A pretty standard Malcolm book. Young woman with gifts that don't help a lot with making a living goes to be governess to children who need help with their gifts (these are the three from the first School of Magic book, Lessons in Enchantment). Their father (who doesn't believe in magic and doesn't want his children to be seen as strange) isn't there to start with, and comes in late through a snowstorm on Christmas Eve to find the children practicing their gifts under her direction. They detest each other on sight, of course, but he can't manage without her. A tangle of events - and some very nasty specimens of The Order - end up with discovering...oh, all kinds of things (most of which are spoilers). As usual, it's not just the Malcolms who have powers. And of course it's a happy-ever-after ending. ( )

A Bewitching Governess by Patricia Rice
The School of Magic #2

A Father due home
Caught in a storm
Arrives Late
Horrifies his children’s governess
Misperceptions and Misconceptions
On both sides
By Industrialist and Governess
Can they overcome them
Do they even want to?

This is a tale of prejudice, bigotry, theft, loss, family, gifts, paranormal abilities, and romance. There are hurdles to overcome, rights to be wronged, children and adults to be cared for and a true love to be claimed. As expected, when picking up a book by this autho, I was pulled into the story, felt I was there and thoroughly enchanted.

What I liked:
* Olivia: Loving, kind, generous, caring, and capable of much. She saw to the needs of others and was not as docile as some thought she might be. She was perfect for Simon.
* Simon: Smart, focused, wealthy, passionate, and devoted to his children. He was perfect for Olivia
* The children: all of them. They added so much to the story
* The plot, story and writing
* The setting was perfect
* That both Olivia and Simon were adults and behaved as adults
* The dichotomy of viewpoints on paranormal abilities
* The animals that added as much as the children
* Growth that occurred in Simon
* Sinking into the story and savoring it – it was a great way to spend the day as I returned to see how the Malcolm family was doing

What I did not like:
* The bad guys…they were thoroughly reprehensible and deserved what they got.

Did I enjoy this book? Definitely!
Would I read more in this series? Without a doubt

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars ( )

Series: School of Magic #2
Publication Date: 5/26/20
Number of Pages: 339

I have loved every book I’ve ever read featuring the Malcolms. What an intrepid and intriguing lot they are! In the first book, Lessons in Enchantment, we met most, if not all, of the characters in this book. I loved Olivia and Simon – she’s the calm port in his storm and he’s the strength and courage she needs. When you add all those lovely children into the mix, you have an absolutely delightful read. Additionally, we get to meet the stars of the next book – and that seems like a really intriguing match!

In the previous book, we learned of The Association and their controlling and manipulative ways. Nothing is beyond them – even murder and they wanted Letitia Blair and her children dead. When the Association managed to murder Letitia, Simon, her husband, went wild in grief and revenge. He placed his children in the care of his cousin Andrew and went about hunting down the murderers. Little did he know they’d still be coming after those babies. Simon, Andrew, and Phoebe (Andrew’s wife) stopped the villains but sent the children into the care of another relative until they could assure the children would be safe.

Things are safer now and Simon is collecting his children – and what a trip it has been. Then he meets the very disapproving governess and his temper flares. You see, Letitia had ‘gifts’ and she passed ‘gifts’ along to her children as well. Simon wanted to stamp out those gifts – deny them – but here was this governess teaching them how to use them. He certainly doesn’t want that wicked woman around his children.

Olivia has fallen in love with the children in her care and wants very much to teach them how to control their gifts so they don’t harm themselves or others – and so they don’t inadvertently use them and call unwanted attention to themselves. What a drunken oaf their father is! How can she turn these lovely children over to him when he is in total denial of their gifts?

Simon and Olivia circle each other each bound and determined to have their own way. Then the trouble starts and things get dangerous. Can Olivia and Simon work together to keep themselves and the children safe? Can they thwart the villains? Can they prove that oil and water do mix? You’ll just have to read this delightful tale to find out that and more.

I highly recommend this author, this series, and this book. It is well-written, well-plotted, well-paced, and filled with delightful characters you’ll quickly love. I hope you enjoy 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. ( )