Kiss Me, Annabel (Essex Sisters, book 2)

Judging from just these two books by Eloisa James, I think she's at her best wielding the humor and wit that galvanized the interactions of the many characters from Much Ado About You. In this second installment of the Essex sisters' series, the focus is more on the romance between Annabel Essex and Ewan Poley, the earl of Ardmore, than it is on the ensemble cast that surround our hero and heroine. I'm not protesting the shift in focus and loved the two of them together - their romance is original and moving, equal parts piquancy and poignancy. I really liked Annabel - though you should really read the first book in order to get a full sense of her character. She was such fun in Much Ado About You, while in this second book she's not more subdued exactly, just adapting to and grappling with her changing circumstances, and there's less to laugh about in Kiss Me, Annabel. Through no fault of her own, she gets caught in a scandal with Ewan, a Scot who's traveled down to London in search of a wife. So they have to marry, which is shattering to Annabel, who never wanted to see Scotland again and was determined to nab a rich London aristocrat for herself. So begins a road romance that brings the two of them closer, while teaching some lessons along the way (like the lesson that teaches you that you shouldn't teach lessons... for any Arrested Development fans out there). Ewan is very accessible and human, and he and Annabel complement each other perfectly. They fight and they love each other, and their kissing game I thought was very cute. Besides the central romance, there's poor Imogen, one of her sisters, who continues to deal with her issues as well, and her story is just as compelling as ever. She pulls off a bitchiness that is simultaneously entertaining, aggravating, and understandable - quite a feat, I think. The sisters aren't all together in full force here either, though they do meet up a bit for those heart to heart late night talks. The book really hit its stride for me once Kate and Ewan reach Ewan's home, and there the scope broadens to include his family, and hers shows up soon after in an effort to save Annabel from a marriage they think she doesn't want. All in all a great book and very well written, though for me it didn't sparkle in quite the same way as Much Ado About You. But it made up for this by skillfully intertwining its various powerful, thought provoking stories.

I REALLY liked this book, which came as a surprise to me. When I first purchased the book (shortly after it was released), I started to read it, only to find that I couldn't get into it, so I begrudgingly abandoned it for another book. Just a few days ago, I decided to pick it up again, deciding I had better read it if I want to read the entire Four Sisters series. Well, to my delight, my interest never waned and I finished the book in a very short time. Annabel Essex was a more likable character than I expected. She seemed rather cold and unfeeling in the first novel of the series, but you come to find that she is merely uninterested in love. Her highest priority is to insure she never knows poverty again. Ewan, a Scottish Earl, was also a likable character. I'll be honest, I usually prefer the hero to be a dissolute rake. Ewan was seductive and very appealing, but he was certainly not a rake. He was an honorable and kind man. It was somewhat refreshing to find a hero who wasn't resistant to love. There are readers who feel that most of the attention in the novel was given to Annabel's sister Imogen. This is true, to a degree. As in "Much Ado About You", a portion of "Kiss Me, Annabel" is devoted to Imogen and her inner turmoil, which does take a little of the attention away from the main characters. However, I feel that is it necessary as I think the author is trying to prepare us for Imogen's story, especially as pertains to her relationship with the girls' guardian, Rafe. The author has certainly heightened my anticipation for Imogen's story, which I think was the whole idea in including so much of her in the first two novels of the series. All in all, I enjoyed "Kiss Me, Annabel." I love Annabel and Ewan as a couple; their penchant for kissing every five minutes was very sweet and there was just the right amount of light-hearted humor in the novel. It was also fun to read more of Josie, the youngest Essex daughter. She will make for an entertaining heroine. On a final note, I do so hope the author is able to devote some time to finding love for Mayne; I find him very intriguing and wish he would get his own story!

Book two in the Four Sisters series. Set about seven months after the first book, this is Annabel's story. She's the gorgeous second sister, the one her horse-mad father forced to keep his accounts, the one he disliked for asking him to sell a horse so they could eat and pay bills. Annabel vowed to never be poor again and to marry for money. She has a rich man lined up and is patiently waiting for him to propose. Even meeting Ewan Poley, Earl of Ardmore, doesn't distract her from her rich goal . . . much. Ewan is a Highland Scot, lives with his grandmother, servants and three monks, one of whom sent him to London to "dance with a pretty girl". Annabel believes the rumors about Ewan's poverty and need for a rich bride. She's attracted to him but still refuses his offer. And then, due to circumstances beyond their control, they're compromised. If you think you know what happens next, think again. I enjoyed everything about this book - plot, dialogue, characters, gentle humor, romance and sex. I even found spoiled, selfish Imogen understandable. The Shakespeare theme in this series is clever; has me running to my "Complete Works" to look up phrases and scenes. Very well written and I want more. Note - After checking the author's website, I found book three, THE TAMING OF THE DUKE, is out now! Wheeeeee!

I would actually give it 4 1/2 stars, just because I felt the ending dragged a little. However, I loved the characters of both Ewan and Annabel. Ewan was NOT a cookie-cutter Earl, which was very refreshing. And seeing the practical Annabel get swept away was a lot of fun. I don't have a problem with switching back and forth between Annabel and Imogen. I think it makes it seem as though you're getting "more book," a story and a half instead of just one! Before I read this book, I would have bet that the next two couples would be Josie and Rafe, then Imogen and Mayne. Now I'm thinking it will be the other way around...although I'm not sure how the self-centered Imogen will be able to take time away from her own emotions to "tame" Rafe. But I can't wait to find out!

Annabel has always known she was beautiful. As she was growing up, she watched her father spend all the family money on his stables, horses and the racetrack. Since she has a head for numbers, she takes the household accounts in hand, and manages the financial aspect of her family's life. One coin could make the difference between eating meat or having beans for dinner. After this childhood, she, naturally, has a fear of poverty and decides that her beauty will compensate for a lack of a real dowry. As the book opens, Annabel is on the verge of accepting a marriage proposal from exactly the man she is looking for - a titled, pleasant, wealthy man with whom she can have a pleasant, worry-free life. She meets Lord Ardmore - a Scottish earl that is embodiment of everything she DOESN'T want in a future husband. Although intrigued by him and attracted to him, she does not even consider him as a potential suitor and rejects his offer of marriage and his pursuit of her. Her sister, Imogen, has other plans for Lord Ardmore. Imogen, who is recovering from the death of her young husband, decides to have an affair with Lord Ardmore (without consulting him first!!) and this decision sparks a series of events that lead to Annabel's reputation being damaged. Lord Ardmore immediately proposes marriage, because of the scandal, and she has no choice but to accept. Even though Lord Ardmore has a special license that will allow them to marry immediately, he asks her to wait until they reach Scotland because he there is a specific monk that Ardmore wants to perform their marriage ceremony. She agrees to this and the rest of the story details how they fall in love (and lust) with each other as they travel to Scotland (without being really married) and what they must each overcome to have a happy life together. The book is wonderfully written, with great secondary characters. The great thing about Eloisa James' novels is that the dialogue and story just flows... you can feel the tension in the air when Imogen and Annabel fight. You can feel how sad the sisters are when gathered around together before Annabel leaves for Scotland. The chemistry between Ardmore and Annabel sizzles (love scenes = steamy hot), as does the chemistry between some of the secondary characters. Josie, the youngest sister, steals every scene she's in - her dialogues are down-right hilarious and I'm really looking forward to her story now (which will be the last one.) Those you that have followed the (mis)adventures of the Earl of Mayne will be happy to see him figure prominently in this book. I've given it 5 stars because I'm rounding up -- I would really give it 4 1/2 stars. The only reason I would deduct half a star is because, sometimes, James veers too much away from the main characters. As a result, I felt that Annabel and Ardmore were not as well sketched out as they could have been, and that their courtship (during the journey to Scotland) was a bit rushed. The book is set up so