Wishing (Sonnet Books) [Mass Market Paperback]

Miranda Jarrett (Author)

Book Description

Series: Sonnet Books | Publication Date: January 1, 1999

From "The Captain's Bride" to "Cranberry Point," Miranda Jarrett has enchanted readers with the passionate adventures of the seagoing Fairbournes of colonial Cape Cod. Now she creates a splendid tale of love found amidst the storms of life...in a stunning new novel in the award-winning saga from "a sensational author" "(Rendezvous)."

Captain Samson Fairbourne is a confirmed bachelor, a deep-water sailor happily wedded to his work. When he pens a description of the perfect, obedient wife, and hefts the missive overboard in a bottle, all he has in mind is a cutting joke to teach his young cousin a lesson on the foolishness of wishes -- and women. Instead, his prank leads him to Polly Bray, a hardworking seafarer who is about to shake his disparaging notions of femininity -- while reeling in his heart.

Left an orphan in a Massachusetts fishing village, Polly dresses in boy's clothes to work aboard her father's fishing boat, the one possession he left her. Pulled under by a devastating storm at sea, she is rescued by Samson Fairbourne, and a sparkling, passionate bond takes hold. But the handsome captain seems determined to confine Polly to his limited view of womanhood. And Polly fears she must surrender her precious independence -- or cut the stubborn, impassioned Samson adrift....

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Captain Samson Fairbourne makes a rash promise to Neptune to marry a "young woman sweet in temper and without vanity, modest and truthful in words and manner, obedient and honorable," not believing for a moment that such a woman exists in 1721. He writes out his pledge, seals it in an empty rum bottle, and tosses it into the sea. Meanwhile, Polly Bray, dressed like a man and on her own after her father's recent death, is frantically trying to catch enough scrod to earn her keep. A rum bottle snares in her net, and as she tries to decipher its message, she is dragged out to sea in a freak storm and delivered directly to Samson. He tries to prove that Polly is not his ideal woman, but she unknowingly proves that she is, and Jarrett fashions a winning nautical tale that is sure to appeal to all fans of colonial-era romances. Melanie Duncan

Review

Romantic Times A sparkling talent! -- Review

Wishing begins in 1721 in the waters around Barbados. Captain Samson Fairbourne is on his ship, the Morning Star. He is lecturing his younger cousin, Zach, on the evils of women. Samson appears to be a very bitter, cynical man when it comes to this topic. He makes a wish to Neptune for the perfect woman in his view who would be, "sweet of temper, without vanity, modest and truthful in words and manner, obedient and honorable, to take as my lawful wife." He rolls it up, puts it in a bottle and throws it into the sea. The bottle is corked but it sinks not floats. Polly Bray is out pulling in her fishing nets. She is forced to take care of herself after her father passed away in the spring of the fever. She finds the bottle in her net and suddenly finds a storm come up quickly and she ends up thrown overboard. Polly and Sam come together when he fishes her unconscious body out of the water. She has somehow traveled from her hometown to the Caribbean. They don't mesh instantly, but slowly as they get to know one another they find they like the person underneath their facades. They then return to the Fairbourne home and the past that is there to face Samson. This is the third book involving the Fairbourne family and the whole family comes together at the end of the novel. Miranda Jarrett does a great job of writing a cozy romance. I always feel comforted reading them. The characters are appealing and you want them to get together and live happily ever after. The settings are always well drawn out -- I still want to live in Serena's cabin (Cranberry Point). You don't have to read the first two books to enjoy this one, but when you're done you'll go looking for the others, and so you should. I hope that there is a fourth book - we haven't heard Daniel's story yet! Third times is a charm! I love to read about the Fairbourne's. Miranda Jarrett has created a great set of characters. Wishing is a great book to curl up with. Michelle Sawyer -- Copyright © 030199 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671003410
• ISBN-13: 978-0671003418
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,324,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A good as ever, November 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wishing (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

In 1721, Captain Samson Fairbourne is very upset with his younger cousin Zach because the lad got into a dangerous fight when he went around carousing with wine and women while on shore leave. Samson wants to teach Zach the error of his ways when it comes to females. However, Samson fails to gain an understanding from Zach that women are a waste of a good man's time. Desperate, Samson scribes what he feels is the desired qualities of a spouse. Though he knows no such paragon lives (except perhaps his sister), he places his note inside a bottle and throws it into the sea.

Off Marblehead, Massachusetts, Polly Bray is fishing when her net catches the bottle that Samson just tossed into the water. She reads the note, which distracts her and when a sudden wind arises, she is pushed into the river. Samson rescues Polly, but somehow she is quite a distance from where she fell into the water. Zach persuades Samson to place a wager that Polly is different from most women. In spite of his deep rooted disgust with females and his misogynist outlook on life, Samson falls in love with Polly. She too loves him. However, there can be no long lasting relationship until Samson surmounts his prejudice that all women are users.

WISHING, the sequel to the fabulous CRANBERRY POINT, is a wonderful Colonial romance that lives up to the quality level of its predecessor. Samson and Polly are a beautiful couple while the secondary characters add authenticity and strength to a tremendous story line and makes the early eighteenth century come alive for the reader. Magician Miranda Jarrett will leave her audience wishing for another sequel, starring Zach.

Harriet Klausner

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun read, April 21, 2000

By 

Bonnie Gilbert - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wishing (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

In a move to prove that he believed all women were alike and not worth his time, Captain Samson Fairbourne pens a description of the perfect, obidient, beautiful wife, puts it into a bottle and throws it into the ocean. Soon after orphan Polly Bray finds the bottle and is washed out to sea.

When Samson and his men find Polly they first believe she is not alive and a man. They soon find out otherwise. Determined to prove that all women are alike and are only after money and gifts he starts a wager with his cousin to prove his point. They will dress Polly up and pamper her to see how she changes.

Determined not to change, Polly refuses to wear the beautiful dresses Samson buys for her. Regardless of her dress, Samson soon finds himself falling in love with Polly and Polly is drawn to Samson. But neither will declare their love.

Miranda Jarrett has written a fun and exciting colonial story set in the 18th century. Samson is an interesting character and Polly is fun and lively. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Jarrett.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There's a reason Jarrett is the Queen of Colonial Romance..., June 24, 1999

By 

Jenny Crusie (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wishing (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)

and this book shows you why. Jarrett puts the reader completely in her historical time period without ever losing sight of her story, and her story is a great one. Terrific characters and plot twists make this one a keeper.