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The Wish Collector
New Orleans, a city of mystery and magic, of secrets and dreams, and a history drenched in both love and the deepest of heartache. When ballet dancer Clara Campbell arrives in New Orleans, lonely and homesick, she is immediately captivated by the story of Windisle Plantation and the tragic tale that is said to have transpired beyond its gate. Legend has it that it is abandoned by all living souls, but to Clara’s great surprise, it is not a ghost she hears through the stone wall surrounding the property, but a flesh and blood man. A scarred stranger with a pain deeper and darker than the churning waters of the Mississippi river that flows beside his self-imposed prison. The ruined man behind the wall hides himself from the world. The last thing he expects is to find a friend in the selfless girl who speaks to him through the cracks in the rock. The girl who keeps returning week after week. The girl who makes him wish for things he has long since given up on. The girl who strikes both fear and hope within his wounded heart. But there can be no future for them, no life beyond Windisle, for no one knows better than him that monsters only live in the dark. The Wish Collector is the story of shame and triumph, of loneliness and love, and the miracle of two hearts connecting despite the strongest of barriers between them.
468 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 26, 2018
2048 people are currently reading
15715 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,664 reviews
November 23, 2018
4.5 stars!!
Mia Sheridan has written another exquisitely beautiful, emotional, and stunning romance. This one grabbed me from the start and not only did the present romance captivate me, but I was also pulled in by the past. Each story was interesting and made me fall in love. This story had so many feels and felt like a lot of Mia's older books that I love so much.
Clara Campbell is a ballerina who is new to NOLA. She is slowly making friends with her neighbors, but spends most of her time dancing. When she hears the legend of a tragic love story that took place in the 1800's, she goes to that plantation to investigate. There is something about that story that fills her with the need to find out more. When she ends up at the Windisle Plantation, she doesn't expect anyone to be there. It's supposedly been abandoned for quite some time. But there, she meets Jonah.
Jonah's life used to be exciting. He was a young and handsome attorney on the rise to the top of his law firm. He took one case... one case he never should have taken, and everything changed. Now, he's a hermit. He lives at his family's plantation and doesn't want to see anyone. Or more importantly, doesn't want anyone to see him. Then he meets Clara. And everything changes. Everything.
Clara and Jonah develop a friendship. Both are lonely and in need of companionship, and even though Jonah doesn't want to be seen, he lets Clara in where it really counts. His heart.
These two together... sigh. I loved them both so much. Jonah was very much the damaged and tortured hero I love to read about. Clara was a strong heroine who helped him come out of his shell. But she only helped so much, Jonah was strong enough to pull himself out of it, too. Clara was just that final push he needed.
The Wish Collector takes place in New Orleans. The majority of the story takes place in current times, but there are quite a few chapters that take place in the mid-late 1800's. Those chapters sort of felt like a mystery at first. Each chapter from the past gave us a new discovery and was connected in a way to the present. I loved both of the romances, but Jonah and Clara's was so beautiful. It was such a slow burn, friends to lovers tale and I couldn't get enough.
If you're looking for a gorgeous romance that's character driven, magical, equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, and will enchant you, pick up The Wish Collector. The cover is so beautiful and the story is a unique one of love, tragedy, redemption, forgiveness, and growth. Mia did an amazing job with this story and I highly recommend it.
Mia Sheridan has written another exquisitely beautiful, emotional, and stunning romance. This one grabbed me from the start and not only did the present romance captivate me, but I was also pulled in by the past. Each story was interesting and made me fall in love. This story had so many feels and felt like a lot of Mia's older books that I love so much.
Clara Campbell is a ballerina who is new to NOLA. She is slowly making friends with her neighbors, but spends most of her time dancing. When she hears the legend of a tragic love story that took place in the 1800's, she goes to that plantation to investigate. There is something about that story that fills her with the need to find out more. When she ends up at the Windisle Plantation, she doesn't expect anyone to be there. It's supposedly been abandoned for quite some time. But there, she meets Jonah.
Jonah's life used to be exciting. He was a young and handsome attorney on the rise to the top of his law firm. He took one case... one case he never should have taken, and everything changed. Now, he's a hermit. He lives at his family's plantation and doesn't want to see anyone. Or more importantly, doesn't want anyone to see him. Then he meets Clara. And everything changes. Everything.
Clara and Jonah develop a friendship. Both are lonely and in need of companionship, and even though Jonah doesn't want to be seen, he lets Clara in where it really counts. His heart.
He was beauty and pain, glory and suffering, vengeance and grace, and all things made stronger and more meaningful because they have an opposite.
These two together... sigh. I loved them both so much. Jonah was very much the damaged and tortured hero I love to read about. Clara was a strong heroine who helped him come out of his shell. But she only helped so much, Jonah was strong enough to pull himself out of it, too. Clara was just that final push he needed.
The Wish Collector takes place in New Orleans. The majority of the story takes place in current times, but there are quite a few chapters that take place in the mid-late 1800's. Those chapters sort of felt like a mystery at first. Each chapter from the past gave us a new discovery and was connected in a way to the present. I loved both of the romances, but Jonah and Clara's was so beautiful. It was such a slow burn, friends to lovers tale and I couldn't get enough.
If you're looking for a gorgeous romance that's character driven, magical, equal parts heartbreaking and heartwarming, and will enchant you, pick up The Wish Collector. The cover is so beautiful and the story is a unique one of love, tragedy, redemption, forgiveness, and growth. Mia did an amazing job with this story and I highly recommend it.
My monster. My wish collector. My love.
October 1, 2020
this a beautifully romantic story lovers of 'beauty and the beast' will fall head over heels with.
MS is one of my all time fave romance authors because her stories are written so well and have such great meaning and messages. and this one is no exception.
i will say i thought the connection between clara and jonah seemed a little… fake? i dont know how to describe it. i just cant put a finger on the moment where i saw them fall in love. its as if they were in love since the beginning and it seems a little unrealistic.
but i LOVE the overall idea/concept/feeling of the story, so i can overlook the whole instalove.
↠ 4.5 stars
MS is one of my all time fave romance authors because her stories are written so well and have such great meaning and messages. and this one is no exception.
i will say i thought the connection between clara and jonah seemed a little… fake? i dont know how to describe it. i just cant put a finger on the moment where i saw them fall in love. its as if they were in love since the beginning and it seems a little unrealistic.
but i LOVE the overall idea/concept/feeling of the story, so i can overlook the whole instalove.
↠ 4.5 stars
December 17, 2018
Update:12/5/18
Well, what do you know? Since I was fed up by people talking shit about me and taking digs at me in their reviews saying how I was giving misleading info and how I didn’t have any right to rate a book because I didn’t finish. I got news for those people. I did finish it.
Even if hero was set up does it makes it alright that he still deliberately defended someone that he wasn’t positive if he was guilty or not of rape and murder?
Author wanted to redeemed the hero in some way. He still did not redeem himself in my eyes.
Did he know that the woman wasn’t exactly a rape victim when he willingly tore her apart on the stand? No, so that makes it ok that he still did it? Did that make him redeemable? No. The supposed rapist wasn’t really innocent was it? he was a criminal who abused, roughed up and choked almost to death girls that worked in the sex club. So because of hero’s consequences in defending this man and getting him off this not “innocent” man killed innocent people.
Next are quotes from the book itself.
I’ll just let them speak for themselves.
“Maybe Murray Ridgley if he had in fact committed the crime. Jonah had plenty of doubts himself. And he had this notion that there was something the partners weren’t telling him. But he had no proof of that, just some whisperings behind closed doors as he’d walked past. And this case . . . this case was the one that could catapult him to the next level. If he impressed the partners, it could literally make his career. One of the junior partners was taking Applegate’s vacancy, but one of the other two remaining original partners, Knowles, was practically a walking corpse. In the next couple of years, he’d retire or die, and if Jonah played his cards right, he could make junior partner and then partner thereafter. Partner! Even his dad hadn’t made junior partner until he was thirty.”
“He was on the fast track. He couldn’t afford a stumble. Jonah met his brother’s gaze. “Dad was respected.” Justin’s eyes narrowed. “Dad was a sonofabitch who cared about power far more than he cared about people. He ruined lives as easily as he buttered toast. That’s not you, Jonah. I’m your brother. I know—" “All right, listen, I appreciate this whole do-gooder speech, but let me assure you that my conscience is perfectly clear where my job is concerned. Murray Ridgley may very well have committed this crime.” Murray Ridgley may very well be a monster. “But I’m not going to ask to be removed from his case. It would ruin me.”
So you see he still decided that he wasn’t going to quit the case. He wanted to make partner, he knew that the partners at the law firm were hiding something from him and he still continued. He didn’t care.
“The thing that ultimately got him acquitted was Amanda Kershaw’s testimony.” Jonah clenched his eyes shut, letting his head fall against the stone with a heavy thud. “Yes. She . . . she wasn’t strong, Clara, and I knew that. She wasn’t like you.” He paused, thinking back to the first time he’d met Amanda at the courthouse, the way she’d shaken when she spoke, the way her eyes had darted around, the way she’d drawn her shoulders in as if to appear smaller, as if to hide from the world. He’d seen the way she pulled at her sleeves to conceal the needle marks on her arms, and he’d used that too. “I used her weaknesses against her when she got up on the stand.” He banged his head against the stone again, a dull thud, and he heard Clara shift. “I demolished her. They practically had to carry her away, she’d gotten so emotionally distraught. She appeared unstable and unreliable—almost insane—just as I’d planned. The partners all congratulated me later. They slapped me on the back and told me how brilliant I’d been.” Jonah laughed, but it was a raw scraping sound, no humor infused in it at all. “Brilliant. I’d brilliantly obliterated a girl who’d been the victim of a horrific crime that most people wouldn’t have survived.”
“He knew Amanda Kershaw had participated in plenty of unsavory activities for a fix. He’d spoken of them in lurid detail in front of a courtroom of witnesses. He’d seen her shame, her regret. He’d paraded every vile misstep to create reasonable doubt.”
The author didn’t know what to focus on, from hero’s redemption to another love story, from exonerating hero’s guilt. from making a hero who helps people who needs help.
It really didn’t make any sense. The supposed rape victim was planning to blackmail a lot of men who she had sex with, she had proof and she even had sex with the supposed rapist, she took photos of the sex club she belonged to.
So the “rapist” got rough and choke some of the girls that worked in the sex club. One of them was the “victim” she escaped and she threatened to exposed them all, the men talked her down and promised her things as long as she kept the sex club in secret. She complied and agreed to testify against the supposed rapist. One of the partner that belonged to that club used the hero because he was eager to win any case, he did a fine job on making the “victim” look unstable but she played him. The supposed rapist was loose cannon and held a grudge against the “victim” the woman who gotten away from him so he took revenge against her in front of the court killing her and hero’s brother.
So you see even after reading the whole book I don’t see how I gave a misleading info.
I applaud the author for assassinating hero’s bother’s character. (Being sarcastic here) A man who fought for justice, who gave to charity. He knew what was going on and didn’t tell the hero. I guess it was everyone’s fault but the hero. But I’m with the heroine when she said that hero’s brother was collecting evidence because hero wasn’t going to stop with just any speculations.
*********************************
It seems my review has caused some readers not to read this book.
First of all- these are MY feelings about this book.
Second- I’ve never told ANYONE not to read this book or ANY book for that matter. If you chose not to read it then that’s on you. You can’t blame it on some review.
Third- if you have a problem with me ranting about a book that I paid for then please just unfollow me and don’t call me names. Because A- yes I’m that crazy and yes I’m the queen of ranting. And i fucking love it
And B- I will never change just because people doesn’t like it.
Fourth- I don’t have to justify myself to you. Just like you don’t have to justify yourself to me.
To each their own!
Fifth- People need to stop acting like this is high school. We don’t have to hate on someone because that person didn’t like a book that you loved.
Happy reading!!!
Dnfed at 33%
This piece of shit was a not a hero for me.
This piece of shit does not deserve any redemption.
This piece of shit deserves to die alone.
This piece of shit deserved to die when the rapist he defended killed his poor victim, his brother and 4 more people.
Let’s start at the beginning.
In the prologue we meet the POS, who’s an aweful man, a lawyer, who’s egotistical, arrogant and narcissistic. He’s defending a rapist. A man who killed and rape women. It wasn’t until later we find out that he got this man off. While doing so, he put the sole survivor of this rapist on the stand, tearing her apart, making her more unstable than what she already was. This poor woman had to be carried out because she was inconsolable and traumatized by the POS and his defendant.
POS’s brother who was a GOOD man, another lawyer who only worked on Pro Bonos cases and fought for justice tried to make him see reason. Tried to talked to him out of defending the rapist but POS didn’t want to because he wanted to emasculate his father. He wanted to make partner at the law firm where he was working, he wanted to be the youngest partner like his father was. He wanted to be better than his father. He wanted to be famous. Oh the POS got to be famous alright! He’s the most hated man now!
I felt like author tried to made it seemed it was alright that the rape victim didn’t get her justice because she was on drugs and prostitute herself for those drugs. Author made it seem that it was a good thing POS didn’t mention this information about the rape victim in front of the court.
POS got the rapist off and the rapist killed this poor woman, POS’s brother and 4 more people when he shot them down and detonated a bomb that he had strapped on himself. The author then tried to made the POS a hero when he threw himself at the rapist. And let’s not forget the women he killed and raped before he got off.
POS deserve everything he got and so much more. I dont give a fuck if he’s living in solitary for 8 fucking years. I don’t care if the heroine is his reward for being scarred. For feeling guilty. The POS is guilty as much as the rapist is. If he hadn’t gotten him off then 6 people would still be alive and his victims would have gotten their JUSTICE!!!!
He should not have be redeemed. He should burn in HELL like the rapist is doing right now.
And what we got in the end is a POS who probably thinks 8 years living in solitary it’s his redemption along with the pathetic heroine who only had 2 sex partners in her life getting his hea while the victims and brother did not even get a bit of justice.
Well, what do you know? Since I was fed up by people talking shit about me and taking digs at me in their reviews saying how I was giving misleading info and how I didn’t have any right to rate a book because I didn’t finish. I got news for those people. I did finish it.
Even if hero was set up does it makes it alright that he still deliberately defended someone that he wasn’t positive if he was guilty or not of rape and murder?
Author wanted to redeemed the hero in some way. He still did not redeem himself in my eyes.
Did he know that the woman wasn’t exactly a rape victim when he willingly tore her apart on the stand? No, so that makes it ok that he still did it? Did that make him redeemable? No. The supposed rapist wasn’t really innocent was it? he was a criminal who abused, roughed up and choked almost to death girls that worked in the sex club. So because of hero’s consequences in defending this man and getting him off this not “innocent” man killed innocent people.
Next are quotes from the book itself.
I’ll just let them speak for themselves.
“Maybe Murray Ridgley if he had in fact committed the crime. Jonah had plenty of doubts himself. And he had this notion that there was something the partners weren’t telling him. But he had no proof of that, just some whisperings behind closed doors as he’d walked past. And this case . . . this case was the one that could catapult him to the next level. If he impressed the partners, it could literally make his career. One of the junior partners was taking Applegate’s vacancy, but one of the other two remaining original partners, Knowles, was practically a walking corpse. In the next couple of years, he’d retire or die, and if Jonah played his cards right, he could make junior partner and then partner thereafter. Partner! Even his dad hadn’t made junior partner until he was thirty.”
“He was on the fast track. He couldn’t afford a stumble. Jonah met his brother’s gaze. “Dad was respected.” Justin’s eyes narrowed. “Dad was a sonofabitch who cared about power far more than he cared about people. He ruined lives as easily as he buttered toast. That’s not you, Jonah. I’m your brother. I know—" “All right, listen, I appreciate this whole do-gooder speech, but let me assure you that my conscience is perfectly clear where my job is concerned. Murray Ridgley may very well have committed this crime.” Murray Ridgley may very well be a monster. “But I’m not going to ask to be removed from his case. It would ruin me.”
So you see he still decided that he wasn’t going to quit the case. He wanted to make partner, he knew that the partners at the law firm were hiding something from him and he still continued. He didn’t care.
“The thing that ultimately got him acquitted was Amanda Kershaw’s testimony.” Jonah clenched his eyes shut, letting his head fall against the stone with a heavy thud. “Yes. She . . . she wasn’t strong, Clara, and I knew that. She wasn’t like you.” He paused, thinking back to the first time he’d met Amanda at the courthouse, the way she’d shaken when she spoke, the way her eyes had darted around, the way she’d drawn her shoulders in as if to appear smaller, as if to hide from the world. He’d seen the way she pulled at her sleeves to conceal the needle marks on her arms, and he’d used that too. “I used her weaknesses against her when she got up on the stand.” He banged his head against the stone again, a dull thud, and he heard Clara shift. “I demolished her. They practically had to carry her away, she’d gotten so emotionally distraught. She appeared unstable and unreliable—almost insane—just as I’d planned. The partners all congratulated me later. They slapped me on the back and told me how brilliant I’d been.” Jonah laughed, but it was a raw scraping sound, no humor infused in it at all. “Brilliant. I’d brilliantly obliterated a girl who’d been the victim of a horrific crime that most people wouldn’t have survived.”
“He knew Amanda Kershaw had participated in plenty of unsavory activities for a fix. He’d spoken of them in lurid detail in front of a courtroom of witnesses. He’d seen her shame, her regret. He’d paraded every vile misstep to create reasonable doubt.”
The author didn’t know what to focus on, from hero’s redemption to another love story, from exonerating hero’s guilt. from making a hero who helps people who needs help.
It really didn’t make any sense. The supposed rape victim was planning to blackmail a lot of men who she had sex with, she had proof and she even had sex with the supposed rapist, she took photos of the sex club she belonged to.
So the “rapist” got rough and choke some of the girls that worked in the sex club. One of them was the “victim” she escaped and she threatened to exposed them all, the men talked her down and promised her things as long as she kept the sex club in secret. She complied and agreed to testify against the supposed rapist. One of the partner that belonged to that club used the hero because he was eager to win any case, he did a fine job on making the “victim” look unstable but she played him. The supposed rapist was loose cannon and held a grudge against the “victim” the woman who gotten away from him so he took revenge against her in front of the court killing her and hero’s brother.
So you see even after reading the whole book I don’t see how I gave a misleading info.
I applaud the author for assassinating hero’s bother’s character. (Being sarcastic here) A man who fought for justice, who gave to charity. He knew what was going on and didn’t tell the hero. I guess it was everyone’s fault but the hero. But I’m with the heroine when she said that hero’s brother was collecting evidence because hero wasn’t going to stop with just any speculations.
*********************************
It seems my review has caused some readers not to read this book.
First of all- these are MY feelings about this book.
Second- I’ve never told ANYONE not to read this book or ANY book for that matter. If you chose not to read it then that’s on you. You can’t blame it on some review.
Third- if you have a problem with me ranting about a book that I paid for then please just unfollow me and don’t call me names. Because A- yes I’m that crazy and yes I’m the queen of ranting. And i fucking love it
And B- I will never change just because people doesn’t like it.
Fourth- I don’t have to justify myself to you. Just like you don’t have to justify yourself to me.
To each their own!
Fifth- People need to stop acting like this is high school. We don’t have to hate on someone because that person didn’t like a book that you loved.
Happy reading!!!
Dnfed at 33%
This piece of shit was a not a hero for me.
This piece of shit does not deserve any redemption.
This piece of shit deserves to die alone.
This piece of shit deserved to die when the rapist he defended killed his poor victim, his brother and 4 more people.
Let’s start at the beginning.
In the prologue we meet the POS, who’s an aweful man, a lawyer, who’s egotistical, arrogant and narcissistic. He’s defending a rapist. A man who killed and rape women. It wasn’t until later we find out that he got this man off. While doing so, he put the sole survivor of this rapist on the stand, tearing her apart, making her more unstable than what she already was. This poor woman had to be carried out because she was inconsolable and traumatized by the POS and his defendant.
POS’s brother who was a GOOD man, another lawyer who only worked on Pro Bonos cases and fought for justice tried to make him see reason. Tried to talked to him out of defending the rapist but POS didn’t want to because he wanted to emasculate his father. He wanted to make partner at the law firm where he was working, he wanted to be the youngest partner like his father was. He wanted to be better than his father. He wanted to be famous. Oh the POS got to be famous alright! He’s the most hated man now!
I felt like author tried to made it seemed it was alright that the rape victim didn’t get her justice because she was on drugs and prostitute herself for those drugs. Author made it seem that it was a good thing POS didn’t mention this information about the rape victim in front of the court.
POS got the rapist off and the rapist killed this poor woman, POS’s brother and 4 more people when he shot them down and detonated a bomb that he had strapped on himself. The author then tried to made the POS a hero when he threw himself at the rapist. And let’s not forget the women he killed and raped before he got off.
POS deserve everything he got and so much more. I dont give a fuck if he’s living in solitary for 8 fucking years. I don’t care if the heroine is his reward for being scarred. For feeling guilty. The POS is guilty as much as the rapist is. If he hadn’t gotten him off then 6 people would still be alive and his victims would have gotten their JUSTICE!!!!
He should not have be redeemed. He should burn in HELL like the rapist is doing right now.
And what we got in the end is a POS who probably thinks 8 years living in solitary it’s his redemption along with the pathetic heroine who only had 2 sex partners in her life getting his hea while the victims and brother did not even get a bit of justice.
December 13, 2018
Wow! I loved it so much! Such an amazing way to tell an emotional tale. All magic and Nola atmosphere is priceless!
December 4, 2018
Phew. I have a headache from those liquid things rolling down my face.
Two stories intertwined
Four lives
One Truth
I railed at the injustices, cried, and nearly threw my kindle against the wall, but at the end, the truth came to light. Sheridan wove a story that is as melancholic as it is euphoric, and to those who might be tempted to judge this story based on the first half, don’t. This is a multilayered and gripping story about Truth, Love, and Redemption.
November 30, 2018
So good, a retake on beauty and the beast, once started I was hooked, so unique, couldn't put it down. Crazy love this authors words. Highly recommend..
June 7, 2019
So, this book is like a riddle and it is intriguingly complicated.
For me, it starts like the “Devil's Advocate” movie. Jonah has to make a decision and deep down he knows it will be the wrong decision, but he is too cocky to refuse it:
You’re choosing a path here, Jonah.
But he’d already chosen it. There was nothing to be done now.
Then, there is a bit of New Orleans’s magic, mystery and legends:
“Do you know why it’s called the weeping wall?”
“It’s said that the wall weeps tears for the heartbreak and tragedy that came to pass behind it, for the spirits still trapped within.”
Then , the story feels a bit like the “Phantom of the Opera". A man hiding his face in the shadows watches the young artist:
Movement in the back of the theatre caught her eye and she stumbled slightly, catching herself and glancing at Madame Fournier who, thank the heavens, was looking in a different direction.
A man—she could only make out his tall outline—stepped around the corner.
Then, there is a bit of the legends of Zorro and Batman. The rich masked hero who saves the weak women, punishes the evil men, offers money here and there when someone needs it. And he always keeps his identity a secret:
Jonah stepped closer, into a patch of low light given off by the glow of the street at the end of the alley and the man’s eyes widened. The woman’s mouth parted in surprise, the fear still present in her eyes. Jonah, in his skeletal mask, obviously looked even more frightening than the filthy meathead attempting to assault her.
“What the fuck are you?”
Then, there is a “Beauty and the Beast" feeling with the garden and the roses and the curse:
“You’re in my lair now, you do realize that, right?”
“Y-yes,” she said as the direction of his voice changed and she turned blindly toward it, unable to see anything, not even his movement.
He chuckled then and it drifted to her, falling over her like magic, causing goosebumps to erupt on her skin.
“You’re playing with me.” It was a statement, but also a question. She should be annoyed, perhaps, but she couldn’t help her excitement.
Then, there is a huge dramatic twist where everything transforms into a conspiracy corrupted game with dark undertones:
He’d been used. Lied to. He’d been a pawn and he’d played straight into their hands. God, he’d thought he was so smart, when all he’d been was an idiotic patsy. Blinded by self-importance and ego.
And the final twist is a paranormal one:
A drop of her blood being brought to the light.
Two love stories:
One love story with a tragic ending from the past , about Angelina Loreaux and John Whitfield
One love story with a tragic start which struggles to have a future, about Clara Campbell and Johan Chamberlain.
Well, it is one of the best books that I have read this year, thus it is highly recommended.
A beautiful melancholic book with the right amount of
Angst,
Romance,
Stalking,
Mystery,
Daydreaming,
Redemption,
True love that can not be seized by lies, time or death.
For me, it starts like the “Devil's Advocate” movie. Jonah has to make a decision and deep down he knows it will be the wrong decision, but he is too cocky to refuse it:
You’re choosing a path here, Jonah.
But he’d already chosen it. There was nothing to be done now.
Then, there is a bit of New Orleans’s magic, mystery and legends:
“Do you know why it’s called the weeping wall?”
“It’s said that the wall weeps tears for the heartbreak and tragedy that came to pass behind it, for the spirits still trapped within.”
Then , the story feels a bit like the “Phantom of the Opera". A man hiding his face in the shadows watches the young artist:
Movement in the back of the theatre caught her eye and she stumbled slightly, catching herself and glancing at Madame Fournier who, thank the heavens, was looking in a different direction.
A man—she could only make out his tall outline—stepped around the corner.
Then, there is a bit of the legends of Zorro and Batman. The rich masked hero who saves the weak women, punishes the evil men, offers money here and there when someone needs it. And he always keeps his identity a secret:
Jonah stepped closer, into a patch of low light given off by the glow of the street at the end of the alley and the man’s eyes widened. The woman’s mouth parted in surprise, the fear still present in her eyes. Jonah, in his skeletal mask, obviously looked even more frightening than the filthy meathead attempting to assault her.
“What the fuck are you?”
Then, there is a “Beauty and the Beast" feeling with the garden and the roses and the curse:
“You’re in my lair now, you do realize that, right?”
“Y-yes,” she said as the direction of his voice changed and she turned blindly toward it, unable to see anything, not even his movement.
He chuckled then and it drifted to her, falling over her like magic, causing goosebumps to erupt on her skin.
“You’re playing with me.” It was a statement, but also a question. She should be annoyed, perhaps, but she couldn’t help her excitement.
Then, there is a huge dramatic twist where everything transforms into a conspiracy corrupted game with dark undertones:
He’d been used. Lied to. He’d been a pawn and he’d played straight into their hands. God, he’d thought he was so smart, when all he’d been was an idiotic patsy. Blinded by self-importance and ego.
And the final twist is a paranormal one:
A drop of her blood being brought to the light.
Two love stories:
One love story with a tragic ending from the past , about Angelina Loreaux and John Whitfield
One love story with a tragic start which struggles to have a future, about Clara Campbell and Johan Chamberlain.
Well, it is one of the best books that I have read this year, thus it is highly recommended.
A beautiful melancholic book with the right amount of
Angst,
Romance,
Stalking,
Mystery,
Daydreaming,
Redemption,
True love that can not be seized by lies, time or death.
December 5, 2018
5 +++ Stars #hands-down favorite
A beautiful story and a beautiful cover to boot! Due to the blurb and the gorgeous cover, I was very anxious to read The Wish Collector and let me tell you, it certainly did not disappoint!
Jonah suffers from horrific scars. He’s a tortured soul. He now lives an isolated life at Windisle Plantation, a sugar plantation that was built more than 200 years ago. A site in New Orleans which is rumored to be sacred, cursed, even haunted. Clara is a sweet, loving ballet dancer. She is the right mix of kindness, strength, sass, beauty, sexy and love. Clara is going to test his boundaries, push him out of his comfort zone and try to make him see the light inside the dark. Will he ever be able to look beyond the cover of himself to see the truth inside that is ever so beautiful?
The story takes us on a journey of self discovery, fear, passion, mystery, magic, pain, and longing with a fairy tale charm. There is nothing I like better than the redemption of a broken man through the love of a good woman. It is a tender, touching thing, watching the carefully constructed walls around Jonah begin to crumble, as Clara refuses to give up. I absolutely adored this book, and I know I will have a book hangover for days.
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 5/5 | Steam 3/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 5/5 | Darkness 4/5 | Humor 2/5 | Secondary Characters 5/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 5/5 | Twists 5/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 4/5
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
A beautiful story and a beautiful cover to boot! Due to the blurb and the gorgeous cover, I was very anxious to read The Wish Collector and let me tell you, it certainly did not disappoint!
Jonah suffers from horrific scars. He’s a tortured soul. He now lives an isolated life at Windisle Plantation, a sugar plantation that was built more than 200 years ago. A site in New Orleans which is rumored to be sacred, cursed, even haunted. Clara is a sweet, loving ballet dancer. She is the right mix of kindness, strength, sass, beauty, sexy and love. Clara is going to test his boundaries, push him out of his comfort zone and try to make him see the light inside the dark. Will he ever be able to look beyond the cover of himself to see the truth inside that is ever so beautiful?
The story takes us on a journey of self discovery, fear, passion, mystery, magic, pain, and longing with a fairy tale charm. There is nothing I like better than the redemption of a broken man through the love of a good woman. It is a tender, touching thing, watching the carefully constructed walls around Jonah begin to crumble, as Clara refuses to give up. I absolutely adored this book, and I know I will have a book hangover for days.
In short:
Hero 5/5 | Heroine 5/5 | Plot (Point, Originality) 5/5 | Writing Style 5/5 | Steam 3/5 | Romance 5/5 | Angst-Suspense 5/5 | Darkness 4/5 | Humor 2/5 | Secondary Characters 5/5 | Drama-Conflict 5/5 | Mystery 5/5 | Twists 5/5 | Pacing Fast | Action 4/5
ARC kindly provided in exchange for an honest review.
December 4, 2018
This book was AMAZING (as is the cover). I'd love to see it made into a movie! The setting was amazing. I loved the whole "Beauty and The Beast meets The Phantom Of The Opera" theme. The touch of magical realism was amazing. The secondary characters were amazing. Jonah was AMAZING. Clara was amazing. The ending had me crying like a baby. I usually do not like slow burns, and this one was S-L-O-W burn to the extreme, but it worked perfectly. I can't recommend this one highly enough.
And just an FYI, this is a book that you need to ACTUALLY read until the very end because things may look one way at the start, but things are not always as they seem to be, and you are doing a disservice to other readers and the author when you post misleading information...off my soapbox.
And just an FYI, this is a book that you need to ACTUALLY read until the very end because things may look one way at the start, but things are not always as they seem to be, and you are doing a disservice to other readers and the author when you post misleading information...off my soapbox.
December 4, 2018
i was really excited to read this book when i read the blurb bc it sounded so precious. modern inspired story of beauty and the beast?? epic
sadly, it was not.
usually, im not too critical with insta-love, it doesn't bother me all that much bc i can find it somewhat believable (in MOST books) but in this book it was just SO over the top. the insta-love was so instantaneous, they were beyond help after their FIRST meeting (AND THEY DIDNT EVEN SEE EACH OTHER)
GIVE US SOME BUILD UP PLEASE
still, i held hope that it would improve bc the plot was interesting enough and i wanted to find out about the sub-plot that takes place in the past and how it was related to the mystery at hand. definitely a better written story but it was so minor in comparison to the main story
and then as the book progressed, i became less and less interested bc the whole romance was just so baseless and overwhelming and just,,,,,stranger danger my dudes
AND THEN THE ??PLOT TWIST?? was supposed to be shocking but i was just annoyed
my pros for this would be the sub-plot and romance between angelina and her mansforgot his name soz was very well written. the writing is descript and beautiful and easy to read throughout. the relationship between clara and her father (WISH WE GOT MORE OF THAT). clara's love for dancing, i enjoyed reading about that. the ending tied everything nicely together, i'll give it that.
yeah that's it. i didn't hate jonah but i didnt find him compelling enough to invest my emotions.
but hey, i hold the very unpopular opinion, so maybe you'll enjoy ✌️
buddy read with my sous chef
sadly, it was not.
usually, im not too critical with insta-love, it doesn't bother me all that much bc i can find it somewhat believable (in MOST books) but in this book it was just SO over the top. the insta-love was so instantaneous, they were beyond help after their FIRST meeting (AND THEY DIDNT EVEN SEE EACH OTHER)
still, i held hope that it would improve bc the plot was interesting enough and i wanted to find out about the sub-plot that takes place in the past and how it was related to the mystery at hand. definitely a better written story but it was so minor in comparison to the main story
and then as the book progressed, i became less and less interested bc the whole romance was just so baseless and overwhelming and just,,,,,stranger danger my dudes
AND THEN THE ??PLOT TWIST?? was supposed to be shocking but i was just annoyed
my pros for this would be the sub-plot and romance between angelina and her mans
yeah that's it. i didn't hate jonah but i didnt find him compelling enough to invest my emotions.
but hey, i hold the very unpopular opinion, so maybe you'll enjoy ✌️
buddy read with my sous chef
December 31, 2023
"Keep seeking. Do not stop."
The Wish Collector is a stand-alone romance with complex characters, intrigue, and heart. As the plot weaves masterfully between the past and the present a heartbreakingly beautiful story is revealed. Clara Campbell, a Profesional ballet dancer, has recently moved to New Orleans and is swept into a story from the past. While searching for clues, she meets Jonah Chamberlain. Jonah has endured some trying times and it has left him physically and emotionally damaged. Although he is hesitant to reveal himself to Clara, he enjoys their time together talking through the wall at his home. As Clara and Jonah grow closer together, he begins to come alive once again and the desire to come out of the shadows grows. Clara is determined to show Jonah that it is ok to step into the light and allow himself to experience love.
"I want you."Told in multiple POV, The Wish Collector is a tender romance of redemption and second chances. Although Jonah and Clara are the central focus of the read, we experience the passion, love, and loss from the spirits of the past. With lyrical writing and intense pacing, Mia Sheridan offers an emotionally charged read that is sure to appeal to readers who enjoy a tender romance with magical overtones set in New Orleans.
🌸 This is an F (BR) with CC, Loyda, and War! 🌸
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
November 26, 2018
Live Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2DXY081
💙5 unique stars💙
I have happy tears in my eyes!!Im so in love with this story.The Wish Collector was mesmerizing the plot captivating and the writing was exquisite.
The characters were well developed and the romance so unique that will linger in my thoughts for a long time to come!
This story is so brilliant, Mia Sheridan did an amazing job with this one.This is an unforgettable story, it goes to my top favorite reads for this year!
💙5 unique stars💙
I have happy tears in my eyes!!Im so in love with this story.The Wish Collector was mesmerizing the plot captivating and the writing was exquisite.
The characters were well developed and the romance so unique that will linger in my thoughts for a long time to come!
This story is so brilliant, Mia Sheridan did an amazing job with this one.This is an unforgettable story, it goes to my top favorite reads for this year!
November 28, 2018
I wanted to love this book. The first quarter of the story was a good start with anticipation of a build up of the storyline. I felt like there was a mash up of stories or a modern day Phantom of the Opera. I do enjoy this authors writing style and I know this release will be embraced by many, but it just wasn't my favorite
January 31, 2023
4.75 Stars
December 25, 2018
****3.5 STARS****
I would give The Wish Collector by Mia Sheridan 4 STARS (maybe) if it wasn’t written in the third person. I’m not a fan of that at all. That’s just a person preference.
I never felt an attachment to either character. The heroine’s storyline was a bit “blah” to me. She wasn’t interesting at all. Our hero’s backstory and current position was somewhere in the middle for me entertainment wise. It was also a bit far-fetched to be labeled into a romance story.
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Remember to follow all things messy. . .
I would give The Wish Collector by Mia Sheridan 4 STARS (maybe) if it wasn’t written in the third person. I’m not a fan of that at all. That’s just a person preference.
I never felt an attachment to either character. The heroine’s storyline was a bit “blah” to me. She wasn’t interesting at all. Our hero’s backstory and current position was somewhere in the middle for me entertainment wise. It was also a bit far-fetched to be labeled into a romance story.
Read More
Read More
Remember to follow all things messy. . .
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November 14, 2018
I just finished THE WISH COLLECTOR by Mia Sheridan and people? This is one gorgeous, sweeping, epic American love story. I could feel the hot, spicy New Orleans breeze on my cheeks as I read each word...and picture Windisle Plantation, the center of so much true love and heartbreak, in all of its former-glory, old-world charm.
There are two love stories inside THE WISH COLLECTOR, and I loved them equally.
A modern-day mash-up of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Phantom of the Opera,” with its fairytale roots buried firmly in New Orleans’ mystical past, this is a love story for the ages.
~Katy Regnery, New York Times bestselling author
Well done, my Mia.
#NoSpace
xoxoxo
There are two love stories inside THE WISH COLLECTOR, and I loved them equally.
A modern-day mash-up of “Beauty and the Beast” and “Phantom of the Opera,” with its fairytale roots buried firmly in New Orleans’ mystical past, this is a love story for the ages.
~Katy Regnery, New York Times bestselling author
Well done, my Mia.
#NoSpace
xoxoxo
November 26, 2018
5 Stars!
(ARC provided by author)
Clara Campbell is a midwestern girl from Ohio. She’d been dancing since she was four, and her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina come true when she joins the New Orleans Ballet. Alone in a new city she feels homesick. Then she learns of the local attraction at Windisle Plantation. She’s drawn to the tragic tale and history of a couple from years ago that were plagued by heartbreak and misery. The myth of their ghosts and the stone wall where people left their wishes fascinated her. She decides to go leave a wish at the wall, and is shocked when she hears movement from the other side. She keeps returning weekly and a friendship forms between two lonely people who can talk anonymously and be themselves. They become each other’s deepest confidant. They talk about everything despite the physical barricade between them.
Jonah Chamberlain once had it all, or so he thought. He was a handsome, successful lawyer. The golden boy son following in his father’s footsteps. Then the path he chose forever changed his life, and led him to Windisle. Now he feels worthless and pathetic, and is consumed by grief, anger and pain. He’s become a recluse, and is a shell of the man he used to be. He’s locked away in his fortress by his own self-appointed isolation. Then he forms an unusual bond with a woman named Clara. She intrigued him, and offered him compassion. He was captivated by her sweetness, and she soothes him, and makes him question everything. She made him yearn for things that were long out of his reach. Their time together felt magical, and he decides to enjoy the moments they had.
-"I care about you, Jonah. I feel this... pull toward you that I've never felt before."
-What an awful, desolate feeling to know that the man who made your heart swell and your blood tremble was there, so close, and yet completely and utterly out of reach.
Clara has been obsessing over her broken wish collector since the day they met. He brought her peace, and invoked a fierce longing in her. She wanted this beautiful man to be hers. For him to join the world, and realize he still had plenty to offer. Her scarred stranger had stolen her heart.
Jonah continues to push Clara away. He doesn’t know how they can have a future together. He felt safe behind his wall, and thought being with him would only bring misery to Clara’s life, but he couldn’t deny she’d changed him. Would he stay an outcast hidden in his sanctuary making himself suffer, and risk her walking away, or will he step out of the shadows for love?
This story is about a man who lives life consumed with such an overwhelming, intense sadness. It’s about healing, forgiveness, hope, shame, redemption, second chances, and most of all love. That sometimes we just need that one person to truly see us and believe in us. It’s also about the need to find faith in yourself and love yourself as you are. That nobody is perfect, but we all always have something to be grateful for. This book was a deeply emotional, romantic, beautiful, touching, unique story. I loved it so much! It’s one of my favorites by this author. A book that touches your heart, and one I’ll be thinking about for a while. ❤️
-He lived in the darkness, but Clara, she was his light.
-He ached. He ached with longing so intense it left him breathless. She was his Clara.
-Where there was love, there was always, always hope.
-He'd been infused with her hopefulness- her joy- and filled with the wonder of the grace she'd given him.
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2QiBeNF
(ARC provided by author)
Clara Campbell is a midwestern girl from Ohio. She’d been dancing since she was four, and her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina come true when she joins the New Orleans Ballet. Alone in a new city she feels homesick. Then she learns of the local attraction at Windisle Plantation. She’s drawn to the tragic tale and history of a couple from years ago that were plagued by heartbreak and misery. The myth of their ghosts and the stone wall where people left their wishes fascinated her. She decides to go leave a wish at the wall, and is shocked when she hears movement from the other side. She keeps returning weekly and a friendship forms between two lonely people who can talk anonymously and be themselves. They become each other’s deepest confidant. They talk about everything despite the physical barricade between them.
Jonah Chamberlain once had it all, or so he thought. He was a handsome, successful lawyer. The golden boy son following in his father’s footsteps. Then the path he chose forever changed his life, and led him to Windisle. Now he feels worthless and pathetic, and is consumed by grief, anger and pain. He’s become a recluse, and is a shell of the man he used to be. He’s locked away in his fortress by his own self-appointed isolation. Then he forms an unusual bond with a woman named Clara. She intrigued him, and offered him compassion. He was captivated by her sweetness, and she soothes him, and makes him question everything. She made him yearn for things that were long out of his reach. Their time together felt magical, and he decides to enjoy the moments they had.
-"I care about you, Jonah. I feel this... pull toward you that I've never felt before."
-What an awful, desolate feeling to know that the man who made your heart swell and your blood tremble was there, so close, and yet completely and utterly out of reach.
Clara has been obsessing over her broken wish collector since the day they met. He brought her peace, and invoked a fierce longing in her. She wanted this beautiful man to be hers. For him to join the world, and realize he still had plenty to offer. Her scarred stranger had stolen her heart.
Jonah continues to push Clara away. He doesn’t know how they can have a future together. He felt safe behind his wall, and thought being with him would only bring misery to Clara’s life, but he couldn’t deny she’d changed him. Would he stay an outcast hidden in his sanctuary making himself suffer, and risk her walking away, or will he step out of the shadows for love?
This story is about a man who lives life consumed with such an overwhelming, intense sadness. It’s about healing, forgiveness, hope, shame, redemption, second chances, and most of all love. That sometimes we just need that one person to truly see us and believe in us. It’s also about the need to find faith in yourself and love yourself as you are. That nobody is perfect, but we all always have something to be grateful for. This book was a deeply emotional, romantic, beautiful, touching, unique story. I loved it so much! It’s one of my favorites by this author. A book that touches your heart, and one I’ll be thinking about for a while. ❤️
-He lived in the darkness, but Clara, she was his light.
-He ached. He ached with longing so intense it left him breathless. She was his Clara.
-Where there was love, there was always, always hope.
-He'd been infused with her hopefulness- her joy- and filled with the wonder of the grace she'd given him.
***NOW AVAILABLE***
https://amzn.to/2QiBeNF
January 10, 2019
Now this is the type of contemporary romance that's sorely missing from the world! I am happy to have found it on KU. Bless KU for providing a couple of gems amidst a number of duds.
This book makes you believe in magic. The magic of love and healing and curses lifted and wrongs being righted.
It uses the Beauty and Beast trope (which I adore) and has both a sympathetic B and b. I didn't even mind there wasn't a lot of steamy hot sex! It was a LOVE story! And a well-told one.
Bravo!
This book makes you believe in magic. The magic of love and healing and curses lifted and wrongs being righted.
It uses the Beauty and Beast trope (which I adore) and has both a sympathetic B and b. I didn't even mind there wasn't a lot of steamy hot sex! It was a LOVE story! And a well-told one.
Bravo!
September 21, 2019
3.5 stars.🌟🌟🌟
I really wanted to love this more but it felt like there was just too many storylines competing and fighting for my attention and interest as a reader....... it really did my "head" in.
What we have here is a combination of a historical tragedy and part mystery dating back to "The Civil War" that needs to be solved as well as a modern day romance with almost "Phantom of the Opera" overtones.
All of this is then set in the Deep South (New Orleans) with little touches of light and dark magic......so quite a lot to juggle between.
The author presents us with a deeply scarred and tortured hero -Jonah. He has become an almost total recluse in an attempt to hide from his dark and scandalous past.
When we meet him.... He is stagnant unable to move forward until he meets Clara, a ballet dancer new to the city- also a little lonely and alone.
Jonah is definitely a man, very much in need of forgiveness and redemption for his past mistakes but he appears unable to break away from his own self-loathing and regret enough to allow this to happen.
Clara's kindness, strength, patience and persistance though, gradually begin to break through Jonah's barriers.
Mia Sheridan is an author that I really admire but this simply wasn't my favorite book of hers although I am sure many of her readers will love this poignant and sad release.
p.s. "Kyland" still remains my favorite. So heartbreaking but so very-very good.
**This is a book that might benefit from a reread though, as there really is a lot of information to absorb and I am also curious as to what I might make of it second time around.
I really wanted to love this more but it felt like there was just too many storylines competing and fighting for my attention and interest as a reader....... it really did my "head" in.
What we have here is a combination of a historical tragedy and part mystery dating back to "The Civil War" that needs to be solved as well as a modern day romance with almost "Phantom of the Opera" overtones.
All of this is then set in the Deep South (New Orleans) with little touches of light and dark magic......so quite a lot to juggle between.
The author presents us with a deeply scarred and tortured hero -Jonah. He has become an almost total recluse in an attempt to hide from his dark and scandalous past.
When we meet him.... He is stagnant unable to move forward until he meets Clara, a ballet dancer new to the city- also a little lonely and alone.
Jonah is definitely a man, very much in need of forgiveness and redemption for his past mistakes but he appears unable to break away from his own self-loathing and regret enough to allow this to happen.
Clara's kindness, strength, patience and persistance though, gradually begin to break through Jonah's barriers.
Mia Sheridan is an author that I really admire but this simply wasn't my favorite book of hers although I am sure many of her readers will love this poignant and sad release.
p.s. "Kyland" still remains my favorite. So heartbreaking but so very-very good.
**This is a book that might benefit from a reread though, as there really is a lot of information to absorb and I am also curious as to what I might make of it second time around.
March 17, 2024
PUC has redeemed herself (the second time?) by recommending me this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Lots of layers. H/h are like Beauty and the Beast - he of the scarred hero who's damaged both inside and outside and she of the beautiful ballerina (literally) whose inside matches her outside.
It starts off fast and it doesn't really slow down. Not that there's all that much mystery or action. There's nothing in the plot that's unpredictable. VERY predictable. But you're not reading it for suspense or mystery. You're reading it to see whether these two people will find magic together. Whether the H especially will heal enough and be brave enough to walk into the light for the h.
Then there's the weeping wall and the haunted plantation and the fortune teller. I kept expecting something horrific to happen/ or almost happen to the h only to be rescued by H. But not really, nothing much happened there. The story about how hundreds of years ago, a half-breed slave girl and white soldier were in love and he betrayed her and they haunt the plantation - that was very predictable too. Of course he didn't betray her. Must be a misunderstanding, and it doesn't take much to guess what the misunderstanding is.
Not much sex, and that is perfectly FINE! Because this is about the heart and the soul, and the lovely writing made me tear up a time or two. I do love the books that pluck at my heartstrings!
So thanks, for the rec, Princess! I also recommend this book to other love story lovers...
(Note, apparently, this writing and story style is not common for this author. I wanted to read something else of hers immediately, but quickly changed my mind. Nevertheless, this book is very good.)
Lots of layers. H/h are like Beauty and the Beast - he of the scarred hero who's damaged both inside and outside and she of the beautiful ballerina (literally) whose inside matches her outside.
It starts off fast and it doesn't really slow down. Not that there's all that much mystery or action. There's nothing in the plot that's unpredictable. VERY predictable. But you're not reading it for suspense or mystery. You're reading it to see whether these two people will find magic together. Whether the H especially will heal enough and be brave enough to walk into the light for the h.
Then there's the weeping wall and the haunted plantation and the fortune teller. I kept expecting something horrific to happen/ or almost happen to the h only to be rescued by H. But not really, nothing much happened there. The story about how hundreds of years ago, a half-breed slave girl and white soldier were in love and he betrayed her and they haunt the plantation - that was very predictable too. Of course he didn't betray her. Must be a misunderstanding, and it doesn't take much to guess what the misunderstanding is.
Not much sex, and that is perfectly FINE! Because this is about the heart and the soul, and the lovely writing made me tear up a time or two. I do love the books that pluck at my heartstrings!
So thanks, for the rec, Princess! I also recommend this book to other love story lovers...
(Note, apparently, this writing and story style is not common for this author. I wanted to read something else of hers immediately, but quickly changed my mind. Nevertheless, this book is very good.)
April 5, 2019
Another fantastic book by Mia Sheridan. Loved the audiobook as well ❤️
June 1, 2019
4 Stars!!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
“I believe everyone deserves grace, Clara. What you will have to ask yourself is if you should offer that grace from near or from afar. Offering grace does not mean offering your heart. That, my darlin’, must be protected at all cost.”
This was such a fun and dreamy read. It takes place in New Orleans, and I got to read it this week while in New Orleans. That made it so worth it! Everything, all the culture and sights from the book came to life.
Clara- a ballet dancer, gets the shot of a lifetime to work at the New Orleans Ballet. In order to follow her dream, she has to leave her father who has Alzheimer's which is very hard for her but she does it. After being in New Orleans for a while, she hears a story from her neighbor about the Weeping Wall located at Windisle Plantation. Its magic and story, consumes Clara. She goes to the wall and meets a stranger behind it all.
Jonah, a highshot lawyer once upon a time, now lives in isolation because of something tragic that happened over 8 years ago. Consumed with guilt Jonah never leaves his home, which just so happens to be at Windisle Plantation. One day he receives a wish behind the wall, and hears a voice which turns his life - totally upside down.
This book was so whimsical. There is a story within a story told here and it worked perfectly. There were a few different mysteries all going on at the same time which made the whole thing that much more amazing. I really enjoyed all of the mentions of New Orleans history and all the legends and tales told about it!
🌟🌟🌟🌟
“I believe everyone deserves grace, Clara. What you will have to ask yourself is if you should offer that grace from near or from afar. Offering grace does not mean offering your heart. That, my darlin’, must be protected at all cost.”
This was such a fun and dreamy read. It takes place in New Orleans, and I got to read it this week while in New Orleans. That made it so worth it! Everything, all the culture and sights from the book came to life.
Clara- a ballet dancer, gets the shot of a lifetime to work at the New Orleans Ballet. In order to follow her dream, she has to leave her father who has Alzheimer's which is very hard for her but she does it. After being in New Orleans for a while, she hears a story from her neighbor about the Weeping Wall located at Windisle Plantation. Its magic and story, consumes Clara. She goes to the wall and meets a stranger behind it all.
Jonah, a highshot lawyer once upon a time, now lives in isolation because of something tragic that happened over 8 years ago. Consumed with guilt Jonah never leaves his home, which just so happens to be at Windisle Plantation. One day he receives a wish behind the wall, and hears a voice which turns his life - totally upside down.
This book was so whimsical. There is a story within a story told here and it worked perfectly. There were a few different mysteries all going on at the same time which made the whole thing that much more amazing. I really enjoyed all of the mentions of New Orleans history and all the legends and tales told about it!
January 30, 2023
Προ διετίας είχα γνωρίσει τη γραφή της Mia Sheridan με το μυθιστόρημα 'Η φωνή του τοξότη'' που με είχε συγκινήσει, επομένως ξεκίνησα το παρόν βιβλίο με αστείρευτο ενθουσιασμό. Γενικά λόγω φόρτου εργασίας διαβάζω μάξιμουμ 100-150 σελίδες τη μέρα, στον ''Συλλέκτη Ευχών'' έφτασα τις 300 σελίδες εν μία νυκτί! Μου ήταν φυσικά αδύνατον να σταματήσω την ανάγνωση, σταματούσα-ξεκινούσα σταματούσα-ξεκινούσα πάλι. Με γοήτευσαν εξαρχής τόσο η Κλάρα όσο και ο Τζόνας, η γνωριμία τους ήταν ιδιαίτερη έχοντας ως χώρισμα έναν τοίχο που θρηνεί και η σχέση τους εξελίχθηκε τόσο όμορφα και παραμυθένια. Για μία ακόμη φορά οι ήρωες της Sheridan προσπαθούν να θεραπευτούν με τη δύναμη της αγάπης και φυσικά της συγχώρεσης. Αν και παρατήρησα ότι υπάρχει μία σημαντική ομοιότητα ανάμεσα στον Τζόνας και τον Άρτσερ, η εκούσια απομόνωσή τους.
Συμπληρωματικά, υπάρχουν εμφανείς επιρροές από το Φάντασμα της Όπερας αλλά και από ένα αγαπημένο παραμύθι που δεν το αναφέρω για να μην κάνω σπόιλ. Ήταν υπέροχα και τα μηνύματα που περνούσε ειδικά προς το δεύτερο μισό του βιβλίου για το ποιο μονοπάτι πρέπει να ακολουθήσουμε. Το μόνο που δεν με τράβηξε όσο θα ήθελα ήταν η αφήγηση στο παρελθόν, δεν μου κινούσε την περιέργεια και εστίαζα μόνο στο παρόν. Πέρα από αυτό το μικρό ''αγκάθι'', είναι ένα συγκινητικό αισθηματικό μυθιστόρημα δια χειρός της Mia Sheridan για τις ευχές που συλλέγουμε και μπορούμε να πραγματοποιήσουμε.
''Η αληθινή αγάπη σου χορεύει ανάμεσα στις αχτίδες του φεγγαριού''.
Συμπληρωματικά, υπάρχουν εμφανείς επιρροές από το Φάντασμα της Όπερας αλλά και από ένα αγαπημένο παραμύθι που δεν το αναφέρω για να μην κάνω σπόιλ. Ήταν υπέροχα και τα μηνύματα που περνούσε ειδικά προς το δεύτερο μισό του βιβλίου για το ποιο μονοπάτι πρέπει να ακολουθήσουμε. Το μόνο που δεν με τράβηξε όσο θα ήθελα ήταν η αφήγηση στο παρελθόν, δεν μου κινούσε την περιέργεια και εστίαζα μόνο στο παρόν. Πέρα από αυτό το μικρό ''αγκάθι'', είναι ένα συγκινητικό αισθηματικό μυθιστόρημα δια χειρός της Mia Sheridan για τις ευχές που συλλέγουμε και μπορούμε να πραγματοποιήσουμε.
''Η αληθινή αγάπη σου χορεύει ανάμεσα στις αχτίδες του φεγγαριού''.
never-no-way
November 26, 2018The hero is the lawyer of a rapist and he defends the piece of sh*t till the end until he gets free and kills a lot of people. I am not interested in his redemption even if there is any.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
December 10, 2018
I was in a bad reading slump for 3 weeks. It was awful and I couldn’t get to like any book which crossed by path. “The Wish Collector” was on my Kindle for several days and yesterday, on a lazy Sunday morning, I decided to give is a try, because we are talking about Mia Sheridan here😊
I can’t describe how much I loved the book, how emotionally I got while reading it and how incredible touched I was by the characters and the plot. Being a “Mia maniac” I compared it with various of her books. If you ask me now, it had a touch of “Midnight Lily”, “Archer’s Voice” and “Grayson’s Vow”, but it’s just me saying that, a person who makes a lot of connections when hyperventilating over a fabulous story. It also brought a lot of new elements which I loved and never experienced in her books before, sucj as the supernatural stories, but also a liiiiiitle vigillante inflections on the way.
I can’t even begin to tell you what I loved about a book I’ve read in only one day, because there are many aspects to begin with. Of course, I loved the plot, the well documented, incredible and amazing plot of the book😊Beginning from a local legend, Mia shaped a love story and gave it its own personality and trades. Clara and Jonah are right in the middle of it.
To say it in a few words, Clara is very sensitive and curious heroine, who’s curiosity about an old story made her visit the spot where apparently everything began, on the Windisle property. There, she meets Jonah, on the other side of the wall which separates the property from the outer world. Their connection ignites fast, beginning a friendship which will turn into something strong and meaningful. He also has secrets that will need time and trust to be incovered and surpassed. Being extremely hyper right now about the book, I don’t understand why I can’t find my words, because I want to express so many things all at once.
I loved the characters and the way they were crafted😊 I loved Clara because of her mix of adult and child, because of her interest in local stories and her belief that supernatural stories are real. She involves herself heart and soul in this story and besides that, she loves a person for her soul, the physical aspect being not that important to her. In her love story with Jonah this is the key element, she is not judgmental, she is open hearted, she can give second chances and be extremely persistent. Her perseverance is what I loved about her, because she was extremely witty and smart and wanted to convince Jonah of her feelings no matter his stubborn self-distructive personality.
Jonah on the other side, had a similar story to Archer, living in isolation, and this is why I made this parallels to begin with. Because of the tragedy that left him damaged, Jonah is blaming himself and prefers this way of punishment for his actions. Stuck in a loop for 8 years, he never even considered redemption, until Clara appeared. This is the beauty of their love story, seeing how 2 lonely hearts bind together and heal each other in the most meaningful way. Besides that, throughout the story we can see our characters evolve, make more bold choices and change their life for the better. All of this because they met one day at a weeping wall and developed strong feeling only by talking and sharing important things to them.
The story is extremely touching and it emphasis the power of love and words in an atypical relationship. I loved every second of it, I loved the chemistry between Clara and Jonah, but most of all, I loved the feeling and the chills almost every page gave it. It implies so many feelings that you can’t stop reading and think about the book. It gives you so much to think about, starting with physical attraction and ending with the power of forgiveness, not only for people around you, but for yourself, to try to start over when you have the chance. The story between Clara and Jonah has so many elements linked to it, which makes it impossible to understant only it only from a review. You have to read it with your heart and see exactly the path that brought them together.
“The Wish Collector” brought me to tears, made me weep in a touching way and opened my heart to so many possibilities. It made me believe in stories beyond our world, in love without judging, in the healing power of words and in magic. And by the way: Mia, YOU are magic😊 Thank you very much officer Sheridan for convincing Mia to share her story with us and transform it into a full lenght novel, because I just found my favorite love story of this year 😊
For more reviews please check https://readwithloveblog.wordpress.com
I can’t describe how much I loved the book, how emotionally I got while reading it and how incredible touched I was by the characters and the plot. Being a “Mia maniac” I compared it with various of her books. If you ask me now, it had a touch of “Midnight Lily”, “Archer’s Voice” and “Grayson’s Vow”, but it’s just me saying that, a person who makes a lot of connections when hyperventilating over a fabulous story. It also brought a lot of new elements which I loved and never experienced in her books before, sucj as the supernatural stories, but also a liiiiiitle vigillante inflections on the way.
I can’t even begin to tell you what I loved about a book I’ve read in only one day, because there are many aspects to begin with. Of course, I loved the plot, the well documented, incredible and amazing plot of the book😊Beginning from a local legend, Mia shaped a love story and gave it its own personality and trades. Clara and Jonah are right in the middle of it.
To say it in a few words, Clara is very sensitive and curious heroine, who’s curiosity about an old story made her visit the spot where apparently everything began, on the Windisle property. There, she meets Jonah, on the other side of the wall which separates the property from the outer world. Their connection ignites fast, beginning a friendship which will turn into something strong and meaningful. He also has secrets that will need time and trust to be incovered and surpassed. Being extremely hyper right now about the book, I don’t understand why I can’t find my words, because I want to express so many things all at once.
I loved the characters and the way they were crafted😊 I loved Clara because of her mix of adult and child, because of her interest in local stories and her belief that supernatural stories are real. She involves herself heart and soul in this story and besides that, she loves a person for her soul, the physical aspect being not that important to her. In her love story with Jonah this is the key element, she is not judgmental, she is open hearted, she can give second chances and be extremely persistent. Her perseverance is what I loved about her, because she was extremely witty and smart and wanted to convince Jonah of her feelings no matter his stubborn self-distructive personality.
Jonah on the other side, had a similar story to Archer, living in isolation, and this is why I made this parallels to begin with. Because of the tragedy that left him damaged, Jonah is blaming himself and prefers this way of punishment for his actions. Stuck in a loop for 8 years, he never even considered redemption, until Clara appeared. This is the beauty of their love story, seeing how 2 lonely hearts bind together and heal each other in the most meaningful way. Besides that, throughout the story we can see our characters evolve, make more bold choices and change their life for the better. All of this because they met one day at a weeping wall and developed strong feeling only by talking and sharing important things to them.
The story is extremely touching and it emphasis the power of love and words in an atypical relationship. I loved every second of it, I loved the chemistry between Clara and Jonah, but most of all, I loved the feeling and the chills almost every page gave it. It implies so many feelings that you can’t stop reading and think about the book. It gives you so much to think about, starting with physical attraction and ending with the power of forgiveness, not only for people around you, but for yourself, to try to start over when you have the chance. The story between Clara and Jonah has so many elements linked to it, which makes it impossible to understant only it only from a review. You have to read it with your heart and see exactly the path that brought them together.
“The Wish Collector” brought me to tears, made me weep in a touching way and opened my heart to so many possibilities. It made me believe in stories beyond our world, in love without judging, in the healing power of words and in magic. And by the way: Mia, YOU are magic😊 Thank you very much officer Sheridan for convincing Mia to share her story with us and transform it into a full lenght novel, because I just found my favorite love story of this year 😊
For more reviews please check https://readwithloveblog.wordpress.com
December 9, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Type: Standalone
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Clara Campbell moved to New Orleans to pursue her lifelong dream as a ballerina. Alone and sad, she was drawn to the magic and mystery of a local tragic love story - a fascination that led her to a very private man.
Jonah Chamberlain sequestered himself at the infamous Windisle Plantation. Years gone by while he hid behind the crumbling wall until he met someone who made him crave what he lost. As they tried to solve mystery of the past, they started to think about the future, but it won’t happen unless they learn to let go.
Clara had a gentle and caring heart. She was selfless towards others even when she didn’t get the same courtesy. Sure, those are good qualities but at the same time I also wondered how long before her innocence get swallowed whole by the big bad world lol!
Jonah believed he deserved what happened to him. I liked learning about his past and his fall from grace that led to his penance. He took everything too hard and it was good to see how he slowly chipped away the wall he built around himself.
The story flowed at an easy pace. I liked how there were a past and a present. However, I wanted to feel more connection and significance between the two. It would also help if there were more details on the happenings of the past that would add to the feel.
The Wish Collector is a tale of guilt and redemption. It would appeal to readers looking for a romantic story with a sprinkling of everyday magic.
🦋 🌹 🦋 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC, Loyda & Liz . . . 🦋 🌹 🦋
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
Type: Standalone
POV: Third Person
Rating:
Clara Campbell moved to New Orleans to pursue her lifelong dream as a ballerina. Alone and sad, she was drawn to the magic and mystery of a local tragic love story - a fascination that led her to a very private man.
Jonah Chamberlain sequestered himself at the infamous Windisle Plantation. Years gone by while he hid behind the crumbling wall until he met someone who made him crave what he lost. As they tried to solve mystery of the past, they started to think about the future, but it won’t happen unless they learn to let go.
Yes, she tormented him, but she’d also begun to loosen the immovable noose around his neck. He wasn’t sure if it was wise to even consider that.
Clara had a gentle and caring heart. She was selfless towards others even when she didn’t get the same courtesy. Sure, those are good qualities but at the same time I also wondered how long before her innocence get swallowed whole by the big bad world lol!
He was beauty and pain, glory and suffering, vengeance and grace, and all things made stronger and more meaningful because they have an opposite.
Jonah believed he deserved what happened to him. I liked learning about his past and his fall from grace that led to his penance. He took everything too hard and it was good to see how he slowly chipped away the wall he built around himself.
The story flowed at an easy pace. I liked how there were a past and a present. However, I wanted to feel more connection and significance between the two. It would also help if there were more details on the happenings of the past that would add to the feel.
The Wish Collector is a tale of guilt and redemption. It would appeal to readers looking for a romantic story with a sprinkling of everyday magic.
🦋 🌹 🦋 . . . (F)BR With Twinsie CC, Loyda & Liz . . . 🦋 🌹 🦋
For more reviews/reveals/giveaways visit:
December 9, 2018
4.25 perfectly flawed stars.
Check out my full review at Readin' Under Street-Lamps.
Although I wouldn’t really categorize this book as paranormal, it did seem entirely too magical at times to be something borne in reality, and Mia’s writing is a caricature of it’s own. I hadn’t read a book of her’s in a long long time, and to me personally, it was like a cold water to my face- a remainder that there are all these authors so brilliantly talented in the art of story telling, and that I was reading one of their works in the present, and not decades and centuries after they have already been declared legends. Humbling feeling if I were to be honest.
I am totally stealing this from some review I read some time ago, and as said reviewer said, anyone can be a writer, but not everyone can be an author. And Sheridan is undoubtedly, an author.
Enchanting and darkly expressive, The Wish Collector is Mia Sheridan at her absolute best.
Check out my full review at Readin' Under Street-Lamps.
Although I wouldn’t really categorize this book as paranormal, it did seem entirely too magical at times to be something borne in reality, and Mia’s writing is a caricature of it’s own. I hadn’t read a book of her’s in a long long time, and to me personally, it was like a cold water to my face- a remainder that there are all these authors so brilliantly talented in the art of story telling, and that I was reading one of their works in the present, and not decades and centuries after they have already been declared legends. Humbling feeling if I were to be honest.
I am totally stealing this from some review I read some time ago, and as said reviewer said, anyone can be a writer, but not everyone can be an author. And Sheridan is undoubtedly, an author.
Enchanting and darkly expressive, The Wish Collector is Mia Sheridan at her absolute best.
January 2, 2023
**ARC provided in exchange for an honest review**
4.5 stars
"For now they were just a boy and a girl, sitting on opposite sides of a wall, a layer of thick stone between them, but their hearts connected nonetheless. And for now, he would enjoy the moments they had."
First of all I want to say that I absolutely love the cover and title of this book. It is beautiful and magical, and I think it fits this book perfectly. "The Wish Collector is the story of shame and triumph, of loneliness and love, and the miracle of two hearts connecting despite the strongest of barriers between them." I don't even read Mia's book blurbs to decide if I want to read the book, I just read them to see what level of excitement I should be in. We have mystery, magic, history, romance, heartbreak and so much more in this book. I love all of these elements so I knew I was in for an interesting ride. I will not go into the plot a lot, because I think the blurb is more than enough to entice the reader to pick up this book, so I will discuss my feelings and thoughts. I just loved the way the main characters Jonah and Clara met. It was magical, mysterious and intriguing. I just couldn't wait to see how their relationship would develop from the moment they met. Clara is so selfless and caring, she is the type of person loved by many. Jonah, is broken and hiding from the world, he is punishing himself. But the moment he meets Clara, he knows he can't hide or ignore her.
"He wouldn't let her fall. Though in all honesty, it was far too late for that. She'd fallen. Somewhere along the way, she'd already fallen."
The Wish Collector is a beautiful and magical contemporary romance. Clara is trying to solve a mystery/curse and the flashbacks of this two other characters connected to this mystery was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I honestly wanted more of these flashbacks and I didn't think there were enough of them in this book. Also I felt like in the last 20% of the book a lot of things were resolved a bit too conveniently. I was expecting a bigger focus on it, because it was pretty important in the first half of the book. But towards the end it fell more to the background. In a way this was a good thing because the focus became stronger on Jonah and Clara's relationship and problems. But I was invested in both stories and was just expecting a little bit more. Overall, this book was amazing and so beautiful. The characters were great, the story was original, and I was hooked until the end. This book had a very different atmosphere to it, I think it being set in New Orleans was part of the reason it felt magical. Also Mia Sheridan's beautiful story-telling and writing was another reason this book was so intriguing.
4.5 stars
"For now they were just a boy and a girl, sitting on opposite sides of a wall, a layer of thick stone between them, but their hearts connected nonetheless. And for now, he would enjoy the moments they had."
First of all I want to say that I absolutely love the cover and title of this book. It is beautiful and magical, and I think it fits this book perfectly. "The Wish Collector is the story of shame and triumph, of loneliness and love, and the miracle of two hearts connecting despite the strongest of barriers between them." I don't even read Mia's book blurbs to decide if I want to read the book, I just read them to see what level of excitement I should be in. We have mystery, magic, history, romance, heartbreak and so much more in this book. I love all of these elements so I knew I was in for an interesting ride. I will not go into the plot a lot, because I think the blurb is more than enough to entice the reader to pick up this book, so I will discuss my feelings and thoughts. I just loved the way the main characters Jonah and Clara met. It was magical, mysterious and intriguing. I just couldn't wait to see how their relationship would develop from the moment they met. Clara is so selfless and caring, she is the type of person loved by many. Jonah, is broken and hiding from the world, he is punishing himself. But the moment he meets Clara, he knows he can't hide or ignore her.
"He wouldn't let her fall. Though in all honesty, it was far too late for that. She'd fallen. Somewhere along the way, she'd already fallen."
The Wish Collector is a beautiful and magical contemporary romance. Clara is trying to solve a mystery/curse and the flashbacks of this two other characters connected to this mystery was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. I honestly wanted more of these flashbacks and I didn't think there were enough of them in this book. Also I felt like in the last 20% of the book a lot of things were resolved a bit too conveniently. I was expecting a bigger focus on it, because it was pretty important in the first half of the book. But towards the end it fell more to the background. In a way this was a good thing because the focus became stronger on Jonah and Clara's relationship and problems. But I was invested in both stories and was just expecting a little bit more. Overall, this book was amazing and so beautiful. The characters were great, the story was original, and I was hooked until the end. This book had a very different atmosphere to it, I think it being set in New Orleans was part of the reason it felt magical. Also Mia Sheridan's beautiful story-telling and writing was another reason this book was so intriguing.
January 4, 2019
“Love makes a place for itself even if there isn’t one, Mama. Love carves into the hardest of places.”
4 romantic stars
I’ve always loved Mia Sheridan’s stories but it’s been some time since I’ve read one of her books. You know how it is shiny new books and all.
When I spotted The Wish Collector on Instagram I was immediately drawn to the cover, so different from her other covers so far.
Yes yes I know don’t judge a book by its cover and all but what can I say? When you know that people take 1 to 2 minutes before deciding to take a chance on a book it is expected that the cover will play a central role in the decision making.
But I digress.
What I can say about The Wish Collector is that it’s perfect for romantic minds.
It combines a modern retelling of Phantom of the Opera, an historical love story and a mystery to solve.
Clara is a ballerina and has realized her lifetime dream; dance for a major ballet company in New Orleans. She comes from a single dad family and her dad sacrificed everything to have her follow ballet classes and dance. It broke my heart reading about that courageous father who now had Alzheimer and could not fully grasp that his little girl really made it.
Clara is lonely as the competition between dancers is fierce and she is far from home.
Yet she will make friends with colorful and old-fashioned characters. From old ladies lodging her to sweet old man selling the vegetables and flowers from his garden, all these side characters help give “New Orleans colors” to the story.
Clara is at heart a big romantic.
When she hears about the wall of wishes and the legend of Evangelina haunting the property ground as her lover betrayed her, she could not resist and visited that wall.
Being generous her wish was not for her but for Evangelina.
Little did she know that behind the wall lived the owner, Jonah, disfigured after a dramatic event in which he played a major role and bore the brunt of a huge guilt.
Week after week Clara will come back and speak to Jonah through the wall.
It was sweet reading about the bond slowly forming between these two lonely souls.
We grasped from the beginning that present Jonah was far from past Jonah and had much to atone for.
Poor Jonah he paid the price for his mistake. And disfigured as he was he never dared to hope that someone could love him one day. The dramatic event that happened in his life seemed to have changed him, making him more attuned to others sufferings. Opening his eyes to what was truly important in life: not glory but love.
“He’d fallen in love, and she hadn’t even known he was there. Hadn’t known that his heart had beaten to the same tempo of the music she’d moved so gracefully to. Swelling and receding…in rapture. In pain.”
The whole story is about redemption. Forgiving others but especially forgiving yourself as part of a healing process.
It’s about two lonely souls connecting on a deep level.
It’s about solving a mystery old of more than 150 years and freeing two ghosts imprisoned and cursed.
The historical elements gave the story a tale-like quality. Something I would compare to Midnight Lily by the same author but Jonah looked like Archer as he was lost, sweet and hopeful.
Every character is well fleshed out and relatable. Clara is easy to love and Jonah is easy to fall for. The story flows effortlessly with some angst but not too much, light mystery and heavy romantic vibes.
If I had been in a better headspace I would probably have given more stars to this book but unfortunately for Mia I’ve had great difficulties to focus on books and really fall into the stories.
I just found this a little too smooth or sweet to give it the full 5 stars.
Recommend it? Without a doubt if you love romance!
Have you read Mia Sheridan's books?
Thanks for reading.
Sophie
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August 4, 2023
this felt like one of those fairytales you used to hear about when you were younger!! so nostalgic!!!
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