NYT bestselling author Patricia Rice presents the third book in her beloved School of Magic series: Victorian Edinburgh belongs to staid professors, not the flamboyant daughter of a Hindu princess. Lacking any of her Malcolm family’s psychic abilities, Azmin Dougall flees her ancestral home of India for Edinburgh, fearing she’ll be a pigeon in a family of peacocks. But she’s willing to risk … pigeon in a family of peacocks. But she’s willing to risk everything to aid a friend’s escape from an abusive husband—and to test her newly discovered, weirdly-perceptive photography skills.
Dr. Zane Dare is done with risk. Because his work introduced disease into his family home, his sister is dead, and his niece, Louisa, is an invalid left in his care. As a bachelor, and one who spends all his waking hours researching a cure, he has no means of entertaining an adolescent girl. In desperation, he asks the School of Malcolms to provide a governess.
Zane is appalled when they send Azmin. A decade ago they shared an enchanted summer that ended in crushed dreams. Worse yet, introducing a defiant Hindu princess into his household will jeopardize Zane’s precarious research position. And Azmin isn’t about to trust a man who scoffs at her incipient psychic abilities—until his frail niece wins her love.
But after Azmin’s photograph reveals the man courting Louisa may be dangerous, Zane and Azmin must set aside their differences to protect the girl who could teach their hearts to love again . . .
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I am really enjoying this series – and I always enjoy this author. I have followed the Malcolm and Ives families through ALL of their generations and they are all delightful. I loved that our Malcolm heroine in this book is a very exotic mix of Indian (India) and English. As with any Malcolm lady, she has her ‘talent’, but she is finding hers later in life. I also enjoyed that our hero had a mixture of Ives and Malcolm in him – poor fellow.
Azmin Dougall had to wait until adulthood before she even began to see what her Malcolm psychic gift might be. Probably because it had to do with photography – and that hadn’t been invented earlier in her life. However, once she began to discover what the gift was, it also gave her her life’s calling. She’d rescue women who are in abusive marriages – and her photography gift will tell her who those women are.
Azmin’s first rescue is Keya whose husband is a very powerful man in India. Once the decision was made to rescue Keya, Azmin knew she’d have to leave India and return to her family home in Edinburgh, Scotland – and she’d have to bring Keya with her. So, here they are, in Scotland, honing Azmin’s photography skills and refurbishing her father’s townhouse into a photography studio. Will Keya’s husband just let her go? Will he come after her and drag her back to India as he has every legal right to do? While they are waiting for the photography studio to be ready, Azmin is teaching art classes at her Malcolm aunt’s school.
Dr. Zane Dare (how do you like that name?) was once a carefree, rogue. Now, he’s a stodgy, dull professor and researcher at the medical school. What changed him? He watched his sister die of a fever she’d gotten from her young child – and Zane, as a doctor, couldn’t save her. His niece survived, but she was left with weakened lungs and heart – again, something Zane couldn’t fix. His niece is now in his custody and he’s spent years searching for something that will help his niece. Will he ever find the cure?
Zane and Azmin have a history. They were friends when she was sixteen and he was twenty-four – well – each of them wanted to be more than friends, but Zane felt like a pervert for being attracted to Azmin. When he did a stupid thing and she immediately left for India, each felt abandoned by the other. So, imagine Zane’s surprise when he goes to the Malcolm School to seek a governess/companion for his niece, and Azmin is sent to him. OH!
He rescues Azmin on more than one occasion – even though she insists she didn’t need rescuing. The more she’s around, the more he’s smitten – but neither of them wants to be smitten. They waltz around each other, rescue each other, rescue others, fight off bad guys, and finally – finally – realize they are made to be together.
I must say I was puzzled about Zane’s family. His distant uncle is an Earl and his father is the heir to that earl. Yet, somehow, his father is a viscount. It sounds as if he is a viscount because he is the heir to that distant uncle who is an earl. Since that couldn’t be the case – because the only one who would get the courtesy title would be a direct male descendent of the earl. Heirs presumptive don’t get courtesy titles. So – maybe you can figure that part out when you read it. I’m still confused.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and think it is a really good addition to the Malcolm family collection.
An Illusion of Love
School of Magic
book 3
by Patricia Rice
This is the third instalment in the School of Magic series by Patricia Rice, it can be read as a standalone.
Patricia Rice has a knack for integrating paranormal elements with intrigue well researched information, mystery and a well spun love story. Her magic in storytelling just grabs you and pulls you in the lives of her characters.
Azmin Dougall is a descendant of the much famed Malcolm family as with all Malcolms her gift isn’t figured out until later in her adulthood. Being a teacher of art she’s taken a position as teacher to the frail young niece of non other than the man she’d lost her heart to long ago…. Dr. Alexander Zane Dare.
The mantel of guilt lays heavily on Zane’s shoulders often, his research in diseases the cause of his sisters death and his young nieces deteriorating health. Not the old feelings he thought he’d buried 10 years ago. His mission now is to find the cure that will restore his nieces health. Resorting to finding a governess he heads to the Malcolm school for help and gets the woman he fell in love with but then disappeared from his life. She’s not the same but yet she is.
Follow Zane and Azmin as they navigate Edinburgh and their hearts to find the love they so deserve.
I received a complimentary copy from the author. This is my honest unbiased opinion.
Another exceptional book by this author I love the magic books she writes, the Malcolm’s , the Ives this is the third in this series! Highly recommend any of these books his princess and Lord Dare. Second chance at love and maybe how x-rays came to be. Enjoyed All the other second characters it’s like seeing how they families is doing
This is another winner from Patricia Rice. As always, she introduces the reader to not-your-usual-next-door-neighbor characters who are totally believable. The story is very engaging and is a keeper. In addition to Illusion of Magic, I would definitely recommend that you read the other books in this series. They are well worth your time.
A book of magic, mystery, and love.
Very good book with interesting characters
An Illusion of Love is from the School of Magic series, set in Scotland in the 1800’s. Patricia Rice always does a great job of character development for the primary and other characters, and this book is no exception. I really enjoyed learning about photography in this time period and I always enjoy how the characters have their Malcolm powers that make them special. This book stands alone, but I recommend reading in order so you have already learned the stories of some of the characters. In addition, I would recommend reading her other Malcolm series, especially those earlier in time so you have an appreciation of how things have developed over the years.
I always love reading about the Malcolms through the ages. I’m enjoying this series set in the Victorian era. All of the technological advancements of the age make for entertaining twists on typical Malcolm talents. I can’t wait for more.
Azmin Malcolm Dougall is an artist and a photographer, but not she’s not as sure of her “abilities” as her other Malcolm relatives in Victorian Edinburgh. She accepts a job as a teacher (art) with the Malcolm School and is soon working with the sixteen year old niece and ward of her old friend, Dr. Alexander (Zander) Dare. Azmin and Zander have not seen each other in many years but there is still a spark of attraction between them and soon Dr. Dare is unsure of anything in his life once Azmin is involved with his niece.
Each story in the School of Magic series can be read as a stand alone, but it is much more interesting to read them in order and learn about the personalities. I really enjoy the historical references and the way that the women are trying to change their lives to suit their abilities.
Dr. Alexander (Zane) Dare, is a physician researching a way to save his niece, who seems to have a heart ailment that keeps her frail and unhealthy. Azmin Malcolm Dougall, is from India but has blue eyes, which are common to the Malcolm line, but uncommon in a person of Indian descent. As a Malcolm, she’s having trouble discerning the parameters of her magical gift. She’s pretty sure it has to do with photography, but she’s trying to understand how it works and what the light and dark images in her photographs signify.
Ten years earlier, Zane and Azmin spent a summer together with a slew of other family members. As the two most intelligent youngsters present at the gathering, they naturally gravitated toward each other. She lost a part of her heart to him that summer, and then unexpectedly learns he is engaged. So she departs for India to escape the heartache, and doesn’t return for ten years. Once they see each other again for the first time, it seems that they keep running into each other in various places around town. Both protagonists are searching for answers to questions they have about their life. They both have internal conflicts and motivations. They each have to deal with prejudices as well as expectations, and somehow they get a deeper understanding of the hopes and wishes of each other. Ms. Rice manages to incorporate a story dealing with social justice, spousal abuse, and prejudice in the 1870’s into this book, that feels much more current and relevant to today.
Another great book from Patricia Rice! I loved these characters and it was fun to have a few characters from the other books show up here. It’s amazing to me how Patricia is able to keep her characters fresh when so many of her characters are interwoven through history and so many book, but she does it, every time. I enjoy when the characters get frustrated with each other, especially the heroes. Its good for a chuckle here and there.
Azmin Dougall is a Malcolm but doesn’t seem to have any psychic abilities like the rest of her family. She returns to Edinburgh ten years after escaping to India when her heart was crushed by Zane Dare. Saving a woman from an abusive marriage after taking a photograph revealed the malevolence as a black shadow hovering near the husband; Azmin is trying to find her way through photography with the idea of helping other women, but she doesn’t understand if this is her gift or just a fluke.
Zane Dare is guilt ridden after his research introduces disease to his family, killing his sister and leaving his niece an invalid in his care. He works tirelessly looking for a cure, but leaves his niece alone too much. Deciding he needed a new governess, he turns to the Malcolm school for help.
The Malcolm sisters that run the school connive to get Azmin to help Zane out, sending her there before he is made aware. Zane thinks about the colorful girl he had fun with that summer ten years ago, but never understood why she left without saying goodbye. His proposal to another woman might of had something to do with it, although as a hero, he doesn’t realize this. Azmin doesn’t want to see Zane, afraid of making her heart hurt, because she’s never forgotten him.
Of course, he comes early and finds her, but doesn’t recognize the woman in drab clothing. Needless to say, Zane is protective and Azmin walks through rough areas of Edinburgh undaunted. This throws them together more and more until dangerous situations lead to him stomping around and being pulled into the Malcolm world of unproven abilities making him start to wonder if there is more to the world than can be seen.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great story!
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2020
I just loved Azmin and Zane, and all the other characters in this book – even the one I did not like! They were all well written and well rounded individuals with the fears and biases of the day. The story is engrossing, I read it in one day – I just could not put it down. I could not wait to see how it ended. The Malcolms and the Ives are wonderful families and this couple is no exception. Read this one, you won’t be disappointed. I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion
Loved this book. Azmin is a bold, colorful character and Zane has become a stodgy professor. She can hardly recognize her childhood friend. Kidnappings, attempted murder, photographic anomalies keep the reader’s attention throughout. Despite the differences they must overcome, they have to adjust to work together.
I received a free copy of this book and this is my voluntary, honest review.
The latest installment in the series, An Illusion of Love, has all the eccentricity expected of this series. I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their relationship. However, there were a lot of moving parts and I sometimes felt overwhelmed. Now, I have to admit that could be all me right now-I’m a bit overwhelmed with work and COVID items so I do find it difficult to focus.
So though I was sometimes overwhelmed I still enjoyed the story and getting to know more characters in the Malcolm family. This probably won’t be my favorite of the series but I still enjoyed it.
An Illusion of Love is another winning combination of historical romance and paranormal weirdness. An ancestor of the magical Malcolms, Azmin Dougall, daughter of an Indian princess and a great military man, never believed she possessed an ounce of the Malcolms’ magical power until some weirdness shows up in her photographs and evil is revealed in the shadows. Rescuing her friend, Keya, from an abusive marriage, Azmin and Keya flee India for the shores of Scotland. Azmin with Keya by herside, begins to build up a photography shop and wants to develop her gift to save as many abused women as she can.Dr. Alexander Dare, or Zane to his friends, searches for a cure for beloved niece’s heart condition and once again comes face to face with his old friend, Azmin in a morgue of all places. When he asks the Malcolm school for someone to teach his niece, he is not surprised in the least that they send Azmin but the level of attraction he feels for her is another thing. Neither wanting marriage, Azmin and Zane are drawn together like a moth to the flame as danger closes in on all sides and the culprits motives are not at all clear. The story is fast paced and full of action, danger, and a delicious flirtation that ends in a nice HEA. Azmin is an unconventional female who is comfortable in her own skin and Zane is all that is supportive and sexy for a swoonworthy love interest. Another winning read in the world of Malcolm weirdness that will keep me coming back for more. My voluntary, unbiased review is based upon a review copy.
For the readers who know about the other series of the Malcolm descendants, this book tells the story of the son of Emilia Malcolm McDowell and Montague “Devil” Dare, from Chemistry of Magic (Unexpected Magic, book 5).
I liked this book as much as the first one of the series School of Magic and more than the second one.
This new book has a very original opening scene. There are various mixed plots in the book. The villain was know from almost the beginning but this did not make reading it less interesting. The pace is good and the book are easy to read. It easily takes one’s thoughts of the daily life.
I think that Mrs Rice did a good job describing the inner struggles of the two main characters while they were cooping with learning about how to use their talents and in accepting their limitations. It have made both characters more real and nice.
The themes developed in the book are very actual. As Mrs Rice has said in her note at the end of the book, infections diseases have always swept through human populations. Even now, when science has developed more and wide then a hundred and fifty years ago, we still not know enough about how to effectively prevent or find a vaccine against the Covid-19.
Racism and discrimination still causes a lot of pain nowadays as it did in the 19th century, and skin colour does still matter to a lot of people around the world.
I sincerely hope that one day diversity will be a matter of fact worldwide and scientists will do research in order to cure diseases without putting financial gain above the public health.
I received an advance reader copy of this book provided by the author in exchange for a fair, objective, and honest review.
I’m just loving this series that is set in Scotland in the latter part of the 19th century. Azmin Dougall is an Indian princess from a mixed race marriage. She has known Dr. Alexander Dare (Zane) since she was younger but they haven’t met for many years. Azmin is a very independent lady and has a great interest in photography. She has discovered an ability to detect evil in the photographs that she has taken and as she comes to terms with her gift, she wonders how she can use it for the greater good, particularly in reference to abused women. When Azmin and Zane meet, they still have that attraction. However, Azmin has no intention of marrying. This was an engrossing read that had many dangerous events. I’m looking forward to reading the next in the series.
This is Book #3 of “The School of Magic Series” and Dr Alexander Dare (“Zane”) and Azmin Dougall’s story. Both of these characters have Malcolm’s and Ive’s in there family tree. They knew each other growing up because of the close relationships of the large Ive’s/Malcolm family.
However, it has been over 10 years since they saw each other last, and neither knows what to make of the other. It is really fun watching these two characters meet each other as adults, and try and figure out how each ended up on the path they did. The book has several mysteries going on, but at the heart it is a story about how sometimes an old friend can remind you of things you forgot about yourself. I have read every “Magic” book, but this is one of my favorites. It is definitely my favorite of the “The School of Magic Series”.
If you are new to the “Magic” series, you can read this book without too many spoilers. If you prefer to start at the beginning, please check out Andrew Blair and Lady Phoebe Malcolm Blair’s story in Book #1 “Lessons in Enchantment”. Both are great introductions to the “Magic” series that I am sure will lead you to want to read the rest of the “Magic” series.
If you are a fan of the “Magic” series, this book does not disappoint. It is unique and fresh, but carries the heart of the “Magic” series in it. The most recent example I can give of the feelings this book evoked is Amber Affairs (Crystal Magic Book 6).
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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.
Azmin Dougall, daughter of an Indian Princess and military Malcolm descendent, with her blue eyes and dark skin has felt out of place both in Scotland and India. She returns to Edinburgh and becomes entwined again with her past when she starts working for Dr (Alexander) Zane Dare, who also has long reaching ancestry with the Malcolm line. Together they must find a way to work through their past to find a way to deal with the difficulties of their present. Don’t let the seemingly familiar formula fool you! There is a depth to this book that deals with current issues of domestic violence, racism, and sexism, but set in the historical context of 1870’s Edinburgh. Reader beware, there are times when this book can push some buttons, but it is worth it! You will find the magic, strength of character, and love you have come to expect if you have read any of the School of Magic series. If this is your first book in the series it will make you want to go back for more!
Patricia Rice has again written a witty romance/mystery leavened by taking on the social prejudices inherent in Victorian society. This time the racial bigotry prevalent in Victorian England that was only touched on in Whisper of Magic, is presented with a stronger view. In my opinion the subject was handled with tact and sensitivity. The story also hits hard at spousal abuse, (beating your wife was legal back then). Both these subjects are covered without infringing on the romance and mystery. The story itself is a fun mystery about an attempt to kill off the current heirs to an estate for a distant cousin to inherit it.
I really hope that the vicious resentment toward white writers so prevalent in our society TODAY isn’t turned toward the book and its author.
This is the third book in the The School of Magic Series. It can be read as a stand alone but it helps to have read previous books to orient the characters. This foray into the Victorian Malcolm world while good, was less satisfying than the first two books. The premise is that the Malcolm descendants ( most of) have some power ( supernatural or just plain weird!) The heroine Azmin Dougall is a lady photographer, daughter of a Hindu Princess and a British diplomat living in India. She “ reads” her photographs and her ability is to interpret evil or danger in shadows she finds. Her counter part is Dr. Zane ( Alexander) Dare who is a physician and researcher looking for a cure for heart disease. He is a bachelor who lived with his invalid niece. He is also a Malcolm descendant but without.
“ powers” . Azmin is sent to tutor his niece.
Threads of prejudice, evil and narrow mindedness wind their way through the story but of course everything is resolved in the end.
It took a while to get into this latest chapter of the Malcolm Ives families.But I did enjoy reading it once the story developed.