Customer Reviews

Hocus Pocus

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Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques

Amanda Santorelli is a mousy young woman who hides her personality behind clothes that are too big. She barely says two words, rarely voicing her true opinion but saying what she thinks people want to hear. All of her nights are spent dreaming about Mark Abbott, her playboy boss she can't get out of her mind.

When Amanda's quirky Aunt Lilly finds an book of spells, she takes it upon herself to cast a spell on Amanda to make her more outspoken. Now Amanda can't stop her runaway mouth and blurts out every thought that crosses her mind. The spell won't be broken until Amanda finds her perfect mate. However, the new Amanda intrigues Mark and he decides his assistant is more his type of woman than he ever imagined.

Hocus Pocus is a book that was given to me and I probably never would have decided to pick it up on my own if I saw it in the store. I am quite happy though it was given to me since this was such an enjoyable read. This was a light and breezy read, with plenty of humor providing several laugh out loud moments. The story is an original one and bound to keep you reading to see what antics they'll be up to next.

I love Amanda who has a lot of spunk though she always kept it hidden. Once the spell was cast and she comes out of her shell, by her own devices or not, she really perked things up and finally got the attention she deserved. Amanda is also highly intelligent and she finally lets that show when the new Amanda arrives on the scene. I liked Mark as well, though he didn't especially stand out in any way for me.

I enjoyed my visit with Amanda and company in Hocus Pocus. I was pleasantly surprised to see there is a sequel available, Now You See It, featuring Sarah Santorelli and of course the loveably wacky Aunt Lilly. I think I'm going to have to go get me a copy of that one also.

© Kelley A. Hartsell, March 2008. All rights reserved.

I thought this book would be either better or longer (i.e. using standard type size) given the expense, but it was just a larger font. While it was OK - it was only OK. The characters were not very well developed, and there was a LOT of repetition. Not terrible but not good - just fair - and at 40% more, go with a different book.

Shy, nearly to the point of being invisible Amanda is obsessed with her boss Mark. Her sister Sarah suggests Amanda might dress more suggestively for the office, but she demurs. Then their Aunt Lilly discovers a dusty spell book in the attic and decides to put it to good use, with Amanda as her guinea pig. Her chosen spell is intended to bring Amanda the man of her dreams. Amanda is concerned that her aunt will, as usual, mess it up, but Sarah demurs, saying magic doesn't even exist.

Immediately following the spell, once the three put out the flames from overturning candles, Amanda finds herself speaking her mind-always unintentionally. At work, she finally begins to stand up for herself rather than let coworkers continue to treat her with doormat status. The most amazed person, besides herself, is her boss, Mark. Eventually she doesn't know what to do, except to escape the situation and go away by herself to heal. But Mark has other plans, now that he's seen this new side of Amanda.

This concept makes for an interesting story with well-drawn characters in Hocus Pocus. The reader will find herself turning the pages to get to the ending to learn how it all turns out. Aunt Lilly is a marvel, and Amanda and her sister Sarah are realistic women. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Amanda's boss Mark is a hunk.

Annie

reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

Hocus Pocus by Teresa Roblin is magically adorable. The story is focused around what calamities can befall a person from the innocent casting of one spell. A definate chuckle bubbles thoughout the book.

Amanda Santorelli is a shy catapillar in a cocoon just waiting for something to happen but what she doesn't know. Baggy clothes, hair in a strict bun, she goes unseen from here to there as if invisable. She's brilliant at her job, loves her boss and life is just wonderful, well at least most of it is. Her love life could use a major overhaul and unfortunately for her, Amanda's family decides to take things into their own hands to try and help out.

Mark Abbott is a great boss, hard worker and ladies man which of coarse comes with most men working in a high office position. Great eye candy he can have any woman he wants but he is extremely paranoid due to his last lasting relationship exploding in his face. As with most men he doesn't notice the story behind the cover with his personal assistant.

Aunt Lily is the cute little old lady that any of us would love to have in our lives. Caring, attentive, nosy and a wee bit goofy she boggles most things her hands touch. With well intentioned actions things don't necessarily turn out as they should, but she really does mean well.

Ever hear the old addages, "Becareful what you say as it might come back and bite you in the [...] later"or "Open mouth, insert foot". Those very things take Amanda on a journey down the yellow brick road of misery leaving her victims in total utter astonishment.

This story is a silly romance from beginning to end but gets the help of a little magic. Speak some Hocus Pocus and you never know what trouble you might get into. A light, fluffy, constant chuckling read this will definately tickle your funny bone. No erotica here so if that's what you're looking for you won't find it.

I have to say that I found this story delightful and a breath of fresh air. It's almost like reading Cinderella but with a magical twist. You can even envision Aunt Lily as the Fairy Godmother with her wand in a tizzle.

Will Amanda find her "Happily Ever After"? You'll have to read to find out.

Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (10/07)

I am sure that you heard the story about the ugly duckling that turns into a swan. Now apply it to a woman who deliberately dresses in clothes that are too big and likes to blend into the background. That is the foundation of the book "Hocus Pocus." It is a laugh-out-loud, outrageous story about an ugly duckling whose aunt decides to turn her into a swan. Amanda Santorelli has learned to blend into the background as a mousy, but super-efficient assistant. She and her boss, Mark Abbott, have a routine that enables them to accomplish the impossible at work. What they both do not realize is that this is all about to change.

Amanda lives with her Aunt Lilly and Sarah, her sister. Both have seen that Amanda is not happy with her life and would love to help her make changes. To remedy the situation, Aunt Lilly finds the spell book that her sister brought back from her world travels and decides to give Amanda a little help with a spell to have her come out of her shell and find the man of her dreams. Amanda believes that it is harmless until she realizes that she has no control over what is coming out of her mouth. Terrified at what is going to come out of her mouth next, especially in light of the fact that the man of her dreams is her boss, Amanda immediately begins trying to undo the spell.

Amanda's boss Mark is upset over the change in her because it is disrupting their regular work routine, but at the same time is intrigued and attracted by the changes in her. Right on the heels of all this Amanda allows her sister to revamp her wardrobe for her birthday and the sexy beautiful woman she really is finally emerges. This sends Mark, who after a bad office romance has vowed never to mix business with pleasure again, into a tailspin.

"Hocus Pocus" is a fun and laugh-out-loud book to read. I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a little fantasy with a dose of humor in a romantic story. It will leave a smile on your face.

Received book free of charge.

I read this book after a very stressful week at the office. It was exactly what I needed: a good dose of healthy, intelligently and crisply written comedy. Definitely, we need more books like Roblin's Hocus Pocus. Daniel Costa, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

If you like your romance spicy and filled with magic - Teresa Roblin is the author for you. Can't wait to read more!!

I love reading a romance that's full of fun, and Teresa Roblin's book kept me laughing from start to finish. It would be great to read more about Aunt Lilly and her unpredictable way with casting spells.

This book was not what I expected at all. It tried to be a romance,funny, paranormal novel and it failed on all counts. It read like someones first try at novel writing. This is one publisher I will avoid in the future.