Best selling romance author Lisa Kleypas delivers an engrossing, passionate historical romance in her recent release, Again the Magic. Lady Aline Marsden was brought up to marry well into a member of her own class. While Aline lives what some would perceive as a life of luxury due to her family’s wealth and their status, Aline has set her desires elsewhere. As a child, Aline befriended McKenna, a young man Aline’s age who was a stable boy on her father’s estate. Years of childhood friendship blossomed into a secret teenage romance. However, Aline’s and McKenna’s relationship was discovered by Aline’s father, who was outraged that his daughter would risk her reputation and standing by “keeping company” with a servant. Aline’s father immediately severed the relationship between McKenna and Aline. McKenna was sent away and Aline remained in the English countryside on her father’s estate.

Aline spoke harsh words to McKenna shortly before he departed. She denounced her love for him and made McKenna believe that he was not “good enough” for her. While Aline’s love for McKenna ran deep and his class status was not an issue for her, she wanted to drive away McKenna permanently from her father’s estate. If McKenna ever returned, his life would be in danger. Therefore, Aline felt that she had no choice but to denounce her love for McKenna so that he would never want to return to her.

Years pass, and Aline remains exiled in the English countryside. She has never married and she lives with her brother, Marcus (who runs the estate since their father’s death), and their younger sister, Olivia. Aline’s days are peaceful, but she never has forgotten McKenna. To her shock and dismay, McKenna appears on the estate one day. He is a grown man and changed in ways that Aline would never have fathomed. He has made a fortune in real estate in New York, where they refer to him as “King McKenna.”

McKenna and his business companion, Gideon Shaw, take temporary residence at the guest quarters of the estate to discuss business with Marcus, Aline’s brother. However, the feelings of the past that McKenna and Aline shared are ignited, and the business trip quickly takes on a new meaning. While the magic between McKenna and Aline burns bright, McKenna holds a ruthless plan to take revenge on Aline. He wants Aline to feel the pain that he felt when she denounced her love for him so many years ago. As McKenna and Aline inevitably spend time together, the question becomes whether McKenna will act on his ruthless plan, or will once again risk himself for Aline, his true love.

Again the Magic is an engrossing historical romance that is a well-written page-turner. The author does an excellent job characterizing the passion between McKenna and Aline, complete with romantic, steamy love scenes. A developing love interest between Aline’s sister, Olivia, and another character add interest and depth to the story. Fans of passionate, historical romance novels should not miss Again the Magic.