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Bewitched
When young Miss Amelia Bourne suffers a mishap that strips away her magical powers and sees her sent into Regency London to find a husband, she begins to wonder if the sexy Sebastian "Fox" Stapleton isn't just a little too perfect-and if a blacker magic isn't playing with their hearts.
337 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 31, 2008
8 people are currently reading
240 people want to read
About the author
Sandra Schwab
24 books77 followersSandra Schwab has been delighting readers with her unusual historical romances since 2005. She particularly likes the quirky bits of history, so in her books, you’ll find Roman pet eels, Regency gentlemen with green hair, and medieval tournaments in Victorian Britain. She writes both m/m and m/f historicals - happy endings always guaranteed!
She lives in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with a sketchbook, a ukulele (well, more than one), and an ever-expanding library.
She lives in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with a sketchbook, a ukulele (well, more than one), and an ever-expanding library.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
April 29, 2008
This is my second by Ms Schwab. Her books have a very gothic feel to them and "Bewitched" is no exception.
Amelia is a witch...just not a very good one. After one final spell gone awry, her family finally gives up, binds her magic, and sends her to London to be married off. Unfortunately for her, she still ends up tangling with a very bad sorcerer...and her only resort is to use blood magic...which just may end up killing her.
"Fox" Stapleton doesn't believe in magic. Logical, sensible thought is the way to succeed in this world. But when he finds out what Amelia is, will he appreciate the risks she's willing to take to save he and his family?
Quick, fun read.
Amelia is a witch...just not a very good one. After one final spell gone awry, her family finally gives up, binds her magic, and sends her to London to be married off. Unfortunately for her, she still ends up tangling with a very bad sorcerer...and her only resort is to use blood magic...which just may end up killing her.
"Fox" Stapleton doesn't believe in magic. Logical, sensible thought is the way to succeed in this world. But when he finds out what Amelia is, will he appreciate the risks she's willing to take to save he and his family?
Quick, fun read.
September 1, 2011
I love Sandra Schwab and I couldn't wait to sink my teeth into this! 'Castle of the Wolf' left me dying to read her other novels, so when this came in for me at my library I immediately began to read. I will admit it....I had high expectations for this one. I know, I know, it's never good to go into a book with such high expectations, but I did. I will admit it....this novel let me down a little.
I found this one to be okay. It wasn't great like the last one. It took me a long time to read this, because after they drank the potion the story slowed down to nearly a stop. I had to force myself to continue, it felt like a chore for a hundred or so pages. However, once Amelia snapped out of it and began to question what was going on, the story brightened back up.
I loved how Sandra Schwab intertwined magic and storytelling into the plot. You don't read many romances that have magic involved. I also really liked the fact Amelia and Fox were so completely different! It reminded me a lot of the show 'Bewitched', perhaps that's were she got the idea from. Hmmm. Amelia is a witch and funny and a free spirit, whilst Fox is logical, straight-laced, and foxish (if that's a word). Even though much of the language in this book was very modern, I still loved the dialogue and all that.
All-in-all, I found this book to be very dull at points and some of the language used was too modern. I found that some of the events didn't seem to make sense, like how Fox suddenly got past his logic and believed in the magic aspect. Which I adored. I loved the magic idea she used for this. I do believe Sandra Schwab has her own magic while she writes, because even though this wasn't my favorite novel by her I still enjoyed it somewhat. I can't wait until I have her next novel in my hands! I recommend this to people who love somewhat gothic feeling novels or historical romance or magic plotted books or all three. Out of five stars I grant this one 3 *** stars. In all reality it is 3.4, but I don't give decimals.
Favorite Character(s): Amelia and Andrew Fermont
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Fox (I don't know why though, but I found him annoying)
I found this one to be okay. It wasn't great like the last one. It took me a long time to read this, because after they drank the potion the story slowed down to nearly a stop. I had to force myself to continue, it felt like a chore for a hundred or so pages. However, once Amelia snapped out of it and began to question what was going on, the story brightened back up.
I loved how Sandra Schwab intertwined magic and storytelling into the plot. You don't read many romances that have magic involved. I also really liked the fact Amelia and Fox were so completely different! It reminded me a lot of the show 'Bewitched', perhaps that's were she got the idea from. Hmmm. Amelia is a witch and funny and a free spirit, whilst Fox is logical, straight-laced, and foxish (if that's a word). Even though much of the language in this book was very modern, I still loved the dialogue and all that.
All-in-all, I found this book to be very dull at points and some of the language used was too modern. I found that some of the events didn't seem to make sense, like how Fox suddenly got past his logic and believed in the magic aspect. Which I adored. I loved the magic idea she used for this. I do believe Sandra Schwab has her own magic while she writes, because even though this wasn't my favorite novel by her I still enjoyed it somewhat. I can't wait until I have her next novel in my hands! I recommend this to people who love somewhat gothic feeling novels or historical romance or magic plotted books or all three. Out of five stars I grant this one 3 *** stars. In all reality it is 3.4, but I don't give decimals.
Favorite Character(s): Amelia and Andrew Fermont
Not-so Favorite Character(s): Fox (I don't know why though, but I found him annoying)
June 16, 2021
B+ so 4.5 stars I dug deep into the TBR (remember when Dorchester was still around?) and pulled out Bewitched by Sandra Schwab. It’s fair to say that I enjoyed this novel a lot more than the reader who wrote AAR’s original review back in 2008. This Regency historical has a touch of the paranormal to it, and some of the plot touches are more than a little bit tongue in cheek. I found it charming and I was totally sold on the HEA by the end, even if things did drag a tad in the middle.
Amelia (Amy) Bourne comes from a magically talented family, but when she accidentally turns her uncle’s home cobalt blue, he reacts by curtailing her powers and sending her to London in the hopes she can snag a husband and settle down. Indeed, Amy finds herself madly in love with Sebastian (Fox) Stapleton – after drinking punch at an event.
The plot thickens when the two become engaged and Amy goes to stay with Fox and his family. Amy’s host sends his unfriendly daughter along and once the party reaches the Stapleton home, odd things start happening. Amy has been stripped of her powers, but not her ability to detect the magic of others. She knows that dark enchantments are at work, but she and Fox appear to be powerless against them.
Bewitched tells a story that starts off feeling whimsical, meanders into a feeling of enchantment, and then accelerates into high action. Each third or so of the book has a slightly different feel to it, and these fit the development of the story.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/june-tbr-...
Amelia (Amy) Bourne comes from a magically talented family, but when she accidentally turns her uncle’s home cobalt blue, he reacts by curtailing her powers and sending her to London in the hopes she can snag a husband and settle down. Indeed, Amy finds herself madly in love with Sebastian (Fox) Stapleton – after drinking punch at an event.
The plot thickens when the two become engaged and Amy goes to stay with Fox and his family. Amy’s host sends his unfriendly daughter along and once the party reaches the Stapleton home, odd things start happening. Amy has been stripped of her powers, but not her ability to detect the magic of others. She knows that dark enchantments are at work, but she and Fox appear to be powerless against them.
Bewitched tells a story that starts off feeling whimsical, meanders into a feeling of enchantment, and then accelerates into high action. Each third or so of the book has a slightly different feel to it, and these fit the development of the story.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: https://allaboutromance.com/june-tbr-...
May 26, 2019
Interesting witchy story. I wasn't a big fan of the hero, otherwise, I might have enjoyed this more.
July 29, 2025
Sent to London as a punishment for abusing her powers, the heroine is striped of her magic and suffers in the company of her selfish and obnoxious guardians. The notion of stifling her intelligence and speaking with people whom she has nothing in common with is becoming harder and harder to do. When she meets the hero she takes an instant disliking to him. She finds him arrogant, cold and without any endearing qualities and any chance she gets to secretly mock him she takes.
The hero has no tolerance or will to deal will silly females and this young chit before him may not be obnoxious but she is arrogant, haughty and possesses the knack for putting him back up with every painful conversation. Then, once night they share a drink of punch....and everything changes. The hero falls madly in love with the woman he now considers to be perfect in every way. She is luscious. She is witty and charming and he knows he's fallen head over heels for her. The heroine too realizes how deeply she loves this man whom she's come to consider to be stunningly handsome, marvelously charming and someone she can't imagine ever living without. Their courtship is a whirlwind and all too brief because soon the hero is offering her marriage. Elated beyond belief and almost delirious with happiness she accepts. Their relationship is easy, passionate and playful. He is very attentive to her, always finding an excuse to touch her in anyway he can. She charms him with her courage, the fact that she suffers from none of the typical feminine flightiness, that she has a brain in her and can entertain him with conversation. He's never craved a woman before like he craves the heroine. He frightens himself with the passion he feels for her as it urges him to shame himself and her by sleeping together before marriage. But the heroine craves him just as much. Every time he walks in the room, she lights up with the joy and feels the ache of missing him ease. She disregards any strange little flashes of memory of the past of disliking the hero because she's all too happy just to love him and be love by him. And his family have also become an extension of that love. His brother, his niece and his nephews are like family to her as well. So when an evil presence makes itself known in the house, she resorts to blood magic to defend them. It's then that she realizes the truth.
The haze of the love potion clears leaving her sick with guilt, shame and a strong sense of fear of what will happen when the hero realizes the truth. At first she tries to distance herself from him, giving him time to remember and time for herself to find a way to live without him. Because the most painful part of this knowledge is the fact that the love for him caused by this magic hasn't faded in the least. She still loves him with her entire soul and berates herself daily for keeping this secret from him. Until the villain makes an appearance and the hero's eyes are opened to the fact that their love was a lie and that the woman he thought of as his world was a hoax. Enraged by the trickery and wounded more in pride, the hero storms off to drown himself in gambling and alcohol, ignoring all attempts from his family to alert him to the heroine's failing health. Until he hears of her emanate death. The thought of her dying, of him being unable to see of speak to her again makes him snap out of his pity party. But as he races to her side, he fears he's too late. The spell cast over his family is powerful and it's killing the love of his life right before his eyes. In that instant he regrets his selfishness and throws himself into any magic that could save her life.
What a marvelous book this was, yet I couldn't help the feeling that I missed a book that prequel this story. This is because the antagonist's main focus when he cast the love potion was not to harm the hero and heroine but to use them as a weapon against the hero's brother. It did seem to be show a previous conflict and I'd be curious to see if I can find a book about the brother. But regardless, I came to love this story anyway because of the hero and heroine's characters as well as their strange but fantastic romance. I loved the idea that if not for the potion, a tool intended to harm, they would never in a million years have had reason to fall in love yet that connection however manufactured ended up creating a deep and lasting bond between them. Their true characters came out allowing the other to really see what lay beneath the first impression. That the heroine was capable of connecting with people and the hero was capable of warmth and feeling. Their partnership was playful and free and no matter how powerful the magic, that love remained even after the truth was revealed. I don't know why I enjoy historical so much or how I justify the lack of an exiting plot when in any other genre I find fault but I just so.
I really really enjoy this author and long for more from him but it doesn't seem to hopefully. It sucks that such a gifted author would faded into the past when plenty of crap writers keep pounding out the dripple. Such a mystery.
The hero has no tolerance or will to deal will silly females and this young chit before him may not be obnoxious but she is arrogant, haughty and possesses the knack for putting him back up with every painful conversation. Then, once night they share a drink of punch....and everything changes. The hero falls madly in love with the woman he now considers to be perfect in every way. She is luscious. She is witty and charming and he knows he's fallen head over heels for her. The heroine too realizes how deeply she loves this man whom she's come to consider to be stunningly handsome, marvelously charming and someone she can't imagine ever living without. Their courtship is a whirlwind and all too brief because soon the hero is offering her marriage. Elated beyond belief and almost delirious with happiness she accepts. Their relationship is easy, passionate and playful. He is very attentive to her, always finding an excuse to touch her in anyway he can. She charms him with her courage, the fact that she suffers from none of the typical feminine flightiness, that she has a brain in her and can entertain him with conversation. He's never craved a woman before like he craves the heroine. He frightens himself with the passion he feels for her as it urges him to shame himself and her by sleeping together before marriage. But the heroine craves him just as much. Every time he walks in the room, she lights up with the joy and feels the ache of missing him ease. She disregards any strange little flashes of memory of the past of disliking the hero because she's all too happy just to love him and be love by him. And his family have also become an extension of that love. His brother, his niece and his nephews are like family to her as well. So when an evil presence makes itself known in the house, she resorts to blood magic to defend them. It's then that she realizes the truth.
The haze of the love potion clears leaving her sick with guilt, shame and a strong sense of fear of what will happen when the hero realizes the truth. At first she tries to distance herself from him, giving him time to remember and time for herself to find a way to live without him. Because the most painful part of this knowledge is the fact that the love for him caused by this magic hasn't faded in the least. She still loves him with her entire soul and berates herself daily for keeping this secret from him. Until the villain makes an appearance and the hero's eyes are opened to the fact that their love was a lie and that the woman he thought of as his world was a hoax. Enraged by the trickery and wounded more in pride, the hero storms off to drown himself in gambling and alcohol, ignoring all attempts from his family to alert him to the heroine's failing health. Until he hears of her emanate death. The thought of her dying, of him being unable to see of speak to her again makes him snap out of his pity party. But as he races to her side, he fears he's too late. The spell cast over his family is powerful and it's killing the love of his life right before his eyes. In that instant he regrets his selfishness and throws himself into any magic that could save her life.
What a marvelous book this was, yet I couldn't help the feeling that I missed a book that prequel this story. This is because the antagonist's main focus when he cast the love potion was not to harm the hero and heroine but to use them as a weapon against the hero's brother. It did seem to be show a previous conflict and I'd be curious to see if I can find a book about the brother. But regardless, I came to love this story anyway because of the hero and heroine's characters as well as their strange but fantastic romance. I loved the idea that if not for the potion, a tool intended to harm, they would never in a million years have had reason to fall in love yet that connection however manufactured ended up creating a deep and lasting bond between them. Their true characters came out allowing the other to really see what lay beneath the first impression. That the heroine was capable of connecting with people and the hero was capable of warmth and feeling. Their partnership was playful and free and no matter how powerful the magic, that love remained even after the truth was revealed. I don't know why I enjoy historical so much or how I justify the lack of an exiting plot when in any other genre I find fault but I just so.
I really really enjoy this author and long for more from him but it doesn't seem to hopefully. It sucks that such a gifted author would faded into the past when plenty of crap writers keep pounding out the dripple. Such a mystery.
February 28, 2014
I found this book while trying to get out of a Stephen King spell. The name caught my eye, Bewitched. I love books about the enchanted magical life and witches, there is just so much a writer can to with a magical theme.
When I started reading it, it started out slow and not as captivating as I had hoped. It took me a few days to work through the slow start but after a few chapters I was sucked in. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into witches or pagan books. It is one of the first books I have read in a long time where the author actually did their homework on the rituals she included in the text.
The main characters are intriguing and the personality of "Fox" and how it clashes with Amelia's just drew me into the story even more. I loved how she stuck to the 'sex is just unseemly for unmarried women'as was typical in London in the 1800's. Most books of this caliber are loaded with sex and scandal when the time would most likely frown upon it.
Definitely an amazing escape from what I had been reading and I will be putting it amongst my favored books on my shelf to read again I recommend it to anyone who would like a quick and enchanting readBewitchedBewitched.
When I started reading it, it started out slow and not as captivating as I had hoped. It took me a few days to work through the slow start but after a few chapters I was sucked in. I would recommend this book to anyone who is into witches or pagan books. It is one of the first books I have read in a long time where the author actually did their homework on the rituals she included in the text.
The main characters are intriguing and the personality of "Fox" and how it clashes with Amelia's just drew me into the story even more. I loved how she stuck to the 'sex is just unseemly for unmarried women'as was typical in London in the 1800's. Most books of this caliber are loaded with sex and scandal when the time would most likely frown upon it.
Definitely an amazing escape from what I had been reading and I will be putting it amongst my favored books on my shelf to read again I recommend it to anyone who would like a quick and enchanting readBewitchedBewitched.
April 7, 2019
So happy to find this book again!!
I first read this book in paperback when it came out. I loved it then and I love it now. I had to do some searching on Amazon to find it. I could not remember the author's name.(sorry!!) But remembered the story, very much, obviously since I have searched for, and luckily found it again. When I read the blurb, I knew this was it. The house turning blue was the thing that brought me back to it. I found it funny and charming, this tale of magic, love and mystery. And totally humorous. I always wanted to smack Sebastian and cheer for Amy, that never changed. I am ecstatic that it's on Amazon and available to a new generation of readers. Enjoy it and Love it like I do. 😘💕
Dawnbee's Reviews
Happy reading!!
I first read this book in paperback when it came out. I loved it then and I love it now. I had to do some searching on Amazon to find it. I could not remember the author's name.(sorry!!) But remembered the story, very much, obviously since I have searched for, and luckily found it again. When I read the blurb, I knew this was it. The house turning blue was the thing that brought me back to it. I found it funny and charming, this tale of magic, love and mystery. And totally humorous. I always wanted to smack Sebastian and cheer for Amy, that never changed. I am ecstatic that it's on Amazon and available to a new generation of readers. Enjoy it and Love it like I do. 😘💕
Dawnbee's Reviews
Happy reading!!
March 5, 2018
Magnificent!
I have to be honest here and say that this book left me just a little confused in the beginning. Hang in there please. It takes a turn for the the great. Loved all the magic, sorcery and wizardry. I'm a lover of fairy tales and history and the Druids bring a special kind of magic.
I have to be honest here and say that this book left me just a little confused in the beginning. Hang in there please. It takes a turn for the the great. Loved all the magic, sorcery and wizardry. I'm a lover of fairy tales and history and the Druids bring a special kind of magic.
January 26, 2020
I picked this up on a whim, and while it was good I was sad that the witchiness really stuck to the front and back of the book. Rhe middle felt much less magical than I'd hoped! Not bad for a random read though.
May 16, 2025
I do like a bit of magic/paranormal mixed in with what is otherwise a 'real world' setting (see Emily Larkin). I also liked how Fox and Amy's families interact among themselves and to save Amy. ❤️ I've added this to my re-read worthy list.
July 26, 2015
I loved this book. It was definitely a fast read so I had to space it out, while I read another book in the between time. A few questions/comments:
I didn't really understand why Amy's family wanted no contact whatsoever with her after the blue house incident. Yes, it was bad but still, they're her only family. I really liked the magic aspect, that was different.
I liked how Amy was always described as 'petite' or 'plump', "plump as a peach" or "plump as a partridge", rather than short and fat. haha
Amy and Fox were good main characters. They were complete opposites in the beginning, but by the end they were prefect for each other. I liked Fox's nephews a lot, the niece was a little annoying, but not as annoying as Mrs. Bentham or Isabella. People and situations like that always make me glad that I never grew up in those times.
The fact that Isabella was considered to be 'almost' an old maid...well that didn't sound quite right to me. I've read a lot of books in this genre and usually the girls were getting married when they were a lot younger than 24. Or let me rephrase that, usually by 24 she would already be married and most likely already have a child.
Needless to say, I would definitely be interested in reading more from Sandra Schwab. I enjoyed this book a lot.
I didn't really understand why Amy's family wanted no contact whatsoever with her after the blue house incident. Yes, it was bad but still, they're her only family. I really liked the magic aspect, that was different.
I liked how Amy was always described as 'petite' or 'plump', "plump as a peach" or "plump as a partridge", rather than short and fat. haha
Amy and Fox were good main characters. They were complete opposites in the beginning, but by the end they were prefect for each other. I liked Fox's nephews a lot, the niece was a little annoying, but not as annoying as Mrs. Bentham or Isabella. People and situations like that always make me glad that I never grew up in those times.
The fact that Isabella was considered to be 'almost' an old maid...well that didn't sound quite right to me. I've read a lot of books in this genre and usually the girls were getting married when they were a lot younger than 24. Or let me rephrase that, usually by 24 she would already be married and most likely already have a child.
Needless to say, I would definitely be interested in reading more from Sandra Schwab. I enjoyed this book a lot.
February 4, 2012
Castle of the Wolf was such a great book. I have read it several times, so when I saw this book was by the same author I got excited and had to read it.
This story is about a young woman who's family has pretty much given up her and sends her to London to be married off. They bind her magic and send her on her way. She meets a man whom doesnt believe in anything that isnt logical and solid yet what is he to do when he is confronted with the truth about her?
This was a good book. Not as great as the other one but I will definetly read more of Schwab's work.
This story is about a young woman who's family has pretty much given up her and sends her to London to be married off. They bind her magic and send her on her way. She meets a man whom doesnt believe in anything that isnt logical and solid yet what is he to do when he is confronted with the truth about her?
This was a good book. Not as great as the other one but I will definetly read more of Schwab's work.
March 24, 2016
Miss Amelia Bourne has had her magic powers stripped from her and thrust into the season by her uncle. Living with his friends she meets Sebastian Stapleton one evening and realizes she really doesn't like him. But when they're given a love potion they can't seem to keep away from each other.
A delightful read. I love Schwab's novels. They're always so interesting and unique. I especially liked the last few chapters which I found surprising, moving and frustrating all wrapped in one. I actually went back and read the second half of the novel after finishing it.
A delightful read. I love Schwab's novels. They're always so interesting and unique. I especially liked the last few chapters which I found surprising, moving and frustrating all wrapped in one. I actually went back and read the second half of the novel after finishing it.
December 9, 2009
I liked this one but it won't be kept in my permanent collection cause I doubt I'll ever read it again.
I thought that Amy was an amazing character but Fox was only so so. I thought that the build up to the conflict was at a good pace but the actual resolution was too swift. Fox's acceptance of magic after all that time was a little unbelievable, but what he was willing to do for his love for her was amazing.
Good Read I would recommend it.
I thought that Amy was an amazing character but Fox was only so so. I thought that the build up to the conflict was at a good pace but the actual resolution was too swift. Fox's acceptance of magic after all that time was a little unbelievable, but what he was willing to do for his love for her was amazing.
Good Read I would recommend it.
May 28, 2008
After a Magical Mishap, Amy is sent away from her family to find a suitable husband, but evil lurks behind every corner at Rawdon as Amy and her intended Sebastian try to settle in to a quiet life together.
September 10, 2011
this was a regency with a twist--a heroine who is hiding the fact that she is a witch, and hero who is no believer in anything "fanciful," and a villainess who encourages her temporary guardian to given the H/h a love potion.
October 8, 2015
Magic, standing stones, pagan religions, evil, revenge, family and more are part and parcel of Amelia and Sebastian’s story. I have always loved fairy tales and stories with magic and this was a very fun read to conclude the book with.
September 21, 2008
Ok for escapist reading - period gothic type romance.
January 22, 2016
This book took be a while to get into it, but once I started to become part of the story I really enjoyed it.
August 28, 2010
Really 3.5 ★
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews