WISHFUL THINKING

Author: Shannah Biondine ISBN: 1554043360 4/2006 PARANORMAL/HISTORICAL Publisher: DOUBLE DRAGON PUBLISHING
Time Period: Victorian, Idaho

Effie Scarsmore and Coralee Nye migrate west to Silver City, Idaho after losing their teaching positions at an Eastern private academy. Effie's fiancé, Milford Browne, has been in Silver City for more than a year, establishing his fortune and building a new home where he will live with his future bride. But when Effie and Coralee arrive unannounced, they learn Milford is steeped in gambling debt and has chosen to raffle off the unfinished house to pay off his creditors. Effie's furious and determined to teach Milford a lesson, so she announces that her hand in marriage is part of the raffle prize. When the burly carpenter who's been erecting the house wins the raffle, Effie finds herself betrothed to a large man who barely speaks English. She insists her friend Coralee is the ideal person to tutor him in English and the social graces. Effie has a whole scheme worked out. Coralee isn't certain she likes her role in it, for Effie's schemes have a way of going unexpectedly awry.... Fortunately for the two young women, Silver City isn't just any mining town. This one comes complete with a pair of resident guardian angels, Bliss and Echo. They have their own mission and plans for how human events unfold... with a little sprinkling of humorous heavenly grace.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

The second book of Shannah Biondine's Angel Series is called WISHFUL THINKING. Although there are characters that carry over from the first book, MAGNETISM, WISHFUL THINKING stands by itself. It was a true delight to read!

Get ready for another journey to the town of Silver City, Idaho. Along for the trip will be Echo and Bliss, the town's resident guardian angels. Bring along your love of romance and your belief in angels, and be prepared for one exciting and romantic story.

After losing their teaching jobs, Effie and Coralee are on a coach headed for Silver City. Effie is sure that her fiancé, Milford Browne, is ready for their marriage and also has their house built with a magnificent cast iron stove. But there would be no story if everything worked out as planned. What Effie and Coralee come upon is a bunch of men with her fiancé in the middle. Apparently, Milforde Brown is in terrible debt and has decided to raffle off the house that he was building for Effie. Effie retaliates by including herself as part of the prize. Not only will one lucky man win a house, but a bride, as well!

This sets off a series of events that will require the aid of two meddling guardian angels.

What I loved most about WISHFUL THINKING were all the characters. There's Effie and Coralee. Effie is outspoken and independent, where as Coralee is shy and restrained. There's Lars, the Big Swede, who ends up winning the raffle. Don't forget about cross-eyed Josiah and blabbermouth Ned. Oh, there's also Ember and Snowden Smith from MAGNETISM, who play a rather prominent role in this book. That's just a handful of the townsfolk that you'll encounter in WISHFUL THINKING.

WISHFUL THINKING is one of those books that you know is going to end with a happy ending. How can it not, with Bliss and Echo having a hand in getting all the couples matched up properly? You didn't thing that prim and proper Effie was really going to go through marrying Lars, who can hardly speak and understand English, did you? But I bet you won't expect Coralee tutoring him and falling in love with him instead, did you? Of course! With some heavenly intervention, anything is possible.

I would recommend reading Shannah Biondine's WISHFUL THINKING. It will most definitely put a smile on your face, put a little more love in your heart, and foster your belief in angels.

Julie Kornhausl