Annabel is determined to marry a rich man, as she spent her childhood in charge of the family's accounts - and often the only one standing between them and destitution.

When she meets a handsome Scottish earl, she's charmed but firm in pushing him towards other debutantes, as she's heard the rumors of this impoverished earl in search of an heiress.

Again, James crafts a story of charming romance, witty women and men, and lots of sexiness. Recommended. ( )

Kiss me; Annabel is the second book in Eloisa James’s hot Essex sister’s series. In addition, I can say without a doubt that it does not disappoint. I came upon this series accidentally and read the third book before I knew it was a series. However, finding out that it was I happily picked up the others. In addition, have yet to be disappointed.

Annabel is by far the most greedy of the Essex sisters, seeking to trade her good looks much like a courtesan does for a mans favor. Nevertheless, she is not content to be improper about it she will give her beauty only to a rich Englishman who will marry her. But she gets a shock when a handsome Scotsmen not only gets in her path but there is a scandal and she must marry him.

This book was so fun and so touching, I really enjoyed it and had a fun time reading it. The author even states that it is loosely based on Shakespeare taming of the shrew and I do not have a bit of trouble believing that. When you read it, you will know what I mean. However, in all honestly it is a very easy to follow read, in the historical romance genre Eloisa James stands out.

The writing has a fun flare to it, and you find some mysteries wrapped in. Nothing to deep but still a little something to make it fun. Moreover, the secondary characters of this story are just as fun to follow around as the main characters. If you are a fan of historical romance, and England and Scotland, you really do need to read this book. You follow the women around from country to country, and see just what Annabel ends up marrying for. Love? Money? Or both. ( )

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. ( )

"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. ( )