2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Comfort Read, January 20, 2009
This review is from: Simple Wishes (Mass Market Paperback)
I am impressed with Simple Wishes, by Lisa Dale. Admittedly, I haven't heard her name before doing this review, but I won't hesitate to recommend her. Simple Wishes and Seeds of Affection are her two titles, though I am unsure which came first. Lisa Dale grew up in rural Northwestern New Jersey before attending McDaniel College in Westminster , Maryland . She worked briefly in publishing before going back to school to get an MFA in fiction at Fairleigh Dickinson University . Lisa resides in New Jersey with her boyfriend.
Adele Matin moved to New York years before to escape a lonely childhood and small hometown life. She built a life for herself and appreciated the anonymity the city gave her, until one horrible mistake brought all that contentment crumbling down at her feet. Fleeing to the rural cottage she inherited from her mother in Pennsylvania , Adele determines that the situation is only temporary, and as soon as she is back on stable ground she'll go back and resume her life again. However, her extremely attractive green-eyed artist neighbor, Jay Westvelt, is proving that living in the country has its perks. As Adele begins to soften and dare to hope for a normal life, secrets from her mother's past resurface, making her want to flee once again and get swallowed up by the big city. Can she get over the past to truly move on? And can Jay convince her to stay with him and take the risk to love someone?
It's pretty rare, even for the most gifted of writers, to genuinely and effortlessly invoke powerful emotions in the reader. Lisa Dale throws you into the characters heads and hearts, making you feel their pain, their joy, and their triumph. There wasn't a dead spot in the whole book where I lost interest and, this is saying a lot because I'm a quick reader, I had this done in no time as I couldn't put it down. The setting was superb and I adored the secondary characters greatly. I especially liked the little bit of Korean culture she snuck in there, too, through Beatrice's character. Lisa Dale was very good at dropping bombshells throughout the storyline, as well. I think in this genre, you always root for a happy ending, even when you know it's coming. But this book makes you stand up and shout, growl with frustration, and almost needs an applause at the end.
Simple Wishes, by Lisa Dale, is a well-written, emotionally packed, blissful read and unlike others of its kind.
Kelly Moran,
Author and Reviewer
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Love this debut!, January 7, 2009
This review is from: Simple Wishes (Mass Market Paperback)
Lisa Dale's debut novel is absolutely darling and soul-enriching. I relate so much to the heroine so much that it's creepy, especially when it comes to falling for a guy named Jay and the constant struggle between city and country life. All of the characters in here are so real that you'll feel like a part of them are living with you, even after you've finished (at least that's how I felt).
If you're looking for a coming-of-age novel for a thirtysomething woman, then this is definitely for you!
Looking forward to Dale's next novel!
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant story full of hope and love; it has a depth and sincerity that will satisfy the romantic in all of us. BCM, March 31, 2009
This review is from: Simple Wishes (Mass Market Paperback)
Simple Wishes was a really delightful surprise. This book has restored my faith in contemporary romance novels! The author is clearly a very gifted storyteller. The characters are well written and very down-to-earth. This is a fantastic story that left me with a warm feeling of contentment.
It has a very thought-provoking story, written very ingeniously to keep the reader entertained and yet it doesn't give away too many details too soon. I was really pleased with the plot twist and it caught me completely unawares; what a pleasant surprise that was!
I highly recommend this book!
(9 out of 10 Diamonds) - Loved it!
© 2008-2009 Bobbie Crawford-McCoy (Book Reviews By Bobbie).
All rights reserved.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
