Book Review and Giveaway: The Trouble With Magic by Patricia Rice

A charming romance - likeable characters get caught, not too unhappily, in a marriage declaration.

The Trouble With Magic

by Patricia Rice

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (August 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402251955
• ISBN-13: 978-1402251955

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Book Description

Publication Date: August 5, 2003

Is Her Magic a Gift or a Curse...?

All the Malcolms have some magic, but Lady Felicity's ability to read people's emotions simply by touching them or their possessions overwhelms her. She's reached a marriageable age, but how can she ever wed when she can see so clearly a man's guilty secrets? 

Only He Can Tell the Difference... 

Ewen Ives, itinerant rake and adventurous inventor, knows better than to underestimate the mischief of the Malcolms. But sparks fly when he encounters Felicity, and Ewen can't seem to refuse her plea for assistance...

Review:

Felicity is a “Malcolm” which means she is from a long lineage of women with special ‘gifts.’ Her gift, or curse as she deems it, is that she gets visions of strong emotions when she touches people and objects. This has distressed her most of her life to the point that she shields herself as much as possible from even normal touching. Her wealthy and elitist father hoped to wed her to an important banker until Felicity saw murder through the man’s eyes. She has escaped with her vibrant sister, Christina, to Scotland where they are to visit another sister.

Felicity hopes to make a secret side trip to try to locate a Malcolm journal that may explain how to rid herself of the unwanted gift.  Detoured by a storm the young ladies unexpectedly encounter their brother-in-laws’ brother. Ewen Ives would rather not be involved with the young girls but his brothers would be upset if someone didn’t take responsibility to protect them.

Ewen has his own problems. He incurred debt to repair damage supposedly caused by a faulty gear he designed. The due date is fast approaching and it appears his only option is to marry a rich heiress. He has already decided upon a widow acquaintance although he isn’t thrilled with the idea.

Felicity and Ewen find themselves thrown together and Felicity discovers that his touch raises new and exciting sensations rather than fearful and hurtful ones. Ewen has a scientific mind and might have scoffed at Felicity’s gift until he realizes the truth of it. He encourages her to try to gain control intellectually over the gift rather than allowing the emotions to swamp her. Now she  learns that she can uncover secrets using her touch.

When they are caught in a compromising situation Ewen declares that they are secretly married not knowing that in Scotland such a proclamation is binding.  He must try to find a way out of the marriage trap that neither planned.  Yet emotionally they continue to grow closer. Will Ewen’s financial woes force him to leave Felicity, especially in face of her father’s fierce disapproval?  Can Felicity reveal mysteries that will help Ewen’s situation before it is too late for them to find a future together?

I loved this couple and the way his scientific brain and her pragmatic nature fit together like hand in glove.  It takes them some time to see that they are stronger together than apart but it is good conflict to get there. The Ives’ ‘cousin’, Aidan, is an interesting side character with his deteriorating castle. This is the type of sweet to sensual story, with a little mystery, that first made me fall in love with historical romance.

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Sense the warmth:

She could feel their mutual resistance as well as their longing for more. Page 141.
It had taken an earnest young woman to p259

He’d already recognized that Felicity offered him opportunities as wide as the horizon. A wife like that wouldn’t be a burden but a benefit. Despite his lack of wealth, he possessed a few qualities he could offer her in return.  He balanced her, as she had said. Page 273

I have a collection of Ms. Rice's historical titles so I was thrilled to pick this off my TBR shelf to read when I was given the opportunity to share through a Sourcebooks giveawlay of the new re-release!

Sourcebooks shared this information:

As many of you know, we have a line of books called Casablanca Classics—these are beloved books by fabulous authors that have gone out of print. We are so excited to have the next book in Patricia Rice’s classic “Magic” Series back in stores this month: The Trouble with Magic!

Patricia Rice’s bestselling Magic series featuring the clash between science and magic has been off the market over 5 years. In The Trouble with Magic, Sparks fly when Ewen, the itinerant rake and adventurous inventor of the Ives family, catches Felicity, the most fey of the Malcolms, who is fleeing to Scotland to discover a way of ending her dangerous gift…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

With five million books in print and New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists under her belt, Patricia Rice’s emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances have won RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards and have been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA finalists in the historical, Regency and contemporary categories. A former CPA, Patricia Rice is a native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina, and currently resides in St. Louis, Missouri. For more information on Patricia’s current releases, please visit www.patriciarice.com. 

SO - Wouldn't you love to win a copy of this newly released romance?

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for a Print Copy supplied by the Publisher:

ENTRY FORM HERE!

For 3 Extra Bonus Visit the author's website and tell me something you find of interest.

* This contest is only open to residents of US and Canada.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on September 7, 2012.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED on September 8, 2012.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.