Spellbound: A Short Story

by Nicole J. Sainsbury

Jenna’s husband is almost perfect—which would be great if she hadn’t used a spell to make him fall in love with her. Guilt is starting to wear away at her sanity. Can she put things right before it’s too late?

17 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 12, 2016

About the author

I'm a lifelong resident of New Mexico, the often misunderstood area between Arizona and Texas. It's the Land of Enchantment...but sometimes it seems as if someone put a cloaking spell on it. Half my family is from Canada. I'm just another struggling writer with a day job, and right now I'm reading more of other people's stories than working on my own.
I've always enjoyed escaping reality and consider myself a mid-level science-fiction/fantasy geek--the kind of person who owns a custom-made Jedi robe but can't bring myself to wear it to Bubonicon in August because a t-shirt is more comfortable. My favorite things include: the Avengers, Firefly, OT and PT Star Wars, 21st century on-screen versions of Sherlock Holmes, Jeopardy!, wizards/witches, unicorns, tigers, well-choreographed (pretend) swordfights, brick-and-mortar bookstores and libraries, and good chocolate (bad chocolate won't stop a craving for good chocolate).
Please visit me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nicole.J.Sain...

Reviews

[Werner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Like many short stories, this one is a bit difficult to review without resorting to spoilers. But I can say that it's an absolute gem! I purchased it for my Kindle app with a gift card some time ago, and decided to start on it a couple of evenings ago, when my Internet connection was down; once I started reading it, I couldn't stop until I finished it. (At 17 pages, it's easily a one-sitting read.) The author and I happen to be Goodreads friends; but I don't by any means love, or even like, everything my Goodreads friends write (truth to tell, I don't necessarily even read everything that every author friend writes). I loved this tale on its own merits, and only regret that I didn't read it sooner.

Although I've recommended it for fans of supernatural short stories, I really think it would appeal to most fans of general short fiction as well. It has a modern, anywhere-U.S. setting, and thoroughly likeable, normal characters; and except that it has a premise based on the idea that magic actually works, it's not something that most people would classify as "weird fiction" or "out there." Romance fans would probably enjoy it as much as supernatural fans. (Indeed, except for the use of a cell phone at one point, it could easily have appeared in any of the general circulation magazines that published quality short fiction in the golden age of that format) Needless to say, "supernatural" here doesn't imply "horrific." It's upbeat without being sappy, and while it's not a profoundly intellectual exercise in deep philosophical content, it does have a point that can inspire some thought. The author's plotting and craftsmanship are impeccable; the writer and beta reader in me often tends, when I'm reading a story, to look for points where it could be improved, but here there's not a single thing I'd have changed. There's also no bad language or sexual content; it can confidently be recommended to all readers, from teens to centenarians who are young at heart!

[Jamina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun with a great twist at the end! If you love romance with a little magic thrown in, this story will satisfy!

[Laura L. Carlson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet story with a magical twist

[Nicole]

I wrote it. I can't bring myself to give my own work stars. :)