Marriage of Lies

Scandalous Scions #3

by Tracy Cooper-Posey

Guilt about their love for each other is steadily destroying their lives…

Since Sharla married the Duke of Wakefield, Ben’s life has slowly crumbled as the knowledge that he is a mere commoner and can never have her eats at his soul.

Sharla hides the truth about her disastrous marriage from everyone, shamed by her failure.

When Ben glimpses a fragment of the awful truth, he knows he must do what he can to help her…and in the process he might just be able to pull his own life from the gutter.

Marriage of Lies is the third book in the spin-off series following the historical romances of Scandalous Sirens. Scandalous Scions brings together the members of three great families, to love and play under the gaze of the Victorian era’s moralistic, straight-laced society.

Reader Advisory: This story contains frank sex scenes and sexual language.

This story is part of the Scandalous Scions series:
0.5 Rose of Ebony
1.0 Soul of Sin
2.0 Valor of Love
3.0 Marriage of Lies
4.0 Mask of Nobility
…and more to come!

A Sexy Historical Romance
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Praise for the Scandalous Scions series:

If you are familiar with the previous series, I am sure you fell in love with the huge family like I did.

She is a go to author for me when I need a fix of historical romance.

Tracy Cooper-Posey takes us into the staid yet surprisingly bawdy Victorian Era where appearance is everything and secrets are held inside the family.

Thanks once again, Tracy Cooper-Posey, for giving us another great story and for giving me back my love of historical romances.

I love historical romances and this one filled all my likes, from a dashing, wonderful hero, a beautiful strong heroine, a love story to sigh over, side characters that are interesting, and funny, and move the story along.

I can't wait for the next in this wonderful new series.

I don't often give books five stars, but I really enjoyed the mystery that puzzled all of the characters in this story.

I found the entire extended family intriguing because they, the women in particular, are very aware and careful of what society will think, yet they often have made choices that are deemed semi- scandalous.

A wonderful story set in the Victorian era of such strict social conventions and yet the main characters are shimmering with latent sexual tension. What a fabulous juxtaposition!

Another great series is starting and it looks like it will be great just like all the other series by this author.

Wow, as soon as I started Tracy Cooper Posey’s first book in her new spin off I was hooked.
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Tracy Cooper-Posey is a #1 Best Selling Author. She writes science fiction and romance. She has published over 90 books since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favorite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.

She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year and Byzantine Heartbreak was a 2012 winner. Faring Soul won a SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding” She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught writing at MacEwan University.

She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, reading science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.

Genres: Historical, Historical Romance

ebook

First published November 7, 2017

About the author

Tracy Cooper-Posey is an Amazon #1 Best Selling Author. She writes romantic suspense, paranormal, urban fantasy, futuristic and science fiction romances. She has published over 100 novels since 1999, been nominated for five CAPAs including Favourite Author, and won the Emma Darcy Award.

She turned to indie publishing in 2011. Her indie titles have been nominated four times for Book Of The Year and Byzantine Heartbreak was a 2012 winner. Faring Soul won a SFR Galaxy Award in 2016 for “Most Intriguing Philosophical/Social Science Questions in Galaxybuilding” She has been a national magazine editor and for a decade she taught romance writing at MacEwan University.

She is addicted to Irish Breakfast tea and chocolate, sometimes taken together. In her spare time she enjoys history, Sherlock Holmes, science fiction and ignoring her treadmill. An Australian Canadian, she lives in Edmonton, Canada with her husband, a former professional wrestler, where she moved in 1996 after meeting him on-line.

Reviews

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The H and h are unrequited lovers,. She married a Duke to appease her mother. The Duke is a mystery, he wants to become closer to her and her family but holds back. He doesn't care to see what's happening to his wife in his home. The H knows something is wrong, but is powerless. The plot has surprises and while I liked the idea, the outcome was not satisfying to me. Little insight into her husband's relationships or lifestyle, and he did not try to help his wife.

[Shasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intense with a surprise ending

I like this series and the characters in the main families. This story was my least favorite so far.
The plot is a surprise. The situation was very difficult for the time period and was handled well. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
I will still continue with the series.

Read in KU

[Dina Bushrod · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracy,Tracy,Tracy, this story was, well all I can think to say, was magnificent. Your creative mind in the telling of this beautiful story was just superb. A woman who marries to please her mother and does all she thinks she's supposed to do to be a good wife; but for more than a year she still has not been in her "marriage bed". We also have a husband who is unaware of the abuses his own mother does to a wife he cannot love, but still believes he's doing what he can to make her comfortable and happy with their situation. In this mix is a man whose has deeply loved her for a very long time and cannot understand why she seems to be so unhappy. When his choices in life become known, they are thrown together and learn not only of their feelings for each other, but uncover her husbands dangerous secrets. I can't wait to read more in this series, a series of a very unconventional family, during a period of very strict Victorian standards. The author has once again given us beautiful, but at times tortured characters, an author who writes with all her feelings, who let's her creative juices lead the way. I recommend this book and series to lovers of historical romance that includes twist, turns, humor, danger and grand, sensual love. Oh I can't wait to read the next book.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review. As usual Tracy writes another wonderful love story. It may not appear that way in the beginning but that is how it ends. Ben, who is a commoner, is in love with Sharla and has been told he is not good enough to marry her because of his lower station in life. Sharla married to appease her family and because she has been made to feel like it was her duty to marry the Duke. Marriage does not turn out like she thought it would. After two years she is still a virgin and it appears the Duke has ignored her all this time. Ben gets involved in illegal boxing matches which brings drama to the book. The Duke determined they will attend the Great Family gathering where Ben and Sharla reconnect. I love this Great Family that Tracy has created and want to read more about them. In the end things work out for all three of them with a lot of intriguing drama in between. This is a wonderful book and can’t wait for the next edition.

[Ingrid Savell · Rating 5 out of 5]

An intriguing historical romance that is rich with authentic detail while it surprises with the unexpected.
This novel is a fantastic addition to the Scandalous Scions series! I highly recommend reading all the books of the series, in order, as many of the wonderful characters have been introduced previously.
Tracy Cooper-Posey writes my kind of historical romance! All the social restrictions of the period but with plot twists and intriguing characters that make for an exciting read.
Cooper-Posey creates complex characters that she challenges through interesting life experiences. I loved the characters and by the end, I felt like I was leaving some new friends.
It is sexy and yet restrained. Very much people of their era, these characters are challenged to deal with extraordinary circumstances to form some amazing connections. It is the connections between the characters, revealing more of themselves in the process, which makes Cooper-Posey's writing so satisfying. When you reach that HEA you breathe a gusty sigh of satisfaction = romance conquers all!

[Kathi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Cooper-Posey weaves a compelling story of Mystery, Romance and Impossible Choices!!

Sharla is in a loveless marriage; to the Duke of Wakefield. Ben is a commoner whose life has taken a downturn when the love of his life Sharla married another. After years of staying away from family gatherings to not run into each other, each has returned for the annual gathering.

The author send us under the skin and into the minds of each of these characters. All are trying to maintain proper decorum (which is somewhat unlike family norms) yet are desperately unhappy. I could see no possible resolution, and when I thought I was onto the answer this creative author proved me wrong.

Enjoy a raucous return to the childhood habit of pranks, feel the desperation of our characters and be amazed at the stunning conclusion provided within these pages.

*** I am voluntarily leaving my honest review of this book ***

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

I couldn't put this book down and I don't get to say that often. I am a fan of Cooper-Posey's sci-fi, time travel and paranormal writings, but this is the first historical romance of hers I have had the pleasure of reading. It kept me guessing until the end and although it has a happily ever after ending it does not end in the usual 'everything falls into place and works out perfectly' way.
I love a good dose of humor in whatever I read and this story did not disappoint. I loved the witty banter amongst the family and the pranks had me laughing out loud quite a bit. I highly recommend this book and this auto in general.

[Mom2three · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracy is the master of historical romances. Every time I read one of her books I am amazed, once again, at the honest feel to her stories. There is a depth to the story line and characters that I don't usually find in historical romances. You are sucked into the past without any of the circumstances that will jar you back to the present. This story is full of heartache, betrayal, loneliness, secrets, fear, and finally love. The journey the characters take isn't a very pleasant one, but their struggle makes their HEA that much sweeter. Once again, I am amazed at the perfection Tracy Cooper-Posey brings to the historical romance genre, and I highly recommend this book.

[Scoyphenson · Rating 2 out of 5]

The plot was original - plenty of interesting twists and turns - but not executed well. Dramatic moments were brief and underwritten; the book began as though one had already read the other two, so it took time to sort out the relationships and their importance; and frankly Sharla was kind of weak and whiny. Plus, how about some explanation for why she’s Lady Patricia but known as Sharla? Long story short, this book needed a good edit. This was my first Cooper-Posey novel and I’m not sure if I’ll read another m.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me there is no competition when it comes to Tracy Cooper-Posey's historical romances. This book had it all, with realistic dialogue, an author's obvious love for history, and characters that leap off the pages, I would recommend this book to any readers who enjoys historical romance.
This book is part of the Scandalous Scions series but can be read as a standalone story.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader copy of this book.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tracey does it again. Surprises and secrets all the way to the final pages.
What happens when secrets are kept from those we love?
Sharla, Dane, and Ben are intertwined but in what way. Sharla and Ben are part of the Great family. Sharla is married to Dane. Their marriage is a marriage in name only and Sharla doesn't know why?
Ben loves Sharla and knows to stay away but is miserable and doing activities that are below his station.
Highly recommend this book and the entire series.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical fiction. The characters are high society, so they are expected to hold to certain standards. These characters find ways to defy this. I was drawn directly into the story and the Victorian era is brought to life with Tracy's beautiful descriptions. I liked the humor that was thrown in to lighten the mood. I would highly recommend it. I received an advance copy of this book and this is my honest review.

[Debora Blake · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a stand alone read

I downloaded this to my Kindle hoping for a quick read on my day off. I found myself lost, if you didn't read the first two you are not going to get some of this. It also runs into a lot for the next book if you don't want to commit to the whole series don't waste your time.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have long enjoyed this series - the great families in Victorian England. There are, like any large family, always people ducking in and out of the action, more or less constantly. But this one went a different route. The bulk of this book centres on Sharla, Ben and her husband.

Sharla is miserable - she’s distancing herself from her family, she can’t figure out what has gone wrong with her marriage and she has a mother-in-law from hell. Ben can’t stop loving Sharla even though she married someone else, so he tries to vent his pain in illegal boxing. And then there’s Sharla’s husband, the Duke. He seems cold and remote and he’s never visited the marriage bed.

This combination could have veered into a often used storyline but that’s not what we expect from Tracey. And she delivered another stunning book with some massive twists. I feel bad for ever second-guessing her because she always comes up with something you didn’t expect. Whether it’s a plot twist (like this one) or a character who is more than their first impression (like this one) or even an unexpected ending (ditto).

All 3 books in the series display different thematic tones - all beautifully written but no two alike. And I think this is what keeps her fans coming back book after book - we trust her to keep things interesting and real.

[J Arnold · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series that I have read. All I can say is WOW!!! I couldn’t put this book down and once again this series shows the true meaning of family and loyalty. Once you are a part of the family, there is nothing they won’t do to protect you.

[Sandy N · Rating 3 out of 5]

Unfortunately after reading this third book in story after I have read the second, I am still confused with all the families involved. To get it all, the best is to start from the very beginning with the Sirens and continue with this series.

[Cathy Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book!

I so enjoyed this book. It was beautifully written and I love this family. It was a page turner, I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to the next book in this series.

[Audrey Cienki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story.

[Finnleigh · Rating 1 out of 5]

The ending was awful, ok most of this was awful

[Alda Delicado · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another story with a secret, but this time I guessed right from the start. It was nonetheless a clever way to deal with the subject and with a nice ending. But the heroine in some of the scenes really got on my nerves!

[Bridget Love to read Lewis]

A wife in name only

Ben has loved Sharla since they were children Sharla married Dane to please her mother! The family has no idea the turmoil that Sharla lives in daily! This book is unexpected! I was shocked by the compromise! A must read if you love this series and unexpected endings!