Customer Reviews

Simple Wishes

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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

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!

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.

Lisa Dale's first novel is a beautifully written account of Adele Martin's struggle to come to grips with relationships with her mother, her aunt, current and past lovers, and multiple friends from different generations. The story includes unexpected plot twists, strong character development, and a narrative flow that keeps the reader engaged. I have referred it to many friends and look forward to her next effort.

When I first read this book I was touched by the main character's emotional journey. Dale seamlessly paints a picture of Adele, seeking and resisting clues to her mother's past, a past that ties so closely to her present. This book blends time, culture and themes of familial and romantic love so sweetly I am reading it again! I would recommend this book to everyone!

This was a wonderful book because it was more serious and had much more depth than a typical romance. It had a strong secondary plot which was just as interesting as the romance. The book dealt with emotional growth, how our past shapes our present, and the legacy we receive from our parents.

The author does a great job in creating wonderfully fleshed-out characters, and also uses beautiful poetic imagery, particularly of nature, which is the setting of the book.

I highly recommend this book!

Simple Wishes was a real page-turner. It kept me wanting to know more about the complex cast of characters. I would recommend this book to my friends.

This book was a great read. Lisa Dale did an excellent job of making the characters engaging, complex and sexy. Even when I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about Adele and her crazy, mixed up life and wondering what would happen next.

Even though I'm not a fan of romantic books, I really enjoyed Simple Wishes. It kept me interested the entire book and made me feel for the characters. Lisa Dale is a great writer. I can't wait for another one of her books!

Adele Martin has not been back to her hometown for many years. That changes one day when Adele learns that she has inherited a cottage from her mother located in small, rural Pennsylvania. When Adele arrives, the first thing she notices is the peace and quiet from the big city of New York. As Adele tries adjusting to her new life; she meets her new neighbor. Jay Westvelt is a bit of a mountain man but he is not your ordinary scruffy man. He is a very talented artist as well as good looking. Now after meeting Jay, Adele is re-thinking her decision to move back to New York so soon. The mountains do have some great things to offer.

For someone who has lived in New York, Adele seemed like she either lived a sheltered life or was too busy to stop and enjoy the things and smells around her. It was fun getting to experience things like shopping, watching the sunset, etc through Adele's eyes. Jay is the type of guy you want to snuggle with during a cold winter's night. I enjoyed the nice, quiet atmosphere of the woods as the location for this story. Simple Wishes makes me wish I was somewhere, where it seemed like time stood still and all I had there was is me and my husband, sitting by a fire keeping each other warm. Lisa Dale did a good job with this book.