Customer Reviews

The Alley of Wishes

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The Alley of Wishes by Laurel Johnson has got to be my favorite book so far this year! It is a romance affair like no other! I have read this book over and over and I plan to keep reading it over and over until I get my fill of it! This is the first romance novel that has ever made me feel this way! Buy it and judge for yourself, I think you'll agree!

How much sorrow can the human Spirit endure? What is the limit of anguish that will finally destroy the life flow within us? Cerise and Beck , the main characters of Laurel Johnson' novel, The Alley Of Wishes, could answer these questions for you. Meeting in the glamorous city of Paris, France, Cerise and Beck were two wounded souls that fate, or perhaps a God who loves us, brought together. Beck, a farm boy from Kansas, had come to France to fight for the idea of liberty, not knowing the stark truths of war and death would sear his soul with scars so deep that surely he could never be free. Cerise, caught in the throes of an affair with a sadistic man, struggles to maintain life with a crushed and broken spirit, never allowing herself the thought that any man, other then the cruel heartless Paul, would want her.

The Alley Of Wishes is a story of tragedy and defeat, heartache and deep sorrow, but one that shows how love, reaching deep inside our being, can result in a meaningful life of happiness. Cerise and Beck share their past sorrows and struggle to overcome unsurpassing obstacles that life bestows on them as their spirits become one.The loss of a child, the loss of one's mind, are only two of the many battles that they must overcome.

I have read and reviewed many a novel, but never have the characters stayed within my heart as Cerise and Beck have. A love affair that will draw you into its very essence awaits you in this outstanding read. War, lust, murder, love, hate and forgiveness all play a part in The Alley Of Wishes. This is a story you will not soon forget.

THE ALLEY OF WISHES is one of the finest pieces of literature I have had the pleasure of reading in a long time. The creativity of the author's beautiful words captured my attention from the first page. The characters are well defined and endearing.

This is a heartwarming tale of Beck; a disillusioned, broken man. Three years of fighting on the front lines during WWI have left this American with little hope. Cerise is a victim of abuse, which has left her spirits wounded. They find each other in war torn Paris. Can their love heal old scars? Will the adversity that has plagued each of them make them stronger?

The writing style of Ms Johnson made this story both believable and touching. The reader is transported to another era with ease. I felt the deep emotions of the characters. The angst and triumphs were written with an almost poetic beauty. The bombs exploding in Paris were real and frightening. This is a must read for people that want a glimpse into the horrors of war while experiencing the wonder and power of love.

This is an outstanding book and I give it my highest recommendation. I am sure that I will read this one again. It has all of the qualities of a classic novel that should be handed down from generation to generation and read over and over again.

The Alley Of Wishes is a must read for those who love a romantic and exciting story. I cried and laughed. The characters are so real that I felt I knew them.Their love is something that we all must hunger for in our lifetime!

I found this story truly captivating, in all aspects--characters, plot, dialogue. There really wasn't any part of this book I didn't enjoy. The story kept me entertained and enthralled as I followed the lives of Beck and Cerise (and eventually, Rance and Colette), and their undying love for one another through many trials and tribulations. This book truly should be considered one of the finest examples of fine literature in the modern day. To the author, I say "Bravo!"

"The Alley of Wishes," by Laurel Johnson is a delightful, well-written, poetic narrative about romance, as-it-should-be. Johnson's characters are three-dimensional and her poetic words seem to breathe life into each of them. Laurel's portrait of war carries you into the trenches, makes you feel and understand the horrors suffered by the men and boys of either side. Beck Sanow, numb from the horror of war, is dead inside until he meets and falls in love with French songbird, Cerise L `Oiseau. Their relationship is fraught with obstacles. Johnson's narrative is fresh and refreshing, her words are poetic and readers will fall in love with her characters. A marvelous second novel from the author of "The Grass Dance."
Beverly J Scott author of "Righteous Revenge" &...

I love the writing style of the fantastic writer! If you are into deep, passionate, and well-written stories then this is one book you really owe it to yourself to read! I loved it and know you will too!

I was genuinely moved by the character portrait of Ms Johnson's Beck Sanow, the seemingly dispirited, despairing frontline deserter from the American forces stationed in WWI France. Beck is memorable largely because of his eventual triumph over the emotionally painful scars and vicissitudes of his chosen course of action (my own perspective). Then, I think naturally complementing Beck's angst is the remarkably drawn portrait of Cerise, the equally scarred French bistro chanteuse [symbolically surnamed "l'oiseau" = "bird" and of course "cerise" is French for "cherry" = thus, two images of ready vulnerability if not properly and delicately handled]. I am convinced that the author is absolutely classic in her poetic lyricism here. It is no coincidence that together Beck and Cerise create a magnetized intensity: one offering the other vital dosages of hope and uplift. Their difficult love affair becomes the centerpiece of Ms Johnson's beautifully written story. The title itself is thoughtfully crafted to fit neatly into the overall flow of events; the result = a wonderful read.
Highly Recommended !!!!
Alan Cambeira
Author of: AZUCAR! The Story of Sugar

I expected a quick read and refused to allow myself to do that. Instead I was mesmerized by Johnson's rich vocabulary and poetic sentences. Her character development is exemplary. I think I will remember Beck and Cerise almost as long as Rhett and Scarlett. This book will enrich your life.

In life, there are some people we all know who live tragic lives - where every moment of their waking life is one devastating tragedy after another. Whether it is to right the wrongs of a previous life or just the way life's cookie crumbles, we may never know. What I do know is that good always wins out in the end.

Such is the case for the main characters of THE ALLEY OF WISHES. Beck and Cerise are both good people beset by constant tragedy. Yet it is tragedy that brings them together, and it is unconditional love that keep them together.

I read the first half of this book at breakneck speed and realized that the main characters of THE ALLEY OF WISHES could be reincarnations of Jean Valjean and Fantine of Les Miserables who met and lost each other rather quickly in Revolutionary Paris. However, THE ALLEY OF WISHES is much more than Les Mis. Despite the ravages of WWI on Paris and on the young American farmboy, Beck Sanow, and despite the abusive relationship that the chanteuse Cerise endure - this couple meet and share a bond that is unbreakable by time, war, loss of memory, loss of life, loss of youth - to triumph and overcome. I read the second half of the book, fearful that no matter their faith in love and in each other, they might still wind up losing each other somehow. My fear was unfounded and went unfulfilled and for that I am grateful.

In addition, like Savannah, Georgia in Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil, the city of Paris, France has an unquestionable presence in THE ALLEY OF WISHES as much as the living breathing characters do. THE ALLEY OF WISHES is a lovely and painfully dramatic book that - for those of us who love the classic works of literature - will be here when many commercial works of fiction have faded. If you believe in the ultimate triumph of love, faith and friendship, THE ALLEY OF WISHES is a book that you should both read and cherish.