Historical Romance Book Club discussion

Discussion thread for the First BOTM of May 2021. Please remember to use the spoiler tags when necessary! (Please see 'some html is ok' for instructions.)

Happy Reading!


How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne

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.

I'm in! Love when they start the series & I don't have to play catch up to get to that point.

Since I've already read this book and had enjoyed it, I might pop in to read everyone's comments.

I plan to listen to this one.

Hi everyone. I joined GR a while ago but this is my first time commenting. I also read this book a while ago and look forward to reading the comments.

I too have read this book and loved it. This is the best book of this series.

I just picked this up from the library yesterday. So I plan to start it today or tomorrow. I am trying to finish my romance across the ages book first.

Trigger warning: rape (view spoiler)[only in the prologue (hide spoiler)]

Seems like a good read. The book is not available in my library. Won't be able to join.

Happy Reading all!

Yes Missy thanks for the the TW , because when I read this book I was horrified even though I knew Kerrigan Byrne writing style.

I just read the prologue last night. Plan to start the main book today.

I think I'll join in for a reread.

I read the prologue and immediately moved on to read the first couple chapters. I had forgotten how dark and yet engaging the book started off.

yes Mariana the book is very engaging, I remember I started it and read it up to 3 AM to finish.

I read this a few weeks ago. TBH I can't really remember much about the book. I gave it three stars. Now looking at the synopsis I think that I was enamoured with the first half and then found that it got a bit tiresome towards the end.

Side note - (view spoiler)[very impressed that the hero was able to fight off a Peruvian jaguar. Are 'Peruvian' jaguars any different to any other sort of jaguars? (hide spoiler)]

Finished chapter 5. I am enjoying the book. The plot is just being laid out. (view spoiler)[ Piers is not the reserved Duke that is cold and distant. He seems more a brawler. Alex has so many issues due to the attack. I don't know how the book can overcome them. Even though the characters are drawn to each other (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

This author is new to me so I am looking forward to this read.

I read her The Business of Blood and LOVED it. The book goes after hard subjects and there is no sugar coating. So I have been looking forward to reading this book.

Mariana wrote: "I read the prologue and immediately moved on to read the first couple chapters. I had forgotten how dark and yet engaging the book started off."




The prologue sucked me IN! Even Ch 1!!!
It's... SOME GOOOOD STUFF!

I'm worried about a theory I have. Could possibly Piers's (view spoiler)[Revenge have something to do with Frank's ordeal with the fire? Especially since he has some scars. At first, I thought he could be the Declan Chandler guy that saved Frank the night of the fire. I am very torn with that theory since Frank loved him. (hide spoiler)] I'm also dying to know who has been blackmailing her. And who is Cecil's (view spoiler)[biological father? I am hoping it was Jean-Yves. (hide spoiler)]

Sue wrote: "This author is new to me so I am looking forward to this read."

I LOVED her Victorian Rebels series. I've only read book one of Goode Girls series. It was the crossover between both series. I've been meaning to get back to finish that one up too.

Susan wrote: "I read this a few weeks ago. TBH I can't really remember much about the book. I gave it three stars. Now looking at the synopsis I think that I was enamoured with the first half and then found that..."

No! Say it ain't so! I hope it doesn't loose steam for me.

preeti wrote: "yes Mariana the book is very engaging, I remember I started it and read it up to 3 AM to finish."

That's good to hear. Staying up til 3am. Love it when a book is that good. even if I pay for it the next day.

For me, this book did not lose steam. In fact, I already finished it again! I may like it even better this time around. Unfortunately, not all our questions are answered (Cecil's biological father for example). I read the story when it was first released, before books 2 and 3 were available. Oddly enough, I didn't fully remember quite a few details or much of the ending of this one, so I never read the others. Now I plan to finish them all.

I love seeing Piers (view spoiler)[fall for Alexandra and how protective and possessive he is of her in such a short time. (hide spoiler)]

I've read the third book but I haven't read the second book, because it doesn't really appeal to me. Since Kerrigan Byrne wrote it, I'll most likely read it one day.

I can't wait for the 4th book of the Goode Girls series to be released!

Hey Missy can I read goode girl books as standalone??? I have read the 1st book as part of the Victorian Rebel series. I too love Kerrigan Bryne's writing style a lot, even though I don't like some of her books.

Preeti, they're best read in order since most events/characters are introduced in the last few chapters of one book that kind of influences the events/characters in the next book.

Since this series is a spin-off of the Victorian Rebels series, the first book of the Goode Girls series (Seducing a Stranger) might spoil the big reveal from books 1 (The Highwayman) and 6 (The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo) of the Victorian Rebels series. Seducing a Stranger is Detective Morely's book and there's one chapter where he has a meeting with three heroes from the Victorian Rebels series. :)

FYI, Seducing a Stranger was originally titled A Dark and Stormy Knight.

Thanks, Missy but I have read the Victorian Rebel series in order so yeah I know the plot mystery of it. I loved the duke with the dragon tattoo because of the plot but also because it has the big reveal about three heroes. I will read goode girl in order too.

Oh, good! (that you've completed the Victorian Rebels series). Then you're all set for the Goode Girls series, Preeti! I hope you enjoy the books!

I read this around a couple months ago which is the only reason why I'm not re-reading it with you guys. I want to save it for a rainy day (though we really don't get many of those in Tanzania!). I really enjoyed Piers' and Alexandra's story. Alexandra has such a traumatic backstory that she's pretty much unable to have a romantic/sexual relationship. But Piers is my favorite type of hero--strong, brooding, emotionally scarred, yet also fiercely protective and surprisingly tender.

This is a typical Kerrigan Byrne story starting off with a gut-wrenching prologue that builds up to a dark, intense and emotional romance. I really like Byrne but have to mentally prepare myself to read her, ie, decide whether I'm in the mood for a difficult, intense, emotional journey. If this is your cup of tea, you should definitely try her.

I have listened to the prologue and I honestly don’t know if I can continue. It’s just too much, too graphic for me.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I have listened to the prologue and I honestly don’t know if I can continue. It’s just too much, too graphic for me."
You might try reading the first chapter after the prologue. I have found it to be more that she is a strong woman dealing with the effects throughout the book. But I definitely understand it was a tough beginning.

Thoughts thru chapter 18 (view spoiler)[ I like that there has been an instant connection between Piers and Alex. I do find it a bit hard to believe that the woman who has been hiding her sexuality all her life would be so daring to propose marriage. The other part is not being aware that being a virgin would be something a man would be on the lookout for. Enjoying Alex as she becomes stronger knowing that she has the backing of Piers. But I think if she was more forthright about her problems it would help her cause. But then there would not be a book to write. (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] (hide spoiler)]

Merry Jewelhound wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I have listened to the prologue and I honestly don’t know if I can continue. It’s just too much, too graphic for me."
You might try reading the first chapter after the ..."

I think I am ok now and will continue. I just needed to let it settle. Byrne is such a good author, but I get a bit of trepidation when starting her books. They scare me a bit and the prologue reminded me why.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Merry Jewelhound wrote: "Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I have listened to the prologue and I honestly don’t know if I can continue. It’s just too much, too graphic for me."
You might try reading the..."
You are right Joanna, her writing is too graphic but it gives a sense of reality too. she does not say that my MCs are damaged, We can feel it in her writing. This makes me connect with them on a much deeper level. I personally skimmed the scene because of a similar experience with her writing in The Hunter.

The prologue did make for uncomfortable reading but I am looking forward to Alexandra having some sort of healing
and developing warm, safe and secure relationship with the Duke.

I finished and these are my thoughts (view spoiler)[ This book is like potato chips satisfying while you eat them. The 10 day romance and everything that was packed into it left me feeling like there was too much mystery, sexual recovery and a lifetime of grudges tied up so neatly in the last chapter. I figured out who the bad guys were early. That being said I read and enjoyed the book. But it didn't vary from many other books written if it hadn't started out with the attack in the prologue. Even the panther attack. (hide spoiler)]

I love her writing. My only issue is she seems to basically have a cookie cutter for each book. Each books seems too similar to all her other books. Don't get me wrong, I love reading them, but I know it will be same old same old with new characters. Also her books seem more emotional & suspense HR where as Tessa Dare & Lisa Kleypas have lots more humor.

I agree. When I take a break and go back to Kerrigan Byrne, I forget how graphic and shocking and disturbing some of her scenes are but then I really love the book. However, when I tried to plough through a series back to back, it felt like the same old thing. Since this is just a trilogy, I think I can read all three in 2021 yet space them enough to enjoy each story.

I ended up DNF-ing after getting to their wedding night. Just not for me.

This was my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed it. However, I am glad I read a few review first so I knew what to expect with regards to the prologue. I enjoyed seeing how the issues faced by the main characters played out, and perhaps since this is my first work by this author, it didn't feel overdone.

(view spoiler)[ While many of the scenes she painted vividly included violence, I appreciated how real that made them feel. Often I think disturbing actions or scenes are glossed over, but in this case she took the time with the often gruesome details and thoughts or actions of multiple characters. Even with regards to the blackmail subplot, I had a guess fairly early on who the culprit was going to be, but she kept me second guessing myself right up to the end. (hide spoiler)]

Definitely excited to have discovered this author and can't wait to read more by her!

Jessica, glad the BOTM introduced you to a new author you enjoy!

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "I ended up DNF-ing after getting to their wedding night. Just not for me."

I'm sorry this book was not your cuppa.

Have read the book but will come here to see what other readers opinions & discuss with them