"Absolutely enchanting!"

Widower Alexandre St. Sylvestri, the King's royal gardener at Vesailles, needs a nursemaid for his daughters. None of the applicants seem to be suitable and Alexandre is getting more perturbed with each passing day. In between interviewing applicants, he catches a glimpse of a young woman trampling through the mud, chasing after a huge pig. He is later drawn to a group of trees in the orchard where butterflies are hovering in a certain area. Lying on the ground he finds the same young woman, totally in sync with the butterflies. Alexandre learns Margot has garnered a reputation for being a witch but finds himself quite enchanted by her. All his life, he has felt no one truly understands him because of his rare condition. Alexandre suffers from Synaesthesia, a condition by which one sensation involuntarily conjures up another. Or rather, when a person can taste shapes or see sounds. Upon spending time with Margot, he feels finally he's found someone, besides his daughters, who truly understands and accepts him. Now if only he could keep it that way. Things however, take a turn when the man Margot is to marry, arrives at the court.

Michele Hauf's ENCHANT ME NOT is a delightful tale -- magical, romantic, tender and wonderous. I was totally enchanted from the very beginning. Both main characters are very endearing and I found myself really enjoying the interaction between the two.

Michele Hauf spins a delightful tale of love that can only be described as unique, refreshing and very enchanting. ENCHANT ME NOT boasts witty dialogue and touches of humor along with a well thought out plot line. The descriptions are vivid and spellbinding. One could very clearly imagine the butterflies hovering above Margot as she lay on the ground and watch them drop all around her as if dead, only to flutter up into the air again after a few minutes. The secondary characters are wonderfully depicted as well and carry the story along splendidly.

ENCHANT ME NOT will cast its spell on you from the moment you read the first page and color you with its magic. Don't miss it. It's absolutely enchanting!

Reviewed by Leena Hyat
Posted October 8, 2001