Read the next sizzling installment in the Scandalous Sons series. The path to true love begins in the most unlikely place.A late-night encounter in a graveyard.When Lawrence Trent, illegitimate son of Viscount Ranfield, discovers someone is secretly tending his brother’s grave, he feels compelled to investigate. Since his brother’s mysterious death, he’s been plagued by suspicions of murder and … Since his brother’s mysterious death, he’s been plagued by suspicions of murder and is desperate to find proof. Imagine his surprise when he encounters a young woman in the churchyard at midnight. Imagine his shock when she instructs him to strip off his shirt, demands to see if he bears the mark of the notorious gentleman’s club known as the Brethren.
A lady who needs to atone.
Believing herself responsible for the deaths of her cousin and his friend, Miss Verity Vale can do nothing to make amends other than pay her respects. Having suffered at the hands of a Brethren blackguard, too, she is helpless when it comes to seeking justice. Until an encounter with a handsome stranger brings a perfect opportunity for vengeance.
A wild and passionate adventure for two people who never hoped to find love.
Thrown together in a bid to solve the mystery and find those who killed their kin, Lawrence and Verity journey into an evil world of blackmail and corruption. But it’s not the shocking revelations about the Brethren that send their hearts racing. It’s their growing attraction to each other. Can love blossom when the Brethren are determined to tear them apart?
Find out in The Mark of a Rogue.
Features:
- Regency historical romance novel
- Contains some descriptive sex scenes bursting with love and passion
- A satisfying mystery with a wicked villain you’ll love to hate.
What Amazon readers said about Book 1 in the Scandalous Sons series.
“One of my very favorite authors, Adele Clee brilliantly creates a story with all of the facets of intrigue, suspense, fear and two characters who wrap around your heart.”
“Adele Clee does a great job mixing in an intriguing mystery with a love story about two people who aren’t expecting love but find it anyway.”
“WOW! Just Wow! This was such an emotional rollercoaster of a story! A gritty second chance at love full of passion, sorrow, betrayals, villains bent on murder, mystery and intrigue, hope, and a love so deep that never dies.”
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I really enjoyed this 2nd Book in the Scandalous Sons Series & am already looking forward to Book 3! I won’t re-tell the story as many will do review, but I will say that you will not be disappointed in this book or this series. Ms. Clee’s stories are always full of wonderful main & secondary characters that you fall in love with & find yourself living their story right along with them. Her plots are entertaining with some danger, intrigue, villains, loyal/loving friends, throw in some twists & turns & of course, romance.
Lawrence Trent, bastard son of the Viscount of Ranfield, discovers someone secretly tending his brother’s grave at night & he must find out why. He has been tormented by the suspicious manner his brother died, was it murder? Verity Vale feels responsible for the death of this man buried in the grave she is tending & also her cousin. She knows they were killed by the group of men called the Brethren but is powerless to bring justice to them. This is where the couple meets for the first time – in the night, with a full moon surrounded by graves, her insistence Trent bare his chest & so many questions. I highly recommend this historical romance & don’t you really want to know what happens?
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
The second in Scandalous Sons series, The Mark Of a Rogue is is one Fantastic Book! It’s an intense action-packed rollercoaster ride full of twist and turns that will keep you sitting on the edge of your seat. With villains who spin a web of murdererr, deception and deceit until slowly all the pieces start falling together in this murder mystery that shows who the real villains are. Adele Clee’s book is well-written with well-developed characters with returning characters from the first book, an incredibly strong plot with a story line that kept me interested right to the end and wanting more. With setting descriptions and action sequences are wonderfully vivid which brings this read together perfectly. Trying to discover who is killing off members of a gentleman’s club the Brethren, Lawrence a brooding, swoon worthy rogue and Miss Verity who is spunky and demands to be allowed to join Lawrence on his “adventure” to find out the truth. As they both fight their growing feelings for one another they soon find themselves in the embrace of a passionate love swirling down into a vortex of the pits of evil in this heart-stopping story filled with drama, uncertainties, sizzling passion, friendship, secrets, danger, trials and tribulations, turmoil and while the suspense builds and tensions escalate and mayhem abounds with twists and turns that will keep you wandering what’s around the next corner makes this one outstanding story!
I loved the teaser about Cavanaugh and Cassandra in the next book When Scandal Came To Town! Can’t wait to read!!
This certainly kept me on my toes. What starts as a gentle mystery of a regularly visited grave turns into a suspenseful puzzle of a secretive club. Suitable to the time period, the male characters are the center of the action. But Miss Verity is quite strong in her determination to learn the truth of her cousin’s death.
I am looking forward to the next installment of this series. I read a free advance copy; the thoughts expressed are my own.
The Mark of a Rogue is the second book in the Scandalous Sons series and another wonderful book written by this author. The author is able to write so her characters seem to come alive and you can feel their emotions. The descriptions of the settings and the plot are so intriguing it is hard to put her books down. This book is a standalone but Lawrence’s dilemma is introduced in the first book, which is also a great book. Lawrence Trent is the illegitimate son of Viscount Ranfield and Charles, his half-brother’s death was mysterious and someone keeps leaving flowers and trinkets on his grave. Lawrence is suspicious of his brother’s death and thinks he was murdered. So one night he waits in the graveyard to find out who is leaving stuff. He is not prepared to meet and have the woman demand he take his shirt off and show her that he has no markings on his chest. Verity’s cousin, Sebastian, has died and she suspects that there was foul play in the deaths of Charles and Sebastian. They had attended a house party where a masked man with a marking on his chest attacked her in her bedroom and she felt like Sebastian knew the man. She received a book the week after Sebastian’s death that had a warning and clues. Lawrence returns to London determined to solve the mystery. Verity follows him to insist he let her help. There are many twists, intrigues, and the ending is surprising. This book leads into the third book, which is Mr. Cavanagh’s story. I can’t wait to read his book and see what surprises the author comes up with. I definitely recommend reading the entire series.
From the first paragraph, where the hero is trying to find out who is making midnight visits to his brother’s grave, I was hooked. Mysterious deaths, each body with a branded chest; a mysterious club; death threats and attempts; and a very good mystery with a blooming romance. I received an ARC of this book.
This story keeps you on the edge of your seat and you will refuse to put down the book until you’ve finished reading it! I really enjoyed book 1 of this series and I can say the same about book 2. Lawrence and Verity’s story is filled with intrigue, mystery, passion, humor….you name it, it’s got it! I found it very well written, keeps your interest and the characters are very believable. Very deserving of a 5 star rating.
I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Another clever tale from Ms. Clee. Normally I can figure out the villain in a book fairly early on but this book has some red herrings as to the true villain. Yes, you can figure some parts out but not the entire story. And the villain was a great character in this story. Okay, now onto the lovely romance of Lawrence and Verity. Their interactions feel genuine and real. The mystery worked well with their story and I loved how they worked together to solve the crime. This is a great series so far with just Cavanaugh left to titillate us.
I received a complimentary copy from the author.
Their adventure begins with her guilt and his curiosity.
Verity Vale’s heart is burdened with a guilt that is not hers to carry. Thankfully, she encounters just the man who can help her in ways she never dreamed possible.
Lawrence Trent’s heart has been sealed off for most of his life. Thankfully, he encounters just the woman who can help him in ways he never dreamed possible.
Adele Clee is one of my top 10 favorite authors. I love her writing style, her flair for the mysterious and her passionate characters. Her strong plots are always vibrantly detailed and laced with complex characters.
Her latest book in the Scandalous Sons series is The Mark of a Rogue. It is a page turner from start to finish. The intriguing plot immediately pulled me in and the twists and turns kept me reading well into the night. I loved both lead characters, Trent and Verity. They truly complemented each other and their chemistry sparkled. I also enjoyed the reappearance of Wycliff and Scarlett (book 1) and Cavanagh (who’s story will be in book 3). After reading one of Ms. Clee’s books, I always feel as if the characters are close friends, which is why I can’t wait to read Cavanagh’s story.
Content alert: This book contains some mild swearing, passionate kissing and descriptive sexual intimacy.
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book from the author. I am voluntarily submitting my honest review.
Holy moly! Was this ever an INTENSE story! I had to stop myself from looking at the next chapter, I had no inkling on who the villain was, just when I thought I had figured it out you got a different twist! So much happening in this story that there was no way I was putting this baby down without finishing!
Laurence Trent “sigh” now this is a hero I’d want to be saved by! Although an illegitimate son he was by no means a man with no morals he’s a man that fights for the underdog. When he comes across a young woman tending his brothers grave he’s shocked by her request- to bare his chest! Their meeting is a meeting of the souls even though he fights it, it’ll take more than just the Bretheren to scare him off!
Verity Vale is racked by guilt, believing she’s responsible for two deaths she must do her penance, until the most captivating man confronts her demanding answers! What follows is an intense rollercoaster ride of mystery, intrigue, romance, and a love that is put through the test!
For everyone that loves their romance with plenty of action, mystery, passion with a Gothic feel to it.
Thank you for your review.
This is the second book of Adele Clee’s Scandalous Sons new series. Both books have you turning the pages with murder, mystery and Intrigue. From page one which starts in a graveyard at midnight ! Miss Verify feels she is responsible for both her cousins and his friends deaths, and tends to the graves at night as she is afraid to leave her house. Even thru both men lacked scruples and had poor taste in the friends they ran with. After she was attacked and almost raped by one member of the evil group of man calling themselves “The Brethren” who are branded with the letter B on there chest with a symbol of a crown perched on top.
She meets Lawrence Trend, the illegitimate son of Viscount Ranfield and half-brother to her cousin’s friend. He has suspicious about his brothers death, and has laid in wait in the graveyard to see who was taking care of it. As he meets and finds out what Verify knows, and that she may be in danger he finds himself highly attracted to her. Even more so when he learns she carries both a gun and a blade and speaks her mind not caring who hears.
As they work together to find the killers, finding corruption and blackmail alone the way. Both are surprised to find they have a lot in common with their past. The attraction is heavy between them.
You need to get your copy and start reading to see how everything this story has ends up. The ending will surprise you!
I received and ARC from the author and am giving my own opinion.
I can’t wait for Lord Trent’s friend Cavanagh’s book, which is the third in this series….
This story has love and mystery. Lawrence and Verity were two people who never felt love or need from their family, but they find it in each other. Lawrence immediately came to Verity aid and they could not resist each other. I like Lawrence’s friends and can not wait to read Cavanagh’s story.
Lawrence Trent is determined to find out who’s been secretly tending his half brother’s grave in the dead of night, even if it means prowling around a darkened graveyard. As the illegitimate son of Viscount Ranfield, he’s dealt with stigma and rejection all his life and has always sought to behave with the utmost integrity. So even if he wasn’t terribly close to his half brother, the legitimate heir, he suspects foul play and won’t rest until he gets some answers. He’s shocked when his late night churchyard vigil reveals a beautiful young woman tending the grave and he’s even more shocked when she demands he remove his shirt so she can determine if he bears the crowned “B” brand marking members of the Brethren, a shady and now notorious gentleman’s club whose members keep turning up dead under mysterious circumstances.
Verity Vale has been paying her respects because she feels herself at least partially to blame for the deaths of her cousin and his friend. She’s also been attacked by a member of the Brethren and is determined to find justice rather than remain helpless.
As Verity and Lawrence work together to find out who killed their family members, they learn more than they bargained for about the evil hiding amongst them. Despite the peril they soon find themselves in, their connection strengthens beyond friendship rapidly, but with the Brethren now after Lawrence, their future is far from assured.
I loved this book. The mystery was enough to keep me intrigued and reading, but beyond that, the romance between Lawrence and Verity was lovely and sweet. Lawrence was so strong and yet so vulnerable and scarred by rejection and lack of love. I’m a sucker for these heroes who learn how to love and be loved and he was a fabulous example and I loved how protective he was over Verity. For her part, Verity was a great heroine. She knew what she wanted and wasn’t afraid to voice her opinions or stand up for herself. I loved that there were no games between these two, just honesty and openness, rather than having misunderstandings and lack of communication drive the plot as so many of the books I’ve read recently have done. This book was fabulous and I can’t wait for the next one now.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This is a definite 5* story. It is well thought out, plotted and written.
In it, Verity, a lady who always tries to find the good in a situation, meets up with Lawrence in of all places, a graveyard and makes him strip off his shirt.
This is just the beginning to an extremely entertaining tale about two interesting characters whom I couldn’t help but love, with adventure, romance with a bit of sensualness and heat, good friends, bad guys and one really crazy one. These all mix together really well and the resulting story kept me going until I finished it.
It is the second story in the series and it is as good as the first one which I think was truly excellent. It is also a stand-alone.
I am very happy to recommend this book and hope you read and enjoy it as much as I have.
I read an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) and this is my voluntary and unbiased review of it.