Thursday, July 1, 2010

Review -- Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
Highland Pleasures: Book 2
By Jennifer Ashley
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 6, 2010











I have said many times that The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie was one of my top picks (probably THE top one) of 2009. So it's no wonder that I could hardly wait to read Book 2 in Jennifer Ashley's Highland Pleasures series. And, oh, was it ever worth the wait! From the moment Mac and Isabella made an appearance in The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie I knew that their story was going to be a good one. Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage finally tells their whole, fascinating story and it's not just good, it's impossible to put down!

When Lady Isabella Scranton was just eighteen years old she scandalized the ton by eloping with Lord Mac Mackenzie, the rakish artist, on the night of her debut. Passions run high, both in and out of the bedroom, and after three tumultuous years of marriage, Isabella leaves Mac, becoming the subject of scandal once again. Despite the fact that she can no longer live with him, Isabella still loves Mac, so when she suspects someone of forging his paintings she goes to tell him what she has learned.

When Isabella first left him, Mac drank himself into a stupor trying to numb the pain, the hole in his heart where Isabella used to be. Realizing that alcohol was not the answer, Mac dries out and has never had a drink since. But to him his life has no color and joy without Isabella. Even his talent as a painter seems to have disappeared, his paintings are now vague imitations of the brilliance he once showed. So when Isabella shows up at his door with stories of a forger, Mac is less than concerned; at least someone---even if it is a forger--- is painting with flair. Mac's main focus is keeping Isabella in his house, his life and eventually his bed. As Isabella and Mac spend more time together, it becomes apparent that the forger has designs on Isabella as well. Mac will sacrifice all that he has to keep Isabella safe and make her his again, once and for all.

Mac is the kind of hero I can't resist: charming, rakish, sexy, often frustrating, but loving and loyal to a fault. Is it any wonder that Isabella still finds him hard to resist? These two have more baggage than Paris Hilton on vacation, but their love for one another has never been in question. In fact, during their three years apart, neither of them has been with another.


Isabella shrugged. "We've lived apart for more than three years. I walked away from you, requested a separation. How can I know whether you sought pleasure elsewhere? Most gentlemen would."

"I am not most gentlemen," Mac said. "I did not think of it---to make myself feel better or to punish you. I'm not certain which. But you'd broken my heart. I was empty. No feeling left. The thought of touching anyone else..."

Mac's friends had viewed his celibacy as a joke, and his brothers had thought he'd been trying to prove himself to Isabella. Proving himself had been part of it, but the truth was that Mac had not wanted another woman. Going to someone else wouldn't have been comfort, or even forgetting. Mac had lost himself when he'd married Isabella, and that was that.

Ms. Ashley has penned another keeper with Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage! Mac and Isabella's journey to reconciliation had me laughing at times, but also had me reaching for the tissue as tears rolled down my face. I love the Mackenzies, and Mac is the latest of those delicious brothers to steal my heart. Fans of this series will be pleased to know that Ian and Beth appear in this latest book, as well as Hart and Cameron. I can't wait to see who tames those two rogues!

Treat yourself to a beautiful, poignant and heartrending story that will leave you sighing with delight and falling just a little in love with the hero, whose "compassion was as large as his heart." Now, how can you resist a man like that?


~ Gannon



22 comments:

  1. great review gannon!! i can't wait to read this book (i'm hoping my pre-ordered book will come before the 6th)--i love reunion stories especially when the hero and heroine are already married.

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  2. Gannon - I loved this one! Ms. Ashley does it again! Her ability to take us on Mac and Isabella's journey while giving us glimpses of why they parted is woven in such a delicate and poignant way is one of her trademarks as a story teller. I for one can't wait for the next book in the series.

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  3. Gannon, great review! Love your line: "These two have more baggage than Paris Hilton on vacation..." LOL!!

    I wasn't crazy about TMOLIM (I know, I'm in the minority), but was intrigued by Mac, so will check this book out.

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  4. Fabulous review Gannon!!! I have yet to read the first book, but now it looks like I need to get them book and enjoy a weekend of reading.

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  5. Chelley, I hope you get your book early, too. It is simply fabulous!

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  6. Marisa, my long lost twin (when it comes to our love of books *g*), I knew you'd love this one! I'm crazy about this series!!

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  7. Gannon, great review! Love your line: "These two have more baggage than Paris Hilton on vacation..." LOL!!

    Thanks, Pat! It just popped into my head--couldn't help myself. *g*


    I really hope you like this book in the series!

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  8. Buffie, you really should get both books and treat yourself to a wonderful weekend of reading!

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  9. Gannon, Lord Ian was my top read of 2009 too. (Do you remember it was also voted top read of the year over on the EJ/JQ board? An amazing feat since both our beloved host authors had wonderful books published in 2009.

    Any words I use to express how eager I am to read Mac and Isabella's story would be gross understatement, so I'll just say that I loved your review. :)

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  10. Fab review! I am also looking very forward to this book. Cannot wait!!!

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  11. Any words I use to express how eager I am to read Mac and Isabella's story would be gross understatement, so I'll just say that I loved your review. :)

    Janga, this is exactly how I feel when I'm waiting on certain books. Thanks!

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  12. Thanks, Stacy! This seems to be one of the most anticipated books out there.

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  13. I, too, loved Lord Ian and can't wait to read this one! Terrific review, Gannon!

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  14. Wonderful review, Gannon! I adored this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series.

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  15. Yay, Andrea, another Lord Ian fan! You are going to love Mac!!

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  16. I adored this book and can't wait to read the rest of the series.

    Isn't it a fantastic series, PJ?? Jennifer Ashley can't write them fast enough for me. ;-)

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  17. Wonderful review. I loved the book about Ian and I can't wait to read Mac's story.

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  18. I have got to get this one, loved the review.

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  19. Thanks, Helen! I found Mac to be very endearing.

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  20. I prefer to wait until all the books in a series are out before reading them. If you can read them together, the characters stay fresh and the storyline is easier to follow. It is killing me to wait for the rest of this series. Ian's book got such good reviews and this one sounds so good.
    Thanks for the review.

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  21. I prefer to wait until all the books in a series are out before reading them.

    Librarypat, you have tremendous willpower!

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