Customer Reviews

Bewitching the Baron (Heartspell)

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This was my first Lisa Cach book and I'd have to say that I was surprised to find it so good...for some reason (possibly because of the cover and title) I thought that it would be cheesy and cliche. It definitely was not. The book had such wonderful detail about the area in which the characters lived that I could actually imagine it vividly..there was humor and refreshing frank honesty between the characters..it is one of the few romance books I've read lately that had me empathize so much that I was in personal turmoil over the situation (esp. near the end) between the male and female protagonists. In the end, I'd have to say that it was fortunate that Lisa Cach proved my first impression of her book wrong and I truly look forward to reading all of her other historical romance books!

I've enjoyed all of Lisa cach's stories so far, but this is my favorite. The characters are extremely well-drawn. Definitely a keeper!

What happens when a man and woman from two different societal classes fall in love? Even today, it's a touchy subject. Undoubtedly, the poorer of the two will be referred to as a gold-digger, among other not-so-nice terms. During 1722 in Yorkshire, the blending of the classes was almost taboo. It was like two different worlds.

This is the setting for Bewitching the Baron, where author Lisa Cach explores a love relationship between members of the two classes. She writes a story about what could happen when the woman isn't satisfied with the position of mistress, which was all society would approve of between such a couple. As in Ms. Cach's last book, the Changeling Bride, I felt as if I could relate to the heroine of this story. She wanted to be strong, but had her own weaknesses (don't we all!) to deal with as well as her own powers. You find yourself rooting for her throughout the story. In addition to falling in love with a man out of her league, the heroine has to grapple with the needs and fears of the village she lives in. She is a healer, who combines a learned knowledge of the natural medicines available with an extraordinary healing power in an attempt to aid the people she has grown up among. She has to keep a balance, however, to avoid bringing about the dreaded cry of `witchcraft' that plagued many of the healers and midwives of that period.

I enjoyed the book immensely. Although it touched on some dark subjects, such as prejudice of the unknown and death of loved-ones, there were also the pockets of humor that characterize Ms. Cach's writing. This includes blending the horrors of what could happen should someone cry `witchcraft' with the humor of the irrational fears and beliefs of the day. After all, if you fear a person can cast a spell on you if she becomes angry, there's no end to what she might have you believing she can do...

Once again, Lisa Cach has written a novel you can sink your teeth into. She combines believable characters with a quick pace and interesting plot twists, all set in 18th century England.

I think I enjoy Lisa Cach's writing as much for what she does not do as what she does do. She gives us likeable, flawed, human characters--no stunning beauties, ubermen, or cookie-cutter characters here! She gives us plot twists and problems (different societal rank, fears and prejudices) that the characters have to overcome--not pat solutions and characters who could not possibly have survived in their era. And most of all, she does not go on endlessly about their yearnings and loves, but gives us their actions to show us their feelings. This all makes for a much more enjoyable read than a historical romance that is more fantasy than historical.

Lisa Cach writes evocative prose with wit and charm; I find her books engaging and highly recommend them. She is never boring or predictable.

Lisa Cach's novels are a refreshing change in the genre, and I greatly look forward to whatever she writes next!

Baron Ravenall, Nathaniel Warrington was more or less sent to his inherited property, Ravenall, in exile until the scandal that he was part of had died down. He did not expect to meet the very beautiful and mysterious healer Valerian. She was an enigma to him - living so simply, yet her speech and intelligence belied a learned woman who was also possessed of strength of character quite unknown to him in a female of his acquaintance.

Living simply with her Aunt, Valerian possessed a gift of healing that was at once sought after yet feared by the village folk. Had they but known the real gift she possessed she would have been accused of witchcraft by the ignorant amongst them. Yet, Nathaniel as he became friends with her was more broad-minded or was it simply her bewitching him in his lust to possess her body as his friends and family feared.

I have to say that I really enjoyed this story. It had a touch of the mystical to it as to Valerian and her aunt's special gifts - but what I found to be of more value was the depth of the human emotions that were dealt with in respect to family and friends. I loved the strength of character given to Valerian. This strength would not allow her to just up and marry Nathaniel, no matter how much she loved him, in spite of his many attempts to convince her. She saw that he had to `heal' and deal with his past before they could have a future. This story was what one could describe as an intelligent and thought provoking romance. It also has some very amusing episodes with Valerian's talking `Raven'. This was quite an excellent read, amusing, sensual, and thought provoking, that I can highly recommend

In her second book, "Bewitching The Baron," Lisa Cach once again breaks new ground as she introduces her readers to brave and unique women. If you like historical romance, with a touch of "New Age-ish" mystery and a dash of humor, you'll find this book fascinating.

-Sharon Galligar Chance

Is she a gifted healer or really a witch? Meet Valarian, whose talents borders the supernatural, and whose welfare in her village depends upon the the good intentions of the new baron.

Nathaniel is that baron, exiled for a time at his new country estate because of a scandal, he is enchanted by Valerian from the moment he sees her. She is different than any woman he has ever met.

Is he bewitched, as his superstitious friend believes? Or merely bewildered by the first traces of love? Can he protect her, as he had failed to do with another, from heartbreak and even from death?

A most enjoyable read. I found myself laughing, crying, and worrying about the outcome right along with the characters. If you haven't read Lisa Cach's first, The Changling Bride, your in for a treat and a laugh.

Lisa Cach is fast showing herself to be an author of ingenuity when it comes to plotting and characters. Bewitching the Baron offers two likable, flawed people who are absolutely right for one another but sure take the hard road in discovering it. As for the sexual tension, these two have it in spades.

The secondary characters, particularly Oscar the bird, rounded out the story in fine fashion. Even the ending is a bit of a surprise, and certainly in keeping with the characters of the two leads.

Bewitching the Baron is a worthy follow-up to Lisa Cach's debut book, The Changeling Bride.

Cathy Sova, Sr.Editor

The Romance Reader

I liked Changeling Bride because of the paranormal genre but this was equally good because it was like a Cinderella fairy tale but with Valerian and Nathaniel both being of strong will Ms. Cach kept you in suspense till the end. Love how she intertwines a good storyline with the romantic involvement. Just ordered her next book and I am anxious to read more.

Because romance novels are based on emotion, a distant style can be a difficult problem for an author to overcome. And while BEWITCHING THE BARON features a fairly exciting story line, the lead characters never came to life for me. Then too, one of the book's strengths early on - the essence of the English countryside in the 1730's, with its attendant superstition and fear of witches - became melodramatic as the book moved into its final quarter. Even so, when the story moved out of the countryside and into London, whatever connection I had managed to make with the hero and heroine disappeared.

Author Lisa Cach shows a tremendous amount of promise, and I really wanted to like this book better than I did. But because I never truly connected with either lead character, I never felt the joy of their coming together, finally, in love for a happily ever after.

TTFN, Laurie Likes Books

Publisher, All About Romance