Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Mira Books; Reprint edition (April 1, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0778326314
ISBN-13: 978-0778326311
From the back cover:
What Anne Marie Roche wants is to find happiness again. At thirty-eight, she’s childless, a recent widow, “alone.” She owns a successful bookstore on Seattle’s Blossom Street, but despite her accomplishments, there’s a feeling of emptiness.
On Valentine’s Day, Anne Marie and several other widows get together to celebrate…”hope.” They each begin a list of twenty wishes, things they always wanted to do but never did.
Anne Marie’s list includes learning to knit, falling in love again, doing good for someone else. When she volunteers at a local school, an eight-year-old girl named Ellen enters her life. It’s a relationship that becomes far more involving–and far more important–than Anne Marie had ever imagined.
As Ellen helps Anne Marie complete her list of twenty wishes, they both learn that wishes “can” come true…but not necessarily in the way you expect.
This was a light, slightly inspiring read. Anne Marie is depressed since her husband has suddenly died…right when they were in the middle of reconciling. When her step-daughter comes to Anne Marie for help, she’s confused – her stepdaughter has always held nothing but distain for her. In the midst of her stepdaughter’s crises, Anne Marie bonds with an eight-year-old child through a school lunch buddy program. Meanwhile, Anne Marie’s friends are going through their own difficult times, struggling with troublesome romantic relationships. I also found it interesting that one of Anne Marie’s friends, Barbie, has a love interest who is in a wheelchair. This story was heartwarming and emotional. If you like inspirational romances, then you’ll probably enjoy this book.
I did not purchase this novel. I received it at the annual Romance Writers of America conference last July. The author, Debbie Macomber, attended this event and even signed the book for me! 🙂