This is just a dumb book. It's jammed with the stereotypes that you expect in novels written by lesser authors, makes the relationship between the two main characters into nothing but a soap opera, and the characters are all so predictable in their actions and responses that I just finished the book to see if my prediction for the ending came true (it did). There's no depth to the relationships, no magic in the romance aspects, no character development, and the whole angle of the "fairy godmother" makes the story read like a cheesy made-for-children morality tale in a church library. Hopefully few people will read this book first to try out Jude Devereaux's writing or her popularity will drop.

It is funny that this is a book about wishes, because it really inspired a wish of my own - that romance novels featuring elements of fantasy (like this book), the paranormal and other unusual plot points be clearly marked so that people who HATE them can avoid wasting their money and time.

I liked the premise of this book, but was really put off by the fantasy element. I also thought the sister was FAR too nasty and the heroine completely lacking in backbone.

I was really lookig forward to reading this book after reading the story of the their son William. What a disappointment.

JD gave us everything we needed for a good story, a villian, a misunderstood overweight woman, a man who saves the day plus a Fairy Godmother. What else could you want? Except a happy ending. It had that too.

Recently I've become a Jude Deveraux FANATIC and though I really enjoyed most of her books (except for The Heiress) I thought none could top Eternity for me. I was wrong because Wishes just did!!! What a wonderful story. Jace is a TRUE hero, seeing what no one else saw and loving Nellie no matter what. And sweet little Nellie is incredible, I loved that finally a perfectly shaped beautiful woman was recognized as a hero and fell in love! I even enjoy what happens to Terel and her father! And the fact that Houston and Kane are in this book quite a bit and we get to see what happens to them - 3 babies!! Plus Maddie and Ring are back, as well as Pam and Rafe Taggert, not to mention Zach and Ian and we get to meet Hank for the first time (read Twin of Ice for Zach, Ian, Pam, Rafe, Houston and Kane, Mountain Laurel for Ring and Maddie, and The Awakening for Hank, you'll understand). DEFINITELY read this book, it is absolutely incredible - the perfect historical Cinderella story, you'll fall in love with Jace and NEllie as much as I did! THIS is definitely my definitive Jude Deveraux novel!

Our story begins in a place too familiar to all women. "The Kitchen", a limbo for the women with mediocre souls.

***SPOILERS***

Berni, a shallow woman with a love for plastic surgery and material possessions, is assigned to play fairy godmother to a "fat old maid" named Nellie and see that she lives a happy life with Jace Montgomery. At first Berni despises Nellie and swears that Nellie is only out to hurt her younger, more beautiful sister; Terel. Upon meeting Nellie, Jace is swept away by her kind and selfless nature, but is shocked to see her father and sister treat her like a servant. In an attempt to prove that Nellie has bad motives, Berni gives Nellie three wishes. Unaware that she has three wishes, Nellie wishes for her sister to become popular, for her father to gain more money and worse for her father and sister to have everything they want from her without her disturbing their comfort. Due to her wish, she becomes chained to them and unable to make decisions for her own welfare.

The Harvest Ball is coming up and Nellie is to go with Jace in an agreement that he would work for her father if she would accompany him. Terel learns of this and plots the downfall of her evening. When her dress is ruined Jace arrives at the last moment with a surprise. She is dressed so beautifully that all of the men from Chandler couldn't help but gape at her, even with her weight. Terel is furious from all the attention Nellie is getting from the men of Chandler, even from the women and children!! She vows to find a way to keep Nellie from leaving with Jace before she marries. Bernie, thinking that the cause of Nellie's problems stems from her appearance, gives a wave of her hand and grants Nellie to become skinny. Nellie begins losing weight without realizing it.

An unusual telegram arrives and Jace is forced to leave on short notice. Rumors begin flying around town about Nellie. Jace is nowhere to be found and Nellie begins to give up hope. Berni is at her wits end and decides to go down to Chandler herself to plot a way to bring them together. Terel has other plans, however.

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This is one of my favorite Jude Deveraux books. I found myself laughing endlessly from Berni's antics. I promise by the end of the book you'll be laughing your head off. If you haven't read this yet then you're really missing out on a wonderful love story.