Customer Reviews

The Abduction of Julia

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

Karen Hawkins excites the reader from the very first page in The Abduction of Julia. The characters and plot are wonderful. I couldn't wait to turn the last page.

Alec McLean, Viscount Hunterson, must marry the daughter of the Earl of Covington by midnight. Alec mistakenly abducts Julia instead of Therese. Julia dubbed the Frant Dragon is not at all what Alec expected. However, circumstances require that he marry immediately. Julia Frant is upset and outraged to have been kidnapped however she realizes marrying Alec could greatly benefit her charity work.

Julia and Alec are married but the war between them begins with her asking for half of his inheritance. The two lead each other on a merry chase as they each try to avoid scandal and falling in love.

There are several delightful supporting characters in the story including Aunt Maddie, Edmund and Lucien. Some parts of the story are so hilarious you can't help but laugh out loud. The Abduction of Julia is a remarkably funny and entertaining story. I can't wait to read the next Karen Hawkin's book.

I was lucky enough to read One Lucky Lord from Kim Bennet which was so wonderful I had to write the author. Well it turns out that Kim Bennet is also Karen Hawkins, a wonderful woman who writes excellent stories!

The Abduction of Julia is an incredible story between two opposites that share the same heart. Julia is the perfect heroine because she is someone you can relate to - she is actually a real woman. She is not some perfect, cardboard cut-out beauty - she is a gorgeous woman hidden behind what people perceive her to be. When she removes the old clothes and glasses she emerges as a beautiful lady - with the same personality as before - A REFORMER!

Alec on the other hand is the perfect rake! He is absolutely stunning and Julia has been in love with him since she set foot in London. He needs to marry immediately and due to circumstances beyond his control, dowdy Julia Frant (the Frant Dragon) is his only option. If he wants to keep the fortune away from his cousin Nick left by his grandfather he must marry and live scandal-free for one year! The choice is clear - he will marry Julia.

Little does he know his life has just changed for the better. Little does he know the fortune is not the prize. Little does he know he has just lost his heart!

Read it! I highly recommend it!

The dashing Viscount Hunterston, Alec Maclean, must marry before midnight. When he accidentally absconds with the wrong woman, he finds himself married to Julia Frant instead -- a pragmatic American reformer known to the ton as the Frant Dragon.

Julia Frant has loved Alec Maclean for a long, long time. She agrees to marry him with two objects in mind -- to use his fortune to help her charities and to reform him from his wild ways. Little does she know that Alec is not the only one about to undergo a transformation!

This book was simply wonderful. From the first page to the last, it will grab your heart and never let go. I thought Julia was marvelous -- and such a great reformer. She was true to character, stubborn in her beliefs, and head-over-heels in love with Alec throughout the book. Alec, too, was an interesting, intriguing character and I fell in love with him.

This book was fast paced, refreshingly funny, had A TON of incredible secondary characters -- Aunt Maddie, Edmund, and the dark and sexy Lucien.

A light, fun read for anyone who loves Regency historicals with a touch of humor! This author reminds me of Julia Quinn and Cathy Maxwell. Well done, Ms Hawkins! I'm looking forward to Lucien's book.

In a romance novel, you need more than just a good plot (although The Abduction of Julia does have a great plot). Readers have to feel that they know the characters and understand why the hero and heroine fall in love. Karen Hawkins excels at this. Reformer Julia Frant and the wild Alec MacLean are wonderfully written. But Ms. Hawkins doesn't stop with just the hero and heroine. Her story is filled with a cast of charmingly three-dimensional characters from an intriguing villain to a butler who waits up every night to serve his lord a glass of warm milk before bed. It is easy to see why Julia and Alec fall in love with each other, and it is just as easy for the reader to fall in love with them.

Determined to win his rightful fortune and comply with his grandfather's will, Alec MacLean must marry before his next birthday. In just two hours. When his plans to marry the woman mentioned in the will backfires, he marries the woman he accidentally abducted instead, her cousin Julia.

Julia Frant has secretly loved Alec for four years so when the opportunity to marry him arises she jumps at the chance, and at the chance for money to go toward her worth causes. But the will has one stipulation. They must live scandal free for one full year. Can a do-good reformer like Julia live a year without a scandal?

The marriage starts off rocky with plans for an annulment after one year, but love gets in the way and the two find themselves drawn to eachother. Is it possible to fall in love with your own spouse?

This was the first book I've read by Karen Hawkins and was completly impressed. I highly recommend this book and hope to read more of her in the future.

Sabrina Jeffries told me, "If you like my work [and I DO!], you'll like Karen Hawkins." And yes, I certainly liked this book! The intelligent heroine, so long ignored by society, finds her wishes coming true, her lifestyle abruptly changing to the point where she can finally dig in and do a lot of good in the world within her marriage of convenience (ha ha! Little does she realize...). Chemistry between hero and heroine was right up there, although I thought the "crossed wires" misunderstanding went on too long and came out of nowhere. A minor quibble that didn't detract too much from the rest of an excellent work.

Even the servants are richly-painted characters that you can chuckle with. Very nice characterizations all around. Wonderful situation. A lovely read.

Alec, Lord Hunterston, must marry by midnight in order to satisfy his grandfather's will and keep his fortune safe from the hands of his wastrel cousin. Alec has a special license in his pocket and his bride in his carriage--but at a stop to change horses, he realizes that the woman in the carriage isn't his lovely young betrothed, Therese, but her drab spinster cousin, Julia. However, with only two hours left to go, Alec has no choice.

Julia Frant has been in love with "Devil" Hunterston since she first met him four years ago. Her life as a poor relation has not been an especially pleasant one, so she strikes a bargain with Alec.

The other stipulation of Grandfather's will is that once Alec marries, he and his wife live in London and move about in Society scandal-free for a year. Alec knows it will be a long year without his usual drinking, gambling, and keeping mistresses, but he can do it. The problem is Julia: she is a reformer, actually going into the squalor of the Whitechapel area and rescuing fallen women and other needy souls. Many of the nobility contribute money to various charities, but to *work* with them, brush shoulders with the lowest of the unwashed masses... it simply Isn't Done. Alec must try to convince the headstrong Julia that, while she may still give funds to her pet causes, she cannot be picking people in need off the streets.

Upon hearing the title of this book, my first thought was that is it a Gothic. It's not. Rather, it's a humorous romp of errors which reminded me of the novels of Julia Quinn and Cathy Maxwell. Julia is a delight, and the sexual tension between these two is steaming. Secondary characters are well-drawn, including the pug-pampering harridan who takes Julia under her wing and Alec's friends, one a dashing charmer and the other a talkative, more-hair-than-wit fribble that one can't help but smile at. I hope to hear their stories in future books. All in all, THE ABDUCTION OF JULIA is a triumphant debut for Karen Hawkins, and no doubt I will not be the only reader waiting for more from her.

Kimberly Borrowdale, Under the Covers Book Reviews

What a nifty book! The characters, even the villain, are all attractive and likeable. The leading lady is intelligent and practical, and it is enjoyable watching her turn from a mousy frump into a heartstopping temptress. Alex's responses to her are also believable and entertaining. The sexual tension is subtle and believable, and the lovemaking is tasteful. I hope she writes more of the same and soon! Maybe a novel about Nick?

Ever since I became a reviewer here in Amazon, I have been lucky in my book reading. I have read so many worthy books in the past month & I owe it to Amazon & the rest of the reviewers! Thanks for your time in sharing your opinions.

His grandfather left Alec MacLean, famously known as Viscount "Devil" Hunterston, a lot of fortune before he died. Of course, with an ultimatum... he must marry the daughter of the late Earl of Covington ( before his birthday ) and lived with the society for one year without scandal. If he fails, the fortune will be inherited by his cousin, Nick. Alec had at least 6 months to take care of this matter but he waited the last minute to elope & marry Therese Frant. Then things even gotten worst for him as he mistakenly abduct Therese's cousin, Julia Frant (known as the "Dragon Frant"). He also found out that Therese actually planned to duped him in the altar for Nick. The story gets EVEN better after this....

Known as the bad boy of the high society, a rake & a scoundrel among other things... Alec also possessed a handsome look that Julia admired ever since she first saw him, four years ago. When she offered to help him by marrying him, she really had nothing to loose. She find herself in love with him in the first place, though not yet deep at the time, plus, she wanted to help her charity society group with the money she could get from Ale'c inheritance. She ask for half! I know there are some reviewers who don't like this idea but i think it is realistic. What has love got to do with money if she knows she can put the money in good use rather than Alec squandering it away (with his drinking & gambling & God knows what)? Julia Frant is a prim reformer. She has the tendency of wanting to help everyone, even Alec. She planned to help him with his scoundrel ways... Yet, each day he live with him, the more he sees he is afterall a good hearted man. She finds herself falling deeply in love with him while he too couldn't stay away from her. The way Alec seduces Julia is my favorite of all. He is indeed a flirt, A big TEASE! Prim & proper Julia versus rakey Alec... They are both very opposite yet perfect for each other.

I was getting tired of a perfect, "VERY" beautiful heroine in books. So, this one was somehow a change. Julia wasn't a perfect beauty. In fact, she wears glasses and described as an old maid... yet she had potentials. Mind you, she was decent & well mannered. It's just her looks & clothing that needed some polishing. With proper help & guidance, she turned into a swan. I like this kind of idea. Despite her change of clothing, her personality remain intact. She was loved and accepted by the "Ton" because of her charming ways & good hearted intentions. This is my first book of Karen Hawkins & (again) won't be the last. I thoroughly enjoyed each page as I read along. The twist & all the secondary characters overwhelmed me. I love them all... Edmund is a doll! Alec's servants, The S.S.W., Mad Maddie, Muck & even Nick. They all contributed in making this book one of a kind. The ending was unexpected to me... It was a good ending too! This book also emphasized that there is good in every one of us. Love & good heart always wins! I hated for this book to end but I heard that there is a sequel, story of Duke of Wexford, Lucien. He is Alec's bestfriend. So of course, I am looking forward for the release of this book in 2001. I hope it contains many updates of Julia & Alec.

(sigh) what can I say? I thoroughly enjoyed every minute I spent with this wonderful book. Alec MacLean, the hero, is forced to marry and live scandal-free for a year in order to inherit a fortune. His last-minute choice is none other than Miss Julia Frant, an American known to the ton as the Frant Dragon because of her reformist ideologies.

In truth, Julia has had a secret crush on Alec since the first time they met. Yet she resists Alec's charm for fear that her love for him will only cause trouble and break her own heart. Alec is a perfect gentleman. It's interesting to see how a rake and a reformer gradually come to terms and fall in love with each other.

Alec and Julia are both strong-willed so before they can live happily ever after, there is lots of compromising to do. I'm drawn to the process although sometimes Julia's stubborn (and sometimes unncessary) adherance to her reformist efforts is tiring.......But oh, how I love the scene where they finally, er, succumb to their passion for each other. It's refreshing to encounter a heroine who is as aggressive as the hero during the love-making.

The secondary characters are almost as attractive and intriguing as the hero and heroine. Alec's best friend, Lucien, is without a doubt handsome and hero-material. I was dying to know more about him as I read THE ABDUCTION OF JULIA. Fortunately, his own story is told in THE BELATED BRIDE, which I bought immediately after I finished TAOJ.

And Nick. Oh, he is the most alluring and irresistable villain I've ever known. He is the classic bad boy and I found myself helplessly drawn to him. Really, who can not be attracted to a beautiful,lost soul? I was relieved to see that he was not beyond redemption. My only complaint is that his story is not out yet (please, Ms. Hawkins, is there a possiblity that you'll finish Nick's story before I finish THE BELATED BRIDE? the prospect of waiting for Nick's story without any of your new books to read makes me shudder......)

All in all, THE ABDUCTION OF JULIA is a book no one should miss. I highly recommend it!