A Kirkus Reviews 2019 Best Romance Novel, the first in an exciting new series by USA Today bestseller Kerrigan Byrne!They are a dangerous duke, a fierce lord, and an infamous earl—dark, bold, brave men who know exactly what they want. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees… Famed and brilliant, Lady Alexandra Lane has always known how to look out for to herself. But … 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.
LOVE TAKES NO PRISONERS
Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is seeking revenge and the first step is securing a bride. Winning a lady’s hand is not so easy, however, for a man known as the Terror of Torcliff. Then, Alexandra enters his life like a bolt of lightning. When she proposes marriage, Piers knows that, like him, trouble haunts her footsteps. But her gentleness, sharp wit, independent nature, and incredible beauty awakens every fierce desire within him. He will do whatever it takes to keep her safe in his arms.
“Romantic, lush, and suspenseful.”—New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Enoch
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This is why I read! Pure entertainment.
Piers is a most amazing Duke – totally alpha, big and burly, and so incredibly insightful and caring. LOVED HIM. Alexandra is an incredible survivor, stronger than she realizes, and smart enough to look beneath the surface. LOVED HER too! The plot is fun, the secondary characters are fabulous, dialogue is engaging and the pace is face. I loved it and can’t wait – like really can’t wait – for the next, ALL SCOT AND BOTHERED.
How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is an exceptionally well written and captivating historical romance. One that stands out from the rest and demands to be read.
I’m speechless and awed. This is without a doubt one of the best historical romances I’ve EVER read.
With an incredible, out-of-this-world romance, a dash of mystery and suspense, and memorable characters, this book eclipsed everything and anything I was doing.
This could or may very well be a unique and spectacular retelling of Beauty and the Beast. A retelling that has included everything I did not know I wanted and more love and devotion than I could have ever forseen.
Alexandra is such a strong and smart woman. Her character is well written. You understand her as well as her motives. You feel her distress, her pain and her fear. But you also see strength and a survivor.
Piers, aka the Duke of Redmayne, was the most perfectly written book-boyfriend to date. His character is so well fleshed out and so real. His character is not perfect by any means but he is perfectly imperfect. He has a short temper and is quick to judge but the way he takes care of and is with Alexandra is heart-melting and swoon-worthy. He is guaranteed to burrow himself into your heart.
I am more than eager to continue this series.
How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is A MUST READ! One-click today! NOW! Go, go, go!
I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“These men are dark, bold, and brave. And there is only one woman who can bring them to their knees…”
I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about Kerrigan Byrne. This was my first venture into the Historical Romance genre and let me just say I love how refined Historical Romance is. I was completely swept away! The start to a brand new series, I fell utterly in love with this story… These characters… The writing. It was brilliant!
Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne… The Terror of Torcliff was everything you want in an alpha male, ladies. A brooding brute with scars and a softie with that sweet side.
Then we have the Red Rogues. Three ladies that form a tight knit friendship. A sisterhood eternally bound by secrets #thesuspense. Lady Alexandra Lane was such a great heroine. Intelligent, driven, and independent especially for her time. She was a survivor with a fierceness to overcome anything.
Enough said about the banter between Piers and Alexandra–it was perfection! My heart soared for these two.
Filled with dark tones, How to Love A Duke in Ten Days had a subtle way of wording with elegance. Not all up in your face and crass, especially when it dealt with a delicate matter. Overall, this novel was a perfect balance of sweet, sexy, and suspenseful. I couldn’t get enough of it!
Gahhhh, I loved this book so much! I’m still swooning!! Now, I need to devour more of Kerrigan’s words. I’m counting the days for book 2
I loved that this story did not follow the typical, historical romance ‘formula’. It was a very unique tale that immediately drew me in. The characters were vivid and complex and made the story seem so realistic, that I often felt like I was actually there watching the story unfold.
#NetGalley #HowToLoveADukeInTenDays #KerriganByrne
*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press in order to read and provide a voluntary and honest review, should I choose to do so.
I wasn’t sure what to think about this book when I read the first chapter, but it’s very important to the book. Three young ladies, Alexandra, Cecelia and Francesca become close friends in a private school, but the rape of one of the girls and it’s consequences is a secret they all carry for ten years. Francesca has been betrothed to Piers, the Duke of Redmayne for many years, but they don’t like each other. Alexandra is attracted to Piers and approaches him to marry her instead, but she carries a terrible secret that she’s being blackmailed for. With the marriage she can pay the blackmailer, hopefully for the last time. Ten days for their honeymoon will give them both a chance to build trust, but someone wants one of them dead. Greed, jealousy, a terrible secret and misunderstandings come into play to make it difficult to trust each other. Byrne makes it all work to keep you reading faster than you did before. Fantastic read!
A free copy from Netgalley for an honest review
4.5 stars
Alexandra’s emotional perseverance was admirable, but I liked how she was so relatable. Her fears and concerns were valid, while her strengths and individual wins a reason to celebrate!
Piers was a wonderful hero, but again, I loved that he wasn’t perfect. Whether it was inserting his foot in his mouth or sweeping in to save the day-when the ladies were obviously doing quite well without him-Piers was a down to earth kind of guy.
Their romance was a sweeping force of blistering chemistry and may I just say, I thought Byrne’s built up Piers and Alexandra’s steaming tension to epic portions and when the whistle blew……!
Aside from the great romance, there’s also plenty of social issues to delve into. Without going into detail of what’s between the pages, I’ll just say for everything Alexandra experienced regarding one specific matter, I found myself flipping the same coin and putting Piers in the same position. Which then lead to a rousing discussion with a friend regarding social norms and society’s perception of men and women in the same situation happens=great food for thought.
For all the issues they both suffered and/or struggled with, Piers and Alexandra’s story turned out to be an amazingly romantic read! I loved so much about the book and really enjoyed how Byrne’s tackled sensitive subjects. Not so much in your face, but not swept quietly under the rug either. With a great balance of dark and light, beautiful writing, tongue in cheek humor, a steamy, healing romance, and wonderful friendships, I think Byrne’s new series is off to a very strong start!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book I received from St. Martins and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne is an excellent historical romance with well-developed characters. The author handled a trigger subject very delicately. This is a must-read book that will check off all the must-haves in a historical romance.
This was an amazing, superbly written book. I can’t express how much I loved the writing in this book. This author has become a “must read” for me. The way the words were put together, the images, the way each part of the book meshes so perfectly throughout, the way the characters are described, what they have gone through and how they develop together, all of it was incredible. I couldn’t put it down and I am eager to read the next book in the series as well as find and read all the other books this author has written. I could not recommend this book more highly.
3.5 to 4 stars
This was a little different than I was expecting, but not in a bad way. The story not only centers on an unlikely engagement and romance, but also on a devoted group of three redheaded friends. Alexandra, Cecilia, and Francesca have been friends since school and pushed the boundaries of what proper women should be. But something happens that also makes them accomplices to a crime and bonds them together even more.
Ten years later as the girls come together at the request of one friend, Alexandra finds herself in the middle of a situation she never expected. Lady Alexandra is intelligent, eccentric, lonely, fearful, honest, and socially irrelevant. She is an archeologist and thrives on adventures. But her secrets haunt her and threaten to continue ruining her life.
Piers Gedrick Atherton is the Duke of Redmayne but also now known as the Terror of Torcliff. His scars and intimidating nature make him an imposing figure.
This has a bit of that Beauty and the Beast vibe with the quirky, bookish girl and powerful, misunderstood, scarred man. But they also have things in common from their own personal scars, trust issues, fear of rejection, sense of adventure, and distaste for fake and vapid people. A marriage could solve both of their problems. But it takes time to build trust.
Piers is both fiercely protective and possessive, but also has a vulnerable part afraid of loss or being made a fool. And Alexandra feels such guilt and fear, and just wants to keep those she cares about safe no matter her sacrifice. Their communication issues and secrets cause problems and tension. And they are also dealing with external threats. There are plenty of antagonists that could be behind the threats and accidents that these two seem to keep finding themselves in the middle of. But who is the target? Is someone after her, him, or her friends?
This is a historical romance with mystery and suspense. Sometimes the language or the multiple storylines took me away from the romance and their story. There are brutish men, forward-thinking ladies, secrets, danger, hidden agendas, and revenge schemes. The side characters add to both the layered history and web of secrets and motivations. I really liked her friends Cecilia and Francesca, and his half brother Cassius, all of which have had challenging pasts. I hope to see more of them in the next two stories in the series.
ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
Trigger warning >>>
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Sexual Assualt
This book was marvelous, held me on pins and needles until the very end.
I would describe it as a mix between historical thriller and romance with HEA.
I loved every single second of this story full of twists and turns, it kept me on the edge all the time.
I fevered with both main characters, cheered them on and felt build of their sexual tension through my marrow. It was sooo good folks, although the book was on the longer side I devoured it like a starving person.
I especially loved that the heroine was woman on the modern side, doing things in that time were scandalous.
I would say if you love historical romance spiced with somewhat mystery this book is the right one for you.
Kerrigan Byrne has a super start to her new series, Devil You Know in How to Love a Duke in Ten Days. I liked the two main characters, Lady Alexandra Lane and Piers Atherton, Duke of Redmayne, the Terror of Torcliff. Both had many issues from their past to overcome, especially Alexandra. The way this author developed their relationship is very interesting. I especially enjoyed the mystery/intrigue. The secondary characters are fascinating, especially Lady Francesca Cavendish and Miss Cecelia Teague. I look forward to their stories.
4.5 stars rounded up.
Since a traumatic experience changed her life forever Lady Alexandra Lane has taken care of herself and earned a doctorate in archaeology, along with the respect of her fellow academics. No one would suspect her dark past, but with her family’s newly diminished circumstances, that past may soon come to light when she can no longer pay off her blackmailer. Now she’s been summoned to Redmayne Castle to attend her friend’s wedding, only Alex finds herself shockingly interested in the groom despite his reputation as the Terror of Torcliff. After all, he’s a terrible match for her friend and marriage to a wealthy man would solve the most looming of her problems.
Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne wants only revenge, to ensure the woman he once thought he loved never has the chance to become a duchess, so he must marry. Piers finds himself inexplicably drawn to and protective of Alexandra Lane, rather than his intended, so when Alex suggests she marry him instead of her friend, he sees no reason to disagree. However, the more time they spend together the clearer it becomes that Alexandra has secrets, potentially deadly ones, and the more determined Piers becomes to keep her safe and by his side for good.
First off, this book was heavy. Both main characters have difficult pasts, most especially the heroine, and serious issues they have to work through. Seeing them learn to trust and come to love one another and then fight together for their future was fabulous. Piers is one of the most well-drawn sensitive-yet-strong alpha heroes I’ve read in quite awhile. I’m very much looking forward to the rest of this series.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I absolutely can’t say enough about how much I was impressed by this book. It was heart wrenching from the first pages. It dealt with a very sensitive issue with compassion and understanding. The writing of the characters was nothing short of amazing. It kept me enthralled in these people’s lives from beginning to end. There was mystery, murder, sexual, spark flying tension, building of trust, overcoming insecurities, tragedy, and may be love. It is a wonderful story you won’t want to put down. Ms. Byrne is rapidly becoming one of my favorite authors. I look forward to reading the next book in this series. I received this copy from NetGalley and the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing. My opinion is my own.
I was caught by surprise by the vicious scene in the prologue. Admittedly, the dedication reading #metoo should have been a giant caution sign for this reader. After finishing that brutal start, I took a short break to read a couple of books before returning to Alexandra’s story. I fell in love with the dark, brooding Piers and his swoony combination of tender understanding and red-blooded passionate male. Doctor Alexandra Lane is the intelligent bluestocking we love to admire with two incredibly loyal friends.
I think one of the more impressive aspects of How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is that Bryne managed to expertly juggle the core romance storyline while still including the important side stories like Alexandra’s blackmail mystery and Piers’ unfortunate past. I did find my attention drifting a bit during the longer inner musings but that seems to be a naughty reading habit of mine. Overall, this book was engaging and a true pleasure to read. There is enough action and mystery to keep the story moving even when the romance stalls due to male idiocy.
I am already wishing I had my mitts on Francesca and Cecilia’s books. This is the sort of series that is perfect for binge reading. Kerrigan Bryne truly has a gift for writing and has joined the (illustrious) ranks of auto-read authors for historical romance for this reader.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
on Dream Come Review on 30 Aug
Holy Friggerroly…that was bloody AWESOME!!
Kerrigan Byrne can do no wrong in my eyes. Well, maybe she could do wrong if I knew her in real life, but writing-wise, she is a BLOODY MASTER at her craft. How to Love a Duke in Ten Days was amazing and kept me enthralled from start to finish. As soon as this story loaded up on my Kindle, I HAD to start. I squirmed with glee at the turn of the first page and sighed in contentment with every page turned after that. Ms Byrne’s words…worlds…characters are my happy place and I’m sad to say goodbye at the end.
I absolutely love Kerrigan Byrne’s ability to capture my attention at the beginning with a scene that was thought-provoking and a little heartbreaking. This author sucks you in by showing us the heroine at her most vulnerable. We then get to see her survive, grow and eventually conquer the demons that made her vulnerable. To be honest, that squirmy, uncomfortable, icky feeling she leaves me with is something I look forward to. Isn’t that weird? I guess the appeal is in knowing that this character WILL win in the end. If that win is just in love, then I’m fairly satisfied. If that win also happens to be from conquering a fear or getting past a barrier, then I’m ecstatic.
When I met Alexandra and her Red Rogue friends Cecilia and Francesca, I knew that I was meeting new friends. When I met Piers, the hero, I knew I was meeting my next favourite HERO!!! This man made my heart flutter. Big, broody and bossy…just the way I love them. So, on meeting him I was fluttery, by the end, I was swooning, sighing and squirming with delight. He’d fallen and he’d fallen hard…I love it when the hero falls hard for his heroine.
How to Love a Duke in Ten Days left me extremely satisfied, but I can admit that at times it was hard to read. Alexandra had a horrible thing happen to her at a young and vulnerable age. If she hadn’t had the support and love from her two friends, there’s a good chance she may not have survived. While the journey was a little rocky at times, I was never in any doubt that Piers and Alexandra would work through their problems together. I knew that Piers would be thoughtful and understanding. He cared about Alexandra’s feelings and while Piers knew it left him vulnerable, showed her how much she meant to him.
Yes, I have written a very positive review, but I know this book will not be for everyone. For starters, if you’re not a fan of sexy stories, this is probably not for you. If a wee bit of mystery, a touch of angst and a smidge of secrets, lies and betrayals make you run for the hills, then maybe avoid this one. How to Love a Duke in Ten Days does touch on some sensitive issues but I never felt overwhelmed and thought the author handled it very well.
From the first page to the last, I was captivated. Piers and Alexandra’s love story was exactly what I’m looking for in my historical romance reads. I smiled, sighed, sniffled and squirmed throughout this story and I loved every minute of it. If you haven’t read a Kerrigan Byrne historical romance yet, this start to The Devil You Know series would be a fantastic introduction. But be warned…once you start, you won’t be able to stop.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
What can I say that I haven’t already said about Kerrigan Byrne? To reiterate … she’s a fucking goddess and I am always in awe of what her stories do to me.
This one chewed me up, spit me out, broke my heart … and then put me back together again and tucked me in with a warm, fuzzy blanket.
I loved Alexandra, the brave, broken heroine whose trauma still haunts her every day. I felt every bit of her pain as she fought to reclaim her power and give herself to her new husband.
And the hero, Piers … sigh. I love a wounded hero, and this man’s wounds are both physical and emotional. But the way he desires, protects, and loves Alexandra … swoon!
The storytelling was imaginative, with just the right touch of humor to bring levity to what is otherwise a heart wrenching tale.
Is the mystery element a little predictable? Sure. Is the final “showdown” and reveal of the bad guys a little over the top? Absolutely. But who fucking cares?? This is a romance novel! I’m here for big, sexy dukes, hot sex, and bold, strong women. I’m here for the feels and the fantasy!
All the stars for this one!
I made the grave mistake of starting this book way too close to bedtime. Silly Kate. I should have remembered that I always want to gobble up Byrne’s books in one glorious, sexy duke-filled sitting. Still, who needs sleep, anyway? The writing is rich and evocative, there’s great female friendships, plenty of angst and drama, and a grouchy, scarred hero hot enough to melt your corset. It’s a page turning delight!
Once again Kerrigan Byrne writes a masterpiece in How to Love A Duke In Ten Day, full of suspense, romance, and adventure. The story begins with a prologue leading into Lady Alexandra Lane’s life ten years later. She faces a financial ruin, thanks to a blackmailer. When she proposes marriage to Piers Gedrick Atherton, Duke of Redmayne, he knows that, like him, trouble haunts her steps. Besotted with this sharp-witted, independent beauty, he will do whatever it takes to keep her safe. Their romance is raw and edgy and explosive. If readers love Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian Rebels, they will love this first book of The Devil You Know series.
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!!
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.