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. Piers Atherton, Duke of Redmayne, also known as the Terror of Torcliff, is about to enter into a marriage on convenience with one of Alexandra's friends but is tempted by the bridesmaid, not the bride.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, with Alexandra as a strong yet vulnerable protagonist, Piers as a complex hero, and strong supporting characters that highlight friendship and loyalty.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style is emotionally charged, with vivid descriptions and a blend of humor and drama that echoes classic romance novels.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot follows Alexandra, a woman with a traumatic past who navigates a marriage of convenience with Duke Piers, exploring themes of friendship and healing amidst mystery.

Setting:

The setting is entrenched in Victorian-era England, featuring Gothic elements and significant locations that impact the story's events.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, with the first half focusing on character connections and the latter half introducing more action, though some readers noted moments of dragging.

The first, she had been unable to stop fretting for Francesca, who tended to give more than the appropriate amount of context. The terse, vague note Alexandra now held was more of a warning than the m...

Notes:

The book is the first in a series called 'Devil You Know' by Kerrigan Byrne.

It opens with a prologue featuring a traumatic event involving the heroine, Alexandra, when she is a teenager.

Alexandra and her friends form a society called The Red Rogue Society, which promotes women's education and empowerment.

The male lead, Piers Gedrick Atherton, is known as the 'Terror of Torcliff' due to his scars from a past jungle cat attack.

Alexandra is an archaeologist, educated at the Sorbonne, and is depicted as strong and intelligent.

The story involves themes of trauma, trust, and healing as the couple navigates their complex pasts together.

There is an underlying murder mystery involving Alexandra's friend Francesca, heightening the plot's tension.

Both protagonists face emotional scars from their past, making their romantic journey more complicated.

The book contains steamy romance scenes, blending humor with dark themes, a hallmark of Kerrigan Byrne's style.

It has received mixed reviews, with praises for its emotional depth and criticisms for the handling of certain sensitive topics, including graphic content warnings.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings include on-page sexual assault, blackmail, and themes of murder, which may be distressing to some readers.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central and significant component of the story, marked by deep emotional development and chemistry between the main characters.

explicit steam level

From The Publisher:

A Kirkus Reviews 2019 Best Romance Novel, the first in an exciting new series by USA Today bestseller Kerrigan Byrne!

Ratings (4)

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Liked It (3)

Reader Stats (9):

Read It (4)
Want To Read (3)
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What can you read after
How to Love a Duke in Ten Days?

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About the Author:

Whether she's writing about Celtic Druids, Victorian bad boys, or brash Irish FBI Agents, USA Today bestseller Kerrigan Byrne uses her borderline-obsessive passion for history, her extensive Celtic ancestry, and her love of Shakespeare in every book. She lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her handsome husband and three lovely teenage girls, but dreams of settling on the Pacific Coast. Her Victorian Rebels novels include The Highwayman and The Highlander.

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How to Love a Duke in Ten Days

Kerrigan Byrne

Book 1 in the series:Devil You Know