In the month of February we have Valentine’s Day and, love it or hate it, it is a day for romance. Romance for me, besides the flowers or chocolate, also means a good romance novel. One of my favorite authors in the genre is Mary Stewart. Her romantic suspense novels have become classics. Many published between the late 1950s until the early 1990s have been reissued in paperback for a new generation of readers to love.  

Thornyhold, first published in 1988, is one of Ms. Stewart’s more recent novels. Set in England during World War II, it follows Gilly Ramsey from her lonely and strict childhood to the blossoming of love in her adult life.

“I suppose that my mother could have been a witch if she had chosen to. But she met my father, who was a saintly clergyman, and cancelled her out.”

With those opening lines you are pulled into a spellbinding story of magic and romance. Gilly’s childhood is lonely, the only bright spots being the random, slightly magical visits from her Cousin Geillis, who is also her godmother although she prefers the term ‘sponsor’. Geillis, whom Gilly is named after, also supplies the funds for her to go away to school and escape her mother’s strict, cold love.

But Gilly doesn’t fare much better at school than she did at home. We are quickly moved through those formative years, punctuated by a visit from her Cousin Geillis in which Gilly catches a glimpse of her future in her cousin’s crystal ball. Even with this obvious witchiness, when Gilly asks her cousin if she is a witch, Cousin Geillis just admits that she can see “some things” and, as it turns out, so can Gilly.

Barely a month after the death of Gilly’s father she receives a letter from her Cousin Geillis’ lawyers. Her cousin has passed away and left everything to her. Cousin Geillis’ home, Thornyhold, and all its contents are waiting for Gilly whenever she is ready.

When Gilly moves into Thornyhold she discovers that it is a witches' cottage and the local coven is waiting for her arrival. As Gilly makes friends with the locals and starts to discover her own small gift she meets Christopher John, a writer who owns a farm close to Thornyhold.

In a lot of ways this book was ahead of its time. The paranormal romance section of the bookstore has grown in leaps and bounds over the last few years. Thornyhold , with its touch of magic, is the groundwork that was laid for the books being released now.

Filled with a light romance and an edge of suspense this has been a favorite of mine since I was a teenager. Why not treat yourself this Valentine’s to a book with a hint of magic?