It’s true. Every now and
then a groundbreaking book comes along which is just thrilling to read. It used to happen a lot back in the 90’s, but
authors have had to work harder to achieve this in our ‘new and improved’
noughties. And hell yes, this is one
of those books! Ian Mackenzie would probably be labeled autistic today, or with
Aspergers. He is brilliant, he cannot lie, he is utterly hopeless in
relationships apart from his brothers and his ‘minder’, and he despairs that he
cannot control his violent rages. His father locked him in an asylum as a child
and declared him mad, so poor little Ian grew up bereft of normality until his
eldest brother finally hauled him out on the Duke’s death. Still, the world
regards him as mad, and his brothers don’t help dispel any of the myths: dark
rumours and innuendo surround the whole family. Enter the gentle, widowed Beth
Ackerley, recently come into a fortune. She’s picked her next husband, someone
who will provide stability and peace in her life. She doesn’t want any more
dramas or disasters or passion for the rest of her life. Then Ian sees her.
Then Ian wants her. Then Ian… collects
her, like he collects his precious porcelain bowls. Ooh. For all he doesn’t ‘do’ relationships, remember that Ian is
incredibly single-minded once he wants Beth. His seduction is off-the-charts smoking hot! The whole book smokes,
actually, and we can only hope Jennifer Ashley delivers those delish devilish
brothers before too long An excerpt: I ?nd that a Ming bowl is like a woman’s breast,” Sir Lyndon Mather said to Ian Mackenzie, who held the bowl in question between his ?ngertips. “The swelling curve, the creamy pallor. Don’t you agree?” Ian couldn’t think of a woman who would be ?attered to have her breast compared to a bowl, so he didn’t bother to nod.
