Merely Magic [Paperback]

Patricia Rice (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 10, 2000

With exhilarating wit, sensuality, and emotion, bestselling author Patricia Rice offers an enchanting historical romance. When a magical young woman meets a dark aristocrat in a moonlit forest, neither dreams that a strange and powerful love is about to change their lives forever....

Praise for Merely Magic:

"Simply enchanting!...passionate and powerful."-Teresa Medeiros

"Simply enchanting! Patricia Rice, a master storyteller, weaves a spellbinding tale that's passionate and powerful."-Teresa Medeiros, bestselling author of The Bride and the Beast

"Like Julie Garwood, Patricia Rice employs wicked wit and sizzling sensuality to turn the battle of the sexes into a magical romp."-Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author

Patricia Rice is:

"A super talented author." -Romantic Times

"Enthralling."-Rendezvous

"Fast-paced...witty."-Gothic Journal

"Captivating."-Heartland Critiques

Editorial Reviews

Review

A true storyteller, Ms. Rice will hold you from the first words until the very last. (Long and Short Reviews 20110304)

Very enjoyable read, especially the humor in the dialogue. (BookLoons.com 20110307)

Written in Ms. Rice's signature style that seamlessly combines emotion and action, the story sweeps you along with a varied cast of characters who are true to their time, and yet timeless. (Linda Banche Romance Author 20110310)

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. (That's What I'm Talking About 20110314)

[Patricia Rice] took the best of romance, mystery, comedy and drama and mixed them all together in one magical tale. (Literary Litter 20110322)

I loved the two leads in this magical romance. (In the Hammock Reviews 20110330)

I literally could not put this one down... a romance that rings out with a spark of truth. (Pencil Pushers and Ink Splotches 20110330)

Quite a lovely story. (Love Romance Passion 20110401)

I was entertained and transported from the first page to the last. (Once Upon a Romance 20110401)

I love the magical feeling that this author weaves into her stories. (Book Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf 20110404)

This book pulled me in from the beginning... Magical. (Books and Needlepoint )

A remarkable display of characterization. (Star-Crossed Romance )

An amazing story with a little magic,danger and a lot of love. (My Book Addiction and More ) --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Former CPA Patricia Rice is the author of over thirty bestselling romances with over 5 million copies sold. Winner of the Romantic Times Book Review, Book of the Year, and the RITA awards, she is a member of RWA, the Authors Guild, and Novelists, Inc. She lives with her husband in St. Louis, Missouri.

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Signet (July 10, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451200497
• ISBN-13: 978-0451200495
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,349,065 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MERELY MAGIC by Patricia Rice, August 4, 2000

By 

Suzanne Coleburn (Berlin, MD USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Merely Magic (Paperback)

The minute I started MERELY MAGIC I knew I held one heck of a compelling story in my hands. Having been a fan of Ms. Rice's for years I knew her storytelling abilities were phenomenal whether in the contemporary or historical genres. Her characters are deep, sensual and have a humorous side too to give you a full-bodied tale you don't soon forget.

I love the magical theme of MERELY MAGIC. Ninian Malcolm Siddons is a witch with the art of healing those in the village of Wystan beneath the Castle belonging to Earl Drogo Ives, newely returned to the area. Lord Ives doesn't realize all the local folklore about the Malcolm witches and Ives devils. All the Ives' are dark, handsome and extremely virile and always sire males. The Malcolm witches are all women, fair of face with golden locks and they always birth females. They have a bad history that Drogo knows nothing about between the families. It's rumored if the two families intermarry the town will be destroyed. Guess what happens? You'll love the chaos!

There is so much love, magic, and crazy family situations to sort out that I know you are going to love being a part of this magical novel of two extraordinary people who through the magic of love and working together make this an unforgettable story to cherish. I'm hoping to hear more of the Malcolms and Ives' in the future. They are unbelievably fascinating characters that I know Ms. Rice can bring to life with verve.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Merely magic? More like merely average..., January 17, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Merely Magic (Paperback)

In Merely Magic, Patricia Rice delivers a merely average tale. The lead characters lack the magic, for want of a more appropriate word, to create a truly spellbinding story. This is disappointing, given her considerable talent as an author.

The back of the book reads " Bestselling author Patricia Rice will touch your heart as never before in this enchanting historical romance that offers wit, sensuality and a delightful depth of emotion that will leave you soaring"; to put it bluntly, there is no depths of emotion or otherwise in this book, and not only does it not leave you soaring, but only with a deep sense of relief that you've finished reading it.

I believe the reviewers above were so interested in the secondary characters in the book - as I was myself, particularly the mysterious Adonis - simply because they were more fascinating than the lead characters themselves. So all in all, readers, this one's definitely not a keeper!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This series MUST be read in order, March 12, 2005

By 

S. Reader "scibarfan" (Franklin, TN) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Merely Magic (Paperback)

Having accidentally read book # 4 first, let me encourage any reader to read this series in order. This one, Merely Magic, is the first and does a splendid job of setting up Rice's remarkable magical world and the two families that gird the series.

The magic of the Malcolm women is unusual, and each one has her own special talent and unique way of looking at the world. Each Ives man is stubborn, arrogant, and scientifically-minded -- what could they possibly have in common? The two families are consistently intriguing and their individual antics, much less the inevitable combustion when they meet, are vastly entertaining. Add an excellent romance, and there is much to enjoy in this delightful book.

There are occasions when Drogo's arrogance is irritating and Ninian's submission is annoying, but these character flaws make them more realistic, and one can appreciate the difficulty in making a realtionship between opposites work. The superstition of the villagers and their resulting snubbing plays honestly. There are some historical gaffes, but all in all, it's a great read.