Patricia Rice

Someone is murdering lawyers, and their ghosts are demanding justice. Evangeline Malcolm Carstairs has never used her weird ghost-talking skills outside her hometown of Afterthought, South Carolina. But her young ward's co-guardian-and the only man who almost understands her-has vanished out west while communing with cactus, and she's not about to parent alone. After learning his biological parents lived under an alias, criminal fraud lawyer Damon Ives "Jax" Jackson has gone in search of his roots, desperate to know if he's descended from crooks. Just as he uncovers a potential murder, his bewitching co-trustee Evie arrives, and his key witness, a lawyer, drops dead. Knowing Evie can't leave a ghost alone, Jax returns with his too-inquisitive partner to Afterthought and the eccentric assortment of friends and family who can shield her from whatever forces he's unleashed. But wherever Evie goes, disturbed spirits follow. When still another lawyer is killed, she must coax the truth from his raging ghost. But are her shaky skills up to the challenge? And will she live long enough to understand her abilities. . . and Jax?

Can a ghost help a marquess to save his father and captivate a countess? A spinster countess with a penniless estate, Lady Isobel Malcolm Ross faints when startled, allowing spirits to enter her head. Undeterred by her impairment, Bell learns of a position in a quiet ducal household where she might earn her way. Jasper Winchester, Marquess of Rainford, comes from a long line of healers, but he's unable to cure his own father. The duke's dying request is that Rainford marry to protect the family fortune. The marquess has dutifully acquired a suitable candidate, but Bell's arrival unleashes the ghost of Rain's grandmother, who frightens his fianc e into fleeing. Much as Rain would like to toss the haunted countess into the snow, only Bell can calm the furious ghost, hush his heir's opera singers, and manage his unruly sisters. Soon, his family insists that Rain marry Bell before all their fortunes are lost. Except Bell wants no part of this tumultuous household, where slamming doors startle her into falling down staircases. But how can she abandon the eccentric family-and distraught marquess-who accepts her foibles? The ghost's demands for Bell to help Rain save the duke result in mayhem and catastrophe. Now the two must find a way to heal each other-before the duke is gone, the family's future is lost, and any hope of love vanishes. Lesson in Enchantment: ". . .transports readers to Victorian-era Scotland with the appealing . . . fantasy romance" Publishers Weekly The School of Magic series in order: Lessons in EnchantmentA Bewitching GovernessAn Illusion of LoveThe Librarian's SpellEntrancing the EarlCaptivating the Countess

Can an impoverished earl find treasure with the aid of a runaway bride and a ghost? Refusing to fill her drunken stepfather's coffers by marrying a wealthy American, Lady Iona Malcolm Ross flees her Highland estate for Wystan castle, a home for stray Malcolm females. She's quite content to tend her precious queen bee and hives there-until the day the castle's owner returns. Unless Gerard, Earl of Ives and Wystan, can squeeze more income out of his estate, he'll have to close the family's deteriorating castle and evict the tenants. The sharp-tongued beekeeper who nearly kills him with her bees is simply another good reason. But lately, an artifact in his pocket weirdly whispers of treasure at Wystan, in the knowledgeable voice of a Roman soldier. A busy man with interests in law and archeology, Gerard isn't much inclined to believe that he's one of his family's psychic eccentrics. Until news of a ten-thousand pound reward for the return of Lady Iona, a runaway bride, introduces a whole new perspective to the word treasure. Even if he weren't allergic to Iona's bees, he needs to marry money, and she is penniless. But surely, between them, they can claim the reward and still turn her wicked stepfather's plot on its head-without endangering their lives or hearts.

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 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 . . .

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 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.

High-powered producer Dylan "Oz" Oswin is desperate to find his kidnapped son. In fact, he's willing to believe anything, including a mysterious e-mail that causes him to track down a former child singing sensation who vanished years ago. Now a reclusive children's book author, Pippa Malcolm James--formerly known as Syrene--has been hiding her identity for years, vowing never to unleash her lethal siren's voice again. When Oz shows up on her doorstep, he endangers her privacy and her world-- but how can she resist his heartfelt plea to find his child? Oz is in a position to throw Pippa to the lions if she refuses to break her ridiculous vow. He is the proverbial immovable object, but Pippa's charm--and voice--is irresistible. Can he believe her beautiful song will kill--when he's convinced her voice is the key to his son's rescue? Working together, they may just have a chance to find the love they don't believe they deserve.

Hannah Simon holds the library of her ancestors in her head, but she's in danger of losing her steel-trap mind along with the information it holds. Her only hope is a legendary moonstone said to have healed in times of trouble. The artifact was last seen in Hillvale, a town that needs help as desperately as Hannah. After spending two years in prison for art fraud, antiques dealer and psychometrist Aaron Townsend has settled in Hillvale, where his past and his abilities are accepted. But when the universally despised woman who owns half of Hillvale is bludgeoned to death, everyone is immediately suspect, including newly-arrived Hannah. Aaron, however, is the only one with a criminal past. To save his friends, as well as himself, Aaron has to find the killer. His search becomes more complicated when he learns Hannah's touch can yank them back in time. That way lies madness, but also, possibly the answers they seek. Despite all Aaron's attempts to keep the tempting librarian at a distance, her terrifying enhancement of his psychometric ability binds them intimately as they tumble down passages of time in search of clues. To save themselves and Hillvale, they must risk their lives and their minds--and possibly their hearts.

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 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.

From bestselling author Patricia Rice, another romantic mystery from the peculiar town of Hillvale, CA. . . A chef who brews magic challenges a mayor with secretsAfter a childhood of being tossed from foster homes for claiming she can detect liars by their scent, Fiona Malcolm McDonald does her best to conceal her secret these days. But when she sniffs a wrongdoer and drives him off with jalape o cheesecake, she loses still another cooking job and is homeless again. She places her last hope on her mentor in Hillvale, a town as weird as she is. Mayor Monty Kennedy has a secret too. He owns most of Hillvale but hasn't the cash to repair the only empty cabin. Still, even in his desperation, he refuses to repeat his father's sins by throwing people out of their jobs and houses just so he can have his own space. Before either of them can find a solid roof for their heads, Fiona's mentor dies--and it isn't accidental. Determined to discover who wanted a good woman dead, Fiona camps out in Monty's cabin, setting her on a collision course with the mayor--and a killer. With the secret help of the town's spiritualists, Monty and Fiona must cooperate to solve a puzzle with only a dog, a ghost, and a seemingly useless key as clues to stop a murderous gang who stink of corruption. If they survive, perhaps a hot chef and a cool mayor might learn to share a roof. OTHER BOOKS IN THE CRYSTAL MAGIC SERIES: Sapphire NightsTopaz DreamsCrystal VisionWedding Gems (novella collection)Azure Secrets

From NYT bestselling author Patricia Rice: ..".a rousing good tale that is alternately merry, mischievous" Ann McGuire, Romance ReaderA soldier who despises women and a woman who despises soldiers must depend on each other to survive. Scarred in a duel over a feckless female, Gavin Lawrence leaves America to take up his new duty as Marquess of Effingham, vowing never to care about others again. But he does care about protecting his crumbling new home--the secret passages apparently conceal an intruder he's determined to root out. Dillian Whitnell guards her injured cousin in isolated Arinmede manor after an attempt on both their lives. Having followed her father's troops for years, Dillian is adept at camouflage. She just hadn't expected the stubborn new marquess to refuse to believe in ghosts. Her game of hide-and-seek taunts his irritation into intrigue, and intrigue into a forbidden passion, until Gavin realizes the exceedingly annoying but courageous young woman he chases is in terrible danger. Once more, the marquess is faced with the prospect of a fight for his life over a woman--unless Dillian leaves him and all she loves behind. THE REGENCY NOBLES SERIES: Book #1: Genuine ArticleBook #2: The MarquessBook #3: English HeiressBook #4: Irish Duchess

He is Earth, she is Air, together they catch Fire.... Mariah lives off the grid by waitressing, weaving ghostcatchers to send Hillvale's ghosts across the veil, and keeping clear of electronics that haunt her-until the day her friend and mentor, Crazy Daisy, is murdered, and Mariah goes on the hunt for a killer. Her prime suspect is geologist Keegan Ives. Mysteriously arrived from the UK, he was present when Daisy died, and he's too handsome to believe-not that Mariah takes a dim view of guys lately or anything. Searching for missing journals to prove his family's innocence in a corporate scandal, Keegan knows he must befriend the locals. He didn't realize that would involve the paranormal until he's in too deep, and the waitress haunting his days-and nights-reveals that her energy is dangerous, not just to computers but to his peace of mind. Following clues left by Daisy and Hillvale's past, Keegan and Mariah are caught in a whirlwind of crystals, power, and cyber-fraud. If they survive, will their world be changed for better-or worse? OTHER BOOKS IN THE CRYSTAL MAGIC SERIES: Sapphire NightsTopaz Dreams

An empathic woman searching for safety... An architect yearning for dreams... And the ghost house that endangers them both... Teddy Devine-Baker arrives in her childhood home of Hillvale with a box of crystals and enough trouble to fill her VW van. Her empathic gift has ruined her love life and most of her jewelry business, leaving her determined to conquer the talent she's never properly respected. With Teddy's life in pieces, her absentee parents' house is her last refuge, but Kurt Kennedy-the aloof architect whose sword-wielding heroics once tickled her childish fancies-claims it belongs to him. For Teddy, the house is her chance to start over. For Kurt, the derelict house is his ticket to freedom. After years of avoiding the eccentricities of Hillvale's residents, Kurt figures he can resist Teddy's protests, especially when she claims the house is haunted. Then they discover the skeleton in the attic... Now they must work together to identify the killer, assuming Teddy's empathy can tear down Kurt's emotional barriers before he tears down her house. If she can't, she may end up not only homeless-with the family ghost for company-but also as the target of a murderer.

A lawman haunted by his past . . . a scientist haunted by her future. Samantha Moon arrives in Hillvale- population 325 lives and countless ghosts-in a fog as thick as the one circling the aging mountain town. Bereft of friends and family, money and memory, all she has to her name is a stray cat . . . but that's apparently enough for the people of Hillvale to take her in. L. A. investigator Chen Ling Walker's problem is too many memories. He's come to bury his tragic past in this remote California town, where his father vanished years before. Ever watchful, Walker sees how Sam's arrival disturbs the deceptive peace of Hillvale. Old bones lead to new death, stirring ancient fears and feuds. Sam will need Walker's help to uncover the truth of who she is and face the burden that brings. But how can he accept a reality that stretches beyond the borders of what he knows -- one that contains spirits, psychics, and imaginary voices-the weirdness that ruined his life before? And if they survive what lies ahead, will they find any way to make a future together?

Will Ives, the bastard of the late marquess, is as strong, handsome, and smart as his titled brothers, but he has no interest in society or book learning. His unique gift for training highly-prized rescue dogs is all he needs. His peace is shattered the day the beautiful but eccentric Lady Aurelia demands his help in finding a child no one knows is missing. The daughter of a duke, Lady Aurelia has everything: wealth, beauty, and a family known for their good works. Unfortunately afflicted with hyper-acute hearing, she spends most of her time cringing in her room. She wants to please her father and make a good match, but how can she when every dinner, tea, and ball is pure torture? When a child only she can hear cries for help, Aurelia must find a way to turn her affliction into the gift it is, before it's too late. Will, in turn, must overcome his hesitancy to work with a lady who makes him feel inadequate in all ways but one. With the reluctant aid of Will and his dogs, the pair sets out on an unusual journey that will surely lead to heartbreak-- or a love against all reason.

A dying viscount, a bookish botanist, and a marriage of convenience that becomes. . . inconvenient. . . Diagnosed with consumption, Viscount "Devil" Dare knows his days are numbered. With his greedy cousin scheming to throw Dare's mother and sisters out of their home after his death, he can hardly refuse a mysterious lady's solution-wedding vows. Her lands would ensure his industrial success-and secure the future for those he loves. Bookish botanist Emilia McDowell desperately needs the land she will inherit once she marries. Her gift for the healing arts requires growing and experimenting with herbs if she's to save lives. When she learns that her funds would benefit handsome Lord Dare, who is said to be dying, she offers a marriage of convenience. But if Emilia touches Dare, her dangerous healing gift could kill her. As they learn to love under trying circumstances, Emilia longs to find the courage to be a true wife-until she discovers Dare's plans for her inheritance. Can love and marriage surmount death and betrayal?

Brighid Darrow, Countess of Carstairs, has endured years of a loveless marriage in order to aid her friends and the people of Northridge. Yet once she is widowed, the village shuns her with accusations of witchcraft-vilifying her unique gift of reading auras. Released from past restraints, Bridey rebelliously embraces her dream of establishing a forbidden school for midwives. Having spent his life being all that is proper in hopes of earning a title in return for services to the crown, Aaron Pascoe-Ives, illegitimate son of a marquess, is ordered to Northridge to save the royal mines from rioters. Any hope of aid from the beautiful but aloof countess is dashed when his incorrigible twins endanger their young lives by following him, mystifyingly insisting that the Countess of Carstairs is their new mother. Bridey and Pascoe face ghosts, assassins, and riots--but nothing as perilous as the irresistible attraction between them. With hard-fought goals at risk, they must make the ultimate choice between achieving dreams-or losing each other. "Known for her masterful talent for writing whimsy, humor and mayhem, Rice gives the reader a delightful romantic adventure in . . . her Unexpected Magic series"-Joan Hammond, RT Reviews 4 1/2 stars