If there’s one thing that makes me want to pick up a historical romance novel, it’s a good play on words in the title, so I couldn’t resist How to Love a Duke in Ten Days! It ended up not being at all what I thought, but I loved it regardless. There is some sensitive content, but it’s handled well, and sits within a very fun adventure!

Content warning: On page rape, and extensive discussion of it throughout the book.

I feel I should be very upfront about this, and I’m sorry if this is considered a spoiler, but it happens in the very first chapter and I feel it is more important that readers are protected. This is a book about the heroine, Alexandra, recovering from being raped as a teenager, and dealing with the fact that she killed her rapist in self-defense. The rape itself happens on page in the (long!) prologue of the book, then we jump ten years forward to see the life she has made for herself, and how falling in love helps her to heal and overcome her fear of men. The blurb does not make this clear, and had I not glanced at the dedication (“To every survivor. #metoo”) I would not have been in any way prepared for the detailed description in the prologue. This is not adequate warning. I’m lucky that I spotted the dedication, as Kindle books so often open straight to the beginning of the text, skipping the front material, and this was the only kind of content warning I got, since the ‘darkness in the past’ mentioned in the blurb is not specific in any way, and given the genre, is more likely to imply that she had been caught in a consensual sexual situation and “ruined”. Either way, it definitely implies that it would be in the backstory and not on the page. I wish that publishers would take more care of their readers with content warnings, especially in romance, where readers expect healthy, consensual sex scenes.

I want to be clear that I loved this book, and thought that once past the actual rape scene, Alexandra’s story is handled extremely respectfully. I just worry that if not highlighted, this scene could upset people. If it would be too much for you, but you would like to read the rest, you could skip the prologue without losing much other than some nice moments where Alexandra’s friends take care of her.

Moving on: I adored Alexandra. It’s brilliant to see a heroine who is so brave, and so determined to make things work in the ways she demands. She has a lot of fear, but is still a well-rounded and capable character who is a joy to read about. She’s an archaeologist, has been to university in Europe, and has a close group of female friends from school, who supported her in dealing with the aftermath – they literally helped her bury a body! She’s built a life for herself that she can be content with, and it’s only the fact that someone is blackmailing her that is stopping her being happy. I really loved her, and I thought she was a wonderful character for people to see as a survivor – her fears and triggers are really sensitively written, and you never get the sense that she is less because of her past.

The main part of the book begins with Alexandra on her way to her friend Francesca’s wedding to a duke known as ‘the Terror of Torcliff’, having received a note from Francesca that she feels herself to be in danger. Since Alexandra is smart and practical, and has such a close bond with her friends, it’s no surprise that she plots a course of action that kills two birds with one stone: she offers to marry the duke herself, thus saving Francesca from a loveless marriage, and gaining for herself the funds to continue to pay off her blackmailer. Her own fear of men in general and the marriage bed in particular is brushed aside in an instant for the sake of practicality – oh, I just loved how no-nonsense she was when it came to protecting those who had protected her! From there, the book is a whirlwind blend of adventure, mystery and romance that had me turning pages as fast as possible. There’s a lot packed in, but it’s tied together seamlessly, and it made me laugh in several places, even while it dealt with the heavier material. It’s a genuinely fun book – and how wonderful is that, to see that past trauma doesn’t deny these characters a fun story too?

Piers, the aforementioned ‘Terror’, is an extremely enjoyable hero. He’s scarred both physically and mentally, and while this leads to him having a reputation for being fearsome and domineering, as Alexandra gets to know him it’s clear that he is caring and patient. His reactions to Alexandra’s triggers are, for the most part, very understanding (obviously some tension is needed in the relationship, so there are places where he misinterprets things), and he does a fantastic job of making her feel safe and loved. The chemistry between the two characters is palpable, which is great to read as it makes the relationship believable, and allows so much growth on both their parts as they come to terms with their mental wounds. He is pretty much instantly smitten, and shows it in dozens of tiny, thoughtful gestures, and that’s my favourite kind of hero. He is possessive, but not aggressively “alpha”, and his protective nature perfectly matches Alexandra’s need to keep her loved ones safe. They’re a great team.

There are shades of Beauty and the Beast in the story, and also the archaeological hijinks and Alexandra’s personality reminded me of The Mummy (one of my favourite films). Despite the heavy subject matter, it manages to be a whole lot of fun – I enjoyed it so much! What needs to be handled sensitively is done brilliantly, and what needs to be a fun counterbalance to the darker stuff is a real romp.

Four out of five cats, and I’d consider upping that to five if an appropriate content warning was added!

I enjoyed reading How To Love A Duke in Ten Days! If you are a fan of historical romances, and authors like Julia Quinn and Lisa Kleypas you will enjoy this book. The characters are well developed and the storyline is engaging. It delivers the HEA we all crave in a good historical romance.

Let me start out by saying I don't usually read books like this because I usually find the genre to be... well a little cheesy. But when the publisher emailed me to offer me an eARC, I thought "oh, why not?" I was in a reading slump and I figured it would be a quick read.

I can't really say if I enjoyed this one or not. It was, as I expected, cheesy and sort of a brainless read (meaning you get through it without it having much of a plot besides the romance).

It was just an okay read for me. I'm not sure I'd continue reading the series and I probably should have just said no from the get-go. My apologies. It's just not my cup of tea.

Not my favorite by this author. I really had trouble getting into it, and a lot of trouble buying into the relationship.

A well-written novel but I found it disturbing to read. The prologue sets up the dark past of three girls about to graduate from boarding school. It includes descriptions of rape, a massacre including the second girl's parents, and the glimpse of abuse suffered by the third girl. If you're looking for a lighthearted read this isn't it. Otherwise, you might like the story of how a violent act follows a person throughout life.

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is a sweeping regency novel which you will surely enjoy! The author, Kerrigan Byrne has a way with descriptive language...the settings, clothing and people come to life as you read and you can clearly picture them. The story is fun and a change from all the normal regency tropes. A very enjoyable read!

Thank you to the author, St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

In How to Love a Duke in Ten Days, Kerrigan Byrne writes an amazing tale of three best friends, sent off to boarding school, deciding to be their true selves, find themselves involved in protecting one of them when she get raped and then murders the assailant in self-defense. Once the three girls get rid of the body with a little help they return home to live their lives, after promising never to tell their secrets. Ten years later the girls are being brought together for one of them who is to be married. Of course, now the interesting stuff begins, the prospective is introduced, the bride is chosen and all hell breaks loose as one of them has been marked to be killed. Now there is an adventure of extreme interest as the groom and his chose bride marry quite quickly head off to their honeymoon and the groom is still trying to figure out what is going on with his bride and is she the target of the assignation. The intended bedding on the wedding night falls apart as the groom thinks the bride has been playing him for a fool and insists they wait ten days until he is sure. Things heat up as the bride, with her groom, get involved with an archeological dig that turns sour and things come to a head as the groom finds out what really is going on, who is the intended death target is and why and what the bride's secret is. The HEA concludes with the married couple at home several years later. I really liked this story and for me it was a very quick read. I voluntarily reviewed this after receiving a free copy (digital file).

I have loved Kerrigan Byrne's books since her first book. This book is no different. I will admit that the opening could be a huge trigger for some people, but it is a necessary part of the novel because it defines who Alex is.

This book is a powerful romance. I loved Alex and Piers and how they found their true love. I can't wait for the next books in this series!!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher. Thank you!

I received an advanced copy of this book. This is the first book in a new series. In this one, we meet 3 best friends, the first of which is Alex. She has a secret, and she needs to make sure that it stays that way. When she finds out that one of her friends is to be married, but hates the man she is to be married to, she says that she will marry him instead. There is an instant attraction between she and Piers, but will their secrets and reputations get between them, or will they put the past behind them and let the future be what they both want? This is a great start to the series and a definite one not to be missed!

This story has it all - rape, murder, extortion, yet it is a rather sweet story of damaged people getting past their baggage. It is also the story of a wonderful friendship with three young ladies.

Lady Alexandra Lane delves deeply into her archaeological studies to deal with the pain of a sexual attack. In a complicated twist she becomes engaged, then married to Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Atherton, a large, rough man that is scarred inside and out. This unlikely pair forms a loving relationship and exorcises their demons in only ten days.

A well written story that was a pleasure to read.

ARC provided through Netgalley.

Not Just About the Romance

This is the first book that I have read by Kerrigan Byrne. I am a huge fan of Regency, Victorian, and medieval romance. I find myself not quite knowing quite what to say about this book. It has gotten rave reviews on Amazon, and the author is in fact a very good writer as she can easily pull you into characters’ world and make you care about them. Her descriptions make you feel like you are right there.

But I do have one big problem with this book. The first scene is quite awful. The author or the publisher definitely should have put a trigger warning for this book. The first scene is a violent moment from the heroine’s past depicting physical assault, rape, and murder. Some detail is given, though not all—thankfully. Still, it is overwhelming and too much. Had I been given a warning about the physical assault and rape, I might not have bought this book. I just don’t like romances that feature rape (even if not detailed). To me, the scene and its aftermath were that bad.

The hero and heroine are actually interesting characters to follow. Given her past, the heroine has quite a character arc as she moves from distrust to trust, from fear to love. The hero starts as the dark and broody type, but of course, he has a gentle heart that he keeps well hidden. I absolutely adored the heroine’s best girlfriends, the Rogue Reds, without whom she may not have survived, mentally or physically, all that she had been through.

I wanted to like this so much more... but I just didn't. I admit, reading this on a long coach journey probably wasn't my best idea, but I work with what I can. I was interested in the story but it was Piers, he just didn't work for me. He had softer moments, sure, but I found him too gruff, too alpha, and so I slowly became less invested in the romance between him and Alexandra. That was sad because Alexandra went through a lot and I was invested in her getting her HEA and learning to move on from the insurmountable guilt she felt. She deserved her happiness.

The story was very good, and I understand why people like Kerrigan Byrne's writing, but this book came to me at the wrong time so I wasn't as invested as I hoped and character behaviour drove me out of the story instead of drawing me in. A tragedy when this was obviously a good book.

My review: Enchanting! The story of a woman who lost everything in her youth and a man who returned for war as something less. Together, the two are irresistible, formidable, and something special.

So well deserving of 5 stars! A great start to a new series by Kerrigan Byrne! If you love a wild adventure then this is going to be a book you want to add to your shelves! I love all of these characters but Lady Alexandra's spunk and go-for-it attitude trump all! I felt the plot was very well laid out and many surprises pop up, also the characters are fully developed and each with their own unique personality. I also love Piers, he's seen as a brute and terror but he's very loving and oh so very passionate! If you love historical romance with a strong heroine and handsome hero, then this is for sure the book for you!

Great start to a new series! Love Byrne's writing; a great combination of drama and romance.
Content warning: sexual assault

Famed and brilliant, Lady Alexandra Lane has always known how to look out for to herself. But nobody would ever expect that she has darkness in her past—one that she pays a blackmailer to keep buried. Now, with her family nearing bankruptcy, Alexandra strikes upon a solution: Get married to one of the empire’s most wealthy eligible bachelors. Even if he does have the reputation of a devil.
I should start out by saying that I’ve read a number of books by this author and have liked them all. That said, I have a love/hate feel for this book. It was very well written, emotional, and perfect for the current feel of what really happens to women who are forced to feel powerless. My hate is the premise of it. Due to my own personal experiences, I avoid books that have anything to do with sexual assault. When I saw the #Me Too dedication, I wanted to stop right there as I had a bad feeling. I did continue because I do like the author but I did trudge on.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book

A wonderful read with just the right blend of heartache and love. Alexandra has secrets and Piers has his own demons to overcome. The chemistry between these two is great. This is a great read and kept me on the edge of my seat wondering what would happen next. I highly recommend this book for fans of Ms Byrne's books. Wonderful HEA!

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

A strong beginning to Byrne’s new series, How to Love a Duke introduces us to trio of dear friends, each of whom has secrets and mysterious beginnings. The story between the two main characters was suspenseful, romantic, and touching. The introduction of intriguing side characters has made me eager for the next book in the series.

I loved it. I loved it. I looooved it. I actually received this as an ARC via NetGalley but enjoyed it so much I purchased a kindle copy.

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is my first Kerrigan Byrne read and I’m so hooked on her writing style I can’t wait to read more. I really enjoyed her story telling!

Y’all! They are both so full of attributes I love in a romance character. I wanted to devour this book so quickly but I made myself savor it. This book is the first in a trilogy and follows Alexandra and Piers (I love his name!). Alexandra is a strong, smart, sassy heroine and Piers is a strong, scarred, grumpy hero.

Between Piers’ mommy issues and Alexandra’s men issues I wanted to hug them both. There’s nothing I like more than two tortured characters making their way into each other’s hearts.

From the second they met I felt their chemistry and couldn’t wait to see where it went. If these two characters had ended up with other significant others it just wouldn’t have been the same for me. I could see them slowly falling for one another.

Alexandra is hiding something and Piers is distrustful of...everyone, and some twisted part of me was so excited to see all of that play out. Misunderstanding and miscommunication is such catnip for me!

The sex scenes were fantastic. I loved that we got foreplay multiple times before they consummated. Yay slow burn!

I really could ramble all day about this book and this couple and even the secondary characters. I’m really looking forward to more of them in the future.

Trigger warning for rape.

Stunning.

Few books manage to leave me with a dropped jaw and an overwhelming feeling of satisfaction. Rarely can I enjoy eloquent love scenes that leaving me squirming with a shared feeling of rightness. Of love - and lust.

I was totally engrossed in HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS by Kerrigan Byrne —so much so that I read it immediately upon receiving a pre-release complimentary copy via NetGalley. I loved it, but actually felt a bit overwhelmed by it. How could I possibly write my honest review? It was going to be so difficult to put into words all I enjoyed about this remarkable book. So, I thought I would wait a while and think about how I could put into words how powerfully the book engaged me. I waited long enough that I then sat down and read the whole book a second time and enjoyed it even more.

Oh, what characters have been created by Ms. Byrne! Alexandra and Piers are like no other I have read of before. Their story is sumptuously told over a period of ten days and the reason for the choice of that period of time is heartbreaking. However, the eloquence of Piers and Alexandra’s interactions is extraordinary. This is a book I will return to again. Even reading it twice was not enough.