Source: Audiobook Purchase, Kindle PurchaseFormat: Audiobook
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley
Narrator: Angela Dawe
Length: 9 hrs and 53 mins
Date Read: March 2013
Genre: Historical, Romance
More Information:The year is 1881. Meet the Mackenzie family--rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. A lady couldn't be seen with them without ruin. Rumors surround them--of tragic violence, of their mistresses, of their dark appetites, of scandals that set England and Scotland abuzz.
The youngest brother, Ian, known as the Mad Mackenzie, spent most of his young life in an asylum, and everyone agrees he is decidedly odd. He's also hard and handsome and has a penchant for Ming pottery and beautiful women.
Beth Ackerley, widow, has recently come into a fortune. She has decided that she wants no more drama in her life. She was raised in drama--an alcoholic father who drove them into the workhouse, a frail mother she had to nurse until her death, a fussy old lady she became constant companion to. No, she wants to take her money and find peace, to travel, to learn art, to sit back and fondly remember her brief but happy marriage to her late husband.
And then Ian Mackenzie decides he wants her.
The first of a new historical series.
Publisher: Berkley, Tantor
Series: Highland Pleasures #1
Also by this author: Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, The Many Sins of Lord Cameron, The Duke's Perfect Wife, A Mackenzie Family Christmas: the Perfect Gift, The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie
Also in this series: Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, The Many Sins of Lord Cameron, The Duke's Perfect Wife, A Mackenzie Family Christmas: the Perfect Gift
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.25
Character Rating: 4.75
Audio Rating: 4.00 (not part of the overall rating)
First Thought when Finished: What a wonderfully unique leading man Ian was! The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie by Jennifer Ashley was a brilliant surprise!
Story Talk: Can I just say that the Mackenzie brothers are an interesting group of guys! Ian, the most unusual of them all–so far,is a story that not everyone will get but it hit me square in the heart. He was so darn unique! I believe he was a high functioning autistic character but he could have also had some PTSD from an incident when he was younger. He was very perceptive and while independent, his brothers were very protective because of his differences. His “issues” were dealt with in a very real and sometimes shocking manner in this story. For the time period, he had to be totally unique. Jennifer Ashley took a huge chance and I think it paid off in spades.
Character Talk: I am going to start with Beth because it takes a super special woman to see beyond the obvious with Ian. She seems to get him even though she had to war with herself to accept their relationship on his terms. Ian could be manipulative but never in a way that made you think he was doing just for his own good. His “difference” played a huge part in how he thought things through. Beth was wonderful at figuring that out and eventually learning how to be herself as well as deal with Ian. Their love story was awesome!
Audio Talk:
Narrated by Angela Dawe / Running Time 9 hrs and 53 mins
I enjoyed the narration by Angela Dawe. I am not always a fan of audiobooks with multiple accents but I thought Angela did a pretty good job. The pacing was pretty well done and I thought she nailed Ian’s uniqueness. Overall, I would recommend this audiobook.
Final Thought: I will be reading the rest of this series in the future!
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Felicia S
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I listened to this as an audiobook, too! I liked it, but I wasn’t crazy about the male voices. Still, it would be a fun series to continue on with!
I’d love to read this just for Ian’s character. He sounds very unique!
This is one of my favourite authors, and this whole series is awesome. You will cry and laugh with them, but I do agree, Ian is quite unique. I hope you will love the other brothers as well.
I am sure I am going to love the rest of the brothers too! I am going to be checking my library for the rest of them.
Gah..you are tempting me with all these lovely historical fictions..and I want to meet Ian..love your review woman!
Ian was so awesome and so different! Yes I have been on a bit of historical kick lately 🙂 Curse of a moody reader LOL
A huge chance indeed. I still can’t believe how well Ashley made this one work. Ian is one of my favorite heroes and I could read this book endlessly. I’m glad to hear the audio is good – now I can give my poor paperback a break and listen to this one for a change! 😉
I did enjoy the audio though I will warn you that in the beginning it takes a bit to get into Ian’s voice. That being said, once it clicks—it was smooth sailing.
Ian sounds like an awesome character. I like that the author took a chance and made him so unique. Like to see that high rating from you up there!
He was so wonderfully unique. A couple of us were talking and we think he is a high functioning autistic character but back then nothing was diagnosed. He remembers EVERYTHING he reads, hears, and is very observant. His interactions are so very unique.
I am very intrigued by this book. Very.Intrigued.
It was very good! I was surprised that she took a characters so out of the norm and made a love story for them.
The characters do sound interesting, especially Ian. Multiple accents must be a little hard for audio. But still another not 5 stars for an Audie
So far none of the Audie books are a 5.00 and in this category they have all been 3.5 or 4. I still have 2 to go so hopefully one of them WOW me.
Oh sounds like you added another historical romance to my wishlist. You have already added every historical romance Maya Banks has ever written to that list.
This is the only one I have read by her but this one was very good! I think you would like it for the really unique leading guy 🙂
Oh and you are welcome for the Maya Banks thing! You will love her other ones 🙂
I haven’t read too many historicals but may have to pick up the audio of this one.
It is very different in some ways from a typical historical. I like really unique leading characters and this one does it really well.
I had already added this to TBR when seeing you talk about it on GR 🙂
Sounds like a such a good read! You may get me hooked on historicals!!
Oh this one doesn’t have the “follow the man” issues that happen in the highland stories. The woman is actually wealthy and has no need to marry again if she doesn’t want too. So this one might actually work better for you.
I do love a good historical. Actually, it’s been a while since I’ve read one. This might get me back into it!
This one was EXCELLENT! I really enjoyed it 🙂