Review: The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley

Posted October 7, 2013 by Holly in Reviews | 0 Comments

Review: The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer AshleyReviewer: Holly
The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
Series: Mackenzies & McBrides #5.5
Also in this series: Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, The Duke's Perfect Wife, The Seduction Of Elliot McBride, The Untamed Mackenzie, The Untamed Mackenzie, A Mackenzie Clan Gathering, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, A Mackenzie Clan Christmas
Publisher: Penguin
Publication Date: September 10th 2013
Genres: Fiction
Pages: 194
Add It: Goodreads
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three-half-stars

A WOMAN OF BREEDING MEETS A MAN OF NO STANDING…
To redeem her family’s disgraced name, Lady Louisa Scranton has decided to acquire a proper husband. He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order to restore both her family's lost wealth and reputation. She enters the Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right bachelor.
But Louisa’s hopes are dashed when the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet—and she is shockingly accused of murder! Soon, Louisa’s so-called friends begin shunning her, because the company of a suspected killer is never desirable in polite society.
The problem comes to the ears of Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows, by-blow of the decadent Scottish Mackenzie family and an inspector for Scotland Yard. He has shared two passionate kisses with Lady Louisa–and vows to clear her name. For not only does he know she’s innocent, he recognizes he’s falling for the lovely lady.
Fellows is Louisa's only hope of restoring her family's honor—and it is he alone who intrigues Louisa in a way that may be even more scandalous than murder…
INCLUDES A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING NOVEL THE WICKED DEEDS OF DANIEL MACKENZIE

 

I love that this is being released as an in-between novella. I hate that we have to wait so long between full-length titles.

Lady Louisa Scranton and Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows have been attracted to each other since they first met and shared a scorching kiss at a holiday party. Now he’s been called in to investigate a murder where Lady Louisa is the prime suspect. He knows she didn’t do it, but proving otherwise is going to be tough considering all evidence points to her. Because they have a connection, he knows he should step away from the case and allow someone else to handle it. But he knows no one else will do justice by her.

Louisa knows she’s been framed and Inspector Fellows is her best bet for having her name cleared. But what she really wants is for him to hold her and tell her everything will be alright. Since that isn’t an option she figures she’ll just have to deal with her attraction as practically as she can.

As they work together to figure out who framed Louisa and why, they become closer than ever. When that threatens to jeopardize his  investigation, he decides to make a clean break from her. Her safety and continued freedom is more important than anything else. Except Louisa disagrees…she knows if she can just clear up this investigation, she can have him. So she enlists the help of her friends and family to make that happen.

Louis is a strong woman, which is a continued theme in this series. I liked that she was willing to ask questions and push for answers when needed, but also knew when to step back. That doesn’t happen often enough in historical romances to suit me. Her fear of being convicted of a crime she didn’t commit came across well, but didn’t stop her from doing what she felt she needed to do, which I had to respect.

Fellows is a character I’ve been intrigued with from the beginning of the series. His bloodthirsty desire to see all Mackenzies pay in the earlier books

This was a good story. I enjoyed both Louisa and Hugh, though I do wish they’d been a bit more clear with each other (not that the story really allowed for that, but still). It was good to learn more about the bastard Mackenzie as well as see inside Louisa’s head. Their romance was sweet and satisfying.

3.75 out of 5

This book is available from InterMix. You can buy it here or here in e-format.

three-half-stars


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