Customer Reviews

Wish Come True: A Carson Springs Novel

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

There were times when Anna Vincenzi might have thought that even Cinderella had better breaks then she did. As the caregiver and secretary to her sister, the dazzling but disabled movie star Monica Vincent, Anna was more often than not regulated to the background and constantly berated for her hard work. It didn't help that Anna was overweight and less than confident about herself.

When she took a little incentive to change her life and begin to lose some weight, Anna never dreamed that she would soon be charged with the murder of her famous sister. Talk about a weight loss plan!

Best selling author Eileen Goudge mixes up an intense murder mystery into her latest novel, "Wish Come True," the final book in her Carson Springs trilogy.

Carson Springs is a tranquil community that prides itself on the closeness of its community. So when one of their beloved residents finds herself charged with murder, everyone rallies to her support. Anna's neighbors Laura and Hector find a lawyer to help clear their friend's name, and Laura's sister Alice and her husband provide the bail money. Teenager Finch and her high school pals go door to door to raise money for the defense fund, and organize a rally to sway all the reporters who have gathered to cover the sensational murder trial.

But all their hard work could be in vain unless an important piece of the mysterious puzzle can be found before the trial ends in disaster.

Goudge also takes time to update her readers on the lives of her characters who were featured in the previous Carson Springs novels. Sam and Ian are happily married with their beloved baby, Jack. Gerry and her new husband Aubrey are singing along, and her oldest daughter Claire's new business venture, the Tea and Sympathy teashop is hit with the town. Weddings, first loves, and new babies round out the endearing stories found within the novel.

"Wish Come True" is lively and emotionally charged, with a dollop of sensuality to make it sizzle. A perfect read for the summer. Goudge's writing style is cozy and heartwarming, and readers will find themselves sorry to see this charming series coming to an end. But you know that she will have something wonderful waiting in the wings for the next book.

Sharon Galligar Chance
Times Record News, Wichita Falls, Texas

Who could possibly think Anna would kill Monica???? Not that she doesn't deserve to after all that she has put her thru but of course you can't put down the book once you get started. Great way to start your holiday weekend by picking up a copy of this book.
Carson Springs is a great place to live and I wish there were a Tea & Sympathy near my home.
Congratulations Eileen for once again writing about the people in Carson Springs who we have all known to come and love. If you haven't read her other books go out and get them you don't know what you are missing. Pure enjoyment.

Eileen Goudge has done it again. Just in time for the hot summer days we are having. What could be better then cooling off with a great book and continuing the saga about the people and the lives in Carson Springs.
I suggest if you have plans for the holiday weekend whether it be to stay home, fly or drive somewhere pick a copy of this book up up and pack it as you won't be disappointed.
Imagine Anna accused of murder? We all want to kill Monica and have wanted to before starting this book but to think that Anna is being accused of this crime? The book is easy, fast paced and as always full of suprises that Eileen always provides. I just wish there was a Tea and Sympathy near my house so I could stop off there for some goodies and then go home and read the book.
Its a must read for your summer enjoyment and I guarantee if you are a fan you'll love it and if not try it as you will become one after this book.

Eileen's Goudge's Wish Come True was an excellent end to a wonderful trilogy. The three books, Stranger in Paradise, Taste of Honey and now Wish Come True are written so eloquently and demurely that the reader falls into the books and into the characters. Specifically Wish Come True goes into depth with sideline characters from earlier in the trilogy. Here we live daily with Anna and her sister's fame. We struggle alongside her as she deals with weight, fear, and love. Once this book is picked up, it won't be put down until the last sentence has been read. Beautiful, touching, moving...

Had been looking for this book for years and finally found it at Amazon. It was the last in a series and I thoroughly enjoyed it. You can always find things at Amazon.com when you can't locate anywhere else.

Like the other books in the Carson Springs series, this is an excellent book. The plot is different from the others which keeps it interesting. I like how the characters from the other books are all involved in the story as well.

Anna Vincenzi has spent most of her life in her sisters' shadow. Monica Vincent, a famous actress who is now confined to a wheel chair has always kept Anna down, and played on her fears and lack of self-esteem. When Anna is not waiting hand and foot on Monica or answering her fan mail, she is taking care of their mother, who suffers from Alzheimer's.

Monica, an alcoholic, takes a tumble and as a result, Anna and other sister Liz decide that she needs rehab. This rehab requires that the family get involved in therapy, and soon family secrets are on the verge of being revealed, and Anna slowly comes out of her shell as she falls for the therapist, Marc Raboy.

Marc returns her affections as they embark on an affair but admits that they cannot have anything more than an affair, and he can tell that is not something that she can do. Marc is married a schizophrenic who was committed to a hospital 18 months earlier. He has affairs, but does not let his heart get involved.

Several months later, when Anna finally stands up for herself and announces her intention to no longer serve as Monica's personal assistant (and slave), suddenly Monica's lifeless body has been found in the pool, and all suspicions turn to Anna. Marc steps out of the self-imposed exile to help Anna until the situation can be resolved, but what then?

There is a secondary story of Finch's quest to find her birth family, when she comes across a stage hand from the Carson Springs movie with the same name as her. Could it be her grandmother? While a little weak, it does set up the next eventual story set in Carson Springs. There are plenty of characters from pervious Carson Springs novels populating this story as well. Goudge always does a good job of folding the other characters into the storyline without making it feel forced, but for readers not familiar with the other two novels, it may be a little confusing.