What You Wish For [Paperback]

Fern Michaels (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 2001

If her abusive husband had not tried to kill her and her beloved dog, Helen Ward might never have left her million dollar home and run far away. Now, Helen's changed her identity and moved across the country, hopeful that she can be safe, happy, maybe even loved. And when she meets college professor Sam Tolliver, she begins to believe fairy tales do come true. But the past is catching up with Helen - and her fear is growing. Soon, she'll have to face the biggest decision of her life, a decision that will determine her future and her very identity.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Bestselling romantic suspense writer Michaels delivers another gripping plot, though it's easy to detect predictable dramatic devices in the story of Helen Ward, a physically abused wife who finally stands up for herself and sets off for a better life. While beating Helen one night, her husband Daniel finally pushes her too far when he kicks her beloved dog, Lucie. Helen retaliates by bashing him with a fireplace poker. Fleeing their house in a California suburb, Helen finds refuge in a veterinary hospital, where she meets Dr. Gerald Davis, who immediately recognizes that Helen needs help as much as Lucie does. He calls local heiress and animal lover Isabel Tyger, who places Helen in a top-secret women's shelter. Much like a participant in the Federal Witness Protection Program, Helen assumes an alias and relocates to New Jersey. Now called Nancy Baker, Helen thrives in her new identity. She establishes an Internet lingerie shop, attends night school and falls for a handsome neighbor and fellow dog-lover, Sam Tolliver. As their relationship grows, Nancy longs to tell Sam the truth about her past, defying the first rule of the program. When her online connection to Tyger's program is interrupted, Nancy suspects her vengeful husband has finally found her. She is further depressed to learn she has been legally declared dead, thus making divorce impossible. Returning to California suggests all kinds of dangers, but Helen/ Nancy refuses to be a victim this time. Michaels (Celebration) builds up enough tension to fuel this contemporary novel, but an O.J. Simpson-style car chase gives way to a disappointingly quick climax. Fans will fill up on Michaels's direct prose in one sitting, while others may find it only a light snack. (Oct.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

For Helen Stanley, survival means escaping from an abusive husband and creating a new life for herself. She joins an organization that protects abused women but at a cost; she is declared dead, given a new identity, and moved across the United States. She starts her own business, a Victoria's Secret knock-off, and attracts the attention of a loving man, Sam Tolliver. Meanwhile, ex-husband Daniel's fortunes spiral downward. Having lost his job, he blames his misfortunes on his wife's desertion and stalks Helen, bent on a murderous revenge. Fortunately, Helen is rescued by her new beau. Despite the predictable ending, readers will admire Helen's determination to remake her life in a positive direction, meeting each challenge as it comes. Says Helen, "It doesn't matter where you've been. What matters is where you're going and how you get there." Recommended for public libraries and for the many fans of Michaels's previous works (e.g., Celebration).DCarol J. Bissett, New Braunfels P.L., TX
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 351 pages
• Publisher: Zebra (July 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082176828X
• ISBN-13: 978-0821768280
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #361,995 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( M ) > Michaels, Fern

More About the Author

Fern Michaels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of Fool Me Once, Sweet Revenge, The Nosy Neighbor, Pretty Woman, and dozens of other novels and novellas. There are over seventy million copies of her books in print. Fern Michaels has built and funded several large day-care centers in her hometown, and is a passionate animal lover who has outfitted police dogs across the country with special bulletproof vests. She shares her home in South Carolina with her four dogs and a resident ghost named Mary Margaret.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

54 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fern Michaels is one of our best writers, September 28, 2000

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What You Wish For (Hardcover)

Helen Wood seems to have it all. She owns an exquisite home, beautiful clothing, and tasteful furniture. In reality, Helen lives the life of horror, a long time victim of spousal abuse. Her injuries have been so numerous, Helen wonders when he will kill her. Helen's sole companion and friend is her Yorkshire Terrier Lucie. This time her husband Daniel goes too far, hurting Lucie. Helen fights back by knocking him out with a poker. Grabbing Lucie, she flees to a vet to obtain care for her injured canine's leg.

The vet calls wealthy Isabel Tyger who runs shelters and an underground railroad for battered women. Taking one look at Helen and Lucie, Isabel knows. She places the Californian and her dog in New Jersey where they meet Sam. Sam and Helen fall in love, but she knows the dangerous Daniel still searches to find her to enact a most brutal punishment for what he regards as her betrayal.

Spousal abuse is rarely the centerpiece of a romance novel as it is considered to harsh of a topic. However, the adept Fern Michaels succeeds in showcasing the horrors of abuse without preaching pat solutions to a complex problem. Helen is not only ashamed... but so humiliated that she struggles with the concept of happiness. That is part of Ms. Michaels' message: abuse is more than physical, it is mental and emotional hitting the entire community. WHAT YOU WISH FOR is a deep and complex contemporary tale that combines an in-depth look at a troubling social issue with a bit of romance to takes some of the edge off it. Only the incomparable Ms. Michaels could make that combo work.

Harriet Klausner

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compelling, October 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: What You Wish For (Hardcover)

I agree with one of the previous reviewers that Fern Michaels is one of our best writers. What You Wish For is a story of a woman in an abusive marriage who overcomes many obstacles including shame and humiliation to take back control of her life and eventually find happiness. I was so moved by this story that I've been checking out various womens' shelters in the area with a view toward volunteering my time to help out others in similar situations.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The underdog goes over the top, December 2, 2000

By 

Tasha D. Staggers (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: What You Wish For (Hardcover)

Not since "Sleeping with the Enemy" have I read the story but a victim of spousal abuse become a hero in her own right. Helen Ward tries to break free from "trailer park trash" past, she thinks she finds Prince Charming who turns out to be Prince Terror. I love the relationship she has with her dog, Lucie and I was hoping that she would had children and the end of the book. But instead, she does find love, happiness and unexpected wealth and that in itself is a blessing.