The Gilded Laurel - Carrie Ray

Book 1 of 6: The Gilded Laurel follows Lady Livia, the most sought-after debutante of the Roman "Ton," as she is pressured by her grandmother, the powerful Augusta, to marry a high-ranking Senator to save her family's dwindling fortune. The conflict begins when General Marcus Cassius returns to Rome to claim a seat in the Senate, bringing with him a rugged disregard for high-society rules and a secret that threatens the Augusta's grip on the city. Livia and Marcus are drawn together by a mutual hatred for the artificial games of the elite, but their growing attraction creates a massive scandal that risks Livia's reputation and Marcus's political standing. As the Augusta orchestrates a series of lavish galas and chariot races to force Livia into a "proper" match, the couple must navigate intercepted letters and blackmail to find a way to be together without facing exile. The story centers on the tension between public duty to the Republic and the private desire for a life chosen rather than assigned.