Karen Hawkins, Lady in Red

Karen Hawkins, Lady in Red - His siblings admit to the oldest brother Marcus that they have failed to find the missing family heirloom, the Talisman Ring that vanished after it worked its last magic, leading to another one of them getting married. Only Marcus remains single, a state in which he plans to remain permanently. However, he learns that a woman with a streak of white in her hair that made her look unique and an uncanny knowledge of Italian ancient swords might have the ring. This female was a companion to Lady Talbot who has since died and no one knows the female's name.

Marcus does - the bane of his existence - Honoria Baker-Sneed possesses the ring. He offers her money, but she refuses, demanding much more. In desperate financial straits with her father and brother overseas and they being without money, Honoria and her sisters need help. Honoria wants Marcus to sponsor her sibling so that they can broker a good marriage. As they argue, the ring does its best, and soon Marcus and Honoria fall in love, but he remains obstinate that love does not exist in spite of his seemingly happy insane siblings and his desire to kiss his antiquities opponent Honoria every time he sees her.

The final Talisman Ring regency romance is a wonderful finale to a terrific and fun series as the most stubborn of the siblings falls to the power of the ring. The storyline is driven by the gender war between Marcus and Honoria as they squabble over remittance for buying what he claims he already owns and she insists possession is the law. Karen Hawkins provides a delightful ending to this historical, but perhaps the ring can do some Victorian magic on readers.

Harriet Klausner