musicalbibliophile's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness
romanceandraindrops's review against another edition
DNF 44%. Where did the tension go?
bookswithbeccs's review against another edition
5.0
I LOVED reading and watching Ian Mackenzie and Beth Ackerly's love story unfold. I think this is one of my all-time favorite historical romances.
Ian Mackenzie is known for being "mad". His father had him put into an asylum at a young age. When he is freed, he is branded by society as crazy and dangerous. He meets Beth and instantly finds himself drawn to her and vice versa. Beth is drawn to the mysterious Ian Mackenzie and finds that he is not at all what society has branded him as. They quickly become enthralled with one another. In the backdrop of the story, Ian Mackenzie is being pursued by Detective Fellows for the murder of two women, Sally and Lily. Beth is determined to prove Ian's innocence and find herself in the middle of a mystery. She like a modern-day Nancy Drew!! I loved this mysterious aspect of the plot and served as a great conflict to the developing relationship between Ian and Beth!
Although it is not explicitly stated, Ian may have Aspergers. He is brilliant with numbers, has an eidetic memory, and sometimes is unable to pick up emotions. Do not be swayed, he is charming and easily loveable. Ian is full of passion and love. His counterpart, Beth is curious, clever, kind, and fiercely independent. She never lets anyone walk over her and has a strong backbone. She was the perfect fit for Ian Mackenzie.
I could not recommend this romance more! I loved every second I was reading it.
Ian Mackenzie is known for being "mad". His father had him put into an asylum at a young age. When he is freed, he is branded by society as crazy and dangerous. He meets Beth and instantly finds himself drawn to her and vice versa. Beth is drawn to the mysterious Ian Mackenzie and finds that he is not at all what society has branded him as. They quickly become enthralled with one another. In the backdrop of the story, Ian Mackenzie is being pursued by Detective Fellows for the murder of two women, Sally and Lily. Beth is determined to prove Ian's innocence and find herself in the middle of a mystery. She like a modern-day Nancy Drew!! I loved this mysterious aspect of the plot and served as a great conflict to the developing relationship between Ian and Beth!
Although it is not explicitly stated, Ian may have Aspergers. He is brilliant with numbers, has an eidetic memory, and sometimes is unable to pick up emotions. Do not be swayed, he is charming and easily loveable. Ian is full of passion and love. His counterpart, Beth is curious, clever, kind, and fiercely independent. She never lets anyone walk over her and has a strong backbone. She was the perfect fit for Ian Mackenzie.
I could not recommend this romance more! I loved every second I was reading it.
nbvanderhyden's review against another edition
5.0
This book is really really precious. Poor sweet baby Ian was on the spectrum before folks knew there was such a thing. Beth is just a breath of fresh air, both to Ian and myself. She accepted and loved him immediately and unfailingly. I adored her constant chatter and humor. They might have been lost on Ian but I fully appreciated her wit.
mariamistry's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars
A cute read but I found myself skimming a lot of it so I guess it didn't really capture my attention.
A cute read but I found myself skimming a lot of it so I guess it didn't really capture my attention.
witandsin's review against another edition
5.0
In a family full of scandalous men, Ian Mackenzie stands out. Society thinks him mad, and rumors abound about the years he spent locked in an asylum. Widow Beth Ackerley has heard the gossip, but nevertheless she’s drawn to the handsome Scottish lord. His intelligence and honesty suit her far better than the machinations of other gentlemen. Not to mention the fact that attraction sparks between them in an instant. Ian might be unusual, but then, so is Beth. Will two people who’ve never quite fit in find their perfect match in one another?
No matter how many times I read The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, each time I open the book, I am immediately drawn into one of the most incredible stories I’ve ever read. Jennifer Ashley rocketed to the top of my auto-buy list with this book. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie has unique characters and a passionate love story, all wrapped into one phenomenally entertaining tale.
Ian is one of my favorite characters of all time. He’s a deliciously sexy hero whose absolute loyalty to those he cares about won my heart immediately. Ian’s “madness” referenced in the title and in the book itself is not actual insanity, but rather Asperger’s Syndrome (a form of high-functioning autism). He’s treated as mad by everyone around him, as the story takes place long before anyone heard of Asperger’s. I give Ms. Ashley high marks for not under-playing this aspect of Ian’s character, but I give her even more credit for not letting it overpower who he is either. There’s a delicate balance to be had and Ms. Ashley hits all the right notes.
I could go on about Ian, but I’d be doing The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie a disservice if I didn’t write about Beth. She’s a fantastic heroine: intelligent, hardworking, practical, passionate, and loving. I adored how taken she was with Ian and I loved how she stood up for him, even when it came to his well-meaning brothers. Ian and Beth fit one another perfectly. Separately, each shines, but together they are what makes The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie a must-read.
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is the first book in Ms. Ashley’s Highland Pleasures series and I cannot wait to read about the rest of the Highland Pleasures books. Ian’s brothers are all unusual in their own way and Ms. Ashley makes them come to life every bit as much as she does Beth and Ian. I finished The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie wanting to dive right into the next book, Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage. I Joyfully Recommend The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. Readers are sure to fall in love with Beth, Ian, and the entire Mackenzie family!
Recommended Read, Best of 2011 pick. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
No matter how many times I read The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, each time I open the book, I am immediately drawn into one of the most incredible stories I’ve ever read. Jennifer Ashley rocketed to the top of my auto-buy list with this book. The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie has unique characters and a passionate love story, all wrapped into one phenomenally entertaining tale.
Ian is one of my favorite characters of all time. He’s a deliciously sexy hero whose absolute loyalty to those he cares about won my heart immediately. Ian’s “madness” referenced in the title and in the book itself is not actual insanity, but rather Asperger’s Syndrome (a form of high-functioning autism). He’s treated as mad by everyone around him, as the story takes place long before anyone heard of Asperger’s. I give Ms. Ashley high marks for not under-playing this aspect of Ian’s character, but I give her even more credit for not letting it overpower who he is either. There’s a delicate balance to be had and Ms. Ashley hits all the right notes.
I could go on about Ian, but I’d be doing The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie a disservice if I didn’t write about Beth. She’s a fantastic heroine: intelligent, hardworking, practical, passionate, and loving. I adored how taken she was with Ian and I loved how she stood up for him, even when it came to his well-meaning brothers. Ian and Beth fit one another perfectly. Separately, each shines, but together they are what makes The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie a must-read.
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie is the first book in Ms. Ashley’s Highland Pleasures series and I cannot wait to read about the rest of the Highland Pleasures books. Ian’s brothers are all unusual in their own way and Ms. Ashley makes them come to life every bit as much as she does Beth and Ian. I finished The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie wanting to dive right into the next book, Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage. I Joyfully Recommend The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. Readers are sure to fall in love with Beth, Ian, and the entire Mackenzie family!
Recommended Read, Best of 2011 pick. Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed.
smahlcat's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
reclusivereader's review against another edition
4.0
I'm totally bagged and can't muster up the energy or enthusiasm to write a longwinded, quote-filled, review. Which sucks as I have a phone full of screenshots. I'd like to say I'll come back and post something later but the likelihood of that is basically nil. So suffice it to say I'm loving this recent trend of atypical heroes in my romances (especially historical ones) and definitely plan to continue to sprinkle these kind of reads into my diet.
I really loved Ian, not just because of his Aspergers but because of his whole story, and I did quite like Beth, though I found I loved her best from Ian's POV. The "Mrs Barrington" this and "Mrs Barrington that" kind of wore on me and I definitely appreciated it when she got called out on it. Though a few more times would've been better.
This is a colourful family chockful of Mackenzies for us to read about and I'm looking forward to more from this author and these characters and this world of hers.
I really loved Ian, not just because of his Aspergers but because of his whole story, and I did quite like Beth, though I found I loved her best from Ian's POV. The "Mrs Barrington" this and "Mrs Barrington that" kind of wore on me and I definitely appreciated it when she got called out on it. Though a few more times would've been better.
This is a colourful family chockful of Mackenzies for us to read about and I'm looking forward to more from this author and these characters and this world of hers.
julianaphilippa's review against another edition
5.0
4.5 stars
I have heard about this book for such a long time now and I CANNOT believe it took me this long to finally read it—because WOW was it fantastic!! Definitely one of my new top favorite romances. Ian is incredible, Beth is amazing, together they're priceless. Ian is a really, really unique hero and Ashley did a superb job with him, truly.
I have heard about this book for such a long time now and I CANNOT believe it took me this long to finally read it—because WOW was it fantastic!! Definitely one of my new top favorite romances. Ian is incredible, Beth is amazing, together they're priceless. Ian is a really, really unique hero and Ashley did a superb job with him, truly.