Everlasting Enchantment

Millicent Pantere, raised in the shadowy Underground of misfits and outcasts, is out of her element at an 1839 London ball. As a shapeshifter, she is immune to the spells and charms cast by the lords and ladies, so an unscrupulous duke blackmails her into helping to steal a powerful magical relic. Gareth Solimere is a knight of the Round Table, imprisoned in that relic for hundreds of years for betraying Merlin. He thinks the path to breaking the curse is to seduce the relic’s wearer until she falls in love with him, but Millicent proves quite resistant. Gareth personifies chivalry, honor, and courage, and he teaches Millicent to embrace her fighting skills and self-worth. Though Millicent normally doesn’t care about the activities of the world above, noble Gareth convinces her to take on the duke’s shadowy army and foil a villainous plot. Magic is intriguingly woven into the historical romance, and watching Millicent gain confidence in herself is heartwarming, making the love affair believable despite the slow start and convoluted paranormal background. (Dec.)