The Wish Club

This book was a good twist on the much done star-crossed lovers thing. The couple are two tortured souls, with Max being the more so with Kirsty willing to do anything, even become his mistress, just to be with him.So the story goes: poor boy turned rich loves poor girl but his feelings of obligation to the family that took him in won't allow them to be together and her family's adamant that she "know her place" - a peasant - and stay there.The twist here, the missing journal, leads the story's villains, Horace Hubble, Lady Hermoine and Countess Grabham to Max Rossmara, believing that he is in possession of it. Max loves his childhood friend Kirsty Mercer, a crofter's daughter, but cannot marry her due to pressure from his family (mostly his father, Struan the hero from Cameron's "Bride").The story is good, although there are a few disturbing sex scenes between the villains, regardless of their blood ties - ICK! Don't let that stop you from reading the book.

I read this book after previewing a chapter at the end of another book. It certainly lived up to its teaser. It's not the best Stella Cameron ever but it pretty darned good. The struggle that both characters endure are very real.

How could I have missed the story of Max and Kirsty? He was a boy, a pickpocket in London, who was adopted by Struan, Viscount Rossmara, and she's a girl who grew up as a member of a crofter's family on the lands surrounding Castle Kirkcaldy--the Rossmaras home. These two have always loved each other but he feels responsible for doing his adoptive parents wishes and her family don't believe the lairds have serious interests in peasants. They say they'll disown her if she goes anywhere near him. There is hot sex in the book--but I surely didn't stop reading, in fact I turned the pages faster. And the sensuality between Kirsty and Max (don't miss the blowing bubbles scene) is incredible.I'm glad Ms. Cameron wrote this book--I'm glad she writes all of her books!

Max Rossmara can never repay everything he owes his adoptive parents. They rescued him and his sister from the London streets and treated them like their own children. But now it's time for payback. Max must take his position in the family, and that includes marrying well. But for Max, marrying the woman his father has chosen will mean losing the only woman he has ever loved.Kirsty and Max made a promise to each other as children, but now Max is grown and Kirsty knows her position as tenant farmer's daughter on the Rossmara land. The two understand they cannot marry, but understanding doesn't douse desire. When Max forces things by installing Kirsty as his personal assistant and moreover that she live in his wing of the castle, Kirsty's reputation is ruined and Max's relationship with his parents is threatened. He and Kirsty are unable to stay away from each other. Max's selfishness unleashes heartache and shame. But Kirsty remains loyal to Max, stoically ignoring the gossip. Will two families may be destroyed in the name of love?Stella Cameron forces the reader to swallow a cruel, selfish, heart-broken hero, a hero who very nearly destroys everything he's ever wanted as he juggles loyalty to his family and love. Then Ms.Cameron dares us to love Max. The magnificence of Ms. Cameron's writing compels us to accept and even cheer for Max as much as we do for Kirsty. THE WISH CLUB is a deeply moving story that will stir passion in every reader's heart.Rickey R. Mallory