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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4.25 stars. Ahh, this was a great book! How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is Alexandra/Alex and Piers’s book. Alex is an archaeologist who also was a sexual assault victim as a teenager and because of that has vowed to never marry. She and her two best friends are all spinsters with a secret they share from the past. In school, Alex, Cecilia and Francesca, all red heads, formed a secret club called the Red Rogue Society, where they snuck off and enjoyed pleasures normally denied to young ladies. Now, years later, Alex is surprised to be summoned to the announcement of Francesca’s engagement to Piers, the Duke of Redmayne, because she too vowed to never marry. When she arrives though, she finds that Francesca has no intention of marrying the Duke, with who she was betrothed to as a child. Neither have any feelings for each other, barely having ever met. But Francesca has a mystery which must be solved, so she is pretending to go along with the engagement. Meanwhile, Alex’s family has fallen on hard times and are penniless, so she offers herself up in replacement to marry the Duke, with whom she has an instant chemistry. So begins the relationship and the falling in love of Alex and Piers.
This book was so good! I loved Alex and Piers. They were both very unique, interesting characters with lots of layers. They made a great match. I loved that Alex was an archaeologist (a doctor!) and a spinster. Piers was fascinated with her from the moment they met and grew to adore her. I enjoyed the way Alex’s past rape was handled and the way she healed from it. I love Ms. Byrne’s writing. This was a fantastic start to a new series and I can’t wait for more from the Red Rogues in future books.
Overall, this was such a good read. I loved Alexandra and Piers’s relationship. I am looking forward to much more from Ms. Byrne in the future!
What an absolutely amazing historical romance. It grabbed me immediately and I just couldn’t put it down with complex characters and an intense drama that was fast-paced, emotional, suspenseful, bold, and included a touch a humor, secrets, lies, betrayal, twists, turns and so much more.
I was captivated with Lady Alexandra Lane who carries a deep secret from her past and her strong friendship with her dearest friends Francesca Cavendish and Cecilia Teague. I loved her instant attraction and undeniable chemistry with Piers Gedrick Atherton, Duke of Redmayne.
Parts of this book may be disturbing to sensitive readers but I loved every minute of it and feel it is a wonderful debut to the Devil You Know series. Ms. Byrne blew me away with this book and I can hardly wait to read more by this gifted author.
I received a copy of “How to Love a Duke in Ten Days” from the publisher via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my honest review.
I loved this!
So much heartache and terror for Alexandra at first, you’re unsure of how she’ll ever get past her traumatic experience. But then she meets Piers. He’s sure to be the brute that turns her life around.
But something deadly lurks in the shadows. It might be too much for Alexandra and Piers to survive.
I can’t wait for the next in this series!!! 5 stars!
I’m completely blown away by this book!
The story starts as it means to go on – rather dark, with plenty of suspense that had me reading with one hand over my eyes. Even when I knew what was going to happen, it was difficult to read but impossible to put down. Alexandra is one tough cookie, having endured and achieved so much more than anyone could expect of a teenage girl. And then things really kick into high gear when she meets Piers … cue all the swooning!
This book gave me such a book hangover! The writing is exquisitely on-point throughout, never letting up or losing focus. It ends with a hard-fought HEA and a beautiful epilogue that will make you sigh with contentment. This is the kind of story that we hope every historical romance will be. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.
How to Love a Duke In Ten Days opens with an intense scene that certainly pulled me into the story. From that point, I had to know what would come of Alexandra and what her future would hold. We do know a bit of that going in just from reading the blurb, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Kerrigan Byrne balances darkness and light so well, and she draws her characters equally well. There’s no sitting back and watching this one unfold. The writing style pulls you in and makes you experience the emotions along with the characters. The chemistry between Alexandra and Piers is off the charts and I love that Alexandra is such a strong woman. The story is almost fairy-tale like, and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing.
Enticingly, Delicious! Beautifully written, intensely suspenseful and deliciously sensual. These characters are fabulously crafted and gloriously complicated, who live and breathe and jump off the page at you. The author manages to balance the dark with light, witty humor, heated descriptions, and a sexual tension that adds sizzle to every scene. This story utterly mesmerized me.
Great Love stories have one thing in common: the author’s exquisite ability at storytelling. “How To Love A Duke In Ten Days” transforms from a simple love story to one that enraptures readers with it’s emotion, conviction, and vitality. Beautifully penned, this book is a insta-must read and one that is unputdownable and unforgettable. I loved it!
I voluntarily received a early copy of this story for a honest opinion.
This story blew me away. I loved all the characters. The story pulled at my heart, challenged my deductive thinking, and had me smiling. The beginning was on the dark side (which I like in my stories), and the story took off through blackmail, attempted murder, love, family, friends, and a hard won HEA. Alexandra and Piers are now one of my favorite couples. I so look forward to the next book in this series.
I received a copy of this story through Netgalley, and this is my unsolicited review.
Wow y’all. This book was amazing, and heartwrenching, and brilliant, and tragic, and beautiful, and romantic, and so spectacular. I don’t read a ton of historical romance, so this was my first book by this author. But, I loved her words, and she’ll be on my must list now, for sure.
The first thing I feel the urge to say is TAKE THE DEDICATION AS A CONTENT WARNING!!! And be prepared. Boy I was not ready, and the trauma came right up on me, there in the prologue. I could feel the terror coming, and I started to get upset before anything really even happened. Then, I was sobbing, and I couldn’t stop for a while. It’s not particularly difficult to get me to cry a bit, or tear up, while reading a book, but the volume of upset and tears I experienced here is definitely not typical. I was utterly heartbroken before the story even really started.
Lady Alexandra Lane had a blessed life. Daughter of an Earl, she was sent to a prestigious girls boarding school for her education. There she met her two lifelong best friends, Cecilia, and Francesca. They all had some shade of red hair, so they formed the Red Rogues Society, their secret club where they talked about, and DID, all the things that as proper ladies, they weren’t supposed to. Until one night terror visited Alexandra, and nothing was ever the same again. Her friends were there for her, and helped her to begin moving on. They made a pact never to marry, and they each went out into the world to become exactly who they wanted to be. Alexandra became a doctor of history at the Sorbonne, and an archaeologist. She’s obsessed with ancient people, and cultures, and artifacts. Lately, her father’s wealth has fallen on hard times, and she’s not sure what they’ll do. When she’s summoned to a masquerade ball to announce Francesca’s engagement to the mysterious Duke of Redmayne, she’s not sure what to think. But, she knows her friend needs her, so she goes there immediately.
Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, almost died in an animal attack while hunting. When he returned after 3 months of healing, he found his fiancee married to his cousin, the next in line for Piers’ title. Now, he wants to make sure neither of the horrible couple ever gets what they want. That means he needs heirs ASAP. So, he’s decided to honor the engagement agreement his late father made for him, when Piers was a child. He knows that he and Francesca have no chance of a “happy” life together, as they don’t particularly care for each other, but most people of their station don’t like their spouses, much less love them, so he’s not too concerned. Until he meets a fearless, unexpected beauty on a train platform, and it changes his life for good. If he can avoid whoever is trying to kill his fiancee (or is it one of her friends??), he might just change his mind about a loveless marriage.
Piers and Alexandra had instant chemistry, but due to Alexandra’s past, and her inexperience, she doesn’t understand it at first. She just knows she feels safe with him, even when someone might be trying to off her. Alexandra is trying to help Francesca discover who murdered her family, and they’ve found some info at Piers’ home to set them in the right direction. In order to free Francesca up for her revenge plot, and to help Alexandra deal with her own family issues, she offers herself as a bride to Piers instead. Neither of them really have any clue what they’re in for.
There was a bit of a mystery plot here where there was a concerted effort to kill one of 4 characters. This was rolled out excitingly, first trying to discover who the intended target actually was, and then trying to figure out who wanted them dead, and for what purpose. It kept me guessing, and was a great side plot along with the intimacy of the main characters’ growing romance. Alexandra’s best friends were so awesome. Every woman wishes for some ride or die besties like these, and I loved their close friendship. They were truly there for each other, no matter what, and I loved seeing them constantly show up for one another.
Piers and Alexandra’s love was hard fought, and I adored their story. I loved how fierce Alexandra was, fighting for all the people she loved, but especially for Piers. Piers never really understood the meaning of family, and having people to depend on, until Alexandra. Their fall was a slow burn, while there was still plenty of heat along the way. In taking this journey with them, you can see how they fell into love so deeply in 10 days, as you fell right along with them.
This story was beautifully written. The author’s words were so evocative, and I loved her tone, and pacing. As I said, the prologue was traumatic, but even while the horror was happening, I could recognize the beauty of the author’s writing. The events were truly tragic, and the memories of them won’t leave me for a long time. That, to me, is the mark of a magical writer. I know many readers love ALL THE ANGST in their romances, but I typically don’t go looking for that. I don’t like to feel emotionally manipulated, but I DIDN’T feel that way here at all. The events were a vital part of the heroine’s story, and they shaped her life, and how she chose to live it, for a very long time. The author seemed to choose each word lovingly, and with great care, and I was transported, even when I would have rather remained an outsider.
I loved these characters, and this story. I would definitely recommend this book, with the warning of the traumatic memories it might evoke for some survivors of sexual violence. I am so looking forward to learning more about Cecelia and Francesca, and I cannot wait for their stories.
You know that giddy feeling you have when you’re just into the start of a book by an author that’s new to you and you realize you’ve been gifted gold. That’s how I felt reading How To Love a Duke In Ten Days. Now, I will say that there is something very traumatic that seventeen-year-old Alexandra Lane experiences that set my heart racing and plummeting. In the same light, revenge is swiftly delivered. But nevertheless, what she endures is horrible and heartbreaking and I needed to know she would be alright. We also quickly learn about her fellow Red Rogues; Francesca, and Cecelia, who bond with Alexandra to help her heal as the three of them forever swear off marriage and children.
Ten years on, the ladies gather for an unexpected event. One that quickly exposes Alexandra to danger as she meets Piers Atherton, Duke of Redmayne (a.k.a, The Terror of Torcliff). But Kerrigan Byrne surprises the reader with a twist that leads to a wonderful story about the healing power of love and hope and the path is absolutely delicious. The connection between Piers and Alexandra is pure magic and the mutual seduction heartstopping. I truly fell in love with Byrnes’ storytelling. It’s sweet, sexy, suspenseful, and exceeded my palpability “test”. I felt so immersed in their story, the developing emotional intimacy between them, and the danger they face.
This is a beautiful historical romance that consumed me from start to finish. It truly has everything I love in genre, the escape to the past and of the brave and bold woman breaking through their social constraints. I am very much looking forward to reading some of Byrnes backlog and this series. 5 Stars and recommendation!
I knew that I was in for an emotional rollercoaster and gripping tale when I saw #metoo in the author’s dedication – that was swiftly confirmed in the prologue and it was truly off to the races from there. I could not put this book down (which came as no surprise considering how much I enjoyed the author’s first series). And while the Victorian Rebels books dealt with some fairly serious issues, I found How to Love a Duke in Ten Days to be a bit weightier. Kerrigan Byrne handled the subject matter masterfully – she did not shy away from depicting a graphic and harrowing incident that shaped the lives of several characters, but at no time did the story come off as gratuitous or exploitive. All of the characters were developed so well and it truly made me look forward to continuing the series (with hope that it will extend beyond the main group of friends). Also, Piers is the “beastly” hero of my dreams. It is a testament to the author’s talent and skill that she was able to tell a story of such tragic betrayal and violation and yet still make it at turns sexy, funny, joyful, and hopeful. How to Love A Duke in Ten Days is a survival story set in a historical setting that has real relevancy and meaning for our time. 5 out of 5 wine glasses.
Lady Alexandra Lane, Lady Francesca Cavendish and Cecelia Teague created the Red Rogues Society so they could read the books they wanted and drink wine while at a school in Switzerland. They are ready to graduate when the headmaster raped Alexandra. The girls killed and buried him with the help of the groundskeeper Jean-Yves who Cecelia hired as her protector.
Ten years later the girls reunite for Francesca’s wedding and to find out why she is in danger. Alex takes the train to her destination to discover no one has yet arrived to take her to the estate. While watching a horse be unloaded, it escaped and was frightened. She grabbed the horse’s rope, talked to and turned him in circles to calm him. A man she assumes is the trainer took the horse from her. She finds out later he is the Duke of Redmayne, (Piers Atherton) Cecelia’s betrothed. The next morning the women go to the ruined medieval fortress to look for artifacts. Piers discovers them and luckily sees a glint of metal. They get down but can’t tell who shot at them. Francesca doesn’t want to marry Piers and vice versa. Piers wants to marry Alexandra, but does she want him?
Kerrigan Byrne writes amazing books that have complex characters, great story lines and are hard to put down. My review is only a small part of this book to entice you to discover what happens. I loved it and can easily recommend it.
A very touching story. Alexandra is protecting herself from a painful past. She is beautiful brilliant and fierce despite what was taken from her. Piers is scarred in body and mind. This story tells a tale as old as time. Recovering from an assault is debilitating to Alexandra’s future. The author has told this story in a splendid fashion. She has highlighted the value of having friends who will stick with you through anything. She has shown what love can do to heal a body, mind and heart that had been ripped asunder. Unconditional love is front and center in this story as both Piers and Alexandra navigate the minefield that was their past.
This was an emotional rollercoaster ride. This author’s masterfully descriptive language paints a vibrant enclave in society. The prologue gave me enough backstory to appreciate and anticipate plot details. As the story moves forward, the characters develop to reveal strong people who have grown through adversity. They meet the challenges presented in this tale with courage and dignity.
I voluntarily read an advanced review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley and I offer my honest opinion in response.
How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is equal parts heartbreaking and swoon worthy. I cried tears of utter sadness and then delighted joy. Seriously, this book gave me so many feels I’m not even sure I can review it adequately.
Alexandra has two wonderful friends, and seeing positive female friendships in a story was so heartwarming. The 3 Red Rouges are more than mere friends and they share a terrible secret. Fast forward many years and an engagement brings them together. These 3 are quite different from each other which was interesting as well. Alexandra is tormented by an event in her past and it has shaped who she has become-she tries desperately to hide any indication of femininity. Her meeting with Piers, the Duke of Redmayne, aka the Terror of Torcliff, is just as unorthodox as Alexandra. Alexandra got her doctorate from the Sorbonne, which I actually visited when I was in Paris several years ago!
Both Piers and Alexandra have baggage and this leads to a lack of trust in their marriage of convenience. I cried HARD when Piers finally pieced the clues together and figured everything out. I adored Alexandra, but I also fell deeply in love with Piers. Throughout their love story, there is the constant threat of danger because someone is trying to kill them. Also, Alexandra’s blackmailer is demanding payment and now that she is a duchess, the price has increased.
There are times when the story is painful to read. I think Bryne does a brilliant job of making that pain real in a way that causes the reader to hurt for Alexandra. While it wasn’t easy to read, its very well done and an important topic. Check the trigger warnings if you have any. I am very excited to see what Bryne has in store for Cecilia and Francesca!
I thought that this was a wonderful read and a terrific start to a brand new series. I loved Alexandra and Piers. The love that blossomed between this woman that wore her scars on the inside and this man that carries scars both on the inside and out was so beautiful that it melted my heart. I truly thought that both of these characters were incredible. Alexandra was smart, brave and strong and the situation she is in now and her painful past made my heart ache. Piers, won me over. He has some pretty big issues of his own that make him a bit unlikable at the start but as their relationship evolves and secrets are revealed he turned into a very charming, funny, protective and sweet swoon worthy book boyfriend. The engaging storyline has lots of emotions, drama, humor, suspense and mystery. The secondary cast of characters was appealing and I loved the powerful friendship that Alexandra, Francesca and Cecilia shared. An excellent romance that left me eager for book two of this series. I am posting an honest, voluntary review.
How to Love A Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrnne
Devil You Know #1
Excellent book ~ Once I picked it up I could not put it down!
Kerrigan Byrnne is an author I eagerly await books from. Every time I have read one of her stories I am moved. The characters are strong, complex and people I can relate to. The romances are rich. The descriptions make me feel I am there. I get swept into the story and hate leaving the characters behind even though I am eager to pick up the next book in the series as soon as it is available.
Three young girls at boarding school form a club. They are young and silly and adventurous and very very intelligent. They would do anything for one another. The headmaster of the school is someone the students are leery of as they know he enjoys handing out punishments and relishes the pain he delivers. In the prologue we find out just how evil he is and how he impacts the heroine of this story.
We pick up the tale ten years later and Alexandra, Francesca and Cecelia are still best friends and single as they are nearing thirty. When Francesca requests Alexandra’s assistance she heads immediately to help her friend and finds that Francesca is betrothed to a man she doesn’t want to marry. An alternative might be available if all parties are willing.
Piers Gedrick Atherton, Duke of Redmayne is a man among men. He is everything one looks for in the hero of a story. He is strong, intelligent, capable, protective, generous and scarred. When he meets Alexandra there is instant chemistry but with the backstories they both have their journey to a HEA will not be easy.
What I liked:
* The three female friends – what a wonder it would be to have such strong friends forever
* Alexandra – he willingness to do what she needs to to help her friends and family. She is also a person I would love to have had as a friend.
* Piers – oh my! I can’t think of anything I did NOT like about him!
* The flow of the writing that swept me in
* The introduction to people that may show up in later books in the series
* Everything…I mean…I am rating it five stars and really really enjoyed it!
What I did not like:
* The people I was meant not to like…and there were more than one or two.
* The pain that Alexandra and Piers suffered
This is a story that is to be savored. The romance is exquisite and the relationship between Alexandra and Piers so very well crafted. The evil people were truly evil and to be despised and I did so with relish. I can’t wait to find out happens in book two of this series…I believe it will be Cecilia’s story and do look forward to reading it.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Paperbacks for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
How To Love A Duke in Ten Days Kerrigan Byrne Thanks to the publisher and #NetGalley for letting me preview this book. This feels like a very promising start to a new series – a rebellious group of teenage girls who grow up and are fiercely committed to one another. The start of the book was quite dark and a little hard to get through, but it was needed to understand Alexandra’s story and the obstacles she and later Piers have to overcome. The villain was a little obvious – having hand-delivered blackmail notes should have narrowed it down the for her..but it didn’t detract too much from the real story, which is Alexandra and Piers learning to trust and love each other. He had a lot to figure out, and it was a lovely and emotional story. I’m really looking forward to reading the other girls’ stories!
Did you ever love an author’s series so much that you were afraid to start her new one, afraid you’d be disappointed, comparing the two? That’s how I was with Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian Rebel series. One of my favorite series. EVER. So I was a little nervous to start How to Love a Duke in Ten Days, her first book in the Devil You Know series. Was I disappointed? HECK, NO! I was totally captivated, and I can’t wait to read the next one! (There’s a mention of the next couple in the book; it shall be awesome, I’m sure.)
I’m not going into a synopsis of the plot Just read the book’s information page at the online retailer of your choice. Instead, let’s talk about feelings and characters, okay? This book was both brutal and beautiful. At times I absolutely hated the hero, Piers, the Duke of Redmayne. Other times I just wanted to cuddle with him and sooth his weary soul. He is my favorite type of hero…scarred, brooding and with a troubled past. But he was also one of the biggest alpha males I’ve come across in a romance novel in quite a while. He was jealous. He could be cruel. But he could also be funny, charming, protective, whimsical and so sweet and caring. Definitely an unusual hero.
Then there’s Lady Alexandra, an unusual character in her own right. While in boarding school, she was a member of the Red Rogues with her two best friends. They stole items from the headmaster, would drink and read scandalous novels. When she was horribly brutalized, her friends helped her hide the evidence of the aftermath. Years later, Alexandra had done her best to forget the past and she became a noted archaeologist. However, when she met Piers, her sexual feelings started to bring back memories best forgotten.
The relationship between Piers and Alexander was explosive. Trust me, there was nothing wine and roses about this romance. Lies, secrets and the past battled with tenderness and desire. It was hard to root for them at times. I smiled at some of the internal dialogue of Piers. I cried for Alexandra and Piers and their brutal pasts. And then I bawled, seriously bawled, over their love.
Yes, this book will put you through the ringer. If you’re looking for a fluffy romance, this isn’t it. However, I cannot recommend this book enough. It’s well worth the brutal emotions it will put you through. Ms. Byrne excels at writing dark, alpha male heroes, perhaps better than any other writer of Victorian romance today. Please, do not pass this one up.
I received an ARC of this book courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. I received no compensation for my review, and all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.
Such an intriguing story. 3 lifelong friends, a duke betrothed to one. I swept away with the adventures and completely engrossed with the suspense throughout the story. I really enjoyed reading this. I received an ARC of this and volunteered to review it.
I have read one Kerrigan Byrne book by now and loved it but this was the first time I actually got her ARC. I was so excited when I got it!
The prologue of this book contains some heavy stuff (spoiler on my Goodreads) which made me pause reading for a couple days because it was so well written, so emotional I just needed some time for myself. So beware, this may be something you don’t like in your books but I promise you that’s the only time you’ll see this in this book.
But what follows is a beautiful story between two wounded souls.
Alexandra is quirky in her own way, extremely smart (I truly enjoyed when they tested how smart each other is) but haunted by the past and therefore very careful with her interactions with other people.
As for Piers, I have read many, many historical romances but I have never met such a thoughtful, caring, kind person as he is. There are a lot of adjectives that could describe him and yet, it wouldn’t do his character justice. He’s scarred on the outside (just what I like in my HRs ) but unbelievably nice even though he’s the Terror of Torcliff. I’m so glad Alexandra looked beyond the surface and found how big his heart truly is.
The only minuses I found in this book are a few grammatical errors (dots missing at the end of the sentences, and she’s called Ariande) but since there’s a little less than seven days till the release, I’m sure this will be fixed. I also found that this book was for me maybe a little too long? Like so much happened in this book that just…wow.
Kerrigan Byrne writes to feed your soul, it’s like this book was exactly what I needed yet didn’t know I want. I have never encountered in books a marriage that will have to go through so much obstacles, a journey filled with love, laughs, passion, fear, sorrow and everything in between.
Guys, you need to read this book, period.
4.5 stars.
ARC provided via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.