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Enchantment
SWEET ENCHANTRESS
They called her the Hag of Cold Springs Hollow, yet Bryony Talcott couldn't cast a spell to curdle milk. Then she chanted an incantation to bring change into her life and, to her surprise, conjured up dashing Adam Hawthorne. Beneath his cool demeanor, she sensed a wellspring of passion that frightened her innocent heart even as it set her soul afire.
Out to discredit all so-called witches, Adam was prepare dto unmask the Hag as a fraud--until one peek at Bryony rising from her bath convinced him that she was nto the wretched old bat he'd expected. Shaken by temptation, Adam struggled to resist her charms. But he was no match for Bryony or a love that could only be magic.
They called her the Hag of Cold Springs Hollow, yet Bryony Talcott couldn't cast a spell to curdle milk. Then she chanted an incantation to bring change into her life and, to her surprise, conjured up dashing Adam Hawthorne. Beneath his cool demeanor, she sensed a wellspring of passion that frightened her innocent heart even as it set her soul afire.
Out to discredit all so-called witches, Adam was prepare dto unmask the Hag as a fraud--until one peek at Bryony rising from her bath convinced him that she was nto the wretched old bat he'd expected. Shaken by temptation, Adam struggled to resist her charms. But he was no match for Bryony or a love that could only be magic.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 1994
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 22, 2014
The girl: Bryony Talcott, last of a long line of Talcotts known for their spells and white magic. Bryony's friends and neighbors call her the "Hag of Cold Springs Hollow" and performs a wee bit of magic here and there, but she knows she doesn't have the family's gift and relies more on common sense and herbal remedies.
The guy: Adam Hawthorne. City born and bred and he's on a mission to out the phony magicians and fake healers that milk innocent victims (there's a reason for his unbending desire for exposing these fakes, but that gets into spoiler territory). Adam's latest mission to expose the "Hag of Cold Springs Hollow" for the fake he believes she is, but boy is he surprised when he's expecting a hag and gets the beauteous Bryony instead.
This was a very sweet romance, and I loved the rural setting (I think it was post Revolutionary War) and the quirky characters - especially the four men bent on matchmaking. The matchmakers discussing their latest plot:
"She'll be all right up there, won't she? She's a maid and he's jumpier than old Widow Dinsmoore's rooster the day she brought home six new hens."
Oooh that house on the mountain top built like Noah's ark where our pair were trapped in during a big storm. Another fun plus were the quotes from the Talcott book of 'spells' and cures at the beginning of each chapter:
"To discover thy future Husbande: At Midsummer's Eve, set the table for Supper and leave the Doore to the House wide ajar. The Man sought will come inne and sitte.Do not, however, mistake a Varmint for a Husbande. Thy neighbor's cat will not serve well, as a rule."
I liked that the story arcs Bryony and Adam had to deal with were more character driven and not standard forced tropes like the Big Misunderstanding.
"I saw a lot more love and caring and folks helping others and and respecting others in a single day back in backwater, backwooods, backward Cold Springs Hollow than I've seen in all this time in your fancy Philadelphia!
You go girl!
All in all, very nicely done and with a healthy dollop of white magic. Or was it magic? Read it for yourself. This one is going on my keeper shelf.
"Come build a bonfire with me outside and I promise we'll come back here and build one in that very bed.
The guy: Adam Hawthorne. City born and bred and he's on a mission to out the phony magicians and fake healers that milk innocent victims (there's a reason for his unbending desire for exposing these fakes, but that gets into spoiler territory). Adam's latest mission to expose the "Hag of Cold Springs Hollow" for the fake he believes she is, but boy is he surprised when he's expecting a hag and gets the beauteous Bryony instead.
This was a very sweet romance, and I loved the rural setting (I think it was post Revolutionary War) and the quirky characters - especially the four men bent on matchmaking. The matchmakers discussing their latest plot:
"She'll be all right up there, won't she? She's a maid and he's jumpier than old Widow Dinsmoore's rooster the day she brought home six new hens."
Oooh that house on the mountain top built like Noah's ark where our pair were trapped in during a big storm. Another fun plus were the quotes from the Talcott book of 'spells' and cures at the beginning of each chapter:
"To discover thy future Husbande: At Midsummer's Eve, set the table for Supper and leave the Doore to the House wide ajar. The Man sought will come inne and sitte.Do not, however, mistake a Varmint for a Husbande. Thy neighbor's cat will not serve well, as a rule."
I liked that the story arcs Bryony and Adam had to deal with were more character driven and not standard forced tropes like the Big Misunderstanding.
"I saw a lot more love and caring and folks helping others and and respecting others in a single day back in backwater, backwooods, backward Cold Springs Hollow than I've seen in all this time in your fancy Philadelphia!
You go girl!
All in all, very nicely done and with a healthy dollop of white magic. Or was it magic? Read it for yourself. This one is going on my keeper shelf.
"Come build a bonfire with me outside and I promise we'll come back here and build one in that very bed.
September 4, 2016
Enchantment by Coral Smith Saxe
I enjoyed this story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
They called her the Hag of Cold Springs Hollow, yet Bryony Talcott couldn't cast a spell to curdle milk. Then she chanted an incantation to bring change into her life and, to her surprise, conjured up dashing Adam Hawthorne. Beneath his cool demeanor, she sensed a wellspring of passion that frightened her innocent heart even as it set her soul afire.
Out to discredit all so-called witches, Adam was prepared to unmask the Hag as a fraud-until one peek at Bryony rising from her bath convinced him that she was not the wretched old bat he'd expected. Shaken by temptation, Adam struggled to resist her charms. But he was no match for Bryony or a love that could only be magic.
I enjoyed this story.
The description of the book I am listing below is from the back jacket of the book. I'm adding it because I believe the one on the Goodreads page does not depict this story.
They called her the Hag of Cold Springs Hollow, yet Bryony Talcott couldn't cast a spell to curdle milk. Then she chanted an incantation to bring change into her life and, to her surprise, conjured up dashing Adam Hawthorne. Beneath his cool demeanor, she sensed a wellspring of passion that frightened her innocent heart even as it set her soul afire.
Out to discredit all so-called witches, Adam was prepared to unmask the Hag as a fraud-until one peek at Bryony rising from her bath convinced him that she was not the wretched old bat he'd expected. Shaken by temptation, Adam struggled to resist her charms. But he was no match for Bryony or a love that could only be magic.
December 31, 2019
Bryony is the last in a long line of magician physicians serving a small farming community, worried that her powers hadn’t manifested yet. Adam is a smug know-it-all from Philadelphia who made it his mission to unmask charlatans and frauds. The magic of attraction between two good-looking people overcomes their differences.
He withholds information for “her” own good, but does manage to apologize tolerably well. Enjoyed the earthy olde-timey advice and her approach to spells. Did not want to hurl the book across the room.
He withholds information for “her” own good, but does manage to apologize tolerably well. Enjoyed the earthy olde-timey advice and her approach to spells. Did not want to hurl the book across the room.
March 4, 2023
So I got this book in a box of random books from an eBay romance haul. I have to say I didn’t expect much starting off because a lot of older historical romances tend to age poorly, but this was really cute! The book kept me engaged throughout and I loved the use of magic! Super fun story!
March 16, 2021
Gorgeous cover, gorgeous story.
December 31, 2023
Adorable and magical and leaves you with the warm feelies! 🔮 ✨ 🐈⬛
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews