By the Stars

by Lindsay B. Ferguson

He was lost. Lost in those deep brown, beautiful eyes.

As clear as day, Cal heard a voice inside his head: “That’s the girl you’re going to marry.”

When Cal finally gets a chance with Kate, the girl he’s loved since grade school, their easy friendship quickly blossoms into a meaningful romance. But World War II soon cuts their time far too short and Cal prepares to part from her—possibly for good. With Kate's memory willing him on, Cal must put his trust in God to survive if he hopes to ever return to her. Inspired by a true story, By the Stars is a romance that stands the test of time and the most intense obstacles.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, World War II, Young Adult, Lds Fiction, Historical, Clean Romance

319 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2016

About the author

Lindsay has been immersing herself in stories since her childhood days of sneaking a flashlight into her room and staying up reading The Babysitters Club series way past her bedtime, writing spinoffs of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, and imagining herself in fascinating, far-off places. She still dreams of traveling the world one day, and finds getting lost in a good book almost as absorbing as penning her own stories and experiencing them unfold. A Communication graduate from the University of Utah, she worked as a PR and marketing writer for a computer software company for several years and has contributed feature lifestyle articles to various media outlets. When she felt the itch to attempt novel writing a fascination with history created a natural inclination toward historical fiction, with a romantic flare, of course. She lives in a suburb of Salt Lake City with her husband and four children. By the Stars is her first novel.

Reviews

[Avni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cal and Kate met in junior high school. Their lockers were next to each other. For him, it was love at first sight. For her, well, she wasn't looking for love right then. And while she was friendly enough, she wasn't overly interested in being best-best friends or having him as a boyfriend. But that was then. The book gives readers glimpses of their encounters, meetings. A scene here and there spread out over ten years.

“By the Stars” shows that love, faith, and perseverance can overcome any obstacle.
Cal and Kate write letters while he as away at war, as it pulls them apart and pushes them together, causing their love to develop and blossom into something glorious and wonderful.  I love how it goes through Cal’s life so readers can become attached and see how Cal grows and changes and how his friendship with Kate turns into a timeless love.  Hard work, faith, hope, and love are strong themes that penetrate this inspiring story.  I would recommend this novel to readers that enjoy WWII novels, as well as stories based off of real-life.

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love what the author says at the end--everyone has a story to tell. My life seems boring in comparison to how amazing this story is. Based on a true story, By the Stars, is full of emotion, miracles, love, and hope.

Cal is just a typical young teen when Kate, a new girl, captures his attention. Completely out of his league, he's surprised when years later, he feels that she's the only girl for him. Following these characters through LDS missions, busy social lives, World War II, and more is extremely heartwarming and entertaining.

The characters reminded me, in small ways, of my grandparents and their experiences. They almost jumped off the pages with their vivid personalities. The dialogue is easily reminiscent of times gone by and I loved being immersed in this time period. I was completely drawn in and felt a part of the story, although there were places when I almost wished for more--more information, more connections, more story--but this shows that it's a great story, because I really didn't want it to end. I found myself in tears, marveling at the miraculous events, as well as with smiles, enjoying the relationships. This is a story that will stay with me for quite awhile. I hope Ms. Ferguson continues to write!

Content: no language; mild romance (kissing); mild religious elements (LDS beliefs and matter-of-fact statements, but not preachy); moderate violence, due to the nature of war, especially to get the point across. Clean for an older reader.

* I received a copy in exchange for an honest review *

[Lisa (Bookworm Lisa) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very moving story. I was touched by the trials of Cal and Kate as they tried to figure out what they wanted with their lives.

The majority of the story is set during WWII. Cal was away from his home and family for three years serving a mission for his church. He came home and was immediately drafted. During his short period home he reconnected with the girl he had loved from afar as a young boy and teen. Their courtship was quick and intense, but war has a way of leaving the future uncertain.

The book helped me think about how I view history. Often I see events and names of people and forget that they had dreams and hopes. They lived, loved, and faced trials. This book brought the time period to life for me. I loved looking at events through the hearts and minds of Cal and Kate.

Cal's view of the war in the Philippines is not pretty. This book does contain violence. It helped me appreciate the sacrifice of the soldiers who survived and mourn for the fallen soldiers. This book touched my heart on many different levels.

[Emilee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspired by a real life story, this novel really touched my heart. The love story is so sweet. I fell in love with Cal and his humble and loyal personality. Kate is a darling character who loves life. The author really brought to life the war-time era. The war scenes were very hard to read but I am so glad I did. I have a greater appreciation for the men who fought for America's freedom than ever before. Cal is a true American hero!

I received a complimentary copy of this book; all opinions in this review are my own.

[Mindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the Stars is the beautifully told story of Cal and Kate. Cal loved Kate since the 8th grade, and always admired her from afar. When they did "meet" again, I loved the progression of their relationship. I loved how Cal saw Kate, really saw her. Not only for her beauty but for the type of person that she was. Cal is sent away many times. First with his mission before they courted, then a second time when he is called to war. I loved seeing Cal's character grow through these experiences. I enjoyed their courtship before Cal leaves for war, but what I loved most about it, was the regret Kate felt when he leaves, and what she does after that, it was very clever and sweet. And well, quite sneaky too. I love stories about World War II, that time period is very fascinating to me. The author does an incredible job of depicting war, the horrors of war, and the battles of war. Cal was amazing to me. Not only was he a loyal and caring person, but incredibly brave and a hero. What I loved most about the story was how it is based on real people. I loved the Afterword and the author's thoughts and feelings on why she wrote the book in the first place, truly amazing. I love hearing the "back story" on why a book is written.

One of my favorite quotes was right at the beginning.
"If there's one thing I've learned throughout my experiences, it's that in life there are no coincidences. In my life there have been no coincidences. God's hands are in everything. As I have given my life to Him, He has shaped it."

This statement stuck with me as I read this book, and has stayed with me since. While reading, it was clear that Cal stayed faithful and God blessed and protected him. What a wonderful lesson for us all.

5 out of 5 stars. These characters will always have a special place in my heart.

Received a complimentary copy from the publisher, all views and opinions expressed are my own.

[Sydney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay B. Ferguson’s novel By the Stars is a unique and delightful read based on the life of Cal. It is an inspiring WWII romance novel. The story follows Cal through his life as he grows up, learns hard work from the farm and from serving an LDS mission. It also shows a beautiful romance with a grade-school acquaintance, Kate. As Cal goes off to fight in the war he must rely on God to survive. Cal and Kate write letters while he as away at war, as it pulls them apart and pushes them together, causing their love to develop and blossom into something glorious and wonderful. I love how it goes through Cal’s life so readers can become attached and see how Cal grows and changes and how his friendship with Kate turns into a timeless love. Hard work, faith, hope, and love are strong themes that penetrate this inspiring story. I would recommend this novel to readers that enjoy WWII novels, as well as stories based off of real-life.

Genre: historical, clean romance, women’s fiction, WWII, military, true story
Publisher: Cedar Fort Publishing & Media
Publication date: March 8, 2016
Number of pages: 320

Content Rating: G
Book Rating: 5 stars

A review copy of this book was provided by Cedar Fort Publishing & Media.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cal meets Kate in the eighth grade and quickly realizes she's out of his league. He watches her from afar for several years. He sees her again right before he leaves on a three year mission but she's so popular and pretty that he just knows she'll be married before he comes home. He's surprised to see that she's still around when he comes home and they form a friendship that turns into more. When he heads off to war, Kate doesn't give him a reason to think she'll be waiting for him when he gets back.

Cal is a nice guy who is just living his life and happy when it seems it will turn out a certain way. Then, when Kate enters his life again, he realizes what he's been missing out on. Kate is outgoing, charming, and quite the actress. In the very beginning, we learn that this story is based around Kate and, after meeting them and reading their interactions, it was easy to see why.

What a captivating love story! I was drawn in from the beginning and had a hard time putting it down. I love that it's based on a true story because some of the things that happened didn't seem real. There is a particularly funny experience with Kate that really does seem unbelievable and I was glad to read at the end that the author says it really did happen. There are some tough war scenes which are somewhat descriptive and were hard to read at times, but also gave great perspective into the life of a soldier. There was so much to love about this novel! This is the first book this author has written and I'm looking forward to reading what she comes up with next!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. My opinion is 100% my own.

Mel's Shelves

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was amazed by just how much I LOVED this book! I was sucked into Cal's story from the very first page and what made it even better for me was that it is based on a true story. What?! There's really a person that all of this crazy stuff happened to?

I loved the way it starts as a flashback, with an unknown person asking an old Cal about his life. But the whole story is shown through Cal's eyes and you feel as though you were there and lived it with him. I loved the way that he knew at once that Kate was a very special person, and I felt a bit sad for him as he had to watch her date all of he popular boys in High School - something he knew he would never be. Cal and Kate's love story is made all the better by all of the challenges the two of them had to go through to get to where they could be together. Many boyfriends, a crazy more than 3 year long mission, not to even begin to mention the war. Wow!

I though that Cal is a really well-written character, but I love the way that Kate just shines through the whole book. She is one of those amazing take charge people that is able to get just about anything she wants, even if it means breaking a rule or two. And people bend over backwards for her.

This book is amazing, I didn't want to stop reading until I found out all of Cal and Kate's story. It's clean and inspirational, you won't regret picking this one up! I'm hoping for more from Lindsay Ferguson really soon!

I was sent an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lindsay Ferguson transports us into a the war-torn time of World War II. This book, inspired by a true story, tells a simple yet truly inspirational story of Cal, a simple farm-boy from Utah. As Cal states-his story all revolves around one person, a girl. The story begins with the first time he meets Kate while in 8th grade, the story then quickly jumps in the future when Cal is about to leave to serve as a missionary. A chance encounter with Kate, leads to him finally getting the chance with the girl of his dreams right at the time he has to report for duty in the army.

As Cal leaves to fight in the Philippines during World War II, he holds out hope that he and Kate will be together someday. The story does a great job transporting you to this time and the horrors and tragedy of war, yet there is an underlying hope throughout the whole thing. It really was fascinating to read and at times just made me outraged what he and those fighting with him had to go through.

The more I got into the book, the harder the time I had putting it down. The book almost feels like something important to read, to not forget this time in history. It made me wish that I could meet Cal and hear him tell his story. I really enjoyed it.

This book is also a clean book- free from language, and intense graphic of sexual imagery. I highly recommend it!

**I was given an advanced copy of this book to review- all feeling and opinions are my own and truthful**

[Nakesha Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review: This book totally surprised me. The fact that is was inspired by a true story made it that much more touching. Cal's story is interesting alone, his mission work, his family farm life, his fight to survive during World War II then you add the romantic aspect with his interest in Kate. Their story was amazing. It wasn't typical. Of course, you know they have to end up together from the first introduction but their journey wasn't easy.

I was intrigued by all the detail of Cal's time in the Philippines and serving in the war. Lindsay did a great job transporting the reader to that time and the emotions a soldier feels during war. The comradery between him and the other soldiers, reading the letters that him and Kate write back and forth make you feel like you are really there with Cal. However, I love the fact that Kate was always on his mind. From the beginning to the end, even when they weren't together.

This book had the feel of a Nicholas Sparks novel. All the feels. It is clean so any age could enjoy this book. Overall, it is a great coming of age story dealing with young romance, strength in faith, and overcoming hardships.

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genre's. I love traveling back in time to places and events that helped shape our world. This is a simple story of an ordinary man who accomplishes extraordinary things just because of his goodness. This book is inspired by a true story and I loved reading the afterword by the author.

We take a journey back through Cal's life starting with events from his eighth grade year in school. Cal is a small town farm boy who works hard alongside his family. He is quiet and a bit shy but he is also kind. I would call him a gentle soul. It was so easy to fall into the book and get swept away into Cal's life. He lived through so many horrific things with WWII and yet still kept intact his gentle kindness.

This has, at it's heart, a love story that spans decades. It was a great story and one I'm glad I read.

Content: Some war violence, at times descriptive. LDS fiction (some religious content and references to things specific to the LDS religion)

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Riveting historical romance

Amazing story, made even more amazing by the fact that it's largely a true story. I couldn't wait to see how Cal and Kate's story ended. Perfect clean read for those who are enthralled with life during WWII, like me.

[Tressa (Wishful Endings)]

Really good.

[Tricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love that this is based on a true story. Cal certainly had an amazing life. But the pacing of this novel was very uneven and the editing was terrible. A date read 1945 when it should have been 1944, quite instead of quiet, etc.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Let me start by saying I enjoyed this story. I read it in two weeks, which is quicker than usual for me for a 311-page book. It was a good story, and it was the dream of every young person during the Second World War that did not come true for many – that the person they wed would return to them. It’s also a great book club book, and the author helpfully includes some discussion questions at the end for that purpose.

While it was an enjoyable story, to be sure, it says it is based on a true story; however, I have some problems with the accuracy of the history involved (and perhaps it’s the “fiction” part of the book, or perhaps the recollections of the characters have become muddied with time, although the author’s epilogue mentions that she did extensive research and that she kept to the basic story and only the conversations and interactions are her invention). Here are some of the things I noticed that I am a bit skeptical about:
- The protagonist completes a church mission to the southeastern U.S. from 1941-1944 (that isn’t really a spoiler, and it takes place in the first 50 pages anyway) and is allowed, with other recently-released missionaries, to drive a member’s car to Utah. They are given permission to explore the eastern U.S. on the way home, so they visit Washington, D.C., and New York City, then they drive across the country. The problem I have with this is that gas was rationed, and rubber tires – they were not steel-belted radials in those days and deteriorated quickly, especially at high speeds – were unavailable to civilians generally. (This also takes place in July 1944; for context, this was a month after the D-Day landings in France, and the Allies had not broken out of Normandy yet - Paris wouldn’t be liberated until August; the campaign in Italy finally wrapped up that month, and although steady progress is being made in the Pacific, the fighting is still intense - the U.S. would land forces on Guam on the 21st of that month.) It seems unlikely to me that they would be given permission during the height of the war to be given such carefree time to waste precious resources.
- When the protagonist gets home after his cross-country joyride, he has another couple of weeks before being drafted, which seems unrealistic (but perhaps could have happened, given bureaucratic inefficiencies).
- The dance hall in Salt Lake City is always crowded with dancers, but most men 17-30 were either in military service or working in a defense-related industry. Again, I’m only speculating, but this seems unlikely.
- I also am unsure whether people called on missions in 1941 were allowed to serve for the whole three years during wartime, but that may have happened in a few instances.

All-in-all, a pretty good debut novel, and it was a great story. I did like the book, and I could be wrong in my criticisms, but they made it hard for me to think of it as more than a novel.

[Robyn Echols · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful romance, and a testament that good things come to even ordinary people. Cal was not considered among the popular crowd. He missed out on a lot of frivolous fun because of his long hours spent working on the family farm, a mundane but essential family business. That put him out of the path of the popular social group. Kate, a girl he meets and befriends when she is assigned a school locker next to his, soon goes on with her life as if Cal doesn’t exist. He admires from afar, but does not believe he can compete with the popular guys in Kate’s social circle.
I loved the way the characters were written. Cal was an ordinary guy, not flashy, but a young man who did his duty to both his church and his country. Even though he loses contact with Kate several times during his young life, he never completely forgets her. Occasional chance meetings throw them together often enough to keep his interest in her alive. Kate is a delightful young woman, but disappointed in her expectations. As much as she enjoys socializing and having fun, she decides to follow a path that excludes marriage and family—probably the only reason she was still single in the short period of time between Cal’s mission and his military service in World War Two.
I think my favorite part in the entire story was when he visits family at church after being gone three years. He is late for the meeting, and sees one seat open halfway down the chapel. Just as he reaches that spot and prepares to ask the person sitting next to it if it is available, the young woman turns to face him. It is Kate. At that moment, the lyrics of the opening hymn, “…Here’s my heart, O take and seal it,…” is sung and resonates through him. But, it didn’t with Kate. She agrees to go dancing with Cal, but not to enter into a romance with him.
Once again, after only a few weeks at home, Cal is inducted into the Army as an infantryman where he will eventually be sent to the Philippines, a duty that would lead to years of difficulty for him. He left expecting never to see Kate again. What happened while he was in training had me raising an eyebrow. The incident is based on a true story, but I’m pretty sure it could never happen in today’s world.
The romance is clean and proper. The story was uplifting. I could identify with Kate’s feelings and got a chuckle out of some of her antics. I also could not help but admire Cal as proof that quiet, dependable men who work hard and do their duty are sometimes the best heroes of all.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book caught my attention more than once at the bookstore. A beautiful cover and the tagline ‘inspired by a true story’ was enough to spend my special coupon.

It was not a disappointment! I enjoyed this touching story of a love that evolved in different ways. At first it was young admiration for Cal, just an 8th grader, when the new girl showed up at school one day. Kate, the bubbly new girl attracted attention from everyone. Cal’s chance would not come until years later when WWII had many young men going into its overwhelming grip.

Cal and Kate meet again in the brief interval of time between his LDS mission and reporting for military duty. During that short time, Cal and Kate found something special together that would become a powerful force for his survival as a combat soldier.

I have read many stories from WWII that are different points of view from people on all sides, and all locations of the war. However this one was new for me, told from the perspective of a young man fighting the Japanese in Luzon, Philippines. We readers shadow Cal in every cold, wet, mosquito infested trench, every crawl through sweet potato-vine covered hills, and finding encouragement and momentary joy in a treasured letter from the girl he loved so much.

War is never pretty. Cal, the man, comes to this light of realization on pg.238: “As disheartened as he felt, watching the stars always seem small in the grand scheme of things, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It helped him keep the big picture. It reminded him that although he sometimes felt he was living in the depths of a dark abyss, the war would be a distant memory someday. He still had so much left to live for. The world had good left in it. He knew it did. Somewhere, far away from war, there was still happiness, if he could only make his way to it.” Beautiful!

This was a tender, yet compelling story based on real people, real experiences. To read the epilog leaves a feeling of admiration for those of us not of their generation, my parents among them, who both served in WWII. “by the Stars” is a keeper in my personal library. Well done, Lindsay B. Ferguson!

Fun surprise note for me – I learned something about the city I live in now. Cal spent recovery time in DeWitt Hospital in Auburn, CA. Long past is the military hospital; Dewitt Center is home to many small businesses and agencies.

[Mandy Al-Bjaly · Rating 4 out of 5]

By the Stars, by Lindsay B. Ferguson, which is inspired by a true story, follows the life of Cal Morgan, a Mormon farm boy from the small town of Crescent, Utah.

An elderly Cal is telling his story to a neighbor (the author of this novel, actually), and decided to start his story with a girl named Kate Clayton. He met her in eighth grade, and loved her his whole life.

The book follows him through high school, a relationship with another young woman, his three-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and his service in the Phillipines during World War Two.

At each point in his life, Kate is connected in some way, either via his thoughts, chance meetings, or even the beginnings of a beautiful relationship she isn't quite willing to commit to.

Cal is a character that is easy to like. He is a hard worker, a gentleman, full of faith, and humble. Kate is gorgeous, spunky, confident, popular, but has hidden reservations. Cal, since the first time he met Kate, was smitten with her. It takes Kate much longer to open herself up to him, but eventually falls in love with him too.

The story is rather simple and predictable, but always interesting. I have never really read about soldiers' experiences during WWII, and this book really opened my eyes to some of the horror, and difficult conditions they experienced.

The main characters of the book are LDS, and the Mormon culture is woven throughout, but was written so that people of any faith could love the book.

I thought Ferguson did an excellent job getting the reader into the heads of Kate and Cal. I liked that the perspectives changed occasionally. Their characters were complex and both easy to love. I would be privileged to be friends with either of them.

I loved the title of the book. It was so appropriate since Kate and Cal spend much of their time together under the stars. He also wishes on stars multiple times in the book.

It really was a sweet story, one that inspires the reader to be better and to believe in true love.

I wish there had been some twists and turns in the book, but all in all, it was a really lovely read.

www.ablisscomplete.com

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

By the Stars
By Lindsay B. Ferguson

A once-in-a-lifetime love,
a raging war,
and a promise...

From the moment he first saw her Cal Morgan knew Kate Clayton was special. She was his ideal as he went through school. But Kate was beyond him, too beautiful, too popular, too perfect for a farm boy. But he had something to offer that no other man had offered Kate. He offered her friendship and in return he got to know the heart of the young woman who captured his.

Kate is determined to never fall in love, but there is something about Cal that calls to her, that threatens to break through the wall that she has erected around her heart. But friendship with Cal seems like an acceptable compromise. Time is short with World War II soon to take him into the dangers of the Pacific Theater.

When Kate's deep-rooted fears keep her from acknowledging that she and Cal have something special, he heads out with a broken heart. But Cal's absence makes Kate realize just how much she is giving up. And she is determined to let Cal know just how she feels before it is too late.

With the promise of Kate's love awaiting him Cal faces the horrors of war in the jungles of the Philippines. The struggle to survive and yet remain true to himself and God drives him. But his greatest strength lies in his hope of a future with Kate.

This is a love story that spans the years and faces the uncertainties of the future of a world at war. This is a story that rings true and will touch your heart. This is Cal Morgan's story -- the love story that made his life. A beautiful and touching story that one won't want to miss.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Cedar Fort in exchange for my honest review.

[rendezvous_with_reading]

Is starts in a classic way; shy farm boy Cal, adores the popular new girl Kate, from afar while she takes no notice of him. But three years after school when their paths cross again, there is a spark. Their friendship quickly becomes something deeper. And just as they start to realize they want a future together, the dark clouds of WW2 threaten their dreams. Cal must leave for the war and put his trust in God that he'll survive to return to Kate.

This may sound like a simple love story, but it struck a cord with me as to what it was like for this generation to have their futures put on hold to fight a war they couldn't avoid. And in so many cases, the future was stolen from these young men and the wives and girlfriends who waited for them with hopeful hearts. This is Christian fiction, a genre I particularly appreciate when I want to read a romance that leaves something to the imagination. The author is not preachy, but clearly the effects of faith are reflected in the main characters by the qualities they exemplify. This is a good old fashioned romance with love and respect at the heart of the couple's relationship. I appreciate stories of this generation because they showed such courage and hopefulness in such a dark and uncertain time in history. The chapters of Cal's time serving in the war are gritty and gruesome and very realistic. I loved that the war was set in the South Pacific since it seems most WW2 fictions focus on Europe. The chapters took me to places that my own father had described during his time in the war, such as Leyte and the Philippines. The author writes this novel based on a real life couple. This is a quick and enjoyable read and I highly recommend.

I received a copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

[LAWonder10 · Rating 4 out of 5]

...BY THE STARS begins with the story of a young boy welcoming a new girl to the town they both now live in . Before he even gets the chance to know this In his senior year, Cal finally got his chance to ask her to the Prom...she had just broken up with her boyfriend!...Well, almost...until a delivery of flowers arrived from another guy asking her out first.
More years went by until Cal left college to enlist in the Army. He was at church before he was to ship overseas when, suddenly, she was there ...in church. He was dating another girl by this time ad had thought he was serious...maybe not.
He did, unexpectedly, spend little time With his "dream girl". However, she was very anti-marriage...that could be a definite problem. He sadly left to go to training camp before shipping overseas somewhere. What she did next was unthinkable and changed everything!
Cal never understood what Hell could really be like until fighting in the war. There were times he would have been glad to give his life except for one thing...
This is a very spell-binding, adventurous, at times, romantic, at times humorous, tale based on fact, which the reader will be totally captivated by. It aids in one's appreciation of what the military men and women are expected to endure for the sakes of their fellow beings...US! It is a touching poignant story of the faith and perseverance of a boy and a girl - a man ad a woman.
The characters are very real and endearing, the scenes are vivid and easily visualized. The Book Title and Cover are both a very good "fit".
*This book was sent to me in exchange for an honest review, of which I have given.
This earns a very strong Four and a Half Stars rating.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

To start, this book was a lot longer than I was expecting it to be—over 300 pages. Some sections probably could have been cut to make it a little bit shorter, but I never felt like it was lagging. I was quite impressed with the author for pulling that off with such a long book. Just know going into it that it's a longer read, and you should be fine. I didn't know that, and I still enjoyed it.

I want to add a little bit of caution for future readers. This is a romance, but it's also a war story. This book contains gruesome war scenes. The author didn't get too graphic or detailed in these chapters, but she stays true to what happens in war. Most adult readers should be fine with it, but use your discretion. Personally, I appreciate how the author handled these scenes. She didn't describe every little bit of what our protagonist, Cal, saw while he was in the Philippines, but she doesn't water down the horrors of war.

Kate and Cal are members of the LDS Church, and as such, this book contains references to their beliefs, values, and the Church itself. But it's not so saturated with obscure references that someone outside the Church would have a hard time understanding or getting through the book.

I really enjoyed the author's writing style, and I thought she did an excellent job of keeping the phrases and slang true to the era this story was written in. She also did well at weaving the romance and the war stories together into one novel.

I thought this was a fantastic book, well written and well researched. I give it a 5 out of 5.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This new book by Lindsay Ferguson called By the Stars was a beautiful story, the kind that I could not put down. Having this be Lindsay's first novel she's ever written I was completely amazed at the details, the writing style and the amazing story she told. This book is inspired by a true story about a boy named Cal and a girl names Kate. The book starts out when they meet in the 8th grade. Cal, as shy kid , and Kate the new outgoing popular girl. As much as Cal like Kate, things just don't seem to work out very well. As much as he wants to be friends with her, or even more than friends with her, he comes to realize she is too good for him. Not in he league so to speak. As time goes on and the story of Cal unfolds and as the story develops we see the insecurities, and struggles that both Cal and Kate have. Leaving for war makes it even harder especially for Cal who is going out into the unknown. Who knows if he will even survive the war. The sweet story is a story of love, trusting in God and his plan for our lives, and sacrificing. This book about World War II has helped me be more appreciative for my ancestors that served in those Wars. I was very impressed with this story by Lindsay Ferguson, the research behind it, and how she wove in such a wonderful, at times heartbreaking and beautiful story by someone she knows into a beautiful novel I think everyone would love to read!

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite genre is Historical Fiction and this is exactly the kind of gem I love to find -- interesting history where I feel like I’ve learned new insights, a positive message and a romance to boot. I quickly found myself wrapped up, wanting to know Cal and Kate’s story, which is even more fun knowing the events are based on a true story. I found the section when Cal serves in the war fascinating and learned things about what it was like to serve as a soldier in the pacific during WWII I had never heard before. I came away with a renewed appreciation for those brave young men. By the Stars is a fairly quick read and doesn’t have the heaviness that many books that involve war have. Although the author writes the war accurately and with serious respect, there is a continual hopefulness. I loved this book and wish I could find more like it.

[Brittanydaw · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I opened the book, “By the Stars”, I knew I would find a captivating story, but it was so wonderful to find that as I turned each page I was more and more pulled into the book. As the story develops I was wrapped up in the progression of Cal’s interest in Kate and then their eventual love story. Not being a huge romance fan, I actually loved this story because it was TRUE. It made you believe in the reality of true love and that it can be found! Delving into the history of his involvement in the war took me into a world I don’t know enough about and showed the hardships of war. Well written and charmingly told, author Lindsay Ferguson is a name to look for in the future for more books (here’s hoping!). You will not be disappointed when you read this.

The cover of this book is beautiful and the book is truly good inside and out!

[Louise Pledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was really excited (not to say surprised) to win a copy of this book, and that excitement was not the least bit dimmed by reading it. Not only is it a very tender and special love story, but I so enjoyed reading about the time period.... a time in which I was alive and have memories of. I, especially, enjoyed the Utah memories... places, events, etc, having grown up in that great state.

And, although, I'm a history aficionado, I learned more about the Second World War than I was aware of, especially concerning the emotions involved. War is such a horrible thing, and the true experiences related in this book affirm that. In fact, I forgot it WAS a true story until I got to the ending. Would love to have met Cal, myself. What a genuinely fine person! Thanks again for the book, Lindsay Ferguson.

[J. Weston Daw · Rating 5 out of 5]

By The Stars is fantastic book that is inspired by a true story. It takes place in Crescent, Utah before and during WWII. In the beginning Cal meets the girl of his dreams, Kate Clayton. Years later he finally gets a chance to court with her but is soon shipped off to war. He must survive if he is to come home to her, and his family. By The Stars had a great description of what was going on and really made me feel like I was experiencing WWII. It truly amazed me that from when they were in eighth grade to when he returned from his mission he still had a love for her. I enjoyed quite a bit but thought that it was to romantic for me. It was definitely a romance but had action, suspense, history which made it perfect when they all came together. By The Stars is a great book.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful story worth every second spent reading! Combining a classic love story with historical facts is always a winner, and "By the Stars" does not disappoint! Following the story of Cal and Kate’s courtship through the tumultuous years of WWII, you will laugh, cry, and celebrate this endearing couple as they share their struggles and Cal’s desire and determination to survive horrific events. Knowing that this is based on true events that actually happened makes it that much better! I didn’t want it to end!

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully written historical novel. It had everything I want in a good book: romance, drama, and action. The author paints a vivid picture of what life was like during World War II. I was fascinated by the first-hand account of a soldier fighting in the war and have a much greater appreciation for how horrible it must have been. I loved the letters written between the two main characters and seeing how their relationship developed and endured through hardships. This is an uplifting story that you'll be glad you read!

[Emily Call · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew from the beginning that I would enjoy this book, but I didn't realize just how much. Such a fun read. I really enjoyed the author's writing style. I loved the clean romance. I live in Utah so it was fun to picture in my mind the scenery while reading. It really made me appreciate all those who have fought and currently fight for our freedoms. I couldn't help, but think of stories of my own Grandpa, who fought in WWII. It made me realize just how much these men went through. I highly recommend this book.