Sometimes it takes love to make a woman feel desirable. Sometimes it takes magic to make her feel desirable. Sometimes it takes a little of each. Having loved and admired Lord Jack Frayne from a distance for so many years it truly amazed Abigail Barton that he was right there in her home. But he was mortally wounded from a very nasty fall from his horse and close to death. He was known as Lucky Jack to his friends but it appeared as if his luck had run out. Jack it seemed had a habit of getting into risky situations that often put his very existence in peril. And now his two closest friends were appealing to Abby as a skilled healer and wizard to do what she could for Jack. One of the biggest hurdles was Jack himself. He has a huge aversion and hatred for all things magic and a special disliking for wizards. Unfortunately although Abby was willing and eager to do what she could to heal his injuries she could do nothing without Jack's consent. Her standard of ethical behavior would allow no less. So right from the beginning these two were at odds. But Abby wasn't one to relent and she was determined to return Jack to his previous good health and physical well being even if it meant jeopardizing her own health. The questions are what Abby would do for love -- in this case her feelings toward Jack -- and what would Jack do in return for Abby saving his life.

Mary Jo Putney creates a wonderful mix of reality and magic in THE MARRIAGE SPELL as she has in her previous works. Putney shows once again that she has an incredible imagination as she welcomes the reader to a world that she has created for your enjoyment. You are so involved in the story of Abby and Jack that the line between real and fantasy is often blurred. Putney just makes you a believer. After all there are so many things that occur in the world that seem to have no likely explanation why not just call it magic or wizardry. Of course there has to be the counterpart to the good wizard and in this book we get to see both sides of the world of magic. The evil or dark side and the beneficent or light side of wizards is at odds in this story as is the malevolent and gracious sides of the non wizards. The interesting note is that malice is dangerous and harmful whether at the hands of a wizard or a mortal being. This book has the reader backing the wizards.