The Bewitching of Amoretta Ipswich

Three Little Girls Dressed in Blue #1

by Marcia Lynn McClure

The spirit of adventure and curiosity that dwelled within her bosom was passionate with excitement! It was obvious there was something wildly interesting inside the gristmill, and Amoretta silently swore to herself she would discover what it was no matter what. She promised herself that nothing short of torture could keep her from seeing what was inside now that her feet were set on the path. Amoretta carefully knelt in the cool grass shaded by mill and trees. Once Prudence and Blanche had knelt down with the others, Prudence pointed to the low, loosely hanging board, indicating that Amoretta and Calliope should look through the open space it presented. Amoretta’s heart was pounding like the rapids of some raging river! What were they about to witness? Spirits roaming the old mill? Pirates? Outlaws? Her imagination couldn’t list possibilities quickly enough. And then, all at once—in the space of a moment and a short gasp—Amoretta Ipswich knew exactly why the young ladies of Meadowlark Lake liked to sneak out to the gristmill and peep through the loose siding board. “Oh my—” Amoretta’s exclamation of astonishment was silenced by Winnie’s hand quickly covering her mouth.

Genres: Romance, Clean Romance, Historical Romance, Westerns, Historical, Historical Fiction, Fiction

293 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Marcia Lynn McClure grew up influenced by the reminiscent stories of rugged, rural Colorado farm life fascinatingly recounted to her by her parents, grandparents, uncles and aunts…tales of runaway buckboards, mule-drawn plows and dust pneumonia; verbalized images of stream-flooded meadows, frozen over in winter, where a child could peer through the crystal clear ice in wonder at the small fish, snakes and mice sealed in the meadow grasses beneath; stories of hardship and tragedy, love and loss. But always the stories, and the people telling them, bore evidence of the wonder and worthiness of simpler, yet sometimes brutal, times.

These influential people and the family legends they detailed, coupled with her own life experiences and utterly romantic nature, led Marcia to begin writing novels as Christmas gifts for her closest friends…friends who long for a breath of the past and miss the romance of bygone eras; friends searching for moments of distraction from the stressful, demanding times we live in.

And so, knowing that it is the breath of the past and the "take me in you arms and kiss me" kind of moments that so many women long to relive, Marcia spins her tales of love, life and laughter…adventures woven around those compelling, romantic instances that most appeal to a woman's loving heart. Marcia feels that if her readers close one of her books with a contented sigh and a delighted smile, feeling rejuvenated, cheerful and edified, then she has achieved what she set out to do…shower refreshment and happiness on anyone having experienced the story.

Marcia lives in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. There she writes her stories surrounded by her beloved friends and family...and the beautiful desert landscape of New Mexico!

Reviews

[TJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet, simple story. Nothing that makes it memorable but nothing to complain about, either.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't wait to read it!! And that's my handsome son on the cover!!
I loved it!! And to all those that were worried I would picture my son, I didn't!!

[Kathryn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I loved it. I'm adding this one to my favorites. Ransome's alley kiss is still the best kiss ever but the cherry kiss might be a close second for me. There is so much to love in this book. I love both Brake and Mr. Judge and I did feel a little weird that I kinda-sorta-just-a-smidgeon liked Mr. Judge better. But I didn't realize it until I got to the Authors Note where MLM said that we should imagine Hugh Jackman when we think of the Judge. Now I get it. And it's not weird at all. (smiley face)

I really like three Ipswich girls. I could really empathize with Amoretta about the "Bloom Where You're Planted" saying. I HATED it when I was young. (Now I kinda get it and I've moved from hostile feelings to feeling slightly ambivalent.) I'm excited to read about the other Ipswich girls. I really hope that Shay's story is part of the trilogy. I would go into more detail about things but don't want to give away the whole plot.

There are also some non-plot things that I love about this book. I love that it's one of MLM's longer books. As long as it is, I still read it in a few hours. (My kids may or may not have watched instant Netflix all day.... at least I fed them, right?) MLM is the only author that I have read who can infect her writing with her love for what she writes about. I generally dislike Halloween because it's too scary. Also, in Alaska, by the time Halloween rolls around, fall is LONG gone. But after finishing this book I'm looking forward to Halloween like never before. And does anyone else giggle like a 12 year old while reading the Authors Notes? Or is that just me?

Marcia, if you want a postcard from Alaska, let me know. :)

[Teya Teya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's that time of the year again to devour the deliciousness of Marcia Mcclure's journeys to destiny books. Okay, I'm a month early starting but who cares!

12/2/23
I love this first book of the Ipswich Three Girls in Blue. I love the two-in-one love story.

8/14/22
I just love, love, love this series. In fact, I started Untethered and remembered that something from this trilogy is in that one. I had to read these first so I started right away. I love the Ipswich girl and trilogy. Yes, I will mention as I have in other years, I love the Romanian and am tickled pink because I would have my husband read it to me and well.... ANYWAY! So romantic seriously.

Other years:
OH MY HECK!!!! I LOVED THIS BOOK! Sensual, CLEAN, an amazing sensation, and for me in particular completely INTERACTIVE! I'll explain, there is Romanian in the book my sweet husband went to Romania on a mission for 2 years. He would read Romanian and interpret, how sexy is that!!!!!!
My personal favorite book to date. All the Romanian stuff was perfect! What a fun, amazing, and extremely talented writer! Marcia Mcclure, you are the best!

I love the three girls in the blue Ipswitch girls. I love it. It's crazy with the crazy but so yummy and good. Plus I love the author's notes especially the one about the postcards. I collect them the same since I started traveling. I also love the Romanian Gypsy thing because my husband served two years in Romania.

[Stacey Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

OOooooh! So exciting to know this is the first of a trilogy! Oh how I loved this book! I love all of Marcia's books, but once again I fell in love with the characters in the story. The imagery throughout made you feel like you were living in MeadowLark Lake and with all these wonderful people. I felt bewitched reading this book and I can't wait to read more about this wonderful family and the lives of the Ipswich sisters! Green Beans! ;)

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this. It was full of Marcia's flare for "bewitching" the reader with giving her story plenty of atmosphere that makes you fall in love with the story and characters! It just wasn't a top favorite of mine. I prefer her stories that have some conflict in the relationship. Marcia writes a brooding, tortured hero like no other!, and I find I'm disappointed when one of her stories don't have that element to them. Also the mystery and who did it and why was just kind of a let down to me. Just kind of on the unbelievable side. But other than that, I really enjoyed it, and the reason I didn't give 5 stars was just my own personal preferences.

[JaNeen · Rating 5 out of 5]

If I could give it 6 stars I would have!! I haven't enjoyed a book so much since Ransom Lake! Brake was a man with a good soul and that made him irresistible to Amoretta. What a delicious book!

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 STARS

I read the second book in this series first and the next book I wanted to read was The Bewitching of Amoretta Ipswich. Now it would be nice if the next book was out now I would read it. Reading out of order I knew how a lot of the book would end. So I would recommend reading in order. But I still enjoyed both books.

Amoretta Ipswich is not happy that her father took her from Boston to Meadowlark lake out west. She left the boy she thought she would marry, her mother and brother's grave. She falls for the good looking young men that the most other girls in town like. She can't take her eyes off him. Amoretta is the middle sister.

Calliope is the baby sister at 17.

Evangeline is the oldest at 21

The three sisters are close in age and friends.

Their father is the new county Judge Lawson Ipswich. A widower for the past 6 years. He does not want his girls to grow up to be snobs.

Someone is killing animals. People's pets and wild ones too. The Sheriff and Judge try to keep it quite while they check it out. The judge checks out the Gypsy women and her daughter that live in the woods by themselves close to his new house. He is surprised that Kissy is so young and beautiful. She is not much older than his daughters.

Kizzy and her daughter Shay are so friendly. I love Shay and look forward to seeing more of her.

Some of the twists and turns of the book took me by surprise while others you could guess where the story was going to go. (course some I knew from reading Sweet Bliss of Calliope)

I have not heard all of those Halloween traditions. For a book that was using the word lover a lot all anyone did was some kissing.
Had good suspense of who was killing the animals.

I bought this ebook on Amazon late

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

** sigh ** I loved this new addtion to my Marcia library. I'm not going to say much in this review because I always say the same things about McClure books. LOVE them...and LOVED this one. As I started reading it, it quickly went to being among the top of my list with favorite Marcia books. (Although it seems I always say that too after I read one.):) LOVED the characters as always...but for some reason I really loved these people and found myself so excited as I read knowing that there are two other books about "them" that I have yet to read! I think something that I especially enjoyed was that there were TWO love stories and two swoon worthy heroes, and two heroine's I adored in this book! I LOVED Marcia's comparison of Mr. Judge to Hugh Jackman in her authors notes btw:). (Though I adored him throughout the book before anyway....but lets just say it ummm ADDED to his appeal even more;)lol Cute story...fun escape...thoroughly enjoyed it!!

Some mild language throughout on this one
Kissing (of course;)
clean romance
FUN read

[Chelsea Raadgep · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just amazing! Sweet, romantic, and most of all, bewitching! Marcia, I freaking love you! You know how to write one heck of a book! I loved Lawson just as much as I loved Brake! When there are more than one romantic couples in a book, I am sold right off the bat.

This book made me want to bob for apples, peel an apple and toss the peel over my shoulder to see what my lover's first initial would be(to see if it actually worked), and drink apple cider! It definitely got me in the mood for Halloween and all of its customs!

I do have to say that I am definitely looking forward to book #2! I can only imagine what it will be about! Thank you, Marcia, for bewitching me with an awesome story yet again!

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love you Marcia, but unfortunately this was not one of my favorites. For some reason I didn't fall for the hero (and I always do!) but I did like the judge. The story was good, but I'm just not sure what it was. The "insane villain plot" has been worked a couple times over now and I was hoping for a little more. As always though, looking forward to the next one.

When I read back over my favorites like Ransom Lake and Shackles of Honor, I realize that there is so much more unspoken passion between the characters in the story when we don't have soooo much insight from the point of view of our leading men. And I guess I like that better. Still one of my favorite authors.

[Paula Bothwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

PG -
Language: loads of "farmer" swears (d@mn, h3ll, etc);
Violence: some implied violence
Sex: no sex, great kissing.
One of the better MLM books (not to Highwayman standards, but not at the bottom of the list either).

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two romances in one! I can't wait for the next book in the trilogy. Marcia never disappoints with memorable characters and situations.

[Haley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it and so excited it is a trilogy!

[Toni · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fun book! Marcia did it again. I could so see her involved in these girls' lives. I loved it and can't wait for the sister's stories. I loved their Dad's story too!

[Alysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really would loved to give this a 5 because I love Marcia Lynn McClure books. The stories she weaves are so fun and happy and just make me giggle. However, I do wish that there wasn't language in the book. I know, I know, it's pretty mild and it's cowboy talk, BUT a) I like to see a man who speaks respectfully, and b) I try to teach my kids not to use this kind of language, so how can I hand this off to my daughter (who snakes all my Marcia books to read sometimes before I even get them)?...

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amoretta, her two sisters, and her widowed father move west to a small town to escape the city life in Boston, but Amoretta isn't too happy about the move...until she spies Brake through a broken board in the mill.

I love how the mystery and the Halloween customs are involved in the story. The characters are all great fun and some of the situations had me giggling.

I love the bond the sisters share and how kind their father is. I cannot wait to read the other books in the series!!

Content: some language and mild violence, along with some kissing (nothing more).

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

In all fairness, the insane villain is probably hard to do well. Even a bigger challenge is when the author wraps up the climax of the story by exposing a murdering schizophrenic girl and having her shoot people and then not be killed (of course) but knocked unconscious all in about TWO PAGES.
The instant love must be hard to pull off too. Especially when four main charters in one book are in love at first sight. gag.
I like a good cheesy and clean romance as much as the next person... but this book? I guess it just wasn't for me.

[Melody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Both my brother and his friend found me curled up with this on my Kindle, and asked what I was reading. Both times after saying the title the boys response was huh? It made me laugh. While it may not be a name they understood, it was a book I nevertheless loved. Nothing like a good ol' historical romance by Marcia! I was thoroughly bewitched with the story! ;) Can't wait for the next one!

[Shannon]

Is definitely going to take it's place among my favorite of her books. Had an unexpected little twist which I absolutely loved and hope to see more of. Loved to see all the kissing of course and can't wait to see what's in store for the next two books!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought it was a very cute book. Very fun story and I liked that there was two love stories going on. Very fun read. Can't wait for the next book on Calliope.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will be a great trilogy! Loved this one and can't wait for more!

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a purely Marcia book. Need I say more?

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another fantastic book by McClure. She makes me giggle.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I had to get it as an ebook because I couldn't wait for my book to get here. I'm so glad I did! Great book!

[Angel Bliss · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED!!!!!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was dreamily fabulous!!! Sigh

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three little girls...

I have three girls of my own who may all be married off within the next decade, so I love that the theme for this book was three sisters!

[Aimee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The perfect romance for October. So, so good. As usual for MLM. :) LOVE the cherry kiss scene.