Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage Advanced Review *Jennifer Ashley*

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. (Berkley, available July 6th)

Final Grade: B-

Another Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage review:
Love Romance And More