Review: An Interesting Melange of Lust, Betrayal, and Magic.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 11 3, 2012
As soon as I opened up to Sandra Ross's book "Bewitched: A Sensual Fantasy Romance," comparisons to a certain classic 1960s sitcom of a near-identical title sprang to mind.However, the protagonist, Aislinn, a witch similar to the late actress Elizabeth Montgomery's character, Samantha Stevens of television's "Bewitched," in no way resembles the latter. Aislinn, living in Salem, Massachusetts (yes, the same locale where numerous denizens of the Plymouth Colony were persecuted for allegedly practicing witchcraft over three centuries earlier), is the proprietor of a small business, the Atrium, which she runs with her assistant, Darius. As a practitioner of the ancient art of Wicca, Aislinn specializes in promoting and selling potions that aid her clientele's love lives.Before you start humming bars to the Searchers' classic 1964 hit "Love Potion No. 9" (which, I admit, I began doing when researching Ross's tome), know that Ross's allusion to the song title seems deliberate, since Aislinn is fond of romantic-themed holidays such as Valentine's Day (which, not coincidentally, is fast approaching in the book). Our fair Madam Ruth (minus the gold tooth) comes across as a sweet, kindhearted woman whose primary business purpose seems more altruistic than profit-oriented, as she takes great delight in providing her loyal customer base with said love potions. In so doing, Aislinn self-soothes her own longing for intimacy by acting as a surrogate Cupid for lovers. She seemingly does so to build up her own fragile ego and to ease her own internal pangs of loneliness and melancholy.Ross provides the reader with a well-paced storyline as she slowly reveals tidbits of Aislinn's past relationship with a long-lost lover by the name of Jericho. Ross introduces Jericho, a warlock (male witch) to the reader via his continuous search for Aislinn. As warlocks and witches are immortal, he is able to pursue her over the centuries until he reunites with her in the present. Miscommunication is the order of the day (or century, if you prefer), and was the source of Aislinn's and Jericho's initial falling out. Long-dormant passions are re-lit within Aislinn and Jericho, and the romance turns turgid and alive with unbridled passion and lust for each other.Ross describes the relationship between Aislinn and Jericho with vivid detail and description. She is careful to maintain and extend the emotional ties between the two lovers throughout their reunion. A skilled writer, Ross provides the reader with continuous excitement and passion from beginning to end.There are numerous passages in the Bible that speak to the concept of love, but one particular one, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (New International Version), speaks to the heart as follows: "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight with evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." With apologies to Paul (who ostensibly wrote these words), anger and score-keeping can be observed to a certain degree within the story; nevertheless, "Bewitched" stays true to the overall adage of love conquering all and people living happily ever after.In the TV series of the same title, the characters of Samantha and Darrin Stevens generally were able to overcome differences in their respective witch/mortal backgrounds and allow their genuine love and respect for one another to grow and thrive (despite near-constant meddling from Samantha's mother, Endora). So, too, do Aislinn and Jericho rise above past misunderstandings and learn to love one another all over again, with wonderful results.