Circle of the Lily [Mass Market Paperback]

Jill Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1998

In 1899, a mysterious occurence at a country manor house caused people to whisper of murder, curses, and witchcraft. Today, Claire St. John gives "ghost tours" of the house. But when a storm unearths human bones on her property, and an enigmatic, yet attractive American comes looking for his long-lost mother, what follows is a pulse-pounding story of passion, magic, psychic battles, and a star-crossed love.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In this modern gothic with strong occult elements, Jill Jones pairs a British woman with psychic abilities and an American man whose life has been blighted by an ancient curse. When Claire St. John meets Michael Townsend, the new boarder on her English country estate, she's both attracted and repelled. She senses in him a merciless sorrow, a darkness that draws evil, and she warns him of a malevolent woman who will harm him. That woman is Delilah Mason, a present-day enchantress who has used magic to build an empire. Delilah now seeks to expand her power by reviving an ancient cult called the Circle of the Lily, with Michael as her High Priest. With help from her psychic friends, Claire summons up her own powers of light to win Michael for herself, reveal the sources of his emotional demons, and destroy the evil forces that threaten them. Jones's use of the character's thoughts to tell portions of her story occasionally slows the pace, but her clever and compelling plot twists will keep most readers riveted. --Ellen Edwards

From Publishers Weekly

By using the elements of black magic and ancient curses, Jones establishes the sinister, riveting conflict between good and evil powers. The Circle of the Lily is an occult group of black magicians thought defunct until Claire St. John, a 35-year-old psychic counselor from Essex, England, finds a symbolic ring on a skeleton. Then her new tenant from America arrives, an appealing English professor named Dr. Michael Townsend, who casts a black aura like no one she's ever seen before. And when a ghost also moves in, dark secrets begin to unfold. Jones (Essence of My Desire) is especially adept at creating tense plots and authentic characters; most notable is the thoroughly wicked High Priestess Delilah Mason who seeks to reestablish the Circle and summon Michael as her high priest. With Jones's newest, that old black magic will have many readers in its spell.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (November 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312968132
• ISBN-13: 978-0312968137
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 3.8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,062,168 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not worth your time, October 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Circle of the Lily (Mass Market Paperback)

I thought the addition of the occult, a ghost, psychic powers and auras would be a interesting change to a romance novel. Unfortunately Jill Jones did not make it work. I found the two main characters boring and I never did figure out when they feel in love. Don't waste your time. Read "Breath of Magic" instead.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I couldn't put it down. Spellbinding! :), October 27, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Circle of the Lily (Mass Market Paperback)

I'm not an omnivorous romance reader. I'll only pick up books that really catch my eye. CIRCLE OF THE LILY piqued my interest so much that I sat in the car reading it before I brought it home!

It's got a captivating love story, a nailbiter of a suspenseful plot involving the magical workings at the turn of the century, and a real glimpse into the world of psychics and ceremonial magicians. You'll love the hero and heroine and be holding your breath every time the villain steps into the scene!

OK, maybe it sounds corny, but I really enjoyed this book. It was the first one by Jill Jones that I've read -- but I'm definitely going to read another!

2.0 out of 5 stars I thought I would try something new, August 22, 2006

By 

scotdog "KC" (Dallas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Circle of the Lily (Mass Market Paperback)

I am growing bored with the usual romance novel. I thought I would try something new & wish I hadn't. I felt kind of creepy reading this one. Good magic/bad magic really did NOTHING for me. The chemistry between the two leads is never really there. No character development. Left me feeling kind of icky. I must not be ready for the occult type romances.