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Magical Malcolms #6
Magic Man
Aidan Dougal, an enigmatic recluse incapable of intimacy, and Mora Abbott, a seemingly timid vicar's daughter gifted with magical talents, come together to defeat a clever enemy and open their hearts to the healing power of love. Original.
384 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 5, 2006
36 people are currently reading
345 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Rice
157 books515 followersWith several million books in print and New York Times and USA Today's bestseller lists under her belt, former CPA Patricia Rice writes emotionally-charged contemporary and historical romances which have won numerous awards, including the RT Book Reviews Reviewers Choice and Career Achievement Awards.
Her books have also been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.
A firm believer in happily-ever-after for good reason, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina and Missouri, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself.
She also writes under the pen name Jamie Quaid
Her books have also been honored as Romance Writers of America RITA® finalists in the historical, regency and contemporary categories.
A firm believer in happily-ever-after for good reason, Patricia Rice is married to her high school sweetheart and has two children. A native of Kentucky and New York, a past resident of North Carolina and Missouri, she currently resides in Southern California, and now does accounting only for herself.
She also writes under the pen name Jamie Quaid
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 10, 2014
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
The sixth of Patricia Rice's appealing historical/paranormal romance novels featuring the Malcolms and Ives families, Magic Man serves as the keystone, or perhaps the capstone, to the entire series. In Rice's 18th-century Britain, Malcolm women are often described as witches; they have uncanny gifts: Lucinda paints the future, Felicity can feel past emotions in anything she touches, Christina see ghosts and auras, and so on. Ives men, on the other hand, are relentlessly scientific and unwilling to entertain the possibility that the inexplicable Malcolm gifts are real. Naturally, Ives and Malcolms are irresistibly drawn to one another - don't opposites always attract?
They certainly do in Magic Man, though the question of identity - both the hero's and the heroine's - colors the whole book. Family secrets, convoluted genealogies, and unclear parentage abound -- and can be difficult to follow, particularly if you're not familiar with the earlier books. It also helps to know the secondary characters and their relationships to one another. On the upside, Magic Man answers most of the mysteries and hints in the previous novels.
The main characters are clearly made for each other, and their hearts know it even if their heads are harder to convince. Hard-headed describes Aiden, in particular, rather well, along with big, rough-hewn, and stubborn as an ox. He's got a protective streak a mile wide, a nose that itches when Malcolms are in trouble, and a temper that quite literally rattles buildings and shakes the earth. Orphaned Mora is less certain of who she is, but under her self- and society-imposed ladylike demeanor is a passionate, wise, strong-willed woman trying to break free. Like Aiden, she is protective, and like him, she both fears and longs to be part of the Malcolm-Ives family.
There's plenty of chemistry between Mora and Aiden, and some fairly scorching kisses, but only one really explicit scene. Unlike some historical romance authors, Rice neither dismisses nor ignores the real challenges that 18th-century clothing posed to women's freedom of movement as well as to sexual encounters. She also does a nice job portraying a world on the edge of the scientific revolution; the scientific bent of all the Ives men stands in sharp contrast to the Malcolm women's intuitive, magical nature and beliefs.
I can't really recommend Magic Man to new readers of the Malcolm-Ives saga. There's simply too much background you need to make sense of the story. But if you're already a fan, Magic Man is definitely a satisfying wrap-up to the series. And if you enjoy a touch of magic in your historical romance, but you're not yet familiar with these books, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning of the series. You'll be glad you did!
FTC disclosure: I received an electronic review copy from the publisher, and had read a library copy some years ago. All opinions are entirely my own.
The sixth of Patricia Rice's appealing historical/paranormal romance novels featuring the Malcolms and Ives families, Magic Man serves as the keystone, or perhaps the capstone, to the entire series. In Rice's 18th-century Britain, Malcolm women are often described as witches; they have uncanny gifts: Lucinda paints the future, Felicity can feel past emotions in anything she touches, Christina see ghosts and auras, and so on. Ives men, on the other hand, are relentlessly scientific and unwilling to entertain the possibility that the inexplicable Malcolm gifts are real. Naturally, Ives and Malcolms are irresistibly drawn to one another - don't opposites always attract?
They certainly do in Magic Man, though the question of identity - both the hero's and the heroine's - colors the whole book. Family secrets, convoluted genealogies, and unclear parentage abound -- and can be difficult to follow, particularly if you're not familiar with the earlier books. It also helps to know the secondary characters and their relationships to one another. On the upside, Magic Man answers most of the mysteries and hints in the previous novels.
The main characters are clearly made for each other, and their hearts know it even if their heads are harder to convince. Hard-headed describes Aiden, in particular, rather well, along with big, rough-hewn, and stubborn as an ox. He's got a protective streak a mile wide, a nose that itches when Malcolms are in trouble, and a temper that quite literally rattles buildings and shakes the earth. Orphaned Mora is less certain of who she is, but under her self- and society-imposed ladylike demeanor is a passionate, wise, strong-willed woman trying to break free. Like Aiden, she is protective, and like him, she both fears and longs to be part of the Malcolm-Ives family.
There's plenty of chemistry between Mora and Aiden, and some fairly scorching kisses, but only one really explicit scene. Unlike some historical romance authors, Rice neither dismisses nor ignores the real challenges that 18th-century clothing posed to women's freedom of movement as well as to sexual encounters. She also does a nice job portraying a world on the edge of the scientific revolution; the scientific bent of all the Ives men stands in sharp contrast to the Malcolm women's intuitive, magical nature and beliefs.
I can't really recommend Magic Man to new readers of the Malcolm-Ives saga. There's simply too much background you need to make sense of the story. But if you're already a fan, Magic Man is definitely a satisfying wrap-up to the series. And if you enjoy a touch of magic in your historical romance, but you're not yet familiar with these books, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning of the series. You'll be glad you did!
FTC disclosure: I received an electronic review copy from the publisher, and had read a library copy some years ago. All opinions are entirely my own.
February 12, 2014
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I have been wanting to read Aidan story since he was introduced in the first book.
This book was everything I hoped it would be - Aidan is wonderful, he is a huge man with an even bigger heart.
Mora was also great. I liked watching her transform from the "Vicars Daughter" into a confident "Malcolm" woman.
This book had a lot of twists and turns, just when you think you have it all figured out, the story changes.
The love story between Aidan and Mora was great - I loved watching them fall in love. Aidan was priceless, I really love when the hero finds "his woman" and decides that she is his and that is that. Mora took a bit longer to realize that they were meant to be. She is torn between wanting love and a family and finally being independent - I was glad to see that she finally understood that love with the right man is actually more freeing than being independent.
***This might be Spoilerish***
The only thing that bothered me was that Aidan was going to walk away, there is a line I the book where he thinks he will hold the dream of Mora and hope to find another - WTH? Later in the book he thinks that there will never be another for him - but he is still set on leaving her. I don't know if that makes him the greatest martyr that ever lived or the biggest idiot - I am leaning towards idiot.
Thankfully, the story twists again and he and Mora get their HEA.
This book was one of my favorites in the series - the first book is and will always be my favorite. This book is a close second.
I really enjoyed this book. I have been wanting to read Aidan story since he was introduced in the first book.
This book was everything I hoped it would be - Aidan is wonderful, he is a huge man with an even bigger heart.
Mora was also great. I liked watching her transform from the "Vicars Daughter" into a confident "Malcolm" woman.
This book had a lot of twists and turns, just when you think you have it all figured out, the story changes.
The love story between Aidan and Mora was great - I loved watching them fall in love. Aidan was priceless, I really love when the hero finds "his woman" and decides that she is his and that is that. Mora took a bit longer to realize that they were meant to be. She is torn between wanting love and a family and finally being independent - I was glad to see that she finally understood that love with the right man is actually more freeing than being independent.
***This might be Spoilerish***
The only thing that bothered me was that Aidan was going to walk away, there is a line I the book where he thinks he will hold the dream of Mora and hope to find another - WTH? Later in the book he thinks that there will never be another for him - but he is still set on leaving her. I don't know if that makes him the greatest martyr that ever lived or the biggest idiot - I am leaning towards idiot.
Thankfully, the story twists again and he and Mora get their HEA.
This book was one of my favorites in the series - the first book is and will always be my favorite. This book is a close second.
December 26, 2017
Needed a more substantial plot and fewer branches on that infernal family tree. I felt like I was part of an extended class research project on ancestry.com
February 10, 2020
The final book in the Magic series, about Aidan Dougal, in whom the author does a fantastic job of building the reader's interest in the first five books of the series, is a fitting conclusion. So often I look forward to a certain character's story, only to be disappointed. Not this time! Aidan and Mora have to scale mountains (literally) to resolve their problems, not only with each other but their personal problems. Sometimes you worry that there is no resolution possible without harming others. The ending was inspired, and I will miss these characters, other than on a re-read, which will probably happen in this case.
August 14, 2016
Aiden and Mora
The mysterious Aiden, who has been lurking throughout the entire Magic Series, is finally revealed. And what a surprise it is, with repercussions throughout the Ives and Malcolm families. Into this comes Mora Abbott, the adopted daughter of Christina's Vicar. This is going to be a match made in heaven, or maybe a Druid Grove the way things go in when the Malcolms are involved.
The mysterious Aiden, who has been lurking throughout the entire Magic Series, is finally revealed. And what a surprise it is, with repercussions throughout the Ives and Malcolm families. Into this comes Mora Abbott, the adopted daughter of Christina's Vicar. This is going to be a match made in heaven, or maybe a Druid Grove the way things go in when the Malcolms are involved.
December 16, 2020
I liked it and didn't like it. The ending was so pat and too forgiving for the real assholes in the story. It wasn't satisfying.
It needed more sexual tension. There were few stolen kisses, only a little build up and when they did it, it was in a cave. Can I say dirt and spiders aren't sexy? Seriously, it was abrupt and just weird for a seduction scene. Then she had to be all contrary for no real reason, which felt contrived and unnecessary.
It just felt forced--all of it. Plus both hero and heroine were both martyrs which is annoying.
It needed more sexual tension. There were few stolen kisses, only a little build up and when they did it, it was in a cave. Can I say dirt and spiders aren't sexy? Seriously, it was abrupt and just weird for a seduction scene. Then she had to be all contrary for no real reason, which felt contrived and unnecessary.
It just felt forced--all of it. Plus both hero and heroine were both martyrs which is annoying.
March 5, 2018
Excellent story
We finally find out the history of the ever mysterious Aiden, who seems to have gotten a double dose of Malcolm gifts, although only the most obvious one really gets much discussion. We also learn about Mora, the vicar's foster daughter, who made her first appearance in Christina and Harry's story. If this book teaches anything, it's that family trees can become quite complicated and convoluted, especially in small communities before the days of mass transit. As improbable as it might seem, Aiden and Mora, the two perpetual outsiders, become the key to the family's future. A definitely worthwhile read.
We finally find out the history of the ever mysterious Aiden, who seems to have gotten a double dose of Malcolm gifts, although only the most obvious one really gets much discussion. We also learn about Mora, the vicar's foster daughter, who made her first appearance in Christina and Harry's story. If this book teaches anything, it's that family trees can become quite complicated and convoluted, especially in small communities before the days of mass transit. As improbable as it might seem, Aiden and Mora, the two perpetual outsiders, become the key to the family's future. A definitely worthwhile read.
June 23, 2021
This is the only book I read in this series. That was a big part of my low rating...I just didnt understand what was going on! It seemed like a bunch of sisters were married to a bunch of brothers and along came to people who are related to both groups AND each other. It definitely could not be a standalone book. If I take that away, I liked the main characters, but got annoyed by each of them by the end of the book. He was brawny and yelled a lot, she was smart and not afraid...blah blah every- romance- novel- ever blah.
But Patricia Rice's writing is so good, it's easy to overlook some of those annoying things. I think I'm going to read the series from the beginning and that may change my rating.
But Patricia Rice's writing is so good, it's easy to overlook some of those annoying things. I think I'm going to read the series from the beginning and that may change my rating.
November 7, 2020
The final book in the series, this is Aiden's story, and we finally find who he is, a Malcolm and an Ives. Moira, adopted by a vicar and his wife at the age of 9, has grown up without knowing her family. I really enjoyed how both of them finally learn who their fathers are and how to deal with their families and relationships. There are a lot of mysteries solved, as well as preparing us for future Malcolm and Ives books. I was able to download more Rice books on audible plus, as they are perfect for listening as I walk and swim.
January 13, 2022
I so enjoyed reading this Magical Malcolms series. Having read a number of Ms. Rice's Malcolm books set in current time, I now wish I had known of this series years ago and read it first. I like the back story and this series is that. "Magic Man" completes the series and I think I might have liked Aiden most. Hmmm. Good strong characters, some tension in the plot, intelligent, common sense reasoning by the main characters and, of course, magic - a happy time reading.
July 28, 2019
Finally
I had been waiting to read Aiden's story in this series and this tale did not disappoint. He finally learns of his true heritage as he struggles to save his home with the help of the Vicar's Daughter, Mora. And she has her own past to uncover as they both learn about their special gifts and how to harness them. Great story!
I had been waiting to read Aiden's story in this series and this tale did not disappoint. He finally learns of his true heritage as he struggles to save his home with the help of the Vicar's Daughter, Mora. And she has her own past to uncover as they both learn about their special gifts and how to harness them. Great story!
January 16, 2020
Good ending to the series overall. What I was disappointed by was how after the big build up in earlier stories of our hero and his ability to be where trouble was brewing, in his own story he was clueless and so negative considering all he’d already seen and experienced.
Overall, as I said, it was a good series close.
Overall, as I said, it was a good series close.
March 5, 2018
I loved this series. Full of magic, romance, saucy heroines and handsome heroes. And an HEA for all. Better if read as a series. Sorry to see this series end. Didn't find the Unexpected Magic series as captivating.
March 13, 2021
I’ll just say this series just kept improving with each book. Book 3 was my favorite storyline but they have some great stories as they go on. This one was very different and I enjoyed Our hero much more than in book one. An exciting tale with a man with some magical gifts this time!
March 23, 2022
Magic, magic, magic....
The book trembled. The characters collide and collect themselves and launch themselves into the wilds again. A story of fabulous family, quests for knowledge and the hunt for resolution.
The book trembled. The characters collide and collect themselves and launch themselves into the wilds again. A story of fabulous family, quests for knowledge and the hunt for resolution.
April 19, 2020
Too many people in this book.
August 11, 2021
3.5*
A good ending to the series.
A good ending to the series.
August 19, 2021
Not worth my time
January 14, 2022
Excellent end to the series - this is my favourite but I've loved them all!
September 11, 2022
As always keeps you in suspense
January 6, 2023
Enjoyable story; I so liked the characters.
February 10, 2014
Review originally published at The Bookwyrm's Hoard.
The sixth of Patricia Rice's appealing historical/paranormal romance novels featuring the Malcolms and Ives families, Magic Man serves as the keystone, or perhaps the capstone, to the entire series. In Rice's 18th-century Britain, Malcolm women are often described as witches; they have uncanny gifts: Lucinda paints the future, Felicity can feel past emotions in anything she touches, Christina see ghosts and auras, and so on. Ives men, on the other hand, are relentlessly scientific and unwilling to entertain the possibility that the inexplicable Malcolm gifts are real. Naturally, Ives and Malcolms are irresistibly drawn to one another - don't opposites always attract?
They certainly do in Magic Man, though the question of identity - both the hero's and the heroine's - colors the whole book. Family secrets, convoluted genealogies, and unclear parentage abound -- and can be difficult to follow, particularly if you're not familiar with the earlier books. It also helps to know the secondary characters and their relationships to one another. On the upside, Magic Man answers most of the mysteries and hints in the previous novels.
The main characters are clearly made for each other, and their hearts know it even if their heads are harder to convince. Hard-headed describes Aiden, in particular, rather well, along with big, rough-hewn, and stubborn as an ox. He's got a protective streak a mile wide, a nose that itches when Malcolms are in trouble, and a temper that quite literally rattles buildings and shakes the earth. Orphaned Mora is less certain of who she is, but under her self- and society-imposed ladylike demeanor is a passionate, wise, strong-willed woman trying to break free. Like Aiden, she is protective, and like him, she both fears and longs to be part of the Malcolm-Ives family.
There's plenty of chemistry between Mora and Aiden, and some fairly scorching kisses, but only one really explicit scene. Unlike some historical romance authors, Rice neither dismisses nor ignores the real challenges that 18th-century clothing posed to women's freedom of movement as well as to sexual encounters. She also does a nice job portraying a world on the edge of the scientific revolution; the scientific bent of all the Ives men stands in sharp contrast to the Malcolm women's intuitive, magical nature and beliefs.
I can't really recommend Magic Man to new readers of the Malcolm-Ives saga. There's simply too much background you need to make sense of the story. But if you're already a fan, Magic Man is definitely a satisfying wrap-up to the series. And if you enjoy a touch of magic in your historical romance, but you're not yet familiar with these books, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning of the series. You'll be glad you did!
FTC disclosure: I received an electronic review copy from the publisher, and had read a library copy some years ago. All opinions are entirely my own.
The sixth of Patricia Rice's appealing historical/paranormal romance novels featuring the Malcolms and Ives families, Magic Man serves as the keystone, or perhaps the capstone, to the entire series. In Rice's 18th-century Britain, Malcolm women are often described as witches; they have uncanny gifts: Lucinda paints the future, Felicity can feel past emotions in anything she touches, Christina see ghosts and auras, and so on. Ives men, on the other hand, are relentlessly scientific and unwilling to entertain the possibility that the inexplicable Malcolm gifts are real. Naturally, Ives and Malcolms are irresistibly drawn to one another - don't opposites always attract?
They certainly do in Magic Man, though the question of identity - both the hero's and the heroine's - colors the whole book. Family secrets, convoluted genealogies, and unclear parentage abound -- and can be difficult to follow, particularly if you're not familiar with the earlier books. It also helps to know the secondary characters and their relationships to one another. On the upside, Magic Man answers most of the mysteries and hints in the previous novels.
The main characters are clearly made for each other, and their hearts know it even if their heads are harder to convince. Hard-headed describes Aiden, in particular, rather well, along with big, rough-hewn, and stubborn as an ox. He's got a protective streak a mile wide, a nose that itches when Malcolms are in trouble, and a temper that quite literally rattles buildings and shakes the earth. Orphaned Mora is less certain of who she is, but under her self- and society-imposed ladylike demeanor is a passionate, wise, strong-willed woman trying to break free. Like Aiden, she is protective, and like him, she both fears and longs to be part of the Malcolm-Ives family.
There's plenty of chemistry between Mora and Aiden, and some fairly scorching kisses, but only one really explicit scene. Unlike some historical romance authors, Rice neither dismisses nor ignores the real challenges that 18th-century clothing posed to women's freedom of movement as well as to sexual encounters. She also does a nice job portraying a world on the edge of the scientific revolution; the scientific bent of all the Ives men stands in sharp contrast to the Malcolm women's intuitive, magical nature and beliefs.
I can't really recommend Magic Man to new readers of the Malcolm-Ives saga. There's simply too much background you need to make sense of the story. But if you're already a fan, Magic Man is definitely a satisfying wrap-up to the series. And if you enjoy a touch of magic in your historical romance, but you're not yet familiar with these books, do yourself a favor and start at the beginning of the series. You'll be glad you did!
FTC disclosure: I received an electronic review copy from the publisher, and had read a library copy some years ago. All opinions are entirely my own.
August 5, 2025
The hero needs to find a legal heir to his property and castle before his evil neighbor takes control of it. His search leads him to the Malcom estate and to the heroine who is searching for her long-lost family. Instantly the hero becomes enraptured with her. Despite the fact that she turns out to be the daughter of his enemy, he claims her as his own and only considers leaving her when his gift threatens to hurt her and his half-brothers. She's everything he's looking for in a woman. She's soft spoken, demure, levelheaded and luscious.
The hero is described as a mountain of a man with big muscles and a towering frame but not traditionally hansom in his features. The heroine thinks he's the most gorgeous man she's ever seen. The two fit together quite nicely. The heroine is calm and collected while the hero is passionate and tends to roar and shoot when irritated. It did irate me how the heroine changed into a copycat of all the previous heroines in the series, with her stubbornness and complete inability to keep out of trouble. I don't like my heroines to be that type of person and I found myself liking her less and less as the story went on. That being said, the lovemaking scenes were super passionate and filled with so much love that it made my heart flutter. Like I said, the characters balanced each other out and it made for a very nice story.
The hero is described as a mountain of a man with big muscles and a towering frame but not traditionally hansom in his features. The heroine thinks he's the most gorgeous man she's ever seen. The two fit together quite nicely. The heroine is calm and collected while the hero is passionate and tends to roar and shoot when irritated. It did irate me how the heroine changed into a copycat of all the previous heroines in the series, with her stubbornness and complete inability to keep out of trouble. I don't like my heroines to be that type of person and I found myself liking her less and less as the story went on. That being said, the lovemaking scenes were super passionate and filled with so much love that it made my heart flutter. Like I said, the characters balanced each other out and it made for a very nice story.
February 8, 2014
I have always enjoyed Patricia Rice's books; a combination of paranormal and historical romance. In Magic Man, she tells the story of Aidan and Mora, two people who are looking for a family to belong to and when they find it, it turns out to possibly be their biggest heartache. Both Aidan and Mora have magic in them but Aidan won't admit it. One of my favorite scenes in the book is the first time they make love and he unknowingly causes an earthquake, whereupon she turns to him and says something along the lines of "you made the earth move" because she recognizes his powers even if he won't. They are perfect for each other and have to learn to balance their abilities in order to have the happy ever after they both crave.
Characters from earlier books make the story move along and add continuity to the story. That said, someone who hasn't read the earlier books would have no problem with this one. There are twists and turns and nasty relatives but it all works out as it should.
Characters from earlier books make the story move along and add continuity to the story. That said, someone who hasn't read the earlier books would have no problem with this one. There are twists and turns and nasty relatives but it all works out as it should.
October 1, 2016
if you make me cry, you get 5 stars. i HATE that this is the "finale" to the magic series! i want at least 10 more of these! i'm a person who always finds the little "problems". 1) i knew by page 79 why the "ruffians" were after her.......but that's not really a "problem". 2) the piece of furniture that could not be moved --- no reason to include that; it had no relationship to the story. 3) the first time they made love, he hands were so dirty! ugh. but this was a wonderful story and hard to put down. the reader spends time trying to figure out how all the problems are going to get "fixed"!
December 27, 2015
This is Book 6 of the original "Magic" series and centers around the mysterious Aidan. Patricia Rice more than delivered with this book - it was fast paced, had a ton of twists and turns, and was extremely heart-felt. As I have said before, whether you have read the series before, or are just starting, this is a great read. As of right now, the next book after this jumps to present day with the California Malcolm's in Lure of Song and Magic.
February 9, 2021
Audible Romance Package
AUDIOBOOK: Read June
11hrs 32min
Narrator: Greg Wagland as usual does a great job.
Loved It! Loved the hole series.
I did really wanted to get to read this one Aidan Douglas aka The Giant/half brother/ Wizard?/
He pops up in all of the previous books and really wanted to know who he really was.
Liked all the banter between all of them and lots of LOL moments. That family reparties was great.
AUDIOBOOK: Read June
11hrs 32min
Narrator: Greg Wagland as usual does a great job.
Loved It! Loved the hole series.
I did really wanted to get to read this one Aidan Douglas aka The Giant/half brother/ Wizard?/
He pops up in all of the previous books and really wanted to know who he really was.
Liked all the banter between all of them and lots of LOL moments. That family reparties was great.
February 29, 2008
The last book in Patricia Rice's "Magic" series is thisclose to being my favorite. It's got mystery, a non-blond heroine and, of course, magic.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
May 23, 2010Adored this book. I love all the "Magic" series!
November 13, 2011
nice romance story. not much magic
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews