Wish You Were Here

May 17, 2012 Danica Page (One Page at a Time) rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: asked-to-review, romance, contemporary, realistic-fiction, adult-fiction, relationships, christian-fiction, family-issues, family-relations

This is a condensed version of my review. The extended version can be found here.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Disclaimers: I received this book from the publisher (Howard Books) in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Overall Thought/Impressions: I thoroughly adored this novel. It was touching, hilarious, and just an overall cute read. This was Vogt's debut novel and I for one can't wait to see what this author comes up with next.

I loved the characters Daniel and Allison from the very start....more

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May 07, 2012 Michelle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christianfiction, forpleasure, forreview, favorite-2012

Wow, this was deep and at the same time it made me laugh out loud numerous times! I read this story in two days. While the premise sounds a bit crazy (which I admit is what drew me to wanting to read the novel) it worked very well in this situation. Every emotion Allison went through seemed very real to me. I also felt bad for the men in her life. So many women have a bad feeling that tells them they shouldn't get married after agreeing to it, but they'll follow through anyway so they won't let...more Wow, this was deep and at the same time it made me laugh out loud numerous times! I read this story in two days. While the premise sounds a bit crazy (which I admit is what drew me to wanting to read the novel) it worked very well in this situation. Every emotion Allison went through seemed very real to me. I also felt bad for the men in her life. So many women have a bad feeling that tells them they shouldn't get married after agreeing to it, but they'll follow through anyway so they won't let down family, friends, or embarrass/hurt anyone. That's a terrible reason to get married.

I loved how the author took elements from Allie's childhood to provide a motive that made sense regarding her insecurity. It showed how easily things can be misinterpreted when we are children and how as adults, sometimes we need to revisit those painful issues but look at them from an adult's perspective rather than a child's. That was a healthy theme in this book. I also loved how the author showed that sometimes young women replace their close relationship with God and turn their focus on the love and admiration from a man, and then they wonder why they don't feel close to God anymore.

Anyway, I loved how this story ended. The resolution was fantastic and sigh-worthy. But I loved how the message for both of them was they needed to get tight with God first, then let Him direct their steps. That's a great message and it was sprinkled throughout the novel, but was never heavy handed. I can see this novel helping some very misguided women make a better choice, and maybe even lead them to faith in God.

While there weren't many kisses in this book, the ones that did occur left me a bit breathless. The romantic tension throughout the novel was perfect, IMHO, and had the right balance between longing and denial. I couldn't help feeling proud of the growth that occurred in Seth's life by the story's end. Oh, and every woman needs a Daniel in their lives. If you don't believe me, read the book. I'd love to be stuck in a snow cave with a guy like him if I were single. He was so tender and sweet. Sigh. Anyway, this story is making my favorite fiction list because I absolutely adored it. This author has made a new fan today. :) (less)

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Apr 08, 2013 Angie Arndt rated it 5 of 5 stars

From a writer’s standpoint, Wish You Were Here is a wonderful study in character development. For example: one of the main characters didn’t even appear on-scene until page 21 and yet, by then I knew that he was controlling, manipulative and obsessed with perfection. And that’s how Vogt excels: by showing character traits through other’s actions and reactions.

The heroine, Allison, was a very complex character, like all of us. As she grew and changed, I grew to love her more and more. And there w...more

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Mar 18, 2013 Susan Snodgrass rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just discovered Beth K. Vogts and she is now one of my all time favorite authors of Christian fiction. Seriously, this is one outstanding book.
Within mere pages (!) her characters seemed like real people to me. That is a wonderful ability for an author to have, to be able to flesh their characters out so well that they seem like real people.

Allison Denman has dated Seth Raynor for 6 years and one week before her wedding, kisses his older brother Daniel. What? What is that all about? Allison ha...more

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Dec 06, 2012 Laura rated it 4 of 5 stars

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this novel. I kept thinking about the movie, Runaway Bride, which was also referenced a few times in the course of the story. I also found myself thinking back to my own wedding day and how there was a moment where I asked myself if this is what I truly should be doing and the man I should be marrying. It can be so easy to get caught up in the trappings of the day and doing what you think others expect you to do. In the case of my big day with Mr. O, there was no lin...more

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Nov 26, 2012 Kaylea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: see-blog-for-more-info

The debut novel by Beth K. Vogt, "Wish You Were Here," managed to do something most novels cannot do.

She managed to surprise me by her "non-traditional" storyline.

Vogt took a little bit of romance - you know, boy meets girl, boy and girl decide they are in love, boy and girl decide to marry - and then shakes things up a bit, by having girl have second thoughts, because of the boy's older brother.

Sounds trashy. But honestly, it's not. In all honesty, Vogt has created a novel that showcases the he...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Amanda Stephan rated it 5 of 5 stars

My Thoughts:
Meet Seth Rayner. Self-absorbed and selfish, he's so self-assured that he never takes Allison Denman's thoughts or feelings into consideration.

Allison Denman, the lucky bride-to-be who is looking for safety. But is Seth the one to give it to her? After one kiss shared with his brother, Daniel, Alli's not so sure.

With Seth around, you never had to think...

Tough decisions face Allison as she leaves her groom-to-be standing at the altar with his mouth hanging open. Marrying Seth was wha...more My Thoughts:
Meet Seth Rayner. Self-absorbed and selfish, he's so self-assured that he never takes Allison Denman's thoughts or feelings into consideration.

Allison Denman, the lucky bride-to-be who is looking for safety. But is Seth the one to give it to her? After one kiss shared with his brother, Daniel, Alli's not so sure.

With Seth around, you never had to think...

Tough decisions face Allison as she leaves her groom-to-be standing at the altar with his mouth hanging open. Marrying Seth was what everyone expected. It was what Alli wanted. Or so she thought. Until she had to do it. Now, all she could see in her ruined future were lists of regrets and apologies she owed everyone. There was no un-doing her choice. She hadn't thought of all the consequences.
Such is the conflicted state of Runaway Bride, Allison.

Guided by her wise friend Meghan and the gentle leading of the Holy Spirit, Allison faces her confused future. Would it have been right to go through with the marriage? While the kiss shared with his brother had at first been innocent enough, was she right to have enjoyed it so much? Would it be possible to share a future with her fiance's brother? These are just a few thoughts troubling Alli.

If you can stop controlling your life, maybe God will finally have a chance to get a word in edgewise and be able to tell you what He wants for your life.

How many of us could have that statement uttered to us? Meghan, Allison's maid of honor and best friend, is a lighthouse of wisdom as she helps guide Alli back to reality and pull the pieces of her broken life back together.

Are we just the sum total of our past mistakes? Would it be possible to say sorry for a mistake so huge that it would take God's grace to forgive it totally?

This isn't a story about freedom-seekers who have everything under control. This is a story about real people dealing with real situations. Hurting, bruised, broken people. People who make mistakes and people who they've hurt with those mistakes. Although this book is fiction, it packs a punch and is loaded with wisdom. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and am looking forward to more from Beth Vogt.
Highly recommend!
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Jun 27, 2012 Lisa Johnson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: Wish You Were Here
Author: Beth K. Vogt
Year: 2012
Pages: 336
Publisher: Howard Books
Note: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo... or on Twitter @lcjohnson1988

One girl, Allison, has a past that is painful for her to face so she tries to cope with it by having her life extremely neat and well-ordered. In a couple of days, she will marry Seth. Her future brother in-law comes over to help pack h...more Title: Wish You Were Here
Author: Beth K. Vogt
Year: 2012
Pages: 336
Publisher: Howard Books
Note: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Other reviews can be read at http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo... or on Twitter @lcjohnson1988

One girl, Allison, has a past that is painful for her to face so she tries to cope with it by having her life extremely neat and well-ordered. In a couple of days, she will marry Seth. Her future brother in-law comes over to help pack her stuff in preparation for her to move. This seems harmless enough, but is it? Daniel is the best man and brother of the groom; he is opposite his brother in so many ways. Daniel and Seth’s father is owner of a construction company with only one brother working there who is considered the favorite son, while the other son is rejected by his father.
The day of the wedding dawns; Allison is supposed to be happy, but she isn’t. Her confidence has been shaken to the core of her being. Her stepfather is walking her up the aisle. At the last minute, Allison turns around and runs out, grabbing her best friend’s car. While driving around, Allison is trying to figure out what she is going to do now, and why didn’t she get married? No matter who calls her or texts her, she refuses to respond. Finally, she realizes the day is getting late and she goes to the cabin so no one can find her.
Allison’s life is smashed to pieces just like her heart. She can’t face Seth. What would she tell him? Daniel wishes his brother would quit nagging him about Allison, and Megan wants Seth to quit sending flowers. All Allison wants to do is figure things out for herself, with no one telling her what to do. When Megan tells her friend to listen to God, Allison begins a journey of rediscovering her faith as well as learning to trust in God.
There is so much more to the story for sure, but if I tell you what would make you want to read the book? This novel is wonderful. It seems more realistic when people need time to think, pray, and wait for God’s direction. Beth Vogt does a wonderful job showing that we all need time to heal, learn to listen to God, and wait on Him. This work of fiction does a great job showing how opposite personalities within a family can learn to appreciate and learn from each other instead of being at odds all the time. You will enjoy this novel for its authenticity as well as its action.
My rating for this novel is definitely 4.5 stars.

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Jun 18, 2012 L_manning rated it 4 of 5 stars

Alli is getting ready to marry her high school sweetheart. What could be more romantic? Everything is going according to plan. When the groom's older brother Daniel comes to help Alli pack her things to move, one moment turns into a kiss which turns into a major crisis. Suddenly Alli isn't so sure about her "perfect" life. Alli soon leaves her old life behind as she tries to decide exactly what she wants to do with herself. As old habits threaten to surface, she will have to learn to rely on her...more

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Apr 25, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-literature, christian-fiction, christian-teen-fiction, contemporary-fiction, romance-fiction, young-adult-fiction

For Allison Denman it seems like she lost control of her life along the way. Now it seems without realizing it that she has managed to find a guy that is a take charge kind of guy. He has planned everything since meeting her in high school from picking out her prom dress to deciding all the plans for their wedding including what type of flowers should be in her bouquet.

Now just five days before the wedding, she's beginning to wonder why she feels so apprehensive about the wedding. Is Seth the ma...more For Allison Denman it seems like she lost control of her life along the way. Now it seems without realizing it that she has managed to find a guy that is a take charge kind of guy. He has planned everything since meeting her in high school from picking out her prom dress to deciding all the plans for their wedding including what type of flowers should be in her bouquet.

Now just five days before the wedding, she's beginning to wonder why she feels so apprehensive about the wedding. Is Seth the man for her? She's spent the last six years dating him. His everything she could ever want in a husband, handsome, wealthy, organized and in charge. At some point she has even told him she loved him along the way, but now she's not so sure and with wedding plans already in full swing, how does one get out of this mess?

Well obviously kissing the wrong man wasn't the way to get things started, and the worst part is that he's Seth's brother. The one who has faithfully sent her postcards from every place he's ever traveled as a friend. Yet, is there more behind all those "wish you were here" post cards, Daniels sent all these years. Is that the reason she felt comfortable kissing him back? Now how can she face him just days before the wedding. Will there even be a wedding? How can she possibly sort out all her mixed up feelings?

Is it like her best friend Meghan mentioned that when you marry, you shouldn't have any secrets between you and your future husband? Well, it seems like not mentioning the kissing part is just one of the deeper secrets Allison is keeping locked up inside. She has put God on the back burner for so long, it seems like it might be too late to seek His help in this issue or is it?

In the latest novel Wish You Were Here by Beth K. Vogt, we see what happens when you try and keep things a secret, even from the person you are suppose to marry and worse yet, from God. In this wonderful romantic fiction we see how important trust and honesty is in all our relationships from the ones we have with God as well as the ones we have with our friends and spouses. Beth gives the readers really insight into some deeper issues that Allison has and she is trying to manage in her own way instead of seeking some professional help.

I received Wish You Were Here by Beth K. Vogt compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon and Schuster for my honest review and LOVED it. Similar to The Runaway Bride, which is talked about between Allison and Meghan in this one, it shows that we have to be honest with everyone no matter whose feelings may get hurt along the way. Some secrets are never meant to be hidden in the dark shadows. No matter how bad you think things are, running away from them only delays the inevitable. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and highly recommend this to your hopeful romance fans everywhere. (less)

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Jun 02, 2012 Ibjoy1953 rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Wish You Were Here by Beth K. Vogt

Wow, what a wonderful debut novel. Allison and Seth have been dating for six years, and their big wedding day is finally getting close. And everyone is happy. Right? Well that’s the way it seemed until Seth ask his brother Daniel to go by Allison’s apartment to pick up boxes she’d packed and bring to Seth’s house. Only Allison hadn’t packed the boxes, and Daniel took it as his duty as best man to stay and help pack them. With an added Chi...more MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK

Wish You Were Here by Beth K. Vogt

Wow, what a wonderful debut novel. Allison and Seth have been dating for six years, and their big wedding day is finally getting close. And everyone is happy. Right? Well that’s the way it seemed until Seth ask his brother Daniel to go by Allison’s apartment to pick up boxes she’d packed and bring to Seth’s house. Only Allison hadn’t packed the boxes, and Daniel took it as his duty as best man to stay and help pack them. With an added Chinese dinner to boot. All is well until Daniel goes to give Allison a quick friendly goodnight peck on the cheek, a peck that ended up in a kiss that neither of them never forgot. And well, as for the rest, you really need to read this wonderful debut book by Beth Vogt.

I can see now that Beth Vogt is going to be another awesome author on my favorites list! With her intriguing first novel, we can only imagine what is in store for us with her second book. Can I say I am hoping it is more of Allison and Daniel and the gang?

I thoroughly enjoyed this romance that was much more than a romance. With a chance to follow Allison as she strived to figure out just what she really wanted in live, and if she did indeed make the right choice, or the choice that would ruin her forever.

I loved Daniel and Allison’s characters, and was cheering them on from the beginning. Seth was a really good guy, in his own way, but his control to have everything his way, and wanting life just perfect was just too much for anyone. Beth Vogt did a wonderful job in creating these characters and bringing them to life through the pages of this book. I feel in love with the book in the very beginning. The only thing about it is, I wish she had given Allison and Daniel more time at the end. Made it a little more intriguing and I don’t know, maybe interesting? It is all good, don’t get me wrong, but the ending was just missing a little something.

That said, if you like contemporary fiction, this is a must for you to read. You will certainly not be disappointed!

I was provided a copy of this book from the publisher Howard Books through LitFuse Publicity Group. I want to thank Amy for making sure I rec’d this book, even though the publisher didn’t send it in time for the tour. The opinions in this review are mine only.
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Jun 02, 2012 Donna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: books-read-in-2012

She kissed the wrong man! Now a few days before her wedding, Allison finds herself in a horrible predicament. How could she betray her fiance by kissing his brother, Daniel? Allison hasn't been happy with things for a while. For example, she hates her wedding dress. But she would never intentionally hurt Seth, after all, she has agreed to marry him. Daniel lives a life she sees as filled with adventure and romance. As Allison sorts out her feelings, things with Seth and Daniel become more compli...more

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Jun 08, 2012 Paula Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: for-review, howard-books, read-in-2012

This was a great book romance and religion play a key role, when Allison decides at the last minute to pull a Julia Roberts and run out on her wedding she knows that marrying Seth was the wrong choice now if only he would see that he doesn't really know her. As time passes Allison is drawn to Daniel but begins to question whether that is the right thing and works on doing what she wants and not what others want her to do. As she goes through moving on with her life after the dreaded wedding run,...more

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May 28, 2012 Brenda Casto rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The one thing that Allison Denman had learned in her six years of dating Seth Rayner was how to go along with whatever some else says, that's how she found herself about to marry him. When she finds herself kissing his brother Daniel just days before the wedding, she knows just how big a mistake marrying Seth would be, so she decides to cut her losses and run. Which leads to self discovery, and learning that God has a greater plan in store for her if only she will listen.

I sort of thought this b...more

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Apr 27, 2012 Jettiep rated it 5 of 5 stars

Just a few days before her wedding, in an unguarded moment, Allison Denman kisses her brother in law to be, Daniel, while he is getting ready to move boxes to her future home.
The day of the wedding, Allison gets almost all the way to Seth, her fiance, before she turns and runs away, stealing her best friend's car, and driving aimlessly for hours, still wearing her overpriced wedding gown, that she never cared for, anyway.
What is wrong with her? She's dated Seth for 6 years, and he had their futu...more

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Dec 17, 2012 Ginger Solomon rated it 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed Allison's journey as told by Beth K. Vogt in Wish You Were Here. Allison's need for control and yet her desire to escape the box she's managed to get herself stuck in struck a chord with me. I think we all find ourselves in situations we wish we could avoid, or hadn't agreed to.

Wish You Were Here is a challenging read...not because it was hard to read, but because it challenged me to think about why I do things, rather than just do them because it's "expected".

This book is a light-hea...more

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Jun 01, 2012 Dottie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A sweet read that will take you through a gamut of emotions! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

In five days, Allison Denman is supposed to get married, but she is having a hard time getting anything done, like packing up her apartment so she can move in with her new husband after the wedding. She even allowed her friends, including her soon to be mother-in-law and her mom, to browbeat her into getting an expensive wedding gown that she doesn’t even like. Allison has dated Seth for the p...more A sweet read that will take you through a gamut of emotions! Taken from my review at RomanceJunkies.com:

In five days, Allison Denman is supposed to get married, but she is having a hard time getting anything done, like packing up her apartment so she can move in with her new husband after the wedding. She even allowed her friends, including her soon to be mother-in-law and her mom, to browbeat her into getting an expensive wedding gown that she doesn’t even like. Allison has dated Seth for the past six years, from the time they were still in school together. During that time, she has learned to give in, allowing others to make any decisions. But lately, that has not set well with her since she likes being in control. She has a secret from her past…one she keeps so closely guarded that not even Seth knows about it. However, her best friend Meghan knows and helps her stay on the straight and narrow. But she has another secret that no one knows about. She has a crush on Seth’s brother Daniel. Ever since high school, he has been sending her post cards from all of the exotic places he travels to and she has saved every one. She had been looking forward to having Daniel for a brother-in-law. But when he showed up five days before the wedding to pick up the boxes that she was supposed to have already filled and stayed to help her pack them, they ended up accidentally sharing a kiss. Devastated and feeling guilty, she did not know what to do. Mostly, she felt guilty because she had not wanted Daniel to stop kissing her.

Daniel travels all over the world, laying out and setting up resorts. He fell for Allison some time ago, but he has kept it secret. After all, he could not break his younger brother, Seth’s, heart by kissing his girl. Their kiss had been interrupted when Seth suddenly called him on his cell phone. Although Daniel had tried to talk to Allison about it, she had not wanted to discuss it. So he escaped for the next four days and went off backpacking, although it upset Seth. Daniel did not know how he would get through the wedding and seeing his brother wed the girl he was in love with. But he was determined to manage it.

On the day of the wedding, Daniel stood next to his brother at the altar and watched as Allison made her way down the aisle. Due to the veil, he could not see her expression. But when she reached the end of the aisle, he barely heard her tell Seth that she could not go through with it. Then she turned and bolted back down the aisle. But making her getaway, trapped in a wedding gown that she cannot get out of, in a car she had taken without her friend’s permission to an unknown destination does not sound like the acts of a rational person. Up until now her life has been filled with mistakes. But then she has always had to be in control, the plans were usually her plans, when she wasn’t letting Seth make plans for her. Perhaps she should take Meghan’s advice. Is it possible that God has a plan for her life? Can she find the strength to let go and let God lead?

A sweet read, WISH YOU WERE HERE, a debut novel by author Beth K. Vogt, is an inspiring, emotion-packed read that I found impossible to put down. Ms. Vogt draws you into the story with her realistic characters and their life-changing situations. Normally a nonfiction writer, author Beth K. Vogt dives into the waters of fiction with this debut novel and comes up a winner. This story will take you through a gamut of emotions. I found myself laughing at times and near tears at others. Allison has to deal with some difficult questions about her life, but with God’s help, she finds the answers, and finds love in the process. Adding even more charm to this story, each chapter begins with one of the postcards that Daniel sent Allison over the years from his exotic travels. This beautifully written story is filled with humor, clever dialogue, life-threatening situations, God, family dynamics, romance and love, making it an unforgettable novel. A definite keeper! I highly recommend this very intriguing story and look forward to more of Ms. Vogt’s works.

Dottie, RomanceJunkies.com
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Jun 03, 2012 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Beth K. Vogt in her new book “Wish You Were Here” published by Howard Books takes us into the life of Allison Denman.

From the back cover: Kissing the wrong guy days before her scheduled wedding leads Allison to become a runaway bride. But can it also lead to happily ever after?

Allison Denman is supposed to get married in five days, but everything is all wrong. The huge wedding. The frothy dress. And the groom.

Still, kissing the groom’s brother, Daniel, in an unguarded moment is decidedly not the...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Carla Laureano rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, inspy, romance

Before I begin with my review, I have to make a disclaimer:
1) I hate books with love triangles.
2) This book had a love triangle... kinda.

So, my comments should be viewed through the lens that already, I'm predisposed not to like this book.

However, there was so much to like about this story! The characters are well-developed, the writing is smooth, and the plot is believable. Setting well-realized.

On the downside, there's the whole love triangle thing, and while I liked Daniel, I didn't connect w...more

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May 26, 2012 cupcake rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Have you ever read a book that frustrated you SO MUCH because you know that it could have been better? That was my experience with Beth K. Vogt's Wish You Were Here. I liked it up until the end, which just ticked me off in the worst way.

Allison and Seth are five days away from their wedding day. They dated for six years, and now it's time for them to finalize their commitment. Allison doesn't like her wedding dress, which she felt coerced into buying, and she isn't wild about the flowers. But sh...more Have you ever read a book that frustrated you SO MUCH because you know that it could have been better? That was my experience with Beth K. Vogt's Wish You Were Here. I liked it up until the end, which just ticked me off in the worst way.

Allison and Seth are five days away from their wedding day. They dated for six years, and now it's time for them to finalize their commitment. Allison doesn't like her wedding dress, which she felt coerced into buying, and she isn't wild about the flowers. But she and Seth have been together for so long, and she does love him, so the obvious next step is marriage, right? Right?

Well, not so fast. When Seth's older brother Daniel shows up to help her pack, an innocent farewell peck on the cheek turns into a passionate kiss. What will Allison do now? Quicker than you can say, "Runaway Bride," she heads in the wrong direction down the aisle.

So far, so good. It's a cute set up, and we can all see that Daniel is better for her than Seth. Her best friend Meghan puts it perfectly:

"Think about it. You let Seth make all the major decisions, from what dress you wore to our high school prom to where you were going for your honeymoon." Teal polish glinted off Meghan's nails when she pointed an accusatory finger at Allison. "You're a smart woman - except when Seth Rayner's in the picture. And he's been hogging the picture since you were sixteen."

Seth, you see, is a major control freak, and he controls every aspect of Allison's life, from her college major to what she orders at a restaurant. He isn't a bad guy, though; Vogt does a good job letting us see that he is oblivious to his Machiavellian streak. And it's good that he's a character with depth and not rote or flat. Daniel, too, is fleshed out. Both may be predictable, but they aren't dull.

But then the problems come.

Vogt tells us why Allison enjoyed, if not needed, Seth's control. We also learn about how she coped with a painful period of her childhood. We understand her, and it makes sense to us. But quite suddenly, those issues are resolved with great alacrity and neatness. Allison's fractured relationship with someone in her family is mended with no explanation as to how. Why does she trust this person with seemingly such lack of hesitation? What about the way she soothes herself? Why does she suddenly stop? Or does she? We never really find out. And what about her relationship with God? Allison has questions for Him, and she struggles with relying on Him. One quick conversation with Meghan, though, and everything is fixed. It doesn't really work that way.

Look, Wish You Were Here has a sweet core. Allison and Daniel are adorable, and you will cheer for them. Daniel earns our sympathies and affections, and we cheer him on in his pursuit of her. But the ending feels cheap and forced. It's almost insulting, as if Vogt doesn't think we can handle the anguish that Allison surely suffers as she rights the listing ship of her life.

Here is a lesson for authors: do not sell your audience short. Don't assume that we want neat and happy. If you spend three fourths of a book giving us realism, don't patronize us at the end.(less)

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May 09, 2012 Chrissy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2012

So, I should always start a review with my biases, right? The degree to which I enjoy a book is inevitably related to various factors, whether or not I choose to acknowledge such. And the degree to which any reader would choose to agree or relate with my opinion must in some way relate to our commonality on these presumptions, right?

So let me be clear up front.

1. I really do enjoy Christian fiction. I'm not at really bothered by "preachy" stories as long as they are not wishy-washy or written i...more

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May 26, 2012 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Who hasn't thought about running back down the aisle on their wedding day? It's an intriguing idea. Most of us are fortunate enough to know for sure we're doing the right thing on that day, and we can't wait to say "I Do!" But have you ever considered what might happen when the bride says, "I Can't!" That's exactly the premise of Wish You Were Here, and it is a fascinating one.

From the first page of this book, I was hooked. I couldn't wait to find out more about Alli and her life story. I loved...more

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Apr 29, 2012 Camille Eide rated it 5 of 5 stars

A Lovely & Provocative Blend Of Humor, Dilemma, & Romance

With realistic, quirky characters and plenty of obstacles, Wish You Were Here is both tension-tight and romance-light, a faith-inspiring romance that both entertains and makes you think.

The lives of Allison, Seth and Daniel intersect in a romantic triangle as each with their own conflicting desires and goals face the outcome of their misguided decisions. All three characters show us their inner struggles in a way that makes us roo...more

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May 23, 2012 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012

What a delightful book and a very quick page turning read! Allison and Seth open the book with there marriage pending in 5 days! She is trying on her beautiful $5000 wedding gown...that she hates! Next we are at her apartment where she should be packing....Daniel Seth's older brother has come to the house to help her and remove some of the boxes! What happens is Daniel lets his hair down...so to say...and ends up kissing Alli. Forward ahead to Alli starting to head down the aisle with her Groom...more

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May 22, 2012 Iola rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012, contemporary-romance, kindle, netgalley

Alison Denman is marrying Seth Rayner in five days, and is having second thoughts about the frou-frou dress with the huge train that her future mother-in-law ‘encouraged’ her to buy. She’s having second thoughts about the 350-guest wedding. She’s having second thoughts about the bouquet. She’s looking at her board of ‘Wish You Were Here’ postcards from Seth’s older brother, Daniel. But that’s got nothing to do with why she’s having second thoughts… and then Daniel kisses her while helping pack u...more Alison Denman is marrying Seth Rayner in five days, and is having second thoughts about the frou-frou dress with the huge train that her future mother-in-law ‘encouraged’ her to buy. She’s having second thoughts about the 350-guest wedding. She’s having second thoughts about the bouquet. She’s looking at her board of ‘Wish You Were Here’ postcards from Seth’s older brother, Daniel. But that’s got nothing to do with why she’s having second thoughts… and then Daniel kisses her while helping pack up her apartment five days before the wedding. And she kisses him back. Now what?

My initial impression of Seth was that he was too good to be true. I found myself quite disliking him as the book wore on. Part of me didn’t like the idea of Alison leaving her long-term boyfriend at the altar; another part of me saw that there was something a bit ‘off’ about him, so didn’t want Alison to get back together with him.

I liked Seth’s brother, Daniel, although I am always a bit hesitant about too big an age gap between a couple (and, at eight years, this was pushing my limits). But Daniel is a gentleman with a strong code of personal honour, and I could respect that about him.

As the story progressed, we found out more about Alison, about why she was prepared to marry Seth, the safe choice, and what happened that made ‘safe’ such an important choice for her. We also met Alison’s best friend, Meghan, who knows the secret even Seth doesn’t know…

Despite the almost-cliché ‘Runaway Bride’ beginning, this book is a fun debut novel. I found the beginning almost too fast-paced, in a ‘I had trouble catching my breath’ kind of way. But it calmed down and turned into a very enjoyable story of a young woman trying to sort out what she wants from life, unimpeded by a boyfriend/finance with a very strong personality, fighting an attraction to his older brother, and trying to reconcile herself to the God she has all but forgotten. While this is a Christian novel, the Christian element is quite understated. An enjoyable debut.

Thanks to Howard Books and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.
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Apr 11, 2012 Jessica R. Patch rated it 5 of 5 stars

You never know what you'll get when you read a debut novel. I happen to love a good contemporary romance with plenty of tension and swooning moments. I prefer my pages sprinkled with humor, witty dialogue and in between all of that--a powerful message.

Beth K. Vogt, delivered. She breathed life into the pages by making her characters believable, genuine, fun, and even quirky. Plenty of obstacles stood in the way, but it made for great page turning and a sigh of satisfaction at the end,not to ment...more

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Aug 21, 2012 Jessica Snell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, romance

Well, my high hopes for this novel were happily answered!

My attention was caught by the high concept premise of "Wish You Were Here" - a bride deserting her groom at the altar - but Beth Vogt kept my attention by telling an interesting story about what happens *after* her heroine's impulsive escape.

Vogt doesn't spare her heroine any of the squirmy moments bound to follow such a public disaster, but even when she was under pressure, I enjoyed spending time with Allison Denman. She spends the fir...more Well, my high hopes for this novel were happily answered!

My attention was caught by the high concept premise of "Wish You Were Here" - a bride deserting her groom at the altar - but Beth Vogt kept my attention by telling an interesting story about what happens *after* her heroine's impulsive escape.

Vogt doesn't spare her heroine any of the squirmy moments bound to follow such a public disaster, but even when she was under pressure, I enjoyed spending time with Allison Denman. She spends the first half of the novel trying to figure out why she did what she did - she's sure it was the right thing to do, but it takes her time to read the state of her own heart, and I liked the realism of that. The second half of the novel she's busy falling in love with the hero, and, well, I'm a romance fan, so I enjoyed that part too.

I also liked how there was a lot more to the story than just the love story. The hero and heroine have family, friends, and jobs. They have pasts that affect their present, and the Colorado setting is almost its own character.

I don't want to spoil anything, but I also appreciate how a couple of difficult subjects - self-harm and pornography - came up in the plot, but never took it over. You hardly ever see things like that in books unless they're a main plot point, but in this story, things like that came up the way they often do in real life: tangentially. I don't know that I've ever seen that done before, and it added to the realism of the story for me.

I enjoyed this story so much that I hate to mention any complaints. I only have two, and they're mild. First, the ditched fiancé didn't quite ring true to me. But that might just be because he was a man who was almost entirely lacking empathy - or maybe he was just profoundly emotionally stupid? Anyway, I either didn't like him or didn't believe in him, and I can't quite figure out which it was. Secondly, the number of injuries that occurred in the plot stretched my credulity - but only a bit. And having a lot of incident in a novel is so very forgiveable, because it means that the story is the opposite of dull.

That's it: this story was the opposite of dull. It was dramatic without being sad, it was sweet without being saccharine - it was just *fun*. Recommended, and I'm really looking forward to the next one.(less)

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May 18, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Title: WISH YOU WERE HERE
Author: Beth K. Vogt
Publisher: Howard Books
May 2012
ISBN: 978-1451659863
Genre: Inspirational/contemporary romance

Allison Denman is getting married in five days, to Seth Rayner, an up-and-coming architect in his father’s firm. But when Seth’s brother, Daniel, comes to help Allison move some boxes, they accidentally kiss. And suddenly, Allison comes face-to-face with the fact that she’s marrying the wrong guy—for all the wrong reasons.

Allison isn’t sure how to tell Seth, s...more

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May 29, 2012 Cafelilybookreviews rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Wish You Were Here is Beth's first fiction novel, though she's no stranger to the writing world.

This book is fun and light hearted, and full of unexpected twists and turns. It starts with a bride-to-be who accidentally kisses her fiancee's brother days before the wedding. From that one kiss, a spiral effect takes place and Allison Denman finds herself in a mess!

As her wedding day approaches, tensions mount and Allison begins to question everything she's known and felt up until this point. This...more

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May 28, 2012 *Babs* rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, christian

Alison is about to marry Seth, they have been together for 6 years and the time has come to take the next step. He doesn't care for the flowers nor her wedding dress for that matter. Seth is very controlling we learn early on. When he brother comes for the wedding he gives a farewell kiss to Alison. Daniel and Alison soon turn that kiss to a passionate kiss. Alison thinks and heads down the opposite end of the aisle towards Daniel and they leave.

Alison works through some things. I won't give th...more

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