How to Treat a Lady (Talisman Ring) [Mass Market Paperback]

Karen Hawkins (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 25, 2003

Everyone knows that all the members of the St. John family are destined for greatness - all, that is, except the rebellious Chase St. John. Then, as the fates would have it, a lifetime of drinking, gambling and womanising catches up and leads him to a fateful incident which changes his life. Harriet Ward, on the other hand, has always felt the weight of responsibility caring for her mother and two brothers, but drawing the line at marrying a stuffy bore to save her home, she creates an imaginary fiance, Captain John. There is no one more surprised than she when Chase conveniently shows up, wounded by an unknown attacker, to fill the role of her suitor. As they pose as lovers and begin to unravel the mystery of Chase's assailant, they soon realise that their imaginary love has quickly turned into reality.

Editorial Reviews

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 (November 25, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060514051
• ISBN-13: 978-0060514051
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #181,890 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

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Funny and heartwarming!, February 10, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Treat a Lady (Talisman Ring) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first Hawkins book I have read, but won't be the last. Chase St. John is running from his past when he lands (almost literally) in Harriet Ward's lap. Harriet's has problems of her own as the bank is trying hard to take back her family home and only her mother's bravado keeping them at bay. Harriet's mother invented a fake fiance for the lovely Harriet -- a sea captain with a ship full of treasure and laughing blue eyes, a face stolen from a portrait the mother once saw.

At first the deception kept the bank from demanding payment right away, but when the mysterious sea captain fails to appear, they begin to demand an introduction. Thus when Chase lands in the Ward household and pretends he has amnesia so as not to reveal his own identity and bring his famous brothers post haste to fetch him back home, the Wards decide to pass him off as the made-up Captain.

This was a very funny and warm-hearted tale. I loved both Chase and Harriet and cannot wait to find the other books that went before this one. I hope Ms. Hawkins writes fast!

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 1/2 Stars - Another amusing Hawkins tale, December 9, 2003

By 

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

This review is from: How to Treat a Lady (Talisman Ring) (Mass Market Paperback)

I always wonder what her titles are supposed to mean - so often they seem to have little to do with the actual story (or maybe I just don't get it!). Anyway, this is a nice story with a touch of mistaken identity farce and a nice relationship between Chase and Harriet. But I found it slow and lacking in sustained passionate attraction. Though I liked the development of their relationship from wary opponents to comrades to lovers, it happens quite slowly and no real hot stuff occurs until about 200 pages in.

Chase St John has decided to leave London before he can shame his family with his recent dissolute behaviour under the influence of his so-called friend Harry Annesley. One incident in particular haunts Chase and is a source of tremendous shame and guilt of which he cannot absolve himself (causing another's death is unforgivable, afterall). On the road to Dover and a ship waiting to take him to Italy, he is set upon by footpads and left for dead. He is discovered by Miss Harriet Ward and her sisters and awakes in their home with a wound to his head. Not wanting his identity known, Chase pretends amnesia, which Harriet doubts. He seems awfully content for a man who remembers nothing!

Harriet and family have one last payment to make on the mortgage and Garrett Park will truly be theirs. But to keep the bank at bay until the sheep are sheared and the wool sold, Harriet's mother invented a fiancé for Harriet - a dark haired, blue eyed sea captain who is due to return any day with a hold full of booty and lots of money. So far this stall tactic has worked, but there is one banker who is not buying the story and wants to force payment. When Mr. Gower shows up, Mrs. Ward strikes again, telling the dark haired, blue eyed Chase that he is the fictitious Capt. Frakenham come to save the day! Chase decides to play along much to Harriet's discomfort!

From there we watch with amusement as Harriet tries to trip up Chase into revealing who he really is and Chase tries to get Harriet to admit that Capt. Frakenham doesn't exist. When they expect Chase to assist in the sheep shearing this masquerade has gone way too far - he's a St John for heaven's sake! But in order to stay in character he pulls his own weight, works harder than he has in all his life and comes to admire the Ward family. Harriet helps him to see that maybe running away is not the right thing to do, but has he the strength to face his family with his misdeeds? And he and Harriet are becoming very attracted to each other. He longs to take her burdens off her shoulders and give her all the things she needs and deserves. But what can London rogue Chase St John offer a country girl like Harriet Ward except trouble and heartache?

Then there are the blackmail and murder attempts, villains to expose and, of course, the set-up for Devon's story THE BRIDE WORE PLAID coming May '04. All in all an okay story just lacking some of the sizzle of some of her other stories.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hawkins really delivers with this one!, November 30, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: How to Treat a Lady (Talisman Ring) (Mass Market Paperback)

I've become a HUGE fan of Hawkins's Talisman Ring books and HOW TO TREAT A LADY did not let me down! I have been wondering about Chase St. John since I read about him in Confessions of a Scoundrel, and now I know why. Chase believes he's killed someone by accident and the guilt is killing him. On his way out of the country to spare his family from embarrassment because his story is about to become public, he is shot by highwaymen and left for dead. Enter Harriet Ward.

Desperate to keep the bank from foreclosing while she and her family collect the wool from their sheep, Harriet's mother makes up a fiancee -- handsome, wealthy sea captain, Captain John Frakenham. This convinces the bank officials to wait on collecting the loan -- they think the Captain will arrive and pay off the last of the debt. But after a while, they begin to wish to meet this elusive man ... and then they wonder if he really exists ...

When Chase pretends to have amnesia in an effort to keep anyone from knowing his identity and telling his family of his location, Harriet's family decide that Chase will make a wonderful Captain Frakenham. And so, they tell the man they think has no memory that he is their lost Captain and that he is in love with the willful Harriet.

Harriet, for her part, suspects that Chase does indeed know who he is and she has no wish for the sham fiancee, though she has little choice. And so the sparring begins.

One of the things I love best about Karen Hawkins is that she always writes smart, capable, intelligent heroines and Harriet Ward is one of the best. Frankly, this book has some of the wittiest, most enjoyable interplay between the two key characters that I've ever read. Ms. Hawkins just gets better and better - she's a delightful mix of Loretta Chase and Georgette Heyer.

I won't tell you more about the story except to say that I laughed outloud at some points and even had to wipe away a tear at the ending. It was just marvelous and I can't wait to read Devon's story next!