| Title | : | The Seduction Of Elliot McBride (MacKenzies McBrides, #5) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0425251136 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780425251133 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Mass Market Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 320 |
| Publication | : | First published December 31, 2012 |
Juliana St. John was raised to be very proper. After a long engagement, her wedding day dawns—only for Juliana to find herself jilted at the altar.
Fleeing the mocking crowd, she stumbles upon Elliot McBride, the tall, passionate Scot who was her first love. His teasing manner gives her an idea, and she asks Elliot to save her from an uncertain future—by marrying her…
After escaping brutal imprisonment, Elliot has returned to Scotland a vastly wealthy yet tormented man. Now Juliana has her hands full restoring his half-ruined manor in the Scottish Highlands and trying to repair the broken heart of the man some call irredeemably mad. Though beautiful and spirited, Juliana wonders if that will be enough to win a second chance at love.
The Seduction Of Elliot McBride (MacKenzies McBrides, #5) Reviews
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4.5 sexual healing Stars
first read may 8, 2015
reread August 25, 2016
Re Reread July 29 2020
*Spoilers*
“But you’re wicked, lass. You sat on a man’s lap, in a chapel, and told him to marry you.”
The Seduction Of Elliot McBride is the 5 novel in the MacKenzies & McBrides series. And though I will acknowledge this one was not as good as the first 3 books, it was still damn good! Elliot is no Ian, Mac, or Cam, but he was still a yummy Scottish treat.
What this book is about
Juliana St. John has been in love with Elliot McBride since they were young. After kissing her at her coming out ball, Elliot goes off to war. While away he is captured, Imprisoned, and tortured for ten months. When he is found and comes home he never says a word to her, no visits nothing. So giving up hope that they will ever be together Juliana agrees to marry another man. On her wedding day she is jilted. The man she was suppose to marry eloped the night before. Upset over the humiliation she knows she will suffer, she is hiding in the church, throws herself down onto the pew and lands on the lap of her childhood love Elliot. She half jokingly says they should get married. Elliot is all over that and that day they are married! Juliana feels she is so lucky to have married the man she always had feelings for instead of a man she was settling for, but things are not all grand. Elliot is not the same charming light hearted young man that stole her heart, imprisonment has changed him. Everyone is saying she married a mad man. Will Juliana and Elliot have a happy marriage or is the man she married as crazy as everyone says?
“So you came to my wedding to snatch me from the altar?” “I’m a Highland barbarian. We steal our wives, didn’t ye know?”
Elliot:
Eliiot was so messed up. Elliot suffers from PTSD, but back then they just thought him mad. He really has a hard time flash backs, black out moments and sometimes he can't tell what is dream and what is real. What I really like about him was that he never gives up. He is fighting for his life, health, happiness, and marriage. Although most of his fighting is in the form of Sexual healing, because everyone knows that good sex heals all!
“I had to live,” he said. “I was determined to live, whatever the cost.” He released her hands and brushed back a tendril of her hair. “To see you again.” Juliana looked up at him, lips parted. “It’s what drove me to live, lass, every minute of the day or night. To see you again. To hear your voice. To touch you…” Elliot drew his finger down her cheek. “They wondered at my resilience. They called me a demon or the walking dead, because I wouldn’t lie down and die. But I couldn’t. Not until I saw you again.”
“Because what would you have seen if I’d come crawling to you when I came home from India? A broken man, one afraid of the dark and equally afraid of the light. I was nothing.”
Juliana:
I like Juliana just fine but she didn't really stand out for me. She is very organized, and writes a list for everything. She is suportive of Elliot and she believes in him. I do like that she pushes him to talk to her about the things he suffered, instead of sweeping it under the rug.
“Even so, you could have said something. When you were captured, when we thought you dead…They were the most awful months of my life. Nothing can compare. I cried all day in relief when I got Ainsley’s telegram that you’d been found and were all right. And then you never wrote, never called on me, never spoke to me, never sent a message.”
“I’m here.” Juliana looked up into Elliot’s anguished eyes, his brows drawn down as though all the fury in the world coursed through him. “I’m here, Elliot. I’ve always been here for you. And I always will be.”
Sword dance:
“I’m not who I was,” he finished. “Sometimes I thank God for that. I lost most of myself in those caves as a prisoner. I’m not sure who it was who came out.” “You’re Elliot,” Juliana said. “My Elliot.”
Overall this book was a good read. The sex was hott, and they really lusted for each other. Especially Elliot he was like an animal wanting the sexual healing all the time. The reason this book is a 4 star instead of 5 is there is more sex than character development. McGregor really stood out to me. I enjoy his "I am a old man & I am set in my ways" self. A very entertaining and enjoyable read.
Below I leave my favorite moment from the book:
“When I was told what happened in the marriage bed, my stepmother mentioned none of this.”Elliot lifted the weight of her breast, caressing the tightness of her nipple. “None of what?” His head was on her pillow, the covers long ago kicked off. “None of what we’ve done today. I was told to lie quietly on my back and let you adjust me as necessary, and then you would come in on top of me.” She smiled at her questions—What will I do in the time between that and when he spills his seed? The whole discussion seemed long ago and innocent now. “You would derive pleasure in the act, but I probably wouldn’t. I was to hold and comfort you when you released, because at that moment, a man was, for the only time in his life, weaker than a woman.” Elliot laughed, a deep-voiced, masculine laugh. “Was this in a book?”
http://jessicasoverthetopbookobsessio... -
Full review now posted...
Elliot McBride
The Seduction of Elliot McBride is the fifth book in Jennifer Ashley’s amazingHighland Pleasures series. It’s romantic, witty, poignant, and deliciously sexy… it’s everything I love in historical romance!Juliana St. John was raised to be very proper. After a long engagement, her wedding day dawns—only for Juliana to find herself jilted at the altar.
As I said in my earlier, partial review, Elliot is to the McBrides as Ian is to the Mackenzies, except that Elliot wasn’t born as he is now. His “madness” comes from being captured, held as a slave and tortured, mentally and physically. I’m not sure which is more compelling, the hero that once knew freedom and then lost it, or the hero who knew only “madness” until his soul mate came along and showed him peace… well, thankfully we don’t have to choose, we can love them all. And love them all, I do.
Fleeing the mocking crowd, she stumbles upon Elliot McBride, the tall, passionate Scot who was her first love. His teasing manner gives her an idea, and she asks Elliot to save her from an uncertain future—by marrying her…
After escaping brutal imprisonment, Elliot has returned to Scotland a vastly wealthy yet tormented man. Now Juliana has her hands full restoring his half-ruined manor in the Scottish Highlands and trying to repair the broken heart of the man some call irredeemably mad. Though beautiful and spirited, Juliana wonders if that will be enough to win a second chance at love.
I can’t put my finger on what it was, but The Seduction of Elliot McBride seemed to have a somewhat different feel to it. More complex, more detailed, more fleshed out... Revisiting the Mackenzies and their families was, of course, pure bliss, so maybe that's part of it. And getting to know the other McBride brothers a bit, learning more about the demons they battle, has me impatiently looking forward to their stories, and could be part of it, too. Or maybe it’s my love of truly scarred and tortured heroes that gave this one such a special feel, I don’t know, and in the end it doesn't matter because I loved it! Start to finish, loved it!
Something else I really enjoyed was the different cultural feel. Elliot’s Indian servants, those he brought back to Scotland with him, were a big part of what made the story so interesting and entertaining. Their devotion to Elliot made them people I couldn’t help but care about, even though most of them had little dialog – in English, that is. And hearing about their’s and Elliot’s lives in India was fascinating, so much so that I’ve decided I need to find more historical romance novels with this theme.
Juliana and Elliot make the perfect couple. Friends from childhood, they grew into adults and while they always only wanted each other – but neither knew the other felt the same – they went their separate ways, making lives apart. But that friendship is what gives their romance such a solid foundation and makes their impromptu wedding not only believable, but beautiful. Juliana knew the boy that Elliot had been, could see the man he had become, but knew the man he had the potential to be – a mix of the two – if only he could put the horrific events of the past behind him. She’s a strong heroine… sometimes a bit stubborn, but smart, compassionate, loving… she truly is perfect for Elliot.
And about Elliot… something else I said in my earlier review, but I’ll say it again; He is an amazing hero, and I can tell you, without hesitation, that Elliot will always hold a piece of my heart – the part that was torn out while reading his story. He earned it, he deserves it, and it will forever be his. -
Elliot McBride is out New Year's Eve! :-) The hero is Elliot McBride, the brother of Ainsley from Many Sins of Lord Cameron. The heroine, Juliana St. John, is a new character. The story has an old Scottish house, plenty of Highlanders, kilts, a steamy love story, Punjabi food, dogs, and a goat.
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"She believed him. The rest of the world thought Elliot irretrievably mad, but Juliana had decided to trust his word.
She’d just given him the most beautiful gift he’d ever received."
Another great installment in the Highland Pleasures series! I swear, I had no idea what I was getting into when I started reading these books, I thought them as average historicals about some Highlanders :D Was I wrong...
I enjoyed every single book so far, this one included, and some of the books have gone to my "best ever" reads <3 Amazing!
I really recommend it to every historical fan, you won't be disappointed!“I’m a Highland barbarian. We steal our wives, didn’t ye know?”
“You are horrible.”
“I always have been.” He managed a grin. “You knew that.”
The story
Juliana St. John is about to be married, only her groom is nowhere to be seen! Turns out, her groom eloped with his piano teacher, leaving Juliana jilted at the altar :D
Lucky for her, Elliot is right there, and she comes up with a plan, well a proposal actually, for them to get married :)
Elliot agrees without thinking, he's always loved Juliana, and actually came to the wedding to stop it :)
So they marry, and go to Elliot's newly bought house that is rather old and decrepit, together with Elliot's servants from India, and the real story begins :)
This book is mainly about Elliot, his struggles to deal with the aftereffects of his torture, and how both he and Juliana adapt to living together.
Of course, there's a mystery in this one too, a dead man, a stalker in the forest, accusations of murder and so on :D
Have to say, I loved the Indian family, they brought the humor in the book :)
The mystery with Elliot's friend... Not my favorite plot, but oh well :D
One thing I didn't like here was the fact that they knew/loved each other before. For some reason that didn't work for me here, I just couldn't see that love they had instantly, and the fact that they . That was a little unbelievable, although touching considering both characters and what Elliot has gone through, but I just WISH they fell in love during the book, not before :(
OK, rant over LOL, that's the reason I gave this 4 stars, totally personal and my problem with it, so don't let it influence you in reading the book :)
"If Elliot lost her, if she were hurt…
He’d die.
Elliot pulled her closer, caressing the tension from the back of her neck as he deepened the kiss.
Never let her go, never lose her. They hadn’t been able to take her from him. He would let nothing take her now."
Elliot and Juliana
I don't have much to say about them except I really liked them as a couple :)
My heart broke for Elliot and all he's been through, how could it not, and Juliana was very supportive about him, just loved that :)
The scene that most stuck to my mind was in the beginning, when Elliot's family came and started bossing around, she told them they could leave them in peace, it's their home, and she'll stand by Elliot now.
OMG, I just loved her then and there :)
Awesome :)))))
And well... I don't know. I already said above that I wished they had fallen in love in the book, and not before it, I just had that something missing while reading it, but no matter, they were still a great couple :)"She was light. And life. He’d had a long climb and had a way to go still. But when he was wrapped in Juliana, all darkness vanished, unable to prevail."
All in all, a great read, I'm sad I'm finished with the series (well, with the published books anyway :((( )
I can't recommend it enough! Amazing, amazing!!!!!!
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Review completed January 6, 2013
3.5 stars. "Tha gaol agam ort."
Scotland 1884
Two hundred people are waiting in the church for Juliana St. John and Grant Barclay to wed. Unfortunately, though, Juliana's soon-to-be husband eloped and married his piano teacher. Juliana is shocked when she knows that there will be no wedding. Still numb, she realized that her future had just crumbled to dust. Cameron MacKenzie wants to take her home but she insists that she needs a moment to get her bearings. She enters a little chapel to reminisce. Needless to say that Juliana is rather agitated and when she is slamming herself into the seat, she is in for a pleasant surprise. She is sitting on Elliot McBride's legs who is sleeping on the bench. Elliot was her first love and they have known each other for a long time. Juliana is stunned because she thought Elliot would be in India. A long time ago he went abroad to make his fortune, but now the scarred Elliot came back to Scotland after having endured severe torture.If I could listen to her forever, if I could drift into the night hearing her voice, I might get well again.
Elliot believes that nothing will ever be well again though, not after the things he'd seen and done, and what had been done to him. He was convinced that once he took refuge in Scotland, everything would stop--the dreams, the waking terrors, the darkness that surrounded him when time passed and he knew nothing of it. But he was wrong. Nothing ever stopped. Nothing would ever be right again. He was a broken man. Juliana had sustained him in the dark when he thought he wouldn't survive the torture and now he needed sustenance again. He needed and wanted Juliana. That's when he decided to put his plan into action.
Elliot purchased a house, the old McGregor estate close to Aberdeen and he came to Ultimately they marry in the church in which Juliana should have married Grant Barclay. Several hours later Elliot and Juliana are traveling to their new home. The story takes it from there."I didn't understand myself what you were to me," he said, "until I was in danger of never seeing your face again, or your sweet smile. Then I knew. You were my lass, Juliana. You always have been."
"Because of him, I live in darkness. It waits for me every day, not wanting to let me go. Because of him."
I'm sure you are wondering now who this man could be. Nope. I'm not gonna tell you because I wouldn't want to spoil it for you. :)
I've read the whole Highland Pleasures series and while I loved the previous four books, I am quite honestly a tiny bit disappointed by The Seduction of Elliot McBride. Elliot's story is my least favorite so far. Admittedly the hero is highly attractive and I thoroughly enjoyed the love scenes. It goes without saying that they are beautifully written, however, the plot is rather trivial and the very proper and organized heroine is pretty bland as well. Juliana may be sweet for all I care but she was not the one to drive the story ahead. Granted, there are some lovely and engaging parts as well as a few beautiful quotes, but on the other hand I felt it was uneventful. The relationship between Elliot and Juliana is lovely but again, it was kinda bland, there was no tension and everything fell into place so easily. As a matter of fact, I'm not quite sure how to voice my issues, but there was something missing here…I just couldn't find the magic! The plot just didn't grab me, it was a book that I could put down and pick up again in no hurry. Since I started to read this series I got used to fabulous characters, witty dialogue and engaging writing. In conclusion, I want this Ashley magic back.
You can't help but root for the strong, passionate, yummy yet damaged Elliot. After coming back from a very dark and painful place, he really deserved some happy in his life. And Juliana embarked upon a journey to restore his sanity as well as his heart. Furthermore, I liked the old McGregor. In fact, he was quite lively, snarky and entertaining.
"Mrs. Dull Pimple (Dalrymple). Taking your leave, were you? Good day, then." *Baba chuckles*She was light. And life. He'd had a long climb and had a way to go still. But when he was wrapped in Juliana, all darkness vanished, unable to prevail.
"That ye were beautiful. And warmed me like nothing I'd ever felt. An toir thu dhomh pòg?"
He kissed across her lips, every inch of them, then moved to her cheek, kissing the skin he had the privilege to touch. In the darkness, in the pain, the memory of her kiss had wound comfort through the agony. She'd never know--he never would find the words to explain--how many times she'd saved his life.
I need you.
Don't get me wrong. The Seduction of Elliot McBride is not a bad book by any means. Having said this, it saddens me to admit that Elliot's story fell a bit flat for me and couldn't live up to my high expectations. Simply put, it's just another nice HR but one among many others and certainly not good enough for a re-read. Yet I'm looking forward to reading The Wicked Deeds of Daniel MacKenzie."You were light and life. You are heat, and I'm so damn cold."
Juliana is his life and his home. His love.
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3-3.5 stars
Dear Elliot,
I am so very sorry. I'm sorry for your traumatic captivity, which left you scarred inside and out, and I'm sorry for how very difficult it's been to readjust to life since. I am also very sorry that, try as I might, I found it difficult to accept you as one among the indomitable MacKenzie heroes I've come to love from books past. I tried hard, really I did, but in the end it would appear I only have room in my heart for one mad man and that is (and always will be) Ian.
That's not to say that I didn't enjoy your story. I did for the most part. I am glad that you found your peace with Juliana and she was able to help heal your emotional wounds with sex therapy. Lots of sex therapy... in the bed, on the table, in the bath, ahem, well you know - you were there. But it didn't involve a seduction by Juliana so much as you grabbing Juliana when you needed comfort (when you were around that is), and I'm sorry to say, that it got a bit tiresome after awhile.
I have a feeling that yours is not the last McBride story Ms. Ashley has to tell. And perhaps with time, I will come to accept you and any stories of your brothers that may yet appear. But, in the meantime, I am anxious to return to the MacKenzies. Young Daniel intrigues me and let's not forget half-brother Inspector Fellows. I can't wait for their 'Highland Pleasures' to be found.
All the best to you and Juliana,
Melanie
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Another troubled character that has me swooning. Apart from my beloved Lord Ian Mackenzie, Elliot McBride has also won my heart. He’s been broken both mentally and physically. Enter Juliana St. John who holds the key to mending his tortured soul.
The cameo apperances we get of the Mackenzie family is a real treat, along with the smooth and sublime writing style makes this a great read.
Ms Jennifer Ashley truly is a gifted author in portraying these strong men and the demons they face. Her heroines are strong, determined and fiercely loyal to love and support these wonderful Scottish lads. Enjoy! -
2 stars. Maybe 2.5.
I didn’t like this one for so many reasons. Part of it is bc I was really looking forward to it! Bought it full price and I hardly ever buy books full,price any more!
Elliot MacBride has been through a lot in his time in India. He was held a captive for 10 months and tortured. Taught to kill others with his bare hands and starved and sleep deprived and kept like an animal. Had his finger nails pulled out among other things...
Needs the love of a good woman to heal right? Am always a fan of tortured heroes being healed by love trope.
HOWEVER!!
He was supposed to steal his bride, his childhood love that got him thru his torture and captivity from her groom on her wedding day, except he passed out on a drunken stupor and as fate would have it, she asked him to marry her after her groom jilted her.
THEN!
We find out that despite him always loving her, part of how he got into trouble in India was bc he and a friend were having a ménage a trois with a dangerous woman (runaway princess or smth). And they were both doing her, but she loved the friend and was just using Elliot to get back at the friend and Elliott didn’t seem to mind and even had a child by her!!
THEN!
The friend who’s supposed to be dead follows him back to Scotland to see if the child might have been his instead and brought all kinds of killers on his tail with him...
All that is to say, between the convoluted plot, the repeated digs into a not so honorable past, I really got lost in the chaos and stuff I didn’t like and the chemistry between H/h wasn’t enough to overcome all the other crap.
I dom’t Understand why JA loves to go into such details (repeatedly) about torture (same in Lord Cameron’s Book) and bad behavior. I’m never a fan of men behaving badly even if it is before they were reformed by the love of a good woman! -
Downgrade to 4 Stars—Buddy read with Mariana and Missy...will try to add more later.
Ok, I am trying to go back and add more later, but it’s now been awhile since reading. I have read it twice though, so ....
The reason I downgraded this was due to the lack of apology/groveling of the hero. It was needed at some point. But, but, but.... I also found him very gravitating. He had this non-verbal zone of protection and care and if you were in it you’d do anything for him because you knew there was reciprocal. He’s a PTSD hero and what he went through was atrocious, so I forgive easier. Plus there was a lovely we don’t need to talk fishing moment with Ian.
Juliana was a lovely heroine, strong and enduring and exactly what Elliot needed.
Love the way JA draws you into the time period. -
Posted on
Under the Covers
It is Juliana St. John’s wedding day; however, the man she marries is not he man on her guests invitations. After being jilted at the altar by her intended grom, the very proper and strait laiced Juliana makes a proposition to the man she has loved since she was sixteen but never expected to marry, the very mad Elliot McBride. Elliot never expected he would have his dream land in his lap and offer him heaven, but when Juliana asks him to marry her he snatches at the chance to have the girl he has loved since her was sixteen, the mere memory of her enough to sustain him through torture and madness.
Suz: So, Annie, you tempted and teased me with this book until I was forced to read it and find out what you were swooning about! And I confess, it was quite swoonable, Jennifer Ashley seems to excel with writing fucked up heroes, Elliot was delicious, ALTHOUGH I dispute that he was better then either Ian or Hart, what made you love this Highlander more then the others?
Annie: To be honest, I worried that Elliot wouldn’t live up to the brothers going into this book, but Ashley had a great story planned for Elliot and right when I started this book, I knew there was more to Elliot McBride than what she initially let on. I loved how dark and uncontrollable he was, but that he also had something that grounded him. Learning about his last broke my heart but in a way that didn’t make me feel completely sorry for him to the point where I only sympathize with his past and not him as a character now. But what did you think of Juliana, do you think she was as good as the other heroines in this series?
Suz: Yes she certainly did the dark and tortured past really well, but she has done that in every single one of her books, she must be quite practised at it by now! It would be nice to have a hero that was a little different; not that I didn’t love Elliot, just that I was hoping for something new. As for Juliana, I sound so negative about this books when I did like it, I didn’t think she was as good as the other heroines; she was a little forgettable and I don’t feel like I ever really got to know her, I think she got a little bit over shadowed by Elliot, her strengths never seemed to come through. What do you think?
Annie: Yes! I agree! Though there isn’t anything I can pinpoint that I hated about her, I did feel as if she was overwhelmed by Elliot. He is such a strong character and I liked the way Ashley displayed their relationship and HOW they came to trust each other, but I don’t feel like we got a chance to really know more about Juliana other than that she likes to make lists. She was enjoyable, but I wanted more!
Suz: I am glad I am not the only who though that! One thing I did enjoy about this was the glimpse of the Mackenzies (although I wanted more of them!) and the small little secondary romances going on in the background, it was all kind of sweet.But it was strange both the best and worst thing about this book was Elliot McBride, he was such a vivid character that he drowned out everything else, the other characters including Juliana and the very small intrigue plot that Ms Ashley had constructed. Although the sex scenes…….was it me or did Elliot give oral like a god? LOL!
Annie: Lmao! Oh my god, he did!!!!!! Hence the reason why I swiftly snatched him before you could claim him for your harem! Ok, so what did you think of the progression of this book? For me, some parts held my attention more than others. Pacing was good. Writing was great! And I liked the way she was able to top off each chapter with a killer ending. It made me want to continue reading until there was nothing left to devour!
Suz: Yes well, you may have Elliot but I still have the lovely Ian and Hart in my harem so I am perfectly happy! I agree to a certain extent about the pacing, but some of it did seem like it was just for padding, there wasn’t really that much there to drive the story forward, they just meandered along waiting for the next crazy thing Elliot would do. But I agree that the writing was great, annnnnd I am left thinking Daniel Mackenzie is going to be joining his uncles in my harem, and surprisingly so is Inspector Fellows! I hope she does a book or atleast a novella for him. So are you looking forward to Daniel’s book? I kind of fear for Daniel’s health she does like to torture her heroes!
Annie: I’m very interested to see what she has in store for Daniel!!! I wonder how he will match against his uncles? And you can’t start laying claim already!!! It’s too early and your harem is full! ;P unless you’d like to pass on Hart to me, I’d be okay with that!
Suz: I think he will be more then a match and I can’t wait to find out! So how many feathers would you rate this book? I am thinking 3.5 feathers, although I did like it, it didn’t have that extra oompf that I associate with 5 feather books, the heroine didn’t have enough presense and I felt that the love story wasn’t engaging enough between Elliot and Juliana to support the book without a really good subplot which this sadly lacked for me.
Annie: I think I enjoyed it considerably more. While the pacing is ok and Juliana was overshadowed a bit by Elliot, I felt that Ashley penned an exciting and heartfelt story for Elliot. I loved that Juliana showed how willing she was to trust him when everyone saw him only as mad. I would give this book 4.5 feathers.
*ARC provided by publisher -
I had to knock this down a star because I never revisit this one. I remember how disappointing Elliot was. I really didn't buy that he'd always loved her. He never made the effort and the h never called him on it,
>........original review...
I didn't find it as enthralling as the other books in this series.
I can't help but wonder why, in romances, when a lost beau returns it is always after 10 years. Why not less? Why does it always have to be a decade? Such a waste of time. And call me petty but
But I really liked Poor Addled Elliot, but couldn't feel connected with the heroine. She just seemed rather colourless, staid and insipid. Ho hum. -
4.5 Stars. Because I felt that Elliot's healing needed some more page time, the book suffered 1/2 a star. I don't know how Jennifer Ashley and Courtney Milan can write such wonderfully damaged heroes and have us love them like we do, but I hope they continue. Elliot McBride is no exception as he was captured and tortured in India for many months before he managed to escape. But harm was done to his soul, maybe to the point of madness. One place that the bad men couldn't go was his heart, where he kept the flame of Juliana alive. She was the one bright spot that dragged him back from the depths. Luckily for Juliana the man that she was slated to marry runs off with his piano teacher. Elliot agrees to step in and become her groom, one is as good as the other right? Elliot though had a plan, so it's all good. The kissing scenes in the book was what set it a part from others. Sometimes Elliott would come up on Juliana in the hall and he wouldn't do anything but kiss her, but damn...those kisses would singe my fingers.
While this book doesn't match Ian's or Hart's book in overall intensity, it is still far and away a really good book. I just felt it was a little short on page count for what was going on. But to be fair, I am never happy when a book I love ends, so there you go. The little tidbit in the back for Daniel...me want now! Also might we see a book or novella for Stacy? I became very intrigued with him. -
2.75 stars
*Deep exaggerated sigh*
I was really looking forward with Eliott and Juliana's story but this turned out to be an underwhelming story. It's such a shame that it started so well but then it got so confusing. The plot was in disarray, random scenarios being thrown with each other that sometimes it doesn't make any sense anymore. Scenes were cut abruptly without so much of an explanation which turned out to be very frustrating,.and because of this very reason I got bored in the middle of the book. I wasn't also really feeling the chemistry between Elliot and Juliana—claimed they loved each other since they were young but the actions says otherwise.
On the other side, I think my still active reading slump was also a contributing factor on why I didn't enjoy this book. I really had this hope that this will be it—the "slump banisher"—since it's no secret I adored and grew obsess with Jennifer Ashley's first four novels, but I can surely say that this wasn't her best one. The plot is absolutely jumpy, vague, and inconsistent. -
4+ "Stand by your man." Stars!
Loved it! Love this series!! I'm to the next one very soon. Even though they all made an appearance, I miss the Mackenzies a little. Still loved it though. Elliot stole my heart and Juliana is a strong willed lass. 😉 Happy reading! -
This was a different hero, he only spoke when he wanted to and that was not very often. Even his mind was only full of the tortures he survived and not with a lot of nonsense.
We see a lot of Ansley from book 3 as the hero is her brother, we even see the whole Mackenzie family. It's been a couple of years since I read the previous books of this series and it is still awesome to see Ian. When you like a character it is so good to see them again.
This plot is about the hero trying to survive his madness, a crumbling house, a kid, a strong heroine, finding out the person that is trying to kill the hero, interesting servants and a bit of Indian and Scottish culture.
I don't know if I should give a 3 or 4 starts for this book... -
My goodreads.com friend Dhestiny began her review with this:
Elliot is to the McBrides as Ian is to the Mackenzies, except that Elliot wasn’t born as he is now. His “madness” comes from being captured, held as a slave and tortured, mentally and physically.
That’s such a perfect intro, that I had to steal it. Yes, if you wanted to take Ian home with you, you’ll need to build on an extra room for Elliot.
Full disclosure: Jennifer Ashley is one of my top three HR authors, and her Highland Pleasures series is my favorite series. The first four volumes were about the Mackenzie clan, four rowdy, passionate, hunky sons of a Scottish duke. Having exhausted the Mackenzies (and now that I think about it, doesn’t that sound like fun?), she turns to their brother-in-law Elliot McBride (whose sister is married to Lord Cameron, my own favorite Mackenzie brother). I was almost guaranteed to like this book, so stop reading now if you’re looking for an unbiased review.
Our heroine is Lady Juliana St. John, who has been jilted at the altar as the story opens. Lady Juliana didn’t actually love her fiancée, but she is humiliated and flees into a small chapel to weep. To her surprise, she finds there a drunken Elliot, her secret crush since childhood. In fact, she’s doubly surprised, because she thought Elliot was still in India, where he had spent many years serving in the Army and then amassing a fortune as a landowner. Thinking to make a dark joke, Lady Juliana suggests that Elliot should marry her and ensure that she doesn’t become a pitiable old maid. Elliot agrees, and before you can say “forever hold your peace,” they are husband and wife.
There are several things about Elliot that Juliana doesn’t know, however. First, as a friend of her older brother, he has adored her since she was sixteen. Second, he was imprisoned and horribly tortured by outlaws in the Indian hinterlands, and during that horrible year it was the thought of Juliana that kept him sane and alive. Finally, he had come to Edinburgh that day specifically to find Juliana and disrupt her wedding, believing that life with her will be his salvation.
Elliot takes Juliana to a ramshackle estate that he has purchased from a great uncle, far away in the Scottish countryside. His staff consists of four Punjabi servants who have accompanied him from India, along with a three-year-old biracial girl named Priti. Once there, Juliana begins to realize the depth of Eliot’s problems, partly from her experiences and partly from what she is told by his devoted factotum, Mahindar. Elliot suffers from what we now would call PTSD. He loses track of time and sometime becomes unpredictably violent. Occasionally he loses the ability to distinguish between the past and the present.
As time passes, Elliot begins to doubt whether he will ever regain his hold on reality. Juliana, however, is courageous and stalwart as she works to create a home out of the dilapidated house Elliot has brought her to. Things become more complicated though when it appears that someone from his past is hunting Elliot with the intent to harm him and those he loves. Or are they? Perhaps his loved ones are most in danger from Elliot himself.
Many scenes take place in the India of Elliot’s memory, and Ms. Ashley clearly has done her research to show the fraught relationship between the Indian people and their English colonizers. Elliot’s affectionate relationship with his servants and little Priti, however, is sincere and reciprocal.
Dark secrets are revealed as the story progresses, and Ms. Ashley has constructed her typically complex plot, along with a heart-rending love story and delicious sexy-times. Several Mackenzies figure in the plot, and the interaction between Elliot and Ian is especially touching; these two men understand one another better than anyone else can.
The reader need not have read the preceding Highland Pleasures books to enjoy this one, but if you haven’t read them yet, what are you waiting for? Start with
The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie and don't dare skip
The Many Sins of Lord Cameron! -
Jennifer Ashley continues the Mackenzie series with the story of Elliot McBride, one of Cameron Mackenzie's brothers-in-law. I have only recently caught up on the Mackenzie series and just finished last years fun Mackenzie Christmas novella and equally enjoyable book on Lloyd Fellows,
The Untamed Mackenzie, the Mackenzie's illegitimate half-brother who has been a recurring secondary character in the series. So, I had high hopes for this one. And, wow, what a disappointment.
***MAJOR SPOILERS FOLLOW***
Beautiful, wealthy, organized Juliana St. John is finally getting married. However, one little problem: her long-time betrothed has left her literally standing at the altar. Embarrassed but not heartbroken, she walks to a little side chapel to think and happens to sit on a man stretched out sleeping in a pew, one Elliot McBride, the brother of her dear friend Ainsley Mackenzie. After one sweet kiss with Juliana at the age of 18, Elliot left Scotland with his regiment for India and, now, at around age 30 is finally back, having survived his time in the military, subsequent years as a plantation owner, and brutal capture and torture by Afghani tribesmen who held him prisoner for almost a year. When Juliana half-jokingly proposes that he take the place of her ex-betrothed, he immediately agrees. With this fun and rousing start, off we go. Immediately after, Elliot takes Juliana to his newly purchased, remote, ramshackle castle. A whole new cast of characters is introduced including Elliot's Indian servants, his eccentric uncle, and equally eccentric neighbors.
It's insta-love for both Elliot and Juliana, who never forgot about him in all the years he was away. Elliot himself is suffering from PTSD in a major way and it was only thoughts and memories of Juliana that got him through his horrific ordeal as a prisoner. Fairly late in the book, we find out that Elliot had been keeping tabs on Juliana through the years via his sister Ainsley and knew exactly when and where she'd be getting married. So, he showed up to stop it (though I don't know how he could stop a wedding when he was fast asleep in a pew outside the main church). It's also quite ridiculous that after not having seen or contacted Juliana in the many years they were apart, Elliot wakes up and realizes what she means to him. At this point he doesn't even know her and she doesn't know him. Still, this could have worked if the book itself was about how they reconnected and got to know one another again. But, it isn't. It was about pretty much everything else you could think of though. There is blackmail, assassins, the illegitimate daughter of Elliot with the long dead mistress he shared with his best friend in a kind of ménage relationship in India, the reappearance of the BFF, intolerant/wacky neighbors, interfering Mackenzie's, an estate that needs renovating, a large garden party, fortune telling, etc. You name it, it's in this book, other than serious attention paid to Elliot's recovery and relationship with Juliana, who pretty much accepts everything without batting an eyelash. Broken down estate? No problem. Crazy uncle shooting things at random? No problem! Indian Servants? Charming! Indian food? Delicious! Illegitimate daughter with a mistress who didn't want Elliot but loved his BFF? No problem, Elliot didn't love her either, she's long dead, and the child is adorable! Seriously, Juliana takes everything in stride, never gets upset, just keeps making lists and having lots of hot sex with her hunky Scottish hubby. Elliot also conquers his PTSD with lots of the previously mentioned hot sex, plus thinking lots of good thoughts about Juliana.
There is a fine book in this mess somewhere, one without the distractions of the ménage with the BFF and the resulting baby, poorly drawn secondary characters, silly blackmail plot, and equally silly assassination plot. (Seriously, I think the assassins had some justification.) The story of Elliot's PTSD, his recovery, his reconnecting with Juliana and his Scottish heritage and culture after a decade in India could have been a wonderful book instead of what we actually got. So very disappointing. -
4.5 Stars
Picking up this series in the new year with the McBride men!
Quick Review
- I absolutely love
Jennifer Ashley's writing. I don't read her books for the romance, I've come to realise, but for the beautiful, broken heroes she creates. What is it about these Scots that is so irresistible? Is it the broad brogue? Or the kilt? Whatever it may be, there is an entire series dedicated to these sexy Scots, and this one was excellent.
- Elliot McBride was a different kind of broken hero with PTSD. If Ash (
The Duchess Deal) was sardonic, Broderick (
The Taming of a Highlander) was bloodthirsty, Elliot was the beaten down, suffer in silence kind. He was so quiet, contemplative, and abruptly physical, very unnerving but it was also amazingly emotional. His experience was disturbing, to say the least, that I just wanted to wrap my arms around him. Why Elliot touched my heart was because the author did a brilliant job of describing him without him having a lot of dialogues. It was a work of art.
- Juliana was a resolute pillar for Elliot, brought to mind, Beth & Ian. She was so completely and utterly out of her depth with her abrupt marriage to Elliot, the ramshackle estate, and Elliot's PTSD, but onward she marched, made her little lists, tried to fix things to the best of her ability, and stood up for the man she loved. Good for you, woman.
- The romance was in the familiarity between Juliana & Elliot, and it was newly founded on hope. Very subtle and almost spiritual. As always, with Ms Ashley books, the steam was on point.
- Sadly, the mystery subplot was flat. It had a lot of potential to be sinister but went unexplored.
- I enjoyed the side characters, and Mahindar's loyalty takes the cake. The sweet budding romance between McGregor & Komal was so cute, as was Nandita & Hamish's. Preeti was adorable. The Mackenzie appearances are always a delight.
*Psychological Accuracy - This author clearly does her research well. Elliot's PTSD symptoms were in keeping with his experiences, especially clinging to Juliana's memory, as she became his beacon of hope to survive. That is why he was able to gather himself a smidge in her presence. Him hunting around the hills must have been cathartic. The familiarity of home, Juliana, and the stability plus the normalcy of domesticity might have helped his road to recovery, as it gave him something to hold on to. It can be that simple at times.
My Recommendation
This review may sound very clinical, but honestly, it was an emotional read. I couldn't put it down. Cannot wait to begin the next one -
The Untamed MacKenzie. -
*2.5*
Δεν μου άρεσε τόσο η ιστορία τους και επισης υπήρχαν συχνά επαναλήψεις που με κούρασαν! -
Review posted at Got Fiction? books
I love this series so much and this book was a welcome addition.
Elliot McBride is the brother of Ainsley, Cameron’s wife, and he’s been imprisoned in India for a year. Now he’s back in England and between the nightmares and the blackouts, he wants nothing more than peace and quiet. Until Juliana sits on him in the church on her wedding day.
Her fiancé has eloped with his piano teacher and she’s groomless. It wouldn’t be a big deal, oh sure the scandal would be great, but she could weather it. It’s just that she’s 30 and her prospects look grim. Sitting on Elliot was the best thing to happen to her. She’d loved him since they were children, and so she blurts out that they should get married. And Elliot is stunned. And elated. And stunned. He says yes, and that is how Juliana began her wedding day engaged to one man, but married to another.
I liked how the two of them had a history, but they still had to learn who each other had become. Neither was the same person anymore. I also think that the Indian family he brought with him added an interesting touch without just being background characters. They had depth and dimension and added a new facet to the storyline. Especially the little girl.
There was also a suspense plot that had to do with both Elliot’s past and the future of the new life he’s built for himself. Remember that little girl I mentioned? She’s a part of that life, and her life may now be in danger.
Elliot’s PTSD and his fear that his life in India was catching up with him caused him to overlook some possibilities of who was after him and his new family. This was an interesting twist because his tunnel vision where the villain was concerned affected me as well-I completely believed the most obvious person was after him. Ms. Ashley however, is a master at writing villains and I never saw this coming.
I’m a huge fan of the Highland Pleasures series, and I think that if you haven’t read any of these books yet, you can absolutely start with this one, but I’d start with The Madness of Lord Ian so you don’t miss out on the amazing family of the Mackenzie men.
The Seduction of Elliot McBride soon became the “Seduction of this Reader” as I was easily swept away by the rich and sultry world that Ms. Ashley excels at in the Highland Pleasures series. -
2,5 estrellas.
Quinta novela de la serie que en esta ocasión comienza con uno de los miembros de la familia McBride.
Elliot es un escocés que regresa de las Indias Orientales algo tocado por las torturas que sufrió cuando fue capturado en la India. La cancelación de la boda de Julianna St. John le da la oportunidad de volver con su antiguo amor.
Teníamos los ingredientes fundamentales para sacar el mayor partido a esta historia pero creo que la autora no lo supo aprovechar.
El inicio no pudo ser mejor y prometía pero... mi gozo en un pozo. Cuando el relato se desplaza al castillo propiedad de Elliot es cuando todo empieza a desmoronarse, el relato se vuelve muy aburrido, las típicas escenas de romance y otras de relleno pero de lo que de verdad interesa poco y mal desarrollado.
El tema de Elliot y su relación con Julianna me pareció que cojeaba en lo que respecta a sus inicios, cuando se conocieron de jóvenes. Para darle sentido a su amor habría que plantearlo de otra manera porque a mi me resultó muy simple y poco creíble. Su relación actual me gustó pero tampoco es que me emocionase con ese amor que se profesaban, me dejan indiferente.
La premisa de Elliot y las torturas era para tener nota y la autora no supo sacar emoción, muy poca diría y en las páginas finales. A ello hay que añadir al personaje de Stacy y a Prity, qué desaprovechados estuvieron.
En resumen yo diría que lo que me gustó fueron las páginas iniciales y el final por esa pequeña intriga que tuvo, el resto me resultó aburrido y sin emoción alguna. Un personaje como Elliot muy desaprovechado y un increíble Ian. De esta serie el libro que menos me ha gustado. -
Had a hard time with this one, hopefully it's just historical romance burnout because I liked the others in this series. This just seemed too much of everything. The sex seemed almost porno and the backstory between these too was just silly and not really fleshed out.
-
4.25 Hello McBride Series stars.
Honestly this could have been a new series, since we are now jumping into the McBrides and I was hesitant at first because I loved me my Mackenzies and this book had rough reviews, but to my surprise, I really liked this one!
Ian will still be my favorite, then Cam, BUT Elliot holds a special place in my heart.
The Seduction of Elliot McBride had two things going for me, it had a damaged Hero and a damaged hero obsessed with the Heroine. Yes and yes and more yes.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved getting to know Elliot. So he doesn’t have a title, but he has money and he’s gone through some hardships. He was a prisoner and tortured in India for almost a year. He’s finally able to function in society again, but it’s not as easy as it seems.
AND it seems the only person to help him cope is the lovely Juliana. And because of that he adores, cherishes and is kind of obsessed with her. YES!
I adore Juliana and Elliot together. I loved EVERY SECOND of them, they make a perfect couple. The book starts out with a bang and it becomes really fast pace from there, which really surprised me because this series usually isn’t.
Juliana soon discovers her new home is pretty run-down and is in the middle of no-where, but what I LOVE most about her, she doesn’t care and makes the best of it.
Most of the plot comes from Elliot as he gets flash backs from time to time and becomes “crazy”, but you know what? It makes me love him more.
This wasn’t a favorite with a lot of people but I gobbled it up. -
A good read. Our author has taken the damaged hero almost as far as they can go. He was horribly abused while held prisoner in Afghanistan. He comes home to find the girl he’s always loved to be on the brink of marrying someone else. Planning to interrupt the wedding ala The Graduate, he takes advantage of the bride when she is left at the alter. Wham bam, they are married. What she doesn’t know is that he has come home with terrible PTSD, or ‘Soldiers Heart’ as it was called. Our hero suffers from blackouts.
Its s good romance with strong characters. -
Once again I have thoroughly enjoyed another Jennifer Ashley book! This is the story of Ainsley Mackenzie's brother; Elliot McBride, who had been captured and totured in India and then escaped. He is still struggling with the demons in his past and most people find him quite "mad". Juliana St. John whom has been abandoned at the alter by her groom, comes out of no where and accidentally sits on Elliot while wanting to grieve her wedding that was supposed to be. Juliana and Elliot begin talking and she jokingly says to her first time love from long ago, "Maybe we should get married." Elliot jumps at the chance because what Juliana doesn't know is that it was his plan all along to get her to marry him instead of her groom. The deed is done and Elliot whisks her away to an isolated, broken down castle that he has purchased from his Uncle. The couple has their work cut out for them, not only with the castle but with the trauma that is keeping Elliot from being a whole man. On top of everything they have to deal with, Elliot insists that someone is stalking him and he is pretty sure it is his dead friend. Will love be enough to pull Elliot out of his post traumatic stress? Will Juliana believe her husband really is in danger? This story takes you on the journey of a man who tries hard to climb out of the hole of his dark despair , so that he can live fully in the light with his beloved wife.
I loved the relationship between Elliot and Juliana. They both had been in love with each other since they were kids, and that love just seemed to grow over the years even though they were apart. The loyalty between the two was endearing and the passion they shared was blazing hot! Elliot's character is very dark and serious because of his terrible capture; but it was nice to catch glimpses of the softer side of whom he use to be as a young man. During the Scottish Sword dance, he let loose and even laughed and it was so uplifting to see that he was coming back out of his shell. I also loved the way Juliana never lost faith in her husband, and she put her belief in him even when no one else would.
This was my idea of a true love story and I look forward to more stories of the Mackenzie family in the future. -
I am giving this 3.5 stars, I really wanted to give it more, but I thought about the other books I have given 4 stars to and I couldn't put this book in the same category as those.
This is about Elliot McBride, he is a tortured and badly damaged man having been held prisoner while in the military. He returns to Scotland after escaping and takes his indian servant and his family with him. In fact, Elliot was so badly tortured that the people around him fear he is suffering from "madness", even Elliot fears he is mad.
We meet Julianna at the church on her wedding day, she has been left at the alter and while escaping to a quiet place before telling everyone the wedding is not taking place runs into Elliot. Elliot had come to the wedding to stop it from happening because he has always loved Julianna.
Now I really liked the story, I loved watching Elliot fight his demons and struggle to hold on to his sanity. I admired his strength, his determination to find happiness and peace. Julianna I did not care for really, I found her flat and uninteresting honestly. I got tired of the lists she would make about everything and i never found my emotional attachment to her. She never grew in this story and I found myself skipping parts of the book that only included her. I really loved the secondary characters more, McGregor was a funny, entertaining man and the relationship between him and Komal was so cute!
In the end the sex was steamy and I enjoyed the book quite a bit, and I will never forget Elliot and McGregor, but those two couldn't carry the story for me. so 3.5 stars. -
I'm a fan of this series and The Seduction of Elliot McBride was enjoyable enough but I felt something was missing in this book.
Juliana is nice, Elliot makes a great hero and there is plenty of well written love scenes, even so I found their relationship flat/not enough passionate.
I loved the Indian cultural references and how Jennifer Ashley describes Elliot's struggle but the plots were weak and, in my humble opinion, under developed. I also would have liked a little more development in the relationship between Juliana and Priti. -
This was 4 stars for me! Elliott and Juliana were sooooo sweet. Really. It was quite a sad story for Elliott - what a horrid ordeal he went through, but ending up together was a gift. The narration of this on audio book was wonderful. I had been hoping for more and it is rare that a story ends too soon for me. This series is great.
-
Another good read in this series. In some ways similar to #1, The Madness of Lord Ian MacKenzie. The hero is considered 'mad' by many, but in this case it's serious ptsd after imprisonment and torture while in India.
There were a couple of moments that stretched credulity a little But I just went with it, and overall enjoyed the story.
Elliott has brought his friend Mahindar and some of his family members to Scotland from India with him, and they are lovely characters who add enjoyment to the story. The crusty old MacGregor is also likeable in his way, and adds some humour to the story. The various secondary characters are done particularly well in this book.
I didn't mind that Elliott and Juliana were already married for most of the book. I quite like that trope, actually. There were a couple of surprises in the plot along the way. It was nice to see their deep love helping Elliott to face his ptsd. Enjoyable book, and I will continue with the series. -
I’m a huge fan of this series but unfortunately not a huge fan of this book. It doesn’t live up to the previous books in this series at all. Elliot McBride is a broken man. Having been imprisoned in India, and I guess imprisoned is a mild word for what he went through, he was tortured and stuck in a dark hole for a long time. He was missing for ten months and feared dead by his family (for those that read this series, he is Ainsely’s brother). But Elliot did survive and made it back to England. He now fights night terrors and even waking terrors where he falls into darkness and fights his way back to sanity.
Growing up he was good friends with Juliana St. John. They both had a crush on each other, but life took them down different roads. Juliana was engaged to a man for a very long time. But on her wedding day she discovers he eloped with his piano teacher days before. Crushed, Juliana tries to find some solitude in a small church, and plops down right on top of Elliot. She hasn’t seen him for a long time, and she ends up telling him everything that just happened. Then she has a crazy idea – why don’t they get married? He is immediately intrigued by this idea, and they go through with it. They are soon on their way to the Scottish Highlands where Elliot has purchased a grand estate from his uncle. Much to Juliana’s dismay, this grand estate needs a lot of work. Elliot has brought his servants from India with him (they are more like family to him) and together they start the renovations. As time goes by, Elliot realizes a man from his past who he thought was dead, is stalking him and causing his family danger.
The idea of a tortured hero from Jennifer Ashley excites me. I love how she writes and Elliot is definitely tortured. He struggles with staying in the present, and dark places. He needs trust and people he knows around him. He holds onto Juliana for dear life at times. I liked that about him. My problem with this romance though is that it all seems so easy between them. There is no tension. No build-up of anything. Juliana falls into being his wife immediately and it felt flat. There are sexy bedroom scenes between them but I missed the passion. Or the road that leads to that passion.
I also wasn’t a fan of the man who may or may not be dead in India who Elliot may or may not have killed who may or may not now be stalking him. And the neighbors who threaten. It just didn’t’ hold my interest. Maybe I missed the Mackenzies, since we are way out in the country and really only have Elliot’s Indian servants for a supporting cast.
This one fell flat and honestly I was a little bored. But at the end it’s mentioned the next book is,The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie. Oh yes. Bring it.
Rating: C
