Love Potion #9

Lilith is a gypsy who falls in love with Sebastian. Before everyone can walk happily into the sunset, Sebastian is hung on the gallows. He gallantly swears to come back to Lilith. She searches for the secret to immortality so that she will be ready when he comes for her. 600 years later, she is still waiting. Just when Lilith is ready to take matters into her own hands, her dream lover moves in next door. Mitch (who has no recollection of his past life as Sebastian) is an investigative reporter with 2 kids. He does not believe in fortune-telling, magic or in Lilith. I liked the 2 main characters here very much. Mitch was a strong man who loves and protects his children. You have to admire that in a man. Lilith is lonely (who wouldn't be after 600 years) and longs for a family. She creates potions to music and gets herself into some interesting situations. The romance between these two is sweet and develops from page 1. There were several gaps in the story, and some elements that should have been further developed, but I will definitely read Claire Cross again.

I really enjoyed this book. Ms. Cross mixes romance, humour and magic with a deft touch. I was also interested to learn so much about the Tarot deck and how it works. And, of course, there was d'Artagnan the cat. But most of all, Mitch and Lilith's story reaffirmed my belief in love and destiny.

I really enjoyed this book! The ending was interestion and had you thinking about pre-destined love!I would heartily advise this book to anyone with romance in thier hearts or the need of some!

In Northern Italy, the angry, superstitious mob blames the Gypsies for bewitching one of them, leading to the murder of a neighbor. One of the Rom, a shocked and distraught Lilith observes the townsfolk hang her beloved Sebastian for the murder that he did not commit. Following his death, the locals turn to the Gypsies, planning to burn every one of them for witchcraft. Lilith manages to escape, swearing that she will wait for eternity, if necessary, for the rebirth of her cherished Sebastian. In August 1999, Mitch Davidson and his two little children have just moved to Toronto. Next door to him resides a depressed Lilith Romano, still waiting, after almost six centuries, for the reappearance of Sebastian. When she meets Mitch, Lilith realizes that on the 579th anniversary of that fatal day, happiness has returned, as he is Sebastian. However, the new resident has no recollection of a previous life in Renaissance Italy and thinks the beautiful fortuneteller is crazy. Still, he cannot stop his attraction to her even as she tries to overcome his lack of recall. She knows that they belong together regardless of the era.Love Potion #9 is a brilliant fantasy romance from the great Claire Cross, who also scribes marvelous medieval tales as Claire Delacroix. The story line is a typical Cross-between a fantasy and a contemporary tale. The fantasy elements are superbly developed so that the audience believes that physicists have proved that reincarnation is a viable part of our world. The lead characters are a delight, especially the nutty Lilith in her efforts to prove that she and Mitch belong together forever. Ms. Cross proves that she is one of today's superstars with a super story.Harriet Klausner