Bewitched

by Heather Cullman

Is there such a thing as a match made in heaven? Find out in Heather Cullman's moving story of a man forced to choose between marriage--and madness...

Michael Vane, Earl of Sherrington, was once one of the most sought-after bachelors in London. But when a bout of brain fever left him prone to frightening seizures, he was scorned by the fashionable ton--and he retreated to a secluded abbey on the English moors to mourn the man he used to be.

Back in his old social circle, rumor has it that Michael has gone quite mad. Desperate for an heir to his title, his grandmother gives him an ultimatum: he must marry--or she will have him committed to an asylum. His choice is clear--but who will have him? Luckily, Grandmother has a lovely lady in mind...

Thrice-engaged but never wed, Emily Merriman has her own reasons for agreeing to an arranged union with this melancholy stranger. For she, too, has resigned herself to a lifetime of thwarted desires--until she discovers just how powerful love can be...

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

Reviews

[Linda Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bewitched is a mixed bag of a book. The author had a good concept but included some unusual components. The hero, Michael Vane, is a handsome duke who was once the toast of the ton. But an illness left him prone to seizures that caused him to become a social outcast. He has retreated to a secluded property he owns in the English moors where he endures painful "treatments" for his condition. Emily Merriman has been cursed by a witch. Any man she falls in love with is doomed to become the victim of dreadful accidents. Three engagements have been abruptly terminated. Michael and Emily have each decided that they can never marry anyone because of their problems. Their grandmothers, who are bosom buddies and powerful members of English society, have decided otherwise. The resulting story is a hybrid historical romance paranormal mishmash. The writing is consistently over-wrought. Here's a sample sentence: "Her strong, stubborn spirit had reached through the midnight of his misery and pulled him from the brink of despair, luring him back into the light of life where she had healed him with her love." Reading 346 pages of this florid prose was exhausting.

[Stacey Elder · Rating 1 out of 5]

My God. I wouldn't have finished it but it was a part of a Book Bingo. Look I don't need a lot of sex, and I don't necessarily need a plot, and I don't necessarily need action. But I do need 1 of the three. 80% of the book with not so much as a kiss. Really? For people who loved each other so much, seriously could she have SAID it more times?, they barely touched. For a guy who was plagued with seizures, he had all of ONE, then was cured? Please explain to me what was wrong with him that was suddenly fixed. I get that they loved each other, I wanted them to SHOW ME. Hug, kiss, you're MARRIED AND INTERESTED, I get that he couldn't have sex but you KNEW how she felt and she you, you didn't dare be close? A joke. A lie. A sham. Absolutely off the author as a whole.

[Lou · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve enjoyed other of her books and the writing is good but the relationship was a little too sweet. I kept waiting for the threat to their relationship but it didn’t come to pass. The magical element was interesting and I was left wondering what happens to the witch in the story who is the daughter of a duke - Lady Rebecca Dare

[Vickie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't know why but I really liked this book. The hero and heroine was so likable and innocent. I especially liked how the idea of mental illness does not diminish us and that love could grow in any situation. Great book, looking to put this author in my must read shelf.

[Tetty Marlinda · Rating 2 out of 5]

#26 - 2025
Genre: Historical Romance

[Paranormal Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Both being under the power of a dominate and overbearing grandmother, the hero and heroine have no choice but to surrender to the demand that they wed. The heroine, an American, cursed by a witch to be a burden to the man she loves, has already chased away 3 fiancés due to many mishaps that befall them when she is around. She is considered to be bordering on spinsterhood at 21 but because of her reputation, no one will marry her. So, she was sent across the pond to England in the hopes of finding a man willing to take her on. But never did she imagine she would be wed to a total stranger and one that's rumored to be just as defective as she. She has no idea exactly what would make a Duke unmarriageable but whatever it is it must be truly awful because he too has managed to frighten away every eligible woman in England. With her habit for creative imaginings, she sees him as hideously ugly, or cruel or deformed in some way. But she convinces herself to make the most of it. She cannot love him but maybe she can like him? Maybe they can be friends. But regardless, she imagines as long as she can get children out of the arrangement (something she craves with her whole heart) she can bear anything. And truly, when she finally meets her husband to be she is astonished to see he is most handsome man she's ever laid eye on, even if he's sickly looking.

The hero in turn is being forced to wed an American chit against his will as his episodes have him shunned from society and his grandmother has demanded he find a wife. He knows he is so far removed from the handsome and charming man he used to be before his sickness but to see his bride to be- a beautiful woman- look at him in disgust is too much to bare. As such after their wedding, he induces an argument and succeeds in turning the vibrant, sweet and joyous woman into his enemy. Yet as the weeks pass, he watches her from his sick room after yet another bleeding and sees life in her. She is happiness and sunshine and he finds himself longing for even the smallest touch of that joy. So, he makes it a habit to apologize to her. And the heroine, being the loving and caring woman, she is accepting of his apology and immediately beings seeking out ways to turn this sad and lonely man into the man she can see lying dormant deep inside. She meets with his doctor to improve the special meals he must stick too, she befriends him and spends her time with him making him laugh. And though they cannot be intimate because of his condition, at least she can make his life more livable than the sad and painful existence it's been until now. Indeed, she makes him happy and together they spend their time in friendship and understanding. Until...feelings start to creep up. Until the moment he tells her he loves her and she responds in kind, the heroine wasn't even aware that she had fallen in love with her husband. Never before had she ever felt this comfortable around a man and because he needed her so badly and she need to comfort him, the feels of friendship changed to love before she even knew it. But she's so terrified of the curse that she tries to flee. But he is strong enough now to know that if he can't stop her from leaving, his new life will not be worth living.

I adored this book. I adored the companionship between the hero and heroine and the care and respect they expressed to each other. I adored that the hero was the weakened party and the one who so deeply relied on the heroine for happiness. When she threatened to leave to spare him the curse, it shattered his heart. When he imagined her turning away from him when he had his fit it left him sobbing on the carpet. And when she returned to him, he begged her to hold him. I found this severe role reversal interesting and refreshing. I also truly enjoyed the fact that neither parties were in anyway annoying or stubborn or overly stupid. I enjoyed the realism of their relationship and the acceptance that the hero was sick and will always be sick but they could still be happy. I adored the heroine who was so childish as times, what with her imagination and belief in superstitions and such, yet could be so strong and so king to everyone around her. Yes, maybe this story could be considered a tad bit boring. This is because there was no true antagonist other than the hero's illness. Yes the grandmothers could be frustrating at first but after the first few chapters they weren't even part of the story any longer. But regardless of the flaw that made this book a 4-star rating and not a perfect 5 star I found it to be a charming novel and one full of heart and torment alike.

[Debbie DiFiore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very different book. Slow but it kept my interest. I was fascinated with the character's of the lady in the cottage and her goat. It sounded like there was going go be a sequel but I couldn't find one. Majority disappointed to say the least.

But I loved the romance of the story. They truly loved each other. I don't normally read anything paranormal so that part was different but I can't say I hated it. There is no kissing or anything until the last pages of the book either. But you still felt their love. I have lots of unanswered questions but this looks like that is it. So I took away one star.

[Debby]

Micha el Vane, Duke of Sherrington, contracted brain fever from the measles and now has seizures. He's horrible weakened after two years of nasty treatments. Emily Merriman is the American daughter and granddaughter of a Viscountess whose had three broken engagements. Their grandmothers decide the two should wed. The two have serious issues, but Emily sets out to help Michael after seeing his appalling situation. Through some good witchcraft and lots of herbal remedies, they cure Michael, break Emily's curse and fall in love. The have twins and regain their place in the ton while being madly in love. Mostly clean, different premise.

[Lynee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

This is one of the few non contemporary books I have read and loved. The feelings between the hero and the heroine are slow to build and you can feel their connection building.
The slight paranormal angle towards the end could have been taken off, as it didn't really add much to the story, in my opinion..

[Laurie (barksbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still updating my shelves with past reads. This is another book read and reviewed for All About Romance, the review is archived HERE .

[Hopefulpuffin]

DNF. I tried. Twice. I really disliked the heroine (and don't get me started on the bosom bow grandmothers) and much as I wanted to get to the bottom of the H's mysterious malady, I just couldn't do it.

[Megan Keehan · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this book lots of things don't quite make sense, but it's a quick, mindless, humorous read.

[Karen Darling · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too ridiculous.