Review: How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

How to Marry a Duke
Vicky Dreiling {Blog | Blogspot | Facebook | Twitter}
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: January 1, 2011
Mass Market Paperback {p.396}
Source: Publisher
Genre: Historical
Characters: Tessa Mansfield, Tristan Gatewick
Challenge: 100+, Historical Romance
My Rating:

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.

Tristan is in the market of finding a wife. At a ball where is doing just that, he meets Tessa. He is instantly attracted to her, but he doesn't know her true identity.

Tessa is a unwed spinster matchmaker. She herself refuses to ever marry. Although she too is attracted to Tristan, she knows nothing will ever come of the attraction due to her refusal to ever marry and his rakish reputation.

So Tristan sets out to snag Tessa's matchmaking services to aid him in finding a suitable bride. The book unfolds like season 11 of The Bachelor. Tristan has twenty-four lovely, and not so lovely, ladies competing for the title of Duchess.

From earlier on in the story we learn of a secret that Tessa has been keeping, and only has shared it with her late uncle. You can tell she suffers from extreme guilt from this secret, but we as the read have no idea what it is. I was constantly wanting to peek ahead just to find out what it was due to her constant discomfort of the secret.

Overall I really enjoyed the story and all of the characters. I especially liked Tristan's best friend, Hawk, and look forward to his very own book. Not only was this a romantic read, but also a comedic read as well. There were many times I found myself laughing , one in particular included a candlestick and some sheep.