The Wish List (Time of Transition #1) by Gabi Stevens: Review by AimeeKay

Kristin Montgomery is more than a little shocked when her aunts inform her they're fairy godmothers. Worse, after dropping that bombshell they hand her a wand and head off on a world cruise. Now Kristin's uncomplicated life as a CPA in San Diego has disappeared like magic and she not only has to deal with her burgeoning magical powers, but also a reluctant and distractingly sexy magical arbiter. 

Tennyson Ritter is a historian. A scholar by choice, he is yanked from his studies to act as arbiter for the newly chosen fairy godmother. He doesn't want to waste his time with a woman who doesn't know anything about magic or the magical world, but soon the beguiling Kristin draws him away from his books and into her life. 

But before Kristin can hone her skills and pass the tests necessary to fully claim her powers, she and Tennyson must work together to defend the world - both magical and human - against those that would claim her powers for their own.

OMG, so have I said before I LOVE Happily Ever Afters? oooo and this one eeep!! It is left open ended for the next book, but I still think it qualifies as a Happily Ever After for the two main characters. So definitely have to say...LOVED IT!

To be honest I didn't know I would end up liking this one as much as I did. Reading the back of the book I knew what was coming obviously. Even before the main character did. For example, I knew that the "aunties" weren't off their rockers when they told Kristin that she was chosen to be one of the next fairy godmothers. Since I enjoy fantasy WAY more than reality I kinda tapped my foot in impatience for the first few pages of the book, waiting for the moment when the magic would begin. But once it did...WHEW!...it just took off!

I loved Kristen from the beginning. Her firm grounding in reality was a nice contrast to the magic that she was tossed into. The fairy godmothers were wonderful too though. They were just the right combination of absentmindedness and grandmotherly good will. I adored them. I even enjoyed some of the side characters.

While some parts of the story I figured out right away, what can I say I've read a lot of stories and I always enjoying guessing who the mole is, there were enough twists that even I wasn't completely sure until it was revealed. Plus I love a good romance. The sparks that flew between Kristin and Tennyson were HOT! I count a good romance novel as one that reminds me of romance in my own life. If reading it can bring to mind moments of passion in my own life, even when I'm agitated that the cause of my romance is interrupting a good book, well that right there is bonus points for it. Especially when I'm torn between turning the page and putting the book down to go get my own good smooch. That being said I'm a bookaholic so any interruption is viewed as more of an annoyance when I'm immersed in a good read so of course I had to finish the book first!

Yes they do fall in love before the end of the book. And the romance progressed a bit more rapidly than it would outside the literary world, the relationship between Kristen and Tennyson had some good bite to it. It isn't always moonbeams and rosebuds, and it was fun watching them fight their growing attraction.

If I found any flaw with the story it was that I wish there had been some more fill in for the story of some of the side characters. My main focus is Zach and Callie. I would have loved to have seen more of their part of the story. However the story is told alternating between Kristen's point of view and Tennyson's, so I understand that when Zach or Callie isn't in their part of the story, or anyone else for that matter, that I'm not going to see what they are doing. *SIGH* But overall I really enjoyed this book. It has a semi-cliff hanger ending. More of a lead into the next book, not a sheer drop. Which is always appreciated. There were some things left open, for obvious reasons, and some strings left untied, but they were more of a draw to the next book, not a disappointment. Fortunately for me I have the second and third book in this series in my possession, so I don't have to wait to read them. (In fact I plan on starting as soon as I am done this review!)

That being said a good summery of this book would be that it's a Harry Potter for grown-ups. (and I mean grown-ups, there are some explicate scenes in this one, so no kiddies reading it , k?) There are even a few good direct nods to Ms. Rowling herself. I also kind of enjoyed reading a book with more adult characters, and I don't just mean the Fairy Godmothers. Nothing against YA, it's just a nice break to read an adult book every once in a while. 

 
I highly recommend this one. I started reading it a few days after I got it and I'm already done and writing the review, that should say something right there. I probably would have finished it sooner if it wasn't for people physically tearing me away from the pages.

Thank you Melissa for being kind enough to pass this one on to me!!! (I'm not passing it back by the way. Nopes I's is off to read book 2!)

Hope you all enjoyed the review, I know no great spoilers this time...but what can I say?

Til next time,

AimeeKay