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Time of Transition #1
The Wish List
Kristin Montgomery is more than a little shocked when her aunts inform her they’re fairy godmothers. Worse, after dropping that bombshell they hand her a wand and head off on a world cruise. Now Kristin’s uncomplicated life as a CPA in San Diego has disappeared like magic and she not only has to deal with her burgeoning magical powers, but also a reluctant—and distractingly sexy—magical arbiter.
Tennyson Ritter is a historian. A scholar by choice, he is yanked from his studies to act as arbiter for the newly chosen fairy godmother. He doesn’t want to waste his time with a woman who doesn’t know anything about magic or the magical world, but soon the beguiling Kristin draws him away from his books and into her life.
But before Kristin can hone her skills and pass the tests necessary to fully claim her powers, she and Tennyson must work together to defend the world – both magical and human – against those that would claim her powers for their own.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published April 22, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 83 reviews
May 14, 2021
A fairly light-hearted fantasy adventure, enriched for me personally by being set here in San Diego, with accurate descriptions of localities including our old neighborhood (and severe magical damage to the neighborhood next to it) lifting it out of the two-star range. A murder and several attempted murders probably make this the urban fantasy equivalent of a cozy mystery, but there are plenty of delightful touches too.
Why the low rating then? For one thing, the book loses a star (as usual with me) for an ending that isn't--nothing is resolved (nothing!) except for one little episode of an on-going major conflict. And the "Council" that governs magical affairs remains completely obscure and its intransigeance remains unexplained, though it creates much of the tension in the story, especially toward the end.
Also, the main characters, aged around thirty, develop an awfully juvenile romance. The guy is actually overcome with petulance in one scene, so maybe male vs female romantic stereotypes are reversed and we can give the author some credit at least for that. But (as is so often the case) romance-based decisions get in the way of intelligent action again and again.
On the positive side, the world-building is refreshing. The Arcani (magical) live secretly among the Groundlings (non-magical), and to create both a liaison and a buffer between the Arcani and the much more numerous Groundlings, the great Merlin (remember him?) created the hereditary category of Fairy Godmothers. They see little crowns over the heads of people (usually children) who have a wish, and they use their magic to grant the wish.
Each fairy godmother has a wand that does all sorts of magic, and if she says "sanctum" the wand disappears into its own private dimension; she can retrieve it from anywhere just by thinking of it. Fairy godmothers can also transport (like wizards and sorcerers and even sprites) by thinking of the place they want to be in. They are on the whole a most benevolent bunch of ladies, just the sort who would brighten up any tea party. And that happens quite often, because fairy godmothers must live among Groundlings while keeping their magical nature totally secret.
And then there are the Rare Ones; both their parents are Groundlings, but some more remote ancestor was a fairy godmother. Not being brought up in a fairy godmother environment, they have a lot to learn when, as adults, they discover their magical nature. When that happens, the Council assigns an Arbiter to test the newbie and report back; if she passes the test, she can be registered as a full fairy godmother.
So that's what happens to Kristin Montgomery one day when she visits her favorite honorary "aunts"--three nice old ladies who surprise her by (1) being all packed for a world cruise (2) telling her they're retiring now as fairy godmothers and (3) she's going to take their place, and (4) here are our wands, pick one of them as your own and use it! Then, to Kristin's befuddlement, (5) Tennyson Ritter shows up and tells her he's her Arbiter and he's going to test her to see if her magical powers are adequate. Wow. The story just gets better before it runs into those little problems I mentioned. You might really enjoy it.
Why the low rating then? For one thing, the book loses a star (as usual with me) for an ending that isn't--nothing is resolved (nothing!) except for one little episode of an on-going major conflict. And the "Council" that governs magical affairs remains completely obscure and its intransigeance remains unexplained, though it creates much of the tension in the story, especially toward the end.
Also, the main characters, aged around thirty, develop an awfully juvenile romance. The guy is actually overcome with petulance in one scene, so maybe male vs female romantic stereotypes are reversed and we can give the author some credit at least for that. But (as is so often the case) romance-based decisions get in the way of intelligent action again and again.
On the positive side, the world-building is refreshing. The Arcani (magical) live secretly among the Groundlings (non-magical), and to create both a liaison and a buffer between the Arcani and the much more numerous Groundlings, the great Merlin (remember him?) created the hereditary category of Fairy Godmothers. They see little crowns over the heads of people (usually children) who have a wish, and they use their magic to grant the wish.
Each fairy godmother has a wand that does all sorts of magic, and if she says "sanctum" the wand disappears into its own private dimension; she can retrieve it from anywhere just by thinking of it. Fairy godmothers can also transport (like wizards and sorcerers and even sprites) by thinking of the place they want to be in. They are on the whole a most benevolent bunch of ladies, just the sort who would brighten up any tea party. And that happens quite often, because fairy godmothers must live among Groundlings while keeping their magical nature totally secret.
And then there are the Rare Ones; both their parents are Groundlings, but some more remote ancestor was a fairy godmother. Not being brought up in a fairy godmother environment, they have a lot to learn when, as adults, they discover their magical nature. When that happens, the Council assigns an Arbiter to test the newbie and report back; if she passes the test, she can be registered as a full fairy godmother.
So that's what happens to Kristin Montgomery one day when she visits her favorite honorary "aunts"--three nice old ladies who surprise her by (1) being all packed for a world cruise (2) telling her they're retiring now as fairy godmothers and (3) she's going to take their place, and (4) here are our wands, pick one of them as your own and use it! Then, to Kristin's befuddlement, (5) Tennyson Ritter shows up and tells her he's her Arbiter and he's going to test her to see if her magical powers are adequate. Wow. The story just gets better before it runs into those little problems I mentioned. You might really enjoy it.
February 25, 2012
I stopped reading this at page 302. Why?
He wanted to yell at her. He wanted to shake her, drag her to the couch, and put his mark on her. Own her. So that one else could ever touch her again.
"You're mine. I know that isn't right, or proper, or politically correct, but you're mine. I can't let anyone else have you."
This comes right after where she tells him (about the guy they were spying on because they thought he was the bad guy and she volunteered to do a dinner with him) how he kissed her and basically ground up against her. His response was to be pissed and practically slut-shamed her because she sooo wanted it and whatever. Like how dare someone touch something of his! Now he has to prove he's the alpha male and exert his dominance over her like she's his property and this trail of thoughts reminds me of an abusive lover or a rapist. I was further sickened when the main character has sex with him which is used as an excuse of making her feel whole again.
Yuck! Are you shitting me?!
That wasn't even the worst part! All the guys are so sexist. The main character always has to be protected and watched over because they don't believe she can fend for herself. They treat her like an idiot. More so that she's some special I've-got-super-powers-I-haven't-unlocked-yet rare bloodline. Smells of ulterior motives if you ask me. They always knew what's best for her. Excuse me while I explosively hurl. I wanted to punch everyone in the face so hard.
The romance is annoying. The dude is like a constant boner and mostly thinks about sex. I don't get how you can dislike someone and then have sex with them and be so in love with them in the course of a week after you've first met. Wut. Ugh.
I wanted something funny with the add bonus of steamy scenes. I got none of that. Instead I get a rage inducing book that's riddled with problems that continue to be an eyesore in society and the media today.
Btw, as an aside, writing a review on your phone is freaking hard as hell.
He wanted to yell at her. He wanted to shake her, drag her to the couch, and put his mark on her. Own her. So that one else could ever touch her again.
"You're mine. I know that isn't right, or proper, or politically correct, but you're mine. I can't let anyone else have you."
This comes right after where she tells him (about the guy they were spying on because they thought he was the bad guy and she volunteered to do a dinner with him) how he kissed her and basically ground up against her. His response was to be pissed and practically slut-shamed her because she sooo wanted it and whatever. Like how dare someone touch something of his! Now he has to prove he's the alpha male and exert his dominance over her like she's his property and this trail of thoughts reminds me of an abusive lover or a rapist. I was further sickened when the main character has sex with him which is used as an excuse of making her feel whole again.
Yuck! Are you shitting me?!
That wasn't even the worst part! All the guys are so sexist. The main character always has to be protected and watched over because they don't believe she can fend for herself. They treat her like an idiot. More so that she's some special I've-got-super-powers-I-haven't-unlocked-yet rare bloodline. Smells of ulterior motives if you ask me. They always knew what's best for her. Excuse me while I explosively hurl. I wanted to punch everyone in the face so hard.
The romance is annoying. The dude is like a constant boner and mostly thinks about sex. I don't get how you can dislike someone and then have sex with them and be so in love with them in the course of a week after you've first met. Wut. Ugh.
I wanted something funny with the add bonus of steamy scenes. I got none of that. Instead I get a rage inducing book that's riddled with problems that continue to be an eyesore in society and the media today.
Btw, as an aside, writing a review on your phone is freaking hard as hell.
January 27, 2019
So good! I wasn't sure a story about fairy godmothers could work, but this author pulled it off nicely. This is character driven. I loved the paranormal aspect of it all. I'm looking forward to picking up the next book to see where this goes. Get ready for a fun ride.
October 18, 2019
Kristin de repente se encuentra teniendo que asimilar cosas en las que no ha creído jamás, como las hadas madrinas y la magia. Y no solo eso, que encima ella también lo es y tiene que demostrarle a un atractivo pero imbécil gruñón que es apta para serlo. Eso sí, sin ayuda ni nada. Aprende tú a ser hada madrina sin tener ni pajolera idea! Pero entre Tennyson y ella crecen más cosas que la rabia y cuando el peligro la acecha él hará lo que sea por salvarla.
Empecé este libro muy motivada, me gustó y me atraía la sinopsis pero cuando vi la extensión del libro creí que se me iba a hacer muy pesado. Pero me equivoqué, me gustó mucho. Si que es verdad que le he encontrado pequeños fallos como el hecho de que sentí que todo iba muy rápido, como la atracción entre Tennyson y Kristin.
La historia iba muy bien me tenía muy enganchada y la verdad estaba deseando que al final Tennyson pudiese darle la tan merecida paliza a Lucas y al Consejo por imbéciles pero resulta QUE ME HAN DEJADO UN FINAL ABIERTO. Abierto en el sentido de que yo, como buena previsora, comprobé primero si los siguientes libros eran de los mismos personajes y descubrí que no, así que por qué narices tenéis que dejar que la historia continúe en los siguientes libros pero haciendo protagonistas a otros? Odio estas cosas.
Ahora mismo este libro ha sido lo suficientemente extenso para resultarme agotador pensar en leerme otro de la misma extensión así que con mucho pesar los siguientes ya me los leeré.
Pero por lo demás la historia está muy bien, tiene un poco de acción, un poco de magia y un poco de amor, sin cargar demasiado en ninguno! Así que si, lo recomiendo a pesar de todo jajajaja
Empecé este libro muy motivada, me gustó y me atraía la sinopsis pero cuando vi la extensión del libro creí que se me iba a hacer muy pesado. Pero me equivoqué, me gustó mucho. Si que es verdad que le he encontrado pequeños fallos como el hecho de que sentí que todo iba muy rápido, como la atracción entre Tennyson y Kristin.
La historia iba muy bien me tenía muy enganchada y la verdad estaba deseando que al final Tennyson pudiese darle la tan merecida paliza a Lucas y al Consejo por imbéciles pero resulta QUE ME HAN DEJADO UN FINAL ABIERTO. Abierto en el sentido de que yo, como buena previsora, comprobé primero si los siguientes libros eran de los mismos personajes y descubrí que no, así que por qué narices tenéis que dejar que la historia continúe en los siguientes libros pero haciendo protagonistas a otros? Odio estas cosas.
Ahora mismo este libro ha sido lo suficientemente extenso para resultarme agotador pensar en leerme otro de la misma extensión así que con mucho pesar los siguientes ya me los leeré.
Pero por lo demás la historia está muy bien, tiene un poco de acción, un poco de magia y un poco de amor, sin cargar demasiado en ninguno! Así que si, lo recomiendo a pesar de todo jajajaja
May 14, 2020
La trama de esta historia resulta fácil y rápida de leer ya que al descubrir un "mundo nuevo" ansiaremos seguir leyendo para averiguar todo lo posible de este ser fantástico, la relación entre los protas nos resultará bastante divertida; en definitiva un librito que se lee de manera amena y mantiene el mismo ritmo casi toda la lectura, quizá no sea un libro con una historia de diez pero si es un libro que nos hará disfrutar.
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
Reseña completa: https://atrapadaenunashojasdepapel.bl...
February 20, 2011
WOW! What a great book!!!
It is so different then anything I have ever read! It was hard picturing Kristin and Tennyson as an adult though - being the whole fariy godmother and wizzard thing - I kept trying to picture them as adults and the best I could get was 20ish :)
The sexual tention was too intense to be a teen book - but 27 is too close to my age and I couldn't picture myself going through these kinds of changes - Maybe that's why it was so cool :)
This book was way cool! There was so much going on with Kristin - she had a really hard time adjusting so quickly to her new lifestyle.
In the beigning when the Aunts were hurring off for their cruise and trying to explain in a rushed explaination without giving anything away - I was totally with her when she didn't understand anything :)
But once Tennyson showed up - wow! I could see it all placing together. But then he turned out to be a "troll" and their personalities seemed to really clash - Then comes Lucus - wow! I so wanted her to get together with him :)
but the more that happened - the more I saw her with Tennyson instead.
I think the camping trip was a little short - I wish we could have gotten a "tent scene" like in Eclipse - have them talking - but and joking around - not too stressed about everything - but nothint too serious - I really liked how that took place. They seemed to have gotten to know eachother on a whole new level while camping :)
I really liked the way the book was written - Gabi Stevens did a good job showing the different POV's. We were able to get inside both their heads - and even the Aunt's heads a little while still going through all the motions of what was going on. Nothing was disrupted by the different POV's and nothing was missed.
The magic was Awesome! I can just picture all the little crowns over the heads of children for their wishes - I wish kristin had gotten to spend a little more time on granting wishes - she did an awesome job though. The time in the resturant with the little baby being too warm ( her first wish to grant) was just too cute! And what better way to live a life but to grant the wishes of those unable to talk about it. Makes me really wish there were Fairy Godmother's out there in the world - I know my kids could really use one :)
Enter Zach and Jake - Oh wow! I can TOTALLY hear him talking - Whenever I think of a surfer guy - I'm always thinking the turtle from Finding Nemo :) And his "DUDDDEEEE" was right on there :) Then his little boy Jake (Spud) I am in love with that 5 year old :)They are on their way to a H.E.A. with his new Sprite :) I hope everything works out for them in the next book :)
Speaking of the next book - I can see a LOT of different directions it can go - there was a LOT left unresolved in this first book - a really BIG Cliffhanger at the end :( I have good hopes for this next book though - and I'm anxious to find out how it goes :)
It is so different then anything I have ever read! It was hard picturing Kristin and Tennyson as an adult though - being the whole fariy godmother and wizzard thing - I kept trying to picture them as adults and the best I could get was 20ish :)
The sexual tention was too intense to be a teen book - but 27 is too close to my age and I couldn't picture myself going through these kinds of changes - Maybe that's why it was so cool :)
This book was way cool! There was so much going on with Kristin - she had a really hard time adjusting so quickly to her new lifestyle.
In the beigning when the Aunts were hurring off for their cruise and trying to explain in a rushed explaination without giving anything away - I was totally with her when she didn't understand anything :)
But once Tennyson showed up - wow! I could see it all placing together. But then he turned out to be a "troll" and their personalities seemed to really clash - Then comes Lucus - wow! I so wanted her to get together with him :)
but the more that happened - the more I saw her with Tennyson instead.
I think the camping trip was a little short - I wish we could have gotten a "tent scene" like in Eclipse - have them talking - but and joking around - not too stressed about everything - but nothint too serious - I really liked how that took place. They seemed to have gotten to know eachother on a whole new level while camping :)
I really liked the way the book was written - Gabi Stevens did a good job showing the different POV's. We were able to get inside both their heads - and even the Aunt's heads a little while still going through all the motions of what was going on. Nothing was disrupted by the different POV's and nothing was missed.
The magic was Awesome! I can just picture all the little crowns over the heads of children for their wishes - I wish kristin had gotten to spend a little more time on granting wishes - she did an awesome job though. The time in the resturant with the little baby being too warm ( her first wish to grant) was just too cute! And what better way to live a life but to grant the wishes of those unable to talk about it. Makes me really wish there were Fairy Godmother's out there in the world - I know my kids could really use one :)
Enter Zach and Jake - Oh wow! I can TOTALLY hear him talking - Whenever I think of a surfer guy - I'm always thinking the turtle from Finding Nemo :) And his "DUDDDEEEE" was right on there :) Then his little boy Jake (Spud) I am in love with that 5 year old :)They are on their way to a H.E.A. with his new Sprite :) I hope everything works out for them in the next book :)
Speaking of the next book - I can see a LOT of different directions it can go - there was a LOT left unresolved in this first book - a really BIG Cliffhanger at the end :( I have good hopes for this next book though - and I'm anxious to find out how it goes :)
December 13, 2015
Why I Read this Book: Let me start off by saying this: Never judge a book by its cover. Or by its blurb for that matter. When I first saw the cover for The Wish List, I thought it was a YA novel. There’s lots of pink and sparkles going on, a super cute swirly font and it has a whimsical feel to it. Now, there’s nothing wrong with YA. I love YA! But I’m not a big fan of fairies so what I do read, that involves fairies, is very minimal. I need a strong romantic element to carry me through it. And there wasn’t any hint of romance in the blurb. So if The Wish List was a YA novel, I probably would not have picked it up. But alas, I finally discovered that it is indeed an adult novel and decided to give it a go. And I’m glad I did.
What I Liked: The Wish List was a fun, cute and light read. And there was a bit of suspense that kept me interested. Kristin and Tennyson are both likeable characters. Kristin didn’t just jump into the role of being a Fairy Godmother without hesitation. She discounted it and she questioned it and that made it conceivable.
There’s romance in the book! Like I mentioned earlier, I need a strong romantic element is most books I read. What can I say? I love reading romance. Kristin’s relationship with her leading man progressed at a good pace. I’m glad they didn’t fall in love right off the bat. She was a bit reluctant to follow his guidance so there was a bit of bickering at first. She was more concerned about this new-to-her world she now belongs to, and rightfully so.
What I Didn’t Like: It was a bit weird that there were no set rules for performing magic. Magical commands varied from person to person. So while one person would say “Veni” to make an object come to them, someone else might say something completely different.
There wasn’t much said of the Council; the Council remains to be a bit of a mystery. I am hoping that there will be some light shed on the Council world in the next book. I’m interested to know more and to find out what’s going to happen with Kristin.
Overall Impression: The Wish List was a light and fun read with a cute romance. Nothing dark or heavy. There were a few loose ends which made me eager to read the next book, As You Wish.
What I Liked: The Wish List was a fun, cute and light read. And there was a bit of suspense that kept me interested. Kristin and Tennyson are both likeable characters. Kristin didn’t just jump into the role of being a Fairy Godmother without hesitation. She discounted it and she questioned it and that made it conceivable.
There’s romance in the book! Like I mentioned earlier, I need a strong romantic element is most books I read. What can I say? I love reading romance. Kristin’s relationship with her leading man progressed at a good pace. I’m glad they didn’t fall in love right off the bat. She was a bit reluctant to follow his guidance so there was a bit of bickering at first. She was more concerned about this new-to-her world she now belongs to, and rightfully so.
What I Didn’t Like: It was a bit weird that there were no set rules for performing magic. Magical commands varied from person to person. So while one person would say “Veni” to make an object come to them, someone else might say something completely different.
There wasn’t much said of the Council; the Council remains to be a bit of a mystery. I am hoping that there will be some light shed on the Council world in the next book. I’m interested to know more and to find out what’s going to happen with Kristin.
Overall Impression: The Wish List was a light and fun read with a cute romance. Nothing dark or heavy. There were a few loose ends which made me eager to read the next book, As You Wish.
July 23, 2010
This was a fun, light-hearted read. I really enjoyed it! It was a little heavier on the romance than I expected, but I'm not complaining...
One thing I really enjoy in books are references to pop culture. Gabi Stevens does that with aplomb, referencing Harry Potter, Disneyland, and other magical constructs. I always wonder if the characters in a story "know" about things in today's world.
I related to Kristin's character really well because she is very left-brained. She is also a CPA and I took three years of accounting in college and almost became a CPA before I decided to be a dietitian. As Registered Dietitians, Natalie and I are also both very, very, very left-brained. Everything has to be in it' place and we hate having things left undone or out of order. We both work well off of checklists and live in a world of absolutes: we need concrete proof of things and hard evidence before making decisions. Kristin was the same way: she had a hard time believing that magic exists, she didn't believe that she could fall in love at first sight, and she needed proof of things before she believed them. I love having a character I can relate to like that!
The love story is very sweet, the bad guys reach the requisite level of evil, and the side characters are very well-fleshed out. I was racing towards the ending, hoping for my happily ever after, and then realized the story wasn't complete! The Wish List is the first in a trilogy---I'll definitely be back for more!
Just One Gripe:
I found the book to be a somewhat slow starter, but after 100 pages I was hooked.
The Best Thing About This Book:
I liked the world-building of the Groundling and Arcani worlds. Although the "coming home" twist at the end was probably my favorite part. It was so sweet.
Appropriate for a younger audience:
No
Score:
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Setting/Imagery: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Total Score: 19/25
One thing I really enjoy in books are references to pop culture. Gabi Stevens does that with aplomb, referencing Harry Potter, Disneyland, and other magical constructs. I always wonder if the characters in a story "know" about things in today's world.
I related to Kristin's character really well because she is very left-brained. She is also a CPA and I took three years of accounting in college and almost became a CPA before I decided to be a dietitian. As Registered Dietitians, Natalie and I are also both very, very, very left-brained. Everything has to be in it' place and we hate having things left undone or out of order. We both work well off of checklists and live in a world of absolutes: we need concrete proof of things and hard evidence before making decisions. Kristin was the same way: she had a hard time believing that magic exists, she didn't believe that she could fall in love at first sight, and she needed proof of things before she believed them. I love having a character I can relate to like that!
The love story is very sweet, the bad guys reach the requisite level of evil, and the side characters are very well-fleshed out. I was racing towards the ending, hoping for my happily ever after, and then realized the story wasn't complete! The Wish List is the first in a trilogy---I'll definitely be back for more!
Just One Gripe:
I found the book to be a somewhat slow starter, but after 100 pages I was hooked.
The Best Thing About This Book:
I liked the world-building of the Groundling and Arcani worlds. Although the "coming home" twist at the end was probably my favorite part. It was so sweet.
Appropriate for a younger audience:
No
Score:
Characters: 4/5
Plot: 3/5
Setting/Imagery: 4/5
Originality: 4/5
Ending: 4/5
Total Score: 19/25
March 23, 2011
The "Wish List" is a fun, magical read. If you like a magic story with a little sexy added to it, this is it. You have Lady Kristin, who knows nothing about magic, thrown into the magic world with a hot trainer. The two have an adventure that gets them into all kinds of trouble because Kristin is known as a “rare one” and it seems she is on someone’s hit list. Oh ya! They break quite a few rules along the way, LOL.
I enjoyed the characters and the plot. I simply loved the four aunts. They were a riot. The down side I found in this book was that it lacked in romance between the hero and heroine. There is good sex and sexual tension, but the connection, as you might find in other romance books, just isn’t there. I would have loved to have read more from Tennyson's POV. Also, the author goes into a good amount of detail describing the world in this book. That tended to drag the story out at times.
All in all, it’s a good story for Gabi’s first published book and I loved her writing style. I recommend this to anyone who would love a good magic story.
May 27, 2020
Como que la autora no supo desarrollar bien la historia de amor de los protagonistas, fue muy apresurada y encima era esa relación de amor/odio y ODIO cuando meten eso -.- Sacando eso, la historia esta buena y es entretenida y te deja con las ganas de leer el segundo.
March 2, 2010
I have to say that The Wish List was a very pleasant surprise to me. I read the whole book in just a few hours because I could not put it down for a second and I even missed a class because I lost track of time.
Kristin's world turns upside down when her three "aunts" tell her that magic is real and not only that, she is meant to be one of the the next generation of fairy godmothers that are rising to substitute them. Our heroine needs to come to terms with the fact that only the world the Brothers Grimm portraited is real, she is a part of it.
The "aunts" leave her to her own devices, since they are not supposed to train her at all and she meets Tannyson Ritter, the man who is supposed to evaluate her and determine if she is suitable to be a fairy godmother.
I loved the premise to this new series, I found it so refreshing. I mean, as an avid reader of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, one gets her fair share of witches, weres, vamps and so on... This was a first, a heroine that is a fairy godmother. I have to say that Gabi Stevens not only delivered but thrived in delivering a fresh new take in the Paranormal Romance realm.
I mean, let's be honest amongst a world with so many UF and PNR worlds, no one is inventing the wheel anymore and it is always cool to find a new series that has a fresh take or a new point of view in a genre that already has so many.
Kristin is a very likable character and our reluctant heroine. I loved watching her evolve in this book from someone that didn't believe in magic to someone that was not afraid to put herself on the line for the people she cares about. She is not a tough-as-nails, kick-ass-heroin but she is very intelligent, quick, has magic and awesome powers on her side.
Tennyson is a great leading man. So infuriating and rude at first, he also evolves through the novel and becomes very swoon worthy. Granted that since the beginning he has a sex appeal that you cannot deny, besides being sweet, but Kristin takes longer than us readers to figure that out hehe =)
I have to say I did guess who the villain was before the characters did, but it did not take away any of the fun in this book. The villain is creepy and when his mask finally falls off, you just wish Kristin would throw a "troll" at him (villain will remain unnamed to avoid spoilers).
The Wish List is a great start to a very promising series. A fast paced, fun and light novel that I recommend to any PNR fan out there. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
Kristin's world turns upside down when her three "aunts" tell her that magic is real and not only that, she is meant to be one of the the next generation of fairy godmothers that are rising to substitute them. Our heroine needs to come to terms with the fact that only the world the Brothers Grimm portraited is real, she is a part of it.
The "aunts" leave her to her own devices, since they are not supposed to train her at all and she meets Tannyson Ritter, the man who is supposed to evaluate her and determine if she is suitable to be a fairy godmother.
I loved the premise to this new series, I found it so refreshing. I mean, as an avid reader of Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy, one gets her fair share of witches, weres, vamps and so on... This was a first, a heroine that is a fairy godmother. I have to say that Gabi Stevens not only delivered but thrived in delivering a fresh new take in the Paranormal Romance realm.
I mean, let's be honest amongst a world with so many UF and PNR worlds, no one is inventing the wheel anymore and it is always cool to find a new series that has a fresh take or a new point of view in a genre that already has so many.
Kristin is a very likable character and our reluctant heroine. I loved watching her evolve in this book from someone that didn't believe in magic to someone that was not afraid to put herself on the line for the people she cares about. She is not a tough-as-nails, kick-ass-heroin but she is very intelligent, quick, has magic and awesome powers on her side.
Tennyson is a great leading man. So infuriating and rude at first, he also evolves through the novel and becomes very swoon worthy. Granted that since the beginning he has a sex appeal that you cannot deny, besides being sweet, but Kristin takes longer than us readers to figure that out hehe =)
I have to say I did guess who the villain was before the characters did, but it did not take away any of the fun in this book. The villain is creepy and when his mask finally falls off, you just wish Kristin would throw a "troll" at him (villain will remain unnamed to avoid spoilers).
The Wish List is a great start to a very promising series. A fast paced, fun and light novel that I recommend to any PNR fan out there. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!
April 11, 2011
This is one of those books that falls under the category: "great idea, poor execution."
For some reason, the notion of fairy godmothers appeals to me, which is the reason I picked up this book in the first place. However, I felt the writing was mediocre, and I didn't care for most of the characters.
The villain was obvious to me from the beginning, but of course it takes everyone else most of the book to put the clues together so they can figure it out.
The storyline seemed completely implausible. Kristin knows nothing about the magical world (didn't even know it existed), but somehow she's supposed to deal with everything on her own and if she can't, she fails the "test"? I was so sick of everyone saying, "We can't help you," then basically putting their hands over their ears and going, "lalalalalala" when she asks for more help. If that's how idiotic the magical world is, why does she want to be a part of it, anyway?
Kristin herself was annoying. I felt like her reactions to things were either too subdued, or too over-the-top. She'll handle some situations with aplomb, then freak out over the simplest thing. And she contradicted herself at every turn. How often does she say she's not the kind of girl who falls into bed with a guy easily, then proceeds to do just that?
The sex scenes were lackluster. Partially because I didn't like either character, and partially because the scenes weren't very well written.
Perhaps I'm more bloodthirsty than most readers, but Kristin held back at certain points when I wanted her to use her magic to kick some ass. Generally, I see hesitations like that as weakness, and weaknesses annoy me in heroines.
To top that all off, the book is the first in a series, but the other books won't be following the same couple. Why does that annoy me? Because there were huge, glaring plot holes / cliffhangers left at the end of the book, and I don't want to watch through another character's eyes as they're resolved.
I did like the fairy godmother parts of the story. And the Zach and Callie storylines were cute (and I wish they'd been given more attention in the book!).
I didn't like this story enough to continue on with the series.
For some reason, the notion of fairy godmothers appeals to me, which is the reason I picked up this book in the first place. However, I felt the writing was mediocre, and I didn't care for most of the characters.
The villain was obvious to me from the beginning, but of course it takes everyone else most of the book to put the clues together so they can figure it out.
The storyline seemed completely implausible. Kristin knows nothing about the magical world (didn't even know it existed), but somehow she's supposed to deal with everything on her own and if she can't, she fails the "test"? I was so sick of everyone saying, "We can't help you," then basically putting their hands over their ears and going, "lalalalalala" when she asks for more help. If that's how idiotic the magical world is, why does she want to be a part of it, anyway?
Kristin herself was annoying. I felt like her reactions to things were either too subdued, or too over-the-top. She'll handle some situations with aplomb, then freak out over the simplest thing. And she contradicted herself at every turn. How often does she say she's not the kind of girl who falls into bed with a guy easily, then proceeds to do just that?
The sex scenes were lackluster. Partially because I didn't like either character, and partially because the scenes weren't very well written.
Perhaps I'm more bloodthirsty than most readers, but Kristin held back at certain points when I wanted her to use her magic to kick some ass. Generally, I see hesitations like that as weakness, and weaknesses annoy me in heroines.
To top that all off, the book is the first in a series, but the other books won't be following the same couple. Why does that annoy me? Because there were huge, glaring plot holes / cliffhangers left at the end of the book, and I don't want to watch through another character's eyes as they're resolved.
I did like the fairy godmother parts of the story. And the Zach and Callie storylines were cute (and I wish they'd been given more attention in the book!).
I didn't like this story enough to continue on with the series.
Want to read
June 22, 2012This review is written by Leslie:
Kristin Montgomery is completely shocked when her three aunts tell her that they and Kristin herself are fairy godmothers. Worse, they hand her a wand and leave on a world cruise! And when her unwilling yet hot magical trainer and judge, Tennyson Ritter, steps into her life, he wasn't much help. Despite that and before Kristin can control her powers and pass the tests to become a full-fledged fairy godmother, she and Tennyson must help each other fight a villain who wants to steal her magical powers for their own. This amusing paranormal romance takes place in a hidden magical world in sunny California complete with magical creatures.
The author sent us this book for review and I was hesitant at first but it surprised me--I ended up really liking this book! It was amusing and the characters' personalities in this book are very similar to some of the people I know in real life. I thought Kristin was likable, smart and quick and Tennyson a sweet guy despite the impatient, curt front he showed Kristin. I liked how the author told the story and wrote the book in the hero and heroine's voice and she had put life into both of them--by that I mean I love the characters and their imperfections and fears. I also found the characters' sarcastic and comic remarks amusing and I found myself smiling a lot. I thought the setting perfect for the lighthearted, comedic feel of the book as well.
However, I figured out who the villain was early on but he was creepy. The Wish List is the debut novel by Gabi Stevens and I thought it a great start to a new series. It's a typical romantic comedy type paranormal read but I haven't read many paranormal books with fairies so I thought this book refreshing to my usual vampires and werewolves. I am definitely interested in reading the next book. I recommend this book and I give it
4.5 out of 5 stars.
Kristin Montgomery is completely shocked when her three aunts tell her that they and Kristin herself are fairy godmothers. Worse, they hand her a wand and leave on a world cruise! And when her unwilling yet hot magical trainer and judge, Tennyson Ritter, steps into her life, he wasn't much help. Despite that and before Kristin can control her powers and pass the tests to become a full-fledged fairy godmother, she and Tennyson must help each other fight a villain who wants to steal her magical powers for their own. This amusing paranormal romance takes place in a hidden magical world in sunny California complete with magical creatures.
The author sent us this book for review and I was hesitant at first but it surprised me--I ended up really liking this book! It was amusing and the characters' personalities in this book are very similar to some of the people I know in real life. I thought Kristin was likable, smart and quick and Tennyson a sweet guy despite the impatient, curt front he showed Kristin. I liked how the author told the story and wrote the book in the hero and heroine's voice and she had put life into both of them--by that I mean I love the characters and their imperfections and fears. I also found the characters' sarcastic and comic remarks amusing and I found myself smiling a lot. I thought the setting perfect for the lighthearted, comedic feel of the book as well.
However, I figured out who the villain was early on but he was creepy. The Wish List is the debut novel by Gabi Stevens and I thought it a great start to a new series. It's a typical romantic comedy type paranormal read but I haven't read many paranormal books with fairies so I thought this book refreshing to my usual vampires and werewolves. I am definitely interested in reading the next book. I recommend this book and I give it
4.5 out of 5 stars.
March 15, 2016
Kristin Montgomery discovers she has magic and is destined to become a fairy godmother. Unfortunately, she never asked for this, she butts heads with the guy who's supposed to guide her and there may be a dangerous plot under foot.
This is the first romance novel I've ever read. I expected it to be silly, and it was, I expected it to be light and easy to read, and it was, I expected it to be badly written and... it kind of was?
Honestly this could have a been a good book, or at least a stand out from the average romance. The main character is an accountant, she likes planning and lists, is levelheaded and logical, the love interest is a serious magical academic scholar, is levelheaded and logical. This could have lead to a twist on the typical romance dynamic seen in most books, movies etc. Instead the instance they meet these traits get thrown away and they act like walking tropes. Their supposed character traits are only brought up to talk about how out of character they are acting. Someone once said- your characters aren't acting out of character if this is the only way the readers never see them act.
It just bothers me because the plot is a cut above what I expected in a romance book, and if the characters and their relationship dynamic had been less stereotypical I think it could have been a much more interesting and unique book
This is the first romance novel I've ever read. I expected it to be silly, and it was, I expected it to be light and easy to read, and it was, I expected it to be badly written and... it kind of was?
Honestly this could have a been a good book, or at least a stand out from the average romance. The main character is an accountant, she likes planning and lists, is levelheaded and logical, the love interest is a serious magical academic scholar, is levelheaded and logical. This could have lead to a twist on the typical romance dynamic seen in most books, movies etc. Instead the instance they meet these traits get thrown away and they act like walking tropes. Their supposed character traits are only brought up to talk about how out of character they are acting. Someone once said- your characters aren't acting out of character if this is the only way the readers never see them act.
It just bothers me because the plot is a cut above what I expected in a romance book, and if the characters and their relationship dynamic had been less stereotypical I think it could have been a much more interesting and unique book
July 30, 2013
I do like this cover more than the rest of the series. This one just looks more fun, and cute.
There is magic in the world, but we do not know it. And there are also Fairy Godmothers. Though honestly, I never truly got the whole Godmother idea. They explained but I was still..eh what? Maybe it's explained later on, or not.
Right Kristin was, oh I do not know. Honestly she felt a bit daft at times. Especially when it comes to a certain gentleman that showed up. But then Tennyson was no better. I was all, hello! She is in danger so why on earth does no one check things better?
But it was a cute little story about two people falling in love...after a while. Her discovering her powers. Meeting new people and hearing about the magical power struggle.
Magic, fairy godmothers and meddling aunts.
There is magic in the world, but we do not know it. And there are also Fairy Godmothers. Though honestly, I never truly got the whole Godmother idea. They explained but I was still..eh what? Maybe it's explained later on, or not.
Right Kristin was, oh I do not know. Honestly she felt a bit daft at times. Especially when it comes to a certain gentleman that showed up. But then Tennyson was no better. I was all, hello! She is in danger so why on earth does no one check things better?
But it was a cute little story about two people falling in love...after a while. Her discovering her powers. Meeting new people and hearing about the magical power struggle.
Magic, fairy godmothers and meddling aunts.
June 20, 2011
When I started this book I was so into it. Then around pages 100 I started getting tired of the heroine, Kristin Montgomery. I understand that her life had just been turned upside down but you can only take a person crying so much. Plus if I was Tennyson Ritter I would have sent her somewhere far, far, away. I will say that there is parts of the book that are very good and makes you want to keep reading, even with Kristin in it. I also loved the aunts and Callie. Maybe because this is her first book in the series she hasn't grown yet as a writer, or maybe this is how she likes to write her women.
May 15, 2011
I thought this novel was whimsical and sweet. Gabi Stevens melds realism and whimsy very well! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
maybe
December 4, 2014No lo sé... me llama el tema pero eso de que la editorial se llame "Libros de Seda" me complica xD!
August 16, 2015
3,5 de 5
December 24, 2018
This was a cute story about a woman learning there's much more to the world than she ever knew. Kristin Montgomery is a CPA and is more than a little shocked when her 3 aunts tell her that she's a fairy godmother. Tennyson Ritter is a historian for the Arcani, the people who have magic but is assigned to be Kristin's arbiter and isn't happy about it.
When things begin to happen that seem to be natural occurrences but actually have a magical footprint, Kristi and Tennyson must learn to work together as they investigate. Kristin quickly learns who the bad guy is but things get complicated when the council declares Kristin unfit to be a fairy godmother. That leaves the aunts, Kristin, and Tennyson on their own to save the Arcani and humanity itself.
When things begin to happen that seem to be natural occurrences but actually have a magical footprint, Kristi and Tennyson must learn to work together as they investigate. Kristin quickly learns who the bad guy is but things get complicated when the council declares Kristin unfit to be a fairy godmother. That leaves the aunts, Kristin, and Tennyson on their own to save the Arcani and humanity itself.
February 23, 2018
So fun and imaginative! I loved all the characters (Zach was a bit of an over-the-too caricature but I can live with that) and the premise was really engaging. Did not like the cliffhanger ending but it was tolerable. Warning: a lot of gratuitous sex scenes. Not my cup of tea but again easy to look past when a book is this much fun.
December 20, 2017
Gabi Stevens, es sin duda una autora con una pluma ingeniosa, mágica y divertida y te trae un mundo donde la magia espera por ti. Yo, como buena soñadora me digo, quizá mi hada madrina no esté tan lejos y cada uno de mis deseos que se ha logrado, ella haya sido en parte culpable de tenerlos ahí.
March 20, 2019
4.5 Stars rounded up to 5.
I absolutely adored this book and can't wait to read the next!!
I absolutely adored this book and can't wait to read the next!!
April 20, 2012
OMG, so have I said before I LOVE Happily Ever Afters? oooo and this one eeep!! It is left open ended for the next book, but I still think it qualifies as a Happily Ever After for the two main characters. So definitely have to say...LOVED IT!
To be honest I didn't know I would end up liking this one as much as I did. Reading the back of the book I knew what was coming obviously. Even before the main character did. For example, I knew that the "aunties" weren't off their rockers when they told Kristin that she was chosen to be one of the next fairy godmothers. Since I enjoy fantasy WAY more than reality I kinda tapped my foot in impatience for the first few pages of the book, waiting for the moment when the magic would begin. But once it did...WHEW!...it just took off!
I loved Kristen from the beginning. Her firm grounding in reality was a nice contrast to the magic that she was tossed into. The fairy godmothers were wonderful too though. They were just the right combination of absentmindedness and grandmotherly good will. I adored them. I even enjoyed some of the side characters.
While some parts of the story I figured out right away, what can I say I've read a lot of stories and I always enjoying guessing who the mole is, there were enough twists that even I wasn't completely sure until it was revealed. Plus I love a good romance. The sparks that flew between Kristin and Tennyson were HOT! I count a good romance novel as one that reminds me of romance in my own life. If reading it can bring to mind moments of passion in my own life, even when I'm agitated that the cause of my romance is interrupting a good book, well that right there is bonus points for it. Especially when I'm torn between turning the page and putting the book down to go get my own good smooch. That being said I'm a bookaholic so any interruption is viewed as more of an annoyance when I'm immersed in a good read so of course I had to finish the book first!
Yes they do fall in love before the end of the book. And the romance progressed a bit more rapidly than it would outside the literary world, the relationship between Kristen and Tennyson had some good bite to it. It isn't always moonbeams and rosebuds, and it was fun watching them fight their growing attraction.
If I found any flaw with the story it was that I wish there had been some more fill in for the story of some of the side characters. My main focus is Zach and Callie. I would have loved to have seen more of their part of the story. However the story is told alternating between Kristen's point of view and Tennyson's, so I understand that when Zach or Callie isn't in their part of the story, or anyone else for that matter, that I'm not going to see what they are doing. *SIGH* But overall I really enjoyed this book. It has a semi-cliff hanger ending. More of a lead into the next book, not a sheer drop. Which is always appreciated. There were some things left open, for obvious reasons, and some strings left untied, but they were more of a draw to the next book, not a disappointment. Fortunately for me I have the second and third book in this series in my possession, so I don't have to wait to read them. (In fact I plan on starting as soon as I am done this review!)
That being said a good summery of this book would be that it's a Harry Potter for grown-ups. (and I mean grown-ups, there are some explicate scenes in this one, so no kiddies reading it , k?) There are even a few good direct nods to Ms. Rowling herself. I also kind of enjoyed reading a book with more adult characters, and I don't just mean the Fairy Godmothers. Nothing against YA, it's just a nice break to read an adult book every once in a while.
I highly recommend this one.
To be honest I didn't know I would end up liking this one as much as I did. Reading the back of the book I knew what was coming obviously. Even before the main character did. For example, I knew that the "aunties" weren't off their rockers when they told Kristin that she was chosen to be one of the next fairy godmothers. Since I enjoy fantasy WAY more than reality I kinda tapped my foot in impatience for the first few pages of the book, waiting for the moment when the magic would begin. But once it did...WHEW!...it just took off!
I loved Kristen from the beginning. Her firm grounding in reality was a nice contrast to the magic that she was tossed into. The fairy godmothers were wonderful too though. They were just the right combination of absentmindedness and grandmotherly good will. I adored them. I even enjoyed some of the side characters.
While some parts of the story I figured out right away, what can I say I've read a lot of stories and I always enjoying guessing who the mole is, there were enough twists that even I wasn't completely sure until it was revealed. Plus I love a good romance. The sparks that flew between Kristin and Tennyson were HOT! I count a good romance novel as one that reminds me of romance in my own life. If reading it can bring to mind moments of passion in my own life, even when I'm agitated that the cause of my romance is interrupting a good book, well that right there is bonus points for it. Especially when I'm torn between turning the page and putting the book down to go get my own good smooch. That being said I'm a bookaholic so any interruption is viewed as more of an annoyance when I'm immersed in a good read so of course I had to finish the book first!
Yes they do fall in love before the end of the book. And the romance progressed a bit more rapidly than it would outside the literary world, the relationship between Kristen and Tennyson had some good bite to it. It isn't always moonbeams and rosebuds, and it was fun watching them fight their growing attraction.
If I found any flaw with the story it was that I wish there had been some more fill in for the story of some of the side characters. My main focus is Zach and Callie. I would have loved to have seen more of their part of the story. However the story is told alternating between Kristen's point of view and Tennyson's, so I understand that when Zach or Callie isn't in their part of the story, or anyone else for that matter, that I'm not going to see what they are doing. *SIGH* But overall I really enjoyed this book. It has a semi-cliff hanger ending. More of a lead into the next book, not a sheer drop. Which is always appreciated. There were some things left open, for obvious reasons, and some strings left untied, but they were more of a draw to the next book, not a disappointment. Fortunately for me I have the second and third book in this series in my possession, so I don't have to wait to read them. (In fact I plan on starting as soon as I am done this review!)
That being said a good summery of this book would be that it's a Harry Potter for grown-ups. (and I mean grown-ups, there are some explicate scenes in this one, so no kiddies reading it , k?) There are even a few good direct nods to Ms. Rowling herself. I also kind of enjoyed reading a book with more adult characters, and I don't just mean the Fairy Godmothers. Nothing against YA, it's just a nice break to read an adult book every once in a while.
I highly recommend this one.
February 9, 2015
Ya había leído otro libro de Gabi Stevens así que ya sabía a lo que me iba a enfrentar, aunque no es lo mismo leerlo en inglés que en español, de cualquier manera, he disfrutado mucho esta novela. Cumpliré tus deseos es la historia de la primer Hada Madrina, una chica común y corriente que un día descubre que tiene poderes, los cuales no sabe usar y por si fuera poco, su prefecto (el mago que le ayudará a integrarse al mundo mágico) es un Trol (uno muy guapo, eso sí) y no está nada feliz con tener que enseñarle. Así que Kristin empieza con muy mal pie.
Si hay algo que me encanta, es que las autoras sepan hacer personajes muy humanos y eso creo que es un punto a favor de Kristin. La verdad es que pocas veces tengo la dicha de leer una historia con una protagonista fuerte, decidida, que suelta sus lagrimones de impotencia y rabia y sí, de desesperación, pero que sabe hacer frente a las cosas que se le presenten y siempre está dispuesta a buscar maneras de solucionar las cosas.
La relación entre Tennyson (el trol) y Kristin es un desastre total al inicio, sobre todo porque él no está nada a gusto con la idea de tener que vigilarla y ella no es de las que se deja que la traten como si fuera cualquier cosa, así que ese estira y afloja se va dando hasta que ambos tienen que asumir que se gustan. Y he aquí algo que me llamó mucho la atención porque la editorial tiene catalogado el libro como Juvenil, sin embargo, hay un par de escenas lo bastante subidas de tono que me hace clasificarlo dentro del género New Adult. A mí ni me va ni me viene mal eso, pero sé que mucha gente no le gusta leer ese tipo de cosas y mejor les dejo claro de una vez que juvenil-juvenil, no es.
Como ya les había dicho, no era la primera vez que leía a esta autora, así que me encantó leerla de nuevo porque tiene una manera de narrar, tan mágica, tan divertida y no se anda con rodeos ni descripciones exageradas; la novela fluye como el agua y te ríes, sufres y casi te acabas las uñas queriendo saber qué más va a suceder. Eso me hace disfrutar una novela y no cabe duda que Cumpliré tus deseos es de lo mejor en ese sentido.
Lo que no me ha terminado de convencer es que de inicio te das color sobre quién es el malo del cuento. Los personajes no, evidentemente, pero dado que uno como lector ya lo sabe, pues resulta un poco molesto estar viendo cómo la protagonista cae en la trampa, por decirlo de algún modo. Y que al ser esta novela la primera de una trilogía, pues la historia global no termina de cerrarse. Es decir, el romance cuaja bien hasta el final, de hecho, me encantó ese final; sin embargo, el misterio no termina de resolverse y aunque el siguiente libro tratará la historia de la siguiente Hada Madrina, pues será necesario leerlo para ver cómo avanza todo.
En resumen: Gabi Stevens ha creado una historia divertidísima, llena de magia, romance y sensualidad. Recomendada.
July 5, 2012
Reviewed for Book Chick City
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/06/...
THE WISH LIST by Gabi Stevens is a book filled with magic, love and the emotional turmoil at discovering new powers. It subverts the magical boundaries of witches and wizards by introducing fairy godmothers, which aren’t commonly used in paranormal fiction.
Kristin Montgomery is thrown into the magical world from the very first chapter, when her three aunts suddenly spring the news upon her that she is a fairy godmother, and will soon be entering the time of transition. The time of transition is a dangerous time in the world of the Arcani (magic users), where the new generation of godmothers gains their powers and the old generation begins to lose theirs.
After dropping this bombshell on her, Kristin’s aunts leave for a world cruise and leave Kristin to the care of her arbiter, Tennyson Ritter. There is an instant of spark of animosity between them, with Tennyson seeming arrogant and impatient with Kristin’s lack of knowledge. She is a ‘rare one’, a godmother born to human parents instead of to Arcani, which means her magic is strong and we are primed to expect great things from her.
However, despite her friction with Tennyson another Arcani, Lucas Reynard, appears on the scene vying for her affections. He is rich and has all the luxuries money can buy, but is he all he appears to be? And why is he so interested in Kristin?
I really liked the character of Kristin at the beginning of the book, as she is strong and independent, and really stands her ground against Tennyson. She refuses to back down and is very stubborn, only experimenting with her magic in her own time and not being forced into anything. However, I felt that this changed by the end of the book as she developed her powers, as she became a bit too perfect. By this I mean that she was suddenly able to perform supposed advanced magic with no training, and was conveniently able to wrap up the plot.
As for Tennyson, he was a really great love interest for Kristin, as there was immediate chemistry between them. He was protective without being overbearing, and the story seamlessly switches between both of their perspectives, so we can see his thoughts of Kristin and how his feelings develop. There were some very *ahem* steamy scenes between the two, which were a little bit over the top at times and sometimes took place at inopportune moments during the plot.
“Sensible? What the hell is sensible about this situation? I have been through more than can be expected from one person in the past few days, but instead of helping me learn, you want me to obey your commands. Well, I don’t work that way.”
In relation to the plot, the threat comes from a very obvious source, which I was really disappointed about. I was thinking that it would be far too obvious for something to happen, and this left me anticipating a complete surprise. However, this surprise never came and the obvious happened, leaving me really disappointed. The ending of the novel is highly convenient and not satisfying, as the ends are tied up too neatly with not enough plot development.
Overall, despite really liking the characters of Kristin and Tennyson (not to mention their friends, Zack and Callie, too!), I felt that the plot of this book really let it down. The story is left open for the sequels, which I also felt was a little too convenient as far as the plot was concerned, but I am open to reading the sequels as I did enjoy the style of Gabi Steven’s writing.
http://www.bookchickcity.com/2012/06/...
THE WISH LIST by Gabi Stevens is a book filled with magic, love and the emotional turmoil at discovering new powers. It subverts the magical boundaries of witches and wizards by introducing fairy godmothers, which aren’t commonly used in paranormal fiction.
Kristin Montgomery is thrown into the magical world from the very first chapter, when her three aunts suddenly spring the news upon her that she is a fairy godmother, and will soon be entering the time of transition. The time of transition is a dangerous time in the world of the Arcani (magic users), where the new generation of godmothers gains their powers and the old generation begins to lose theirs.
After dropping this bombshell on her, Kristin’s aunts leave for a world cruise and leave Kristin to the care of her arbiter, Tennyson Ritter. There is an instant of spark of animosity between them, with Tennyson seeming arrogant and impatient with Kristin’s lack of knowledge. She is a ‘rare one’, a godmother born to human parents instead of to Arcani, which means her magic is strong and we are primed to expect great things from her.
However, despite her friction with Tennyson another Arcani, Lucas Reynard, appears on the scene vying for her affections. He is rich and has all the luxuries money can buy, but is he all he appears to be? And why is he so interested in Kristin?
I really liked the character of Kristin at the beginning of the book, as she is strong and independent, and really stands her ground against Tennyson. She refuses to back down and is very stubborn, only experimenting with her magic in her own time and not being forced into anything. However, I felt that this changed by the end of the book as she developed her powers, as she became a bit too perfect. By this I mean that she was suddenly able to perform supposed advanced magic with no training, and was conveniently able to wrap up the plot.
As for Tennyson, he was a really great love interest for Kristin, as there was immediate chemistry between them. He was protective without being overbearing, and the story seamlessly switches between both of their perspectives, so we can see his thoughts of Kristin and how his feelings develop. There were some very *ahem* steamy scenes between the two, which were a little bit over the top at times and sometimes took place at inopportune moments during the plot.
“Sensible? What the hell is sensible about this situation? I have been through more than can be expected from one person in the past few days, but instead of helping me learn, you want me to obey your commands. Well, I don’t work that way.”
In relation to the plot, the threat comes from a very obvious source, which I was really disappointed about. I was thinking that it would be far too obvious for something to happen, and this left me anticipating a complete surprise. However, this surprise never came and the obvious happened, leaving me really disappointed. The ending of the novel is highly convenient and not satisfying, as the ends are tied up too neatly with not enough plot development.
Overall, despite really liking the characters of Kristin and Tennyson (not to mention their friends, Zack and Callie, too!), I felt that the plot of this book really let it down. The story is left open for the sequels, which I also felt was a little too convenient as far as the plot was concerned, but I am open to reading the sequels as I did enjoy the style of Gabi Steven’s writing.
April 6, 2011
Every now and then I discover a series that I just fall in love with. The Wish List is book one in the Time of Transition paranormal series. It's hard to say why I loved this book so much, except that everything worked. Even when I discovered who the bad guy was way before the characters did, it didn't take away from the story and I couldn't wait to see when they would finally wise up and find out that they were being duped, but I'm getting ahead of myself...
Kristen Montgomery is a CPA who one day finds out that she's a Fairy Godmother, and that the women who she considers to be her aunts, are fairy godmothers as well. As soon as her aunts drop the bombshell on her that she's a fairy godmother, they give her only the vaguest info-like she'll have an arbiter to help her adjust through this time of transition, and will decide on if Kristen can handle her new duties. then they leave on vacation. Kristen thinks her aunts have lost it, until she meets her arbiter Tennyson Ritter.
It's hate at first site. Kristen thinks he's a troll, and I laughed every time she called him one. Tennyson doesn't really want to be Kristen's arbiter. He's a historian and would much rather be studying Merlin's book that he just found. Kristen finds out she's what is called a Rare One. Someone with no ties to the magical community who becomes magical. Even though Tennyson tries to convince Kristen that her powers are pretty strong, she doesn't believe him. In fact she fights him at every turn. She likes things orderly and to add up, but the magic thing has really turned her world upside down.
While her constant denial did get a tad old, I liked how she eventually accepted what was happening to her and then decided to go at it full gutso. As I was reading the story, it felt like I was going through the time of transition with Kristen. Sometimes it annoys me how the heroines of a book just so nonchalantly accept their powers or that those around them have powers and never question anything. It was just a nice change of pace to see Kristens powers appear gradually instead of all at once.
Tennyson was a bit slow at times I thought to see what was really going on around them, but I enjoyed his banter with Kristen his frustration with trying to convince her that magic is real and that she just can't take off on her own during her time of transition. He tries his best to protect her from the villain who is trying to convince her to go over to the bad side and take over the magical worlds governing body with them. (If I say who it is, it gives too much away) As I stated before I spotted the villain right away, and at times didn't see how someone as smart as Kristen could miss the obvious, but it was still fun seeing her and Tennyson gradually come to their senses to see who it was.
There were a few eye rolling moments in the book, but it was a sweet book and one you just want to curl up in a blanket and not come out until you've finished it. There are just times when light and cute is all you need. I also loved that the paranormal creatures weren't your typical vampires, ghosts, werewolves or fae. I can't wait to read the second book in the series, As You Wish.
Curran Crush Meter: Medium
Barrons Hero Hotness Meter: Medium
Gighul Sidekick Meter: High (Loved the aunts!)
Rhiannon Sidekick Meter: Medium
Kristen Montgomery is a CPA who one day finds out that she's a Fairy Godmother, and that the women who she considers to be her aunts, are fairy godmothers as well. As soon as her aunts drop the bombshell on her that she's a fairy godmother, they give her only the vaguest info-like she'll have an arbiter to help her adjust through this time of transition, and will decide on if Kristen can handle her new duties. then they leave on vacation. Kristen thinks her aunts have lost it, until she meets her arbiter Tennyson Ritter.
It's hate at first site. Kristen thinks he's a troll, and I laughed every time she called him one. Tennyson doesn't really want to be Kristen's arbiter. He's a historian and would much rather be studying Merlin's book that he just found. Kristen finds out she's what is called a Rare One. Someone with no ties to the magical community who becomes magical. Even though Tennyson tries to convince Kristen that her powers are pretty strong, she doesn't believe him. In fact she fights him at every turn. She likes things orderly and to add up, but the magic thing has really turned her world upside down.
While her constant denial did get a tad old, I liked how she eventually accepted what was happening to her and then decided to go at it full gutso. As I was reading the story, it felt like I was going through the time of transition with Kristen. Sometimes it annoys me how the heroines of a book just so nonchalantly accept their powers or that those around them have powers and never question anything. It was just a nice change of pace to see Kristens powers appear gradually instead of all at once.
Tennyson was a bit slow at times I thought to see what was really going on around them, but I enjoyed his banter with Kristen his frustration with trying to convince her that magic is real and that she just can't take off on her own during her time of transition. He tries his best to protect her from the villain who is trying to convince her to go over to the bad side and take over the magical worlds governing body with them. (If I say who it is, it gives too much away) As I stated before I spotted the villain right away, and at times didn't see how someone as smart as Kristen could miss the obvious, but it was still fun seeing her and Tennyson gradually come to their senses to see who it was.
There were a few eye rolling moments in the book, but it was a sweet book and one you just want to curl up in a blanket and not come out until you've finished it. There are just times when light and cute is all you need. I also loved that the paranormal creatures weren't your typical vampires, ghosts, werewolves or fae. I can't wait to read the second book in the series, As You Wish.
Curran Crush Meter: Medium
Barrons Hero Hotness Meter: Medium
Gighul Sidekick Meter: High (Loved the aunts!)
Rhiannon Sidekick Meter: Medium
November 15, 2013
Gabi Stevens, aunque de padres húngaros, nació en el sur de California. Después de pasar tiempo en un internado, en la universidad y de estudiar en el extranjero, actualmente se dedica a la enseñar literatura a estudiantes de secundaria. Sus noches están llenas de aventura e imaginación del mundo que ella crea en su mente y luego escribe en un papel. Gabi, autora galardonada, escribe desde su residencia de Nuevo México, donde vive con su marido ingeniero de robótica, sus tres hijas y dos perros. Le encanta jugar, tiene una adicción insana por la lectura, intenta evitar las tareas de la casa y de la cocina, y no viaja tanto como ella quisiera.
Cumpliré tus deseos es una historia que me ha sorprendido de principio a fin. Desgraciadamente, hay pocas historias de hadas, pero esta es una de lectura obligatoria, la autora tiene una escritura fluida, cargada de diálogos y descripciones amenas que engancha al lector desde la primera página. Los personajes son mágicos, muy bien perfilados y con gancho, además de las bromas y comentarios divertidos que se gasta durante todo el libro.
Algo que me ha sorprendido mucho es la relación de Kristin y Tennyson, que se asemeja más a la literatura adulta, normalmente las autoras de juvenil son muy reticentes en que sus protagonistas tengan relaciones sexuales pronto, y menos en una saga (casi siempre cae la escenita en el tercer libro si es una triologia) pues atención, atención, que casi al inicio de la historia hay temita ¡y muy descriptivas! Totalmente New adult.
Otro punto positivo es que Kristin me cae bien, ¡por fin una protagonista normal! La muchacha descubre que es un hada madrina e intenta por activa y por pasiva adaptarse al nuevo mundo, las lágrimas que de vez en cuando caen por sus mejillas son de impotencia o de rabia, pero nunca de rendición.
No se queja de nada y asume todo lo que le cae encima, buscando alternativas y salidas. Imaginaos: te dicen que tienes poderes, que debes de controlar tu varita y encima que perteneces a una sociedad totalmente distinta de la que pensabas, sin olvidar de que es un hada muy poderosa que no sabe controlar su poder.
Además, al principio no le cuadra su atracción por Tennyson (o trol, como le llama ella), así que rehúye de él (cuando puede), eso sí, en cuanto se da cuenta de que es una tontería andar jugando al gato y al ratón, intenta dejar de lado su conciencia y busca conocer más cosas de él. Los diálogos entre ellos son tronchantes, sobre todo cuando se enfadan.
Eso sí, su relación va a ser de todo menos fácil, sobre todo porque su unión rompe miles de normas, Tennyson es el maestro de Kristin y además, la vida de ambos corre peligro.
El único pero que puedo poner a esta preciosa novela es que me hubiera gustado o un libro de Zack y Cali o que tuviera más protagonismo su relación en el libro, capítulos dedicados solo para ellos. Creo que la autora ha desaprovechado a dos grandes personajes, una verdadera pena.
Si os gustaba la serie de Sabrina pero con hadas en vez de con brujas, los conjuros a la vieja usanza (o sea con varitas) y los protagonistas de armas tomar, esta es vuestra novela.
Valoración: Muy bueno.
Cumpliré tus deseos es una historia que me ha sorprendido de principio a fin. Desgraciadamente, hay pocas historias de hadas, pero esta es una de lectura obligatoria, la autora tiene una escritura fluida, cargada de diálogos y descripciones amenas que engancha al lector desde la primera página. Los personajes son mágicos, muy bien perfilados y con gancho, además de las bromas y comentarios divertidos que se gasta durante todo el libro.
Algo que me ha sorprendido mucho es la relación de Kristin y Tennyson, que se asemeja más a la literatura adulta, normalmente las autoras de juvenil son muy reticentes en que sus protagonistas tengan relaciones sexuales pronto, y menos en una saga (casi siempre cae la escenita en el tercer libro si es una triologia) pues atención, atención, que casi al inicio de la historia hay temita ¡y muy descriptivas! Totalmente New adult.
Otro punto positivo es que Kristin me cae bien, ¡por fin una protagonista normal! La muchacha descubre que es un hada madrina e intenta por activa y por pasiva adaptarse al nuevo mundo, las lágrimas que de vez en cuando caen por sus mejillas son de impotencia o de rabia, pero nunca de rendición.
No se queja de nada y asume todo lo que le cae encima, buscando alternativas y salidas. Imaginaos: te dicen que tienes poderes, que debes de controlar tu varita y encima que perteneces a una sociedad totalmente distinta de la que pensabas, sin olvidar de que es un hada muy poderosa que no sabe controlar su poder.
Además, al principio no le cuadra su atracción por Tennyson (o trol, como le llama ella), así que rehúye de él (cuando puede), eso sí, en cuanto se da cuenta de que es una tontería andar jugando al gato y al ratón, intenta dejar de lado su conciencia y busca conocer más cosas de él. Los diálogos entre ellos son tronchantes, sobre todo cuando se enfadan.
Eso sí, su relación va a ser de todo menos fácil, sobre todo porque su unión rompe miles de normas, Tennyson es el maestro de Kristin y además, la vida de ambos corre peligro.
El único pero que puedo poner a esta preciosa novela es que me hubiera gustado o un libro de Zack y Cali o que tuviera más protagonismo su relación en el libro, capítulos dedicados solo para ellos. Creo que la autora ha desaprovechado a dos grandes personajes, una verdadera pena.
Si os gustaba la serie de Sabrina pero con hadas en vez de con brujas, los conjuros a la vieja usanza (o sea con varitas) y los protagonistas de armas tomar, esta es vuestra novela.
Valoración: Muy bueno.
July 13, 2012
Review also posted on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://reenajacobs.com/blog/2010/09/n...
Bit of a surprise for me, but the chapter 1 title hooked me. Yeah, that’s right. Didn’t even get into the book and I was already digging it. “HOW TO BE A FAIRY GODMOTHER: Never Reveal Yourself to Your Charges.” So, I continued.
Though the storyline had an interesting premise, much of the world seemed very similar to the concept of Harry Potter books. I kind of liked that. Main difference was the main character (MC) wasn’t a boy discovering the world; it’s a full grown woman. Despite being a contemporary fantasy romance (can I add romance? That’d make three genres. Is that okay?), it had a women’s fiction (whoops! there’s another genre) type feel to it. If it were made into a movie, my husband would call it a chickflick. Is that what chicklit is? This MC had some not so bright moments like this, particularly in the beginning.
I have to admit, I wasn’t fond of writing styles. The MC thought things were strange but went around acting as if everything was fine. “Hmmm. That’s strange. I wonder who left the door wide open. Oh well, I guess I just need to be more observant next time.” No…I don’t think so. It gave a hollow, forced feel. This MC definitely had some not so bright moments, particularly in the beginning.
Anyway, let’s take a look at the cover art. A bit sparkly. Fanciful. Just a lot of fun. Right? Well, I’ll tell you something! The cover had me fooled. I was completely taken off guard by what the inside held. EROTICA!!! At least the first scene. Seriously, the cover looked so unassuming. I’m used to sexy manmeat displayed in all their masculinity in my racy romance books. Not this innocent stuff.
I feel like I should say something more about The Wish List, but really I’ve got nothing else for ya. The plot was so-so. Nothing spectacular. The bad guy was whom I suspected. Everyone I thought who’d fall in love fell in love. Everyone got their happy ending. Bottom line: the novel had enough going for it to keep me coming back from time to time, but nothing significant enough to keep me from feeling like I had ADD when I got distracted.
Bit of a surprise for me, but the chapter 1 title hooked me. Yeah, that’s right. Didn’t even get into the book and I was already digging it. “HOW TO BE A FAIRY GODMOTHER: Never Reveal Yourself to Your Charges.” So, I continued.
Though the storyline had an interesting premise, much of the world seemed very similar to the concept of Harry Potter books. I kind of liked that. Main difference was the main character (MC) wasn’t a boy discovering the world; it’s a full grown woman. Despite being a contemporary fantasy romance (can I add romance? That’d make three genres. Is that okay?), it had a women’s fiction (whoops! there’s another genre) type feel to it. If it were made into a movie, my husband would call it a chickflick. Is that what chicklit is? This MC had some not so bright moments like this, particularly in the beginning.
I have to admit, I wasn’t fond of writing styles. The MC thought things were strange but went around acting as if everything was fine. “Hmmm. That’s strange. I wonder who left the door wide open. Oh well, I guess I just need to be more observant next time.” No…I don’t think so. It gave a hollow, forced feel. This MC definitely had some not so bright moments, particularly in the beginning.
Anyway, let’s take a look at the cover art. A bit sparkly. Fanciful. Just a lot of fun. Right? Well, I’ll tell you something! The cover had me fooled. I was completely taken off guard by what the inside held. EROTICA!!! At least the first scene. Seriously, the cover looked so unassuming. I’m used to sexy manmeat displayed in all their masculinity in my racy romance books. Not this innocent stuff.
I feel like I should say something more about The Wish List, but really I’ve got nothing else for ya. The plot was so-so. Nothing spectacular. The bad guy was whom I suspected. Everyone I thought who’d fall in love fell in love. Everyone got their happy ending. Bottom line: the novel had enough going for it to keep me coming back from time to time, but nothing significant enough to keep me from feeling like I had ADD when I got distracted.
June 15, 2011
Full review to come... A super-cute story!
Full review reposted from my Smitten with Reading blog:
My Review:
What an absolutely fabulous and fun premise for a book. This book was just entirely an entertaining read- so much fun with more than a touch of whimsy. This book is for those of us that like to believe that there can still be magic (and fairy godmothers) in this world.
Kristen has been totally knocked off-kilter. She had no idea that there was something more magical to this world until she is told that she's the newest fairy godmother. Surprise! With no background in magic, both her parents were Groundlings (non-magical humans,) she is floundering trying to figure out what she is supposed to be doing. Tennyson has been sent to guide her, but is limited about how much he can tell her. Add to that, he really resents the interruption in his research just so he can guide her. In other words, he's pretty much a jerk their first few days together.
Kristen has spent her life as an accountant and list-maker. She thinks things through, uses logic, and is a straight-forward kind of gal. This magic stuff is not near so exact. But even though she is way out of her element, she keeps plugging along with her erratic magic and unpredictable powers. I loved that about her...she was determined even when she just wanted to sit down and cry.
I also really like how Kristen and Tennyson's relationship develops. Honestly, at first, they truly do not like each other, but that soon begins to change into grudging respect (on both sides) and then even more. As the danger heightens, so do their feeling and there is a danger. Kristen is coming into some really powerful magic so the bad guys need her to establish a coup against the magical regime.
I think that the political upheaval is going to continue throughout the 3 books as all 3 fairy godmothers establish within their transition. I look forward to reading the rest of the stories.
Full review reposted from my Smitten with Reading blog:
My Review:
What an absolutely fabulous and fun premise for a book. This book was just entirely an entertaining read- so much fun with more than a touch of whimsy. This book is for those of us that like to believe that there can still be magic (and fairy godmothers) in this world.
Kristen has been totally knocked off-kilter. She had no idea that there was something more magical to this world until she is told that she's the newest fairy godmother. Surprise! With no background in magic, both her parents were Groundlings (non-magical humans,) she is floundering trying to figure out what she is supposed to be doing. Tennyson has been sent to guide her, but is limited about how much he can tell her. Add to that, he really resents the interruption in his research just so he can guide her. In other words, he's pretty much a jerk their first few days together.
Kristen has spent her life as an accountant and list-maker. She thinks things through, uses logic, and is a straight-forward kind of gal. This magic stuff is not near so exact. But even though she is way out of her element, she keeps plugging along with her erratic magic and unpredictable powers. I loved that about her...she was determined even when she just wanted to sit down and cry.
I also really like how Kristen and Tennyson's relationship develops. Honestly, at first, they truly do not like each other, but that soon begins to change into grudging respect (on both sides) and then even more. As the danger heightens, so do their feeling and there is a danger. Kristen is coming into some really powerful magic so the bad guys need her to establish a coup against the magical regime.
I think that the political upheaval is going to continue throughout the 3 books as all 3 fairy godmothers establish within their transition. I look forward to reading the rest of the stories.
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