Wrapped in the Stars

In Wrapped in the Stars, with a touch of magical realism and a sprinkle of quantum physics, Elena Mikalsen blends the present with the Belle Epoque past, deftly weaving two points of view into two timeless romances into a can’t-be-put-down novel.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

What immediately stood out to me in WRAPPED IN THE STARS was that it's two romance novels in one. The novel follows two female characters, switching back-and-forth between their perspectives. Maya is a resident at a hospital in New York, but due to an unfortunate circumstance, she has taken a sabbatical from her residency and left the United States. In Scotland, Maya purchases an antique ring. After she has the ring, she begins to have dreams and visions about the ring's original owner - a female physician named Rebecca who lived in Switzerland in the early 1900s. In an attempt to learn more about the ring and Rebecca, Maya travels first to Paris and then to Switzerland. Along the way, she meets a man named David. As a romance blooms between Maya and David, they learn that they both have a surprising connection to Rebecca's ring. As Maya searches for answers about the ring, Rebecca's romance with a Jewish student from the Ukraine plays out in the years surrounding World War 1.

Both Maya's and Rebecca's love stories are heartwarming and captivating. And their personal lives and struggles will keep the reader turning the page. You will be cheering for both characters to find love. WRAPPED IN THE STARS is a wonderful romance novel, delivering not one but two romances! All of the characters are intriguing, and the landscapes/time periods are brought to life in the descriptions. And the mystery surrounding the ring adds an extra element to the story that I thought was fascinating.

This is one of the best books that I've read in 2017. It's a smart, intriguing mystery, and I could not put this book down until I finished it.

Reading this book reminded me of sitting before a fire wrapped in a robe, drinking a glass of wine and eating popcorn. It was easy and sweet. If you like romance, coincidences, travel, and robins--you will like this book.

Maya had been a resident in a hospital in New York when one of her patients died and she was blamed. She ran away and eventually found herself in Edinburgh, where a ring in an antique store called to her. The ring took her to Paris and Bern, where she explored the ring's history. That history involved medicine, women's rights, and even the Russian Revolution. It's a far-ranging story that moves back and forth between the present time and a hundred years in the past.

Sweet. Pleasant. An antidote to the stresses of present-day living.

Two women living 100 years apart, are the main characters of this dual-POV story. Both are smart and dedicated physicians. Both balance complex lives that include wonderfully interesting familial relationships, supportive friends, important humanitarian work, and romance.

The two stories weave together beautifully, assisted by a magical robin, an old moonstone ring, and synchronicities.

"Ever since I found Rebecca's ring, my life has been nothing but a string of messages from the universe or Fate or whatever!"

I particularly liked the main characters and their love interests. Supporting characters were well-developed and their experiences and perspectives enriched the story. The Swiss setting, insight into medical practices and social norms of the early 20th century, and insights into the groundwork for the Lenin-led Russian Revolution made for a fascinating read.

My Review of “Wrapped in the Stars” by Elena Mikalsen

“Wrapped in the Stars” by Elena Mikalsen is a unique, intriguing and captivating novel that I enjoyed. The Genres for this Novel are Fiction, Woman’s Fiction, Magical Realism and a touch of Historical History. Elena Mikalsen has woven a novel connecting two timelines, characters, events and stories. There is a past timeline and a present timeline with different characters, that seem to eventually complete the puzzle. There is also symbolism. There is a robin and a ring that are very significant in this story .

The characters are complex and complicated. In the present timeline, Maya Radelis has run away from problems with her medical residency, and guilt over her sister’s death . She leaves the United States and finds herself in Scotland. Following the path of a robin, she sees an unusual ring in a jewelry store, and she knows she has to have it. Maya finds herself involved in the history of the ring, and often gets flashbacks. She goes to Paris and meets David a fellow New Yorker. They find themselves in Switzerland to follow the history of the ring and the woman from the past, also a physician. What does all of this mean? Why is this happening? Is there something that is “magical” about this ring? What is the connection?

I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy fiction with a touch of magic realism. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.

When Maya had problems as a medical student in New York she runs away to Scotland. In Edinburgh she buys an old ring and becomes fascinated by the history of it. When she starts having dreams and visions about the ring she decides to find out it's history and about Rebecca a previous owner. Her journey first takes her to Paris where she meets David a fellow New Yorker and then on to Switzerland

I really enjoyed this book I always like dual timeline stories and this worked well with both stories

I enjoyed this book very much as I like dual timelines. Very intriguing characters and you feel a connection to them. An great debut novel for this author and will look for future ones.

WRAPPED IN THE STARS by Elena Mikalsen is a beautifully-written and heartfelt story of love, loss, and fate that kept me captivated from beginning to end. It is told from the points of view of two young female physicians in dual timelines one hundred years apart. Maya’s story is set in the present day and Rebecca’s in the early 1900s. The two timelines are woven together seamlessly with an element of history and a touch of magic. It was intriguing to see how the lives of these two strong women, although separated by a century, were connected by a grand love story and an antique ring that seems to hold memories and secrets of the past. The vivid descriptions of the scenery from Edinburgh to Paris to Bern made me feel I was right there with the characters. The story has just the right blend of mystery and romance to keep the reader turning the pages. I thoroughly enjoyed this heartwarming book and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this compelling debut novel by Elena Mikalsen.

I have always loved the idea that physical things have energy from past owners, and this book was just a delightful read. I loved the way the story unfolded - past and present time, characters, and the issues each character was facing in their time. A very good read!!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.

For readers who enjoy meaningful coincidences, dreams, and encounters. Told in two timelines that wrap into each other, the past story line, set in Bern, Switzerland, is intriguing and interesting in both it's main character, a female pursuing a medical degree instead of the expected marriage, and the historical climate of the Bolshevik Revolution. The present-day story is less interesting and at times the main female's internal dialogue becomes tedious-explaining or questioning when it is not needed for the story.

Overall, though, the story-lines come together in a satisfying way and make for an enjoyable read.

This is a book that I loved, with a touch of magical realism or fate and the way it is written in alternating chapters from history and linking connections to people of WW1 to the present day. Maya Radelis is a medical resident in NYC who runs to Scotland to leave behind sadness, guilt and fear which she can not shake. Her beloved Sister Ella had died and she thinks it is her fault, also a woman patient who died under her care. There is a friendly robin that Maya believes is leading her to find out what happened to Rebecca, a Swiss woman physcian who she learns once wore the ring she has just found in an antique store. She meets David Fischer a lawyer, who helps her track down clues to this womans past also found in an old book with a love poem that matches the inscription on her ring. This is a wonderful story of loss, love, olden day demands of women during that time and how they had to give up true love to please their families. It is heartbreaking and sad yet also full of lovely literary prose and rich details. It is one that lets you believe in the fate of our stars that guide us.

I was given a copy of this book by netgalley.
A very enjoyable story liked the wsy it took the reader ftom the past to the present and the connection betwern the two families,a real page turner never a dull moment,love tgel wsy thst the characters are brought out,definatly a must on any reading list.

Great book with strong characters that you truly feel drawn to know. Loved the beautiful setting! A perfect summer read.

I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is an interesting, enjoyable, and well written book with love and rebellion thrown in. Where does life take you and who will you meet along the way? Enjoy!

Found the book to be a magical tale of two women life from different time periods. Maya is running from her past having trouble forgiving herself for mistakes made in the past. She find herself in Edinburg Scotland drawn to a ring in a shop window. Wearing the ring allows her to glimps into the past of the last ring wears life. We fallow a long in her journey of forgiveness and discovery. Learning who Rebbeca is and why she important. Enjoyed this sweet story.

Told in dual timelines, this is the story of a woman who visits a small shop in Scotland and finds an old ring there. She begins having dreams about another woman who lived long ago. Further investigation leads her to another country in search of answers. Do both stories have happy endings?
Do antique items bear the memories of those who possessed them before? Hmmm...this is a pleasant read. Romance, mystery, magic...very enjoyable book to get wrapped up in. ;-)
I received an Advance Review Copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Wrapped in the Stars is romantic, historical and mysterious all at once and keep the reader guessing. Maya has issues with her pediatric residency and takes a leave of absence that takes her to Scotland. There she follows instinct, and a Robin, and buys an antique ring in a shop in Edinburgh. Her dreams are haunted with a woman connected to the ring, who it turns out was also a physician before women were allowed to practice, over 100 years ago.

Mikalsen does a great job of putting the reader in all of her beautifully described settings and making the dual viewpoint characters and era come alive. I found myself looking for magical robins!

Great read!

I got this book from NetGalley. I'm happy to offer this review.

Compelled to purchase an antique ring while visiting Scotland, Maya begins to dream about the ring's owner. Known as the science of parapsychology, "people who study it say that objects and people ... have ... this energy around them. When we meet people or touch objects, we can take or give some of this energy." Desperate to find out more about the rings owner, Maya embarks on a journey to Paris and then Switzerland. Will she find the information she's looking for?

"Ever since I found Rebecca's ring, my life has been nothing but a string of messages from from the universe or Fate or whatever!" - Maya

While I am usually skeptical about books with contrived story lines or too many coincidences (aka synchronicity, fate, or destiny), I suspended my disbelief for this book since it is based on the science behind this phenomenon. In lieu of trying to determine the validity of the story, I simply allowed myself to get lost in its magic.

And a sweet and enjoyable story it was! I would recommend this heartwarming debut for fans of magical realism and romantic stories with happy endings.

Thank you to the author for a copy won in a giveaway hosted by Eldonna Edwards. All opinions are my own.

Location: Scotland, Paris, and Switzerland

This was such a good book - This book caught my eye because it reminds me of my heritage from Scotland. A good book is always based around loves, heartache, and Fate! A story always takes some magical turns when mystery is involved! Such a page Turner!

"People who take time to notice synchronicity may find some interesting meaning to their lives."

This novel is based on the "threads" that can link people together, even throughout time.
Two women- one in the early 1900's and the other in present day are looking to follow their dreams and find happiness and peace. Maya and Rebecca both want to be physicians.
Rebecca is living in a time when that choice is not given to women and she must fight to attain her goals.
Maya, living in the present day, runs to Scotland for some needed time away after she is accused of making a deadly mistake during her residency program which may end her dream.
While she is wandering through an antique store, Maya finds a ring that can transport her at times to the past and Rebecca's life. What is the "connection"?
The story has romance, mystery, family, friendship, and some mysticism as it shifts easily from two timelines.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this fantastic book!

I loved the way the storylines of this novel were interwoven. Reading about Rebecca and Mark’s love story from the past partnered with David and Maya’s love story in the present is just how I like my books. Their plot lines were so beautifully connected, but with enough differences to make each of them special.

The symbolism with the robin in both stories was also a favorite aspect of the book for me.

The author’s description of Bern and surrounding areas made me long to travel to Switzerland.

Overall, 4 stars!

A sweet journey following Maya and century old ring...something for everyone-romance, historical fiction, and a little mystery & magic

I loved how Elena Mikalsen weaves two incredible stories (and their heroines) together in Wrapped in the Stars.

When Maya, a medical student questioning her future as a doctor, finds an antique ring while traveling she feels a connection to it. Wearing the ring helps her connect with its former owner, Rebecca, and Maya begins a desperate search to uncover Rebecca's secrets.

This story has a bit of everything: mystery, history, family troubles, and romance. Overall, it was a delightful read!