Bewitching Hour

This story is reminiscent of the story style of writing I use to read in the late 80's, early 90's and it was a welcome nostalgic look back. In this story Sybil comes from a family of wealth and overachievers and has never felt like she fit in, so after trying to fit in for many years she decides to change direction and do what she wants. Now she is pretty happy living in a small town, where she knows every one and owns a new age bookstore. Nick on the other hands is dubunker of all thing New Age but his problem is that he is fascinated by Sybil who is the opposite of everything he always looked for in a woman. This is a fun romp through, two lonely people that appear to be different but are not. I love the dynamic between these two, this story was fun with a bit of suspense. The author provided us with dual point of views which made it easier to understand what each was thinking and made it more enjoyable for me. Overall a good book, lacked a bit of depth, but I'm happy I read it.

This story put a smile on my face and was just what I wanted to read as I relaxed in the busy holidays! Very enjoyable.

Sybil Richardson has escaped from her perfect family to the wilds of Danbury, Vermont where she won’t have to try not to disappoint everyone. She helps to run the Society of Water Witches whilst selling psychic and dowsing paraphernalia. She is dreading the arrival of Nick Fitzsimmons the college professor who ridicules everything she believes in. He’s not the ancient academic she’s expecting and she finds it difficult to resist his dangerously magnetic charms. I loved this strangely quirky story and was wishing Sybil would make the right choices throughout the story. Quite gripping towards the end.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley to read in exchange for a fair review. I was perusing the lists of available books on the NetGalley website when the beautiful cover for this book caught my eye and then the name of the author Anne Stuart. I’d read and very much enjoyed a number of historicals by Anne Stuart most specifically the House of Rohan and the House of Russell series. I wondered if this was the same author as I didn’t realize she also wrote modern romances, so I looked her up and joy and bliss it was the same author. Bewitching Hour was originally published by Harlequin in 1986. Sybil (Saralee) Richardson has always felt out of place in her family of tall, beautiful, thin over achievers and after her marriage failed has retreated to a family cottage in rural Vermont where she is the proprietor of an Occult Book/gift shop and the Secretary of the local branch of the Society of Water Witches SOWW. Nicholas Wyndham a Harvard professor Fitzsimmons arrives in town to do some research on a book he is writing about water dowsing. He is everything that Sybil thinks she doesn’t want in a man tall, incredibly good looking, wealthy and very sceptical of the occult. So if you are looking for a very steamy holiday story with a bit of magic, a mystery, a nasty villain, a white witch, sparking dialogue, killer springer spaniels and lots of snow this would be your book. I raced through this book and will be keeping my eye out for more of her modern books as this one was so much fun to read. Publishing Date November 24, 2017 #BewitchingHour. #NetGalley

I have never read one of Anne Stuart's books, so to be honest, I requested a copy through NetGalley due to the beautiful, eye-catching cover. The book turned out to be a pleasant read, with a skeptic coming to visit and research a society of water witches in Vermont at Christmas. There is a mystery, but not much of one, and conflict between the skeptic and one of the witches; coupled with an irresistible attraction between the two. I was surprised to find that Bewitching Hour was initially published in 1986. Someone did a fine job of updating the text so that it did not seem at all "80s."Bewitching Hour is a good complete escape read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Bell Bridge for a digital copy. The opinions are my own.

There's a reason Anne Stuart has been a successful romance novelist for decades. Bewitching Hour was a delight to read. Ms. Stuart has a way of creating such real and flawed characters that the reader can't help but fall in love with. Christmas is my favorite holiday, and Christmas romances are some of my favorite reads. This one was no different. Even though this was a re-release of a book written a long time ago, it was a perfect read for Christmas 2017.
Sybil Richardson is the odd woman out in her family. With successful, beautiful, career-driven parents and siblings, the divorced new age shopkeeper who, in her opinion, is just "average" in everything, is an anomoly in the Richardson family. With a failed marriage under her belt and no real career moves to make, Sybil retreats to her family's Vermont homestead where she immerses herself in small town life where she can embrace her new age beliefs.
Her calm, boring life is disrupted with the arrival of professor Nick Fitzsimmons. Nick is the successful author of numerous books which "de-bunk" the whole new age traditions. Nick plans to stay in Danbury only long enough to complete his research before heading to Cambridge. Unfortunately what he imagined would be a peaceful, boring stay turns into chaos when he encounters all that is Sybil Richardson.
It was obvious that Sybil and Nick shared an intense dislike for each other, as well as an insane, uncontrollable attraction for each other. While they had nothing in common on the outside, they both were unintentionally searching for a connection that they found in each other.
I loved their witty banter and silly arguments, and I adored Nick for not letting Sybil get away with pulling away from him. He was charming and sexy in all his grumpy professor-ness, and he saw through Sybil's starchy exterior to the warm, loving woman within.

Anne Stuart brings us a book about magic and romance at Christmas. Her story takes place in the small town of Danbury, Vermont. There we get to meet some interesting characters and watch a romance develop.
Sybil Richardson is the secretary for the Society of Water Witches and also runs the occult bookstore in the small town. She has some talent for dowsing and is working on building her other psychic powers. She knows that her way of life isn’t for everyone. After all, her family certainly doesn’t approve of what she does, but it makes her happy. Sybil loves her home and the six dogs that share it with her. She is not looking forward to the skeptic that will soon invade her space.
Nicholas Wyndham Fitzsimmons is a professor. He has also written a number of books about psychic phenomenon and its ridiculousness. He is coming to Danbury to research dowsing before heading to England on a teaching assignment. Nicholas hopes that he can find enough information before he leaves to write his next book.
Nicholas and Sybil get along like oil and water and yet, there is an underlying attraction that is obvious to the reader from the beginning. Watching them snipe at each other and find excuses to be together makes this book highly entertaining. As if that isn’t enough to keep readers going, Ms. Stuart throws in a little mystery.
The elderly women in the town are finding themselves losing their savings on risky investment schemes. Nicholas suspects Leona Coleman, who is friends with Sybil. He vows to prove her guilty while Sybil vows to prove her innocent lending another layer of disagreement to this already contentious relationship.
Ms. Stuart does a remarkable job of juggling all of these disparate elements of magic, romance and suspense. The book doesn’t feel forced or convoluted, but flows nicely from the first page to the last. It makes nice holiday book.

I used to read Anne Stuart years ago, I think my first was Glass Houses, so reading this book was like going back in time. I really enjoyed the style of writing and the characters. A joy to read. Highly recommend

This was a cute romance with a little bit of mystery. More whimsical and less edgy that what I usually associate with this author, but sometimes just need something on the lighter side.

This was a fun read that had me loving all the characters. Sybil and Nicholas were opposites but I loved how they ended up. The story was well written and I will be searching out more books by this author.

This was a really cute fun romance it was really well written and had great characters.Sybil and Nicholas were complete opposites but the attraction between them was really strong but neither was prepared to act on it.This is perfect for a lazy afternoon

I found Bewitching Hour by Anne Stuart to be a light and enjoyable quick read. The characters, Sybil (mediocre psychic) and Nick (Harvard skeptic) are quirky and likeable. This book was perfect for a snowy New England day.