Category: Novella

A Mackenzie Clan Christmas by Jennifer Ashley

On By TracyIn Anthology, Christmas, Novella, Scottish/Highlander, Top Pick - Highly Recommended, Tracy's Reviews, Victorian Era (1837-1901)Leave a comment

A Mackenzie Clan Christmas: A Mackenzie Yuletide/A Mackenzie Clan Gathering (Mackenzies & McBrides, #8.5 & 11.5)A Mackenzie Clan Christmas: A Mackenzie Yuletide/A Mackenzie Clan Gathering by Jennifer Ashley

Tracy’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series:Mackenzies & McBrides, #8.5 & 11.5

Release Date: October 29, 2019

This anthology has two Mackenzie Family Novellas – A MacKenzie Yuletide (an all new MacKenzie Family novella) & A Mackenzie Clan Gathering (released in 2016 and is a XL novella

A Mackenzie Yuletide:

As usual, the MacKenzies descend on Kilmorgan Castle to celebrate the Yuletide season and Hogmanay. Mac is up in his studio painting when a noise disturbs his concentration, he goes to investigate and finds a ghost! But as he approaches her, she disappears, unconcerned, Mac goes to bed and mentions it to the family at breakfast. Some of the children, decide to build a ghost trap – no sure if the ghost is in fact a ghost or if it is another break in attempt.

Uninterested in ghosts, Ian is consumed with tracking down a necklace that he wants to give to Beth for Hogmanay, but the trail he followed has hit a wall and he calls in his half-brother Lloyd Fellows, a chief supervisor at Scotland Yard to help him.

Ian’s son Jamie is also trying to find the necklace in hopes of impressing his father. He gets his cousin Gavina and his father’s valet Curry to help him. Jamie and Gavina are pulled into the ghost hunt when Jamie sees the ghost after Gavina breaks in to Ian’s study.
With mysteries to solve and all the MacKenzies in attendance, this will turn out to be a very interesting and exciting Yuletide!!

I loved this novella, it was entertaining, well written, interesting and a lot of fun. Catching up with all the MacKenzies and seeing their children growing up was heartwarming and satisfying. And as always, I loved reading about Ian and Beth, they truly are one of my all-time favorite fictional couples and I never get tired of reading about them. This was a really wonderful read and while it is set at Christmastime, I didn’t really consider it a “holiday” read.

The Mackenzie Clan Gathering

This very long novella is the second book in this collection and it was released in 2016, the blurb reads as follows:

Ian Mackenzie is awakened at Kilmorgan Castle one night to find robbers stealing the priceless art collection of his oldest brother, Hart. Since Ian and Beth are the only ones in resident at Kilmorgan at the moment, Ian decides he must find the art and the culprits before the family shows up for Hart’s birthday gathering. With Inspector Fellows and Beth, he investigates, though Ian is somewhat worried by Beth’s late husband’s brother, a retired missionary, who decides to visit. Does John Ackerley hold the “cure” to Ian’s madness? And can Ian discover what has happened to Hart’s treasures, and who is targeting the Mackenzies before the enemy strikes again?

Return to Kilmorgan Castle to visit the Victorian branch of the Mackenzie family, and catch up on the brothers and friends, their children, and their lives.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*

View all my reviews

Lady Abigail’s Perfect Match by Sophie Barnes

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Novella, Regency Era (1811-1820)2 Comments

Lady Abigail's Perfect Match (The Townsbridges, #2)Barbara’s rating: 5 of 5 stars

Series: The Townsbridges #2
Publication Date: 10/29/19
Number of Pages: 99

This was the loveliest of reads. The writing is excellent, the story is heartwarming, the characters are totally likable and relatable, and the HEA is well deserved. Shorter books often make you feel as if the story was rushed and you feel a bit unfinished – but that is definitely not the case here. I think we got to know the characters well, the villain got his just desserts (though I hate who it was), and the romance developed just as it should.

Lady Abigail suffers from debilitating shyness. While it is always bad, it is absolutely impossible to manage when she is in the company of Lord James Townsbridge. Her throat tightens, her words flee, and she is physically nauseous.

James, unlike most of his friends, has a positive outlook on marriage. His parents have a long and happy marriage and now his older brother does as well. James is handsome, good-natured, sociable and everyone likes him.

James and Abigail’s first meeting is very inauspicious – neither likes the other. He is coming off a huge hangover after celebrating a friend’s nuptials and has the world’s worst headache. He doesn’t want to be at the ball – and when he is introduced to a woman who plainly doesn’t want to be there – he doesn’t like her at all. But then, she doesn’t like the rude, self-important James either.

These two have a long way to go when, later that evening, they are compromised and have to marry. When Abigail tells him that he is the reason she feels sick, he is taken aback and really regrets that he’s going to have to tie himself to her for life. Yes – they have a lot to work through. Thank goodness she soon gets to explain what she REALLY meant to say. I love how James helped Abigail one he understood her problem. He was so patient and loving.

This is definitely a good read and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.