Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

Highland Pleasures, Book 2

By: Jennifer Ashley

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

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)

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!

It's all about the relationship

The second in the Mackenzie series follows the second youngest of the Mackenzie brothers, the artist Mac. He has always been the fun, irresponsible one, drinking, traveling between Paris, Rome, England and Scotland and doing things on a dare. One dare was to crash the come-out ball of Lady Isabella Scranton and steal a kiss. Instead of just a kiss, he steals her heart and they elope. Six years later, the two have been seperated for 3 years and Mac, sobered up, is trying to win her back. There's also a mystery in this book as well, involving an art forger. One of the things I really enjoyed about this is how there are snippets of society gossip from the beginning of their relationship to tell the back story, while keeping you in the present of the plot.

It's tolerable!

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

No

Any additional comments?

I still believe Ian & Cameron had the best stories. This story was good but not as good as Ian & Cameron's.

Love this series and the performance

Though I am an avid reader and have both e-book and audio of this book....the audio puts you right there into their lives and emotions. Buy the series and just enjoy. The MacKenzies are such strong personalities, but the women really shine.

Excellent follow up book! You will be surprised!

After listening to the first book in this series, I wanted that enjoyment to continue; however, I was hesitant to purchase this book as the main character in the first book is not the foremost character. But, I was pleasantly surprised at how the author weaved together the previous characters into this story and added new elements to those characters and their family. This was a great follow up to the first book and I will be purchasing the rest of the series to see what happens with this very unusual family. I highly recommend listening to this book and the first and being open minded to their flawed and imperfect personalities; this makes them very likeable as the story progresses.

Loved

While Ian & Beth may always be my favorites. Max & Isabella run a close second. Loved the story. The narrator did a great job of bringing it to life also

Love this series !

Can't wait for the next book. having the romance pack is great, I am getting to know many more authors I never would have known before. This series has so much love in it along with intrigue and happiness.

Mediocre

I liked the first one a tad better. Isabella punishing Mac, Mac begging a dopple ganger, a misplaced orphan???? I think the highlights where probably when Ian was mentioned. I will eventually read the next two not sure after that.

so naughty, it's nice!

yet another yummy book in the series. this one has a lot more steamy scenes than the others.

super super series!

I remember reading this series years and years ago in book form. Way before audible. I totally forgot how wonderful it was. Jennifer Ashley is an amazing romance novelist. I love her characters, the story, the romance, the drama. just the perfect amounts of all to make a super fantastic story.