What an amazing story. I ugly cried..Ugly. Cried! several times during the prologue and didn't know if I could read the rest of the book..

I picked it up and put it down several times until I finally got my emotions under control. I settled in to read the remainder of the book....and I'm so glad I did. It was simply amazing. I loved Alexandra and Piers and all of the characters. I really felt for them and how they all find their own happily ever after.

A powerful story of love, happiness, forgiveness, and over-coming tragedy.. I look forward to more books in this series.

Trigger warning: sexual assault

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. My thoughts and opinions are my own and without bias or remuneration.

Powerful story that seared my heart. Kerrigan's stories burn images into your mind that stay wrench your heart is a good way. I never want to miss her next release ever! Be warned this book deals with rape.

Piers Gedrick, Duke of Redmayne is an untamed soul, a hunter who doesn't conform to polite society well. He wanders the world hunting anything he can catch. Unfortunately a panther was his last hunt and he now bears the scars forever on his face and heart. Returning home from the dead he discovers the love of his life Rose Brightwell married his cousin Patrick Atherton, Viscount Carlisle in hopes of becoming the Duchess of Redmayne one way or another. Getting off the local train coming home he rescues a woman who leaps to control his spooked stallion. Her bravery and courage spark his interest. Thus he meets Alexandra Lane.

Alexandra is a female Doctor of Archeology and is waiting for a carriage to meet up with her sisters of the heart, Francesca Cavendish, Redmayne's betrothed soon to be bride, and Cecelia Teague, old school besties. They formed The Red Rogues Society at school calling themselves Alexander, Frank and Cecil. Each has a secret that binds them together and has vowed to never marry. Frank called Alex to her in distress finding herself betrothed to the family that may have murdered her family. Alexandra is the daughter of a now impoverished Earl and is just scraping by. She's being blackmailed by someone who knows her secret and Alex has been paying to protect them all. Now she can't.

This story has so many secrets that are hidden. We know them but they want to keep them buried. It is a story of survival, of perseverance and courage to make a life and go on. It is also very sensual and kept me reading to see what came next. Who is trying to kill the Red Rogues or the Duke? Who is the blackmailer? Can Alexandra overcome the trauma of the rape and be happy with Piers? Wow such a powerful story.

A voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was my first historical romance and I can say that it was good. I needed to get adjusted to how the story would flow but once I did I found myself intrigued. Alexandra and Piers are two people who deserved the best in life. And while their union was an arrangement at first, you couldn’t deny the chemistry and it was a matter of time before it would combust. Seeing how their relationship would progress and with the suspense thrown in I was fascinated to see how it would all play out. Piers and Alexandra were good together and I enjoyed seeing their feelings grow and how deep they got. I really liked Piers-he’s a good man. And Alexandra has so much strength. Overall a pleasant read. I’m also interested in reading more about Alexandra’s two friends and hopefully getting more from Piers and Alexandra. *Warning: there is a very tough scene right at the beginning of the book which can cause triggers*

When I saw the dedication to Kerrigan Byrne’s latest, How to Love a Duke in Ten Days I was skeptical. It was made out to every survivor, #metoo. I didn’t question Ms. Byrne’s genuine feelings about the movement, but I must admit after two years of everything #metoo I was worried that it was going to be another book dedicated to the movement but not really addressing it on more than a surface level. HOW WRONG I WAS!!

I’ve read every single one of Ms. Byrnes historicals, multiple times to be honest. My all time fave of hers is The Hunter, which has an assassin as the Hero. My love for the book comes from a combination of my adoration for Tony Soprano and immense respect for Ms. Byrne’s writing. Because she is absolutely amazing at her craft. Who else can make the love story between an actress and the hitman hired to kill her not only believable but sweet and tender? Kerrigan Byrne.

Needless to say I am ready for the KB crazysauce plot. All of her books have had one and I’m so here for it. How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is relatively tame in comparison. At least in the blurb. By the time the first chapter is over I realized it was far from tame but I did not get a sense of where the story was going. Was it going to be a historical with bend over backwards 2019 sensibilities (not something I like at all), or was I going to be surprised?

Answer: I was overwhelmingly pleasantly surprised.

We meet Alexandra, the heroine, when she is a schoolgirl, and we get to relieve the worst moment of her life. And witness the outcome (I won’t detail everything in an effort to be spoiler free). There have been a few grumbles in romancelandia that there should have been a trigger warning, but I’m not sure how much of a difference a warning would have made. Nothing about what happened was unexpected; actually the way it was written the reader had quite a few chances to skip ahead. It was clear something bad was going to happen, so these complaints are disservice to the reader (c’mon you’re smart enough to know what’s about to happen) and the writer (Kerrigan Byrne so skillfully wrote about a trauma that was neither gratuitous nor unexpected).

We meet Piers, the “Terror of Torcliff”, who is of course tall and built like a Greek god. He is struggling with his own issues of rejection and has returned to the area to marry the woman promised to him years ago, one of Alexandra’s best friends. Ultimately Alexandra and Piers end up marrying as the result of an agreement between the two, and that is where the story really starts to become sublime.

The relationship between the two makes sense, and the best part is that there aren’t a whole lot of problems that could be solved with a conversation. The demons both these characters are battling are way too deep to be solved with a conversation and a hug. Kudos to Ms. Byrne for recognizing this, and deftly allowing the romance to be a slow burn in the background.

The love story is there, and it is all the sweet and tender anyone wants when reading a romance. In Ms. Byrne’s hands it is so much deeper since there are some chuckle worthy moments and also moments where your heart gets a little bruised by real struggles.

On steaminess….Ms. Byrne NEVER disappoints. There is plenty of it, and its not instalust. I think the BEST part of the book is when Piers begins to finally understand what Alexandra has been through. I’ve literally read the scene 10 times, trying to wrap my head around how perfectly it was written. The first time I read it I was like “noooo, this can’t be this good.” I was still saying the same thing after the 10th…..because it is THAT GOOD. Bravo, Ms. Byrne.

The couple have quite a satisfying happily ever after, the perfect way to end such an amazing novel.

My takeaway from this book is this: it is quite possible to write a convincing love story with a traumatized heroine. Piers did not have to come in and rescue her, she did it on her on in her own time with a hero who made it perfectly clear that their relationship was completely in her hands. If she didn’t want it, he was content to be her husband in name, and there would never be a moment of pressure. He never came across as the ultimate fixer, like all he had to do was say the right words and she would be fine. Intuitively he knew that was nowhere near enough. His self awareness was amazing.

Alexandra was a fantastic character in her own right. As (justifiably) fearful as she was about living and trying new things, she knew how to seek out her safe spaces and more importantly safe people. Nothing about her interactions with Piers would have been believable had she not credibly come to her own conclusions. With each decision you saw her become stronger and thought the better of her the whole way.

#metoo was brought to a different level in the novel that I don’t think many authors have grasped: you don’t have to hit people over the head with sentences about consent and female empowerment in order to get the point across. You can do it with subtlety in your story and respect for yout characters. This book should be everyone’s go to example on how it should be done, since Kerrigan Byrne pulled it off perfectly.

How do you begin to share your feelings about a book that so completely surprised and delighted you? Kerrigan Byrne is officially a one click author for me. Her stories are poignant and engaging. Her characters are so well rounded and relatable. The plots and twists that come with each new Kerrigan historical romance leaves me on the edge of my seat and in awe of her brilliant mind and talent.

How To Love A Duke in Ten Days is a story that rises above to create an experience and escape for the reader. I was emotionally invested in this book from the prologue. Wow. I was not expecting to be sucker punched like that. The story might be set in a historical setting of dukes and duty, but it transcends in relevance to many issues we see and face today. But that is the beauty of a good story. It takes a relevant idea and allows the reader a new angle through a story that is different and developed. The cast of this book is phenomenal. Alexandra and Piers are both strong fighters, each coming from a different battle in life. I was actively engaged in their story till the very end, looking to see who would overcome and how it would all play out. There isn't a single moment that drags. There is passion, danger, heartache, and hope. I am left with a desire to start it all over again, which I plan to do soon, and great anticipation for what comes next in the Devil You Know series!

4.5 STARS

This book deserves all of the accolades! The author's writing captured me from the very first page. If you are wondering where to begin with historical romance, Kerrigan Byrne is a fantastic place to start! Sensual, lush and exciting, 'How to Love a Duke in Ten Days' completely captivated me.

This book touches on some dark subjects. Alexandra is a rape survivor and vows never to be a victim again. The author handles the topic with sensitivity and honesty. I loved how Alexandra was able to find true love even though she feared intimacy. Piers was also damaged emotionally but something in his tortured soul touched Alexandra. I highlighted SO many parts of this book because the writing is just stunning!

"Despite his cultured accent, he didn’t appear at all civilized. Indeed, he could have belonged to the scores of rowdy and robust men her professors had hired to protect them in unknown countries. Men she’d spent a decade doing her best to avoid."

Lady Alexandra Lane is being blackmailed due to a violent secret from her past. Her two best friends have been helping her, but her only way out now is to agree to a marriage with Piers, also known as the Terror of Torcliff. She is frightened but determined to go through with the arrangement in order to protect her loved ones. Piers Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, is strangely attracted to this intelligent, witty young woman, and finds her irresistible.

"Best he never saw Alexandra Lane again. The strange longings she evoked were both unsettling and bloody dispiriting. He’d a long and terrible retribution to attend to, and then there were the beasts to consider. Both within and without the castle. Though maybe he’d keep her in that cottage on the cliff, locked in his mind. And when he had a moment to himself, he’d visit her there."

I loved Alexandra and Piers! He was powerful yet insecure and she was beautiful yet fearful. They really were a perfect match! I loved how Piers always let Alexandra's intelligence shine though and loved her bravery. Alexandra saw past his awful scars, to the loyal man beneath. This is the kind of book that I will also listen to on audiobook because the dialogue and the descriptions are just so lush. I could go on and on about this book but I can't do just to the author's gorgeous writing. It's sexy, emotional, smart and very funny.

Piers is positively swoony and and worthy alpha hero. He is perfect for Alexandra! Action, romance, and a wonderful ending, 'How to Love a Duke in Ten Days' has it all. I am looking forward to reading more about Alexandra's friends, who I hope will get their own books next in this new series!

"He may be a duke, but she was the prize. A doctor, a linguist, and a lady. Someone with purpose and meaning."

Trigger warning for sexual assault. Not terribly explicit, but the mental aftermath is very well depicted.

I enjoyed this book a great deal. It's not light, or fluffy. It is honest, and real...the aforementioned aftermath. And the fact that happily ever after tied up with fluffy frosting doesn't happen that often...

I enjoyed the red rogues, and Alexandra, and loved Piers! This is an excellent book - go forth and read!

HOW TO LOVE A DUKE IN TEN DAYS is the first book in Kerrigan Byrne's new Series, DEVIL YOU KNOW and also the first book of hers that I have read. I won a paperback copy through a giveaway on Goodreads and was excited to venture into discovering a new author, especially one that writes Historical Romance, for me there are only a few authors that I have found that write this genre really well and now I am happy to add Kerrigan Bryne to my list of favorite authors.

I have to mention that this book does not have any warnings on it other than the dedication which most overlook when reading so I will tell you that there is a trigger warning there: "To every survivor #metoo". Please be prepared when reading if sexual assault/rape is a trigger for you, I will say that Lady Alexandra did something I bet most wish they could do in her place. And that is as much of a spoiler as you're going to get out of me.

This book had me enthralled, I loved just about every minute of it....you can guess which part I didn't like. I loved the bond between the three friends, to the way Lady Alexandra Lane (aka Dr. Lane) and Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, met one another, and everything in between. I didn't want to put this book down and if sleep didn't interfere I probably wouldn't have. There is mystery/suspense along with this love story, so much going on that it will have you wondering who can be trusted as well.

If you are a fan of historical suspense this is a must read and if you don't read much of this genre I urge you to give this book and author a chance, I don't think you will be disappointed.

Happy Reading!!!

I love a good romance and have really enjoyed Kerrigan Byrne's work in the past, so I was excited to read this one. I will say that this book starts off DARK, and there are definite trigger warnings for sexual assault. I read the beginning and it took me some time to come back to the rest of the book because I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into. I ended up really enjoying the romance between Alexandra and Piers, and the friendship of the Red Rogues. I love a historical romance, but I will say this one had some of the problems I always have with them, where the man is maybe a little too aggressive or jealous in certain parts. I was surprised that the author chose to go with such an obvious villain for the end of the book, I was a little disappointed in that just because I thought maybe the culprit was going to be a little more interesting. Overall, I thought this was a great romance that had some heavier elements, including overcoming trauma.

3.5 stars.

I liked, but didn’t fall in love with How To Love A Duke in Ten Days. The prologue threw me off guard and it really made it hard to get into the rest of the book. I loved the Red Rogues and their devotion to each other! I love when authors write female relationships that lift each other up and protect each other when things don’t go as planned. The attraction between Piers and Alexandra was instant, however, they didn’t jump right into bed with each other. That was because Piers was a bit of an asshole. His judgment was unwarranted and frankly I would have knocked some sense into him sooner. I wish he would have talked to her and found out why she didn’t come to him a virgin before assuming the worst. This is why I didn’t rate it higher. That being said, I can’t wait to continue the series and see what’s next for the Red Rogues!

I received this complimentary copy from SMP in exchange for my honest review.

This was my first novel by Kerrigan Byrne and I overall enjoyed it but had mixed feelings about part of the main conflict. I was VERY VERY on board with this book at the beginning. While it took me a little while to get into the first chapter, the past containing the backstory of Alexandra and her friends as they formed The Red Rogue Society, and as she is raped and murders her rapist. It is essential to the plot of the story and the series as it bonds the women together and creates conflict in the present point of the story as well. Once I got into it I really loved Alexandra, Cecilia, and Francesca. I also enjoyed Piers and his general snark. I always enjoy sort of a snarly, wounded hero. I thought that his relationship with Alexandra was great... until the little spoilery conflict at about 40%. Then I was all snark and eye rolls. Anyhow, once they were done being petulant, I thought that his behavior was rather endearingly protective and sweet once he knows what she has been through. Of course I don't usually like conflict due to miscommunication or lack of it altogether... but in this case it does make a bit of sense because of her trauma. But once all of that was resolved I enjoyed the story so much more. It was endearing, incredibly steamy, and the mystery was even good for me... and I'm generally bored with mysteries. I also loved the travel and adventure elements in this story. So, I think I will read more of her books and probably enjoy them quite a lot. I realize that the miscommunication was needed to keep the conflict a secret for longer, but it just didn't work for me.

I think I may have just found my favorite historical of the year (so far at least).
Ms Byrne took a very timely modern issue and gives the reader a glimpse of what a woman facing the same issue 150 years ago would have gone through.

We meet three young ladies at 17 when secrets and tragedies take a strong bond and make it unbreakable. We meet them again 10 years later when issues threaten to resurface. How to Love a Duke focuses on Alexandra and the unusual deal she makes with Piers to address issues they both face.

Piers comes to the arrangement with his own wagon load of baggage. It was fascinating to watch these two spend time together and watch them try to figure each other out given the context of the things they were both struggling with. There were so many potential misunderstandings because of the context with which each person was framing the information received.

Ms Byrne uses elements of intrigue to craft a story that lets us watch this unique couple learn lessons in communication and honesty while figuring out how to be friends and ultimately grow a greater relationship. This is a well written exploration of how shining the light on some issues allows us to stop living in the shadows along with the importance of a strong support system.

Yes - I am being purposely vague in this review, there are parts of the story that I don't want to give away. I do want to stress that this is an impactful story that I think anyone who even slightly enjoys historical romance should read. Alexandra is a strong heroine who I would love to be friends with. Piers is a wounded bear of a hero that is impossible not to like once you get to know him a little bit. Add in their friends and the intrigue of the story and you have the makings of something I struggled to put down. I am very much looking forward to books for Alexandra's two friends.

5 How to fall in love with a book in 1 day Stars

******Mild spoilers*****
OMG Kerrigan Byrne is a brilliant writer. I knew I had a ARC due. I will be honest I didn't want to read this book. Or any book for that matter. I have been in a really crappy book funk. Everything I have read had been boring, meh, annoying, or just plain pissed me off. For the last few months, I have found myself not wanting to read anything, because I know I will end up angry at fictional characters, and want to throw my kindle against a wall. I was avoiding this book. Afraid my sour ass mood would color my view of the story. I decided to try and start it. If I started to feel annoyed, I would put it down and come back to it later. However two pages in, just two mind you, I was so enthralled that I couldn't put the book down. The story was so emotional, the characters so on point, that I read it all the way through. No sleep, didn't clean, had my husband make dinner. I could not be pulled away from this book til I got their HEA.
Piers was amazingly sexy, beastly, and protective. He had his issues, and wasn't perfect, but he was perfect for me. I love me some scarred heroes. Maybe it's just me, but there is something sexy about the strength and survival that scars represent. Piers had a dry sense of humor that had me cracking up. Alexandra was amazing and strong. It was nice to see how much of a fighter Alexandra was. She made a life for herself without a man, she was smart, brave, and loyal. As a sexual assault survivor, I hate when I read a book where a woman is assaulted, then jumps straight into bed with the hero. Like nothing happened and sex magically makes everything better. When the aftermath is depicted as easy to get over. Just glossed over like no biggie. Sexual assault is an ugly, life altering thing that changes a person forever. No two survivors are the same, or react the same. So I really loved that Kerrigan Byrne did a great job of painting the raw aftermath of healing. Of the scars that linger long after, but also of the beauty of taking back one's power and life. It was a nice balance. A touch of real without weighting down the book with too much dark. I love anything that sheds a realistic light on something that affects so many.
Piers and Alexandra were one of those amazing couples that you feel a real, and deep connection too. Their love was all consuming. Their passion was smoking hot. I felt the bond, felt the love, felt the story. They were not the only well written, and beautiful relationship in this book though. The Red Rogues, Alex and her two best friends Francesca and Cecilia were a lovely picture of female friendship and sisterhood. They would do anything for each other. It's a nice change to read about loyal female relationships, without all the catty, backstabbing drama that most books have. Truly this book was amazing, and I would recommend it to anyone that loves romance. I would say that as a reader maybe the Author should have put a bit more of a trigger warning on the book, other than the #metoo comment. The rape scene was very hard to read and may really upset some. That there is the only thing I would change about this book. It will be going into my top favorites of all time. I would give this book more that 5 stars if I could. I'm just blown away!!! I can't wait to read the next book!

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is the first in a new series for Kerrigan Byrne and it’s also the first book by her that I have read. Despite seeing her previous books highly recommended by my friends, I never took the time to read either of her books that I currently have in my possession. Well, that ends now, because I absolutely loved her writing style and storytelling in How to Love a Duke.

Alexandra, the heroine of this story, and her friends are a trio of strong, independent, intelligent women. Each of the Red Rogues has a secret, but that’s not the only thing that binds them together. I found it quite refreshing to see such an empowering group of women support one another so selflessly. They are forces to be reckoned with and hold their own in any situation.

Like a female Indiana Jones, Alexandra is an archeologist who has traveled the world and studied many different cultures, languages, and sciences. While she is surrounded by men on a daily basis, past experience makes her quite skittish around strangers. Her first run-in with Piers, the Duke of Redmayne, is highly unconventional—and so is the rest of their relationship. I love a good marriage of convenience, so this made me quite happy.

Piers is a damaged and scarred hero who needs a woman like Alexandra to help him heal. His pride does a lot of the talking, though, so there are several bumps in the road when it comes to fully trusting one another. There’s also a hitman gunning for either Piers of Alexandra, so that adds another layer of intrigue and suspense to the story.

This book is an insta-love romance that feels like a slow-burn, and while it’s set in 19th century England, it reads like a contemporary romance. Honestly, I was hooked after the first chapter, so putting the book down didn’t come easily for me. I can’t wait for the next book in series and I’ll be diving into Ms. Byrne’s backlist to tide me over until then.

Alexandra Lane had suffered a horrible trauma, but at least had her two best friends to help her through it. Now she is being blackmailed for it, one of her closest friends is betrothed when all three never wanted to marry, and the Duke of Redmayne is known as the Terror of Torcliff because of the visible scars he has. Alex is aware that marriage to the duke would help her financially and perhaps protect her from the blackmailer, and Piers feels fiercely protective of her and drawn to her intelligence.

The #metoo tag before the book opens tells you what the trauma was that Alexandra had lived through, and the secret she kept is not only the rape but that she murdered her rapist. It isn't described in any detail, though it's clear what happened by the mention of blood all over her clothes. Her friends helped her get rid of the body, and this secret shapes her for the rest of her life. She focused on her studies in archaeology, even going to Sorbonne University to earn her doctorate. She's skittish of any touch, any man, and has zero interest in sex or romance. Piers' scars from an animal attack are visible, but the betrayal of his fiancee marrying his cousin in his recovery had also soured his emotions toward others. The two have similar suspicious outlooks on others' motivations and are easily upset when their worst fears are seemingly confirmed.

Piers, for all of his demanding presence, is thoughtful and caring in his own way. Of course, he assumes the worst of Alex, but I don't even hate him for it. The reader knows what had happened from the prologue, but such violence never once occurs to him in that moment. It's not the type of person he is, and when he figures it out for himself late in the novel, he at once berates himself for not seeing it sooner. This isn't something a cruel man does, which only made me like him more.

Wow. Okay... where do I even start?! It is rare for me to be blown away, especially in this genre because I have read so many HRs and have seen similar plots unfold time after time. In this case, however, even when there was some re-treading of themes, it was executed so well that it somehow made what is old feel new all over again.

The story opens as Alexandra Lane, the daughter of an earl, is set to graduate from her preparatory school.... and things go horribly wrong. Luckily, she has the aid and devotion of her fellow Red Rogues - her 2 best friends (Francesca and Cecilia) who also have a variation of red hair and who are part of a "secret society" where they indulge in delights only permitted by men in polite society. Her friends help Alexandra deal with the fallout and share their own secrets so that they are bonded forever by them. But someone else knows what happened that night, and that person has bled Alexandra dry by blackmailing her over the last 10 years which is where the story resumes. Alexandra is now a respected archeologist who has eagerly accepted spinsterhood as her traumatic experience in the past has made it impossible for her to ever trust a man. She has now found herself in dire financial straights and is trying to determine her best course of action when she is sidetracked by an urgent request from the Red Rogues to join her at Castle Redmayne for Francesca's sudden nuptials to the Duke of Redmayne: Piers, aka the Terror of Torcliff.

Piers has come to terms with the fact that he must end his wanderlust (at least temporarily) to secure his legacy as the duke. He considers himself a huntsman and adventurer, though his last excursion left him near death with half of his face horribly scarred. As unsightly as he believes himself to be, he recalls that there is a betrothal contract and decides to call it in. The problem is that he and his bride are more likely to kill each other than coexist peacefully; thus, he is dreading what lies ahead. Then he encounters an intriguing woman: Alexandra Lane. She is both courageous and terrified; brilliant and naive; dowdy and exquisite --- a mystery he cannot help but want to unravel. And since Alexandra is in desperate need of funds to keep her blackmailer at bay AND knows her friend Francesca doesn't want to marry Piers, she offers herself to the "beast." But as she trusts no man and Piers has too many reasons to be wary of women, will they ever learn to trust one another? And even if they can, will they have a future when they are constantly dodging death as someone is after one of ... or both of them?

What I liked:
--- The main characters were very "real" - gritty, raw - the good, the bad, and the ugly all on display, which not only made the characters more relatable, but made the reader feel so much more invested in their HEA
--- There were twists I definitely didn't see coming (I will say that I called the first reveal and the very last reveal in the epilogue - points for me! haha!)
--- The ancillary characters were also really fun - I am excited to read the other 2 Red Rogues' stories!
--- The writing style of this book is straight up superb - the visuals Byrne created with the words was like poetry at times - very eloquent and well done!
--- Heartbreaking scenes that made the reader feel almost as pained as the characters
--- Steamy goodness

What I didn't like as much:
--- The only thing that stands out to me here is Piers kind of pissed me off by being so untrusting - I understand it to an extent, but he was acting a bit too dickish at times, imo
--- One other thing mild SPOILER one of the villains wasn't very well developed, so even though the motive was "clear," the extent of the reasons behind it was not revealed until the villain was "unmasked," so it lost a little bit of the "aha!" factor END SPOILER

I normally dislike angst in my stories (I tend to prefer the "us against the world" kind of romance vs the ones with relationship angst), but this one worked for me because the angst didn't feel unnecessary or manufactured which is my real pet peeve. A highly recommended read if you enjoy a a well-written historical romance with sizzle, intrigue, and emotion that holds your attention from cover to cover!

Plot --- 5/5
Main Characters --- 5/5
Supporting Cast --- 5/5
Steam Level* --- 3.5/5
Violence --- nothing graphic (possible trigger: sexual abuse)
Language --- some (the H likes the f word)
POV --- 3rd

*Note that steam level is not a rating so much as a how hot was it: 0/5 - clean; 1/5 - mild; 2/5 - sensual but nothing descriptive; 3/5 - now we're getting somewhere; 4/5 - yes please! ; 5/5 - they did EVERYTHING in this one, y'all

L’Ecole de Chardonne - Lake Geneva, Switzerland - 1880

Lady Alexandra, age 17, has been summoned to the Headmaster’s office. Maurice de Marchand is a cruel man and is trying to make her confess to something. She exhibits compete innocence. The Headmaster whips her with a strap then rapes her. She slits his throat with a razor and then tucks it into his pocket. Her friends come to her rescue. The gardener who is their friend, gets rid of the body and they vow to keep the secret forever.

Alexandra and her friends, Francesca and Cecilia, are part of the Red Rogues Society so named because all three of them have red hair. They teach themselves about subjects usually only open for men to study.

Devonshire - 1890

Francesca has summoned Alexandra to Castle Redmayne saying she is in danger. The same day, she receives an invitation to an engagement masquerade given by the Duke of Redmayne. The unusual invitation states that the future Duchess of Redmayne will be unveiled at the ball and she is invited to be a bridesmaid.

As she steps off the train, Alexandra is waiting for someone to take her to Francesca. She helps stops a runaway horse and gets knocked down in the process.

When she finally reaches Francesca, she says she does not want to marry the duke because she believes he murdered her parents. When Alexandra meets the duke, their conversation immediately becomes sexually challenging.

Enough already. What did I just read? What a convoluted and ridiculous story. All I could think of is a caveman dragging a woman by her hair. This is the first book I have read by Kerrigan Byrne and I’m sorry to say it’s just not for me. Violence and explicit sex is not what I consider entertaining reading.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is only my second book so far by Kerrigan Byrne. After reading The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo and falling in love with the author's writing, I was thrilled to be starting a new series from her. It will be centering around a group of three best friends who went to school together and called themselves the Red Rogue society. Red because each of them have their own striking shade of red hair, and Rogue because they like to push the boundaries of what's expected of females at the time. I really loved the bond between these three women right from the start. They had a loyalty and camaraderie that was very evident and natural. There wasn't any jealousy or agendas between any of them, just a pure friendship that evolved into that of something closer to family. Francesca and Cecilia were both well developed in their backstories and personality, so much so that I'm already eager to read both of their HEAs in the following stories.

Dr. Alexandra Lane is an archaeologist who's considered a spinster and bluestocking by many, but that doesn't faze her in the least. She's respected in her field, travels abroad, and is content with her place in life. She doesn't have the slightest desire to ever wed, a sentiment that has always been shared with her best friends. However, Alex has more reason than her career for her lack of interest in marriage. After a sexual assault occurred, she's convinced herself that she has moved on from the trauma. But ten years after the horrible day she has never dealt with the emotions that have welled up inside her. So they've been festering and infecting her life through flashbacks, fear and anxiety of being alone with men, and being intimate. All of this she avoids if at all possible, and she's done a pretty good job of it until her sudden trip to Castle Redmayne.

There's a bit of a mystery regarding an unknown person who keeps making "accidents" happen around the heroine. There are several possibilities as to whom it could be, but it's assumed to be tied to Alex's dark history. In order to keep her dangerous secret hidden for these past ten years, she's had to pay a hefty price. Now that funds have run out, her freedom could be slipping away as well if she can't come up with a new plan.

I was really enjoying the first interactions between Alex and Piers. They had a great chemistry together and I loved seeing her through his eyes. This highly intelligent, witty woman was brave and skittish all at the same time. She was an enigma that he couldn't stop thinking about. As for Alex, she experienced an attraction that was completely new to her. She never sought out men's attention or paid it a second thought. But with Piers she was finding herself strangely drawn in and fighting uncomfortable feelings. Piers was a good man with a lot of love to offer. He could have turned irrevocably bitter and angry over the betrayals he suffered, but when Alex walks into his life, he opens the door for new possibilities.

The first half of the book was a solid five stars. I really thought I would end up falling head over heels for the book but everything started to unravel as they moved into marriage. Granted, these two only knew each other for two days before agreeing to tie the knot, and as the title states they fall in love by ten. This could have been fine in other circumstances, but because of the heroine's history it felt way too rushed. She chooses to keep her secrets from him for almost all of the book and the major lack of communication led to distrust and misunderstandings. Piers has reason to not trust easily so her secrecy wasn't a good combination.

What didn't work for me the most was the fact that the relationship's physical side was addressed with less care than I would have liked and their emotional side underdeveloped. Her reaction to being intimate was kind of all over the place. At first having to put down rules for him in order to feel safe, then throwing the rules out in the blink of an eye, followed by her big panic attack. I wanted to see trust, communication, and honesty built between them, and I didn't see enough growth there. It didn't make sense to me how she could feel comfortable with him in a short span of time without these things.

I was super intrigued by Piers' brother Ramsay. He will be getting his full story next with Cecilia, and the potential has been laid for an exciting story. I did love the characters introduced here, the backstories were well drawn, and the pace was nice and smooth for the length. Of course Kerrigan Byrne's beautiful writing style was just as enchanting as it was the last time so no complaints there. A solid start overall despite my issues which don't seem to be a problem for others. I love reading about strong women breaking society standards in historical romance, and these three most certainly fit the bill.

Alexandra is being blackmailed for something she did years ago. When she learns that there is no more money to give, she knows that she must come up with a plan because the secret she is hiding involves others. When she meets Piers, she believes that he might be the solution that she needs. The only problem is that her best friend is supposed to be marrying him.

Piers is getting married so that he can make sure that his cousin doesn't inherit the dukedom. His cousin stole his fiancee and he is not about to let him get anything else. He really doesn't care who he marries, so when Alexandra proposes that she be the one to marry him instead of her best friend, he needs to reconsider his decision. He has no real attraction with his current betrothed, and can't seem to get Alex out of his head, so why not.

Alexandra and Piers end up getting married, but with both of their pasts trying to catch up with them, danger seems to find them around every corner. Will they survive long enough to see if they can get their HEA?

I really love Alexandra and Piers story. They married for reasons of their own, but grew to love the other as time went on. I loved their interactions with one another and how kind Piers was to Alexandra after what she had gone through <spoiler> she was raped at the beginning of the story </spoiler>. I can't wait to read what I assume with be the other two books in the series about Alexandra's friends from school.

Brilliant!

Kerrigan Byrne just keeps surprising! Such a creative mind! This time intrigue sits alongside murder. The series revolves around three young woman who meet at school in Switzerland in the 1880's, and how that time together not only forged strong bonds but changed their lives forever. Alexander "and her dearest friends, Francesca Cavendish and Cecelia Teague, had created a haven for their Red Rogues Society. Red, because they all had hair of some variant shade of such." Rogues because ... Well you'll just have to read their stories to find out more!
The first story is about Lady Alexander Lane who fled the school along with her chums after being abused by the headmaster of the school, a darkly abhorrent character taking pleasure in the degradation he inflicts. I must admit that scene sent shivers down my spine.
Hiding herself in her work and in her appearance Alex trains as an archaeologist and travels to various sites, an accomplished leader in the field. Always she effectively effaced herself physically, appearing mannish in her dress, although her brilliant mind could not be erased.
Now ten years later someone has been blackmailing her for years, her family is in dire financial straits and there's only one way through. Get married to someone rich and powerful.
At the same time she receives a missive from Francesca,
"Alexander,
Accept the invitation to Castle Redmayne. I’m in danger. I need you.
—Frank"
Piers Gedrick Atherton, the Duke of Redmayne, needs a bride. With his fearsome reputation that could be a tall order. Although it seems Alex's friend Francesca will fill the bill but there's something about Alex that draws Piers on a visceral level, and Alex feels the same pull, despite her tortured past and her fears of intimacy.
As Alex and Piers battle their pasts, their coming together is a minefield lanced with potential disasters lightened by brilliant flashes of hope.
Murder, blackmail and dark intrigue stalks them both.
An altogether satisfying story that wrings you out, holds you on the edge and doesn't fail to please!

A St. Martin's Press ARC via NetGalley