Wish Upon a Star

Lakeside Mountain Rescue #4 & 5

by Sarah Morgan

Love is in the air this Christmas!

The Christmas Marriage Rescue
Christy was hoping to skip Christmas this year. Her kids have other ideas - they've put their dad's name at number one on their Christmas list. So it looks as if Christy will be hightailing it up to the Lake District to play happy families with her ex!

Snow-capped mountains and roaring log fires - Alessandro's home is like walking into a Christmas card. Is it really safe for her to spend Christmas with her dreamy, funny - no! - entirely infuriating ex-hubby?

The Midwife’s Christmas Miracle
Miranda has completely the opposite problem. Being single and pregnant at Christmas was certainly not her wish come true. She doesn't believe in miracles, but then resident hunk Jake sweeps her off her snow-covered shoes. Come Boxing Day dare she dream that Mr Sex-on-Legs might be for more than just Christmas?

‘A picturesque and charming tale' Star magazine on Angels in the Snow

Genres: Christmas, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Holiday, Mills and Boon

384 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2011

About the author

About Sarah

USA Today and #1 Sunday Times bestselling author Sarah Morgan writes romance and contemporary women's fiction and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe. Sarah lives near London, England, and when she isn't reading or writing she loves being outdoors.

Look out for Sarah's latest novel - All Together for Christmas (UK title)/ A Merry Little Lie (US/Canadian title)

Join Sarah on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSarahM...
Follow Sarah on Twitter: https://twitter.com/SarahMorgan_
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Website: www.sarahmorgan.com





Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Nicola · Rating 3 out of 5]

Books 4 and 5 in the Lakeside Mountain Rescue series bring us more doctors and nurses, and was a bit of a mixed bag—the first involving a marriage in crisis which had me I leaping between from like and dislike, frustrated over a lack of basic communication between Mr. and Mrs. Garcia and wanting to kick the him right where it hurt for his 1950’s mentality.

Which marriage rulebook says that it’s the woman who has to make all the changes in her life?”

Great dad-skills but the husband ones left a little to be desired at times but thank all Santa’s elves that his wife took little of his shite and his best-mate pointed out he was being a bit of a dick. And after all that marital angst came a steady paced, easygoing insta-love story between that best-mate and the lady he rescues off a mountain on Christmas Day.

Neither were my faves of the series so far, but Wish Upon a Star was still festive, easy enough read.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 - Miffed Stars.

I never thought I would ever be rating a duology by this author with such a low rating.

In short I disliked the couple in the first book; The Christmas Marriage Rescue, and I was so bored I gave up on book two; The Midwife's Christmas Miracle. The writing was the authors usual standard, but with not liking the characterisations in the first and the tropes used in both of them, books five and six in the Lakeside Mountain Rescue Series, were a huge disappointment for me.

Thankfully this author's back catalogue is many an varied so onwards and upwards!

[Sherrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Two Christmas stories about Christy and Miranda, both linked by featuring the same characters, mainly controlling chauvinistic men! Just too cheesy and lacking in substance for me, sorry!

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again a perfect setting of the lake district and I loved the thrill of the story being set among the mountains and hospital.

The two leading ladies are Christy and Miranda while the leading men are Alessandro and Jake. Set in two halfs one from Christy's point of view one from Miranda's.

Jake, Christy and Alessandro have knew each other for quite some time. Christy has two children with Alessandro. He is a brilliant father but to me lacking in the importance of acknowledging his wife at the same time. He is backward in his way of seeing Christy as Christy and her being a mum. He sort of redeemed himself at the end but he was no Jake for me, who also managed to kick Alessandro into the twenty first century. Not without receiving a punch first.

Jake had only loved one woman in his life and she could never be his as she was always looking at someone else. That is until he meets Mirranda at Christmas. How did he seriously not notice she was pregnant? You could seriously have shaken Miranda on more than one occasion for not seeing how different he was to the other waste of space men in her life. With a little bit of hope though they get there in the end.

Other than the lake district and hospital setting Jake made this story for me and I like how he was connected in both parts.

4.5 Stars

[Dalia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book contains 2 stories a little darker than the usual SM's books but heartwarming nonetheless.
The christmas Marriage Rescue
Very realistic story about a marriage in peril due to miscommunication and a workaholic husband. Christy had to leave a job she loved as a nurse in A and E department and with the mountain rescue team to raise the children. while Alessandro continued ahead in his career as consultant, Christy felt left behind. I liked how Christy kept proving herself as she got her job back. I liked that Alessandro, so arrogant and domineering, has a few moments of self-doubt after taking Christy for granted for so long. The kids, especially the mischievous 11 years old Katy, were just adorable.

The Midwife Christmas Miracle
Jack has one look at Miranda and he was lost. He is fascinated by her independence and feistiness. Here is a hero who isn't afraid of commitment and is willing to admit his love from the beginning. But Miranda has a secret and - due to a miserable childhood- she doesn't believe in happy family life. Jack is a wonderful hero with a tender streak. He shows patience and determination to win the woman he loves.

[Hailee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This was a real cheese-fest. Not really surprising in a mills and boon book. However it was lovely and Christmasy and a real feel-good book. It was exactly what I expected it to be and I enjoyed it all the more for it.

I expect I'll read a few more Christmas romance books along the same lines this December and I hope I enjoy them all as much as this one.

[Hemavathy DM Suppiah-Devi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful and poignant.

[Rachel Gilbey · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

Wish Upon A Star is a book with two separate stories, Christy's and Mirandas. They have a location and one character mainly in common but they are very different stories, but both really enjoyable.

Christy's story features Christmas as the heart of it, as all her kids want is for them to go home, and back to Alessandro, in the Lake District, for Christmas. She reluctantly agrees, but for the children's sake more than anything. Once back she is called into action alongside Alessandro, as an A&E nurse, a role she gave up when she had Ben, and it starts make Alessandro realise things about Christy's life.

Ben and Katy, hatch a small series of stunts to try and get their parents sleeping in the same bed again, and I was very impressed with Katy. She may only be 11 but is incredibly observant, and old beyond her years would suggest.

There is hot simmering chemistry between Alessandro and Christy which they spend more time denying than exploring, but the sex scenes were hot and enjoyable!

I was aware that Sarah Morgan has written medical romances in the past, but hadn't read any, I now know for certain, that I would love them, the way I love her other books, as Wish Upon A Star has doctors, nurses and supporting staff as the starring characters, and the hospital scenes in both parts of the book, drew me in and really engaged me. It's been many years since I last read a Mills & Boon medical romance, and I have no idea why. Turns out I still really enjoy the sub genre.

The second story is more gentle, and a lot less festive. It starts on Christmas Day, where Miranda is rescued by Jake (Jake is godfather to Katy, and works alongside Alessandro and Christy at both the hospital and on the mountain rescue team), and there seems to be a connection between them at least on Jake's side intially.

Miranda is a midwife, and Jake is an obstetrician and are a great team working together, and some of the deliveries had me holding me breath, praying that everyone was ok.

Oddly I think the most fascinating aspect of Wish Upon A Star was the mountain rescue team. I've not encountered one of those before, and seeing them in action, especially on how they get a stretcher down a mountain is impressive, and very detailed.

Although I didn't get a very Christmassy vibe from the majority of the book, despite its pretty cover, implying as much, it is still a very enjoyable book, with two contrasting stories, that I loved equally. I may have said it before, I'm sure I will say it again, I love Sarah Morgan's books and get more impressed with each one I have read.

[Jen - Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE CHRISTMAS MARRIAGE RESCUE

An enjoyable read. I love the rescue team at the Lake District.
Alessandro, the Spanish hero in this book, is hot and delicious! Christy is fabulous - strong, intelligent and capable. However, both hero and heroine needed a good slap! They didn't communicate clearly even though they were both crazy about each other. The kids in this story were fabulous and conversations with and between them hilarious!

THE MIDWIFE'S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE
This is a great story and has a bit of an unusual take on the regular romance theme.
Also set in the Lake District it deals with another member of the mountain rescue team, Jake, and his quest for love.
He finds Miranda on the mountain about to freeze and rescues her. Slowly he unravels all get secrets and helps her to heal her past therefore allowing her to be able to focus on here and now.

Another two feel-good reads from Sarah Morgan.

[Nessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first Sarah Morgan book and i can safely report that it won't be my last. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and i even learnt a few things along the way, about mountain rescue, a & e nurses and being a midwife.

Wonderful characters and so well written, so much so that u really feel a part of the story.

I can't wait to read more of her books.

[Bonnie]

I'm being a real bah humbug this year. Christmas books aren't capturing my interest at all this year.

[Julie Barrett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish Upon A Star by Sarah Morgan
One section is about Christy:
The kids talk their mom into going home to the dads's place in the country for Christmas.
Alessandro is a doctor with emergency services. They agreed to get together for the sake of the kids.
Once they arrive in the country he has to go back to work at the hospital and again she feels
she never gets to talk to him. She is then asked to work at the hospital because the nurses that
were to be on duty are all sick. She agrees and the kids are either with her, him or his parents.
They are able to talk when they find themselves at the hospital at the same time. It's very busy with the holidays, staff not there, and holiday travel. The kids sense getting them back together is not working so they try to force them by jumping on their mom's bed hoping to break it so she'll have to sleep with their dad in the same bed. That backfires when the dad says he will take the couch and give the bed to the mother. Again the kids try, other things to get them back together.
Part of the hospital job is going out on mountain rescue missions. Alessandro is going to one and doesn't want Christy to go incase anything should happen one of them will be around to raise the kids. She wants to go also. They are spending a lot more time together, during emergencies and they are able to talk more about their problem.
Love the details of what goes into a mountain rescue especially an avalanche.


Next section is called Miranda
Jake found her body in the snow, Miranda. He put his hat on her and tried to give her a candy bar. She was shivering so bad.
It was Christmas day and he did not want to alert the rescue squad so they decided they would walk down the mountain.
They talked a lot on the way down and got to know one another.
He took her back to his place and gave her a hot bath and fed her and she stayed the night, on the couch. When the phone rang in the morning he went into another room, it was the hospital-they needed him. When he got back to the living room she was gone.
He didn't even know her name or where to find her. She was hiding a lot of things from him and she did not want to share them with anybody.
Miranda shows up at the hospital, she's a mid wife and shes 6 months pregnant also.
Second day at the hospital, he brings her to her home and things don't go quite good.
A lot of other meaningful things happen and they talk a lot more to get to know one another better.
Good to know this author will have another book out the summer of 2012.

[Paula Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's Christmas time and the snow is falling , it should be one of the most romantic times of the year but for four people it isn't though with the Christmas joyous season, their lucks are about to change.
Wish upon a star contains two stories both set in the Lakes District ( home of Beatrix Potter) . The first is Christy and Alessandro's tale , a few months ago Christy was fed up and decided to up and leave and take the children with her to London to stay with her brother Pete. Expecting , Alesssandro to come chasing afterwards , she stayed but alas he never came. Angry, she thinks he doesn't want to save their marriage but when her two children Kate and Ben want to go home for Christmas Christy tag-alongs. However, Kate and Ben have only one wish this christmas - to get their parent's back together , a real English Parent Trap. This christmas Christy and Alessandro's love for each other will have to test the time and see if there is still a chance for it to stand strong . Will Kate and Ben's christmas wish be granted ? Can Christy reconnect with her husband or is this just another failed attempt on her side ?
The second story is Miranda and Jake's tale , Jake has always been seen as a ladies man , with a different girl each week. He has only ever loved one women - Christy , the wife of his best friend Alessandro. One day when working with the Mountain rescue team he comes across Miranda , a women who slipped during a climb. Jake feels an instant connection with her, but unfortunately everytime he tries to get close, Miranda pushes him away. For a relationship to work, one must rely on complete honesty but can the pair of them face what's holding them back in order to move on . When Miranda can't hide her dark secret anymore about her past relationship history , will Jake stand by her and prove to her that their connection is unbreakable or will he too be running for the mountains ?
With "Wish upon a Star" , this Christmas four people will discover the true meaning of love. A tale of second chances, relationship do's and don'ts and Christmas spirit

[Gaby G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Posted at Oh My Books!

Wish Upon a Star is a lovely book that I deeply enjoyed. It has two very cute stories and I read it in only one day.

The first story is about Christy. She made a mistake, leaving her husband a few months ago to make him notice her, but he was supposed to follow her and make her come back. He didn't and now it's Christmas, and the kids want to spend the holidays with the two of them, together. It's the moment to see if Alessandro, her sexy Spanish husband, still want to be with her or if they are really over.

I really enjoyed this story. Christy is an easy to like woman, and I really liked that she knew her husband's faults but still loved him and accepted him that way. Alessandro was very temperamental and controlling, but he loved Christy and their kids, and he's not going to loose them.

The second story is about Miranda, single and very much pregnant, and Jake, the sexy and lonely doctor. They met and Jake is unable to let her go, but when he discovers she's pregnant, he instantly jumps to the conclusion that she's with someone else. When it's obvious she's on a very difficult situation, he invites her to live with him while trying to make her fall in love.

Jake was very different to the male protagonist of the first story, he's very sweet and understand women. He knows Miranda needs space and understand that she is used to be independent, but slowly gets into her heart.

Both of the stories are sweet and have a couple of hot moments, but always very romantic and of course, with excellent happily ever after endings.

Overall, I loved this book and I recommend it if you're looking for sweet holiday stories. I think the author didn't need to repeat many times that Alessandro was Spanish, or that his temperament / personality was because of that, but still I liked the characters and enjoyed the book.

[Janga · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wish Upon A Star is a duet of two previously published medical romance novels with Christmas settings: The Christmas Marriage Rescue and The Midwife’s Christmas Miracle. In the first one, Christy Garcia takes her two children and leaves her hunky doctor husband Alessandro to his work in the A and E department and with the mountain rescue team. But what she hopes will force Alessandro to see the cracks in their marriage instead widen the emotional and physical distance between them. Her children are unhappy in London and push for a return to the Lake District to spend Christmas with their father. The manipulations of the children and the couple’s best friend combine with an unexpected chance for Christy to return to work at the A and E and the magic of the season to give two people who still love each other a second chance.

The second story features the Garcias’ friend Jake Blackwell and Miranda Harding. Jake is dreading a lonely Christmas when he rescues Miranda who has lost her way in the snow and persuades her to spend Christmas Day with him. One memorable kiss might have ended the relationship had Miranda not shown up as the new mid-wife at the hospital where Jake is an obstetric consultant. Jake is interested, but Miranda is wary—and six months pregnant.

I prefer longer stories, and I’m not a big fan of medical romances. Nevertheless, I was impressed by Morgan’s ability to create interesting, intelligent characters. Alessandro was a bit too alpha for my taste, but I found Christy and the kids appealing. And I liked Jack and Miranda a lot. I also liked Morgan’s voice. I’ll keep an eye out for other books by her.

[Leona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Two previously published medical romances 1) THE CHRISTMAS MARRIAGE RESCUE and 2) THE MIDWIFE'S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

I definitely preferred the second story over the first.

The first one (The Christmas Marriage Rescue) is a marriage in peril between an A&E specialist and his wife who gave up her nursing career to raise their children. It's about reconnecting and rediscovering what brought them together in the first place. Typically, this is one of my favorite themes, but I had trouble connecting with the H/h. They just seemed to talk past one another and their only connection was a sexual attraction which doesn't bode well for the long haul. I also didn't like all the stereotypical, red hair irish temper, hot blooded spaniard tropes that were thrown in. However, the supporting cast were wonderful. Especially Doc Jake Blakewell, the hero of the second story, The Midwife's Christmas Miracle.

Out on a walk in the mountains, Jake finds a woman half frozen to death. He rescues her and is instantly attracted, recognizing that she could be the woman he has been searching for all his life. The next day he discovers that she is the new midwife in his hospital ward and that she is SIX months pregnant. (how he missed that the night before was a bit unrealistic, given he is an OBGYN) The heroine has lived an abusive, sad, lonely life so her ability to open up and accept Jake and all he has to offer is near impossible. This was a realistic view of how an abused woman, learns to love again. Quite potent for a category romance.

[Clair Atkins · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh my goodness I found this so frustrating. This book is two separate stories set in the Lake District at Christmas time. The first is about Christy and Alessandro whose marriage is in trouble. The couple have an amazing sex life, a comfortable lifestyle but Christy appears to have left her husband because he works too hard at his job at the hospital! She comes home for Christmas with the children and what follows is a series of misunderstandings because no one actually talks to each other!!! I wanted to screen with frustration at the characters - the only thing that kept me going were the descriptions of the a&e department and the other hospital jargon.
The second story was better (which is why I carried on). This is the story of Miranda, a pregnant midwife who gets saved by Jake, a consultant at the hospital when she gets stranded up a mountain on Christmas day. They aren't any where as annoying as the first couple and you kind of want things to work out for them.
The only reason I read this was because it was a gift. I'm not sure I'd read anything by this author again.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

previously to this book is read once upon a Christmas and absolutely loved it and feel in love with all the characters.

this book also had 2 stories in one. I struggled through part one to the point I was going to give up. but part 2 stole my heart. I loved watch jake and marinda story unfold.

over all a heart warming Christmas read

[Debra K · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a more detailed review, please visit my blog -

Debra's Book Cafe

Thank you

Debs

[Marie Godley · Rating 4 out of 5]

really enjoyed these stories - interesting characters.

[Lesley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5* Two Medical Romances - Also published separately.

The Christmas Marriage Rescue 4* - After 12 years of marriage and two children, Christy’s husband spends all his time at the hospital and with the exception of the bedroom she never sees him. Alessandro is passionate and possessive and so when she leaves him in an attempt to shake him up, for him to take notice and see her as a woman, not merely a wife and mother, she honestly expects him to come after her and drag her home. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen, so she becomes convinced that he no longer loves her. It takes the machinations of her daughter to get her home for Christmas and the interference of a close friend to get them communicating again.
Note: I believe that Christy was away 2 months but that is a guess as both 3 and 4 months were also mentioned - I do dislike it when there are editing issues!

The Midwife’s Christmas Miracle 5* - Miranda has not had much luck in life but that changes when, lost on the mountains in a whiteout in unsuitable clothing, Jake stumbles across her. Not that she comes across as grateful at being rescued; she is prickly, fiercely independent and secretive. She never expects to see him again but the very next day, starting her new job, there he is! Jake hasn’t been so drawn to a woman in years and cannot believe that Miranda has gone without giving him her last name and address. He is not used to having to chase women but he is determined to find her; and then she turns up in his unit but his relief turns to anger when he learns one of her secrets…

[Kirsty (BookBlogger) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish Upon A Star by Sarah Morgan

Blurb

The Christmas Marriage Rescue
Christy was hoping to skip Christmas this year. Her kids have other ideas - they've put their dad's name at number one on their Christmas list. So it looks as if Christy will be hightailing it up to the Lake District to play happy families with her ex!

Snow-capped mountains and roaring log fires - Alessandro's home is like walking into a Christmas card. Is it really safe for her to spend Christmas with her dreamy, funny - no! - entirely infuriating ex-hubby?

The Midwife’s Christmas Miracle
Miranda has completely the opposite problem. Being single and pregnant at Christmas was certainly not her wish come true. She doesn't believe in miracles, but then resident hunk Jake sweeps her off her snow-covered shoes. Come Boxing Day dare she dream that Mr Sex-on-Legs might be for more than just Christmas?

My Opinion

This book has been on my bookshelf for a long time, I needed to quickly grab a book to read and this was the chosen one. I read this book in one day and whilst it is made up of two short stories that are part of a larger series I had no issues with enjoying this book. This was such a charming read.

I have enjoyed a few of Sarah Morgan's Christmas books now and this was no different. A great read for the festive season!

Rating 4/5

[Sarah Hills · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, I'm about 10 years late in reading and reviewing this book but I have thoroughly enjoyed the read. It's two stories in the one book so a bargain if there ever was one.
They are both linked by the area, the mountains and the Hospital which I rather liked. I have not read any other books in this series but that was not a problem with this book.
I enjoyed everything about the tales, characters and their settings. The author had obviously learnt or read a lot about English Hospitals, procedures and skill sets in different departments.
I notice some of the older reviews were not so kind about this book, but I found it absorbing, maybe because I too work in a hospital.
I really enjoyed this book and will now certainly look out for others in this series.

[Kirstine Duthie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I preferred Miranda’s story - a tad unbelievable however most substance to the characters. Christy’s story was based only on not talking to each other it could have been a side plot to Miranda’s and less of the he doesn’t want me blah blah blah. The controlling nature of her husband etc wasn’t romantic more toxic relationship and red flag galore.

[Angela Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book. Loved the kids trying to get their mum and dad's relationship back on track. Christmas so loves Alessandro. She couldn't understand why he didn't want her working in A a d E with him. I love Happy endings doesn't everyone. I loved Miranda's story too. Jake wanting to Marry Miranda, especially after delivering and seeing her baby.

[Kimberley Leamon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book and was surprised by the 2 stories in one book that it has as it didn't appear to be like that in reading the back.
I enjoyed both stories and loved how they were also connected in little ways.
This author is becoming a favourite of mine.

[Sarah S · Rating 2 out of 5]

Serviceable Christmas romance.
I preferred the first story to the second, even though they annoyed me the storyline was a bit different.
The second story was very meh. Jake is a man straight out of the 1950s who falls in love immediately.

[Jeenu · Rating 5 out of 5]

really sweet and romantic..

[Lainy · Rating 3 out of 5]

review to follow xxx

[Sheila Penwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved both of the stories in this book. Would highly recommend this book.