“Violet’s hats are worn by the rich and famous all over the world, thanks to the milliner’s talent, and lifetime of grafting. Violet is now 60, and needs a successor – but who will it be? When a man appears saying he is her brother she knows life will never be the same again and the secrets she’s struggled to conceal will come tumbling out. A dazzling and delightful tale.” The Sun
“In this deeply moving and emotional book, Jessica Ruston picks us up and takes us on an epic ride through Violets life. Full of twists and knockbacks, it’s an addictive tale that you won’t want to put down.” heat magazine
“Born into a gypsy family, May Violet Cavalley doesn’t have the best start in life. Her father is a violent drunk, her mother won down by children and poverty. One terrible night, her father murders her first ove. May vows to testify against him – but as he is led away, he whispers a warning: ‘Blood betraying blood begets blood.’
Determined to improve life for her and her baby, Violet, as she now calls herself, exploits her gift for hat creation. Cavalley’s is born and all she touches turns to gold. But dark forces are at work. In the lives of her five children, tragedy strikes and Violet wonders if she is cursed. Now, gathered for her 60th birthday and with time running out as Violet’s illness takes hold, her children need urgent answers.
If long-haul travel’s on the cards, Jessica Ruston’s novel will make you yearn for delays!” Take A Break Fiction Feast
“A mystery from the very first page…” Now magazine
“It’s the sort of book you want never to end. Intriguing, atmospheric and utterly mesmerising.” Penny Vincenzi
“Jessica Ruston’s second novel, a fabulous follow-up to her glitzy debut Luxury, delivers the same addictive brand of glamour, excitement, intrigue and sheer readability. To Touch the Stars is a voyage of discovery, a journey into the heart of one woman’s dark past while opening a revealing and fascinating window onto the lavish world of high-class hat design.
Ruston presents the drama of Violet’s life and loves whilst also introducing the parallel and equally tempestuous stories of her three very different children. Stylish and entertaining, To Touch the Stars is the perfect book for girls who just want to escape.” Chorley Guardian
“I’m a Jessica Ruston fan… Ruston manages a huge cast of characters and a very intricate set of relationships with great economy and aplomb and if you’re like me and love details of dress, hats, jewels and so forth, then you’ll revel in it. Line it up for your holiday reading.” Adele Geras
“To Touch The Stars is packed with glamour, style, and wealth.. interlaced with scandal, deep and intriguing dark secrets but packed with twists and surprises that will keep the reader glued. Jessica Rustonis a master at breathing life into her characters, Violet and her three children come to life as you discover the dark secrets they all conceal as the facade of success and happiness comes tumbling down.
A must read… Female First
“Initially I thought this was going to be a straight ‘who gets the money when she’s gone’ story but there’s a lot more to it than that. Against all the odds it looks as though the family genuinely love their mother and there’s more concern about her than about the succession. But Violet has lived a strange life and it’s not just one of the children who would like to know a little bit more about their parentage. Add into this a few dark figures appearing from the past and the family is in for a difficult few months. It’s not great literature. It’s not a book you’re going to struggle to read and then feel virtuous when you get to the end of it. It’s a book you’re going to struggle to put down and then you’ll feel guilty about all that time which has somehow disappeared. Try and arrange a good excuse – a long flight, or a cold wet winter’s day would do just fine – and you’ve got the perfect piece of escapist reading. It’ll grab hold of you and even when you think you can see how it’s all going to end there are still some twists in store for you.” The Book Bag
“Ruston is certainly a great talent within the women’s fiction genre, and it certainly makes me look forward to reading more work from this author… I adored the way this book was written. Ruston has chosen to write in both the present day, the events after the birthday party and how this impacts on her family, but also back to Violet’s childhood, the coming about of Cavalley’s the company and basically everything in Violet’s past. The book flits seamlessly between the two, often not defining clearly that is slipping from the present to the past, but as a reader I found it very easy to follow and it was immediately obvious which time which time any particular part of the story was dedicated to… It all felt very real as I read it, and I felt myself being drawn into Violet’s world and it was fascinating. Also, I have to mention the hats element of the book too – I’m not a huge hat fan and know nothing about them, yet Ruston makes it extremely interesting and readable, and I loved imagining Violet’s designs in my mind.
It was a brilliant book, and I definitely recommend it, I loved every page. 5/5.” Chick Lit Reviews
“To Touch The Stars is a touching story that tells of hard work paying off, but also of your past catching up with you. Doesn’t matter how bright the light you create to live in, the darkness always catches up. A fabulous read with characters that spoke to me and scenes that played out behind my eyes – and even had me talking to myself at times.” Beauty and Lace.com
“I loved it, there were so many twists and turns provided by the author that I was totally gripped from beginning to end. Jessica Ruston has written a very dramatic story and then set it in incredibly glamorous and high-powered surroundings. When you strip all of the glitz away you realise that the Cavalleys are simply a family, but a family with one or two more skeletons in the cupboard than normal. This book keeps up a brilliant pace throughout so be warned that it is extremely difficult to put down.” Dot Scribbles.
