TEST
When early in a book the hero is thinking, “He rather liked this woman. Pig snout and all,” you know you’re in for a fun read. I also liked that along with the 17th Century Versailles setting, our hero and heroine were the palace gardener and a maid. About halfway through the book, however, you realize that you need more than just fun to make for a good read.
Alexandre Saint Sylvestre is raising his daughters alone after the death of his wife. The prospective nursemaids his friend Stephen finds for him are entirely unsuitable, and the one woman Alexandre would actually like to care for Janette and Lisette doesn’t want the job. Margot de Verona is to be married to a baron in exchange for a better life for her mother and many siblings, and more importantly, she’s also getting an education at the Sorbonne as part of the bargain. Margot is not the witch she is rumored to be, but her interests are limitless, be it the stars in the sky or the insects at her feet. When her employer is banished from Versailles, Margot needs a job until the baron arrives and goes to work for Alexandre. The little girls take to Margot instantly, as she lets their imagination take flight and weaves stories about the Princess of Practically Everything, her Two Kittens and the King of Oranges (guess who they are).
Margot finds her soulmate in Alexandre and comes to love his daughters, as well. Alexander, in turn, is not only drawn to this unique woman, but can finally allow himself to confide in someone, after a lifetime of hiding his unusual condition. Margot can’t fully understand how, for example, Alexandre can see and touch her voice, but she accepts, and that’s enough for him. He also explains to her the guilt he feels over his wife’s death. In exchange, however, Margot keeps from him something that is pivotal to their growing relationship, and it’s here, when we get to the “conflict,” that Margot’s actions are very difficult to explain. She knows she is doing wrong, she has plenty of opportunity to set things right, but does not. And when the dreaded baron arrives, she behaves just as inexplicably. The promise she makes to Alexandre’s daughters, in particular, seems cruel since she knows she has “just promised the unpromisable.” It all works out in the end, however, and the resolution to her subsequent marriage to the baron seems easy given his determination to get his hands on the money he’ll receive for begetting an heir.
Even with these problems, I look forward to Ms. Hauf’s next book. Enchant Me Not is filled with whimsical touches – be it Margot “reviving” drunk butterflies or the way Alexandre’s condition (known as synaesthesia in our day) translates, for example, people’s voices into shapes and colors. I loved this part of the book, Margot’s thirst for knowledge and Alexander’s world, and the flavor of 17th century France is a welcome change.
Grade: C+
Book Type: Historical Romance
Sensuality: Warm
Review Date: 22/02/01
Publication Date: 2001
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Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.