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The Wishing Tree
Winner of the 2002 ERA Award for Best Historical Romance! 3rd Place in the 2002 Laurel Wreath Award! 2002 EPPIE Award Finalist! Jake Tanner goes to collect on a debt and comes back with a bride he doesn't want and can't resist. Grace Marshall is determined to honor her marriage vows, but one step forward with Jake always leads to two steps back. When Jake's past shows up on the doorstep in the form of a wife he thought was dead, Grace has had enough. Now Jake has to figure out how to keep the wife he wants and shed himself of the wife he doesn't want. And one of those wives wants him dead.
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First published January 1, 2003
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
December 21, 2010
The strange thing about The Wishing Tree is if I hadn't come across it for work recently, I probably wouldn't have picked it up for myself to read. I LOVE movie westerns (I'm a big fan of the tv show Rifleman, the movies Tombstone, Sharon Stone's version of The Quick and the Dead and the third Back to the Future movie edges out the other three just by a hair ;-)) but don't read much western lit because I always think it'd be a bit dry.
The Wishing Tree started out a bit slow because I had no idea what it was about. I don't tend to check out the blurbs of books that I work on. Mainly because I miss that childlike wonderment and the element of surprise in picking up a good read. It didn't take long for me to dive whole hog into this story!
The story opens with Jake Tanner coming to collect a debt at the insistence of his brother A.J. Jake and his family are pretty well off due to the extensive ranch and cattle herding business they run. They entered an arrangement with the patriarch of the Marshall home. Unfortunately, the note he comes to collect can't be paid due to the Marshall not having much money. The solution? Their oldest daughter Grace's hand is given in marriage to clear the milk cow debt.
From the beginning, everything goes wrong. Jake isn't attracted to Grace, her family could care less is if she leaves and the townspeople come to gawk at the wedding where Grace has to settle with a dingy yellow dress. Even worst, when her father mistreats her dog, Jake opens his mouth and puts his foot in it, breaking their well kept charade of a love story in front of the entire town. Grace can't wait to leave.
When she arrives at the Tanner home, everything is in disarray. A.J., Jake's brother, lives in a shadow after his wife's death and shuts himself out from the world. Both his and Jake's son, Jeremy' are at each other's throats, subject to bad food thanks to A.J.'s cooking. Grace eases her way in to calm things down not only with Jake's family but also to get herself mentally prepared to deal with Jake's hot and cold temper as he tries to keep her at arm's length.
There are a lot of things going on in this story that run alongside the main love story. A.J.'s recovery, life on the farm, the children's relationship with their parents, and an unexpected visitor who shows up after believing to be dead for years.
I LOVED this story. I've been looking for a well written story with a rich setting and this quenched my thirst. Ms. Snodgrass has a way of writing that I love so much where she lets the characters unfold in the story by showing you how they change, act and react to their environment. There were times when I cheered the characters and other times where I wanted to smack them and I loved it because they felt well rounded like real people. They weren't cookie cutter and although I feared Grace becoming a pushover or too headstrong, she balanced both aspects just right. There's a part in the story where she confronts the villain in a way that had me out of my seat and cheering for her like I was at a hockey tournament. It was awesome. The tension of that scene leveled out with a heartbreaking revelation moments later made this an intense and interesting read. Later on in the book, there are some moments of suspense that was a much welcome surprise.
Ms. Snodgrass also laid the groundwork out for the next in the series centered around Grace's younger sister Mary-Bell (now called Belle) and the handsome, mysterious preacher with a past, Paul Harrington. I can't wait to get my hands on that story. :-)
The Wishing Tree started out a bit slow because I had no idea what it was about. I don't tend to check out the blurbs of books that I work on. Mainly because I miss that childlike wonderment and the element of surprise in picking up a good read. It didn't take long for me to dive whole hog into this story!
The story opens with Jake Tanner coming to collect a debt at the insistence of his brother A.J. Jake and his family are pretty well off due to the extensive ranch and cattle herding business they run. They entered an arrangement with the patriarch of the Marshall home. Unfortunately, the note he comes to collect can't be paid due to the Marshall not having much money. The solution? Their oldest daughter Grace's hand is given in marriage to clear the milk cow debt.
From the beginning, everything goes wrong. Jake isn't attracted to Grace, her family could care less is if she leaves and the townspeople come to gawk at the wedding where Grace has to settle with a dingy yellow dress. Even worst, when her father mistreats her dog, Jake opens his mouth and puts his foot in it, breaking their well kept charade of a love story in front of the entire town. Grace can't wait to leave.
When she arrives at the Tanner home, everything is in disarray. A.J., Jake's brother, lives in a shadow after his wife's death and shuts himself out from the world. Both his and Jake's son, Jeremy' are at each other's throats, subject to bad food thanks to A.J.'s cooking. Grace eases her way in to calm things down not only with Jake's family but also to get herself mentally prepared to deal with Jake's hot and cold temper as he tries to keep her at arm's length.
There are a lot of things going on in this story that run alongside the main love story. A.J.'s recovery, life on the farm, the children's relationship with their parents, and an unexpected visitor who shows up after believing to be dead for years.
I LOVED this story. I've been looking for a well written story with a rich setting and this quenched my thirst. Ms. Snodgrass has a way of writing that I love so much where she lets the characters unfold in the story by showing you how they change, act and react to their environment. There were times when I cheered the characters and other times where I wanted to smack them and I loved it because they felt well rounded like real people. They weren't cookie cutter and although I feared Grace becoming a pushover or too headstrong, she balanced both aspects just right. There's a part in the story where she confronts the villain in a way that had me out of my seat and cheering for her like I was at a hockey tournament. It was awesome. The tension of that scene leveled out with a heartbreaking revelation moments later made this an intense and interesting read. Later on in the book, there are some moments of suspense that was a much welcome surprise.
Ms. Snodgrass also laid the groundwork out for the next in the series centered around Grace's younger sister Mary-Bell (now called Belle) and the handsome, mysterious preacher with a past, Paul Harrington. I can't wait to get my hands on that story. :-)
March 23, 2012
CHEEZY!!
February 27, 2019
Audible Romance Package
AUDIOBOOK: Read February 7 & 8 2018
9hrs 41min
Narrator: C. D. Brooks does a good enough job.
I really like this one.
AUDIOBOOK: Read February 7 & 8 2018
9hrs 41min
Narrator: C. D. Brooks does a good enough job.
I really like this one.
September 2, 2013
3·5 - 3·75 stars. Not quite 4 stars, but very good. One of my favorite themes (marriage of convenience) and this one is kind of a MOC but with a twist.
There are a number of secondary characters which added to the story and their stories come to a nice conclusion.
In my opinion there were one or two threads left hanging hanging and that was incredibly frustrating since so many other things were satisfyingly wrapped up. It could be they are featured in another book. I'll have to look.. :)
There are a number of secondary characters which added to the story and their stories come to a nice conclusion.
In my opinion there were one or two threads left hanging hanging and that was incredibly frustrating since so many other things were satisfyingly wrapped up. It could be they are featured in another book. I'll have to look.. :)
October 16, 2016
This story is part Sarah Plain and Tall, part Zane Grey or Lewis L'Amour, part fairy tale and part something else. It is a great story. My favorite aspect is the heroine learning to be herself and finding that towards the end how to truly love others. This is the best I can do without spoilers. I really love this story. Sadly it is currently out of print so better head to your library or used book store to read it.
April 24, 2013
well...my wish for a good romance novel came true! So, the wishing tree works!;)
I really liked this one and I think the author has great talent in making the characters come to life...I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her books because I like her writing style and pace.
Overall, 5++ stars for this definite keeper!
I really liked this one and I think the author has great talent in making the characters come to life...I am definitely looking forward to reading more of her books because I like her writing style and pace.
Overall, 5++ stars for this definite keeper!
January 10, 2014
Heartwarming historical romance with laughs thrown in for good measure. Jake makes a mess of things when what he really wants to do is make things right. Grace finally getting her way out and then gaining much more than she could have every expected.
Snodgrass does a wonderful job making a romance stand the test of life and all it has to throw at you.
Snodgrass does a wonderful job making a romance stand the test of life and all it has to throw at you.
November 30, 2012
It had its moments but became unnecessarily contrived in an effort to build some drama.
November 5, 2015
I really enjoyed this book, though the ending was a little trite.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews