What You Wish For

by Fern Michaels

Book Overview

Everything She Lost If her abusive husband hadn't tried to kill her and her beloved dog Lucie, Helen Ward might never have left her million-dollar home and run far away. Now Helen's changed her... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• ISBN: 0739412167
• Release Date: October 2000
• Publisher: Kensington
• Length: 320 Pages
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Top Notch From A Top Notch Author.

This was a wonderful two day read. I hated to see it end. I rooted for Helen every step of the way. I found out things I never knew about spousal abuse. The whole book kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading it. The husband was so sadistic I wanted to cry for Helen and her little dog. If I could give this book six stars, I would. I can't wait for her next book.

The underdog goes over the top

Not since "Sleeping with the Enemy" have I read the story but a victim of spousal abuse become a hero in her own right. Helen Ward tries to break free from "trailer park trash" past, she thinks she finds Prince Charming who turns out to be Prince Terror. I love the relationship she has with her dog, Lucie and I was hoping that she would had children and the end of the book. But instead, she does find love, happiness and unexpected wealth and that in itself is a blessing.

Just What I Wished For in a Good Read!!!

I really enjoyed this book. It grabbed my attention right at the start and I still didn't want to put it down at 2:30 a.m. This book had a lot of the things that I look for in a novel - suspense, romance, lighter moments, plus the villain was her husband (aren't they always?) I really felt for our heroine and her little dog in their predicament. I read bestsellers, favorite authors, just about anything out there, and I enjoyed this book more than anything else I've read this year.

Compelling

I agree with one of the previous reviewers that Fern Michaels is one of our best writers. What You Wish For is a story of a woman in an abusive marriage who overcomes many obstacles including shame and humiliation to take back control of her life and eventually find happiness. I was so moved by this story that I've been checking out various womens' shelters in the area with a view toward volunteering my time to help out others in similar situations.

Fern Michaels is one of our best writers

Helen Wood seems to have it all. She owns an exquisite home, beautiful clothing, and tasteful furniture. In reality, Helen lives the life of horror, a long time victim of spousal abuse. Her injuries have been so numerous, Helen wonders when he will kill her. Helen's sole companion and friend is her Yorkshire Terrier Lucie. This time her husband Daniel goes too far, hurting Lucie. Helen fights back by knocking him out with a poker. Grabbing Lucie, she flees to a vet to obtain care for her injured canine's leg.The vet calls wealthy Isabel Tyger who runs shelters and an underground railroad for battered women. Taking one look at Helen and Lucie, Isabel knows. She places the Californian and her dog in New Jersey where they meet Sam. Sam and Helen fall in love, but she knows the dangerous Daniel still searches to find her to enact a most brutal punishment for what he regards as her betrayal.Spousal abuse is rarely the centerpiece of a romance novel as it is considered to harsh of a topic. However, the adept Fern Michaels succeeds in showcasing the horrors of abuse without preaching pat solutions to a complex problem. Helen is not only ashamed... but so humiliated that she struggles with the concept of happiness. That is part of Ms. Michaels' message: abuse is more than physical, it is mental and emotional hitting the entire community. WHAT YOU WISH FOR is a deep and complex contemporary tale that combines an in-depth look at a troubling social issue with a bit of romance to takes some of the edge off it. Only the incomparable Ms. Michaels could make that combo work.Harriet Klausner