How to Capture a Countess (The Duchess Diaries Book 1)

This story is a fun, enemies to lovers romance, complete with a host of entertaining characters to round out the plot. I thoroughly enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

This was my first time reading Karen Hawkins and it will not be my last! This was a fun, sexy battle of wills between Rose and Lord Sinclair, aptly nicknamed Sin. Six years ago, the alluring Rose seduced Sin with her plain appearance but sparkling eyes and just as they are enjoying a very heated kiss, she pushes him into the fountain and the whole party quickly sees everything. And instead of properly apologizing, Rose's nerves get the best of her and she laughs....and everyone else quickly follows leading Sin to be the bearer of many 'Lord Fin' jokes in the years to follow and it does not help matters that Rose just up and disappeared and he has been unable to locate her all these years. Yet, he suddenly becomes aware of her identity by his aunt...who just happens to be Rose's godmother and the Duchess of Roxburghe knows it is time for this couple to re-meet and overcome their past. What follows is a delightful series of one-upmanships between Rose and Sin, as neither as the ability to back down from a challenge. But when one bet goes to far and forces Rose to flee again, will Sin see the truth of his heart, that is so obvious to everyone else?It was so much fun watching the plain, awkward Rose bloom into herself, full of confidence, independence, laughter, curiosity and a bit of stubbornness. She is the perfect foil to Sin with his roguish, controlled reputation and his need to be the best of everything. Together, their battle of wills, from archery to horse racing, leads to quite a few fun moments! I loved their first meeting after the incident...lets just say, library ladders will never be the same :) The secondary characters, including a pack of pugs, also add their own humor and prove to be worthy opponents in Sin's battle to get Rose alone and seduce her. I was a bit hesitant in the beginning as I do not really like when the hero sets out to seduce the heroine and that is it but Rose proves to be smarter than Sin anticipates and their relationship develops at a pace I really enjoyed as a result. Overall, a fun, feisty battle of wills! I can't wait for the next two stories featuring Rose's sisters! 4 stars

How to Capture a Countess has its funny moments but it also has a hero who I found to take himself way to seriously and the game of one-up-manship between the leads got a little old.This story had a great beginning, when teen aged Rose Balfour finally had the opportunity to garner Lord Alton Sinclair's (Lord Sin) attention she was beyond thrilled. When he led her to a private garden area at a ball she was walking on clouds but when he kissed her she became frightened and accidentally pushed him into a fountain and the rest of the ton attending the ball saw a wet angry Lord Sin. Rose left with her Aunt, going to the countryside for years.Meanwhile Sin hates the humiliation he had to endure and he hates his moniker Lord "Fin". He blames Rose and he would love to make her pay but he is unable to locate her.Sin has a meddling great Aunt who wants to see him married and his great Aunt just happens to be Rose's godmother so she schemes to get the two together. She invites them to her house party along with some older members of the ton hoping to spark something. She also realizes that Rose is vulnerable so she will shield and protect Rose from her nephew's schemes.Sin is determined to seduce Rose, believing she is an experienced woman and Rose is just as determined to thwart him so they end up in several wagering contests; each trying to win something from the other.I have to state I had a difficult time with the hero who just cannot laugh off his Lord "Fin" title. Seriously, he still managed to have friends, mistresses and was not given the cut direct after his incident with Rose. Sure people laughed at him but if he would have laughed with them, when called his nickname, it would have eventually gone away. Gossip stretched the truth about his encounter with Rose but as a man in the 19th century, gossip would not have hurt his reputation nearly as much as he claims, he was after all rich and titled. And wanting to make Rose pay for his embarrassment seemed immature.I liked Rose. She was kind and considerate but she also was a little too biddable when it came to taking directions from others. She follows her Aunt without question and is quick to follow Sin's great Aunt too.When this couple is not one upping the other or part of famly machinations I thought they had good chemistry. By the last third of the novel Sin stops looking at Rose as the person who disrupted his life and sees her finer qualities. But it took some time to come to that conclusion and Sin's Aunt was just too influential with Rose. I wanted Rose to be more her own person, not just obey Sin's Great aunt when it came to her romance with Sin.

17-year-old Rose Balfour is captivated by Lord Alton Sinclair, "Lord Sin" to the adoring ton. When presented with a chance to gain his kiss, she pursues it. Lord Sin has never felt such an immediate attraction before, and dismisses the idea that this unusual young woman is... so very young. He's unprepared when the kiss not only goes awry, but ends with a very dampening episode that makes him a laughingstock. But Rose has disappeared, and he cannot wreak his revenge.Fast forward six years. Now Lord Sin has earned his sobriquet in even more definitive terms. When he learns that Rose is his great-aunt's goddaughter, he convinces her to invite Rose to a houseparty without his great-aunt knowing that his sole plan is vengeful seduction. When he sees Rose again, he is surprised to find that the taut attraction still steams between them, and that Rose is more of a challenge than he foresaw. For her part, Rose can't deny the attraction but doesn't want to be the object of his scheming.The story of these two working through their mutual histories and personal baggage is tender, sweet, and often laugh-out-loud funny. Karen Hawkins is one of my favorite writers, and this book is clear evidence that she's at the top of her game. I highly recommend it. I also read the excerpt from the next book in the series, featuring Rose's sister Lily, and I must say I'm already chomping at the bit to read the whole thing. I think I'll start at the beginning of her books and work my way forward. Maybe by the time I get all the way through and reach the end of "How to Capture a Countess" again, it'll be time for Piotr and Lily's story....

The number of stars reflects my personal level of satisfaction with the book I read.Probably each of us perceives books differently.We have a different level of humour, ethics, and things we like or don't like.

I enjoyed this book, it was light, frivolous fun. The hero and heroine were both likeable characters and there were some laugh out loud moments.

Karen Hawkins has become one of my favourite authors who writes with such a sense of humour and fun. Rose and Sin are both very likeable characters and their story is an amusing one.

I love my romance but I felt that the main character is a bit of a cradle snatcher to be honest.

Great story, likable characters fast moving story.