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Wonder Guy
Sometimes true love needs a little help. Sometimes it takes fairy godmother magic to save the world - or at least Minneapolis.
Computer Science graduate student Greg Roberts is all formulas and logic. Neither will win him the heart of his lifelong true love, girl next door, Gloria Torkenson. When the Fairy Godmothers' Union, True Love Local offers to give him super-powers, Greg accepts, hoping to earn a shot at Gloria's love.
After her fiancé brushes off her shock and mourning, Gloria begins to see her engagement for what it is: a desperate bid for security. It's Greg who is at her side, comforting her when she needs it most. His natural thoughtfulness and newly emerged confidence capture her attention. But Gloria's desire for stability makes it hard to trust her heart.
With a dark fairy creating chaos, and her minions endangering Gloria, will Greg's gifted super powers prove enough to save the world?
A Lyrical Press Fantasy Romance
Computer Science graduate student Greg Roberts is all formulas and logic. Neither will win him the heart of his lifelong true love, girl next door, Gloria Torkenson. When the Fairy Godmothers' Union, True Love Local offers to give him super-powers, Greg accepts, hoping to earn a shot at Gloria's love.
After her fiancé brushes off her shock and mourning, Gloria begins to see her engagement for what it is: a desperate bid for security. It's Greg who is at her side, comforting her when she needs it most. His natural thoughtfulness and newly emerged confidence capture her attention. But Gloria's desire for stability makes it hard to trust her heart.
With a dark fairy creating chaos, and her minions endangering Gloria, will Greg's gifted super powers prove enough to save the world?
A Lyrical Press Fantasy Romance
- GenresSuperheroes
309 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2012
184 people want to read
About the author
Naomi Stone
26 books26 followersNaomi Stone lives with her imaginary husband and actual cat in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota.
Sign up for her newsletter to hear about her latest and get sneak peeks at upcoming publications. http://eepurl.com/chA1eX
Naomi enjoys reading fantasy, singing folk and filk songs, drawing and coloring books and has an obsession with bookmarks--especially the fabulous collection at dreamspell.net/crafts.
Sign up for her newsletter to hear about her latest and get sneak peeks at upcoming publications. http://eepurl.com/chA1eX
Naomi enjoys reading fantasy, singing folk and filk songs, drawing and coloring books and has an obsession with bookmarks--especially the fabulous collection at dreamspell.net/crafts.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 24, 2013
I’ll state this right up front. I loved Wonder Guy. This is a charming story with likable, real people interspersed among characters that aren’t, well, precisely real. Think adorable fairy godmothers and nasty, shape shifting creatures from another world.
Bookish grad student, Greg Roberts, is a wonderful, caring guy but overlooked and unappreciated by the girl of his dreams, his next door neighbor, Gloria. Desperate to impress her, he agrees to take on extraordinary powers. In doing so, he manages to catch her eye and do some good for the citizens of his home town, Minneapolis. But he really wants to be noticed and loved for who he is and not some masked superhero.
Wonder Guy is whimsical, humorous, lyrical and beautifully written. Ms. Stone does a great job with balance as the story is light and dark, good and evil and most of all, very touching. Check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
Bookish grad student, Greg Roberts, is a wonderful, caring guy but overlooked and unappreciated by the girl of his dreams, his next door neighbor, Gloria. Desperate to impress her, he agrees to take on extraordinary powers. In doing so, he manages to catch her eye and do some good for the citizens of his home town, Minneapolis. But he really wants to be noticed and loved for who he is and not some masked superhero.
Wonder Guy is whimsical, humorous, lyrical and beautifully written. Ms. Stone does a great job with balance as the story is light and dark, good and evil and most of all, very touching. Check it out. You won’t be disappointed.
September 11, 2016
I love this story! Such a fun and good-hearted read about a plain, ordinary man who finds himself with super powers so he can win the girl he loves. The theme isn't handled in your typical superhero way, however. The scenes where Greg is learning to handle his abilities are priceless and handled with a fresh eye and hand by Naomi Stone. And it isn't all about getting the girl -- there are badies to be fought, murders to be solved, and lives to save. Oh, and a dinosaur to remove from a city lake. Enjoy the unique fun of Wonder Guy!
March 19, 2018
Fairy tales and superheroes and pop culture, oh my! Be still my nerd-girl heart. Told with fun and whimsy, but also with an impressive understanding of the human heart. Greg recognizes his feelings for the sweet girl next door, but Gloria only sees him as a brother; the son of the woman who acted as a second mother to her. Enter Greg’s fairy godmother. What happens next is an almost Shakespearean comedy of errors as Greg and Gloria learn what their personal character is made up of while dodging potential personal injury lawsuits and giant mosquitoes. (Speaking as someone who lives where mosquitoes are common, this is a deeply disturbing image I pray will not haunt my nightmares.)
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
March 23, 2018
Sweet and delightful, this book is everything my fairytale-loving heart could have wished for. Greg loves Gloria, but he's simply a friend a buddy she grew up with. It would take magic to change how she sees him, but one little development might just be what's needed. Beautifully written with a lot of heart, I think I enjoyed getting to know Greg most, but seeing the dynamic shift between Greg and Gloria is lovely. Excellent read, great romance and a book I highly recommend. This is a voluntary review of an advance reader copy.
March 29, 2018
This is a delightful tale about a guy who is in love with his next door neighbor. The Fairy Godmother's Union approaches him and will give him superpowers so Gloria will notice him. This is all a ruse so the can find an evil being who is sucking the life out of this town. He goes through a couple of heroes to decide which powers he wants. It is quite funny at parts when he realizes superpowers don't work like the do in the comic books and there is a cause and effect. This story is sure to brighten up your day.
November 16, 2013
As a fan of superheroes I found Wonder Guy to be a delightful read with a unique and memorable premise that brought real-life issues into the world of fantasy. In this story good and evil battle for supremacy using a man who wants nothing more than to win the girl he's always loved. This results in numerous clever and humorous scenes as computer nerd Greg learns to embrace his superhero side and accept the responsibility given to him courtesy of his fairy godmother. Put all this together and you have a roller-coaster journey of action and suspense where all the usual superhero themes get a bit of a twist when true love beats the bad guy in the end.
Greg has always been the reliable one, the one you can always count on but who easily gets taken for granted because of it. He's loved his longtime friend Gloria since they were kids but he's never made a move for fear of rejection. With a single wish to his fairy godmother he's given the chance to win her over but in exchange has to save the world from a cruel entity who preys on darkness and grief. Greg's early attempts at mastering his powers are humorous but deal with heartfelt issues of responsibility too. He just wants to be loved for who he is but his persona soon becomes more powerful than he expected and it will take a simple act of humanity to claim Gloria and their HEA in a heart-pounding and fast-paced conclusion. Greg is charming and heroic both in and out of his costume and his unassuming nature won me over completely.
Gloria's felt alone since the death of her mother at an early age and her father's subsequent fall into the haze of alcoholism. Her only comforts are the old woman she's created an online business with and the woman's nerdy and reliable son Greg, who she considers a close friend. She's always been made to feel as though she was lacking with no hope of getting out of the current rut she's in unless she marries the indifferent Peter. When unexplained events and a masked man give her uneventful life a jolt she rethinks her plans for the future. While staring death in the face she realizes certain truths that have her embracing love close to home which brings her happiness that was missing from the moment we first see her. Gloria is a hard woman to like at times. She's too sarcastic and brittle during the early stages of the story but once true love is in her reach she becomes a happier more open-hearted person.
This story has many fanciful moments alongside real life emotions that fully immersed me in its outcome. The battle between good and evil is an exciting one where no one is safe in the heart-pounding journey to its HEA. It's a battle that invades both the human and otherworldly worlds in a mystery that keeps you guessing. The romance is subtle but satisfying with a conclusion that is immensely satisfying and I applaud Ms. Stone for her creative storytelling and hope she revisits this world soon.
Greg has always been the reliable one, the one you can always count on but who easily gets taken for granted because of it. He's loved his longtime friend Gloria since they were kids but he's never made a move for fear of rejection. With a single wish to his fairy godmother he's given the chance to win her over but in exchange has to save the world from a cruel entity who preys on darkness and grief. Greg's early attempts at mastering his powers are humorous but deal with heartfelt issues of responsibility too. He just wants to be loved for who he is but his persona soon becomes more powerful than he expected and it will take a simple act of humanity to claim Gloria and their HEA in a heart-pounding and fast-paced conclusion. Greg is charming and heroic both in and out of his costume and his unassuming nature won me over completely.
Gloria's felt alone since the death of her mother at an early age and her father's subsequent fall into the haze of alcoholism. Her only comforts are the old woman she's created an online business with and the woman's nerdy and reliable son Greg, who she considers a close friend. She's always been made to feel as though she was lacking with no hope of getting out of the current rut she's in unless she marries the indifferent Peter. When unexplained events and a masked man give her uneventful life a jolt she rethinks her plans for the future. While staring death in the face she realizes certain truths that have her embracing love close to home which brings her happiness that was missing from the moment we first see her. Gloria is a hard woman to like at times. She's too sarcastic and brittle during the early stages of the story but once true love is in her reach she becomes a happier more open-hearted person.
This story has many fanciful moments alongside real life emotions that fully immersed me in its outcome. The battle between good and evil is an exciting one where no one is safe in the heart-pounding journey to its HEA. It's a battle that invades both the human and otherworldly worlds in a mystery that keeps you guessing. The romance is subtle but satisfying with a conclusion that is immensely satisfying and I applaud Ms. Stone for her creative storytelling and hope she revisits this world soon.
December 20, 2014
As anyone knows who has been following me, I am a self professed Geek Girl. So whenever I get a chance to read a Superhero book, I am going to jump at it. Add in the fact that our soon to be Superhero Greg is a total geek himself, and I was all set up to really enjoy this read.
The story opens with Gloria and Aggie, Greg's mother, working on improving their latest arts & crafts project. They are manufacturing and selling Cell Shells and have come up with an idea to increase their market share. Gloria's smile manages to short circuit Greg's ability to speak coherently around Gloria and he basically ends up standing there just staring at her. Greg and Gloria have grown up together, as neighbors and friends, but he is sure that he has missed his opportunity to let Gloria know how he really feels about her. After all, she has a fiance, Pete, who soon arrives to pick up Gloria. This leaves Greg in a bit of a funk and needing to head out on a fast and furious bicycle ride. That plan is about to amended, when he meets his fairy godmother. Serafina has arrived at the behest of a wish by Greg's mother. Serafina is part of the Fairy Godmother's Union, True Love Local 521. She tells Greg that she is there to help him in his quest to win Gloria's heart. Gloria just needs to see him in a different light and oh boy does she have a plan for that.
What I really liked about this book, is that the author didn't just take the book into the realm of fluffy feel good reads and drop it off. There was several spots in the story where the issues brought up were thought provoking and really made you consider how you would react in a particular situation. Yes, there was some over the top, fantastical stunts, but the core of this book was about facing down your demons and finding your own moral compass. I started this book thinking it would be a quick, feel good read and ended up questioning and re-examining my own principles. If faced with these situations, how would I handle them? Basically, it was like heading out for an burger and fries and getting a 7 course steak dinner instead.
Another really amazing thing to me were the physics explanations for the "magic" that was happening. It was done with enough technicalities to be understood by our geek Greg, but also simple enough that I could almost follow along. For me this was another one of those stop and consider moments. It is obvious that the author really put a lot of though and planning into making the rules of their world "work". I rarely hand out 5 stars, but this one just really impressed me. I really hope the Ms. Stone continues this work into a series.
The story opens with Gloria and Aggie, Greg's mother, working on improving their latest arts & crafts project. They are manufacturing and selling Cell Shells and have come up with an idea to increase their market share. Gloria's smile manages to short circuit Greg's ability to speak coherently around Gloria and he basically ends up standing there just staring at her. Greg and Gloria have grown up together, as neighbors and friends, but he is sure that he has missed his opportunity to let Gloria know how he really feels about her. After all, she has a fiance, Pete, who soon arrives to pick up Gloria. This leaves Greg in a bit of a funk and needing to head out on a fast and furious bicycle ride. That plan is about to amended, when he meets his fairy godmother. Serafina has arrived at the behest of a wish by Greg's mother. Serafina is part of the Fairy Godmother's Union, True Love Local 521. She tells Greg that she is there to help him in his quest to win Gloria's heart. Gloria just needs to see him in a different light and oh boy does she have a plan for that.
What I really liked about this book, is that the author didn't just take the book into the realm of fluffy feel good reads and drop it off. There was several spots in the story where the issues brought up were thought provoking and really made you consider how you would react in a particular situation. Yes, there was some over the top, fantastical stunts, but the core of this book was about facing down your demons and finding your own moral compass. I started this book thinking it would be a quick, feel good read and ended up questioning and re-examining my own principles. If faced with these situations, how would I handle them? Basically, it was like heading out for an burger and fries and getting a 7 course steak dinner instead.
Another really amazing thing to me were the physics explanations for the "magic" that was happening. It was done with enough technicalities to be understood by our geek Greg, but also simple enough that I could almost follow along. For me this was another one of those stop and consider moments. It is obvious that the author really put a lot of though and planning into making the rules of their world "work". I rarely hand out 5 stars, but this one just really impressed me. I really hope the Ms. Stone continues this work into a series.
March 29, 2013
I'll start by saying that the wring is good, and that I have read another book by this author that I really enjoyed.
However, I just couldn't get into this book. I tried a few times to pick it back up, and I've gotten about halfway through, and finally am calling it quits.
For me, the story and characters are just a bit too far fetched, too unrealistic. I know, I know, it's a fantasy story, so it's going to be, but it was just too much for me.
However, I just couldn't get into this book. I tried a few times to pick it back up, and I've gotten about halfway through, and finally am calling it quits.
For me, the story and characters are just a bit too far fetched, too unrealistic. I know, I know, it's a fantasy story, so it's going to be, but it was just too much for me.
February 16, 2017
As the author, I can only say that I put into this book all the things I want to find in a story: love, magic, science and a bit of humor.
September 8, 2016
review posted here: http://yougottaread.com/review-wonder...
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews