Be careful what you wish for…

Synopsis

Snuggle up under your favourite blanket and escape to the beautiful village of Pebblestow this winter, for one of the most heartwarming stories of the season…

When Cara Mia Shaw makes a desperate wish one night, while riding on a carousel at a Christmas market, little does she know her small, but safe world is about to spin off its axis.

Befriending a fascinating returnee to the village, an elderly woman called Perdita with a jaunty pink beret and the wisdom of a life well lived, might set Cara on a different, albeit harder, course, if she’s brave enough to listen. Art was always her passion, after all, even if fate seemed to have other ideas.

And then there’s the new man in her life, who her friends think is perfect for her because they set her up with decent, reliable Greg in the first place. Cara’s been hurt enough times to know the difference between a good man and a feckless one. Until Wilfred comes along – moody, sarcastic, and scattered – just to complicate matters and meddle with Cara’s resolve, to the horror of almost everyone around her. But is either man ultimately meant for her, anyway? And will she self-sabotage as usual, or gamble everything this time, including her heart?

It might take the highs and lows of friendship, the risk of a forbidden romance, and a Pomeranian called Loki – not to mention some much-needed Christmas magic – before Cara finally realises the wish she made that night on the carousel might just be about to come true.

My review

Cara Shaw is not what you would call a woman who has ‘made it’ in life. What once started as a job as a nanny for the Pembrokes, now evolved to living at their place in an annexe and doing the odd tasks for her boss JoJo.
It’s not because her life is a failure, but her past marked her and now she is known by her friends for self – sabotaging every  positive turn.
when one night she takes a ride on a carousel and makes a wish, she doesn’t know how that new people will appear, from an elderly woman wearing a pink beret named Perdita (the woman, not the beret) to Greg, a man who her friends think is perfect for Cara, but who doesn’t ignite any fireworks. And then there is moody, enigmatic Wilf, brother of JoJo, who is not only totally off limits, but is carrying his own cross…
With Perdita’s good advice, what course will Cara take with her life? And will that wish on the carousel come true, If Cara dares to take that frightening last step?

When I started to read this story, I couldn’t understand Cara… she is a young woman, and her life should be peaking right now. Instead she is living with the Pembrokes, and isn’t even working as a nanny for them.
And then I’m not talking about her love life…
But the more we got to know her, the more became clearer for me. And where I initially didn’t understand her, I felt sorry for how her life turned out to be.

And when she meets Greg, pushed by her friends, I understood why she would settle for someone like him, when there are absolutely no sparks flying around. I’m not saying that Greg is a bad man, but just not the right man for Cara.

So when Perdita enters the picture, I loved her immediately, even if she has a bit of a mystery around her character.
Cara and Perdita quickly befriend each other, and I was truly happy when Perdita was able to let Cara “see the light”.
Perdita is also able for Cara opening up more and see her own potential. She is that unexpected friend, but that kind of friend that everyone needs in their life.

And Wilf… it’s obvious he is burdened, and tries to keep everyone at distance. And even Cara, even if the attraction is too obvious, and in his case sparks DO fly around!
Often Cara and Wilf clash, but you can only fight the attraction until a certain point. And when that point has been reached… No words are needed!

When Wilf’s dark secret is out (and JoJo’s too), I thought “That’s it?”. Not that I diminish it it’s a difficult thing to cope and live with, but maybe in my optimistic view of people, I thought that people would be more accepting and not so judgemental like some in Wilf’s past did…

I found this not just a romance, but it goes so much deeper. It’s about seeing yourself, and believing in yourself too.
Slowly Cara is finding her place again, and learns what she truly wants from her life and who she wants in it (thanks to Perdita with the letter – trick!).

The story is also about difficulties people have to endure and how hard it can be to start all over, full of hope.
But no matter what struggles you have in life, the right people by your side are not afraid to stand by your side and make the sometimes difficult journey together. Because the good things waiting for you are so much more rewarding.

The story took a little bit before I found myself completely submerged into it. But like the story itself, it was rewarding to persevere those initial harder chapters.
The author grasped perfectly how life can turn around, for the worse, but definitely also for the better.
With trusting people by your side, and even with some magical help, life can be beautiful, if you just dare…