Widowed bookstore owner Anne Marie Roche wants to find happiness again, so she makes a list of 20 things she always wanted to do but never did. When she volunteers at a local school, an eight-year-old girl helps Anne Marie complete her list--and they both learn that wishes can come true. Abridged. 4 CDs.
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Widowed bookstore owner Anne Marie Roche wants to find happiness again, so she makes a list of 20 things she always wanted to do but never did. When she volunteers at a local school, an eight-year-old girl helps Anne Marie complete her list--and they both learn that wishes can come true. Abridged. 4 CDs.
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I can't believe how Debbie Macomber can turn all these marvelous books out in one lifetime.
You'll love this!!!!!!
Kymw
Jun 11, 2009
This is a wonderful book. I read it in two days Macomber is a great writer and her books always make me feel good..
mosi
Apr 22, 2009
A book that makes you think
I have read approx 45 of Debbie Macomber's and this book is among the best she has written. If you think about the 20 wishes and use it in your life it can really change your life. It is a story of a group of women who decide to write down their wishes and then set about making them come true. To achieve some of the wishes they have to take a risk, have faith in God and in themselves. The way Debbie wove the story was something very special and it encouraged me to start my own list and it has started out to be quite a life changing challenge. I hope you will get the same strength and inspiration from this book and go for it.
Norabee
Sep 3, 2008
Heartfelt Wishes can be Beautiful!!
This book was highly recommended by a top reviewer and although I wasn't "bowled over", I am glad that I read it - it was a charming tale of what can happen when likeminded people - although bonded by grief come together and make plans to change their lives for the better.
Anne Marie is a thirty-eight year old widow finding it difficult to escape the depression brought upon by her husband's death, and the knowledge that he cheated on her - add poignancy to the fact that shortly before his death, they had decided to try and re-unite. Having never had children because of her husband's wishes, Anne Marie finds herself alone, except for the faithful companionship of her beloved dog, Baxter.
She finds pride in running her bookshop on Blossom Street - apparently the place-to-be in a Debbie Macomber series. This is the first book of hers that I've read and I found her story well paced and the characters interesting but her writing style is just a little too "pat" for my tastes, although judging by Macomber's huge following - I think it will be okay if I take a pass on future stories. Despite these reservations, this was a clear, fast paced read and I especially enjoyed the character of Ellen - a little girl that Anne Marie is paired up with in a "Lunch Buddies" program. This was just one piece of advice given to Anne Marie at the "widows" meetings that she and the other widows familiar with Blossom Street attend. She's told that one way to help lessen her depression might be to get out there and do something good for someone else. Anne Marie is a little hesitant to get too involved in the quiet, shy little girl's life, but finds that her heart opens to the small girl and that she does find a way to take solace in her problems in light of focusing on helping Ellen.
Anne Marie gets a chance to face one particular "demon" head-on when dealing with her step-daughter, Melissa, now a troubled young woman that needs her help. Anne Marie can't help but mistrust Melissa's motives when all of their past dealings have been disastrous - in this way the two come together to heal some of the bad blood that exists between them and they find their way to heal after Anne Marie's husband's death.
I do find the idea of keeping a list of "wishes" - all of your hearts' delight - and I think it's a great way to make improvements in your life. Anne Marie finds that in chronicling and updating her wishes as she makes them come true, she is able to find what she's wanted most in life and the novel ends with her about to achieve another heartfelt wish and she has someone she loves to share it with.
The cover art on this book is lovely and gives readers a glimpse of the bookshop and makes you "wish" for a well padded arm chair and rows and rows of good "friends" - your own favorite books.
fdbolt
May 26, 2008
You'll laugh and you'll cry
Four widows gather at Anne Marie's bookstore to "celebrate" Valentine's Day. Each one of them continues to mourn the husbands that they lost. Each one is looking for something special in their lives - something they don't think is possible since they feel they'll never love again. The women decide to each start a list of "Twenty Wishes". Things that they would like to accomplish. And each one has "fall in love/find somone special" on their lists. Ms. Macomber takes you along as each of these women try and find that one thing they are missing. You're right there with them as they find new love, connect with people they never thought they'd have a relationship with and find the one thing that they're missing - that some one special. For some, it's a new love and for others it's the one thing they've been hoping and praying for all their lives. You will laugh and cry as you read this, because you're going to feel as if you stepped into the pages of the book and are right there with each one of them. A+
