The Seduction of Elliot McBride

By: Jennifer Ashley

Narrated by: Angela Dawe

Length: 9 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

USA Today best-selling author and RITA Award winner Jennifer Ashley pens heart-pounding tales that keep listeners spellbound with torrid romance and finely crafted intrigue.

Juliana St. John faces the ultimate mortification when she's stood up on her wedding day. But then fate places her face-to-face with her first love, Elliot McBride, and she finds herself falling for her half-mad former paramour.

©2012 Jennifer Ashley (P)2013 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

"Ashley simply has a gift with her storytelling.... " ( Night Owl Reviews)

Loved this book!!!

Would you listen to The Seduction of Elliot McBride again? Why?

I Loved this book!! Some of it broke my heart, it was funny at times, the characters were so amazing and enjoyable! I'm thoroughlyl enjoying the MacKenzie's and their extended family!!! And I wish all of my books could be read by Angela Dawe!!!!

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Seduction of Elliot McBride?

The first formal dinner, with the chicken bag pipes and the "happy ending". Wow - what a great dinner that turned out to be!!

Which character – as performed by Angela Dawe – was your favorite?

I thought Julianna was the best!!! Prim, proper and very organized. But became so disorganized to make her life with Elliott work. And his out-of-nowhere kissing her against walls and in various rooms and the gardens; how scandalous!! But loved her through it all!!

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

YES!!

Any additional comments?

Read or listen to this series!!! It's one of the best ones I've ever read and I've read A LOT!!!

Sweet story.Ashley knows her stuff!

Would you listen to The Seduction of Elliot McBride again? Why?

The story was believable, compelling, and interesting. The characters were likable and sympathetic.

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Seduction of Elliot McBride?

When the main characters first arrived at the estate. The author did a good job of using the house as a metaphor for Elliot's mental state.

Have you listened to any of Angela Dawe’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Dawe is very consistently good. What a talent! I feel that I am watching a film as opposed to simply listening to a book.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Several moments of Elliot's vulnerability. The author does an EXCELLENT job of making Elliot human without making him wimpy or a liability for the female character. I think this is tricky, but she pulls it off!

PTSD Story in Scottish History

Very cool concept of a PTSD victim’s fight to survive in 1800’s Scotland and a very admirable woman who stands by his side.
Great narration too.
Two Thumbs Up! 👍🏻 👍🏻

The depth of the story and characters

Great story - not formula very strong and layered characters. Intelligent writing, very engaging. Jennifer Ashley sets a very high bar in all her work.

Great plot, but missed the Mackenzie's

I think the plot which involves Elliot McBride being held prisoner and having to deal with those terrible demons was excellent. He's obviously suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The part of the story which revolves around Juliana making her lists and organizing and the fact that she thinks this could help Elliot recover is a little silly - but overall I enjoyed the book. I'm not sure how making lists and being organized is supposed to help someone with PTSD - at least not in the way that this part of the story is written.

You have to get used to Angela Dawe's narration, but she does a great job with the different voices and accents. I enjoy her interpretations and I often seek out her narrations.

I am still trying to figure out why this book is part of the Mackenzie series because the Mackenzie's barely have any mention in this book. I think the McBride's should be a series all their own and not included with the Mackenzie's. I know there's potential for another McBride brother love story although I don't know if there is any plan for Ms. Ashley to write this story or not.

Regardless, I really enjoyed this book and I'll definitely listen to it again and I would say that if you like a good highland, sex-filled romance, this is the book for you. Well worth the credit!

Highland Pleasures

This should be listed under the Highland Pleasures series. I liked this because it brings many of the Mackenzies back. It is another damaged man that the woman is going to try to fix; though in Juliana's defense she didn't know he was so damaged. It had some interesting twists and turns, and the fact that Elliot actually EARNED his wealth was refreshing too. (I've listened to enough regency style books where wealth is just endowed upon these people, knowing full well...enough.) This also brought in some India into the highlands which was refreshing. All in all, it isn't the BEST of Jennifer Ashley's books, but completely enjoyable.

I recommend the use of a credit! I will listen to it again. (Some hot romance never hurts!)

Right to the point

Very enjoyable. Love that there wasn’t a lot of chasing. They pretty much got to their end game right off the bat. They just had to work through a few periphery things.

Wonderful..SPOILERS.. (maybe)

Any additional comments?

Sooo, I'm a little confused. In book 4, Hart's book, Eleanor has a baby boy, Hart Alec and they called him Alec.
Then, in book 4.5 she's pregnant with the same child but hasn't had it yet, but does have it in this book (too.)
Then in book 5 she's referred to as Hart's "recent bride." WTH? Am I missing something?
Isn't this a little bass-ackwards or something close to that? Anyway, I loved Elliot and Juliana's story. And if anyone was deserving of being a little mad it was Elliot, after what he'd been through. Also, Fellows was referred to as a bastard Mackenzie. When the heck did that bit of information come to light? I've read every book up to Lloyd Fellows' and nothing was ever said about that? Oh, and when everyone gathered for Christmas, in book 4.5, Elliot was there with his wife Juliana, whom he doesn't marry until book 5. So confused!! But a great series.

Book 4: The Duke's Perfect Wife (Hart) Berkley Sensation, April 2012
Book 4.5 A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift (Ensemble) , Dec 2012
Book 5: The Seduction of Elliot McBride (Elliot) Berkley Sensation, Jan 2013
Book 5.5: The Untamed Mackenzie (Lloyd Fellows) Berkley, September 2013
Book 6: The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie (Daniel) Berkley Sensation, Oct 2013

My biggest complaint, which I've mentioned in every review is with the narrator. First of all I've never heard a narrator swallow so much in a book! Very annoying. Also, she does the voices OK but she has no emotion in her voice at all. If someone is angry she says the words like every other one.
No emotion = bad narration.

Decent story but it was not captivating

The story started off fine but the conflicts were not presented in a way that kept my interest. I finished it but only through effort.

5 STARS - 5 WORDS LOVED LOVED LOVED THIS BOOK

Although Audible hasn't listed it yet this is book 5 of The Highland Pleasures series and phew ..... what a book it was.

You have a very damaged Highlander - in walks Elliot who was mentally and physically tortured in India and who has returned home to the Highlands to try to stop the wedding of his childhood sweetheart however he is barely but desperately clinging on to his sanity. Juliana is about to be married but her heart has really always belonged to her childhood sweetheart Elliot - then fate steps in and gives the two another chance.

If you're a historical romance lover then this book will move you, excite you, sadden you, thrill you .... but above all, in the end it will give you that 'Ahhhhhhhh' feeling that comes after finishing a book that has ticked each and every box. This plot has passion, romance, sex, kilts, drama, funny moments, sad times, a couple of sub plots but above all there's a broken man clawing his way back to life and a woman willing to help him.

This could easily be a stand alone listen but the others in this series have each been a really great listen as JA's brilliant writing brings to life her fantastic characters and, as you mentally play each scene, you too will be drawn into a bygone era.

Worth a credit? Well that's a billowing YES across a clear blue sky.