The Duke's Perfect Wife (Mackenzies Series Book 4)

The Duke's Perfect Wife
(Highland Pleasures #4)
by Jennifer Ashley
4 stars

Reviewed by: Angels

Format:Paperback/Kindle/Audio

Published:Mass Market Paperback

Source:Purchased Copy

Genre: Historical Romance

Blurb

Lady Eleanor Ramsay is the only one who knows the truth about Hart Mackenzie. Once his fiancée, she is the sole woman to whom he could ever pour out his heart.

Hart has it all--a dukedom, wealth, power, influence, whatever he desires. Every woman wants him--his seductive skills are legendary. But Hart has sacrificed much to keep his brothers safe, first from their brutal father, and then from the world. He's also suffered loss--his wife, his infant son, and the woman he loved with all his heart though he realized it too late.

Now, Eleanor has reappeared on Hart's doorstep, with scandalous nude photographs of Hart taken long ago. Intrigued by the challenge in her blue eyes--and aroused by her charming, no-nonsense determination--Hart wonders if his young love has come to ruin him . . . or save him.

My Thoughts and Review

Have to say that Eleanor was my favorite character in this book and made it a whole lot of fun used to be engaged to hart MacKenzie many years ago but, someone came between them and upset there engagement and unfortunately it had ended not on a friendly note.

Many years later Eleanor still love her long lost Duke and comes to him when she starting receiving nude photos of him take when he was a young man, Being a Duke now and running for political office these photos must not surface and ruin his chance at something he has work so hard for all his driven life !

This story had many things going on in it.The Duke is a driven man with a tortured past who does what he does for his family of brothers. He is a hardened man who people fear.But, Eleanor is the only one who can thaw Harts heart and is also his weakness.This couple made a great pair and Eleanor is the one women strong enough to chip away at his heart of armor.She has quick whit and a sassy personality.

The other characters of the book make it successful too. Harts brothers are so different lending there personalities to the story as well and also there wives. The story had all the things that made a good book you laugh ,it had a mystery too it to solve,likable characters and a nice easy romance long over do.But,also the book had you feeling Harts real pain and suffering that you could relate to knowing he just needs the right women to heal him to have the same life that his brothers have .The book was part of a continuing series and an enjoyable read.

What was nice to see also in this story that was out of the ordinary was how Lady Eleanor Ramsay is not a up tight miss who follows the rules of society but a adventurous sort which will surprise you so your in for a real treat.As always looking forward to Jennifer's next novel...

The Duke's Perfect Wife by Jennifer Ashley
Historical Romance -April 3rd, 2012
5 stars

The Duke's Perfect Wife is what fans of her Mackenzies series have been waiting for! Finally, the enigmatic and seemingly cold hearted Duke, Hart Mackenzie, finds love with the one woman he could never forget.

Hart is a widower, powerful and desired for his wealth as well as his prowess in the bedroom. But, he is a mystery. He has everything except the woman that he left behind and his goal to become the prime minister. So he is pleased when he is suddenly visited by Lady Eleanor Ramsey. Eleanor used to be Hart's fiancée. Eleanor has been sent damaging photographs of a very naked Hart that would cause terrible scandal and ruin his chances of becoming prime minister. She wants to prevent this from happening by investigating the source and have him hire her for her services since her family is impoverished. But Hart has plans for much more, for he never forgot Eleanor and wants her back. But although Eleanor still cares for Hart, she is struck by how hardened he has become. Can he convince her to take a chance on him again or will danger keep them apart?

This was an extremely enjoyable read as the reader finally gets to know Hart. He has always been a rather distant character and getting to know the emotional man behind the mask was fascinating. It is interesting to read about their past engagement together and what Hart threw away. The impetuous Lady Eleanor Ramsey was easy to love - she is kind hearted and a bit quirky which makes her very endearing. She has a sweet innocence and believes in Hart. Because of this he is drawn to her. The hardships she has endured don't get her down and I admired her feisty spirit. I also loved the appearance of the rest of Hart's brothers and reading about their continued happiness with their family.

Reading this book was like coming home. Altogether heartwarming and enjoyable, this book is a must if you love Regency/Victorian romances.

Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club

Reviewed for TwoLips Reviews, LLC
4.5 Kisses, 1 Pepper (m/f oral sex)

Hart Mackenzie, Scottish Duke of Kilmorgan, seems to have it all. Power, wealth, intelligence, and a definite way with people, especially women. Lady Eleanor Ramsay was once engaged to marry Hart. She approaches him with a naked photo of him that was mysteriously delivered to her and offers to work for him and find out who sent it. If it got out, it would humiliate him, despite the fact that his tarnished reputation actually enhances his political career. This is all quite fortuitous for Hart, because he was planning to approach her about reuniting anyway. He's getting a second chance with her. I love reunion stories, especially when neither character is bitter.

For me, one of the highlights of this book was Hart's autistic brother, Ian. I absolutely adore him in this book. He was perfect in his own book, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, but he's a marvelously developed character in The Duke's Perfect Wife, too. When they were younger, Hart protected Ian from their father, taking punishments and beatings in his stead, ultimately saving his life. If Hart never did one other good thing in his whole life, I'd love him just for that.

The Duke's Perfect Wife was a fantastic book with lovable characters, a compelling plot, and a near-perfect end to a very memorable well-crafted series. Ultimately, I did feel like it was missing a little something because there are references to the dark side of Hart's sexuality in this and previous books in the series, but then it doesn't really seem to be addressed as fully as I anticipated. I was looking forward to a more dominant hero when we finally got to Hart's story, and while he was terrific, his dominance seemed to fizzle. I think if I hadn't been expecting it, I probably wouldn't have missed it so much.

Still, I've found you just can't go wrong with a book by Jennifer Ashley. Everything came together very nicely and this is a must read book for any fan of well-written historical romance.

Powerful and persuasive, Hart Mackenzie is used to getting his way. The only person not related to him that Hart cannot seem to control is Eleanor Ramsay. She jilted him over a decade ago and Hart, now a widower, is determined to have her as his bride. He has a plan, but when Eleanor shows up at his doorstep demanding a job Hart has to think fast. Eleanor's given him the perfect reason to keep her in his home: someone is sending her scandalous photographs of Hart that were taken long ago. But close quarters won't automatically send Eleanor tumbling back into his arms. If this duke wants to win over the perfect wife for him, he'll have to risk everything by opening himself up, heart, mind, and soul.

The imperious, managing Hart Mackenzie meets his match in the fabulous The Duke's Perfect Wife. I've waited since the first Highland Pleasures book (The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie) for Hart to get the happily ever after he so desperately needs. Beneath Hart's stone-cold façade is a man who's hurting so deeply it breaks my heart. Even though he's on the brink of having everything he's wanted in his career, he's losing himself in the process. He's never fully opened himself up to anyone except Eleanor and it's easy to see why she's the balm to his soul that he needs. Eleanor, with her warm, affectionate nature, quick mind, and iron will is Hart's other half. The two of them fit so well together that I was devouring The Duke's Perfect Wife, desperate to see them find happiness. One might wonder how a pair that is ideally suited - and clearly in love - might stay apart. Though I won't reveal what the obstacles in their path are, I can safely say that the roadblocks Jennifer Ashley sets up are completely logical given who Hart and Eleanor are and how they fell in love and broke up the first time (scenes Ms. Ashley weaves into the tale beautifully).

Hart and Eleanor are so wonderful and between the romance, the sexual tension, and character development it would be easy to go on about The Duke's Perfect Wife for ages and never mention the secondary characters. That would be almost criminal. Hart's family is a large part of The Duke's Perfect Wife and though you don't have to have read the other Mackenzie brothers' books (The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, and The Many Sins of Lord Cameron) to enjoy Hart's story, fans of the Highland Pleasures series will definitely enjoy catching up with the Mackenzies. Every member of the family is unique and loveable and seeing them in Hart's book was like visiting with old friends. My favorite hero of Ms. Ashely's (and one of my favorite characters of all time), Ian Mackenzie, plays a particularly large supporting role in The Duke's Perfect Wife and there are some truly touching moments that involve him. The Mackenzie family dynamics are part of what adds heart to the Highland Pleasures series as a whole.

The Duke's Perfect Wife is a sensual, gorgeous story that was captivating from the first page to the very last. I absolutely love Hart and Eleanor's book and I cannot wait for Ms. Ashley's next Highland Pleasures tale!

Reviewed by Shayna
For Joyfully Reviewed

Listened for fun (Audible)
Tracking Books Read Review (Short)
Overall Rating: 4·25
Story Rating: 4·00
Character Rating: 4·50

Audio Rating: 4·50 (not part of the overall rating)

First Thought when Finished: The Duke's Perfect Wife was fantastic. I loved Eleanor!

Overall Thoughts: I loved Hart and Eleanor's story. I knew that I was going to love Eleanor because she was so straight spoken. She just said what she thought and she said it with style. She didn't let Hart run all over her but she was very real with herself about her feelings. I like how the 2nd half of the story played out. It was perfect for them. I have pretty much plowed through the first 4 books in this series in a matter of weeks. They are that good!

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated By Angela Dawe / Length: 11 hrs and 7 mins

Broken record alert: Angela rocks! She does a fantastic job with this series. I highly recommend listening to them.

Final Thoughts: I am excited to get to the rest of the series.

I've been waiting to read this book forever - and finally found it at the Library. It started off rather slow and frustrating - in that the characters were so angry and hurt, and dodging around each other rather than telling each other what they really wanted. Hart is maddening (as Eleanor maintains throughout) with his refusal to see anything anyone tells him different from his world view, and Eleanor seems resigned to simply figure out the mystery about some sexy photos of Hart. But Ms. Ashley has been one of my favorite authors from the beginning because she nails the heart of the issues plaguing the characters and brings them together when those issues are exposed. Hart is carrying the weight of the world because of his father, and he won't share that weight with anyone. This story wasn't as strong as the others in the series, but I really liked Ms. Ashley's allusions to some of Hart's needs, reminding us that things visible in today's society are not necessarily new.

I found Eleanor to be remarkably refreshing. Her sometimes incessant chatter hid the mind of a brilliant woman who could talk a man into doing exactly what she wants him to do. Ms. Ashley has written a flavorful historical tale that takes the reader from the glamour of waltzing at a ball, to being ravished in the laundry room, and to the more touching scenes of remembered letters and photographs in a memory book. Through it all, you will find yourself laughing at some of the more outrageous antics that Eleanor finds herself in as well as blushing during the more passionate encounters of these two lovers. The Duke's Perfect Wife is a great book that some will find to be the perfect edition to their own library.

Danielle
Reviewer for Coffee Time Romance & More

Ashley's series about Highland brothers is entertaining and steamy. Each book focuses on one brother and their love. Each book is unique in character, and layered, the books better define an entire family. This book follows patriarch, Hart, through his reunion with a lost love and an interesting character arch that doesn't always happen in happy-ending romance.

Widower Hart Mackenzie may be an affluent duke well loved by his siblings and known for his love-making abilities, but he feels alone. He knows he can have just about any female he wants except his beloved former fiancée Lady Eleanor Ramsey. She is the only other living person who knows what he sacrificed to keep his siblings safe from their late abusive father.

Since the deaths of his wife and heir, he has turned from a compassionate person to a frozen heart. Now Eleanor arrives from Glenarden near Aberdeen to offer Hart a business deal while the journalist scribblers accost him. She shows him a picture of him naked that someone sent to her. Eleanor offers to help him find the unknown adversary before this person sends any to the scandal sheets. Hart agrees though he distrusts the motive of his only love as he assumes she seeks retribution for his treatment of her.

The fourth Highland Pleasures Mackenzie brothers' Victorian romance (see The Many Sins of Lord Cameron, Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie and Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage) is a super tale. The lead couple is a great pairing as the reader feels the emotional tension from the moment Hart recognizes the voice calling his name and never slows down until the final confrontation as readers like the hero question the heroine's reason for coming to protect him even as she melts his tundra heart. That is why Jennifer Ashley's ardent character driven historical romances are so good as even when you know the usual course of true love, somehow the author has you doubting all the way.

Harriet Klausner

Was not disappointed with this book! Could not put it down and was so happy finally getting to read about Hart and Eleanor. A must read historical romance with so much passion you will want to get the rest of her books. Wonderful story line and well written series by Jennifer Ashley. Thank you for my Highlanders and can't wait to read more of your books.

Enjoyable read with fascinating characters. I rather liked seeing another side of Ian and I feel like he is the person who really holds the family together. I cannot wait to read the rest of the Mackenzie series!

I wouldn't let the negative reviews keep you from reading this wonderful book. Yes, there was a couple of weak areas but aside from that I could not put it down. You really don't want to miss Hart's story.

What a disappointment in this series. I really hated Hart in this whole book. I didn't find anything really redeeming about his character other than he loves his brothers. I also felt his character was an extremely sleezy character who would step on anyone no matter what to get what he wanted most especially women. Eleanor broke up with him initially because of the way he treats his HOUSE of women that cater to his perversions! Really, really. This is why she breaks the engagement? Not maybe because he cheats on her. By the end of this book I was wishing he would get shot and die off. Don't waste your time on this book.