Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (Mackenzies & McBrides, #2) in Vampires, Weres and Fae!

Dec 05, 2021 Jaime rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-star, favorites, historical-romance, highlander-hea, character-strong-females, highlander, favorite-authors, highlander-clan-life, emotionally-damaged-mc, chemistry-hot

When loving someone tears you apart what do you do? This is what Lady Isabella Mackenzie had to decide when left alone to face tragedy. Did she take Mac back, again? As we know from book one of the series, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Isabella chose to leave Mac — even though she loved him.

When this story begins Isabella & Mac are still separated but Mac has decided enough is enough and he wants his wife back. So he sets out with determination to win his wife’s trust back and to prove to When loving someone tears you apart what do you do? This is what Lady Isabella Mackenzie had to decide when left alone to face tragedy. Did she take Mac back, again? As we know from book one of the series, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Isabella chose to leave Mac — even though she loved him.

When this story begins Isabella & Mac are still separated but Mac has decided enough is enough and he wants his wife back. So he sets out with determination to win his wife’s trust back and to prove to her he has changed.

“It is a game, my love.” He held her gaze. “It is the most serious game I’ve ever engaged in. And I intend to win it. I will have you back, Isabella—in my life, in my house, and in my bed.”

Although there is still undeniable chemistry between Mac & Isabella both of them are afraid of bearing their soul to the other. Isabella is afraid Mac will return to his habit of disappearing for weeks. Mac is afraid Isabella won’t love him if he doesn’t hide his demons. Both of them are hurt from a loss that neither have grieved. One thing Mac is sure of is he wants ALL of Isabella not just crumbs of passion.

Mac broke the kiss and stepped back, removing his wonderful warmth. “No,” he said. He drew a shaking breath. “I don’t want this.” Isabella blinked, the sudden cold on her skin like a slap. “You certainly do want this. Do you wish me to kiss you or kick you away? Please be consistent.” Mac ran a hand through his hair, his eyes tight in the darkness. “What I want is everything. I refuse to take crumbs.” Isabella shook her head. “I can’t give you everything. Not now.” “I know you can’t. But understand this: I want to take you to bed and have you wake up with me, unashamed, no regrets, no tossing me out before anyone catches us. I want your trust, whole and unblemished. I will keep fighting until I have that.”

Remember that saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone” — our poor Mac lives this reality for more than 3 years and Isabella makes him earn the right to be her husband again. It’s pretty emotional as you can feel the pain both of these characters experience and I loved that we got dual POV throughout the book.

Mac didn’t want games or the occasional tickle in the drawing room. He wanted all of Isabella—her love, her friendship, her trust. Passion without love and trust was empty, he thought as he watched Beth and Isabella hug each other. He’d learned that brutal lesson too late.

Finally after a lot of back and forth and some additional drama Mac & Isabella do find their way back to each other. As Ian sums it up, “What took you so long?”

I won’t bore you with a complete recap but I will say that I loved this book! Of course, I am now ready for Cam’s story…this is an addictive series!

5 Stars ⭐️ | 5 Flames 🔥 ...more

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Mar 18, 2012 Susan rated it liked it

I would have liked to give this 3.5 stars. I really enjoyed the book, and could see the reasons for the angst with Isabella and Mac, but I found them to get annoying at times as well. The background story was good and the surrounding family/characters enjoyable as with book one. There is also suspense as well. Overall, I definitely recommend this series.

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Jan 01, 2014 JoRead rated it it was amazing

Shelves: historical-romance, favorites, own-format-print

Not just a romantic novel but a look inside the troubled life of a couple that in spite of loving each other with all their hearts, the realization that sometimes a "happily ever after" doesn't start right after the wedding bells makes both their lives a living hell. It takes years of separation for both "Mac" and Isabella to realize that love can indeed conquer it all, with a lot of work, patience, and understanding of course. ...more

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Jul 16, 2018 Stef rated it really liked it

Shelves: c-genre1-erotica, c-genre1-chic-lit-n-romance-n-drama, cgenre-action-packd-suspnse-romance, species-human, read-in-2018move-items, sexual-mf, a-series, format-library-book, author-jennifer-ashley

Jennifer Ashley is a new author for me for 2018. Reading her books.

Now this series written in a different time where no technology is about. Horse n buggy days ect. historical romance of sorts with some erotica thrown in the mix. yummy hot men... looking forward to reading this whole series. Love her books so far this year.

Just read the Shifters Unbound series and it was excellent. - paranormal series

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