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Book Description

Release date: July 3, 2011 | Series: Berkley Sensation

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.

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Read a deleted scene from Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage.

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This item: Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (Berkley Sensation) by Jennifer Ashley Mass Market Paperback $7.19
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron (Mackenzies Series) by Jennifer Ashley Mass Market Paperback $7.19
The Duke's Perfect Wife (Mackenzies Series) by Jennifer Ashley Mass Market Paperback $7.19

Editorial Reviews

Review

Skillfully nuanced characterization and an abundance of steamy sensuality give Ashley's latest impeccably crafted historical its irresistible literary flavor. --Chicago Tribune --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

From the Author

The Mackenzies: Rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. A lady couldn't be seen with them without ruin. Rumors surround them--of tragic violence, of their mistresses, of their dark appetites, of scandals that set England and Scotland abuzz. Hart, Cam, Mac, and Ian: each a tortured genius, each ready for love and darkly sensual games.

I introduced the Mackenzie family--the Duke of Kilmorgan and his brothers, in the award-winning The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. In that book, you meet Mac, Ian's next oldest brother, and Mac's estranged wife, Isabella. Mac and Isabella eloped the night they met and experienced a turbulent and maddening marriage until Isabella finally left Mac, three years before Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage opens.

Return with me to the world of the Mackenzies while Isabella and Mac struggle together to find the understanding and the love that they long to share.

Also appearing in this story are Ian and his wife Beth, Cameron, Hart, and Cameron's son Daniel. As a bonus, I've included chapter one of Cameron's story: The Many Sins of Lord Cameron at the end of the book.

Enjoy!

--Jennifer Ashley

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Product Details

Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Berkley (July 3, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425235459
ISBN-13: 978-0425235454
Product Dimensions: 4.4 x 0.9 x 6.6 inches
Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,882 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical and paranormal romance as Jennifer Ashley; paranormal romance and urban fantasy as Allyson James; and mysteries as Ashley Gardner. Jennifer's novels have won RWA's RITA and RT Reviewer's Choice awards among others.

For information on all her novels visit www.jennifersromances.com. Also see http://www.gardnermysteries.com (Ashley Gardner) and http://www.allysonjames.com (Allyson James) for her other works.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 63 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Some Issues with Heroine's Motivation (B- Grade) July 6, 2010

By Katie Babs VINE™ VOICE

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Lord Mac Mackenzie is a legend as a respected painter compared to the likes of Monet. Mac lives and breaths for his art, but his muse is missing. The reason is because his wife, who he loves dearly, left him three years ago after being fed up with his disappearing for weeks on end and drinking himself into a stupor. The moment his Isabella separated from him, Mac turned over a new leaf and would do whatever he could to make her come back. But it hasn't worked. Only recently have they started talking again after Mac's brother, Ian married. But she still keeps him at arm's length and it's killing him having her so close and not being able to enjoy those marital relations they both couldn't get enough of.

Mac is in for a great surprise when Isabella comes to see him at his home. She has found out that another man is impersonating him and selling his paintings signed with Mac's signature, trademark style, brushwork and use of colors. Mac shrugs it off because he paints for the love of it, not for the reputation or the coin it brings him. But since Isabella is upset about it, he will investigate the matter. This is also his way of keeping Isabella close and courting her again so they can go back to being husband and wife.

Isabella longs for Mac desperately and gave up so much for him the moment they met and kissed at a ball when she was eighteen. That very same night they ran off and eloped. Isabella was disowned by her father and not allowed any communication with her mother or younger sister because of Mac's reputation of being a careless rogue. They shared a passion and love for one another that still burns brightly, but she can't forgive Mac for leaving her one time too many after a horrible event that occurred where she lost something very special.

Mac has much to atone for and is willing to do whatever he can to show Isabella that he is more mature, steady and the only thing he craves is a strong brew of tea, and of course her body. Isabella finally gives into temptation and welcomes those pleasures they both have denied themselves for so long. But Mac doesn't just want these intimacies Isabella is willing to offer him. He wants a true marriage. Isabella won't budge with her decision. But when Mac's copy cat grows dangerous and Isabella is targeted, Mac rises up, and with his brothers as backup, will stop this blackguard from running his happiness that is within reach.

When Jennifer Ashley released The Madness of Lord Ian, she wrote a very moving and poweful novel about a very special type of hero and his undying devotion for his lady. With Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, Jennifer has gone back to the basics. And that is where the problem lies. Because The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie took major chances, this tale about Ian's brother Mac, and his marital woes left some things to be desired.

Jennifer can really write outstanding love scenes, and the relationship the Mackenzie brothers have with one another is wonderful. Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage comes across a bit too soap opera in its telling with too many issues occurring all at once. Not only do we have the Mac and Isabella dynamic, but Mac being targeted by some deranged individual, plus too many mentions of subplots dealing with Mac's brothers that happened in Ian's book, as well as a secret plot cliché that comes out of nowhere. When I read it, I almost couldn't stop from rolling my eyes.

I did find Mac and Isabelle to be very enjoyable characters, but Isabella comes across as a bit of a tease. She is all for keeping her separation as it stands, but has no problem in acting on some lusty love she and Mac had together when they first were married. She makes the first move in such a way where I found it all very unrealistic. If you are a woman who doesn't want to rebuild your marriage and have stated it time and again to your husband, who wants nothing more than to have a marriage in truth, then why are you having certain intimacies with him that gives him false hope? Comes across as selfish and greedy to me. Actions may speak louder than words, but the way Isabella wanted her cake, and they way she ate it, put me out of sorts. I couldn't understand her motivation even though it is explained in what I guess is a reasonable manner. But when all was said and done, it just didn't ring true to me.

The dramatic ending is another cliché that has been showing up all too often in historical romance and really could have been left out. The best sections were Mac and Isabella's interactions with Ian and Beth, who also have a few lovely surprises for the readers who can't get enough of this couple.

Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage is a simple read with a great deal of hot love play and much pushing and pulling from the two main characters whose actions may irk some readers. I was one of them. But, I do look forward to reading the next book in this series about Cameron, who is a big time rake, and his new love with a heroine, who may seem to be the complete opposite of everything he is attracted to in a woman.

Katiebabs

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20 of 20 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars When It's Good, It's Really Really Good & When It Isn't It's Not Awful July 9, 2010

By E. A. Montgomery TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

This was my Must Read book for the month and I'm not at all sorry I read it. I think you should read it too. I really like the world that Ashley is building with the Mackenzies and I will certainly put book 3 as my must read when it comes out, but Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage wasn't the perfect relationship for me.

First, the strong points. Isabella is a serious heroine. She's a fully realized person who acts logically for the character. There are no Big Misunderstandings or Failures To Communicate. Isabella and Mac have real problems to overcome and neither of them is fully blameless in their separation. Mac's erratic behavior drove his wife away and she used the time to reflect on what went wrong in their relationship while rebuilding her life. The emotional life of Mac and Isabella is solid and true. There is a moment in a carriage where Mac realizes there is nothing he can say to her that rings perfectly true. Isabella's issues with Mac are absolutely realistic and well explained. Her reluctance to open herself to him while unable to stay away from him are brilliantly merged with the first few sex scenes. I generally skim those and I read all of 90% of them. They were that important to the development of the characters and their relationship. For these reasons alone, Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage is well worth your time and money. Buy it.

Now, the weaker points. The initial excuse for Isabella's contacting Mac (and it is an excuse, but it's one she's unknowingly been looking for) could have been developed in a number of directions, but it feels like the author never quite fit her villain into the story. The characters that join the book because of him feel forced and unneeded, a cliche. Even though he is sympathetically portrayed and carefully considered, he feels tired, familiar and totally unwelcome. The pages containing him (or issues related to him) are a diversion from the story, not an enhancement to it. Then, the resolution of Isabella's family issues is so quickly done as to feel like a Disney tale. Actually, if Isabella's sister had been an artist, and in anger at Isabella had.... see that's what happens when there's an unsatisfying plot line in an otherwise satisfying book. Rewrites. These weak points keep the book from my best of the year list and put it in the good read category. I wanted to connect to it more than I did. The first chapter of this series 3rd book definitely has me interested, but I hope there's not a similar subplot running through it.

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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage by Jennifer Ashley July 6, 2010

By A. Schreiner TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Lady Isabella Scranton and Lord Mac Mackenzie made every gossip paper in London when they eloped six years ago after falling in love at first sight. Although extremely wealthy, Mac who comes from a very boisterous family, is not the match Isabella's family wants for her. Disowning her, Isabella was heartbroken, but so in love with Mac they spent the next few years in wedded bliss. But slowly, Mac's drinking and leaving in the middle of the night started to wear on Isabella. He would come home from long absences and they would start a passionate affair, but would soon burn out. Finally, after three years, Isabella couldn't stand it and separated from Mac.

Now three and a half years later, Mac hasn't painted a decent portrait since Isabella left him. He has been desolate and extremely depressed over his separation. He has stopped drinking and tried to make himself a better man. When Isabella knocks on his door to warn him of someone forging his work, he decides the time is right for a proper seduction of his wife. Isabella takes a look at Mac, in nothing but his kilt, covered in paint, and can't help but feel a longing for his touch again. When Mac gets wind of someone impersonating him, and matters turn violent, he will do everything to protect Isabella.

I started Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage with trepidation. First of all this book has been greatly anticipated. The first in the series, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is on the list of my all time favorite books. It not only introduced us to Lord Ian, but his rowdy, loving, and very mysterious brothers. I was very curious to see how Mac would stand up to Ian. But I also worried because I have read other paranormal romance and erotic books by Jennifer Ashley written under various pen names and always walked away very disappointed. It is almost like a different person writes this series. I absolutely adore her style and her characters. I still think Ian holds top spot in my heart but Mac, with his passion and charm very much endeared me to him.

What I like best about this book is that both Mac and Isabella are grieving over their ruined marriage. The first fifty pages holds such intensity, tension and heartbreak I about ripped out my hair. These are two people who truly love each other, and want another chance with each other but Isabella questions whether Mac's good graces will last. Will his sobriety stand the test of time? One of my favorite scenes from the book is right at the beginning, when due to outside circumstances Isabella is forced back into Mac's life. They both accept they love each other but there is such a far way to go.

I was afraid after the first 50-100 pages the tension and Isabella's indecisiveness would get on my nerves but that never happened. It was very clear she wanted Mac, but she needed time to see if he was going to revert back to his unruly self. She makes him court her and there is a scene where he shows up at her door (although he was staying at her house) to take her for a drive and he acts extremely proper that had me laughing out loud. Although Mac is the one that needs to redeem himself for his past actions, he is such a good hearted, warm person, you just know Isabella is not going to be able to resist.

I really think this series is a must read for all historical romance fans. Next up is The Many Sins of Lord Cameron and I can't wait!

Rating: 4.5/5

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Did not like this as much as The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie

Any story would be difficult to follow Lord Ian Mackenzie. But this story had to many odd parts to it. Read more

Published 14 days ago by Dr. Laurie Kellogg

5.0 out of 5 stars GOOD book

GOOD book to read...really looking forward to getting the next book. Really good book and ready for the next book

Published 17 days ago by Reba Hitson