So grabbing the next books in the Fly Me to the Moon series happened. The next two novellas come together as they’re about how two of the current astronauts in 1962 met and found their wives. I LOVE romance novellas. All the hero/heroine none of the superfluous fluff.
A Midnight Clear
Frances Dumfries is the daughter and now hostess for her admiral father who runs the Naval Academy in Annapolis in 1948. Joe Reynolds is an ambitious midshipman. Frances and Joe meet at a reception and one falls head over heels. A lot of convincing is required from then on.
Not only do I love romance novellas I also adore a truly smitten hero. It’s charming as all get out when the hero just absolutely adores his gal. Joe is spectacular in that fashion, while also giving Frances space to make her own decisions about what she wants out of life. This was a really sweet and mostly believable one. There’s very little extra to it, and like Star Dust the Joe and Frances fit their time
A Midnight Kiss
This time we have Betty Parrish and Greg Henkins down in Huntsville, Alabama in 1950. Greg is home on leave from West Point and about to become an air force officer while Betty is hoping to get engaged on New Year’s Eve to one of the more eligible bachelors in town. Betty and Greg know each other (Greg’s sister is Betty’s best friend), but they’ve never really noticed each other before. After a non-proposal Betty and Greg spend an evening together, and start to get to know who each other really is.
I found this one less memorable than the first, but it was still sweet. It moved at a believable pace surprisingly. Actually they both did, which I quite appreciated. There might have been a quick proposal or two, but that’s understandable for soldiers. And even if there’s a quick proposal it doesn’t mean they’re getting married a week or two after. There’s time between events for folks to really bond.
If you’re looking for two romance novellas that have a lot of heart, and are set in a different era than most look no further. I really enjoyed these, especially the first, and am chugging along with the rest of the series.
I snapped this up based on your review and my desire to encourage the author.
This weekend, I read a book in which the main character was a bestselling romance author with four books out and that was enough for her to do it as a day job. I have my doubts.
That’s how I feel about fictional bakery owners who have time to go on dates and have a romance – doubtful.
I’ve read Frances and Joe’s story now and it was CHARMING! It’s always a good sign when you want to go back to another book and revisit all the scenes with the characters in it after you have read their book. It’s why I can’t hate Seduce Me at Sunrise, you get more Cam and Amelia.
I have high hopes for these authors.
I knew you’d like Frances and Joe! It’s my favorite of their stories so far. It will definitely be a reread for me. And it really gave such a more thoughtful view of what happened in Star Dust.