Ash’s review of Be Careful What You Wish For by Nick Howard
Fantasy Romance short story published by Samhain 11 Jan 11
Well…I don’t really have anything good to say about Be Careful What You Wish For. I was looking for something fun and I got something bland.
Gawain never even notices Lilly until she wishes for it, so the entire time I had a hard time believing any of what he says. Nothing about him stands out to me. Lilly herself is also uninteresting, she has no personality and it’s no wonder she has to make a wish in order to get a man. I know it’s a short story, but not enough time was spent on their development.
Be Careful What You Wish For just feels very stiff and awkward. There is no passion or love or much of any feeling in what they say or do. Everything is done in protocol, even the supposed erotic scenes. Lilly calmly goes along with everything, because the law says it’s okay. Gawain is trying to win her over, but he talks about spanking her as if he is commenting on the weather.
When I read a novella, I’m looking for a quick, fun read, something that leaves me wanting more. Unfortunately that doesn’t happen, and the blurb ends up being more exciting than the story.
Grade: D
Summary:
Fairy Godmothers don’t always know what’s best. Or do they?
“If love is pain, I want to be hurt!”
It must have been her distress over being dumped by Sir Justin that made Princess Lilly less than precise expressing her wish to her Fairy Godmother. Otherwise, she would not have ended up the indignant prisoner of Sir Gawain, a vile knight who wouldn’t know how to properly treat a princess if the instructions whacked him upside his armored helm.
She should be angry, but she has no one to blame but herself, and no way out. The Kidnapping of Damsel Laws are very specific—once she is taken, she has no choice but to submit to his seduction. Every kiss, caress…and spanking.
Still, she’s determined not to make it easy for him. If he thinks he will bend her to his delicious…no, barbaric intentions, he has a serious flaw in his logic. Yet as he carefully executes his plan of exquisitely pain-laced pleasure, she finds her body responding quite against her will. And her mind racing with immoral thoughts that threaten her jealously guarded virtue.
Until there is a very small, tiny, remote possibility that Sir Gawain might win her hand…
Read an excerpt.
