Book Review: How to Marry a Duke by Vicky Dreiling

Title: How to Marry a Duke

Author: Vicky Dreiling
Series: How To Series #1

Release Date: January 1st 2011

Publisher: Forever

Age: Adult

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.

How to Marry a Duke is about Tristan, the Duke of Shelbourne, who needs a wife, and fast. He doesn't know where to start, so he hires Tessa Mansfield, a wallflower who works as a matchmaker.

Tristan has a list with all the required attributes his wife must have, but the most important is that she has to be desirable for him. He doesn't believe in love, which Tessa truly believes. It's difficult to find him a wife with so little time, so Tessa must do something scandalous but effective: a contest.

I find difficult to believe that a Duke would agree to participate on a contest (like The Bachelor) to find a wife. But ignoring that, it was fun. Tristan was looking for the 'perfect wife'. But all the available are girls, barely women, too young for him. And none of them ignited his desire, expect Tessa, the matchmaker.

I don't know why Tristan continued with the 'contest', because after sharing a few kisses with Tessa, it's obvious they should be together. Tristan is good looking, strong and very short tempered, while Tessa is very sweet and independent. They are the perfect couple, but Tessa has a big secret and Tristan is just too hardheaded to choose.

Overall, How to Marry a Duke is the second book I read from this author (I actually read the sequel first, How to Seduce a Scoundrel), and altought I enjoyed it, I still think it needs more passion. Tessa and Tristan were a likable couple, and even when the wife's contest was unrealistic, it was fun.

BTW, the next book, How to Ravish a Rake, is going to be released April 1st. Do you think I should read it?

More about this book at www.vickydreiling.com, Goodreads, Amazon, The Book Depository.