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Whispered Wishes #1
Ava's Wishes
Ava Haines has big plans for her life. Her short-term goals include passing statistics (on the third try), graduating college on time, and securing a job in the art gallery on Main Street. Her long-term goal is to one day own an art gallery of her very own. Oh sure, she would some day like to fall in love and get married, but all of that is secondary to making sure her other goals are in line. Fellow student Max Wallis and esteemed photographer Thomas Malloy are just minor distractions she is more than capable of handling. She’s entitled to a little fun once in a while, right? However, as reality takes a tumble, Ava begins to wonder if she really can manage it all. Will all her wishes come true?
Warning: This book has brief references to an attempted sexual assault. Although there are no explicit details, readers sensitive to being triggered by such references should exercise caution.
Warning: This book has brief references to an attempted sexual assault. Although there are no explicit details, readers sensitive to being triggered by such references should exercise caution.
254 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
11 people are currently reading
343 people want to read
About the author
Karen Pokras Toz
17 books317 followersKaren Pokras is a writer, daisy lover, and occasional baker who will definitely begin playing the piano tomorrow. Always an avid reader, Karen found her passion for writing later in life and now runs all of her stories past the furry ears of her two feline editorial assistants before anyone else. A numbers geek at heart, she enjoys a good spreadsheet almost as much as she loves storytelling. Karen writes under both Karen Pokras and Karen Pokras Toz. A native of Connecticut, Karen is the proud mom to three brilliant children who still provide an endless stream of great book material. She lives with her family outside of Philadelphia.. For more information, please visit www.karentoz.com and www.karenpokras.com
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
July 27, 2014
I was given an ARC of both the originally published version and this one for an honest review. I was introduced to Karen's work by a friend who recommended Pie and Other Brillant Ideas, I loved that book and was excited to read her new series. When I read the first version I was a little shocked because it didn't seem like the same author had written both books. I was delighted to read this new version, Karen put a lot of work into editing the original story and for me it was well worth it. I was able to connect with the characters and wanted to know what was going to happen to them. Ava's wishes is not just your usual love triangle. There is humor and typical college student angst. I was swept along with Ava as she tried to follow her heart, or at least understand what it was trying to say to her. I felt her fear when she got into a very bad situation and cheered for her when she finally found true love. This is a clean story, although Ava and her man do have a sexual relationship there are no descriptive love scenes, and I didn't miss them. I recommend this book and can't wait to find out what happens to Holly, and I'm hoping we'll get to catch up a little with Ava as well!
November 17, 2014
4.5/5.0
Ms.Pokras does an excellent job of introducing both romantic lead possibilities without shadowing which will be the winner of her heart, or which one intends to bring her harm.
Read full review in the 2014 November issue of InD’tale Magazine.
Ms.Pokras does an excellent job of introducing both romantic lead possibilities without shadowing which will be the winner of her heart, or which one intends to bring her harm.
Read full review in the 2014 November issue of InD’tale Magazine.
August 18, 2014
Ava Haines has her whole life already mapped out ahead of her. She knows what she wants and how she wants it. She just needs to get from point A to point B somehow. To do that, she'll first need to pass her Statistics class. This is her third time around for the class, and she's hell-bent in getting it done. Doing that, however, is going to take some doing.
Determined to learn what she needs to learn fast, Ava puts her trust in her tutor. Granted, things don't go so well, but she refuses to give up without a fight. When she finds herself changing tutors, she soon realizes that things aren't as easy as they seems. If she's to succeed in passing this class, she'll need to do everything possible to get through it.
Max, her new tutor, is a distraction she knows she doesn't need. Adding the wonderful and gorgeous Thomas Malloy to the mix doesn't make things any easier. Both men incite her desires in different ways. Ava knows that she'll need to get past the two of them somehow if she's to succeed in passing her classes.
Doing so, however, is easier said than done. Still, Ava isn't going down without a fight. She will get past the obstacles popping up in front of her one way or another. To do that, she'll need to set aside her uncertainties when it comes to both Max and Thomas. The question is, how can she do that when she's not sure who or what she wants in the first place?
If you've ever read one of Karen's books, you'll know they'll never disappoint. Though Karen mostly writes middle-grade fiction, she's dabbled in romance stories for a good while now. Ava's Wishes is a new adult story that will definitely capture your attention. Though it will tackle a slightly controversial issue at some point, it was tastefully done.
Karen injects just feeling and soul into her stories that you feel everything her characters feel and then some. I'm delighted to know that the Whispered Wishes series doesn't stop with Ava. What will come next for her sisters, I wonder? Only time will tell. It's definitely something I'm looking forward to!
Determined to learn what she needs to learn fast, Ava puts her trust in her tutor. Granted, things don't go so well, but she refuses to give up without a fight. When she finds herself changing tutors, she soon realizes that things aren't as easy as they seems. If she's to succeed in passing this class, she'll need to do everything possible to get through it.
Max, her new tutor, is a distraction she knows she doesn't need. Adding the wonderful and gorgeous Thomas Malloy to the mix doesn't make things any easier. Both men incite her desires in different ways. Ava knows that she'll need to get past the two of them somehow if she's to succeed in passing her classes.
Doing so, however, is easier said than done. Still, Ava isn't going down without a fight. She will get past the obstacles popping up in front of her one way or another. To do that, she'll need to set aside her uncertainties when it comes to both Max and Thomas. The question is, how can she do that when she's not sure who or what she wants in the first place?
If you've ever read one of Karen's books, you'll know they'll never disappoint. Though Karen mostly writes middle-grade fiction, she's dabbled in romance stories for a good while now. Ava's Wishes is a new adult story that will definitely capture your attention. Though it will tackle a slightly controversial issue at some point, it was tastefully done.
Karen injects just feeling and soul into her stories that you feel everything her characters feel and then some. I'm delighted to know that the Whispered Wishes series doesn't stop with Ava. What will come next for her sisters, I wonder? Only time will tell. It's definitely something I'm looking forward to!
July 18, 2014
Once in a while an author writes a cross-genre from their norm. Typically I don't tend to follow, depends on the book, but something told me Ava's Wishes would be an excellent start to a fantastic new series from the truly talented author, Karen Pokras Toz!
Pokras does an incredible job at letting us get to know Ava, the main character-a college student just looking to have some fun on the crazy path to college graduation. You certainly relate to Ava, or wish you could've been Ava...to a degree! We discover Ava's fun, the craving for a good romance, the determination to achieve, her sexy boy friends, and of course the best friend (Carly)! Ava has specific wishes, goals, and hopes she wants to go after, but when things don't go as Ava plans, Ava has to decide how her wishes can still come true? Will Ava end up with Thomas (the wonderful photographer) and her degree and a wonderful future ahead, or are secret wishes for Max-the hot model going to destroy all she ever wanted?! Or does life take it's usual spin and everything becomes CRAZY....you'll have to read to find out!
I highly recommend this as a new genre and fun/fabulous read with twists and turns anyone can relate to! Ava's Wishes is a book with realistic, relative, and fun characters-well developed and worth getting to know. Pokras has hit a new mark with the chick-lit-grab the perfect beach read today!!
---Gifted this book for review.
Pokras does an incredible job at letting us get to know Ava, the main character-a college student just looking to have some fun on the crazy path to college graduation. You certainly relate to Ava, or wish you could've been Ava...to a degree! We discover Ava's fun, the craving for a good romance, the determination to achieve, her sexy boy friends, and of course the best friend (Carly)! Ava has specific wishes, goals, and hopes she wants to go after, but when things don't go as Ava plans, Ava has to decide how her wishes can still come true? Will Ava end up with Thomas (the wonderful photographer) and her degree and a wonderful future ahead, or are secret wishes for Max-the hot model going to destroy all she ever wanted?! Or does life take it's usual spin and everything becomes CRAZY....you'll have to read to find out!
I highly recommend this as a new genre and fun/fabulous read with twists and turns anyone can relate to! Ava's Wishes is a book with realistic, relative, and fun characters-well developed and worth getting to know. Pokras has hit a new mark with the chick-lit-grab the perfect beach read today!!
---Gifted this book for review.
June 17, 2014
Ava, an art major with aspirations of owning her own gallery is struggling with the compulsory statistics class she needs to pass in order to graduate. When her tutor dumps her at the last minute she has no option but to work with Max a fellow student, who also happens to be the nude model from one of her figure drawing classes. Ava’s normally quiet social calendar becomes full when she meets Thomas, the artist who is showing his work in the Gallery she interns at, and he invites her out for dinner.
I was kind of hoping to get the ‘wow’ factor, after all that’s how I felt when I read other works by Karen, so she is capable of that, but I didn’t quite get it here. The storyline was a very safe choice, a young ambitious woman, who is attracted to two men until one does something to lose her trust forever and practically throws her into the arms of the other. The dialogue was often awkward and felt forced like it didn’t come naturally to the writer to converse this way. I think as she continues with this genre Karen’s confidence will grow, her writing will become more relaxed and I have no doubt that I will get the ‘wow’ factor from her again in future works.
Copy supplied for review
I was kind of hoping to get the ‘wow’ factor, after all that’s how I felt when I read other works by Karen, so she is capable of that, but I didn’t quite get it here. The storyline was a very safe choice, a young ambitious woman, who is attracted to two men until one does something to lose her trust forever and practically throws her into the arms of the other. The dialogue was often awkward and felt forced like it didn’t come naturally to the writer to converse this way. I think as she continues with this genre Karen’s confidence will grow, her writing will become more relaxed and I have no doubt that I will get the ‘wow’ factor from her again in future works.
Copy supplied for review
July 30, 2014
All Ava was worried about was passing her statistics class so that she could graduate and get a job. She wasn't looking for a relationship. But life had other plans for Ava because suddenly there are two men in her life. While I had a feeling early on that something was just not quite right with one of them, I was completely shocked at the plot twist. Sometimes things are not what they appear to be.
Ava's Wishes is an excellent first book in a new series, Whispered Wishes. Karen Pokras, who has also published middle-grade books as Karen Pokras Toz, seems to be a natural at chick-lit. I was very impressed with how Ms. Pokras provided enough of a glimpse at Ava's two sisters to make readers already interested in reading their stories while still keeping the focus of this book on Ava.
If you enjoy sweet chick-lit stories with clean romance then this book is a good choice, and I would definitely recommend it.
Copy was provided for review.
Ava's Wishes is an excellent first book in a new series, Whispered Wishes. Karen Pokras, who has also published middle-grade books as Karen Pokras Toz, seems to be a natural at chick-lit. I was very impressed with how Ms. Pokras provided enough of a glimpse at Ava's two sisters to make readers already interested in reading their stories while still keeping the focus of this book on Ava.
If you enjoy sweet chick-lit stories with clean romance then this book is a good choice, and I would definitely recommend it.
Copy was provided for review.
June 18, 2014
It's no lie, I'm just not a chick lit kinda gal. While this is a brand new series from award-winning Karen Pokras, this is her second contemporary romance novel and I LOVE IT!
Karen has done a fantastic job with character building, a blindsiding plot twist that will knock you right off your seat. While the time span of the book is not wide, Ava matures so much while taking each hit - good and bad - in stride in hopes to make all her wishes come true. Is that even possible?
Karen has done a fantastic job with character building, a blindsiding plot twist that will knock you right off your seat. While the time span of the book is not wide, Ava matures so much while taking each hit - good and bad - in stride in hopes to make all her wishes come true. Is that even possible?
December 28, 2015
A fun and entertaining romance
This is such a cute romantic romp about young adults meeting, going separate ways. then reconnecting and discovering true love.
I really enjoyed reading "Ava's Wishes" and highly recommend to all the romance readers out there.
This is such a cute romantic romp about young adults meeting, going separate ways. then reconnecting and discovering true love.
I really enjoyed reading "Ava's Wishes" and highly recommend to all the romance readers out there.
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May 24, 2019Author's guest post at my blog:
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2019/05...
https://bookfare.blogspot.com/2019/05...
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews