Wish I Weren't Here

by Sandra D. Bricker

Drew Nolan is the antithesis of everything that Victoria Townsend holds dear. The suntanned Floridian’s sickeningly healthy and relaxed view of life contradicts her chain-smoking, business-suited, take out-ordering New York existence in every way. Not that it would matter, of course; except that her boss’ idea of looking out for the best interest of his stepdaughter is to banish Vic to the shores of Tampa-St. Pete.

What this public relations siren doesn’t know about romance could flood the sandy shores surrounding her. But if six months revamping Drew’s ailing business that caters to the romantically impaired is what it takes to get her name engraved on the corner office reserved for Creative Director, she’ll figure it out somehow. One crazy wedding at a time.

Genres: Romance, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian

193 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 2004

About the author

Sandra D. Bricker was an entertainment publicist in Los Angeles for more than 15 years, where she attended school to learn screenwriting and eventually taught the craft for several semesters. She became a best-selling, award-winning author of Live-Out-Loud Fiction for the inspirational market, authored books such as the Jessie Stanton novels, and was best known for her Emma Rae Creation series. Over the years, as an ovarian cancer survivor, she spent time and effort toward raising awareness and funds for research, diagnostics, and a cure. Sandra lived in Toledo, Ohio before her passing in 2016.

Reviews

[⚜️XAR the Bookwyrm · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really had a hard time with this book! I found it quite boring and slow moving, the characters flat and uninteresting, and the situations felt very contrived! I did enjoy the antics of the pets, so I rounded up a half star for that alone. Hopefully, this was just a fluke for this author, and not indicative of her work sliding downhill.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well-written PG romance. I have to admit, it was more than refreshing not to read about some guy getting aroused every time he sees the heroine. The characters weren't typical, and even though the book is short, the characters are well-developed.

[Cmking14 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance and Laughs

Oh, this author makes me want to read more. I have read five of her books in the last two weeks and not one has disappointed. Her characters make you want to put everything aside until the last page. I am looking forward to reading the rest of her works. Thank you for romance that is clean and can be shared freely with others.

[Barbara Shuman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Read

I gave this book 4.5 stars. Clean fun read. I am recommending this book. Sandra D. Bricker is a fun and clean author

[Zana Shults · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book but felt author used too much useless text like
they were trying to worry about word count instead of the story
flow. It was funny in many parts.

[Dawn Ireland · Rating 4 out of 5]

To author Sandra D. Bricker - your book is riddled with exclamation points. Lose them!

[April Kniess · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not my favorite but it's a quick read if you are on vacation and you just want to read something not very thought provoking.

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wish I Weren’t Here is a novel by Sandra B. Bricker. It is a cute novel set in Florida. It is easy to read and easy to keep track of what is going on.
Victoria Townsend is banking on her stepfather promoting her to Creative Director. She has worked years for it and devoted her life to her job. Certainly he is planning to divulge her promotion at the meeting he called her to. Meanwhile, she and Krissy, her assistant, have to get a presentation ready to give prior to the meeting with Trenton. That is if Krissy will ever stop talking about an article she just read in Cosmo. Krissy is always on her about dating, stress, her blood pressure, and smoking although Vic tends to threaten to fire her on a regular basis. The truth is, she can’t see doing her job without Krissy. All Vic has to do now is make the presentation then meet with Trenton and her wish is fulfilled.
Andrew Nolan is the owner of Romantic Overtures in Florida. He has put everything he owns into his business, even mortgaging the family home. However, nothing he does seems to get the business on its feet. He came to Trenton Marchant for help since Trenton and Andrew’s father were old friends. Andrew lives above the business and is friends with Penelope, a former professor of his. They spend a lot of time together and Penelope knows his wishes and desires like no one else. He hopes Trenton can help him.
Trenton Marchant has been looking for something to help him help Vic and Andrew hands it to him on a platter. Trenton has been worried about Vic and her tendency to put the business above all else, her social life and her health. He knows Vic can revitalize Andrew’s business singlehandedly. He knows her doctor has suggested she slow down for her blood pressure. Now Trenton has just the thing for that. He is sending Vic to Florida to help instill some life in Romantic Overtures and at the same time force her to slow down and relax as he knows she will have extra time in Florida. He puts this to her as an assignment and an order directed to him by her deceased mother. She is to spend six months in Florida and get the business on solid ground and then she will be named Creative Director. Reluctantly, Vic agrees.
Will Trenton’s plan to get Vic to rest going to work? Will she be able to get the business running in the black again? What kind of wedding will Tiffany, a client and part time help, finally get with her request for a “W-themed” wedding? How can they pull this off? Will Vic succumb to the delights of Florida or return to New York?

[Yvonne O'Connor · Rating 1 out of 5]

Victoria Townsend is a successful businesswoman of NY. She wants the job of Creative Director at her stepfather's company, but first he gives her a challenge. She must set his former business partner's son's business back on track. But, the business is in FL and she also has to get her health on track before the job will be hers. Victoria fights the change, kicking and screaming, but soon finds she is in love with Drew an his wedding business. She lands the job, but ends up right back in FL, where Drew gives her the business as a wedding present!

Long-distance relations in novels always end-up this way. The people never split-up and one always ends-up "realizing" what they were missing at the other's locale. My version would have Drew sell the business to Tiffany and move to NYC to pursue architecture while Victoria took her place in the company. That would make much more sense and still have a happy ending. Left this way, the book is a waste of 182 pages and insults career women.

Typical girl gives up everything for boy crap.

[Kristen Wells · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute book, an easy summer read. I liked how innocent it was - but there were just a few character points that didn't quite maintain itself throughout the whole book and that threw me off of really loving this novel. With that said, I can be extremely picky with novels so I don't think it would be a reason not to give this book a read, I am glad I did. It was cute, easy, innocent, and fun.

[CarolynB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sandra Bricker has gotten better with age, in my humble opinion. I chose to read this because she is one of my favorite authors. It was pretty good, but her later books are much better. Still, this one was worth the short time it took to read, and the characters got more lovable as the story progressed. 3.5 stars

[Molly Olson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Eh. The writing is thin, and reads like it was phoned in, which is disappointing, because the premise is a really good set up for a romance novel. But it’s just flat. Everything seems flat—characters, descriptions, all of it. Bummer. The potential was there, but it fell way short.

[Carla · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author is incorrect; it's Sandra D. Bricker.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Slow start, somewhat annoying characters, predictable plot. Not a total disaster though.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

quick and easy free read. not much of a story though and I didn't really care much for the main characters

[Tammy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cute read I enjoyed