The Marriage Bed

Written by Laura Lee Guhrke

Narrated by Anne Flosnik

Everyone in society knows that the marriage of Lord and Lady Hammond is an unhappy one. Everyone knows they have barely spoken to one another in over nine years. But what no one in society knows are the reasons why . . .

Lady Viola Courtland was a romantic and impulsive young girl when she fell instantly in love with the handsome and dashing Viscount Hammond. Unbeknownst to Viola, John Hammond had already given his heart to the only woman he would ever love-his cousin's wife-but he was in dire financial straits and desperately needed to marry a wealthy heiress. In Viola, he thought he had found the perfect woman-beautiful and rich with a sweet nature. But Viola was neither practical nor sensible when it came to marriage, for she fully expected her husband to love her and was determined to settle for nothing less. Soon, however, John's secret was unwittingly revealed, but by then they were married and it was too late. Until one day, John finally came to his senses and prayed it wasn't too late to win back the love of his very own wife.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Feb 25, 2020
• ISBN: 9781977366733

Laura Lee Guhrke

Laura Lee Guhrke spent seven years in advertising, had a successful catering business, and managed a construction company before she decided writing novels was more fun.  A New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Laura has penned over twenty-five historical romances. Her books have received many award nominations, and she is a two-time recipient of romance fiction’s highest honor: the Romance Writers of America RITA Award. She lives in the Northwest with her husband and two diva cats. Laura loves hearing from readers, and you can contact her via her website: www.lauraleeguhrke.com.

Reviews for The Marriage Bed

[Sidsel · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Good writing, horrible story and horrible hero. Heroine too forgiving

[n.w.moors-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I first read this book several years ago but I've revised my rating to give it another star. I love the abandoned wife trope in historical romances and this book is a pretty good example of that. Viola married her husband, madly in love with him, but thinking that love was returned. When she discovers the truth, that he married her for her dowry, the marriage breaks down. John resorts to mistresses until his heir dies and he decides he must reconcile with his wife for the title. I don't remember why I first gave the book three stars but I expect it had to do with their initial argument/miscommunication which seemed somewhat silly and easy to rectify. Now I can just regard that as the device to tell the rest of the story which is pretty good. Viola and John still have some difficulties with communication but I can understand the reasoning behind their actions better.

[reneebooks · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I can see why this is such a controversial book. Adultery is not an easy subject to tackle. I didn't particulary care for either H/H but I found myself asking "Was the story believable and did I buy the HEA?". My answer was yes to the first but maybe to the second. The whole subject made me a bit uncomfortable and was very thought provoking. But, heh I'm not Dr. Phil, so I guess I gave them the benefit of the doubt because I ended up liking it. (Grade: B)

[theshadowknows_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Marriage Bed isn't an easy read, for it doesn't tell the happiest of stories. Viola Hammond and her husband John have been estranged for 8 years, and he's been cheating on her with a series of mistresses. Upon the death of his cousin, John needs an heir and so he demands a reconciliation with his wife, who is, to put it mildly, resistant to the idea of returning to his home, let alone his bed. This is such a well written romance. The characters and their interactions are explored with stunning insight and sympathy. Neither Viola or John are perfect. The book will try and tell you she can be cold and unforgiving (though personally I say she has every right to hate her husband for what he’s done to her.) John especially is a true scoundrel who is all the more a cad because for much of the book he lacks crucial self-awareness. He doesn’t even know what he’s done wrong. But the book makes you think hard the whole time about the rights and wrongs of John and Viola's relationship, and questions of blame are not easily resolved. You know a book is good when it can make you feel sympathy for a character like John. And he really is charming. Viola never stood a chance. Whether the book manages to convince me of his side of the story is another matter, but The Marriage Bed gets a lot of points for depicting it thoroughly and making sure all those grey areas don't escape the notice of readers whose gut reaction to John might be "Kill the cheater!" Maybe the book tries too hard to make John sympathetic - but, even while I was on Viola's side the whole time, I was still pulled into his struggles and tribulations as he tries so desperately to win his wife back. And at the same time I felt sorry for Viola and all John's discarded mistresses (Guhrke's treatment of the latter in particular offers an unexpected, understanding take on the "other woman"). A lot of the time I wished Viola could resist John's seduction of her - always a bad sign. She seems so helpless in the face of her love for him, and he seems so unrepentant. This imbalance defining their relationship can have some disturbing undertones. Ultimately, you'll like this book if, like the heroine, you believe in John's sincerity and remorse, his eventual awakening, his pledge of fidelity. If you take the opposite view, then The Marriage Bed is a very depressing book indeed. For the sake of a happy ending and even though I should know better, even though John's redemption is tenuous at best, I decided to be optimistic and take John at his word, and so I can give The Marriage Bed (an admittedly reserved) five stars. It’s a complex, at times heartbreaking romance that doesn't shy away from harder issues and realities, the pain that can so often go hand in hand with love.

[phyllisd_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A husband that falls in love with his wife 9 years after he said that he did. A lot to overcome. A good read.