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Avador #3
Enchanted Cottage
An evil witch places a curse on Alana Cullain, turning the once beautiful woman into an ugly hag. Chased from her village, Alana seeks sanctuary in the dark forest. There she finds a strange cottage, one she had never seen before, and makes her home there.
Demoted and badly wounded in battle, mercenary soldier Colin Duffrey heads home to recover. Along the way, he discovers a cottage in the midst of a forest and finds refuge there.
A woman, marred on the outside, and a man, afflicted on the inside, meet in an isolated cottage. There, they learn that they can help each other. And with a bit of magic, miracles can happen.
Demoted and badly wounded in battle, mercenary soldier Colin Duffrey heads home to recover. Along the way, he discovers a cottage in the midst of a forest and finds refuge there.
A woman, marred on the outside, and a man, afflicted on the inside, meet in an isolated cottage. There, they learn that they can help each other. And with a bit of magic, miracles can happen.
127 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 14, 2012
3 people are currently reading
70 people want to read
About the author
Shirley Martin
44 books38 followersBorn near Pittsburgh, Shirley Martin attended the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating from “Pitt”, she taught school for one year, and then obtained a position as a flight attendant with Eastern Airlines. Based in Miami, she met her future husband there. After raising three sons, she devoted her time to writing, something she had always wanted to do.
With a vivid imagination and a love of storytelling, Shirley has always enjoyed writing. Her first published novel, “Destined to Love” reflects her familiarity with western Pennsylvania, where she hails from, and her love of romance writing. From this historical romance, she blossomed out to other romance genres. “One More Tomorrow” is a vampire romance, one her publisher dubbed “a sizzling seller”. With several fantasy novels and novellas, her writing should appeal to just about every reader of romance. Her books have been sold at Amazon and most major book stores and have garnered great reviews.
A widow, Shirley lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her two cats.
With a vivid imagination and a love of storytelling, Shirley has always enjoyed writing. Her first published novel, “Destined to Love” reflects her familiarity with western Pennsylvania, where she hails from, and her love of romance writing. From this historical romance, she blossomed out to other romance genres. “One More Tomorrow” is a vampire romance, one her publisher dubbed “a sizzling seller”. With several fantasy novels and novellas, her writing should appeal to just about every reader of romance. Her books have been sold at Amazon and most major book stores and have garnered great reviews.
A widow, Shirley lives in Birmingham, Alabama, with her two cats.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
January 26, 2013
I felt like I was reading a Grimm’s fairy tale for adults - the book has a very simple, straightforward narration with a more “tell” than “show” approach; there’s no layers of meaning involved, or nuances, or inferences to make, and most of all, you can anticipate a happy-ever-after ending right from the start. An enchanting story nonetheless, one that evoked in me nostalgia for my childhood reading days!
June 29, 2017
Is a great book to read
March 6, 2020
The story was very cute. Due to very different circumstances, Alana and Colin both magically wind up at a secluded cottage in the forest. Alana has a curse that has marred her beauty, and an injury is causing Colin's health to fail. And after learning about each other, they start to care about each other too.
It's interesting that while Alana is taking care of Colin, she scolds herself for being impatient. Really, she comes across as having no real faults, so it struck me as a little odd that suddenly she has an issue with patience.
I enjoyed the time they spent in the cottage, but once they were separated it felt like too much of the story became about their own lives. While I understand that it's a good idea because it shows how their lives have changed after meeting the other, and how they begin to reassess their values based on the other's absence, it just felt too long. When they finally run into each other, all I could think was, "It's about time!"
Overall, though, it was a pleasant read.
It's interesting that while Alana is taking care of Colin, she scolds herself for being impatient. Really, she comes across as having no real faults, so it struck me as a little odd that suddenly she has an issue with patience.
I enjoyed the time they spent in the cottage, but once they were separated it felt like too much of the story became about their own lives. While I understand that it's a good idea because it shows how their lives have changed after meeting the other, and how they begin to reassess their values based on the other's absence, it just felt too long. When they finally run into each other, all I could think was, "It's about time!"
Overall, though, it was a pleasant read.
January 12, 2013
This was a very sweet, engrossing, fantasy romance that I read in about a day. A kind and beautiful woman is cursed by a jealous witch, causing a marring of her beauty and her shunning from her village. She retreats to the woods where she stumbles upon a cottage in a clearing that she knew did not exist prior to the day of her shunning. She accepts her fate and begins a solitary existence in the cottage, caring for a wounded soldier that also stumbles into the cottage. I liked how the heroine, Alana, was determined to stand on her own two feet and work with the changes that her life had undergone. The romance and love was glossed over for most of the book, its only detracting factor, but the interaction between the characters was intricate, believable, and well written. It was an enjoyable read and one I plan on rereading as the mood strikes.
June 8, 2013
Shirley Martin's fantasy romance, ENCHANTED COTTAGE, charmed me right from the start. I was immediately drawn into this mythical world with its colorful cast of characters: a heroine (Alana) who has the potential to be beautiful, two gentlemen suitors, and an endearing little girl whom Alana tutors. Finally enter the evil witch that has cast her black spell on Alana as the story begins. Will Alana succeed in escaping the effects of the spell and its black magic? Is there anything anyone can do to help her?
If you're longing to curl up with an entertaining read on a brisk fall evening and become swept away by this "grown-up" fairytale, this is definitely the book for you!
If you're longing to curl up with an entertaining read on a brisk fall evening and become swept away by this "grown-up" fairytale, this is definitely the book for you!
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April 29, 2013Amazon freebie 4/30
May 8, 2013
Such a sweet and lovely fairytale! A quick and delightful reading with adorables and magical characters and a beautiful romance!
February 3, 2015
Nice retelling. Few awkward spots in the plot and a couple of references to things that never went anywhere. All in all a pleasant read
May 4, 2020
This was an intriguing book about Alana and Colin. These two meet unexpectedly and Alana helps Colin with his wound. It was a good book!
August 27, 2020
A loviely story filled with deep emotion, adventure, fantasy, and romance for hearts of all ages. Thoroughly enjoyed it! Thank you!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews