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Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered
For the first time in one volume, the New York Times bestselling author presents three tales of paranormal romance.
In "Everything She Does is Magick," a trio of matchmaking witches chooses unsuspecting little Nathan McBride as the perfect mate for their baby niece. The future looks rosy indeed, except for one little catch: they must keep him a virgin!...A lady private eye on the run from some dangerous gangsters invokes a spell of protection in a fit of desperation--and conjures up a dashing musketeer looking for his damsel in distress in "Musketeer By Moonlight."...And in "The Con and the Crusader," Jack McCain jumps into a well-and into the past. Mistaken for a criminal, he's headed for prison, until he's freed-with a wedding proposal!
In "Everything She Does is Magick," a trio of matchmaking witches chooses unsuspecting little Nathan McBride as the perfect mate for their baby niece. The future looks rosy indeed, except for one little catch: they must keep him a virgin!...A lady private eye on the run from some dangerous gangsters invokes a spell of protection in a fit of desperation--and conjures up a dashing musketeer looking for his damsel in distress in "Musketeer By Moonlight."...And in "The Con and the Crusader," Jack McCain jumps into a well-and into the past. Mistaken for a criminal, he's headed for prison, until he's freed-with a wedding proposal!
278 pages, Paperback
First published December 6, 2005
5 people are currently reading
333 people want to read
About the author
Maggie Shayne
257 books2,574 followersI live in the teeny, tiny town of Taylor, NY, (Alliteration Alert!) though my mailing address is Cincinnatus, my telephone exchange is Truxton and I pay taxes and vote in Cuyler. All of these are at least in the same rural county in the southern hills of New York State; Cortland County. There are more cattle than people here. The nearest “big” cities are Syracuse and Binghamton and they are an hour away, in different directions, and not really all that big by most standards, though they both seem humongous to me. I look out my window to see rolling, green, thickly forested hills, wildflower laden meadows and wide open blue, blue skies. My road is barely paved. The nearest neighboring place is a 700 acre dairy farm.
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
My house is a big, century old farmhouse. I moved in here after my divorce in 2006. Just a little over a year later, the house, which I had named, SERENITY, burned. It was 99% gutted, and I lost my two dogs, Sally, an 11-year-old great Dane, and Wrinkles, my 14-year-old, blind bulldog. This was the culmination of my Dark Night of the soul, which had seemed to hit me all at once in 2006-2007. My mother died that year, after a 14 month battle with pancreatic cancer. She was only 60. The youngest of my five daughters had left home that same year, and while that’s not a tragedy at all, it felt like one to me. Then came the divorce. And finally there was the fire--it seemed my darkest night wasn’t quite finished with me after all. I had lost almost everything before that point, and as I poked through the wet ashes and soot the next day, I realized that I had now been stripped all the way to the bone.
No better time to start over. (And no, I didn’t come to that realization that day--there were a few days of wallowing in pity first, particularly the day after the fire, when I hit a deer and smashed up my car, which I was practically living in!)
That’s when I started to laugh. Just sat on the side of the road as the deer bounded, uninjured and carefree, out of sight, and laughed. It was just too ridiculous at that point, to do anything else!
And from there, I picked myself up, and brushed myself off, and said, okay, there’s only one way to go from here. Forward. And that’s what I did. There I was at the age of harrurmphemmph, living in my one, mostly undamaged remaining room, with a dorm-sized mini-fridge, a futon, a TV, my cat (nine lives!) and a laptop. And not much else. (Though thank goodness the room that survived the fire, was a room that had its own attached bathroom!)
Since then I have rebuilt my beloved home, which really has become my haven, my “Serenity.” I share it now with my fiancé, Lance, and we have accumulated quite the little family together. “Little” being a relative term. We have a pair of English Mastiffs, Dozer and Daisy, who weigh 203 pounds and 208 pounds respectively, and a little pudgy English Bulldog named Niblet, who is bigger than both of them, inside her mind. We also have the aforementioned cat, Glorificus (“Glory” for short,) who adores her canine pups and keeps them firmly in line. And we've acquired a pair of stray cats as well, a mother and son, Luna (Lulu for short) and Butters aka Buddy. Lulu showed up pregnant during a lunar eclipse, had a litter, and vanished again. We found homes for all the kittens except one. Butters. We got him fixed and kept him. A few months later, Lulu returned, again expecting. This litter was born on the "Monster Moon." Again, all the kittens were spayed and neutered and placed in homes, and this time we got Lulu to the vet in time to spay her before the cycle could repeat.
Glory is not amused.
She has a story of her own, my old Glory cat, having been with me before the Dark Times descended, she went through it all with me, moved with me, survived the fire, and remains with me still. She's tolerating the newcomers. Barely.
My partner is an artist, a mechanic, a welder and an inventor, and the rumors are true, he is much younger than I
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
December 14, 2012
These three stories were so cute. Quick interesting reads, the first story was so funny and quirky. The second story was hilarious, the musketeer had no clue just how weird he was but that is what made him so sweet. In the third story Jack Mccain made you want to believe in him. He is a character that so many people can identify with because he is real. He messed up and he knew it but he still wanted to be better in the end.
November 25, 2009
This book was so cute and funny. Please Please Read this book by Maggie Shayne. I have read some of her other books; however, this book was too cute for words. Tamara has decided that she is not a witch. Well, her mom was a witch, her aunt is a witch... (you get it). So when strange things start happening in her little town. Everything goes wild.
February 15, 2008
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered is a collection of three paranormal romances. The three stories deal with love and witchcraft, love with a conjured Musketeer, and love and time travel.
"Everything She Does Is Magick"
This is a darling little tale of Aurora and Nathan, who have known - and despised - each other since childhood. Unbeknownst to them, they are destined to be together so they can parent a powerful Witch, a healer. Aurora's meddling aunts work at getting them together while keeping Nathan from losing his virginity to anyone else. It's a charming and humorous twist on the pure virgin story, full of deceptions and mis-steps.
"Musketeer by Moonlight"
Mary Catherine Hammersmith, a.k.a. M.C. Hammer, is a private investigator with a knack for finding trouble. While hiding from the mob at the home of her aunt (the Witch), M.C. jokingly stumbles her way through a protection spell. Right before her eyes, her knight..er......Musketeer in shining armor appears. Alexandre refuses to be sent back until he helps her, giving M.C. someone else to take care of, or so she thinks. Al and M.C. fight the mob and their growing feelings for each other in this sweet comedy.
"The Con and the Crusader"
This one is written more like an old-fashioned romance than the other two. The only paranormal element is the fact that con man Jack McCain stumbles into a wishing well and into the past - 109 years into the past! Granted, if that happened to me I would feel like it was pretty darned paranormal! He is mistaken for a prisoner (maybe it's the handcuffs?) and is about to be hauled off to prison -- if it weren't for being saved at the last minute by the widow Emily Hawkins. Emily uses an old town statute to her advantage and takes Jack for her husband, so she can get free help to save her farm and the only home her kids know. What she never counted on was the feelings the con man stirred within her.
All in all, I enjoyed the stories. I preferred the more paranormal stories of the bunch. But, they were all light little romances perfect for the month of love.
Go to Walking On Sunshine and comment on my review by 02/22/08 for a chance to win this little gem!
"Everything She Does Is Magick"
This is a darling little tale of Aurora and Nathan, who have known - and despised - each other since childhood. Unbeknownst to them, they are destined to be together so they can parent a powerful Witch, a healer. Aurora's meddling aunts work at getting them together while keeping Nathan from losing his virginity to anyone else. It's a charming and humorous twist on the pure virgin story, full of deceptions and mis-steps.
"Musketeer by Moonlight"
Mary Catherine Hammersmith, a.k.a. M.C. Hammer, is a private investigator with a knack for finding trouble. While hiding from the mob at the home of her aunt (the Witch), M.C. jokingly stumbles her way through a protection spell. Right before her eyes, her knight..er......Musketeer in shining armor appears. Alexandre refuses to be sent back until he helps her, giving M.C. someone else to take care of, or so she thinks. Al and M.C. fight the mob and their growing feelings for each other in this sweet comedy.
"The Con and the Crusader"
This one is written more like an old-fashioned romance than the other two. The only paranormal element is the fact that con man Jack McCain stumbles into a wishing well and into the past - 109 years into the past! Granted, if that happened to me I would feel like it was pretty darned paranormal! He is mistaken for a prisoner (maybe it's the handcuffs?) and is about to be hauled off to prison -- if it weren't for being saved at the last minute by the widow Emily Hawkins. Emily uses an old town statute to her advantage and takes Jack for her husband, so she can get free help to save her farm and the only home her kids know. What she never counted on was the feelings the con man stirred within her.
All in all, I enjoyed the stories. I preferred the more paranormal stories of the bunch. But, they were all light little romances perfect for the month of love.
Go to Walking On Sunshine and comment on my review by 02/22/08 for a chance to win this little gem!
December 1, 2008
In my opinion, these stories were very forgetable. They've all pretty much been done before. The lack of editing (poor grammar and spelling, etc.) drove me nuts throughout. Not bad if you're looking for something light and far-fetched, but don't expect much literary value at all.
April 22, 2008
Maggie Shayne is always a pleasure
January 6, 2010
I just finished this book and it was fabulous I love a book that brings together romance, with a sassy strong herione ,a little paranormal, and some good laughs
January 25, 2012
Really liked this short story collection. This is Maggie at her best. Nice to take a break from a series for a little bit.
September 28, 2008
A lovely book with three captivating modern witch stories.
June 8, 2021
There are three novellas in this anthology.
In “Everything She Does is Magick,” witch healer Aurora Sortilege works as a doctor in the ER. Raised by her eccentric aunts, she’s used to many of the town’s residents calling her names and being afraid of her. Though few people actually believe the Sortilege women are witches, they certainly like to spread cruel gossip about the women. Worst of all is Nathan McBride, the boy who lived next door to Aurora when she was growing up, and the secret object of Aurora’s affections.
Nathan never liked Aurora, but that stemmed from jealously, not his honest feelings. After years of no contact with her, he winds up in the ER after yet another failed attempt at wooing and bedding a woman. Desperate to lose his status as a twenty-nine-year-old virgin, he asks Aurora for help, but their past animosity and present tension drives a continuous wedge between them. Still he’s convinced his malady has something to do with Aurora, and he has no idea how right he is.
I really enjoyed this story. Nathan and Aurora are such likable characters. They often bickered and bantered with each other, but you can easily see the love and affection beneath their acidic barbs. Aurora’s aunts are quite awesome, and I loved how they manipulated the H/h into fulfilling their destiny.
4 Stars
In “Musketeer by Moonlight,” Mary Catherine Hammersmith, better known as MC Hammer, runs her own private investigation firm, and she’d accidentally taped a phone conversation about a gangland hit. Now she’s on the run from a mobster and takes refuge at her aunt’s house on Halloween night. Even though Aunt Kate is a witch, MC doesn’t believe in witchcraft but performs a protection spell, anyway, just for fun. After the smoke clears, she meets the type of man she’d thought she wanted.
Alexandre is a Musketeer from 1400s France and chivalrous to a fault. Once he finally realizes he’s traveled through time, he vows to help MC, a fair lady in need, and then return home. MC helps him adapt to the modern world, and a love neither expected quickly blooms between them.
Wow. I love this story. There’s romance, humor, and action. MC is a great female lead. She’s strong and smart, but in way over her head. Alexandre is dashing, suave, and mouthwatering sexy. Their strength blends together, and they mutually respect one another.
5 Stars
In “The Con and the Crusader,” pioneer widow Emily Hawkins lost her husband a few months earlier, and she has to pay the final mortgage on the farm by harvest time, or she’ll lose everything. But Emily and her two children (her departed sister’s children) can’t do all the work by themselves. She needs a husband to plow and harvest the fields, but she wants it to be a business arrangement. To have control in the marriage, she needs to find a man bound for prison, one who would be at her whim.
Modern man Jack McCain has always shied away from hard work—something his departed witch grandmother had always chastised him for—and he likes to con criminals out of their money. As Jack runs through the woods to try and escape the goons chasing him, he comes across a magic well and accidentally falls down it. After making a wish to survive and in turn work harder than he ever had in his life, he winds up in the year 1890 and bound for prison. Emily picks him to be her husband, and he finds himself strapped to ready-made family and a farm. But Emily needs a strong, honest man, and Jack doesn’t know if he’s up for the task.
I soooooo love this story. Emily is strong and determined, but so blind to love and her own worth as a beautiful, desirable woman. Jack is so damn smart and conniving, but he matured a lot throughout the story and learned the meaning of responsibility. I really enjoyed these characters.
5 Stars
The novellas are well written in duel POVs. The sex scenes were brief but romantic. There are a few typos in each story, but nothing major. Maggie Shayne is one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Book Overall – 5 Stars
In “Everything She Does is Magick,” witch healer Aurora Sortilege works as a doctor in the ER. Raised by her eccentric aunts, she’s used to many of the town’s residents calling her names and being afraid of her. Though few people actually believe the Sortilege women are witches, they certainly like to spread cruel gossip about the women. Worst of all is Nathan McBride, the boy who lived next door to Aurora when she was growing up, and the secret object of Aurora’s affections.
Nathan never liked Aurora, but that stemmed from jealously, not his honest feelings. After years of no contact with her, he winds up in the ER after yet another failed attempt at wooing and bedding a woman. Desperate to lose his status as a twenty-nine-year-old virgin, he asks Aurora for help, but their past animosity and present tension drives a continuous wedge between them. Still he’s convinced his malady has something to do with Aurora, and he has no idea how right he is.
I really enjoyed this story. Nathan and Aurora are such likable characters. They often bickered and bantered with each other, but you can easily see the love and affection beneath their acidic barbs. Aurora’s aunts are quite awesome, and I loved how they manipulated the H/h into fulfilling their destiny.
4 Stars
In “Musketeer by Moonlight,” Mary Catherine Hammersmith, better known as MC Hammer, runs her own private investigation firm, and she’d accidentally taped a phone conversation about a gangland hit. Now she’s on the run from a mobster and takes refuge at her aunt’s house on Halloween night. Even though Aunt Kate is a witch, MC doesn’t believe in witchcraft but performs a protection spell, anyway, just for fun. After the smoke clears, she meets the type of man she’d thought she wanted.
Alexandre is a Musketeer from 1400s France and chivalrous to a fault. Once he finally realizes he’s traveled through time, he vows to help MC, a fair lady in need, and then return home. MC helps him adapt to the modern world, and a love neither expected quickly blooms between them.
Wow. I love this story. There’s romance, humor, and action. MC is a great female lead. She’s strong and smart, but in way over her head. Alexandre is dashing, suave, and mouthwatering sexy. Their strength blends together, and they mutually respect one another.
5 Stars
In “The Con and the Crusader,” pioneer widow Emily Hawkins lost her husband a few months earlier, and she has to pay the final mortgage on the farm by harvest time, or she’ll lose everything. But Emily and her two children (her departed sister’s children) can’t do all the work by themselves. She needs a husband to plow and harvest the fields, but she wants it to be a business arrangement. To have control in the marriage, she needs to find a man bound for prison, one who would be at her whim.
Modern man Jack McCain has always shied away from hard work—something his departed witch grandmother had always chastised him for—and he likes to con criminals out of their money. As Jack runs through the woods to try and escape the goons chasing him, he comes across a magic well and accidentally falls down it. After making a wish to survive and in turn work harder than he ever had in his life, he winds up in the year 1890 and bound for prison. Emily picks him to be her husband, and he finds himself strapped to ready-made family and a farm. But Emily needs a strong, honest man, and Jack doesn’t know if he’s up for the task.
I soooooo love this story. Emily is strong and determined, but so blind to love and her own worth as a beautiful, desirable woman. Jack is so damn smart and conniving, but he matured a lot throughout the story and learned the meaning of responsibility. I really enjoyed these characters.
5 Stars
The novellas are well written in duel POVs. The sex scenes were brief but romantic. There are a few typos in each story, but nothing major. Maggie Shayne is one of my favorite authors, and I look forward to reading more of her books.
Book Overall – 5 Stars
May 3, 2020
Cute and fast reads.
December 25, 2020
12/24/20 re-read pb
July 31, 2025
Silly but I was entertained
August 11, 2016
Adorable characters! Maggie Shayne does it again! This trio of short stories delivers love, humor, and magic. "Everything she does is magick" is the first story, with three fairy godmothers, well, three aunts raising their niece Aurora. The second story is "Musketeer by moonlight" with a musketeer coming to the rescue of the heroine. Through the tv. I really enjoyed this one! The third, and last one is "The con and the crusader" Again, a time travelling story. Again, cute and funny!
June 1, 2016
This is a trio of short stories by the author. "Everything She Does is Magick" Three witches set up young Nathan McBride as betrothed to their niece, and try to keep him celibate.
"Musketeer By Moonlight" A female dick on the lam from the mob accidentally whisks up a hot musketeer!
"The Con and the Crusader" Jack McCain pops into the past, and is headed for prison, until he is freed when someone pops the question!
"Musketeer By Moonlight" A female dick on the lam from the mob accidentally whisks up a hot musketeer!
"The Con and the Crusader" Jack McCain pops into the past, and is headed for prison, until he is freed when someone pops the question!
June 23, 2011
too childish, kiddish
Whole of the story, characters and even the personalities of people were matched to the fairytales. There was nothing original.
it was a complete torture reading this book, not recommmended at all
Whole of the story, characters and even the personalities of people were matched to the fairytales. There was nothing original.
it was a complete torture reading this book, not recommmended at all
February 19, 2016
Loved this book! It is a collection of three stories all by Maggie Shayne and they are wonderful little novellas. Each one had it's own feel and twist, funny, romantic, daring, adventurous and absolutely fabulous! A definite must read!
January 19, 2021
2.5 stars. The first story was my least favorite of the three because of the repetitiveness of the character’s hate then love for each other. It was a quick read that was somewhat enjoyable but not one I would recommend to others.
January 6, 2024
This book helped me out of my five-year reading slump. “Paranormal romance” on the cover was what made me pick up this book since it’s my first time hearing about this genre. Each story has me bewitched, body and soul. Thank you so much Maggie Shayne! ✨✨✨
November 14, 2007
read 10.04.06
January 26, 2011
This book was pretty good. It was a nice quick read which I liked. I did like the first 2 stories better than the last one.
Read
July 31, 2011not that great
Read
August 4, 2011I thought it was good for what it was. Good book to read when you dont want to be tied down by a series, and looking for some short and sweet stories.
October 23, 2012
Good short story. Not a ton of romance but the buildup to it was crazy and funny all at the same time. I always love Maggie's work and her short stories always leave you wanting more.
Read
December 19, 2014I own this book and re-read it every month. Well written and a great story! Thank you for my adventure!
July 10, 2009
Hilarious! I was laughing through out the books.
July 20, 2012
Good but not great. Not worth buying.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews