Books › Kiss Me, Annabel
Kiss Me, Annabel
First published 2005 · 400 pages
A playful Regency romp where pragmatic marriage plans are derailed by a carriage ride, forced proximity, and irresistible banter.
What it feels like
This lively Regency romance offers a delightful blend of wit and swoony tension. The narrative moves at a brisk, engaging pace, driven by the playful friction between a pragmatic heroine seeking financial security and an impoverished but charming Scottish earl. The mood is spirited and cozy, wrapping the reader in the classic tropes of forced proximity and fake marriage as the characters share a carriage, a bed, and a tantalizing game of words. The prose is lighthearted and banter-heavy, focusing on the emotional shift from calculated social climbing to genuine, unexpected affection. It is a perfect read for those who devour historical romances where strict societal rules are happily subverted by undeniable chemistry and clever repartee.
- Mood
- cozy
- swoony
- spirited
- Tone
- playful
- witty
- romantic
- lighthearted
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- pragmatism vs. passion · forced proximity · unexpected love · social expectations
- The writing
- Witty and engaging, driven by lively banter and romantic tension.
- The arc
- Moves from pragmatic calculation for financial security to surrendering to unexpected, passionate romance.
- Who it's for
- Readers who love Regency romances with forced proximity, witty word games, and heroines who must choose between practicality and passion.
Content notes
- financial insecurity
About the book
The RULES OF MARRIAGE...according to Miss Annabel EssexA husband must be: RICH. Make that very rich. She's had enough of leaky roofs and thread-worn clothing. ENGLISH. London is the center of the civilized world, and Annabel has a passion for silk and hot water. AMIABLE. Good-looking would be nice, but not necessary. Same for intelligent. Isn't she lucky? She's found just the man! And her chosen spouse is nothing like the impoverished Scottish Earl of Ardmore, who has nothing but his gorgeous eyes, his brain -- and his kisses -- to recommend him. So what cruel twist of fate put her in a carriage on her way to Scotland with just that impoverished earl and all the world thinking they're man and wife? Sleeping in the same bed? Not to mention the game of words started by the earl -- in which the prize is a kiss. And the forfeit... Well. They are almost married, after all!
Description from Open Library.
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