A Search for Love

By J.M. Cagle

Hallie Chandler is an African American young woman who has moved to the quiet town of Lake Willow, Connecticut to write her latest book. She is talented as a writer but also a seasoned witch. She buys a rundown house and plans to renovate it. It gets help with the project from a very handsome and eligible bachelor, Fresco Sterling, who also turns out to be a witch. Hallie overhears a conversation about a coven that brings her trouble and threatens her life. Together, with a little unexpected help, they uncover a coven and expose the High Priestess but at a cost.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mark Mulle
• Release date: Aug 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311573773

J.M. Cagle

J.M. Cagle began writing stories while in high school. She went on to attend California State University, Dominguez Hills and continued her pursuing her writing interests by interning at KTLA, a Los Angeles television station. She also became a sports writer for two community newspapers. She would attend sporting events and write articles on the games. Ms. Cagle also worked part-time at internationally acclaimed The Studios at Paramount where she garnered first-hand knowledge of the intricacies of television and film production. She has since gone on to write a multitude of screenplays and theatrical productions.Ms. Cagle’s focus is now centered on the writing genres of romance, paranormal and suspense novels. She also enjoys writing in the spiritual genre as well. When she isn’t engaged in her favorite pastime of writing she takes pleasure in singing, visiting the beach, bicycling, reading, walking and spending time with her loved ones. Ms. Cagle currently resides in Michigan where she continues to speak her heart through her writing.

Book preview

A Search for Love

(Book 1 of the Enchanted Love Series)

By J.M. Cagle

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 J.M. Cagle

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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eBook. This book remains the copyrighted property of the author,

and may not be redistributed to others for commercial or

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Other Books in the Enchanted Love Series

Book Two: A Wicked Vision

Book Three: Winter Witch

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

About J.M. Cagle

Other Books by This Author

Connect with J.M. Cagle

Chapter 1

Hallie Chandler stood on her front porch and stared at the filthy bay window. The pane was caked with thick coats of grime and muck. She grimaced at the frightfully dirty window but knew this was what she had asked for when she had purchased the dilapidated lakefront house. When her realtor had shown her the old manor house she had immediately fallen in love with it. The ceiling beams and exposed stone in the main common room gave the house character and warmth. The lighting from the large stone fireplace in the evenings would create a cozy atmosphere, and the huge bay window would bring in tons of light during the day. It would also showcase the magnificent view of the lake and distant mountains. It was a large house with a multitude of bedrooms and baths. The kitchen was old but huge with lots of counter space and storage. It would need to be updated, but it would be the hub of the house when completed. Her realtor had asked why she would want such a large house as she was a single woman. But Hallie loved to entertain, and she had lots of family and friends who would converge upon her for extended visits. The bedrooms would be more often filled than not. Hallie was a social individual, and although she’d come to this restful area to do her writing, she did not intend to isolate herself. It wouldn’t take long for her to make friends in the area and begin entertaining as soon as she could restore the house. That would take some time to do as she needed to repair the inside as well as the exterior of the house. Well time was something she had plenty of and with the success of her books and movies, she was financially secure as well. At twenty-seven years old Hallie had done extremely well for herself. Some of it had been luck, being at the right place at the right time. But most of it had been her immense talent and refusal not to achieve her goals. Her father had taught her to never give up the pursuit of her dreams. Eventually they would come to fruition beyond her wildest imaginings. His advice had proven accurate, and she was living her dream--at least half of it. She was still waiting for the other half to manifest. She had been searching but had not found her other half. Patience. It was not one of her greatest virtues. But she had to practice the quality when she started feeling lonely. One day her prince would arrive, flying his colors and declaring his love. She just hoped it would happen sooner rather than later. She dipped her sponge into the bucket of hot soapy water, brought it out and began scrubbing the dirty window. She cleaned away a large circle of dirt from the pane and could see her pretty, brown face in its reflection. Her light green eyes were bright and luminous as her long dark brown lashes swept her creamy, coffee complexion. Men found her full mouth insatiably kissable, and with her high cheek bones and flawless skin Hallie was a beautiful Black woman. Her only imperfection was the small bump on her nose, a souvenir from the time she broke it playing soccer. She wore her curly brown hair natural which fell just below her shoulders. The natural style was easier than trying to perm, straighten or weave it. Hallie was an unaffected girl, and everything about her reflected that. She hummed along to her favorite tune playing on the radio as she scrubbed vigorously. She didn’t hear the silver pickup truck park in front of her of her house. The man got out and was halfway up her walkway when Hallie sensed someone was there. She turned around and saw him climbing the steps to the porch.

Hi. I’m Fresco Sterling. Welcome to Lake Willows, he smiled broadly as he extended his hand.

Hallie smiled and shook his hand.

Hi. I’m Hallie Chandler.

I heard in town that I had a new neighbor, so I decided to come say hello and offer my services. I am a carpenter and all around handyman, he grinned.

Hallie looked at him closely. He carried a white towel on his shoulder and a toolbox. Not exactly her prince bearing his colors, but he just might do to help her restore her house. She definitely needed help.

I may take you up on your offer. How did you know I needed help? Hallie asked.

Folks in town told me you had bought the old Cambridge place. It’s been vacant for years, he said. Old man Cambridge didn’t keep the place up and was behind on his taxes. When he died there were no relatives so the county took it.

Ah! So I was the unsuspecting sucker to come along and buy it. No wonder I got such a great deal on it, Hallie grinned.

It’s a great place. It just needs and little loving care, he smiled.

I think I can give it that, but I would be happy for your help. As you can see, there’s a lot to be done, Hallie sighed.

I’m here to help, he said.

I will pay you, of course. Just give me your fee, she said.

Let me take a look around to assess what needs to be done. Then I can give you a fair price, he said.

Sure, she replied.

He set his tool box on the porch and took out a notepad and pen.

I’ll start on the interior then work my way outside, he said.

Hallie nodded and returned to scrubbing the window. He went inside of the house. Hallie watched him through the window pane that she was cleaning. She studied him at length, trying to remember where she’d seen him. He looked so familiar, but she couldn’t place him. Oh well, it didn’t matter. He was definitely a hot stud. Well over six feet, he was extremely well built. She could see his flexing muscles through his short sleeve green shirt and his nicely fitted blue jeans. He wore his thick dark blond hair slightly longer; it rested on his shoulders. His face was that of