Hazel Snow's learned not to expect much out of life, not even on her 18th birthday. And certainly not from her "sort-of-stepdad" Roy, who's more interested in watching sports on t.v. than shopping for birthday gifts. So, she's stunned when Roy offers her the most unexpected present of all - the answer to the question she's been asking her whole life. Ever since she discovered she was adopted, Hazel's wondered about her birth mother. Now she knows. Not only does she have the woman's name, but a quick Internet search reveals that Rosanna Scott never left the San Francisco Bay Area. When Hazel sees that Rosanna will be hosting a charity event at a restaurant in the Ferry Building, Hazel decides to attend.

Since the only dress she owns has a large tear in it, Hazel hunts down a seamstress in the city. While Posey, the owner of Mariposa of the Mission, insists she can fix it, Hazel's visit to the shop turns her little problem into a full-blown crisis. Hazel's devastated when she sees Posey's mistake - instead of returning Hazel's dress, she's given her someone else's order. Except that when, out of pure desperation, Hazel slips on the gown, it fits as though it's been custom made for her. The dress is soft, silky, stunning. Hazel's never felt more beautiful. The experience feels to miraculous, so magical, that when Hazel makes a crazy wish, she actually sees the little butterly embrodiered on the skirt take flight.

When Hazel wakes up the next morning, she realizes with a shock that something magical has happened. Her wish from the night before - her verbalized yearning to know her birth mother - is coming true. And the garment bag that held Posey's enchanted gown now holds two more. Two dresses, two wishes. Suddenly, Hazel, for whom nothing's ever been easy, has the opportunity to answer every question she's ever asked, fulfill every fantasy she's ever dreamt up, be anyone she wants to be. But wishes, as Hazel's quickly finding out, are tricky things and truth, even more so. As she searches for herself in the days of her past, Hazel must decide how to deal with her past and her present so that she'll still have a future.

Wishful Thinking, the second book in Alexandra Bullen's series about Posey and her magic dresses, didn't enchant me quite as much as the first did (see my review of Wish here). Still, it's an uplifting story with an interesting twist on the subject of adoption. The idea of an adopted child being able to go back in time, get to know her birth mother, witness her struggle with the questions that arise from an unexpected pregnancy, even offer advice and input - well, it's a device I'm not sure I've ever seen used. It definitely captured my interest and imagination. Unfortunately, the novel as a whole never developed enough richness to really blow me away. I wanted it to, but the plot had some big holes, the characters didn't come alive for me, and they didn't seem to connect enough to one another either. Overall, Wishful Thinking is a quick, upbeat kind of story, just one that didn't do quite enough to live up to its potential.

(Readalikes: Wish by Alexandra Bullen)

Grade: C

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild language (no F-bombs) and depictions of underrage drinking

To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Wishful Thinking from the generous folks at Scholastic. Thank you!

Faith, Jennifer Haigh's newest, tells the compelling story of one family's refusal to see what's right in front of them. It's about the corrosive nature of secrets, of lies, and the healing, if painful, path to the truth. Haigh uses flawed characters, few of whom are even likable, to spin her tale. Despite their churlishness, they somehow make us care. Still, the story lacked a little something for me. I'm sure I missed some of the novel's subtle complexities because of my unfamiliarity with Catholicism, but it's more than that - I found the book so depressing, so sad really, that I can't say I enjoyed it. Faith held my attention, it just didn't do much more. In the end, it was just okay for me.

So, I spent the morning celebrating (?) the onset of summer by floating around in my swimming pool. After my 12-year-old son fished a field mouse out of the water, chased me and his little brother around with it, then tossed the corpse over the fence, that is. It took me awhile to get used to the *chilly* water (especially since I kept imagining what else might be bobbing around beneath me), but the warm sun/cool water combo felt awfully nice. Now that I'm all refreshed, though, I feel like Hopping around inside my nice, air-conditioned house. If you feel like joining me (and you know you do), click on over to Crazy For Books to get all the details on this fun, weekly event.

Since I don't like this week's question - it has to do with choosing your favorite blog post and explaining why it's dear to your heart - I'm going to ask you one of my own. It's a little bit generic, but I really am curious: What are y'all reading this summer? Which upcoming titles are you most excited about?

- I've got all kinds of books to read for tours, but as soon as I have a spare minute, I'm going to delve into City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare, Crossed by Ally Condie (as soon as my ARC gets here, anyway), and Carol Lynch Williams' new one, Miles From Ordinary.

Whether you're coming by from the Hop or you hang out here all the time (God bless you!) or you just happened to stumble across my blog, thanks! I hope you'll stay, look around and leave me a comment or two. I promise to return the favor.

Have a fabulous weekend, everybody!