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Under an Enchantment
Ailie MacBride has convinced everyone on the tiny island of St. Columba that she's daft -- it's the only defense she has against her wicked relatives. When a mysterious, beautiful man emerges from the cold ocean she finds herself caught in his wicked gaze and his dreamlike smile, until all thoughts of her ordinary life vanish, and she is his.
First Appeared in the Anthology Highland Fling in 1993
First Appeared in the Anthology Highland Fling in 1993
74 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1993
About the author
Anne Stuart
205 books2,070 followersAnne Stuart is a grandmaster of the genre, winner of Romance Writers of America's prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, survivor of more than thirty-five years in the romance business, and still just keeps getting better.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
Her first novel was Barrett's Hill, a gothic romance published by Ballantine in 1974 when Anne had just turned 25. Since then she's written more gothics, regencies, romantic suspense, romantic adventure, series romance, suspense, historical romance, paranormal and mainstream contemporary romance for publishers such as Doubleday, Harlequin, Silhouette, Avon, Zebra, St. Martins Press, Berkley, Dell, Pocket Books and Fawcett.
She’s won numerous awards, appeared on most bestseller lists, and speaks all over the country. Her general outrageousness has gotten her on Entertainment Tonight, as well as in Vogue, People, USA Today, Women’s Day and countless other national newspapers and magazines.
When she’s not traveling, she’s at home in Northern Vermont with her luscious husband of thirty-six years, an empty nest, three cats, four sewing machines, and one Springer Spaniel, and when she’s not working she’s watching movies, listening to rock and roll (preferably Japanese) and spending far too much time quilting.
Anne Stuart also writes as Kristina Douglas.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
January 3, 2020
"Under an Enchantment" is the story of Ailie and Malcolm.
A wonderful tale full of magic and miracles, this one has a Selkie H emerging from the sea and falling for the eccentric and widowed h. I enjoyed the whimsical confidence of the beaten but not broken h, and the ruthless revenge of the determined H. Some angst, lovemaking and rescue later, the book ends on a hopeful note.
Safe
3.5/5
A wonderful tale full of magic and miracles, this one has a Selkie H emerging from the sea and falling for the eccentric and widowed h. I enjoyed the whimsical confidence of the beaten but not broken h, and the ruthless revenge of the determined H. Some angst, lovemaking and rescue later, the book ends on a hopeful note.
Safe
3.5/5
October 11, 2012
Ailie enjoys her role in her Scottish village as "daft" and "an innocent" -- it means she can go barefoot, quote Shakespeare, and do what she likes without being bothered much. But her freedom is doomed: even daft, her beauty and inheritance make her far too tempting a prize. When a stranger named Malcolm mysteriously arrives from the sea, Alie is quick to seize on the fantasy that he is a Selkie, come to impregnate her as legend tells. She's much too close to the truth.
If you want a quick Stuart bad boy fix (but not too bad,) this is a shorter but still quite satisfying novella. Stuart has been seeming too "samey" to me lately, and though I wouldn't say this story breaks new ground for her, it has enough unique elements to give her usual formula some new life.
If you want a quick Stuart bad boy fix (but not too bad,) this is a shorter but still quite satisfying novella. Stuart has been seeming too "samey" to me lately, and though I wouldn't say this story breaks new ground for her, it has enough unique elements to give her usual formula some new life.
March 11, 2013
Fun and different! For a change of pace, and for less than $2.00, I enjoyed this short historical by Anne Stuart, set on the island of St. Columba, off the coast of Scotland. It's about 1850, I suppose (the only reference to the date is that it's about 100 years after Bonnie Prince Charlie).
Malcolm comes to the Scottish island to avenge his beloved dead mother, Catriona. With anti-hero tendencies, he decides to use Ailie to get even with Catriona's enemies, even beyond the grave. Ailie is a wealthy and beautiful heiress, but she pretends to be daft, so her bullying brothers will leave her alone, and to keep suitors at bay. It doesn't work. Old Tarquil is determined to wed her, bed her, and restrict her. No more running barefoot, dreaming dreams and singing Jacobite songs! No more Shakespeare for you! Naturally, Ailie resists.
When Malcolm walks right out of the sea, the superstitious islanders are sure he's a selkie. Malcolm plays along with the idea. So does the not-so-stupid Ailie. We go from there...
The book has a slight paranormal flavor, with a white witch named Morag, some kind of Druid circle, and a few seals that seem to be just possibly magical. There is no dark magic, but a rather gripping fight scene, to the death.
I did NOT like the ending, when Malcolm
Didn't really buy into such a quickly developing love, but hey, it's a novella.
October 2, 2019
4 to 4 1/2 stars
September 7, 2012
A very easy read, great for a short diversion.
The I Love You's came a little quick, but, that's often the case for novellas, so I didn't really mind.
Overall, very enjoyable, especially for the price.
4/5
The I Love You's came a little quick, but, that's often the case for novellas, so I didn't really mind.
Overall, very enjoyable, especially for the price.
4/5
April 4, 2023
3.5 stars. A historical romance novella involving a selkie?? hero, who emerges from the sea and a young widow who believes?? in fairies, and selkies. An interesting paranormal story - very well written.
August 25, 2014
2.5 stars
Just a few short notes. This one was "meh" for me. The hero did some pretty douchey things in his quest for revenge, specifically, deciding to target (what he thought was) a simpleton simply because she had the misfortune to be the daughter of one man and desired by two others. I just couldn't get behind a hero like that.
I also had some issues with the resolution.
I usually enjoy Anne Stuart, but this is just going to have to be an exception for me. I liked Ailie, but did not like Malcolm, at least not until the last two chapters, and the story was so short, I didn't understand their connection.
Just a few short notes. This one was "meh" for me. The hero did some pretty douchey things in his quest for revenge, specifically, deciding to target (what he thought was) a simpleton simply because she had the misfortune to be the daughter of one man and desired by two others. I just couldn't get behind a hero like that.
I also had some issues with the resolution.
I usually enjoy Anne Stuart, but this is just going to have to be an exception for me. I liked Ailie, but did not like Malcolm, at least not until the last two chapters, and the story was so short, I didn't understand their connection.
August 12, 2013
A novella by Anne Stuart is something that I just can't resist. She wrote one of my favourites funny novellas of all time - The High Sheriff of Huntington.
This one revisits a familiar theme - a bad boy hero - and since it is set on a Island of Scotland - the possibility of him being a Selkie. The heroine is a widow who pretends to be daft to avoid her scheming relatives. As the story develops we find out that the hero's plans are to avenge is mother, mistreated by some of the men on the Island. As this is a novella things happen fairly quickly, with them being attracted to each other and with the hero planning to get his revenge through the heroine at the same time that he feels guilty for doing so. So guilty that he is ready to give up his happiness, fortunately we have a very determined heroine who doesn't hesitate to take matters in her own hand.
While was suitably entertained while reading, it ends up being just more of the same in terms of Anne Stuart's writing and plotting. She is still better than most but, because of that, my expectations are always very high.
Grade: 2.5/5
This one revisits a familiar theme - a bad boy hero - and since it is set on a Island of Scotland - the possibility of him being a Selkie. The heroine is a widow who pretends to be daft to avoid her scheming relatives. As the story develops we find out that the hero's plans are to avenge is mother, mistreated by some of the men on the Island. As this is a novella things happen fairly quickly, with them being attracted to each other and with the hero planning to get his revenge through the heroine at the same time that he feels guilty for doing so. So guilty that he is ready to give up his happiness, fortunately we have a very determined heroine who doesn't hesitate to take matters in her own hand.
While was suitably entertained while reading, it ends up being just more of the same in terms of Anne Stuart's writing and plotting. She is still better than most but, because of that, my expectations are always very high.
Grade: 2.5/5
October 27, 2012
This was a cute novella. I really wish it had been a bit longer, though, as I liked the premise. As it was, I didn't really feel the hero and heroine had enough time to develop feelings for each other.
I've always loved selkies, so even if the hero wasn't actually one, even having them in the story was a definite plus. (So now I'm off to read A Dark and Stormy Night, with actual selkies!)
I was somewhat confused over when the story was supposed to be taking place. It said around 100 years after songs about Bonnie Prince Charlie were banned, which would imply somewhere around 1846. (I believe those laws were repealed in 1782, though.) Other than that, though, there was no real sense of the time period, just "Scotland a long time ago". But this is pretty often the case with novellas, so it wasn't much of a problem.
I've always loved selkies, so even if the hero wasn't actually one, even having them in the story was a definite plus. (So now I'm off to read A Dark and Stormy Night, with actual selkies!)
I was somewhat confused over when the story was supposed to be taking place. It said around 100 years after songs about Bonnie Prince Charlie were banned, which would imply somewhere around 1846. (I believe those laws were repealed in 1782, though.) Other than that, though, there was no real sense of the time period, just "Scotland a long time ago". But this is pretty often the case with novellas, so it wasn't much of a problem.
December 26, 2022
cw: abusive family, misogyny, threat of forced marriage, mention of former sexual assault, attempted murder, on page attempted sexual assault, unchallenged fatphobia
This one is so good! I was very convinced that this book was paranormal until I kept on reading and was made aware it was not. The hero and heroine were perfect together but they also shone on their own. I loved all their interactions and how they were both just so fascinated with the other. The hero adamantly saying that he would destroy the heroine for being linked to the men who hurt his mother, but never actually being cruel to the heroine was a treat. He never stood a chance haha. The writing, the pacing, and character dynamics were all so well done that I definitely recommend!
This one is so good! I was very convinced that this book was paranormal until I kept on reading and was made aware it was not. The hero and heroine were perfect together but they also shone on their own. I loved all their interactions and how they were both just so fascinated with the other. The hero adamantly saying that he would destroy the heroine for being linked to the men who hurt his mother, but never actually being cruel to the heroine was a treat. He never stood a chance haha. The writing, the pacing, and character dynamics were all so well done that I definitely recommend!
February 26, 2013
Ailie and Malcom, were very complex characters and their circumstances were difficult, considering this was a 74 page story. Ailie pretends to be flighty and daft, to keep her family from taking away her freedom. Malcom is the new stranger in town, bent on vengeance against Ailie's family. They are forbidden from being together, and both know they should stay away from each other, but the heart wants what it wants and they end up together. What bothered me was Malcom's behavior at the end.
March 1, 2014
One of those books I just didn't get. The setting is a historically-ambiguous island. He walks out of the ocean, possibly for revenge. She pretends to be simple to avoid marriage. I don't really understand feral heroines, I guess. Quit after a couple of chapters.
February 18, 2014
Not well wriiten, and not a good read. The characters are inconsistent and wishy washy, it's hard to tell the dates but they talk about Shakespeare's works as though they're long past and well known. Not the worst story I've read, I am just thankful the library bought it instead of me
September 14, 2018
I didn’t really get the whole, pretending to be daft, thing. I thought that the h would be this shrewd women in secret and pretended to be weird. But the impression I got was that she was just a bit quirky.
Other than that it was an ok book/novella. Wish it was longer with a bit more drama.
Other than that it was an ok book/novella. Wish it was longer with a bit more drama.
April 29, 2012
Another terrific tale by one of my fav authors!
July 9, 2012
Fun, short, escapist read. Anne Stuart is great.
August 6, 2016
Quick read. A dark fairy tale. Well written.
May 5, 2014
'Under an Enchantment' is a fast paced, entertaining novella. This is historical fiction with a bit of magic. I stayed up most of the night to read this, as I didn't want to put it down.
Read
March 30, 2016Kobo en pc
July 8, 2017
Cute and short
It would have been cool if there was more back story on the mom and why ailies family started treating her bad.
It would have been cool if there was more back story on the mom and why ailies family started treating her bad.
December 12, 2022
Decent enough novella.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews