Book picks similar to
Tanner by Norah Hess


historical-romance
romance
western
secret-baby

The Farmer Takes a Wife


Genevieve Turner - 2015
    The poor man has never actually spoken to her, but he knows what he wants and it’s Laura. One night at a barn dance he resolves to ask her for a dance. A dance, a walk, and soon enough, he’ll might even have the nerve to ask her to be his wife.Laura Kemper has no intention of marrying—her mind is too much occupied with her father’s decline and her family’s woes. So when the handsome farmer she’s never noticed much before asks her to dance, she accepts, thinking it will go no farther.But when the dance turns into a blossoming affection, Laura finds herself the recipient of an unexpected proposal. She must decide which is more dear: her duty to her family or her feelings for Marcus.

Texas Two Step


Cynthia D'Alba - 2012
     After six years and too much self-recrimination, rancher Mitch Landry is ready to admit he was wrong. He’d been in love with Olivia Montgomery but he hadn’t been ready for the lifetime commitment. That was his first mistake. He’s divorced his second. He’ll not make the same mistake twice and he’ll do whatever it take to convince Olivia to give them a second chance. Through hard work, determination and more than a few tears, Olivia Montgomery survived the break-up with the love of her life. She’s rebuilt her life around her business and the son she loves more than life itself. She’s not proud of the mistakes she’s made—particularly the secret she’s kept—but when life serves up manure, you use it to mold yourself into something better. At a hot, muggy Dallas wedding, they reconnect. Olivia’s first instinct is to play it cool, but after one devastating kiss things quickly flare out of control. A quick night together should dampen those flames but instead only feeds the fires burning and now she’s left trying to protect the secret she’s held on to for all these years.

Forbidden Love


Karen Robards - 1983
    Forbidden Desires...He was her guardian, absentee landlord of her neglected life--until Megan Kinkead returned to Maam's Cross Court, determined to make Justin Brant notice her.  She finally commanded the attention of the sixth Earl of Weston when she burst into his room and caught him stark naked in the tub.  Suddenly she knew a woman's hunger--and a woman's needs....Forbidden Kisses...When had the scrawny brat from hell become a fiery, raven-haired, violet-eyed temptress?  Justin told himself she was still a child as she offered him a seductive yet innocent kiss.  He tried to remind himself that he was her guardian, her protector.  But the flashfire desire that blazed between them ignited a love neither had ever known before.  Then he told her he was married....Forbidden Secrets...Bestselling, award-winning author Karen Robards sweeps us into Ireland's lush landscape in this spellbinding novel of a headstrong young beauty and her aristocratic guardian, torn between passion, propriety, and...Forbidden Love.

Public Wife, Private Mistress (Italian Husbands)


Sarah Morgan - 2005
    However, Rico hadn't bargained on becoming infatuated with Stasia.Stasia fears that once Rico's sister recovers she will be cast aside ... Will her role as Rico's wife be over for good?

Texas Lily


Patricia Rice - 1994
    Part Apache brave and part Mexican grandee, Cade has a past and a secret. But he possesses the power and passion to command all in his path.Lily welcomes Cade into her struggle against treachery and terror—and discovers a love worth risking everything to keep.

Eden Creek


Lisa Bingham - 1991
    Readers looking for a poignant, charming tale will find their wish fulfilled in EDEN CREEK.”—Romantic Times After a devastating betrayal leaves Ginny Parker broken and alone, she hastily agrees to marry a man she’s never met and start a new life in Eden Creek, Utah. Orrin Ghant only wants a woman to help raise his three daughters, and a companion with whom to share life in the Utah wilderness. But upon the arrival of Ginny, he soon finds his new wife has brought with her more than he could have hoped. As they slowly settle into their new lives together, Orrin never expects to fall so deeply for Ginny’s sweet smile and gentle charm, nor does Ginny expect to find such comfort in Orin’s strong embrace and the tranquility of Eden Creek. But while their marriage of convenience blossoms into true love, secrets from the past loom over them, testing the bounds of their fragile new beginning.

Let Me Love You


Mary Wine - 2007
    With a spirit as wild as the West, Brianna Spencer faces a hard life in the small town of Silver Peak. Her father has not returned from spring hunting, but no way is she listening to anyone who says her father is dead. He's delayed.that's all. When Sloan McAlister finds Brianna walking the docks to pay down a bank note, she grabs his attention. The docks aren't meant for her caliber of woman. Yet the West is ruled by one thing, the need to survive. Sloan soon finds himself right in the middle of a claim-jumping family that considers Brianna easy prey while her father's out of the picture. His better judgment says to walk away. But after one stolen kiss, Sloan refuses to do anything of the sort. If she's going warm any man's bed, Brianna will marry him. However, Brianna wants more than his strong arm to back up her father's property. It's his love or nothing. Warning, this title is a Historical western, but still steamy with a good taste of sultry.

Just Imagine


Susan Elizabeth Phillips - 1984
    Disguised as a boy, she's come to New York City to kill Baron Cain, the man who stands between her and Risen Glory, the South Carolina home she loves. But unknown to Kit, the Yankee war hero is more than her bitterest enemy—he's also her guardian. And he'll be a lot harder to kill than she's figured on . . .Believing that Kit's a boy, Cain offers the grubby rapscallion a job in his stable. But he has no idea what he's in for, and it's not long before the hero of Missionary Ridge discovers the truth. His scamp of a stable boy is a strong-willed, violet-eyed beauty who's hell-bent on driving him crazy.Two hard-headed, passionate people . . . Two stubborn opponents with tender souls . . . Sometimes wars of the heart can only be won through the sweetest of surrenders.This book is an updated version of the original title, Risen Glory.

A Place Called Hope


Audrey Howard - 2001
    A tyrant and lecher, he resolves to tame her or destroy her for having the impertinence to leave him. And since he has her adored six-month-old son in his hands, it seems there is nothing that Amy can do except return to his power...

Cherish the Dream


Jodi Thomas - 1993
    Now they set out to take all that life had to offer - - and were swept up in the rugged, positively breathtaking world of two young pilots, men who took to the skies with a bold spirit. And who dared them to love.Together they embraced a tumultuous world where luck and desire meet. Where the winds of war challenged their hearts. And where passion soared beyond their wildest dreams.

Widow Woman


Patricia McLinn - 1998
    Hiring Nick Dusaq has nothing to do with the fierce pull between them and everything to do with saving her land.The solitary cowboy recognizes a kindred heart scarred by cruelty. He would ride away – he should ride away – if only her ranch didn’t need him so damned badly. Her ranch—not the widow woman like none he’s encountered before—is the only need he’ll let himself consider.Passion as powerful as the harsh beauty of the land around them bonds Rachel, the widow woman devoting every bit of her strength and courage to holding onto her Wyoming Territory ranch, and Nick, the loner cowhand with dreams of his own.Yes, they have passion. But does it hold the promise of healing and love or the destruction of dreams?- - - - -“A richly textured Western about a strong woman, a dark tormented man, and a love as fierce and irresistible as the Wyoming wind.” -- Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author“One of the most entertaining and interesting western historicals I’ve read in a long time.” -- The Romance Reader "A moving confirmation of the healing power of love" -- Romantic Times "Incredibly powerful" -- 5 Star review "Wow!... a romance that sizzles!...Powerful love story... Excellent!" -- Rendezvous"Splendid!" -- Bell, Book and Candle"An unforgettable read" -- 5 Star review

The Six Month Marriage


Penny Jordan - 1985
    And at first she'd been too besotted with him to realize that his passion burned for his mistress, Miranda, not for his virgin bride.Then Sapphire had discovered Blake's secret love letters and the reason he'd been unable to bring himself to share his wife's bed. Painfully disillusioned, she'd run away and divorced him.Now four years later she was considering remarrying Blake--temporarily--to ease her dying father's mind. After all, Blake hadn't desired her before, so what would he want with her now?

Gerrity's Bride


Carolyn Davidson - 1995
    Her 'citified' ways went next, along with her plans for a quiet, dignified life. Instead, she found herself bound to a hotheaded cowboy in a most inconvenient marriage!Ranch foreman Matthew Gerrity was used to having things go his way... So why was he having so much trouble getting his eastern beauty of a wife to accept that he was the one in charge?And the town of Forbes Junction, Arizona, would never be the same!

Dreaming of You


Jennifer McNare - 2013
    However, the innocent young beauty has no idea what her new husband will demand of her, once they are legally wed. It isn’t long however, before Melody discovers that the widowed earl had a purpose in choosing her for his bride, the daughter of an impoverished country baron. Impotent and childless, Charles is in desperate need of an heir, in addition to someone he can force into going along with the heinous scheme he has concocted.Gavin Montrose, son of the wealthy Duke of Rutherford, is as charming as he is handsome. However, unbeknownst to him, he is also the man Charles Cavendish has selected to father his heir. Abducted from the grounds of his family’s country estate, he awakens to find himself in the midst of a nightmare. Assuming that he has been abducted for ransom, Gavin is stunned to learn of his mysterious abductor’s true purpose. To gain his freedom and protect his family from harm, he must father a child he will never meet, with a woman whose name he will never know and whose face he will never see. Desperate to safeguard the people they love, both Melody and Gavin have no choice but to go along with the insanity that has been forced upon them or suffer the unbearable consequences. Compelled to meet in absolute darkness in the bedchamber of an isolated cottage, their identities a fiercely guarded secret, they will develop a bond neither of them had anticipated and discover a passion more powerful than either of them could have possibly imagined. But dare they call it love?Years later, when fate intervenes and Gavin and Melody’s paths inadvertently cross…

Lily and the Major


Linda Lael Miller - 1990
    She certainly had no desire for a husband. Yet proud, innocent Lily had no idea what desire meant until she met Major Caleb Halliday, a man who could ignite her very being with a single touch…a glance…a whisper. Sheltered in his arms, Lily rode the crest of a wild, helpless passion. And though she struggled against her own willful heart, she knew she could never choose between the dazzling man who had claimed her love so completely, and her bold, long-cherished dream…