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Marriage by Scandal #2
A Most Unsuitable Earl
Alternate cover edition can be found here
Ethan Silverton, the Lord of Edon, is very content with his life. He’s carefully sculpted it so that everyone thinks he’s a notorious rake. For years, he’s worked hard to build his reputation to secure his place as the most undesirable bachelor in London. And it’s worked. No decent lady will have him.
But one simple error in judgment has just sealed his fate. His intention was to dissuade a horrid mother from matching him up with her equally horrid daughter. Seeing no one but Lady Catherine without a dance partner, he tells a lie. He approaches Lady Catherine as if they are betrothed, and the ploy works. The horrid mother and her daughter abandon their pursuit of him.
Except Ethan’s mother spies his ploy and is so relieved that she’s found a way to marry him to a reputable young lady that she tells everyone of their engagement. To his horror, word spreads and it’s his duty to see the lie through. This is the worst thing that can happen, and no one but his mother is happy about it. Not Lady Catherine. Not her doting father. Not even Ethan. But his mother is sure it’ll all work out…eventually.
Ethan Silverton, the Lord of Edon, is very content with his life. He’s carefully sculpted it so that everyone thinks he’s a notorious rake. For years, he’s worked hard to build his reputation to secure his place as the most undesirable bachelor in London. And it’s worked. No decent lady will have him.
But one simple error in judgment has just sealed his fate. His intention was to dissuade a horrid mother from matching him up with her equally horrid daughter. Seeing no one but Lady Catherine without a dance partner, he tells a lie. He approaches Lady Catherine as if they are betrothed, and the ploy works. The horrid mother and her daughter abandon their pursuit of him.
Except Ethan’s mother spies his ploy and is so relieved that she’s found a way to marry him to a reputable young lady that she tells everyone of their engagement. To his horror, word spreads and it’s his duty to see the lie through. This is the worst thing that can happen, and no one but his mother is happy about it. Not Lady Catherine. Not her doting father. Not even Ethan. But his mother is sure it’ll all work out…eventually.
236 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 1, 2012
837 people are currently reading
746 people want to read
About the author
Ruth Ann Nordin
170 books713 followersWhat's to say? I write a lot. I read often. I sleep little. Once in awhile, I've been known to clean the house. A number of kids live in my house and there's this guy they call dad and I call husband. All in all, it's a pretty good life. :-)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 131 reviews
September 2, 2022
3.5 stars
Hero Edon, a Duke, has spent a good deal of his time crafting his reputation as a rake. This is a façade and ploy in order to avoid marriage. During a ball there is a mishap where he winds up engaged to very proper Catherine, a Dukes daughter. They are both miserable at the prospect. Needless to say they eventually see that neither is who they claim to be and fall in love,
There is some mild conflict in between, but nothing major and easily resolved, making this a laid back kind of read.
The beginning was more enjoyable and I especially liked the humor that was thrown in, I only wish it remained consistent throughout.
Unlike other reviewers, I did NOT feel the hero was weak. But if you're looking for a bad boy alpha rake, you will not find one in any of this authors books. I for one am very glad of this for there is something to be said about sweet and honorable beta heros, to which there seems to be very little of in HR's.
There were a few issues. One was the unresolved matter of Catherine's sketchbook drawings. I don't understand the purpose of them at all. The other is that I felt the whole misunderstanding with Agatha in the den was too easily resolved.
Lastly, the resolution with Catherne's father finally accepiong Edon was wrapped up too swiftly and in an unrealistc fashion.
I am happy to report there were a few more love scenes then usual, but a little disappointing in spice considering the passion the H & h shared. Nordin's love scenes are pretty routine and don't vary much from book to book..but this is minor considering the most important aspect of her work to me is the fact there are no double standards. This is what I love.. Nordin clearly is a proponent of no sex before marriage for BOTH man and women, and she projects this in her work in what I feel is a believable and subtle manner without being preachy. BRAVO!
Anyway the love scenes were still sweet with mild spice but nothing erotic or crazy.
Overall, if you can stretch your imagination and not take it too seriously, this is a fun and enjoyable read.
Content concerns:
July 10, 2018
Hero's mother was just awful! They needed to kick her out of their life!
She thought nothing of ruining someone's daughter's life!
At least hero was a virgin and the scandals of him being a rake was completely fabricated, by himself!
Heroine was extremely naive, and the wedding night scene was hilarious!
Hero's reluctance to his FIL was hilarious and I think his friendship with Agatha was rather endearing!
She thought nothing of ruining someone's daughter's life!
At least hero was a virgin and the scandals of him being a rake was completely fabricated, by himself!
Heroine was extremely naive, and the wedding night scene was hilarious!
Hero's reluctance to his FIL was hilarious and I think his friendship with Agatha was rather endearing!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 1, 2022
ABSOLUTELY FREAKIN LOVED THIS ONE!!!!
Agghhhhhhhh, I wish there were more romances like this—a hero everyone thinks is a manwhore, but who is actually a decent, virtuous man! YASSSSSS, please! More of this!!
This story was unique and funny and engaging. The plot of a hero who wants to avoid matchmaking mamas so he cultivates a reputation as a rake, even tho he is a virgin, was all swoon! And when an unfortunate series of events traps him in an engagement, he is forced to marry a woman who wants nothing to do with him—or his reputation. I also was cracking up at the father of the bride—He was none too pleased with the hero and let him know that he would be watching him.
I didn’t have any complaints with this story—it was fun and heart-melting from start to finish.
100% safe. Dual virgins. No others, no cheating or abuse. HEA with epilogue
Agghhhhhhhh, I wish there were more romances like this—a hero everyone thinks is a manwhore, but who is actually a decent, virtuous man! YASSSSSS, please! More of this!!
This story was unique and funny and engaging. The plot of a hero who wants to avoid matchmaking mamas so he cultivates a reputation as a rake, even tho he is a virgin, was all swoon! And when an unfortunate series of events traps him in an engagement, he is forced to marry a woman who wants nothing to do with him—or his reputation. I also was cracking up at the father of the bride—He was none too pleased with the hero and let him know that he would be watching him.
I didn’t have any complaints with this story—it was fun and heart-melting from start to finish.
100% safe. Dual virgins. No others, no cheating or abuse. HEA with epilogue
September 15, 2019
3.5 stars- a cute, safe, sweet and decent read that almost borders on boring. But hey I will take boring over glamoursing abuse, cheating and sexism any day any time.
Lord Edon has the reputation of being the most notorious rake in all of London having being associated with all sorts of scandals! Or is he? Turns out Ethan has spread all those rumours about himself in order to make himself undesirable to all the ladies as he really does not want to get married and prefers a quiet life in the countryside. But the plan doesn’t work as in one of the balls, a fortune seeking mother keeps trying to get him together with her daughter so to escape their clutches, he makes up lie that later comes to bite him in the ass. He pretends to be engaged to lady Catherine without really thinking of the consequences. When his mother overhears of this, in her determination to get grandbabies, she loudly announces in front of everyone that they are in love so Lady Catherine’s father has no choice but to agree to the marriage.
Thinking she was going to be married to a rake who will never be faithful to her, certified spinster (due to her seemingly boring personality and not gorgeous looks) lady Catherine is devastated. She would rather be unmarried forever than be married to him!
I really liked that they didn’t have this misunderstanding for majority of the novel. Instead of having Catherine hate Ethan until the end of the book and be apprehensive of the marriage, I really liked that Ethan told her he was not a rake soon after their marriage. In almost all HR romances I have read, the heroes virginity was disclosed towards the end, almost as an afterthought and wasn’t much focussed on at all! Only the women’s disbelief and maybe very brief delight over it would be shown. But here hero admits he is a virgin before they have sex and I immensely enjoyed how pleased, happy and delighted Catherine was to be his first!
What I didn’t like-
ethan’s fear of catherine’s father was too ott and over drammatic for my taste. Although I am sure it was supposed to be funny, it was just too dramatic and made me roll my eyes. But i guess it’s nice to read about a hero who is completely invulnerable, all alpha, and fearless.
Catherine’s endless crying lol. I am sure again this was done for comic relief but I personally dislike heroines who at too emotional, crying all the time for every single thing.
And the brief conflict in the end, I could see it coming miles away.
Yes it put a smile on my face and more importantly didn’t make me want to scratch my eyes out but I am not going to stay awake at night thinking about their epic love story. Even as I read this review I have already forgotten the heroines name. 🤷♀️ Why is that we spend more time and effort on hating books we loathe than than enjoying the books we love or like. Thinking of it, it’s mostly books I hate that makes me stay awake at night
Lord Edon has the reputation of being the most notorious rake in all of London having being associated with all sorts of scandals! Or is he? Turns out Ethan has spread all those rumours about himself in order to make himself undesirable to all the ladies as he really does not want to get married and prefers a quiet life in the countryside. But the plan doesn’t work as in one of the balls, a fortune seeking mother keeps trying to get him together with her daughter so to escape their clutches, he makes up lie that later comes to bite him in the ass. He pretends to be engaged to lady Catherine without really thinking of the consequences. When his mother overhears of this, in her determination to get grandbabies, she loudly announces in front of everyone that they are in love so Lady Catherine’s father has no choice but to agree to the marriage.
Thinking she was going to be married to a rake who will never be faithful to her, certified spinster (due to her seemingly boring personality and not gorgeous looks) lady Catherine is devastated. She would rather be unmarried forever than be married to him!
I really liked that they didn’t have this misunderstanding for majority of the novel. Instead of having Catherine hate Ethan until the end of the book and be apprehensive of the marriage, I really liked that Ethan told her he was not a rake soon after their marriage. In almost all HR romances I have read, the heroes virginity was disclosed towards the end, almost as an afterthought and wasn’t much focussed on at all! Only the women’s disbelief and maybe very brief delight over it would be shown. But here hero admits he is a virgin before they have sex and I immensely enjoyed how pleased, happy and delighted Catherine was to be his first!
What I didn’t like-
ethan’s fear of catherine’s father was too ott and over drammatic for my taste. Although I am sure it was supposed to be funny, it was just too dramatic and made me roll my eyes. But i guess it’s nice to read about a hero who is completely invulnerable, all alpha, and fearless.
Catherine’s endless crying lol. I am sure again this was done for comic relief but I personally dislike heroines who at too emotional, crying all the time for every single thing.
And the brief conflict in the end, I could see it coming miles away.
Yes it put a smile on my face and more importantly didn’t make me want to scratch my eyes out but I am not going to stay awake at night thinking about their epic love story. Even as I read this review I have already forgotten the heroines name. 🤷♀️ Why is that we spend more time and effort on hating books we loathe than than enjoying the books we love or like. Thinking of it, it’s mostly books I hate that makes me stay awake at night
August 15, 2020
Yeah, I think this is it with me and Ruth Ann Nordin books. I've read two so far and both of them have been pretty meh. There's no chemistry and everything is pretty lack-luster.
May 16, 2022
No strong representation of diverse characters or minority identities.
Overall: 3.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe
Possible Trigger: Yes
Ending:
Overall: 3.25-stars
Safety Rating: Safe
Possible Trigger: Yes
Ending:
May 18, 2020
Historical romance with a refreshingly flawed characters.
December 22, 2020
Well, 3 stars
a bit too simple writing, sometimes funny, sometimes... strange
Both main characteres were virgins
Safe
a bit too simple writing, sometimes funny, sometimes... strange
Both main characteres were virgins
Safe
December 28, 2020
I’ve had this on my unofficial TBR list for a while now. It had a bit of a rough start, with the loathing coming across a bit too strongly, but all’s well that ends well. This had a nice but passive virgin hero. He was a little silly but a genuine good guy when and where it counted.
July 6, 2020
3 stars, this book was a little too mellow for me.
Ethan, an Earl, is trying his best to avoid marriage. He works hard to keep up a reputation of a rake so that respectable ladies stay far away from him. All he wants to do is retire to the country and read books. Catherine, a daughter of a duke, doesn’t think she will ever meet a man who wants to marry her, but her father tries hard to find her a husband. They are at a ball together when Ethan tells a lie about being secretly engaged to Catherine so he can escape a matchmaking mother and her daughter. The lie spreads and soon they find themselves engaged in earnest. They get married and have a few very very mild conflicts and live HEA.
I’m not one who needs angst in a book at all, but this book seemed way too low angst for me. I mean, every conflict resolved in a matter of pages, maybe even paragraphs. There was zero suspense. Even the explanations of why something happened were done rather poorly, imo. Like the hero says one sentence that half explains something and the heroine just says “ok, no problem” and the conflict is resolved. I guess it just seemed a little lazy to me, in terms of the writing. There were some parts that were funny though, which is why I’m still giving this three stars.
Anyways, this book is about as safe as a book can be.
Ethan, an Earl, is trying his best to avoid marriage. He works hard to keep up a reputation of a rake so that respectable ladies stay far away from him. All he wants to do is retire to the country and read books. Catherine, a daughter of a duke, doesn’t think she will ever meet a man who wants to marry her, but her father tries hard to find her a husband. They are at a ball together when Ethan tells a lie about being secretly engaged to Catherine so he can escape a matchmaking mother and her daughter. The lie spreads and soon they find themselves engaged in earnest. They get married and have a few very very mild conflicts and live HEA.
I’m not one who needs angst in a book at all, but this book seemed way too low angst for me. I mean, every conflict resolved in a matter of pages, maybe even paragraphs. There was zero suspense. Even the explanations of why something happened were done rather poorly, imo. Like the hero says one sentence that half explains something and the heroine just says “ok, no problem” and the conflict is resolved. I guess it just seemed a little lazy to me, in terms of the writing. There were some parts that were funny though, which is why I’m still giving this three stars.
Anyways, this book is about as safe as a book can be.
Want to read
October 31, 2022🎁 Books 1 & 2 in the Series are FREE on Amazon & on Apple Books today (12/7/2020)!🎁
June 24, 2024
Rating: 4.8 / 5
No way to say this except that I really, really liked this one!
We are introduced to our hero, Ethan Edon, who has spent a lot of time notoriously creating a reputation for himself as a rake, despite in reality having no experience with women and wanting nothing more than to read in peace . Whew, buddy, I can relate to that BIG TIME!
He's paired with our heroine, Catherine Rumsey, who is described as being just plain boring, and apparently not much of a desirable partner for any gentlemen, despite being the only daughter of a duke.
The two are paired up thanks to Ethan's intrusive mother, who takes matters into her own hands and basically forces them together after Ethan unwisely includes Catherine in his lie, as a way to get some other busybody mothers off his back at a ball. Both Ethan and Catherine are quite dismayed at the fact that they now have to marry, with Ethan having the additional fear that Catherine's father, the Duke, might very well arrange an "accident" for him if he puts one foot out of line.
_________
Although the situation all in all felt a bit forced and even silly at times, personally I found myself really appreciating it for all its silliness and really just liking the characters. Sure, they're kind of run-of-the-mill as far as characters by Ruth Ann Nordin go, but I especially liked Ethan and how, poor guy, he just needs to get away from his mother and Catherine's father in order to make any proper headway in his relationship with Catherine.
All in all, I'm really glad I gave this a try, despite usually being quite reluctant to touch anything with the "rake" plot attached to it. In this case, I have absolutely no regrets, and just find Ethan and Catherine oh-so c-u-t-e together!
No way to say this except that I really, really liked this one!
We are introduced to our hero, Ethan Edon, who has spent a lot of time notoriously creating a reputation for himself as a rake, despite in reality having no experience with women and wanting nothing more than to read in peace . Whew, buddy, I can relate to that BIG TIME!
He's paired with our heroine, Catherine Rumsey, who is described as being just plain boring, and apparently not much of a desirable partner for any gentlemen, despite being the only daughter of a duke.
The two are paired up thanks to Ethan's intrusive mother, who takes matters into her own hands and basically forces them together after Ethan unwisely includes Catherine in his lie, as a way to get some other busybody mothers off his back at a ball. Both Ethan and Catherine are quite dismayed at the fact that they now have to marry, with Ethan having the additional fear that Catherine's father, the Duke, might very well arrange an "accident" for him if he puts one foot out of line.
_________
Although the situation all in all felt a bit forced and even silly at times, personally I found myself really appreciating it for all its silliness and really just liking the characters. Sure, they're kind of run-of-the-mill as far as characters by Ruth Ann Nordin go, but I especially liked Ethan and how, poor guy, he just needs to get away from his mother and Catherine's father in order to make any proper headway in his relationship with Catherine.
All in all, I'm really glad I gave this a try, despite usually being quite reluctant to touch anything with the "rake" plot attached to it. In this case, I have absolutely no regrets, and just find Ethan and Catherine oh-so c-u-t-e together!
November 9, 2020
This is the first time I am reading this Author and It was a great experience.
I really liked the book in starting as it was something new and Quite refreshing for me. I really liked how the main leads in this book has met and how the author started their story but as the story continues it starting to get bored. I don't know why Author has chosen to make this book soo predictable and their was nothing in the storyline after they got married.
I love historical fiction books and I have read many books with the plot of marriages but I think if the author could have done the work on a little bit of storyline or plot it would've been great. Though I really appreciate what author have written but it could've been better.
Got free from Amazon.
I really liked the book in starting as it was something new and Quite refreshing for me. I really liked how the main leads in this book has met and how the author started their story but as the story continues it starting to get bored. I don't know why Author has chosen to make this book soo predictable and their was nothing in the storyline after they got married.
I love historical fiction books and I have read many books with the plot of marriages but I think if the author could have done the work on a little bit of storyline or plot it would've been great. Though I really appreciate what author have written but it could've been better.
Got free from Amazon.
December 4, 2020
this was so exceptionally terrible it was kinda good. honestly i wish it were longer so they could have been pining for each other a little more lmao. it’s only 226 pages so there wasn’t enough time for anything to actually happen. i’m sure it’d be terrible no matter what we did it to it, but fun nonetheless
August 24, 2020
It was a fun read
January 22, 2013
This book was a pleasure to read. My favourite element was the characterisation; such vivid and wonderful characters. I am sure we all know someone exactly like each one. The man who pretends to be hard and bad to the outside world, but inside is nothing like that at all – bringing out the protective side in any woman. The mother who understands her son well enough to know she will never get the grandchildren and family life she desires without taking extreme measures to stop her son continuing to destroy his life, and who in the process manages to give him everything that he never even knew he wanted:
“You were mentioned in the Tittletattle again.”
His ears perked up at the mention of the scandalsheets. “I was?”
“Don’t act so pleased.”
He stopped smiling and gave her a solemn nod. “You’re right. I have behaved abhorrently.” After a pause, he added, “What did I get caught doing?”
Then there is the insecure lady who dreams of a husband and a wonderful family life, but she is too scared to reach out and take it. And her overprotective father, who treats his precious daughter like she is made of cotton wool, who lavishes her with wonderful presents and shopping trips, and who would duel to the death rather than see her hurt in any way.
“What a terrible thing it is to fall under wrath of a protective father,” he mumbled as he rushed through the process of removing the fencing gear.
“I’m sorry, my lord. Did you say something?” the valet asked.
He shook his head. “Not of any consequence.” What did any of it matter? He was doomed no matter what he did. Between his mother and his father-in-law, his only means of escape was death. And given his young age and health, he feared death was a long ways off.
Just as in real life interactions, these character types make you want to shout and scream. The author throws characters together with explosive consequences. It’s obvious what each character needs to do, but you’ve no power to influence them, but have to sit back and trust that the author will lead you to a satisfying ending, as she does.
I loved the backdrop of Regency London’s society and the balls of the ton, where desirable husbands or wives are paraded, sought and found. This is a story in which love, money, reputation and banter are sprinkled about in plentiful quantities, and in which lies and deceit produce an emotional, tender and at times raunchy story of how a fake-rake was finally tamed. The author expertly explores what happens when two people who seem so very different are forced to marry each other, creating a wonderful story of love against the odds.
I very much look forward to reading the next book in this series, which the author has set up through the introduction of Ethan’s good friends Agatha Lyons, Lady of Richfield, and Mr Christopher Robinson – both intriguing characters that I can’t wait to learn more about.
“You were mentioned in the Tittletattle again.”
His ears perked up at the mention of the scandalsheets. “I was?”
“Don’t act so pleased.”
He stopped smiling and gave her a solemn nod. “You’re right. I have behaved abhorrently.” After a pause, he added, “What did I get caught doing?”
Then there is the insecure lady who dreams of a husband and a wonderful family life, but she is too scared to reach out and take it. And her overprotective father, who treats his precious daughter like she is made of cotton wool, who lavishes her with wonderful presents and shopping trips, and who would duel to the death rather than see her hurt in any way.
“What a terrible thing it is to fall under wrath of a protective father,” he mumbled as he rushed through the process of removing the fencing gear.
“I’m sorry, my lord. Did you say something?” the valet asked.
He shook his head. “Not of any consequence.” What did any of it matter? He was doomed no matter what he did. Between his mother and his father-in-law, his only means of escape was death. And given his young age and health, he feared death was a long ways off.
Just as in real life interactions, these character types make you want to shout and scream. The author throws characters together with explosive consequences. It’s obvious what each character needs to do, but you’ve no power to influence them, but have to sit back and trust that the author will lead you to a satisfying ending, as she does.
I loved the backdrop of Regency London’s society and the balls of the ton, where desirable husbands or wives are paraded, sought and found. This is a story in which love, money, reputation and banter are sprinkled about in plentiful quantities, and in which lies and deceit produce an emotional, tender and at times raunchy story of how a fake-rake was finally tamed. The author expertly explores what happens when two people who seem so very different are forced to marry each other, creating a wonderful story of love against the odds.
I very much look forward to reading the next book in this series, which the author has set up through the introduction of Ethan’s good friends Agatha Lyons, Lady of Richfield, and Mr Christopher Robinson – both intriguing characters that I can’t wait to learn more about.
January 16, 2016
A Most Unsuitable Earl by Ruth Ann Nordin
Ethan Silverton, the Lord of Edon, has worked extremely hard the past five years….at cultivating a reputation as a rake. A really bad rake. The kind that makes even the pushiest debutante’s mother shutter. And it’s worked so far, very few of the Ton want their precious daughters married to a man with such an nefarious reputation. Until one night at a ball all that changes. Between a momma set on his title and money for her daughter, a tiny lie and his interfering mother he finds his life has changed drastically enough to cause a grown man to swoon.
Lady Catherine Morgan daughter to the Duke of Rumsey has yet to get a proposal even though her dear father has brought about every bachelor around for her that he can find. She may as well plan on giving up her dreams of home and family and accept her spinster status. Just when she has a glimmer of hope at meeting the right man, everything goes wrong. Before she knows it she is betrothed to the only man that would cause her to gladly stay a spinster rather than marry him.
Ruth Ann Nordin has written another outstanding story. Not only does the book draw you in to where you don’t want to put it down until the end but she has filled it with humorous situations. Lord Edon is not quite who he seems to be and the prim and proper, not to mention boring, Lady Catherine has a side to her worthy of his rakish rumors. The characters all have such unique personalities like Ethan’s mother who you may want to lock away, or at least practice using duct tape on, and Catherine’s father who enjoys scaring the heebie jeebies out of poor Ethan. What chance does this marriage have when it seems their parents are continually looking over their shoulders?
**Sexual situations within marriage
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...#
Ethan Silverton, the Lord of Edon, has worked extremely hard the past five years….at cultivating a reputation as a rake. A really bad rake. The kind that makes even the pushiest debutante’s mother shutter. And it’s worked so far, very few of the Ton want their precious daughters married to a man with such an nefarious reputation. Until one night at a ball all that changes. Between a momma set on his title and money for her daughter, a tiny lie and his interfering mother he finds his life has changed drastically enough to cause a grown man to swoon.
Lady Catherine Morgan daughter to the Duke of Rumsey has yet to get a proposal even though her dear father has brought about every bachelor around for her that he can find. She may as well plan on giving up her dreams of home and family and accept her spinster status. Just when she has a glimmer of hope at meeting the right man, everything goes wrong. Before she knows it she is betrothed to the only man that would cause her to gladly stay a spinster rather than marry him.
Ruth Ann Nordin has written another outstanding story. Not only does the book draw you in to where you don’t want to put it down until the end but she has filled it with humorous situations. Lord Edon is not quite who he seems to be and the prim and proper, not to mention boring, Lady Catherine has a side to her worthy of his rakish rumors. The characters all have such unique personalities like Ethan’s mother who you may want to lock away, or at least practice using duct tape on, and Catherine’s father who enjoys scaring the heebie jeebies out of poor Ethan. What chance does this marriage have when it seems their parents are continually looking over their shoulders?
**Sexual situations within marriage
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...#
March 25, 2016
I think that the Author ran out of ideas (if she had any) so she put sex scenes to fill the pages. There is no plot whatsoever.
There is a weak hero, super crazy mother-in-law, ridiculous father, weird heroine. The book was written as a historical romance but nothing there is historical except the date. The language is too modern. The conversations between mother-in-law and the heroine are preposterous (seriuosly, the talk befroe the wedding night was so stupid that even conversations in Twilight had more sense). I cannot imagine the mother-in-law talking to someone that outranked her in that way.
I'm also disappointed that the only interesting character in the series - Perry - was mentioned only in book one and then he wasn't given a second thought.
There is a weak hero, super crazy mother-in-law, ridiculous father, weird heroine. The book was written as a historical romance but nothing there is historical except the date. The language is too modern. The conversations between mother-in-law and the heroine are preposterous (seriuosly, the talk befroe the wedding night was so stupid that even conversations in Twilight had more sense). I cannot imagine the mother-in-law talking to someone that outranked her in that way.
I'm also disappointed that the only interesting character in the series - Perry - was mentioned only in book one and then he wasn't given a second thought.
April 2, 2013
I have read a many of Ruth Ann Nordin’s stories and have enjoyed most. I always like, that in her works when sexual situations are described, it is between married people. So many authors shy away from that aspect of marriage or place it before marriage with little or no consequences. This book like so many of her works has some truly laugh out loud moments. Unfortunately a few funny moments were all I can say about this story. As much as I typically love this author’s works this one fell a little flat for me. I think I was more interested in what was happening with Agatha and Christopher than the main characters.
August 31, 2016
Luv this author!!!
I am so glad I discovered this author...after reading book one in this series, I had to read book two right away to see if I had imagined how much I enjoyed it....I loved the flow of the story and the comical parts as well as the romantic...actually had me laughing more than once...thank you Ruth...am on to book three right now!!!
I am so glad I discovered this author...after reading book one in this series, I had to read book two right away to see if I had imagined how much I enjoyed it....I loved the flow of the story and the comical parts as well as the romantic...actually had me laughing more than once...thank you Ruth...am on to book three right now!!!
February 23, 2024
2 🌟
This author really knows how to write main characters that I truly despise. Whilst it makes reading some of her novels very painful, I suppose in a way it’s a credit to her writing that it pulls such strong emotions from me. That being said, I’m not sure she really meant for me to HATE the H in this the way that I did, so do with that what you will.
Ethan (H) has spent years cultivating a reputation as a notorious rake, so that he can avoid marriage, pass his title on to someone else and retire to the country to read. Catherine (h) is his opposite, she is shy and socially awkward and doesn’t do well as centre of attention. When Ethan uses Catherine to thwart the advances of a young woman, his meddling mother steps in and creates a situation where they have no choice but to get married.
First off, Ethan was horrible. He was so emotionally inept and immature that he never once recognised that he was the cause of all of his own problems. On numerous occasions he called the h boring, and she had to be the one to pursue their relationship once they married. Beyond that, their relationship was largely based on physical connection.
Catherine was okay, though by default I found her a bit annoying because she put up with Ethan’s crap so much. She needed to grow a backbone.
Also, unlike most of this authors work, there is some ow drama in this. Whilst it’s not true ow drama (the H and ow are just friends), I personally found the way he conducted himself in these situations to be incredibly disrespectful to the h. **Safety spoilers for this below.
Safety:
Dual v - both first everything (the H has a false reputation as a rake)
No om drama
No true ow drama - however, the H has a ow friend who he has frequent clandestine meetings with because she is an author and he helps her get her work to the publisher. He constantly sneaks around to meet the ow, lying to the h and his mother about it. He dances with the ow at a ball, and when the h’s father sees this, he is furious thinking that the H is flaunting one of his mistresses in front of his daughter. Due to his reputation as a rake, which he never corrects anyone about, the father immediately thinks the worst. One of the H’s friends wants to be set up with the ow, and so the H has a dinner party and invites them. The ow is angry at the H for matchmaking her when she does not wish to marry, and confronts him about this. The h and her father walk in on the H and ow alone in a room. It takes the h about 5 minutes to forgive him, which irked me. Whilst the friend isn’t a true ow, the H’s reputation was bad enough that I felt he should have been more aware of how his actions would look, and how they might be seen as a sign of disrespect to the h. Also, given how prone he was to scandal, I think he should have acted in a more respectful way after marrying the h so that she would never have to suffer the embarrassment of having people believe he is being unfaithful to her.
This author really knows how to write main characters that I truly despise. Whilst it makes reading some of her novels very painful, I suppose in a way it’s a credit to her writing that it pulls such strong emotions from me. That being said, I’m not sure she really meant for me to HATE the H in this the way that I did, so do with that what you will.
Ethan (H) has spent years cultivating a reputation as a notorious rake, so that he can avoid marriage, pass his title on to someone else and retire to the country to read. Catherine (h) is his opposite, she is shy and socially awkward and doesn’t do well as centre of attention. When Ethan uses Catherine to thwart the advances of a young woman, his meddling mother steps in and creates a situation where they have no choice but to get married.
First off, Ethan was horrible. He was so emotionally inept and immature that he never once recognised that he was the cause of all of his own problems. On numerous occasions he called the h boring, and she had to be the one to pursue their relationship once they married. Beyond that, their relationship was largely based on physical connection.
Catherine was okay, though by default I found her a bit annoying because she put up with Ethan’s crap so much. She needed to grow a backbone.
Also, unlike most of this authors work, there is some ow drama in this. Whilst it’s not true ow drama (the H and ow are just friends), I personally found the way he conducted himself in these situations to be incredibly disrespectful to the h. **Safety spoilers for this below.
Safety:
Dual v - both first everything (the H has a false reputation as a rake)
No om drama
No true ow drama - however, the H has a ow friend who he has frequent clandestine meetings with because she is an author and he helps her get her work to the publisher. He constantly sneaks around to meet the ow, lying to the h and his mother about it. He dances with the ow at a ball, and when the h’s father sees this, he is furious thinking that the H is flaunting one of his mistresses in front of his daughter. Due to his reputation as a rake, which he never corrects anyone about, the father immediately thinks the worst. One of the H’s friends wants to be set up with the ow, and so the H has a dinner party and invites them. The ow is angry at the H for matchmaking her when she does not wish to marry, and confronts him about this. The h and her father walk in on the H and ow alone in a room. It takes the h about 5 minutes to forgive him, which irked me. Whilst the friend isn’t a true ow, the H’s reputation was bad enough that I felt he should have been more aware of how his actions would look, and how they might be seen as a sign of disrespect to the h. Also, given how prone he was to scandal, I think he should have acted in a more respectful way after marrying the h so that she would never have to suffer the embarrassment of having people believe he is being unfaithful to her.
October 13, 2022
This is the second book in the series and can be read as a standalone. I love this genre and read it quite often, but I could not connect to the characters in this story at all. Ethan and Catherine’s relationship was not believable to me. The meddling parents were a distraction to the entire story and did not add any value to the story, in my opinion.
I am apparently in the minority so I won’t say too much to ruin it for others. Ethan is an Earl who remains unmarried and is doing everything in his power to stay that way. His mother has different plans though…
Lady Catherine has had her season a few times over and has yet to find a suitable husband. Her father is very protective of her and when she finds herself attached to Lord Ethan they are both unhappy about it.
The issues I had were mainly with the forced relationships all throughout this story. People who want nothing to do with each other suddenly can’t be without the other. There was no building of true relationships and getting to enjoy that. They are so forced it is hard to relax and enjoy what could have been a good story. ⭐️⭐️
I am apparently in the minority so I won’t say too much to ruin it for others. Ethan is an Earl who remains unmarried and is doing everything in his power to stay that way. His mother has different plans though…
Lady Catherine has had her season a few times over and has yet to find a suitable husband. Her father is very protective of her and when she finds herself attached to Lord Ethan they are both unhappy about it.
The issues I had were mainly with the forced relationships all throughout this story. People who want nothing to do with each other suddenly can’t be without the other. There was no building of true relationships and getting to enjoy that. They are so forced it is hard to relax and enjoy what could have been a good story. ⭐️⭐️
April 22, 2020
Catherine and Ethen
I so loved this story! I love when there’s humor and a great story line. Ethen wanted everyone to think he was a rake so the mama’s of the tone would stop throwing their daughters at him because he was a titled man. Catherine had a few seasons and still no husband. She thought she was going to be a spinster. One night at a ball she danced with Ethen and one of the tone mothers were trying to throw her daughter at him to dance, he grabbed Catherines hand and told the mother of the daughter that he was engaged to just get out of dancing with the lady’s daughter and danced with her. Soon it spread through the ball room and Ethen’s mother exaggerated the whole ordeal. The next thing they knew they where getting married. Catherine found out that her husband wasn’t the rake he pretended to be and Ethen didn’t realize that being married to Catherine wasn’t as bad as he thought. They both fell in love with each other.
I so loved this story! I love when there’s humor and a great story line. Ethen wanted everyone to think he was a rake so the mama’s of the tone would stop throwing their daughters at him because he was a titled man. Catherine had a few seasons and still no husband. She thought she was going to be a spinster. One night at a ball she danced with Ethen and one of the tone mothers were trying to throw her daughter at him to dance, he grabbed Catherines hand and told the mother of the daughter that he was engaged to just get out of dancing with the lady’s daughter and danced with her. Soon it spread through the ball room and Ethen’s mother exaggerated the whole ordeal. The next thing they knew they where getting married. Catherine found out that her husband wasn’t the rake he pretended to be and Ethen didn’t realize that being married to Catherine wasn’t as bad as he thought. They both fell in love with each other.
June 17, 2020
Historical romance on crack. I suggest not reading this hoping to be entertained by regency-era manners. Nada. Nein. Characters talked quite so bluntly and with this "in-your-face" manners. Fortunately, since it's meant to be a comedy, it works.
I like the familial relationships between the characters: hero with his mother, heroine with her father, etc. Their kind of familial closeness is not from regency era, but it's still sweet. The rivalry between the hero and heroine's father is cute. Finally, the hero and the heroine's realtionship is a cute "getting-to-know-you" story.
However, there weren't any worthy conflicts aside from the initial misunderstanding of hero's character (which was cleared quickly - "oh so you've never been with girls before? All those rumors are fake? Okay. Cool. I like- no! I LOVE you!". Even the conflict between the hero and his father-in-law serves more as comedic element.
Anyway, still enjoy reading it.
I like the familial relationships between the characters: hero with his mother, heroine with her father, etc. Their kind of familial closeness is not from regency era, but it's still sweet. The rivalry between the hero and heroine's father is cute. Finally, the hero and the heroine's realtionship is a cute "getting-to-know-you" story.
However, there weren't any worthy conflicts aside from the initial misunderstanding of hero's character (which was cleared quickly - "oh so you've never been with girls before? All those rumors are fake? Okay. Cool. I like- no! I LOVE you!". Even the conflict between the hero and his father-in-law serves more as comedic element.
Anyway, still enjoy reading it.
July 13, 2024
😭 I'm so glad it's over! That was so boring and frustrating and unromantic. And the Hero's mother was absolutely maddening with the level of interference and nosiness.
The only good part of this whole book was when the heroine's father did the equivalent of polishing his gun when he was talking to the Hero. He was shining his fencing sword and then they did some sparring, where the Hero landed on his butt and the father had his sword at his throat while he threatened him against hurting his daughter.
The Hero being a virgin was refreshing, but the steamy parts were a little too realistic and awkward to read, especially when the heroine turned pushy out of nowhere. And the on-page sex talk between the heroine and the mother-in-law was so cringey and unnecessary.
I don't recommend this one to anyone.
The only good part of this whole book was when the heroine's father did the equivalent of polishing his gun when he was talking to the Hero. He was shining his fencing sword and then they did some sparring, where the Hero landed on his butt and the father had his sword at his throat while he threatened him against hurting his daughter.
The Hero being a virgin was refreshing, but the steamy parts were a little too realistic and awkward to read, especially when the heroine turned pushy out of nowhere. And the on-page sex talk between the heroine and the mother-in-law was so cringey and unnecessary.
I don't recommend this one to anyone.
September 4, 2024
I didn’t like the characters. MMC is whiny, his mother is an air-head bimbo (and not an amusing or endearing one), fMC has multiple personalities (none of them interesting in the slightest), and her father is essentially Robert DeNiro in “Meet the parents”, but more meddlesome. Some of the situations could maybe (and it’s a big maybe) work in a contemporary setting, but here they’re just way too ridiculous and unbelievable to be funny. They were just awkward.
The parents are way too pushy and in their face all the time. I’m surprised they didn’t appear in the super cringy and awkward wedding-night scene. Physically, anyway, because they talk and think about them all the time they’re in bed together.
Anyway, I just managed to get to half of this before realizing this wasn’t going to improve. So it’s a DNF.
The parents are way too pushy and in their face all the time. I’m surprised they didn’t appear in the super cringy and awkward wedding-night scene. Physically, anyway, because they talk and think about them all the time they’re in bed together.
Anyway, I just managed to get to half of this before realizing this wasn’t going to improve. So it’s a DNF.
May 17, 2021
Lord Edon marries!!
Catherine is shy and does not know what to say to others. Lord Edon is very personable and a known rake. He does not want to get married. At a ball Lord Edon is pursued by a mother and her daughter. As he is trying to away from them, he bumps into Catherine. He proceeds to tell them that Catherine is his intended to get rid of them. Once Lord Erin's mother heard about the engagement, a very loudly announces to everyone about the engagement and a wedding date is set. Ruth Ann Nordin reveals many secrets about Lord Edon and takes you on a journey which is humorous and compelling to keep your interest to see what will happen next. You won't want to miss this book. Happy reading! 😊
Catherine is shy and does not know what to say to others. Lord Edon is very personable and a known rake. He does not want to get married. At a ball Lord Edon is pursued by a mother and her daughter. As he is trying to away from them, he bumps into Catherine. He proceeds to tell them that Catherine is his intended to get rid of them. Once Lord Erin's mother heard about the engagement, a very loudly announces to everyone about the engagement and a wedding date is set. Ruth Ann Nordin reveals many secrets about Lord Edon and takes you on a journey which is humorous and compelling to keep your interest to see what will happen next. You won't want to miss this book. Happy reading! 😊
November 21, 2020
Unexpected
Wow, i went in not expecting mich, but I've read a book from Ruth Ann previously, and it was SO GOOD
The special thing about this book is that, the humour was kinda unsuitable for the era, and not in a bad way. I laughed my butt off at the lines, especially from the mother and the hero. And also, this is the only historical romance book that I've ever read that doesn't have this alpha rich as hell hero. The hero was flawed, is well off but not too over and also scared of his father in law and sounded normal. Most readers wouldn't like that he is weak,well I wouldn't call him weak, but to me that what makes the characters human. 3.7 stars! #goawaycovid19
Wow, i went in not expecting mich, but I've read a book from Ruth Ann previously, and it was SO GOOD
The special thing about this book is that, the humour was kinda unsuitable for the era, and not in a bad way. I laughed my butt off at the lines, especially from the mother and the hero. And also, this is the only historical romance book that I've ever read that doesn't have this alpha rich as hell hero. The hero was flawed, is well off but not too over and also scared of his father in law and sounded normal. Most readers wouldn't like that he is weak,well I wouldn't call him weak, but to me that what makes the characters human. 3.7 stars! #goawaycovid19
November 17, 2021
Ethan and Catherine will have you laughing out loud, falling for them, and enjoy reading their story and as it unfolds it sweet, romantic, has some tense moments and entertaining till the very end. These two get set up by Ethan's mother and from there things take off. Her father not happy tries everything he can to get her to come home, but the more time Catherine and Ethan spend together the more they start to fall for each other. What happens when a situation is misunderstood? Will she leave or stay? Will he lose her or keep her? read and find out. Outstanding read. Love all the twist and turns and everything in between. Can't wait to read the next one.
May 6, 2022
4.5
Tropes:
Virgin hero
Protective father
Meddling mother
Marriage of convenience
This is a pretty laid-back historical romance. The basis of the plot is a marriage of convenience which results in real love.
Ethan spent so much time and energy concocting his reputation as a rake and a gambler to make himself seem a less attractive choice for a husband. This creative ploy to avoid marriage is ruined when he becomes fake engaged to Lady Catherine, because his mother who is desperate for him to marry a proper girl, hears of this and announces to everyone and anyone that her son is engaged to marry the wonderful Lady Catherine, the daughter (and only child) of a duke.
Both Ethan and Catherine are miserable at the idea of marriage to one another. Ethan has no interest in matrimony and Catherine believes he is a rake and does not want that type of man as a husband. Even her dad is unhappy about the match and makes it known to Ethan that he will not tolerate any kind of embarrassment to his daughter or have her be hurt by him. The only person who is actually happy is Ethan’s mom and it was funny. She was so into it. Trying to get everyone to be happy and look on the bright side.
Ethan was so sweet. He is the complete opposite of his reputation. He is a virgin, he is very rich, and he is kind, honorable, and thoughtful.
Catherine is insecure and dreams of a husband and a family, but no one notices because she is quiet and shy. Although we come to find out that much like Ethan, behind closed doors she is not what she seems.
Ethan and Catherine would never have picked each other, but they make a wonderful couple. I loved how she became so loving and caring and quite touchy once she realized his rake act was just that, an act. She saw the real man behind the mask and their relationship really bloomed.
Tropes:
Virgin hero
Protective father
Meddling mother
Marriage of convenience
This is a pretty laid-back historical romance. The basis of the plot is a marriage of convenience which results in real love.
Ethan spent so much time and energy concocting his reputation as a rake and a gambler to make himself seem a less attractive choice for a husband. This creative ploy to avoid marriage is ruined when he becomes fake engaged to Lady Catherine, because his mother who is desperate for him to marry a proper girl, hears of this and announces to everyone and anyone that her son is engaged to marry the wonderful Lady Catherine, the daughter (and only child) of a duke.
Both Ethan and Catherine are miserable at the idea of marriage to one another. Ethan has no interest in matrimony and Catherine believes he is a rake and does not want that type of man as a husband. Even her dad is unhappy about the match and makes it known to Ethan that he will not tolerate any kind of embarrassment to his daughter or have her be hurt by him. The only person who is actually happy is Ethan’s mom and it was funny. She was so into it. Trying to get everyone to be happy and look on the bright side.
Ethan was so sweet. He is the complete opposite of his reputation. He is a virgin, he is very rich, and he is kind, honorable, and thoughtful.
Catherine is insecure and dreams of a husband and a family, but no one notices because she is quiet and shy. Although we come to find out that much like Ethan, behind closed doors she is not what she seems.
Ethan and Catherine would never have picked each other, but they make a wonderful couple. I loved how she became so loving and caring and quite touchy once she realized his rake act was just that, an act. She saw the real man behind the mask and their relationship really bloomed.
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