Not to say it was a bad book. On the contrary, it was a remarkable book! She is for certain a gifted writer. Her words flow so beautifully, and she knows how to create real characters that are living and breathing, and you feel their emotions as though you were part of it all.

However, I, myself, read to escape real life. I look for the happy ending. I know that I am a realist, and with that, I understand there isn't always going to be one...in real life. I do believe we are where we are suppose to be every second of every day...even if we don't want to be there. So when I pick up a book, it's to, for a brief time, pretend otherwise.

I finished this book last night, and I cried all night, and I am still crying. After thoroughly enjoying the story, and falling in love with Tom & Bree, I couldn't understand why she made that final wish. It just seemed to go against the love that she claimed to have for him. He made it very clear to her that she was the one he wanted, needed...not a child. It wasn't like he craved a child of his own. In fact, he even said he never planned on having any. I guess, I just don't understand, but it seemed senseless.

Perhaps one of you can explain...

Anyways, I loved that Bree had made a connection with heaven, with God, or an angel... or whatever you want to call the being of light. The whole scene felt so right and how I have always imagined my future home. Pure love.

So I guess I can agree that for her, she got the better end of the deal. And if nothing else, this book is a great necessity for those people who have loved and lost someone. That death is only final here on earth, and that life goes on, here on earth, and in heaven.

Christy

I was just cruising around on my lunch hour and saw your post and had to laugh. That is the LAST book I ever read by Barbara Delinsky ~ I just don't trust that she will give me a happy ending to the books she writes ~ and, since I soooo need a happy ending in my life ~ I just don't buy hers any longer.

Sad, too, as I had a whole collection of her books.

I cried when I read that book and then I got mad. I took the book back to Borders and told them I wanted my money back..........so so SO unlike me. But I was at a place in my life when I really needed uplifting ~ and I got just the opposite.

So glad you hear you felt that way about it, too. I was stunned that the ending came the way it did.

I am like you: I pick up a book to read wanting to be entertained ~ to be transported ~ and to smile, cry and laugh.......but the crying better not be the last emotion I get from a book. I just cannot handle that. I struggle in life enough without having horrible reality break through into my leisure reading.

I hope you followed it up with a SEP book and laughed yourself silly........

Hugs and love coming at cha

Tia

I have picked up my favorite book of all time...Phantom Waltz. And from the first sentence, I was at peace again...Thank you Catherine!

I agree with you that when I'm reading, I want to escape reality...I WANT a happily ever after-NO MATTER WHAT!!..There can be terrible things in between but at the end I want to sigh in happiness NOT cry forever....I think that's why I love Catherine, Julie Garwood and Judith McNaught sooooo much...You KNOW your going to fall in love with the characters and feel sooooo good at the end of the book. The only thing to cry about is that the book is over....LOL..

Julie

"WHACK'EM"

I just don't read BD at all. I tried her a few years ago and her books are not my type of reading. That's why I skipped this selected. That and the fact that we knew there wasn't a happy ending. Hehehe...

Luv ya!
Rika

My reaction was exactly the same. Years ago a friend turned me on to her with "The Stud". I really enjoyed her. She reminded me of a New England version of D. MaComber. I read many books by her and reall liked them in btwn my historicals. (The lakenews series was especially good). Then I found three wishes and she died....it was about 3:00am in the morning, because I couldn't put the book down, and I went bullistic. I was screaming and crying so much....I got up and threw the book in the garbage! My husband woke up in a fright thinking something awful happened......It was awful. I wouldn't read her for a very long time and then when I first joined the board...one of the ladies convinced me to give her another try. I read "Return to Peyton Place". It was real good however, I am now forever cautious with her name on the front cover.

YOur sentiments above are exactly how I feel.

Mickey

"Fugghedaboutit"

Then there is Mrs. Bridgerton. Haven't we all wanted her to have a romance herself. Now, I understand why Julia doesn't want to write it.

You may be correct Katy, 3 pages later was just too soon.

Mickey

"Fugghedaboutit"

Oh MY God....Kristie, I love that book and have read it sooooooooo many times. It was the most romantic love story ever. I cried so much throughout the book and I agree with you....the ending could have been better but it was HEA at least in her lifetime.....his life was so sad to have to wait five centuries to know her love again....realistically she just had to wait several days. However, it is tricky writing a "lost in time" back to the past/future book and have HEA. My favorite was Johanna Lindsay's Until Forever, I know you've mentioned reading it. When he shows up at her doorstep to borrow a cup of sugar and tells her he is an author and tells her this fantastical story he wrote (which just happened to be there story). At first I was pissed because it seemed he didn't know it was real and then when he whispers something to her about waiting a lifetime to hold her again.....sigh...melt.....It's no wonder I love the genre.

Mickey

"Fugghedaboutit"

Mickey

"Fugghedaboutit"

Unfortunately i accidentally read a comment in here about this book a while ago so once i started reading i had a fair idea as to what was going to happen so i was prepared for the ending. I did shed tears and sorry it didnt have a happy ending.

I think Barbara was leaving the ending for us to decide whether it was the 3 wishes or her heart just working too hard after the accident and the birth. I tend to go with the 3 wishes.

I agree with you Katy it was a remarkable book, intersting story, different and Barbara is a very gifted writer. You only have to see how many books she has written and how popular they are. I have read many and enjoyed them very much. I do hope that the ending of this story will not turn you ladies away from reading any more.

Maybe Annie should have chosen a different one such as The Passions of Chelsea Kane great book.

Thank you Mary for sending me the book. And now i am on the search for your pick Salvation, Texas by Anna Jeffey.

I hope everyone is enjoying the bookclub we only have a few more books to go before its over for another year. Where has the time gone???

Rabbit

Had the book been awful, I don't think I could have picked it up again and read it for the second time, just last week. It was a wonderfully written book, even if it didn't have a happy ending.

I think there was a reason for Bree to come back. I think the more she thought about it, the more she knew the three wishes were really given to her for a reason. I think she felt in her heart that after the last wish was used, she might die. She wasn't sure, but she knew it was a chance and she chose to take that chance by giving Tom a child. It was her choice to make, since he would have never had her make that wish that might or might not be the final wish.

I loved how Tom and Bree became friends and everything was just perfect between them. They would sit in the same room and silently read and not have to say anything to each other--just a look said it all. They were so in tune with each other.

I cried when Bree died with a smile on her face. She was so at peace.

I also cried when Tom's father came to see him after the funeral and they held each other. I had to wonder if maybe Bree was sent back to make Tom a better person and to help set things right with his family.

I personally thought it was a wonderful book. Life doesn't always have happily ever afters and sometimes a book like this is just what it takes to remind me that none of us know what tomorrow will bring.

After saying all that...Barbara could have definately given them a happily ever after. Tom's family could have still forgiven him without Bree having to die.

I won't let this stop me from reading another BD book. She is a very gifted writer.

Mary M.