Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (Mackenzies & McBrides, #2)

by Jennifer Ashley

Six years ago, eighteen-year-old Lady Isabella Scranton scandalized all of London by eloping the night of her come-out ball with the notorious rake, Lord Mac Mackenzie. After three turbulent years of marriage, she scandalized London once again–this time by leaving him.

Now the reformed Mac has returned, and he wants one thing: Isabella back in his life, his house, his bed. He’ll do anything he has to, play any game, as long as he gets her back. Isabella resists, but when she agrees to pose for explicit paintings he’s been working on, she realizes her body has never stopped craving her husband’s very skilled touch. Mac is determined to show Isabella that he’s a changed man, but three years without her has only increased his hunger for her.

When an ingenious forger with designs on Mac’s paintings, and Isabella herself, comes dangerously near, Mac sets himself up as Isabella’s protector and vows to never leave her side, whether his independent and proud lady likes it or not.

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

• ISBN10: 0425235459
• ISBN13: 9780425235454
• Publish Date: 6 July 2010
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam Inc
• Imprint: Penguin USA
• Format: Paperback (US Mass Market)
• Pages: 336
• Language: English
• URL: https://penguinrandomhouse.com/books/isbn/9780425235454

Reviews

[Berls]

This review appeared first at Fantasy is More Fun.

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. You can see all my thoughts on The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie in that review - and so... I'll get back on track.

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!

[stacey_is_sassy]

This one's going to be spoilery...BIG TIME!!

I had one of those epiphany moments while listening to Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage. I haven't used spoiler thingamajiggies, so, please proceed with caution.

Isabella and Mac have been separated for 3 years. In their time apart, and for the whole of their marriage, they have been faithful to each other. Now, here's the thing, when this was made known to me, my first thought was, *thank goodness*. I'm sure a lot of my fellow readers are probably nodding their heads in agreement and thinking, well that's a good thing...isn't it? Unfortunately, I've come to the conclusion that cheating isn't the worst thing. Heaven forbid!!! (screams the peanut gallery).

In this case, Mac's mistakes and behaviour, in my eyes, was worse. Not being with his wife when tragedy struck, and we're talking about a tragedy that nearly cost Isabella her life. Eventually, Mac's tracked down by his brother Ian, informed of the tragedy and dragged back. Dragged back, not because he doesn't want to be there but because Mac's rip-roaring drunk. He walks in, kneels at her feet and then proceeds to throw up.

Again, even all that wasn't his worse offence. Mac then moans and groans about his loss and his unhappiness from the tragedy. He was looking for Isabella to soothe and coddle him. Poor Isabella, she should not have had to deal with Mac's selfishness or his disgusting behaviour. Bloody douchewaffle, Mac was NOT in my good books at this stage.

Look, I'm not going to say that I would have been happier if he'd cheated instead, I just may not have felt the overwhelming sadness at his ignorance and selfishness. For them to both stay celibate for years proves how much Isabella and Mac loved each other. It wasn't an option to find solace in another's arms, they just needed the break. Mac needed to sober up and Isabella needed to forgive Mac and learn to live after the tragedy.

This was a great story from start to finish. I loved catching up with the family, enjoyed the touch of intrigue and was satisfied that Mac earned back his place as husband to Isabella. There were plenty of steamy scenes to keep my heart pumping, and I laughed and cried with Isabella and Mac. It was just plain old GOOD.

I absolutely LOVE this series and I'm thoroughly enjoying listening to the audios. I'll be back soon...ish.