HIGHLAND PLEASURES BOOK 2: LADY ISABELLA’S SCANDALOUS MARRIAGE
Jennifer Ashley
ISBN: 978-0425235454
July 6, 2010
Penguin Putnam/Berkley Sensation
Historical Romance – Victorian 1880′s
Mass Market Paperback

Lady Isabella Scranton scandalized London twice – big time.  First in 1875 when she ran off with notorious artist, Lord Mac Mackenzie at her debut ball; second when she left her husband after three tumultuous years of marriage.  It’s been another three years since Isabella left Mac and when she discovered that someone was forging and selling his work Isabella felt compelled to warn him.  What Isabella didn’t know was that since leaving him, Mac would do just about anything to get Isabella back, including giving up alcohol and losing a wager with friends that he’d turned into a prude and couldn’t paint an erotic painting anymore.

*** I wasn’t sure about choosing this book to review until it dawned on me – this was the same author that wrote THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE which if you’ve never read it, was a phenomenal book!  And now, let me say that this second book in the HIGHLAND PLEASURES series featuring Ian’s brother Mac is every bit as good, especially as Ms. Ashley saw fit to include a lot of great background material featuring Lord Ian and his Lady Beth, as well as his brothers Hart and Cameron whose stories I’ll really be looking forward to!

Normally I am not crazy about flashbacks, but Ms. Ashley uses them judiciously in highlighting the ups and downs in Isabella and Mac’s three year marriage to show what went wrong; the love they had for one another; and why it was worth fighting for to try to save their marriage.  I will admit there were times when I would have liked to give Isabella a good ‘swift kick’ in her arse for wasting time and  not realizing what a gem she had in Mac in the way he loved her totally, unconditionally, and generously.

Ashley inserted a good amount of suspense using the Mac double, a forger, who not only looked but painted like Mac which in a way was really creepy, but it really became scary when said forger grew obsessed with replacing Mac in Isabella’s life.   Not only did Ashley add in this edge of the seat stress, but she also injected a bit of heartfelt emotion with the small orphan Aimee who was immediately drawn to Ian like a magnet.   Mac just took it all in stride and bounced the small child around like he was born to the task – what a guy!!!

Bottom line – if you liked THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE, you are sure to adore book two in this series and wait anxiously for book three!   This is one fabulous book and series and so far I’m going to hate to see it end!  HIGHLY recommended reading.

Reviewed By:

I started reviewing books many years ago - but my love of reading began as soon as I could read and that’s a long time! From my very first library card, I would spend my summers at the local library rather than outside playing. My tastes ran from every horse book I could find, to dog books, then gothic romances, and now historical romances with the Regency period having a very close spot in my heart. [Many of my friends, who really know me, say I was born in the wrong era - they’re probably right.] Now that I am retired, and busier than ever, I read almost all genres with the exception of hard core erotica, horror and anything involving more than one sex partner! I am loyal to my tried and true favorite auto-buy authors but love discovering the newer authors as well. I was once a very impatient person, but now retired, and with a book, an audio, or my Kindle by my side - I am the epitome of infinite patience to sit and wait for whatever comes next be it for the light to change, a doctor’s appointment, or a commercial break on the television!

Email Reviewer | Other posts by Marilyn