Rating: 
Summary: Perfectly wonderful!
Review: I adored every page of this book! Karen Hawkins has a real winner here. From the very first sentence, I was drawn into the story and the characters.Greyley is marvelously arrogant and "growly" while Sara is a nearly perfect heroine--strong, determined, fiery, and witty. They sizzle every moment they are together. Secondary characters are generally well-drawn and engaging as well. The plot moves along swiftly, with Hawkins' writing keeping the reader's attention throughout. I was very slightly disappointed in the second and pivotal love scene, expecting it to be somehow "more," but by the end of that section, it no longer mattered. And even though I would have liked a bit more about this terrific couple in the epilogue, the story was utterly satisfying. The flaws are so minor as to hardly be worth mentioning. The romantic leads are engaging, the story entertaining, and the end result delightful. "An Affair to Remember" is one of the best books I've read. I can't wait to pick up another Karen Hawkins' novel.
Rating: 
Summary: Anthony and Anna sizzle!!
Review: I loved An Affair to Remember!!! Even though I didn't like The Seduction of Sara, I knew that Anthony and Anna's story would be a real page-turner. I wasn't disappointed! Anthony Eliot, The Earl of Greyley, "inherits" his cousin's (whom he despised)five children, and they wreak havoc on his organized, bachelor existence from the very beginning. Anthony is at wit's end, going from one governess to the next. His sister Sara suggests that Anthony hire Anna Thraxton, her best friend, Anthony's nemesis, and the best governess of the ton. At first, Anthony refuses because he knows how Anna has a way of causing trouble, speaking her mind, and changing things that don't need to be changed. But, Anthony is desperate!!! Anna Thraxton's family has fallen on hard times, and Anna must now work to support herself and her cudmugeon of a grandfather Sir Phineas. She is considered the best governess of the ton for her ability to work with "difficult" charges. When Anthony offers Anna the position, she refuses. She knows that no one affects her senses like the totally proper, arrogant Earl of Greyley.And no one infuriates her more!! Anthony makes Anna an offer she can't refuse, and she wonders if she's going to her worst nightmare or her dream come true. This is a very well-written story. Both characters are very strong and have their own minds, which makes the struggle and the passion between them very believable. I give this book 4 1/2 stars!!
Rating:
Summary: She just keeps getting better and better!
Review: I loved the relationship between Anna and Anthony. The five children made the story lively and funny. You could feel Anthony's frustration every time he and the children were together. Karen's books just keep getting better and better. I am looking forward to the next one.
Rating:
Summary: A Story to Remember....
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: 4 1/2 stars - This just missed being a 5 star book.
Review: I really enjoyed the Seduction of Sara and I loved this book too! With a little tweaking, The St. John family could give Julia Quinn's Bridgerton's a run for their money. As the other reviewers state, Anthony and Anna's chemistry is quite fun to read about, especially if you read The Seduction of Sara. MY ONLY COMPLAINTS - THAT KEPT ME FROM GIVING THIS BOOK 5 STARS are the following: 1) You never really get to see or read about Anthony and the children warming up to each other - there are no heartfelt scenes between them where they discover that they care for each other. 2) In the beginning we learn that the eldest Desmond is old enough to go to eton but does not want to leave his brother and sister's behind to be seperated (which is what his grandmother said would happen) I would like to have seen this resolved in the epilogue. 3) RICHARD! Ugh the whole book he does not speak! Was he deaf? We read in one paragraph that he is watching his sister's lips while she is reading a book and then in the next we are told it looks like he wants to speak. This is never resolved. We never learn what happens. I assumed that these little things would have been dealt with in the epilogue but weren't - I can't stand when things like that are left unresolved. These are the reasons I could not give it a 5 star rating. Hawkin's has such promise and I can't wait to read her next St. John installment. I just hope she learns to resolve issues that arise in characters better.
Rating:
Summary: Funny & romantic story of love and a family in the making
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: engaging Regency romance
Review: In 1816 England, James Putney's will assigns sole care of the deceased's five children to his cousin Anthony Elliot, the Earl of Greyley. Though Anthony despised his cousin, he takes the decision quite gracefully. However, James' mother makes a scene until her other son tells her to be quiet. Anthony figures the quintet may have been spawned by the devil and raised as hellions, but how hard can it be with the oldest being only eleven. A few weeks later, Anthony is at the end of his rope and without a governess as none last very long. He considers buying property in America so he can ship his wards there though he worries about an international incident leading to a third war. Anthony hires Anna Thraxton as his latest governess. However, though she brings some order to the wards and even helps Anthony's reticent fiancee, Anna poses new problems for the beleaguered aristocrat. He wants her by his side permanently even if she meddles in everyone's life because she wants a happy ending for all. AN AFFAIR TO REMEMBER is an engaging Regency romance that readers will delight in due to the strong cast. The story line is amusing as Anthony finds love and rescue in the courageous Anna. The characters make the tale with the pranks of the children and the nastiness of their grandmother augmenting the romance. Sub-genre fans will want to read Karen Hawkins' next tale starring whichever St. John sibling gets stuck with "the ring". Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Loved it!!
Review: IT was great to see Anna and Anthony get together after seeing how much heat there was between them in The Seduction of Sara. Enjoyed it a lot.
Rating:
Summary: Energized characters make this an affair to remember
Review: Saddled with five deliquents from his relative, Anthony Elliot is desperate enough to approach the town's best governess Anna Thraxton despite their strained relationship. As the staunch leader of the Elliot wastrel pack, he has enforced discipline and elevate their tarnished status after his mother has married a St. John. It would glorify the Elliots even more if he could transform these future descendants to well-bred societal elites. Alas - these untenable children under the wicked manipulation of their grandmother strike a mutiny towards Anthony through nasty pranks and their terror has chased off any possible candidates for their governess. It seems Anna Thraxton has responded to the challenge. Tantalized by a handsome reward to soothe her dire straits and a possible recommendation for a job well-done, Anna finds herself unable to refuse his offer despite having to accommodate with the overbearing Anthony. What she did not forsee was the electric chemistry and sparks between them that presented the real challenge.... Karen Hawkins makes this read an affair to remember with palapble chemistry between Anna and Anthony that sizzles through snappy dialogues and memorable characterization. Their story is in fact far tighter and more superior than her last novel The seduction of Sara where the wit and romance sparkles. What was under-developed though was the mischievous party of five where they were auspiciously introduced with distinct characters. Ms. Hawkins left the reticent Richard hanging and the ending lacked a dramatic tug. Ms. Hawkins is as usual competent in her narrative flair and this rollicking fun read proves reassuringly that good old chemistry is class compared to the crass of overt passion in romance novels nowadays.
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable
Review: The book was enjoyable to read due to the characters it brings to the story. Karen Hawkins brought a nice contrast between Anna and Charlotte against Anthony. It was nice to see a little change with that, so it wasn't an easy pairing if he were to be with Charlotte. I agree, Karen Hawkins should have at least concluded the development of Richard, why he won't talk, and if he progressed at all. But the kids were were a nice touch to the book. I can't wait for the next book to come along!
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