#AmReading

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The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer
Published by Ballantine Books on May 30, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

Years ago, a reclusive mega-bestselling children’s author quit writing under mysterious circumstances. Suddenly he resurfaces with a brand-new book and a one-of-a-kind competition, offering a prize that will change the winner’s life in this absorbing and whimsical novel.

Make a wish. . . .

Lucy Hart knows better than anyone what it's like to grow up without parents who loved her. In a childhood marked by neglect and loneliness, Lucy found her solace in books, namely the Clock Island series by Jack Masterson. Now a twenty-six-year-old teacher’s aide, she is able to share her love of reading with bright, young students, especially seven-year-old Christopher Lamb, left orphaned after the tragic death of his parents. Lucy would give anything to adopt Christopher, but even the idea of becoming a family seems like an impossible dream without proper funds and stability.

But be careful what you wish for. . . .

Just when Lucy is about to give up, Jack Masterson announces he’s finally written a new book. Even better, he’s holding a contest on his private island where four hand-picked readers will compete to win the only copy. At age thirteen, Lucy fled her unhappy home and showed up on Jack Masterson’s doorstep, hoping to live with her favorite author. Thirteen years later, a sky-blue envelope arrives with Lucy's name on it, postmarked "Clock Island."

For Lucy, a chance to read the first Clock Island book in years is a prize worth fighting for, but the possibility of winning, selling the manuscript, and securing a better future for her and Christopher means everything.

But first, Lucy must contend with ruthless book collectors, wily opponents, and the distractingly handsome (and grumpy) Hugo Reese, illustrator of the Clock Island books and Jack’s only friend. Meanwhile, Jack “the Mastermind” Masterson is plotting the ultimate twist ending that could change all their lives forever.

. . . You might just get it.

My heart is so full! I had anticipated liking this book because the synopsis held the promise of something that could grab hold of my heart, but this was even better than what I imagined.

As a reader, I loved the idea of a book series that made such an impact on so many people. Even better was the fact that the author had a connection to several of the readers, and they made quite an impression on him as well. After many years of silence, Jack was back with a new book and an opportunity for these fans. 

The contest was a fun element. I love that Jack was putting "his children" through events similar to that of the characters in his books, but there was so much more. Big themes of healing, forgiveness, and what makes a family were what not only tugged, but rather, yanked at my heartstrings. I grew to love Jack, Hugo, Lucy, and Christopher. I wanted this win for all of them, as I knew they were better together than apart.

Overall, this was a beautiful tale of love and family that was told with a touch of whimsy and lots of heart.

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The Second Ending by Michelle Hoffman
Published by Ballantine Books on May 30, 2023
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction

Goodreads

A former prodigy who refuses to believe her best years are behind her and a young virtuoso searching for his passion both get an unlikely shot at their dreams in this sparkling debut about second chances, unexpected joys, and the miraculous power of music.

Prudence Childs was once the most famous kindergartner on the planet. After teaching herself to play piano at age three, she performed at the White House, appeared on talk shows, and inspired a generation of children to take up lessons. But as adolescence closed in, Prudence began to see that she was just another exploited child star, pushed into fame by her cruel grandmother. Prudence ran away—from both performing and her greedy handler—as soon as she was old enough to vote. Flat broke and alone, she took a job writing commercial jingles, which earned her a fortune, but left her creatively adrift.

Now forty-eight, with her daughters away at school, Prudence is determined to reconnect with the artist she once was and agrees to compete on a wildly popular dueling pianos TV show. Unfortunately, her new spotlight captures the attention of her terrible ex-husband, Bobby, who uses the opportunity to blackmail her over a secret she thought she’d buried in the past. If she doesn’t win, she won’t just be a musical failure; she’ll also be bankrupted and exposed in front of millions.

Her on-air rival, virtuoso Alexei Petrov, a stunning young Internet sensation with a massive audience and a dreamy Russian accent, has problems of his own. His overbearing parents’ domineering ways made him a technically flawless pianist but left him without friends, hobbies, or any kind of life outside his music.

As they prepare to face off on stage, the retired prodigy and the exhausted wunderkind realize that the competition is their chance to prove—to their terrible exes, tyrannical family members, and most importantly, themselves—that it’s never too late to write a new ending.

This book posed the question - is it ever too late to write a new ending? I LOVE this sort of thing. I am all about second chances and holding onto hope. Those things played a big role in this story as Prudence started playing piano again after walking away from fame a long time ago. This opportunity was tied to another piano player, Alexei, who was looking for a different sort of second chance. Their story was one that made me laugh and touched my heart. 

I had such a good feeling about this story, and it exceeded my expectations. The book was a ton of fun to read, but it was also an interesting look at the sacrifices made by talented people. I loved everything about it especially the characters and the storytelling. I was captivated from beginning to end. 

There was this one storyline that I was bit leery of, and then Hoffman did the most magnificent thing with it. That resolution had the happy tears flowing. The story was packed with humor, emotion, and heart. I found myself cheering for both pianists for different reasons, and at the end of the book, my heart was filled with joy for them. In a word - stupendous!

*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER

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