"Kiss Me Annabel" by Eloisa James

Kiss Me, Annabel by Eloisa James 2005

"Kiss Me, Annabel" is the second book in the Essex Sisters series. It follows the story of Annabel, the second oldest daughter. She is the "pretty" one of the group, but is also quite mercenary - she wants to use her affect on men to secure a rich husband so she doesn't have to worry about money for the rest of her days. At the same time Annabel is searching for a rich husband, her sister Imogen, who is recently widowed, is grieving by losing control and rather scandalously trying to find herself a lover. Trying to get Imogen out of a rather uncomfortable situation that she got herself into, Annabel finds herself compromised and forced to marry the supposedly penniless Scottish Earl of Ardmore - who is anything but what she wanted in a husband.

I enjoyed this book. Annabel, while mercenary, had a good reason for feeling the way that she did, and her memories of her treatment by her father while she was trying to make ends meet on a very small budget make you sympathize with her. Ardmore, however, is a bit one-dimensional. He's tall, dark, handsome, rich, titled and religious - and I really can't think of any bad qualities he has. It's a bit hard to believe that he's actually real, and also rather hard to sympathize with him. Imogen, who I also liked in book one, is just as passionate in this book (although you really want to slap her sometimes...). Again, the relationship between the sisters is one of the best parts of this book.

Rating:

Family-Friendly Rating: