The Duke's Perfect Wife (MacKenzies & McBrides, #4) in Crazy Challenge Connection

Dec 10, 2013 PepperP0t rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult, series, smexy-erotica, mystery, romance, historical-regency

Book 4 of this series, still has me enchanted with the world of the Mackenzie's as Hart Mackenzie, Duke of Kilmorgan himself sets out to claim a bride. But not just any bride. None will do for Hart McKenzie, but Eleanor Ramsey. The Eleanor from his youth, the Eleanor that he never stopped loving, the Eleanor that jilted him, the Eleanor that keeps his secrets and the Eleanor that still makes his blood race.

Hart has been quite the blusterer and heavy-handed browbeater throughout the series under Book 4 of this series, still has me enchanted with the world of the Mackenzie's as Hart Mackenzie, Duke of Kilmorgan himself sets out to claim a bride. But not just any bride. None will do for Hart McKenzie, but Eleanor Ramsey. The Eleanor from his youth, the Eleanor that he never stopped loving, the Eleanor that jilted him, the Eleanor that keeps his secrets and the Eleanor that still makes his blood race.

Hart has been quite the blusterer and heavy-handed browbeater throughout the series under the guise of protecting his family as he chased his political ambitions. The danger of Hart's aspirations are sharply brought to bear and the family has even more reason to band closely together. Someone has sent rather risqué photos of Hart to Eleanor's home. Eleanor uses the photos as an excuse to see and then gain employment with Hart, partially to help Hart and partially because she really needs the job. While Hart is concerned about the photos, he is more concerned with having Eleanor within his household and makes that a condition of her employment. The photos could ruin not only Hart's reputation but the standing of his family in society as well.

Eleanor has been discussed in each of the books and appeared briefly in the last installment, so she's a familiar though unknown quantity going into this read. While Eleanor and Hart seem suited they both seemed a bit stiff and formal (IMO) and on this read alone I didn't warm toward either of them. Eleanor was smart, charming and well liked by the other characters but Hart did not offer as much charisma, grace and romance as I require from a hero. Eleanor and Hart went thru the motions and mechanics for a romance but I didn't feel the chemistry between them. The storyline plodded along with bits of intrigue and drama strewn throughout but I didn't find it as compelling as some of the other installments and didn't like sex being the way into or out of a situation for them or that Ian being the trick pony trotted out for all situations and answers. The many flashbacks and recollections were wearying for me and in places the storyline felt too overfull to flow smoothly. My warm spots for the rest of the McKenzie clan were treated to glimpses of them to help round out the storyline. While I liked this outing and thought it was fairly well done, it is not my favorite of the series. ...more

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Sep 26, 2018 SandyL rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: genre-historical, a-library, 300-399-pgs, a-series-read-in-order, setting-england, setting-scotland, genre-erotic-romance, theme-second-chance-love, character-politician, zz-bw-18

Lady Eleanor Ramsay and Hart MacKenzie had been engaged years ago, but El had broken things off, Hart went on to marry someone else, and his wife and newborn son died. Hart has spent the years taking care of his brothers and their family and rising in politics until now he is set to run for Prime Minister. And he wants Eleanor to be with him! When Eleanor receives some naked pictures of Hart, she comes to let him know, even though she hasn't spoken to him in years. She has never married and live ...more

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