Why is it that I remember the prior books in this series to have a religious angle to them? I kept waiting for that slant to appear and if it had, I completely missed it.

Gayle Fortman has been raising her sons alone for the last twelve or so years since her charming husband Eric chose his career as a broadcast journalist over being a father and husband. Now returned home after a near death experience in Afghanistan, Eric is trying to rebuild his life and a relationship with his boys.

When Gayle d More...

I have just finished this and very much enjoyed it. Gives so much character detail and really delves into relationships. The relationship of Eric and Gayle - divorced. The relationhip of each of them with their three sons. This book would probably fit into the genre of women's fiction, Gayle eventually grows in herself as a woman by the time the book ends. Yet this is about Eric too. And then there is Travis. These books have hooked me in, I like women's fiction so long as its not too heavy!! I More...

I picked this up from the recently returned table with no real expectations for the author or storyline. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's characters. I somehow felt very connected to the main character, a single mother with three sons, as she runs her own bed and breakfast, raises her boys, stays involved in her community and church, and is organized to the hilt! It was a good combination of romance/love mixed with the complicated problems that come from divorce and parents that realize ( More...

I had a hard time rating this book. It was predictable, but what kept me reading was the historical sub-plot. I had always believed what the history books said, that John Wilkes Booth was killed shortly after he assassinated President Lincoln. Yet in this book, the story is given that John Wilkes Booth recovered on a farm in the Shenandoah Valley. An archeological camp for teenagers is being held on the inn's property, where Booth supposedly recovered.

I loved the fact I could pick up this book, More...

Gayle and her three sons worked hard together to keep the "Inn" going after the divorce years ago. Travis, the widower neighbor, was a great friend to all and a male role model for the boys until the "X" came back into the picture after twelve years! Gayle did want him to be part of their sons life but not hers. This was a great read that had past, present and future all in the story. It had forgiveness, patience, and love also. This book goes to show you that things do work out in the end!

Great story about the value of realizing we cannot always be married to someone we love, it's okay to be angry about a divorce,but it's important still to be a parent to the children who love us unconditionally

The Shanandoah Album stories are not always my favorite reading, but I do enjoy the insights Richards provide in a small community life

Good book of family struggles when divorced father returns home to inn for the summer. Background story of the John Wilke Booth and whether he died as history thinks. Quilting was part the the inn decoration and a summer demonstration at the inn. Would like to read more from this author.

I've read several Emilie Richards books. I enjoy them. This wasn't one of my favorites of her books, but it was enjoyable (and predictible) nonetheless. The books of hers that I would highly recommend are Iron Lace and Rising Tides (in that order).

This is a book in the Shenendoah Album series. Gayle Fortman who runs a Bed and Breakfast Inn has asked her husband Eric to live with her and her three sons for a summer while he recovers from a terrorist attach. Very good. Can't wait for next book.

Another of my favorites in the series and totally unlike the stories that precede it since the principal character does not quilt but lives among those who do. Avoids easy resolutions of marital and human conflicts.

I expected to like this more, but after reading several of her other books, i found this fell short in comparison. After 150 pages I just gave it up and read the ending. I just couldn't connect with the characters as I have in her other books.

I enjoyed this novel about a family living in the Shenandoah valley. There are some historical bits and a quilt but mostly about relationships between family members.

This is the 4th book in the Shenandoah Album series. I enjoyed the story, although not as much as the third book. This one focuses on Gayle, owner of the Daughter of the Stars Inn that we met briefly in the earlier books. Her ex-husband is staying with her and her 3 boys while recovering from a traumatic experience in the Middle East. The complex relationships between them are interplayed with a story about an old cabin on the property that is being excavated for an archeology camp. That family More...

Usually it takes me two days to read a book this size, but I thought I would never finish. It's an ok story, but just couldn't get into it so I was easily distracted and slow to pick it back up when I had the chance.

Gayle has her ex-husband stay in her B&B for the summer, to get over Afghanistan and be with his sons.

I enjoy this author. And I love the fact that this takes place in VA. Great book. I highly recommend it.

Part of the Shenandoah series. Good reads.

love this series! great stories!!

Found this one at the beach house when I was book-less, and as stupid as it is, I have gotten sucked in and am determined to find out what happens.

☆

Gayle Fortman showed such calmness during so many changes in her life-really liked her character!

Finished reading this book on July 7, 2008.

I enjoyed this book. It was a very touching book.

Gayle the Inn owner and her boys
Jon Wilkes Boothe mystery

I really enjoyed "Touching Stars" by Emilie Richards.Her Shenandoah Album Series to me are very warm and tug at my roots though this one was different as it was basically from a man's point of view of sons and fathers. I also enjoyed the historical side of this book fictional as it may be a real thought provoker. A really good story, though I would have ended it differently, but that's why I'm a reader and not a writer.

This is the second book by Mrs. Richards that I have read and I will definitely read more.

Her books center around quilting and the Shenandoah Valley in VA. While I'm not "into" quilting, I have been to the SV and it is absolutely beautiful. Though I don't quilt, I know many other women who do.

Another aspect of her books that I enjoy are that there is no cursing, sex or violence in them which are important to me.

This novel was my least favorite in the series so far. I had to read something light after Gone Girl! It was just ok, not sure I loved the ending. I also got tired of reading it about half way through. I didn't read any of the 1865 flashbacks and just kind of skim read to find out how it ended. One thing I do like about these books are is the setting. I really wish want to visit Shenandoah Valley someday!

I really liked this book, had a few surprising twists to the story.

People can love each other, but still have to make difficult choices about staying together. This is the case because the main characters have lives they want to persue. The wife wants to raise her family in one town, but the husband is a journalist who wants to follow is dreams. Their three sons resent that he wasn't there for them. Can he come home to them after being away for sixteen years?