Title: How to Entice an Enchantress
Author: Karen Hawkins
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Historical Romance
Published: September 17, 2013
Publisher: Pocket Books
ASIN: B00BSB2C56
Book Description
The third sizzling novel in New York Times bestselling author Karen Hawkins’s Duchess Diaries series, featuring three unruly sisters and their headstrong godmother with a penchant for matchmaking.
Reclusive Viscount Kirk, horribly scarred by a tragic accident that stole the life of his beloved first wife, is a man defined by fury. For years he’s eschewed society, growing abrupt and curmudgeonly. But now, when he’d given up on life, he’s fallen madly in love with the refreshingly naive daughter of his neighbor, dainty and charming Dahlia Balfour. Desperate to win her attention, Kirk calls in a favor from the Duchess of Roxburghe and asks that she transform him into a fashionable suitor for Dahlia’s hand. But what’s easy to change on the outside, isn’t as easy to change on the inside…
Dahlia’s always dreamed of a fairytale romance. Although Viscount Kirk is only seven years her senior, because of his cantankerous ways and lack of social graces she thinks of him as her “older neighbor,” and is blissfully unaware that he sees her as anything other than an acquaintance. She is shocked to see him at the duchess’s grand house party, trying to fit with the very societal rules he so frequently mocks. Surprised by his attention, irritated at his bald honesty, and intrigued that he finds her worth the effort, Dahlia regards Kirk as the opposite of Prince Charming. Without the pretty words and grand gestures she yearns for, can true love find its way into her unwilling heart?
Review
Say what you will about me, but there are times that I dearly love to read Regency Romance novels. You know, the ones with those couples in their beautiful regency gowns and get-ups. Might I add that those regency men look quite fetching in their 1800’s attire. Imagination is a wonderful thing 😉
This was such a cute story, and I loved the comical tête-à-tête between the two main characters.
Lord Kirk is a complete hermit. He is a young widower who believed he was satisfied with the status quo. His life need not be bothered with niceties and good manners, and he was quite comfortable with his solitude, his books, and his pianoforte. He makes no effort to be social and does not feel the need to attend balls or dress up like a fine gentleman. Something that he was sure would turn him into a fop.
Wiki moment…
“Fop became a pejorative term for a foolish man overly concerned with his appearance and clothes in 17th century England. Some of the very many similar alternative terms are: “coxcomb”, fribble, “popinjay” (meaning “parrot”), fashion-monger, and “ninny”. “Macaroni” was another term, of the 18th century, more specifically concerned with fashion.
A modern-day fop may also be a reference to a foolish person who is overly concerned about his clothing and incapable of engaging in intellectual conversations, activities or thoughts.”
Lord Kirk is overly obsessed about not appearing like a fop. So much so, that he uses this word quite frequently in the book. Needless to say, that did get on my nerves a teensy bit. But that was really such a minor thing, that I didn’t really mind after awhile. I believe I called a few people a fop while I read this book, and I was feeling really smart when they looked at me with their weird, quizzical look.
Lord Kirk is lonely and does not realize it. He just seems to forget the happiness that comes from companionship, a feeling that seems to have faded after losing his wife seven years ago in a tragic ship explosion. He seems content with his life until the day he literally bumps into Dahlia Balfour.
Instantly, a friendship forms. He feels that they are compatible, a word that Dahlia absolutely hates. She is young; she doesn’t want “compatible”, she wants LOVE, rock my world romance, a hunky regency guy singing her sonnets, a man who is willing to declare his undying love to her without regrets. But you have to give the girl a break. She’s young. She has no understanding of what true love really entails. Truth be told, we all want that passion when love finds us, and we all want it to continue when the relationship is no longer new and fresh. Both there is a comfort that comes with a solid relationship. There is a safety, a contentment that a couple finds after years of being together. But you don’t get there instantly. And so is the problem with Lord Kirk.
Warning dear Regency readers, you will have an overwhelming need to slap this man as you read this book and be equally frustrated knowing you can’t because he is fictitious. Therefore, you have my permission to slap the first man you see.
Holy cow, this man does not want to make the least bit of effort declaring any sort of sentiment towards the woman he desires. He feels they are “compatible”, and he believes that is the only thing that matters in a happy marriage. He does not believe himself to be in love with her. Yes, there is an attraction, and he admits this. But it is not the scary L word that some men seem to fear. All that matters is that they are “compatible”. There is that word again, Dahlia HATES that word, and so would I. It’s really not the first thing you think of when Cupid’s shooting his arrows.
Several events ensue, one of them being a terribly botched marriage proposal that Lord Kirk offers, which Dahlia, nor any sane woman would want to agree to after presenting it the way he did. So, desperate to win her affections he must ask assistance from his godmother, Duchess of Roxburghe, and her friend, Lady Charlotte. These two ladies cracked me up. For some reason, they reminded me of the principal in Grease and her secretary, except more Scottishy. It was like my Fair Lady, with a wee bit of Pride and Prejudice, and I guess you can add Grease in there too if you want 😛
I loved this book and will gladly read the rest of the series. Although this is the third in the series, I feel like it can be a standalone. The pugs were the best part, and the billiard table scene was a pretty spicy scene, if you know what I mean! It was a quick, funny, and light read and I would recommend it to those who love this genre.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book directly from the author or publisher I was not paid to read or review this book. All opinions are my own, and I was never influenced by anything or anyone.
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