After years imprisoned on Devil’s Island for a murder he never committed, escaped convict Hank Wyatt knows how to survive and believes his luck has finally changed. But when he stows away on board a ship destined to sink, his luck turns bad. He doesn’t know if he can last an hour when he is marooned on a deserted island with a beautiful, know-it-all blonde attorney and three orphaned children. … Suddenly looking out for number one doesn’t seem to be enough.
San Francisco attorney Maggie Smith wants to have a good cry. Thoroughly modern, wealthy, and bright, her unwanted holiday turns bad when she is suddenly cast in the role of mother and forced to battle wits and hearts with the most arrogant, pig-headed man she’s ever met.
Fate has thrown this makeshift family Robinson together, and kismet tosses in a 2000 year-old floating bottle filled with magic. So now is the chance for a love more powerful than they could ever imagine is only a wish away? Father Goose meets Donovan’s Reef in this funny and tender historical romance about misfits who find that life might not be so bad after all…if they can do the impossible, and find a way to be family.
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Wonderful, Entertaining, Humorous, Magic & Romance
An Absolutely Delightful Story. If you have yet to read any of Jill Barnett’s books, you are truly missing out.
After escaping a Boat explosion, getting into a small boat, Escaped convict Hank, Maggie (Smitty) an Attorney 3 Orphaned children. Lydia (11), Theodore (5) & Annabelle (1 – 1 & 1/2)
Find themselves on a deserted Island. Add in a Goat named “Rebuttal” & a Genie in a bottle named “Muddy” what can possibly go wrong or right? I laughed & cried with this Wonderful Story.
Funny quotes from the book:
“Come to Papa, sweetheart. I’ll take you on a voyage.”
They all stared at little Annabelle, who was grinning proudly. “Daaaaamn goat!” she added and clapped her hands”
““You, the educated, logical attorney, Miss It-Makes-Perfect-Sense, sees some crackpot in purple pants and earrings flying around us?”
“You’re supposed to say ‘What’s a coconut?’” “Why?” “Just say it.” “What’s a coconut?” “Food.”
“What kind of food?” Hank grinned. “A coconut.”
I loved this book! Bad wolf, bad wolf, sit sit sit!
Imagine by Jill Barnett is a fun read. I recommend this book.
The plot and characters were a complete surprise. Enjoyed this book.
I really wasn’t certain I was going to like this book. With the introduction of a genie, I wasn’t sure how the author was going to keep the story believable yet still entertaining. Well, they did that and much more. The storyline seamlessly worked in the magic along with the great characters and all the challenges they encounter. It was a great read and just as you were taking yourself too seriously, the magic genie appears. Lots of fun!!
Delightful
This book has a genie and a ship wreck and orphans and everything that goes with those things. It begins with a prison break and ends with Happily Ever After. Enjoy it for what it is.
Fun, original story with entertaining characters. Will reread again in the future just for fun.
Charming and unusual, the characters are endearing and the plot is light, whimsical and romantic. An easy read that can take you away with a bit of magic and a lot of romance.
Very unusual and interesting plot for a historic romance. Recommend it highly.
absolutely lovely. The heroine is a practicing lawyer in the 1880’s (practicing law int he 1980’s was no picnic, as I can attest from actual experience, so she is pretty fiesty), the hero is a convicted felon escaped from a death camp, and there are three orphan children and a genie involved. This combination, although bizarre, somehow works and the characters display vulnerabilites and humor as the story unfolds. Really lovely and definitely unique
Imagine–the African Queen, but with 2 adults, 3 kids, a genie in a lamp and a goat shipwrecked on a south sea island. A fun read and lovable characters. The oh so proper attorney and the bad boy with a criminal past learn to trust and love while caring for 3 orphaned children. Meanwhile, one of the kids finds a bottle with an genie who has his own interesting past. After young Theodore “wastes” (in the adults estimation) two wishes of his three, Hank and Smitty are kept on their toes trying to prevent him accidentally saying “I wish” about anything and everything. Well worth an afternoon cuddled in a chair with a cup of tea and a plate of cookies. Escapism at its best.
Very good book. Story and characters are well developed and author makes you care about them. Enjoyed very much.
I loved the quirky characters. It was a fun read.
Enjoyed this to the end. Loved the combo of historical and fantasy. And of course a strong woman.
An older romance, but a classic in its own right. Barnett knows how to write a story that seems “given” but still keeps you engrossed.
Usually I don’t like magic in my romance but LOVE IT !!!
Beautiful story. You may ask, How can a story that features a genie be realistic, but it was!
I finished this book tonight and I just loved it!
It is a Swiss Family Robinson kind of story that has an accomplished woman attorney, 3 adorable orphans, and a rascally escapee from a penal colony. Did I mention that it also had a genie in a bottle, as well?
It will leave you with a good feeling.
This is one of my most favorite books. Loved the characters and the plot was truly unique. A definite five plus strs.