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

Jun 23, 2010 KarenH rated it it was amazing

Shelves: love-at-first-sight, keepers, sexy-with-a-capital-s-hero, top-5ish-favorites, unusual-storyline, excellent-love-story, feisty-heroine, definitely-worth-your-while, paperback-5-stars-plus, the-real-keepers-in-paperback

We all read book after book after book. Some make us laugh out loud, others have us shedding more than our fair share of tears while still others have us gripping the book with white-knuckled intensity as the suspense builds page by page. But how often do you come across a book that engages all of these emotions and manages to seize your heart as well? Such was the case for me with Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley.

On the night of her coming-out ball, Isabella met and fell i We all read book after book after book. Some make us laugh out loud, others have us shedding more than our fair share of tears while still others have us gripping the book with white-knuckled intensity as the suspense builds page by page. But how often do you come across a book that engages all of these emotions and manages to seize your heart as well? Such was the case for me with Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley.

On the night of her coming-out ball, Isabella met and fell in love with Mac Mackenzie, a peer with few morals and no social acceptance. On a dare from his fellow debauched buddies, Mac crashed the ball and whirled Isabella onto the dance floor. But as fate would have it, it was Mac who was swept off his feet...he and Isabella were married by morning. Despite being disowned by her family, Isabella never regretted her hasty decision because her feelings of love for her husband only strengthened with time. Surprisingly (for a romance novel), Mac's feelings were mutual. But Mac was an established artist; and, in the generalization of the term, was a free spirit who would drop out of sight for weeks at a time to assuage his need to "create". Isabella understood and accepted Mac's "flights of fancy" until his drinking and debauchery spun terribly out of control. After 3 years of marriage, Isabella filed for a legal separation; and, for the next 3 years, the two maintained separate houses and lives.

One day, Isabella discovers that someone is forging Mac's paintings and she sets off for his house to warn him of the impostor. This is where the story begins...

Our first encounter with Mac finds him in his studio, shirtless - wearing only a kilt, boots and bandana around his head - and totally engrossed in the act of painting a nude model. If you haven't read the first book in this series, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, then you would probably be like me and have absolutely no idea what this guy is all about. Not exactly standard fare for a historical romance hero. But the story unfolds rather quickly - the past interwoven with the present so you aren't subjected to long flashbacks - and is relayed primarily from Mac's POV, so you come to know him soon and love him completely.

Quite simply, Mac and Isabella's story could be summed up by the old adage "you can't live with him and you can't live without him." However, Mac was determined to prove to Isabella that she could live with him...thus providing the premise for this story. It was such an unusual story line that no doubt it will never be copied...a hero and heroine who are madly in love AND married from the beginning of the book to the end WITHOUT a single sexual dalliance committed outside of their marriage - even during the 3 years of estrangement! Who would think such a tedious plot could make for such an emotional, "tug at your heart-strings" story? Fortunately for us, Jennifer Ashley did...and she pulled it off masterfully!

If you are reading this review, then chances are good you enjoy reading romance novels and most likely are somewhat of a romantic at heart. With that said, you will be denying yourself the greatest of pleasures and missing out on a beautiful love story between two extraordinary characters if you choose to forgo reading Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage. If I could rate it 10 stars I would. ...more

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Jul 14, 2010 Beanbag Love rated it it was amazing

I'm just in love with this series. I mean, seriously in love. Like, get married, buy a house together and have 2.5 kids in love.

This follow-up to the remarkable "The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie" has just as much angst, romance, spark, sensuality and suspense as its predecessor. "Mac" MacKenzie is a wonderful tortured hero and Isabella is a complex, brave heroine. They are both deeply in love and readily admit it, but so much has happened and they both still hurt so much, you wonder if they ca ...more

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Sep 05, 2010 KatLynne rated it it was amazing

Shelves: g-historical-romance, favorite-treasures, 2011-reads, g-romantic-suspense, kindle-lendable, smokin-hot-steamy, 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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Mar 21, 2010 Cheryl rated it it was amazing

Shelves: books-i-own, historical-romance, less-experienced-celibate-hero, favorite-heroes

I loved this book! The hero, Mac, was funny, charming, often giving wicked grins and was sinfully handsome! AND... he wears a kilt! He's a painter and while he's painting he wears ONLY a kilt! Need I say more?? I didn't think so.

This book was witty and romantic and had just enough depth to it's characters to pull at my emotions without making it a total heart-wrenching read! You must read the first book in the series, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, before reading this one though or you'll li ...more

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Jul 01, 2010 Kat rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This book is a follow-up to "The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie". That was one of my favorite books - Ashley certainly knows how to write a tortured, sympathetic hero. I was thrilled to find out this was a continuation of the series, this time centering around Ian's brother Mac. Oh, how I loved Mac! Yes, he certainly had a lot he needed to make up for, and did a remarkable job of it. He absolutely made me melt! You SO want these two to get back together; they're perfect for each other. By turns s ...more

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