A Mackenzie Family Christmas: The Perfect Gift

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Synopsis

The Mackenzie family gathers together for a big holiday celebration. Eleanor is very pregnant and due to give birth not long after Hogmanay, leaving Hart doting on her and worrying that he might lose her the same way he lost his first wife and child. After an extensive search for just the right one, Ian ordered a new Ming bowl that has arrived just in time for Christmas. But while he's showing it to Beth, she accidentally trips, breaking the precious object. Everyone is walking on eggshells, concerned that Ian might have one of his meltdowns or retreat into his quiet world, especially when he locks himself in a room, working on a secret project. Enlisting Hart's help, Beth begins a mad search for another bowl to replace the one that was lost. Meanwhile, everyone else is enjoying the holiday festivities that include a boxing match between Cam and Mac's former pugilist valet and a Christmas ball, before Eleanor goes into labor a little earlier than expected.

Review

A Mackenzie Family Christmas is a holiday novella in Jennifer Ashley's Mackenzies & McBrides series that takes place between books #4 and #5. We get to see pretty much all the members of both families gathered together for the Christmas season, so there are storylines for several characters both from the previous books of the series and those yet to come. I'd say that the primary focus, though, is on Ian and Beth (The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie). Ian had been searching far and wide for a specific Ming bowl to add to his collection. It's finally delivered, but as he and Beth are appreciating its beauty, she accidentally drops it, shattering it. Everyone is walking on eggshells expecting Ian to have a meltdown like he did another time one of his precious bowls was broken, but they're still worried even when he doesn't. Knowing how much Ian treasures his bowls, Beth feels terrible about it, so she enlists Hart's help in locating another similar one to give Ian as a Hogmanay gift. The only problem is that the owner isn't willing to sell, so Hart sends his friend and advisor, David Fleming (A Rogue Meets a Scandalous Lady) to find a way to get the man to part with it even if he has to use underhanded means. Meanwhile, Hart and Eleanor (The Duke's Perfect Wife) eagerly await the birth of their first child, which is particularly difficult on Hart because of the loss of his first wife and child. Mac (Lady Isabella's Scandalous Marriage) is trying to keep Isabella from finding a special gift he's made for her. Cameron and Ainsley (The Many Sins of Lord Cameron) experience a scare when their little girl goes missing. The clearly brilliant Daniel (The Wicked Deeds of Daniel Mackenzie) comes home from school and promptly sets about taking bets on everything from the winner of a boxing match between Cameron and Mac's former pugilist valet to the gender of Hart and Eleanor's baby. He also helps Ian with a special Christmas project for the children. No matter what they're doing, the Mackenzie family shares a very merry and memorable holiday season with each other.

I've absolutely loved the Mackenzies & McBrides series thus far, so having all the characters together in one festive holiday story was a real treat. I'll take any excuse for more time with Ian and Beth. Because his brain works differently, Ian may struggle with things that those around him take for granted, but he's grown a lot since meeting Beth. His Ming bowls are still his prized possessions, but he proves that Beth and their children are what's really important to him. I also loved the final stages of pregnancy and birth storyline for Hart and Eleanor and getting to see the newest little Mackenzie make an entrance. Hart may be an alpha dom, but he shows so much vulnerability in his worries over Eleanor and their baby. I adore him for the way he showed so much tenderness and support for her throughout the process. It was wonderful seeing all the other characters and their growing families, too, each with a little slice of life story to share. In addition to Mac, Isabella, Cameron, Ainsley, Daniel, and David, Mackenzie half-brother Lloyd Fellows got a chance to reconnect and share another kiss with Isabella's sister, Louisa. I'm looking forward to their story in The Untamed Mackenzie. Also all of Ainsley's brothers were there, giving readers a little taste of what's to come in their books, particularly Sinclair (Rules for a Proper Governess), who is struggling with being a single father to a pair of young ones with a penchant for trouble. The only possible downside is that rather than the steamy goodness this author is typically known for, this book had little more than some mild sensuality, but I was willing to overlook that as a mere minor complaint. Overall, A Mackenzie Family Christmas was a heartwarming Christmas (and Boxing Day and Hogmanay:-)) tale that was a great way to wrap-up my holiday reading. I can't wait to visit with the Mackenzie clan again soon.

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Jennifer Ashley

Themes

Amazing Animals
Artists
Babies & Children
Christmas Stories
Geniuses, Scholars & Scientists aka Geeks - Heroes
Pregnancy Stories