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Cover of Marriage Most Scandalous

Marriage Most Scandalous

Johanna Lindsey

First published 2005 · 472 pages

A sweeping, dramatic historical romance where a scandalous bargain gives way to fierce, redemptive passion.

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What it feels like

Reading this book feels like stepping into the golden age of historical romance, where the stakes are life-and-death and the passion is unapologetically sweeping. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging clip, balancing a light estate mystery with the intense, crackling tension of a fake marriage. There is a distinct old-school charm to the prose, which favors dramatic declarations, dangerous alpha heroes, and spirited heroines who refuse to back down. The mood shifts from the shadowy, guarded atmosphere of an exiled mercenary's life to the sunlit, albeit treacherous, halls of an English estate. It is a deeply satisfying, comfort-read experience for anyone who delights in the classic trope of a disgraced rogue being brought back to the light by a woman bold enough to match his scandalous demands.

Mood
  • passionate
  • suspenseful
  • sweeping
Tone
  • dramatic
  • romantic
  • playful
  • earnest
Pace
brisk
Themes
redemption through love · the tension of forced proximity · healing past disgrace · family loyalty and betrayal
The writing
Accessible and dialogue-heavy, leaning into the dramatic flair and sweeping declarations characteristic of classic historical romance.
The arc
Moves from desperate bargains and guarded suspicion to a fierce, undeniable passion and ultimate redemption.
Who it's for
Readers who love old-school historical romances featuring dangerous, exiled heroes and the determined heroines who bring them back to the light.
Content notes
  • duel-related trauma
  • family betrayal
  • attempted murder

About the book

Lady Margaret Landor first met Sebastian Townshend as a child, when he caught her peeking into her older sister's engagement ball. Tall, dashing, and charming, Sebastian was one of the most sought-after bachelors in Kent and cut a romantic figure she would not soon forget. Never did she dream that one day she would be living at his family's magnificent estate with Sebastian's father, the eighth Earl of Edgewood, as her guardian--while Sebastian is banished from his family due to the tragic results of a duel.

When life at Edgewood takes a sinister turn with the earl suffering a suspicious number of life-threatening accidents, Margaret wonders if Sebastian's younger brother and his wife have grown impatient to inherit the earldom. Setting out to find the one man she believes can set the situation to rights, she discovers that Sebastian Townshend has forged a new identity for himself on the continent.

Now known as The Raven, a deadly mercenary, notorious for accomplishing any mission no matter how seemingly impossible, he has vowed never to return to England. Not until Margaret meets his outrageous monetary demands does Sebastian agree to return home, reluctantly posing as her husband in order to facilitate his return to society. When he learns she cannot afford to pay his fee, he suggests a scandalous trade.

As Margaret and Sebastian work to uncover the intrigue at his father's estate, a fierce passion blooms that neither of them anticipated and neither can resist. But can Margaret persuade Sebastian to abandon the dark path he believes is his fate and claim the life--and love--he deserves?

Description from Open Library.

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