This book was my second read of Debbie Macomber's, and I really was pleasantly surprised by how different the two novels were. At times, I can get in a rut when reading the same author over and over again - and the plots, characters, and endings become predictable. The two books I read by Macomber were incredibly different, even though they both would be classified as romance. Sooner or Later was a romantic, action/mystery novel. Twenty Wishes was both a fun romance and a study of women (or people in general) and how to move on after life does not turn out as you planned. Macomber writes a sweet commentary on how even though life is full of unexpected events, happiness can be found even if it is not the way we expect.

I enjoyed reading this novel, and I finished mostly in one afternoon. I decided to stay awake and read instead of sleep before working tonight. It was a pleasant book, and I was not able to predict the plot throughout the end. I laughed with the characters, and I enjoyed getting to know each personality. This book was the first of the Blossom Series I had read, which is unusual for me. I really hate reading books out of series, especially because (as with the Chesapeake Shores books by Sherryl Woods) I enjoy continuing my "relationship" with the characters in past novels. However, I thought this book could have stood alone - and I enjoyed it in that aspect. Despite sharing the same setting and occasionally seeing other characters from previous novels, the books are hardly connected.

The description of this novel implies that it will mainly be about Anne Marie and Ellen. And though they are both significant characters, the story also centers around several other characters: mainly Barbie and Lillie Foster. A mother/daughter team, Macomber uses the twenty wishes idea in their lives as a way to help them move past their husbands deaths. I enjoyed the individual stories about all three women and Ellen, sweet eight-year-old that she is.

I gave this novel a 3/5 because I really enjoyed it, but I found myself wanting a little more in character development. Though I got to know each character, I did not find myself connecting to any of them. I enjoyed their stories and laughed at some of the situations, but I honestly did not feel the grief that Anne Marie was feeling or the embarrassment when Barbie tripped and fell on her face. Instead, I read the book more as an observer. I found it to be a quick, enjoyable story that was generally sweet. I read it in one afternoon, but I'll probably have to be reminded of the characters to remember specifics in a couple of months. I recommend it for anyone looking for a light read that is well-written and not cheesy. It provides good thoughts about life in general and has some great lessons within its pages.