Marriage by Bargain Series by Ruth Ann Nordin

What Lord Worsley really wants is a wife who can excite him, but what he ended up with was an engagement borne of necessity to his sister’s friend. So when Miss Damara Onslow intercepts his carriage on his way to his country estate, he’s immediately drawn to both her bold spirit and her beauty. Even more exciting is the offer she makes: money in exchange for marriage. More than happy to get out of the marriage he was dreading, he agrees, and soon they are husband and wife... moreWhat Lord Worsley really wants is a wife who can excite him, but what he ended up with was an engagement borne of necessity to his sister’s friend. So when Miss Damara Onslow intercepts his carriage on his way to his country estate, he’s immediately drawn to both her bold spirit and her beauty. Even more exciting is the offer she makes: money in exchange for marriage. More than happy to get out of the marriage he was dreading, he agrees, and soon they are husband and wife. Never once did he think to ask her why she was so eager to get married, and the truth might be the undoing of them both. less

Miss Loretta Bachman convinces a reformed rake, who has vowed to never sleep with another lady, to marry her and pretend he's deeply in love with her so she can impress the Ton. ********************************* Thaddeus (Tad) Darkin, the Duke of Lambeth, used to be a rake. In fact, before Lord Edon was scandalizing the Ton, Tad was the one everyone was talking about. Many gentlemen secretly wished they had his charm with the ladies... moreMiss Loretta Bachman convinces a reformed rake, who has vowed to never sleep with another lady, to marry her and pretend he's deeply in love with her so she can impress the Ton. ********************************* Thaddeus (Tad) Darkin, the Duke of Lambeth, used to be a rake. In fact, before Lord Edon was scandalizing the Ton, Tad was the one everyone was talking about. Many gentlemen secretly wished they had his charm with the ladies. All reputable ladies were warned to stay as far from him as possible, which only made him all the more attractive. Then, 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. less

When Viscount Erandon marries a lady who's known for being a spoiled brat, he takes it upon himself to prove that she can become one of the sweetest ladies in London. ********************************************************* Miss Celia Barlow has always gotten what she wanted. Whether it’s been clothes, jewelry, or social prominence, all she’s had to do was snap her fingers, and it was hers... moreWhen Viscount Erandon marries a lady who's known for being a spoiled brat, he takes it upon himself to prove that she can become one of the sweetest ladies in London. ********************************************************* Miss Celia Barlow has always gotten what she wanted. Whether it’s been clothes, jewelry, or social prominence, all she’s had to do was snap her fingers, and it was hers. So when she sets her sights on a certain gentleman, it only makes sense that she should get him, too. Except it doesn’t work out the way she expects. The trap she planned ends up backfiring on her, and the love of her life ends up with someone else. Upon finding out what Celia did, her brother is furious, and he sets out to marry her off to the first gentleman who’s willing to marry her. That gentleman just happens to be Sebastian Egan, Viscount Erandon, who recently inherited his older brother’s title and troubled estate. Add to that his own debts and the fact that his injury prevents him from going back out to sea, he needs money. He doesn’t care how he gets it. He just needs it. And as soon as possible. So he agrees to marry Celia in order to get her dowry. When Sebastian realizes just how spoiled she is, he takes it upon himself to teach her that her days of manipulation are over. With him, the rules have changed. And he’s determined to prove to everyone that someone like Celia can be tamed, even if it’s going to take a battle of wills to do it. less

A liberated widow. An impoverished earl. A forced marriage may be just what they needed… 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... moreA liberated widow. An impoverished earl. A forced marriage may be just what they needed… 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… If It Takes a Scandal is the fourth and final book in the Marriage by Bargain series. If you like 19th century settings, stubborn but lovable characters, and second chances at happiness, then you’ll love Ruth Ann Nordin’s marital tale. Buy the book to start the scandalous romance today! less