Stolen Wishes (Zebra Splendor Historical Romances) [Paperback]

Deb Stover (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Deb Stover has a remarkable way of dealing with sensitive issues in a realistic and compassionate way. Stolen Wishes is a wonderfully heartwarming story about acceptance, friendship, family and the healing power of love. She has taken a truly mismatched group of characters and created a loving and loyal family, and shown that blood is not always the tie that binds families together. A story where family is the central theme, and love is the magic that makes it real. A truly splendid story, and a keeper; I highly recommend this to all those who believe in the power of love. From time travel to fantasy and now to historical romance, Deb Stover weaves a heartwarming tale of love and acceptance that will bring a smile to your lips and a tear to your eye." -- Terrie Figueroa, Romance Communications

From the Back Cover

Mary Goode was a mere thirteen when she rescued her brother, Robin, and two of his friends from a cruel asylum and escaped with them to the Oklahoma woods. It is there that the four make their simple home, and where Robin creates a make-believe world he calls Sherwood Forest.

To the delicate young woman dubbed Maid Marian, Robin's storybook fantasies seem a harmless game. But as eight years pass, Mary longs for more. And now, a stranger enters their secluded haven--a man with the power to shatter their safety or answer Mary's most passionate prayers.

A Wounded Lawman On A Dangerous Mission

U.S. Marshal Shane Latimer is hard on the heels of robbers when a spooked horse and a snake bite lands him on his back, and in the middle of an eccentric band of forest dwellers. Though these gentle folk save his life and nurse him back to health, Shane has powerful orders to bring the thieves to justice. Could Marian, the lovely creature who fills his dreams with longing, really be an outlaw hiding out with her accomplices? Now, it's up to Shane to get to the bottom of it all. But will knowing the truth mean choosing between duty and love?

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (October 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821763547
• ISBN-13: 978-0821763544
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,911,673 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Once Upon a Time, Deb Stover wanted to be Lois Lane, until she discovered Clark Kent is a fraud and there is no Superman. Since publication of her first novel in 1995, Stover has received dozens of awards for her cross-genre fiction, including ten Romantic Times BOOKCLUB nominations, and a Career Achievement Award in 2005.

Stover is active in many writers' organizations. She joined Romance Writers of America (RWA) in 1991. In 1994, Deb received Pikes Peak Romance Writers' Volunteer of the Year Award, and Author of the Year in 1997 and 1999. In 1998, she served as director of the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, held annually under the umbrella of the Kennedy Center Imagination Celebration. She served on the RWA National Board of Directors from 1998-2000.

Deb Stover is a native of Wichita, Kansas, but now lives in Colorado with her three children. Over the years, she and her family have also lived in Southern California, Northeastern Oklahoma, and Oregon. If you ask her which state she calls home, she'll tell you she longs for the misty firs of the Northwest, but the Rockies are still the home of her heart.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very special read, August 31, 1999

By 

Beachreader "BeachReader" (Port Townsend, WA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Stolen Wishes (Zebra Splendor Historical Romances) (Paperback)

Living deep in the woods of Oklahoma, Mary Goode watches over her brood like a mother hen. Sometimes tiring of their game of Robin Hood, Mary nevertheless puts up with their antics for the sake of her brother Robin and his friends "Little John" and "Friar Tuck." Mary is the only family Robin has left and being what was termed in the 180os as "slow" he needs her more than he sometimes thinks.

Stumbling into their camp which the group has christened, "Sherwood Forest" is U.S. Marshall Shane Latimer. He's on the trail of a group of outlaws who steal from the rich and give to the poor and believe he has found who he's looking for. However, a run-in with a rattlesnake puts his plans on hold. As Mary tenderly and expertly cares for Latimer (who Robin has christened Will Scarlet), an attraction develops between the two. Shane fakes amnesia in his quest to infiltrate the band of outlaws - or at least to find out what antics Robin and his friends are up to. He believes them to be up to no good, but also believes Mary to be innocent of any wrongdoing.

Adding to the appeal of this story is Robin's romance with Little John's sister, Walks with Sunshine, who is also "slow." The author has created these two special characters with a great deal of depth and insight making them very real to the reader.

Deb Stover, whose forte has been her sensual time travels, makes the transition to historical romance in this doozy of a good yarn. Fans will also welcome the appearance of Sam Weathers from her 1996 time-travel, A WILLING SPIRIT. The great storytelling, tight prose, sexual tension, and rich characterization all combine for a very special book which readers will find difficult to put down once started.

Although a departure for Ms. Stover, STOLEN WISHES does not disappoint her legions of fans. Charming, tender, and absolutely fabulous, this is a keeper in every sense of the word.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very well done!, April 9, 2000

By 

"romancefanatic" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stolen Wishes (Zebra Splendor Historical Romances) (Paperback)

Stolen Wishes has it all: a good plot, likeable characters, a very bad guy and wonderful messages about healing and tolerance. Mary and Shane are good for each other and with each other. The references to Robin Hood are delightful and gave a fairy tale quality to what, in lesser hands, might have been a hum-drum western. I would have preferred a bit more romantic tension between the two characters, but I liked it too much to quibble. All in all, a wonderfully done tale!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book!, October 10, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stolen Wishes (Zebra Splendor Historical Romances) (Paperback)

I bought this book mostly because of the cover and the reviews, and I couldn't be more pleased with the story. It's "Robin Hood" written as a western, but with a wonderful twist. The character of "Robin Hood" is very slow and challenged, and his guardian is his younger sister, who is also the heroine of the story and called Maid Marian. "Little John" is a tall Indian brave who's hard of hearing, and "Friar Tuck" is a midget (I'm not sure of the right term) and a famous scientist. The hero is a US Marshal sent to arrest the "Merry Men." This is a touching and very clever story, and a steamy romance, too. Stolen Wishes has it all!