Hocus Pocus

Teresa Roblin
Cerridwen Press (2007)
ISBN 1419955527 
Reviewed by Cherie Fisher for Reader Views (10/07)
 
I am sure that you heard the story about the ugly duckling that turns into a swan.  Now apply it to a woman who deliberately dresses in clothes that are too big and likes to blend into the background.  That is the foundation of the book “Hocus Pocus.”  It is a laugh-out-loud, outrageous story about an ugly duckling whose aunt decides to turn her into a swan. Amanda Santorelli has learned to blend into the background as a mousy, but super-efficient assistant.  She and her boss, Mark Abbott, have a routine that enables them to accomplish the impossible at work.  What they both do not realize is that this is all about to change. 
  
Amanda lives with her Aunt Lilly and Sarah, her sister.  Both have seen that Amanda is not happy with her life and would love to help her make changes.  To remedy the situation, Aunt Lilly finds the spell book that her sister brought back from her world travels and decides to give Amanda a little help with a spell to have her come out of her shell and find the man of her dreams.  Amanda believes that it is harmless until she realizes that she has no control over what is coming out of her mouth.  Terrified at what is going to come out of her mouth next, especially in light of the fact that the man of her dreams is her boss, Amanda immediately begins trying to undo the spell.
  
Amanda’s boss Mark is upset over the change in her because it is disrupting their regular work routine, but at the same time is intrigued and attracted by the changes in her.  Right on the heels of all this Amanda allows her sister to revamp her wardrobe for her birthday and the sexy beautiful woman she really is finally emerges.  This sends Mark, who after a bad office romance has vowed never to mix business with pleasure again, into a tailspin. 

“Hocus Pocus” is a fun and laugh-out-loud book to read.  I highly recommend it for anyone who enjoys a little fantasy with a dose of humor in a romantic story.  It will leave a smile on your face.

     
Reviewed by Anne Boling for Reader Views (8/07)

Mouse is a perfect description of Amanda.  She is afraid to live, afraid someone will notice her, so she tries to hide her body and personality.  Assistant to the CEO, she is an efficient, intelligent, and beautiful woman under the frumpy, one-size too big clothes she wears to the office each day.  Her boss Mark is at the center of her fantasies.  Unfortunately, he never seems to notice her as a woman and he does not believe in mixing business and his personal life.  When Amanda overhears him refer to her as a “mouse” she is both hurt and angry.  When Aunt Lilly finds a book of spells in the attic, she decides to come to Amanda’s assistance.  Amanda no longer has control of her mouth; she must speak what she is thinking.  Without Amanda’s knowledge, her sister and aunt get rid of all her frumpy clothing and buy her a whole new wardrobe of sexy, stylish clothes, including bras and thongs.  It was impossible for Mark not to notice the difference.  He finds her new assertive manner a distraction.  He thinks he wants the old Amanda back.  Determined, he attempts to find a way to break the spell.  Aunt Lilly is not finished yet.  She has a plan. 

“Hocus Pocus” by Teresa Roblin is a delightful read.  The plot is remarkable and kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.  Ms. Roblin successfully uses romance and humor to capture the reader’s interest.  The scene with the muffin is too funny.  I laughed until I cried.  The characters are tremendously funny, especially Aunt Lilly, my favorite.  She is delightfully eccentric, stirring things up everywhere she goes.  Ms. Roblin is an extremely talented author.  I will be watching closely for more books by Teresa Roblin.  I highly recommend “Hocus Pocus” to fans of romance.

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