The word "courage" is not in Paige Brookhart's vocabulary. Years of abuse have taught her that it is better to hide than to fight. When her husband's abuse turns murderous, terror forces her to flee. Desperate, she accepts help at a women's shelter in Denver, intending to start over. But the echoes of abuse that whisper in her heart saying, "you can't trust anyone including yourself," and "love hurts," continue to thwart her attempts at creating a new life. As she overcomes one obstacle after another, she discovers an untapped well of courage, and learns of a new, unexpected source of love and hope. When her husband tracks her down, intent on killing her and her daughters, Paige must put into action what she has learned. Unfortunately only time will tell how well she has learned these new lessons - and time is the one thing she doesn't have.
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Editorial Reviews
From Library Journal
After suffering years of abuse from her husband, Paige Brookhart packs up daughters Becky and Jess and sneaks away in the night. When she sees a shooting star, she makes a wish: "I won't tell, but my wish is never to be beaten again. Do you hear me, God, if you're even up there, never, never again." Fragile and terrified, she wants only to find a safe place when her car breaks down in the middle of nowhere Wyoming. Lance Parrish, owner of the Circle Bar C ranch, finds the Brookharts and offers them temporary shelter. As Lance learns more about Paige and her girls, he begins to feel a call to return to his faith and ministry, which he abandoned after the deaths of his wife and sons. Paige also is drawn to the Lord for the strength to face her past and build a new future, but she never expects that the revelation of her secrets will be so devastating or that her husband will track her down to make good on his threat to kill her. Marie makes an exciting debut on the Christian fiction scene with this tale of romantic suspense, which should to fans of Dee Henderson's O'Malley series and Terri Blackstock's Cape Refuge (reviewed above).
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Publisher
Domestic violence is not simply someone else’s problem. It lives here and in homes all across the nation. It also fills the pages of When You Wish Upon A Star, the debut novel of Colorado author, Nancy Marie. She draws from personal experience to create a page-turning novel that will give the reader not only insight into what it is like to be abused but also an understanding of why women stay in abusive relationships. Published in January, 2002 by AmErica House Publishers, When You Wish Upon A Star, focuses on the issue of domestic violence, and surviving and healing from its long-term effects. Set in Estes Park, Colorado, this inspirational suspense-filled romance novel, not only covers the subject of domestic violence but does so with humor, warmth, insight and graphic realism.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful, engaging story!,
By Louis N. Gruber "Author of Jay" (Lexington, SC United States) - See all my reviews (VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: When You Wish Upon A Star (Paperback)
Paige Brookhart was an abused child and then an abused wife, but in the beginning of this novel she is making her desperate escape in a battered old car with her two little girls. Soon her car breaks down, things look more hopeless than ever, but she is rescued by a friendly rancher, Lance Parrish. Of course it's a love story, but the romance doesn't go smoothly. The story spins wildly ahead with emotional highs and lows building to a frantic and deadly climax. "Couldn't put it down" is a cliche, but in this case, totally true. The author is brilliant at depicting emotional states and it is truly rewarding to watch the growth and development of the characters. The author's deep Christian faith is a beautiful yet unobtrusive subtext to this story of redemption, courage, growth and learning to love. I can't recommend this book too highly!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Midwest Book Review - wonderful book, gifted writer,
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This review is from: When You Wish Upon A Star (Paperback)
"Starlight, star bright, first star I see tonight, I wish I may, I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight." That is Paige Brookheart's quiet whisper of hope as this touching and troubling story of an abused woman begins. Far from being a stereotypical romance, Nancy Marie has made it into much more with her distinctive writing style. As Paige escapes a violent husband with their daughter, Becky, the scent of blood permeates their battered vehicle. Paige sees her blood soaked clothing, and her numbed mind barely recalls the violence they narrowly escaped alive. When her car breaks down on an isolated mountain road, the kindly seeming Lance Parrish comes to their rescue. Lance has secret sorrows of his own, hiding just beneath his calm appearing surface. The sight of the badly beaten Paige and her four year old daughter touches him in ways nothing has reached him in a long, long time. He's drawn to her quiet pride, her trembling vulnerability, and wonders what kind of life she must have lead up to the point they meet. I loved this book. Nancy Marie has created a portrait of the cowardice and courage that lives within abusive marriages. Paige has far more courage than she imagines, despite her insecurity and mistrust of all things male. The horror of her past life does not end with the chance meeting of the strong, decent Lance and his extended family. Nor does she fall easily into love with this fine man. When her ex-husband is driven to revenge by his insanity, the reader will fear for everyone, including Paige and her daughter, the family dog, Lance, and anyone he loves. This was a mystery, a thriller, and a love story rolled into one. Pulling it together and making it work was accomplished by an author who knows a thing or two about effective writing. This is a wonderful first novel by a gifted writer.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Engrossing book! Super new author!,
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This review is from: When You Wish Upon A Star (Paperback)
Paige Brookhart and her two daughters, Becky and Jess, are running from a nightmare of abuse. Paige's husband, Justin, has made their lives a living hell for too long. Paige seeks peace, but she's brought some of her own demons with her. When her car breaks down, a man stops to see if he can help. Paige is instantly drawn to the handsome rancher, Lance Parish. She and her daughters go back to Lance's ranch and are offered a job and a place to live. But, Paige's fears force her to say no. Instead, she and the girls end up in a women's shelter in Denver. Her experience there starts her healing process. She also discovers something she never knew. Justin married someone else before Paige. Her marriage to him isn't legal. Her growth at the shelter, her parents' rejection, and the knowledge that Justin no longer has a claim on her, brings her a sense of freedom. She contacts Lance and accepts the job as his housekeeper. She and the girls move out to his ranch in Estes Park. Lance and Paige begin to have deep feelings for each other, but ghosts from both their pasts whisper words of warning to them that keep them tied in knots of fear.Although Paige prays that her life with Justin is over, Justin is not so forgiving. He is searching for her - with the goal of exacting revenge. When he finally finds Paige and the girls, the story climbs to a harrowing climax that ends with a final and fatal finish. WHEN YOU WISH UPON A STAR is a beautiful and moving story about the pain of abuse and the hope of recovery. Its characters are well defined and real. I found myself yelling out loud when Paige and Lance faced Justin's deadly anger on the mountain where life and death met in a breathless confrontation. This complex and intriguing novel is one of the best I've ever read. Nancy Marie is an accomplished author with an important story to tell. I recommend it highly.
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