Ahhh. That’s a sigh of happiness and contentment because Mia Sheridan filled my heart to the brim, yet again! Once I could find the time to settle my brain (and my kids!) and focus on reading, this book completely sucked me in. I didn’t want to put it down for a second, thanks to the suspenseful storyline and budding romance. This whole book was pure magic.

BLURB:

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 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.

The Wish Collector was slightly different than I was expecting going in. I think was prepared for more of a supernatural kind of story, but this ended up being even better than I anticipated. There were numerous layers, which were built upon expertly. I never once found my interest waning through the differing perspectives and woven storylines. I was impressed by the fairytale feeling this had, while still feeling modern and relevant. It was like a mix of The Beauty and the Beast and The Phantom of the Opera, but I think, even better than both of those stories! It was truly a mash-up of genres, including Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Romance, and Suspense… and I loved every minute.

Mia has a thing for writing reclusive male characters, and I AM HERE FOR IT. I don’t care how many times she writes these types of guys, I will gobble up their stories heart and soul. She could stick solely to this character style and I would gladly be the first to read every book. Archer’s Voice, Savaged, and now The Wish Collector are my favorite works of Mia’s for these beautifully broken guys!

I also loved the secondary love story in these pages. It was beautifully done and its connection to the present plot stole my heart. Though I do wish there had been a bit more closure in Angelina and John’s story. I still find myself wondering about a few things as I reflect on the finished product.

“We must never choose safety over right. Safety is the blanket under which cowards sleep. Safety smothers hope and extinguishes all fight.”

Having spent some time in New Orleans myself, I can wholeheartedly say Mia captured the enchantment of the city perfectly in this book. The city is layered with history, culture, tragedy, excitement, and an eerie magic that fills the soul. It makes one believe in things they might not find plausible anywhere else. The Wish Collector built on that feeling and created something even more magical than I could have imagined! This was a stunning book I would gladly reread in the future.

Rating: 5 stars

Purchase on Amazon.

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