Audiobook Review: Bedded by Her Highland Enemy by B.J. Scott, Narrated by Angela Dawe

This was my first story ever by B.J. Scott and it was a great introduction to this authors work. I really enjoyed this story and the characters. Although I like historical romance, sometimes highlander stories take me a while to get into but “Bedded by Her Highland Enemy” grabbed my attention from the first few sentences.

Our heroine, Brianne Dunbar, is happy and in love. She shares a wonderful life with her husband and child until that is all tragically taken away. With one attack on her husband clan she loses her husband and three-month baby. Brianne’s only incentive is to seek revenge on those that took her husband and child’s life. Brianne’s pain is only mocked when her father promises her to their worst enemy.

Gavin MacClurry is Brianne’s future brother-in-law. He has been sent to take Brianne from her home and deliver her to her brother as part of an order made by King James. Brianne is not aware that Gavin is her intended husbands brother and when she finds out she is angry at Gavin and feels betrayed. Gavin understands Brianne’s conflicting emotions. He sympathizes with her tremendous loss but only wants to protect her even if it means seeing her marry his brother. Brianne feels a terrible burden because she is mourning for her great loss but at the same time her feelings for Gavin are her only salvation and hope. He has been the only male that she has encountered that has shown her protection and respect. Even though Brianne tries to hate Gavin she sees him for the wonderful man that he is and she soon falls in love with him.

B.J. Scott really knows how to create a great story. She had many twists and turns and there were many unexpected surprises. This story did not drag for me at all. I loved the pacing, I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next and how Gavin and Brianne could find their way to one another when they seem to have many insurmountable obstacles. This story made me a fan of Scott and I cannot wait to read more by her. Gavin was truly a hero and I really liked him. My only complaint was that at times I wanted him to become angry or crazy but he always took the higher ground. My other little issue was the amount of time that Brianne lost her family and fell in love with Gavin. For other reasons that I will not name, this plot worked but I felt that more time would have been better. I really enjoyed this story and highly recommend it.

Angela Dawe did an amazing job of narrating this story. At first it seemed she was rushing through the story but the voices she gave the characters made the story come alive and she really seemed to understand them.

**Audiobook Provided by Publisher**

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Audiobook Review: The Madness Of Lord Ian MacKenzie by Jennifer Ashley, Narrated by Angela Dawe

When I reviewed “Scandal And The Duchess (MacKenzies & McBrides, #6.5 I became really interested in the McKenzie family. The bond between the brothers seemed so full of love and it was endearing to watch these rough and tough men love and support each other.

This story in particular “The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie” is one of those books that I’ve been wanting to read for a long time. I have to say that Jennifer Ashley is talented, very precise and thorough in her storytelling. She really gets to the heart of her characters. She really knows how to plan out a plot and she really knows how to keep a reader/ listener on the edge of their seat. Her characters and plot were so rich that I felt satisfied when the story finished.

Lord MacKenzie is considered “mad.” This madness is because he has a photogenic memory and is a type of “Rain Man” in London/ Scottish society. One day he meets Beth Ackerley and immediately becomes fascinated by her. Ian doesn’t have good social skills but Beth realizes immediately that Ian is special and she finds his brutal honesty refreshing. Beth is a great heroine. She is not of English/ Scottish society. She actually has a dark family history but she ends up marrying a man she loves who unfortunately dies shortly after their marriage. She is taken in by an English lady that teaches her about society and ends up leaving her with a nice fortune. I really loved Beth and thought that not only was she an excellent heroine but she was excellent with Ian.

Through a series of circumstances Beth and Lord Ian end up married even though she wants to stay a widower after a failed courtship when she meets Ian. At first I thought that the story would begin to drag since Ian and Beth married so early and quickly but the plot was well played out when we discover that Ian is the suspect in a murder. Ian trying to protect his older brother Hart has never confided in anyone about the mystery surrounding the death he is a suspect in. Although Beth doesn’t know Ian very well she knows he is not a murder and she takes it upon herself to find out the truth behind the murder. Ian was such an endearing character. Because emotionally he is so cut and dry I thought it would be difficult to identify with him, but he was so honest and sincere it was easy to see what a wonderful man he was. Besides these fantastic characters and the great plot, I was intrigued by Isabella and Cameron’s story. I plan to read their story soon.

Finally, I thought that this was a great story. It really delivers and I enjoyed all the twists and turns that I did not expect. Also, I thought Angela Dawe did a great job narrating the story. She really seemed to understand the characters and their personalities. She really made the story that much more enjoyable for me.

**Audiobook provided by Tantor**

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Audiobook Review: Scandal and the Duchess by Jennifer Ashley, Narrated by Angela Dawe

Jennifer Ashley is one of those authors I keep wanting to read. But I always get distracted with another book or something happens. When I saw the audiobook available I jumped at the chance to hear it! I had heard so many great reviews about her books. I’m glad that I was not disappointed!

First the hero and the heroine were so much fun! This is a short audiobook and the actual story is only 160 pages. It was short, but very sweet and gratifying! Ashley portrays a very modern issue in a historical context, which I thought was fun! Our heroine, Rose Barclay is a “fallen” woman. She is considered scandalous after her older husband suddenly dies a short while after their marriage. She has no resources available to her since her deceased husbands son has cut her off without any means. Rose is living with a footman and his wife. Because of her scandalous marriage the press is always hounding her. They follow her around waiting for another scandalous thing to occur.

Steven McBride is a soldier and one of the famous McBride brothers, unfortunately I have not read any of the previous books in the series so there were some characters that I did not know. That however did not impede my enjoyment of this story. Steven, the youngest brother, is basically drunk off his butt when he literally falls on top of Rose. Since Rose is constantly hounded by reporters this does not go unnoticed. Rose feels terrible because of her reputation and takes Steven to her footman’s house to help him in his very drunken stupor. When Steven realizes that Rose is in need of help he steps in to help her. I really liked Steven and Rose as a couple. Although most of the story is centered around Rose, there are a couple of surprises surrounding Steven as well.

There were so many different aspects of this story that I really loved and thought that the author dealt with in a creative manner. First, there was a mystery to be solved. I thought this was a fun part of the story. It really cemented Steven and Roses relationship as they worked together to unravel it. It also added another element to the story. I thought that the way the author interjected it was very clever. Also, I really liked that the author had other family members from the previous books appear. It only sparked my interest in reading the other books in the series.

My only issue with the story was Roses marriage to the Duke of Southdown. It really disturbed me. There seemed to be a significant age difference between them and Rose seems to have viewed him as a father and did not express romantic feelings for him. I kept waiting for there to be some big secret as to why she really married him. My only complaint about the narration is that at first it was too fast. I had to go back and listen to it again a couple of times because she spoke too fast. This was an enjoyable experience. I really liked the characters and the plot. I’m excited and looking forward to hearing the next book, “Rules For A Proper Governess (MacKenzies & McBrides #7). Stay tuned for that review!

**Audiobook Provided by Tantor Audio**

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