Book Review and Giveaway, Three Copies, How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

A very fun read!
How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages (Really 396 + other excerpts)
• Publisher: Forever; Original edition (January 3, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446565377
• ISBN-13: 978-0446565370

Price: Paperback $7.99; Kindle $7.99
Genre: Historical Romance
My Rating: 4.5 of 5.0

Product Description
Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne is a man with a mission: find a wife he can tolerate as long as they both shall live. Love is not necessary--nor desired. But how to choose among a dizzying array of wealthy-yet-witless candidates? Hire London's infamously prim and proper matchmaker. Then pretend she's not the most captivating woman he's ever met...

Helping a devilish Duke create a contest to pick his perfect mate is the kind of challenge Tessa Mansfield relishes. Her methods may be scandalous, but she's determined to find the notorious bachelor more than a wife--she'll bring him true love. Yet when Tessa watches the women vie for the Duke's affections, she longs to win his heart herself. And after a stolen kiss confirms Tristan's desire, Tessa knows she has broken a matchmaker's number one rule: never fall in love with the groom.

Review: I really enjoyed this light historical. The plot has some uniqueness and the characters and dialogue are fun with some sexy innuendo.

Tessa is a 26 year old independent heiress. She does not perceive that she will ever be good enough to marry and considers herself safely on the shelf. But she believes in love and dedicates her efforts to making matches, especially for the wall flowers who need a bit of help.

When the Duke accidently steps on her fan, he at first thinks she is just another silly chit throwing her fan or handkerchief at his feet. However her artless and witty responses throw him off guard. Then when she learns who she is, instead of increasing her flirtation she flees from him. The Duke is intrigued by her and decides that perhaps she can really find him a mate.

Tessa sets up a very unusual courtship/competition to help the Duke pick the right young lady. As she and the Duke spend time together considering the candidates and planning events they develop a friendship.  Of course, he is bound by duty to honor the candidates to select his bride. And her reputation would be ruined if she woos away the groom.

Added to the courtship complications are the machinations of Sherbourne’s mother who I found to be a delightful character even if most view her as a dragon.  Also Tessa’s childhood sweetheart and brother of her best friend suddenly returns after being thought to have been killed in war.  Tessa clearly doesn’t want anything to do with Richard and the reader knows there is a secret history between them. Richard however is relentless in pursuing Tessa even to the point of flouting the proprieties.  This behavior has the Duke on edge and trying any way he can to protect Tessa.

I was surprised that this is a debut novel as it flows so well. The plot is fun and the characters are strong with snappy repartee. I will definitely look forward to Ms. Dreiling’s release of How to Seduce a Scoundrel this summer.

THANK YOU TO HACHETTE FOR PROVIDING THE BOOK FOR MY REVIEW AND FOR PROVIDING THREE BOOKS FOR GIVEAWAY.

TO ENTER THIS GIVEAWAY:

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