Stevie‘s review of How to Lose a Duke in Ten Days (An American Heiress in London, Book 2) by Laura Lee Guhrke
Historical Romance published by Avon 29 Apr 14
When I reviewed the first book in this series, I lamented the lack of a time-stamp to the story. This time, my wish has been granted, and we learn early on that the action mainly takes place in the summer that the Savoy Hotel opened in London (i.e. 1889, which is pretty much within the date range I was guessing at before). This time, the couple we meet are already married to each other, but have been living apart (on different continents, no less) for the past five years – since one month after they married. And while the heroine likes their situation, the hero has had enough of it, especially after a change of circumstances means that he has to return to England. He wants to start being a real husband, but first he has to find out why his wife is so against the idea and then overcome her issues. And what issues those are!
Edie, Duchess of Margrave, has perfectly good reasons not to want a man to touch her ever again. The biggest of those reasons just happens to be living in New York, and it was to avoid him that she proposed to Stuart in the first place. An overheard conversation at a ball led her to believe he, firstly, needed her money to save his family’s estates, and, secondly, would much rather have more adventures in Africa than stay in England to take care of his newly-inherited property. Edie has money and a head for business, so they make a deal. In the following five years, the estates have flourished, Edie has been able to keep her younger sister safe from the sort of men no one warned Edie about, and Stuart has scarcely been heard from. Then an accident causes him to rethink his life choices and return home, not just to recuperate but also to try to win Edie’s heart.
Cue another deal: if Stuart can convince Edie to kiss him within ten days, then she’ll let him stay. If not, then he’ll sign the papers for a legal separation, leaving her free to get on with her life without him (and away from the estates, which Edie is less happy about). Slowly Stuart comes to realise just how badly damaged Edie has been, and she comes to the realisation that she does care for him regardless of whether she can face up to being a full wife to him. But it will take more than ten days for them to really get together.
This is an excellent story, that, in my opinion, deals sensitively with what had happened to Edie, and to a lesser extent with how Stuart’s injury has affected his outlook on life. Some parts of the resolution take place off-stage and the explanation is glossed over a little too quickly at the end for my liking. However, I’m continuing to enjoy this series and will definitely be keeping an eye out for the next book.
Grade: B
Summary:
They had a deal . . .
From the moment she met the devil-may-care Duke of Margrave, Edie knew he could change her life. And when he agreed to her outrageous proposal of a marriage of convenience, she was transformed from ruined American heiress to English duchess. Five years later, she’s delighted with their arrangement, especially since her husband is living on another continent.
But deals are made to be broken . . .
By marrying an heiress, Stuart was able to pay his family’s enormous debts, and Edie’s terms that he leave England forever seemed a small price to pay. But when a brush with death impels him home, he decides it’s time for a real marriage with his luscious American bride, and he proposes a bold new bargain: ten days to win her willing kiss. But is ten days enough to win her heart?
Read an excerpt.
Other books in this series:
Catch a Falling Heiress – February 2015
