THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE by Jennifer Ashley

Publisher: Berkley
Date published: April 2009
ISBN: 978-0425244463
Historical Romance
Paperback
Reviewed by Gina
Obtained via: Library


Attending the opera with her fiancé, Sir Lyndon Mather, Beth Ackerly expected merely to find herself lost in the music and drama of the stage. She wasn’t quite prepared to meet Lord Ian MacKenzie, a gentleman society refers to as mad. Ian essentially proves his instability when he promptly proposes marriage to Beth. While he does wait until Lyndon is out of range, in his customary lack of obeyance to society’s rules, he does breach etiquette with his stunning proposal. Beth politely declines yet breaks her engagement to Lyndon and leaves for Paris. Again in Pari,s Ian comes into Beth’s life through his brother’s estranged wife, Isabella.

Another person has followed them to France; the intrepid Inspector Fellows. Hell bent to prove the MacKenzies are responsible for all manner of vile acts, including the murders of two prostitutes, he accosts Beth and asks her to spy on the brothers. Using Fellows as the excuse for the prompt marriage, Ian weds her.

Ian does not declare his undying love or proffer his proposal in romantic terms. He merely states his belief and desire to protect Beth. It is not that Ian chooses to be arrogant and heartless He merely knows no other way. Ian’s greatest fear is that he will lose Beth and that he may well be the cause yet he has no way to stop himself from causing that harm. Beth finds herself in love with the mad lord but is that love enough?

The layers of Jennifer Ashley’s THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE rivals the petals of a rose opening. While the story begins with a dashing lord, albeit an eccentric one, appearing at the opera and sweeping the heroine off her feet. Yet there is a marvelous undercurrent in Ian’s behavior that unfolds as your turn the pages of this sometimes heart wrenching tale. While the treatments for insanity have changed dramatically since the late 1800’s, we still know so little about any number of mental illnesses. Ian’s behavior is reminiscent of the Dustin Hoffman character in Rainman except he is able to connect with his family and Beth. I saw him as not only a high functioning autistic, but one of the extremely intelligent ones. His inability to make eye contact, his struggle to allow the woman he loves to touch him, are done with compassion and understanding. He is perhaps the most unique hero I have read in quite some time. Oh yes, he is big and brawny with alpha tendencies, but they are intricate parts of his own tortured personality.

Beth’s determination to protect the man she loves and get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding the MacKenzies and Inspector Fellows shows her as intelligent and caring rather than a flighty and dithering heroine.

The story is not only a marvelous historical love story. Readers are treated to not just one but two somewhat suspenseful murder mysteries. For those who love a who-done-it, THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE is a treat.

The secondary characters, especially those that will have their own stories to tell do not intrude but are wonderful additions to the story. I barely read the last page before I picked up book 2 of this series and just a few pages in I know it will be a hard book to put down.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW.

HIGHLAND PLEASURES BOOK 1: THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE by Jennifer Ashley

Publisher Leisure
Date published May 2009
ISBN 978-0-8439-6043-3
Historical Romance/ Victorian
Mass Market Paperback
Obtained via: Publisher
Reviewed by Danny



Rumours of murder surround the dark and dangerous Lord Ian Mackenzie and he is regarded as an eccentric by his peers. Thanks to his father, who thought him “odd”, he spent his childhood in an asylum, till his brother freed him after their father’s death. Ian isn’t mad, but different than everyone else. He has a photographic memory and is a mathematic genius.

Beth Ackerly is a young widow who seeks a quiet life after her beloved husband’s death. She hopes that the marriage to Sir Mathers will be right step to make her wish come true, till she receives a note with a warning from Lord Ian not to marry Mathers.

After her first meeting with Ian, Beth discovers aspects about Ian’s personality that no one else has ever seen before and the feelings for each other are growing, but will they have a chance for a future together, especially when Ian’s past comes back to haunt him?

Ms. Ashley has a gift for writing romances that have not only funny but also very emotional moments. Once you start reading the story you know without a doubt that it was written by Ms. Ashley, because of her unique writing style. Each of her books is a real keeper and THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE is no exception to the rule.
This book was an emotional roller coaster ride for me, because one moment I was laughing and another I was moved to tears. The love story of Ian and Beth is like nothing that I have ever read before. Ms. Ashley created it with two absolutely wonderful and unique characters, you won’t be able but to fall in love with them. Their love story is a true love story, because they stay together through all the good and bad times and overcome all obstacles thrown into their way, no matter how high those are.

THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE is the start to a new historical series by Ms. Ashley and I am counting the days till Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage will be released in July 2010.

THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OF THIS BOOK. THIS IS AN OBJECTIVE UNBIASED REVIEW

Immortals: THE RECKONING by Jennifer Ashley, Joy Nash and Robin T. Popp

Publisher Dorchester Publishing/Lovespell
Date published February 2009
ISBN 978-0-505-52768-4
Paranorma Romance
Mass Market Paperback
Reviewed by Dawn



Three final stories into the Immortals world where vampires, werewolves, Celtic sidhe and other magical beings roam in the human world; The ones who reign supreme are called the IMMORTALS and they are the ones who hold them in check. Take a walk into the world of magic, love and adventure as three fabulous authors delve one final time into the world of the Immortals.

Kicking off this wonderful book is Jennifer Ashley’s WOLF HUNT. You’ve met Logan in one of the past Immortal books and this time he is center stage as is the Demon woman he finds himself saving. Can he save Nadia from his vengeful former Wolf Pack before it is too late? What secrets does Nadia hold from Logan?

WOLF HUNT is a wonderful kick-off to the last book in the IMMORTAL series. Full of intriguing characters, favorite friends and a fast paced storyline, you get a sense of the characters heart and soul before the last page is read. Ms. Ashley delivers a wonderful hot story full of sexual tension and characters that leave you breathless.

Next up is Joy Nash’s BLOOD DEBT as a vampire with revenge on his mind finds the one woman he thought killed him long ago and the means to defeat the one who turned him. What Jackson never expected was the stone that was h is heart to crack open as Leanna destroyed the walls that surrounded him for ages with her heart felt sincerity and love.

BLOOD DEBT is another fast paced ride as Mac’s half sister; Leanna gets her own story and love. You’ve met Leanna in Immortals: The Crossing and this time she has to make amends with the one man she thought she killed long ago. With shocking revelations, consuming passion and a love that flares bright between these two, Jackson and Leanna find themselves fighting for survival against the one who hurt Jackson long ago and turned him into a vampire. Ms. Nash delivers a high action packed story that will keep you on the edge of your seat with a bated breath. I highly enjoyed seeing Leanna find a love of her own and seeking forgiveness for past transgressions.


Finally, Robin T. Popp delivers BEYOND THE MIST and a story of gods, souls and forgiveness all rolled up in one delightful story. Meet Jenna, a woman who thinks she destroyed her family and let down her sister from past mistakes. Enter Dave, a spirit walker and the one man who can heal her heart and make her believe in love again…that is if she doesn’t end up trapped on the ghost cruise ship.
BEYOND THE MIST is a wonderful ending to IMMORTALS: THE RECKONING and Ms. Popp does a fabulous job in telling Jenna and Dave’s story. Full of intriguing characters, twists and turns abound and some really hot sexual tension that will make you melt, BEYOND THE MIST is a story that hooks you from the beginning and doesn’t let up until the last page is read.

IMMORTALS: THE RECKONING is highly enjoyable, captivates you from the first page to the last and makes you wish for one of your own magical beings to call your own. The Immortal series is a wonderful set of stories that will leave you breathless and IMMORTALS: THE RECKONING is no different. Full of past characters and some new ones, these three talented authors delve once more into a world where magic abounds; love is center and delivers action-packed paranormal fun for the reader to enjoy. If you haven’t read any of the immortal books, run, don’t walk, to your nearest bookstore/library and grab them. They will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat as the Immortals keep a tight reign over the magical world and where you might find a little magic of your own.