A Scandalous Bargain
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4.3 • 66 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
From USA Today Bestselling author Darcy Burke, your next Regency obsession: The Pretenders! Set in Burke’s popular world of The Untouchables, indulge in the saga of a trio of siblings who excel at being something they’re not. Can a dauntless Bow Street Runner, a devastated viscount, and a disillusioned Society miss unravel their secrets?
Book Two: A Scandalous Bargain
Tricked into marriage five years ago, Thomas Devereaux, Lord Rockbourne is suddenly a widower. Rumors abound that his wife’s death may not have been an accident and given the troubling secrets Thomas keeps buried, even he isn’t entirely sure. But when a woman sees what happened, he agrees to accept her help to disguise the facts in exchange for not divulging her suspicious behavior. Their arrangement grows more complicated under the force of a scorching mutual attraction.
Abandoned by her father—a duke—after the death of her mother—his beloved mistress—Beatrix Linley has fought to become a daughter he could be proud of, that he would regret leaving. She becomes the toast of the Season until her penchant for pilfering pretty things threatens to expose the illicit past she needs desperately to remain hidden. Soon the scandal and darkness both Beatrix and Thomas fear comes to light, compelling them to finally face their demons—and potentially driving them apart forever.
Customer Reviews
Friends with Secrets
They promise to be friends and keep each other’s secrets.
Thomas and Beatrix meet on the night his wife accidentally fell to her death from their terrace. Beatrix just happened to be in a tree in his garden. She’s been watching her father who lives next door. His mother-in-law accuses him of murdering his wife. Can Tom prove he is innocent? Can Beatrix help him? What happened to the one piece of evidence that might prove Tom did not kill his wife?
Beatrix, the illegitimate daughter of a duke, enjoyed her childhood until her mother died and her father abandoned her. She may never regain her father’s favor, but she has friends who care for her. They are her family. Tom has endured a miserable marriage, but it produced a daughter he adores. Tom and Beatrix become friends, and more. Regan and Beatrix connect immediately. Selina, Harry, and his large family, and Tom’s Aunt Charity are here to offer support and advice. The story has a few twists and turns and some surprises as Tom and Beatrix work toward their HEA. I enjoyed this addition to the Pretenders series. I am looking forward to Rafe’s story.
I received an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary.
Scandalous Bargain
This story is full of secrets around every corner. Beatrix has such a good heart even with her back ground she thinks of others first. She’s tried so hard to get the love of her father and ends up with another mans love and his daughter. Great story lots of twists and turns.
She’s a thief, he’s widowed the moment they meet
Honestly? I wasn’t sure I was going to like Beatrix (who is a kleptomaniac) and Thomas (who was arguing with his wife when she fell to her death). But I really liked the beleaguered Thomas, who is being pressured to marry again (it’s only been a day!). Beatrix, I wasn’t down with the thieving, is illegitimate and trying to get her duke father’s attention.
Not sure why being a witness to Thomas’ wife’s death would ruin her nonexistent reputation? Usually back then they would just give a statement and then it would be read in court.
Nonetheless, I enjoyed and it was nice to get this perspective of Selina (who’s my fave).
Recommend.