How to Marry a Duke
subtitle
Vicky Dreiling

Forever/Hachette
January 3, 2011/ ISBN 978-0-446-56537-0
Historical Romance / London 1816
Amazon

Reviewed by Linda Young

Tristan James Gatewick, the Duke of Shelbourne, is a man on a mission. He has spent over a decade getting the estate out from under the mound of debt and scandal that his father left Tristan when he died. Now it was time for Tristan to find his Duchess and secure an heir and the ducal entitlement.

As he is wading through the ton at the ball looking for his friend Hawk, the Earl of Hawkfield, he takes a step and hears a crunch. He looks down to see the fan he has just stepped on and crushed. He reaches down to pick it up and hears the most amazing voice telling him that if he will return it, she will give it a proper burial. Stunned, Tristan looks up and sees a set of very kissable lips and offers to replace the fan. She refuses his offer and begins to walk away. Hawk walks up behind Tristan, slaps him on the back, and informs him that Miss Mansfield is a happily-ever-after spinster. Then he goes on to tell Tristan that he has just chosen the only woman in the kingdom who won't marry him.

Later Tristan learns that Miss Mansfield is a matchmaker. He decides to hire her to find his Duchess for him. He can't stand the thought of having to wade through the ton and all the silly girls that would be after him to be his wife. But he must have her word to be discrete. He's had enough attention from all because of his rakish ways.

Tessa Mansfield fancies herself a matchmaker. She is an heiress with no living family and is known to be one of the wealthiest women among the ton. She considers herself to be on “the shelf” and prefers her independence and her freedom. Unfortunately, her independent ways, and the fact that she has no husband to protect her from the gossip-mongers, makes her almost an outcast amongst the ton. But what's a girl to do?

When Tessa is formally introduced to the Duke, he asks her if he may call on her at her home. He says he wants to hire her. Tessa figures that he is making plans for his sister, Julianne. But when she talks to him the next day and he tells her that it is he that needs her services, she is stunned. Once he convinces her that he has changed his rakish ways, she agrees to help him. However, the longer they talk the more she realizes that he is treating this more like a business transaction rather than courtship. He gives her a list of his requirements for a wife. Tessa is determined to find him a love match even though the Duke does not believe in love.

Tessa's ways are unconventional and she and Tristan constantly lock horns over one thing or another. She finally sets up a meeting with twenty-four of the most likely candidates. Tristan wants to cut the number in half by the first meeting. He believes he can make his choice within a couple weeks. Tessa is in shock. By negotiating, she persuades the Duke to allow more time for all the events to take place. As these events unfold, Tessa gets the Duke's family involved along with his friend Hawk, which makes things even more interesting.

Tessa and Tristan end up spending a lot of time alone at her residence discussing the competition and arguing over how to continue. Their attraction to each other begins to interfere at every turn. She feels unworthy of any man, and he thinks she is too independent and scandalous in her ways. Tensions grow and events take place to throw them together in improper situations. Tristan's mother steps in the middle and decides she is going to find a husband for Tessa. The party is just getting started.

This is Dreiling's first dip into the historical romance pool. She is well on her way to success. Personally, I feel this will be a big hit. Her wit, story, and twists and turns make for an interesting book. I couldn't put it down from start to finish. I laughed throughout. This book was a joy to read. In the back of the book was an excerpt of the followup story. It is about Tristan's friend Hawk. It will be out later in 2011. I can't wait. It proves to be as entertaining as this one. I can't say enough about this book. Try it, you'll like it. It won't disappoint.

Reviewer's Note: