The prologue was jarring and unexpected. The ending was predictable. But I did like the give and take between Alexandra and Piers. Watching their relationship evolve from one of convenience to one of love was interesting and it made for a not so typical romance novel.

Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is planning revenge against his cousin who wants the dukedom at any cost including killing him. Piers needs to marry and produce heirs so his cousin has no chance to inherit. Enter Lady Alexandra Lane, a brilliant archeologist. Alexandra agrees to marry Piers to save her friend from this unwanted marriage. Alexandra and her 2 friends suffered trauma in their early lives and have stuck together ever since boarding school. Can Piers, a beast of a man, gain the trust of the timid Alexandra and make their marriage work?

While I enjoy Ms. Byrne's books, I almost stopped reading after the prologue where Alexandra's trauma is explained in vivid detail. I understand this incident was shared with Alexandra's friend and the gardener at school, but I didn't care for it at all. The way the back story was revealed throughout the book, I believe was sufficient to understand what had happened. I did like Alexandra, but she became a shell of herself whenever she was around Piers. Some of the descriptions and paragraphs were so long winded I just skipped over them. I hope Ms. Bryne doesn't use this type of trauma too often in this series.

Closer to 3 1/2. I loved the premises for the story. The ending was perfect besides a few sticking points. My problem with the book was I felt it was almost 30% dialogue and 70% musing. There was entirely too much thinking being done and less talking/action taking place for me. The actual story was touching, romantic, and emotional..but I found myself skimming over 1-2 pages to get to the dialogue. Thank you for the advanced copy.

Wow!! This book had me on a roller coaster of emotions. It started with the Prologue – which gave me a pit in my stomach, a feeling of hate, wanting revenge and the love of friends. I love romance books, but this was more then a romance book. Piers was a very understanding, patient and had a protective instincts you have to admire. Alexandra was very strong women who went thru so much in her life. This book will keep you interested the whole time you are reading.

Kerrigan Byrne writes so well I felt like I was in the story feeling all the emotions of each character.
This is the first book I have read by Kerrigan Byrne, and now she will always be on my to be read list.
I can not wait for the next book.

I received a free copy from Netgalley for a honest review.

“If there is a battle to fight, a villain to face, I beg you to allow me the honor. Because the cruelest thing you could do, is sentence me to a world without you in it.”

Haunted by an unspeakable crime and bonded with secrets they vow to take to their graves, Lady Alexandra Lane and her two dearest friends make a pact to never allow a man power over them. Years pass, and Alexandra is shocked to receive a notice that she has been invited to a wedding…as well as a cry for help.

Piers Gedrick Atherton, Duke of Redmayne and known as the Terror of Torcliff, has been tasked with procuring a bride. So no one is more shocked than he when Lady Alexandra offers herself to him.

What starts off as a wedding for vengeance turns into an epic adventure filled with secrets from the past, blackmail, murder, and perhaps, dare we say, love? Can Alexandra find it in herself to trust a man again? Will Piers forget the wrongs of his own past to allow his tortured soul to love and be loved? Ten days can feel like an eternity…depending on one’s perspective.

I am beyond in love with this book!!!! Kerrigan Byrne has written an amazing story of how two broken people find a way to heal each other...even when some scars can't be seen. How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is a beautifully written historical romance that was impossible to put down and left this reader with a book hangover for days! Did not want it to end! 5+ Stars!! Highly recommend!

This book surprised me. The story has a dramatic start to introduce the female characters and show us a little bit about their past. Alexandra and her friends (Francesca and Ceceilia) are strong female characters that needed to make difficult decisions at a very young age, with bonds stronger than a friendship, they formed some sort of family in the middle of the adversity and those bonds in some way explain a lot what happens next in the story.
The preliminary chapter has a scene pretty disturbing and I understand if some readers avoid it, but I think it's important to discuss such situations, even if in a romance book, and how a character overcome that kind of experience.
Now let's talk about the male character in this book. His name is Piers but he's known as the Terror of Torcliff. He has this particular look that usually inspires fear in the people but in Alexandra it causes curiosity. They first encounter is like faith playing its part, and when they see each other again you know you'll have a great time reading their story.
I loved this book, I enjoyed every single twist and turn, I loved to be surprised with the story and can't wait to see what's next in this series.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. How To Love A Duke in Ten Days is the first book in new Devil You Know series and I loved getting to meet Lady Alexandra Lane and Piers Gedrick Atherton. This book was just so easy to get lost in and I felt so much for these characters. I had so much fun learning more about each character and all they had gone through. I can’t wait to see what’s next for this author.

ARC received for review

Great love story with an imperfect hero and heroine. Now is the bad guy after her, her friends or him, or all of the above. Her friends were great and I can't wait to read their HEAs. Perfect epilogue for this couple.

There are numerous things about this book I love! The Red Rogues, the Terror of Torcliff and Dr. Alexandra Lane are just a few!

This book hooked me from the prologue. It wasn’t an easy prologue to read, but it definitely stays with you throughout the book and after. Kerrigan has an amazing way with words and did a great job writing difficult subject matter.

Alexandra and Piers have a remarkable relationship. I love everything about the way they meet and their interactions afterwards. They are perfectly suited for each other.

I just finished the book and I already miss the characters and want to go back and read it all again ❤️ I can’t wait to see what the Red Rogues get up to next!!

I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw the dedication (which I don't always read). But this book is unlike any of it's genre that I've ever read - and I've read hundreds of titles in this historical romance genre.
Even now, more than a week after I finished reading, I'm still struggling to come up with the words to describe the one-two punch that was this book. It will take your breath away: things will not happen along typical lines, these are not your typical characters or stories. Alexandra and Piers: I wish more authors wrote people like this with all their complexity, both good and bad.
It's not very often that a book takes my breath away and leaves me thinking about it for weeks afterward. But this one did.
Congratulations Kerrigan Byrne, you've knocked me out of my romance complacency. And I humbly thank you.
I'll be recommending this author (and in particular this book) to friends.
And I'll be on the lookout for more work by Kerrigan Byrne.

Despite the “typical” title, this is so not the usual historical romance story. Rather, this is a mystery/adventure tale of betrayal, massacre, and attempted murder. The sexual assault that results in the death of the assailant is the motivation for much of the violence, but the greediness of the duke’s heir-presumptive is another factor. The unresolved massacre story line and a teaser in the epilogue suggest that this is the first book of a proposed trilogy. The two main characters, the duke and Alexandra, are well-drawn and their developing relationship despite the darkness in both of their backgrounds is totally believable. Minor characters are less well portrayed and their motivations seem simplistic and not very realistic considering the consequences they instigate. Still, this is an engrossing novel that is well worth considering.

This story starts out very darkly and the next few chapters are murky and fraught with danger, intrigue and possible betrayal. Having said that, the story grips you and without realizing it you are so caught up with the romance and the intrigue that you really can’t put it down. The romantic aspect of this story is beautiful, the blossoming and healing that takes place was so very sweet. Conversely there is a fair amount of violence and some highly unsavory characters that are woven in the story, but all in all I really enjoyed this book!

When I began this book I was extremely hesitant. So, so, so hesitant. Books that use sexual assault as a tragic back story for the heroine are normally an instant do not finish for me. This book though? It was different. The event actually impacted her as more than just a reason to be afraid of men, the trauma felt real and while her healing was over the course of a short number of days due to romance conventions it was shown that this healing was a continuing process and wasn't just done.

Very good Historical romance about Priers and Alexis ,
Good suspense ,mystery, drama ,actions and romance,
really great read.
Voluntarily reviewed.

holy shitballs, batman
TW: assaults, trauma, rape, death

i had no idea what to expect from this book. i would've been fine reading a run-of-the-mill, still very good, historical romance. so i was more than pleasantly surprised by what ended up happening.
there is a rape scene, which was kind of graphic and could be quite triggering for people, but if you skip the prologue or first chapter, it's not touched on in too much detail.
i think other reviews will be able to be more coherent than i could ever be, but there were so many things that made me enjoy this book.
it's short; most of the action takes place within roughly two weeks, but i won't discount the love that the characters grow to have, because it seemed authentic to me, and not sudden. there's a girl group, who stick together through it all, babes!! they bury a body together!!
yes, i did guess the mysterious blackmailer, but i don't think that was supposed to be a big secret, because there was another, underlying mystery that was good, if a bit abrupt.

when this book actually releases (woo, eARC) i'm interested to see what other people's response to the fact that alexandra didn't tell piers about her assault, even after he discovered she wasn't a virgin. there's no time limit on when you can, should, and want to tell someone about your trauma, and it's a fine line to walk when someone has a partner. i've done a lot of research, been through a good amount of therapy, to try to figure out when the "right" time to tell someone about it is. i don't know, i think this resonated a lot with me, because i related to alexandra a lot, which isn't something i tend to do. :)

*this book was provided in exchange for an unpaid review from netgalley.com all thoughts are my own

"Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review."

Loved this book very much. It had just enough sweet, sexy romance and the storyline was great! I highly recommend!

I almost stopped reading 'How To Love A Duke in Ten Days' in the beginning. I thought this would be the first time I would not give feedback on a title. It is stark and and I was put off by the intense sexual descriptions and language. For all that I skipped over, the lyrical writing of Kerrigan Byrne provided a counterbalance. This is a difficult, suspenseful story with complicated yet likeable characters. For good and ill it will stay with me for a long time.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Oh gee I just love the writing of Kerrigan. Byrne and as usual could not stop reading this great new book in a new series. Just loved the way she introduced the next characters in the next book. Excellent.

I loved, loved How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne, who is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. No, not just favorite historical romance authors, but favorite authors. Full stop.

This is the second book from Kerrigan Byrne in a row that I've loved, and I think it's time to just suck it up and buy her whole backlist. This book was unputdownable.

Sometimes, I think I'm too harsh of a reviewer. I have trouble feeling enthusiastic about mediocre romance, and with over 1500 romances under my belt, I got bored easily. But then a book like How to Love a Duke in Ten Days comes along and knocks my socks off.

I loved almost everything about this story. I loved how it addressed the main character's (Trigger warning) (view spoiler) with sensitivity and understanding. I knew going in that the book would have something to do with sexual assault from the #metoo at the author's dedication section, and I think the author did an excellent job balancing everything.

I also have a HUGE weakness for a scarred male MC, and his gruff, masculine, scarred face was giving me allllll sorts of good vibes.

The book was an excellent blend of female friendship, mystery, sensuality, sensitivity, romance and pain. I practically read it straight through in one sitting. I simply couldn't stop reading.

For those of you who want something compulsively readable, something to shake up your reading slump, look no further. Kerrigan Byrne will wow you with this one.

*Copy provided in exchange for an honest review*

Impressed, awed, entangled, absorbed, love, all words to describe how I feel about this book. How to Love A Duke In Ten Days is a magnificent historical romance by Kerrigan Byrne. Ms. Byrne has provided readers with a book that will suck them into this story and keep them guessing. This story is well-written and a smooth read. Kudos to Ms. Byrne for the stellar cast of characters she has created, I loved them! Alexandra is raped but kills her attacker. With help from her friends and a servant, they bury him but now she's being blackmailed. Piers is the Duke of Redmayne, scarred and fierce. Piers and Alexandra's story is packed, cover to cover with drama, action, steamy sex, suspense and humor. A solid 6 star read for How To Love A Duke In Ten Days, I can't wait to read more from Kerrigan Byrne. How To Love A Duke In Ten Days is book 1 of the Devil You Know Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.