Review: In All My Wishes by Ciara Knight

I received this book via Lady Amber's Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

In All My Wishes by Ciara Knight
Series: Riverbend,
Published by Defy the Dark on 2016-02-13
Length: 127 pages
Reviewing eARC from Lady Amber's Book Tours
Rating:

At the age of fifteen, Anna Baker was ripped from her childhood home, and her one true love, vowing to return the minute she graduated high school.

Professor Liam Harrow once believed his childhood sweetheart would return home to him, but during college he faced reality and hardened his heart to love.

When Historical Hall faces demolition, both Anna and Liam search for options to save their childhood memories, but when secrets unravel and the truth of Anna’s childhood departure is revealed, it could corrupt their memories, risk their present, and destroy their future.

Review

In All My Wishes by Ciara Knight is an endearing, heart-warming (and heart-breaking) story about a childhood romance that gets a second chance. Anna Baker seemingly has it all, but having moved multiple times throughout her life, she’s missing a home. At 15, her mother and her left Riverbend in the middle of the night, running from what she doesn’t know, but she vowed to return. Liam Harrow spent his entire life in Riverbend waiting for the girl he loved once who never returned. Now she’s back and he doesn’t know anything except that she can’t leave again.

I liked Anna. She’s career-driven, nursing a broken heart, and has walls that rival Fort Knox. BUT she’s kind, loyal to those she loves, and would give anything to protect her friends. When Liam reenters her life as a part of her friend’s wedding, her first instinct is to run. However Anna is tired of running. Her whole life was running, now she wants a home and she wants it to be Riverbend. I liked how the author conveyed Anna’s trust issues along with the character’s growth through out this short novella.

Professor Liam Harrow *sigh* He is the penultimate playboy, never recovering from his childhood sweetheart. He never gives a girl more than a few dates but seeing Anna again makes him want it all – commitment, wife, family, the works! He’s kind, sweet, and will do ANYTHING for Anna. And I do mean anything!

This story revolves around the rekindling sparks between Anna and Liam, but also around Anna’s mysterious disappearance, her mother’s deep depression, and Anna’s constant running. So friends if you are expecting a straight-out, fluff piece – this isn’t it! There is definitely some romance (the ooey-gooey kind) but a lot of mystery as well. I was truly on pins and needles reading it, rooting for the characters, their romance, and for Anna to find answers.

Overall this is a sweet, quick read that I truly enjoyed. I’ve come to like Ciara Knight‘s style of writing. There is a lot of dialogue, fast-pace, and it’s clean 😀 If you’re looking for a sweet contemporary romance, I highly recommend you get this one!

Final Conclusion:

Excerpt

He hugged her to him, holding her arms at her side so she couldn’t hit him. “It’s not too late. You’re not that old, you know.”

She squirmed, but he held tight. “And you’re getting too old to be the playboy of Riverbend. I think it’s time for you to retire that title to a new graduate.”

A shooting star bolted across the sky. “Quick! Make a wish.”

Anna slid an arm free and held his cheek, facing him. “I don’t have to.”

He dared to move closer, to hope she’d return his affection. His heart pounded with adrenaline and his breath quickened. No woman ever turned him around or flipped him upside down like she did. “Anna.”

“Shh.” She gently pressed her lips to the corner of his mouth. A shiver of excitement vibrated from the top of his head to his toes. He held onto her for dear life, hoping she’d never pull away, never leave him again.

“Anna, promise you’ll stay,” he whispered.

A long silence rent the air with indecision. He released her and she slid away, only a few inches, but there might as well have been a valley of broken dreams and wishes between them.

 

Related Posts