Wishing For Wonderful (Serendipity #3) by @BetteLeeCrosby #Contemporary #Fantasy

Author: Bette Lee Crosby
Published: September 2012 by Bent Pine Publishing
Category: Contemporary Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

A Magical and Heartwarming Romance…from a USA Today Bestselling Author of Women’s Fiction

Eleanor has loved John Gray since she was seven years old. She grew up believing they would one day get married. They didn’t. They married other people. Now they’re both single again and they’ve got a second chance at love…or do they?

This wonderfully charming and fun romance is narrated by Cupid himself, interspersed by passages from Eleanor and John. This Christmas themed story has several threads woven together, including that of a little dog in need of a home, making Cupid’s job of matching perfect partners more difficult that he would have liked.

When seven year old Eleanor Shipley asked Cupid to make Johnny Gray fall in love with her, they were matched and the future set. Until Life Management intervened and all Cupid’s plans were ruined. Now, forty-seven years later Cupid has a chance to set things right between John and Eleanor. But other people are involved, muddying the waters, namely John’s daughter, Lindsay, who is desperately seeking Mr Right for all the wrong reasons, and Eleanor’s son, Ray.

To understand the challenges, you’ve got to hear the whole story. Once you’ve heard it, I think you’ll agree with what I did. There are rules here; I know that. And I’ll admit I flagrantly defied them. Maybe it wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but I’m a sucker for true love.

This is a realistic scenario of how children can damage a second time around relationship for their widowed parents. Lindsay Gray never chooses the right partner despite Cupid’s efforts on her behalf. She has lost her job and apartment right after a disastrous break up with the latest ‘love of her life’. Instead of following the path set out for her, which would have lead to a perfect relationship, she decides to move back home to live with her father. So together with her emotional baggage and the mistaken assumption that her father is lonely and needs her, she packs her bags and leaves New York behind. She is shocked, angry and disapproving when she learns her father is anything but lonely.

Lindsay and Ray cause problems galore for Cupid as he tries to give Eleanor and John the happiness they should have had all those years ago.

I enjoyed reading from Cupid’s perspective as he worked his magic in the lives of John, Eleanor, Lindsay and Ray. His interactions with Life Management and the Boss are described well and with humour. The characters are believable, all well defined with distinct personalities. Lindsay is initially selfish and immature but becomes more likeable as her character develops. Which is more than I can say for Ray although he did redeem himself after a fashion eventually. John and Eleanor are just lovely.

An entertaining and easy comfort read, with part of the proceeds of the book going to a dog’s charity. As with all Bette Lee Crosby’s books it runs the gamut of emotions, and there are thought provoking snippets running through. I like the conversational structure and tone of the narrative.

Every human on earth has to endure Life Management events. It’s not the event that destroys a human, it’s the way they react to it.

My review is voluntary and based on a digital copy of the book from the author/publisher.

Book links ~ Amazon UK |US

About Bette Lee Crosby

It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky characters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win twenty awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.