Christmas miracles usually come without any strings attached, but in “One Wish” I got to see a slightly more “realistic” version of things. I know, I know, there is nothing “realistic” about miracles in the first place, but having a price to pay for a wish to come true and having choices to make does somehow feel more like reality than a “pure” miracle. Giving Callen an option and then asking him to choose his own future means he has something to say over the outcome – something he has missed since the accident that paralyzed him. Regaining control is something he is in urgent need of!

In some ways, this story is like the classic ‘Christmas Carol’ by Charles Dickens: Callen is a man who hates Christmas, he gets shown his Christmas past that caused all of the issues, he gets a wish that might fix the problem, and he gets to see a second version of his Christmas present with the wish granted. But after that, ‘One Wish’ diverges from the original and takes some very unexpected twists and turns.

I liked what Caitlin Ricci did with the tale. Callen hates his life in a wheelchair and teaching him to accept what has happened and deal with it is a huge task. Harry, the elf sent to help him, is a cute guy and he has some very helpful hints and tips – based on his own experience. But in the end it comes down to what Callen wants and what he is prepared to sacrifice, and I think that is the real strength of the story.

If you like Christmas miracles of a slightly different kind, if you believe that giving up is never an option - no matter how bad things seem to get, and if you’re looking for a read that is sweet, funny, and touching, then you will probably like this short story. I think it’s charming and unexpectedly thought-provoking!


NOTE: This book was provided by NineStar Press for the purpose of a review on Rainbow Book Reviews. ( )