She sees the future; he lives in the past. Danger shadows the present. . .Once a childhood TV star, now a tarot reader in the town of Hillvale—home of 325 people and countless ghosts—Amber Abercrombie is content now that she’s escaped the horror of her stage mother and the constant pressure to kill herself with dieting. Then her former teen-idol lover crashes into her tranquility, bringing with … into her tranquility, bringing with him the Death card.
Now a Hollywood director, Josh Gabriel is on the brink of a marriage of convenience when his wealthy bride-to-be, the producer of his next film, is murdered. Finding Amber—the woman who deserted him once, leaving him devastated—is both blessing and curse now that his whole world is crumbling again.
With corrupt power brokers from their past and an angry poltergeist from the present threatening to tear apart their lives, Josh and Amber must set aside their differences and rely on each other to find a killer. This time, they must trust their abilities enough to find justice—and risk a second chance of love.
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What an enticingly lovely second-chance romance! This exhilarating addition to the Crystal Magic series has it all – romance, murder, mayhem, angry ghosts, possessions, and perverted Hollywood moguls. What more could you ask for in the small town of Hillvale, California? I am thinking this might be my favorite book in the series – but, I think I say that with each new release. What can I say – I love the series.
As we’ve read each new addition to the series, we’ve seen Amber. She was always there, but sort of in the background and to me, she seemed to be the most ineffectual of the Hillvale Lucy’s. As if she didn’t have a lot to contribute at all. Well, not anymore. Amber Abercrombie has come into her own – and what a formidable person she turns out to be!
Amber keeps many, many secrets and she is terrified that someone from the outside will discover her real identity and she’ll be exposed. She has spent years putting herself back together from her traumatic childhood and she is still not in a good place mentally to deal with the exposure. She’s found a measure of peace in Hillvale – she’s eating better, she’s sleeping better, she’s come to terms with her large body (well, sort of). Yes, she’s poor as a church mouse, but she’s calm.
Well, she’s calm until Josh Gabriel strolls into town. Josh was her co-star in a long-running adolescent TV series (Jack and Ginger) – and the love of her life. Here he is – on the eve of his wedding – and he’s just walked into her shop. Maybe he won’t recognize her. But he does. He’s shocked to find her here because he has spent years and years and all the money he could muster to find her. She had just run off – leaving him no word, no explanation, nothing – and now by gosh – he’d have one – because she was the love of his life too.
Josh invites Amber to the lodge to have dinner with him and his bride-to-be (Willa), but Willa had to go back to Hollywood on urgent business. Amber has dinner with Josh and they swim in the pool together and begin to rekindle their friendship. The next morning, Willa is found murdered – near Hillvale – and all eyes begin to turn to Josh and Amber.
If seeing Josh and a murder isn’t stressful enough, Amber gets a call from her nephew Zeke who is living with his grandmother since his mother died. This is the same woman who abused and let others abuse Amber – and now, she’s putting Zeke in the same situation. Zeke runs away and takes a bus as close as he can to Hillvale and calls Amber, who doesn’t drive, to come to get him. She panics but finds a way to get him to Hillvale, now she has to spend resources she doesn’t have to get custody away from her treacherous mother.
Add another murder, an angry spirit possessing the town’s medium, and Hillvale is in an uproar. Josh is the main murder suspect with the sheriff, but Amber and her friends know he isn’t guilty – they just have to prove it by catching the real murderer(s).
This is a wonderful, fast-paced, exciting read with two lead characters who deserve their HEA more than any I’ve read in a very long time.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Another crazy day and another murder in Hillvale that the Lucies must solve. In Amber Affairs, Amber Abercrombie reads tarots for a living and is enjoying the life she has built for herself in her anonymity in the unusual town. A child tv star that escaped the hell she grew up in, Amber comes face to face with her child co-star and the love she left behind. Josh Gabriel is in town to plan his publicity stunt of a wedding to his hellcat producer for his next film. A murdered fiance and a whole list of suspects puts the former lovers back on track for a second chance as lovers. The police’s top suspects, the couple must plot a memorial fit for Hollywood as it takes the talent of all the Lucies to uncover a murderer and send a vengeful ghost adieu. The same enjoyable characters as always with a heroine that works hard to overcome her abusive past for an all star cast that reads as pure enjoyment.
Amber Affairs by Patricia Rice
As with the previous books in the series, this reader was delighted with all the quirky characters, shenanigans and odd situations the good citizens and visitors of Hillvale found themselves in. This time it was the tale of Amber and Josh. There are secrets, insecurities, mystery and romance and a Happy Ever After. Once I started, I had to keep turning the pages. A great story. 4 stars.
I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The latest in the series of Crystal Magic books focuses on Amber. It was nice to learn her background and see her develop her special talents. Her love interest is also an interesting character who the reader cheers for as he develops.
There are lots of turns in this book. This book took me a long time to read because life interrupted. I did enjoy it but found it hard to keep all the parts in mind. But, not sure if that was me or the actual book. I did enjoy it when I got to read it. I would recommend it and look forward to the next one in the series.
Amber Affairs is a terrific continuation of Patricia Rice’s series set in modern day in Hillvale, CA. This particular story centers on Amber, the resident Tarot reader and Josh. Amber and Josh knew each other as children in Hollywood. As always, Patricia develops the characters exceptionally well. We learn more of Amber and meet Josh. She deals with heavy topics such as child abuse and body image. I never like to say too much in a review so I don’t give away any plot developments. I wish she would have spent more time on Amber’s talent, but the story is terrific. My advice is to read the series from the beginning because characters from previous books play important roles her. I also advise reading her other Malcolm/Ives series. I received an ARC for my honest review.
I always love the “Magic” books, but Amber Affairs has a unique spin to it. Normally, the characters have never met before and need to learn everything about each other. This story is about two people who knew each other as kids and now see the type of adult the other has turned into. This reunion is made especially hard because of the events that are unfolding in their lives right now. This can be both good and bad, but it definitely makes all the reactions of these characters heartfelt.
I loved everything about these characters, and so hope that there is a follow-up companion book. It was also a wonderful way to learn why Amber acts the way she does.
If you are new to the series, you can start with this book, but please be aware that you will get a few spoilers to what took place in Azure Secrets (Crystal Magic, #5). If you want to understand some of the backstories to references that are made in this book, then start with Sapphire Nights (Book 1 of the Crystal Magic series).
If you are as hooked as I am sure you will be, you will have a bunch of books to add to your reading list – the entire Crystal Magic series, then all the previous “Magic” books. Each specific “Magic” series is defined and then jump forward in history by a century or so. The only other series that is from present day is the California Magic series. However, the characters that are in that book are not referenced in this current series, at least not yet. As I stated before, it is not a requirement to read all these books; I just cannot imagine that you would not be intrigued enough to check them out. Patricia Rice is one of those rare authors who manages to make a long running series be extremely successful, mainly because she does not try to continue to write about characters in the same time period beyond 6-8 books. So you are always left wanting to hear more about these characters and there lives, and at the same time happy with how things left off.
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DISCLAIMER: I received an advance reader copy of this book provided by the author in exchange for a fair, objective, and honest review.
I really like this series and am glad to get a more in depth look into the character’s lives. Why they are in HIllvale and what brought them there. Amber has been hiding away for a lot of years and is content to stay hidden away. But, when an old friend comes into town and brings lots of change with him, she isn’t very happy about it. Maybe it is about time for some change. She has missed Josh all this time, but she can’t go back to her old life. Can she even dream of a second chance?
The residents of the fictional town of Hillvale, California are trying to revive their economy with plans of a museum and a wedding destination. Amber is the local psychic and tarot card reader but in a former life, she was a child actress on a popular TV show. Her calm and peaceful world is torn apart when her former TV partner and lover, Josh Gabriel, arrives with his fiancée to plan their wedding at Hillvale. Willa, Josh’s fiancée and business partner, is found murdered and suspicion abounds. Josh never expected to encounter Amber after all of these years, but together they will search for the killer.
I always enjoy reading about the various talents of the “Lucys” in HIllvale and this story does not disappoint with its psychic and dramatic elements. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.
This is book six from the serie Crystal Magic, and have enough background of the characters from previously books to be read as a stand alone story.
All the books have very imaginative plots and sub-plots. This one is no exception. There is mystery, suspense, dectetive work and romance. The writing is very good with well-developed characters.
Mrs Rice creates great male characters. The main one in this book is sensitive, not paranormal gifted, but creative and open minded enough to accept a reality that contains psichics, spirits, poltergeists and other weirdness.
The story
Everyone in Hillvale, Lucys and Nulls, are determined to create a reputation for Hillvale as a spectacular wedding venue. After all, according to Harvey, “the wedding business puts money in our pockets and creates a happy energy”.
But them a bride-to-be is murdered. Unfortunally, having brides killed before the wedding does not help with the wedding business. On top of that, in the Sheriff’s list of suspects are Amber, the “gipsy” tarot reader of Hillvale and the soon-to-be bridegroom, Josh Gabriel, her former teen-idol lover.
Amber and Josh come together to try to solve the murders (another woman has been murdered short after Josh’s bride-to-be). In the proces of finding the killer(s), they find out that theirs was not only a teen-love, but it stills strong and survived the changes in their adult lives.
Of course, Amber en Josh have the assistance of the Chief of Police, the other “Nulls” and the paranormal, magic murder/mystery investigation team of Hillvale to find justice.
The town also want a reputation of catching anyone who thinks they can get away with any crime of dare to bring evil to town, home of 325 (now 331) lives and countless ghosts….
I received an advance reader copy of this book provided by the author in exchange for a fair, objective, and honest review.
There are many layers to this story. When the book opens, Josh is engaged to Willa, in what is planned to be a marriage of convenience. They are friends, but not in love with each other.
Josh had been a child star as part of a kid’s show, playing the character of Jackson, opposite Amber Abercrombie, playing the part of Ginger. Amber has been living in Hillvale for a while, and very few people know about her former life as the child actress Ginger. She escaped a terrible situation at age 16 by leaving acting altogether, while Josh was shooting a movie in another country. When he returned, he couldn’t find Amber, and has been mourning her loss ever since. Needless to say, he was thrilled, yet angry to find out where Amber has been hiding and to find out why she left in the first place.
In present day, Josh’s fiance, Willa, is murdered. Then her live-in secretary is murdered as well, and Josh wants to know why. He decides to stay in Hillvale where he hopes to find answers, with the help of the townspeople. He gets to know the quirky residents of this town, and begins to see why Amber chooses to live there.
There are many things happening concurrently in his story, so pay attention to the details…Ms. Rice draws the reader into the story and into the lives of the beloved residents of Hillvale. The story moves along rapidly and captures the reader’s interest. There are supernatural/paranormal elements to this tale that work together delightfully! This story was fun to read from beginning to the end. It’s part of a larger group of books that would help the reader get to know the quirky town people. It’s not necessary to read them in order, but doing so would increase the reader’s enjoyment of this story.
First, let me say that I love Hillvale. I love it more and more each time I visit and get to know it’s quirky, sometimes eccentric, characters better. That said, this particular book skated close to a trope that I don’t particularly care for, experienced/playboy man with inexperienced/wallflower type woman. The story redeemed itself for me by not quite going there and by including the first love revisited theme. So, all in all, I loved this book as much as all of the rest. Josh and Amber make a great couple and they are so much fun to read when they effortlessly fall back into habits from their younger days. Their separation story is plausible, as is their reuniting. As always, the denizens of Hillvale fill in the canvas of characters and make for a truly enjoyable read.
Murder comes again to Hillvale and the case is only solved with the help of the town’s Lucys (lucent ladies) and the angry spirit of the murder victim. I have read all the stories in this series to date and I have to say that this was my favourite. I loved the character of Amber and how she rose to every challenge thrown at her and it was great to see her reconnecting with Josh after fourteen years apart. I am sure that readers could enjoy this book without having read any of the previous stories. All the ends are neatly tied away and supporting characters are not too numerous to keep straight in your head.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was drawn to the Crystal Magic Series because I had gotten hooked on the stories of the Malcolms and Ives families in The Magical Malcolms Series so.
Amber Affairs is an amazing story that focuses on Amber, one of the “Lucys”, who is reunited with a special friend from many years prior. Ms. Rice was able to mix romance with more than one mystery that could only be solved by the main characters in the town of Hillvale. As in the previous books, the ending is a surprise and I found the entire story to be very satisfying reading. I am looking forward to the next in the series. If you don’t know who the “Lucys” are, you are missing out of some wonderful stories, but I would advise you to start with the first book in the series or you’ll be as confused as I was when I started in the middle book.
I received an advance reader copy of this book provided by the author in exchange for a fair, objective, and honest review.
Really cool and very on target for today’s climate! Love Ms. Rice’s way of weaving all of her stories together from one era to another. Hope this isn’t the last one to come!?
As with all the books in this series that I have read, I absolutely loved it! Really enjoy that we get to see the town’s residents again in each story. Past and present collide. Amber and Josh must work through their past history to reach their HEA in the present.
I do not generally read mystery novels, except for those written by Ms. Rice. So far, I have NEVER been disappointed by the stories Ms. Rice authors. Multiple characters that could have been the murderer, and yet I did not come close to figuring out who was the murderer and was surprised by the ending. Also, as is normal with Ms. Rice’s novels, easy to follow the characters, the action flows and there are NO grammatical errors that stood out. Being a Null, I am in awe of and delighted by the Lucys; so much fun and am always looking for the MAGIC in the Chrystal Magic series. The love between Josh and Amber is evident and the sex is minor to the story but adds spics. Previous characters from the series are also involved in the illuminating of Amber’s Magic that she has long denied. The descriptions of people and places is so clear that I feel as if I am participating more than just as a reader. Well done. Thank you, Ms Pat for another evening of enjoyable reading. Amber Affairs (Crystal Magic, #6)
For followers of the Crystal Magic series, you will love this book! For those new to the series, you do not have to know the characters to fall in love with Amber and the residents of Hillvale, the quirky town she lives in. Our heroine has found a home far away from her abusive mother and has body image problems due to her weight, but she is happy until a blast from her past shows up and disrupts everything. The other members of her small town come together, as always, to show support, as well as suspicion of outsiders. There is danger, mystery and love abound in the latest installment in this book. Will Amber come to love herself as much as others love her? I thought I loved all the books in the series until I read this one and realized how much we needed Amber in our lives! A MUST READ! If you don’t read any of the other books in the series, read THIS ONE!
I received a free Advanced Reader Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The next in the Hillvale community and this time it’s Amber’s turn. I have been waiting for this book for a while because I felt I connected to this character a bit in the previous books. It was nice to see a character with a terrible self image and no wonder with a witch of mother (and I’m being kind here) and now she has to worry about Zeke, her nephew. It seems Amber’s mom is trying to use him like she did Amber as a child. Josh comes to town with his fiance to check out Hillvale’s venue. A weird modern day business arrangement/publicity stunt wedding. As always, someone dies and the Lucy’s take care of the town. I dropped a star because the whole explanation/hunt for killer/s was a little winded for me. One thing that I really loved was a scene where all the men or Nulls gathered and came up with a plan of their own. I wish there was more of that especially since so many of them have learned to accept their significant other/wife’s abilities. I’m not sure who will be next, but looking forward to it. I received an advance reader copy and voluntarily posted this review.
Hillvale has become a venue for weddings. That brings in Josh, an old friend and co-star of Amber’s, and his entourage as new characters. At the same time, Amber has worries for her orphaned nephew, Zeke, who she hides from her mother.
When Hillvale is touched by murder the Lucys again join forces to consult the spirits; the scenes wherein Willa’s ghost makes an appearance are very good.
The mystery is resolved at a who-dunit dinner theater, cleverly contrived by the residents to reveal the murderer.
I received an advance reader copy and voluntarily post this review.
I’m rather fascinated with the town. It took me awhile longer to click with Amber…I think it was that she had a backstory, a history with Josh, and we saw it all in glimpses…rather than watching it play out as with the others in the series. Still, an interesting read, and glad I read it.