Author Jennifer Ashley offers RT readers unique insight into her Mackenzie family — and don't miss the EXCERPT and GIVEAWAY at the end of the blog entry!

Meet the Mackenzies: Rich, powerful, dangerous, eccentric. Rumors surround them — of tragic violence, of their mistresses, of their dark appetites, of scandals that set England and Scotland abuzz.

About four years ago, stories about Lords Ian, Mac, and Cameron, and Hart the Duke of Kilmorgan, began forming in my head and wouldn’t let me go. The characters haunted me; I couldn’t stop thinking about them! And so I started writing — long before I had a chance to pitch and sell the books.

Hart, the oldest, becomes duke upon his father’s death. He’s had his heart broken, but he’ll never admit it. He’s ruthless; had a brief, tragic marriage; has dark sexual appetites and the need to control … everything.

Cameron, the next in line, likes horses and women, and little else. He had a bad marriage, which ended in his wife’s suicide (some people say Cam killed her), leaving him with an infant son to raise. He’s turned his life to training the best horses and bedding the most beautiful women. He loves his son but knows he’s a rotten father. He doesn’t trust women, with good reason, and always ends his affairs before they go too far. And then he meets Ainsley Douglas …  

Mac, the rakehell artist, “crashes” Lady Isabella Scranton’s debut ball on a bet that he can get into the party and kiss the young debutante (Isabella). Mac is so entranced with the lovely and spirited Isabella that he convinces her to elope with him that very night. But their marriage is too turbulent and troubled for Isabella, and she leaves Mac three years later.

And then Ian, the youngest, is “mad.” He has Asperger’s Syndrome, a form of high-functioning autism (though in the time of the stories, no one knew what that was.). He had difficulty relating to other people, even his own family and believed himself unable to fall in love. Misunderstood, he spent time in an asylum, until Hart let him out at their father’s death. His brothers protect him, even though they too believe he’s a little crazy. Then Beth Ackerley enters his life and teaches Ian what love truly is. Their story,The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, proved to be very popular and garnered many awards and award nominations.

Book Two, Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, begins the week after The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie ends, as Mac, estranged from Isabella, is determined to get back into her life. He’s sober, reformed, and needs her. Their story is one of struggle, tears, laughter, and heartache. Ian and Beth return in Mac and Isabella’s story, along with Cameron, Hart, and Cameron’s son Daniel. As a bonus, I’ve included chapter one of Cameron’s story, The Many Sins Of Lord Cameron, at the end of the Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage.

To showcase the Mackenzies, I created a website that includes character bios, blurbs and excerpts from the books, and the family tree. Please enjoy this next installment of the Mackenzie series, with more to come!

Best,
 - Jennifer Ashley

 

Read The Excerpt >>

*GIVEAWAY ALERT* Three lucky winners will receive copies of both Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage and the series starter, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. To enter leave a comment about why you love historicals or Jennifer Ashley's writing. Or email your comment here with  "Jennifer Ashley's Mackenzie Giveaway" as the subject line. Winners (and their comments) will be revealed on this blog post on July 19th.

BLOG UPDATE 7/19/10: And the winners are ... Candace P. and RT users Scorpio M. and Eos17!

Here's what Candace P. had to say: I love historicals! I have the opportunity to live and love during contemporary times. However, thanks to writers like Eloise James, Julia Quinn, Jennifer Ashley, and many many other historical authors I can live and love during a time period that occurred during another century; and home sweet home can be on another Continent where I have never traveled. With writers like the ones listed above, the romance genre can no longer be stereotyped as “lacking in characterization”, or “just genre books”.  These books contain well thought out characters and writing that is better than much contemporary literature. However, these romance authors don’t give up plot when working on these other elements, which is why I am so excited to read the new installment in Jennifer Ashley’s series, Lady Isabella’s Scandalous Marriage! No formulaic plot here!!

And winners Scorpio M and Eos17 left their comments on this blog post below.

Tags: RT Daily Blog, Romance
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