A Skye Full of Stars by J.C. Wing

A Skye Full of Stars: Book 2 of the Gannon Family Series by J.C. Wing
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This second book in the Gannon family series seemed, initially, to begin where Alabama Skye left off. Despite the vivid and intriguing descriptions that one has come to expect from J.C. Wing I will admit to feeling somewhat disappointed by what I thought was going to be an inevitable predictability for the first few chapters. In other words I feared the tale was going to be more or less along the lines of “the story so far”. So, while I was entertained by the wonderful exposition displayed by this talented writer, I was also fighting off mild cynicism about the mild sweetness and light that surrounded the main characters, Cheney, Greer, Meara and Noah as they lived their lives a few years on from Alabama Skye. I should have known better!

J.C. was just setting up the background scenery for the reader. When Cheney and her sister, Meara, take a trip to Scotland; and Noah has to confront some serious events and history about her parents back in Alabama, then the drama that begins to unfold front of stage had me gripped. The narrative goes on to skilfully and beautifully reveal tales of trauma, romance and sorrow such that I had to dab away many a tear before I reached the end of the novel. The author’s description of the events around the Clydebank Blitz in Glasgow, and Stella’s regrets while revealing her heartfelt tale to her daughter, Noah, were so well done that I had to read them twice, while full of admiration at the pictures conjured up before me. This is in addition to the real and captivating characters in the book, and the great descriptions of the Isle of Skye that tempt readers to become future tourists of the island.

I wound up enjoying this novel so much that it has replaced The Color of Thunder as my favourite J.C. Wing novel, even though I still needed a translation from much of “the Gaelic” expressed by Cheney Gannon; and even though, to use a lovely quote from the book: "Her smile was warm, her accent thick, and her speech like a bubbling brook rushing with enthusiasm".


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