The Imperfect Marriage

The Davenports #2

by L. Steele

Quentin Davenport is my ex-boyfriend’s father ...
And my new marriage of convenience husband

When my boyfriend leaves me at the altar
Quentin offers to marry me!
No way can I accept it,
Especially since Quentin is much older than me
And tall, dark and tattooed and an ex-marine
Whose grumpy disposition leaves much to be desired.
But this way I can salvage my dignity...

Also, I can get back at my ex.
Besides, it’s a fake marriage.
And Quentin’s still in love with his dead wife, so there’s no fear of developing feelings... or so I think.

When he offers to put my younger sister through college.
...and pay for my father’s medical treatment.
I can’t refuse him.

Only he has conditions:
I must live with him, as his wife.
I must pretend to be his.
I must convince his family that I love him.

Living under the same roof as man and wife, I see a different side of my husband.
The pretend marriage begins to feel very real
And I’m sure Quentin too reciprocates my feelings.
So what if he’s in love with his dead wife.

I begin to dream of a future with him.
I am going to get my Happily Ever After...
But what happens when it turns out his wife is alive...?

This is an age gap, marriage of convenience, ex-boyfriend's father, forced proximity, billionaire romance, with an HEA. There is no cheating, no OW/OM drama, and no third act breakup.

Tropes:
Age Gap
Ex-boyfriend's father
Marriage of Convenience
"my wife"
OTT possessive
Strong female lead
Fake relationship
Angsty Billionaire Romance
Forced proximity
One bed

Genres: Romance, Contemporary Romance, Marriage Of Convenience, BDSM, Audiobook, Billionaire Romance, Contemporary

420 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2024

About the author

L. Steele loves to write romance novels featuring powerful men and strong women who bring them to their knees. When she's not writing she enjoys trading trivia with her filmmaker husband, watching lots and lots of movies, and walking nature trails.

Reviews

[Tonita Spillers · Rating 2 out of 5]

I finished this through sheer force of will

“Q” is a tool of the highest magnitude. I mean it this guy sucks @ss. Not one redeeming quality. He’s all over the place too. He wants her, demands she marry him, coerces her into it, promises the world, but also is honest that he needs to do it for his inheritance? Like what? But then he marries her, and less than a month he’s ready to call it quits because he’s a spineless coward? Make it make sense. I’m not well versed on the finer points of BDSM but something tells me this is a really sh*tty take on the dynamics of a Dom/sub relationship. I love a good morally grey MMC but this guy was just the wooooorst. I wanted to a DNF this book but didn’t. I’m pretty sure I hate-read this to the finish.

[Jesmin Nawaz · Rating 1 out of 5]

As explosive as the chemistry was for Quentin and Vivian, the story was going in circles and did not flow well at all. Quentin wants to marry Vivian because of this instant connection he feels and he needs a wife to confirm his CEO role. He doesn't care that she's his son's ex, or about their age gap, or what people will say. Then, after so much back and forth, when they're finally married, it only takes him two days to second guess everything and push her away. Where were all those intrusive thoughts before Q! Also, why did he have her call him Q? He's not a high school basket ball player (hello OTH). The part where she about to orgasm and just keeps yelling Q Q Q Q - that was weird to read. Then there was the whole mess with her ex, his son, Felix. He asks his son to move in with him and Vivian knowing they were exes. I had figured out the truth behind Felix early on so the big revelation wasn't a surprise. What was a surprise is how suddenly, Felix goes from hating Q to calling him Dad. Excuse me, what?! The book dragged on unnecessarily in my opinion.

Dare I say I'm looking forward to June and Knox's story, but I'm scared that they will be more or less like the other stories in this series. I hope he grovels big time based on how he's treating her in just this book.

[Beeg Panda]

This is an age gap, marriage of convenience, ex-boyfriend's father, forced proximity, billionaire romance, with an HEA. There is no cheating, no OW/OM drama, and no third act breakup.
Age Gap
Ex-boyfriend's father
Marriage of Convenience
"my wife"
OTT possessive
Strong female lead
Fake relationship
Angsty Billionaire Romance
Forced proximity
One bed

[Van · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book! I’m shocked but actually I loved it! This author is all over book tok and I wanted to try, I love an age gap book and this one is really good!
There are a loooot of sex scenes, maybe too much? Probably no but almost💕
The book is safe and he is really a good, hot and a dirty talker hero but I care more about heroines feelings than hero’s in every book and Vivian is an amazing character! She is strong, smart and a good person she speaks her mind, she always confronts him and never doubts about their feelings. That’s why I drop one star, hero is all in 65% of the book, after they have sex, pufff he’s hesitating

Big spoiler!!!!
.
.
.




She is a virgin and of course she never had sex with his son, I knew that from the beginning otherwise I’d never read the book, sharing among the family is my no trope!
I’ll read the next book about June, she sounds like fun!!!

[BookishRaquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Rating: 4/5 ⭐
Heat Rating: 3/5 🌶️
Audiobook: 5/5 🎧

What to Expect:
- Billionaire Romance
- Ex-Fiance's Dad
- Marriage of Convenience
- Dom/Sub Relationship
- Family Drama
- Age Gap
- Ex-Marine MMC
- Strong FMC
- "My Wife"
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
- Duet Narration

The Imperfect Marriage is the second book in the Davenports series. This was an emotional roller coaster, and I could not put it down. This story follows Quentin and Vivian, who end up in a marriage of convenience after Vivian is left at the altar by her fiance, Felix, who happens to be Quentin's son. Quentin was attracted to Vivian and felt a connection from the moment he saw her. He is a Davenport, so naturally, Quentin has ulterior, business-related reasons for wanting to be with Vivian. He chose Vivian for a reason, though, and he never hesitated to express his feelings about her. Vivian struggled with how things began and felt guilty about how everything would impact Felix. She tried to fight her feelings and had many reasons why they should not be together. Quentin was absolutely convinced he and Vivian were meant to be together and did what was necessary to make her his, even if that meant using his ability to help her family financially.

Quentin and Vivian had an unconventional start, and their relationship had some ups and downs, but ultimately, they are great together. The banter between them was so fun, and their chemistry was amazing. There is a significant age gap and a BSDM element, which sometimes includes a weaker female character, but in this case, Vivian is a force to be reckoned with. I love that she didn't immediately accept Quentin's proposal and took the time to really decide if the relationship was right for her. I loved that Quentin didn't push Vivian and allowed things to move at her pace. He was not always likable, and I questioned many of his decisions, but once he put aside his insecurities, he redeemed himself.

L. Steele's books are always so well-written. The plots are compelling and addictive and always surprise me with a few twists. The Imperfect Marriage is filled with drama, an over-the-top alpha male, lots of heat, some angst, and a bit of action. There is also some heartbreak, so be prepared to grab a few tissues. Overall, this was a fun read, and I am excited to continue reading more in this series. If you are a fan of billionaire romance, age gap, BDSM that's not dark romance, and marriage of convenience, this book is a good choice.

Narration:
Let's be honest, if Shane East is narrating, I will listen. He was the perfect voice for Quentin. Shane expertly portrayed the possessive, billionaire alpha male. Even when I didn't like Quentin, Shane's voice softened the blow and made me dislike Quentin less. Stella is a gem, and her performance as Vivian was perfect. I love duet narration, and Shane and Stella complemented each other well. Their performances had an amazing flow. Shane and Stella did an excellent job bringing the story to life, pulling me into the characters' world, and evoking all the feels.

Thanks to L. Steele, East House Productions, and Must Love Audio for the gifted advanced listener copy. Opinions expressed are my own.

[Hayley Gallant · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5 (rounded up)

Another great book in this series!

I loved this book so much. I actually was a huge fan of both of the main characters.

I think the only thing I struggled a bit with was what happens at the beginning, just seemed a tad unrealistic BUT everything else that happens after is just too good.

The spice is spicing & I love all of the crazy family dynamics.

You get:
• Spicy Romance
• BDSM
• Ex Marine MMC
• Artist FMC
• Ex Fiance's Dad
• Virgin FMC
• Age Gap

I recommend this one! Available on KU, ebook, paperback, and audiobook.

[Elizabeth Connor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Vivian, stood up at the altar by her best friend and fiancé, and Quentin, her fiancé's father who proposes to her immediately afterward. It’s a wild concept, but it’s a story of soulmates and love at first sight, so it’s perfect as a romance. I liked Quentin better than some of the other MMCs in the series because, right from the beginning, he didn’t try to pretend he wasn’t interested in Vivian. He was honest about the attraction he felt for her, and although he was being pushed to marry to consolidate his position with Davenport Group, he chose her for a reason. He wasn’t overly pushy or demanding, unless he was in his Dom role, and that came later—something else I appreciated. Although there was sexual tension between them from the start, they took a while to get there.

The biggest obstacles to Vivian and Quentin’s relationship are the ones they create. Initially, Vivian fights her instant desire for Quentin by making excuses—he’s Felix's father, he’s a lot older than her, they barely know one another—but the truth is, she feels an immediate connection and wants to say yes. Meanwhile, Quentin has no doubt Vivian is the woman he’s been searching for all of his life, and he pushes her to accept his proposal. Because he’s a billionaire, he uses his wealth to influence her decision. Because she is struggling financially to support herself, her sister, and her ailing father, the money is a big deal. Still, she doesn’t feel it would be right to say ‘yes’ for only that reason. Ultimately, she suspects he may be right about them being made for one another and agrees to marry him.

And then, Quentin gets cold feet after the marriage. Suddenly beset by doubts—she married him for his money, he’s too old for her, he’s not good enough for her, he’s going to hurt her just like he’s hurt everyone else in his life—he tries to distance himself from her. He keeps telling himself he’s doing this for Vivian’s benefit, but he’s eventually forced to admit, he’s trying to protect himself. The truth of the matter is, Quentin thinks Vivian is so amazing, he believes she’s too good for him and will leave him when she realizes that. Dumb-dumb doesn’t understand that putting distance between them is only causing hurt that might never occur were he to acknowledge his feelings and allow Vivian into his heart. It takes an unexpected source to knock some sense into him and change his course before it’s too late.

Unfortunately, Quentin has already done some significant damage to his relationship with Vivian and that’s going to require some groveling. The damage is not as extensive as some of the MMC’s in other books in this series, so the groveling doesn’t last as long. In fact, Vivian suspected he was being a coward when he told her he didn’t want her anymore, so although she was hurt, she was ready to forgive him fairly quickly.

Part of the plot is an exploration of Quentin’s relationship with his son Felix. Quentin was away with the Marines for most of Felix’s growing-up years, and because Felix’s mother left them when he was very young, Quentin had his aunt take on guardian duties for Felix. Felix is filled with resentment because his father was never around. Quentin is filled with guilt. This guilt is compounded when Quentin proposes to Vivian because, although Felix got cold feet and left her at the altar, he still loves her. Vivian, on the other hand, was relieved when he didn’t show up because she didn’t love him and realized she had taken on the role of older sister (aka mother) in their relationship. Ironic, since she ends up being his stepmother. At any rate, Quentin and Felix need to work through some heavy issues but end up being closer by the end.

Although Vivian changes and grows throughout the story—exploring aspects of her personality she never could have admitted to in the past (as a sub), allowing someone else to take care of her instead of always being the caregiver, and valuing herself and her art—it’s really Quentin who experiences the most growth. His hero’s journey is an internal one, naturally. Despite his macho, confident exterior, best exemplified by his role as a Dom, he’s soft and squishy on the inside. Once he admits that and owns up to his feelings, he finds the happiness that has eluded him all of his life. He comes to understand that his past does not determine his future. He can make different choices and create a life he’s proud of, one filled with love.

As the primary editor of this book, I don’t feel my review is too biased. Yes, of course, I think it’s a great book, but that’s because I offered my input to ensure it was as good as it could be.

[Elyvia (eliv_bookstagram) · Rating 4 out of 5]

🎧𝗔𝗟𝗖 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪 - 𝗜𝗠𝗣𝗘𝗥𝗙𝗘𝗖𝗧 𝗠𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗜𝗔𝗚𝗘
𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝙳𝚊𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚜 #𝟸
ʀᴀᴛɪɴɢ: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ꜱᴘɪᴄᴇ: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🎧 𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘃𝗶𝗮 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹
⏳ 𝟭𝟯𝗛 𝟮𝟵𝗠
🎙️ 𝗗𝘂𝗲𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗘𝗮𝘀𝘁 & 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿

💗𝙱𝚒𝚕𝚕𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚊𝚒𝚛𝚎 𝚁𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎
💍𝙼𝚊𝚛𝚛𝚒𝚊𝚐𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝙲𝚘𝚗𝚟𝚎𝚗𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚌𝚎
💗𝙰𝚐𝚎 𝙶𝚊𝚙 (𝟺𝟿𝚢𝚘 𝙷 & 𝟸𝟹𝚢𝚘 𝚑)
💍𝙴𝚡’𝚜 𝙱𝚘𝚢𝚏𝚛𝚒𝚎𝚗𝚍’𝚜 𝙳𝚊𝚍
💗𝙹𝚒𝚕𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙱𝚛𝚒𝚍𝚎

❝ ᴠɪᴠɪᴀɴ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴘᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀ ꜰᴀᴍɪʟʏ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ. ᴀꜰᴛᴇʀ ʟᴏꜱɪɴɢ ʜᴇʀ ᴍᴏᴍ ᴀɴᴅ ɴᴏᴡ ᴅᴇᴀʟɪɴɢ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ᴅᴀᴅ'ꜱ ɪʟʟɴᴇꜱꜱ, ꜱʜᴇ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ɪᴛ ᴜᴘᴏɴ ʜᴇʀꜱᴇʟꜰ ᴛᴏ ꜱᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ᴛʜᴇᴍ. ᴡʜᴇɴ ꜱʜᴇ ᴅᴇᴄɪᴅᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴍᴀʀʀʏ ʜᴇʀ ʙᴇꜱᴛ ꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴡɪᴛʜ ʜᴇʀ ꜰɪɴᴀɴᴄɪᴀʟ ɪꜱꜱᴜᴇꜱ, ꜱʜᴇ ɴᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴇxᴘᴇᴄᴛᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʟᴇꜰᴛ ᴀᴛ ᴛʜᴇ ᴀʟᴛᴀʀ. ᴀɴᴅ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴏᴘ ɪᴛ ᴏꜰꜰ, ʜᴇʀ ʙᴏʏꜰʀɪᴇɴᴅ'ꜱ ᴅᴀᴅ ᴏꜰꜰᴇʀᴇᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴀɴᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴍᴀʀʀɪᴀɢᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴄᴏɴᴠᴇɴɪᴇɴᴄᴇ...❝

💭I’ve come to realize that I’m totally into the over-the-top drama in my romance book😅This book has everything from insta love/lust, crazy family drama, super OTT alpha male MMC, and, of course, self-sacrificing FMC, just like watching a soap opera. Quentin is not the easiest guy to like, I really struggle with a lot of his choices. For instance, he pretty much ignores his son’s feelings while chasing after Viv, even after neglecting him for years. That felt pretty selfish to me. And don’t even get me started on how he practically forces Viv to marry him, only to do a complete 180 when he starts to have real feelings for her.

That said, I think he kind of redeemed himself in the third act, and the ending? Oh my gosh, it was 🤌🏻💋! I have a weakness for those moments when the male lead sacrifices everything for the female lead, and Quentin definitely delivered on that front, so I’m willing to overlook his silly behavior. 😂

✨This was my first book by L. Steele and it was such an emotional roller coaster! Full of drama but still packed with some serious spice. I’m definitely excited to read more of her work!

✅No third-act breakup
✅No OM/OW drama
❓Not sure what is the point of including BDSM in this story🤷‍♀️
‼️Vivian was marrying Felix (before he left him at the altar) for convenience too, so there was no love, at least not from Vivian’s side.

🎧𝗔𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗼𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄🎧
Got to be honest, Shane East is the reason I was so quick to forgive Quentin. I just can't bring myself to hate the guy when I love his voice so much. He absolutely nailed the alpha, possessive vibe of his character, making him irresistibly charming. Stella was fantastic as Viv too, perfectly complementing Shane’s performance. Their duet narration was seamless and brought the story to life in such a captivating way. Overall, this audiobook was amazing and I highly recommend it!

⚠️𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠/𝐊𝐢𝐧𝐤⚠️
- Light BDSM (dom/sub)
- Cockwarming
- She calls him sir (in bed)
- Grief and guilt

✨ 𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚘 MUST LOVE AUDIO & EAST HOUSE PRODUCTION 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚐𝚒𝚏𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝙰𝙻𝙲, 𝙸'𝚖 𝚕𝚎𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚛𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 𝚟𝚘𝚕𝚞𝚗𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚒𝚕𝚢 ✨

[QuinnReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

**DUET NARRATION!**

An Order... umm... Offer... Not to Refuse?

Quentin "Q" Davenport and Vivian (Vivi, Raven) have a very unorthodox introduction. I have to admit, I kinda dig his gumption even with the potential eww factor.

She curls her fingers into fists. “How dare the two of you decide my fate when I wasn’t in the room? What do you think this is? Regency England? I didn't realize you were that old.”
-- Vivian

These two are fire and ice in all the best ways. Well, mostly. OK, fine, Quentin is ridiculous on more than one occasion, but the passion between them is fun and hot! Quentin is completely overbearing here and there, but I do love when Vivian puts him in his place or simply defies him.

I admit, from the moment I saw her, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. Not even the fact she was going to marry my son stopped me from wanting her.
-- Quentin Davenport

This is most definitely over-the-top, exasperating, wildly steamy, funny, and a bit much sometimes, but I'm here for every crazy moment of it all. They were a couple worthy of my time.

I'm going through this series out of order. It's honestly been good. There are some scenes in the next book that overlap, but the POV and impact shifts. I look forward to getting to the rest of the Davenport books.

I received an author's copy of the audio book. The narrators are Shane East and Stella Hunter, both of whom I've listened to numerous times over the years. I always enjoy them, but in duet narration? *muah* 🩵 LOVE! 🩵 In fact, I loved it enough to listen to it twice. 😘

Story: 4.5 stars
Narration: 4.5 stars
Listening Speed: 1.8x

H = 49; h = 23

[Nicole 》 thesmuttykindle · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
🎧🎧🎧🎧🎧
🌶🌶🌶.5

Audio & Ebook out now!
Duet narration by Shane East & Stella Hunter

NGL I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this one. I've never read any L Steele.... but I saw ex-fiance's Dad and Shane East was narrating and signed up SO FAST lol

Now I know you all know this already but Shane East SLAYSSSSSSSSS. This man could reas me a law textbook and I'd be swooning. On top of it and Stella was obvi amazing as well AND it was Duet. The narration was fantastic!

This was a really good time. I definitely enjoyed it!! There was kind of alot going on as far as tropes/microtropes and there's definitely alot of characters as this is part of a larger universe but I would recommend reading if you like age-gaps & marriage of convenience (that are not dark romance).

I really enjoyed Vivian's character. She had a strong back bone and went toe to toe with Quinton when he was being an idiot. He definitely had alot of internal struggles (for several reasons) but they all made sense IMO.

All in all I'm really happy I picked this one up and honestly who would want to listen to Shane East be a possessive, controlling, nurturing dom for 11 hrs 🙃

Read if you like:
- Ex-fiance's dad
- Billionaire Romance
- Marriage of Convenience
- Dom/Sub relationship
- Ex-Marine + Artist
- Mild family angst
- Duet Narration

[Lacey Stafford · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to like this but I just didn't. Q is such an ass. He spent part of the book talking Raven into marrying him, to give him a chance and hurt his son in the process but then as soon as they married he started to push her away and being cruel. He's a dick and a coward. Then you don't even get a epilogue and see if they got a HEA. It just ended by starting the next book. I almost DNF'd so many times but kept going you know " just in case" Should have followed my instincts. This is 2 days of my life I won't get back.
I also just want to add- what kind of virgin can take a rough finger fcking with 4 fingers? The fingers of a man that's 6'5"? Even in my whore phase I couldn't take 4 freaking fingers. That's just impossible to believe. A virgin that's as lose as a bucket. Yeah... Ok.

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is so ridiculous. I thought Meghan Quinn was bad, L Steele said “hold my beer”. The writing in this is like something a middle schooler would write. The dialogue between characters is repetitive and juvenile. The smut is almost like she said “what’s the most out of pocket, vile things I can write to shock my readers” and I never even made it to the full on sex scenes! She uses terms like “slurping at her p***y lips” “forbidden hole” “ring of muscle” and “c**t” to name just a few. I cannot tell you how much I hate this book.

[Taylor Clifton · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say I like the idea of this book I just don’t thinks it’s been executed right. Reading through the book is a fight between trying to enjoy it and at the same time knowing and slightly cringing that it seems like a rough draft. This book seems like the author had the story in her head, typed it out, and then didn’t refine it and sent it out. No hate to the author at all I just couldn’t get into it the right way.

[lowkeyreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished reading The Imperfect Marriage, and I must say that it was a captivating romance that kept me hooked from start to finish. The story follows Quentin and Vivian, who enter into a marriage of convenience that is mutually beneficial for both parties. Quentin needs to marry to secure his position as CEO of a Davenport business, while Vivian requires financial support to keep her business afloat.

The characters are well-developed, and their chemistry is undeniable. Quentin's overprotective nature and his genuine love for Vivian make for a compelling narrative. The author does an excellent job of evoking emotions, and the supporting characters add depth to the story. The themes of family dynamics, secrets, and personal growth are woven seamlessly throughout the plot.

The book is filled with humor, surprising twists, and steamy scenes. The author's vivid descriptions and metaphors, such as "My heart is a shark that bites its way out of my chest," are particularly noteworthy. The story is engaging and easy to follow, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

While the book has its flaws, including some cringe-worthy moments and a somewhat forced portrayal of the male lead, the overall narrative is well-crafted and engaging. The themes of love, support, and personal growth make this a compelling read for fans of contemporary romance.

Overall, The Imperfect Marriage is a captivating and addictive story that explores the complexities of a marriage of convenience.

[DesN2004 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was another amazing book by L. Steele!! I loved Quentin, the silver foxes and maturity trump a lot of other men. Vivian doesn't know who she is and it's been so long since she thought of herself. They both need each other and complement the other perfectly. There is some really sad news in this book, and I am still not sure how I feel about it. The blurb for the next book already has me hooked. This story, you get your very hot and spicy moments, your angst and misunderstanding, the making up, and all the other family drama you come to expect. You can read these alone. However, I think you get so much more reading them in order. I love this series and this addition doesn't disappoint!!!

I received an ARC of this book, all opinions and thoughts are my own.

[Di · Rating 5 out of 5]

L. Steele has become one of my favorite authors after ARC reading several books for her.

The Imperfect Marriage follows Quentin and Vivian’s marriage of convenience story. But it’s not just any marriage of convenience. Vivian married her ex-boyfriend’s father.

We have age-gap, we have possessive, we have forced proximity, one bed, a strong female lead, and he’s a billionaire.

L. Steele’s books never fail to disappoint. I fall in love with each new couple and these two were no different. When the spice hits, it EXPLODES. I recommend this book and any other by this author.

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[Rania · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was TERRIBLE. I was literally so confused. I LOVE marriage of convenience books which was my only thought for downloading this book & when I tell you I only finished it because I skimmed and didnt want to DNF it. The main characters were so confusing, Vivian didnt know what she wanted but then whenever Quentin commanded her she dropped!! No man is that is hot, even as a silver fox in his case. Then there was the random break up, art show?? and his ex coming back at the end & the son not being his son!? Too much to keep up with, I highly dont recommend.

[Hotice29 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Least Favorite of L.Steele

I was expecting so much from this one and felt let down and disappointed. I was already not feeling it from the first few chapters and took a break reading it. Decided to take it back up after finishing another book and read till chapter 43 and gave up after that chapter. I’m sure there’s a reason behind that chapter but honestly it just did not fit. I give this one star. I hope the next one in the series is better.

[The Reader of Books · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is the fastest I've never decided I was going to DNF a book.

I barely made it past the first chapter, which I don't normally do, but I just did not like what I read so far.

Normally, I don't mind Age Gap tropes, but I just couldn't get past one paragraph in particular before deciding to nope out of this.

And I'm glad because reading the other low star reviews (and the higher star reviewed ones) this story just seems to devolve quickly.

[Jetscarbie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not my favorite book and I had a hard time finishing it. The story was so unbelievable, then the acts the characters would do was just confusing. Even the sex acts were tedious and repetitive. Clit throbbing and nipples pebbling were mentioned a bunch.
The characters were not very likable. Q just had to have her- damn everything else. Then when he finally gets her, he decides he needs to make her go away. Ugh

[VeeHReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

On my read of the first book in this series - I gave 5 stars, so I continued onto the second book because Quentin was my favorite MMC. I gave it 3 stars, and that’s me being kind. The FMC was rather annoying and the book was very repetitive. In my honest opinion, the book would have been better if it ended at 200 pages instead.

[Charliegirl1 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Cheesy and overdone

This is the first book I've read by this author and I'm sure will be the last. I found the whole thing cheesy and overdone, the characters immature and what passes as BDSM is cringey.

[Nicole Collier · Rating 1 out of 5]

Is it possible these 4 and 5 star reviews are bought? Because baby what are you reading?
The writing in this book is awful. The story does not flow. The characters are not well written. I am not sure his idea of BDSM is really how it is in that world.

[Michellelovesreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book so much it took me two days to finish. I definitely recommend this book and series for anyone.

[Shenae Reads ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Absolutely not 🤦🏾‍♀️ I wasted like 6 hours reading this.
I want to be compensated I want my time back. I swear to god if I read the letter Q one more time imma off myself bro 🤦🏾‍♀️

[Stephanie Hubenak]

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘 𝙱𝚘𝚘𝚔
The Imperfect Marriage
L. Steele

What. A. Ride. I'm going to be honest and say that I went into this book completely blind and had zero idea what I was in for. This was first L. Steele book. I absolutely adored the narrators and therefore I immediately needed it, right?

This was one of those books that honestly left me speechless. And then it became HIGHLY entertaining for me. At every turn, something absolutely INSANE was happening and I kept thinking: "surely not." but...spoiler alert....SURELY it did happen. I absolutely binged this audio and couldn't press stop to save my life. I feel like I blinked and this insanely long audio book was finished and I sort of stood there and was like "wow...that all really happened".

I know this isn't my typical review but I have to tell you, if you're looking for an absolute wild ride, this audio will leave you completely satisfied. I laughed and gasped and stared off into space with wide eyes so many times based on this books trajectory. I was just...highly entertained...and I think some of my friends were as well...because I basically went off and re-enacted several scenes...with my poor attempt at British accents. To my friends, you're welcome.

[Andrea Smierciak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story in the Davenport series. Meet Quentin & Vivian two very interesting people who should not be a match based on their circumstances. Vivian is over 20 years younger than Quentin, shy, always puts everyone ahead of her happiness but the clincher is that she is engaged to Felix, Quentin's son.

Quentin a brash, alpha male with a strong dominant personality. He is estranged from his son and trying to figure out his next steps in life after retiring from the Marines. He falls in lust with Vivian at her wedding to Felix and proposes when she is jilted.

This book will keep you in suspense, drive you to insanity with Quentin's thought processes regarding Vivian and love. The chemistry between these two is off the charts and then throw in a dom/sub relationship and you will be Hot, Hot, Hot.

This book throws such a loop that you will be stunned, shocked and devastated. Be ready to not want to put the book down once you start reading. Can't wait to read how the rest of the Davenports fall.

[the endless tbr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! This series keeps getting better and better! I devoured this book.

If you like age gap romance this is the perfect book for you!

What do you do when your son leaves his wife to be at the altar? You ask her to marry you! 💁🏻‍♀️

Quentin & Vivian's story is steamy and emotional. The perfect balance to keep you hooked.

Quentin is so swoony, and dirty-mouthed, with so many traumas from his past. He is arrogant, and possessive and falls head over heels for Vivian.

Vivian is so sweet, always taking care of everyone around her, she sacrifices everything for her family. She tries to fight her feelings for Q, but it's useless.

This book was so good! It was the perfect balance, the plot, the characters, the spice made this book just perfect.

✨Ex-boyfriend’s father

✨Marriage of Convenience

✨”My Wife”

✨OTT possessive

✨Fake relationship

✨Angsty Billionaire Romance

✨Forced proximity

✨One bed

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely found this book to be fantastic! Vivian and Q are HOT right from the start! Of course they each have their own shortcomings and insecurities that they need to work through - otherwise there wouldn’t be a story. There’s a bit of absolute heartbreak in there, but as we know, life goes on… I hope we’ll see a “fix” to that in future books. I still love that all the books are intertwined so you see people from the other series as well as The Davenport’s. Hot, spicy, emotional, pay attention to trigger warnings if you need them. Read it!

[Daisy.readsromance · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐟𝐮𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐞!

𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰🎧

💍𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞
🩵𝐄𝐱’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐝
💍𝐀𝐠𝐞 𝐆𝐚𝐩

✨Thoughts✨
𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧 and 𝐕𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐚𝐧 have a unique meeting after Vivian is left at the altar by Quentin's son. Quentin immediately decides that Vivian will be his wife. As their complicated relationship unfolds, Quentin struggles with his feelings and past mistakes while Vivian grapples with their undeniable connection. Despite their baggage, their chemistry ignites the story. The book includes spicy scenes with BDSM themes and explores their significant age gap.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 dual narration by Shane East and Stella Hunter brings the characters to life, adding depth and emotion to their story. Fans of age gap romance will definitely enjoy this audiobook.

𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝟒⭐️
𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐞: 𝟑/𝟓🔥