Jule McBride, The Pleasure Chest

The Pleasure Chest

Jule McBride

Harlequin Blaze, October 2006, $4.75

ISBN: 0373792859

Eighteenth century artist and pirate Stede O'Flannery is cursed to live inside one of his paintings. Every once in while, Stede escapes his prison to live a week as a mortal. If he falls in love during one of his hiatus, the curse will end.

New York artist Tanya Taylor finds an O'Flannery painting in a junk shop and buys it, although she is not sure why, or even if she likes the work. She takes it home only to have Stede step out of the painting and into her bedroom. Stede is attracted to the doubting female hostess, but Tanya who likes the hunk's build, doubts his story as being too incredulously over the top. As she begins to fall in love with Stede, Tanya begins to believe him. She vows to help him find a way to overcome the curse, while he realizes this week is all the magic he needs.

The key to this fun time travel romance is Stede struggling to adjust to a twenty-first century technological world of convenience. Readers will appreciate his fumbling amusing efforts with modern gizmo's, but also cherish his adeptness while making love. Tanya is a fine counterpoint, though perhaps some will say she accepts a semi nude hunk showing up out of nowhere too easily, even if this is New York. Jule McBride provides a delightful romantic fantasy in which the star-crossed lovers know if they conquer the curse, he still may return to his time.