Can a straitlaced engineer, three psychic children, and a lonely witch find love?The daughter of an earl, Lady Phoebe Malcolm Duncan has the ability to talk to animals. She longs to be a veterinarian, but education requires more coin than she possesses. When the walls of her home come tumbling down, she has to take two steps back—to servitude.Inventor Andrew Blair keeps his nose to the … his nose to the grindstone, knowing his friends and family depend on his talent for turning machines into money. He is about to embark on his biggest investment yet—rebuilding crumbling tenements in Old Town Edinburgh— until his beleaguered cousin begs him to hide his precocious children from a killer.
When the School of Malcolms sends Lady Phoebe as governess for his wards, Drew’s well-ordered beliefs are upended. Ladies don’t live in slum housing like the one he’s about to tear down, nor do they command ravens or encourage children to talk to dead mothers. It might take a vengeful ghost to show the disparate pair how to join forces, fight their fears and their enemies, and reveal a path to love.
“. . .transports readers to Victorian-era Scotland with the appealing . . . fantasy romance that opens her School of Magic series. . . Rice does a good job fleshing out her protagonists, imbuing them with convincing motivations and worthy ambitions outside of the central romance.”—Publishers Weekly
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OH! What a perfectly perfect read. This fast-paced, well written, well-plotted first book in the School of Magic series is filled with excitement, danger, and sigh-worthy romance. The characters are memorable and you’ll quickly come to love them. Each of the main characters is strong, independent, self-reliant, and very wrong about what they think they want in life. So, it is a good thing they are both open-minded and accepting of things that don’t necessarily fit with their version of ‘normal’. I have absolutely adored the Malcolm family through all of the various series and I know this one will just add to that – especially if this book is an example of what is to come. I did keep waiting for a member of the Ives family to make a showing, but they stayed hidden.
While Lady Phoebe Malcolm Duncan is the daughter of an earl, she lives in a tenement inside the medieval walls of the old town in Edinburgh. She has been living on her own for years – since her mother’s ill health caused her to move to France. Phoebe loves her life, loves the vibrancy of her neighborhood, and loves her neighbors. The only thing that would make it better would be for the veterinary schools to let her take classes. You see, Phoebe can communicate with animals and she is always rescuing them.
Andrew (Drew) Blair is an inventor, builder, and investor. He comes from very humble beginnings and has worked really hard to get to where he is in life. He made a good bit of money from inventing a few things for the railroads – and now he has a tidy sum of that money invested in a consortium that plans to rebuild the old town tenements into modern terraced buildings. However, Drew’s world has been flipped on end for most of the last year. His cousin’s wife died in an accident that almost killed his cousin and their children as well. Only, it wasn’t an accident. His cousin’s wife and three children have the Malcolm gifts – and now the three children are living with Drew. He knows nothing of children and he can’t seem to keep a governess/tutor for any length of time. Where can he find someone who can handle and be accepting of three small children who have special abilities?
Phoebe meets Drew after Drew writes to her aunt’s School of Magic and asks for a tutor for his wards. Phoebe is available because the entire front wall of her tenement building just crumpled and fell away leaving her and the other tenants with no place to live. Just as soon as she arrives at her aunt’s school, they send her out to act as an instructor for Drew’s wards.
I love the interactions between Drew and Phoebe. She is straight-forward, direct, and totally unintimidated by anyone or anything – yet she treats his wards with tenderness, understanding, and care. When danger rears its ugly head and the children are in danger, Drew discovers an appreciation for things he never thought he wanted in life.
I enjoyed this fun and exciting read so much that I couldn’t put it down and read it straight through. One of the very best things about the book – NO, none, nada, zip angst. Dear author, I thank you for that. I hope you love it as much as I did.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
If you never read a Rice book you are missing out on a wonderful set of stories. This is a Malcolm family (which is magical). All the characters are so unique. The Malcolm women are so special in their abilities strong wills. And the men who can’t help but want and love them. I jumped at the chance to read her new book. Highly recommend this or any written by Ms. Rice.
A wonderful, whimsical magical mystery from Patricia Rice! The characters are always interesting and enjoyable. This story is very well written and I truly was completely immersed within the first page – it just draws you in and captivates you. I definitely recommend this book, and any other by this quality author! I received an ARC from this author and this is my honest opinion.
I’ve learned over time that I can depend on really enjoying anything written by Patricia Rice. She creates characters that are so real and within a very few pages, I can see them, and I’m already invested in their success.
In Lessons In Enchantment, we meet Lady Phoebe Malcolm Duncan, and if you’ve read many of the books in her different Magic series, you know that Malcolm in her name means she is full of surprises and unexpected talents. She sees her home partially disintegrate in London, and seeks shelter with her Aunts at the Malcolm School. She’s struggling to keep her dream of being a veterinarian alive, despite the fact that no woman is accepted at that time.
Her Aunts send her to act as a Governess for Andrew Blairs’ wards. The children have unusual talents and have been acting out in grief after losing their mother, then their father falls into grief and alcohol. Andrew is an engineer and inventor, and a man desperate for a governess or nanny that the children do not frighten away immediately. Phoebe has very special talents, including speaking to animals, and the children turn out to be distantly related to the Malcolms as well, explaining their gifts. Phoebe turns out to be perfect for the children. There is a ton of wonderful story here, the childrens’ mom was likely murdered, and they are in danger as well. Phoebe and Andrew have a wonderful romance, and the mystery surrounding the death of the childrens’ mom is fully resolved. I envy every reader getting to read this for the first time! It is now on my “reread every few months” list, because I really loved these characters very much!
Two oposits, an unconventional Phoeby who talks to animals and Andrew an inventor join and fall in love as they protect three children. Romance bloom as they try to discover who wants to harm the children.
Lessons in Enchantment
School of Magic
book 1
by Patricia Rice
This was a magical romance, I loved getting to know Phoebe and Drew. Phoebe is such a whirlwind she had poor Andrew spinning in circles. She really is what he needs even though at the beginning he was in denial about how she made him feel. Loved the paranormal elements to it, and the intrigue really had me turning the pages. Overall this was a fantastic read I truly enjoyed it and recommend this to anyone who loves romance with a twist of the paranormal.
I received a complimentary this is my honest unbiased opinion.
If you’re a Patricia Rice fan like I am, you’ll love this book as much as I do. If this is your first book, you’ll be a fan for life Andrew is an inventor who needs a new invention and Phoebe is the daughter of an Earl who is reduced to being a Nanny to Andrew’s wards; a 6 year old boy who can (and does) make things move with his mind and his 4 year old twin girls who talk to their deceased Mother. And Phoebe? She talks to animals. Throw in someone who isn’t who he seems to be and let the journey begin! I loved this book!
I received this as an ARC with the stipulation that I write an honest review which I very gladly do.
Another keeper from Patricia Rice! I was hooked from the first page as her characters were attention grabbing and the storyline is believable and very unpredictable. If you are a lover of whimsy and great dialogue, this book is for you.
Pure romp-like entertainment with a hint of paranormal. With three young children running wild, a resident friend/business associate Hugh and his disorderly workroom, Andrew Blair’s chaotic household brings Magic in the Stars to mind. Enter a homeless Lady Phoebe Malcolm Duncan, who can communicate with animals wild and domesticated as governess, and the stage is set for interesting and humorous happenings. There is a bit of mystery to uncover regarding Andrew’s cousin’s mine and a resurrected association.
I’m looking forward to reading more of this series.
I read a free advanced copy; the thoughts expressed are my own.
Love Patricia Rice’s Malcolm stories.
This one takes place in Victorian England.The lead characters are Lady Phoebe Malcolm Duncan and Andrew Blair.
Phoebe has “ magical” traits that enables her to communicate with animals. She wants to attend veterinary school but women are not allowed. Drew is an inventor and engineer currently looking after his cousins three young children.
A series of events occur leading to Phoebe becoming governess to children who have “ magical abilities “. A ghost, a pine marten , a raven and other oddities round out a well crafted story that kept me up late trying to finish it !!
The description of Edinburgh was particularly vivid that I could actually see the city in my mind’s eye.
Loved this story as much as early Malcolm – Ives tales.
This is another fun story by Patricia Rice where the special talents of the Malcolm family women are introduced to new characters. Lady Phoebe answers a call for a governess for Andrew Blair’s household. His three young cousins have lost their mother and their dad is too distraught to provide for them, so bachelor Drew needs special help. The children have magic talents that overwhelm and amuse so Phoebe’s guidance is sorely needed. However, danger also comes from unknown sources and adds havoc until they can find out who is after the children and why they were targeted. There is humor, suspense, and romance in perfect measure to delight the reader and I recommend this book.
What a great beginning to a new series!! There’s magic, ghosts, mystery, and romance.
The heroine is smart, strong, and independent. The hero is smart, strong, and more than happy to embrace the idea of things beyond his understanding. I loved the plot and the way the characters built their love. I’m so excited for this series!!
Lessons in Enchantment (School of Magic # 1) by Patricia Rice
A charming historical romance novel with paranormal twists, this time set in Edinburgh. I liked how the interactions between the main characters of Lady Phoebe and Andrew Blair was portrayed, the gradual realisation from both characters that they are falling in love. Patricia Rice is a great story teller and like her other books the story flows effortlessly. The characters and setting kept me engaged with the story till the very last page. Another great read. This is a stand alone book with a Happy Ever After ending. Some characters introduced in this book will appear in the next book. 4 stars.
Disclaimer: I received an Advanced Reader Copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Patricia Rice has done it again. She has written a fun Regency Romance that captures your attention and brings you enjoyment to read to the very last word..Lessons In Enchantment is so good. This book is charming, intriguing and a delightfully entertaining book. Patricia Rice has developed wonderful characters like A pesky ghost (who scares the help away)–a sweet Witch who wants to be a Veterinarian for the heroine {who drives the hero a little crazy while he falls in love with her– 3 loving children missing their parents and full of fun mischief and lots of animals. Loved this book and one I will want to reread again and again.
Loved this! Somehow this is my first book with the Malcom family and I am hooked!!! I’ll be searching out the next in this particular series and the rest of the Malcom family books as well.
If you skip the bedroom scenes, this is a very fun read.
Very good read.
Great original book with lots of things happening to the great characters.
Just say no
This is the 57 thousandth Malcolm book where the family possesses powers. It seemed like a Steampunk book at first then it quickly devolved into a typical Regency drama.
I so enjoyed this book by Patricia Rice. It’s a mixture of romance and the supernatural that was so engaging, I am hooked on her entire series.