Magic Spells [Mass Market Paperback]

Christy Yorke (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 1999

Seven years is a long time to stay away from home. But when Jane Gregory left Pendleton, Vermont, she was running from a life gone wrong. Now she's returning to town with her young son--and Pendleton will never be the same again.

Jane never wanted to believe that the Gregory women have a special power. But the magic she'd shunned comes rushing back as soon as she walks into her mother's old house. The faded rosebush in the yard suddenly bursts with color, and the lovelorn are coming to her for advice. Even the sensible town doctor, Graham Payton, can't stay away.

Yet Jane has something more important on her mind: her son. The little boy has never spoken a word in his life, and she's determined to find out why. But Jane is about to discover that she's not immune to the potent charms she's unleashed--that there's room in her heart for love after all. And maybe a little magic too.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Seven years after Jane Gregory's fianc?, Ned Payton, the town heartthrob and daredevil, was killed in an accident, she returns to her hometown of Pendleton, Vt., with her six-year-old mute son, Alex, and her grandmother, Esther, to fix up and sell her recently deceased mother's house. The family's once-famed but now-fading magic takes hold of Jane as soon as they arrive together in town: grass turns green beneath her feet, a half-dead rosebush suddenly blooms and her love advice proves successful. Ned's brother, Graham, the local doctor, has been in love with Jane since they were children and finds himself still unable to resist her. When long-haired mountain biker and petty thief Devon Zeke blows into town, Alex latches on to him as the father he never had, and Graham, who sees in Devon the brother he despised, becomes increasingly jealous. Jane, whose first concern is learning why her son won't speak, must choose between Graham and Devon. Yorke's debut romance is peopled with sympathetic characters, adding to the charm of this often ethereal exploration of the complications of love. (Nov.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"In the style of Alice Hoffman...a wild and imaginative tale  told with sensuality and  great tenderness."
--Carrie Brown

"A beautiful book."
--Luanne Rice

"Wise, warm, and lyrical.  Christy Yorke writes with  the brilliance of a fine poet and the kind heart of a true believer."
--Deborah Smith

"Magic Spells is fabulous, delightfully unique. The real spell is cast by Christy Yorke's lyrical voice and stunning characterizations. Haunting and evocative, it will hold the reader spellbound until the very last word."
--Kristin Hannah

"Yorke's debut...is peopled with sympathetic characters, adding to the charm of this often ethereal exploration of the complications of love."
--Publishers Weekly, starred review

"An uncommonly beautiful novel with exceptional characters and a raw, open, emotional style that draws the reader immediately into the story.  Christy Yorke is a charismatic writer with a sharp, insightful style that lends itself well to character-driven fiction."
--Rendezvous

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (November 2, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553578421
• ISBN-13: 978-0553578423
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,527,285 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I loved the book. The story line was great., November 18, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Magic Spells (Mass Market Paperback)

The writing is fabulous. The story kept me reading from chapter to chapter. I recommend this book to anybody that has ever wished for anything. I could not put it down. I look forward to seeing more from Christy Yorke.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Glad I Discovered This Book!, April 5, 2000

By 

Jennifer (Palatine, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic Spells (Mass Market Paperback)

Few books have captured my imagination like this one did. A big, wonderful, surprising and uplifting book of love and friendship. Ranks with Deborah Smith's A Place to Call Home as one of my all time favorites - and to think I literally stumbled upon it. I have only one question - why isn't a book this good being promoted by the publisher and published in hardcover like other books of its quality?

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting Characters, March 3, 2000

By 

PA Reader - See all my reviews

This review is from: Magic Spells (Mass Market Paperback)

One thing I liked about the book was that the magic spells/thoughts was a background theme unlike Practical Magic that tried to make the characters and the magic front focal spots. This book had the characters front and center, with the magic being a background thread of thought to connect them together and to better explain Esther's approach to many things in her life.

The character developments were interesting! Alex, the child, was so developed in character that you could easily visualize him and his facial expressions in your mind. Christy had you hoping Esther would give in to Robert's loving thoughts, and yet had you understanding why Esther hesitated to do so. Ginny was perfectly created, a woman trying to fight back her jealousy but at the same time unable to not let it show and fighting to keep something alive that was never really alive except on one side of viewing.

Having Ned "reappear" in the image of another person's attitude and appearance was a nice touch, making Devon someone you wanted to hate and yet allowed you to understand the catalystic effects Ned had earlier on the main characters being replayed out due to his appearance to the story.

The ending was not a suprise, but it was interesting reading the book to get to the ending all the same. The subtle twists and turns that they took to get there was interesting, although I wish the athletic competiveness was toned down between Graham and Devon or done more sparingly - I could also see why this was included as Graham was "fighting his past" and a "ghost" from it as well.

Although you knew from the start who would wind up with whom, it was still an interesting read.