Review: How To Love A Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne

HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS
Series:
Devil You Know #1
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Release Date: August 27, 2019

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.

AMAZON

Kissing Piers Gedrick Atherton was like standing at the mouth of the Nile and realizing the scope of it was beyond comprehension. That the beauty matched the peril, and in the awe-inspiring danger existed its own strange appeal.

Who’s a reader that will jump on whatever book Kerrigan Byrne writes but was even MORE excited for a brand new series?
Spoiler alert; it was me.

I’m obsessed with Byrne’s historicals and when I saw that she’s coming out with a brand new series, I jumped on it so quick I’m pretty sure I left a dust trail behind me.

The premise to this series is definitely delicious with three friends bonded by dark secrets that threaten to ruin them all.

We are eternally bound,” she repeated. “By secrets, blood, and pain.”
“And by trust, passion, and revenge,”

And while Byrne is a master when it comes to creating tortured and broken heroes, it was a nice change of pace to get that from the female character. Lady Alexandra Lane is a heroine that grabs your attention immediately and you can’t help but bond with. This woman is a survivor in every sense of the word, and I loved that extra zing of fierceness to her. I loved how Byrne took a delicate and yet poignant subject and shed all the more light on it. Alexandra’s past is not an easy one, but it’s not laced in morbid detail either. The author gives the reader just enough of a glimpse to set the tone and boy did it set the tone.

His entire life, he’d never quite had a sense of belonging. Had never known what the words “home” or “family” meant, or why they meant so much to others. Until here. Until her.

Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is exactly how he sounds from the blurb; intense, brooding, and driven by revenge. His potential bride is not exactly thrilled at the idea of marrying the Terror of Torcliff, particularly since it clashes with her own agenda. So color him surprised when her friend strikes a bargain to marry him in her stead.

Alexandra and Piers were everything. EVERYTHING. I loved watching this brooding man fall harder and harder for her even though he fights it at every turn. Alexandra has dark secrets and Piers is full of preconceived ideas due to his past. There’s a dark undercurrent to their union, paved with deadly secrets and scorching chemistry.

I was immediately enraptured with this world and these characters. I’m so excited for the next book in the series! If you’re looking for a Historical Romance with a dash of grit, suspense, and plenty of action, you need this book in your life.

Review & Lana’s Binge Read: Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne

THE HIGHWAY MAN, THE HUNTER, & THE HIGHLANDER
Series: Victorian Rebels
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Kerrigan Byrne

OMG, you guys! Did I have a binge of my dreams when I discovered this sizzling historical romance series! Anti-heroes, sexy romance, addicting stories and top notch writing, this series had EVERYTHING I love!


THE HIGHWAYMAN (Victorian Rebels #2)

The Highwayman (Victorian Rebels, #1)

 

They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster…

STEALING BEAUTY
Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More, is a ruthless villain. Scarred and hard-hearted, Dorian is one of London’s wealthiest, most influential men who will stop at nothing to wreak vengeance on those who’ve wronged him…and will fight to the death to seize what he wants. The lovely, still innocent widow Farah Leigh Mackenzie is no exception—and soon Dorian whisks the beautiful lass away to his sanctuary in the wild Highlands…

COURTING DESIRE
But Farah is no one’s puppet. She possesses a powerful secret—one that threatens her very life. When being held captive by Dorian proves to be the only way to keep Farah safe from those who would see her dead, Dorian makes Farah a scandalous proposition: marry him for protection in exchange for using her secret to help him exact revenge on his enemies. But what the Blackheart of Ben More never could have imagined is that Farah has terms of her own, igniting a tempestuous desire that consumes them both. Could it be that the woman he captured is the only one who can touch the black heart he’d long thought dead?

AMAZON

In this quiet, unfettered moment, she knew him, truly saw him for what he was. Hard, ruthless tyrant. Abused, wounded boy. An empty heart full of promise, and a soul of shadows in need of sunlight.”

Ermahgerd.
My heart. MY HEART!!!!
ERMAHGERD.

First of all, I am seriously kicking myself for taking this long to start this series. Like SERIOUSLY kicking my ass. What the heck was I thinking? I was crazy! Nuts. Loony bins, I tells ya! Because this book? It was everything. All of the things! ALL OF THEM.

It combines my obsession with anti-heroes and sexy historical romance, and weaves it all together into a story that’s truly spellbinding. I couldn’t bring myself to set it down for even a second. I was immediately hooked from the prologue, and as I kept reading, I grew more and more addicted to the words of Kerrigan Byrne.

Dorian Blackwell. The Blackheart of Ben More. The deadliest, coldest, and most lethal king of the London underground. His name is whispered in the shadows and renowned in fear. He’s scarred, both in body and soul, and knows only revenge.
Be.
Still.
My.
Ovaries.

Alright. So maybe I sound slightly deranged, but work with me here. There’s a lot more depth to the man, and when you get to the heart of him, you’ll see exactly what I mean.

Farah Leigh Mackenzie. Beautiful, sweet, and a woman with a spine of steel. My god but I loved her. The things she’s survived and the secrets she’s kept would have made a lower woman than her wither away. But she persevered and lost none of her steel core. This is a woman that gives as hard as she gets and she’s not about to back down to a man that’s kidnapped her and essentially propositioned her into a marriage of…convenience?

Enter my other favorite trope.

But I digress yet again.

What you need to take away from my incessant rambling is this; I LOVED THIS BOOK. LOVED it. The romance was swoon worthy, the story was deliciously addicting, the characters full of depth, mystery and secrets. I devoured it like a starving lunatic and couldn’t get enough.
I immediately jumped right into book two. I can’t recommend this book enough for any lovers of steamy historical romance. Period.

READ THIS BOOK.


THE HUNTER (Victorian Rebels #2)

 

They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the proper Victorian-era ladies who love them, a hint of danger only makes their hearts beat faster…

A scandalous proposal.

As one of London’t most elite hunters, Christopher Argent never misses his mark and always gets his man. But when his latest target turns out to be a woman—the popular, and stunningly beautiful, actress Millie LeCour—it turns his whole world upside-down. Overwhelmed by the heat that simmers between them, Christopher can’t complete his mission. On the contrary, he’ll do anything to save Millie’s life—even if it means risking his own…

A dangerous passion…

When she learns what Christopher was hired to do, Millie is torn between the fear in her heart and the fire in her soul. Putting herself in this dangerous man’s arms may be her only path to safety—but giving in to her desire may be the deadliest mistake she’s ever made. With both of their lives in jeopardy, Millie and Christopher must learn to trust the real feelings they’re hiding—to find the true love they’re looking for…

AMAZON

He didn’t fear death. Didn’t appreciate life. He was fond of nothing and therefore didn’t fear pain or loss.

Holy WOW! I’m obsessed with this series. I loved this book even more than the first and I freaking LURVED the first. If tortured anti-heroes are your thing, it just doesn’t get much better than Christopher Argent. A ruthless and cold blooded killer; his reputation is one of legend. But what happens when a killer for hire falls for his mark?

This must be what religious men felt as they fell to their knees at an altar. This unworthy rapture. This unholy desire. This need for redemption. Christopher became a pilgrim of her pleasure.

Millie LeCour is a talented London theatre actress. When she see Argent in the audience of her performance, she’s drawn to him like a magnet. Little does she know why he’s really there.

This story was utterly delicious. I loved watching the ice that is Argent’s heart slowly melt for the sweet and sassy Millie. Millie was such a wonderful heroine; full of spunk and courage. She was able to bring one of London’s most feared men to his knees.

He shut her door behind him, wondering to himself just what hour of the day she became less dangerous than him. He’d probably wake her then.

I read The Hunter in one gritty, action packed and delicious sitting. If you’re a fan of sizzling Historical Romance, this series is simply a must read.


THE HIGHLANDER (Victorian Rebels #3)

Can the fiercest master of battle conquer a woman’s heart?

They call him the Demon Highlander. The fearsome Lieutenant Colonel Liam MacKenzie is known for his superhuman strength, towering presence, and fiery passion in the heat of battle. As Laird to the MacKenzie clan, the undefeated Marquess has vanquished his foes with all rage and wrath of his barbaric Highland ancestors. But when an English governess arrives to care for his children, the master of war finds himself up against his greatest opponent… in the game of love.

Defying all expectations, Miss Philomena is no plain-faced spinster but a ravishing beauty with voluptuous curves and haughty full lips that rattle the Laird to his core. Unintimidated by her master’s raw masculinity and savage ways, the headstrong lass manages to tame not only his wild children but the beast in his soul. With each passing day, Liam grows fonder of Miss Mena—and more suspicious. What secret is she hiding behind those emerald eyes? What darkness brought her to his keep? And how can he conquer this magnificent woman’s heart… without surrendering his own?

AMAZON

He wanted all of it. All of her. He wanted to uncover her, body and soul. To lay her bare and wide and make a conquest of her. He wanted to own her. To claim her. To brand her skin with his mark.

Another amazing installment in what’s become my recent addiction of a series! Ever since Mena was first introduced in The Hunter, I’ve been eager for her story. After all the abuse she’d suffered at the hands of her vicious husband and cruel family, I was yearning for her to know love. Who knew she’d find it at the hands of the one they call The Demon Highlander? Yum!

Laird Hamish Mackenzie had wanted to craft a monster out of his son and heir. Someone like him. But monsters were mythical, the figments of superstitious imaginations and farcical stories of centuries past. Liam decided he’d be no monster. Nay, he’d do one better. He’d become a demon.

This was a delicious slow burn of a romance. I loved watching the battle-scarred war hero fall harder and harder for Mena, as she tried harder and harder to stay away from him due to her secrets.

There was plenty of action to be had, with fantastic secondary characters, and a romance that will make you swoon. Another winner from my new favorite historical romance series!

Jennifer’s Review: The Duke by @Kerrigan_Byrne

THE DUKE
Series: Victorian Rebels #4
Genre: Historical Romance
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Release Date: February 7, 2017

He is noble, notorious, and takes no prisoners…

They say that now His Grace, Collin Talmage, Duke of Trenwyth has only one hand, he might finally be a mere mortal, but no one seems willing to test the theory. Rich as Midas, big as a Viking, beautiful as Adonis, and lethal as a feral wolf, he is the English Empire’s golden son. But now he’s lost everything. Most of his family died in a terrible accident, his protégé and closest friend betrayed him on the battlefield, and his left hand was cut off while he was a prisoner of war. The only thing that’s kept him going until now is the memory of a night spent in the arms of a mysterious raven-haired woman almost a year ago…

Imogen Pritchard is a nurse by day, but a fallen woman—and a spy—by night. Seduced on the job years ago by a Duke who mourned for the loss of his family, Imogen has never shaken the memory of the man’s despair—or the fathomless depths of pleasure he brought to her. But as the threat of betrayals, blackmail, and secrets abound, Imogen and Collin are thrown back together in a dizzying swirl of dangerous games and earthshattering desire. But can their love overcome the everything that threatens to tear them apart?

AMAZON | iBOOKS

SOLD! I am sold on Kerrigan Byrne for life and will be reading all of her books. This was my first book by Kerrigan Byrne, and I was greatly impressed. She is such an amazing and creative story-teller. Her stories are definitely more plot-based, which I appreciate. This story has so many layers to it. She just kept peeling back all of the intricacies to the characters. Kerrigan took my heart and wove it in and out of the pages of this story.

The beginning is so hot. She did not mess around in breaking out the sexy times (woo!). But then the story takes a quick turn, and the story leads both Cole and Imogen through separate tragedies.
à la Mode St. » fashion

The beast was no duke. He was no man raised with genteel civility, with a care for the expense of things or the consequences of his actions. This beast was no longer dormant within him, but prowling beneath the surface of his skin, wanting to mark his territory.

And he’d found a delectable morsel just now, one he was in danger of acquiring a taste for.

à la Mode St. » fashion
My Cole & Imogen:

 : Cole is a soldier, a spy, a duke….an animal. He is many things in this book. He travels through war and pain and torture, barely making it out alive. Imogen is his savior, in more ways than one, but he doesn’t even know it. He is trapped in the darkness, and she is light. He cannot escape and is constantly fighting against himself.

Imogen has been through her own version of hell. She has fought her own war, but she is a beacon of hope and is determined to help others that were in a situation like her own. I loved how strong she was. Even when I didn’t expect it, she would stand up to Cole. The feminism in this book! Gah!
à la Mode St. » fashion

”It would take nothing to destroy you.” He tightened his fingers ever so slightly, and the telltale jump of her pulse belied her unwavering audacity.

“Better men than you have tried,” she remonstrated, her eyes blazing green with a maelstrom of her own primitive emotions. “Yet here I stand.”

à la Mode St. » fashion
THE FEELS!!!! Lawdy, the feels. I’m usually not a fan of angst, but this book was all kinds of delicious. Most of this book is sad, but I loved it (again, not my usual opinion). I felt so much in this book. The tragedies that both Cole and Imogen have to go through in order to finally be together. They are in each other’s lives, but Cole is searching and he doesn’t even know he’s searching for Imogen! Gah! And Imogen has to PINE for him! Oh, the pining! Curse you, Kerrigan for tugging at my heart, so!
If you are fan of Julia Quinn, you will love Kerrigan Byrne! They are very similar in the story-telling, character development, and the feels.

I have to say, I am sad that I did not read the previous 3 books in this series before this one. The characters from the first 3 books in this series were in this book enough that I was a little lost and wanted to know more about them! I would recommend reading this series in order (which I usually don’t say).


READ THE SERIES IN ORDER

THE HIGHWAYMAN | THE HUNTER | THE HIGHLANDER | THE DUKE

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