Heiress Katherine Fleming chose her future husband with the utmost care. After watching her parents' disastrous marriage, in which her mother turns a blind eye to her philandering husband, Katherine promises it will not happen to her. Katherine believes she's found the perfect husband. Fiancé Cole Mallory is a calm, placid man who will be her friend and not an all-consuming love. At Katherine's engagement party, Cole surprises her with the announcement that his dead wife is alive. Stunned by the revelation, Katherine finds herself embroiled in a scandal that could ruin her.

Black-sheep Dominic Mallory arrives at his older brother's engagement party wishing he were anywhere but at the ancestral home. Dominic's childhood was a nightmare. Locked in a loveless marriage, Dominic's mother fell in love, and the result of the secret affair was Dominic. His father claimed him as a Mallory, but hated his existence, and his mother couldn't bear to look upon him, as he was her fall from grace. Following his father's lead, Cole despises Dominic and makes his life as difficult as possible. The real reason Dominic is home is to buy Lansing Square from his brother.

Knowing how much Dominic wants Lansing Square, Cole uses it to blackmail him into marrying Katherine. It's the perfect solution for Cole. He'll obtain Katherine's money from Dominic and once again beat Dominic. What Cole doesn't bargain for is the passion and the beginnings of a real marriage between Dominic and Katherine. Jealousy eats away at Cole, and he tries to sabotage their marriage.

Debut author Jenna Petersen pens a vibrant romantic tale filled with passion, betrayal and revenge. SCANDALOUS teams with strong secondary characters, which gives the story added vibrancy and depth. This tale belongs on readers' keeper shelf.