"You were supposed to be much taller!" blurted Lacey Holbrook upon finding
a stranger on her doorstep who was sent in answer to her summons. He
responds at an eye-to-eye level by saying, . . . "we're out of
six-foot-three-inch body builder variety this season. Perhaps if you'd
gotten your specifications in before last Christmas we could have . . . ".
Thus start the repartee on page one of SPELLBOUND and continues
throughout this book in an entertaining and humorous manner.
The stranger is not really a stranger but Jed Merlin, Lacey's teenage
heartthrob. Lacey had proposed to Jed when she was thirteen and he was
twenty. Of course Jed turned her down gently and with fond tolerance thus
sparing Lacey's tender ego. By doing so he became Lacey's unconscious role
model for the ideal mate. Now Jed has reentered her life so changed that
she does not recognize him. He has become a tawny bearded, scruffy,
jeans-wearing-throw-back to a hippie gurus (remember we are back in the
early 80's not so far removed from the earth mothers and fathers of the
70's, think MAMAs & PAPAs' California Dreaming to get into the right frame
of mind). But underneath this surface image Lacey senses a strong
masculine aura similar to a golden panther (Lacey's description not
mine).
Jed however, is not at all surprised by the grownup Lacey. She is still
the bossy-take-charge female he remembers so fondly. But Lacey is no
longer that small, delicate young girl. She is now a sophisticated
well-rounded women who is self described on a good self esteem day as a
well proportioned but on a low self esteem day as plump. (JAK certainly
writes the way we sometimes feel about our body images. Its what I've come
to look forward to in her books.) Jed lets Lacey know that she has also
changed in some ways and shouldn't be so picky about her expectations of
him. Both Lacey and Jed come to the conclusion that they are just not each
others type despite the sparks that fly and an attraction that just doesn't
quit.
SPELLBOUND develops from a reuniting of youthful friends into a delightful
story of falling in love again. Jed agrees to help Lacey with her
"problem" so he can pay off his father's old family debt to her family. He
evens agrees to submit to a makeover. Jed laughs outright and states . . .
"you're turning me into someone you can really fall for. Not many women
get a chance to recreate the romantic fantasy of their youth!" Lacey
responds caustically, "Don't hold your breath" all the while recalling the
cool competent way in which Jed had always made her feel safe and
protected. That sensation persists even now seventeen years later, when
she is most in need of protection. Both Lacey and Jed discover that neither
is what they appear to be.
It's a kick to read about Jed's makeover and how he handles it in his own
unique way. The rebirth of Lacey's and Jed's relationship and the
resolution of the "problem" is described in classic JAK fashion and
provided much satisfaction to this reader. Jed and Lacey happily ride off
into the sunset for more fun and good times.
The surprise for this particular early JAK work is the unconventional hero,
Jed. He certainly had no qualms about Lacey's take charge attitude in the
bedroom. Jed was a well-rounded non-alpha male who made things happen
without any fuss. He soon became one of my favorite JAK guys. If you can
find this book do buy it as it is a delightful read despite its lack of
sensual descriptions. I'm sure glad I kept hunting for my copy.
Rebecca Kona
