New Orleans, a city of mystery and magic, of secrets and dreams, and a history drenched in both love and the deepest of heartache. When ballet dancer Clara Campbell arrives in New Orleans, lonely and homesick, she is immediately captivated by the story of Windisle Plantation and the tragic tale that is said to have transpired beyond its gate. Legend has it that it is abandoned by all living … living souls, but to Clara’s great surprise, it is not a ghost she hears through the stone wall surrounding the property, but a flesh and blood man. A scarred stranger with a pain deeper and darker than the churning waters of the Mississippi river that flows beside his self-imposed prison.
The ruined man behind the wall hides himself from the world. The last thing he expects is to find a friend in the selfless girl who speaks to him through the cracks in the rock. The girl who keeps returning week after week. The girl who makes him wish for things he has long since given up on. The girl who strikes both fear and hope within his wounded heart. But there can be no future for them, no life beyond Windisle, for no one knows better than him that monsters only live in the dark.
The Wish Collector is the story of shame and triumph, of loneliness and love, and the miracle of two hearts connecting despite the strongest of barriers between them.
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Loved this take on Beauty and the Beast! There was a little magic inside this book and I really loved the back and forth between time periods. The love stories and mystery in the book drew me in completely, I HAD to know how it all turned out. The fact that it was set in NOLA was perfect for the bit of fantasy that ran through the book.
The Wish Collector by Mia Sheridan.
Narrated by Zachary Webber and Virginia Rose, I don’t think I have to say anymore, but if you don’t understand, I will say one word fabulous.
I stumbled upon this story while looking in Audible Escapes, I’m so glad I took a chance on it.
This story is poignant, mysterious, but jubilant.
The premise of the story has two bases one past, one present, and how a curious woman changes not only her life, but that of a recluse with a damaged soul and brings to light a lost love of the past. In doing so she heals many wounds.
I will say no more in doing so I will spoil your enjoyment of the story.
This book was I intense, beautiful and magical that I have nothing but love for it. Clara and Jonah were amazing characters and their path, despite being hard and full of challenges, is something that’s worth witnessing. Some of our biggest calls in life don’t come from the outside but from within ourselves, so while reading these characters overcome every obstacle while solving an ancient mystery (and finding love in the process) filled my heart with joy. I’m totally in love with the wish collector.
I really enjoyed reading this book -the telling of not one but two love stories. I loved the mystery and history that Mia Sheridan wove into Jonah’s and Clara’s love story. It was almost a modern day beauty & the beast.
Amazing book. Layer upon layer of intriguing storylines. Deep characters, excellent conflict. I always love a good story set in New Orleans, but this one is one of my favorites so far. This book will probably be in my top 5 for 2019.
The Wish Collector is a magical story. A beautiful magical romance with a touch of mystery. A story that captivated me from the very first pages and stayed with me long after closing the book.
“She’d felt consumed. Completely engulfed by something strong and sweet.
Jonah.
Her wish collector.
Her grit and velvet-voiced dream weaver.”
I loved this story and was completely transported into another time and place while reading!
“Once upon a time, he had been a man used to the spotlight and now he was a man who danced between moonbeams.”
-5 Stars!-
I have been wanting to listen to this for a while as I had heard really great things and man, it did not disappoint. Zachary Webber is hands down one of my fave narrators and I was thrilled that he was narrating this. Both he and Virginia Rose brought these characters to life. This was a captivating story of love, loss, forgiveness and redemption set against the magical and haunting back drop of historic NOLA. This modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast had me hooked from the first page and rooting for Jonah and Clara’s HEA.
Loved this one!!!
It was amazing!! One of the best books I’ve ever read!!
I just loved this story! Mia Sheridan is one of my go-to authors. She never disappoints.
Great characters. Well written.
Hands down one of the most beautiful and alluring books I have ever read! The authors ability to tell this story and make you feel as if you are in the story yourself is absolutely astounding! This book is truly a masterpiece!
This was such a magical book that I simply didn’t want to end. Seriously! It was like a modern fairytale for adults. So beautifully written and in typical Mia Sheridan style that left my heart full of emotions and warmed my soul.
Two stories intertwined to come full circle at the end. We were moving back in time with one story but somehow it seemed that the life truths from one story were applicable to the other. Such an eye-opening book and exceptionally written with so much attention to details. It was like I could breathe the air, smell the leaves and scent of flowers and just absorb every single thing described. It was absolutely exquisite. There was this beauty and the beast vibe and something very Mia Sheridan. It was just the perfect combination of heartwarming romance between some troubled heroes, mixed with a touch of suspense and mystery and historical throwbacks that were so well entwined together they made the perfect package.
The words were like real magic coming from the pages. I wanted to savor each one of them and caught myself rereading over and over some passages.
My heart broke so many times with this story and ached for all the injustices each couple had to go through, but it was pieced back together at the end and I finished it with happy tears in my eyes and a full heart.
Of course, Jonah and Clara’s story was the leading one and my heart hurt and swelled with love reading about them, but Angelina and John’s story was just as interesting and brought some mysticism and a bit of color to the whole story. Such a unique combination of puzzles to solve, mysteries to uncover, truths to be revealed and all this mixed with a slow-burning romance that absolutely touched my heart and warmed my soul.
I’m not going to write more, cause you need to experience this amazing story. I would just say this book is one of the best of Mia Sheridan if not the best, and is definitely a top favorite of mine for 2018. Classic Mia Sheridan written with heart and precision to the last detail – descriptions, feelings, emotions, passion, mystery, action, suspense and an epic romance. The absolute package and perfect magical vibes for the coming holidays.
Mia Sheridan is one of those authors who never ceases to activate “all the feels” in her readers’ emotional arsenal. This offering did not disappoint.
PERFECTION!!! Mia Sheridan has succeeded once again to capture my heart while taking my breath away!! No one spins a tale like Mia Sheridan. I’ve read all of her books and find each and every one of them unique and unpredictable. I’m not going into the detail of the story, just trust me and don’t wait another minute, you won’t be disappointed! Her characters are so well developed, so real, so incredibly unique. This was an epic story of unconditional love. Mia makes you want to believe in magic and happy endings. Jonah, our main character tore my heart out. I could feel all of his pain, his anguish, such intense emotions. Clara was the perfect match for him. Her love was strong and true, standing by him to help him over come the trauma from his past. Mia’s books are always an instant 1-click for me and I know that I will never forget Jonah – THE WISH COLLECTOR
This is one of the most beautiful books I have read. The themes of redemption and grace are woven seamlessly between 2 entwined love stories. Jonah just broke my heart into a million pieces. Angelina and John broke my heart as well. But Clara pulled it all together and heals it all with her love and devotion. I highly recommend this bewitching love story.
Very sweet and touching story.
THIS BOOOOOOK! I managed to get my heart back in my chest, but my stomach is still in knots. IT WAS WORTH IT. History. New Orleans. Voodoo. Civil War. BALLET! (Didn’t see that coming, did you?)
There is so much to be said about this story. It’s sincere and full of raw emotions. It’s about forgiving yourself and finding your self-worth. It’s about hope and love and redemption.
Jonah has made mistakes and he pays for them every day of his life. He can’t find it within himself to find forgiveness and he lives a life of complete solitude, hiding from the world, as he feels that’s how he should pay his dues. When Clara makes an unselfish wish at the wishing wall on his property, everything changes. Jonah is drawn to her, her kindness, her selflessness.
I loved the slow build of Jonah and Clara’s friendship and how it evolves. It’s so sweet and endearing and I couldn’t get enough of their interactions. Jonah is so sad, and hurt, and broken, it was beautiful to watch the light slowly creep back into him.
I loved the mysteries of the stories and the uncovering of truths and corruption, the reclaiming of life, the finding of purpose, and most of all, the hope and love this story is filled with. Mia Sheridan writes with such passion, and this story is overflowing with it. Beautiful!
Mia Sheridan has always been an auto-click author for me. Her stories are beautifully written, have amazing characters, and conjure up soo much emotion. But, none of her books could have prepared me for this one. It is different. It is magical and mysterious. It pushes your boundaries of how you might believe in fate, spirits and ghosts, readings and alll those crazy New Orleans voodoo rituals. I loved every second of it. I wanted to jump into the pages and stroll down the old streets of New Orleans. I could envision the houses, cemeteries, buildings and the people in costume. I could smell the bustling streets, and alleyways. And most of all – I could picture the beautiful ballerina heroine, Clara – and her studio, home and neighbors; and the broken and recluse hero, Jonah, on his rundown sugar plantation.
This story is told both in the present and back during the Civil War time period. Clara’s fascination with the story of the sugar plantation where Jonah lives is contagious. She is so driven and excited by the legend that you can’t help but find yourself trying to solve the riddle to it all by yourself. Every time the POV was in the past my heart rate spiked. I was invested in this past relationship and their forbidden love. Not only did I find myself rooting for Jonah in this book, but also for this centuries-old couple, who may have been deceived and kept apart by those closest to them. Gah – their story alone was breathtaking.
But Jonah – oh Jonah held my heart from the beginning. His story will pull you in, break your heart, and is an emotional roller coaster. As his story slowly unravels and past secrets come to light, you will find yourself rooting for him more and more. This broken man has endured so much and his journey to acceptance was not easy for him. Clara is his shining light, and the events and circumstances that bring them together will have you believing in magic and fate in a whole new way.
I loved so many things about this book – the backstory, the plantation, the wall, the magic of New Orleans. But Jonah’s redemption is my absolute favorite. You will cry and cheer in this book. And you will wish you had your own Wish Collector in the end. Thank you yet again, M. Sheridan, for another touching and profound story!