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This Magic Moment is the latest in Patricia Rice’s Magic Series.
The Malcolm women all have some type of magical ability. Christina
Malcolm Childe has the ability to see auras and ghosts. The last Malcolm
to have that ability was her great-great-great Aunt Iona who died as a
child.
Christina is a free-spirited young lady. She is engaged to her childhood friend Harry Winchester, Duke of Sommersville.
The engagement has lasted for five years and both are satisfied with the
arrangement. Christina doesn’t expect to have children, so she and Harry
are going to wait until they are old to get married.
Harry has just inherited the title and a crumbling ancestral keep. His steward informs him that his father and brother have spent all the money the estate had on adding to the manor, and he is now bankrupt. Harry was the younger son, and never learned how to run an estate. But his father and elder brother died in an accident when the ledge they were standing on collapsed. Harry is shocked to hear that there is no money left, and that his brother never signed the entail, thus the land and house are subject to sale. His only hope to save his inheritance is to marry his wealthy heiress fiancée immediately.
Christina’s protective father warns Harry that he will not allow his daughter to live in poverty. If Harry is unable to recover financially, despite Christina’s substantial dowry, her father will take her back home. Harry is humiliated by this, but perseveres.
Christina agrees to the marriage, but because Harry’s aura has darkened, and he appears to be a bitter, angry man, she refuses to consummate it until she is sure he loves her. Harry agrees to this condition in desperation, knowing that if he doesn’t marry, he will lose everything. He reserves the right to try to persuade her to change her mind. The sexual tension between Christina and Harry is handled very well. He pursues, she retreats, and they continue their dance of seduction.
Once they go to his family manor, the fun truly begins. The manor is filled with ghosts and secrets. Harry is consumed with finding out why there is no money left, why the house is in such poor condition if all the money was spent improving it. He also can’t understand the obvious resentment shown him by his tenants and servants. And the attempts on Christina’s life are over the top. He’s one seriously stressed out guy. The only bright spot in his life is his wife. She has not lost her joy in life, and wants her laughing Harry back. Solving the mystery is the only way to ensure Christina’s safety, and so they work together to resolve it.
I really enjoyed this novel. I’ve read each of the Magic books, and this tale is a fitting addition to the series. It stands alone, though several characters from previous novels make their appearance. Christina is delightfully mischievous, Harry a charmer, and the secondary characters are well written. I didn't figure out the villain until the dénouement, and that made it all the more enjoyable for me. The plotting and action kept me reading until I finished the book. I highly recommend this book to readers, as well as the rest of the Magic series.
Reviewed by Nancy Riggins-Hume
for The Road to Romance
October 27, 2004
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