St Martin's Press sent me a free review copy of How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne ahead of the blog tour.
After a shaky start in which I almost DNFed this book, it picked right up and I couldn't stop reading, and I ended up completely invested in the characters are story.
These men are dark, bold, and brave. 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 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.
Source: NetGalley
5 Words: Friendship, attraction, strength, power, injustice.
Content Warnings: Sexual assault.
I have to admit straight off that I didn't like the start of this book. The beginning left a sour taste in my mouth, as the suffering of women as a device for their motivation often does. Why is rape used so often in writing as motivator for female characters?
But beyond the first chapter, I actually really enjoyed this book. I loved the friendship between Alexandra, Francesca and Cecelia, the way they made the most believable close group, how they subtly defied convention in a myriad little ways and resented their lot as women. I loved their loyalty and love for each other.
Piers is a bitter man - although he does have his reasons. He's also a bit of a fantasist and gets lots in his own head quite a bit, which I actually found quite endearing.
I loved the mystery and the danger and the tension. The story is excellently paced and I never felt bored while reading. I really struggled to put How to Love A Duke in Ten Days down, the writing was very engaging.
After a shaky start, I actually enjoyed this. I just wish I'd never read the first chapter as it was really quite awful and felt a little gratuitous. But overall this was a great book.
But beyond the first chapter, I actually really enjoyed this book. I loved the friendship between Alexandra, Francesca and Cecelia, the way they made the most believable close group, how they subtly defied convention in a myriad little ways and resented their lot as women. I loved their loyalty and love for each other.
Piers is a bitter man - although he does have his reasons. He's also a bit of a fantasist and gets lots in his own head quite a bit, which I actually found quite endearing.
I loved the mystery and the danger and the tension. The story is excellently paced and I never felt bored while reading. I really struggled to put How to Love A Duke in Ten Days down, the writing was very engaging.
After a shaky start, I actually enjoyed this. I just wish I'd never read the first chapter as it was really quite awful and felt a little gratuitous. But overall this was a great book.
Oooh ooooh!! I'll have a look for this one 😍
ReplyDeleteThis sounds interesting!
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
ReplyDeleteThis isn’t the book for me due to the content, but great review ��
ReplyDeleteI like a difficult book, but using rape as a motivator I am not a fan of, what a shame! But I'm glad you enjoyed the rest!
ReplyDeleteIt does sound like the first chapter would put me off too, I'm glad you stuck at it as you enjoyed the rest so much.
ReplyDeleteI am glad this one picked up for you, it is always so hard when books start off rough.
ReplyDelete