Nobody had ever wanted to kiss June until she met her holiday romance.
Ignacio wanted to kiss her all the time. But was it just kisses he wanted?
Or did he have a more sinister purpose?
Soon June begins to lose weight.
A lot of weight! Could Ignacio be . . .The Mantequero!
Excerpt
He was dressed in a very old-fashioned style, even for a mountain villager, in knee britches and a waistcoat, with a wide-brimmed hat shading his eyes, and carrying a large leather bag. He was a very handsome man, as many Spaniards were, with fine-chiselled features and the typical dark hair and eyes. Only his skin was paler than most, and she didn’t find that unattractive. No, not unattractive at all.
When they reached the little house at the top of the village, she turned to him and said, “This is where I live, Ignacio.”
He bowed his head courteously, letting go of her arm.
She felt a terrible disappointment at the loss of his touch, and she thought, This is it, my one chance.
She smiled up at him. “Would you like to come in, Ignacio?”
His face lit up in a broad smile. “You mean it? You are inviting me in?”
She nodded, and turned her back on him to insert the key in the lock, her heart thudding so loud she thought he must surely hear it.
As they stepped through the door, he took her into his arms, and, pushing the door closed with his foot, began to kiss her passionately. “Oh, my beautiful goddess,” he murmured between kisses. “You are SO beautiful, SO beautiful.” And then, without quite knowing how it had happened, she found herself in bed with him, her clothes abandoned, and he was kissing her all over with that strange, exciting, sucking kiss. And she felt an ecstasy she had never known before.
Professional Reviews
A unforgettable modern fairy tale
Once again, Jenny Twist has pulled me into a what-if journey, in the manner of "Under the Tuscan Sun". Her work in this short story reminds me pleasantly of Maeve Binchy's writings, and her love of Spain is as clear as it is in her other works, Doppelganger and Domingo's Angel.
Brilliantly tapping into the mind of a woman whose life is being planned for her, Jenny rescues June from the mundane and gives her a magical experience. In an opposite to the moral of learning to accept what you have in the vein of It's a Wonderful Life, Jenny challenges her readers to dare themselves to take chances. To take life by the horns and run with it.
And then, in tune with her surname, she introduces an unexpected twist that is reminiscent of the original Red Riding Hood. Though the ending is unpredictable, it's strangely satisfying. It's simply stunning in its emotion, originality, and choice of words.
Mantequero is an unforgettable modern fairy tale for adults. Read with a glass of good wine, preferably at sunset.
Terrific story by an accomplished writer
Lovely story based on a Spanish folklore legend. Jenny Twist is a fine writer with a professional technique that lets you sit back and enjoy the story. In addition to a precisely drawn and sympathetic, though non-traditional heroine/protagonist, Jenny gives us a visit to a tiny mountain village in Spain. Sounded wonderful.
Jenny's tale works on several levels as a metaphor about consuming people (relatives do it too, if we let 'em), about addiction and obsession.
MANTEQUERO is a story, not a novel, however. Jenny writes so deliciously, and the subject matter is so deserving of longer more in-depth treatment, that I was a touch disappointed at the end. Not that the ending doesn't work -- it does. But I would have loved a longer, more detailed look at the the relationship between the Mantequero and June.
I understand that MANTEQUERO 2 is soon to be released. Perhaps those issues will be more fully explored then. Based on what I've already read, I'd be eager to plunk down another dollar or two to find out.
Overall, MANTEQUERO is a terrific story by an accomplished writer. Get it.
Jenny Twist has done it again!
Jenny Twist has done it again - captivating our hearts with 'Mantequero', a delightful adult fairy tale. June enjoys success in her career as a languages teacher, though not in her private life. Her insensitive sisters seem to view her unattached status as a license to use her to their own ends as babysitter and general dogsbody. But June has had enough and takes herself off on holiday and out of their selfish reach. 'Más vale solo que mal acompañado' as the Spanish say: Being alone is preferable to being in bad company.
But when June arrives at the Spanish village, she finds herself far from alone when ancient folklore is summoned into reality...
Twist's deep affinity with Spain and all things Spanish comes through as powerfully in this story as in her wonderful 'Domingo's Angel' and this love helps her to weave the tale into the magical story it is. The language is precise, uncluttered and highly readable, making 'Mantequero' a compelling page-turner.
Readers be warned, though. You will become so engrossed and turn the pages so quickly, that you'll reach the end before you want the story to finish. But a glance at the post-story notes hints that 'Mantequero 2' is on its way later this year. And I for one can't wait!
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