With an antique store to run, Ivy Raymond had an eye for members of the opposite sex, as long as they were named Shakespeare, Rembrandt, or Louis XVI. But she was too busy to look at men from her own century. Then a kooky old lady sold her a book of spells, and before Ivy could say abracadabra, she was living in a crumbling castle with a far-from-decayed knight.
Stripped of his land, wealth, and title, Julian Ramsden was still arrogant enough to lord it over Ivy. But the saucy wench had powers over him that he could not deny. Whether the flame-haired stranger was a thief, a spy, or a witch, Julian was ready to steal a love that was unquestionably magic.
This is one of my favorite romance novels. I read it when I was in high school and I STILL have this book filed away on my shelf. I love the time swept idea, the paranormal witch craft and of course the romance. It's one of those books that sticks with you for a long time after reading. I remember just sitting there in my parents backyard, on the pool diving board with the Arizona sun turning the sky this amazing tangerine and pink-- I closed the book and just sat there, thinking about the characters. I truly loved this book.
Don’t let the cover fool you! The picture on the cover and the synopsis on the back (containing the phrase “saucy wench”) might typically make me write off a romance novel as being too cookie cutter or typical/boring, but this book is not either of those things!
It’s a book I’d like to read again because it had nuances and details I may have missed the first time. I love time travel romance and this book made me laugh out loud, surprised me at times, and didn’t follow an expected path at times, which I appreciate.
If I had actually liked the male protagonist, this would have been a five star story. I liked everything about it except him. I know that the author was making his attitude as close to period accurate as possible, but if we already have the fantasy of time travel, we can have the fantasy of a male love interest that isn't a jackass.
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.
With an antique store to run, Ivy Raymond had an eye for members of the opposite sex, as long as they were named Shakespeare, Rembrandt, or Louis XVI. But she was too busy to look at men from her own century. Then a kooky old lady sold her a book of spells, and before Ivy could say abracadabra, she was living in a crumbling castle with a far-from-decayed knight.
Stripped of his land, wealth, and title, Julian Ramsden was still arrogant enough to lord it over Ivy. But the saucy wench had powers over him that he could not deny. Whether the flame-haired stranger was a thief, a spy, or a witch, Julian was ready to steal a love that was unquestionably magic.
Thought I would like an older time travel but just wasn't working. I didn't like that the girl was bribed into being the lords mistress or the language. Maybe if I was in a different mood. Also very predictable.
A woman time travels back to the 1600's and finds the love of her life. I enjoy time travel, couldnt care less of the romance. But if that is your thing, there's plenty of romance in the book.