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.