SCANDAL AND THE DUCHESS is a novella immediately following
Book six in Jennifer Ashley's Mackenziesseries.
SCANDAL AND THE DUCHESS is a great example of why Jennifer
Ashley's books are always on my "must read" list. This
novella is a treat and Captain Steven McBride is a very
charming man.
Steven turned out to be a different kind of man than I
thought he was. Even though Jennifer Ashley writes divine
heroes, I thought he'd be more of a rake given the
description on the back of the book. However I soon
discovered, along with the heroine, that he is really a
charming and compassionate man. Steven and Rose, the
Dowager Duchess of Southdown, are thrown together by
chance
and have an almost immediate physical attraction. I like
that it's a mutual immediate attraction. The chemistry
between them is great and the fiery and passionate moments
are balanced with the sweet and tender ones. I also really
liked that they seemed to really "get" each other. Even
though they just met, they appear to be kindred spirits
and
have a wonderful understanding of one another.
Besides the romance, the question of Rose's inheritance
from her late husband, and the struggle with the current
heir adds an interesting side story. It's an interesting
puzzle as well as an opportunity to showcase Steven's
chivalrous side and see familiar faces from other books in
this series. The appearances made by favorite characters
were well-timed and didn't clutter up the story. I like
that they served to give Rose a much-needed sense of
belonging and family.
SCANDAL AND THE DUCHESS is a lovely story and loads of
fun.
The brief appearances by Steven's brother Sinclair have
whetted my appetite for his book next. I look forward to
the next installment in this always sexy and highly
entertaining series by Jennifer Ashley.
Scandal follows Rose Barclay, young widow of the Duke of
Southdown, wherever she goes. It's never her fault, but
newspapers love to write about the young woman from
Scotland, and the much older duke she married, who died on
their honeymoon. The duke left her with a large widow's
portion, now contested by his younger brother, who kicks
Rose out of the estate's dower house and uses it to kennel
his dogs.
Rose does not need to be found with a large, handsome Scot
passed out at her feet, fueling gossips and giving her
brother-in-law more ammunition. The Scot is Steven
McBride--a decorated soldier who is notorious for heavy
gambling and womanizing during his leave time. Steven is
happy to open his eyes and find the beautiful woman
standing
over him, and happy to help spirit her away. But the
journalists get wind and start a campaign to couple Rose
with the scandalous Steven McBride.
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