Juliet Graham fervently counts the days until her twenty-first birthday, when she can claim the inheritance that will grant her the freedom she has always craved and the guardianship of her younger brother. Until then, she is trapped under her aunt Agnes’s domineering will. When forced to accompany the family to a house party at Shaldorn Castle, Juliet’s only objective is to keep to herself. That … That is, until a chance encounter with a boorish stranger stirs up an unexpected whirlwind of emotions in her. Thrown off-balance, Juliet does the unthinkable: loses her temper and insults the man—who turns out to be her unwilling host, the Duke of Halstead. Fully expecting to be sent away, Juliet is surprised when the brusque and callous duke instead takes an interest in her.
Drawn to the duke in unguarded moments, Juliet finds herself more and more intrigued by the man who shuns Society’s rules as completely as she does, and over the next few weeks, their unlikely friendship deepens into a connection neither expected.
But even as Juliet comes to recognize her true feelings, her scheming aunt issues an ultimatum that threatens the future she was just beginning to hope for. Juliet must choose: either break the promise she made to herself years ago, or lose the man who has captured her heart and soul.
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This is a beautiful character driven book.
If you want breathtaking romance, deep, conflicted characters, and stunning prose, then you will fall in love with Where the Stars Meet the Sea . Heidi Kimball has crafted a beautiful story with so much emotion and tension that you’ll be turning the pages as fast as you can. A Regency not to be missed!
I loved this story. It was so good. From the first pages I was sucked in and didn’t want to leave. Good thing I didn’t have too:} I got to read this beautiful story from start to finish without stopping (except for miner life things). Dark sad hero’s and bright optimistic woman are some of my favorites. Kimball did an amazing job of bringing these two together with a mix of bite, sass and attraction. I loved their first meeting! The tension of the romance and the overall feel of the book was so good. I’m so glad I own this. It will be one I reread:}
First of all, isn’t that a striking cover?! I think it’s my favorite of the year. This is a wonderful Regency romance, with a house party setting, a mysteriously brooding duke, and a spirited young woman who makes friends easily but is long-suffering under her domineering aunt. Juliet has some complicated dynamics in play- the unrequited love of her brotherly best friend/cousin, an inequality in her social status, a younger brother unhappy at boarding school, and an unexpected attraction to the brusque Halstead. I enjoyed how the author wove the story around the various comings and goings at the castle, and the tension that built as Juliet grows closer to Halstead but was pressured to accept her cousin’s proposal. It’s alluded that there is some secret reason for Halstead to be avoiding society and refusing to marry, so I was a bit let down when the resolution turned out to be rather simple and cliche. I felt like there could have been deeper exploration into his character, but the plot moved on with more misadventure in store for Juliet and her brother. Overall this was an entertaining story perfect for fans of sweet Regency romance!
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
This book has so much heart, there are so many powerful emotions you feel every one right to your core. Juliet is what every heroine should be and Halstead is her well written foil. Their romance brings out the best in each character. The author balances the tension and the humor very well. I think my favorite part is their counterparts, both Robert and Lady Margaret, aren’t “villains”. Neither character is malicious or catty, all the characters are flawed and all have some redeeming characteristics giving the novel a genuine feeling that I loved. I must admit I was pulled out of the story every so often because I never felt it was clear what Juliet’s mother’s standing in society had been before she married her husband. I might have missed it, but it was alluded to so often I wished for more than “a gentleman’s daughter”. Obviously the minor curiosity didn’t deter the five star rating, it was that good.
“And you know so much of my heart, do you?”
“I want to, Juliet, more than I can ever remember wanting anything.”
This is my favorite quote from the book, and I feel like it perfectly demonstrates why I loved this book so much. It is gloriously romantic and entirely sincere. From the very first scene, I loved the dynamic of Juliet and the Duke of Halstead. They each bring out the side of the other that is generally kept hidden. They know each other’s honest self. It is a romance in the truest sense, and a marvelous reminder that Heidi Kimball is one of the finest regency era writers I have ever read.
This book was absolutely wonderful! Once I started reading it I couldn’t stop. It is beautifully written and hooks you on the first page. This is a ‘Must Read’ book! I received an ARC copy of this book and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.
Where are the stars meet the sea by Heidi Kimball
I have to say I was not expecting this kind of story. I’m not sure why, maybe the title or maybe the picture on the cover. I was very sweetly surprised. I love the title, it all ties together nicely. I absolutely loved this regency romance! Juliet had been forced to grow up fast, after the passing of her father and her mother not being able to take care of her and her brother Harry. Her aunt took them in and ruled with and iron fist. Halstead was a gruff old bear, do to a riding accident, would Juliet be able to tame him? I love the characters and their bantering back-and-forth. The story kept my interest and was a joy to read! could there be other stories come from this? One can only hope!
I finished this beautiful book, Where the Stars Meet the Sea, on a plane on my way back from my Florida vacation. I saved this book for my trip even though I wanted to read it right away. It was worth the wait. It has quickly become a favorite. Heidi Kimball’s well-written characters have you smiling, laughing, and sometimes you find your mouth open in shock. It’s really that good. I love the strength and goodness of the main characters that you see as the story develops. The way they grow, change, and gain courage is inspiring. The story is lovely, sweet, and clean and I could not even imagine a happier or more complete ending. I absolutely loved it and highly recommend it!
I received a complimentary copy of the book. All opinions are my own and are expressed voluntarily.
Where the Stars Meet the Seas by Heidi Kimball is one of my favorite reads of the past year. You know those books that you can’t put down, the ones you stay up reading until 2 am, the ones that are so good you read while trying to take care of your kids! This book is one of those for me. Heidi’s descriptions really transport you into Juliet’s world. Juliet is a heroine who is both strong and fragile. I loved how her relationship with Halstead developed. Their chemistry is so good–The scene in the observatory! I must confess that I have reread this book at least two times.
Someone online recommended this book and I decided to take a chance. I had never heard of the author before, but the cover and title were beautiful. I am so happy that I took a chance. This story is somewhere between Beauty and the Beast and in the style of one of my favorite author’s Julie Donaldson. Tragedy and angst abound, with an evil aunt as well. The story is not over until the final pages and will have you wondering “How can this possibly end?” I loved the story of Juliet Graham. If you loved Julie Donaldson’s Edenbrooke and Blackmoore, you would love this.
I loved this story! I just discovered Heidi Kimball and this is the third book I’ve read of hers in the last week! This story of Juliet Graham getting to know the difficult-to-know Duke of Halstead is enchanting. I could not stop turning pages to see if they could manage to get past numerous challenges. Very romantic. I find the stories by author Heidi Kimball to be so engaging. I highly recommend Where the Stars Meet the Sea!
Quotes:
“Sometimes a lie is easier to accept than the truth.”
“Your Grace, I would not have . . . I-I mistakenly believed I would not be overheard.” I covered my cheeks with my hands, trying to douse the flames. His expression lit with mirth.”
“Rolling the sheet music up, I had half a mind to walk across the room and thump him over the head with it.” “Never had a man so fascinated me.” “I like you best when your tongue is unguarded. You should speak your mind more often.”
This is one of those books that you can’t put down once you start reading! I was hooked from the start. The characters are believable and I became invested in Juliet’s story. Extremely well written with period details galore. A perfect historical romance. Highly recommend.
Praise from the Clean Romance Team:
This is a guaranteed 5-star sleep stealer!
Absolutely stunning!
I ended up reading and finishing this book within a twenty-four hour period. I LOVED it! The first interactions between Juilet and Halstead was suspensful and hilarious, especially since they are both stubborn and loose-tongued. Finding a good clean romance is somewhat difficult these days so I was thrilled to find this lovely story!
An enjoyable story. Juliet is a young woman who is not afraid to speak her mind and Halstead is a man who has been surrounded by women who do not. Severely injured, Halstead has chosen to withdraw from society and his duties as a Duke. Juliet is waiting for her twenty-first birthday in order to gain her inheritance and be able to care for her brother. They come from different worlds and Juliet believes she has no place in the Duke’s world. The story unfolds with many incidents and twists of fate and is a pleasurable read. Thanks Heidi. It is a beautiful cover.
This book was amazing. I liked the characters and I liked the storyline. I did think the ending seemed a tiny bit rushed. I actually got to listen to the book and I think I probably would have preferred reading it over listening to it. The narrator did a good job, but I didn’t love her voice. I may end up reading it And see if my opinions of the book change.
This book is basically Pride and Prejudice meets the Beauty and the Beast. As those are my two favourite storylines this book was a winner for me! I loved the witty exchanges between Halstead and Juliet, especially their ongoing joke of the advantages and disadavantages to being a duke. First person narratives are not my favourite, I prefer to know what’s going on in the minds of both main characters, especially in stories where there is so much change and personal growth happening in both characters. However, Kimball does such a good job of portraying all Juliet’s varying emotions as she makes difficult decisions and comes to accept the loss of both her parents. This was such a lovely tale of loss, love and healing. Anyone, who like me, is a fan of Pride and Prejudice will love this book!
This book had serious Mansfield Park vibes for me!
Juliet Graham’s mother eloped with a sailor (#scandalous). Now she lives with her aristocratic aunt and her cousin (and friend) wants to marry her. Plot twist: Juliet is the wealthy one and her aunt plans to keep her money in the family! By whatever means necessary. But Juliet, however, is drawn to the Duke of Halstead. Even with his limp and often harsh words, because he listens to her.
The chemistry between the two leads sizzles off the page. And the ending is everything I hoped for.
What a Fantastic Book!
I really enjoyed this book… well there were a couple of parts that made me cry, and I got a headache, but I loved the story, so it all works out.
I thoroughly enjoy Kimball’s writing, characters, and ability to create a memorable story.
**Edited to include audible review**
I didn’t really like the audio narrator, however. There were several things about the performance that I felt detracted from the story and made the experience less enjoyable. I really disliked the giggling and chuckling thrown in all over the place, I think the choice of voice for the main character was excessively whiny, which made her less likable in the audio version than she is in print, and finally I’d have MUCH preferred the song lyrics be recited rather than sung, as again, for me, it took away from the story.