Bless the Child

With a seductive, at times spellbinding style, bestselling author Spellman ( An Excess of Love ) incorporates ancient myths into an entrancing romantic thriller. When heroin-addicted Jenna O'Connor leaves her newborn daughter, Cody, with her mother, Maggie, she sets an ancient Egyptian prophecy in motion. Destined in a previous life to be the guardian of this special child, Maggie must risk everything to protect Cody after Jenna returns with sinister Eric Vannier to reclaim her daughter. Eric, leader of a wealthy and powerful international satanic cult, makes unspeakable plans in the secluded hills of Greenwich, Conn., while Maggie begins a search for the ancient knowledge she will need to defeat him. Along the way she meets a host of diverse, interesting and well-drawn characters, each of whom plays a critical role in the struggle. With high melodrama and outrageous plot developments, this fantastical tale can be unintentionally humorous at times, but for the most part Spellman succeeds in capturing her reader's close attention as an unrelenting sense of foreboding drives the narrative forward with power and speed. Major ad/promo; film rights to Newfeld/Rehme Productions; Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Club selection; author tour. ( Apr. )