The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (Highland Pleasures Series #1)

I wasn't as "mad" about Ian as I wanted to be

This is a book that I had been wanting to read for a while, but it had been buried in the TBR, so I was excited to dig it out and finally read it. I had heard SO MANY good things about the book, and have seen Ian come up in comments often as a favorite romance hero. I had high expectations which is why I think I felt a little disappointed in him as a hero after finishing the book.

Ian, is an unusual hero in that he has Asperger's syndrome and has been misunderstood and mistreated pretty much his entire life. He abide scorn and beatings from his father, which finally resulted in his "incarceration" in an insane asylum where he endured tortuously painful shock therapy treatments as well as other Victorian methods to try and cure him of his atypical behavior for years. He is incapable of expressing or feeling love, and is locked in a world that he has had to learn to adapt to, but remains distanced from everyone including his family.

He is haunted by memories and dreams of a mysterious murder, not knowing if he, or his brother murdered a woman in a house of pleasure that his brother owned. Thus ensues a plot to try and uncover who murdered two women Ian knew. Ian has struggled with doubts for years, and now that another woman has been found murdered an Inspector who has a vendetta against Ian and the Mackenzies sets out to prove that Ian is the murderer and belongs back in the asylum, while Beth does her own sleuthing to uncover the murder mysteries and prove that Ian is innocent.

There are many things to love about this book, but one of the things that bothered me the most was that it took Beth's intervention for everyone to believe that Ian was incapable of murder. Even his brother, the Duke, believed that he had killed the prostitutes. She was his savior in more ways than one, including teaching him the meaning of what it is to love. She was responsible for revealing the truth behind the murders and endangering herself in the process. And while I love a heroine who is capable and not in need of rescue I'm not quite sure how I feel about the heroine rescuing the hero. I'm conflicted about this aspect of the story.

I loved the moments when it was just Ian and Beth learning to communicate, understand, and love each other. And while the murder mystery drove the plot of the book I wanted more of just Ian and Beth. Since so much was made of Ian as a hero I imagined that most of the book would deal with his form of Autism and how he and Beth learned to love each other despite his emotional handicaps. I wanted to learn more about how Beth learned to deal with his "affliction" and didn't feel that the story adequately explored this aspect of their relationship. I also thought that the additional mystery solved by Beth involving the Inspector that was revealed at the end of the book was superfluous and unnecessary.

In the end I enjoyed The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, but as a hero Ian didn't quite live up to my expectations, which was disappointing. I know I am in the minority here, but what can I say? That being said The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie was an engaging read, and the secondary characters (his family) were incredibly intriguing. I can't wait for the next book, Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, due out in July. Isabella and Mac's story promises to be even better than Ian and Beth's romance.

Ratings:
Stars: 4.0 stars
Sensuality level: 3.0 (pretty much your standard &a

6 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Jennifer Ashley This is an intriguing Victorian romance has provided a terrific insightful thriller.

In 1881 England, anyone who knows Ian Mackenzie assumes he is mad. Even he believes there is something wrong with himself as thinks and reacts differently than his siblings and people in general. Ian has problems with understanding "normal" feelings; as he always is honest, which gets him in trouble.-----------

When wealthy widow Elizabeth Ackerley is to marry a rascal, Ian honest as ever makes it clear he thinks she is foolish to wed such a degenerate and that he feels nothing. Beth rejects his declaration; she begins to look closer at Ian and his family. Beth soon admires Ian and that turns into love; Ian rejects the notion he can love, but does not understand why he feels mushy when she is near. . However, as their respect and admiration grows, several young women have been murdered with Ian because of his odd behavior as the prime suspect. Beth vows to prove her beloved is innocent and that he now knows what love is.---------------------

This is an intriguing Victorian romance that looks deep into what back then was labeled madness, but today would be on the high functioning side of the Pervasive Developmental Disorders spectrum as probably either Asperger's Syndrome or a non specified disorder. Thus the audience has a unique lead character who thinks differently than the acceptable "norm". Beth, by just accepting him as he, proves she is a fabulous person. The murder accusation fits as Ian's madness makes him the obvious suspect. Jennifer Ashley has provided a terrific insightful thriller.-------------

Harriet Klausner

3 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

What a great read, a great find, this book comes highly recommended

I guess with my headline one can tell, I enjoyed this book. This was the first book that I have read by Jennifer Ashley but it will not be the last one. I was browsing the Barnes & Nobles site and honestly I cannot say how I happened upon The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie but I'm thankful that I did. I love Historical Romance books with a twist, with good strong characters, action packed, plots with detailed background information, plots that keep you turning the pages; this book had it all. Also with all these attributes, the love, romance and passion that Lord Ian showed towards his Beth simply sizzled. This was erotica personified. I plan on reading the Shifters Unbound Series; I have already purchased the first book in the series, Pride Mates. Take a chance with this book; I do not believe you will have any regrets.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Loved Lord Ian

I absolutely loved this book. Ashley goes above and beyond genre with this story of a man with serious issues and the woman who sees beyond them. I fell in love with Ian immediately and though he has his quirks, they only made him more interesting. I can't wait for the next book in the series!

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

I completely adored this book! From the first page to the last,

I completely adored this book! From the first page to the last, I honestly could have read a part 2 on Ian and Beth's love story. Jennifer Ashely in my opinion did a wonderful job, and as soon as I finish this review I plan on getting Mac and Cameron's story. And just might pre-order Hart's story while I am at it!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

just what i needed!!!

i have been so bored with romances lately and i have finally found an author to quench my thirst for something different!!! love all of the characters and i can not wait to read the rest of the series!!! please read! lord ian mackenzie is the "different" hero you have been fantasizing about! he seems more real to me i guess...

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Not typical at all

This book was very...sensual. The love story and hero of the book was out of the ordinary, but great. You kind of get bored with the same formula all the time with romance novels, so I enjoyed that the hero was so out of the ordinary and odd. I enjoy romances that stray from the norm, but still give you the expected at the same time. Along with great romance and lots of heat, this also had a good bit of mystery and suspense in the secondary story playing out with the group of brothers....and lots of humor. I enjoyed it very much.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

LOVE,LOVE,LOVED IT

My first book by Jennifer Ashley, I love it, have re-read it twice. I will definitely add this author to my favorites.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Compelling and Endearing!

I found this book very compelling. Jennifer Ashley had a very good balance of plot and secondary characters for a hero that has a legitimate emotional handicap. The frankness in which Beth is attracted to Ian and his response and emotional growth was engrossingly endearing. I coulnd put it down.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Refreshing

What a refreshing book! This book is about two people meeting and falling in love. But, there is a catch. Ian, the hero, has Asperger. He was institutionalized at an early age by his father and was finally released by his oldest brother, Hart. The author did a terrific job depicting Ian's condition, from his inability to look at someone in the eyes to his method of evaluating Ming pottery. Ian is brutally honest and tries his best. I really enjoyed reading how Ian fits or not fits himself into society. It is great to read about a hero that has a problem that is not going to get "fixed" at the end of the book.

Beth, the heroine, is no shrinking violet. She grew up poor, found love, was happily married, but widowed within a year of marriage. She is mature and knows what she wants. She has the fortitude to stand up for Ian and goes toe to toe with Ian's three older brothers. Her unbeatable attitude towards life is wonderful.

I really love how the two of them got together. Ian's straight forwardness towards their relationship can leave you grasping. There are 3 others books in the wing, one for each of the other 3 brothers. Can hardly wait.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Highly Recommended 5 stars

This was an unexpected pleasure! I immediately purchased the entire series. I loved it!!!

perfect

You have to read this.

Still my favorite

I have now read all of the brother's stories and Ians' is still the best.
Of course I recommend them all and I can't wait for the next book.

A Most Unusual Victorian Romance and One of My Very Favorites -

A Most Unusual Victorian Romance and One of My Very Favorites - I'm a big fan of the Mackenzie series by Jennifer Ashley and got hooked on this story when it was first released. I'm in the process of re-reading the series since book 4 has just been released. I can't say enough good things about book 1 in the series "The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie".

I love a "scarred" hero and an a sucker for unusual plot twists so I got the best of both worlds in this book. There are so many interesting twists in the story and the family dynamic is quite original. I love how much additional information we get on the other characters and how they play into the main story with Ian and Beth as they try to make it all work out. The Mackenzie family just seems to be dogged by multiple ongoing issues, scandals and heartache that you want to see them all get their happily ever after. The best part is that all 4 main characters in the series have their stories in print and I can read them all back to back!

Ian is not your typical hero - He's been misunderstood and mistreated most of his life, even being a son of a Duke did not spare him a painful childhood; but his life has just taken an upswing as fate has put the widowed Mrs Beth Ackerley in his path and now that he has found his "treasure" he's not about to let her go. This book has a most unusual set of characters, mysteries to solve, family secrets to be brought out of the closet and quite a bit of "bawdy" talk and loving as Beth and Ian find their happy ever after.

Book #1 - The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Book #2 - Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
Book #3 - The Many Sins of Lord Cameron
Book #4 - The Duke's Perfect Wife

I hope you give The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie and the rest of the series a try. It really is a wild Victorian adventure.

Love this series...from cover to cover

Love this series...from cover to cover

Must read

Wonderful! This book is intriguing, scandalous and very well written. I couldn't put it down. On to the next!

Great read... Great characters

I went into this thinking that Lord Ian Mackenzie would be the hero however I now believe that the real heroine in this book is truly Beth. I loved everything about this book, the suspence, the romance... everything. I cant wait to read about Isabella in #2.

Highly Recommend

This was the first book I ready by Jennifer Ashley and I enjoyed it. Couldn't put the book down, an amazing ready and left me wanting the next book. Glad I found them.

Highly recommend

I really enjoyed this book. I love Ian!!

Different take on Hero

Really enjoyed the authors take on a different type of hero.