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The Portrait
Marleigh Winters accompanied her mother to yet another yard sale expecting to be bored out of her mind. She is pleasantly surprised, however, when she spots a large portrait of a soldier among paintings for sale. She's drawn to the portrait, and the soldier seems almost alive. She finds herself mesmerized and knows that she has to purchase it. She takes it home where she discovers that the portrait is under the spell of a witch, and that she as its owner has the power to draw the soldier from the portrait and into her presence. The soldier, Winston Spencer explains that he has been trapped for over one hundred years, and enlists Marleigh to help him break the spell so that he can once again be free. The attraction between them is immediate and Marleigh cannot resist it. But is the attraction between them real or just the result of the spell?
156 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 21, 2020
18 people are currently reading
68 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 13, 2024
4.0⭐️ This book was a true delight! It was completely mesmerizing. The story revolves around Winston and Marleigh. Winston is a former british soldier who, at the age of 21, was trapped in his own portrait by a witch’s spell in 1879. Marleigh is a black woman who has accompanied her mother to a yard sale. As she is moseying around the yard, Marleigh spots a portrait of Winston, and she is inexplicably drawn to the portrait of the Englishman. She buys the portrait and her parents and sibling begin haranguing her about the purchase of an old, useless painting of a “white boy.” However, Marleigh is intrigued by the painting and decides that she will find the perfect spot for it in her new apartment.
I loved this book because it is a fantastical romp brought about by the author’s creative imagination. The Portrait is full of humor and frivolity as the reader journeys into fantasyland. There is also suspense, some danger and paranormal aspects to the story. Winston and Marleigh are such likable characters. Although there is very little backstory regarding Marleigh, I didn’t mind because the focus is really on Winston and the circumstances which had him trapped in his portrait for over 100 years. Will the spell be broken? By whom? And how? These are the questions that face Winston and Marleigh.
With all of the upsetting occurrences and ugliness happening in this country, I was looking for a book that was fun, intelligently written, and a plain old whimsical escape. Well, I found all that in this book, and I am thoroughly satisfied. It is just what MY doctor ordered—for real!
I loved this book because it is a fantastical romp brought about by the author’s creative imagination. The Portrait is full of humor and frivolity as the reader journeys into fantasyland. There is also suspense, some danger and paranormal aspects to the story. Winston and Marleigh are such likable characters. Although there is very little backstory regarding Marleigh, I didn’t mind because the focus is really on Winston and the circumstances which had him trapped in his portrait for over 100 years. Will the spell be broken? By whom? And how? These are the questions that face Winston and Marleigh.
With all of the upsetting occurrences and ugliness happening in this country, I was looking for a book that was fun, intelligently written, and a plain old whimsical escape. Well, I found all that in this book, and I am thoroughly satisfied. It is just what MY doctor ordered—for real!
July 17, 2020
Quick, sweet read. It could've really benefited for a bigger push of description and variation of setting, a bit more background / personality of the heroine, and more emphasis on their love in the end (felt a bit going-through-the-motions to solve the curse).... But! It's not a book that one gets overly critical about, so i'll stop there. It's clearly meant to be a light read. Nonetheless, it was cute and the antagonists were some pretty funny fools.
July 25, 2020
I give it 3.5 ⭐️ s
July 8, 2020
A Good Different
At first, I thought this book would be like Dorian Gray. However, it was not macabre. This was a love story with a happy ending. A woman goes to a yard sale and finds a painting that intrigues her, so she purchases it only to find that a person is bound therein. She frees him temporarily because there is a spell on it. Together, they figure out the way to his freedom, thereby freeing the person who cursed it as well. Of course there's conflict. All great stories have that. But this one ends quite well.
At first, I thought this book would be like Dorian Gray. However, it was not macabre. This was a love story with a happy ending. A woman goes to a yard sale and finds a painting that intrigues her, so she purchases it only to find that a person is bound therein. She frees him temporarily because there is a spell on it. Together, they figure out the way to his freedom, thereby freeing the person who cursed it as well. Of course there's conflict. All great stories have that. But this one ends quite well.
November 29, 2020
Great Mystery
The title caught my attention and it held my attention! Amazing how everything fell in place. Marleigh and Winston was on the same wavelength to meet each other through a portrait of a stranger, that she fell I love with. As the old saying goes, it was meant to be! Love story. Mystery that kept you guessing but you just knew it would last! Good read fast read! Second book I have read by this author. She took you to where you wanted to go, love!
The title caught my attention and it held my attention! Amazing how everything fell in place. Marleigh and Winston was on the same wavelength to meet each other through a portrait of a stranger, that she fell I love with. As the old saying goes, it was meant to be! Love story. Mystery that kept you guessing but you just knew it would last! Good read fast read! Second book I have read by this author. She took you to where you wanted to go, love!
June 11, 2023
This was cute. For some reason, I was anxious while reading because I was expecting more dubious characters to come along and make things difficult for our mains, but nothing like that ever happened. The ending felt a bit rushed and anticlimactic but all in all, this was cute and sweet. It was a nice break from the heavy stuff I tend to read.
January 29, 2022
A young woman buys a portrait at a yard sale, and is able to summon the man in the portrait into her home. This story had a witch, an alternate reality, a bit of mystery and suspense, a nosy reporter, and a love story. I wasn't expecting to love this as much as I did.
September 25, 2020
Great story.
I love time travel or mixed time frames romances. This book punched all the buttons! Nice work and "realistic" ( if you can say that about a ghost), characters.
I love time travel or mixed time frames romances. This book punched all the buttons! Nice work and "realistic" ( if you can say that about a ghost), characters.
August 26, 2022
Cute! I really liked this book. The plot was really interesting. Marleigh and Winston were great together. Very steamy. I love when characters talk and dont let BS get in the way. Fun read.
May 29, 2023
3.5 Stars
June 24, 2020
Loved it❤️
Very good read! What a beautiful relationship between Marleigh and Winston❤️❤️ I definitely intend to read more by Miss Anderson😁👌🏾
Very good read! What a beautiful relationship between Marleigh and Winston❤️❤️ I definitely intend to read more by Miss Anderson😁👌🏾
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews