Wishing (Sonnet Books)

In a move to prove that he believed all women were alike and not worth his time, Captain Samson Fairbourne pens a description of the perfect, obidient, beautiful wife, puts it into a bottle and throws it into the ocean. Soon after orphan Polly Bray finds the bottle and is washed out to sea.When Samson and his men find Polly they first believe she is not alive and a man. They soon find out otherwise. Determined to prove that all women are alike and are only after money and gifts he starts a wager with his cousin to prove his point. They will dress Polly up and pamper her to see how she changes.Determined not to change, Polly refuses to wear the beautiful dresses Samson buys for her. Regardless of her dress, Samson soon finds himself falling in love with Polly and Polly is drawn to Samson. But neither will declare their love.Miranda Jarrett has written a fun and exciting colonial story set in the 18th century. Samson is an interesting character and Polly is fun and lively. I look forward to reading more from Ms. Jarrett.

and this book shows you why. Jarrett puts the reader completely in her historical time period without ever losing sight of her story, and her story is a great one. Terrific characters and plot twists make this one a keeper.

I read this in one sitting. The characters were so endearing, and the plot had just the right mix of witty conversation and mile-a-minute action. Well done, Miranda Jarrett!

In 1721, Captain Samson Fairbourne is very upset with his younger cousin Zach because the lad got into a dangerous fight when he went around carousing with wine and women while on shore leave. Samson wants to teach Zach the error of his ways when it comes to females. However, Samson fails to gain an understanding from Zach that women are a waste of a good man's time. Desperate, Samson scribes what he feels is the desired qualities of a spouse. Though he knows no such paragon lives (except perhaps his sister), he places his note inside a bottle and throws it into the sea. Off Marblehead, Massachusetts, Polly Bray is fishing when her net catches the bottle that Samson just tossed into the water. She reads the note, which distracts her and when a sudden wind arises, she is pushed into the river. Samson rescues Polly, but somehow she is quite a distance from where she fell into the water. Zach persuades Samson to place a wager that Polly is different from most women. In spite of his deep rooted disgust with females and his misogynist outlook on life, Samson falls in love with Polly. She too loves him. However, there can be no long lasting relationship until Samson surmounts his prejudice that all women are users. WISHING, the sequel to the fabulous CRANBERRY POINT, is a wonderful Colonial romance that lives up to the quality level of its predecessor. Samson and Polly are a beautiful couple while the secondary characters add authenticity and strength to a tremendous story line and makes the early eighteenth century come alive for the reader. Magician Miranda Jarrett will leave her audience wishing for another sequel, starring Zach.Harriet Klausner