How to Find a Duke in Ten Days

Grace Burrowes · Shana Galen · Carolyn Jewel

Oct 2017 · Grace Burrowes

About this ebook

For centuries, the volumes of a priceless Renaissance manuscript, The Duke’s Book of Knowledge, have been the subject of legend and rumor. Three members of London's Bibliomania Club have promised a beloved professor they’ll find the manuscripts before the professor retires. They are determined to vindicate his faith in the Duke’s existence while rescuing a great literary work from obscurity. The problem? The book must be found in ten days. Matters of the heart intrude as each book hunter realizes that locating an ancient manuscript might just lead to happiness ever after.

Ratings and reviews

The Liber Ducis de Scientia – The Duke’s Book of Knowledge – has never been found even though Professor Phineas Peebles claims it exists. Three former students of his from Oxford want to procure the elusive volume to thank the professor upon his retirement in ten days. And three wonderful authors relate their exploits while they find love. The Will to Love by Grace Burrowes Philomena Peebles is obsessed with the Duke – the book that is – even more so than her father. She is a highly educated spinster but lacks the funds for her research. Seton Avery, the Earl of Ramsdale, needs a translator for his uncle’s will, and Philomena, fluent in several languages, secures the position, and maybe the heart of an earl? Ms. Burrowes’ erudition, her mastery of the English language, and her wit dazzle in this very romantic – and quite enlightening – novella. Philomena and Ramsdale are very well drawn, engaging, and this is a charming, sweet and often quite amusing story. How to Steal a Duke (in Ten Days, Give or Take a Few Days, but Definitely in Less than a Fortnight) by Shana Galen Shana Galen’s novella features the very comme il faut Dominick Spencer, Duke of Tremayne, who will do anything to acquire the volume on medical knowledge in the Duke’s Book of Knowledge. Dominick has heard that the tome is in the library of the Temples, the estate of the mad Earl of Verney. He needs someone to gain entry to the building, as he was not able to meet said mad Earl. As luck would have it, while sitting in his coach, he spies someone climbing down a wall: Roslyn Dashner, who became a cat burglar by necessity. You would not expect Shana Galen to write a sedate little tale, now would you? This novella is filled with action, very unexpected twists, and clever little surprises. Dominick is staid and very proper duke, who displays unusual personality traits I found endearing, and Roslyn and bubbly and very ingenious. This is a riveting story with a bit of a Gothic vibe, and Ms. Galen’s writing is as smooth and polished as ever. I actually wanted more of this story! And the icing on the cake is the perfectly delightful The Viscount’s First Kiss by Carolyn Jewel. Magdalene Carter and her dearly departed husband Angus had been friends of Harry Fordyce for a good while over their passion for ancient manuscripts. Fordyce, is now Viscount Daunt and he shows Magdalene a letter mentioning that a certain Mathias Rivett has De Terris Fabulosis, one of the volumes of The Duke’s Book of Knowledge, which is rumoured to contain the locations of great treasures. They had shared a mutual fondness for books, but why does Magdalene notice how handsome her friend Daunt is at this present time, while she has known him for ages. This novella was simply wonderful! Magdalene is slightly older than Daunt, not exactly beautiful, yet Daunt is profoundly enamoured of her mind, knowledge, and cleverness. And so was I! Daunt is flirtatious and charming, yet very honourable, and has been pining in secret for Magdalene, and he was simply irresistible. While they search, research, and despair over finding the elusive tome, they get closer while conversing, and it is so beautifully written that I was left breathless. I could see the library, the books, Magdalene and Daunt, as clearly as if they had been in front of me; just gorgeous. The writing is indescribably beautiful, elegant, and so dazzling that the sheer beauty of it all nearly had me tearing up. Most of the action consists of sifting through books, chatting, a little seduction, and I wouldn’t change a word. Positively enchanting! The perfect epilogue concludes this wonderful anthology; all the interrogations are answered, and all the loose ends are tied with quite a bit of flair and a dash of romance! I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

About the author

Grace Burrowes spent a lot of time early in life reading romance novels. In college, while still voraciously reading romance, she supported herself by teaching piano and accompanying ballet classes. After graduation she became a technical writer and an editor. A demanding job that left enough time to read many, many romance novels - and grab a law degree through an evening program. Despite becoming a single mom and practicing law in a small town, through all of Grace's ups and downs, she'd was a relentless reader of romance authors like Kathleen E. Woodiwiss, Judith Ivory, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Eloisa James and many others. Late one night, while preparing "some Motion or other" she recalled that in her briefcase was a book she'd been saving to read on a hard day. Grace promised to read just one chapter but another thought kept intruding as I read that one chapter, "I bet I could¿." So she wrote a romance novel. That book became Gareth: Lord of Rakes, and opened the door to the sheer bliss of writing historical romance. She wrote and wrote and wrote eventually becoming a published author. Grace Burrowes writes the Duke's Obsession, Windham Sisters, MacGregors, Lonely Lords, Captive Hearts, Sweetest Kisses, True Gentlemen, Jaded Gentlemen, and Windham Brides Series as well as being a contributing author in many collections. Grace co-wrote Highland Holidays Series with Patience Griffin and wrote The Cowboy Wore a Kilt in the Kindle Worlds: Blame it on Texas Series.