The Seduction of Elliot McBride

The fifth book in the MacKenzies series (after The Duke’s Perfect Wife) begins exploring the MacKenzies’ extended family by way of Ainsley MacKenzie’s brother, Elliot McBride. Elliot sought his fortunes in India, but his luck ran out when he was captured and tortured for a year before escaping and returning to his native Scotland with his motherless daughter and protective Indian servants. Happily, his own plan to seek comfort with his first and only love, Juliana St. John, bears fruit without too much effort on his part: she actually proposes to him after her intended groom jilts her to run off with a piano teacher. Elliot takes the scoundrel’s place at the altar and the newlyweds head to his newly purchased Highlands estate, where they try to settle into married life while dealing with Elliot’s painful memories and suspicion that he is being hunted by an old foe. As expected, Juliana helps to heal Elliot’s tortured soul in this enjoyable 1884 romance. (Jan.)