Wish me happy! (Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber)

Member Name: Lbird99

Product:	Twenty Wishes - Debbie Macomber
Date:	13/08/09 (20 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sweet Uplifting story, with great characters

Disadvantages: Slightly Americanized

I am a real fan of Debbie Macomber's books, and was surprised to find out that she started her literary career writing Mills and Boon slush!! I first started by reading Thursdays at Eight, which I was given and have read all the Blossom Street series except the latest one which is nearing the top of my book pile (if I stop buying them and adding to it!!!) Although Debbie Macomber's style is definite chick lit, it is not as OTT as you would expect from an ex mills and boon writer - there is not a throbbing loin in sight!!!

Twenty Wishes is a spin off from the Blossom Street series, and features a lot of the characters from the other books, but is a standalone story and no previous reading is required. The story is about a widows club who decide to make a list of twenty wishes to enrich their lives, and the journey that the wishes take them on.

The main character of the story is Anne Marie Roche. She started the widows club when they all met at a book club that she started at her book club. Her husband Robert died when they were separated, having fallen out over Roberts refusal to start a family, although they were working on a reconciliation. Her biggest wish is to see Paris with someone she loves, and to sing again, which she found herself unable to do after Robert died. As part of the wishes all the widows agree to give something back to the community and Anne Marie agrees to become a lunch buddy to an under-privileged child at a local school. It is here she meets Ellen, a quiet withdrawn child who lives with her grandmother. They slowly forge a relationship over their shared love of books and animals, and Ellen soon starts her own list of wishes.

There are three other widows in the group. The first is Elise Beaumont whose husband Maverick died of cancer. Elise does not feature too heavily in this story, although she has had quite a large part in the other Blossom Street stories. The other two widows are Lillie Higgins and Barbara Foster, mother and daughter whose husbands died together in a plane crash. The sub plot of the book features Barbara and Lillie, as their wishes lead them both to start relationships that the other initially has reservations about, and the strain it puts on their relationship with each other.

This book is very uplifting, and although it is ultimately quite predictable as is often the case with chick lit, is both touching and funny in places. You see the idea of the wishes catching on through the community and I like the fact that the wishes are not all serious and life changing. It shows that silly things can brighten your life, like buying a new pair of bright red cowboy boots, or catching snowflakes on your tongue! The book is written in the third person, which I prefer as it allows for better character development and visualisation. My only minor complaint on this book is having been written by an American, it is a bit cheesy in places!! However it is still a lovely story. And as I picked this one up for 50p in a charity shop, was an absolute bargain!!

Published in paperback by Mira Books - 409 pages

Summary: Friendship and Wishing can change your life