Simply Magic [Mass Market Paperback]

Kathleen Kane (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1999

Be careful what you wish for...

Phoebe Hightower is flat broke, burning furniture to survive the St. Louis winter. Cold and desperate, she doesn't pay much heed to the mysterious stranger who grants her four wishes for saving his life. Until she idly wishes to be someplace warm. Overnight she inherits a saloon in the desert boomtown of Rimshot, Nevada.

Unfortunately, even wishes have a price. She's also inherited a partner. Riley Burnett is an ex-Federal Marshal with a chip on his shoulder, a stubborn streak as wide as Phoebe's, and a three-year-old daughter.

As her feelings for Riley heat up, Phoebe suspects it will take more than simply magic to build a life with a man more familiar with Hell than Heaven. Still she does have three more wishes...

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

In St. Louis in 1875, Phoebe Hightower has been reduced to stealing food and to burning the family furniture to keep warm. Then she inherits half of a run-down hotel in Rimshot, Nevada. Riley Burnett owns the other half. He has just turned in his U.S. marshal badge and moved to town to take care of his three-year-old motherless daughter. Riley doesn't know the first thing about children; he can't even brush his daughter's hair. Then Phoebe shows up and makes him feel even more inadequate. They work together, begrudgingly at first, getting the hotel in shape; then, along the way, they discover the meaning of family and of love. Kane's cozy romance may seem a bit contrived toward the end, but it is full of tender emotions and a touch of magic. Ann Bouricius

Review

"Kane [has a] remarkable talent for unusual, poignant plots and captivating characters."--Publishers Weekly

"Ms. Kane creates all her characters with care and surrounds them with action, great dialogue and strong feelings of love."--Rendezvous

"Ms. Kane writes beautiful stories that will live in the heart forever."--Bell, Book and Candle

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (May 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312969848
• ISBN-13: 978-0312969844
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,248,963 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A simply magical western romance, April 20, 1999

By A Customer

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

In 1875 Texas, former U.S. Marshal Riley Burnett assists a tinker with repairing a broken wheel. The strange individual tells him he will receive a gift that comes with a high price for his kindness. Riley thinks the man is a bit crazy and leaves.

In St., Louis, Phoebe Hightower meets a tinker, who grants her three wishes. Cold, hungry and worried, she wishes for a warm locale. She soon learns that she inherited half interest in a hotel and saloon in Rimshot, Nevada. Phoebe, accompanied by her butler, travels west. There they meet the other owner, the acrimonious Riley, and his little daughter. As Phoebe struggles to help Riley and his little girl, she falls in love with her partner. However, it will take the intervention of the tinker, her other wishes, and a miracle to awaken Riley to what his gift is.

Anyone who reads a Kathleen Kane novel knows that they are in for a thoroughly entertaining experience. Her latest historical romance, SIMPLY MAGIC, employs the trademark blending of the supernatural with a western romance in a humorous but poignant story line. Phoebe and Riley are an intriguing duo and the secondary characters augment the plot with warmth. As with all her superb novels (see A POCKETFUL OF PARADISE, STILL CLOSE TO HEAVEN, and THE OLDEST LIVING MARRIED VIRGIN), Ms Kane has succeeded once again with creating a necessary read for romance fans.

Harriet Klausner

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Charming Homespun Paranormal, May 3, 2000

By 

Anne M. Marble "Anne" (MD, USA) - See all my reviews

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

Take one charming small town, add a former lawman and a down-on-her-luck heiress. Add a mysterious tinker -- and of all things, a loyal butler.

This novel was funny and charming. What kept it from getting a better grade? For one thing, a hero who spent too long in "I'm not worthy" mode. Also, a mystery subplot that didn't jive with the overall charm, and yet another subplot that fizzled out completely.

I gave this book a C+ at All About Romance.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Give me more..., August 7, 1999

By A Customer

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

Simply magic is exactly why I read romance. If every book I picked up gave me even one tenth of the joys this book did, I'd never get a thing done. I highly recommend this book for lovers of romance...but beware: if you read this book, you'll expect this standard of excellence from every book you pick up!