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Unexpected Magic #6
No Perfect Magic
Will Ives, the bastard of the late marquess, is as strong, handsome, and smart as his titled brothers, but he has no interest in society or book learning. His unique gift for training highly-prized rescue dogs is all he needs. His peace is shattered the day the beautiful but eccentric Lady Aurelia demands his help in finding a child no one knows is missing.
The daughter of a duke, Lady Aurelia has wealth, beauty, and a family known for their good works. Unfortunately afflicted with hyper-acute hearing, she spends most of her time cringing in her room. She wants to please her father and make a good match, but how can she when every dinner, tea, and ball is pure torture?
When a child only she can hear cries for help, Aurelia must find a way to turn her affliction into the gift it is, before it's too late. Will, in turn, must overcome his reluctance to work with a lady who makes him feel inadequate in all ways but one.
With the reluctant aid of Will and his dogs, the pair sets out on an unusual journey that will surely lead to heartbreak— or a love against all reason.
The daughter of a duke, Lady Aurelia has wealth, beauty, and a family known for their good works. Unfortunately afflicted with hyper-acute hearing, she spends most of her time cringing in her room. She wants to please her father and make a good match, but how can she when every dinner, tea, and ball is pure torture?
When a child only she can hear cries for help, Aurelia must find a way to turn her affliction into the gift it is, before it's too late. Will, in turn, must overcome his reluctance to work with a lady who makes him feel inadequate in all ways but one.
With the reluctant aid of Will and his dogs, the pair sets out on an unusual journey that will surely lead to heartbreak— or a love against all reason.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 26, 2017
About the author
Patricia Rice
160 books516 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 59 reviews
June 12, 2017
Series: Unexpected Magic #6
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Delightfully entertaining and witty with a perfect hero and heroine. Any book that has a beginning paragraph like “Dead meat, lemme, lemme, oh no, heel! Yummy bite, wiggle, flower lady now, please. . .” just has to be a delightful read!
I have loved the entire Unexpected Magic series. Each hero and heroine are perfectly matched to compliment the others ‘powers’. This is another match-up of an Ives male and a Malcom female, so you know sparks fly. It is part of a series but could be read as a stand-alone book. However, I would strongly suggest reading the entire series from beginning to end because it is wonderfully delightful and the characters are so very interesting.
Lady Aurelia is the daughter of a duke. She lives in pampered luxury with lots of love and every material want or desire completely fulfilled. Yet, she is a prisoner in all that luxury. No, she isn’t a physical prisoner but is imprisoned none-the-less. Aurelia has ultra-sensitive hearing and sounds from everywhere bombard her so much that she cannot focus or even carry on a normal conversation. Aurelia stays at their country estate because she cannot tolerate all of the cacophony in London.
William Ives-Madden is the bastard son of a marquess and half-brother to the current marquess. William is quiet, very quiet. He seldom speaks and spends all of his time with the dogs that he trains for others. His dream is to purchase his own property where he could train the dogs rather than traveling all over the country to do it. He also has the lady he plans to marry all picked out. His life is all planned out and set and he’ll have enough money saved to buy the property he wants within the next year. William not only trains the dogs, he ‘communes’ with them. He can read their thoughts and send them commands with his thoughts.
William is training a dog for Aurelia’s father at their country estate when Aurelia comes running out to him just at dusk. She is very upset and says she hears a child crying in great distress and they must hurry to find her. Will hears nothing, but since Aurelia is so distressed, he decides to help her conduct the search. Will sees this as an excellent opportunity to work Argyle (the duke’s dog) further. At first, Argyle cannot pick up the sounds either, but finally, between Argyle and Aurelia, they find a badly injured little girl and her also badly injured pet.
That is how the mystery began – and quite a mystery it is. The search for the little girl is hindered by the fact that she is deaf and mute and very, very frightened. You’ll love the search for her family and what happened to them. It is filled with twists and turns and leaves you guessing right up to the very end!
During the course of their investigations, Aurelia discovers that William has a dampening effect on all of the noise that tortures her life. When Will is around, she can actually focus and carry on a conversation. Will admires Aurelia but knows that there is no chance of him ever being able to marry the daughter of a powerful duke. It would also require him to live in London, which he hates and there wouldn’t be a place to train his dogs. So, what is a girl and guy who have complimentary ‘gifts’ to do? Read the book and you’ll see.
A delightful read that I’m sure you’ll enjoy!
"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: June 27, 2017
Delightfully entertaining and witty with a perfect hero and heroine. Any book that has a beginning paragraph like “Dead meat, lemme, lemme, oh no, heel! Yummy bite, wiggle, flower lady now, please. . .” just has to be a delightful read!
I have loved the entire Unexpected Magic series. Each hero and heroine are perfectly matched to compliment the others ‘powers’. This is another match-up of an Ives male and a Malcom female, so you know sparks fly. It is part of a series but could be read as a stand-alone book. However, I would strongly suggest reading the entire series from beginning to end because it is wonderfully delightful and the characters are so very interesting.
Lady Aurelia is the daughter of a duke. She lives in pampered luxury with lots of love and every material want or desire completely fulfilled. Yet, she is a prisoner in all that luxury. No, she isn’t a physical prisoner but is imprisoned none-the-less. Aurelia has ultra-sensitive hearing and sounds from everywhere bombard her so much that she cannot focus or even carry on a normal conversation. Aurelia stays at their country estate because she cannot tolerate all of the cacophony in London.
William Ives-Madden is the bastard son of a marquess and half-brother to the current marquess. William is quiet, very quiet. He seldom speaks and spends all of his time with the dogs that he trains for others. His dream is to purchase his own property where he could train the dogs rather than traveling all over the country to do it. He also has the lady he plans to marry all picked out. His life is all planned out and set and he’ll have enough money saved to buy the property he wants within the next year. William not only trains the dogs, he ‘communes’ with them. He can read their thoughts and send them commands with his thoughts.
William is training a dog for Aurelia’s father at their country estate when Aurelia comes running out to him just at dusk. She is very upset and says she hears a child crying in great distress and they must hurry to find her. Will hears nothing, but since Aurelia is so distressed, he decides to help her conduct the search. Will sees this as an excellent opportunity to work Argyle (the duke’s dog) further. At first, Argyle cannot pick up the sounds either, but finally, between Argyle and Aurelia, they find a badly injured little girl and her also badly injured pet.
That is how the mystery began – and quite a mystery it is. The search for the little girl is hindered by the fact that she is deaf and mute and very, very frightened. You’ll love the search for her family and what happened to them. It is filled with twists and turns and leaves you guessing right up to the very end!
During the course of their investigations, Aurelia discovers that William has a dampening effect on all of the noise that tortures her life. When Will is around, she can actually focus and carry on a conversation. Will admires Aurelia but knows that there is no chance of him ever being able to marry the daughter of a powerful duke. It would also require him to live in London, which he hates and there wouldn’t be a place to train his dogs. So, what is a girl and guy who have complimentary ‘gifts’ to do? Read the book and you’ll see.
A delightful read that I’m sure you’ll enjoy!
"I requested and received this book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
June 25, 2017
I was so excited to read Will's book and I was not disappointed. I received this book from the author as an ARC,and have read all the previous 5. This is an honest review of a series I find enchanting. In previous books we had only seen what other's, particularly his brother's and uncle's thought of him, but we finally saw him from his own point of view. Ironically, he never thought that his being able to hear dog's thoughts was very unusual. Also, because he obviously had dyslexia, he and everyone else never realized how smart he actually was. He has admired Lela from afar, but hadn't really interacted with her. She also had her problem of being able to hear people's thoughts and had a difficult time blocking out sounds, so most people thought she was addlebrained. Then she discovered that being around Will blocked out sounds, and after he helped her rescue a child, she wanted him around her. Their story is really adorable, because of how they each see themselves. They both need a purpose in life, and how they each discover their own self worth as well as their love makes this a particularly satisfying read.
June 20, 2017
No Perfect Magic by Patricia Rice
Unexpected Magic #6
I have been waiting to find out who Will Ives-Madden would find for a life partner. Each one of the books in this series is so much fun and the wait, though long, was definitely worth it!
Will has always been the brother, born on the wrong side of the blanket that prefers to stay on the fringes rather than in the melee of his siblings. He prefers dogs to people, quiet to noisy, country to city and just doesn’t fit in with society…though he can should he choose to. Aurelia “Lela” Malcolm is a woman with hypersensitive/acute hearing. She has been overwhelmed with the cacophony of noise that all this hearing ability provides and it her reaction to her “gift” has left others thinking she is more than a bit barmy. The two come together to find a missing child that only Lela can hear then continue to work together to solve the mystery of who set out to hurt the child and her family. In the time they are together they realize that they might have a future together although she is highborn and he is not.
What I liked:
* Will – a quiet gentle man with the best heart and a lot to offer
* Lela – a woman coming into her own and learning to use her gift(s)
* The story – it was perfection. It could have ended at the halfway point BUT it didn’t and what the second half offered was made is so much richer.
* Seeing the characters from past stories
* Catching the evil doer
* Will – I think I mentioned him before but…oh my!
* Everything :)
What I didn’t like:
* Can’t think of one thing except that the bad guy was wicked and I really really did NOT like him.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – this is my honest review.
5 Stars
Unexpected Magic #6
I have been waiting to find out who Will Ives-Madden would find for a life partner. Each one of the books in this series is so much fun and the wait, though long, was definitely worth it!
Will has always been the brother, born on the wrong side of the blanket that prefers to stay on the fringes rather than in the melee of his siblings. He prefers dogs to people, quiet to noisy, country to city and just doesn’t fit in with society…though he can should he choose to. Aurelia “Lela” Malcolm is a woman with hypersensitive/acute hearing. She has been overwhelmed with the cacophony of noise that all this hearing ability provides and it her reaction to her “gift” has left others thinking she is more than a bit barmy. The two come together to find a missing child that only Lela can hear then continue to work together to solve the mystery of who set out to hurt the child and her family. In the time they are together they realize that they might have a future together although she is highborn and he is not.
What I liked:
* Will – a quiet gentle man with the best heart and a lot to offer
* Lela – a woman coming into her own and learning to use her gift(s)
* The story – it was perfection. It could have ended at the halfway point BUT it didn’t and what the second half offered was made is so much richer.
* Seeing the characters from past stories
* Catching the evil doer
* Will – I think I mentioned him before but…oh my!
* Everything :)
What I didn’t like:
* Can’t think of one thing except that the bad guy was wicked and I really really did NOT like him.
Thank you to the author for the ARC – this is my honest review.
5 Stars
April 3, 2026
Alas I have finished with the Magical Malcolms (at least for now). This was a cozy world Rice created and there were a lot of things to like here too though this one was so heavy for the beginning and the middle with the dark theme of abuse and attempted murder it dimmed my enjoyment a little bit.
If you’ve been a lover of this series, it was fun to see many of the earlier characters make cameos here. I enjoyed seeing them all rally around each other, even the two that have always held themselves apart. It’s a strength of the book. Lela was an interesting heroine who started to find her strength once she was able to direct and control her gift. Will had an interesting gift and the few times we got to see it were pretty fun. I really liked Will most of the time except when he was thinking of the woman he was seeing prior to Lela and who he needed to return to—that part was drawn out too long and was ridiculous and cut down on the honor that had been built for his character.
Overall the mystery of this one took a lot of page time but was developed and resolved fully. I know it was necessary because it was the initial force that got Lela out of her shell (and two seemingly different people in each other’s orbits) but I wish it hadn’t been so
Elaborate. I liked seeing Lela test her abilities and go and see all her family and Will remaining with her to protect her and train his dogs. I wanted more gentleness here instead of the threat of kidnapping and murder all the time from a man who tried to kill and woman and baby.
The story was still good though and I did enjoy that everyone made appearances, particularly will’s boisterous relatives.
If you’ve been a lover of this series, it was fun to see many of the earlier characters make cameos here. I enjoyed seeing them all rally around each other, even the two that have always held themselves apart. It’s a strength of the book. Lela was an interesting heroine who started to find her strength once she was able to direct and control her gift. Will had an interesting gift and the few times we got to see it were pretty fun. I really liked Will most of the time except when he was thinking of the woman he was seeing prior to Lela and who he needed to return to—that part was drawn out too long and was ridiculous and cut down on the honor that had been built for his character.
Overall the mystery of this one took a lot of page time but was developed and resolved fully. I know it was necessary because it was the initial force that got Lela out of her shell (and two seemingly different people in each other’s orbits) but I wish it hadn’t been so
Elaborate. I liked seeing Lela test her abilities and go and see all her family and Will remaining with her to protect her and train his dogs. I wanted more gentleness here instead of the threat of kidnapping and murder all the time from a man who tried to kill and woman and baby.
The story was still good though and I did enjoy that everyone made appearances, particularly will’s boisterous relatives.
March 25, 2020
Lady Aurelia's talent is hearing everything. It reminded me of many of my friends' complaints about hearing aids and how difficult it is to tune out all the background noise, so I could understand this one immediately. Will talks to animals, specifically dogs. Ms. Rice does a good job of taking two diametrically opposite characters and explaining why their talents mesh with each other and make them grow as a team. My only complaint is that I would like to think that dogs are smarter than Ms. Rice makes them sound.
August 20, 2017
Other than being a little grossed out about one intimate scene (eww Thames), this was a nice read. I always am a sucker for the underdogs, and this had a couple.
June 3, 2023
No Perfect Magic was readable but I didn't think it was as good as some of the other titles in the series.
January 3, 2018
Favorite of the 6 so far in the series. I loved Will and even though I'm not a dog person I was really looking forward to his story and it did not disappoint! Lela was a great heroine and I really felt for her. I loved their chemistry and I could've used a few more intimacies as their romance developed. I have read, probably, 12 books by Patricia Rice and I strongly recommend her as an author. WARNING: there is sex in this book, it is not erotica, but enough to be a steamy & hot adult romance. Please do not read if you are looking for something PG. Romance-5/5 Steaminess-2/5 Explicitness-3/5
June 10, 2017
This book is the most recent in a series. But, it works well as a stand alone read. Some of the characters from past books in the series appear here, but it is quite easy to follow the action.
William Ives-Malcolm is a dog trainer. He rescues lost people. He is a man who lives his life separate from most people and at a distance from his brothers. His life gives him satisfaction and he generally ignores his sense of isolation.
William is one of the best heroes I have seen in quite some time. He is strong but does not use his strength to intimidate. His Malcolm talent has allowed him to understand the minds of the dogs he trains and uses that talent to do good. His understanding of human nature is greater than he realizes. And most importantly, he would do nearly anything to right a wrong.
Lady Aurelia is the daughter of a duke. She has an Ives talent which allows her to hear things with almost supernatural hearing. When she finds Will late one night and asks him to accompany her as she searches for a lost child, he learns something of her skills. The two of them work well as a team.
Lela finds out about Will and his intelligence and gentleness. Will finds out about Lela's dedication and strength of character.
Clues lead Will and Lela to a woman who has given birth and is near death from a beating. They rescue the woman and her newborn and begin the process of tracing the man who tried to commit murder. The victim does not help as much as she could so the search is a long and involved one.
As things progress, the relationship grows to be respect as well as a strong attraction between the two. Will is a wonderful hero. And everyone seems to see that except Will. That is part of his charm.
This story is a mystery and adventure as much as a romance. Slowly but surely the clues lead to the solution of the mystery and the villains being held responsible.
Family plays a big part in the story. The love and caring in the Malcolm and Ives families create an entire network of people who become part of the search for truth. They also unite to provide a clear path for Will and Lela. The humor and affection among family members is an ongoing theme.
I have enjoyed every book in this series, but this one is my favorite. I think I have said that about every book in the series as I have read them.
I received this book from the author. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.
William Ives-Malcolm is a dog trainer. He rescues lost people. He is a man who lives his life separate from most people and at a distance from his brothers. His life gives him satisfaction and he generally ignores his sense of isolation.
William is one of the best heroes I have seen in quite some time. He is strong but does not use his strength to intimidate. His Malcolm talent has allowed him to understand the minds of the dogs he trains and uses that talent to do good. His understanding of human nature is greater than he realizes. And most importantly, he would do nearly anything to right a wrong.
Lady Aurelia is the daughter of a duke. She has an Ives talent which allows her to hear things with almost supernatural hearing. When she finds Will late one night and asks him to accompany her as she searches for a lost child, he learns something of her skills. The two of them work well as a team.
Lela finds out about Will and his intelligence and gentleness. Will finds out about Lela's dedication and strength of character.
Clues lead Will and Lela to a woman who has given birth and is near death from a beating. They rescue the woman and her newborn and begin the process of tracing the man who tried to commit murder. The victim does not help as much as she could so the search is a long and involved one.
As things progress, the relationship grows to be respect as well as a strong attraction between the two. Will is a wonderful hero. And everyone seems to see that except Will. That is part of his charm.
This story is a mystery and adventure as much as a romance. Slowly but surely the clues lead to the solution of the mystery and the villains being held responsible.
Family plays a big part in the story. The love and caring in the Malcolm and Ives families create an entire network of people who become part of the search for truth. They also unite to provide a clear path for Will and Lela. The humor and affection among family members is an ongoing theme.
I have enjoyed every book in this series, but this one is my favorite. I think I have said that about every book in the series as I have read them.
I received this book from the author. I am voluntarily writing this review and all opinions are my own.
June 29, 2017
Publisher's Description:
Will Ives, the bastard of the late marquess, is as strong, handsome, and smart as his titled brothers, but he has no interest in society or book learning. His unique gift for training highly-prized rescue dogs is all he needs. His peace is shattered the day the beautiful but eccentric Lady Aurelia demands his help in finding a child no one knows is missing.
The daughter of a duke, Lady Aurelia has everything: wealth, beauty, and a family known for their good works. Unfortunately afflicted with hyper-acute hearing, she spends most of her time cringing in her room. She wants to please her father and make a good match, but how can she when every dinner, tea, and ball is pure torture?
When a child only she can hear cries for help, Aurelia must find a way to turn her affliction into the gift it is, before it's too late. Will, in turn, must overcome his reluctance to work with a lady who makes him feel inadequate in all ways but one.
With the reluctant aid of Will and his dogs, the pair sets out on an unusual journey that will surely lead to heartbreak— or a love against all reason.
My Thoughts:
This newest book in Patricia Rice's Unexpected Magic series is slightly different from the prior five installments in that it lacks the comical nature. This one still contains a great deal of magic but with a more serious nature.
Lady Aurelia is the daughter of a Duke. Most people think her lacking in wits due to her hyper acute sense of hearing.
Will Ives is the bastard son of the late marquess and has a unique ability to communicate with the dogs he trains to rescue people.
Their unique abilities come together to recover a lost child that only Aurelia can hear. The child's puppy is found by Will and helps them to recover the deaf child.
They continue their quest together to find this little girl's parents and discover the mother and a newborn son close to death.
Where is the father and is he responsible for what has happened?
Has the fate of this little girl, her mother and newborn brother thrown Will and Aurelia on a path to an unmistakable love?
I enjoyed reading this sixth book in this so far enjoyable series but missed the comical nature that had so far been present in all of the other books.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.75 of 5 flames. Although there is an unmistakable attraction between our hero and heroine they do not immediately act on their desire for each other.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the author through Book View Cafe to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
Will Ives, the bastard of the late marquess, is as strong, handsome, and smart as his titled brothers, but he has no interest in society or book learning. His unique gift for training highly-prized rescue dogs is all he needs. His peace is shattered the day the beautiful but eccentric Lady Aurelia demands his help in finding a child no one knows is missing.
The daughter of a duke, Lady Aurelia has everything: wealth, beauty, and a family known for their good works. Unfortunately afflicted with hyper-acute hearing, she spends most of her time cringing in her room. She wants to please her father and make a good match, but how can she when every dinner, tea, and ball is pure torture?
When a child only she can hear cries for help, Aurelia must find a way to turn her affliction into the gift it is, before it's too late. Will, in turn, must overcome his reluctance to work with a lady who makes him feel inadequate in all ways but one.
With the reluctant aid of Will and his dogs, the pair sets out on an unusual journey that will surely lead to heartbreak— or a love against all reason.
My Thoughts:
This newest book in Patricia Rice's Unexpected Magic series is slightly different from the prior five installments in that it lacks the comical nature. This one still contains a great deal of magic but with a more serious nature.
Lady Aurelia is the daughter of a Duke. Most people think her lacking in wits due to her hyper acute sense of hearing.
Will Ives is the bastard son of the late marquess and has a unique ability to communicate with the dogs he trains to rescue people.
Their unique abilities come together to recover a lost child that only Aurelia can hear. The child's puppy is found by Will and helps them to recover the deaf child.
They continue their quest together to find this little girl's parents and discover the mother and a newborn son close to death.
Where is the father and is he responsible for what has happened?
Has the fate of this little girl, her mother and newborn brother thrown Will and Aurelia on a path to an unmistakable love?
I enjoyed reading this sixth book in this so far enjoyable series but missed the comical nature that had so far been present in all of the other books.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.75 of 5 flames. Although there is an unmistakable attraction between our hero and heroine they do not immediately act on their desire for each other.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the author through Book View Cafe to read. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.
July 1, 2017
William, the bastard brother of the Ives-Madden lineage, has an exceptional ability to get into the minds of the dogs he trains.
He spends his life in the company of his dogs, where he finds himself most comfortable.
Lady Aurelia's life has been spent locked away from life as her acute hearing ability renders her a recluse. As she can hear at distances beyond what others can comprehend, she's been labeled as "addle-pated". Aurelia never seems to be in touch with what is being said in the conversation in front of her. Her hearing may be overwhelmed by the number of people and sounds all vying for her attention at the same time.
Will finds himself in the additional duties as a bodyguard of sorts to the Duke's daughter Lady Aurelia, "Lela".
She's of such extreme beauty, none that see her can help but be entranced. She's of a family of influence (and affluence), so her suitors are many, but not all are as they portray themselves to be.
Will, by Aurelia side, quiets or muffles much of the sounds and allows her to focus and feel "normal" for the first time in her life.
Dear Heavens, the formidable team they make. Lela hears a great distance to pick up a child's crying. She and Will are off to rescue the child. Lela's keen hearing and focus with Will at her side as he gets into his dog's mind, are able to find the child before she perished.
This is one terrific adventure back in the time of Dukes, Lords, Ladys, scoundrels and villains
The descriptions of place and people unfolds a story that opens like a pop-up book rich and thrilling.
This is what I imagined as I read...
As the story is told, the camera cuts away from the pop-up book scenes and we're magically whisked away to a panoramic view in all it's three-dimensional glory and grandeur of the time.
Each new and changing moment of significant importance is captured and we pan out to the storyline of the movie once more.
Patricia Rice is a superb storyteller of the highest quality.
I highly recommend this book, this series of stories.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of the book.
The opinions expressed are mine alone and freely given.
-Aunt Bee
He spends his life in the company of his dogs, where he finds himself most comfortable.
Lady Aurelia's life has been spent locked away from life as her acute hearing ability renders her a recluse. As she can hear at distances beyond what others can comprehend, she's been labeled as "addle-pated". Aurelia never seems to be in touch with what is being said in the conversation in front of her. Her hearing may be overwhelmed by the number of people and sounds all vying for her attention at the same time.
Will finds himself in the additional duties as a bodyguard of sorts to the Duke's daughter Lady Aurelia, "Lela".
She's of such extreme beauty, none that see her can help but be entranced. She's of a family of influence (and affluence), so her suitors are many, but not all are as they portray themselves to be.
Will, by Aurelia side, quiets or muffles much of the sounds and allows her to focus and feel "normal" for the first time in her life.
Dear Heavens, the formidable team they make. Lela hears a great distance to pick up a child's crying. She and Will are off to rescue the child. Lela's keen hearing and focus with Will at her side as he gets into his dog's mind, are able to find the child before she perished.
This is one terrific adventure back in the time of Dukes, Lords, Ladys, scoundrels and villains
The descriptions of place and people unfolds a story that opens like a pop-up book rich and thrilling.
This is what I imagined as I read...
As the story is told, the camera cuts away from the pop-up book scenes and we're magically whisked away to a panoramic view in all it's three-dimensional glory and grandeur of the time.
Each new and changing moment of significant importance is captured and we pan out to the storyline of the movie once more.
Patricia Rice is a superb storyteller of the highest quality.
I highly recommend this book, this series of stories.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of the book.
The opinions expressed are mine alone and freely given.
-Aunt Bee
July 14, 2017
First, I want to disclose that I received an advance reader copy of this book, as well as the rest of this series. As a note, I am a hands on paperback reader and even though I received a Ebook in advance I still purchased the book (and all of the series upon its release). I have read every book by Patricia Rice and have never met a story I haven't liked and wanted to reread.
I thought that the last book in this series was my all time favorite, but I was wrong. I am a huge fan of the princess and the pauper type stories and even though I would not consider Will Ives a "pauper" or an unacceptable hero, he does due to his "bastard" birth. Fun to watch a Duchess wrap him up. I love the way Patricia Rice handles this type of story where there is such a difference in class levels, but love wins out in the end and the characters end up not carrying about each others background.
Through in the magic of the Malcolm's that the whole clan embraces and is proud of and the magic of the Ives that they try to cover up with science and you have a great story. Then, of course, we get this children and animals and a little suspense and it is a perfect read. I am really sorry to see this series end and was hoping that she would decide to continue on with it.
For those who have not read her stories before, you should note that she has other series that encompass the Malcolm's and Ives' during other time periods up to contemporary. I have them all and they are on my "read over and over again" shelf. I was lucky enough in elementary school in the 60's to have a teacher that thought that all kids should conquer the skill of speed reading, so I can read a 300 page book in 4-5 hours or less. These are books I keep around so that when I can't decide what I want to read next and want a story I know I will love, I can pull them off the shelf and reread them and feel like I am reading them for the first time.
I thought that the last book in this series was my all time favorite, but I was wrong. I am a huge fan of the princess and the pauper type stories and even though I would not consider Will Ives a "pauper" or an unacceptable hero, he does due to his "bastard" birth. Fun to watch a Duchess wrap him up. I love the way Patricia Rice handles this type of story where there is such a difference in class levels, but love wins out in the end and the characters end up not carrying about each others background.
Through in the magic of the Malcolm's that the whole clan embraces and is proud of and the magic of the Ives that they try to cover up with science and you have a great story. Then, of course, we get this children and animals and a little suspense and it is a perfect read. I am really sorry to see this series end and was hoping that she would decide to continue on with it.
For those who have not read her stories before, you should note that she has other series that encompass the Malcolm's and Ives' during other time periods up to contemporary. I have them all and they are on my "read over and over again" shelf. I was lucky enough in elementary school in the 60's to have a teacher that thought that all kids should conquer the skill of speed reading, so I can read a 300 page book in 4-5 hours or less. These are books I keep around so that when I can't decide what I want to read next and want a story I know I will love, I can pull them off the shelf and reread them and feel like I am reading them for the first time.
June 9, 2017
I can't say enough. I really, REALLY love the "Magic" books. The Malcom and Ives families have fascinated me since I first read about them with "Merely Magic", 5 or 6 years ago now. Of course I always fall in love with the Ives men and want to BE the Malcom women, but William Ives-Madden is (to me at least) the very BEST of the men since Aidan was first introduced as an "is he or isn't he an Ives" character. Our hearts go out to Lady Aurelia who is basically a prisoner (albeit a well and pampered one) due to her "affliction" of such acute hearing that being around people is painful. Enter strong, handsome, smart, QUIET Will Madden who would rather listen to and communicate mentally with his dogs than listen to and be around people anyway and you have a match made in heaven. But she's the daughter of a duke and he's a bastard dog trainer, how can it ever be? The story weaves and dips and curls around and.... well, read it for yourself. Personally I couldn't put it down.
In the interest of full disclosure I have to say that I did receive a free copy in exchange for the promise that I'd provide an HONEST review, good, bad or indifferent. Well, this is my HONEST review, it was great!!. The only other thing I have to say is, to paraphrase Oliver Twist, "Please, Ms Rice, may I have some more?"
In the interest of full disclosure I have to say that I did receive a free copy in exchange for the promise that I'd provide an HONEST review, good, bad or indifferent. Well, this is my HONEST review, it was great!!. The only other thing I have to say is, to paraphrase Oliver Twist, "Please, Ms Rice, may I have some more?"
June 20, 2017
As always, Patricia Rice has outdone herself and brought a wonderfully thoughtful story for Will Ives to this series.
This is Will's (the dog whisperer) and Lady Aurelia's (also known as Lela, who is the eldest daughter of the duke of Sommersville and Lord Rainsford's sister) story. Until now Will had just been a supporting player -- always there, but we didn't know much about him. Whereas we have not met Lady Auriela at all, just her father and brother. Both our main character have there own issues, and this story tries to see if those issues will bring them closer together or tear them apart.
Having been a long standing reader of all the "Magic" books this story was completely fulfilling. It was interesting to see how these descendants connect with the past and the future. For those of you new to the series, this is a great book to start with. You get a really nice introduction to all the families without ruining the other books for you when you go back and read them. You notice I say when, not if -- that's because I am positive that once you read this book you will want to find out what happened with all the other characters.
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NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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This is Will's (the dog whisperer) and Lady Aurelia's (also known as Lela, who is the eldest daughter of the duke of Sommersville and Lord Rainsford's sister) story. Until now Will had just been a supporting player -- always there, but we didn't know much about him. Whereas we have not met Lady Auriela at all, just her father and brother. Both our main character have there own issues, and this story tries to see if those issues will bring them closer together or tear them apart.
Having been a long standing reader of all the "Magic" books this story was completely fulfilling. It was interesting to see how these descendants connect with the past and the future. For those of you new to the series, this is a great book to start with. You get a really nice introduction to all the families without ruining the other books for you when you go back and read them. You notice I say when, not if -- that's because I am positive that once you read this book you will want to find out what happened with all the other characters.
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NOTE: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
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June 30, 2017
Will Ives-Madden has drifted in and out of other books in this series, and I was delighted when his story eventually became available. He is the epitome of the strong, silent type, preferring to avoid company altogether and communicate silently with his dogs. He is exactly what Lady Aurelia, or Lela to those close to her, needs with her super-sensitive hearing. When Lela hears a child crying, it's Will she goes to for help, knowing that his trained dogs will be able to sniff out a missing child. Much against his will, Will finds himself escorting Lady Aurelia across the country on a chase to find a potential murderer and save the life of one of his victims. This exciting read drew in other members of the Malcom and Ives families, each using their gifts to best effect. I enjoyed seeing the taciturn Will being jolted out of his self-imposed exile from society and watching Lela's growth as she took on more and more responsibility for the people who came into her orbit. There was humour and sensitivity, and the unmistakable chemistry between Will and Lela was endearing. I loved Will's protectiveness towards Lela, albeit rather ham-handed and gauche. The language flowed easily and this is a most enjoyable, stand-alone novel. I received a copy of this book as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
June 28, 2017
I have really been enjoyed this series and highly recommend it if you enjoy historical romances with a paranormal twist. While each book could easily be read as a standalone, I think you get the most enjoyment when you read them all in order. The families are so intertwined and it is fun to see your favorite characters show up in later stories.
Will and Lady Aurelia don't seem to have much in common the surface but they really do complement each other. Each has their own abilities that make them different from others. Aurelia tries to limit her contact with others due to her incredibly sensitive hearing that overwhelms her. She finds a peace and security with Will. Will didn't count on finding a woman like her and has a hard time accepting that she has real feelings for him.
I liked that the author really developed the characters and gave them time to learn about each other rather than rushing a relationship. You get both of them telling the story which I prefer as it makes me feel closer to the characters. There is always some humor too in these stories which adds to the fun. Will and Aurelia have great chemistry and find it hard to resist each other. I think you will find the book hard to resist too.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
Will and Lady Aurelia don't seem to have much in common the surface but they really do complement each other. Each has their own abilities that make them different from others. Aurelia tries to limit her contact with others due to her incredibly sensitive hearing that overwhelms her. She finds a peace and security with Will. Will didn't count on finding a woman like her and has a hard time accepting that she has real feelings for him.
I liked that the author really developed the characters and gave them time to learn about each other rather than rushing a relationship. You get both of them telling the story which I prefer as it makes me feel closer to the characters. There is always some humor too in these stories which adds to the fun. Will and Aurelia have great chemistry and find it hard to resist each other. I think you will find the book hard to resist too.
I am voluntarily reviewing a copy I received.
June 29, 2017
William Ives-Madden, one of the bastard of the late marquess, is as strong, handsome and a man of minimal verbal communication who is a dog trainer aka dog whisper who speaks to dogs and hears what they are thinking. Will would much rather listen to and communicate mentally with his dogs than listen to and be around people anyway. Lady Aurelia, a daughter of a Duke, seems to have it all beauty, wealth and a wonderful family, but Lady Aurelia is basically a prisoner in her home she has such acute hearing that being around people is so painful that she tries to avoid people and especially balls and crowds. When Lady Aurelia hears a child only she can hear crying for help she tries to us her gift to find the frightened and lost child with the help of Will and his canine friend. The pair sets out on an unusual journey as Will and Lela seeks to solve many questions after they rescue of a bruised, deaf child. Will is the perfect match for Lela's "Malcolm Curse" as she calls it, is that she hears everything. A captivating and enchanting story with two very unique personalities and gifts.
I voluntarily read the great book from the publisher and the author and this is my honest review and opinion.
I voluntarily read the great book from the publisher and the author and this is my honest review and opinion.
June 26, 2017
Patricia Rice has brought together a very unlikely couple in this, the sixth book in her Unexpected Magic series, yet with her usual skill and panache she pulls it off. Lela, daughter of the Duke of Sutherland, rarely goes out in public as her extremely acute hearing means the noise of everyday life is unbearably painful. Nonetheless she's the daughter of a duke and is expected to make a suitable match. Will, the bastard brother of the Earl of Ashford, has no great expectations for his future. He's happy training dogs and looks forward to a comfortable and uncomplicated future. Thrown together they discover an attraction they can't fight though a future together seems highly unlikely. These two are complex characters with unusual gifts, yet Patricia Rice has skilfully developed their characters so that it all seems plausible and believable. With a well crafted plot full of twists this story had me thinking about it whenever I wasn't actually reading. For me the mark of a good story is its ability to involve the reader and this one certainly achieved that.
June 27, 2017
Patricia Rice delivers another outstanding addition to her stellar collection. She uses her traditional set-up of an Ives man who doesn't really know he has a special talent as the hero, matched with a Malcolm witch with a unique magical ability as the heroine. She is amazingly able to continue to write compelling stories. This hero and heroine have complementary talents that enhance each others' abilities and bring comfort to each other. I love the character development, their slow discovery of how they can use their talents to help others and, importantly, how being together allows each to be the best they can be. I strongly recommend reading her previous books, both in this series and her previous ones that set up your knowledge of Malcolms and Iveses, but this one also stands on its own.
I have received an advanced copy in order to provide an honest review. I love being on her list for these because I get to read the books as soon as possible and so that I can help tell others how wonderful they are. You will not regret reading this book or her entire catalog. Happy reading!
I have received an advanced copy in order to provide an honest review. I love being on her list for these because I get to read the books as soon as possible and so that I can help tell others how wonderful they are. You will not regret reading this book or her entire catalog. Happy reading!
June 27, 2017
Patricia Rice has done it again. No Perfect Magic is a book that takes you to England 1830 and when you finish the book you feel like you are a part of the Ives and Malcolm families. No Perfect Magic is the sixth book in the Unexpected Magic series and each book can be read as a standalone, but with each book in the series I get to visit the Malcolm and Ives. William Ives-Madden is a dog whisper, he is the only one of the Ives brothers to accept his unique power and he uses it as a dog trainer and rescue. He is training the dogs of the Duke of Sommersville, where he meets Lady Aurelia Winchester who because of her over-sensitive ears hears a young child calling for help. She has Will help her find the young girl which leads the two of them on an adventure of intrigue and discovery. All I can hope is that Patricia keeps writing books that keep me entertained and visiting with the Malcolm and Ives families.
I received an ARC for a honest and unbiased review and here it is another great book by Patricia Rice.
I received an ARC for a honest and unbiased review and here it is another great book by Patricia Rice.
June 24, 2017
William “Will” Ives-Maddin trains dogs for rescues, but he can also mentally talk to them and hear their thoughts, a gift from a Malcolm ancestor. Lady Aurelia, the Duke of Sommersville’s daughter, also has a Malcolm gift—she hears all the conversations around her, which is so overwhelming (except when she’s with Will) that she spends most of her time in her room or at least never leaving her home. One night when she hears a child crying, she enlists Will’s help, along with his dog Ajax, to find the little girl. They find Rose and her puppy, Tiny, both of them abused and hurt. The next day Will finds Rose’s mother with a newborn baby. She had also been severely beaten. Who could have done such a horrible thing? Rose’s mother is near death, so Will and Aurelia take her, Rose, Tiny, and Rose’s new baby brother to Lady Pascoe, Aurelia’s cousin. Lady Pascoe also has a Malcolm gift—the gift of healing. Will and Aurelia undertake the dangerous mission of finding out who Rose’s mother is and why someone tried to kill her and her baby. That leads them into danger, a kidnapping of children, and several life-threatening situations. This is a wonderful story full of mystery, excitement, and romance. Will and Aurelia have to work through some issues—he is a loner, a dog trainer and a bastard; she is a duke’s daughter with a “gift” that is also a curse for her. There are a couple of love scenes you might want to skip, but except for those I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a wonderful story of overcoming problems and personal feelings to find and claim the person you love and want to spend the rest of your life with. I enjoyed this book as much as the other books I’ve read in this series. I received a complimentary copy of this book for my honest review, which I have given.
June 22, 2017
This is one of my favorite series of all time. As I think when I finish each book, how can Ms. Rice's writing get any better than this. And then it does!
I have loved each magical and quirky character in the first five books, but Will and Aurelia have now claimed a special spot in my heart. Will can talk to dogs and Aurelia can hear people speaking, even at a great distance. He is a very large man. She is petite and fairylike. He is the bastard son. She is the Duke's precious daughter. They both have family members with unique gifts.
The book starts with a mystery which instantly draws you in. While it can be read as a stand alone, it's fun to have past characters join in the solving of the mystery.
I was totally captivated by every word on every page. I hope we get to see more of Will and Aurelia in future books and that this series continues for years to come.
I received an ARC of this wonderful book. The choice to read and review it was all mine.
I have loved each magical and quirky character in the first five books, but Will and Aurelia have now claimed a special spot in my heart. Will can talk to dogs and Aurelia can hear people speaking, even at a great distance. He is a very large man. She is petite and fairylike. He is the bastard son. She is the Duke's precious daughter. They both have family members with unique gifts.
The book starts with a mystery which instantly draws you in. While it can be read as a stand alone, it's fun to have past characters join in the solving of the mystery.
I was totally captivated by every word on every page. I hope we get to see more of Will and Aurelia in future books and that this series continues for years to come.
I received an ARC of this wonderful book. The choice to read and review it was all mine.
June 26, 2017
This review is from: No Perfect Magic: Unexpected Magic Book Six (Volume 6) (Paperback)
These books just keep getting better and better. What I like best are the characters. One can really relate to them even if they are living in a different time period. Auriel has super hearing and it really drives her nuts to the point where she hesitates to go out in public. Of course Will has an ability to communicate with dogs so he feels better around animals than people. The two go searching for a crying child and they find her which leads both of them on a journey of love. The pace of the story was great and I really liked how previous charactes were woven into this tale. I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review whether good or bad. Patricia Rice can forget about bad reviews, this book and others in the series are fabulous. There are so many characters to meet and learn about, easily a five star treat.
July 23, 2017
I was very intrigued by Lady Aurelia's gift of heightened hearing and how it was painful for her to be around too many people because of the noise. And I've liked Will in the other books, one of the Ives bastards and his gift of connecting with dogs. And I really liked the first half of the book, that involved a mystery and Aurelia and Will worked together to track down the bad guy. But, because Aurelia is a Duke's daughter, Will decides that she would be better off without him and basically avoids her. This part of the book really dragged and I had a hard time coming back to read more. This is also the part where all the previous couples invade and it gets very confusing who is who, especially if you haven't read all the books in the series. Finally, at the end, the story picks up again and the mystery moves forward as well. And the ending is pretty good. It's too bad that the middle part of the story didn't work for me.
December 23, 2020
Will Ives-Madden mostly avoids people and sticks with the dogs he trains and can communicate with mentally. However he finds himself attracted to Lady Aurelia, one of the Malcolm family and as eccentric as the rest. After he rescues her from the unwanted attention of a suitor, she seeks his help to rescue a child that only she can here. Nevertheless, he takes her to search and rescue the child, who to his surprise does exist. This leads to the discovery of a mother and her infant son who are nearly dying. Will cannot abandon Lady Aurelia when she is in danger as she tries to protect this mother and her children. As they attempt to solve the myster of this endangered family, their attraction grows. Will cannot picture himself in the society Lady Aurelia inhabits and she cannot picture herself without the calming influence Will exerts on her hearing. There are many twists and turns until there is an HEA.
June 30, 2017
What an unusual couple we have here in NO PERFECT MAGIC...Will Madden, dog trainer and bastard, and Lady Aurelia, daughter of duke, beautiful, yet somewhat unusual. Will doesn't speak much but he can communicate silently with the dogs he has trained. Lady Aurelia has such acute hearing that she can hear cries and sounds that no one else can. She learns by accident that Will's presence acts as a filter for many sounds and gives her a chance to interact normally. Will doesn't want to become involved with the lovely lady, but he finds himself acting as her protector and under her spell.
The story is woven together beautifully and the Malcolm magic mixes smoothly with the Ives traditions. Other couples from earlier stories are mentioned, but it is not necessary to have read the earlier books to follow the present one. (It does add to the enjoyment!)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.
The story is woven together beautifully and the Malcolm magic mixes smoothly with the Ives traditions. Other couples from earlier stories are mentioned, but it is not necessary to have read the earlier books to follow the present one. (It does add to the enjoyment!)
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.
June 19, 2017
No Perfect Magic
Unexpected Magic Series book 6
by Patricia Rice
Rating 5 stars
4 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Will Ives is the bastard son of a Marquess he's not anything like the rest of the Ives brothers, like all of them he has his quirks - he can speak to the fury beasts - but he likes to stay out of the way. All he wants to do is train dogs for search and rescue. After all he feels more comfortable with his dogs. He led a quiet life until the day Lady Aurelia disrupts his peace and dream of owning his own kennel, she ignites the animal in him like no other woman but he can never claim her as his own for he is a nobody with nothing to offer the Dukes Princess.
Lady Aurelia is a Dukes daughter with everything going for her - wealth, beauty and status but to everyone she's spoiled and flighty. Lady Aurelia has acute hearing and all the noise makes her cringe she can hear even the smallest whisper. What she wants is for people to accept her. Will is her fathers dog trainer and he doesn't make her feel like everyone else, he actually listens to her and remarkably the noise level diminishes. When her hearing picks up a young girl calling for help and she with the help of Will find her she feels like she has a purpose......maybe she can have a normal life with Will of course if she can convince the silly man to stay with her.
This was another highly entertaining story a definite winner! Excellent witty dialogue loved the attraction between them and I definitely loved loved Will he was by far my favourite Ives brother. Patricia Rice never disappoints in her stories.
I received a complimentary copy from the author for my honest unbiased opinion.
Unexpected Magic Series book 6
by Patricia Rice
Rating 5 stars
4 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Will Ives is the bastard son of a Marquess he's not anything like the rest of the Ives brothers, like all of them he has his quirks - he can speak to the fury beasts - but he likes to stay out of the way. All he wants to do is train dogs for search and rescue. After all he feels more comfortable with his dogs. He led a quiet life until the day Lady Aurelia disrupts his peace and dream of owning his own kennel, she ignites the animal in him like no other woman but he can never claim her as his own for he is a nobody with nothing to offer the Dukes Princess.
Lady Aurelia is a Dukes daughter with everything going for her - wealth, beauty and status but to everyone she's spoiled and flighty. Lady Aurelia has acute hearing and all the noise makes her cringe she can hear even the smallest whisper. What she wants is for people to accept her. Will is her fathers dog trainer and he doesn't make her feel like everyone else, he actually listens to her and remarkably the noise level diminishes. When her hearing picks up a young girl calling for help and she with the help of Will find her she feels like she has a purpose......maybe she can have a normal life with Will of course if she can convince the silly man to stay with her.
This was another highly entertaining story a definite winner! Excellent witty dialogue loved the attraction between them and I definitely loved loved Will he was by far my favourite Ives brother. Patricia Rice never disappoints in her stories.
I received a complimentary copy from the author for my honest unbiased opinion.
June 13, 2017
Patricia Rice weaves another wonderful historical romance alive with the magical strangeness you can only find in an Ives-Malcolm tale. Lela, a duke's daughter, is overwhelmed by constant noise her super hearing bombards her with until Will. Will is a big, silent man born on the wrong side of the blanket and is more comfortable with the dogs he can communicate telepathically with than people. An uneven match by society's standards, Will is everything Lela wants, bringing the peace that only he can. Finding a badly beaten woman with young baby and a deaf child, Will and Lela embark on a hunt to solve the who and why. A little bit of a rocky road leads to another sweet HEA in the Unexpected Magic series. My voluntary review is based upon an ARC from the author.
June 30, 2017
Once again, Patricia Rice leaves me utterly amazed at her ability to create such magical stories. I love the Unexpected Magic series and each book I read makes me wish Ms Rice could write faster. Every story just seems to get better and better.
I really love Will. He may be the quiet sort whom no one would think of as a likely hero but he shines in his own way in No Perfect Magic. His greatest appeal is his love for dogs but that is definitely not his only appeal. I love how protective he is of Aurelia and you know you can count on him to keep her safe. Will and Aurelia complements each other with their unique personalities and gifts. Can't wait to see what more magic Ms Rice has up her sleeves.
** I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
I really love Will. He may be the quiet sort whom no one would think of as a likely hero but he shines in his own way in No Perfect Magic. His greatest appeal is his love for dogs but that is definitely not his only appeal. I love how protective he is of Aurelia and you know you can count on him to keep her safe. Will and Aurelia complements each other with their unique personalities and gifts. Can't wait to see what more magic Ms Rice has up her sleeves.
** I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.
July 2, 2017
This, though it is hard to choose, may be my favorite of the series so far (although we're running out of siblings--I think Jacques is the only one left?). Neither Will nor Aurelia fit in, even in their own families. They do, however, fit with each other. The mystery that draws them together is interesting as well. I like that Rice addresses issues such as dyslexia, deafness, and, as she notes in the prologue, a sort of highly profound sensitivity to hearing that would most likely fall on the autism spectrum. This book does concern issues of extreme domestic violence, but not as it occurs.
This book was obtained as an ARC through Library Thing's Early Reviewers Program in conjunction with the publisher, Book View Cafe.
This book was obtained as an ARC through Library Thing's Early Reviewers Program in conjunction with the publisher, Book View Cafe.
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