Giveaway and Review: "How to Marry a Duke"

As part of the "How to Marry a Duke" blog tour, I have my review and a giveaway of 3 copies of the book, sponsored by Hachette!

"How to Marry a Duke"
 by Vicky Dreiling

Publisher: Forever
Release Date: Jan 1, 2011

Source: sent by publisher


My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
 
Summary from Goodreads.com:

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.

My Review:

At first, I thought this book was going to be just a cutesy regency era twist on "The Bachelor" TV show. But as I kept reading, I found myself completely drawn in by the story and totally falling in love with the characters!

Tristan was a handsome, charming duke with the confidence you expect from royalty, but also with this unexpected awkward quality that made him just so much more endearing and real. He didn't make much effort to hide his feelings for Tessa, but at the same time, he did feel a sense of duty to the girls in the 'competition.' Coming to terms with balancing his duty and his feelings was great to see play out.

I loved that the author really showed why Tristan and Tessa fell for each other. There was a great line about how Tessa was Tristan's first 'lady friend,' truly meaning she was his friend. Their romance was really based on friendship, understanding, and attraction, not just love at first sight or lust.

The secondary characters were just as fun and lovable as the leads without overshadowing Tristan and Tessa. Tristan's mother was a great addition to the story, as well as Amy and Georgette, two of the girls in the competition for Tristan's heart. It couldn't have been easy to essentially write rivals for Tessa and have them turn out so likable. Tristan's best friend, Hawk, was an adorable rascal, and I can't wait to read his romance with Julianne in the next book.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5

Setting: 4/5

Romance: 5/5

Uniqueness: 5/5
Cover: 5/5
Writing: 5/5



Bottom Line:This story was truly about romance and love between the leads. The author has a way of making her heart melt without being sappy or unrealistic. Books like this remind of why I love the historical romance genre so much!


GIVEAWAY RULES:
Hachette books has generously provided three copies of this historical romance for readers of my blog!


All you have to do is follow my blog publicly and leave a comment on this review with your email address!
Please follow publicly or I can't tell that you are following :) Also, if you aren't comfortable leaving your email here, go ahead and leave a comment and then send me an email with your email addy.
Extra Entries:

  • +1 Tweet this contest (leave link in comment)
  • +1 Post link in sidebar of your blog (leave link in comment)

Rules:
  • US and Canada only
  • No PO Boxes please
  • Must be a follower to enter
  • Extra entries are optional and can all be left in the same comment
  • Leave a comment with your email address
  • Books will be mailed out by Hachette
  • Ends Friday Feb 4
Thanks to everyone for entering! Good luck!
  

44 comments

  1. This one looks really fun, and I like the occasional light historical with an interesting premise. My email is dreaminginbooksATgmailDOTcom

    Also tweeted the contest:

    http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com/2011/01/giveaway-and-review-how-to-marry-duke.html

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sounds really great!!
    I hadn't heard of this author before, I'm going to keep an eye out for it!!

    Great review

    ReplyDelete
  3. I follow as Renee G on gFC.
    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com

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  4. I love the "reality show meets history" type of angle this book uses!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com
    GFC follower

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great review, makes me want to read this even more! Thanks for the giveaway!

    GFC follower
    lilazncutie1215[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  6. Old follower stopping by to say hi! Hope your having a great weekend! I shall have to check out this book! Love regency romance!

    Sonette @ Bookworm Blog

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  7. Sounds like a fun read and definitely glad it's not "The Bachelor TV show" in print as I'd never pick it up to read.

    I follow on GFC.

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  8. Old follower on GFC :)
    This sounds like a really fun book - I haven't read any regency romances in a year or so, but would definitely give this a try.

    deepalipratap@gmail.com
    www.readseverything.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. Please count me in!

    *old gfc follower
    *on my sidebar (booksthattugtheheart.blogspot)
    *tweeted ..@jinxtweet
    *ldsmomof03 at yahoo dot com

    Thanks. :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, your review of this book really makes me want to read it today! :)
    tiffb123@yahoo.com
    Happy Saturday!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I 5, I am indeed impressed. This HR is certainly on my radar now

    ReplyDelete
  12. Old GFC follower.
    Sounds great..please enter me.

    littleone AT shaw DOT ca

    ReplyDelete
  13. I'd love to win this book! I'm a follower.

    books[a]muggle-born.net

    ReplyDelete
  14. Every once in a while, I need to read a romance like this. It's not my usual read, but I throw one in once in a while. So, please, enter me in your contest. Thanks! (old follower)

    annettesspot(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thanks for commenting on my blog. I stumbled into the Dexter #1 book and I think it was the inspiration to the Dexter series on Showtime channel. I didn't know until I was plugging the book into Goodreads & saw other people's review. I haven't seen any of it either.

    Have a great weekend!

    ReplyDelete
  16. This one sounds like a very fun read. I love couple who unexpectedly fall for each other.

    GFC follower.

    jenma76 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  17. l wouldn't usually pick up this sort of book but it sounds good!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Publicly following In the Hammock with Google Friend Connect [Cheryl F. {The Lucky Ladybug}] -- I would love to read How to Marry a Duke :) *Thanks* for the giveaway!

    +1 Tweeted the giveaway

    +1 Linked the giveaway in sidebar, More Giveaways

    theluckyladybug[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for the giveaway and the review!
    I am a follower
    Tweeted here:
    http://twitter.com/lulilut/status/28939984375386113
    d.septer at insightbb.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am a follower and would love to be entered :)

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I can't wait to read this book. It looks so good.

    iqb99@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. How to Marry a Duke sounds like a wonderful book and I'm looking forward to reading it even more after reading your review.

    Barbed1951(at)aol(dot)com
    GFC follower

    ReplyDelete
  23. This book sounds so good can't wait to read it! I really enjoyed your review. Im a Old follower/latishajean
    +1 tweeted
    http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/28988342406217728
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  24. This books certainly sounds interesting! And thanks for the chance to win. I'm a new follower on GFC (as well as Twitter, since you list lots of contests!), and I tweeted.

    Here's the link for that: http://twitter.com/#!/sadi_sei/status/29005104866664448

    postedcontests (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love this story line. I love romantic books with HEA. Can't wait to read. Pls enter me in giveaway.

    Tweet
    http://twitter.com/misskallie2000/status/29045957811249152

    misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. This sounds like a sweet one. You are slowly turning me into a historical romance reader.

    teamsheltie(at)gmail(dot)com
    Follower

    ReplyDelete
  27. Thanks for hosting the giveway, I should have one coming up midweek if I get everything together.
    I am a follower.
    jhoorm01atyahoodotcom

    ReplyDelete
  28. Thank you so very much for the wonderful review! Best of luck to all in the contest. Cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  29. Isn't it amazing how awkward can be so sexy! Can't wait to discover this Duke!

    Please enter me. I'm an old follower.

    missie at theunreadreader.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Thanks so much for stopping by, Vicky! I loved the book, and can't wait for the next installment!

    Carrie

    ReplyDelete
  31. The plot soiunds adorable. At first I'd think it's a bit cliche, but it sounds like it has some depth.
    Follower!
    the[dot]distant[dot]light[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Sounds like a fun read. I'm following on GFC with 'headlessfowl'.

    headlessfowl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Looks like a funny read.

    follower

    linze_e at hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I'm a GFC Follower.
    I've been seeing this book offered all over the blogosphere and I would love to win it!

    hopester777 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi There
    I'm a GFC follower. I'd love a copy of this book! I can be found at sugarbeatbc AT gmail DOT com

    Barb at Sugarbeat's Books

    ReplyDelete
  36. Hey there! I've heard a lot of great things about this book!

    I'm a follower!

    And I've Tweeted about it!

    lisa(@)onceuponachapter(dot)com

    Lisa @ <a href="http://www.onceuponachapter.com>Once Upon A Chapter</a>

    ReplyDelete
  37. thank you for the giveaway, dear!

    lillyisabear(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  38. Would love to win!!! I've been hearing a lot about this book. I love the whole 'The Bachelor' inspiration behind the book! I watched the first season of the tv show and loved it, but now it's just TOOO .. much...

    +1 in sidebar:
    http://notanotherromanceblog.blogspot.com

    historicalromancejunkie(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  39. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  40. sorry about the deleted comment I just realized that I have this one already haha

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  41. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  42. This sounds like a reallly good book...always looking for new authors to read.

    June M.
    hmanning@bellsouth.net

    ReplyDelete
  43. Great review! Sounds like a very good book. I love when the characters are conflicted.

    GFC follower
    rjofus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Please count me in, gfc follower!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for your lovely comments!