A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift (Highland Pleasures)

Everyone is descending on Kilmorgan for Christmas festivities, followed by the all-important Hogmanay (New Year) celebrations to be enjoyed by the Mackenzie clan. And, indeed, the clan has expanded in the last few years. Present at Kilmorgan this year is troubled but brilliant brother, Ian, his wife Beth and their two young children. Famous painter Mac Mackenzie is in tow with his wife Isabella and their three children. Then there's Cam Mackenzie with his wife Ainsley and their mischievous one-year-old daughter, with Cam's grown son, Daniel, arriving later in the week. And, finally, recently married Duke of Kilmorgan, Hart Mackenzie , is in a rare state as his wife Eleanor is soon to give birth to their first child and future heir. Everyone is descending on Kilmorgan, and the estate is overcrowded with love and happiness; something the Mackenzie men haven't had enough of in their troubled, turbulent lives. `A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift' is part of Jennifer Ahsley's `Highland Pleasures' series, instalment #4.5, before fifth book `The Seduction of Elliot McBride' is released on December 31. I'll admit, I needed this spectacularly delicious `Highland Pleasures' instalment to relieve some of the sting after Hart's disappointing book, `The Duke's Perfect Wife'. His was my most-anticipated Mackenzie novel, and I wasn't alone in my bitter disappointment. But Ashley somewhat makes up for that lacklustre offering with this Christmas special, which gives each Mackenzie brother a starring role and also offers up some delicious possibilities for future instalments. . . Ian Mackenzie has everyone walking on eggshells after a disaster with a Ming bowl. Meanwhile, Beth is beside herself and trying to find the perfect opportunity to tell Ian that their family will be expanding once again. Cam and Ainsley are sent into a whirlwind when their curious daughter, Gavina, goes wandering and sends the family into panic-mode. Meanwhile, Cam is reflecting on the fact that his son, Daniel, is now full-grown and becoming more independent each day. Mac is hiding a delicious surprise from Isabella, while trying to steer clear of Nanny Westlock and her forbidding rules. Hart, meanwhile, is beside himself with worry as Eleanor's due date draws near - he remembers his deceased first wife, who he lost during childbirth and his first baby with her. Also joining the Mackenzie 's for Christmas celebrations is Isabella's little sister, Louisa, who has a curious announcement to make to her sister. Also tagging along is bastard Mackenzie , Inspector Fellows, whose last encounter with Miss Louisa has his blood heating in remembrance. Ainsley's brothers are also in tow - widower Sinclair McBride with his two wayward children, Elliott McBride with his wife Juliana, eldest brother Patrick McBride, with his wife and Steven McBride, dressed in his regimentals and an instant hit with the ladies. Hart has also invited David Fleming - old friend, forever in love with Eleanor Ramsay and soon to be recruited in a special Christmas surprise for Ian. It's wonderful that Jennifer Ashley lets fans catch-up with the goings-on of the Mackenzie clan - particularly the likes of Cam and Ian, whose stories and romances with their wives have so far been the best instalments of the series. Ashley also redeems herself somewhat with Hart and Eleanor's appearance in this book, both excited and nervous for their child to be born. Here is the sweet romance that seemed to be dulled in their actual instalment. With this Christmas special, Ashley is also teasing fans for upcoming instalments in the `Highland Pleasures' series. Daniel remains a favourite, and his rambunctious goings-on in `Mackenzie Family Christmas' will whet fan's appetites for his book, due October 2013. But Ashley has also planted stories for Fellows and Louisa, and their instalment will be #5.5 `The Untamed Mackenzie', due out August 2013. Ashley has also announced that Ainsley's brother, Sinclair, will get a book called `Rules for a Proper Governess' - we spend some time with Sinclair in this Christmas story, and he's beautifully set up as a rather tragic hero with a broken heart. For what it's worth, I'm also crossing my fingers that David Fleming gets a book or novella at some point - since his love for Eleanor is still strong and unwavering, I think he needs someone new to occupy his heart. All in all, `Mackenzie Family Christmas' is a perfect little treat for fans of the `Highland Pleasures' series. We get to revisit old favourites, and have our interest piqued concerning a few future heroes. Lovely, all round.

This is a good Christmas novella, in the Mackenzies series. It gets 4 stars from me. I liked that this story contained all of the Mackenzies, their spouses, and their children. It provided an update on what was going on with all of them. It should be read after The Duke's Perfect Wife. I won't give spoilers, but I love how hard everyone worked to help Beth with her gift for Ian. I also liked that Mac helped Ian to understand how his behavior hurt Beth. (Ian didn't mean to hurt her, but his autism caused him to behave in a way that caused her pain.) I loved Ian's gift to his children, and that Daniel helped him make it even better. Only Ian could have come up with such a creative and unique gift. My rating system is below. 1 star -- Hated it, or did not finish. I usually only give this rating if some of the content is truly objectionable to me, like if one of the main characters does something really awful, and gets away with it. 2 stars -- Didn't like it. This rating usually means that I thought the writing wasn't very good, the editing was terrible, I didn't like the characters, or it had other major flaws. 3 stars -- I liked it, but had some minor issues with it. This rating means that there were minor editing issues, the story needed more character development, it was just too unrealistic, or had some other fairly minor issue. The majority of books I read get this rating – I do not consider it a bad rating. 4 stars -- I liked it a lot. This is a high rating for me, and I rarely give a higher one. 5 stars -- I loved it, and will probably read it again. Very few books are good enough to get this rating from me. The ones that do are usually classics.

Take a heartwarming journey to the Highlands this holiday season with Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift. Author Jennifer Ashley has truly outdone herself with this festive, fun, emotional Mackenzie family story. It takes a deft hand to write a story teeming with characters, all of whom have their own backstories. Many authors would easily fall into the trap of overwhelming readers with information or slowing the pace of the book. It's a good thing Ms. Ashley is a master at her craft because she takes the multitude of Mackenzies (along with wives, in-laws, friends, and servants) and delivers a smooth, fast-paced story where all the characters are original and fleshed out and their interwoven storylines flow like a dream. I felt like I was at Kilmorgan Castle with the Mackenzies and their extended family. It's impossible to detail all that goes on in The Perfect Gift without writing a review that's almost as long as the book itself. Suffice it to say that every single character and plot thread in The Perfect Gift drew me in. I could not put the book down until I had finished. That being said, I have to highlight one particular storyline that touched my heart. Ian and Beth -- whose gorgeously penned romance began the Highland Pleasure series and started my love affair with Ms. Ashley's writing -- face what might be their first significant misunderstanding since The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie. When Beth accidentally breaks a unique Ming bowl Ian had wanted, she fears Ian will give into the darkness or despair that had once frequently plagued him. She desperately wants to replace the bowl, but Ian has no interest in similar antiques, nor does he claim to be upset over a loss that only a few years before would have sent him into uncontrollable fits of despair. Misunderstandings in romances often come off as an overused trope, but not in The Perfect Gift. Because Ian has Asperger's Syndrome (a form of high-functioning autism) in a time long before anyone knows what Asperger's is, in this situation it's difficult for Beth or Ian's brothers to effectively communicate with Ian and vice versa. I won't spoil the reason Ian wanted that particular bowl or the resolution to the misunderstanding, but I will say that Ms. Ashley managed to bring tears to my eyes more than once. In Ms. Ashley's books the simplest of actions and a few well-spoken words can bring forth a wealth of emotion. The Perfect Gift takes place between the last chapter and the epilogue of the fourth Highland Pleasures book, The Duke's Perfect Wife. While you don't have to have read the first four Highland Pleasure books (The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage, The Many Sins of Lord Cameron, and The Duke's Perfect Wife) in order to follow along, I highly recommend doing so, for part of the enjoyment of The Perfect Gift stems from having a prior attachment to almost all the characters. Even though I focused on Beth and Ian earlier, rest assured that Hart, Eleanor, Cam, Ainsley, Mac, and Isabella get equal page time. Ms. Ashley also whets the appetite for future Highland Pleasure books. I don't know which Mackenzie or McBride I'm most eager to read about next! The Perfect Gift is an amazing story that touches the heart. Ms. Ashley made me feel like I was part of the Mackenzie family in The Perfect Gift. I felt all the characters' joys, sorrows, fears, and hopes as if they were my own. I loved Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift and I cannot wait for the next Highland Pleasures novel! Kimberly Review courtesy of Wit and Sin

Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift by Jennifer Ashley is a fairly short read, a good choice for those with limited time for reading. If you are familiar with the Mackenzie Series, you won't have any trouble with this book. If you aren't familiar, you may have trouble keeping the characters straight in the beginning of the book. This is a Christmas story of the Mackenzie brothers and their wives and is an entertaining read. There is plenty of drama, humor and spice to hold a reader's attention. I enjoyed this holiday book and look forward to reading more from Jennifer Ashley in the future. A Mackenzie Family Christmas is book 4.5 of the Mackenzie & McBrides Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger. I voluntarily read a free copy of this book that I received from BookFunnel.

I LOVE THIS SERIES. That being said, I love this book even more. If you haven't read Jennifer Ashley's Mackenzie Family novels, leave this post immediately and go download "The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie" without delay get started. They are wonderful books--well written, with characters and storylines not soon forgotten. And add into all that wonderfullness......tall, strong, beefy men in kilts. Oh dear lord in heaven, help us all. This Christmas story brings all of the couples from the previous books together to celebrate Christmas and the New Year at the family castle. Each gives each other the perfect gift through the course of the story, in true Mackenzie style. It is romantic, it is steamy, it is touching and heartwarming. It is everything you could ask for and more from a Christmas novel. Now to complete my holiday season I am anxiously awaiting the 12/31 release of "The Seduction of Elliot McBride"--the next in this wonderfully delicious family saga!

Ian & family, Mac & family, Cameron & Family all join Hart & a pregnant Eleanor for Christmas at Kilmorgan Castle. A few add-ons are present, such as the McBrides, Mr. Fellows, Hart's friend David, Mr. Ramsay (Eleanor's Dad) and Louisa (Isabella's sister). A lot is going on because it wouldn't be a Mackenzie gathering without some sort of chaos. First Cameron's daughter Gavina goes missing. Then Beth breaks a precious Ming Bowl that Ian had been trying to acquire for a really long time. Then Daniel gets beat up over a barmaid and Eleanor goes into labor, frightening Hart who lost his first wife and son during child birth. All in all, the Mackenzies do what they do best, have fun and band together to support each other through whatever crisis that threatens them. In the midst of all the pandemonium, is always Ian, that centerpiece, which all the Mackenzie men circle around. It was a good read, not so much a Christmas book in my opinion, but a Christmas time update as to what is going on with the Mackenzies. I was happy for Hart, Cameron, Mac and Ian as they both made realizations about fatherhood. I was happy that their women all found happiness with their respective mates. I don't know much about Elliott McBride (there was a small preview of his book at the back, which I didn't read) and I would have rather had more attention on Lloyd Fellows and Louisa. But I am glad that the author let us know that she didn't forget what she started in Hart's book with those two. I am looking forward to David, Daniel & Lloyd finding their own loves in the near future. I love how the author keeps family and love and loyalty at the center of everything Mackenzie. What a great series!

This is the third book I've read by JA. I have fell in love with each character as their story was told. The mistake I made here was jumping out of order when reading the books. It took me out of the story by not being familiar with the back stories. I fell in love with The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie (Mackenzies Series) and Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage (Berkley Sensation) . Ian and Beth now have two young kids (Jamie and Belle). Mac and Isabelle have three kids as well. I did not read Cameron or Hart find their other halves. Hart and Eleanor are expecting their first and because Hart has lived through this once before with a tragic outcome it creates quite an emotional time for one and all. The first half of the book is spent catching up with everyone and a little concern is given towards Ian. He still has his obsession with Ming bowls. LOL! He is just as I remember him. A very complex character because he lacks a certain degree of reasoning so for all his mathematical intelligence he struggles with emotional connections. To see him struggle trying to understand why Beth was crying and his brothers helping him adds such depth to the story. It was fun catching up with old friends and meeting some new ones. There are glimpses of what is yet to come with Louisa and Inspector Fellows. Daniel is going to be a heartbreaker. Ian and Beth have a new addition on the way. The story is all about family. My one recommendation is to read at least the first 2 books before this one. You can still follow along but I would have liked to know about each couple as they all got their own spot light in this book and it would have made the experience so much better.

Again I found a good read in this book. I would not mind more stories in this series.