THE WISH LIST – Michelle Major
The Carolina Girls , Book 4
HQN
ISBN: 978-1-335-43064-9
October 25, 2022
Contemporary Romance

Magnolia, North Carolina – Present Day

The Carlyle sisters—Beth, Freya, and Trinity—were not raised in the most ideal of situations. Their father left when they were young and their mother, May, wrote a self-help book that became a bestseller. May left the girls to fend for themselves while she went on book tours and became famous. Now adults, the sisters are not close, and only Beth remains in Magnolia. But after May suffers a stroke, Freya and Trinity return home to help decide what to do about May and their family home.

Beth got divorced a year ago but is still on friendly terms with her ex, who is a doctor at the hospital where she works. Their inability to conceive hurt their marriage. Running into her ex, Beth learns that his current girlfriend is pregnant with his child. The news only strengthens Beth’s resolve to leave Magnolia and start college for the degree she’s always wanted. A new start, a new life. After a run -in with May’s next-door neighbor, Beth meets Declan Murphy, who is in town to help raise his nephew and niece. Declan is laid back and easy to talk to. She is soon growing attracted to him.

Freya has made a career in Hollywood as a reality TV show participant and is a well-known social media influencer. She is at a crossroads in her life as she would prefer to put her current career behind her and start a new one as a published author. She has a finished manuscript but isn’t sure she is brave enough to send it to an editor. May’s book editor, Christopher Greer, is in town and visits May at the hospital. He informs the sisters that May has updated her book and it’s about to be released. Greer (that is what everyone calls him) insists that they wait to read the updated book before they continue their criticism of their mother. Meanwhile, Freya keeps running into Greer, and begins to feel an attraction to him. Dare she approach him about her manuscript?

The youngest, Trinity, has barely arrived in town when she is stopped by a local cop. Asher Davis is friendly and by the book, but he lets her go after he learns she is there to see May. Like most people in Magnolia, he knows Trinity’s mother. Trinity finally arrives to meet her sisters, and they are shocked to learn she is seven months pregnant. Trinity doesn’t say too much, but it’s clear that there is a valid reason why the father isn’t with her. Turns out she is running from an abuser. Meanwhile, Asher seems to always be there when Trinity least expects him. He’s nice and could help keep her safe—if she would only tell him about her fears of her ex finding her. Trinity also isn’t sure if she is ready to be a mother, especially after her unhappy childhood.

THE WISH LIST has a lot going on for readers. There are the three sisters and their shaky reunion. There is their mother, who seems like she is different after her stroke, but will it last? Beth has always gone along with whatever life threw at her, never complaining. This includes when she was young, and May took off leaving the sisters alone. Yes, May was selfish, but has she now changed? Beth is disgruntled at where her life stands now and wants to change. How will meeting Declan change her plans? Freya is beautiful and grabs a lot of attention. She’d rather withdraw from her public life and write but will anyone take her seriously as a writer? Why not ask Greer to look at her manuscript? He’s been helpful to May and the family. Trinity could probably trust her sisters with her secrets, but she keeps them locked inside. She wants the baby but fears that if her ex finds her, he will force her back to him. If he does show up, can she stand up to him? Asher could be an immense help, but Trinity’s embarrassment over her circumstances have her keeping her mouth shut. Will she finally trust him?

Emotion, drama, and sisterly love fill the pages of THE WISH LIST. A mother who wasn’t the most maternal of mothers now needs them. Don’t miss this feel-good tale.

Patti Fischer