Wishful Thinking: A Paranormal Witch Romance (Small Town Supernatural Love Story)

Autumn's talent has been kept under wraps by her parents for a very good reason. Let everyone think she only has the minor talents that all witches have. If they knew she could "Wish" things - she'd be hounded constantly. She has always been very, very careful not to utter those dreaded words but when her longed-for long-term plans with her boyfriend deviate from her carefully constructed plan, anger makes her do something she never would - she wishes! Once her wishes take effect there is no going back. But it's not only her and Michael she has affected - but her wider clan including her Prime have also been affected and now a diabolical figure from the past is back! Jerome, as usual, is its colourful self and I must admit I've googled it and fell in love with it. I'd move there in a flash LOL. This story is almost like a modern-day retelling of the Jimmy Stewart movie - It's a Wonderful Life. Always be careful what you crave as the grass is never as green as it looks on the other side - it could always be hiding a terrible fate. Autumn has to learn quickly that her plans are not set in stone and she's going to have to learn to adapt if she wants Michael (and her family) back in their proper places. Great story.

Wishful Thinking is book 8 in the Witches of Wheeler Park series. The romance between Autumn Garnett and Michael McAllister hits a snag right from the get go and Autumn throws a temper tantrum that just made me want to smack her. In the midst of the temper tantrum Autumn makes a wish verbally that changes the lives and futures of two witch clans. Autumn’s witchy gift is having her verbalized wishes come true but the kicker is she can’t just verbally reverse them so she spends a lot of time trying to correct her wish. Christine Pope does a good job demonstrating Autumn’s character growth and her interaction with a clan that is not her own. Secondary characters are given quite a bit more page time in this book and I got a kick out of current references to things like Disney + and Marvel Avengers. It was also interesting watching the balancing act of Autumn trying to get Michael to fall in love with her in this alternate universe without being manipulative about it. Very thought provoking.

This book continues the Witches of Wheeler Park series with the story of Autumn Garnett and Michael McAllister and their romance and relationship. For Autumn, the advice to be careful what you wish for is especially relevant - her wishes come true. This book follows her desperate attempt to reverse the wish she inadvertently made that she had never met Michael and to restore the world as it was before her ill-advised and greatly regretted wish. It's a fascinating exploration of an alternate reality that shouldn't exist and how history is changed by seemingly minor events. The relationship tension is unique, since in the alternate reality. Autumn remembers their romance and relationship but Michael does not. Her efforts to rekindle the romance in the hope of somehow reversing her wish, without scaring Michael away by seeming stalky, needy, or weird, make up the majority of the very pleasant story.