All I Ever Wanted Review

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ALL I EVER WANTED
Ellen Fisher
ISBN: 1-586-08-375-9
February 2004
New Concepts Publishing
E-Book
Contemporary Romance

The reader will hit the ground running with the characters and continue non-stop in Ellen Fisher’s All I Ever Wanted contemporary romance. Word to the wise: before you start reading this action-packed, fast-moving, humorous and thoroughly enjoyable book, lock your doors, turn off your phone and grab a few snacks because once you sit down to read, you will NOT want to put this book down!

Using a not often seen method of a story within a story, Ms. Fisher treats the reader to fabulous Maxfield “Max” Sinclair, the golden haired, incredibly gorgeous science fiction author, whose Farthest Space novels have become a hit TV show with a huge fan following. Max is unique to romance novels. Like many modern heroes, he has been hurt; however, Max’s shyness and vulnerability go back to his childhood and has made for an endearing yet, very sexy man.

Dr. Drew Cooper is the tall, blond-haired professor of literature who captures Max’s heart. Drew is different in more than her physical presence; she is so brilliant she graduated high school at 15 and was thrust into parenting her younger sister, Tiffani, with, as Tiff says “an I”.

Sparks fly figuratively as well as literally when Drew and Max meet at a Farthest Space convention. Within moments, someone fires a shot in the direction of Max and Drew’s direction and the action begins. While they are taken with each other, Drew retreats from getting to know Max by telling herself that it is just a physical attraction. Added to the mix is Tiffani’s firm belief Max wants her. That triangle alone would have made for an interesting read, however Ms. Fisher makes it even more intriguing by a mysterious accident happening to Tiffani, threatening notes left for Drew, and Drew being followed by not one, but two different men. This is a great read up to the point where Drew and Max finally let Tiffani in on the fact that they are involved, and it becomes utterly fabulous as they pursue the stalker.

Tiffani is depicted as a totally boy-crazy sister and at times becomes annoying in her constant belief that “this is the one” with every man she meets. However, her neediness is an integral part of the story.

Add to the mix the annoying Charity Rogers, a television reporter this reviewer wanted to shove into a mud puddle. Last, but not least, is the fictional Captain Steven T. McNeill, the hero of the Farthest Space novels. Ms. Fisher cleverly treats the reader to a story within the story via Captain McNeill’s quotes from the Farthest Space books at the beginning of almost every chapter AND through a new McNeill story Max writes throughout this story. Indeed, should Ms. Fisher be so inclined, a book about hunky and utterly gorgeous Captain McNeill would be most welcome by this reviewer! What a wonderful concept and added bonus!

Clearly, this reviewer loved this book! Max is an appealing hero not just because he is an absolutely gorgeous hunk. He is shy and vulnerable. It was refreshing to see the male hero as the sensitive party in the relationship. The reader’s heart will melt when, on the morning after he and Drew first make love, HE is the one with the need for assurance.

Tiffani grows up throughout the story. While she remains a bit boy-crazy, she begins to realize that not just any man will do, it has to be someone who is at minimum, a good person. And who among us has not had a phase in our own lives where we needed to step back and look at what we really want?

The reader is kept guessing who the stalker/attempted murderer is throughout the book and is treated to quite a surprise at the end.

Ms. Fisher tackles some of society’s tougher issues in dealing with, among others, Ken’s literacy in a compassionate and understanding way. She definitely gives the reader pause to consider what people in his situation experience. Mystery, romance, science fiction, and humor all blend together for one of the best reads this reviewer has seen. If this reviewer had one question she could ask Ms. Fisher it would be “so, when can we expect Captain McNeill’s story?” All I Ever Wanted is a must read for anyone who enjoys contemporary romance and a good mystery wrapped up in each other.

Reviewed by Gina
March 2004