4
Stars
Wishful Thinking
Christine deLong Miller
Atlantic Bridge - Bridge Works Publishing
Genre: Paranormal/Romantic Suspense
Carol Raper has been having a hard couple of years. She's recently
divorced, having been dumped by her husband in favor of a younger
woman, and she's struggling to be a good mother to her two daughters
while working full time to make ends meet. Although it's not her
preferred escapist reading, she's drawn to pick up a romance novel
to
help her relax in her few spare moments. From the moment she starts
the book, however, strange things begin to happen in her life. Her
dreams and fantasies become very odd; she starts to hear voices
that
no one else hears; and a beguiling stranger moves into the empty
house across the street.
Bart Knight is Carol's supervisor at work and also her secret admirer.
But that isn't the only secret he's been keeping. Bart's paranormal
abilities let him tune into other people's thoughts and see their
"auras." He knows right away there's something wrong about
Jack,
Carol's new neighbor and love interest. How can he convince her
of
that though, without having everyone think he's crazy?
WISHFUL THINKING has a wonderfully original premise with all sorts
of
metaphorical overtones. This is a romance story, but one with a
difference, one that casts doubts on the usual
"swept-away-with-passion" story lines. It certainly puts
a different
spin on time travel romances.
Bart and Carol are both warm and appealing characters, and several
of
the secondary characters are developed with more than usual depth
as
well. Only the police officer investigating the case didn't quite
ring
true, since he seemed a bit wishy-washy for the role. Carol's friend
Elaine almost steals the show, and the dialogue between the two
women
is worth the price of the book alone. I recommend this story to
anyone looking for a paranormal romance with a bit grittier, more
realistic approach.
Reviewed by Karen McCullough
http://www.scribesworld.com/reviews/
WISHFUL
THINKING
by Christine DeLong Miller
Publisher: Atlantic Bridge Works
http://www.atlanticbridge.net
GENRE: Paranormal Romance
ISBN: 0970093047
RELEASE DATE: 2000
COST: Downloads $6.95 (US) each
CD's $9.45 (US) each
RATING * * * * *(5 STARS)
(this deserves an award for imagination)
Carol Raper
leads a rather mundane life in River Bend, Ohio. Divorced with
two daughters to raise alone, her life as a factory worker and
mom has left her bored and alone. Even her friend and co-worker
Elaine Rhodes can't bring her out of her doldrums. The only thing
that seems to take her away is reading romance novels. Something
she only recently took up since her husband left her for a younger
woman. She finds herself almost living those romances, dreaming
of them, even during the day she is daydreaming.
Little does
she know that her daydream is about to become reality. Andreality
is not what it seems.
When her new
neighbor Jack mysteriously moves into the house across the street
and comes over to introduce himself, she is drawn to him like
a bee to honey. She can't keep her hands or thoughts off him.
In fact, so much so, that she begins hearing voices. Naturally
her friend is worried about her. Bart Knight, her boss at the
factory, secretly wants to date her. But the first time he asks,
she refuses. She likes her neighbor much better.
Still things
just don't seem right. Especially when her ex husband turns up
missing and her children are left alone for the police to find.
Carol is confused, bothered constantly by the voice, and disturbed
beyond belief at the lustful attraction she has for her neighbor
that is getting out of hand, she is sure she's going insane.
Eric Walker
from the police department is suspicious of Carol, even though
Elaine tries to reassure him of Carol's innocence. But no one
in the small town knows that Bart is psychic. He has kept it a
secret up till now. Until he realizes what real danger Carol is
in. Only he can help Carol, but can she trust him? She'd had a
secret attraction for Bart years ago, but she had pushed it away
since she was still married at the time. Now, she could no longer
ignore the fact that Bart was real and Jack, her neighbor, seems
somehow--strange.
Christine
DeLong Miller can really entertain a reader with this one. I think
writers will especially get a kick out of this book. Why you might
ask? Because I'll bet there are very few writers who hasn't entertained
the idea that Christine Miller expands on. It takes the word imagination
and goes deeper. It holds you suspended to the end and it entertains
your imagination like you never been entertained. Talk about a
fresh book, with a cute twist and entertaining plot. This one
has everything. What a writer. This is a definite must read for
any book lover.
Reviewed by: Rita Hestand
http://ritahestand.Romance-Central.com
hestand@airmail.net
Reviewed for
Tracy Eastgate
http://www.geocities.com/t_eastgates_reviews
Wishful
Thinking
5 Thumbs Up
Christine DeLong Miller
Bridge Works Publishing, 2000
Contemporary Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by Kathy Boswell
Have you ever read a book so powerful that the characters seemed
to come alive for you? Well, this is the premise behind this book.
This is one of those books that you feel compelled to read. I
was hooked from the first page.
Carol Raper is a divorced mother of two beautiful little girls.
Her husband Tom left her for a younger woman and she's still bitter
about it. She decides to deviate from her normal reading fare
of horror stories and pick up a romance novel. After all, she
does need a little romance in her life now. She picks up the book
JUSTINE'S PROMISE. It's so good that she starts
fantasizing about the hero, Jacques.
Suddenly she starts hearing voices in her head and her ex-husband
Tom disappears. Then a stranger moves into the empty house across
the street. He is the embodiment of Carol's dreams and fantasies.
His name is Jack Kingman. The next thing Carol knows is the police
think Tom's disappearance is highly suspicious. Then Carol's boss
Bart tells her he can help her with the voices in her head.
This was one of those books that I wanted to hurry up and finish
because I was dying to know how it would end but when I finished,
I was sorry I'd read it so quickly. It is a must read! I highly
recommend this one!
Kathy's Faves and Raves
http://home.fuse.net/romanceandfriends/favesandraves.html
Member, Reviewers International Organization (RIO)
Wishful Thinking
Christine Delong Miller
Atlantic Bridge - Bridge Works Publishing
http://www.atlanticbridge.net
5 stars
Oh, boy! Read this and read it now! Wishful Thinking manages to
be a joy to read and creepy as all get out. Fun stuff! I did not
want to put it down.
Carol is a divorced mother of two who has recently discovered
the pleasure of escaping into a romance novel. A particular romance
novel that has her envisioning the love scenes in her mind's eye.
Then, her ex disappears and a new fella moves in across the street.
He is a real Fabio type and could star in any one of many romance
novels just based on his good looks alone.
Next, she is the number one suspect in her ex's disappearance.
Also, it seems that her boss at work wants to date her. After
a bit, things really get out of control.
This is such fun! A cross between a paranormal romance and outright
horror and done so skillfully that it could pass for either. Carol,
Elaine her buddy, Bart her boss, her kids; all of these people
could be beginnings that you could come across. I love this book!
Leann \"Buzzy\" Arndt" Buzzy@ebookad.com
Buzzy's Book Reviews
http://www.ebookad.com
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