The third in the Duchess of Love series,LOVING LORD
ASH
has much of the funny situational comedy that Ms. MacKenzie
is known for. The premise of the book is good. Lord Ash
has decided that it's time he take some action. He married
his wife, Jess, after catching her in a compromising
position with his best friend. When his friend doesn't do
the honorable thing and offer for Jess, Ash does. However,
the first thing he does is send her away in disgrace.
Eight years have passed since Jess and Ash last saw each
other. He comes to Jess's home and there is no one there to
answer the door. He finds two of the footman emerging from
a room in a disheveled state. Wondering what else he will
find, he enters Jess's studio. There he finds Jess in the
arms of a naked man. The situation just keeps getting
worse. Intent on obtaining a divorce, Ash hadn't considered
what the sight of Jess would do to his resolution to be
strong. Ash is torn, he needs an heir. To obtain the heir,
he needs a wife he can trust to be true to him. His love
for Jess is as strong as ever but he doesn't trust her.
Jess has loved Ash since she was a child. She never
imagined being married to him and not being able to live
with him. Deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding
her marriage, she has accepted her banishment. A brilliant
painter, Jess is fascinated by the male form. All of her
footman have posed for her and the gossip in the
neighborhood has her sleeping with all of them. Now the
chance has come to convince Ash that she has been faithful
but things keep going wrong.
LOVING LORD ASH has a somewhat unusual plot line but the
whole book hinges on one BIG misunderstanding. Since Ash
and Jess don't see each other for eight years, it is
understandable that the event grew larger in both their
minds. Even while I appreciated the scenes that were filled
with the humor that Ms. MacKenzie is known for, I just
wanted the two of them to talk to each other. By the time
they finally did, it was too late for this reader to find
the resolution believable.
Kit, the Marquis of Ashton, is in a sticky wicket. He
married young and for love—how naïve. He discovered his
mistake the very day of his wedding, but he is saddled now
with a wife he's reluctant to trust. And however much
evidence he gathers against faithless Jess, he can't seem to
prove her guilt to the final judge—his foolish heart.
Jessica knows she's bobbled her marriage, however
innocently. A fairytale wedding makes no difference if she
hasn't got the marquis charmed to show for it. Well, she's
had enough of accidental encounters with naked gentlemen and
near misses explaining things to her husband. It's time to
buck up and go win her man back—even if she has to fight
very dirty indeed.
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