five years ago he was broken hearted. His mother summons the family to their country estate in the Berkshire countryside for revelry and entertainment. Romance doesn’t hold a candle to science… Miss Juliana Quill has no time for courtship or attracting a man, which is why she’s on the shelf at seven and thirty. A self-taught astronomer after her brother died, she looks after her aging, ailing father. When a handful of mysterious notes throw Arthur and Juliana together at every turn, a slow attraction blooms from friendship. Despite their stubborn refusals, desire flares and grows into a romance neither of them ever expected.
The first in a new series & an engrossing start it was, I really like the Winterbournes & this story was different, an older couple he’s a widower & she’s a spinster neither want to marry but then they met & both their worlds are turned upside down. Arthur struggles with letting go of the past as he loved Ellen, his wife but the more he gets to know Juliana the more he wants her but if he can’t move forward then he'll lose her. I loved the straight talking Juliana who fell for Arthur, I really liked Arthur but did get a tad frustrated with him as at one point he wanted the cake, the icing & the cherry on the top all for free. Did he come to his senses? Well dive into this lovely romance to find out
My honest review is for a special copy I voluntarily read

Arthur, Earl of Ettesmere shut himself away from life after the death of his wife. At over forty years old, with two grown children he doesn't need anything more. His family are tired of seeing him so shut off from life. A summer on his country estate to cheer up his mother with the whole family is what is prescribed.
At thirty seven years old Miss Julianna Quill has accepted her life as a spinster. Romance passed her by while she was studying the stars. Her ailing father and pudgy beagle keep her busy.
This is a nice change for a historical romance, having an older couple instead of a debutant. Its easy to put yourself in their shoes. A sensible down to earth heroine, with her head in the stars and a sentimental and conflicted hero. With a supportive and loving family to help things along.
Good fun.

At four and forty, Arthur, the Earl of Ettesmere has been a widower for five years. Afraid to let go of the past and open his heart to love again, he is blind sided by his attraction to Miss Olivia Quill. Olivia is a bricklayer's daughter. She has devoted her life to the stars, something she learned from her brother Ned. Discovering a comet, she is determined to present her find to the Astronomical Society of London. At seven and thirty she's never been kissed. Firmly on the shelf, her world is shifted when she meets and is seduced by Arthur. Of course she is a willing partner and does some seduction of her own. Arthur can't let go of the wife in his past. If he doesn't, he will lose the one woman who brings him back to life. A favorite trope with an mature couple.
Heat level 4
4 1/2*STARS* ⭐
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.