Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (Mackenzies & McBrides, #2) in Dangerous Hero Addict Support Group

Jul 08, 2010 LuvBug rated it it was ok

Shelves: kindle, zzzzzzzzzzz, dnf-returned, dnf-100-page-try

I just finished reading The Madness Of Lord Ian Mackenzie and I thought that book was okay and was looking forward to this insallment since the couple captivated me in the prior book. I'm sad to say that the hero and heroine are not as captivating in their own book. From the start, I realized that they were not as interesting as they were before. Something was missing from each of them. The heroine's personality didn't seem so unique and wild anymore, and the hero lost his sex appeal because he ...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Duchess Nicole rated it liked it

Shelves: make-me-cry, e-pcs, genre-historical-romance, read-in-2013, y-complete-series

"It is a game, my love." He held her gaze. "It is the most serious game I've ever engaged in. And I intend to win it. I will have you back, Isabella - in my life, in my house, and in my bed."

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I think the subject matter hit a little too close to home for me in a couple of ways, and this sort of spun me in to a bit of depression. On the other, either this author has had firsthand knowledge of some of the details about the book or knows someon "It is a game, my love." He held her gaze. "It is the most serious game I've ever engaged in. And I intend to win it. I will have you back, Isabella - in my life, in my house, and in my bed."

I have very mixed feelings about this book. On one hand, I think the subject matter hit a little too close to home for me in a couple of ways, and this sort of spun me in to a bit of depression. On the other, either this author has had firsthand knowledge of some of the details about the book or knows someone intimately who has because she sure got it right!!

So while this is spot on reality wise, it is most definitely NOT a feel good book. If you've already read The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, then you will already be prepared for it, perhaps.

Mac and Isabella have been separated for three years. The reasons are revealed slowly, and I think that was a perfect way to do it. Unfolding their secrets truly made this a journey of understanding instead of an easy way to point the finger at the one at fault. Not to say that forgiveness came easy, but it does come.

Mac is a painter, and let me tell you...the description of this man while he's painting is so remarkably sexy...imagine a big Scottish man, wearing nothing but a kilt, his boots, and a handkerchief tied around his head...covered in paint and sweat, with an intense, passionate expression on his face while he lives and breathes his art...which is erotic art, by the way. WOW! Take my breath away!!! And he was so in love with Isabella that it almost hurt to read!!!!! This man is obsessed with his wife, consumed with missing her...

"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..."

Isabella could have turned into a bit of a dull character. I thought at times that she was such a gently, sweet, and proper lady. But she was almost too gray....the woman who eloped on the night of her coming out ball to marry a man she only just met was missing. Except for when she was with Mac. HE definitely brought out her anger, her despair, her passion.

While I enjoyed their story, I just thought it dragged on too long. I got bored somewhere in the middle, and Mac and Isabella's push and pull started to stagnate. One thing that I did love is that Ian played a big role in their story, as well as Beth...and we get to see their relationship move forward by leaps and bounds, as well as see how content Ian is...and that part was really magical.

"Mac had watched Ian, marveling at the change in him. His soul-wounded younger brother, who could withdraw into himself until no one could reach him, had been talkative - for Ian - a smile touching his mouth whenever he looked across the table at his wife..."

Overall, it was a hard book for me. A little boring at times, and at others, there was too much truth. But it's a great tale of how working through problems in a marriage is imperative. Giving up is easy. But sticking it out can be so very rewarding, and love that comes through adversity is so much stronger than love that comes easy. ...more

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Jan 27, 2011 Quinn rated it really liked it

Shelves: library-book, series, regency-victorian-georgian

While Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage didn’t quite have the ‘wow’ factor and magic of The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, it was still a wonderful and very worthy historical romance in its own right, and cemented Jennifer Ashley as one of my auto-read authors.

I would recommend reading The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie before this one, because we first meet Roland ‘Mac’ MacKenzie and Isabella Scranton in that book, along with the rest of the MacKenzie family, and it will give you a better appr ...more

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Sep 05, 2010 KatLynne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: g-historical-romance, favorite-treasures, smokin-hot-steamy, 2011-reads, g-romantic-suspense, kindle-lendable, hunk-in-a-kilt, scottish

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I loved Mac Mackenzie. At first, I didn’t think I would. But who can resist a strong, muscular Scotsman who paints wearing only an old kilt, boots, and a red gypsy scarf tied around his head? Mac in only a kilt - Wow!

Along with that delectable body, you will find him charming, outrageous, funny, seductive, sensual and unpredictable. These are some killer attributes! How could anyone resist?! Certainly not Lady Isabella, for within the first few minutes of meeting Mac, Isabella knew she wanted t I loved Mac Mackenzie. At first, I didn’t think I would. But who can resist a strong, muscular Scotsman who paints wearing only an old kilt, boots, and a red gypsy scarf tied around his head? Mac in only a kilt - Wow!

Along with that delectable body, you will find him charming, outrageous, funny, seductive, sensual and unpredictable. These are some killer attributes! How could anyone resist?! Certainly not Lady Isabella, for within the first few minutes of meeting Mac, Isabella knew she wanted to be with him.

And then Mac, our notorious rake and master in the art of seduction, fell for Isabella instantly. He came to her debutante ball only on a dare, and left with his little “Sassenach” owning his heart forever. Within just a few short minutes of meeting, he wanted her…"to dance with her; paint her; make love to her; marry her."

And so begins the union of this worldly, debauched rake with his passion for painting, scotch malt whiskey and his scandalizing behavior and this beautiful, intelligent, innocent lady. Their passions blaze, their love for each other is fierce. And then, after three years of marriage, Lady Isabella suddenly leaves and asks for a separation.

With such powerful emotion between them, what has caused the estrangement that has lasted for over three years? What is keeping them apart? What exactly drew them so intensely to each other in the first place? How was their relationship during their three years of marriage? I found myself quickly turning the page to find the answers.

And in the finding, I was beset with a hot, steamy, sensual tale of two complex characters. I was hooked from the first page and didn’t want to put this book down. I was drawn by the intensity of emotion between Mac & Isabella. Their desire for each other nearly scorched the page. One of my favorite passages involves a drawing room, clotted cream, and a kilt..! And herein lies the answer to another question, “What do those Scotsmen wear under their kilts?!”

The intensity of their emotions reached far beyond their sexual desires. They both are dealing with pain, grief, despair, anger and a burning loneliness. And as the characters developed, as comprehension dawned, I came to admire Isabella with her quiet strength and my liking for Mac deepened. I laughed; I nearly cried several times and became completely absorbed in the life of Mac & Isabella. There is even a bit of suspense that kept me turning those pages. And by the end, all my questions were answered and I was content in their HEA.

The first book in this series, The Madness of Ian Mackenzie, told the story of the youngest brother. Having serious doubts this second installment could be as good, I was pleased to find myself nearly as enthralled. I am loving this series and look forward to the release of Cameron's story in The Many Sins of Lord Cameron and finally the oldest Mackenzie brother, Hart, in The Duke's Perfect Wife. ...more

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May 12, 2010 Keri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2010s-read, romance-historical

Mac is ready to win back his wife's affections. Isabella wants her husband back. You would think that two people that want the same thing, it would be easy. But no, first old hurts and wounds have to be healed. Jennifer certainly did herself proud with the 2nd in her MacKenzie series and is just as strong as Lord Ian's was. We got to see how Ian and Beth were doing. Now I will be on pins and needles until I get to read Cam's story. Bravo! ...more

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