Careful What You Wish: another addition to The Wishing Tree series

Careful What You Wish by Ashley Farley is the seventh book in The Wishing Tree series. Mary May has been adrift. Her husband left her, she has no children and she’s on the verge of losing her home. Now she has lost her housekeeping job. With no income, she has lost all hope that she can repair her family’s dilapidated home. As a sarcastic joke, she ties a wish to the town’s famous wishing tree. She never expected her wish to come true and come true in an amazing fashion! All of a sudden her maple tree sprouts hundred dollar bills resulting in thousands of dollars. As she makes the necessary repairs, she begins to go on a spending spree and gives herself a much needed makeover. Soon she realizes that it wasn’t money she truly needs but friends. As her wish becomes a blessing and a curse, she must discover the true meaning behind her wish fulfillment. 

I have been enjoying The Wishing Tree immensely which is why it hurts to not enjoy Careful What You Wish. The story didn’t seem to fit with the others. Despite being from the town, no one seems to know or recognize Mary which doesn’t jive with the small town atmosphere. While the other books had small overlap with each other, Careful What Your Wish doesn’t have a single character that I recognize from the other books. Not even Neva, the Curator of Wishes, fails to make an appearance. Even the magic of the tree seems to be out of place with the previous books. The wish fulfillment in this story had more of a supernatural/divine intervention feel than the others. Mary was a hard character to care for and sympathize with. Sadly, I was highly disappointed in Careful What Your Wish and only recommend it as a part of The Wishing Tree series. I wonder how this story will fit with the remaining stories. 

Careful What You Wish is available in paperback and eBook

The Happy Accidents: when a night of mistakes can turn your life around

The Happy Accidents by Jamie Beck is a story of friendship, love and finding fulfillment in the most unusual way. All Jessie Clarke wanted was a wild adventure to celebrate her upcoming 37th birthday. Her sister, Lizzie, and their friend, Chloe, agree to the birthday pact for one wild night. What a wild night it was! The next morning, they wake up to shocking consequences. A viral video throws Liz’s career in broadcast news and reputation into a downward spiral. Chloe loses at the craps table that threatens her seemingly solid marriage. She realizes that she wants something more. Jessie is desperate to unlock her artistic muse which leaves her with lift-changing choices. Each woman is at a crossroads, the choice they must make will test everything they know and love. Will their misadventure be a curse or a blessing in disguise? 

What could go wrong with a girls night out right? A lot as Jessie, Liz and Chloe find out. The story started off rough as I wasn’t sure if I cared for or could relate to any of these women. But I stuck with it and by the end, I could appreciate their growth even though I could not relate to them. I enjoyed seeing the growth in the supporting characters as well. More often than not, the consequences of our choices affect those around us as well as ourselves. It was refreshing to see that Jessie, Liz and Chloe not only changed for the better but also those in their inner circle, even resulting in closer relationships than before. Overall, I enjoyed following the aftermath of their misadventures and see them better for it. I recommend The Happy Accidents

The Happy Accidents is available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook. 

Listening Still: a unique gift that can be a gift or a curse

Listening Still by Anne Griffin is a story of a young woman who has inherited the family gift…or is it a curse? Jeannie Masterson can hear the recently dead and give a voice to their final wishes and revelations. Inherited from her father, their gift has helped the family funeral business thrive in their small Irish town of Kilcross. Jeannie made the decision to stay and help with the family business instead of following her teenage sweetheart to London. When her parents announce their plans to retire, Jeannie is jolted awake to the life she has been living. She finds herself at a crossroads once again. Does she stay in Kilcross with her comfortable marriage and the family business or does she take this chance to finally break free from a calling she loves and hates? 

Listening Still is billed as “a heartachingly honest look at what we give up and what we gain when we choose to follow our heart.” I was intrigued by the premise. It’s not every day that you hear about a book with the main character having the ability to talk to the dead. Unfortunately, Listening Still did not live up to its premise. From the very beginning, Jeannie is unlikeable. She whines like a child when she learns about her parents' retirement. Jeannie is very wishy-washy as she never really understands a question, leaving the other person with the assumed answer and gets upset when they push the issue. It seems even the most mundane decisions trip her up and she acts as if every decision is a life-altering decision. I found Listening Still hard to read. 

Listening Still is available in hardcover, eBook, and audiobook. 

Bad Luck Bridesmaid: can one woman really be cursed?

Bad Luck Bridesmaid by Alison Rose Greenberg is a story about one woman’s search for happily ever after on her own terms. Zoey Marks believes she is cursed. Ten years and three weddings as a bridesmaid and no bride walking down the aisle. After the third failed wedding, she wonders if her own doubts about marriage haven't quietly influenced those she loves. When she turns down a proposal from her perfect All-American boyfriend that leaves both Rylan and herself heartbroken. She wonders what about marriage makes her want to run? When her best friend, Hannah, announces that she is getting married, to a guy she just met, at a gorgeous, romantic Irish castle, everything will be fine…right? Determined to undo this curse, she accepts yet another bridesmaid role and with more determination to get Hannah down the aisle. Zoey finds herself overwhelmed with more questions than she can answer. Can you be a free spirit and want a certain future? Can you love and be loved on your terms? 

Bad Luck Bridesmaid is marketed as a “whip-smart” and a “celebration of complicated women and a power anthem to live your truth.” The premise sounded interesting to me so I picked it up. And it is an edgy romance. Edgy all right. It set my teeth on edge. Zoey is a completely unlikeable character that I could not relate to at all. I lost count how many times I cringed or rolled my eyes at something she said or did. She is supposed to be a modern woman in the modern world but I found her very toxic and self-centered. I kept with the book hoping that Zoey would have a lightbulb moment, a revelation that she can pinpoint “This is what I want” whether it is marriage or not. Unfortunately, she really doesn't. No real character growth at all. I also didn’t like that the writing felt off with a lack of cohesiveness and I felt disoriented while reading it. I do not recommend Bad Luck Bridesmaid. 

Bad Luck Bridesmaid will be available in paperback, eBook, and audiobook on January 11

The Dark of Twilight: a fantasy adventure

The Dark of Twilight by Kate Danley is the first book in the Twilight Shifters series. The story opens as Aein, a young girl, begins her new position in Lord Arnkell’s guard. She is being sent on her new assignment to the eastern borders. Unfortunately, something strange happens when she arrives to the border and she is sent back to Lord Arnkell by her partner, Lars, to raise the alarm of a new threat. Lord Arnkell seems unconcerned but sends reinforcements to the eastern border. Some time later, at a great feast, something terrible happens. The people have fallen under a trouble curse and now it is up to Aein to find a cure before it is too late. Will she be able to find a cure? Is there someone or something behind this terrible curse?

The Dark of Twilight was an enjoyable yet simplistic story. It was an easy read as the story moved along quickly, moving from action to action without much downtime. Unfortunately, I doubt I will continue the trilogy. I did not care for the main character, Aein, as she acts more like a lovesick teenager than a warrior in a royal guard. As a villain, Lord Arnkell is weak. Aein has two potential love interests and the attempts at a love triangle is also weak. Maybe the love triangle will get more intense with the other books, but I have no interest to read further. However, I see teen readers enjoying it and those who enjoy fantasy stories.

The Dark of Twilight

is available in paperback and eBook

The Hanging Tree: a mystery and a curse

The Hanging Tree by Michael Phillips Cash is a novella about a long family curse. The story opens with Arielle who is rebelling against her father and his new girlfriend. She and her boyfriend, Chad, are hanging out by the The Hanging Tree in Oyster Bay. Unknown to the couple, there are spirits watching them from the branches of the tree, each with a story tied to a curse and this particular tree.

The story then turns to the same area in 1649, Goody Bennett has been raising her granddaughter since her son’s death. Goody is known as a healer but when her remedies don’t work anymore, trouble rumbles from the village. Tragedy strikes and Goody Bennett curses the family of the local reverend. How will the curse be broken? Who will fall victim? The story weaves between past and present in order to explain the curse and how it must be broken. Is the curse broken or will someone else fall as its next victim?

I enjoyed this book. For a novella, it had depth and action that I was not expecting. I highly recommend this book for all who enjoy a great story. 

The Hanging Tree is available on Amazon for the Kindle for free and in paperback for $6.99