The Pretty Witch

by Lucy Gillen

When Nigel Frome got Isobel Hendrix the job of secretary to his half-brother, Lucifer Bennetti, it was with the idea that he would thus be able to see a lot more of her.

But Lucifer resembled his satanic namesake in more ways than one; wasn't Nigel taking rather a risk?

Genres: Romance, Harlequin Romance

192 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1971

Reviews

[Iris · Rating 3 out of 5]

Harlequin cover by Bern Smith. The composition is static, H and h are ridiculously over-dressed for a story which takes place during a hot muggy summer, and they look about as unholy as cucumber sandwiches. I like it anyways; BS is always good with bark.

M&B cover is by Jorn Beinkamp, I love how seriously they are looking at each other but again the heavy formal clothing isn't quite right, of course with M&B the artist is not illustrating the particular story.

I've re-read and I guess I'll give it a 3.
Amusing in parts and I did really like the MMC though overall the book has a disappointing lack of sin and temptation for a story with a hero named Lucifer. Who, while dark and broody in appearance, and supposedly implacable about getting what he wants, is never quite dangerous enough. He comes off as having a relaxed attitude; his grins are the wickedest things about him. I wish Gillen had done more with his passive-aggressive relationship with his younger half-brother. Characterized by bro Nigel's bitterness and bigoted distaste for Lucifer's "foreignness"—his father was an Italian Count—and Lucifer's rather immature goading of Nigel, the animosity isn't really explained and it's the most interesting relationship in the book.

Heroine Isobel is a generic version of the blond secretary, competent but without much personality. Lucifer often refers to her as little and doll like, but in Italian so Isobel can pretend she doesn't understand what mia bella means. Difficult to accept he's bewitched by her soft prettiness when the only believable passion in the book stems from Isobel's fears and freakouts. It's exhaustively conveyed that she's terrified of storms and can be found cowering under a pillow unless a big strong man shows up to distract her but I find the heroine afraid of storms gambit boring and lazy—try harder authors. Love which springs up suddenly moistened by heroine tears seems a meager basis for a lifetime together when Lucifer just seems to be amusing himself during a summer heatwave and enjoying getting under his brother's skin.

The ending, where Lucifer comforts the quivering Isobel yet again is brief—his commitment underwhelming—and nearly every pertinent question is left unanswered. What about the OW, aspiring witch, who H was having a longstanding but desultory affair with? Will she be sticking any more pins in dolls going forward because that was kind of great? And what about Nigel, admittedly somewhat of a jerk, finally healed and off to London, expecting Isobel his secretary and girlfriend to go with him? He doesn't even rate a sorry and thanks for introducing me to your brother. Lucifer and Isobel's marriage, if Lucifer actually goes through with it which I doubt, will be horrible for family comity.

[Margo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm giving this one three stars despite misgivings because there is so much good OTT-ness. The H's name is Lucifer. The OW is literally a witch. The OW has a vengeance cat. The OW makes an effigy of the h.

There are also some things that make me doubt the likelihood of an HEA, though: The H is very ready to walk away until he is overwhelmed by sentimentality and goes to the h, but even then, he says he knows he'll regret it. He also tells her he loves her but knows that at his age it would be hard to reform. She asks him if he wants to and he says he thinks he does and that for her he'll "try very hard." "Trying very hard" is a phrase I use when I say I want to cut down on my intake of pistachios, because they are too delicious. Guess what? I still eat pistachios. When it comes to marital fidelity, I expect to hear something a bit more emphatic, like, say, "I will honor my marriage vows."

[Nightwitch · Rating 4 out of 5]

For most of the book, our heroine is in a relationship with Nigel, who's kind of okay and kind of a weasel. He's injured so has had to move home, and in order to prevent anyone else making a move on her has found her a job working for his half-brother, a successful crime novelist named... Lucifer. Yes, really. Nigel clearly has more than a small inferiority complex where Lucifer is concerned but it stays fairly realistic. In the meantime, the local witch has a sexual relationship with Lucifer which she'd like to become more, but also hooks up with a dude who's actually in love with her, and hates our heroine, and has a cat who's possibly Satan. I don't know.

What I really liked about this book is that the successful romance felt like an afterthought. Most of it is basically our heroine noodling around being afraid of thunderstorms, getting her work done, hanging out with her cool boss/buddy, and successfully resisting Nigel's attempts to pull her into an engagement that she's not ready for. There's nothing wrong with him, she's just not feeling it. In the meantime she doesn't actually seem to be falling in love with Lucifer, sensibly enough, because she sees how horribly he treats Vanessa (the witch, who is genuinely in love with him) and is not really on board with that. Lucifer is one of those dudes who can never commit. Fine. When, at the end, he suddenly declares his love and she declares hers, I was actually kind of boggled. Like, I knew it was going to happen, because obviously, but it wasn't really foreshadowed much. Frankly it would have been much more believable if he'd been like "okay have fun in London, see you later" and then they'd hooked up in an epilogue five years later. But whatever, a fun excursion.

[Lynn Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable story and in my top 10 Lucy Gillen books. Still a keeper. I loved her female and male characters. Not in today's taste I know but it was a different time and culture. A favourite of mine.

[Fiona Marsden · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fairly typical offering from Lucy Gillen aka Rebecca Stratton. We have her classic triangle of the younger love interest and the older man. In this case the two men are half brothers. Lucifer is the dark rakish half Italian older brother and Nigel is the reliable younger one who is the heroine Isobel's boyfriend.

Nigel persuades Isobel to come and work for Lucifer as his secretary while Nigel recuperates from an accident in the family home. Of course things don't go to plan and there is another woman, the witchy Mrs Law's and her nasty cat Pyewacket.

A nice quick read without any surprises.

[Anuradha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happened to read this again after a few years. I am inclined to rate it a little higher, 3.5 stars.

The hero is an impudent lovable rogue !! And the poor little puritan secretary who comes to work for him stands no chance of resisting his rakish charm :)

She actually comes as a "friend" of his younger brother who is recuperating from an accident. But the uninspiring friend who hopes to be more cannot complete with the dubious but magnetic personality of his half Italian half brother.

There is a good deal of witch and occult talk in the story. Nothing serious, just to justify the title and satiate the authors curiosity on such stuff !!

Lovely hero hence loved the book. Simple.

[Roub · Rating 1 out of 5]

awfully boring ! too old-fashioned 4 my tastes ! der was witchcraft as well !