Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Review: Chasing Wishes by Nadia Simonenko







"I wish I didn't have to go home. I wish I was someone else—someone with a future..."

For sixteen-year-old Nina Torres, it feels as if life is nothing but a dead end. Despised by her rich classmates and afraid that she'll become just like her drug-addicted mother, Nina's future seems to get dimmer every day.

There is one bright spot in her life though...

Sitting beside her one night, the only person in the world who cares about her makes a promise. No matter what happens—no matter how much Isaac's wealthy family disapproves—he and his girlfriend Nina will be together forever.

Fate plays a cruel trick on Nina, though, and a visit from Child Protective Services the next morning turns Nina Torres into Irene Hartley, a woman with a future but who will never see her beloved Isaac again.

Nine years later, a blind and incredibly handsome young entrepreneur hires Irene to be his personal assistant. Terrence Radcliffe reminds her so much of Isaac that she can hardly believe her eyes, and she's falling for him fast. Irene knows that fairy tales don't come true, but she allows herself one last wish. She wishes that she could finally say goodbye to Isaac and let herself take a chance on Terrence.

What she doesn't know is that Terrence is also searching for someone: a shooting star who streaked through his life nine years ago, and he won't give up until he finds her...

Chasing Wishes is a powerful contemporary tale of lost love and wishes come true, recommended for ages 17+ due to adult content.





4 Star Review by Jen Skewes

This is a beautiful story of fairy tales and wishes.  And sometimes if you believe in them enough, they just may come true.

Nina grew up with a mother who cared more about her next fix than she did about her own daughter.  Her mother was an addict and a prostitute.  Nina was a very smart child and took care of herself.  While some kids grow up in a world of drugs and tend to follow in their parents footsteps, Nina wanted more out of life.  She applied for a scholarship to a prestigious school and got in.  And while she was excited to find out that she was accepted to this school, the experience was anything but that.  The students there were just mean.  I felt so bad for Nina because of the way she was treated at school.  Her home life was bad enough and yet she had to endure the pain of going to school every day only to be humiliated and made fun of.  But no matter what she went through she never gave up, especially when there was one person in the school who actually was nice to her and actually cared about her. 

Isaac was such an amazing person.  Most kids his age who come from a wealthy family would give in to the peer pressure, would treat people the way his family treated people.  But not Isaac.  He never thought that he was above anyone.  He loved Nina for the person that she was, never caring that her mother was an addict or that Nina was poor.  Their romance was so sweet and adorable and made me smile.  Until it was all taken away, when child services came and took Nina away. 

It is now 9 years later and Nina is now living as Irene.  Not a day goes by where she doesn’t think of Isaac.  She has tried to find him on several occasions, but has not been successful.  One day she meets a man names Terrance.  Everything about this man reminds her of Isaac and for a split second she believes it is him.  Until she finds out his name and learns that the gorgeous man in front of her is also blind.  So of course it cannot be her Isaac. 

Terrance is young and rich and so wonderful.  He too has been looking for some for quite some time, but has not ben able to find her.  There is something about Irene and her voice that draws him to her.  When Irene is in need of a job Terrance offers her a job as his assistant.  The two have a connection and start to find themselves wanting more.  But crossing that line with her boss means things will change and Irene is not sure if she can go there.  Aside from that the both of them are holding on to that someone from their past.  They need to move on from their past in order to have a happy future. 


I loved this story and loved Irene and Terrance together.  That moment when they realize that what they have been searching for the whole time was right in front of them, that moment when they figured it all out will just melt your heart.  Chasing Wishes is told in alternating point of views, which I love.  I love the moments where we travel back in time to when they were in high school.  Those special moments that they shared with their first love.  Chasing Wishes was emotional at times and had a little bit of drama in the form of a very bitchy lawyer.  I loved the connection that Terrance and Irene had and how much they cared for each other.  This was a beautiful story of second chances, and wishes coming true.  The epilogue was fantastic and gave me goose bumps.  Wonderful job by Ms. Simonenko. 

1 comment:

  1. I got chills from the blurb and your review. This sounds wonderful Thank you!

    ReplyDelete

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