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Mackenzies & McBrides #8
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride
The New York Times bestselling author of Rules for a Proper Governess returns with an engrossing tale that promises to delight lovers of Outlander.
1745, Scotland: The youngest son of the scandalous Mackenzie family, Malcolm is considered too wild to tame…until he meets a woman who is too unattainable to resist.
Lady Mary Lennox is English, her father highly loyal to the king, and promised to another Englishman. But despite it being forbidden to speak to Malcolm, Lady Mary is fascinated by the Scotsman, and stolen moments together lead to a passion greater than she’d ever dreamed of finding.
When fighting breaks out between the Highlanders and the King's army, their plans to elope are thwarted, and it will take all of Malcolm’s daring as a Scottish warrior to survive the battle and steal a wife out from under the noses of the English.
1745, Scotland: The youngest son of the scandalous Mackenzie family, Malcolm is considered too wild to tame…until he meets a woman who is too unattainable to resist.
Lady Mary Lennox is English, her father highly loyal to the king, and promised to another Englishman. But despite it being forbidden to speak to Malcolm, Lady Mary is fascinated by the Scotsman, and stolen moments together lead to a passion greater than she’d ever dreamed of finding.
When fighting breaks out between the Highlanders and the King's army, their plans to elope are thwarted, and it will take all of Malcolm’s daring as a Scottish warrior to survive the battle and steal a wife out from under the noses of the English.
359 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 29, 2015
About the author
Jennifer Ashley
179 books7,184 followersNY Times Bestselling author Jennifer Ashley writes historical, contemporary, and paranormal romance, historical mysteries, and urban fantasy as Jennifer Ashley, Allyson James, and Ashley Gardner.
Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.
Jennifer's novels have been translated into many different languages, and earned starred reviews from Booklist and Publisher's Weekly. More about her books at http://www.jenniferashley.com and http://gardnermysteries.com.
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August 14, 2020
5 I'll always come for ye stars
*May have Mild Spoilers*
“You’ll ruin me,” she whispered. Malcolm studied her, his amber-colored gaze intense. “Marry me, lass, and I’ll ruin ye every day.”- Mary and Mal
I loved this book. The Stolen Mackenzie Bride was soooo good. And emotional it had me tearing up. This book is kinda a prequel, even though it's the 8th book of the series, timeline wise it would have happen first. The hero Mal Mackenzie is the Mackenzie that anyone who has read this series has heard about. He was the Mackenzie back in 1745 that stole his English bride and fought and survived the Jacobite war to become the Duke of Kilmorgan. I loved both Mal and Mary. Some friends of mine that read this book told me Mal and Ian were a lot alike. I didn't really see it. Mal felt like himself to me. He was brave, determined, devoted, and damn sweet. The things he would say to Mary *Swoon*! Mary was very cute too. She was a little sassy without going overboard. She was playful, loving and loyal. Now I think Mal's brother Alec reminded me of Mac, and Will was a lot like Cam.
"Ye are for me, Mary," He said in a quiet voice. "And I for you. And this always will be."-Mal
"Thank you. You've made me so happy-I thought I could never feel this happy again." Alec shot Mal a look of mock alarm. "Then ye can't be pleasing her right, Mal. What's the matter with ye?" "Aye." Mal gave his brother a solemn nod. "Trust a woman to put a man in his place."-Mary, Alec and Mal
There was a lot of action and war in this book. The Jacobite uprising was a very sad part of history. I felt that Jennifer Ashley did a beautiful job of keeping things real, raw and gritty. She painted a picture of war that was dark, touching and emotional. I felt she balanced the war history information well without turning it boring. I also felt that the romance was so sweet that it helped take the sting out of the sad parts. I will say that last battle and the few weeks that followed had me in tears. I loved the epilogue. The hea the couple got was great and the way it ended answered a few questions I had about how the next two books could even come about. You know seeing as how the next two books are Alec and Will's and they are both suppose to be dead. What a great addition to the series I can't wait the get my hands the next few books.
"She were a fiiiiine lassie," came the booming baritone. "With a bosom so sweet, and bum so large, and between her legs a.....laaaaaaad." "Is that a song?" Jeremy asked, his face red but his eyes sparkling with humor. "He makes up his own," Mal said. "Young Master Jeremy, meet my brother, the rakehell himself, William Ferdinand Mackenzie."-Will, Jeremy, and Mal
*May have Mild Spoilers*
“You’ll ruin me,” she whispered. Malcolm studied her, his amber-colored gaze intense. “Marry me, lass, and I’ll ruin ye every day.”- Mary and Mal
I loved this book. The Stolen Mackenzie Bride was soooo good. And emotional it had me tearing up. This book is kinda a prequel, even though it's the 8th book of the series, timeline wise it would have happen first. The hero Mal Mackenzie is the Mackenzie that anyone who has read this series has heard about. He was the Mackenzie back in 1745 that stole his English bride and fought and survived the Jacobite war to become the Duke of Kilmorgan. I loved both Mal and Mary. Some friends of mine that read this book told me Mal and Ian were a lot alike. I didn't really see it. Mal felt like himself to me. He was brave, determined, devoted, and damn sweet. The things he would say to Mary *Swoon*! Mary was very cute too. She was a little sassy without going overboard. She was playful, loving and loyal. Now I think Mal's brother Alec reminded me of Mac, and Will was a lot like Cam.
"Ye are for me, Mary," He said in a quiet voice. "And I for you. And this always will be."-Mal
"Thank you. You've made me so happy-I thought I could never feel this happy again." Alec shot Mal a look of mock alarm. "Then ye can't be pleasing her right, Mal. What's the matter with ye?" "Aye." Mal gave his brother a solemn nod. "Trust a woman to put a man in his place."-Mary, Alec and Mal
There was a lot of action and war in this book. The Jacobite uprising was a very sad part of history. I felt that Jennifer Ashley did a beautiful job of keeping things real, raw and gritty. She painted a picture of war that was dark, touching and emotional. I felt she balanced the war history information well without turning it boring. I also felt that the romance was so sweet that it helped take the sting out of the sad parts. I will say that last battle and the few weeks that followed had me in tears. I loved the epilogue. The hea the couple got was great and the way it ended answered a few questions I had about how the next two books could even come about. You know seeing as how the next two books are Alec and Will's and they are both suppose to be dead. What a great addition to the series I can't wait the get my hands the next few books.
"She were a fiiiiine lassie," came the booming baritone. "With a bosom so sweet, and bum so large, and between her legs a.....laaaaaaad." "Is that a song?" Jeremy asked, his face red but his eyes sparkling with humor. "He makes up his own," Mal said. "Young Master Jeremy, meet my brother, the rakehell himself, William Ferdinand Mackenzie."-Will, Jeremy, and Mal
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April 21, 2016Booklist gives Stolen Mackenzie Bride a starred review! (those are few and far between ...)
RT Book Reviews gives Stolen Mackenzie Bride a 4.5 Top Pick! review.
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride takes us back to 1745 and the ancestor of the current (Victorian age) Mackenzies. Meet Malcolm (Mal) Mackenzie, youngest brother of five in a family of wild Highlanders. Mal isn't much for politics or the Jacobites' wish to restore the Stuarts to the throne of Britain--his interest during his sojourn to Edinburgh is a young English rose he spies--one look, and he's determined to win her for himself.
Lady Mary Lennox, daughter of an English earl, is engaged to a man who is in thick with King George of England. Mary knows it's a marriage for everyone's convenience but hers, but she's practical enough to understand she should make the best of her lot.
And then Mary spies a tall, hard-bodied Scotsman across a drawing room floor. Though he wears a civilized frock coat and has been invited (along with his brother) to the very English gathering prove that Highlanders are nothing to fear, he wears a kilt wrapped around his waist and doesn't look tamed at all. Whoever decided to quell the worries of the English by bringing him here has made a grave mistake.
Mal, with his brothers (Alec and Angus, the twins; and Will, the wickedest rakehell in the Highlands), must face choices when Charles Stuart lands--will they follow their father, who would be happy never to see a Stuart again, or their oldest brother, Duncan, who will stop at nothing to drive the Hanovarian dynasty out of England and free Scotland?
Amid the dangers and violence of the Jacobite uprising, Mal determines to take the beautiful Mary for himself--Mary finds her loyalty to her family and her duty crumbling at the hot touch of a Highlander ...
This is a full-length novel, out in print, e- and audio!!
More Mackenzies in this time period to come!
RT Book Reviews gives Stolen Mackenzie Bride a 4.5 Top Pick! review.
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride takes us back to 1745 and the ancestor of the current (Victorian age) Mackenzies. Meet Malcolm (Mal) Mackenzie, youngest brother of five in a family of wild Highlanders. Mal isn't much for politics or the Jacobites' wish to restore the Stuarts to the throne of Britain--his interest during his sojourn to Edinburgh is a young English rose he spies--one look, and he's determined to win her for himself.
Lady Mary Lennox, daughter of an English earl, is engaged to a man who is in thick with King George of England. Mary knows it's a marriage for everyone's convenience but hers, but she's practical enough to understand she should make the best of her lot.
And then Mary spies a tall, hard-bodied Scotsman across a drawing room floor. Though he wears a civilized frock coat and has been invited (along with his brother) to the very English gathering prove that Highlanders are nothing to fear, he wears a kilt wrapped around his waist and doesn't look tamed at all. Whoever decided to quell the worries of the English by bringing him here has made a grave mistake.
Mal, with his brothers (Alec and Angus, the twins; and Will, the wickedest rakehell in the Highlands), must face choices when Charles Stuart lands--will they follow their father, who would be happy never to see a Stuart again, or their oldest brother, Duncan, who will stop at nothing to drive the Hanovarian dynasty out of England and free Scotland?
Amid the dangers and violence of the Jacobite uprising, Mal determines to take the beautiful Mary for himself--Mary finds her loyalty to her family and her duty crumbling at the hot touch of a Highlander ...
This is a full-length novel, out in print, e- and audio!!
More Mackenzies in this time period to come!
August 12, 2018
My MacKenzie Love Affair continues!!
This is a Must Read for all fans of this series!!
*****5 Romantically Tragic stars *****
Jennifer Ashley takes us back in time to the couple that started it all. Malcolm Mackenzie and Lady Mary's love was Epic!!!
Malcom is the youngest son of the Duke of Kilmorgan. He keeps the family together and takes care of everyone, even his dad. Times are good and prosperous for the young genius that has perfected their Mackenzie malt.
Malcolm has also just met a woman that he cannot stop thinking about. He is obsessed with Lady Mary. So what if she is the daughter of a Duke, and engaged to another. He intends to make her his bride!!!
The Jacobite uprising is about to hit it's peak and all hell is about to break loose. This book was violent, tragic, and so full of love. The character development was amazing. I could feel the love that the brothers had for each other, and their heartless father. The romance between Malcom and Mary was a type of instalove, even with all the obstacles in their way.
I fell head over heals in love with Malcom and how he would let nothing, or no-one come between him and the woman he loved. Gah, he was so damn intense about his feelings for Mary that he earned a rare spot on the "my perfect man" shelf!!
This book was so good that I immediately started re-reading it once I had finished. I look forward to re-reading it again in the future. I love Ian Mackenzie, but Malcom just became my favorite of this series. I loved reading about the history of their family and seeing how the Mackenzies that I love, Ian, Cam, Mac, and Hart, came to be.
This is a must read for any fan of this series!!! Skip the Mcbride books if you want because they are not as intense, but Do Not Skip this one!!
Sexxy Mackenzie Reviews:
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron
The Duke's Perfect Wife
A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift
The Untamed Mackenzie
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie
Scandal and the Duchess
Rules for a Proper Governess
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride
A MacKenzie Clan Gathering
This is a Must Read for all fans of this series!!
*****5 Romantically Tragic stars *****
Jennifer Ashley takes us back in time to the couple that started it all. Malcolm Mackenzie and Lady Mary's love was Epic!!!
Malcom is the youngest son of the Duke of Kilmorgan. He keeps the family together and takes care of everyone, even his dad. Times are good and prosperous for the young genius that has perfected their Mackenzie malt.
Malcolm has also just met a woman that he cannot stop thinking about. He is obsessed with Lady Mary. So what if she is the daughter of a Duke, and engaged to another. He intends to make her his bride!!!
The Jacobite uprising is about to hit it's peak and all hell is about to break loose. This book was violent, tragic, and so full of love. The character development was amazing. I could feel the love that the brothers had for each other, and their heartless father. The romance between Malcom and Mary was a type of instalove, even with all the obstacles in their way.
I fell head over heals in love with Malcom and how he would let nothing, or no-one come between him and the woman he loved. Gah, he was so damn intense about his feelings for Mary that he earned a rare spot on the "my perfect man" shelf!!
This book was so good that I immediately started re-reading it once I had finished. I look forward to re-reading it again in the future. I love Ian Mackenzie, but Malcom just became my favorite of this series. I loved reading about the history of their family and seeing how the Mackenzies that I love, Ian, Cam, Mac, and Hart, came to be.
This is a must read for any fan of this series!!! Skip the Mcbride books if you want because they are not as intense, but Do Not Skip this one!!
Sexxy Mackenzie Reviews:
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie
Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron
The Duke's Perfect Wife
A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift
The Untamed Mackenzie
The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie
Scandal and the Duchess
Rules for a Proper Governess
The Stolen Mackenzie Bride
A MacKenzie Clan Gathering
October 5, 2015
Favorite Quote: “You’ll ruin me,” she whispered.
Malcolm studied her, his amber-colored gaze intense. “Marry me, lass, and I’ll ruin ye every day.”
One of my favorite historical series is Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzie series (starting with Lord Ian – a favorite book of all time). I was thrilled to hear she is changing things up a bit with this series and taking us back in time to the mid 1700’s. She introduces us to the ancestors of the current Mackenzie’s and gives us a loud, chaotic highlander family of all men! Malcolm Mackenzie is our hero and the youngest of five boys. Malcolm is nicknamed, runt, but he is anything but. A big fellow who has always looked to get into trouble, Malcolm has a heart of gold and you will fall in love with him instantly.
Malcolm falls in love with the heroine instantly himself. One glance – just one – and he knows the english Lady Mary Lennox is the one for him. The only problem (well, Malcolm doesn’t see it as a problem) is that she is betrothed and english. Both her father and his father would have heart attacks if they married one another.
Mary has always lived a very dutiful life. Following all rules, always proper, always polite. When she sees Malcolm at a gathering, intensely staring at her, it unnerves her. There is something wild about this highlander – and it makes her start to feel something. By no means does Mary love or have any affection to her betrothed. She is just marrying him to please her father. She honestly didn’t mind – but now this highlander is making her start to doubt her path in life.
Mal was giving her a glimpse of something else, another choice, and it was frightening her to death.
Malcolm closed both hands around hers and pulled her to him. “Ye hold on to me, Mary, and you’ll be all right. I’ll never let ye fall.”
Mary’s sister is also having trouble in the romance department – wanting to runaway and elope with a fellow her father doesn’t approve of. When Mary sneaks off to deliver a message to this fellow from her sister, Malcolm intercepts her in a dark hallway. He says naughty things to her and makes Mary feel quite hot on the inside. For a man raised by a father with four brothers, he says the sweetest things to Mary.
“I’m trying to tell ye, lass.” Malcolm gentled his voice. “Ye owe me nothing. If I kiss ye, it’s because you’re sweet in the sunshine, and I want to enjoy you.”
I want to be kissed for this reason!
For as unruly Malcolm is with his four brothers, he is just the most adorable hero. His devotion to Mary is absolutely swoon-worthy. While she has followed all her father’s orders, she isn’t a timid mouse. She has her own thoughts and is actually quite independent. Malcolm falls instantly in love, and Mary falls pretty fast too. Figuring out how to be together – well that takes time. This book takes place during the beginning of the Jacobite revolution. The King’s army moves in and sides are taken. Spies are arrested, fights break out. All the Mackenzie brothers and Mary’s father and betrothed become heavily involved in the Jacobite conflict. This pushes most of the action in the story.
All Malcolm wants to do is take care of everyone. While him and his father have extremely heated conversations, he still risks his life to make his father happy. He may wrestle with his brothers and constantly bicker, but his family means more to him than anything in the world. We get acquainted with the eldest, Duncan, who fights to put Charles Stuart on the throne. The twins, Alec and Angus – Alec reeling from devastating news and Angus worried constantly about his father. And William – the man who knows everything about everything because he pretends to get drunk at whorehouses every night. It’s a full and warm family. And of course, I’m dying for all of their books.
This has romance, adventure, politics and a family of five unruly Mackenzie brothers that will steal your heart. I had a lot of fun reading it
Grade: B+
Malcolm studied her, his amber-colored gaze intense. “Marry me, lass, and I’ll ruin ye every day.”
One of my favorite historical series is Jennifer Ashley’s Mackenzie series (starting with Lord Ian – a favorite book of all time). I was thrilled to hear she is changing things up a bit with this series and taking us back in time to the mid 1700’s. She introduces us to the ancestors of the current Mackenzie’s and gives us a loud, chaotic highlander family of all men! Malcolm Mackenzie is our hero and the youngest of five boys. Malcolm is nicknamed, runt, but he is anything but. A big fellow who has always looked to get into trouble, Malcolm has a heart of gold and you will fall in love with him instantly.
Malcolm falls in love with the heroine instantly himself. One glance – just one – and he knows the english Lady Mary Lennox is the one for him. The only problem (well, Malcolm doesn’t see it as a problem) is that she is betrothed and english. Both her father and his father would have heart attacks if they married one another.
Mary has always lived a very dutiful life. Following all rules, always proper, always polite. When she sees Malcolm at a gathering, intensely staring at her, it unnerves her. There is something wild about this highlander – and it makes her start to feel something. By no means does Mary love or have any affection to her betrothed. She is just marrying him to please her father. She honestly didn’t mind – but now this highlander is making her start to doubt her path in life.
Mal was giving her a glimpse of something else, another choice, and it was frightening her to death.
Malcolm closed both hands around hers and pulled her to him. “Ye hold on to me, Mary, and you’ll be all right. I’ll never let ye fall.”
Mary’s sister is also having trouble in the romance department – wanting to runaway and elope with a fellow her father doesn’t approve of. When Mary sneaks off to deliver a message to this fellow from her sister, Malcolm intercepts her in a dark hallway. He says naughty things to her and makes Mary feel quite hot on the inside. For a man raised by a father with four brothers, he says the sweetest things to Mary.
“I’m trying to tell ye, lass.” Malcolm gentled his voice. “Ye owe me nothing. If I kiss ye, it’s because you’re sweet in the sunshine, and I want to enjoy you.”
I want to be kissed for this reason!
For as unruly Malcolm is with his four brothers, he is just the most adorable hero. His devotion to Mary is absolutely swoon-worthy. While she has followed all her father’s orders, she isn’t a timid mouse. She has her own thoughts and is actually quite independent. Malcolm falls instantly in love, and Mary falls pretty fast too. Figuring out how to be together – well that takes time. This book takes place during the beginning of the Jacobite revolution. The King’s army moves in and sides are taken. Spies are arrested, fights break out. All the Mackenzie brothers and Mary’s father and betrothed become heavily involved in the Jacobite conflict. This pushes most of the action in the story.
All Malcolm wants to do is take care of everyone. While him and his father have extremely heated conversations, he still risks his life to make his father happy. He may wrestle with his brothers and constantly bicker, but his family means more to him than anything in the world. We get acquainted with the eldest, Duncan, who fights to put Charles Stuart on the throne. The twins, Alec and Angus – Alec reeling from devastating news and Angus worried constantly about his father. And William – the man who knows everything about everything because he pretends to get drunk at whorehouses every night. It’s a full and warm family. And of course, I’m dying for all of their books.
This has romance, adventure, politics and a family of five unruly Mackenzie brothers that will steal your heart. I had a lot of fun reading it
Grade: B+
June 3, 2016
3.5 stars
"Very well, then." Mary's chin came up. "I will sneak to Kilmorgan with you."
Malcolm closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ye aren't going t' be an obedient and unquestioning wife, I'm thinking, are ye?"
"Certainly not. Englishwomen are resilient creatures. I do not know why people assume we are sweet and docile, innocent and weak." Mary unfolded her arms and rested her hands primly in her lap. "Look at Boadicea, who led forces against the Roman army for a long, long time, Queen Elizabeth, who often had to remark she was 'only a woman' to spare the feelings of gentlemen she could out-think. Even Aunt Danae has survived three husbands and is entertaining thoughts of a fourth, on her own terms. You have no need to worry about me."
A slow smile had spread across Malcolm's face as he listened to her speech. When she finished, his eyes were alight, the depths of gold warm.
"Ye see? I knew ye had fire inside you, lass. An inferno of it. You and me---we're going to burn up the world."
If you like reading about the Jacobite Rebellion,you'd enjoy this one. Malcolm and Mary start off with a "look across the room" kind of romance, which I normally don't like, but it works here because everything that follows that look is hard earned love. The beginning was full of mentions of Jacobite political figures, the climate and atmosphere, and how everyday people (our MacKenzie family) maneuvered around the going ons. I was kind of disappointed when in the middle, we lose a little bit of that (I'm a history nerd) and the story focuses more on our couple Malcolm and Mary. The building blocks of their relationship are created here, making their love more believable from their auspicious start, while the political atmosphere hovered around them but wasn't the focus. The last half reengaged with the Jacobite Rebellion and our couple fighting to stay together. The Battle of Culloden was featured here in a way I've not often seen it, less focus on the battle stratagems and fighting and more on the emotional devastation as it was happening. Our hero is there while family and friends are cut down and how mercilessness the English were about ending the rebellion; it was harrowing to read.
Even though this is #8 in the series, it can actually be read as a standalone as it's a prequel, the hero is the great-great-or so-grandfather of the previous heroes in the series.
This had a little different tone than usual romance reads, devastating emotional that this time period can only be, but was better for it. If you're looking to read about a family and couple caught up in the swirling political times, look no further.
"Very well, then." Mary's chin came up. "I will sneak to Kilmorgan with you."
Malcolm closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Ye aren't going t' be an obedient and unquestioning wife, I'm thinking, are ye?"
"Certainly not. Englishwomen are resilient creatures. I do not know why people assume we are sweet and docile, innocent and weak." Mary unfolded her arms and rested her hands primly in her lap. "Look at Boadicea, who led forces against the Roman army for a long, long time, Queen Elizabeth, who often had to remark she was 'only a woman' to spare the feelings of gentlemen she could out-think. Even Aunt Danae has survived three husbands and is entertaining thoughts of a fourth, on her own terms. You have no need to worry about me."
A slow smile had spread across Malcolm's face as he listened to her speech. When she finished, his eyes were alight, the depths of gold warm.
"Ye see? I knew ye had fire inside you, lass. An inferno of it. You and me---we're going to burn up the world."
If you like reading about the Jacobite Rebellion,you'd enjoy this one. Malcolm and Mary start off with a "look across the room" kind of romance, which I normally don't like, but it works here because everything that follows that look is hard earned love. The beginning was full of mentions of Jacobite political figures, the climate and atmosphere, and how everyday people (our MacKenzie family) maneuvered around the going ons. I was kind of disappointed when in the middle, we lose a little bit of that (I'm a history nerd) and the story focuses more on our couple Malcolm and Mary. The building blocks of their relationship are created here, making their love more believable from their auspicious start, while the political atmosphere hovered around them but wasn't the focus. The last half reengaged with the Jacobite Rebellion and our couple fighting to stay together. The Battle of Culloden was featured here in a way I've not often seen it, less focus on the battle stratagems and fighting and more on the emotional devastation as it was happening. Our hero is there while family and friends are cut down and how mercilessness the English were about ending the rebellion; it was harrowing to read.
Even though this is #8 in the series, it can actually be read as a standalone as it's a prequel, the hero is the great-great-or so-grandfather of the previous heroes in the series.
This had a little different tone than usual romance reads, devastating emotional that this time period can only be, but was better for it. If you're looking to read about a family and couple caught up in the swirling political times, look no further.
October 13, 2015
I loved being back into the world of the Mackenzie's again! The Mackenzie men are possessive, obessessive, and they love their women so deeply and I melt for them everytime! This book was on the darker side as there was a lot about the war between England and Scotland..This was the only reason I didn't rate it five stars. I am not big on reading about war, so it is a personal issue with me. I do have to say that Jennifer Ashley did a brilliant job of her history facts and entwining such a dark subject into such an epic romance between Mal Mackenzie and his beloved Mary.
This story tells of Malcolm Mackenzie, and in relation to the other Mackenzie's that we have grown to know and love in her past books, he is the man who started it all. So we are taken back in to history and where the Mackenzie line began. I loved it! Of course it wasn't all hearts and flowers though. There was a lot of death and violence given the fact that the war was going on around them. This book is about love; but also about family loyalty, and terrible loss and grief. I felt every ounce of the emotional pain that these characters went through as they were surrounded by such devastation from the war.
All in all though, this was a great read and I was glad I took the time to get back to the roots of romance and read a Historical romance. For me, this is why I fell in love with romance in the first place! Jennifer Ashley does it best too, and The Mackenzie clan will always be my favorite.
I would say this is a must read for lovers of this series. It is a wonderful addition!
This story tells of Malcolm Mackenzie, and in relation to the other Mackenzie's that we have grown to know and love in her past books, he is the man who started it all. So we are taken back in to history and where the Mackenzie line began. I loved it! Of course it wasn't all hearts and flowers though. There was a lot of death and violence given the fact that the war was going on around them. This book is about love; but also about family loyalty, and terrible loss and grief. I felt every ounce of the emotional pain that these characters went through as they were surrounded by such devastation from the war.
All in all though, this was a great read and I was glad I took the time to get back to the roots of romance and read a Historical romance. For me, this is why I fell in love with romance in the first place! Jennifer Ashley does it best too, and The Mackenzie clan will always be my favorite.
I would say this is a must read for lovers of this series. It is a wonderful addition!
September 7, 2015
Breathtakingly poignant. The Stolen Mackenzie Bride left me fighting back tears and wanting to fall down and have a massive sob. Beautiful, heartbreaking, passionate and utterly moving it gripped my heart and wouldn't let go.
This was a Mackenzie throwback to Scotland 1745 and the life of the Mackenzie family ancestor Malcolm as he found love, fought for family, freedom and everything he held dear as the Scots clashed with the British and Malcolm's family was pulled into the mix. It's brutal and full of pain, loss, heartache but hope, love and determination shone through and conquered all.
Mal and Mary were amazing characters. Full of grit and backbone and unfailing love. Their lives were full of danger and turmoil but they never let go of each other. They carried on, fought harder and survived time and time again. I loved them down to their toes and just wanted to curl around them and protect them from everything they were going through.
While this one had a very different feel and was much darker than the others I've read in the series it did have funny moments as the two met and their lives became entwined. Little bits where I'd bark out a laugh or just couldn't help smiling over their antics or banter. The sexy bits were rather subdued as a whole but there were a couple scenes that were passionate and sigh worthy.
Powerful and moving. The Stolen Mackenzie Bride was a bittersweet journey of family, determination and two souls finding love during a harrowing moment in time.
~~~
9/4--wait, wait, wait. We've gone back in time? OMG! I totally had a squee. Getting to see how things...began? Hrms. Interesting!
~~~
Oh yes. *pets the pretteh pretteh man chest* Can't wait to dive in! Big thanks to Berkley for the ARC!
This was a Mackenzie throwback to Scotland 1745 and the life of the Mackenzie family ancestor Malcolm as he found love, fought for family, freedom and everything he held dear as the Scots clashed with the British and Malcolm's family was pulled into the mix. It's brutal and full of pain, loss, heartache but hope, love and determination shone through and conquered all.
Mal and Mary were amazing characters. Full of grit and backbone and unfailing love. Their lives were full of danger and turmoil but they never let go of each other. They carried on, fought harder and survived time and time again. I loved them down to their toes and just wanted to curl around them and protect them from everything they were going through.
While this one had a very different feel and was much darker than the others I've read in the series it did have funny moments as the two met and their lives became entwined. Little bits where I'd bark out a laugh or just couldn't help smiling over their antics or banter. The sexy bits were rather subdued as a whole but there were a couple scenes that were passionate and sigh worthy.
Powerful and moving. The Stolen Mackenzie Bride was a bittersweet journey of family, determination and two souls finding love during a harrowing moment in time.
~~~
9/4--wait, wait, wait. We've gone back in time? OMG! I totally had a squee. Getting to see how things...began? Hrms. Interesting!
~~~
Oh yes. *pets the pretteh pretteh man chest* Can't wait to dive in! Big thanks to Berkley for the ARC!
April 1, 2018
5 "I'll always come back to you." Stars!!
I loved absolutely every bit of this story. Even the sad parts. This was very romantic as well as being action packed. There is war and of course potential scandal. There always is with these wild, rebellious, wonderful, braw, (-all things good in a male [learned that meaning from Mary 😏] ) Mackenzie Highlanders.
Malcolm and Lady Mary were both fantastic! I loved reading their story. I can certainly see where the later Mackenzie's get their fantastically scandalous and so very clever cunning ways. Malcolm is now competing with Ian for my favorite Mackenzie man. I love this series!! I'll be in to the next book soon! Happy reading!
I loved absolutely every bit of this story. Even the sad parts. This was very romantic as well as being action packed. There is war and of course potential scandal. There always is with these wild, rebellious, wonderful, braw, (-all things good in a male [learned that meaning from Mary 😏] ) Mackenzie Highlanders.
Malcolm and Lady Mary were both fantastic! I loved reading their story. I can certainly see where the later Mackenzie's get their fantastically scandalous and so very clever cunning ways. Malcolm is now competing with Ian for my favorite Mackenzie man. I love this series!! I'll be in to the next book soon! Happy reading!
September 1, 2020
4 Stars
Overall Opinion: I liked this! I was interested but not so convinced that I would like it, so this was a great surprise! The H was ah-maze-ing! Pretty much perfect H in my book! It’s been a really long time since I’ve read this author, but I do remember really enjoying The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. This makes me want to revisit that book and the rest of the series that I never went back to (especially if there are references to these characters in them). Just FYI — you don’t have to read those to understand this one even though it is labeled as part of that series.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Mary and Mal’s story. They meet one night at a ball and are never the same. Mal, being the youngest of 6 brothers, knows that when he wants something he has to work to make it happen — so when he decides Mary is for him, he starts his full pursuit to make it so. Mary is English while Mal is Scottish and there’s also the little fact that Mary is betrothed to another man, but that doesn’t stop Mal in getting Mary to fall in love with him. There are lots of family and political battles going on, some sweet and sad moments, and a few sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Mary and Mal in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:Not in the sense that it didn’t feel believable, but they develop strong feelings very quickly.
H (Hero) rating: 5 stars. Mal. I loved him! He was a perfect hero! He was brave, knew what he wanted and went for it, protective, loving, and sexy! He made the book for me.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Mary. I liked her. I appreciated her loyalty but that she also had a mind and followed her intuition.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not IMO
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had good closure with what I would call a HEA ending.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
Overall Opinion: I liked this! I was interested but not so convinced that I would like it, so this was a great surprise! The H was ah-maze-ing! Pretty much perfect H in my book! It’s been a really long time since I’ve read this author, but I do remember really enjoying The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. This makes me want to revisit that book and the rest of the series that I never went back to (especially if there are references to these characters in them). Just FYI — you don’t have to read those to understand this one even though it is labeled as part of that series.
Brief Summary of the Storyline: This is Mary and Mal’s story. They meet one night at a ball and are never the same. Mal, being the youngest of 6 brothers, knows that when he wants something he has to work to make it happen — so when he decides Mary is for him, he starts his full pursuit to make it so. Mary is English while Mal is Scottish and there’s also the little fact that Mary is betrothed to another man, but that doesn’t stop Mal in getting Mary to fall in love with him. There are lots of family and political battles going on, some sweet and sad moments, and a few sexy times...and they get a HEA ending.
Point Of View (POV): This alternated between focusing mainly on Mary and Mal in 3rd person narrative.
Overall Pace of Story: Good. I never skimmed and I thought it flowed well.
Instalove:Not in the sense that it didn’t feel believable, but they develop strong feelings very quickly.
H (Hero) rating: 5 stars. Mal. I loved him! He was a perfect hero! He was brave, knew what he wanted and went for it, protective, loving, and sexy! He made the book for me.
h (heroine) rating: 4 stars. Mary. I liked her. I appreciated her loyalty but that she also had a mind and followed her intuition.
Sadness level: Low, no tissues needed
Push/Pull: Not really
Heat level: Good. They have some good tension, chemistry, and scenes -- but not so much it takes away from the story.
Descriptive sex: Yes
OW (Other Woman)/OM (Other Man) drama: No
Sex scene with OW or OM: No
Cheating: No
Separation: Not IMO
Possible Triggers: Yes
Closure: This had good closure with what I would call a HEA ending.
Safety: This one should be Safe for most safety gang readers
September 30, 2015
I love this series. I really do. So much so that when I got my hands on this book, there might have been a small amount of dancing. Sadly, I may have celebrated a bit too early. This was a very difficult book for me to connect to. I found myself wanting to skim and even put it down at times. This was such a far cry from my favorite MacKenzie books, it almost like it was from an entirely different author.
This story doesn’t feature the MacKenzie men we know and love. It jumps back in time to their ancestor, Old Malcolm, and told his story set during the Jacobite Rebellion. I’m ok with an unknown hero, but what I really did not enjoy was how heavily she emphasized the historical elements throughout the book. It’s not that I don’t appreciate historical accuracy. I don’t want things to be wrong. But beyond that, I don’t care. I don’t enjoy my romance steeped in a history lesson. That is how I felt reading this, and I just wanted to get ahead to the “good parts” (ie. The romance.)
Mal is the youngest of the 5 living MacKenzie sons. He is charming and smart, and basically can get anything he sets his mind to. As the story begins, his mind is set on Lady Mary Lennox. Sadly, there is really no reason why. He just sees her at a ball and decides he has to have her. Sure, she is betrothed to another man, but Mal can work around that. He decides to make inroads with her by helping her sister elope with her forbidden love. The move helps him get close enough to Mary to woo her… and become her means of escape when her father is arrested for spying.
There’s more to the story, but most of it is tied Mal’s brood of brothers and their varying degrees of involvement in the rebellion. There is a lot of angst between the English and the Scots. There are battles. Deaths. Politics. And if there was an epic romance in there, maybe the other stuff would have been easier to wade through. But there wasn’t. There was absolutely no good reason for Mal’s obsessive desire for Mary. He was going to marry her because he liked the way she looked across a crowded room. I felt no feelings, not even real sexual tension. Just this guy who gets everything he wants, deciding he wants a woman, then getting her.
There are a few sad parts involving Mal’s dad and brothers. This was clearly a time of tragedy. But I didn’t feel close enough to the characters for it to affect me much. I wish I had better news. Maybe it will be a better fit for people who enjoy more of the history elements, but for me, it really fell flat.
*ARC provided by publisher
This story doesn’t feature the MacKenzie men we know and love. It jumps back in time to their ancestor, Old Malcolm, and told his story set during the Jacobite Rebellion. I’m ok with an unknown hero, but what I really did not enjoy was how heavily she emphasized the historical elements throughout the book. It’s not that I don’t appreciate historical accuracy. I don’t want things to be wrong. But beyond that, I don’t care. I don’t enjoy my romance steeped in a history lesson. That is how I felt reading this, and I just wanted to get ahead to the “good parts” (ie. The romance.)
Mal is the youngest of the 5 living MacKenzie sons. He is charming and smart, and basically can get anything he sets his mind to. As the story begins, his mind is set on Lady Mary Lennox. Sadly, there is really no reason why. He just sees her at a ball and decides he has to have her. Sure, she is betrothed to another man, but Mal can work around that. He decides to make inroads with her by helping her sister elope with her forbidden love. The move helps him get close enough to Mary to woo her… and become her means of escape when her father is arrested for spying.
There’s more to the story, but most of it is tied Mal’s brood of brothers and their varying degrees of involvement in the rebellion. There is a lot of angst between the English and the Scots. There are battles. Deaths. Politics. And if there was an epic romance in there, maybe the other stuff would have been easier to wade through. But there wasn’t. There was absolutely no good reason for Mal’s obsessive desire for Mary. He was going to marry her because he liked the way she looked across a crowded room. I felt no feelings, not even real sexual tension. Just this guy who gets everything he wants, deciding he wants a woman, then getting her.
There are a few sad parts involving Mal’s dad and brothers. This was clearly a time of tragedy. But I didn’t feel close enough to the characters for it to affect me much. I wish I had better news. Maybe it will be a better fit for people who enjoy more of the history elements, but for me, it really fell flat.
*ARC provided by publisher
August 15, 2018
The only reason this is not 5 Stars is because I got confused with the characters and had to restart listening. This was a heartfelt, emotional read, and it felt more epic than most HRs these days. Kudos to JA for not making light of the Jacobite uprising, for writing a story through it that felt reasonably realistic and authentic, and for making that story include major consequences. The h&h worked for their HEA and deserved it. I wish I had read the lovely paperback I received from WhiskeyintheJar/Kyraraker.
This was a buddy read in the HRBC.
This was a buddy read in the HRBC.
November 8, 2017
*** 5 SEXY MACKENZIE STARS! ***
We're traveled back in time...the first Duke of Kilmorgan who brought back a clan home after a war.
I remember only a little about "Old Malcolm", this is Young Malcom's story, in a much wilder and darker story before the 'modern' Mackenzies.
This is dark, heart breaking, and I found myself crying over the Mackenzies brothers and their bravery to keep their lands from England.
I dunno much about England and Scotland's war, but this is an eye opener. I like history, and I really enjoyed reading this.
Even this one is darker, Mal's story is awesome. And we know know where's the Mackenzies got their braveness from.
It's ALWAYS official to me that the Mackenzie are the hottest Highlanders. EVER!
Jennifer Ashley nailed it again !
Note: Thanks Eli for passing the ARC to me.
See also my review here
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
We're traveled back in time...the first Duke of Kilmorgan who brought back a clan home after a war.
I remember only a little about "Old Malcolm", this is Young Malcom's story, in a much wilder and darker story before the 'modern' Mackenzies.
This is dark, heart breaking, and I found myself crying over the Mackenzies brothers and their bravery to keep their lands from England.
I dunno much about England and Scotland's war, but this is an eye opener. I like history, and I really enjoyed reading this.
Even this one is darker, Mal's story is awesome. And we know know where's the Mackenzies got their braveness from.
It's ALWAYS official to me that the Mackenzie are the hottest Highlanders. EVER!
Jennifer Ashley nailed it again !
Note: Thanks Eli for passing the ARC to me.
See also my review here
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
November 22, 2021
This is about the forebears of the Mackenzie family from the Victorian-era series. Eighteenth century Mal Mackenzie falls in love with the daughter of an English earl, 'the enemy'. While the romance was nice, I didn't really enjoy the time period and setting, with its war, enmities and upheavals, including the disastrous and tragic Battle of Culloden. It was a little hard to keep track of Mal's brothers as well - who was on which side, who was killed, who was believed to be dead but escaped and was really alive etc. A bit too much drama for my historical romance reading tastes.
March 20, 2019
2.75 this wasn’t for me stars
I have been on this up and down journey with the Mackenzie and McBrides series. I can’t believe I’m on the 8th book.
I have liked some books and some I haven’t liked. This one, I didn’t like too much.
If you have been keeping up with the series, you will know this one is VERY different from the other books. This one is written in the past (but it’s a historical book?!), the time line happens prior to all the books.
I would even say this one doesn’t have too many romance aspects of it. It was more like, oh I like you and let’s get married! Yes, more lust at first sight, and a lot of politics.
The entire book is about politics. There’s a lot of characters, mostly Mal’s brothers. There’s the Highlanders, the English soldiers and a lot of battles.
A lot of battles and more politics. I found it slightly confusing and boring. I probably found it confusing because I started to skim the second half of the book.
The idea of the story was fine, Mary is going to marry an awful guy, then comes Mal and he just saves the day. BUT a lot of stuff happens. I can’t even name all the things that prevents Mal from marrying Mary.
Overall, this was my least favorite book in the series.
I have been on this up and down journey with the Mackenzie and McBrides series. I can’t believe I’m on the 8th book.
I have liked some books and some I haven’t liked. This one, I didn’t like too much.
If you have been keeping up with the series, you will know this one is VERY different from the other books. This one is written in the past (but it’s a historical book?!), the time line happens prior to all the books.
I would even say this one doesn’t have too many romance aspects of it. It was more like, oh I like you and let’s get married! Yes, more lust at first sight, and a lot of politics.
The entire book is about politics. There’s a lot of characters, mostly Mal’s brothers. There’s the Highlanders, the English soldiers and a lot of battles.
A lot of battles and more politics. I found it slightly confusing and boring. I probably found it confusing because I started to skim the second half of the book.
The idea of the story was fine, Mary is going to marry an awful guy, then comes Mal and he just saves the day. BUT a lot of stuff happens. I can’t even name all the things that prevents Mal from marrying Mary.
Overall, this was my least favorite book in the series.
August 26, 2020
Finally read this. I had hoped the author had matured in her writing skills, but eh.
March 16, 2021
Ξέρετε τι έχω κουραστεί να διαβάζω; Ιστορικά ρομάντζα όπου βάρβαροι άντρες κλέβουν τις νύφες τους και τις κάνουν δικές τους με το έτσι θέλω. Το γεγονός ότι αυτές μπορεί στην πορεία να τους αγαπήσουν, δεν έχει απαραίτητα μεγάλη σημασία, ακόμα κι αν οι ιστορίες αυτές τείνουν να τοποθετούνται σε εποχές όπου όλα αυτά δικαιολογούνταν σε κάποιον βαθμό. Από την άλλη, ξέρετε τι δεν έχω κουραστεί να διαβάζω; Ιστορίες όπου τα συναισθήματα είναι αμοιβαία και που κόντρα σε όποια προβλήματα, προκαταλήψεις και δυσκολίες, το ζευγάρι παλεύει από κοινού για να είναι μαζί, όχι γιατί πρέπει ή γιατί επιβάλλεται από τις συνθήκες, αλλά γιατί αυτό είναι που επιθυμούν οι ίδιοι. Μια τέτοια ιστορία είναι και αυτή της "Αρπαγής", που αν και το 8ο βιβλίο της σειράς της "Οικογένειας Μακένζι", θα μπορούσαμε να πούμε πως ταυτόχρονα αποτελεί και το prequel της.
Όσοι έχετε διαβάσει τα προηγούμενα εφτά βιβλία της σειράς, σίγουρα θα έχετε συναντήσει το όνομα του Μάλκολμ Μακένζι, που εκτός από ένας μεγάλος και τρανός ήρωας για την οικογένειά του, αλλά και για την Σκωτία, αφού κατάφερε να επιβιώσει ενός πολέμου, να βγει νικητής απ' αυτόν και να ανακηρυχθεί Δούκας, είναι και εκείνος που πρώτος πάλεψε για την καρδιά της γυναίκας που αγάπησε με νύχια και με δόντια, πηγαίνοντας κόντρα σε όλους και σε όλα, πρόθυμος να θυσιάσει ακόμα και τη ζωή του αν κρινόταν απαραίτητο. Γιατί ο Μάλκολμ έμελλε να ερωτευτεί μια γυναίκα που άνηκε στην καλή κοινωνία της Αγγλίας, και που λόγω της θέσης της προοριζόταν για πολύ συγκεκριμένα πράγματα, σε μια εποχή μάλιστα λίγο προτού ξεσπάσει ο πόλεμος ανάμεσα σε Σκοτία και Αγγλία, γεγονός που όχι μόνο δυσκόλευε την πραγμάτωση του έρωτά του, αλλά και της ίδιας του της επιβίωσης.
Φυσικά, ως γνήσιο αρσενικό των Χάιλαντς του 18ου αιώνα, ο Μάλκολμ δεν καταλαβαίνει ούτε από πολέμους, ούτε από εμπόδια και είναι έτοιμος να διεκδικήσει τόσο την ελευθερία του, όσο και τη γυναίκα που αγαπά, έστω κι αν αυτό σημαίνει πως θα πρέπει να την κλέψει μέσα από τα χέρια των Άγγλων, με ό,τι αυτό συνεπάγεται. Όπως αντιλαμβάνεστε, καμία απ' τις δύο αποστολές που έχει να φέρει εις πέρας δεν είναι εύκολη, ενώ και οι δυο τους θέτουν σε άμεσο κίνδυνο τη ζωή του, η οποία απειλείται κάθε λεπτό που περνάει όλο και περισσότερο, κάτι που με τη σειρά του έχει ως αποτέλεσμα να χτυπάει η καρδιά μας ξέφρενα σε κάθε νέα σελίδα. Και όχι, το γεγονός πως γνωρίζουμε απ' τους απόγονούς του πως όλο αυτό έληξε καλά, καμία απολύτως σημασία δεν έχει -μην σας πω πως σχεδόν το ξεχνάς όσο περισσότερο βυθίζεσαι στην ίδια την ιστορία και στις μικρές ή μεγάλες λεπτομέρειες αυτής, πράγμα μαγικό και μεγάλη επιτυχία για τη συγγραφέα.
Η Ashley, εμπνευσμένη από μια πολύ πλούσια ιστορικά περίοδο, μεταφέρει όλο το κλίμα και την αίσθηση της εποχής στην αφήγησή της, και ενώ τοποθετείται σε μια πολύ συγκεκριμένη στιγμή της Ιστορίας, καταφέρνει την ίδια στιγμή να έχει τον ολόδικό της πυρήνα, χωρίς ψευτοδιάθεση ιστορικής απεικόνισης, αλλά και έναν άκρατο ρεαλισμό που σε κάνει να ξεχνάς πως όσα διαβάζεις δεν αποτελούν κομμάτι της πραγματικότητας, παρά μιας καλοδουλεμένης μυθιστορίας -κάτι σαν το συναίσθημα που σου προκαλεί το "Braveheart", ένα πράγμα. Είναι αυτό το μαγικό που συμβαίνει όταν παρακολουθείς ή διαβάζεις μια ιστορία, κι ενώ ξέρεις πως τίποτα απ' όσα περιγράφονται δεν είναι αλήθεια και πως κανένας απ' αυτούς τους χαρακτήρες δεν υπήρξε πραγματικά, το πίσω μέρος του εγκεφάλου σου λαμβάνει μια εντολή που υπαγορεύει πως όλα όσα γίνεσαι μάρτυρας είναι αληθινά.
Οι σκηνές δράσεις στο βιβλίο αυτό είναι πάρα πολλές και έντονες, κάτι που βοηθάει στη ροή της αφήγησης δίνοντάς της πιο γρήγορο ρυθμό και με μεγαλύτερη δυναμική, η απεικόνιση του πολέμου πολύ ρεαλιστική αλλά χωρίς την ίδια στιγμή να γίνεται περιττά βίαιη ή γραφική ως προς τα αποτελέσματά του -άλλωστε δεν πρέπει να ξεχνάμε πως στον πυρήνα της πρόκειται για μια ρομαντική ιστορία αγάπης-, διατηρώντας τις απαραίτητες ισορροπίες, ενώ η παραστατική περιγραφή των τοποθεσιών και των δράσεων που εξελίσσονται σε αυτές είναι τόσο λεπτομερής και ζωντανή, που νιώθεις σαν να βρίσκεσαι κι εσύ εκεί, στα μέρη εκείνα που μέχρι και σήμερα είναι ποτισμένα με μνήμες χρόνων που αν και πέρασαν και χάθηκαν, άφησαν πίσω τους τα άσβεστα σημάδια τους, σαν φάρο κι οδηγό σε όσους έμελλε ν' ακολουθήσουν.
Η ιστορία ανάμεσα στον Μάλκολμ και στη Μέρι είναι από εκείνες που είναι αδύνατον να μην μπουν στην καρδιά σου, όχι μόνο επειδή έτσι θα έπρεπε να είναι οι πραγματικές αγάπες, αλλά και γιατί η προσωπική τους έχει αλήθεια έχει αποδοθεί τόσο ρεαλιστικά από την Ashley, που καταφέρνει ν' αγγίξει τις πιο ευαίσθητες χορδές της ψυχής μας χωρίς καν να το προσπαθήσει. Είναι έντονη, ισχυρή, παθιασμένη, έτοιμη ν' αντιμετωπίσει όποιο εμπόδιο βρεθεί στον δρόμο της, έστω κι αν το μοναδικό μου έχει να λάβει είναι μια στιγμή ευτυχίας. Γιατί, όπως και για την ελευθερία, έτσι και για την αγάπη αξίζει να θυσιάσεις ακόμα και τον ίδιο σου τον εαυτό, έστω και για να τις γευτείς για μια στιγμή, γιατί αυτή θα εμπεριέχει αρκετή αλήθεια και αξία μέσα της για να σε συντροφεύει για πάντα. Μια ιστορία που όχι μόνο θα θυμάσαι, αλλά που κάτι μου λέει πως θα ανατρέξεις σε αυτήν πολλές φορές ακόμα στο μέλλον.
Όσοι έχετε διαβάσει τα προηγούμενα εφτά βιβλία της σειράς, σίγουρα θα έχετε συναντήσει το όνομα του Μάλκολμ Μακένζι, που εκτός από ένας μεγάλος και τρανός ήρωας για την οικογένειά του, αλλά και για την Σκωτία, αφού κατάφερε να επιβιώσει ενός πολέμου, να βγει νικητής απ' αυτόν και να ανακηρυχθεί Δούκας, είναι και εκείνος που πρώτος πάλεψε για την καρδιά της γυναίκας που αγάπησε με νύχια και με δόντια, πηγαίνοντας κόντρα σε όλους και σε όλα, πρόθυμος να θυσιάσει ακόμα και τη ζωή του αν κρινόταν απαραίτητο. Γιατί ο Μάλκολμ έμελλε να ερωτευτεί μια γυναίκα που άνηκε στην καλή κοινωνία της Αγγλίας, και που λόγω της θέσης της προοριζόταν για πολύ συγκεκριμένα πράγματα, σε μια εποχή μάλιστα λίγο προτού ξεσπάσει ο πόλεμος ανάμεσα σε Σκοτία και Αγγλία, γεγονός που όχι μόνο δυσκόλευε την πραγμάτωση του έρωτά του, αλλά και της ίδιας του της επιβίωσης.
Φυσικά, ως γνήσιο αρσενικό των Χάιλαντς του 18ου αιώνα, ο Μάλκολμ δεν καταλαβαίνει ούτε από πολέμους, ούτε από εμπόδια και είναι έτοιμος να διεκδικήσει τόσο την ελευθερία του, όσο και τη γυναίκα που αγαπά, έστω κι αν αυτό σημαίνει πως θα πρέπει να την κλέψει μέσα από τα χέρια των Άγγλων, με ό,τι αυτό συνεπάγεται. Όπως αντιλαμβάνεστε, καμία απ' τις δύο αποστολές που έχει να φέρει εις πέρας δεν είναι εύκολη, ενώ και οι δυο τους θέτουν σε άμεσο κίνδυνο τη ζωή του, η οποία απειλείται κάθε λεπτό που περνάει όλο και περισσότερο, κάτι που με τη σειρά του έχει ως αποτέλεσμα να χτυπάει η καρδιά μας ξέφρενα σε κάθε νέα σελίδα. Και όχι, το γεγονός πως γνωρίζουμε απ' τους απόγονούς του πως όλο αυτό έληξε καλά, καμία απολύτως σημασία δεν έχει -μην σας πω πως σχεδόν το ξεχνάς όσο περισσότερο βυθίζεσαι στην ίδια την ιστορία και στις μικρές ή μεγάλες λεπτομέρειες αυτής, πράγμα μαγικό και μεγάλη επιτυχία για τη συγγραφέα.
Η Ashley, εμπνευσμένη από μια πολύ πλούσια ιστορικά περίοδο, μεταφέρει όλο το κλίμα και την αίσθηση της εποχής στην αφήγησή της, και ενώ τοποθετείται σε μια πολύ συγκεκριμένη στιγμή της Ιστορίας, καταφέρνει την ίδια στιγμή να έχει τον ολόδικό της πυρήνα, χωρίς ψευτοδιάθεση ιστορικής απεικόνισης, αλλά και έναν άκρατο ρεαλισμό που σε κάνει να ξεχνάς πως όσα διαβάζεις δεν αποτελούν κομμάτι της πραγματικότητας, παρά μιας καλοδουλεμένης μυθιστορίας -κάτι σαν το συναίσθημα που σου προκαλεί το "Braveheart", ένα πράγμα. Είναι αυτό το μαγικό που συμβαίνει όταν παρακολουθείς ή διαβάζεις μια ιστορία, κι ενώ ξέρεις πως τίποτα απ' όσα περιγράφονται δεν είναι αλήθεια και πως κανένας απ' αυτούς τους χαρακτήρες δεν υπήρξε πραγματικά, το πίσω μέρος του εγκεφάλου σου λαμβάνει μια εντολή που υπαγορεύει πως όλα όσα γίνεσαι μάρτυρας είναι αληθινά.
Οι σκηνές δράσεις στο βιβλίο αυτό είναι πάρα πολλές και έντονες, κάτι που βοηθάει στη ροή της αφήγησης δίνοντάς της πιο γρήγορο ρυθμό και με μεγαλύτερη δυναμική, η απεικόνιση του πολέμου πολύ ρεαλιστική αλλά χωρίς την ίδια στιγμή να γίνεται περιττά βίαιη ή γραφική ως προς τα αποτελέσματά του -άλλωστε δεν πρέπει να ξεχνάμε πως στον πυρήνα της πρόκειται για μια ρομαντική ιστορία αγάπης-, διατηρώντας τις απαραίτητες ισορροπίες, ενώ η παραστατική περιγραφή των τοποθεσιών και των δράσεων που εξελίσσονται σε αυτές είναι τόσο λεπτομερής και ζωντανή, που νιώθεις σαν να βρίσκεσαι κι εσύ εκεί, στα μέρη εκείνα που μέχρι και σήμερα είναι ποτισμένα με μνήμες χρόνων που αν και πέρασαν και χάθηκαν, άφησαν πίσω τους τα άσβεστα σημάδια τους, σαν φάρο κι οδηγό σε όσους έμελλε ν' ακολουθήσουν.
Η ιστορία ανάμεσα στον Μάλκολμ και στη Μέρι είναι από εκείνες που είναι αδύνατον να μην μπουν στην καρδιά σου, όχι μόνο επειδή έτσι θα έπρεπε να είναι οι πραγματικές αγάπες, αλλά και γιατί η προσωπική τους έχει αλήθεια έχει αποδοθεί τόσο ρεαλιστικά από την Ashley, που καταφέρνει ν' αγγίξει τις πιο ευαίσθητες χορδές της ψυχής μας χωρίς καν να το προσπαθήσει. Είναι έντονη, ισχυρή, παθιασμένη, έτοιμη ν' αντιμετωπίσει όποιο εμπόδιο βρεθεί στον δρόμο της, έστω κι αν το μοναδικό μου έχει να λάβει είναι μια στιγμή ευτυχίας. Γιατί, όπως και για την ελευθερία, έτσι και για την αγάπη αξίζει να θυσιάσεις ακόμα και τον ίδιο σου τον εαυτό, έστω και για να τις γευτείς για μια στιγμή, γιατί αυτή θα εμπεριέχει αρκετή αλήθεια και αξία μέσα της για να σε συντροφεύει για πάντα. Μια ιστορία που όχι μόνο θα θυμάσαι, αλλά που κάτι μου λέει πως θα ανατρέξεις σε αυτήν πολλές φορές ακόμα στο μέλλον.
November 1, 2015
"Ashley had me swooning on more than one occasion."
Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction
Read this review in its entirety at Fresh Fiction
January 19, 2018
Short take: too many inner monologues. Picked up at around 75% because of events, still too many endless inner monologues. Ending felt rushed.
April 4, 2017
Well, it took me a month to get through this, despite my being a huge fan of the series and the excellent writing. I think because it is several generations before the Mackenzies in previous books, and I recall reading that Malcolm was the last surviving Mackenzie in the war. Since this book starts with him and 4 brothers, I was expecting total doom. There were definitely brutal and heart wrenching parts in this book. I was crying a lot in the last third of the book. However, the romance between Malcolm and Mary is epic. The love of family is palpable. And note that there are two more books coming, so take heart.
April 25, 2016
This is my second favorite MacKenzie book. This book felt more like Ian’s book which the romance, adventure, family and humor. I liked Mary Lennox as she reminded me of a mix of Beth, Eleanor and Isabella. Malcolm MacKenzie was definitely a rascal!
The author did a great job developing the characters, the plot and keeping the story so entertaining. I really appreciate that Jennifer Ashley threw in enough of the English versus the Jacobite rebellion to give the romance a historical backdrop, but made sure the romance ad family loyalty was front and center.
The Mackenzie clan comprised of Alec, Angus, Will, Duncan and Malcolm made a fiercely devoted group. I chuckled, I cried, I gasped and mostly, I loved this story. The war wreaked havoc on Mary and Malcolm’s relationship, but their love managed to overcome the obstacles. I can’t wait for the story regarding the other brothers.
*Special thanks to Tantor Audio for the audiobook, which was given in exchange for an honest review
The author did a great job developing the characters, the plot and keeping the story so entertaining. I really appreciate that Jennifer Ashley threw in enough of the English versus the Jacobite rebellion to give the romance a historical backdrop, but made sure the romance ad family loyalty was front and center.
The Mackenzie clan comprised of Alec, Angus, Will, Duncan and Malcolm made a fiercely devoted group. I chuckled, I cried, I gasped and mostly, I loved this story. The war wreaked havoc on Mary and Malcolm’s relationship, but their love managed to overcome the obstacles. I can’t wait for the story regarding the other brothers.
*Special thanks to Tantor Audio for the audiobook, which was given in exchange for an honest review
December 31, 2021
This book was a bit of a disappointment for me. I have been binging and loving the MacKenzies & McBrides series and was so intrigued by this prequel-ish story, taking us back to mid-1700s Scotland. This story was very heavy on the political aspects going on for the time and really heavily focused on the Jacobite uprising of 1745. Not saying I don’t enjoy that time frame and storytelling, but for this series I came for the romance and was expecting more. This gave me some Outlander series vibes, which again I do love that series and the Jacobite history woven into it, but I was just expecting more from this one. The romance was instalove and then very lacking for me in development, it felt like an afterthought to the rest of the battles/wars, political-ness happening in the story. That said, I do enjoy Jennifer Ashley’s writing and the MacKenzie family history was neat, but yeah just wanted more from this read and to see more of Mary the heroine.
September 30, 2016
This author's talent is amazing. She knows how to write a super romantic, emotional love story. Hero was so deeply in love with heroine and so perfect you will all fall in love with him. It was love at first sight for him when he met Mary and he didn't care she was engaged. He was determined to make her his wife. Not even war or death could separate him from his one true love. Malcolm is so dreamy and my new book boyfriend!
January 27, 2022
I truly loved Malcolm and of course his Mary!
Wonderful depth to this story. The characters are marvelous! Well done! All of the books in this series are written well. I hope to reread them all and offer comment on some of the rich thematic content of many of the books. This a verra, verra, intelligent writer!
Wonderful depth to this story. The characters are marvelous! Well done! All of the books in this series are written well. I hope to reread them all and offer comment on some of the rich thematic content of many of the books. This a verra, verra, intelligent writer!
September 29, 2015
In this installment in the Mackenzie series Jennifer Ashley is taking us all to where is started. Old Malcolm, the first of the Dukes of Kilmorgan, of course there is nothing remotely old and crusty about the Malcolm that Ashley presents in The Stolen Mackenize Bride, as Lady Mary Lennox discovers when Mal determines to seduce her and take her as his wife…despite her engagement to another man.
I confess, I have an addiction, an addiction to men in skirts *ahem* I mean kilts. I am a puddle of goo at their feet – which makes it far easier to see what they wear under those kilts. And Jennifer Ashley does a fine job of encouraging this addiction with her Mackenize series, and The Stolen Mackenzie Bride once again has me stroking plaid and longing for someone to call me their bonnie lass.
The romance is set on the back drop of a violent and uncertain times, which really allows you to transport yourself to a completely different century. Although I am in no way an expert on the Battle of Culloden and the events surrounding it, it really felt like Ashley had done her research adding an air of authenticity to the book.
But, in essence, I am reading this for the romance which Ashley delivered superbly. It was hard not to fall in love with the resourceful and ever-charming Mal his strong personality shone through the pages and Mary and I found ourselves unable to resist it. Luckily for Mary, Mal felt the same for her and the romance between them was passionate and tender.
I also loved the characters that were introduced into this book, Mal is the youngest of several brothers and although some of this tale is no doubt bittersweet, I really hope Ashley decides to stick in this time period and tosses out a few more HEAs.
I really enjoyed this book, romantic, sexy and even with a little bit of action thrown in, I can’t wait to read whatever Ashley has next in store for us with this series.
March 10, 2016
2 1/2 stars bumping up for the epilogue. Sad to say that the best part of this book for me was the ending and epilogue. This is the story of the early Mackenzies, or the ancestors of the characters we know and love from the series.
It took me a long time to connect to the main characters and I never felt totally invested. I wasn't too upset with some of the more emotional situations because I wasn't really connected to the brothers at all. I felt that there was a lot of politics that I have read in other books, with characters in other situations very similar, and just was bored through a lot of it. Then the last battle just seemed so improbable And Malcom's survival was the most improbable. I felt that his character had a 180 turn in personality from the easy going on the sides and protecting his family to, putting the woman he supposedly loves and is protecting, in danger.
So not my favorite Mackenzie novel.
------Update while reading----------
25% in and very bored with both the main couple the politics and the characters. I'm almost at a DNF and I love this series. This one is just not catching me.
It took me a long time to connect to the main characters and I never felt totally invested. I wasn't too upset with some of the more emotional situations because I wasn't really connected to the brothers at all. I felt that there was a lot of politics that I have read in other books, with characters in other situations very similar, and just was bored through a lot of it. Then the last battle just seemed so improbable And Malcom's survival was the most improbable. I felt that his character had a 180 turn in personality from the easy going on the sides and protecting his family to, putting the woman he supposedly loves and is protecting, in danger.
So not my favorite Mackenzie novel.
------Update while reading----------
25% in and very bored with both the main couple the politics and the characters. I'm almost at a DNF and I love this series. This one is just not catching me.
October 8, 2017
Loved Mal and Mary! This was an epic book about the history of the Mackenzie's. I loved it. The action was amazing. The war was tragic. It was such a great story Mal never let me down. He was a fabulous hero. Mary was a surprisingly brave heroine who was perfect for Mal. A must read if you have read any of the series or just enjoy historicals.
March 3, 2020
Ini bukan kisah Romeo & Juliet, walau mereka dari dua bangsa yg berbeda, yg bebuyutan bermusuhan, Skotlandia vs Inggris. Setting novel ini 1745, berarti novel ini seharusnya awal dari seri ini (pantesan saya bingung nama-nama mereka kurang familiar).
Malcolm Mackenzie selalu punya ketetapan jika dia sudah berniat. Dan tujuannya adalah menikahi Mary, anak Earl Wilfort. Awalnya Mal membantu Mary utk meloloskan adik perempuannya utk kawin lari ke Paris. Sbg lelaki sejati tentu saja Mal menolong dgn sukarela. Dan setelahnya Mal menargetkan utk mendapatkan Mary walau wanita ini sudah bertunangan.
Nah, jalinan cerita mulai sedikit rumit. Ayah Mal adalah Duke Kilmorgan, walau bukan pendukung Jacobite (pihak yg menentang Inggris), sang Duke juga tidak menyukai Inggris. Namun demi anaknya, sang Duke terpaksa menerima tawanan anaknya di rumahnya, yaitu calon besannya ini. Tapi pihak Inggris memang lebih kuat, mereka berhasil membebaskan si tawanan bahkan membakar kastil sang Duke. Gak ada cara lain selain menyatakan perang terhadap Inggris.
Bagi saya, sesi yg paling menarik di buku ini justru sesi perang Skot vs Inggris ini. Keluarga MacKenzie ini mirip Yang's Saga Family (jendral di zaman Dinasti Sung dan anak-anaknya terbunuh dlm perang, hanya seorang yg selamat hidup), penuh kematian heroik dlm keluarga ini. Sayangnya saya biasa-biasa saja dgn karakter tokoh utamanya ini. Baik Mal maupun Mary hanyalah karakter heroik yg biasa saja, mengabdi pada bangsa dan keluarga.
Endingnya lumayan mencengangkan tapi tidak terlalu mengejutkan. Bagusnya dari novel ini adalah drama yg diminimalisir, spt pemutusan pertunangan Mary dgn tunangannya yg tidak diinginkannya, dan cinta (nyaris) segitiga antara Mal-Mary-Captain Ellis yg untungnya gak terjadi. Si Captain masih punya harga diri drpd merebut bini orang, ya kan?
Malcolm Mackenzie selalu punya ketetapan jika dia sudah berniat. Dan tujuannya adalah menikahi Mary, anak Earl Wilfort. Awalnya Mal membantu Mary utk meloloskan adik perempuannya utk kawin lari ke Paris. Sbg lelaki sejati tentu saja Mal menolong dgn sukarela. Dan setelahnya Mal menargetkan utk mendapatkan Mary walau wanita ini sudah bertunangan.
Nah, jalinan cerita mulai sedikit rumit. Ayah Mal adalah Duke Kilmorgan, walau bukan pendukung Jacobite (pihak yg menentang Inggris), sang Duke juga tidak menyukai Inggris. Namun demi anaknya, sang Duke terpaksa menerima tawanan anaknya di rumahnya, yaitu calon besannya ini. Tapi pihak Inggris memang lebih kuat, mereka berhasil membebaskan si tawanan bahkan membakar kastil sang Duke. Gak ada cara lain selain menyatakan perang terhadap Inggris.
Bagi saya, sesi yg paling menarik di buku ini justru sesi perang Skot vs Inggris ini. Keluarga MacKenzie ini mirip Yang's Saga Family (jendral di zaman Dinasti Sung dan anak-anaknya terbunuh dlm perang, hanya seorang yg selamat hidup), penuh kematian heroik dlm keluarga ini. Sayangnya saya biasa-biasa saja dgn karakter tokoh utamanya ini. Baik Mal maupun Mary hanyalah karakter heroik yg biasa saja, mengabdi pada bangsa dan keluarga.
Endingnya lumayan mencengangkan tapi tidak terlalu mengejutkan. Bagusnya dari novel ini adalah drama yg diminimalisir, spt pemutusan pertunangan Mary dgn tunangannya yg tidak diinginkannya, dan cinta (nyaris) segitiga antara Mal-Mary-Captain Ellis yg untungnya gak terjadi. Si Captain masih punya harga diri drpd merebut bini orang, ya kan?
April 5, 2023
I wasn’t sure I wanted to jump back two generations in this family saga, but this was a fantastic journey into the 1700s. I think the tragedy of this time period on Scotland is even more devastating in this book than in Outlander. It’s hard to believe, but I was more invested in the MacKenzies in this book.
A great read, a fun read, and a satisfying ending.
A great read, a fun read, and a satisfying ending.
August 1, 2018
Mal is super sweet, romantic, funny and loyal guy, so it is not weird that I fell in love with his character after a first few chapters. Story is good written but sometimes I was annoyed because actions were too fast and that was confusing.
October 7, 2015
I love the Mackenzie series and this one is such a great prequel that i was sad when i finished the book.
The book tells the story of how it all began with the rich, powerful and eccentric Mackenzie men. You'll get the whole picture of the Mackenzie family drama and the beginnings of a business empire back during their grandfather's time - the dangerously wily and infallible Malcolm "Mad" Mackenzie and his brave English bride Lady Mary Lennox, daughter of the Earl of Wilfort (it is unfortunate that their father, the son of this great couple turned out to be a horrible person - refer to the first book on Ian). Malcolm actually persuaded her to leave her betrothed, a rather sinister English nobleman, Earl of Halsey and run away with him as his wife. Talk about being scary and romantic at the same time.
There are lots of awesomeness in the story:
1) Mal as a hero is a typical cheeky and forward Highlander who hides a darker and more dangerous side of him. He is intense in his feelings and extremely loyal to his family and loved ones. He is also a very cunning and highly intelligent warrior. In short, he's like a superhero from a more barbaric time with a plaid instead of a cape.
2) Mary is an English rose, pretty and cultured like all English highborn ladies but she hides a tough and resourceful nature. She's kind yet spirited and Mal recognized those qualities when he first saw her. I love heroines that are not petty or unnecessarily snarky.
3) the Mackenzie brothers - Duncan, Angus, Alec and Will (and Magnus, a brother that died young due to illness). Fiercely loyal and intense men with talents of their own: there's the politician, the one who holds the family together, the artist and the cunning spy - now we know where the Mackenzie men get their individual talents.
4) the highly descriptive atmosphere and political environment of the time. The gory details of war and fighting during that time. I had Braveheart movie snippets in my head the whole time.
5) the whole romance part that was not overly done and unnecessarily graphic - if it was OTT it would have spoiled the whole feel of the story.
Not so great:
1) all the fighting, killing and dying parts of the story made me feel sad.
2) the English characters in the story are often cast as stereo-typically snooty and sneaky. So okay...this story is supposed to be pro-Scots hero.
3) poor Captain Ellis. The only non-sneaky, non-snooty Englishman here. He's quite a hero but he got friend-zoned (awwww!)
Reading this book may make you want to re-read all the others and re-discover the Mackenzie men and their family drama. These men are touted as "mad" but they are actually very passionate men who are prone to outbursts and extremes and could only be tamed by women who are strong, intelligent and as passionate as they are.
I know there's another Mackenzie story coming up soon but it looks more of a Christmas special type of stories compiled together. Can't wait.
The book tells the story of how it all began with the rich, powerful and eccentric Mackenzie men. You'll get the whole picture of the Mackenzie family drama and the beginnings of a business empire back during their grandfather's time - the dangerously wily and infallible Malcolm "Mad" Mackenzie and his brave English bride Lady Mary Lennox, daughter of the Earl of Wilfort (it is unfortunate that their father, the son of this great couple turned out to be a horrible person - refer to the first book on Ian). Malcolm actually persuaded her to leave her betrothed, a rather sinister English nobleman, Earl of Halsey and run away with him as his wife. Talk about being scary and romantic at the same time.
There are lots of awesomeness in the story:
1) Mal as a hero is a typical cheeky and forward Highlander who hides a darker and more dangerous side of him. He is intense in his feelings and extremely loyal to his family and loved ones. He is also a very cunning and highly intelligent warrior. In short, he's like a superhero from a more barbaric time with a plaid instead of a cape.
2) Mary is an English rose, pretty and cultured like all English highborn ladies but she hides a tough and resourceful nature. She's kind yet spirited and Mal recognized those qualities when he first saw her. I love heroines that are not petty or unnecessarily snarky.
3) the Mackenzie brothers - Duncan, Angus, Alec and Will (and Magnus, a brother that died young due to illness). Fiercely loyal and intense men with talents of their own: there's the politician, the one who holds the family together, the artist and the cunning spy - now we know where the Mackenzie men get their individual talents.
4) the highly descriptive atmosphere and political environment of the time. The gory details of war and fighting during that time. I had Braveheart movie snippets in my head the whole time.
5) the whole romance part that was not overly done and unnecessarily graphic - if it was OTT it would have spoiled the whole feel of the story.
Not so great:
1) all the fighting, killing and dying parts of the story made me feel sad.
2) the English characters in the story are often cast as stereo-typically snooty and sneaky. So okay...this story is supposed to be pro-Scots hero.
3) poor Captain Ellis. The only non-sneaky, non-snooty Englishman here. He's quite a hero but he got friend-zoned (awwww!)
Reading this book may make you want to re-read all the others and re-discover the Mackenzie men and their family drama. These men are touted as "mad" but they are actually very passionate men who are prone to outbursts and extremes and could only be tamed by women who are strong, intelligent and as passionate as they are.
I know there's another Mackenzie story coming up soon but it looks more of a Christmas special type of stories compiled together. Can't wait.
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