Thoroughly Kissed takes up Sleeping Beauty’s story ten years after that startling wake up call. In the intervening years, Emma Lost (as she calls herself) has adjusted to the modern world and made a life for herself. She has done the logical thing and become a scholar of the early, early middle ages, Ph.D. and all. What could make more sense than writing about the world one once experienced? Indeed, her book on this mysterious era is so full of brilliant insights that it has become a best-seller (don’t all we historians wish!) and has gotten her a position in the History Department at the University of Wisconsin.

Emma is pretty darn content with her life. If she avoids emotional relationships because she’s afraid of what another kiss will do to her, she has her cat, her lovely Frank Lloyd Wright house (updated so it isn’t as uncomfortable as most Wright houses are) and a growing reputation as a popular teacher. But then, her life is threatened on two sides.

First a new chairman arrives on the scene. Michael Found, like all academics, is suspicious of anyone who writes a book that people actually want to read. Moreover, he thinks Emma has fudged her footnotes. Just where in the very fragmentary sources from the tenth century is there proof for her interpretation of the age, he asks. Emma’s hope of getting tenure - that dream of all assistant professors - seems suddenly shaky.

But the challenge to her scholarship by the admittedly handsome Dr. Found is the least of Emma’s problems. The real kicker is that her magic has arrived! You see, women witches aren’t supposed to get their magic until menopause so Emma figured she had at least another decade to live a normal life before she has to learn how to control her magic. But that thousand year sleep threw things off and suddenly, what she thinks is what she gets - like a cat who becomes as big as a lion or a quick trip back to the tenth century or furniture that disappears and reappears.

Emma needs to begin her training immediately but she has to travel to Seattle to her mentor. But how to get there? She doesn’t dare fly or take a train; who knows what her thoughts will do. And if she’s to drive, she’s going to need company. But who? Well, thanks to the intervention of another wizard, Michael is convinced to go along. Thus begins their improbable journey to true love.

The journey from Madison to Seattle is filled with magical moments and dangers as other witches try to steal Emma’s magic. As they travel together, Michael and Emma discover each other.

Michael accepts Emma’s magical powers pretty readily; after all, if you find yourself in a tenth century village or watch your office suddenly become denuded of furniture or encounter a huge cat, it’s pretty easy for even the most skeptical of individuals to believe that something out of the ordinary is occurring. He also comes to appreciate the strength of character and determination that this beautiful woman has shown in adapting to the modern world. For her part, Emma comes to appreciate Michael’s kindness, his intelligence, and his good looks. But dare she kiss him? And can a nearly immortal witch find happiness with a mortal?

Thoroughly Kissed is a thoroughly charming fairy tale. So suspend disbelief and enjoy. This book is fun!

--Jean Mason