One Wish

February 15, 2015

Done with the pressure, fame, and dangers of competitive figure skating, gold medalist Izzy Banks (nee Isabella Grace Dillon Banks) defies her controlling mother and drops out of sight, eventually building a thriving flower business and new life for herself in Thunder Point, OR, as Grace Dillon. She's even found a new romantic relationship with high school teacher Troy Headly that might become serious. Then Grace's past surfaces, turning her life upside down and forcing Troy to come to terms with his feelings. Although the focus here is on Grace and Troy, familiar characters continue their stories in the background, while a few new folks make an appearance as fans keep up with the town's doings. VERDICT Best friends-turned-lovers sort out their feelings and meet the future head-on in an insightful, multilayered story that is laced with laughter and tears and is a wonderful addition to Carr's engaging series. Each story is complete in itself, but new readers may wish to start at the beginning with The Wanderer. Best-selling author Carr (The Homecoming) lives in Henderson, NV.

Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Best-selling author Robyn Carr returns to Thunder Point, Oregon, in her latest novel, One Wish. Beautiful Grace Dillon walked away from stunning success as a champion figure skater to embrace an ordinary life as the owner of a flower shop in quiet Thunder Point. She changes her name, keeps her past a secret and refuses her imperious mother’s demands that she return to the skating world. Grace is happy with her choices and keeps busy with work and friends. However, every once in a while, she wishes she had a guy in her life. Handsome local high school teacher Troy Headly has come to the conclusion that Grace works far too much. Therefore, he coaxes her into joining him for seaside hikes, impromptu movie nights and chaperoning teenage dances. Before long, their adventures are including kisses and romance. Grace is delighted, thoroughly enjoying everything about their fun, no-commitment relationship. Her training began at age four and continued until her abrupt departure from the skating world at 23, and there had been no time for school dances and boys. Grace is quite happy to revel in the growing connection with Troy. Both Grace and Troy are falling in love, however, both are wary of confessing their feelings. Troy isn’t certain he wants the changes to his life that loving Grace will inevitably bring, and Grace has secrets she’s kept from Troy—will he be able to deal with her diva mother, celebrity past and all that it entails? As both struggle with accepting and confessing their growing feelings, a shocking letter arrives, forcing Grace’s hand: She must tell Troy who she really is, for danger is stalking her. One Wish is the seventh novel in Carr’s Thunder Point series, and it doesn’t disappoint. Grace is strong, courageous, independent, sassy and endearing. Her struggle to build her life beyond her mother’s control and the pressure of fans is both admirable and touching, and Troy is the perfect match and counter-balance for Grace. While Grace’s life has been far outside the norm, Troy has a very ordinary, meat-and-potatoes background. Describing his relationship with his family, he says, “I’m crazy about them all the time—we just get on each other’s nerves. We’re typical, I think.” But Troy goes far beyond typical when Grace lands in trouble; Troy steps up and is able to give her exactly the support she needs. Fans of the series will love this latest addition and will be delighted with the glimpses into the lives of characters they’ve met and loved in earlier books. Lois Dyer writes from Port Orchard, Washington See more about One Wish in this blog post from Robyn Carr.