The Marriage Spell

Starred review from June 15, 2006
Critically injured in a riding accident, reckless -Lucky Jack - Langdon has one chance to live -wizard Abigail Barton's healing touch. Yet when she names marriage as her price and Jack agrees, they encounter not only aristocratic prejudice but malevolence as well. With consummate skill, Putney has created an alternate Regency world in which magic is acknowledged but despised as -common - by the elite, peopled it with sharply drawn, sometimes conflicted, characters, and given them an intriguing, emotionally rich situation in which to work out their differences. Like many of Putney's books, this exquisitely sensual and beautifully written story has strong metaphorical qualities and a subtext that can be read on a number of levels, adding a depth that will reward readers willing to look below the surface. The best-selling Putney ("A Kiss of Fate") lives in the Baltimore area. [See Prepub Alert, "LJ" 2/1/06.]

Copyright 2006 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2006
When his father failed to beat the love of magic out of him, Jack Langdon was sent to a strict boarding school that would instill in him a disdain for magic appropriate for a member of the nobility. As a daredevil officer in Wellington's army, Jack breaks his neck and is treated by Abigail Barton, a talented healer, who states that her price will be marriage. After a grueling healing process, Abby discovers that Jack possesses untapped magical powers. In spite of the fact that having a wizard for a wife will not sit well with the ton, Jack marries Abby, even though his injuries prevent him from consummating the marriage. Abby suspects that Jack's reckless ways and reluctance to return to his home may be the result of an evil spell. Together they must discover the cause of the blight and use their love to save their lands and tenants from being completely drained of all life. Popular Putney's winning combination of well-crafted fantasy and romance will have broad appeal for readers of both genres.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2006, American Library Association.)