How to Pursue a Princess (The Duchess Diaries)
In the second title in Hawkins’ Duchess Diaries series (How to Capture a Countess, 2012), Lily Balfour’s father borrows a great deal of money from a neighbor and can’t repay it. So Lily decides she must marry a rich man to cover the loan, despite the fact that he wants to marry her younger sister. Lily’s godmother, the Duchess of Roxburghe, fresh off the triumph of marrying Lily’s older sister to a man of wealth, is eager to arrange a house party with a bachelors-of-means guest list for Lily. Into the duchess’ neighborhood move the Grand Duchess Natasha Nikolaevna and her grandson, Prince Wulfinski. When Wulf accidentally meets Lily, he recognizes her as the woman of his dreams, but her godmother intends for another man to be her mate. Though Hawkins’ story never veers from classic Regency romance conventions, her writing is lively and fans of the genre will be satisfied. --Pat Henshaw