Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

Title: Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Highland Pleasures (Book 2)
Genre: Historical Romance



Lady Isabella left her husband Mac Mackenzie three and a half years ago because it just wasn't working for her. They are legally separated, with Mac supporting Isabella and the two constantly avoiding each other. This doesn't mean that the two of them are not completely aware of each other.

Isabella discovers that someone is making forgeries (paintings Mac has never done, signed in his name) of Mac's art. She brings this to his attention, she just can't stand it. Mac doesn't seem much harm in it, he's going through a dry spell anyway. That is until the suspect burns down Mac's house and harms Isabella. This man wants to essentially steal Mac's identity.

I felt like this book touched on several issues that are modern, but in a historical way. I'm not a big history buff, so I'm not sure that they could be considered historical still, but it appeared legit.

I loved the idea of the two main characters already knowing each other so well and being married, but having to learn how to make their marriage work. Most romance novels seem to just focus on the getting together part and then they live happily ever after, even when you encounter them in a later novel (if a series). I have never read another romance novel that focuses on making the whirlwind romantic marriage actually work. Props to Jennifer Ashley for approaching it in such an interesting manner.

Secondly, the idea of stolen identity. Although perhaps not the same as today with social security numbers and credit card information over the internet, but a modern idea none the less.

The series seems to be revolving around the Mackenzie brothers, so I'm guessing there will be 2 more in the series, Cam and Hart. I look forward to them, because if anything this series has shown to be quite out of the box.

The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

Title: The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Author: Jennifer Ashley
Series: Highland Pleasures (Book 1)
Genre: Historical Romance

Beth is about to marry a horrible man and Ian can't stand it. It doesn't matter that he's never met her before or that he doesn't know her. He writes her a letter telling her about what a bad man her fiance is and gives it to her upon their first meeting.

Beth is instantly intrigued by Ian. There is something that is a bit off (or mad) about him. He's not like all of the other men she's met. She looks into his claims and finds that what he says is true. She breaks it off with her fiance and becomes the object of Ian's interest.

Ian and Beth find themselves in an interesting position. Ian could possibly be arrested for "abducting" her. He decides the best thing for them is to be married. It helps that he wants her desperately and that they have a sizzling attraction to each other.

The two then need to learn how to live together and to solve the mystery behind a courtesan's death from many years ago.

It took me until the second chapter to realize there really was something with Ian. I thought perhaps like some books he was a bit eccentric and they had labeled him as mad. Ian has aspergers. It made for a romance novel unlike any I had read before. I highly enjoyed it, although did have some issues with him seeming so childlike. I know that is sometimes how they appear due to the aspbergers, but it was hard for me to see someone like that in a romantic role. He still does make for a fantastic male lead.