This is a very sweet romance. Set in the early 60s at the height of the space program, it's about one of the brave, play boy astronauts who dreams of going to see the stars (before the Russians do) and the not-going-to-be-burned-again divorcee who moves in next door to him in Texas. I loved the setting. I loved the atmosphere -- all the astronauts' wives struggling to maintain a facade of having perfect lives under scrutiny from the press. I loved that Anne-Marie is divorced in an era when divorce was nearly unthinkable. Kit is a very charming hero. Anne-Marie is a little brittle and distinctly unfriendly, but in a way that makes sense.
My one critique of this very charming story, set in a time-period and a place that I'd love to read more romance novels about, is that things are resolved very easily. He doesn't like kids, but Anne-Marie's kids are nice, so he never has a problem with them, and it's never an issue. Her ex husband doesn't come to visit, and no one really seems to mind, certainly not the kids. She's terrified of the scrutiny and judgement, but then decides she loves him, and at the end is happily posing for photos with him. He says he can't have her being a distraction, which understandably hurts her feelings, but the other astronauts's wives tell her "that's just how things are," and then she's okay with it. I wish that some of the problems that were set up had more of a pay off, and more depth to them.
But overall this is a very charming story about nice people who end up happily together, which is exactly what I want in a romance novel.
Grade: B
#43 in 2016
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