Jennifer Ashley
Published: Tantor Audio
Date: March 2012
Format: Audiobook
Length: 9hr 53 min
Narrator: Angela Dawe
Genre: Historical Romance
Source: Own book
It was whispered all through London society that he was a murderer, that he'd spent his youth in an asylum and was not to be trusted - especially with a lady. Any woman caught in his presence was immediately ruined. Yet Beth found herself inexorably drawn to the Scottish lord whose hint of a brogue wrapped around her like silk and whose touch could draw her into a world of ecstasy.
Despite his decadence and intimidating intelligence, she could see he needed help. Her help. Because suddenly the only thing that made sense to her was the madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie.
I read The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie a few years back and really couldn't see what everyone was so excited about - I think after reading it I put the book out in the local book fair. However one day I looked on Goodreads and saw all the readers I follow who rated it very highly, twenty one readers had given it mostly fours and fives. Sometimes I think if I am tired or have read too many of the same genre, I tend to not give a book its due worth so I decided I would give this book another shot - this time on audio.
Angela Dawe does a very good narration and brings the book to life. This time around I did appreciate it! I listen to my audiobooks at normal speed so it gives me time to really attend to the story.
Beth was a very switched on woman, tenacious and courageous. She has been married before, however her husband died. Then she was a companion to a wealthy woman who just happened to leave her all her fortune. So therefore Beth ends up as an independent, competent and outspoken woman. Very few can pull the wool over her eyes.
Ian has had a rather tough upbringing, having been sent to an institution in his youth because he is 'mad'. There he is treated very badly and he only is able to leave there when his father dies and his brother turns up to set him free. Ian is gifted with numbers and remembers great chunks of what he reads so he is a valuable asset to his brother. However Ian is tangled up in a murder or two and a pesky Fellowes inspector is after the Mackenzie family to haul any or all the culprits in. He hates the Mackenzies. Beth goes in to prove that none of them committed any murder and in doing so gets caught up in the whole sordid story and solves another mystery as well. Along the way she ends up married to Ian to help them escape Fellowes.
It all untangles and of course has a happy ever after because it is after all a historical romance. All very satisfying. There are a number of books that follow and I hope to read at least one more to see how it all pans out further along in this family Mackenzie.
Aw that's awesome you were willing to give them another go. I met Ian in one of the later books then backtracked to read from the start and loved him and his condition. It was so interesting to me seeing a character with what I'm assuming was Aspergers. I still need to get the rest of the series read. I've got the last few read and enjoyed them but those in the middle still to go. So bad reading out of order. lol
ReplyDeleteAnna heard many readers saying they must read the entire series but haven't yet. I'd like to now, and not to far away so that I remember them all. Yes Ian must have had Aspergers.
DeleteI'm so glad you gave it another go and really enjoyed it. I read this one quite a few years ago and fell in love. Need more of the Mackenzie men, I bought Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (Mac's story) straight up but still haven't read it *shame face* ... time to change that :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed this one the second time. I enjoyed your review.
ReplyDeleteI haven't been too into historical romance here lately (much to my annoyance because I entered a HR challenge!!) but this one sounds too good to pass up. I like the suspicions of him entering into an asylum and would love to learn more about if he really had been in one in his youth and what circumstances brought him there. Sometimes I wonder if the only reason I love reading is because I'm nosy LOL
ReplyDeleteI loves this book when I read I read it, and super enjoyed it when I listened :)
ReplyDeleteWell said! I'm glad you enjoyed the audiobook too.