Society of Sirens

The scandalous women of the “Society of Sirens” are back with an explosive secret...their ranks include a duchess in disguise. Once upon a time she married in secret... An activist painter of radicals and harlots, Cornelia Ludgate dismisses love and marriage as threats to freedom. But when an inheritance gives her the chance to fund the cause of women's rights, on the condition she must wed, she is forced to reveal a secret: she's already married. To a man she hasn't seen for twenty years. Oh...and her husband is a duke. A horse breeder with a clandestine taste for revolution, Rafe Goodwood never expected to become a duke. But now that the title is his, he is plotting to shock the ruling class with ambitions of reform, and reveals the infamous Cornelia is his duchess. That just presents one problem: he must not fall in love with her, again. Now they must resist the temptation to rekindle an affair... Although determined not to sacrifice her principles for passion, Cornelia is still drawn to the man whose very being threatens her independence. Hurt too many times, Rafe can't risk love again, especially with the woman who once shattered his heart. But a conspiracy to upend the inequalities of the aristocracy bring Cornelia and Rafe closer, forcing them to finally decide what, and who, they hold dear.

The scandalous women of the USA Today bestselling author Scarlett Peckham's Society of Sirens are back with the final stage in their fight for female rights-and this time the battle is to be waged in bed… She's the most infamous harlot in London…and she's up for auction. Thaïs Magadalene is a legend. The nation's most notorious courtesan, she sells herself once a week, for one night only, and never to the same patron twice. Until now. To raise money for the cause of women's rights, she has auctioned herself off for one month as mistress to the highest bidder. But the winner is not who he seems. Lord Alastair Eden is an earl, a radical politician, and a perfectionist in all things-except one. His confidence belies an unexpected secret: he doesn't know how to please a woman in bed. He's determined to change that before he marries. And who could be better than the most skilled lover in the country to teach him? And love is never for sale. Thaïs dreams of finding a man who will love her unconditionally, never mind her past and reputation. Eden dreams of finding a perfectly bred young lady to be his wife and helpmeet. But when a steamy month in the countryside breeds a connection both in and out of the bedchamber, the two of them must decide how much can be sacrificed for love-one's dreams, or one's reputation. "Irresistible, wildly sex-positive... an assured, talented writer, who somehow manages to write with a style that feels both plucked from the periodicals of the 18th century and hilariously, outrageously modern... With her ability to tread the line between the most diverting of historical circumstances and a progressive level of sex positivity that makes me want to sing her praises from the rooftops, Peckham proves herself one of the most exciting romance authors on the rise." - Entertainment Weekly on The Portrait of a Duchess "The second book in Peckham's Society of Sirens series pushes more boundaries than The Rakess (2020) did. A romance that respectfully imagines what a poly happily-ever-after could have looked like in 1797 and that also celebrates complicated human emotions. Cornelia, who is biracial, is another of Peckham's trademark rule-breaking heroines, and readers will enjoy watching her explore ways to be herself within the framework of the genre." - Kirkus Reviews on The Portrait of a Duchess "Peckham (The Rakess) sensitively introduces a heroine battling prejudice and censure, while also delivering a romance full of political machinations, surprises, and steamy sex scenes. A captivating sequel guaranteed to thrill." - Library Journal (starred review) on The Portrait of a Duchess "Scarlett Peckham's excoriating first entry in her new Society of Sirens series exposes historical romance's capacity for radical reinvention... The Rakess pulses with female rage, making it one of the most electric, vibrantly alive titles on this list. It interrogates double standards, champions female pleasure, and propels itself forward with righteous fury. Peckham leans into its sense of the Gothic with relish, making its sparks of joy all the brighter and more enticingly dangerous." - Entertainment Weekly (10 Best Romances of 2020) "Inverting historical tropes and archetypes, the story offers comedy and catharsis, and ends with a happily-ever-after so perfect it will make you return immediately to page one." - Washington Post (Best Romances of 2020) on The Rakess "Peckham is back with a vengeance, delivering another stunningly sensual love story that boldly pushes at the boundaries of historical romance with its refreshingly older protagonists, thoughtful exploration of societal and gender equity, and embrace of the importance of diversity in all aspects of life." - Booklist "Peckham's extraordinary reversal of traditional romance tropes is a surprising delight, as she launches her Society of Sirens series with a tale that co