Title: Wish List
Author:  Sylvia Day
Publisher/Year:  Sylvia Day LLC 12/02/05
Length:  39 Pages

Overview

When Nicholas James draws Stephanie Martin’s name in their law firm’s Secret Santa exchange he knows he’s in for a merry Christmas–if he can figure out what to give the woman he’s wanted for months. When he works late and finds a crumpled piece of paper listing Steph’s personal wish list, he knows he’s in luck. Because all Steph wants for Christmas is him, in a number of naughty ways.

And not-so saintly Nick is going to make every one of her wishes come true.

My Thoughts

It’s been a while since i’ve been in the land of Ms Sylvia Day, and this novella reminded me of what i enjoyed most from her. She’s straight to the point, and packs a punch in a way that makes even a forty page book something that you feel like you’ve been able to sink your teeth into.

This story is so appropriate given the time of year, which i’m guessing is how it came onto my radar. Steph and Nicholas work together at a law firm and we know the kind of personalities that usually run in those places. People who are driven and who often put themselves aside so that they can take care of work and others is the alpha. Both of our leads really fall into that space. But of course, the story is deeper and more complex than even just that.

During Secret Santa, Nicholas is given the chance take action in something that he’s wanted for a long time but thought he’d never have. Steph on the other hand is the recipient of something that she’s not inclined to admit out loud that she wants, so when she gets it, it creates all sorts of problems.

Nicholas, on a silver platter, to serve her fantasies exactly as she’s laid them out. And that’s almost too much to handle.

The story progresses over a matter of a weekend and then several days after where they have no choice but to take action on what’s being offered in front of them, both with the hope that it will scratch an itch that they’re feeling. The challenge though is that this has been building up for so long that there’s really more than meets the eye and that means that someone’s likely to get hurt.

Nicholas pulls out al the stops for Steph, and she doesn’t hesitate to let the fantasy come true, for just a moment. And when that happens, she’s quick to make an exit because she has far too many complications in life that this doesn’t need to be another one. We don’t know much about these complications yet but i think that they are significant to send her running.

When she runs, the trajectory of the story changes and it’s a quick sprint to watch things crumble and send Christmas up in smoke. It’s no surprise and i think that the way that our author writes it shows the reality.

In true form of Ms Sylvia Day, we get to see the intensity and heat shared by this couple, and to watch how quickly they take flight and then crash is on par with the dynamics of other couples that we’ve read in series past. It pulls you in so quickly and makes you not want to let go. I’m not off to find something else to enjoy as a pre-holiday read. Enjoy!