Audible Book Review: The Wicked Wyckerly by Patricia Rice

I enjoyed this Regency Romance.
The Wicked Wyckerly
By: Patricia Rice
Narrated by: Eliza Jane Cornell

Series: The Rebellious Sons, Book 1
Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
Release date: 12-23-15
Publisher: Audible Studios
Genre: English, Historical Romance, Regency
My Rating: 4.25 of 5.0 Overall; Story 4.25; Narration 4.25.

Publisher's Summary
NYT and USA Today best-selling author! Nominated for the prestigious romance Rita award!
John Fitzhugh Wyckerly has been the spare heir all his life, supporting himself with gambling and charm. The news that he's inherited the bankrupt title of earl of Danecroft shatters his indolent world. Even penniless, he's always paid his debts, but now the estate's creditors are closing in. He can fake his death and run for cover or accept overwhelming responsibility and find a rich wife - one who will also accept his illegitimate terror of a daughter.
On his way to find an heiress, he meets Abigail Merriweather, who is neither rich nor aristocratic, but she can tame The Terror and stomp cockroaches. Unfortunately she needs a wealthy, powerful man who will fight her father's executor and retrieve her four half siblings. When an unexpected inheritance falls into Abby's lap, she sets out for London to seek a lawyer.
Can Fitz charm his practical Abby into trusting him to save her siblings when it's doubtful that he can even save himself? And can Abby surrender reason and logic for the folly of love offered by a man who can have any woman he wants but insists he wants only her?
©2010 Patricia Rice (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Review:
John “Fitz” Wyckerly is a second son who, as the spare heir, has supported himself with careful gambling and charm. He isn’t thrilled when he inherits his family’s bankrupt title. Unlike the rest of his male kin, Fitz has paid his debt. Although the collectors are circling and the debt is daunting, Fitz won’t run away. Instead, he will seek an heiress. But first, he collects his illegitimate daughter, Penelope, who hasn’t been well trained…okay, really, she is a terror.

Fritz is traveling to his estates by mail coach, but he and his unruly daughter are dumped outside a home in the country. There they meet Abigail who struggles to keep her farm and her servants while trying to figure out how to get her four half siblings back. Surprisingly, Abby immediately takes Penelope in hand and tries to explain to the clearly unprepared Corinthian what the child needs. Fitz and Abby soon find themselves trying to help each other through their troubles. When Abby gets a letter with an unexpected inheritance, she plans to engage a lawyer to help her get custody of her siblings. The inheritance isn’t enough to solve the debt for Fritz, but perhaps there is a way to make it work for both of them.

Both the hero and heroine have backgrounds that give them unique strengths and weaknesses that make them different than the standard bankrupted nobleman and penniless young woman. Their interaction is witty and fun, and the children add a nice element too. There is chemistry and a bit of sexual content that comes after friendship has developed and well into the story. I have enjoyed Patricia Rice in the past and was glad to get to listen to this sweet romance. I recommend this to fans of historical romance with quirky characters.

Audio Notes: Eliza Jane Cornell does a pretty good job with the narration. I was concerned a few times that the accent of the characters seemed to shift. Other than that happening, I found the voices distinct and suitable to the characters. I am glad I had the audio experience.

Source: 2/6/2021 Audible Plus title. This qualifies for 2023TBR and 2023Audiobook goals.

Book Review and Print Giveaway: Angel Christmas by Patricia Rice, Mary Balogh & 3 more

I enjoyed all five of these charming Christmas novellas featuring angelic intervention.

Angel Christmas
by Patricia Rice, Mary Balogh & 3 more

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Topaz (November 1, 1995)
• ISBN-10: 0451406281
• ISBN-13: 978-0451406286

Genre: Anthology, Christmas, Angels

My Rating: overall 4.25 of 5.0

Publisher: Topaz (November 1, 1995)
In the true spirit of the season, these five Christmas romances--heartwarming, humorous and deeply romantic--all result from intervention on high and evoke the true meaning of the holiday season. Authors include Mary Balogh, Marilyn Campbell, Carole Nelson Douglas, Emma Merritt, and Patricia Rice.

Review:
The stories in this anthology are from 1995. I found every one of full of delightful charm and warmth perfect for the holiday season. They each read quickly so that I could read one at a sitting and come back later for the next one. I have tried to give a quick few comments, descriptive words and rating for each.

CATCH A FALLING ANGEL by Carole Nelson Douglas
To prove he's bad enough for hell, a devilish rogue becomes a rock star out to ruin an innocent young girl--unless he gets foiled by some Yuletide magic.
     I wasn’t sure about this time traveling rogue/bad boy protagonist but his heart was captured  - first by a glimpse and then by the innocense and love of a young girl. Fortunately it changed his behavior and saved them both. Very sweet. Rating 4.25

BRUSH OF ANGEL WINGS by Emma Merritt
A little girl prays to her special angel for a daddy, and a Texas Ranger returns to his hometown for the holidays in hopes of rekindling the passion he once shared with her mother--his first love.
     Texas Ranger, Vincent had been high school sweethearts with Hannah but they were too young and he wasn’t ready for commitment. Ten years ago he left her behind and she married his cousin, James. Six years ago James was killed in a motorcycle accident for which Vincent holds himself responsible. Nine year old Allie has asked the family Christmas angel for a new daddy and Vince has returned with the goal of setting up as a rancher. Vince has to persevere to win back the trust of the woman he loves. I found the story heartwarming. Rating 4.0.

THE TROUBLE WITH ANGELINA by Marilyn Campbell
It takes a little angel mischief to unite a handsome young major and a fiery widow by Christmas.
     This story finds busy mom, Angelina, trying to resist the overtures of single, town mayor, Sean O’Grady. Sean’s Irish Grandfather is determined to get Sean a ‘sweet colleen’ before life passes by. Sean lost his college fiancé to an accident and has protected his heart ever since but there is something that draws him to petite, feisty Angelina. Neither suspect the pushing and interference by a determined angel. This is cute and enjoyable. 4.25.

TIN ANGEL by Patricia Rice
A goodhearted, though skeptical, hero learns the joy of Christmas when he falls in love with an angel sent to make him believe in miracles.
     This story was my favorite! Jeffrey, a Viscount, is frustrated by Parliament and the inability to pass laws that would help commoners. He leaves London in a cynical state to sulk, with all his bent up anger, at his country estate. He has no desire to celebrate Christmas but the servants have begun setting up the tree complete with tin ornaments. One of the those tin ornaments is an angel that begins to talk to him and tries to get him to improve his attitude. Jeffrey slowly develops a warm friendship with the spirit of his accident prone angel, ‘Mary’.  She brings out Jeffrey's warmer side as she encourages him to help bring a special Christmas to the Vicar’s very ill daughter. This is humorous, very charming and delightful! Rating 4.5.

GUARDED BY ANGELS by Mary Balogh
When a mysterious old lady and her young grandson offer their cottage to an estranged couple who got lost during a blizzard, it's a gift that will last a lifetime.
     June and Elliot married right after he returned from Waterloo. He had been troubled by his war experiences and didn’t know how to handle an innocent young girl but frightened her instead. Now five years later their guardian angels bring the estranged husband and wife to reconciliation by stranding them in a cottage with a freak blizzard. Lovely. Rating 4.25.

I pulled this from my Christmas TBR box to read and share.

I was tempted to hang on to this as part of my Mary Balogh and/or Patricia Rice collections. My desire to share the pleasure exceeded my desire to horde. :-)
ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY for the gently used print copy.

ENTRY FORM HERE

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For 3 Extra Bonus entries  comment on the review 

OR tell me about another book by any of these authors that you enjoyed.

* This contest is open to U.S. address Only.
* This contest will close 10 PM (Central) on January 11, 2014.
The winner will be randomly selected from all entries.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED after January 11, 2014.
Winners will have 72 hours to respond by email or the winners form linked in the announcement.

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.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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.   

Book Review and ARC Giveaway: Merely Magic by Patricia Rice

Can a man of science appreciate a woman with a spirit of magic?
Merely Magic (Magic (Sourcebooks Casablanca)) by Patricia Rice

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca; Reprint edition (March 1, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402251939
• ISBN-13: 978-1402251931

Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Product Description
"Patricia Rice is a master storyteller."
-Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of Never Less than a Lady
Magic is her birthright...
The daughter of one of the strongest magical lineages, Ninian Malcom Siddons is a powerful witch. Determined to only use her magic for good, she lives a simple, solitary life as a healer in her village, where she meets Drogo.
A man of science doesn't believe in anything he can't see...
Lord Drogo Ives believes only logic and science can explain the wonders of the universe and doesn't believe the local folklore about Malcolm witches and Ives men, until he meets Ninian.
Despite the odds against them and their (many) differences, the bond between Drogo and Ninian grows stronger each moment they are together... until the chaos and danger surrounding them forces each to decide: their love... or their lives...

Review: She may not have true magical skills but her spirit is one of magic.

Ninian is a Malcolm daughter descended from a long heritage of witches who only give birth to daughters.  Ninian is a gifted herbalist and healer in a small village. She is always on the outside of the crowd as the people are a bit afraid of the rumors of the Malcolm witches. Ninian doesn’t expect to ever have a family of her own because of her solitary life.

The large manor home near the village, is owned by Lord Ives but it has been vacant for many years. The Ives men only have sons and seemed doomed to have unhappy marriages.  There is a history of an old Malcolm and Ives marriage that brought disaster to the house and village. Lord Drogo is a man of logic, math and science. Drogo is the head of the family and since he was a young teen he has been responsible for the  family finances and the corralling of the rambunctious boys, legitimate and otherwise.  He was never coddled as a boy and is not prone to express, or even allow himself to feel, much emotion. He thought he had escaped to the manor house to study stars and to get a break from the family duties.

When Ninian and Drogo meet it is like trying to put the earth and stars together but the draw between them is instant and overpowering.  Drogo is used to controlling everyone in his family. Ninian is self sufficient and doesn’t need someone to control her. She needs someone to accept and love her.  But Drogo doesn’t believe in love or witches or magic. Can they learn to accept and trust each other?

I thought this portion succinctly presents their problem (and it sounded so familiar as in my DH and myself!) “He’d given up any hope of logic from her months ago.  She had a brain. She just didn’t use it as he did.” p 267.

This book flows smoothly and beautifully. Ninian is such a giving and warm character and she draws the cool, unemotional Drogo into her joy.  I love the magical feeling that this author weaves into her stories. I have read one of the other books in the “Magic” series of Malcolms and Ives and I have several more on my TBR shelf as this is an author worth collecting.

xxx

Thank you to Sourcebooks for this book to read and review.

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