Pink Heart Reviews
Lady In Red
Karen Hawkins
ISBN-10: 0060584068
ISBN-13: 978 0060584061
Avon Books, April 2005, 384 pp
Historical – Regency
Series: Talisman Ring Series
$6.99 (US) $8.99 (CDN)
Reviewed by Mary
November 2007
The last book in this series by Karen Hawkins is the best of the lot. Ms. Hawkins has built this story line up slowly and with careful deliberation so that now we find ourselves at the final story with a happy sadness. For Marcus' story is long overdue but now that it is complete we wish there were more brothers!
Marcus St. John has found himself the only unmarried brother in the St. John clan. He is lonely and unsettled with no one around to bother or distract him. What he chooses to do is focus all his attention on the business of making money and that he does well. But a turn of events has dealt him a change in plans he did not expect and does not like. He lost the St. John ring in a set of unfortunate circumstances and now wants it back. Honoria Baker-Sneed has the ring but the return comes with a price that Marcus is unwilling to pay.
Honoria is raising her sisters and brother while running an antiquity business while her father is away at sea. She is good at her job and knows that the ring she has may not be worth much to another dealer but it is priceless to the St. John family.
What Honoria wants is money to relieve some of the financial stress she is under and a chance for her sister to experience a season at the ton to find a husband. Both of this Marcus can give her but is unwilling to do so. What he proposes is a marriage of convenience so that he will be able to handle her financial woes while she will give him an heir that he does long for.
Honoria is forced to proceed with the stipulations Marcus has set but is not prepared to give up the control over her life and instead causes such disruption in his that Marcus is beginning to think that money was an easier resolution.
These two characters are a perfect fit and this book is a great addition to the Hawkins collection. You come to love the hard edged Marcus and feel that Honoria is not only the perfect match for him but the perfect addition to his life.
There are some updates on the other brothers but as with any series you just want more of them.
Read and enjoy!
