An Affair to Remember (Talisman Ring) [Mass Market Paperback]

Karen Hawkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 30, 2002

An arrogant earl determined to find the perfect wife; an intractable governess determined to transform him into the perfect man--who will win? The first book in The Talisman Ring series, this delightfully humorous and sexy romance links to Karen Hawkins′ last book, The Seduction of Sara.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Suddenly finding himself the guardian of five energetic children, Anthony Elliot, the Earl of Greyley, knows that he needs a governess and fast. But not just any governess will do; he wants the best. The problem is that the best is the very unconventional Anna Thraxton, a gently bred woman who speaks her mind, puts up with no nonsense, remains stubborn and passionate, and is beautiful as well. Unfortunately, they can't stand each other. But the children need to be taken in hand, and so Anna moves in and wins over the children and the earl at the same time. A quintet of delightful children, well-drawn secondary characters, and a pair of most appealing protagonists add to this charming, romantic, and nicely written tale. Hawkins (The Seduction of Sara) is quickly gaining a following, and her The Abduction of Julia won a spot on the Romance Writers of America's Favorite Book of the Year list in 2000.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Karen Hawkins was raised in Tennessee, a member of a huge extended family that included her brother and sister, an adopted sister, numerous foster siblings and various exchange students. In order to escape the chaos (and whilst hiding when it was her turn to do the dishes), she would huddle under the comforter on her bed with a flashlight and a book, a habit she still embraces to this day. For more information about Karen, or pictures of her chasing a box of donuts while training for a road race, visit her at www.karenhawkins.com or write to her at Karen Hawkins, P.O. Box 5292, Kingsport, TN 37663-5292.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Avon (July 30, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038082079X
• ISBN-13: 978-0380820795
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,836 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Karen Hawkins is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of over 22 fun and lively historical romance novels and two humorous contemporary romances. When not stalking hot Australian actors, getting kicked out of West Virginia (thanks to the antics of her extended family), and adding to her considerable shoe collection, Karen spends her time warming her feet on her two rescue dogs while writing her next book. She lives in Florida and loves to hear from readers at Karen Hawkins, P.O. Box 149924, Orlando, FL 32814-9924

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Funny & romantic story of love and a family in the making, May 24, 2003

By 

baltimore0502 "Hon!" (BALTIMORE, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Affair to Remember (Talisman Ring) (Mass Market Paperback)

I should have realized when I read "The Seduction of Sara" (my first Hawkins book) that I was being drawn into yet another of these family series where you feel compelled to read all the books just because! The fact that she had 5 brothers should have tipped me off. While I enjoyed "Sara", I found some of the secondary characters more interesting than Nick and Sara - primarily St John family head Marcus (whose story will likely be last as he seems to be the most interesting of them all). And I was very happy to find that overbearing half brother Anthony's story would match him with his nemesis, Sara's unconventional best friend Anna Thraxton. I was not disappointed - I liked it better than "Sara".

Anthony Elliot, Earl of Greyley has "inherited" custody of the five unruly and mischievous children of one of his Elliot cousins. As head of the Elliot family, he takes all of his responsibilities seriously and they're no different. But dealing with them is more than he bargained for and several governesses later, things are out of control - a state of affairs Greyley cannot abide. And so in desperation he seeks out Anna Thraxton who has the reputation of being the best governess in London. If only there were some other alternative since he and Thraxton cannot stand one another. He finds her impertinent, disrespectful, opinionated, irritating and stubborn. Too bad he needs her!

Anna Thraxton was not always a governess and she misses her life in society very much - the clothes, the balls, her best friend Sara. But she and grandfather must eat, and so she must work. When Greyley approaches Anna about working for him, she initially refuses. She's always found him overbearing, heavy handed, arrogant, irritating and stubborn. Too bad he's offering to pay her more money than she could make in a year for three month's work!

And so, Anna and grandfather move into Greyley House where Anna begins to bring order to the nursery - and disorder to Greyley's peace of mind. Their often heated disagreements somehow end as passionate kisses. He's helplessly attracted to her eventhough he has agreed to marry another. And Anna is just as hopelessly drawn to him, but knows there is nothing but heartache down that road for he's an earl and she's a mere governess - and certainly no man's mistress! So it may just take the mischievous children, together with Anna's equally naughty grandfather to bring this situation to the end they choose - whether Anthony and Anna like it or not!

A really fun and recommended read.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Story to Remember...., September 3, 2002

By 

Psboston7 "~ And so it Goes ~" (Upland, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Affair to Remember (Talisman Ring) (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book after reading a review on here by one of my fellow reviewers and it had the elements that I look for you know the Hero that "thinks" he wants a certain type of female, the "Heroine" that does not fit this "type" that the Hero is looking for, the attraction between the two despite these obstacles, mischievous children and meddling elders.

I really enjoyed this book. So why not give it the 5 stars.. hmmm well I think that when you give a book 5 stars it should have no holes or inconsistency between characters, the book should grab you from go and hold you enthralled the ENTIRE time.. like one that you would pull a all nighter for. This wasn't that sort of tale. It might well have been had I read the "The Seduction of Sara" first which is the book before this one. I have since picked that one up to read. There is a lot of emphasis on the bad element of the "Ellliot" name so I'm thinking (and hoping) that reading the 1st book will explain that whole premise because if not, there lies the first hole in this tale. The Heroine does a really good job at thwarting the Hero's seduction which I really liked and the Hero does have ample enough time to struggle with the attraction that he can not understand.

I have to say that the little conversations at the beginning of each chapter reminded me a lot of Julia Quinn's style, kind of like the little blurbs by Miss Whistledown. All in all I think most will enjoy this book it was funny, sexy and entertaining.

Respectfully Reviewed

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Dissapointing, May 1, 2009

By 

Cynthia M. Keller "CindyK" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: An Affair to Remember (Talisman Ring) (Mass Market Paperback)

I bought the other books in the St John Men series after reading "Seducing Sara". I was REALLY looking forward to this book, when Anna and Anthony get together. I thought the banter between them was good and I enjoyed the story right up until he decides Anna would make a good mistress. Say what? It turns out he's already proposed to another woman. Now a big deal is made about his "honor" and how he can't go back and drop this other woman for Anna, because that would be dishonorable. Of course seducing Anna and proposing that she be his mistress is OK. HUH? Anna is a gently born lady of society that's fallen on hard times and has to be a governess to make her way in the world. She's already been attacked and insulted in her former positions, so you'd think she'd be so insulted by Anthony that she'd leave (or tell her grandfather, who's staying with her). No, she stays for the kids and to help out Anthony's fiance (please!). Very dissapointing. I expected better. It doesn't help that Anthony is so clueless about why Anna is so upset. He constantly is plotting to get her in his bed and set up before he even gets married. I wish just once the heroine would have some backbone and walk away BEFORE she has sex with him!