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    Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
    Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
    Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
    Audiobook9 hours

    Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

    Written by Jennifer Ashley

    Narrated by Angela Dawe

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 29, 2012
    ISBN9781452677897
    Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
    Author

    Jennifer Ashley

    Jennifer Ashley is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Kat Holloway Below Stairs Mystery series, the Shifters Unbound series, and the Mackenzies & McBrides series. Her novels have won several awards, including RT Reviewer's Choice awards and a RITA.

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    Reviews for Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage

    4/5

    260 ratings17 reviews

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    • 1/5
      The audiobook was skipping.

      The story itself was boring, I wouldn’t recommend.
    • 2/5
      Narrator is horrible. No flow to the story. Will try to read the series instead.
    • 4/5
      Loved every second of the story loved Isabella and Mac. What i didn't like was that there were a few words and expressions that
      were very American, the English definitely didn't use them then and still don't use them now.
      Also unfortunately the narrator wasn't as good as in the the first book. She sounded more American than English or Scottish. The only time she sounded a bit English was when she spoke for Isabella. Hope she'll do as well as in the first book in the next one of the series.
    • 5/5
      Isabella six years ago, shocked everyone including her own family, when she married Mac Mackenzie, and since then their marriage has been stormy to say the least. Despite the fact that they both love each other, they each hurt each other, and its a never ending cycle. Now after having been separated for three years, Mac enters back into Isabella's life, much to her dismay. She wonders what game he is playing at, but the more he appears in her life, the more she becomes convinced that he is sincere in wanting her wholly into her life. However she remembers the pain they have both suffered in the past, and her fears holds her back from embracing their marriage as it was in the beginning. But with all the turbulent storms that are rising between them, there is also a danger that could threaten both of them.Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage is the second installment in the Highland Pleasures series. After reading the first one The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, it was a delight to finally read Isabella and Mac's story. I found both of these characters a delight, and loved seeing both sides to their story. Both Isabella and Mac have suffered pain and loss, and having caused pain to one another, but they are also very deep and were brought out vividly throughout the story, that I felt I got to know them both as separate individuals, which was a treat. I have adored reading this story, as much as I adored the first one in the series. There was the perfect mixture of passion, intrigue, danger, and love that brought out a delectable story that had me until the very last page. Truly a romance that was heartfelt throughout the whole by this reader!!!
    • 4/5
      Perhaps rounded up to 4. I've read a bunch of estranged marriage stories, and often the couple are spiteful and immature and spend half the book trying to get under the other's skin and stuff, and this one just didn't. And that was lovely to read. The characters also grew as people, which I like. I didn't feel as emotionally attached to these two as the couple in the first book (who have cameos in this one) but they were likable. Also the 'danger' storyline didn't particularly grab me, but it didn't rub me the wrong way either. This was enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
      3.5 Stars

      Synopsis
      Three years after her scandalous elopement with Roland "Mac" Mackenzie, Isabella scandalized London again by leaving him. Now, after another three years of separation, Mac is determined to win his wife back by showing her that he is a changed man. Moreover, when an ingenious forger with designs on Isabella begins stalking her, Mac will do anything to keep her safe.

      Review
      Great expectations only partially fulfilled.

      Mac and Isabella are terrific characters (both damaged and insecure in their own ways) but their romance didn't grab me for a number of reasons. First, there is too much angst and desperation in their relationship. Second, the scintillating dialogue and chemistry that should characterize a couple estranged for so long is completely missing, and third, Mac and Isabella are constantly taking one step forward and then two steps back, which becomes frustrating after a while.

      The follow up to Ian and Beth's story is enjoyable as are the hints at something between Cameron and Ainsley, and the stalker subplot has potential but fails to produce the necessary tension and suspense.

      The writing tends toward repetition and the events leading up to Mac and Isabella's separation are told in a series of flashbacks interspersed throughout the story with no real build up and progression.

      While the book is good, it lacks the intensity and originality of the first book. Hopefully, the next one will get back on track.
    • 4/5
      An enjoyable historical romance with a good plot but after awhile the reconciliation started to drag with too much talk and not enough action. I never really understood how they rebuilt their trust. Lady Isabella contacts her estranged husband Mac after three years because she suspects someone is forging his paintings.
    • 5/5
      Listened for Fun (Audible)Tracking Books Read Review (Short)Overall Rating: 5.00Story Rating: 5.00Character Rating: 5.00Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)First Thought when Finished: Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage made me smile, laugh, cry, grrr, and in the end grin like a Cheshire cat!Overall Thoughts: I loved, loved, loved, loved Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage. I was afraid that I wouldn't like Mac but that man was so swoon-worthy and damaged that one couldn't help but fall hard! Isabella was so strong and I appreciated her want to protect herself despite loving Mac. She made him fight for her and dang it that made me love them more. This was an emotional story (so far both books in this series have been) but the payout was worth it!Audio Thoughts: Narrated by Angela Dawe /Length 9 hrs and 9 minsSo y'all know I call her Angela "freaking" Dawe already so there isn't much more that I can say! She freaking rocks the narration and is one of my all around favorite narrators!
    • 4/5
      This is the second book in Jennifer Ashley's Highland Pleasures series, but I read this book first. Since this is the first book I'd ever read by Ashley, I wasn't sure what to expect. The buzz about The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie made me think I wouldn't be disappointed, however, and I was right.

      This novel is refreshing because it explores the adage that "sometimes love isn't enough". There's no doubt that Isabella and Mac love each other. But early in their marriage, that wasn't enough to over come their personality flaws. Mac's loud personality often eclipsed Isabella, causing her to withdraw. Which would then cause major fights between them, leading Mac to believe she needed a break from him. He'd disappear for weeks or months at a time, sometimes without a word about where he'd gone or when he'd return. Then he'd return and Isabella would forgive him, and they'd be deliriously happy for awhile, until the cycle would start again.

      I loved the intensity with which Mac loves Isabella. He's an 'all in' kind of guy. Once he gave his heart to Isabella, that was it for him. He may not have known what to do with his debutante wife at times, thinking she needed to be protected from his wild nature, but his love was never in doubt. It's obvious in everything he does. But he realized the cycle must be broken in order to make things work between them, and determined to prove to Isabella that he was a changed man.

      Isabella has ached for Mac for years, but she knew she'd go mad if she stayed in that drama-filled relationship with him. I understood why she left him. Being in a volatile, madly passionate relationship sounds wonderful, but the reality of it is so much more taxing than it seems. To constantly be pushed and pulled and filled with excitement. To have the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. It's exhausting.

      After reading this, I immediately started The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. While I enjoyed the latter more, I'd still highly recommend this book. I do recommend reading them in order, however. I believe you'll have a better understanding of all the characters - both primary and secondary - if you do.

    • 1/5
      My love for the Mackenzie family has met a speed bump. This was such a waste of time. The premise of two married people having to overcome angst, which by the way was uninteresting and of their own f*&king making, is too flimsy to support an entire book. The story was tedious; there was no tension; and the whole damn thing was repetitive. Isabella and Mac seem like good people, but I just didn’t care. There was one conversation between Isabella and her sister Louisa, when they were first reunited, that was so cringeworthy in its lack of subtlety. I only forced myself to finish so that it wouldn’t be a waste of my $7.99.
    • 1/5
      This book was a disappointment and I simply couldn't get through it.
      In Book 1 of the series we learn that Isabella and Mac are an estranged married couple and I was excited at the prospect of seeing them learn to love and trust again.

      Until- I realized that Isabella's actions aren't consistent or realistic throughout the course of the book. Their reconciliation just doesn't seem real and she seems wishy- washy and totally irrational in her choices and decisions.

      At one point, he apologizes for something horrible he did in the past and she says something like, "I don't want to talk about the past...It was probably my fault anyway" HUH?

      I can generally troop through a mediocre romance novel, but this was just dumb and I had to give it up in the middle....
    • 5/5
      “The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie”, first in this series, was my introduction to this author. It is a keeper and one of my all time favorite books. It was a great introduction to this fun, loving, and mysterious family. I was greatly anticipating Mac and Isabella’s story, and I seem to be one of the few NOT disappointed. From the first book, I had the impression that Isabella is a serious and logical person, and that Mac was a passionate and troubled man. This book has gone deeper and explained to me in very S-L-O-W detail of how and why they separated. She was so young and impressionable when he whisked her away, and he on the other hand was such a fun and debauched rake that the innocence of her attracted him from the get go. I, as a reader, could see that this union was doomed from the start. It was like watching a train wreck and you can’t avoid your eyes from the scene! Both characters are dealing with real problems and neither of them is fully blameless in their separation. Isabella’s issues with Mac are absolutely realistic and well explained. Mac’s erratic behavior at the start of their union drove Isabella away slowly, (over a three year period), and not over night. Mac on the other hand has realized that it was his fault and never blamed her for it. He accepted his dues, and decided to quit his childish behavior and do anything to get her back, no matter how long it took. I absolutely adored both characters. She used the time of the separation to reflect on what went wrong. Again, I actually liked the s-l-o-w development of the book, as it allowed me to feel what they felt, and did not just rush the outcome, or the eventual forgiveness that she was able to give him.I found Mac and Isabella’s grieving over their ruined marriage very realistically written. The book, for me, was full of intensity, tension and heartbreak that I cried. These are two people who truly love one another, and want so badly to reconcile, but don’t know how to go about it. Isabella is fearful if his sobriety will stand the test of time, but even with all those doubts, she finds an excuse to get back into Mac’s life. Isabella’s indecisiveness was understandable. She wanted Mac, but she still needed time and proof to see if he was going to revert back to his old habits. I did find Mac and Isabella to be very enjoyable characters.Ian still holds the top spot in my heart, but Mac has won me over with his passion and charm.As for the subplot, the man that looked like Mac, the kidnapping and the shooting, I could have done without, but again it did not bother me much. I went for the FEEL of the book and it won me over.There is a lot to like and recommend this book! I liked Mac and Isabella’s interactions with Ian and Beth. I loved the relationship of the Mackenzie family. And I would be remiss not to mention the love scenes!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!
    • 5/5
      Started reading this series out of order but this book stands well on it own. As soon as I started reading I was hooked and couldn't stop till it was finished at 3am this morning.Colorful characters and a story that keep you guessing. Warning: "Best to read on the weekend when the alarm isn't going off at 5am"
    • 4/5
      Second of a series of romance novels about four brothers who are Scottish lords in Victorian Britain. I'd picked up the first one, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, because the reviews made it sound like the sort of romance I'd enjoy, rather than fling against the wall. I liked that book well enough to promptly order the next. Lady Isabella and Lord Mac were significant supporting characters in the first book, wherein they had been legally separated for two or three years, but were clearly still in love with each other. This book is the story of how they work towards a reconciliation, but also shows how and why they had ended up living apart. It can be read as a standalone, but I think will work better if read after the first book, as you will go in understanding some of the family backstory that explains why Mac behaves the way he does.I don't think this book is as strong as the first, but that was always going to be a difficult target to reach. I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and I'm looking forward to being able to read the next book in the quartet.
    • 4/5
      While I enjoyed it, I didn’t think the story was as strong as the first in the series, The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie. From the beginning, I really liked the character of Mac. Isabella’s characterization was weaker. I didn’t understand why she was so adamant about keeping her distance from Mac, because it was quickly established that they loved one another deeply. Why was she protecting her heart? Why was she wary of Mac?Since the love, affection and passion that Mac and Isabella shared was established immediately, it was hard to understand why they separated. All we got was snippets of information of what their relationship used to be like and these snippets were doled out very, very s-l-o-w-l-y throughout the book. This slow release of information didn’t allow me to have much sympathy and understanding of Isabella. It comes across as Mac’s a great guy whom Isabella seemingly toys with because she doesn’t know what she wants.I did enjoy it, but it could have been so much better. Unfortunately, it suffered because Jennifer Ashley waited too long to let me know why they separated.
    • 5/5
      I’ve been jonesing for this one ever since reading The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie. While I didn’t expect to be knocked over the head with this book like I was Lord Ian, I was hoping that still I would really enjoy it. And, joy of joys, I did!We got to see quite a bit of Mac and Isabella in the first book and though I can’t say for certain, I would recommend those planning on reading this book should read the first book, well first. One, because it’s a great book and two, because we get a glimpse into the troubled marriage between the hero/heroine of this one.First off, they were both very appealing characters in this book. That’s a big plus. I was already predisposed to liking them both and it continued on in this book. It was never a lack of love between the two of them that tore their marriage apart so going in, the reader can already sense the love. Rather it was Mac’s wildness and an inability to communicate that drove them apart. They are both passionate people and theirs was a ‘love at first sight’ kind of marriage. They eloped the night they met without getting to know how the other one ticks that caused such contentious issues. And Mac was on one of his many absences when Isabella suffered a tragic loss. And his drunkenness and childish attitude doom the marriage.But since a lack of love was never the issue, Mac spends the next several years growing up and when an opportunity arises for him to spend time with Isabella and show her that he has changed.I really enjoyed this ‘marriage in trouble’ book and ended up being quite pleased with it, but waiting for the next one in the series.
    • 4/5
      I absolutely adored the first book in the Highland Pleasures series and have been eagerly waiting for this book for the last year. This second book in the series was not as strong as the first but was a solid follow up. The hero and heroine were well developed and the storyline was intriguing in this book. However, I felt like we skipped the part about why the two are starting to think about reconciling (or at least the heroine's reasons). I normally despise romances where the couple is already married or has separated and the fact that I greatly enjoyed this one is fairly amazing. Some of the intrigue and danger seemed a bit forced but I loved this family and thought overall this was a strong second book in the series.