The Atwoods have too much money and too much power, which corrupted their only son. Joleen believed Bobby's silken lies until he'd wanted nothing to do with his child, abandoning Joleen when she learned of her pregnancy. Now her son Sam is eighteen months old. Six weeks ago Bobby died in a power skiing accident. In spite of the past, she'd contacted his parents to tell them that they have a grandson. Their response is to offer her money for custody. When Joleen refuses, they threaten court, counting on political favors to win them the child.
Dekker recently learned that he's the Bravo's missing heir. Now a millionaire, he immediately steps in to help Joleen when he learns of the Atwood's threats. The stability of marriage and the money to hire the best lawyers should protect the child. He warns Joleen, however, that he's emotionally dead when it "comes to man-woman love." A bitter marriage with a woman who couldn't be satisfied and eventually left him widowed resulted in becoming absolutely numb. The only woman Dekker lets close to him is his beloved childhood friend Joleen. She's always touched the parts of him he keeps silent, hearing the things he can't always articulate.

Joleen's feelings move from tender goodwill to defensiveness when their act of their marriage, and a couple of kisses, awaken a powerful yearning. In her mother's words, she wants magic, passion, and excitement. And she wants it with Dekker. When he said that neither of them were in the market for a grand passion, or possibly ever would be, she didn't want to confess that she wants the passion he believes impossible.

Christine Rimmer's special talent for creating emotional vulnerable characters once again sparkles in THE MARRIAGE CONSPIRACY. These are imperfect, believable people struggling with their feelings and the past. Secondary characters, even those only sketched at the wedding, for example, also shimmer with plausibility and humor. With a heart stopping threat regarding custody, as well as healing old wounds, THE MARRIAGE CONSPIRACY results in intensive read that comes highly recommended.