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Moonlight and Magic
Moonlight and Magic
Lovely Chimera, a woman with a reputation for witchcraft, abducts Sterling Montoya, whom she considers the perfect knight in shining armor, to protect her from the land baron who wants her land
408 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 1990
105 people are currently reading
160 people want to read
About the author
Rebecca Paisley
21 books62 followersI wanted to write things ever since I learned to write my name. I started with letters to my grandmother like: “Der Grammey, I went on the ralerode trax today and finded a big pees of gum by the raleing. I piked it up and ate it. It was bananna. I chwed it till it did not have inymor flaver in it. Aftr I swaloed it I kind of thot I had sum majic in me frum the persen who first ate it. Mama sayed wat I did was veree nasty but I beeleeve in that majic.”
To this day, I remember that gum and the way it made me feel. I continued to write about things that happened to me. Sometimes they were pure non-fiction. But other times they were invented, like when I wrote a one page story about my father being Superman. He was an Air Force Fighter Pilot and often had to leave on secret missions he was forbidden to tell us about. He told us his Superman costume was hidden in the flight bag he always took with him when he left. So I wrote a page about how he didn't need his jet on that mission. No, he flew in the plain air and directed the other pilots where to go. Because of his instructions, all the enemies scattered and were never seen again.
And then I grew up and became a woman, but not before I wrote hundreds of stories. When I was about 28 or so, I wrote a very long historical romance…with my 2 year old son hanging on my leg the whole time. I sent that manuscript to every publishing house in NYC, and the editors rejected it every single time. You want to know why? Because I was writing what I thought the publishing houses wanted to buy. I was copying other authors’ styles. I didn't know any better.
After 17 rejections, I decided to write the book I wanted to read. Not a book for an editor or even readers. Freedom, at last! Freedom to invent characters that made sense to me. Characters whose thoughts mirrored mine, whose ways of doing things were my ways of doing things.
Whose hearts were offspring of mine.
I never thought to submit that manuscript to anyone. It was going to be mine, all mine, and no one else’s business because the heroine was so wild, so outrageous and different. She was not a romance heroine, Chickadee McBride. She defied every romantic heroine in the publishing rules.
But I did end up sending her and story in, and Avon Books bought her. The editor told me Chickadee McBride was a gamble, but Avon was willing to try her out. That book was THE BAREFOOT BRIDE.
After that sale, I never again wrote what other authors wrote. I stayed true to what I loved, what made me cry and laugh and be surprised. I never knew what my characters were going to do or why. I just wrote.
And eventually I became a Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author, which gained me a place on Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll and the accomplishment of becoming a RITA finalist. I won Romantic Times’ Lifetime Achievement Award and Career Achievement Award as well as a Reviewers’ Choice Award for Historical Romance Fantasy and a Best Love and Laughter Award.
None of these things would have happened for me had I not decided to write a book that appealed to my quickness to laugh, my love for the outrageous, my deep sensitivity. . .
. . . or the belief that if I can dream it up, it can happen.
To this day, I remember that gum and the way it made me feel. I continued to write about things that happened to me. Sometimes they were pure non-fiction. But other times they were invented, like when I wrote a one page story about my father being Superman. He was an Air Force Fighter Pilot and often had to leave on secret missions he was forbidden to tell us about. He told us his Superman costume was hidden in the flight bag he always took with him when he left. So I wrote a page about how he didn't need his jet on that mission. No, he flew in the plain air and directed the other pilots where to go. Because of his instructions, all the enemies scattered and were never seen again.
And then I grew up and became a woman, but not before I wrote hundreds of stories. When I was about 28 or so, I wrote a very long historical romance…with my 2 year old son hanging on my leg the whole time. I sent that manuscript to every publishing house in NYC, and the editors rejected it every single time. You want to know why? Because I was writing what I thought the publishing houses wanted to buy. I was copying other authors’ styles. I didn't know any better.
After 17 rejections, I decided to write the book I wanted to read. Not a book for an editor or even readers. Freedom, at last! Freedom to invent characters that made sense to me. Characters whose thoughts mirrored mine, whose ways of doing things were my ways of doing things.
Whose hearts were offspring of mine.
I never thought to submit that manuscript to anyone. It was going to be mine, all mine, and no one else’s business because the heroine was so wild, so outrageous and different. She was not a romance heroine, Chickadee McBride. She defied every romantic heroine in the publishing rules.
But I did end up sending her and story in, and Avon Books bought her. The editor told me Chickadee McBride was a gamble, but Avon was willing to try her out. That book was THE BAREFOOT BRIDE.
After that sale, I never again wrote what other authors wrote. I stayed true to what I loved, what made me cry and laugh and be surprised. I never knew what my characters were going to do or why. I just wrote.
And eventually I became a Publisher’s Weekly Bestselling Author, which gained me a place on Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll and the accomplishment of becoming a RITA finalist. I won Romantic Times’ Lifetime Achievement Award and Career Achievement Award as well as a Reviewers’ Choice Award for Historical Romance Fantasy and a Best Love and Laughter Award.
None of these things would have happened for me had I not decided to write a book that appealed to my quickness to laugh, my love for the outrageous, my deep sensitivity. . .
. . . or the belief that if I can dream it up, it can happen.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
July 22, 2013
The last quarter of the book got a little over-board but over-all it was another crazy-antics filled story by the expert:)
December 1, 2025
This book awoken a part of me I didn’t even know existed.
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May 23, 2021Another successful story by Rebecca Paisley
What brilliant characters Rebecca Paisley imagines and creates in her head. Unique characters with great stories to accompany them.
Chimera is full of magic, mystery and quotes from philosophers, writers and historical characters. She is reckless, brave and so loving. Triplets Snig, Snag and Snug plus crippled Archibald know all about her love as they were abandoned and found a home with her.
Sterling Montoya did searching for his mother. He too was abandoned at an orphanage thirty years previously. He is looking to fill a void and he believes only she can fill it.
Does he believe in magic, gnomes and spells?
What brilliant characters Rebecca Paisley imagines and creates in her head. Unique characters with great stories to accompany them.
Chimera is full of magic, mystery and quotes from philosophers, writers and historical characters. She is reckless, brave and so loving. Triplets Snig, Snag and Snug plus crippled Archibald know all about her love as they were abandoned and found a home with her.
Sterling Montoya did searching for his mother. He too was abandoned at an orphanage thirty years previously. He is looking to fill a void and he believes only she can fill it.
Does he believe in magic, gnomes and spells?
February 14, 2021
Oh My Gosh! What an Awesome romance story. Not your typical Western but Rebecca Paisley's own charmingly unique writing style were she weaves hilarious situations, obnoxious triplets, and an enemy who will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Moonlight and Magic has characters that are well thought out and you find yourself drawn into their story, clever, witty and funny and witty banter, a story that is well-written, with a good plott, drama and intrigue. With setting descriptions and action sequences that are wonderfully vivid which brings this read together perfectly.
August 23, 2021
Loved this book
I loved this book. What a wonderful storyteller. The characters were inspired and whimsical. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because of all the wrong words. Someone needs to proofread this book and correct. There was “mm” put in the place of words that could be “Them”. Then there were totally wrong words that didn’t make sense. She used “straggled” incorrectly several times. I could figure out the right word. If I had the means to correct it I would have.
I loved this book. What a wonderful storyteller. The characters were inspired and whimsical. The only reason I gave it 4 stars is because of all the wrong words. Someone needs to proofread this book and correct. There was “mm” put in the place of words that could be “Them”. Then there were totally wrong words that didn’t make sense. She used “straggled” incorrectly several times. I could figure out the right word. If I had the means to correct it I would have.
August 27, 2021
Chimera lived with a set of triplets and a lamed boy. She believed she was a witch. She needed help so she congers a knight to help her. That he wasn’t a knight and he came with a newborn baby bothered her not at all. It is an outlandish story which will keep you amused. Even though it could use an editor it is a remarkable book.
August 21, 2021
Absolutely brilliant book
I started this book this morning, 6.5 hours long, a few stops in between but I couldn’t put it down. Took me around 10 pages to get into and then I was hooked. Storyline absorbing, humour off the charts - highly recommend.
I started this book this morning, 6.5 hours long, a few stops in between but I couldn’t put it down. Took me around 10 pages to get into and then I was hooked. Storyline absorbing, humour off the charts - highly recommend.
Read
September 18, 2021Loved it
When a book calls to you then you know it is special. Some books I start and can put down for a week or two. This one I couldn't wait to get back to it. There were a lot of misspelled words in it but so enthralling I learned to ignore them.
When a book calls to you then you know it is special. Some books I start and can put down for a week or two. This one I couldn't wait to get back to it. There were a lot of misspelled words in it but so enthralling I learned to ignore them.
October 27, 2021
Fantastic
A real good book, I read it in one go. Goo
d story, well developed, characters are so funny, I laughed so many times. The heroine is quite an eccentric. There is sorrow too. All in all an excellent book. Will certainly buy other works from this Author. 👍👍👍🙋♀️
A real good book, I read it in one go. Goo
d story, well developed, characters are so funny, I laughed so many times. The heroine is quite an eccentric. There is sorrow too. All in all an excellent book. Will certainly buy other works from this Author. 👍👍👍🙋♀️
July 13, 2023
Must read!
What a unique story. There are a few spelling errors. But my gosh, this kept me totally.
Enraptured. Totally different than most everything else I read but sweet heaven's, it was a good story. Do you believe in magic???
What a unique story. There are a few spelling errors. But my gosh, this kept me totally.
Enraptured. Totally different than most everything else I read but sweet heaven's, it was a good story. Do you believe in magic???
Want to read
August 20, 2021🎁 FREE on Amazon today (8/20/2021)! 🎁
September 13, 2021
Interesting and Magical
Interesting and Magical full of many different twists and turns. Father Tom is a man good to his word and full of wisdom
Interesting and Magical full of many different twists and turns. Father Tom is a man good to his word and full of wisdom
September 13, 2021
Beautiful
Brilliant book well written and a great cast of characters and story line hooked from the start I couldn't put it down absolutely loved it
Brilliant book well written and a great cast of characters and story line hooked from the start I couldn't put it down absolutely loved it
June 30, 2022
I liked about 50 pages of this book.
October 28, 2009
I love the idea of love that is always present in Paisley's writings.
June 3, 2015
I loved this book. It was a nice balance of humor and hotness.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews