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Naked Nobility #2.5
The Naked Laird
Lords and Ladies can make strange bedfellows. . .
The viscount's house party promises to be one of the season's highlights, and Lord and Lady Kilgorn are delighted to attend. If only the long-estranged couple had realized they were both invited—and assigned to the same bedchamber. . .
Lady Kilgorn did not travel miles from her comfortable home to share a too-small room with the handsome Scottish scoundrel she'd married far too young—and far too eagerly!
And the last thing Lord Kilgorn needs is to be teased by the sight of his ever more beautiful wife! But as the weekend progresses, the pair will discover there are some fires even time cannot put out. . .
Previously appeared in the anthology Lords of Desire.
The viscount's house party promises to be one of the season's highlights, and Lord and Lady Kilgorn are delighted to attend. If only the long-estranged couple had realized they were both invited—and assigned to the same bedchamber. . .
Lady Kilgorn did not travel miles from her comfortable home to share a too-small room with the handsome Scottish scoundrel she'd married far too young—and far too eagerly!
And the last thing Lord Kilgorn needs is to be teased by the sight of his ever more beautiful wife! But as the weekend progresses, the pair will discover there are some fires even time cannot put out. . .
Previously appeared in the anthology Lords of Desire.
122 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Sally MacKenzie
42 books647 followersSally MacKenzie decided to become a writer in grade school when she read one of her stories to the class. Her classmates laughed and she was hooked. She sat down immediately to pen her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
The hooked part is right--cursed might be a better description--but the sitting down and writing part came later. Much later.
Sally eventually went on to college, majoring in English, and, upon graduation, did what many English majors do--she went to law school. But she still couldn’t shake her dream of writing fiction. Midway through law school, she faced the fact that she really did not want to be a lawyer. She took a permanent leave of absence, came home to the Washington, D.C. area, and sat down to type her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
She did come home and write, but mostly she wrote regulations for the United States government’s school nutrition programs. (Ketchup as a vegetable, anyone?) When her law school sweetheart graduated, he moved to D.C. and they got married. A couple years later, the first of their four sons was born, and Sally “retired” to manage their family. She wrote a story or two and some picture book texts, all now stored away in a filing cabinet, but she spent most of her energies on baby tending which rapidly evolved into carpool driving. She became an extremely skilled scheduler, getting all four boys to soccer, basketball, baseball, track, swimming, piano, scouts, and birthday parties without ever losing one. (Okay, she did lose the youngest for a few minutes, but she found him before he’d toddled into the parking lot.) And she did more writing--school newsletters, auction programs, class plays, swim league guidance, and the acclaimed annual MacKenzie family newsletter--but no fiction.
Finally, the boys started driving (Eek!) and leaving for college. The nest was emptying and she wasn't getting any younger. The time had come to chase the dream or let it go for good, so she sat down at the computer and wrote. And rewrote. And rewrote again until she had a polished manuscript. She joined the Romance Writers of America, and when the plea went out for Regency manuscripts for the 2004 Golden Heart contest, she sent in The Naked Duke. The stars aligned. She made the final round, and one of the judging editors liked the manuscript and offered to buy it.
Yee haw!!
When not writing or obsessing over the various mysteries of book promotion, Sally can be found at the gym working hard to age gracefully, at the pool on the SLOW side of the Masters swim practice, or at one meeting or another volunteering at the helm of the summer swim league.
Here's Sally with her family--she's 5 ft. 8 in. tall, but she's short in this crowd.
Well, not exactly.
The hooked part is right--cursed might be a better description--but the sitting down and writing part came later. Much later.
Sally eventually went on to college, majoring in English, and, upon graduation, did what many English majors do--she went to law school. But she still couldn’t shake her dream of writing fiction. Midway through law school, she faced the fact that she really did not want to be a lawyer. She took a permanent leave of absence, came home to the Washington, D.C. area, and sat down to type her first novel.
Well, not exactly.
She did come home and write, but mostly she wrote regulations for the United States government’s school nutrition programs. (Ketchup as a vegetable, anyone?) When her law school sweetheart graduated, he moved to D.C. and they got married. A couple years later, the first of their four sons was born, and Sally “retired” to manage their family. She wrote a story or two and some picture book texts, all now stored away in a filing cabinet, but she spent most of her energies on baby tending which rapidly evolved into carpool driving. She became an extremely skilled scheduler, getting all four boys to soccer, basketball, baseball, track, swimming, piano, scouts, and birthday parties without ever losing one. (Okay, she did lose the youngest for a few minutes, but she found him before he’d toddled into the parking lot.) And she did more writing--school newsletters, auction programs, class plays, swim league guidance, and the acclaimed annual MacKenzie family newsletter--but no fiction.
Finally, the boys started driving (Eek!) and leaving for college. The nest was emptying and she wasn't getting any younger. The time had come to chase the dream or let it go for good, so she sat down at the computer and wrote. And rewrote. And rewrote again until she had a polished manuscript. She joined the Romance Writers of America, and when the plea went out for Regency manuscripts for the 2004 Golden Heart contest, she sent in The Naked Duke. The stars aligned. She made the final round, and one of the judging editors liked the manuscript and offered to buy it.
Yee haw!!
When not writing or obsessing over the various mysteries of book promotion, Sally can be found at the gym working hard to age gracefully, at the pool on the SLOW side of the Masters swim practice, or at one meeting or another volunteering at the helm of the summer swim league.
Here's Sally with her family--she's 5 ft. 8 in. tall, but she's short in this crowd.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
May 14, 2020
3 Estrellitas. No ha estado mal, pero al ser un relato corto me ha sabido a poco. Lo mejor que ha tenido es que se desarrolla en el ambiente más divertido que nos presentó la novela anterior "El barón desnudo", la fiesta de Lord Motton con sus peculiares invitados, y su más que estrafalaria y casamentera tía.
Para quienes leímos el libro anterior recordamos al matrimonio Kilgorn, unos nobles escoceses que se casaron muy jóvenes y llevan diez años separados. Ésta es su historia.
Eleanor e Ian se conocieron y se enamoraron con apenas diecisiete años, sin duda fue un matrimonio por amor y muy apasionado. Pero al poco de la boda pasó una tragedia, Eleanor, o Nell, abortó un bebé muy querido, que supuso la apatía y el distanciamiento, y lo suyo ya no fue lo de antes, Nell abandonó a Ian. Con los años cada uno retomó su vida como un matrimonio de apariencia, pero sin soportarse.
Han pasado diez años y en todo este tiempo no se han visto, hasta que ambos reciben por separado una invitación a la fiesta del vizconde Motton, con la sorpresa de que la anciana tía de éste, la señorita Smyth, casamentera reconocida, astutamente los aloja en la misma habitación, excusándose en que no quedan más dormitorios disponibles.
Así que una vez allí y tras diez años separados, a Ian y Nell no les queda más remedio que compartir los días y las noches, e intentar hablar, perdonarse y recuperar el tiempo perdido.
En general el relato sigue la misma línea de libros anteriores, pero en éste caso me alegro de que el romance se haya desarrollado únicamente entre los protas, aunque tendremos de vuelta a Lady Grace y Lady Oxbury y nos recordarán algunos eventos del anterior libro, pues ocurre paralelamente.
Sí, muy correcto y divertido, pero como relato me ha sabido a poco, aún así siempre he disfrutado con las historias de segundas oportunidades.
No tardaré en leer los siguientes libros de la serie.
Para quienes leímos el libro anterior recordamos al matrimonio Kilgorn, unos nobles escoceses que se casaron muy jóvenes y llevan diez años separados. Ésta es su historia.
Eleanor e Ian se conocieron y se enamoraron con apenas diecisiete años, sin duda fue un matrimonio por amor y muy apasionado. Pero al poco de la boda pasó una tragedia, Eleanor, o Nell, abortó un bebé muy querido, que supuso la apatía y el distanciamiento, y lo suyo ya no fue lo de antes, Nell abandonó a Ian. Con los años cada uno retomó su vida como un matrimonio de apariencia, pero sin soportarse.
Han pasado diez años y en todo este tiempo no se han visto, hasta que ambos reciben por separado una invitación a la fiesta del vizconde Motton, con la sorpresa de que la anciana tía de éste, la señorita Smyth, casamentera reconocida, astutamente los aloja en la misma habitación, excusándose en que no quedan más dormitorios disponibles.
Así que una vez allí y tras diez años separados, a Ian y Nell no les queda más remedio que compartir los días y las noches, e intentar hablar, perdonarse y recuperar el tiempo perdido.
En general el relato sigue la misma línea de libros anteriores, pero en éste caso me alegro de que el romance se haya desarrollado únicamente entre los protas, aunque tendremos de vuelta a Lady Grace y Lady Oxbury y nos recordarán algunos eventos del anterior libro, pues ocurre paralelamente.
Sí, muy correcto y divertido, pero como relato me ha sabido a poco, aún así siempre he disfrutado con las historias de segundas oportunidades.
No tardaré en leer los siguientes libros de la serie.
not-for-me
October 5, 202210 year separation - after they are married - where hero is with countless OW. Heroine is OFC celibate.
She turned away from him after he pressured her for sex immediately after she had a miscarriage.
Apparently she’s the one who apologizes to him. LOL.
Is this man a hero? 🤡🤡🤡🤡
She turned away from him after he pressured her for sex immediately after she had a miscarriage.
Apparently she’s the one who apologizes to him. LOL.
Is this man a hero? 🤡🤡🤡🤡
October 18, 2020
I am mad at this story. Nell and Ian marry when they are 17 and 20 respectively. Nell miscarries a year into their marriage, and is devastated. Ian is at a loss what to do about her pain, and starts pushing her to have sex again almost immediately. Nell is hurt and upset and UNDERSTANDABLY thinks he doesn’t much care about the baby and just cares about getting laid, so she leaves him. He tries to see her a couple of times after she leaves but is turned away, so he gives up and proceeds to bone his way through London. After a decade of making no effort to do any but see to his own sexual satisfaction, he is thrown into an awkward situation, having to share a room with his wife at a house party.
Now, here is where he loses me. If he had just sought release occasionally in one-night stands and understood it to mean nothing, I might have been able to forgive him if he groveled properly. But he had dozens of mistresses, as in RELATIONSHIPS outside of his marriage, and he obviously knows it to be a betrayal since he is angry and jealous about her supposed infidelity. So he is an ass to her for days and she is miserable and heartbroken, and yet SHE is the one to grovel?!?! Because she still wants to have sex with him?! WFT??? No thanks. This is definitely, absolutely not the book series for me. It’s all about throbbing lust with no romantic chemistry.
Now, here is where he loses me. If he had just sought release occasionally in one-night stands and understood it to mean nothing, I might have been able to forgive him if he groveled properly. But he had dozens of mistresses, as in RELATIONSHIPS outside of his marriage, and he obviously knows it to be a betrayal since he is angry and jealous about her supposed infidelity. So he is an ass to her for days and she is miserable and heartbroken, and yet SHE is the one to grovel?!?! Because she still wants to have sex with him?! WFT??? No thanks. This is definitely, absolutely not the book series for me. It’s all about throbbing lust with no romantic chemistry.
July 3, 2014
What a cute story. Ian and Nell have been separated for 10 years after Nell suffered a miscarriage and in his youth and inability to understand her grief, Ian was somewhat insensitive. Bitterness, grief and anger ensue and next thing we know they find themselves sharing a room at a house party having not seen one another in 10 years. Both characters, although stubborn, were very likeable and it is very clear that they still love each other. The ending was a bit too quick with them wrapping things up and I didn't much care for the fact that Ian got away with his multiple infidelities and never even apologized for it. Especially in light of the fact that Nell had been faithful and had just apologized for her part in their separation. I think the discussion should have been drawn out a lot more. Still, all in all a very entertaining and sweet romance story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2021
Novella ini pendek dan ceritanya gak guna banget.
Jadi ceritanya si Nell & Ian Kilgorn sdh berpisah 10 thn, krn Nell keguguran. Mau rujuk aja ribet dan muter² dulu 🙄 Pokoknya galau terus si Nell, tapi akhirnya ya mau jg balik lagi ke suaminya utk bikin anak dan jd istri soleha. Buku HR apa pula ky gini? 🙄
Jadi ceritanya si Nell & Ian Kilgorn sdh berpisah 10 thn, krn Nell keguguran. Mau rujuk aja ribet dan muter² dulu 🙄 Pokoknya galau terus si Nell, tapi akhirnya ya mau jg balik lagi ke suaminya utk bikin anak dan jd istri soleha. Buku HR apa pula ky gini? 🙄
November 4, 2021
Es el primero que leo de la serie y de verdad me pareció una historia muy linda y divertida, a pesar de ser una historia corta me encanto.
October 17, 2016
I really, really didn't like Lord Kilgorn. I understand that he's an alpha male who doesn't show emotions, even if he had any, and I understand that Lady Kilgorn shut him out of her bedroom, but I hated that he cheated on his wife after she miscarried, never tried to console her, thought having another baby immediately would replace the one she lost, and I most hated that it was OK for him to cheat, but G-d forbid that he thought she did the same.... and for him to use the "tricks" his mistresses taught him, but when she tried something new, he went ballistic thinking she'd learned it from one of her "lovers".
I also get really frustrated with the "period" slang that is used in all of her books. It gets to be too much!
That said, I liked the way the reconciliation was handled, with both admitting fault.
I also get really frustrated with the "period" slang that is used in all of her books. It gets to be too much!
That said, I liked the way the reconciliation was handled, with both admitting fault.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2018
So boring and stupid. Do not bother.
September 5, 2026
Every time I think of this book, I want to take away another star.
She lost their baby and he told her to put out or get out. So she left. But everything is her fault. How dare she leave him when he threw her out!! And he has loads of other women that he makes zero effort to hide that he is in relationships with, escorting them to parties and balls. There's no effort to minimize that at all. In fact, there are multiple references of it while they're in bed and he openly talks about his "misalliances" immediately after sex, like... I think he was still inside her even.
I have zero faith in this couple and that's all on him. He makes her promise to be a "true wife" to him before he'll take her back.. This gives the impression that if she ever says no to sex, he'll toss her out again.
Also how will life be when they can't go anywhere without running into his former mistresses and all the people who saw him with them? He's all Mr Jealous but she's supposed to just be ok with that?
It just felt like the author wrote herself into a corner or got bored with the book because it just ends abruptly without much actually resolved.
I love second chance romance, but this... I would only recommend it to people I hate.
She lost their baby and he told her to put out or get out. So she left. But everything is her fault. How dare she leave him when he threw her out!! And he has loads of other women that he makes zero effort to hide that he is in relationships with, escorting them to parties and balls. There's no effort to minimize that at all. In fact, there are multiple references of it while they're in bed and he openly talks about his "misalliances" immediately after sex, like... I think he was still inside her even.
I have zero faith in this couple and that's all on him. He makes her promise to be a "true wife" to him before he'll take her back.. This gives the impression that if she ever says no to sex, he'll toss her out again.
Also how will life be when they can't go anywhere without running into his former mistresses and all the people who saw him with them? He's all Mr Jealous but she's supposed to just be ok with that?
It just felt like the author wrote herself into a corner or got bored with the book because it just ends abruptly without much actually resolved.
I love second chance romance, but this... I would only recommend it to people I hate.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2019
Ian dan Nell sudah berpisah selama 10 tahun, meskipun mereka masih terikat pernikahan. Sejak kehilangan bayinya di dalam kandungan, Nell menarik diri dalam rasa sakitnya. Sementara Ian berusaha untuk mendapatkan istrinya, sampai pada satu titik dia menyerah. Kali ini mereka dipertemukan kembali dalam pesta rumah Lord Mutton, tepatnya dalam satu kamar yang sempit.
Karena ini adalah novella, jadi kisah Ian dan Nella tidak panjang. Rekonsiliasi di antara keduanya juga cukup singkat. Hanya butuh beberapa orang untuk meyakinkan Nell agar meninjau ulang pernikahannya.
Selingan dalam series Naked Nobility yang menyenangkan
Karena ini adalah novella, jadi kisah Ian dan Nella tidak panjang. Rekonsiliasi di antara keduanya juga cukup singkat. Hanya butuh beberapa orang untuk meyakinkan Nell agar meninjau ulang pernikahannya.
Selingan dalam series Naked Nobility yang menyenangkan
May 25, 2021
Nell and Ian married when she was 17 and he was 19. They have been separated for years.
Both have been invited to a house party. And both are surprised when they are assigned to the same bedroom.
This is a story of broken hearts and a history that has hurt both of them.
I was not a huge fan of either of these characters. He was selfish and she was unforgiving.
Ms MacKenzie is such a talented author. She normally includes a great deal of humor in her stories. Her characters are generally charming. And her plots are always interesting and not cookie cutter.
The book is not her best but it is a well done book.
Both have been invited to a house party. And both are surprised when they are assigned to the same bedroom.
This is a story of broken hearts and a history that has hurt both of them.
I was not a huge fan of either of these characters. He was selfish and she was unforgiving.
Ms MacKenzie is such a talented author. She normally includes a great deal of humor in her stories. Her characters are generally charming. And her plots are always interesting and not cookie cutter.
The book is not her best but it is a well done book.
December 21, 2022
Eleanor & Ian
Ugh, what a letdown after The Naked Baron, which I loved so much.
This could have been a cute story about an estranged couple ready to reunite, with a nudge from the right party. Instead, so much time is devoted to miscarriage, cheating, and the heartache that comes from both, that it's a rather sad story.
The only saving grace was that we got to revisit the house party organized by the oh so clever and entertaining Miss Smyth.
This shows as #2.5 (short story) in the series, but the version I read included a preview of The Naked Baron, which implies to me that it should be read *before* The Naked Baron. I don't think the order matters beyond the addition of the preview in some editions.
Don't feel bad if you decide to skip this one.
Ugh, what a letdown after The Naked Baron, which I loved so much.
This could have been a cute story about an estranged couple ready to reunite, with a nudge from the right party. Instead, so much time is devoted to miscarriage, cheating, and the heartache that comes from both, that it's a rather sad story.
The only saving grace was that we got to revisit the house party organized by the oh so clever and entertaining Miss Smyth.
This shows as #2.5 (short story) in the series, but the version I read included a preview of The Naked Baron, which implies to me that it should be read *before* The Naked Baron. I don't think the order matters beyond the addition of the preview in some editions.
Don't feel bad if you decide to skip this one.
June 5, 2024
This was a cute story about a couple that had a falling out 10 years before when Nell had a miscarriage and Ian didn't react the way she expected so they separated.
10 years later they are both invited to the same house party and are placed in the same (small) room. They spend the majority of the time trying to get a new room. Meanwhile Nell is convinced by some of the other guests to be brave and face her feelings in order to hopefully make up with her husband.
Tropes: one bed, second chance, forced proximity
10 years later they are both invited to the same house party and are placed in the same (small) room. They spend the majority of the time trying to get a new room. Meanwhile Nell is convinced by some of the other guests to be brave and face her feelings in order to hopefully make up with her husband.
Tropes: one bed, second chance, forced proximity
September 10, 2019
Ini seri Naked Nobility yg biasa2 aja. Ga ada yg istimewa. Konflik seputar kesalahpahaman antara suami-isteri.
Eksekusinya pun udh bisa ketebak sedari awal.
Jadi, intinya cerita ini hanya mengisahkan upaya sepasang suami-isteri dlm rekonsiliasi hubungan mereka yg tak kunjung membaik selama kurang lebih 8 tahun. Awalnya, asal-muasal konflik bisa dimaklumi. Anehnya, kenapa dibiarkan selama 8 tahun? Aya2 wae.
Eksekusinya pun udh bisa ketebak sedari awal.
Jadi, intinya cerita ini hanya mengisahkan upaya sepasang suami-isteri dlm rekonsiliasi hubungan mereka yg tak kunjung membaik selama kurang lebih 8 tahun. Awalnya, asal-muasal konflik bisa dimaklumi. Anehnya, kenapa dibiarkan selama 8 tahun? Aya2 wae.
June 8, 2024
Second chance married couple who’ve been estranged for 10 years due to her miscarriage… and a house party with a bunch of flat secondary characters who serve only to continue to prod them to actually communicating their obvious love for one another. Not my favorite trope for a couple who simply need to talk things thru but cute novella and story to add to the series. (Though definitely standalone there are a few overlapping characters)
May 22, 2018
Como siempre esta autora sabe como hacerme reír, y llorar a la vez. Es la historia de Nell y de Ian, a los cuales los sufrimientos de la vida los separó. Han pasado 10 años y se reencuentran en una fiesta donde tienen que compartir habitación. En esos días los dos tendrán que limar asperezas y decidir si seguir o abandonar. Ha sido un relato que he disfrutado bastante. No os lo podéis perder.
December 12, 2018
Loves second chance
Lady Kilgore and Lord Kilgore were two people young in love! Lady Kilgore suffered a miscarriage and did not even try to fight for her marriage! Thrown together at a house party away from gossip! Honest conversation leads to a reconciliation with a love for the ages!
Lady Kilgore and Lord Kilgore were two people young in love! Lady Kilgore suffered a miscarriage and did not even try to fight for her marriage! Thrown together at a house party away from gossip! Honest conversation leads to a reconciliation with a love for the ages!
February 9, 2019
I need mooooooreee!! Huhu
Saya rasa ini belum selesai. Saya seperti merasakan digantung haha. Mengapa Pennington harus melakukan hal tersebut pada Nell? Mengapa Mc—whatsoever— itu harus menjadi kompor di telinga Lord Kilgorn. Mengapa dan mengapa?
Saya butuh lebih dari romansa Nell dan Lord Kilgorn.
Saya rasa ini belum selesai. Saya seperti merasakan digantung haha. Mengapa Pennington harus melakukan hal tersebut pada Nell? Mengapa Mc—whatsoever— itu harus menjadi kompor di telinga Lord Kilgorn. Mengapa dan mengapa?
Saya butuh lebih dari romansa Nell dan Lord Kilgorn.
August 29, 2019
Lived the Naked books
Every one of the books was a delight to read. The woman were strong and the men see strong enough to accept the woman they were meant to belong with forevermore.
Every one of the books was a delight to read. The woman were strong and the men see strong enough to accept the woman they were meant to belong with forevermore.
November 3, 2021
This was a book about finding love again after grief, misunderstandings and stubbornness got in the way. It was a short sweet romance and since the story takes place at the same time as The Naked Baron it was fun to see more of the same entertaining characters.
May 1, 2022
Puro clichê... o casal que se separou há dez anos pois se casou muito novo e não sabia sentar pra conversar... tem que dividir uma cama.
Entretenimento escapista, mas esse aqui abusou da boa vontade.
Entretenimento escapista, mas esse aqui abusou da boa vontade.
June 22, 2017
Light and quick read.
February 4, 2018
Ceritanya biasa aja sih, konfliknya tertunda 10 tahun penyelesaiannya..
August 30, 2018
Sweet, emotional novella that takes place at the same house party as The Naked Baron, and details the reconciliation of Lord and Lady Kilgorn.
October 17, 2018
Enjoyable
Enough steam and love. Enjoyed the humor as well. Really have enjoyed the series. Only one more left to read, I shall miss the characters.
Enough steam and love. Enjoyed the humor as well. Really have enjoyed the series. Only one more left to read, I shall miss the characters.
December 26, 2018
Me pareció divertido, me gusto como se seguían queriendo aunque triste por lo que pelearon
una bonita novela corta
una bonita novela corta
January 31, 2019
Masalahnya simpel tapi tertunda 10 tahun.
July 24, 2019
I liked this book. Not as much as some of her others but it was still great.
November 29, 2020
Bacaan ringan, sekali duduk langsung selesai.
Konfliknya yg menurut gue gak terlalu rumit, malah dibiarkan selama 10 tahun.
Konfliknya yg menurut gue gak terlalu rumit, malah dibiarkan selama 10 tahun.
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January 25, 2021published in the anthology lords of desire
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews