The Seduction of Elliot McBride

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Synopsis

Juliana St. John's cherished childhood friendship with Elliot McBride turned into young love, but Elliot went off to India in search of adventure and fortune. After a decade of waiting, she'd given up hope of him returning, and became engaged to a man she didn't love, only to be left at the altar on her wedding day. Fleeing the embarrassment, she stumbles upon none other than Elliot. Just like he always had, he once again charms her until she makes a spontaneous proposition that he marry her instead. Juliana is pleasantly surprised when he agrees to become her stand-in groom. Once wed, they journey to his run-down estate in the Scottish Highlands, where she sets out to restore the once grand house to its former glory. But she soon discovers that her new husband suffers from flashbacks and violent outbursts from his time in an Indian prison, leaving him in need of emotional restoration. Juliana wants nothing more than to help him in any way she can, but she isn't quite sure how.

Elliot McBride has loved Juliana ever since he stole a kiss from her at her come-out ball, but shortly after, his position with the military took him off to India. Once he'd completed his service, he bought a plantation and made a fortune, but a man he thought was his friend betrayed him because of jealousies over a woman. Elliot found himself imprisoned and tortured by remote tribesmen for a year, before he finally managed to escape, and with the help of his loyal Indian manservant, make his way back to Scotland. Rumors have spread of his "madness," and not wanting Juliana to see him that way, he didn't immediately seek her out, but after hearing of her impending marriage, he goes to the church, intending to try to stop the wedding. Instead, Juliana accidentally finds him after being left at the altar by her prospective groom and makes her proposition. Elliot eagerly accepts and they begin their life together at his new home in the Highlands. However, he can't help worrying that one day he might do harm to the woman he loves while in one of his blackouts. Then he begins to see signs of someone skulking about the estate and fears that his old friend may have returned to finish him off, leaving Elliot trying to hunt down his nemesis first in order to keep his family safe.

Review

The Seduction of Elliot McBride is the fifth full-length novel in Jennifer Ashley's Mackenzies & McBrides series. This one features Elliot McBride, Ainsley's brother, who has only recently returned from India where he had first traveled as a young man to serve in the British military, but once his service was completed, he bought a plantation there, which made him wealthy. However, his wealth couldn't stop him from being kidnapped by local tribesmen and held captive for a year, during which time he was brutally tortured. Some think he's insane because he suffers from a severe case of PTSD (although of course that's not what it was called back then). Throughout his captivity, thoughts of his childhood sweetheart, Juliana St. John, were all that kept him alive. The story opens with Juliana being jilted at the altar by her fiance who has eloped with another woman. At loose ends, Juliana takes refuge in a small chapel on the church grounds where she accidentally sits on a sleeping and somewhat inebriated Elliot. Juliana has loved Elliot from afar since childhood and desperately wants to be married, so she impulsively asks him to be her groom, something to which he readily agrees. The two are wed that same day and later travel to the castle he's just bought from his uncle in the Scottish Highlands. The castle has a certain charm, but it's literally crumbling around their ears, so Elliot gives Juliana leave to spend however she sees fit to fix it up. She immediately begins renovations with the intention of hosting a big ball and fete soon. But Elliot's flashbacks and violent outbursts worry her as she tries to figure out how to help him. Then Elliot becomes aware of being stalked by an old nemesis who may be looking for revenge, making it necessary to do all that he can to protect his family.

Elliot is a deeply tortured soul who went through hell during his captivity in India, where he was kept in dark holes and tunnels in the ground, regularly beaten and tortured, and turned into an assassin for the tribesmen who captured him. The only thing that gave him the will to live was a desire to get back to Juliana, the only woman he's ever truly loved. They were close friends since childhood and he'd fallen in love with her at her come-out ball where he stole a kiss. His military service took him far away, but he had his sister keeping tabs on her for him. After escaping his ordeal, he returned to Scotland a broken man, in both mind and body, but with the help of his loyal Indian manservant, he's managed to recover physically and is somewhat improved emotionally. Elliot went to Juliana's wedding with the intent of putting a stop to it, so when she finds him in the chapel and makes her impulsive proposition, he couldn't be happier. After the wedding, he takes her to his crumbling, old castle in the Highlands, where he finds that having Juliana close gives him more peace than he's felt in a long while. They begin building a life together, but Elliot experiences flashbacks that make him feel as though he's still a prisoner and that sometimes make him lash out violently. Then he discovers evidence that an old friend turned enemy is hunting him, which could put his new life and family in danger. I'm a complete sucker for tortured heroes like Elliot. He's been through so much, I just wanted to wrap him up in my arms and love away the hurt, just like Juliana does. In spite of his mental condition, he's a dreamy seductive lover. He's very loving and giving toward Juliana, and also toward his illegitimate half-Indian daughter and his Indian servants who are like family to him. He's also protective and loyal to a fault toward those he loves.

Juliana's mother was a rather selfish woman, so when she died Juliana felt a need to be the exact opposite, driving herself toward perfection. She took over the managing of her father's household and is very adept at making lists and getting things done. Juliana cherished her friendship with Elliot and started loving him even in childhood, so his kiss at her come-out ball was very welcome. She had hopes that they might have a future together, but then he went off to India, first in military service, then staying to make his fortune. After waiting on him for over a decade, she'd all but given up on him returning for her, so she became engaged to another man, who leaves her at the altar on their wedding day. When Juliana finds Elliot in the chapel, she suggests they marry on a lark, and is surprised when he eagerly agrees. Once at his Highland castle, she discovers the pure bliss of making love to the man she's loved for years. She also sets about renovating the castle to its former glory so that she can host a big ball and fete for their friends and the surrounding community. But Elliot's flashback spells weigh heavily on her. She desperately wants to help him, but doesn't quite know what to do. Then he admits that he believes someone is stalking them, but asks her to trust him to take care of it. However, she's also approached by a woman claiming that Elliot killed a man in India and that she and her husband are going to prove it and have him arrested. But through it all, Juliana remains Elliot's steady rock. Juliana is a kind, compassionate person who loves Elliot with her whole heart and would do anything for him. I love how accepting she is of his illegitimate daughter and of his Indian servants and their exotic foods. She's simply unflappable, taking everything in stride and never wavering in her loyalty.

I've loved every book in the Mackenzies & McBrides series so far, and The Seduction of Elliot McBride was no exception. Elliot was definitely my kind of hero, tortured and in need of lots of love, but still kind and loving toward his family and friends. His solitary nature reminds me a little bit of Ian (The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie), which is probably why they get along well as friends. Juliana is more social but understands Elliot in ways that others don't. Where they see madness, she sees a man who simply needs compassion and room to heal. I adored the fact that these two have been in love with each other basically since childhood and have never wavered in their feelings. From the moment they marry, they're fire together, emotional, romantic and sexy beyond measure. I love that they're loyal to a fault, always being supportive and never doubting each other. The supporting cast, namely Elliot's uncle, his Indian servants, his daughter, Priti, and their one Scottish servant, Hamish, add flavor and humor to the story. There's even a little bit of secondary romance brewing amongst this cast. As far as other characters who have books in the series, the Mackenzie brothers and their families attend the ball and fete, as do the other McBride brothers, but the only ones who play significant roles are Elliot's sister, Ainsley (The Many Sins of Lord Cameron) and Mackenzie half-brother, Inspector Fellows, who Elliot asks for help when he's being accused of murder and thinks his old friend may be trying to kill him. That part of the story led to a little intrigue and danger. Overall, The Seduction of Elliot McBride proved to be another keeper for me in this series and has left me eager to keep reading.

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Jennifer Ashley

Themes

Amazing Animals
Babies & Children
Friends Before Lovers
Physically Imperfect Heroes
Tortured Heroes