MAGIC MAN

Author: Patricia Rice ISBN: 0451218965 6/2006 PARANORMAL/HISTORICAL Publisher: NAL/SIGNET ECLIPSE
Time Period: 1757 England/Scotland

A man of mysterious allure to others, Aidan Dougal is, in fact, isolated in every way—alienated from a family he can never call his own and convinced he brings literal destruction wherever he goes. For such a man, intimacy is impossible and marriage out of the question. Even asking for help is beyond him... until a wily enemy forces him to accept assistance from a gentle young woman whose delicate beauty and strange enchantments turn his cool composure into red-hot passion. Left homeless by the death of her adopted parents, Mora Abbott is not the meek vicar's daughter she appears to be. Inside, she seethes with a desire to live life fully and embrace the magical talents she's only beginning to discover in herself. But Aidan, who stirs her soul in every way, presents a formidable challenge... and unless he is willing to open his heart and explore the potential of their combined magical powers, their attraction can never blossom into the full flower of love.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

This was my first Patricia Rice novel, but definitely not my last. MAGIC MAN is her sixth, and most likely, last story in her "Magic" Series. The secondary characters are so colorful that I can't wait to start on the first novel.

We first meet both Aidan and Mora as younger children, giving us a glimpse of the isolation they've lived with all their lives for being "unique". Mora, who was orphaned at nine years old, finds herself alone again after the death of her adopted parents. For many years she has hidden behind the guise of a dutiful vicar's daughter, always pleasing and healing others, and ignoring the "voice" inside her head. Aidan has traveled the world gathering riches while trying to ignore the earthquakes that seem to only happen when his anger is stirred.

In search of her biological father, Mora sets out on a journey that takes her far beyond the forests of Scotland. When she is attacked and almost abducted, Aidan appears from the mist like a very large avenging angel coming to her rescue. Aidan is puzzled to come through the mist to rescue a stranger rather than one of the Malcom women, whom he seems to always know when they're in need. When his emotions spin out of control, he sets off a tremor that topples both he and Mora, and knocks Aidan unconscious. When he awakens in a small cabin to find Mora tending him alone, he is confounded by the thought that this small woman managed to get his very large self through the woods and into the cabin without assistance. He has never needed a woman, and he definitely doesn't want to be involved with one that seems to have the same strange abilities as his brothers' "Malcom" wives.

Through the stubbornness of one very large male and the determination of one small female, they must learn to harness their joint powers to solve a century old mystery or chance Aidan losing his beloved home forever.

This is the kind of story I am always in search of—a fantastic plot, with larger-than-life characters who bring out the laughter as well as the tears. With a large dollop of romance, MAGIC MAN is one satisfying dish. This is one series you don't want to miss, and I am off to serve myself another portion of Patricia Rice's sublime cuisine! Enjoy!

Deana Monteleone