Tess Thompson

Heart-wrenching, heartbreaking, heartwarming. How can one story hold all those emotions? Talented author Tess Thompson gives all three a place in When Stars Fall at Midnight. You soar with hope, crash back down with despair, rise again, but cautiously this time.

The story starts out rather routinely: a family with a very beautiful daughter about to get married, another not-as-beautiful daughter with few prospects. A “businessman” father, distant, forbidding, judgmental. A mother who show more nearly always sides with her husband. And then author Thompson inserts some unusual twists and people that somehow seem unbelievably connected to other people when they shouldn’t be.

Mauve and Estelle Sullivan are twins – Mauve the pretty one, Estelle the other one. But then a mysterious man arrives and Estelle meets him by chance in the garden. Estelle is so naïve and inexperienced, but there is instant, unexpected attraction between them. Connie has secrets but they plan to marry and move away and start their own – happy – life. On the eve of sharing those secrets, however, Connie dies. Is murdered? And now Estelle must go back to being the not-so-beautiful sister with no prospects. Except – she’s with child. And life among the upper crust in early 1920s America may as well be the Regency Era in England in the 1800s, with as many rules and restrictions and harsh, unforgiving punishments for breaking them. So she leaves her family home just as she is about to be cast out. She meets a gracious, caring stranger who saves her in so many ways, and that hope starts to rise again.

But Dr. Percival Bancroft has seemingly insurmountable problems of his own. Early in their marriage his wife suffered a psychotic break and has been in an asylum ever since, leaving him to raise their daughter on his own. But he’s a faithful husband with a strong moral code and he visits Mary regularly, accepting that this will be his life.

From this point on, Thompson takes us on a tender, touching journey with Estelle and Percival and all those surrounding them. They feel drawn to each other in perhaps a way even stronger and more foundational than they were to Constantine and Mary. But they will not break their moral codes, will not do to others what was done to them or what they have observed. So it’s destined to be a deep friendship and nothing more.

These two can’t even seem to get that much happiness, though. And this is where Thompson excels as she starts weaving in those twists and shocking reveals and reprehensible people. There’s a whiff of organized crime. Past deeds that may not be forgettable or forgivable. Paths are now taken in life out of desperation, and they may regretfully be unchangeable. Friendships are seemingly shattered.

When Stars Fall at Midnight is an intense story. Estelle and Percy and his family are good people. People who want to do good, who have done nothing wrong, but who are caught up in circumstances beyond their control. I did some smiling and sighing but I also did a lot of weeping while reading. Things seem so hopeless. Will there ever be a chance for them?

Thanks to author Tess Thompson for providing an advance copy of When Stars Fall at Midnight, the first book in the Midnight Stars Saga as part of her review crew. I thoroughly enjoyed it as I do with all of Thompson’s books, recommend it without hesitation, and fervently hope I will have more smiles than tears in the next in the series. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

In When Stars Dream at Midnight author Tess Thompson continues the Midnight Stars Saga, moving the timeline forward and telling the story of Mireille Perrin. The story begins in France in 1938 as Mireille, age 16, is being sent to a girls’ boarding school in America. Hitler’s reign of terror and destruction is increasing in Europe and it looks like France will be next. Mireille is heartbroken to leave her parents Pierre and Mauve, their vineyard and wonderful, love-filled life but her show more parents are adamant. It’s a difficult transition, but the school is good, most of the girls and staff are welcoming and Mireille immediately meets Betsy, who will become a lifelong friend.

Author Thompson expertly takes us through the next several years of Mireille’s life: the horrors of the war, her uncertainty about the fate of her parents and her fear that she will never see them again and most of all her acceptance as an extended member of Betsy’s family and matters of the heart that fill her with joy and sadness.

As always, Thompson weaves together new characters from this book and those we have already met with great joy, tragedy and everyday events that demonstrate the power of love and the importance of family. Old faces pop up, family mysteries are solved, surprising things happen, hearts are broken and then they are mended. A Tess Thompson book is always a roller-coaster ride of emotion, showing life as it really is and immersing the reader into the story. You feel everything, but at the end of the book you always feel happiness and peace.

I was given an advance copy of When Stars Dream at Midnight by the author. It is a wonderful continuation of an excellent story, and I recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

The Duke’s Legacy trilogy by author Tess Thompson has been such a satisfying journey from devastation and heartbreak to survival and rebuild and finally joy. I am sorry to see this series end, but Sophia Ashford’s story was worth waiting for and is the perfect ending to this exciting, romantic tale.

In the first book, When He Was a Duke, oldest son Sebastian kept his family together after their father was falsely accused of murder and hanged. He boldly managed to prove the accusations show more false, clear the family name, restore his father’s reputation as an honorable man – and find true love in the most unexpected place.

In the second book, When He Was a Rogue, middle sibling James set about restoring the family estate, re-establishing positive relationships with the villagers and reinstating household staff that had been abruptly dismissed – and he also found true love in the most unexpected place.

In this, the third and final book, When She Was a Governess, Sophia, youngest sibling and the only daughter, has made a place for herself under an assumed name as a governess to the orphaned baby niece of Lord Henry Montrose. Before their fortune and place in society were restored Sebastian, James and Sophia lived simple lives, providing for themselves as best they could. But now, having become well-known and well thought of in the ton, it’s time for Sophia to take her rightful place in society and find a husband of suitable title and rank. She doesn’t hold out much hope that she too, like her brothers, will find true love in the most unexpected place. But read on and see.

Sebastian and James had no attachments when they began their journey back to society and finding true love was an unexpected blessing, but Sophia has been governess to little Amelia since she was six months old. Amelia is now almost three years old and Sophia cannot bear the thought of leaving her. This child feels like her own and Sophia is the only mother figure Amelia has ever known. But this being the Regency, where rules are rules and men are in charge, Sophia must follow her brothers’ wishes and move to London at the beginning of the Season – or the meat market as it might more accurately be called. Sophia is comfortable at Montrose Manor and already heartbroken at the thought of leaving, but sees no path other than fulfilling her responsibilities and her brothers’ wishes.

Again, the Regency being the Regency, Lord Henry Montrose is also facing a dilemma. He, too, must go to London to the meat market – aka the Season – and find a suitable wife or he will lose his estate. Complicated, but that’s the way things were. His uncle left him the estate but the proviso was that he be married by age 30, which is creeping up fast.

Henry and Sophia haven’t had much interaction during the past two-and-a-half years. He’s the lord, she’s the staff. She wants to stay under the radar. He lost his fiancée several years ago and does not want to expose himself to that kind of devastating loss ever again. But wait. When Sophia gives her notice and reveals who she really is and why she must leave, a possible way to satisfy Henry’s late uncle’s demand and Sophia’s brothers’ wishes starts to take shape. As Lady Sophia Asford she is indeed a suitable candidate for a Lord’s wife. With a marriage of convenience between them, Henry can keep the estate, Sophia can remain with the little girl she loves and in the place she feels at home, although naturally in a different role. Simple, right? Well, not really, and this is where author Thompson shines, making your heart beat fast and your pulse race because obstacles of course pop up.

As Henry and Sophia spend time in the same orbit with adorable little Amelia, their regard and affection for each other grow in leaps and bounds. Sophia’s heart wants him, but he is still afraid to let his guard down and admit feelings. How they really feel about each other is not clear. But when Henry’s bitter, hateful mother tries to interfere as she did with his fiancée years ago and attempts to ruin their reputation in society and take Amelia away from them, they must face their emotions and decide it they will face their fears, admit their feelings and fight for this little family that feels so right.

I received an advance copy of When She Was a Governess from the author. It was thrilling and heartwarming. And just the right amount of spicy: Thompson has a knack for showing you heat, desire and yearning and then gently shutting the door in your face and leaving what happens next to Sophia and Henry and your imagination. Perfectly done. I recommend this book without hesitation and can’t wait to see what Thompson has up her sleeve for us next. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less

How can this series just keep getting better and better? By this point in the series I am wishing there were more kids and more single moms so these stories would never end. Second Song is the fourth book in The Parent App series and it is so sweet and romantic I couldn’t put it down.

Seraphina and Hunter have been making surreptitious eyes at each other in the pub since he moved to Willet Cove a year ago but neither has had the courage to say anything. When their teenage matchmaker show more children came up with their plan to find true love for their moms and secretly signed them up for a dating app, all 5 of the moms were shocked, but little by little the plan has worked and Gillian, Lila and Esme actually have their happy-ever-afters. Maybe not all strictly due to the app, but they had the courage to let go and look ahead to a possible future. Seraphina was initially very resistant and reluctant – she’s a successful romance author and has done just fine raising her son Tyler on her own, doesn’t need any help – but lately she’s been feeling lonely and alone, thinking about how it might feel to have a partner to share good and bad with, work-work-work doesn’t have the appeal it once did, and there’s a sadness that she can write all those happy endings but doesn’t have her own. Plus there’s Hunter. There’s just something about him that draws her in, and even though neither of them has made a move, her feelings are getting stronger.

Everyone knows Hunter was a well-known songwriter in Nashville and came to Willet Cove for a quiet life. But there is a lot more that happened in his life and caused him to make this move than anyone knows. Just as Seraphina has sometimes found it hard to write her books, Hunter has been unable to find the inspiration he needs to start writing again. But Seraphina is on his mind more and more.

The matchmaking crew is still hard at work even if they pretend they’re not. Tyler asks Hunter to give him guitar lessons and then just happens to be delayed at baseball practice so that Hunter and Seraphina are alone. The sparks have been there for a long time and there might be a little flame next.

Second Song will just capture your heart. Hunter and Seraphina are amazingly compatible and the points of coincidence author Tess Thompson puts into the story are charming: 61 hit songs for him, 61 books for her, he calls his guitar Georgia and that was her mother’s name, her father listened to albums his father played guitar on. So sweet, and even more sweet when he writes a song with the title ‘Or Something Like That Anyway’ which is what she says after saying something too personal. Hunter signs up for the dating app just to see her profile, and Robbie determines their compatibility rating is 99%. Well, we already knew that, didn’t we?

Of course everything isn’t sweet and light. Hunter’s ex-wife is hateful and vindictive and spreads lies not caring who she hurts or what she destroys. Seraphina struggles with the past and wonders if she’s made the right choices, especially when she realizes just how badly Tyler wants a father, someone who cares for him the way he sees the other dads feel and act with their children. And Hunter could be that someone if they can overcome the obstacles in their way. I was at first surprised but then impressed and pleased that Seraphina and Hunter had so many of their serious conversations while Tyler was present, but I realized this made them a perfect family.

I received an advance copy of Second Song from the author as part of her Tessers Review Crewsters and loved it. As always, it was a joy to see how these families have grown and changed but are still as close-knit as ever, always there when needed. This entire series is tender, funny, just the right amount of spicy, and always leaves me satisfied. I can’t wait for the next book and everything else Tess Thompson writes. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. show less