One Wish is my first read by Jodi Thomas and while the story was a quick and easy read, it was nothing exceptional. There were parts that seemed a little unrealistic, but the overall premise of two lonely souls, the feelings that the approach of Christmas conjures and the fact that this was only a novella length story, made it a satisfactory read.

Not a bad read. It is very short. It seemed awfully familiar. I believe it is a re-release. I wish if it is, that would have been mentioned..

ONE WISH by Jodi Thomas. I enjoyed this Christmas tale by Ms. Thomas. It is filled with love, warmth, desire and a touch of danger too. Maggie and Sam seem the perfect balance for each other. Sam, not feeling worthy of her and not truly looking for more, melts at her touch and gaze. Maggie, believing no one believes in her, flourishes under Sam's attention. The story flowed nicely and kept me entertained throughout. I enjoy tales such as this - an understated Hero and a believed-to-be princess, finding their way to each other. There is more, though, to this tale - a danger that keeps the characters, and readers, on their toes. Throw in a snowstorm, a toddler and a grumpy old woman, and you have the recipe for a lovely story. (received ARC from NetGalley for honest review)

“One Wish” by Jodi Thomas
And, sometimes wishes come true. I loved this story. It really tugged on my heart-strings. If you read lots of stories, you kinda know what is going to happen, or not. But at the same time you fear the author just might take a turn in the story that will change what you hope for into what you fear might happen. This is an easy reading sweet clean romance story with a bit of violence to keep you on the edge of your seat. Worth the read, for sure. Oh, I read the blurb and requested an ARC from the publisher, and yes, I was granted that ARC. Thank you very much. And this review reflects my honest opinion of this story. I truly did enjoy spending time with Sam and Maggie as they expanded their horizons. Happy Reading ! !

Invisibility. Probably one of the loneliest conditions any person has to deal with in their lives. Certainly so in their youth where appearances are so important. ONE WISH is about two such invisible people. One because his family is practically shunned by the community. The other because she fades herself into the background. Invisible to everyone except to their own families perhaps but what if that isn’t a safe harbor.
So in ONE WISH we meet two such invisible characters. Except we learn very quickly that each has been very aware of the other. Should we say two peas in a pod? Maggie learned early on that for some reason people don’t warm up to her and so resigned to being alone. The only time she is surrounded by people is in her store and even then can sense pity in the shopper’s eyes. Poor Maggie they are all thinking and under their breath that is what they share. Sam shares the same fate as Maggie. His family the Thompson’s are looked upon as odd and therefore not accepted by the townspeople. That’s okay with Sam. For the most part he has quite literally carved out a good life in the mountainous range where he runs a practically self-sustaining ranch. He is independent albeit alone.
Well Sam would never actually be alone. The Thompson family is generations large with cousins and aunts and uncles all over the same mountainous area as Sam’s ranch. But he seems to keep a distance from most of them.
In the 1880’s in Texas small towns were trying to legitimize themselves with town squares, shops and sheriffs. Sam and Maggie’s hometown was doing the same. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t have their fair share of lawlessness.
So ONE WISH is about Sam and Maggie facing a challenge to their independence. Sam witnesses a robbery at Maggie’s store. He runs interference for what was surely going to mean a sexual attack not just a cash and flee job. Both he and Maggie now have to become invisible so that the lone surviving robber can’t finish the job. The only place that would be possible is Sam’s ranch.
ONE WISH was originally published as part of A Texas Christmas anthology so it is definitely a novella. But Jodi Thomas didn’t skimp with story in ONE WISH. The only problem is that you probably want more since both Sam and Maggie are wonderful characters and you hardly want to leave them when you are just getting to know them.

Maggie has a journal where she has recorded wishes over the years. Ranging from flowery, hopeful wishes to now when she wishes to spend a day with a good man. She doesn't hold out much home that she'll get her wish. On a night just before Christmas she's the only person in her mercantile when three men with bad intentions come in and threaten her. They don't realize there's another person in the shop and he upsets their plan. He is a man from Maggie's past. She and Sam knew each other as children. Twenty years have passed and they have an opportunity to get re-acquainted. This is a novella about finding friendship and possibly love. It's a warm story peppered with Jodi Thomas's trademark humor. I enjoyed it!

I love Jodi Thomas! She is one of my go-to for historical western romance! This book was exactly what I was hoping for. The writing is great, the story flows, and the characters are the kind you love and want to keep reading about. This is a novella so it's on the shorter side. I would most definitely recommend!

I received this ARC from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Jodi Thomas is a master of romances about lonely people finding companionship and love. This novella involves a lonely woman, Maggie, running a general store in a 19th century Texas town. For some reason which wasn’t clearly explained, she’s never interacted much with the people of the town. Now she’s a spinster living a life she never really wanted. One night a bunch of outlaws decide to rob her store and rape her. She’s saved by Sam Thompson, a man whom she knew briefly and was friends with when they were both six years old. But they’ve both remembered each other kindly. Sam is part of a family that lives outside town and never associates much with the townspeople.

Maggie ends up having to hide out at Sam’s hidden ranch while the outlaw chief seeks revenge. These two lonely people make a connection with each other and find love while fending off the threat from outside.

I enjoyed this book, as I have all of Jodi Thomas’s books. However, the short form means that it is all wrapped out rather quickly with not much time to develop Sam and Maggie’s relationship. I appreciate how Thomas usually builds up the relationships between characters and she just didn’t have the time to do an adequate job in a novella.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

Jodi Thomas has long been a favorite author of mine when I'm in the mood to read a romance novel; especially a historical romance set in Texas. I didn't realize when I requested the book that it is actually a novella of about 100 pages which has previously appeared in the collection titled A Texas Christmas. If you normally like to read Christmas stories by Jodi Thomas you might want to check to be sure you haven't already read this one.

Sam Thompson and Maggie Allison are both lonely people who live almost on the fringes of society even though Maggie runs a mercantile shop in the middle of Kasota Springs, Texas. When Sam prevents a robbery of her shop one of the criminals gets away. The sheriff says Maggie is in danger and suggests that Sam take her out of town to his home to hide. Then the blizzard hits and Maggie learns all kinds of secrets in Sam's life.

I can always count on a historical romance from Jodi Thomas to present two people I feel sympathy for and want to see them solve whatever problem it is that is keeping them apart. This is a charming romance of two people finding they care for each other. Unfortunately the story is only about 100 pages long so there isn't a great deal of depth; still a nice feel-good story that left me thinking things would work out just fine for these three. Aha, I hadn't mentioned the third person so you can read the story to find out all about that plot development.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books - Zebra for an e-galley of this novella.

One Wish is a fast sweet novella. Sam Thompson keeps to himself, but he has to protect Maggie. She was his only friend in school and he's never forgotten her. Circumstances lead them to his home, hidden in the canyon. Maggie discovers Sam's most precious secret. Written in Thomas' straight narrative, the heat sizzles between Sam and Maggie.

Wow, this was an amazing read. I thought it sounded like a good book so I decided to read it. I couldn't have been more surprised. I absolutely loved this book. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put it down until I was at the end and I still wanted more. There was so many wonderful things about this book. It had wonderful, endearing characters. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was there. The storyline flowed seamlessly from the beginning until the end. I would love to read more stories in this idyllic setting. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves a great story.

Maggie and Sam, are perfect for each other. Both would rather be alone than with the town's people who make fun of them, for lack of a better word. I really enjoyed, One Wish.