Bücher von Ruth Ann Nordin

Brandon Herman wants to drink away his heartache. Divorced, disgraced, and out of work, the last thing he wants to do is marry again. When he's strong-armed into marrying a Crow Indian woman, he only thinks of running away… until he learns his bride-to-be is nine months pregnant.Lokni doesn't trust her pale-skinned husband. After all, his kind raided her tribe, killed her loved ones, and stole her freedom. If it weren't for the contractions, she would've already left her intoxicated groom. But until the baby is born, Lokni must bide her time and plan her escape.As the unlikely couple embarks across the untamed West, Brandon's support helps their friendship to blossom. They start to realize that it's more than the baby that draws them together.

Brad Bachman, Earl of Youngtown, is the most predictable and orderly gentleman in London. In fact, there is no other gentleman more concerned with having every strand of hair in place or making sure everything in his townhouse is neat and tidy. Also, unlike other gentlemen, he planned out his entire life when he was a child. And so far, everything has gone according to plan. Except for one thing: he doesn't have a wife. With his twenty-sixth birthday quickly approaching, he begins to wonder if his future will ever hold the love match he's been searching for over the past three years.Miss Ava Baynes fell in love with Brad the moment she met him, but with one little accident at the ball, her chances of being his wife is no longer within her reach. That is, until, his brother picks her for the scandal he had planned for Brad. On the surface, it would seem as if fate is lending her a helping hand. Except, she knows that fate has nothing to do with this. It's the result of a conniving brother who is out for revenge.

Titled gentlemen are supposed to be perfect. No one knows this better than Landon Tait, the Earl of Farewell, who's been on the receiving end of the Ton's gossip since he first made his appearance in London. After the last Season, he vowed to stay as far from London as possible. But when his brother lands into serious trouble, he has no choice but to come to his aid.Miss Opal Beaufort is attending a ball when she overhears the snickers about a certain gentleman who was born with a lisp. Several ladies sneak to a private room to listen to him, and something in Opal snaps. She can't stand the idea of someone being made the laughingstock of the Ton. But as soon as she intervenes on his behalf, a scandal ensues, and she finds herself unwittingly betrothed to him.Now, Landon isn't only forced to stay in London to face the ridicule of the Ton, but he also must deal with a beautiful wife who might find him as imperfect as he fears.

Orlando Emmett, the Earl of Reddington, has one regret in his life: letting the lady of his dreams go. Night after night, he'd think of all the things he should have told her when he had the chance, and all he could do was watch her, secretly admiring her from afar. A year later, fate intervenes. News of Lord Hawkins' death has just given him a second chance, an opportunity to make his dreams come true, but he'll have to risk a scandal to take it.Chloe was relieved when news came of her husband's death. The two had hardly spoken more than a few words to each other before he left for India on their wedding day. The two had hardly spoken more than a few words to each other before he left for India on their wedding day. And a full year passed with only polite correspondence between them. While some envied her marriage, the aching loneliness in her life only reminded her that money couldn't buy happiness. Fate intervenes when a friend takes her just outside of London to meet Orlando, a handsome stranger she only barely remembers. During her entire marriage to Lord Hawkins, all she'd wanted was a husband who'd love her so much he'd give up anything to be with her. And now she just might get her wish, if only she's strong enough to take it.

Sebastian Egan, Viscount Erandon, needs a significant amount of money in order to pay off his brother's debts. The sooner he gets it, the better. As it just so happens, such a way opens up to him. Miss Celia Barlow, nicknamed Miss "Shrew" Barlow, has upset her brother for the last time. Her brother has had enough of her manipulative ways, and he's offering a large dowry to the first gentleman who is willing to take her. Sebastian, seeing his chance, takes the bait, and the wedding is set.At once, he's drawn to Celia's fiery spirit. Yes, the others in London consider her to be a shrew, but that's because they're afraid of a lady who knows what she wants and goes for it. His new wife is no timid wallflower. She is full of passion, and, to his pleasure, that passion extends to the bed. But soon, just having her body isn't enough. He wants to claim something much more precious. He wants her heart. He used to think that being the captain of a ship was the most challenging thing he could do. Now, he's about to discover that being the husband of a lady with a fiery, independent spirit is far more challenging...and far more rewarding.

Thaddeus (Tad) Darkin, the Duke of Lambeth, used to be a rake. After a tragic event, he took a vow of celibacy, promising he would never be intimate with another lady again. Over the years, this caused him to be the most sought-after single gentleman in all of London. And even though he doesn't want to marry, his steward left him in financial ruin, so whether he likes it or not, he must take a wife.After being rejected by the gentleman she was hoping to marry, Miss Loretta Bachman is on a mission to save her reputation. She needs to marry someone who will impress the prestigious ladies in her social circle. So when she catches the leader of the group talking about the very handsome and hard-to-get Duke of Lambeth, she's determined to get him to marry her. All she needs is a little bargaining power, and fortunately for her, she happens to have the money he needs to save his estate.When she learns of his vow to remain celibate, she agrees to keep away from his bed. After all, her only reason for marrying him is to secure her social standing in London, not to have a love match. All she asks is that he pretends to be deeply in love with her when they're in public. That way she will succeed in impressing the Ton. But before long, the lines between what is pretend and what is real starts to blur, and it's hard to decide how far to push the limits of their agreement.

Lord Whitney is intelligent, rich, and good looking. But he's also boring. One thing he's noticed is that all the gentlemen around him are getting married. So in order to have something in common with them, he does something he never thought he'd do: he lies about being betrothed.His ploy works. For the first time in his life, gentlemen are finally paying attention to him. Soon, however, they start asking him questions about the wonderful lady he's going to marry. It comes to a point where he can no longer keep up the lie. He has to find a lady to present to them.As fate would have it, Lady Stacey happens to be in the right place at the right time, and he manages to convince her to play along with his scheme. In return for playing the part of his betrothed, he will secure safe passage for her and her mother out of London. But as time passes on, he begins to wonder if there's more to their ruse than meets the eye.

Warren Beaufort, the Earl of Steinbeck, prides himself on having the best of the best. From his furnishings in his townhouse to his clothes, he chooses everything with the intention of impressing others. And more than that, he has amassed a fortune that is the envy of many in London. One thing he lacks, however, is an heir. In order to get the heir, he'll need a wife.Lady Iris, the Duke of Hartwell's daughter, has money, but she lacks both grace and looks. One thing she does have, however, is the good sense to know a gentleman like Warren is all wrong for her, which is why she's horrified to learn she's been matched with him for marriage. But the Duchess of Ashbourne and her friends assure her that she and Warren have so much in common they are an ideal match.Having no way out of the marriage her father has arranged for her, she has no choice but to marry Warren. While she might have to give him the heir, she will never, under any circumstance, give him something far more precious…her heart.

If there's one thing Miss Heather Duff regrets, it's that she let Lord Powell go. She listened to other people tell her what to do, so when Lord Powell proposed, she said no. It was the worst mistake she's ever made, and now she's determined to prove to Lord Powell that she wants a second chance.Gill Easton, Viscount Powell, has never stopped loving Miss Duff. But a gentleman has his pride to protect. He can't just let her walk back into his life as if nothing ever happened. And this puts him in a dilemma. He'll have to resort to unusual methods in order to get the lady of his dreams to marry him. In this case, the unusual method is to convince her to kidnap him…without letting her know he's the one behind the whole scheme.Don't miss this romantic comedy featuring a feisty heroine, a hero who has to play hard to get, a meddling brother who doesn't take even a minute to listen to what someone is trying to tell him, and a friend who doesn't mind any kind of scandal so long as the cause is true love.

Dr. Derek Westward has been happy living his life doing everything possible to upset the Ton. Second to his occupation, it's one of his favorite pastimes. Then his brother dies, and the worst thing imaginable happens. He inherits the title of a marquess. Now he has to secure the future of his family's estate with an heir, and worse, he's expected to be on his best behavior, something he's been unable to do since childhood.Miss Danette Everson has given up on ever marrying. At twenty-five, she's resigned herself to spinsterhood, until her friend decides she'd be better off married. Before she knows it, she's a bride. But her new husband isn't the reputable gentleman she was hoping for. No, he's got a horrible tendency to scandalize the Ton at every opportunity that presents itself. Surely, a pair couldn't be more mismatched. Whatever were the three matchmaking ladies thinking when they arranged for her to marry the most devilish marquess in all of London?

They say a proper lady follows the rules. She lets the gentleman take the lead. She obeys her chaperone. She is soft spoken and careful in everything she says and does. She doesn't intrude into a gentleman's business. And she most certainly doesn't become the object of scandal.Miss Lilly Lowell has been careful to follow the rules all of her life. But the rules aren't helping her now when she needs it most. She made the terrible mistake of spurning Mr. Morris' attention, and now he's looking for someone else to marry. Determined to get him back, she hatches a plan to make him fall in love with her again. And doing so will require her to start breaking some rules.Hurt by Miss Lowell's rejection, Mr. Roger Morris is seeking out another lady to court. But after endless social engagements, it starts to become clear to him that no one can take her place. Whether he likes it or not, he is doomed to love her. She is the perfect lady for him. But the last thing he wants to do is give in, especially when she creates a scandal that forces him to marry her.This might just be a match made in hell. Or maybe, quite possibly, heaven…as long as Lilly can figure out a way to make things right.

Lady Candace Daniel is finally free from her cruel, abusive husband. He's in no position to order her around from six-feet under. And with all the fun she's having on the social circuit, she intends to never let a man have that kind of power again.Corin St. George has inherited an earldom and a ramshackle estate. He's toiled for years to restore the property to its former glory, and he has little respect for the noblewomen around him squandering their husbands' fortunes.But when Corin is thrust into a compromising predicament at a ball, he's forced to marry Candace, the unlucky widow who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Neither spouse has an interest in being together… until friends and fate conspire to show them the possibility of love.

Regan Alger, the Lady of Cantrell, is bored with her life. Yes, she's been more fortunate than most. She was once married to a wonderful gentleman, and this love resulted in her young son-a boy she loves more than anything. But even a son can't fill the void in her life. She misses having a husband, both in and out of bed, so when she happens to come across a gentleman at a ball who ignites her passion, she decides he'll be her next husband. And she's not the least bit shy about letting him know it.Just as determined as Regan is to have Mr. Malcolm Jasper for a husband, he's equally determined to end up with anyone but her. If he marries her, his life will be one of chaos and scandal. He's sure of it. After all, she's much too outspoken and flirtatious. So he jumps at the chance for an arranged marriage, thinking once he secures a reputable and quiet bride, Regan will leave him alone. Little does he know, though, his sister and her two friends know Regan wants to marry him, and they are more than happy to help Regan get what she wants.Regan's risk pays off. She manages to secure him as her husband. Will the gamble pay off? Or has she just doomed them both?

On his way to his country estate, beautiful Miss Damara Onslow steps into Lord Worsley's carriage to speak to him about a matter. Little does he know that "the matter" is to offer him money in exchange for them getting married. Since Lord Worsley's sister had manipulated him into an engagement he did not want, he welcomes Damara's offer with open arms.The two wed and spend a winter together. Never had anyone been happier. That is until his sister pries into Damara's past and threatens their fairytale marriage.

Camden Hollis, the Duke of Ashbourne, needs to pay off his brother's debts, but all he has is a troubled estate. So when he hears that Lady Seyton is known for teaching ladies what to do to secure marriages by the end of the Season, he comes to her for help.Helena Walter, the Lady of Seyton, doesn't know what to think of Camden's unusual request. How could a titled gentleman who is so good looking need help getting a wife? Her initial response is to turn him down, thinking he is merely wasting her time. But then she catches him bumbling through a conversation with a lady, and realizes he-more than anyone-needs her help.And so the lessons begin. But before long, Camden is convinced she's the perfect one for him. She, however, is a widow and is happy with her freedom. He might find it'll require a scandal to get the two things he wants most: a love match and securing his estate.

After losing all of his money in a reckless bet, Logan Breckman, the Earl of Toplyn, needs to marry a lady from a wealthy family-and fast. So he does the only thing he can think of and picks one at random to trick into marriage.Unfortunately for Miss Melissa Jasper, she happens to be in the right place at the wrong time. Before she knows it, he comes up to her carriage and kisses her…and she is doomed. Now she can't marry the gentleman she was hoping to and she's bound to a cad who thinks of little else but himself.Logan is the first to admit he's far from perfect, but being with a gentleman who knows how to ignite a passionate spark is a lot better than being stuck with one who'll put a lady to sleep. Of course, she won't thank him for forcing her hand in marriage yet. But he has no doubt that sooner or later, she'll come to understand he's the best thing that's ever happened to her.

Lord Davenport and Lord Pennella have just made a bet for the hand of Miss Regina Giles. The gentleman she chooses wins the loser's estate.It's the most daring wager at White's, and quite possibly the most foolish.Toby York, the Earl of Davenport, knew it was a mistake to make the wager when Lord Pennella stormed into White's bragging that he could get any lady he wished. Toby really should have kept his mouth shut. But he didn't.And now there are only three things he can do to protect Miss Giles. One, he must get her to choose him instead of Pennella. Two, he must make sure she never finds out about the wager. And three, he must quietly break off the engagement so that she is free to marry a gentleman worthy of her. As long as he doesn't fall in love with her, there should be no problems.Too bad things never work out the way they're planned.

Anna feels little anguish when she sees the dead body of her husband. The young widow has no plans to mourn over the cruel Duke of Watkins, but she knows that his untimely death will put her at the mercy of his malicious younger brother. With help from her loyal butler, Anna smuggles away the body in the dead of night. Anna hopes to keep her husband's death a secret until she's settled far from the reach of her spiteful brother-in-law. When she stumbles upon a wounded man who bears an uncanny resemblance to her husband and has forgotten his memory, she wonders if she's found the solution to all their problems. She quickly convinces him he is her husband. To her surprise, he's so much better than the gentleman she buried. After years in a cold marriage, she is vulnerable to his tender words and sweet touches. But her husband's younger brother is still on the prowl, and giving into her feelings could possibly doom them both.

When Nathaniel (Nate) Buford's brother died, the title of Earl of Roderick passed to him, as did the duty to get an heir, a duty he doesn't want. Now he must find a lady who suits him among the money-grubbing Ton and marry her, but it is not as easy as he would want. Fate is about to play him another unfair hand, as a moment's kindness to a lady has him trapped by scandal to a family that is reported to desire money above all else.Miss Claire Lowell desires marriage to a kind and respectable gentleman who she could love, but one moment might destroy it all. Despite all her protests that the scandalous circumstances were merely an accident, her family forces to accept Lord Roderick's marriage proposal, and now she is tied to a man who blames her for trapping him into a marriage that neither of them wanted.

Miss Emilia Stewart's life faces immediate ruin. Her friend made a little slip of the tongue, and now Lord Valentine thinks Emilia's in love with him.This is Lord Valentine of all gentlemen! Not only is he unfashionable and socially inept, but the mere thought of kissing him makes her shudder. What's worse is that her father has arranged for her to marry him. Being a lady with no say in her future has never been more unfair! She, however, is determined to overcome this cruel fate. There's still a chance to protect her future, and keep her sanity intact. All she has to do is become the most repulsive and unattractive wife possible. Then Lord Valentine will insist they live separate lives, and she'll be spared the most unpleasant aspect of marriage-actually being in the same room with her husband. All she needs is a little ingenuity and help from her friends to make the plan work. This romantic comedy takes a fun look at one wife's dream of discouraging her husband from falling in love with her.

Most gentlemen wait to get married because they want time to enjoy being a bachelor before taking on the responsibilities of a married gentleman. Baldwin Darby, the Duke of Edmondstone, isn't one of them. So when his acquaintance mentions a sister at his country estate who is ready for marriage, he jumps at the chance for an arranged marriage.What he doesn't count on, however, is just how strange everything is when he gets to the country estate. His new bride refuses to leave her section of the manor, she has to go to bed before it's dark, and she has an unusual fascination for monsters. It's not good for her. But if he keeps pressing for her to have a normal life, he just might get his wish. But nothing will prepare him for the truth.

Daisy's always envisioned marrying a tall, dark, handsome man with literary prowess who appreciates classical music. Fate, however, has other ideas when she meets Otis Mills while visiting a friend in Montana. Otis is nothing like she envisioned. He's a blond, short ranch hand who never reads books or listens to fine music.Aware that she must be polite with her mother nearby, Daisy gently rejects Otis' courtship. Or, at least she thinks she does. To her horror, Otis follows her all the way back to Nebraska. Not only does he believe she wants to marry him, but her parents decide it's a great idea if she marries him, too.This is a romantic comedy where Daisy learns that behind every frog is a prince.

Katie Jackson is all grown up, and it's time for her to find a husband. Though the young men have been coming by the orphanage where she is working, none of them catches her fancy. They all seem like they need to do a lot more growing up before they're ready for the responsibilities of a wife and children. They're all more like little brothers than serious prospects for marriage.If only they were more like Jeremiah Barlow who happens to be running the orphanage. He's perfect. Mature, kind, and gentle. Best of all, she's attracted to him in a way she's never been attracted to anyone before.It's not long before Jeremiah becomes aware of Katie's interest in him. And worse, he's just as interested in her. But it would never work. He's twice her age. His best days are behind him. Katie, however, is not one to give up. When she wants something badly enough, she'll move heaven and earth to get it. And Jeremiah is on her list.

Sometimes the right person comes at the worst possible time… Having suffered through the horrors of the Civil War, ex-doctor Thayne Jackson believes he's the worst possible candidate for marriage. He has chosen, instead, to live a quiet and peaceful life raising his orphaned niece. But when a beautiful young woman with a two-year-old boy shows up injured in his barn, everything changes. Abby Gray has one mission: to get Lloyd back to his father. She must not get distracted by the fact that Thayne is kind and honorable, and she must certainly not dwell on her growing attraction toward him. Once she's healed, she has to leave. She can't stay at this ranch and make a life with him and his niece. There's no "ifs, ands, or buts" about it. Except there's a ten-year-old matchmaker in their midst who is determined to get the two of them together. And she'll come up with an assortment of creative ways to do it.

Erin Larson has a problem that's been following her since she was a child: Alex Matthews. For a reason she can't explain, Alex has convinced himself that they will end up getting married. But she'd rather go through town in nothing but her chemise and petticoats before that happens.With her two older sisters married, it's her turn to find a husband. As long as Alex is lingering around, she's not going to find the man of her dreams. What she needs is to find another young lady for Alex to turn his attention to. Then, and only then, will she be free.Alex goes along with this little matchmaking scheme, knowing full well that if he plays his cards right, he'll finally succeed in convincing Erin that they're a perfect match.

When her husband died, Deanne Grayson didn't shed a tear. She did, however, worry that his death meant she'd have to return to her hometown in Kentucky. Fortunately, she stumbles upon an ad in the paper from a man in Lincoln, Nebraska who is interviewing for a wife.Widower Bill Harvey is in need of a wife to help him run his general store. Plus, it would be nice to have help raising his two young children. But being confined to a wheelchair doesn't exactly make him confident when it comes to a more intimate union with a woman. So when Deanne comes in for an interview, he makes a stipulation. He'll marry her, but they won't be consummating the marriage. So the marriage will be more of a partnership than a romance.