Merely Magic

Alone on the edge of the clearing, Ninian Malcolm Siddons sat on an overturned stone from the circle that had once dominated this hill and contemplated the bonfire and dancing couples laughing below. It was a very lonely business being a Malcolm. Tonight, she’d much rather dance and sing and shout for joy in the firelight like everyone else. She wanted to scream and yell, “I’m here! Here! It’s just me!” But there was danger in achieving that kind of attention. She could not indulge her volatile nature and throw tantrums at the unfairness of life; it would only enhance the village’s fear of her. As her grandmother had taught her, she must remember who she was, what she was, and be proud of it. She had a gift and a talent no other had been granted, and she must use them wisely. Making the villagers fear her was not wise.

She sighed and rolled her eyes in exasperation. “Gifts” and “talents” weren’t quite as valuable or exciting as the magic in fairy tales. If only she possessed real magic, she could summon a lover to dance with her. She smiled as the fantasy formed in her mind. What kind of lover would she summon? Dark and passionate? Fair and loving? One who would give her fat, jolly babies?

One who would dance with her.

She’d never even considered sharing her life with anyone until Granny died last winter. Given her circumstances, it didn’t pay to consider it now. She must dedicate her life to the people of Wystan just as Granny had done—or deny her heritage and forfeit everything as her mother had. The bonfire leapt higher into the starry May night as someone added new brush to the flames. With the aid of the moon above, the glade sparkled with the silvery glow of a thousand candles, filling the night with enchantment. Beltane was a night to celebrate the earth’s richness, to throw off the dark of winter’s cold. She should exult in the promise of spring, not fret over what she could never have. It was time to shrug off her grief over her grandmother’s death and go on with the business of living.

If only she knew precisely what that was. Tending her herbs, healing the sick, and delivering babes did not hold quite the promise she’d hoped now that she faced those tasks alone. Eagerly, she sat up as an excess of hilarity and high spirits buffeted her with the approach of the dancers.

“Have you heard? Lord Ives is repairing the castle!” Tom, the wheelmaker’s son, crowed as he and several others gathered to catch their breaths.

“We’ll all be rich!” Alice, a farmer’s daughter, expressed her excitement with glee.

“This time next year, we’ll have fat pigs in our pens and geese on our tables.” Son of a sheep farmer, Nate passed his cup of ale to the next person.

The return of an Ives to Wystan after all these years worried Ninian. She’d thought the legend in her grandmother’s storybook little more than a fairy tale and had never feared it, until now, with the recent return of the mysterious nobleman.

According to the story, long, long ago, Ives and Malcolms had been the nobility of this land, building castles and protecting their people. But according to the legend, disaster destroyed their happy land upon the marriage of an Ives lord and a Malcolm lady. Prosperity had fled, the Ives lords moved away, and only Malcolms remained to care for the people as best as they could. As others left to seek riches elsewhere, the village shrank, and there was no need for more than one Malcolm here. So even the Malcolms left. Ninian’s aunts had followed their aristocratic husbands and moved on to better things. Ninian’s particular gift fared better in the isolation of the village, so she had chosen to stay behind.

Why had a legend walked out of her storybook as soon as her grandmother died? And if this Lord Ives could make the village wealthy, would they need Ninian at all? Or would he bring the tragedy the storybook predicted?

Clamping down a frisson of fear and blocking out such silly superstition, Ninian watched the unaccompanied bachelors expectantly as the musicians struck up a new song.

Nate grabbed his companion’s hand, and Gertrude giggled and ran off with him to join the dancers. As the other young men chose partners and laughing couples dashed toward the revelry, leaving Ninian behind—again—her dimples disappeared and her shoulders sagged with the weight of loneliness.

It shouldn’t matter that they didn’t ask her to dance.

They were simple, uneducated village boys, and she was a Malcolm. Malcolms were not only witches, but nobility, educated far beyond the means of simple farmers. She understood.

She really did. But the music was so lively and the moon so beautiful…

An old lady laughed as Gertrude slapped Nate’s face and flounced off. “That one has aught but one thing on his mind,” the old one said to her companion.

All the village girls knew about Nate’s hot hands and sweet words. Still, even well plied with ale, he danced a fair step, and Ninian wouldn’t have minded one whirl about the fire.

Just one.

It wasn’t as if she expected love.

 

A pagan fertility rite, how appropriate.

Standing in the deepest shadows of the forest’s edge, Drogo Ives, Earl of Ives and Wystan, crossed his arms and watched as the bonfire in the clearing blazed skyward. The hypnotic notes of flute and fiddle carried on the wind along with the sounds of laughter.

He’d come to this deserted outpost of northern England in hopes of studying the stars, not human behavior. Heaven only knew, he had sufficient specimens for study in London should he wish to take up the science of people, but he preferred the distance and mathematical precision of stars. At least stars were predictable.

The bonfire had aroused his curiosity when he’d seen it from his windows. He’d spent a long and grueling day over the estate accounts, correspondence, and decisions regarding his brothers’ latest escapades, and inexplicably, he’d been drawn to the sight of the leaping flames.

A lone figure lurking in the half shadow between him and the convivial couples in the clearing captured his curiosity.

He might not be from these parts, but he had sufficient knowledge of folklore to recognize the village’s celebration of Beltane. As spring fertility rites went, this one was fairly tame. He even recognized the primitive urge within himself to procreate. The warmth of a new May eve, the hum of nature’s nocturnal creatures seeking mates, the gravid fowls and burgeoning plant life of spring stirred even the most stoic of mankind into desiring to create replicas of themselves within a woman’s womb.

Drogo clanged a steel door shut on that thought as he watched the solitary figure in the clearing.

Her pale hair glimmered with moonlight, curling in wild ringlets over her shoulders and halfway down her back, uncovered by cap or cloth. He had caught a glimpse of her face earlier as she exchanged words with some of the couples. She had a round face of ivory purity with mysterious light-colored eyes he could barely discern in the silver swath of moonlight.

And she had a figure men would kill for. He surveyed her ample bosom and trim waist with jaundiced gaze. Country beautiful, built for breeding. Why then was she not a part of one of the amorous couples cavorting around the fire? She should have men dancing attendance at her fingertips.

He had no intention of becoming so involved in village affairs that he might ask. He craved a solitude he couldn’t achieve in London, and he didn’t need another woman mucking up his life or his mind. He’d do better to return to his studies in the tower or to the tedious stacks of frantic messages from London.

The silver goddess turned just enough for him to perceive the yearning in her expression, a yearning that so matched his own, the loneliness of it nearly crippled him.

MERELY MAGIC by Patricia Rice is an amazing,witty historical romance with a touch of magic set in 1750 Northumberland, England.It is a re-issued titled. The plot is enchanting, easy to follow,well developed and intriguing. The characters are engaging,enchanting, believable and will capture your heart. This is the story of Ninian, a beautiful healer,a little eccentric,a famous Malcolm,Innocent,lonely,has little bit of magic and is drawn to aristocratic Drogo. Who is handsome,an aristocrat,an Ives,a man of science,lonely,but won’t admit it himself or anyone else,and can’t seem to resist the local witch Ninian.After they are thrown together by a terrific storm, Drogo’s meddling stepsister,they can’t seem to get enough of each other. But they not only face a legend,superstition,danger,lust for each other but they also face Drogo’s trust issues,and Ninian’s Malcolm family. As the danger and chaos mounts they will have to decide if they trust each other enough to survive the Malcolm and Ives legend,be happy together, and maybe begin a new chapter in with Tales of Malcolm and Ives. This is a fast paced story full of passion,some sensuality,promise of brighter days to come,the end of a legend and the beginning of a new life with love,maybe a little peace,family, full of hope,love,and a little happiness. This was an amazing story with a little magic,danger and a lot of love. This book was received for the purpose of review from the publisher and details can be found at Sourcebooks Casablanca, an imprint of Sourcebooks,Inc.



My thoughts: This book pulled me in from the beginning. Even the setting is magical - a village in the woods, secluded. Everything sounded lush and green, until they discovered that something was poisoning the water. Ninian discovers this just as she meets Drogo - because the stream is on his property that she collects her plants from for her cures. She is the local healer - it is what she was born to do and all that she knows. Even the villagers steer clear of her unless they have need of her potions.

Drogo on the other hand is city bred and lives by logic. He does not trust anything mystical or magical - or let’s just say he doesn’t believe in it. He is the oldest Ives brother and has spent his entire life making sure that the rest of his family is provided for. This leaves him alone with just his ledgers and his books most of the time.

Somehow these two lonely people are thrown together - well, they have help from Drogo’s half sister Sarah, who seems to think that Ninian is the only one who can have Drogo’s child. I love the way that they fight each other through out the whole book - both wanting what they think they can’t have. It is almost like they can’t see what is standing right in front of them.

This is a reprint as this book was first published about 10 years ago. It is the first in a series and I am looking forward to learning more about these two families - the Ives and the Malcolms. They have a rich history and much legend in the village is built around what would happen if two of them ever got together. If you like the current batch of paranormal/historical romances that are out, I would recommend giving this one a shot!



Healer Ninian Malcolm Siddons is resigned to living alone. The local villager men are wary and so far, none have approached her with more than a respectful tip of the cap. That is until Beltane when Lord Drogo Ives rescues her from a drunken reveler. .

Ninian’s grandmother had always warned her to stay away from the Ives which until now hadn’t been a problem since no Ives were anywhere to be found. But now, Drogo Ives and three women had returned to Wystan Castle, an ancient keep that had originally belonged to the Malcolms. Not that Ninian really cared one way or the other. She was content with her magical, if lonely, life.

Drogo Ives is a man of science. He could wile away hours with his telescope or papers and books. Alas, his family, who he loves dearly, and his title of Earl, keeps him almost fully occupied. His brothers have inherited the Ives ability to procreate like rabbits so Drogo has to take care of their offspring. And his widowed sister, Sarah, with her friends, an unwed mother and an unhappy companion, had had to accompany him to this rural location. It seemed to much to ask for a moment for his own interests, one of which was the intriguing young woman he’d met on Beltane. In his mind’s eye, he could still see her laughing eyes and hear the mischief in her voice when she called herself a witch.

A lesser man might believe her but not Drogo. To him, she was no more a witch than any other female even if he styled her a ‘moon maiden’. Although he conceded she might be a touch daft, when his sister asked for a midwife for her friend, Ninian was the first one to come to mind. In no time, the lovely healer is set up in a room in the castle and introduced to his family.

Ninian knows that moving into the castle could ruin her reputation. Though raised rurally, she was born to the peerage class where a woman’s reputation was most important. She, however, doesn’t believe she’ll ever need to worry about her reputation. She has no expectations of a good marriage and no prospect to base such a hope on. Except, perhaps, for Lord Ives with his studious mind and quick understanding…and devastating good looks. As they work together to solve a series of disasters affecting the valley, disasters that commenced with his return to Wystan Castle, their relationship grows until Ninian discovers the magic of love.

But she will not stay with a man who doesn’t believe in her magic and Drogo certainly does not. Can she convince him of her powers? Or is she destined to live out her life alone?

This was a fascinating read even though the paranormal was light. I enjoyed learning about Ninian and Drogo and the history of their two families. The plot wasn’t simply the standard boy meets girl. It had enough twists and turns to really hold the readers attention. The love affair between Ninian and Drogo ranges from sweet to raging hot to bittersweet and all stages in between in a remarkable display of characterization.

All in all, Merely Magic is a terrific and enjoyable read.

Sourcebooks has agreed to reissue the entire Magic series. I’m so happy because I’d not read any of this series before. Merely Magic is the first in the series. We meet Ninian Malcolm, a healer; some say a witch, but always a Malcolm. When she meets Lord Drogo Ives, she knows nothing can come of the attraction they feel. Malcolm’s and Ives do NOT marry. The last time they did, there was such a great flood that it wiped out almost all of Wystan. Drogo is a man of science and has no time—or patience—for all of this magic and witches nonsense. He knows Ninian is a flesh and blood woman and he has no time for the witch nonsense. He’s instantly attracted to her, but he’s been burned before. Both by his siblings who have all sorts of illegitimate children, and by a woman who tried to trick him into marriage because he supposedly got her pregnant.

After a lot of manipulations by Drogo’s half-sister, Sarah, he finds himself unable to stop himself from having Ninian. And when their one night of passion does result in a child, Ninian is determined to keep the news from him so he won’t feel trapped. Sarah, ever the diligent half-sister, steps in to notify him of his impending fatherhood.

From here, it really takes off. Drogo can’t convince Ninian to marry him. Moreover, she doesn’t want to be in his bed again until he makes some drastic changes to his life and his way of thinking. It’s hard to teach a scientific mind to accept the realm of magic, but Ninian is determined. There’s also a hint of death and doom that can’t be shaken throughout the story. I won’t spoil it for you, but there were some moments where I was on the edge of my seat.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and before I discovered its part of a series, I was hoping the loose ends left open could be tied up in another book. Patricia Rice has said that all of the Magic books are going to be reissued by Sourcebooks. In the beginning, I thought Drogo was too aloof and wasn’t sure I’d like him. But he’s the kind of man that once you start to know him; you realize how lovable he really is. Ninian’s stubbornness also caused me a bit of irritation, but her true love of others—and eventually Drogo—shines through in a way that is really magical.

There were so many rich details in the descriptions of the healing herbs, the castles and the London scene, that I was enchanted from start to finish. Patricia Rice has such a wonderful way of presenting the story that makes sense to both the logical side of my mind as well as the creative side. Her characters are well developed and become part of your family. Her descriptions are full without going over into boring. I was entertained and transported from the first page to the last. Looking forward to the next book in this series.



She may not have true magical skills but her spirit is one of magic.

Ninian is a Malcolm daughter descended from a long heritage of witches who only give birth to daughters. Ninian is a gifted herbalist and healer in a small village. She is always on the outside of the crowd as the people are a bit afraid of the rumors of the Malcolm witches. Ninian doesn’t expect to ever have a family of her own because of her solitary life.

The large manor home near the village, is owned by Lord Ives but it has been vacant for many years. The Ives men only have sons and seemed doomed to have unhappy marriages. There is a history of an old Malcolm and Ives marriage that brought disaster to the house and village. Lord Drogo is a man of logic, math and science. Drogo is the head of the family and since he was a young teen he has been responsible for the family finances and the corralling of the rambunctious boys, legitimate and otherwise. He was never coddled as a boy and is not prone to express, or even allow himself to feel, much emotion. He thought he had escaped to the manor house to study stars and to get a break from the family duties.

When Ninian and Drogo meet it is like trying to put the earth and stars together but the draw between them is instant and overpowering. Drogo is used to controlling everyone in his family. Ninian is self sufficient and doesn’t need someone to control her. She needs someone to accept and love her. But Drogo doesn’t believe in love or witches or magic. Can they learn to accept and trust each other?

I thought this portion succinctly presents their problem (and it sounded so familiar as in my DH and myself!) “He’d given up any hope of logic from her months ago. She had a brain. She just didn’t use it as he did.” p 267.

This book flows smoothly and beautifully. Ninian is such a giving and warm character and she draws the cool, unemotional Drogo into her joy. I love the magical feeling that this author weaves into her stories. I have read one of the other books in the “Magic” series of Malcolms and Ives and I have several more on my TBR shelf as this is an author worth collecting.


MERELY MAGIC is a magical story that captured my interest from the first words. I loved the world building and magical elements. This book is full of interesting characters - the secondary characters bring the story to life and help move the story along. I especially love Drogo’s brother, Dunstan. Drogo is the perfect hero for Ninian and she’s perfect for him. The contrasts in their characters made for some funny and sweet moments. This is the first book in a series and I will definitely be reading the rest!

the book girl gives MERELY MAGIC a 4/5



Plot: Ninian Malcolm is a country witch who has been taking care of the local villagers for the last few years. The job of midwife handed down to her by her now dead grandmother.
Drogo Ives is an earl who’s only private time is hunting the skies for new planets, when he’s not providing for his brothers and their children.
Legends say that Malcolms and Ives are meant to keep apart or else the curse that flows through both families will destroy everyone in their path.
Drogo does not believe in curses or witches. He does however believe it’s nearly time to settle down and produce an heir of his own instead of feeding all of his brother’s. It just so happens that he’s got his eye on Ninian, the only thing is she’s not your typical Victorian Lady.

It’s rare that I pick up a book in the morning and spend a full 8 hours reading. But that’s what I did. I literally could not put this one down.

Set at the end of the Regency /beginning of the Victorian eras, this is a romance that rings out with a spark of truth. Playing back and forth with the idea that men and women learn differently (the men are all of a science background and the women all of a earth based background) and therefore express themselves in different spheres, it leans to a perfect romantic set up.

You could neatly ask "what would happen if a group of female Druids landed in the middle of London?" Which must have been one of the things the author asked herself.

The core of the story is trust. The Ives family have been tricked into wedlock a few times, and no longer trust their wives, where as the Malcolm family have been treated like outcasts for generations. I thought the brilliant move on the author’s part was in making the Ives only able to produce sons, and the Malcolms only able to produce daughters. Proving balance is always needed.

This is an element (no pun intended) that is repeated throughout the story, with Ninian referring to herself as the earth and Drogo as the air and how when they meet they create storms. The idea that romantic longings are as basic as electricity was a strong one.

The farther along the story continued, the softer the character of Drogo became. It hinted a bit at Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice as well as reminding me of Jane Eyre. Half set in an eerie gothic castle complete with a ghost and in London proper. Drogo is a man who can not turn anyone away who needs his help, nor can Ninian which makes them both a perfect pair and the most unlikely of rivals.

The opening scene sets up the story’s baseline, as we see Ninian lingering on the edge of a May’s Eve festival, longing for a simple dance knowing that none of the men in the area are brave enough to see past her family rumours. While a few yards away Drogo is watching Ninian from the shadows, not understanding who or what she is, but admiring her for the simple fact she’s a beautiful woman. He ends up saving her from one of the local drunks thinking that she is yet another responsibility. He soon learns Ninian is far stronger then even he is.

The author has pitted two very different family rituals against each other in a simple way that shows tolerance and compromise are always one and the same.

This story is fully delicious in its understanding of Paganism. Which is a rarity all its own.

There were a few minor characters, like Adonis and Sarah (both Ives) that I would have liked to learned more about, as well as a story within the story that Ninian was reading from their family history.

My Review:
I loved the two leads in this magical romance. Drogo was so studious and responsible. There were so many people who depended on him to take care of them. Two of his stepsister’s friends even ended up living in his home because they had no where to go and Drogo couldn’t say no. The author wove this trait of his into the story in many intricate ways and I loved to watch it affect his decision making. For one, Drogo had such trouble realizing that Ninian could love him because she was fiercely independent. She didn’t need him like so many others did. Also, Drogo had to learn to let his family learn to fly on their own, which was very difficult for him.

Drogo was so arrogant, but in a way that was so logical, it was almost funny. He basically thought no woman would ever refuse him because of his money. But because of that attitude, he overlooked many of this other attractive traits and believed that was the only reason a woman would want him.

The main conflict of the story, the disaster that could happen if a Malcolm (Ninian) and an Ives (Drogo) married, sort of went over my head. It didn’t come across as that believable to me. And it was never really clear to me whether all of the magic in the book affected their feelings for each other or if it was all coincidence.

Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 3/5
Romance: 4/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 3/5
Writing: 4/5

Bottom Line: This is a nice tale to read on a rainy afternoon, especially to read about the great lead characters.



A definite must-read for fans of the movie Practical Magic.

Ninian is a healer, but she’s a Malcolm first and foremost, and Malcolms have always had a bit of magic - unpredictable though it is - to aid them on their pursuits. She knows she must accept what she is or perish, but then Lord Drogo Ives arrives, bringing the deepest, most powerful magic she’s ever experienced and turning Ninian’s world upside down.


Drogo Ives has no time for foolish musings or legneds, even if he can’t seem tor esist the local witch. Thrown together by a series of disastrous events, Ninian won’t give herself fully to Drogo until she can make him trust and believe in her, and that’s the last thing he’ll ever do.


As the danger and chaos surrounding them escalates, Drogo and Ninian will be forced to decide: their love or their lives. (Taken from the back of the book)

Ah such a fun book! I think what I enjoyed the most is that Patricia made full use of her writing talents. She’s a good storyteller, but she didn’t go for one specific angle. The book is romantic without being too erotic. It’s paranormal while keeping it realistic. The characters are inventive but not too far-fetched to be believed. The mystery isn’t anything outlandish. It’s just enough to keep you interested. Basically, she took the best of romance, mystery, comedy and drama and mixed them all together in one magical tale.

I was expecting the fact that Ninian is a witch to be a focal point of the story, and it is, but not in the manner I expected. She admits that she’s a failure as a witch. She doesn’t have the powers she feels she should, but she’s willing to work with what she has. We see people approach her from different angles as well. Some fear her differences while others go to her for help. As a leading character, I loved her! She’s bright and spunky and sticks to her guns. The other characters are well-built and interesting, but Ninian makes the story.

For me, this book was like reading a previous generation version of Practical Magic. It’s a completely different story, but it has that slight magical feel to it. It’s that feeling that if you believe enough, you can bring a little magic into your own life as well. Of course, there are some definite concrete similarities, but I think you should draw those yourself.

Ninian Malcolm is a small town healer. Most people consider her a witch because she is different. Malcolms have magic in their blood lines and Ninian is no exception. But her grandmother used to tell her a legend as a child. Ninian doesn’t know whether to believe or not, but the fear is there. She does know one thing, that if she doesn’t accept who and what she is, she will die. Ninian is a very honest, straightforward and beautiful woman who has a mind of her own. The only thing she is missing is love.

Lord Drogo Ives has come to oversee his estate, Wystan. Drogo brings along his misfits of a family - his brothers and a few sisters. He believes that the Ives are cursed to be unhappy in marriage because none of the family has stayed together. There are many bastards out there and none are his. Drogo has a very scientific mind and is very serious and logical when it comes to problems. He wants to fix everybody’s life but his own.

Ninian and Drogo meet, and both their worlds are turned upside-down. He has no time for her strange legends, while she is overcome by the magic he brings to her. They cannot resist. They are thrown together by some really bad events, by people and nature. Together, they must learn to believe in each other or they are doomed.

Very enjoyable read, especially the humor in the dialogue. I love a book that can make me smile while I am reading and this was one of them. I felt for the couple as they went through the trouble of learning about each other. People can relate as they read even though it’s in a different time frame. It just goes to prove that the same problems existed then. Romance between opposites offers a fun and an emotional ride.

Logic and emotion collide in Patricia Rice’s rich Georgian paranormal Merely Magic, a story of the importance of being true to oneself and of letting people live their own lives.

Malcolm women and Ives men do not mix. Sequestered in her isolated little village, healer and empath Ninian, one of the long line of Malcolm witches, has never met an Ives. And then Drogo, the long-absent Earl of Ives arrives at his castle. The uber-responsible slave to logic Drogo is taking a break from picking up the pieces after his maddeningly flighty family’s antics. Never did either Ninian or Drogo expect the immediate and overpowering attraction that blasts them when they meet. But passion has its own logic, and these two supposedly mismatched people wed. Ninian is terrified she might lose herself under the onslaught of Drogo’s potent masculinity. Drogo is terrified of becoming like all the other male Ives, who destroyed their marriages while siring numerous bastards. And he doesn’t believe in witches.

Merely Magic takes you on a wild emotional ride in this complex, riveting tale of the mind-numbing fear and towering passion involved when opposites attract. Written in Ms. Rice’s signature style that seamlessly combines emotion and action, the story sweeps you along with a varied cast of characters who are true to their time, and yet timeless. I especially like Ninian’s and Drogo’s wedding ceremony, where Drogo must vow equality with his wife. Equality with a woman in Georgian England? What a cork-brained idea.

First in Ms. Rice’s "Magic" series, Merely Magic sets the scene for the continuing saga of the Malcolm witches. I can’t wait for the next story.



Ninian is an outsider in her small village. Although she grew up among the villagers and counts some as friends, the legend of the Malcolm witches keep the superstitious denizens at a cautious distance. On the night of the Beltane, Ninian watches the villagers from a far before moving on to collect some herbs. On her walk she discovers that Lord Drogo, the Earl of Ives, has moved into the Wystan castle - the first Ives to live there in generations. She is instantly taken with the dark stranger, and he is held captive by Ninian’s charm. Soon a series of events ties the two together.
Although Ninian and Drogo fight instant attraction, his meddling step-sister brews an aphrodisiac that lands the two in bed early on in the story. Neither is willing to change his/her life nor do either want marriage. Yet when Drogo discovers Ninian is pregnant, a hope for the heir he’s never had emerges and he insists on a wedding.
I throughly enjoyed this love story. Ninian and Drogo are both stubborn yet not so obstinate that they are willing to give their relationship a chance, even with all of their differences. They undergo a “one-step forward, two-steps back” type of courtship, but find their way in the end. The story is told from both perspectives, and each was balanced and thoughtful. I loved that their romance wasn’t a “sweep me off my feet” type story. Their love had to grow, just like it does in real life. They are strongly attracted to one another, but both logical people. They both realize that they don’t think the same, and both recognize their own faults and weakness in making the relationship work. And although each pulls away at different times, neither truly gives up, which leads to an emotionally satisfying tale.
The story has a hint of mysticism - a little magic, a mysterious ghost. But it is written in such a way as to mirror both Ninian’s and Drogo’s own beliefs. She sees magic, he finds reason and science. Both sides are equally presented and it’s left for the reader to decide what is real... but in truth, the reality is based on perception.
There are a slew of side characters as well. Some we get to know more than others. One is Drogo’s step-sister, Sarah. She is meddlesome and overly protective, but her heart is usually in the right place. I enjoyed watching Sarah go from front and center to the background as Ninian learns to “take her place” as head of the household. I would have liked to know more about Sarah - her strained relationship with her mother, her children, etc.
Sourcebooks Publishing has re-issued this delightful tale, and I for one am glad. It’s an honest look at true love through diverse and sometimes dire circumstances. I can only hope that Sourcebooks will re-issue the subsequent stories!


What do you get when you mix one part witch, one part curmudgeon, and one part annoying family? An amazing story about love, family, and magic. Come join Ninian on her magical journey from the country to London and back again as she tries and tames the forbidden Ives clan. Many magical and mysterious surprises await ahead!

Ninian is the most recent in a long line of Malcom witches, women who use the bounty of the earth to heal and help those around them. She’s also one of the most unique heroines I’ve ever read. Despite the loneliness she often feels, she’s very at ease with herself and her station in life. And, while she doesn’t exactly buy one hundred percent into the whole ‘Malcom Witch’ tale, she knows that she possesses a power beyond what the normal person has. It’s this combination of faith in herself and reliance on her abilities that makes her such a draw for me. I love a capable woman, and she is just that.

Drogo Ives is only partly curmudgeonly, truth be told, but he is a cantankerous soul at times. Having been forced to take the reins of the family at an early age, his resentment has a tendency to boil over onto anyone within range. Normally, this sort of an attitude on a hero would turn me away, however, Drogo does his best to confront his feelings and rein himself in, although he doesn’t succeed as often as he might like. His need to control and sort puts him at odds with Ninian, often to rather amusing results.

If you like your romance with a touch of magical fantasy woven into it, then Merely Magic by Patricia Rice is a must read! You’ll be enticed in by the engaging characters and hooked by the flow of the story itself. A true storyteller, Ms. Rice will hold you from the first words until the very last. Come, sit by the fire and let Ninian and Drogo entertain you with their tale…

This period piece is wrapped up in a time where people believed in superstition, evil, magic, fear and hidden secrets. Enter our town witch who happens to be the most beautiful witch you would ever want to meet, and she is a truly genuine person to boot. After the death of her grandmother, she is left alone to take care of the medical needs of the very people who keep her out of their village and lives.

Yes, Ninian Malcolm Siddons lives alone outside the village of Wystan in her private cottage and she is very happy there, but occasionally she gets very lonely for the human sharing and warmth only a village of people can offer. For now, Ninian is the healer that everyone shies away from because of her family’s reputation for being witches.

Lord Earl Drogo Ives has a cold heart that is not interested in magic, superstitions or legends tied to the castle he now has inherited. All he is interested is escaping to the country where the society women who are searching for a husband will not find him and he can dedicate his time to his true interest which is astronomy. One night during the feast of Beltane, Drogo finds himself saving Ninian from an overzealous admirer, and like two magnets, their attraction begins to grow towards each other.

Throughout the story, we learn of Lord Drogo Ives’ animosity towards women and his belief that they lack intelligence and are only useful for one thing…his temporary pleasure; that is, until he meets the addictive, intelligent and enticing Ninian.

This was definitely a book that I found difficulty putting down. I wanted to keep reading on just a little more each time as turn of events polish the characters and make the reader feel as if we are truly there partaking of the chaos and madness. A fun read and lots of characters that are endearing which I hope to meet again in a future release in the near future I hope. I have become a fan in one week, thanks for the fun tale.



Ninian Malcolm Siddons has the name of a saint but is better known as the Wystan village witch. Her herbs and simples do more to help the illnesses and injuries common among her people in her opinion, but she doesn’t mind what she is called, so long as they allow her to help. The Malcolms have always helped the village of Wystan and are said to have many strange and peculiar powers. One thing the family legends repeat is that a Malcolm must never lie with an Ives, lest the village suffer.

Drogo Ives has more responsibilities than any five men should have. His younger brothers are always getting themselves into financial and or legal messes and, worse yet, can’t seem to keep their falls buttoned and are steadily adding bastard children to the load he already carries. When he arrives in Wystan to use the family holding, Malcom Castle, he wants only a little peace and distance from the turmoil of his clan in London. Not only can he keep an eye on the new coal works but he may even be able to do some star gazing from the castle tower.

When Ninian goes wild herb-gathering near the stream on the castle lands, she finds the place she has used for years is blighted, with all the precious healing leaves and flowers dead on the stalk. Approaching Drogo for help she finds him much more welcoming than the village rumors would have her believe; no signs of horns or tail, but the story of having three wives appears to have some credence.

MERELY MAGIC is the first of six books in Rice’s Magic series, and is as good a read now as it was when it came out more than ten years ago. I am so glad to see my favorite series back in print; not only so that I can replace my tattered and much-read copies, but so that new readers may discover the magic all over again.

Format: Paperback

Dimensions
Length: 8 in
Width: 5 in
Weight: 8.40 oz
Page Count: 352 pages