Where the Stars Cross
Ellie Todd’s life is doing about as well as the economy in mid-1930s Chicago. Her husband left her for a younger woman—whom Ellie accidentally-on-purpose knocks on her duff in the middle of the street—and her beloved stained-glass-restoring business went bust along with the stock market. Her two children are away at college, so all Ellie has to keep herself occupied is a stuffy factory job.
Lonely and needing a respite, she drives out to her Aunt Lillian’s house in Marietta, Ohio, where she spent her summers as a child. In Marietta, she meets Wyatt Dare, a handsome—and eligible—towboat captain from Biloxi, Mississippi. Longing for love, Ellie is excited about the possibilities with Wyatt, but when he stands her up for a promised reunion after a summer on the river, she returns to Chicago discouraged. When he finally turns back up nearly a year later, things between them heat up, but Ellie has a hard time giving her heart away again, all while dealing with family secrets, losses, and community tragedy.
Sines has delivered a sweet novel chockful of rich detail of Marietta and river life as well as the mid-1930s in general. While Ellie’s impulsivity can be frustrating at times—and nasty bickering between two of her best friends grows tiresome—readers will cheer to see such a well-rounded middle-aged main character. Overall, Sines has a good sense of pace, balancing the slow burn of romance with exciting action. A positive message about recognizing one’s self-worth and a satisfying happily-ever-after round it all out nicely. Recommended.
