That's What I'm Talking About...: Patricia Rice

This Magic Moment (Book 4)

This Magic Moment

Author: Patricia Rice

Release Date: April 2, 2013 (reprint)

Publisher: Sourcebook Casablanca

Magic Book #4

ISBN: #978-1402251962

Genre: Historical Romance, paranormal elements

Format(s): Paperback (320 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher/ NetGalley

About the book:

Duke Harry of Sommersville indulged in a carefree, comfortable life— until a sudden inheritance leaves him plagued with a crumbling family manor and hungry debtors. What's a desperate duke to do but marry the well-heeled woman betrothed to him for years?

Christina Malcolm Childe soon discovers the heavy demands of her new title and the dilapidated and haunted mansion that is her new home. To make matters worse, her magical gift of reading auras reveals that her laughing Harry has become a dark and bitter man. But this mischievous Malcolm has a plan of retaliation: to refuse to consummate their marriage until Harry learns to love her truly.

If only she can resist his raw masculinity long enough to determine the cause of his unhappiness and the mansion's neglect. She must find her answers quickly, before the worm-eaten floors fall from beneath her very feet. That is, if Harry doesn't sweep her off them first...

What I’m talking about:

Harry is a frugal man living modestly in London when his father, the Duke of Sommerset, and and the heir, his brother Edward passed away in an accident on the family estate. Suddenly Harry finds himself the new Duke with an impossibly high debt and no way to pay it off. In order to gain some leverage, he hopes to marry his betrothed and collect her dowry.

As a Malcolm, Christina has inherited a special magical talent: she can see and communicate with ghosts. Harry is the only man who doesn't chastise her for her antics. And she cannot forget their stolen kiss in the gardens one night, long ago. However, she is utterly shocked that Harry not only wants to uphold the betrothal he made five years ago, but he wants to wed her immediately. Christina and Harry have been friends for years and she cannot understand why he has changed so much and has a blackened aura these days. Fearful she's lost the “real” Harry - the only man she knows she can ever love, she agrees to marry him but gives him two weeks to court her and learn to love her (again) after the fact.

In the early parts of This Magic Moment, we watch two characters who live their respective lives according to their own rules of what they feel is befitting of his/her station. As the new Duke, Harry has a sense of protectiveness and the need to take care of those around him. He is driven to save the estate, even though it appears mortgaged and impossible to keep without a large influx of funds. He realizes as the Duke, he can no longer afford petty disagreements nor fanciful ideas. The stress of holding it all together while maintaining the facade of calmness and trying to hide his financial state from Christina has made Harry a bit unfriendly and cold.

On the other hand, Christina is a carefree spirit who feels that she can demand true love and happy endings. She is blind to what is happening around her--more interested in chasing the ghosts that inhabit the Sommerset manner. Because she senses darkness within Harry, she pushes and commands him to change his ways without taking stock of what is at the root of the problem.

Due to the fact that the story is written from both Christina and Harry’s point-of-view, the reader is privy to the true nature of both characters. This is important and makes for a richer tale. Through Harry we realize his guilt for asking for Christina's hand because of her dowry, and that although he doesn’t realize it, he does love Christina.

Fortunately, the truth about the family estate’s financial problems comes out at about the halfway mark. I’m glad that the pretense did not carry on throughout the entire story. Harry’s brutal honesty (I married you for your money) was harsh, but once the truth was revealed, things could only get better. This is when Christina really came through. I was extremely glad that she was wise enough to realize the truth in Harry's heart rather than complain and lament “woe is me.” Her self-reflection after Harry’s admission was touching and heart-warming, as was her determination to help him and her understanding of the issues. This part of the story was well done and perfectly timed.

Interlaced within the romance is the mystery of what happened to the manor and Harry’s inheritance. It becomes apparent over time that Harry’s father was not the (sole) cause for the current financial situation. Christina enlists the aid of the manor’s ghosts to help her figure out who is behind the shenanigans, which makes her a target. As the story moves towards its climax, there is quite a bit of suspense, and I have to say my heart was racing. The plot line was exciting and well played.

This Magic Moment is a wonderfully written, delightful tale. The phrase “happily ever after” befits this historical fairy tale about friends that had gone their separate ways only to find love amidst death, ghosts and poverty. I adore how both Christina and Harry each looks hard at their situation and identifies how they can be a better partner rather than set in his/her own ways. Their mutual joy and love is heart-warming. I really enjoyed this magical story.

My Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:

Reviews in the Series:

Merely Magic (Book 1)

Must Be Magic (Book 2)

The Trouble with Magic (Book 3) - not reviewed

Labels: 4.5 stars, historical romance, Magic Series, Patricia Rice, Sourcebooks, Twimom Review |

1 comments

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Contest Winner - The Trouble with Magic

I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About forThe Trouble with Magic giveaway. A special thanks goes out to Sourcebooks for hosting the giveaway!

The winner as selected by Rafflecopter:

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I am sending the winner an email to contact me with their full name and mailing address. Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your information so the author can send you the book. You have until Wednesday September 12, 2012 (end of day) to contact me. If I don’t hear from you by then, I will draw another winner.

Thank you and Happy Reading!

Labels: books, contest, giveaway, Magic Series, Patricia Rice, Sourcebooks, winners |

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

The Trouble with Magic Giveaway

Hello readers...

Thanks to Sourcebook Publishing, I have one (1) copy of The Trouble with Magic by Patricia Rice to giveaway to one (1) lucky winner.

About the book:

Felicity Malcolm Childe's gift for experiencing visions through touch has always been more curse than blessing. She sees horrifying images each time she brushes her hand against another person, and she is forced to cover herself from toe to finger to deflect the vicious onslaught. Only the maddeningly handsome Ewen Ives harbors no guilty secrets to cause her pain. He is betrothed to another, and he is at odds with the Malcolm family- but he is Felicity's only hope. Will they find the spell to remove her gift? Or will Ewen forget their mission once he sees Felicity without her unsightly head to toe garments?

I adore Ms. Rice’s Magic Series and have this one waiting on my Kindle. This delightful series blends an historical setting with a touch of magic and always lots of romance. I am not a big “historical romance” reader, but I enjoy how Ms. Rice takes the genre and adds the paranormal-ish twist! What about you... do you have a preferred genre to read? Do you like when an author blends two genres together?

The Rules: Thank you to Sourcebooks Publishing for generously donating one (1) copy of The Trouble with Magic to give away. To be entered, please use the RAFFLECOPTER form below. As part of your entry, please leave a comment answering the question: What is your favorite genre to read? Do you like blended genre stories? You do not need to be a google friends connect follower of my blog, but it is always appreciated. Contest is open from August 29, 2012 until September 5, 2012 at 12:01 AM EDT. Contest is restricted to US and Canadian mailing addresses only. One (1) winner will be selected from eligible entries. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail. If you have problems with the RAFFLECOPTER form, please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

Labels: books, contest, giveaway, Magic Series, Patricia Rice, rafflecopter |

5 comments

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Contest Winner - Must Be Magic

I would like to thank everyone for stopping by That’s What I’m Talking About for the giveaway of Must Be Magic by Patricia Rice. I want to thank Sourcebooks Publishing for graciously donating two (2) copies of the book for the giveaway.

I also want to thank each of you that tried out RAFFLECOPTER with me. What did you think? I’d love your feedback as I decide whether or not to continue to use this option for giveaways. I know that there were problems with FIREFOX users, and I’ve attempted to reach the company for help, but no one has replied. I’m on the fence right now, so I’d love feedback.

The Winners (as selected by Rafflecopter):

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I am emailing the winners. Please email me at twimom227 (at) gmail (dot) com with your full name and mailing address so that the publisher can mail you the book directly. If I do not hear from the winners by Friday August 3, 2012 by the end of the day, I will select another winner.

Thank you all so much for coming by and Happy Reading!

Labels: contest, giveaway, Magic Series, Patricia Rice, rafflecopter, winners |

1 comments

Monday, July 23, 2012

Must Be Magic Giveaway

Hello readers...

I know you’ve all seen it, but I’m finally going to try it - that’s right - RAFFLECOPTER! I’ve noticed more and more blogs, authors and publishers using Rafflecopter for their giveaways, and I thought I’d sign up and give it a go. So, in order to test out Rafflecopter, I’m having a GIVEAWAY!

Thanks to Sourcebook Publishing, I have two (2) copies of Must Be Magic by Patricia Rice to giveaway to two (2) lucky winners.

About the book:

Lady Leila Staines is the dark-haired Malcolm, the one who has yet to discover her magical gift. But she's convinced that Dunstan Ives, the brooding master cultivator, can arrange a flower garden that will help her distill fragrances. Ives, accused of killing his wife, shuns decadent society and has no use for another beautiful woman—except that Leila seems to have bewitched him.

I loved this book, giving it 4 Stars, an A-. To read my full review, click HERE.

The Rules: To be entered, please use the Rafflecopter enter form, below. You do not need to be a google friends connect follower of my blog, but it is always appreciated. Contest is open from July 23, 2012 until Saturday June 28, 2012 at 12:01 AM EDT. If your email is not part of your profile, please leave it so I may contact the winners. One entry per person. Contest is restricted to US and Canadian mailing addresses only. I am not responsible for items lost in the mail.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

Labels: contest, giveaway, Magic Series, Patricia Rice, rafflecopter, Sourcebooks |

8 comments

Friday, June 8, 2012

Review: Must Be Magic by Patricia Rice

Must Be Magic

Author: Patricia Rice

Release Date: June 1, 2012 (reprint)

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Magic Series #2

ISBN: #978-1402251948

Genre: Historical Romance, magic

Format(s): Paperback (304 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Lady Leila Staines is the dark-haired Malcolm, the one who has yet to discover her magical gift. But she's convinced that Dunstan Ives, the brooding master cultivator, can arrange a flower garden that will help her distill fragrances. Ives, accused of killing his wife, shuns decadent society and has no use for another beautiful woman—except that Leila seems to have bewitched him.

What I’m talking about:

Lady Leila Staines is widow and a Malcolm. She is cousin of Ninian, who was heroine in the first book, Merely Magic. Dunstan Ives is the brother of Drogo Earl of Ives, hero from first book. Although this is the second book in the series, it most definitely can be read as a stand alone.

Leila has questioned her "Malcolmness" her entire life... She has dark hair, while all other Malcolm females are blonde. She doesn't seem to have any talents (magics), but she has an acute sense of smell. Her life dream is to create her own perfumes, but her late husband refused to support her. Now that he is gone, she has hired Dunstan, the best agronomist in England, to get her flowers to grow.

Dunstan has a black cloud above his head. His high-society (adulteress) wife, Celia, was murdered and most think Dunstan is responsible. He has some interest in clearing his name for the sake of his son, but he is a little worried he may be guilty. He takes the job with Leila so he can make enough money to hire an investigator.

Must Be Magic opens strong and jumps right into the plot. I enjoyed the determination in Leila from the get go - she wants so badly to have her own talents, and she knows in her heart that she needs the roses to make it happen. She is accustomed to the upper class lifestyle, but prefers to hide among her flowers without the make up, powdered wigs and fancy clothing.

In order for Dunstan and Leila to get to know one another, Ms. Rice hides Lady Leila in plain sight - know one recognizes her without the dressings of formality. This allows Dunstan and Leila (aka Lily) to open up and be themselves because he isn’t aware the woman whose company he enjoys is the Lady. And the author allows the charade to continue for just the right amount of time, stopping it before it would have been difficult or painful for the truth to come out. Although there were times I was a bit annoyed with Dunstan because he would wonder how Lily and Leila have the same eyes without even considering they are the same person!

The story is filled with wonderful dialogue and scenes. One of my favorites is when Lily/Leila and Dunstan come together for the first time. It was in a heated spring and the steam coming off the pages was extremely sensual. Soon after, Dunstan learns the truth of who Lily is and confronts her. Although he gives her a hard time about misleading him, he cannot stop himself from wanting her. He tries his best to put up a wall, but their mutual desire is palpable. The words left me aching for Dunstan!

The pair work over the course of the book at moving beyond their individual pasts and backgrounds. Together they make one another a better person. The pace set for their unorthodox “courtship” and how they move through the “getting to know you” phase is a joy to read. The book embodies romance on many levels.

Once Dunstan accepts that maybe he a Leila can have some sort of future (and that he does care for her deeply), he understands why he must find out the truth and clear his name. (I will note, the repetition of “I must clear my name” from Dunstan at this point became tiresome after a while - I was thinking to myself “I know already... so get on with it!”) There are a handful of suspects introduced along the way, and I for one wasn’t really certain who did what! The scenes become more intense as the end drew near and the intensity ratcheted up the suspense a few notches.

Over all, Must Be Magic is a lovely romantic tale wrapped around a murder mystery. I adore that Dunstan acknowledges Leila's gifts rather than makes excuses for them. They each embrace the uniqueness of the other, and together they are a formidable pair. They are equals from the beginning, and although they don't always listen to each other during the book, there is always respect for differences and of talents. I think this is what made this one so enjoyable.

The story's flow was seamless. Never a stall. The mystery of who murdered Dunstan’s wife, Celia, held my interest and provided a focal point, but wasn't overbearing. Simply delightful!

My Rating:

Enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Purchase Info:

Must Be Magic (Magic Series #2)

Reviews in the Series:

Merely Magic (Magic Series #1)

Labels: 4 stars, historical romance, Magic Series, Patricia Rice, Sourcebooks, Twimom Review |

Friday, January 6, 2012

Review: Lure of Song and Magic

Lure of Song and Magic

Author: Patricia Rice

Release Date: Jan. 1, 2012

Publisher: Sourcebooks

Magic Series spinoff

ISBN: #978-1402255748

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Paranormal

Format(s): Paperback (352 pgs), e-book

Book Source: Publisher

About the book:

Workaholic TV producer Dylan Ives believes former singing sensation Syrene Malcolm holds the clue to finding his kidnapped son. A lost child herself, Syrene cares about the missing boy even though Dylan's personality is nothing short of rude. But Syrene refuses to unleash her dangerous siren's voice, even for a man who is impossible to deny...

What I’m talking about:

Dylan Ives is a highly successful LA producer with a heavy heart. His 4-year-old son was kidnapped a year ago, a year after his wife ran away (and subsequently died) with the boy, fearful the boy was in danger. Dylan refused to believe his son was dead, so when a he receives a mysterious text from a person called “the Librarian” that a former child star can help find his missing son, Dylan tracks her down.

Pippa James is a secluded children’s author, hiding from her destructive past. At the age of twelve, she was Syrene, a singing sensation, and by age 18 she was an emotional wreck, widow, and has-been child star. She believes her Voice is evil and will cause utter despair. She thinks her Voice turned her teenage husband to drugs and his early demise. She hides in the mountains, keeping her singing and Voice safe from the outside world.

Lure of Song and Magic is a spin-off of sorts of Ms. Rice’s Magic series, a historically-set romance series with a hint of magic. Lure focuses on the descendants of the original characters (for a look at the first book in the series, Merely Magic, click HERE). Lure is a stand alone story and does not require any knowledge of the original series.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Right from the start, I was under Pippa’s spell; she captured me as she does the hearts and minds of friends and strangers alike. Pippa does have a gift, and with the help of years of isolation and Dylan’s persistence, she learns that her Voice can be a joyful, beautiful thing.

Pippa and Dylan’s love grew from an honest place. It wasn’t love at first site, nor was it an “I hate you, therefore I love you” cliche. The characters are written with their hearts on their sleeves. Each alone, but not overly lonely, they slowly realize that they do not want to live without the other. The give and take we witness between Dylan and Pippa is heart-warming and frankly, touching. I fell in love with the pair as they fell in love with one another.

The story also had subtle humor throughout the book. Both Pippa and Dylan has sarcastic and snarky moments. I never found myself laughing out loud, but I did have a grin often. Here is an example... Early on in the story, Dylan pushes his way into Pippa’s life and won’t walk away, believing she is the key to finding his lost son. In an effort to smooth things over, he makes Pippa a smoothie:

He knew to take peel off a banana. He wasn’t as certain about the lemon and orange, so he threw them into the container whole. Orange peel was supposed to be good for something.

I found myself captivated by the scenario of the book... Is Dylan’s son alive? Why was he kidnapped? What is Pippa’s history and who are her parents? The plot unfolds at a comfortable pace, keeping me glued to the pages, always guessing at the truth.

Ms. Rice pours her heart into this story and her characters, and this makes for a beautiful story. There were a couple of parts that were so moving, I had tears in my eyes. The story had just the right mix of emotional upheaval, romance, humor and storyline. I recommend this story to anyone in the mood for a warm, wonderful romance.

My Rating:

Loved it - enthusiastically recommend (A)

Purchase Info:
The Lure of Song and Magic

Labels: 4.5 stars, contemporary romance, Magic Series, paranormal, Patricia Rice, Sourcebooks, Twimom Review |

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Review: Merely Magic

Merely Magic

Author: Patricia Rice

Release Date: re-release March 1, 2011

Publisher: Sourcebooks/Casablanca

Magic Series Book 1

ISBN: #978-1402251931

Genre: Historical Romance

Format(s): paperback (352 pgs), e-book

I received a copy of this book from the PUBLISHER for the purposes of an honest review.

From the back cover:

She has the magic as her birthright...

Ninian is a healer, but she’s a Malcolm first and foremost, and Malcolms have always had a bit of magic-unpredictable though it is-to aid them in their pursuits. She knows she must accept what she is or perish, but then Lord Drogo Ives arrives, brining the deepest, most powerful magic she’s ever experienced and turning Ninian’s world upside down...

A man of science doesn’t believe in anything he can’t see....

Drogo Ives has no time for foolish musings or legends, even if he can’t seem to resist the local witch. Thrown together by a series of disastrous events, Ninian won’t give herself fully to Drogo until she can make him trust and believe in her, and that’s the last thing he’ll ever do...

As the danger and chaos surrounding them escalates, Drogo and Ninian will be forced to decide: their love or their lives...

What I’m talking about:

Ninian is an outsider in her small village. Although she grew up among the villagers and counts some as friends, the legend of the Malcolm witches keep the superstitious denizens at a cautious distance. On the night of the Beltane, Ninian watches the villagers from a far before moving on to collect some herbs. On her walk she discovers that Lord Drogo, the Earl of Ives, has moved into the Wystan castle - the first Ives to live there in generations. She is instantly taken with the dark stranger, and he is held captive by Ninian’s charm. Soon a series of events ties the two together.

Although Ninian and Drogo fight instant attraction, his meddling step-sister brews an aphrodisiac that lands the two in bed early on in the story. Neither is willing to change his/her life nor do either want marriage. Yet when Drogo discovers Ninian is pregnant, a hope for the heir he’s never had emerges and he insists on a wedding.

I throughly enjoyed this love story. Ninian and Drogo are both stubborn yet not so obstinate that they are willing to give their relationship a chance, even with all of their differences. They undergo a “one-step forward, two-steps back” type of courtship, but find their way in the end. The story is told from both perspectives, and each was balanced and thoughtful. I loved that their romance wasn’t a “sweep me off my feet” type story. Their love had to grow, just like it does in real life. They are strongly attracted to one another, but both logical people. They both realize that they don’t think the same, and both recognize their own faults and weakness in making the relationship work. And although each pulls away at different times, neither truly gives up, which leads to an emotionally satisfying tale.

The story has a hint of mysticism - a little magic, a mysterious ghost. But it is written in such a way as to mirror both Ninian’s and Drogo’s own beliefs. She sees magic, he finds reason and science. Both sides are equally presented and it’s left for the reader to decide what is real... but in truth, the reality is based on perception.

There are a slew of side characters as well. Some we get to know more than others. One is Drogo’s step-sister, Sarah. She is meddlesome and overly protective, but her heart is usually in the right place. I enjoyed watching Sarah go from front and center to the background as Ninian learns to “take her place” as head of the household. I would have liked to know more about Sarah - her strained relationship with her mother, her children, etc.

Sourcebooks Publishing has re-issued this delightful tale, and I for one am glad. It’s an honest look at true love through diverse and sometimes dire circumstances. I can only hope that Sourcebooks will re-issue the subsequent stories!

My Rating:

Really enjoyed - strongly recommend (A-)

Labels: 4 stars, historical romance, Patricia Rice |