From the Back Cover: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 her help. Because suddenly the only thing that made sense to her was The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie.
I'll start off by saying the back cover blurb does not do this novel justice and it's a bit misleading. Beth knows nothing of Ian when she meets him, and neither does most of London society because Ian's family has tried to keep him out of trouble and his madness a secret. And Ian is no rake. The symptoms of Ian's "madness" and the circumstances of his childhood and treatment are heart-wrenchingly unveiled bit by bit throughout the story.
Ian MacKenzie is one of the most unique, memorable, and heart-breaking heroes I've ever encountered. I'm no expert on mental illness, but he appears to have a combination of autism and OCD. He is incapable of telling a lie, he has a photographic memory, he can play any instrument by ear, and he is devoted to those he loves. He is also prone to rages and black-outs, and thus had been suspected of two related murders. How can a sweet, but disenchanted girl like Beth help but want to fall in love with him and clear his name?
Jennifer Ashley has been writing romance for years, but this was my first experience and I think she's a great writer and I've already added a couple of books from her pirate series to my shelf. I was hooked on this book from page one, and wouldn't you know it, Ian happens to have three other brothers with issues, too, who are each getting a book of their own. I've already pre-ordered book #2, Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (Berkley Sensation)
.Rating: 5 Stars out of 5
This isn't a comment about the above review, more about something on your sidebar -- an upcoming review of Sally Gunning's new book. I have both Bound and A Widow's War on my shelf, unread -- I hope they are all good!
ReplyDeleteThis book sound really good to me. How wonderful that the book was even better than the back suggested!
ReplyDeleteI loved this book! Can't wait for Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage!
ReplyDeleteI do hope I can lay my hands on this book!
ReplyDeleteI bought this book when it first out, and have heard such good things about it but still haven't actually read it! I have read a few of her romances though and generally enjoy them!
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