Gah, how I love historical romances, nothing like stepping back in time and going on an unforgettable adventure.

This is my first book by Kerrigan Byrne and it definitely won't be my last. I was hooked right from the beginning. Such a beautiful, emotional story, with amazing characters that will get those fires burning.
Such fantastic start to what is going to be an amazing series, I cannot wait for the next instalment.

Lady Alexandra Lane’s life is irrevocably changed when she is called into Headmaster Maurice de Marchand’s office mere days before she was due to graduate from L’Ecole de Chardonne School in Switzerland. De Marchand has found the items Alexandra and her friends Francesca Cavendish, the Countess of Mont Claire and Cecelia Teague pilfered over the years for their Red Rogues Society. When de Marchand’s “punishment” turns brutal and he rapes Alexandra, she does what she must to stop the attack and flees. With the help of her friends and a trusted servant Jean-Yves, they bury the body and clean up the scene. That awful night the girls who have been friends for years, share their deepest, darkest secrets and vow to never marry and to protect each other forever…

Ten years later, Lady Alexandra is on her way to Devonshire to help her friend Francesca. She has much on her mind, she has been blackmailed and has faithfully made payments to her blackmailer for years, but now her family’s wealth is gone and she is in danger of being exposed as a murderer. If she was the only target of the blackmailer, she wouldn’t care, but she cannot let her friend’s lives be destroyed for her! She is not sure what she will do, but hopes to come up with a resolution without having to tell anyone. While waiting for Cecelia to pick her up from the train station, Alexandra is almost killed by a spooked horse and meets a man that interests her – for the first time in her life! It isn’t until later that she learns the man is none other than Francesca’s betrothed.

Piers Atherton, The Duke of Redmayne has against all odds, survived a panther attack, but when his faithless fiancée Rose, believes he is dying she marries his cousin Patrick, Viscount Carlisle within a month of getting the letter Piers sent her when he believed he was dying. Patrick is Piers heir and it will be a cold day in hell before he lets Rose become a duchess, so he revives an old betrothal that his father and the Earl of Mont Claire wrote up and will marry Francesca.

Francesca has secrets and she is also the sole survivor of an attack that killed everyone at her home, she is almost convinced that the former duke was responsible and has agreed to the betrothal to snoop around Castle Redmayne. If she finds evidence, she will enact justice, if she doesn’t, she will cry off. She has asked Alexandra and Cecelia to join her to help her find proof. While keeping look out for Francesca, the duke comes looking for her and finds Alexandra, they talk and Alexandra proposes to Piers, she knows Francesca doesn’t want to marry him and she doesn’t believe his family is responsible for the Mont Claire massacre – Piers is not opposed, but is honorable and tells her to talk to Francesca and decide who will be announced as his bride to be.

They marry the very next day and when Piers discovers she is not a virgin, he is sure he has been duped and refuses to touch her until they are sure she is not pregnant – as much as he wants to cast her aside, he admits that he is bewitched and is not willing to let her go, besides, it seems like someone is trying to kill them…

This was an amazing story, I loved Piers and Alexandra, I felt their pain and gloried in their happiness, I loved that they both had scars and neither judged the other because of them. The mystery of who is the target and why was very well done and while the final confrontation is a tad gruesome, it was perfect and tied up all the loose ends. The story does have some very dark aspects, but it is tempered with moments of laughter and joy, as well as some very steamy love scenes and an absolutely wonderful epilogue. I have to say my only complaint with the book is the incorrect use of some of the titles, but even though that is one of my biggest peeves, even that wasn’t enough to affect my rating. This is the first book in a new series, which I am happy to recommend it and I am impatiently waiting for the next installment!!

Such a great twist in taking modern concerns (though Alexandra's trauma certainly happened back then, too) and sowing a believable reaction to dealing with such a weight. Despite being a victim of sexual assault, Alexandra is a wonderfully strong heroine, plus an archaeologist! Loved that. I couldn't imagine anyone else but Piers being her match. There's frustration due to his treatment of her prior to her secret getting out, but I reminded myself he couldn't help it; in fact, he takes in far better than any other man in those (or these) times would. And needlessly punished himself for the mistake thoroughly. I loved Piers, though he felt a bit too good to be true at times. Enjoyed Alexandra's friends and looking forward to their stories. I suppose my only complaints are the initial villain being incredibly obvious and the epilogue had too much of the "wrapped up in a bow" feel for me, but otherwise a fantastic historical romance from one of my favorites.

This was my first Kerrigan Byrne book, but it will not be my last. Piers and Alexandra are complicated but yet appealing main characters. I am looking forward to the next entry!

It’s a new series by Kerrigan Byrne!!! And what a beginning this was. When I first found out she was writing a new series I was thrilled. I love her Victorian Rebels series, so I was dying to dive into this new one.

This author is another auto buy for me, and one that I don’t read the blurbs beforehand. I like to go in blind. So when I read the inscription, I wondered if this book was going to give me all the feels. And the I read the prologue. Not for the faint of heart. Gripping and heart racing beginning.

Alexandra Lane has held onto this secret for 10 years. Guilt, shame and fear have been her constant companions. My heart broke for her. Having to live like that, I wanted to reach in the pages and give her a hug. She was so strong but yet she needed someone stronger to set her free.

I adored Piers. SO MUCH. He needs to find a bride, and have an heir, in order seek revenge on his cousin. When he agrees to marry Alexandra, he had no idea what he was getting himself into. Secrets threaten to keep them from his ultimate goal but he’s determined to win her and succeed.

The chemistry was sizzling between these two. I was loving their interactions. She’s used to being surrounded by men so she has a strong wit that keeps him engaged. Their passion was off the charts. Piers was made for her. He was strong and determined to help discover her secrets and help her move past them.

The side characters are a riot! I am so looking forward to their stories. The friendship bond these girls have is strong and I know they will be there for each other till their dying breaths.

I need the next book!!

I’m not a historical romance reader, it takes me a while and a lot of focus to get into the story. But Kerrigan Byrne is slowly but surely transforming me with her amazing books.

I loved this book so much. Alexandra and Piers were absolutely everything. Their love, their secrets, their general mistrust of everyone around them made me fall more and more in love with them as they fell in love with each other. They learn to love each other as they learn to love themselves and that so was freaking beautiful.

If book two is the one that was teased in the epilogue, I’m more than ready!!!

I wrote this review awhile back but needed to reread the book again (as I always do my favorite books) before posting it.
How to Love a Duke in Ten Days - Kerrigan Byrme. This is the first book in the Devil You Know series and and The first book I have read from this Author and I must say, what a great start!! I devoured the book in one day! This was the perfect book I needed to get back on my Romance reading grind and it did just the job and more.

This book and the Author shared a story that is rich of raw emotion, intense feelings, survival and love. I never knew that when I pick up one of her books I will be rewarded with a strong solid story, unafraid to explore the dark corners of our everyday lives, the struggles that are faced and the healing the love can bring.
Lady Alexandra Lane and Piers Atherton, Duke of Redmayne are not your regular cookie cutter characters. They are not perfect and have been wounded, both physically and emotionally, by events in their lives.

Such is Alexandra’s story is story of the traumatic experience of rape at the hand of her headmaster and murder committed in self defense and how it shapes her life for years to come. Alexandra Lane is a strong, smart heroine that does not hide from a challenge, goes on to succeed professionally and yet carries this dark secret that paralyzed her world and brings fear to her and her close friends. Alexandra survived ten years blackmail for something she did while at school. What she did was in self defense, but the darkness has been her sole companion for those years.

While Piers the Duke of Redmayne who is also known as the Terror of Torcliff. Piers Atherton, has been a world traveler and explorer and is scarred from an encounter with a jungle cat in South America. Piers almost died and his fiancee threw him over for his cousin while he was ill. Piers is determined to marry and have children to block his cousin from ever inheriting the dukedom.

Both Alexandra and Piers carried scars, physical and emotional ones. When the past catches up to them they decide that together they can help each other.
During those first ten days of their marriage they slowly fall for each other. Alexandra saw the beauty of his soul and taught him that it was okay to gentle and not be taken advantage of. Piers was always very protective of her, sadly for a moment his trust towards her almost tore them apart. Luckily he was able to figure out the truth about what had happened to her.

Piers is certainly swoon worthy material. The strong alpha male/hero that cames to you with baggage of his own yet gentle enough to slowly help Alexandra find trust and love. The patience PIERS expressed was admirable but mind you, it was at times frustrating that he just did not see it. The the clues where there n yet he did not see it. There times I just wanted to grab n shake him! How dare he! How blind. Yet it was heartbreaking to read when he finally understood the whys and admire Alexandra more.

FINAL THOUGHTS
This was an entertaining romance with just the right amount of suspense to add the spice of danger to their courtship.
This book most certainly is not your glittering ballrooms, cliche and country parties kind of story. These are solid romance stories that come with a full package of love, courage, steamy encounters and survival. I can’t wait for the next book. THIS WAS MORE THAN JUST ROMANCE!!

Kerrigan Byrne starts off another series beautifully. She brings a topic that is at the forefront of today's social conversations to readers in an evocative tale. The subject matter is tough but a necessary comment on the suffering endured by so many. Piers and Alexandra find themselves both on a journey of self discovery, redemption, and healing. Both characters are living with scars but together they are able to learn to live with them. Kerrigan really did this subject matter justice, all while creating a beautiful love story with compelling secondary characters, intriguing relatives, and conniving villains. As always, I highly recommend picking this book up.

5 I Couldn’t Put This One Down Stars!!!

I’ve been an avid reader for over 40 years and in fact started my “reading journey” with historical novels. I consumed every single one I could get my hands on and as I matured my reading tastes changed and I can honestly say I haven’t read a historical novel in close to 20 years. BUT the minute I read the blurb for this book, that all changed! I was on a mission to get an early copy of this beauty because I was so intrigued by the story. In addition, I’ve heard over and over what a brilliant writer Ms. Byrne is and I needed her in my life…well that is SPOT ON!!!

This book is amazing!! Yes, it takes place in the 1800’s but it’s so relevant to our present that I was gripped by Lady Alexandra Lane and her two best friends Francesca Cavendish and Cecelia Teague and our hero, Piers Atherton. From the Prologue alone I was invested in this book and how her life would play out. These girls have secrets that have life changing consequences and when they’re brought together again ten years later after a fateful night, their friendship is as strong as ever, but someone is out to make them pay for these secrets.

Piers is the Duke of Redmayne and is scarred both inside and out and therefore leads a life that is somewhat solitary until a betrothal brings these girls into his world. The thing is, who he’s betrothed to isn’t who he marries, and I LOVED IT!!! There’s a draw between Piers and Alexandra that neither understands but they can only fight it so long. It’s not an easy acquiescence for our heroine either because of her past, but this man, he’s so gentle with her and tries to make her see that what the could have together could solve problems for both of them!

This book is brilliantly written. While I understand it’s taking place over two hundred years ago, I didn’t really feel like I was reading a historical novel if that makes sense. Ms. Bryne has written a book that is captivating and evocative and gripping in its every little detail. I found myself clutching my kindle so tight during some scenes I had white knuckles. There’s an intensity to some of the scenes that are breath taking in nature. I loved the relationship the girls had with each other and there’s a secondary character or two that play pivotal roles in how this story plays out.

This book moved at a lightening pace which fits the story perfectly. These Aristocrats don’t put up with any shenanigans if it has the chance to affect their bottom line so to speak. This in turn had me reading this book in pretty much one sitting. I just couldn’t find it in me to put it down even when I knew I had to get up at a very early hour the next day…totally worth the exhaustion though!!!

What I can also say with 100% honesty is that this is absolutely a Top Read for 2019 and I’m going to be on a mission to read so many more of Ms. Byrne’s books.

I am a late arrival to Kerrigan Byrne’s books (I only discovered her in the late year or so) but my goodness, she has quickly become a firm favourite, I have loved every book I have read by her, so when I got offered a place on this blog tour for her brand new series, I literally jumped at the chance.

Btw, yes you did read that right; a brand new series and what a corker this is, talk about starting with a bang, this is an explosive and hugely emotional start to what I know is going to be a brilliant series, one that I can’t wait to see what comes in the future for these Devils and Rogues.

The story opens in shocking style, unlike a lot of stories where the heroine has a dark and bleak past we learn their past as the story moves along, here we are wham, bam right in the middle of Alexandra’s horrific ordeal, right from the first page we know what happened to her, and keeping that in mind as we move forward ten years we know just why Alexandra is the way she is, why she finds trusting men and even allowing them near her to difficult.

Alexandra is a brilliant heroine, she is deeply scarred yet she hasn’t allowed that to stop her from doing she dreams of, she has made a name for herself, she has fame, she is intelligent, brave and at times very witty and she will do anything for her two best friends; Francesca and Cecily, who were there by her side when she was going through the worst time of her life, so when she gets a mysterious not from Francesca she goes to her friends aid, even though she has issues of her own, as her family are now on the cusp of bankruptcy and with a blackmailer on her tail, there is only one way for her to find a way out of this except for her to marry, but she won’t marry any man, it has to be one of the most powerful men in the country and the deadliest devil of them all.

Piers – the brilliant, ruthless and heart-breaking man that has ever walked this earth (even if it is on page and not on actual earth) is out for revenge, he wants it like nothing else and he will get it, but first dashing Piers comes up with a plan to marry, in a twist of fate the woman he was about to marry; Francesca, turns out to be the best friend of the woman who we know is supposed to be by his side; Alexandra, he soon sets his eyes on her. There is something about her that makes his more animalistic then ever, he craves her, he wants her more then anything and he wants to brush away her fears and keep her safe.

But with so much past to overcome in each of their lives, can this scarred star crossed couple find their so much deserved happily ever after?

This has everything that you would want in a romance story; fantastic and engrossing plot, that captivates and entertains, humour, realism, and angst, but for me the star of this book is the two lead character’s, they are both hugely scarred, emotionally and physically they have had to endure so much, each in their own way from emotional and physical abuse to attacks and family misfortune, add to that the backstabbing society and you have a couple who really deserve happiness.

What I love about Ms Byrne’s writing is that her stories aren’t your stereotypical historical romance novel’s, these are gritty and dark, they are an edge to them that really grabs your attention, they cover subjects that aren’t your usual for romances, and at the same time they are highly emotional, tenderly loving and breath-taking, you will fall in love, you will weep and you will be at the very edge of your seat as the story unfolds. How to love a Duke in ten days is no different, there aren’t enough words to really say how good this book is; amazing, brilliant, stunning, emotional, mesmerising….I could go on, but you get the idea.

This is a stunning, beautifully written story, it is masterpiece of thought-provoking, poignant and emotional writing. I word of warning though, that there is some graphic scenes of what happened to Alexandra, that some readers may find uncomfortable, especially if you have your own #MeToo story in your past, but I can guarantee that her ordeal is handle with such sensitivity.

How To Love A Duke in Ten Days is the first book in the Devil You Know Series by Kerrigan Byrne.

Lady Alexandra Lane and her two dearest friends Francesca and Cecelia became best of friends when they attended school in Europe. A traumatic event occurred involving Alexandra with dire circumstances. Ones that end with Alexandra being blackmailed every year since. Those circumstances formed an even stronger bond between the three women and now 10 years later they are still the firmest of friends. Each of them had vowed never to marry, so when Alexandra received an invitation to a party where Francessca's wedding betrothal would be announced she knew there must be foul play afoot. She will attend the party but only to save her friend from what must be a forced marriage.

Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne seeks a bride. Not out of love, but to get revenge on somebody. Francesca was promised to him by her parents years ago and he decides to take up the offer. She knows she must go through with the wedding but she isn't happy about it. She needs support from her dearest friends, which is why she invites Alexandra and Cecelia.

I don't want to give the plot away, suffice to say that for reasons you will discover for yourself, Alexandra convinces Piers to marry her instead of Francesca. From their first meeting, he is captivated by her so it is no hardship agreeing to her offer. He hasn't had an easy life, he's been scarred both physically, and mentally. As a child, he was starved for affection and that's something that Alexandra can give him wholeheartedly if she learns to trust him and visa versa.

Married life is certainly no bed of roses for them especially when they not only have to deal with a major falling out between themselves, but also one or both of their lives are in danger. Who is trying to kill them, and why?

This story had a very dark beginning, but one, I believe necessary for making you empathise with Alexandra. It also grabs the attention and makes you want to read further to find out how things can move on for her. Then we have the scenes where she first meets Piers, wow, that's all I can say about that. Follow that up with the marriage of convenience, one which you hope will work out but you question how it could, and the drama of the attempts on their lives, and you will be hooked from the very first pages to the last. And there, for me, comes the rub, the epilogue. I liked knowing that the couple have their happy lives but one of the scenes I found not necessary at all, and especially not in such detail.

Another negative is that during some scenes in the book the writing seemed altogether too modern. I enjoyed the story so much that I was willing to let that go and not change my thoughts on giving the book a 5-star rating. But when the author used the 'C' word, that tipped the scales for me and I can't help but have to drop my rating to 4 stars. There was no need for that word, and it also was spoken during one of the too modern-sounding scenes. Did they use the 'C' word back then, maybe they did, but if I don't like it in modern times, I definitely think it is out of place and unnecessary in olden times. I was really disappointed. I did enjoy the story and am happy to recommend it despite the negatives I found.

FINAL DECISION: A hard book for me to get started reading because of the violence in the first chapter, I started and stopped the book several times. But I'm so glad that I continued the book. Is there darkness? Yes, but utimately, this is a book of strength and prevailing over the darkness for both the hero and the heroine.

THE STORY:  Lady Alexandra Lane has built a life for herself. When one of her best friends asks for her help, Alexandra rushes to her. She meets her friend's intended fiance, Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne. In a twist, Alexandra ends up proposing a deal with Piers, they will marry and Alexandra's family will be saved and he will have heirs as his revenge against his cousin and the woman Piers loved but who betrayed him. But their respective pasts cause problems between them.

OPINION: I really loved the relationship between Alexandra and Piers. These two people are almost undone by their pasts. But each are intelligent and compassionate people and find a way to close the distance between them. At times dark, the relationship between the two is surprisingly sweet.

Alexandra is a woman trying to deal with her violation in a time when there was little support and much condemnation for women. She has managed to build a life for herself. Brilliant, she has gotten a doctorate in archaeology. She has traveled the world and made a career when such things were frowned upon. What she hasn't been able to do is have any romantic entanglements. Until she meets Piers...

Piers is struggling with trust issues especially related to unfaithful women, so he does not react well to Alexandra's secrets. And yet, he ends up being a wonderful guy, thoughtful and caring and, most importantly, he appreciates Alexandra. I especially loved how he recognizes his own selfishness and turns on a dime to support Alexandra.

Stories built upon misunderstandings, when one character keeps a secret that could be resolved by just telling the truth are not my favorite, but it works here because I understand why Alexandra keeps her secrets.

I thought that with difficult subject matter, this book did extremely well in representing both Alexandra and Piers' viewpoints. It was nuanced and blunt and depicted the pain and lasting damage done by sexual assault.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book depicts and has as a central part of the story, the rape of the heroine (not by the hero).

CONNECTED BOOKS: HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS is the first book in the Devil You Know series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is the first installment of the brand new Devil You Know series by Kerrigan Byrne. I could not wait to get my grabby hands on this new series, particularly with the teaser that these men are "dark, bold and brave." Kerrigan is exceptional at writing these types of heroes, and I couldn't wait to embark on a new adventure after the Victorian Rebels series.

So we first meet our heroine, Lady Alexandra Lane, during a dark tragedy in her life. My heart broke with what she endured, and the aftermath. But I absolutely loved watching her persevere and overcome such a dark time. Even when Alexandra was not fully healed, she pursued her education and became a highly intelligent and well-respected doctor/archaeologist. And despite her fear, she really was brave in the face of unknown adversity (i.e. our hero). I liked that she stepped up to the plate with the duke to solve her own problem, along with that of her friend, Francesca. And the relationship between Alexandra, Celcia and Francesca (a/k/a the Red Rogues) was sublime. It really made me miss my girl posse. These ladies are there for each other through thick and thin, tied together through shared experiences, secrets and tragedy.

Our dark and bold hero is Piers Atheron, the Duke of Redmayne and Terror of Torquil. Redmayne's intense demeanor and his scarred visage inspire quite the tall tale around his estate. Rumored to be a werewolf, its a wonder our heroine didn't turn tail and run. However, there is an undeniable attraction and curiosity between our couple, and Piers is the one man who doesn't terrify Alexandra. I loved the way he catered to her, without being a milksop. He was really considerate of her wants and needs, and he took his job as protector seriously.

While the series teaser had me believing we would be focusing on our hero, I felt like he took a back seat to Alexandra given her traumatic past. The switches between Piers and Alexandra's POV may have been about equal, but her story just stuck out more in mind. I do feel that our couple was well-suited and I enjoyed watching them grow closer together in a very short time. The marriage of convenience is one of my favorite tropes when our couple falls head over heels for one another.

I switched between the audio and print versions of this book, and both were superb. Kerrigan's writing always draws me in immediately, and the narrator did a good job bringing our hero to life. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book that I received from the publisher.

4.5 Stars - How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is an amazing read. I’m not surprised, I’ve come to expect that of from Ms. Kerrigan. I love that it’s a three book series and that we have more connected stories to which we can look forward.

Fair warning: There are two rather gruesome scenes that may serve as a trigger is you’ve ever been raped (prologue) or involved in a shooting (2-3 chapters from the end).

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

I enjoyed Alexandria's and Piers story very much. The author did a great job with the characters and story line.

Alexandria is being blackmailed for something she did in her past that she will keep secret in order to protect those she love and her best fries from school who helped her. So when I e of her friends call on her for help she is there. While waiting on one of her friends she saves a family from a frightened horse. She meets the scared man who owns the horse Piers. However she had no idea Piers is the Duke of Remayne and the man one of her friends is to marry. All three friends swore never to marry, but when Alexandria finds out her friend is to receive a large amount of monthly pin money she realizes she should marry the Duke herself to release her friend from having to marry him and it would help pay her blackmailed to keep their secret. But Piers has enemies of.his own and is determined to protect Alexandria at all cost. As danger threatens them both Alexandria feels she needs to protect Piers without revealing her secret as she has come to love him I a short time.


This is a good read. I received this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

What a riveting tale! I've always been fond of Kerrigan Byrne's writing and this book didn't disappoint. She has a narrative style that is poetic and heartbreaking at the same time. Her stories dig deep into harsh topics and this book wasn't the exception. A content warning should be given for sexual abuse as that is an important part of the book and the development of Alexandra's character.
There are several things I enjoyed about this book, starting by the three wonderful friends that made a pact of sharing secrets from their torturous pasts and a vow to never marry. But we know that vow is never going to be easy to keep.
Alexandra, an archeologist recovering from a trauma that has left her wary of men, makes the trip to Redmayne Castle at the request of her friend Francesca, who's betrothed to the Duke since she was a child and is trying to uncover the assassins of her family. But it's Alexandra who ends up catching the eye of the duke and there is an attraction that they can't seem to ignore.
Piers never thought he'd love again after the accident that left part of his face disfigured, but he can't seem to ignore the attraction to Alexandra.
In a whirlwind of emotion, danger and secrets, these two wounded characters will learn to trust and love each other.
I enjoyed that while there are dangers and a few mystery plots surrounding them, the book centers mainly in Alexandra and Piers learning to trust and love one another and how it's Alexandra's journey to healing from the abuse she'd suffered when she was young. It's raw and angsty at points, but so wonderfully written.
Once again, I love this author and she doesn't disappoint me!

He may be a duke, but she was the prize.

I don’t have the words to describe my feels for this book, but I’ll try my best. It’s been so long since I’ve read a historical romance like this. Kerrigan writes that kind that gives me goosebumps and makes me shout! This is how you write HR!!! The hero was so perfect. A man of his time. Flawed with a scratched face, but everything you could want in a strong alpha male and yet so tender, sensitive and passionate towards Alexandra.

I absolutely LOVED this heroine. Alexandra endured such horror as rape at the tender age of 17. The way Kerrigan writes this whole topic just astounds me. Such delicacy and care. I love the whole process and how Alexandra worked through her demons, and the tender scene between her and Piers as she crumbled when he realized the truth. Perfection. I’m hooked on Kerrigan and I’m set to read all her masterpieces from this point on. Bravo!!! Infinite stars!

“Reaching, but not touching. Aching, but not speaking. Because language hadn’t yet invented words for this sort of pain, and therefore neither had it words for comfort.”

This quote I felt in my bones. So many memorable scenes.

I was drawn to the title of Kerrigan Byrne’s latest, How to Love a Duke in Ten Days. The idea of a quick-marriage scheme appealed to me, and when I started reading? It was so much more. I’m new to Kerrigan Byrne, but when the wonderful ladies at St. Martin’s Press recommends a book to you, you listen.

Before I continue, a trigger warning: The beginning scene contains rape. It was hard to read through. I understand the basis of the scene, because it’s what shapes the main character. From reading the dedication, “To every survivor. #metoo” I had an inkling of the content of the story. And I will say, that while the nature of the scene in the beginning, and while normally it’s hard to read through, the story behind it and the positive outcome was something that I appreciated.

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is unlike other historical romance stories that I’ve read. For one, I don’t normally read stories with rape in it. It’s hard to feel those onslaught of emotions. It’s hard to take those emotions from the character and not take it to heart on such a deep level. It’s hard, period. And because of the scene in the beginning, it sets the tone of Alexandra Lane’s life, bringing her to a life of secrecy and avoidance.

I enjoyed getting to know Alexandra, or Alexander as her friends call her. What she makes of her life despite of what happened to her didn’t define her much. She was affected, as many of can be, but she made the most of her life to make herself as happy as she allowed herself to be. And I think that’s where Kerrigan won me over. Alexandra as an individual is kind and loyal, which catapults us to the premise of this book. She finds herself agreeing to marry a Duke, mostly for the sake of financial reasons, but to help her friend solve a mystery (can’t discuss because spoilers!).

Piers is a beast of a man, and that’s mostly figuratively. He was scarred from a few years back due to an animal accident. He then becomes this brogue of a man, uncaring and unloving. But because of a marriage agreement, agrees to marry Alexandra. The romance has an awkward start, but mostly uncomfortable. It’s a realistic moment that Alexandra relives her past. It is also horrific that as one party feels one thing, the other feels the opposite. It’s truthful and harsh, but that’s how it really is.

Overall, I enjoyed this story. It was a topic that I was invested in and was extremely glad with how everything played out. There wasn’t a bubble of happiness, because Kerrigan really brought the fears and horrors to the surface. And again, I really appreciated it.

*Thank you to the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.*

Not only was this book gloriously enthralling, but I’m positive the series will be just as captivating and fascinating and I cannot wait!! Once I pulled the book up on my kindle I could not stop reading. My eyes were blurry from emotion and scratchy from reading stress, but I couldn’t stop. Every moment had me entranced. The book not only tells the romance journey of Alexandra and Piers but also tells the story of The Red Rogues, a sisterhood of three best friends, Alexandra, Francesca and Cecilia. There is a lot going on in this book along with the story of Alexandra and Piers or I should say introduced, but nothing seems like added material for the sake of drama and/or filler. It all means something and will have you captivated and on the edge.


What an emotional journey this turned out to be and I have to say that I am ridiculously impressed with the respectful way that rape and its aftermath was handled in this book. I am not a survivor but I am not ignorant or uneducated and I know that the author depicted Alexandra’s struggle and survival perfectly with respect and dignity. It was traumatic to read but necessary. I’m putting these few sentences in my review because altho I am not a fan of warnings in a book’s synopsis (because it’s just gone beyond triggers now a days and turned into a ridiculous way to advertise a story’s subject matter) you should be warned that the Prologue is detailed and incredibly hard to read and could be an unintentional trigger to sexual assault survivors. I’ll leave it at that.

HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS starts with a harrowing scene that had me chewing my nails, clutching my pearls, dropping my stomach and dreading the future of this brave, beautiful heroine. I was devastated for Alexandra from the very beginning of this book but this woman, this amazing, courageous, above-average intelligent woman  was everything I hoped for. Alexandra never wanted to get married, or even be touched by another man but in order to keep her secrets and protect the two women she loved most in this world, she offered the man, called "The Terror of Torcliff" her hand in marriage. That's the kind of loyalty that is unequaled and only grows through a special bond of trust and shared secrets. That's, in a nutshell, Alexandra and her friends Cecilia and Francesca.

The man called this beastly name is Piers, a man who has had his share of heartbreak. While he was fighting death abroad his cousin stole his fiancee and married her, a woman Piers thought to be in love with. His mother was a harlot who couldn't keep her skirts down. Piers is no stranger to betrayal so he finds Alexandra's forwardness and honesty refreshing.

Could she be real? Did he hold in his arms the rarest of creatures? A woman of substance. Of integrity? One who tended more carefully to the capacity of her heart than to her coiffure? One who thrived on intellect and honor and genuine interaction rather than the empty endorsements of her peers?

When you see how this heroine makes a purring cat, a besotted fool out of this hero with her gentleness, her courage, her sweetness you get really angry when he behaves like a jerk. Thankfully, that never lasted very long. I loved this man - he was fiercely protective, wickedly sexy, brooding and bad-tempered but surprisingly full of humor. Yes, that's totally a contradiction but you'll see what I mean when you read this story. And I loved how he fought his feelings for Alexandra so hard, yet couldn't help but fall head over heels.

“I sometimes forget…” he murmured as though to himself. Alexandra swallowed layers of nerves before she could speak.
“Forget what?”
“How beautiful you are.” He undid his cravat as he traveled the length of the sitting room. “Then I see you and realize that memory cannot compare to reality. I’m left as breathless as the first time we met.”

Their bond was special and while this is very insta I don't care. Not even a little. And c'mon, check the title...HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS? Hello Captain Obvious.

Alexandra was a gentle soul with a steely will and I rooted so hard for her because of her pain. Piers made her feel worthy and became her champion, protector and lover. They made so much sense to me together that I was happy to see how these two people, who experienced so much trauma and heartbreak, found their due, a love so extraordinary and deep, a companion and friend for life. And above all, trust.

“I—I don’t know how to please you,” she confessed, suddenly daunted. He gazed up at her with a patience so tender, so genuine, it released a swell of emotion inside her.
"Don’t you know by now, Alexandra, that everything you do pleases me? To look at you pleases me. To touch and kiss you pleases me. The scent and taste and shape of you is the greatest pleasure I’ve ever known. Anything you do beyond that…”

This book got me out of a book funk I keep falling back into. I don't know why it's not going away but there are these special ones that seem to have the ability to put that slump to rest, at least or a while. I fell deeply in love with Alexandra and Piers but I also declare my love for all the side characters. I loved Cecilia and Francesca, they are the kind of friends who not only hand you the shovel if there is a body to bury but who literally help you bury it. I also found Piers's half brother intriguing, enigmatic and charismatic and I can't wait to see this man fall hard.

The suspense part is done really well and while I guessed one of the villains correctly I was totally taken back by the other. So brownie points for that!

Before I finish my review I want to remark on Kerrigan Byrne's extraordinary gift. Her words, the way she builds sentences, the feelings her words evoke are nothing short of beautiful. HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS is a wonderful story with delicious angst, heartbreaking revelations packed in subtle and fine humor that doesn't go unappreciated because of the nature of the topic. I can't wait for spring 2020 when we get the next book in this series. If you're a fan of HR and haven't read Ms. Byrne's stories yet this is a good time. This is the start of a new series so you have no excuse.

He knew, then and there, that he’d walk through hell for her. He’d slay dragons and face entire armies. He’d circumnavigate the globe to lay her foes at her feet.