St. John Series by Lora Thomas

Andrea Craycraft was the carefree, spirited middle child of a Beaufort, South Carolina plantation owner. She was quite happy with her life until her father signed a marriage contract for her to marry their neighbor’s nephew, the Earl of Rydover. Determined to ruin this union before it even began, she decided to make herself as unappealing as possible to the Earl. Dressed as a boy, she spied a man swimming in a lake... moreAndrea Craycraft was the carefree, spirited middle child of a Beaufort, South Carolina plantation owner. She was quite happy with her life until her father signed a marriage contract for her to marry their neighbor’s nephew, the Earl of Rydover. Determined to ruin this union before it even began, she decided to make herself as unappealing as possible to the Earl. Dressed as a boy, she spied a man swimming in a lake. Thinking it was her betrothed, she approached him and boldly stated that she wanted to see him naked. To her dismay, the stranger was not who she thought, but the man her father was meeting with to transport cotton to England! Michael St. John was a very successful man. He traveled the world for his family’s company convincing people to use them to transport their products all over the globe. He would do whatever it took to get the contracts signed. However, the one contract he vowed to never have his signature on was a marriage contract. He was a confirmed bachelor and planned on keeping it that way. But his bachelor days came to an abrupt end when he was caught in a compromising position with the plantation owner’s daughter. Despite the forced union, will Michael fall for the southern beauty and find himself allowing his heart to belong to The Wild Belle? less

A debutante ball should be a time of joy in a young lady’s life—a time for introduction into polite society and to potential suitors. But for Alyssa Craycraft, the joy and excitement last for a total of two days. On the third day, she’s taken by a man who feels her older sister slighted him by marrying another. Forced to cross the Atlantic to England, Alyssa clings to the hope that she can escape her captor and return to her home... moreA debutante ball should be a time of joy in a young lady’s life—a time for introduction into polite society and to potential suitors. But for Alyssa Craycraft, the joy and excitement last for a total of two days. On the third day, she’s taken by a man who feels her older sister slighted him by marrying another. Forced to cross the Atlantic to England, Alyssa clings to the hope that she can escape her captor and return to her home. When an opportunity for escape presents itself, she disguises herself as a boy and flees. Desperate to get home, she slips aboard a ship. Mistaken for a job applicant, she is hired as a cabin boy for what seems to be a beast of a captain. As she works in the presence of this overbearing, handsome man, she finds that the thought of being held in his arms is more tempting than ever returning home. Captain Noah St. John believes a woman's presence on a ship brings bad luck, although he loves their presence in his bed. When he discovers his cabin boy is actually a very innocent and very beautiful southern female stowaway, he must decide whether to take her home or take her back to England. But the longer he is in her presence, the more her beauty and wit intrigue him. As his mind and body battle his attraction to her, will he have the strength to push her away or will he fall victim to her innocent seduction? less

Chessi Reynolds is a survivor. Born illegitimately to a duke and a servant, she witnessed her father murder her mother and barely escaped the same fate herself. She spent the remainder of her childhood in an orphanage before being sent to a London workhouse. Rather than work in the deplorable spike, she escaped and began a life on the streets where she developed a friendship with a thief who taught her the skills she needed to survive... moreChessi Reynolds is a survivor. Born illegitimately to a duke and a servant, she witnessed her father murder her mother and barely escaped the same fate herself. She spent the remainder of her childhood in an orphanage before being sent to a London workhouse. Rather than work in the deplorable spike, she escaped and began a life on the streets where she developed a friendship with a thief who taught her the skills she needed to survive. When she and her friend become caught up in a web of intrigue involving an emerald pendant, Chessi crosses paths with a man who will change her life forever. Sir Matthew St. John has it all—a successful business, wealth, and London’s most beautiful women at his beck and call. He thinks his life is complete until Chessi robs him of his grandfather’s watch in broad daylight. She escapes with the family heirloom but their paths cross again when she robs him of yet another family treasure in order to save her friend. When he finds her hiding in his home, he forces her to work for him to get the stolen item back. However, the longer he is in her presence, the more he is drawn to the resourceful thief and now fears that she will steal something even more priceless…his heart. less

A woman running away from her own wedding on your stolen horse and then proposing to you is not the most romantic way to start a marriage, but then again, Zachary Hollingsworth is not the most suitable husband either... moreA woman running away from her own wedding on your stolen horse and then proposing to you is not the most romantic way to start a marriage, but then again, Zachary Hollingsworth is not the most suitable husband either. He is known throughout London for his philandering ways, but when Lady Rayne, the Duke of Clandon’s daughter, makes a proposition that he can’t resist, how can he turn her down? Rayne always dreamed of a knight in shining armor rescuing her from her father and whisking her away to a far-off land to live happily ever after. But her knight turned out to be a toad and her rescuer is far from the perfect choice. But desperate times call for desperate measures, and if bribing her rescuer into marrying her saves her from an unwanted marriage, so be it. As Zachary and Rayne battle the emotions pulling them together, they must keep a wary eye on Rayne’s former fiancé, the Viscount of Blackwell. With the fear of Blackwell’s retaliation nipping at their heels and the duke demanding that their marriage be annulled, can Zachary and Rayne quell their past and find happiness in their forbidden love? less

Watching a man hang from a third-story window trying to escape an enraged husband is not the ideal first meeting, but then again, Camilla Hutchinson is not a typical woman either. Raised with a treasure-hunting father and a tyrant of a mother, Cammie knows a thing or two about taking risks. The naked daredevil before her is just the type of man she needs to help her find a hidden treasure. Now if only she can convince him of that. Nathan St. John is a successful sea captain... moreWatching a man hang from a third-story window trying to escape an enraged husband is not the ideal first meeting, but then again, Camilla Hutchinson is not a typical woman either. Raised with a treasure-hunting father and a tyrant of a mother, Cammie knows a thing or two about taking risks. The naked daredevil before her is just the type of man she needs to help her find a hidden treasure. Now if only she can convince him of that. Nathan St. John is a successful sea captain. After a delivery in Norfolk, his entire world changes thanks to a lying “widow” whose husband arrives home unexpectedly. He’s aided in his escape by a blonde stranger, but his rescuer is as brazen as they come. After meeting Cammie, he goes from being a successful captain to being wanted in two states. And to beat it all, his bold rescuer has sweet-talked him into helping her on some insane quest for hidden gold. The duo fights their attraction to each other, yet soon they find that the temptation the other offers is too much to overcome. As their quest takes them south, can they survive what fate has in store, or will their love become nothing more than a treasure lost? less

A holiday in Rome to visit an old friend and to partake in the revelries of Carnival was all Oliver St. John had planned until he collided with a beautiful woman selling baskets... moreA holiday in Rome to visit an old friend and to partake in the revelries of Carnival was all Oliver St. John had planned until he collided with a beautiful woman selling baskets. After meeting the lady, Oliver finds he can’t get her out of his mind, but as he searches for the mystery woman, he wonders how he can locate her in a city filled with thousands? Selling her baskets and moving away from the family that despises her was Madelena Russo’s dream until the handsome man at the docks runs into her—literally. If anyone could make her forget her plans, he could. Unfortunately, her conniving mother has other ideas, and they involve marriage to a stranger. Madelena knows she must ruin the union before her vows and seeks out the one man who could make her forget who she was with just a smile…Oliver. Madelena soon discovers the truth behind her mother’s plot and flees Rome, entangling Oliver in her plight for escape. Aboard a ship bound for the Caribbean, she finds herself falling for her ginger-haired savior causing her to wonder if perhaps the love she so desperately craves could become a reality—all because of A Chance Encounter. less

Doing what she thought was right to help the man she thought she loved, Jacquelin Frost is persuaded to steal from the wrong family...the St. Johns. After being caught by her target, she is placed on a prisoner transport from England to Australia. During the voyage, she comes to hate the man who convinced her to ruin her life by stealing for him... moreDoing what she thought was right to help the man she thought she loved, Jacquelin Frost is persuaded to steal from the wrong family...the St. Johns. After being caught by her target, she is placed on a prisoner transport from England to Australia. During the voyage, she comes to hate the man who convinced her to ruin her life by stealing for him.A last-minute order changes the original route, and the ship is diverted to the Caribbean, where they are attacked by pirates led by none other than Jacquelin’s former lover. Desperate to get away from him, she agrees to be sold as a bonded servant to a Caribbean sugar plantation. The heat is unbearable and so is the man who purchased her papers; however, a handsome red-haired carpenter makes even the most intolerable circumstances tolerable.When Owen St. John is summoned by his eldest brother to New Providence to repair one of the family’s ships, he takes lodging with an old friend who owns a sugar plantation. Owen soon finds that his friend’s spirited mahogany-haired servant can be very entertaining, and he finds himself drawn to her. Yet Jackie’s past is haunting and soon catches up to them. Can her caring nature and intelligence persuade Owen of her innocence, or will her complicated past ruin the love that has blossomed between them? less

After a disastrous Christmas gathering, Alexandra Sinclair is abducted by enemies of her family, who were long thought dead. Taken to England, she uses her wit and cunning to escape the men, only to take refuge in a carriage belonging to none other than the man whose family caused hers to be outcasts from England—Chancellor Davenport. However, she soon discovers that she need not fear Chancellor harming her. Her only fear is of him stealing her heart... moreAfter a disastrous Christmas gathering, Alexandra Sinclair is abducted by enemies of her family, who were long thought dead. Taken to England, she uses her wit and cunning to escape the men, only to take refuge in a carriage belonging to none other than the man whose family caused hers to be outcasts from England—Chancellor Davenport. However, she soon discovers that she need not fear Chancellor harming her. Her only fear is of him stealing her heart.With the abductors still searching for her, Alexandra knows they would never think to look for her at a Davenport’s home. So, she reluctantly accepts Chance’s offer of help. Chance wants only to assure her safety from the dangerous men until he can see her safely home to the Caribbean. However, the longer he is in her company, the more he is drawn to the auburn-haired beauty. Unfortunately, he knows that her family will never allow them to be together. With this troubling knowledge, Chancellor fears that at the end of this adventure, the person who will need saving is himself. less