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.