Wish Come True: A Carson Springs Novel [Hardcover]

Eileen Goudge (Author)

Book Description

Series: Goudge, Eileen | Publication Date: June 19, 2003

After years spent in the shadow of her movie-star sister, Monica, Anna Vincenzi remakes herself. Anna's emerging sexiness escapes no one's attention, least of all her sister's.

But with her murder it appears Monica claims the ultimate victory when Anna is arrested as the prime suspect. But Anna is not alone as she fights to exonerate herself. When a Carson Springs dweller as beloved as Anna needs help, all the valley's residents rally together, each working in his own special way to help one of their own. And what of her passionate encounter with Dr. Marc Raboy?

Wish Come True is an inspiring Cinderella story about a woman whose fairy godmother turns out to be the whole community of people Eileen Goudge's readers have come to know and love. Gripping and emotionally complex, Wish Come True is the most satisfying Carson Springs novel yet.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Goudge's third Carson Springs novel (Stranger in Paradise; Taste of Honey) revives familiar themes of family secrets and complicated love lives among California's rich and semifamous. Anna Vincenzi works by day for her domineering sister, wheelchair-bound movie star Monica Vincent, and by night caring for their Alzheimer's-afflicted mother. The beleaguered, stifled Anna gets her wish for freedom when Monica is found dead in her swimming pool. Unfortunately, police arrest her for her sister's murder-not exactly the kind of attention she's been craving. Accustomed to helping others, she hesitates to contact her younger sister, Liz, who has distanced herself from the family, or Dr. Marc Raboy, Monica's therapist, whom she has secretly pined for. Instead, Anna reaches out to friend and neighbor Laura, whose extended family, nicely recovered from the scandals described in Strangers in Paradise, provides emotional support as well as bail and a good lawyer. Anna and Marc investigate Monica's death, uncovering secrets about her parents along the way. The novel's charm lies in its unabashed quotation of the Cinderella story. Modern touches (the heroine doesn't sweep the fireplace, she answers her sister's e-mail; Prince Charming is a married therapist; the mean sister is a Hollywood star) combine with the familiar plot line of the ur-romance. It's not groundbreaking, but readers who enjoyed the first two in this series will not be disappointed.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The last book in the Carson Springs trilogy begins with Anna Vincenzi's arrest for the murder of her sister, Monica, whose career as a movie star ended abruptly when an accident left her in a wheelchair. Monica's condition did nothing to sweeten an already sour personality, and before her untimely death, she heaped most of her displeasure on fat, plain Anna, whose plan to embark on a new life for herself seems derailed when she is arrested. Goudge's strong suit here is not the mystery of who killed Monica, although the plot twists its way along interestingly enough. Rather, it is her sure handling of the tried-and-true Cinderella motif--set attractively against a lush Southern California backdrop--that gives this blend of romance and mystery its charm. Readers new to the series may be a bit confused by the many characters who wander in and out, but those who prefer gentle mysteries will find much to enjoy on Anna's road to redemption and true love. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Viking Adult; First Edition edition (June 19, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670032166
• ISBN-13: 978-0670032167
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,664,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born on the Fourth of July, and it's been fireworks ever since. I began writing at age eight, with short stories and poems, and I haven't looked back since. From the early days of mostly collecting rejection slips, I went on to publish thirty-two novels for young adults, thirteen (and still counting) of women's fiction, as well as numerous short stories and magazine articles, and one cookbook.

Often I'm asked where I get my ideas. Fortunately, I have a wealth of life experiences to draw from. Starting when I dropped out of college to get married, at age eighteen. Two years later I was divorced, with a baby son and no means of support. I ended up briefly on welfare, and stood in line for government surplus food. But every cloud has its silver lining, and this one led to my determination to make it as a professional writer. I borrowed a typewriter, and lacking a desk, plunked it down on the living room floor. The rest, as they say, is history.

Following a string of young adult novels, I published my first adult novel, GARDEN OF LIES, in 1986. The saga of baby girls switched at birth---one rich, the other poor---went on to enjoy a combined total of 16 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, in hardcover and paperback. Though there's no such thing as an overnight success, I felt like one, having gone in a matter of months from not knowing how I was going to pay the rent to wondering what I was going to do with all that money. The first thing I did was fulfill a fantasy born of years of wearing hand-me-downs: I walked into Saks Fifth Avenue and bought a dress...without even looking at the price tag!

I've since gone on to write many more novels. My most recent, which came out in June of '07, is WOMAN IN RED, a very special story about a woman just out of prison and a man struggling to get back on his feet after losing his wife on 9/11. Look for it in trade paperback in May of this year. I also have another hardcover coming out,in June, titled DOMESTIC AFFAIRS ---a Cinderalla story in reverse: Riches to rags but with a happy ending. I'll be posting sample chapters on my website at www.eileengoudge.com, so stay tuned. I would love to hear your comments once you've read the book! And, remember, there's always more where that came from...

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Piece of Heaven on Earth..., July 24, 2003

By 

M. Parcel (Kelso, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wish Come True: A Carson Springs Novel (Hardcover)

Paraplegic and former movie actress Monica Vincent is dead. Her sister, Anna Vincenzi, is arrested for murder. The residents of Carson Springs are shocked--not because of Monica's death; she was a cruel, vindictive woman who played the pity card to manipulate others. Anna's friends are shocked because they don't believe she is capable of such a heinous crime. WISH COME TRUE, the third book in the Carson Springs trilogy, begins with Anna's arrest, then takes the reader back six months to view the events that led up to the murder.

Anna cares for her Alzheimer's-afflicted mother, Betty, as well as assists Monica many hours each day. Monica is an alcoholic and makes Anna's life a living hell. Things finally reach a breaking point, and Anna and her other sister Liz convince Monica to enter rehab. During family week, Anna gets to know Marc, a counselor with troubles of his own. The two grow closer, and over the next few months forge a relationship. Marc joins Anna in the search for Monica's killer. Will they fall in love or just remain close friends? Will they find Monica's true murderer, or will Anna go to jail?

WISH COME TRUE also revisits some favorite characters from Eileen Goudge's previous novels. Finch is on a mission to find out more about her birth family. Laura and Hector proceed with the adoption of a baby. Sam, Claire, Gerry, and many others are also featured. Who is the mysterious woman with the same name as Finch, are they related?

Eileen Goudge has a talent for creating believable characters who overcome obstacles for love. I enjoyed getting to know Anna in the previous two novels in which she was a peripheral character. In WISH COME TRUE, she has a voice and comes to find herself in the midst of the needs of others. Marc is an ideal match for Anna, although he is not without faults. The cracks in his armor are what make him a believable and interesting person. Ms. Goudge writes in such a way that the transitions between past and present flow smoothly. In the end, she paints a seamless picture with a conclusion that even most mystery lovers will not figure out in advance.

One issue that really bothers me about this book is the treatment of the characters from past books. The previous novel, TASTE OF HONEY, featured Gerry finding the daughter, Claire, she had given up for adoption thirty years before. Most of that book is a struggle of choices for Claire--between Gerry and her adoptive parents, between her new love in Carson Springs and her hometown boyfriend. In WISH COME TRUE, it is mentioned almost as an aside that Claire is now married, and that Claire's mother had passed away. I felt cheated that this was only worthy of one sentence when I had grown to know and care for these people.

I hate to see this trilogy end. There are so many more stories to tell in Carson Springs, hopefully Ms. Goudge will revisit it again someday. Although WISH COME TRUE is the third in a series, Ms. Goudge gives the reader enough background that it can stand alone. I recommend reading all three books: STRANGER IN PARADISE, TASTE OF HONEY, and now WISH COME TRUE, to get to know the special people of Carson Springs. The idyllic scenery and warm residents will make you wish to live in this corner of heaven on earth, or at least visit for a little while.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put It Down!, November 13, 2003

By 

TJ's Mommy (El Dorado Hills, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wish Come True: A Carson Springs Novel (Hardcover)

I got hooked on the Carson Springs series from day one. Eileen Goudge does a wonderful job of drawing you into the town and the characters lives. In the first two books you learn about Anna Vincenzi and her sister, movie star Monica Vincent. The auther elludes to a strain in their relationship and that Monica is a difficult person, but you don't learn how difficult until this third book in the series.

Anna works for her sister full time and also cares for their mother full time. She's stressed out, overweight, and very unhappy. This book leads you through Anna's story. Unfortunately, Monica is found dead and Anna has been arrested for her murder, so life for Anna isn't a wish come true! The story flip flops between the present and the past. It leads you through Anna's weight loss, discovery of love, and a self discovery that she can be a strong person. It's such a great character novel. I didn't want it to end. I recommend this book...and the entire series!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Gratutious and Graphic, October 5, 2003

By 

Mamalinde "mamalinde" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wish Come True: A Carson Springs Novel (Hardcover)

Eileen Goudge evidentally loves the fictional town and characters she has created and Carson Springs does sound like a heavenly place. But as a casual reader (who might only get to read 5 to 10 pages at a sitting), I found there were too many characters to keep up with, too many pronouns to figure out who was who, and that the graphic and unimaginative insertions of "love scenes" were more gratutious than necessary for the plot line. It was fun to see the Anna character grow (or shrink?), and the plot lines and mystery seem forced, unrealistic and unlikely.