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1861, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Inspired by the true story of John and Phoebe Brashear who developed telescopes and lenses that are still in use today, Love Under the Stars brings the beginnings of their journey to life. Set against the steel mills of Pittsburgh, a young man has a mind for astronomy and physics, the gifted hands of a millwright, and the heart of a minister. Conflicted about which life path to take, he is further confounded when the love of his life shows up teaching Sunday school in the classroom next to his.
Phoebe Stewart is headstrong, responsible, and meticulous about her role as baker and cook in her family's household. Despite her whip-smart mind, she understands that she will live a single woman's life with her family and revels in the caring and feeding fourteen household members. Then she meets John Brashear. He opens her eyes to a universe of heavenly bodies, a world of possibility beyond the walls of her home.
Torn between the love growing between the two and Phoebe's devotion to her family, they navigate a path to where they can announce their plans to marry and buy a little home up on the South Side Slopes. It all seems to make sense… until it doesn’t. Can John and Phoebe fulfill their obligations while being true to their hearts? Can they make their dreams come true?
My thoughts:
This is such a sweet, family centered novella! John works a bunch of part time jobs, in the mill, the church, and helping as needed. Yet his true passion is in the stars. He loves astronomy and loves sharing his knowledge with others. He's also the epitome of family man, who sends nearly all of his earnings back to his parents to help support them.
Phoebe is the rock in her family, doing the majority of the household chores for the huge number of people packed in her house. Yet she too has a very scientific mind, keeping careful track of her recipe adjustments and how things turned out in her kitchen book.
John and Phoebe meet in an unusual manner, and as their relationship develops the challenges continue. John can't support his parents and his own family, and Phoebe's family is dependent on her to keep the house running. As more of Phoebe's siblings marry and move away her father becomes more and more vocal that she will never leave the house.
Do these two have a chance to be together? Or are there just too many challenges to make it work?
This was a wonderful story and gave such an interesting glimpse into the time period!
About Kathleen Shoop
Bestselling author, Kathleen Shoop, holds a PhD in reading education and has more than 20 years of experience in the classroom. She writes historical fiction, women’s fiction and romance. Shoop’s novels have garnered various awards in the Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY), Eric Hoffer Book Awards, Indie Excellence Awards, Next Generation Indie Book Awards, Readers’ Favorite and the San Francisco Book Festival. Kathleen has been featured in USA Today and the Writer’s Guide to 2013. Her work has appeared in The Tribune-Review, four Chicken Soup for the Soul books and Pittsburgh Parent magazine. Kathleen coordinates Mindful Writing Retreats and is a regular presenter at conferences for writers.I adore writing historical fiction (The Letter series, After the Fog and Donora Stories that are coming soon!) but am having a blast writing romance like Home Again, Return to Love and Tending Her Heart (Endless Love series). Thank you so much for the time you take to read.
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Thank you for the lovely review!!! I'm so happy you liked it!
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