MacKenzie, Sally

PERSONAL:

Born in Washington, DC; married; children: four sons. Education: University of Notre Dame, B.A. Hobbies and other interests: Swimming.

ADDRESSES:

Home—Kensington, MD. E-mail—writesally@comcast.net.

CAREER:

Worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

WRITINGS:

"NAKED" SERIES; ROMANCE NOVELS

The Naked Duke, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 2005.

The Naked Marquis, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 2006.

The Naked Earl, Zebra Books (New York, NY), 2007.

SIDELIGHTS:

Sally MacKenzie is the author of Regency romance novels, the first three about three male friends living in the early 1800s. In her first, The Naked Duke, Protagonist Sarah Hamilton travels from Philadelphia to the home of her uncle in England, and in doing so, she fulfills the request of her dying father who wanted his daughter properly cared for and protected. On the way she stays at an inn where a drunken Robbie Hamilton directs her to a room that was previously reserved for his friend James Runyon, Duke of Alvord. When she wakes, she finds the naked duke lying beside her. British tradition requires that she marry him, but her American independence prevents her from doing so. James, whose life is being threatened by a cousin who wishes to secure the family fortune, is in need of a wife and has been hesitating to marry the only woman who seems an option. Sarah is at first drawn to Robbie, a confirmed bachelor, but instead chooses to live with James and his sister and aunts, all of whom soon conspire to forge a union. Booklist reviewer Maria Hatton wrote: "MacKenzie sets a merry dance in motion in this enjoyable Regency romp."

MacKenzie follows with The Naked Marquis, in which Charles Draysmith has acquired the title of Marquis of Knightsdale after the death of his brother. Now charged with running the estate and caring for his two orphaned nieces, Charles is in need of a wife, a problem that could be solved if he can convince childhood friend Emma Peterson to marry him.

In The Naked Earl, Robbie, who is fleeing from a lady with marriage on her mind, ends up in the bed of Lady Elizabeth Tunyon, after climbing through her window. Unknown to Robbie, Elizabeth, who is the sister of his best friend, has long lusted after him. Other entanglements figure in the plot; a duchess whose husband is elderly wants an heir and pursues a young man who would seem capable of the job, which causes jealousy in the party's host. A Publishers Weekly contributor concluded: "MacKenzie has great fun shepherding this boisterous party toward its happy ending; readers will be glad they RSVPed."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, January 1, 2005, Maria Hatton, review of The Naked Duke, p. 831; March 15, 2007, John Charles, review of The Naked Earl, p. 32.

Publishers Weekly, February 5, 2007, review of The Naked Earl, p. 46.

ONLINE

Best Reviews,http://thebestreviews.com/ (September 30, 2007), Linda Hurst, review of The Naked Duke.

Bookstore,http://www.thebookstore-radcliff.com/ (September 30, 2007).

Fallen Angel Review,http://www.fallenangelreviews.com/ (September 30, 2007), Missy, review of The Naked Duke.

Romance Reader,http://www.theromancereader.com/ (September 30, 2007), Cathy Sova, "New Faces 166: Sally MacKenzie."

Romantic Times Online,http://www.romantictimes.com/ (September 30, 2007), Kathe Robin, reviews of The Naked Duke, The Naked Marquis, and The Naked Earl.

Sally MacKenzie Home Page,http://www.sallymackenzie.net (September 30, 2007).