As an astrologer, Lady Azenor Dougall sadly realizes her stars are a danger to her beloved siblings and has banished herself from her Scots home. As the Malcolm family librarian, she dutifully creates zodiac charts for her often eccentric and mysterious relations—until the day she realizes a dire conjunction of planets spells a fatal threat in a distant branch of the family. Lord Theophilus Ives, heir presumptive to the Marquess of Ashford, Earl of Ives and Wystan, is a dedicated astronomer who has perfected a telescope capable of seeing beyond Saturn’s moons. Living in an all-male family that distrusts the women who regularly abandon them, Theo is undaunted by the tumult of his life—until the day the luscious Lady Azenor arrives to warn them that the marquess is in danger. Can Aster, the Prophetess of Doom, convince a laughing disbeliever of peril? And what are the chances she can escape the fate her stars predict if she lingers too long in Lord Theo’s enthralling company?

The death of Celeste Rochester’s father on the voyage from Jamaica to London leaves her and her young siblings nearly penniless in a foreign country. Forced to battle lawyers for her inheritance and the roof over their heads, Celeste has only one weapon: her mysteriously compelling voice. Having become a barrister to fight injustice, Lord Erran inexplicably incites a riot with his first impassioned speech. Barred from the courtroom, he acts as solicitor for his brother, the Marquess of Ashford. His first job for Ashford requires moving tenants from his brother’s townhouse—a simple task until Erran meets the uncommon beauty living there and realizes she is under attack. Erran cannot heave Celeste’s desperate family from their home, even though his blind brother needs the property. Nor can he sit back and watch unseen enemies do the job for him. Can Celeste trust him to defeat their foe? And if Erran succeeds in saving the lady with the intoxicating voice, can he bear to evict her—when she alone understands the turbulence ruining his life?

Scorned by suitors for her statuesque size, Harriet Stansbury bolts when her abusive stepfather begins negotiating with impecunious aristocrats to sell her for her dowry. When opportunity offers, she daringly takes a position in an eccentric household until she can claim her fortune. Once a dashing rakehell, Duncan Ives, Marquess of Ashford lost his eyesight in a murderous assault. Abandoned by his fiancée, unable to ride the vast fields of his estate, he vents his frustration on political reform. On impulse, he hires the intriguing smoky-voiced Harriet even though he knows she’s lying—like him—with almost every word she speaks. At first Harriet is a godsend, oddly anticipating what he needs and abating his worst rages. But when her stepfather accuses Duncan of ruining her, the scandal threatens everything he’s salvaged from the wreckage of his life. For the sake of his country, Duncan agrees to marriage. With her secret gift of empathy, Harriet isn't so certain. She's falling in love with the impossible marquess, but dare she risk her wounded heart for a man who can’t love her? And can Duncan learn to trust a woman whose voluptuous curves paralyze his good sense, but who is far more than she seems?

From NYT bestselling author, Patricia Rice, the fourth book and an enticing addition to the Unexpected Magic series... 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. ~~~~~~~ “Patricia Rice weaves magical love stories” - Mary Jo Putney, NY Times Bestselling Author “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 ½ stars Scroll up to BUY Aura of Magic Unexpected Magic Series in Magic in the Stars, Book 1 Whisper of Magic, Book 2 Theory of Magic, Book 3 Aura of Magic, Book 4 Chemistry of Magic, Book 5 No Perfect Magic, Book 6

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?

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 reluctance 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.

Free from author website upon signup for newsletter Author's Note: In creating two large, eccentric families, I will inevitably develop characters who never quite fit into a larger story. Jacques Bellamy-Ives is one of them. I adore Jacques. He's cheerful, he's highly intelligent, and he's creative—always a plus in my book. He has his flaws, but none of them are large enough to justify 85,000 words to overcome. But even if he's not scientific like his brothers, Jacques does have one blind spot—he thinks Malcolm magic is just a lark. For those of you unfamiliar with my Unexpected Magic series—the Malcolms are a lively family of ladies with extra abilities. They don't generally read minds or the future, but they have unusual talents, like predicting events from the stars or healing with their hands or seeing ghosts. So you can understand why a practical, logical man would have difficulty grasping these totally improbably gifts—until he discovers a not-quite-normal ability of his own. I hope you'll enjoy this brief story about how a sensible Ives male accepts the fantastic, all for the love of a lady.