Meredith's Wish
Grade : B

What would you do if a genie suddenly popped out of your cell phone? Well, if he looked anything like the stern, arms-crossed guy on the cover of Meredith's Wish I know I'd be dusting off my sneakers and practicing my sprinting skills! But don't let the picture scare you off, because between the covers is one of the best-humored heroes you're likely to discover this month.

Meredith has built a successful career but has been so busy working that she's forgotten to have herself a "life." She's been working day and night to win a vice presidency, only to discover that her boss has decided to make a contest out of the much-lauded promotion. She and her sleazy rival are given two of the company's toughest clients; the first one to return with a signed contract wins the cushy corner office and the VP nametag. She is assigned "The Duchy of Hertzenstein" account and must deal with a quirky woman who will only conduct business with married women. A very single Meredith must quickly find a man - preferably one who possesses good acting skills - willing to pose as her loving husband. She may be distraught and angry but she's determined to win what she so justly deserves.

During a mini-meltdown Meredith cries into her new cell phone and reveals her secret dream of finding true love. Instantly an extraordinarily handsome man appears and declares that he is a "djinn" with three wishes to grant. She hears "Jim," not "djinn," but, still feeling miserable and teary, she plays along and asks him to find her true love. Unfortunately, this is one of two wishes that genies are not allowed to grant (the other is raising the dead). So, although this wish is Meredith's heart's desire and he is unable to grant it, the genie must somehow fulfill that wish or he'll be downsized right out of his wish-granting gig and possibly right out of existence. "Jim" has a history of bending the rules, you see, and Meredith (his latest assignment) is his final chance to prove to the Chairman of the genie board that he is a useful genie. He has thirty days to complete his assignment or he's gone forever!

Meredith, charmed by the genie who won't leave her side (he lives in her cell phone, after all), decides to make him her assistant and enlists his help in her marriage charade. Jim, determined to make her heart's desire a reality, begins to use his magical powers to nudge dates her way - with mostly disastrous results! One of his potential date candidates is absolutely hilarious but another attempt (which is mercilessly brief) is unnecessary and irritating because it places the heroine in a position that makes her appear self-centered and insensitive. During these dating disasters Meredith and Jim develop a warm, funny banter and become close friends. Soon, though, that friendship turns into the beginnings of love. And love between human and djinn is a big no-no in the genie realm! Will they risk her heart and his immortal life in exchange for a few days of loving bliss?

Meredith's Wish is pure whimsy. If you need reality, this is probably not the book for you. Meredith, so not the whimsical-type, doesn't balk at the idea of a genie suddenly appearing out of the blue or at the idea of magic. She doesn't obsess about her wishes like most of us greedy humans would, and she rarely even thinks about them. This, of course, was initially a bit difficult to swallow, but in the context of the story and for the sake of characterization it worked.

The story loses a little steam near its middle due to the light conflict and there are several scenes that were nothing more than filler. It picks up momentum quickly enough, however, with the addition of some well-placed humor and a smattering of sexual tension. This isn't one of those laugh-a-minute type reads - if you're expecting one you may be disappointed - but it made me smile on more than one occasion, and that's no easy feat!

Meredith is brusque and testy at times but for the most part she's a likable heroine, and Jim is a doll. If you're tired of all of those humorless alpha men then Jim's your guy. He was born to create mischief and has an offbeat sense of humor that is impossible to resist. The relationship here (although it takes place in only a few weeks' time) develops at a believable clip and is well balanced. Jim brings a sense of devilment and fun into Meredith's life that transforms her, and Meredith changes Jim's cynical outlook on humans by befriending him and ending his loneliness. The ending was highly predictable but at least it was enjoyable getting there.

Meredith's Wish may not be an earth-shattering romance, and while most of the details may fly out of my head before the day is out I know I'll always have a warm, fuzzy feeling whenever the book is mentioned. That makes for a good solid "B" in my book.

Reviewed by Laurie Shallah
Grade : B
Book Type: Fantasy Romance

Sensuality: Warm

Review Date : December 7, 2000

Publication Date: 2000

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Laurie Shallah

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