The Marriage Auction: Book Four

The Marriage Auction #4

by Audrey Carlan

From #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Audrey Carlan, discover The Marriage Book Four

You can now dive into the Kindle Vella phenomenon with over 2 MILLON READS. This saga has ranked #1 for over a full year and continues to break records each month as America's favorite serial. Each volume contains more than 10% new content that includes two never before seen scenes from some of our favorite couples.

What would you do for three million dollars?

Four young women enter into a clandestine auction to be married to the highest bidders. For no less than a million dollars a year, for three years, each woman will do what it takes to secure her future. Entangled in a high-stakes game of money, lust, power, and the hope for absolution, this group of women becomes a sisterhood unlike any other.

Once chosen by a man she’s never met and agrees to marry sight unseen…there is no going back. Hidden secrets, wicked desires, fiery couplings and intense family drama are all part of the deal when you willingly enter into The Marriage Auction.

You may now kiss the bride…

****

Reviews for The Marriage

Audrey Carlan brings a whole lot of heat to the forced proximity trope along with a surprising sweetness that digs right in and takes hold! The Marriage Auction series is a compilation of passionate romances at their very best! Sexy, intriguing, and sprinkled with swoon-worthy moments, these romances kept me turning the pages late into the night! ~ New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti

Audrey Carlan has taken a beautifully provocative premise and turned it into my unable-to-put-down series of the year! ~ New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst

Audrey is a phenomenal writer, and one of my favorite humans, and when I tell you that The Marriage Auction is some of the best writing I’ve read in a long time, well, it’s the truth! ~ New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby

Genres: Romance, Audiobook, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Fiction, Erotica, Billionaire Romance

360 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 24, 2023

About the author

Audrey Carlan is a No. 1 New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author. She writes stories that help the reader find themselves while falling in love. Some of her works include the worldwide phenomenon Calendar Girl serial, Trinity series and the International Guy series. Her books have been translated into over thirty languages across the globe.
She lives in the California Valley, where she enjoys her two children and the love of her life. When she’s not writing, you can find her teaching yoga, sipping wine with her “soul sisters,” or with her nose stuck in a sexy romance novel.
If you would to hang out and learn more about my books, find me here:
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@audreycarlan
The Marriage Auction - https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/s...
The Keeper of Gods - https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/s...
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AudreyCarlan
FB Reader Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/Audre...
Amazon
US: http://bit.ly/AudreyCarlanAMAZON
UK: http://amzn.to/2cAE6Pm
BookBub - http://bit.ly/AudreyCarlanBOOKBUB
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/audreycarlan/

Reviews

[Linda S. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the end of The Marriage Auction - but as I have said before in reviews for the other three volumes, I would have preferred that these four volumes be just one book. It felt like a major money grab to separate them into four novels. I enjoyed this book but don't anticipate reading Season Two.

[Stacey · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just silly. The premise of this series was interesting but the story line bordered on the ridiculous. Author tried way too hard to make this exciting. Had me rolling my eyes many many times.
Lots of graphic sex scenes as well. This could have been a good story if the author hadn’t tried to stretch it into 4 books.

[Romancing the Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series is so legit… I loved it!

Well, chalk me up as the most surprised person in the room. I picked this up with little expectation, and ended up absolutely loving every second of the ride.

📕 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗜𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: The Marriage Auction, Book 4 by Audrey Carlson

📙 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: The Marriage Auction, Season 1. Originally released on Kindle Vella and now available as a full series.

📗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗗𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀: Listened on Kindle. 🆓 on KU to read & listen.

📘 𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: Contemporary romance

📔 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀: Billionaire, marriage of convenience, romantic suspense.

📖 𝗦𝘆𝗻𝗼𝗽𝘀𝗶𝘀: Four women enter into The Marriage Auction for various reasons, where they enter into a marriage agreement with billionaire men for a period of three years.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄: Run, don’t walk and pick up this series before Season 2 comes out this July.

The Marriage Auction was a super unique experience… and I bet it was even cooler when it was released as a Kindle Vella series last year. But this kind of book concept takes a solid writer to have it executed well, and man did Audrey Carlan hit the mark.

And what made this so special was the listening experience. The series features 9 POVs - one for each character in the couples and one for The Marriage Auction organizer. It’s an ensemble cast with international players - all who spot on performed their roles. I was enamored with the audio, and basically slept with my earbuds in the last three weeks.

It’s four books, but they read (and listen) so fast. You won’t be able to put them down.

Audrey Carlan is releasing season 2 in its entirety this summer, so I highly recommend listening to this and getting psyched up. I know I’m counting down the days!

𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 5/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

𝗦𝗽𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹: 3.5/5 🌶🌶🌶

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a nice way to end the series (er... season?). It felt like an extended epilogue... eh, sorta. Not gonna lie: this last book felt rushed, but also very drawn out. Yeah, make that make sense. 🤣

I'm happy everyone got their HEA, but for me--a bonified angst-lover--it felt like there was so much unnecessary drama--NOT TO MENTION the multiple recaps in every chapter made it draw out more. Seriously, every. single. chapter.

Before I continue, yes, there are spoilers. I've marked this post as having spoilers, but just to make sure... SPOILERS ahead. 😁

If you know me and you read this, you already know my favorite couple is Noah and Opal. I'm all for the underdogs, plus their brother and sister made me roll my eyes, especially Ruby (for a woman who has a shameful past, she sure liked to describe it in detail 🙄).

Savannah and Erik were probably my next favorite just because it was so sweet and wholesome (even when they finally got naughty 😈). I liked that even though he was there to support her, he let her fight her own battles--plus, I appreciated his calm presence. Men, you don't always have to come out guns a'blazin'. I was shocked about Jared--where the hell did that come from?

Dakota and Sutton--I loved them at first, and I love me a good pregnancy trope... but this killed their story for me. EVERYTHING was about the baby. They kept cupping her abdomen, and he kept romanticizing--slightly fetishizing--her being pregnant and keeping her pregnant with his babies. When a pregnancy trope isn't done very well, there's only one thing that can make it worse: twins...and when she couldn't come up for air because literally everything was making her puke, I rolled my eyes. I knew it was coming. I'd also like to point out, Dakota, sweetheart, it's time to grow up a little. And the spice? It got fairly cringey.

I did not connect with Joel and Faith. Joel has similar controlling attributes that Aiden has. He's essentially a mob boss, throwing around his money, and he doesn't seem to care about the bloodshed it takes to get what he wants. Some people may love that, but it's not my cup of tea.

We do not victim blame or shame, but Faith's survivor's guilt was painful to read. She made some fairly poor choices that were irritating. Also, were people actually surprised with Faith's secret? Honest question.

Okay, okay... I just talked a lot of crap. But let's be honest here: was I entertained? You bet! And I am very grateful I stumbled across this!

If you want just a bunch of lovey-dovey romances with protective men, this is a great series. Each couple is VERY different, so you're essentially getting several love stories in one. Easy read on KU plus it comes with the audio!

Book 4:
⭐️- 3.25
🌶- 3.25

Series:
⭐️- 3.75-4.0
🌶- 3.25

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, finally barreled through this heavy drama what more can be done to these people?! Conclusion. Rounded up from 4.8, it’s been fun… Looking forward to getting to the second set of Auctions 👀 in a bit as I have a good stack sitting beside me that needs some TLC. Happy reading yall!

[Tabatha (tab.talks.books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️ 3🌶️

[Maria11 · Rating 3 out of 5]

alright

This was really dragged out. Each girl should have just gotten their own books. The going back and forth got old. You wanted more from the characters you liked best

[Kyrié · Rating 1 out of 5]

noo this one was not as good as the others.

Honestly, i think this book was just an attempt to stretch the series to be longer. I would’ve been content a while ago but all the elements in this story were gratuitous.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Final book in this series....very steamy.

[Nyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Season 1 ~The Finale

Sometimes, one must be willing to suspend disbelief to achieve a happy ending. This installment was one of those times.

As a mother of twins, I couldn't believe that the most surprising thing for me was seeing a four-month pregnant woman (carrying twins) taking a 9-10 hour international flight! I initially thought the time frame was very close to the health and safety limit, especially considering there wasn't even a doctor on the plane. However, doing the math, she was actually okay for another two or three months.

In terms of enjoyment, I found Dakota and Savanah's stories the most engaging, followed by Faith's. Ruby and Opal's stories felt lacking in the end, although the epilogue for Ruby's husband was sweet.

Overall, it was an enjoyable series, and I'm looking forward to starting Season 2.

[Tracey Vuolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audrey Carlan has written another masterpiece with The Marriage Auction. These four couples own my heart in different but amazing ways! Sutton & Erik might be my favorite of the men, but ask me next week and I’ll probably have changed my mind. Dakota, Savannah, Ruby & Opal make me wish I had sisters of my very own. Faith & Eden had my “mama bear” self out in full force! Madam Alana made me want her in my corner for life and I can’t wait for her story to be out in the world! I didn’t want this book to end, but it was breathtaking and bittersweet! Audrey’s spectacular storytelling will keep her on the map for years to come!

Tracey, Life Reads With Friends Book Blog

[Lesley Theobald · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ups & downs

For the most part, i was entertained through all 4 books. Certain characters I found to be boring & predictable. The number of times Faith ran off was frustrating. Overall a good soap opera type series.

[Leina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah this was cheesy af but I still gobbled it up. Would I recommend to a friend? Probably not but it was a easy read and I had fun

[Claire Letnic · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5-ish⭐️’s but rounded down specifically due to the Ruby & Opal plot. I personally lost interest in their stories during this book because I disliked how the duplicitous nature of how it happened in the first place, good intentions or not. I ended up skipping their parts in the book as time went on.

The rest of the book was great, and I enjoyed the evolution of how the rest of the characters evolved as it went on. It was a bit obvious with the dramatics, but still had me hooked wanting to know what happened next. Sadly the plot twist with Ruby and Opal had me “nope”-ing out of their chapters and I can honestly tell you I didn’t feel like I missed a thing.

This book specifically, with the multiple plots, got on my effing nerves… authors need to realize that trying to wade through 4 plot lines and the subsequent secondary characters ALL AT THE SAME TIME is difficult to follow, let alone those with an attention span of a 3 year old jacked up on sugar… so I will need to take note and figure out how to avoid these types of books, however enjoyable, in the future.

Thanks but no thanks.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series was amazing! Audrey does a great job with the episodic transition to the book. Most of the chapters end in mini cliffhangers, and leave you wanting more. The timeframe for this book is from 1-9 months post contract. All the couples are married, and there is a 5th couple that emerges(surprise). The storylines for each of the couples continue to be spicy, sexy, sassy, loving, full of patience and understanding. A rollercoaster of emotions, plot twist, angst and all the tropes you could ever imagine. Marriages, babies, crazy family members and ex lovers, oh my. Nothing like a good HEA. Loved it. Can’t wait to follow the new auction candidates in season two. Season 2 on kindle Vella now. Amazing job Audrey.

I voluntarily reviewed a complementary copy of this book

[Dorothy Bircher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The love between these characters just melt the pages right off!! I invested so many hours to these characters that I don't want to say goodbye. They will hold a special place in my heart forever.

[Shani Jensen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series was a quick read for me. I enjoyed the storyline and was pleasantly surprised by the behaviors of the characters, more so the male character. (Trying not to give spoilers). I enjoyed all of the characters. I wouldn’t call myself a prude, but the graphic sex scenes and crude language annoyed me. You can skip past them and not lose the story, which is why I kept reading the series. I wouldn’t recommend this series to anyone without a huge disclaimer on the sexual content.

[Courtney Huck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I definitely was losing interest in this series as I got to the third and fourth books. The first one and even the second were able to keep me interested (nothing ground breaking but a decent plot), but it just started dragging on in the last two.

[Ashley Rice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Basically 4 very attractive, rich billionaires fall in love with 4 women with insurmountable baggage in a matter of a few days and solve all of their problems. This series was more unrealistic than my fantasy books about winged fae men but I still loved it!

[Megan ~The Never Ending Book Basket · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m 100% sure that I could not have asked for a better ending to this entire series than what I got with each of these couples in this final book. This series has utterly consumed me. From start to finish I have been owned by these words, by these couples, and by every moment with them. This author has invested me wholeheartedly in everything they have shared. From the beginnings of a marriage auction, to blooming love, to soulmates finding one another and fighting like hell for that chance at a happily ever after. This series has delivered everything. And I mean everything. And I have loved every phenomenal word of it!

Audrey Carlan completely outdid herself with the series. She took a premise that is so incredible, that is so consuming and unique, and she just infused so much of vibrancy and spark into every word of what she created. Her words allowed me to connect so truly and deeply to each of her couples and to everything that she created with them. There was such a spark, and a sense of magic to all of these couples. There was also such a sense of rightness that blew me away. These characters are soulmates. You know that From the start with some of them, but you also get to watch it all unfold with others and see how these couples find their way. Getting all of that with them is beautiful, mesmerizing, and emotional, real, and every good thing.

I truly can’t say enough how much I loved this series. I just felt so invested and connected to these couples. I loved that this author allowed me to get into all of their heads because it just made this series so memorable and enjoyable. Every minute I wasn’t reading these books, I was thinking about these couples. I was thinking about what would come next for them. I was thinking about that cliffy ending at the end of each episode. I was thinking about how my heart was so invested with all of them. I was thinking about how I needed everything with them. I was thinking about how much I loved their love and what they shared and created together. I just loved everything that this author created with these characters and their love stories and I was truly just blown away by it all.

Each of these women have a different reason for entering the marriage auction. And boy do they have one crazy and amazing ride in the series. But what I think I loved about this series with all of them was that there was such a vulnerability and honesty to these characters. They had all been through a lot. These women, especially Had been through quite a few trials and tribulations. But they were also strong and fierce and deserving of love and goodness and being taken care of. I absolutely loved getting to see them find men who not only were willing to do everything for them, but who loved them. Fiercely. Unequivocally. With their whole hearts. Getting to see These men and women connect, getting to see them open up to each other, and watching them peel back each other‘s layers and just fall heart first and love with each other was absolutely incredible and beautiful in every way.

There was just so much love and spice and heart bursting out of every single book and moment, and second with these characters, and I absolutely treasured everything I got with these characters. I finished this book getting the best endings for these characters, with a full heart that believed in everything that could be for these couples. I truly cannot wait to see how this author continues the series and continues to dive deeper into the world of the marriage auction, which is full of love, taking chances, and opportunities of the heart that these characters aren’t anywhere prepared for.

I loved every bit of this series and I just have to say that this author blew me away with what she created. She truly left it all on the pages of this book and this series and I for one cannot get enough. I was consumed wholeheartedly with everything with these characters and their moments, and just everything this author created, and it made for the most perfect reading experience that I will never forget.

I truly can’t say that enough!

I highly recommend these books. They are addicting. They are well written. They are just a perfect love story that will deliver everything. These characters and their stories are complicated and real and beautiful and mesmerizing, and that’s honestly just scratching the surface of what makes them so incredible to read and experience. You will love getting to fall in love with these couples and these characters and getting to see how far they come from where they start. It truly feels full circle with everything you get with them, and the ending this author delivered in this final book was perfect. It was everything these characters deserved, and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them all!

[January · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Marriage Auction: Book Four by Audrey Carlan (2021)
Marriage Auction #4
352-page Kindle Ebook

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense

Featuring: Episodes, Multiple POVs, Contract Marriages, Titled Chapters, Secrets, Assault, Bad Childhoods, Better Life, Sisters, Sisterhood, Las Vegas, Nevada; Italian, Greek, French, Spanish, Norwegian, Montana Ranch/Farm, Ranchers, Mississippi, Family Feud, Enemies-to-Lovers Trope, Twins, Triangle Trope, Affluent People, Sex - Detailed, London, England, Oslo, Norway; Santorini, Greece; Violence, Family Dynamics, Wedding Planning, Children, Sexual Assault - Past, Child Abuse - Past, Timeline Jumps, Cliffhanger - To Be Continued, Links to Madam Alana A Marriage Auction Novella/ a 1001 Dark Nights novella by Audrey Carlan w/ Blurb - prequel, Author's Links, Full Bibliography for Audrey Carlan

Rating as a movie: XX

Memorable Quotes: Just as I thought he was going to take it further, he pulled away. I stood still as he went over to the bar top, also covered in lights and flowers, and grabbed a small remote. He clicked a series of buttons, and classical music filtered through the room. Noah put the remote down and held out his hand.

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️½👰💍👰🏼‍♀️👬👰‍♂️🇬🇷🇳🇴🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇺🇲

My thoughts:🔖Page 105 of 352 Episode 103 Brave New World 💍🔔 SAVANNAH - These storylines are spread out too far, I have wondered about characters as well as forgotten about them before they roll back around to continue their storyline.
🔖243 Episode 117 Savannah & Erik’s Wedding – Part 1 SAVANNAH - I'm giving up and going to bed. Too many storylines are in the same year, and I need a break from the weddings.
🔖320 [in the middle of Episode 124 Epilogue] MADAM ALANA - That break was more than needed because that wedding had me rolling my eyes from start to finish asking multiple questions, like who would ride a horse in that condition, especially a known bucker, where are the police, are they serious? This is being dragged out. I'll finish it later.

It was so overdramatic that it annoyed me; it was like watching a soap opera, unrealistic and over the top. I couldn't even make it through the epilogue without a break. I'm going to read the rest but I'm going to play it by ear so I can dip out at any time. This story also got a bit darker than I was expecting.

Recommend to others: Yes.

Marriage Auction
1. The Marriage Auction: Book One
2. The Marriage Auction: Book Two
3. The Marriage Auction: Book Three
4. The Marriage Auction: Book Four
4.5 Madam Alana: A Marriage Auction Novella
5. The Marriage Auction 2, Book One
6. The Marriage Auction 2, Book Two
7. The Marriage Auction 2, Book Three
8. The Marriage Auction 2, Book Four
8.5 A Christmas Auction: A Marriage Auction Novella

Marriage Auction
1. The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume One (2023)
2. The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Two (2023)
3. The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Three (2023)
4. The Marriage Auction: Season One, Volume Four (2023)
Madam Alana (2023)
A Christmas Auction (2024)

Marriage Auction 2
1. The Marriage Auction 2, Book One (2024)
2. The Marriage Auction 2, Book Two (2024)
3. The Marriage Auction 2, Book Three (2024)
4. The Marriage Auction 2, Book Four (2024)

[Allison Waterman · Rating 2 out of 5]

No thanks

SPOILER ALERT:

First, this book should have had a content warning for intense and brutal domestic abuse and violent sexual assault of children.

I love romance books, especially spicy ones, but by Book Four, I was regularly going “Ewww” in response to something one of the characters said or did. For instance, Nile’s “intimacy training” with Opal sounded borderline abusive, with him telling her to get used to it since he’d be touching her a lot over the next 3 years, especially when her response to his touch was to stand “ramrod straight.” What?
As in the previous books in this series, the suspension of belief was sometimes too much, specifically with Faith & Joel. For instance, by this point in the story, why is Joel leaving Faith alone? How is she able to get away with saying she’s planning a “surprise” for her new husband? She’s proven over and over that she’s going to try to exchange herself for whomever Aidan has kidnapped this time. Joel’s supposedly top-notch security team should have been watching her at all times. It was happenstance that Bruno saw her get into the cab. What?
As in my review for Book Three, there were so many repeated words and phrases that it got irritating. One was “cupping her sex possessively.” I think this is probably meant to convey a sense of protectiveness and dedication to the woman but it just feels gross and borderline abusive.
Also, some storylines were just dropped. For example, Mme Alana and Christophe were there for the wedding and then they just disappeared. And, we never got to hear more about Celine or what happened to her. Her name was teased so many times and we got a lot of back story on other characters but not on this one.
If I wasn’t committed to finishing the series, I wouldn’t have read this. It’s a really cool concept as a whole and like I said in previous reviews, Book One was good and worth reading. But I feel like the story was extended to be a series and that was a mistake. When I finished this, I realized there are different “Marriage Auction” series and said no thank you. I could go on but I’m ready to have this series behind me.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored book 4! I might have even been loud during reading this! Ended up loving all 5 couples and women. The action in this book, the swooning and the laughing were the perfect combo. I don’t know if Noah, Sutton, Joel or Erik were my fave guy (can we combine them? Lol) but Dakota definitely won for heroine.

[Britney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I did not want this series to end! Absolutely loved it. As the weddings continued and people that weren't in the auction found love themselves, it all was truly fairytales, besides the family drama. They each truly found happiness.

[Kianna K · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best one of all four books! There was a lot of action and I couldn't put it down. I was also very glad to read the conclusion of each of their stories, and was happy about all of the happy endings.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

This was a fantastic book, with all of these couples. I loved how perfectly paired up they all were. Their family and friends made the story even richer, as well as bringing suspense and danger.

[Samantha U · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the ending of this story!!! Each character had such a different story line that this was so easy to follow. My favorite couple was faith and Joel. I truly loved their story as well as Eric and Savannah. Audrey intertwined these stories so well. I finished them so quickly!!! 5 star amazing series!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Haley Reiners · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5

[Angie Pritchard · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolve this author. I read all 4 of the books in this series in 5 days. Love this series.

[chloe w. 🧸🫧🪩📖 · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5! ⭐️ 3.5🌶️

best book in the series. love how it ended! 🥹🫶🏾 excited to read season 2!!