The Untamed Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley – a Review

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Description:
To redeem her family’s disgraced name, Lady Louisa Scranton has decided to acquire a proper husband. He needs to be a man of fortune and highly respectable in order to restore both her family’s lost wealth and reputation. She enters the Marriage Mart with all flags flying, determined to find the right bachelor.

But Louisa’s hopes are dashed when the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet—and she is shockingly accused of murder! Soon, Louisa’s so-called friends begin shunning her, because the company of a suspected killer is never desirable in polite society.

The problem comes to the ears of Detective Inspector Lloyd Fellows, by-blow of the decadent Scottish Mackenzie family and an inspector for Scotland Yard. He has shared two passionate kisses with Lady Louisa–and vows to clear her name. For not only does he know she’s innocent, he recognizes he’s falling for the lovely lady.

Fellows is Louisa’s only hope of restoring her family’s honor—and it is he alone who intrigues Louisa in a way that may be even more scandalous than murder

Review:
The Untamed Mackenzie is a novella (book 5.5) in Jennifer Ashley’s Highland Pleasures series based on the fabulous Mackenzie men.  Lloyd Fellows is a half brother to the Mackenzies, as his late father the Old Duke refused to acknowledge him. Lloyd is now a successful Inspector, and despite his uncomfortable feelings, he finds himself constantly being pulled into the Mackenzie family gatherings, as his half brothers and their wives consider him family, It was at one of these events that Lloyd met Isabella’s sister, Louisa, and he immediately found himself attracted to her.  But despite his adopted family’s open arms, he does not feel he is worthy of Louisa, being the illegitimate son of the old Duke.

Louisa, who is looking for a rich husband, finds herself in a predicament.  While trying to force her to accept his proposal of marriage, the Bishop of Hargate drops dead at her feet.  He was poisoned, and since Louisa was the only one in the room with him at the time, she is now the main suspect in a murder investigation. 

The Mackenzies use their power to ensure that Lloyd is put on the case to help save Louisa and find the real murderer.  Lloyd comes to the residence where the body lays, and when he sees Louisa, his heart begins to race, as he has not forgotten how he feels about her.  Knowing that he cannot act on his feelings, especially being the lead investigator where she is the main suspect, Lloyd acts distant.  But as the investigation moves along at a slow pace, both Lloyd and Louisa find themselves unable to control their feelings for each other.  They share a few very passionate kisses, only able to break away at the last minute. 

The investigation becomes very difficult, as Lloyd will do anything to save Louisa, even if it means costing him his job.  With the help of some of the Mackenzie’s; Lloyd and Louisa work together to set a trap for the real killer.

Jennifer Ashley does a wonderful job building this romance of a couple that are so different from each other, but yet fall in love.  This romance was built slowly, and done so well.  The Untamed Mackenzie was a wonderful romance, excellent suspense and murder investigation, but the best part of the book besides the great couple, was being able to see all of the Mackenzies throughout the book.  I really enjoyed this novella, which is a perfect lead in to the next full book, which belongs to Daniel, and will be released in October.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher