• Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

  • Highland Pleasures, Book 2
  • By: Jennifer Ashley
  • Narrated by: Angela Dawe
  • Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (2,152 ratings)

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Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage  By  cover art

Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

By: Jennifer Ashley
Narrated by: Angela Dawe
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Publisher's summary

Lady Isabella Scranton scandalized London by leaving her husband, notorious artist Lord Mac Mackenzie, after only three turbulent years of marriage. But Mac has a few tricks to get the Lady back in his life, and more importantly, back into his bed.

©2010 Jennifer Ashley (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Ashley works her magic to create a unique love story brimming over with depth of emotion, unforgettable characters, sizzling passion, mystery, and a story that reaches out and grabs your heart. Brava!" ( Romantic Times)

What listeners say about Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

3.5 Not As Good As The First Book

I am loving this series and adore the Mackenzie brothers, but this is not a strong book - check out the other reviewers for the full story. This story would have worked better, I think, if we'd been able to follow the story of Isabella and Mac from the beginning so we got a better feel for the terrible times they had. As it is, we join the story just as Isabella is starting to warm to Mac. I like the idea of Mac struggling to redeem himself. I also like the premise of Isabella coming to terms with her grief. Because we do not follow the story right from the beginning the build up to their eventual reconciliation lacks tension. The mad forger is a distraction and does not add to the development of the relationship between Mac and Isabella.

My verdict is this is a good story but not a great one. But I am really looking forward to hearing about Cam and Hart.

Angela Dawe was good with the narration of the story.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Really good addition to the series. :D

4-4.5 stars

This was a really good story. I first saw Mac and Isabella at odds in the first book, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie and it was clear to see that Isabella and Mac love each other despite their issues so when I started this book I was rooting for their reconciliation from the beginning.

Isabella grew up a proper lady and did everything expected of her, right down to boarding school and her coming out party. This is where Isabella veers off from the course her parents had set for her as Mac Mackenzie crashes her coming out party. He dares her to dance with him, which she shouldn't have but she does anyways, and before the night is over they've eloped and Isabella has been disowned by her rather strict father who cares more about Mac’s Scottish heritage than the fact that the Mackenzie’s are rich and powerful. Isabella was (mostly) happy with Mac for a few years but when his tendency to hurt her (emotionally) eventually became too much for Isabella and she leaves Mac (so they've been officially "separated" for the last 3 years).

Mac Mackenzie is the younger brother of a powerful Duke but his passion lies in painting. Mac is actually known for having a very good talent and he's traveled the world, doing his paintings. Mac fell in love with Isabella from the moment he saw her at her coming out party. He married her right off and things were great at first. Unfortunately, Mac had a tendency to drink (a lot) and take off without notice, leaving Isabella to wonder where he is and what he’s doing. Mac always came back loving and sorry and then treated her like gold, at least for a while, and then he’d do the same thing all over again. It wasn't until Isabella left that Mac stopped drinking but he never got the courage to get Isabella back even though he still loves her and never cheated on her (no cheating either before or after their separation).

During the previous book, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, we got to see a bit of Mac and Isabella during their separation and see that they were both miserable and wanted each other. Ian tells Mac he’s a fool for not having gone after Isabella sooner and this gets Mac motivated (that and seeing Ian happy with his new bride). Mac starts trying to figure out how he can get Isabella to talk to him since she tends to avoid him and her talking to him would greatly help his efforts to get her back. Mac actually lucks out in this regard because Isabella ends up coming to see him. Isabella found a painting that she’s sure Mac didn't paint but was sold and signed as one of his paintings. Isabella tries to get Mac interested in the issue of a forged painting under his name but he doesn't seem to care, taking more interest in trying to get her to stay and talk to him. That doesn't work out so well but they meet up again when Isabella has gone to the store that sold the forgery to try to find out more and Mac shows up at the same time. They talk a bit more but Isabella still can’t seem to get Mac to take someone forging his paintings seriously which frustrates Isabella but she can’t force him to care and drops it for the time being. Mac continues to try to get more of Isabella’s attention; even crashing one of Isabella’s parties to get more time with her (Isabella doesn't have him thrown out because their marriage has already given enough gossip to their peers who eat up any scandal they can find). Isabella still does relatively well at keeping Mac at arm’s length until an arson burns down Mac’s studio and he and his servants suddenly show up on Isabella’s doorstep.

Mac ends up staying with Isabella and soon Isabella ends up joining the Mackenzie family for the races (that take place outside of London) at a rented house since Beth and Ian are going to be there and Beth wanted Isabella to be around for them to visit with each other. Isabella agrees because Beth is the closest thing to a sister Isabella has since her family disinherited her (so she hasn't been able to see her real sister in 6 years). Mac is thrilled to have Isabella near and it gives him more of a chance to get back in to her good graces. However, more weirdness shows up when it becomes apparent that there’s someone there that seems to look a LOT like Mac and Mac wonders if it’s his forger (who was also described as looking like Mac). After the races are done, Isabella and Mac accompany the other Mackenzie's to the Mackenzie home in Scotland. As they start to spend more time together, Isabella realizes that Mac has changed and starts to soften towards him. However, Isabella worries about if his changes will last and be enough. They do start talking though and even a little more as they have trouble keeping their hands off each other (wink, wink). Regardless of this, Isabella isn't willing to jump back in to things with Mac. Some more troubles plague the couple as a woman shows up with a daughter claiming Mac as the father. As things progress it appears that the mysterious man who's been selling his paintings as Mac is a nutter who appears to actually think he's the "real" Mac and thinks Isabella should be with him instead of Mac (the real Mac...). As Mac tries to gain Isabella's trust again, he also has to try to keep her safe from his imposter. Isabella isn't happy to have Mac insist on staying with her for safety but she realizes it's for the best as she wouldn't be able to protect herself from a crazy. The time together gives Mac and Isabella time to get to know each other again and this helps them realize they still love each other and they need to give their marriage another (serious) try. There are some additional issues they have to face before the end but Isabella and Mac do come through their issues and reconcile so they can proceed with their HEA.

This was a really enjoyable story. I really liked both Isabella and Mac and liked the way things worked out for them. They both made mistakes but I liked that they were able to remember what was important and work things out in the end. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series (which I'm starting in about 10 minutes). I'd recommend this book. Thumbs up. :D

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  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

disappointed

I found the first book in this series very clever, with good love scenes and interesting story, but sadly the second book was tedious and I couldn't wait for it to end.
The reader got by in the first book because her robotic style of reading fit with an autistic style of speech, but sadly not in the second. I don't think I will continue with the series.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Great Second Book of Series

Very good listen. Angela Dawe sometimes monotone rhythmic voice is a little annoying...but other than that... Great Listen.

Listen to the sample before you buy, just to see if you can tolerate the narrator. Worth the credit I think. Don't buy, just wait for your free credit.

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    3 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Kinda disappointed......

Loved the first book and the narrator. However, this book seemed to drag on and the narrator's anxiety ridden voice the entire book made for difficult listening. I don't know why she changed so much from the first????

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A LOVE SO STRONG IT HURTS

What made the experience of listening to Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage the most enjoyable?

Many things: The narration was awesome, the story was engaging and exciting. I don't believe there is a woman that would not want to be loved the way Mac loved Isabella, and I am sure most men wish they had it going on like Mac. He is magnificent (after he got over his traumatic childhood issues).

What did you like best about this story?

The Love story. The strength that Isabella exhibited is the kind of strength women claim to have, but very few actually do.

What about Angela Dawe’s performance did you like?

She has the voices down extremely well. The sexy scottish accent, the British accent, the confident/sexy tone she gives Isabella and the no nonsense masculine twist of all the males, gave me goose bumps.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No. I wanted it to go on... So I tried but failed to strech it out.

Any additional comments?

The love scenes were HOT HOT HOT.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Petty good, frustrating romance

The mystery story line was pretty clever but the romantic story line was annoying, but still sexy. The couple wasn't as likable as the couple in the first book. I am moving on to the third book so I wasn't put off the series.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Love the scandal💋

Great storyline-she writes very well and love the details she displays with her words about emotions and their differences. Looking forward to the next book.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars

Almost as good as the 1st

3.5 stars
**This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.**

The problem with loving the first book in a series as much as I loved The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie is that it sets some really high expectations. And while I loved Mack (the male MC) he just can't hold a candle to his brother Ian. I think what made the previous book so great was that it was SO DIFFERENT from any historical romance I'd ever read - because Ian was so special.

The point is, I was disappointed, but only because book 1 was SO GOOD. Which means Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage was still a great historical romance. I love this family - the brothers are close and support each other, but they bicker just like you'd expect brothers to do. And they have a horrible reputation in high society, being the infamous Scottish MacKenzie Brothers. I love seeing how wrong everyone is about them. I mean, yeah, they're scandalous. But they're also GOOD people, a bit damaged and rough around the edges, but wonderful just the same.

And it takes a special breed of woman to love a MacKenzie brother and survive it intact - Beth was perhaps more cut out for this life than the genteel Isabella, whom Mack eloped with the same night he met her at her coming out ball! Yeah, scandalous! (side note - I loved seeing Beth and Ian's relationship continue!)

I really enjoyed that Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage was a AFTER love-at-first-sight falls apart story - Isabella and Mack have been through some rough times following their whirlwind marriage and they didn't know how to deal with the realities together, so when we join them they've been separated for three years, with little hope anything will ever change back. It's a great story line and there's nothing like seeing a couple fight for a love they once had and fall in love again.

There was some great mystery and some small surprises along the way that made Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage a fun, quick read - made even better by Angela Dawe's fabulous narration. She does great voices and personalities really come through. I'm glad I decided to grab this series on audio and can't wait to move forward!

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    4 out of 5 stars
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Another good one

This is my second listening to this series. I have one more at the end that I have not heard. Looking forward to it. Good story. Good narration.= book I enjoy.

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