Today I am very pleased to do a series review for Kerrigan Byrne's Victorian Rebels series. Last August I read the sixth book in this series, The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo. As I received the seventh book for review from NetGalley, A Dark and Stormy Knight, I realized it was high time to read the series from the beginning. As I did, I wrote each review and posted them on Goodreads. In this post I will provide those reviews, starting with the first book.
Title: The Highwayman
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
Series: Victorian Rebels #1
Date Published: September 1, 2015
Publisher: St. Martins Press
No. of Pages: 356
My rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster…
STEALING BEAUTY
Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More, is a ruthless villain. Scarred and hard-hearted, Dorian is one of London’s wealthiest, most influential men who will stop at nothing to wreak vengeance on those who’ve wronged him…and will fight to the death to seize what he wants. The lovely, still innocent widow Farah Leigh Mackenzie is no exception—and soon Dorian whisks the beautiful lass away to his sanctuary in the wild Highlands…
COURTING DESIRE
But Farah is no one’s puppet. She possesses a powerful secret—one that threatens her very life. When being held captive by Dorian proves to be the only way to keep Farah safe from those who would see her dead, Dorian makes Farah a scandalous proposition: marry him for protection in exchange for using her secret to help him exact revenge on his enemies. But what the Blackheart of Ben More never could have imagined is that Farah has terms of her own, igniting a tempestuous desire that consumes them both. Could it be that the woman he captured is the only one who can touch the black heart he’d long thought dead?
Dougan and Farah were in the same orphanage as children and were bound for life. Dougan called her Fairy, as she was enchanting and innocent. Tragedy hits and all seems lost. It is now 17 years later, Farah, living as Dougan’s widow, is now working at Scotland Yard. Not only does she meet Dorian, with the moniker Blackheart of Ben More, he takes her - nothing short of kidnapping, and tells her that he is fulfilling a long ago promise made by Dougan by marrying her and offering his protection.
Over the years Dorian has suffered more than any man should, creating a beast that on the outside has very bad intentions with revenge as his only goal. Farah wants but one thing, Dorian’s live, no matter how difficult, distant and often hateful he is towards her. There is one other thing more Farah wants, a family. A child will make her life complete, and just maybe Dorian will allow her to love him.
This is no sweet tale by Kerrigan Byrne. It is dark, moody and sensitive. You have two protagonists that couldn’t be more different, yet truly proved to perfectly suited to one another. For Farah, her sweet nature is tinged with a strong backbone. For Dorian, he is broken, hard and unforgiving - especially towards himself. Their path to love is tinged with sadness, but with enough resolution to place the. both on the path to a wonderful future.
I loved how bold the author chose to begin a new series. The men in these stories came from humble experiences, tragic and heartbreaking experiences. To see Dorian make a life for himself, by choosing ultimately choosing love, is a fantastic start. Having already read the 6th book in the series, The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo, I knew that these heroes would not be the average sort, even in historical romances. However, reading out of order is is something that I don’t do often, as I much rather prefer the continuity that comes with reading books in order. So I already read Ash’s story. As I planned on binge reading this story from this one, The Highwayman, the first book in the Victorian Rebel series, I am more than eager to read of each of the men who have come from lives of neglect and depravity having a chance for a full and rewarding life.
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Title: The Hunter
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
Series: Victorian Rebels #2
Date Published: February 2, 2016
Publisher: St. Martins Press
No. of Pages: 412
My rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
A scandalous proposal.
As one of London't most elite hunters, Christopher Argent never misses his mark and always gets his man. But when his latest target turns out to be a woman—the popular, and stunningly beautiful, actress Millie LeCour—it turns his whole world upside-down. Overwhelmed by the heat that simmers between them, Christopher can't complete his mission. On the contrary, he'll do anything to save Millie's life—even if it means risking his own...
A dangerous passion...
When she learns what Christopher was hired to do, Millie is torn between the fear in her heart and the fire in her soul. Putting herself in this dangerous man's arms may be her only path to safety—but giving in to her desire may be the deadliest mistake she's ever made. With both of their lives in jeopardy, Millie and Christopher must learn to trust the real feelings they're hiding—to find the true love they're looking for...
Tension rides high in the second book in the thrilling Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne. Christopher Argent was born in Newgate Prison to a prostitute murdered by order of a despicable man. In the first book, The Highwayman, readers met Dougan, who rose above his humble beginnings and found great wealth. Argent also became wealthy beyond compare, but his employ as an assassin known as The Hunter and caused so much fear.
The female protagonist in this story is a very popular actress named Millie LeCour, a woman loved by by all and the mother of young Jakub. While her career is utterly important to her, Millie’s deepest devotion is to Jakub. How does Millie become involved with a mercenary and how does their first meeting almost end in her murder at his hands? And more than once at that?
Argent’s life takes a very sharp turn when he soon becomes Millie’s lover and protector. Millie herself can not reconcile her growing feelings for a man who once wanted her dead. What she begins to see - beyond the incredible attraction they share - is a side to Argent that no one else sees, even his brothers and friends. The cage Argent has built around himself has fissures only Millie can see.
However, despite their growing feelings, insecurity reigns with Millie because her safety - and that of her beloved Jakub - is constantly in danger. What led Argent to Millie in the first place? Could it be because of the dangerous secret she has hidden for years? Will Argent go beyond being an assassin to a man that can love both mother and son? As their incredible passion rises time and again in this story, so does the aforementioned tension that I mention at the start of this review.
Not only is Argent now in a fight to protect Millie, readers are granted the connection of reoccurring characters from The Highwayman, Dorian, Farah and Morley. While reading the first book my heart bled for Dorian. However, Christopher’s story was even more heartbreaking, especially as he recounts his younger life and the loss of his mother. Millie was the perfect companion for Argent, a woman capable of unending love and kindness.
This second story by Kerrigan Byrne is equally as dark as the first in this series, with mystery, threats and danger lurking in every corner. The heroes are broken and imperfect and the heroines are strong and resilient, creating amazing love stories of redemption, transformation and growth.
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Title: The Highlander
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
Series: Victorian Rebels #3
Date Published: August 2, 2016
Publisher: St. Martins Press
No. of Pages: 358
My rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Can the fiercest master of battle conquer a woman’s heart?
They call him the Demon Highlander. The fearsome Lieutenant Colonel Liam MacKenzie is known for his superhuman strength, towering presence, and fiery passion in the heat of battle. As Laird to the MacKenzie clan, the undefeated Marquess has vanquished his foes with all rage and wrath of his barbaric Highland ancestors. But when an English governess arrives to care for his children, the master of war finds himself up against his greatest opponent... in the game of love.
Defying all expectations, Miss Philomena is no plain-faced spinster but a ravishing beauty with voluptuous curves and haughty full lips that rattle the Laird to his core. Unintimidated by her master’s raw masculinity and savage ways, the headstrong lass manages to tame not only his wild children but the beast in his soul. With each passing day, Liam grows fonder of Miss Mena—and more suspicious. What secret is she hiding behind those emerald eyes? What darkness brought her to his keep? And how can he conquer this magnificent woman’s heart... without surrendering his own?
Liam MacKenzie is a former Lieutenant Colonel and known as a remarkably strong man. Anger has been his lifelong companion, with war being the perfect vocation for him. His father was brutal, so Liam followed suit. In fact, even more so. His only soft spot until now is his two children, and he was determined to not be anything at all like his father.
Miss Philomena is an English woman who has taken employment as governess to the children of the man known as Demon MacKenzie. Her start in this story is chilling, and I say that literally. Convicted to an asylum by a brutal husband and forced to suffer horrendous treatment, including ice baths that were brutally used for those considered mad in those times. Barely managing to escape the torment she had been experiencing, Mena is more than willing to give up what had been her former life as a Viscountess. Given a new identity, Mena poses as an experienced governess, and her success in this new life might just keep her out of the clutches of her cruel husband and help her to remain alive.
Now a marquess, Liam might be considered to be a hard man among his men, but his very first look at his new governess is certainly not what he expected. He was thinking that she would be a matronly woman with perhaps a dour countenance. Instead she is a vibrant, spirited woman who creates an visceral reaction in him. Although quite relieved to begin anew, Mena is captivated and intrigued by her new employer, albeit a bit intimidated. Mena soon discovers her wariness towards MacKenzie is warranted as his gruff exterior gives her pause more than once.
Will Liam act on his undeniable attraction to Mena? What about the fact that she is a married woman, in hiding from her husband? Will they act on what is growing between them? Violence has always been Mena’s ally. Will something better ever come her way? And if so, by what means?
These questions and more are answered in this thrilling book by Kerrigan Byrne. This third book in her Victorian Rebels series does not miss a beat when it comes to emotion, passion and tension as this series continues to enthrall.
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Title: The Duke
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
Series: Victorian Rebels #4
Date Published: February 7, 2017
Publisher: St. Martins Press
No. of Pages: 377
My rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
Strong as a Viking. Handsome as Adonis. Rich as Midas. Collin "Cole" Talmage, Duke of Trewyth, is the stuff that legends are made of. He's the English Empire's golden son--until fate has its way with him. Cole's family is killed and his closest comrade betrays him on the battlefield, leaving him gravely injured. But Cole is not one to dwell on misfortune. He is a man of duty, honor--and desire. And now he's ready for the fight of his lifetime...
Imogen Pritchard is a beautiful lass who works in a hospital by day and as a serving maid at night. Years ago, when she was young and penniless, she ended up spending a scandalous night with Cole, whose tormented soul was matched only by his earth-shattering passion. Imogen entered a marriage of convenience―one that left her a wealthy widow―but she never forgot Cole. Now that her long-lost lover has turned up in her hospital, injured and with no memory of her, Imogen is torn: Is it a blessing or a curse that their past remains a secret to Cole, even as his new passion for her leaves him wanting to protect and possess her...at all costs, in The Duke, the next Victorian Rebels novel by Kerrigan Byrne.
MY THOUGHTS:
Cole Talmage, the Duke of Trewyth, is a reluctant Duke after the tragic deaths of his family, and and Imogen, then a poor serving maid, once shared a passionate night together. Some time has passed and all they had is memories. Now, after a devastating injury, Imogen is the nurse that cares for him. While on the one hand they are very drawn to one another, Cole’s anger is very much a cause for stress between the pair.
Imogen’s treatment of Cole is wrought with agony, because even after being married and then widowed, now a very wealthy woman, she never forgot the single night that they share together. Sadly, Cole was drunk that one night and does not remember her. what we see instead is a very angry and aggressive Cole fighting for a memory that feels him while Imogen struggles to keep things as they are now between them.
When the book began, Cole’s conduct could possibly be excused because of his loss. But as the pages of the book progressed, I personally did not see much growth in him as a character. Although it is clear that Cole did not recognize the vivacious nurse caring for him, he begins to feel a very protective nature towards her. The question is whether or not his protectiveness will reach his cold heart.
As I am binge reading the series, and with this being the fourth in the series, I got to know the various members of the Victorian Rebels. Cole is by far my least favorite. It is understandable that his grief caused a lot of his actions, and especially after losing something that was critical to his life, but I so wanted him to be redeemed. Meanwhile I truly loved Imogen for her tenderness and resilience.
Argent from The Hunter, the second book in this series, gives Cole a lot to think about. It’s only hoped that he will apply the council of his friend. With the fact that Cole’s memory has failed him, the sexual tension in this story is at a pivotal level.
What is absolutely lovely about this series is the imperfect, broken heroes and the strong, independent women. In this story, I loved how Imogen fought to win Cole over. Furthermore the roles played by the connection between previous and future characters in this series made me feel like I was back in that era, among that group of friends and the remarkable women that claimed them.
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Title: The Scot Beds His Wife
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
Series: Victorian Rebels #5
Date Published: October 3. 2017
Publisher: St. Martins Press
No. of Pages: 394
My rating: 4 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster.
Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, is a notorious Highlander and an unrelenting Lothario who uses his slightly menacing charm to get what he wants—including too many women married to other men. But now, Gavin wants to put his shady past behind him...more or less. When a fiery lass who is the heiress to the land he wishes to possess drops into his lap, he sees a perfectly delicious opportunity...
A marriage most convenient
Samantha Masters has come back to Scotland, in a pair of trousers, and with a whole world of dangerous secrets from her time spent in the Wild West trailing behind her. Her only hope of protection is to marry—and to do so quickly. Gavin is only too willing to provide that service for someone he finds so disturbingly irresistible. But even as danger approaches, what begins as a scandalous proposition slowly turns into an all-consuming passion. And Gavin discovers that he will do whatever is necessary to keep the woman he has claimed as his own...
In the fifth book in the exciting Victorian Rebels series, we see a different hero compared to the other Scottish men we’ve been reading about thus far. Instead, we meet Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, a Highlander and a man who loves to love women. Yes, he came from a painful past just like his brothers, but he appears far less damaged. But, Gavin has tired of his seemingly unending experiences with women. He’d much rather create a solid future and thus has chosen to make Erradale Estate his own. For continuity’s sake, Gavin is Liam’s brother, who is the hero in the third book of this series, The Highlander.
The wrench in his plans comes in the form of Samantha Masters, who has fled America in hopes of hiding dangerous secrets. Not only has Sam arrived in Scotland to clans Erradale as her own, she must manage a marriage of convenience for the sake of her protection. Her first interaction with the beautiful Scotsman is when she stumbles and lands in his arms. Before long, the pair do indeed marry, her secrets well guarded and his whoring ways behind him.
Will this marriage of convenience be what Gavin and Sam need? Or will the secrets Sam holds dear be enough to destroy any chance they could have together?
Having gotten used to the brooding heroes in this series, Gavin ended was a breath of fresh air. Yes, Gavin had his moments. After all, the experiences he experienced as a child have to come to the surface from time to time. But, even so, he just might be one of my favorites in this series.
Sam is more than a bit of fun in this book. A brash American, familiar with hard times, a rough tongue - yeah, she was fun. But better than that, she has a heart, one that we know going in would be good for Gavin. The journey to love was full of passion and mirth.
While reading this book any reader knows that Sam’s secrets will eventually catch up to her. Leave it to Kerrigan Byrne to take readers on a wild ride right to the very end.
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**This review is already posted on this blog in August, 2019**
Title: The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
Series: Victorian Rebels #6
Date Published: August 28, 2018
Publisher: St. Martins Press
No. of Pages: 384
My rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
The bravest of heroes. The brashest of rebels. The boldest of lovers. These are the men who risk their hearts and their souls—for the passionate women who dare to love them…
He is known only as The Rook. A man with no name, no past, no memories. He awakens in a mass grave, a magnificent dragon tattoo on his muscled forearm the sole clue to his mysterious origins. His only hope for survival—and salvation—lies in the deep, fiery eyes of the beautiful stranger who finds him. Who nurses him back to health. And who calms the restless demons in his soul…
A LEGENDARY LOVE
Lorelai will never forget the night she rescued the broken dark angel in the woods, a devilishly handsome man who haunts her dreams to this day. Crippled as a child, she devoted herself to healing the poor tortured man. And when he left, he took a piece of her heart with him. Now, after all these years, The Rook has returned. Like a phantom, he sweeps back into her life and avenges those who wronged her. But can she trust a man who’s been branded a rebel, a thief, and a killer? And can she trust herself to resist him when he takes her in his arms?
“Byrne is a force in the genre.”—RT Book Reviews
MY THOUGHTS:
While riding in a carriage one day with her brother Mortimer and her father, fourteen-year-old Lorelai Weatherstroke was looking out the window. Shockingly she saw what appeared to be a dead body underneath a tree. She begged for the carriage to be stopped. Mortimer gathered up a man, not a corpse, who was very close to death. They brought him back to their home and, with the aid of a doctor, Lorelai nursed him back to health. With no memory of his past, his name, or anything else, he is at their mercy.
Lorelai has always taken in injured animals, and brought them back to good health. So it is only natural to care of this young stranger. In so doing, one of the things she does is to name him. As he was found underneath an ancient ash tree, that is the name she gave him: Ash. It takes months for Ash to heal from his injuries, and the two draw become very close. Although they can never say the words that are in their hearts, the feelings that grew were incredibly powerful. But...they become separated.
Enter The Rook - a pirate who is wanted by everyone, including the Royal Navy. He is no longer Ash, but a bold pirate with a reputation for brutality and a man who wins whatever he wants to attain. Now he wants Lorelai, but he is not the Ash she remembers, the Ash she has dreamed of, the Ash she has cried for....
What ensues between Lorelai and Ash/The Rook is a compelling story that became impossible to put down. I couldn't imagine how the two could come together. IF they could ever come together. The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo is an enthralling read with strong characters and a powerful plot. I was riveted to this story, especially as my curiosity of how the tender Lorelai and the now brutal Ash could get past the barriers between them.
The character development was just so wonderful. I absolutely loved Lorelai. She was a very strong heroine and took no foolishness. Ash went through so many transformations that I couldn't help but feel for him. The passionate romance in this story was well worth the wait. I do wish that I read the previous books in the series, but this book stood well as a standalone, as I got just enough of a glimpse of the past stories. Nonetheless, I am eager to read the other stories in the series. Kerrigan Byne has done a superb job with this book. I truly enjoyed her writing style and I am very glad to have read it and am now on the hunt for the first five books in the series.
Many thanks to St. Martins Press for this ARC to review in exchange for an honest review.
Author: Kerrigan Byrne
Genre: Historical Romance
Format: Kindle ARC
Series: Victorian Rebels #7
Date Published: June 2, 2020
Publisher: St. Martins Press
No. of Pages: 266
My rating: 5 Stars
DESCRIPTION:
This Knight of the Crown is driven by a painful past and a patient fury… and his entire life is a lie.
Sir Carlton Morley is famously possessed of extraordinary will, singular focus, and a merciless sense of justice. As a man, he secured his fortune and his preeminence as Scotland Yard's ruthless Chief Inspector. As a decorated soldier, he was legend for his unflinching trigger finger, his precision in battle, and his imperturbable strength. But as a boy, he was someone else. A twin, a thief, and a murderer, until tragedy reshaped him.
Now he stalks the night, in search of redemption and retribution, vowing to never give into temptation, as it's just another form of weakness.
Until temptation lands—quite literally—in his lap, taking the form of Prudence Goode.
Prim and proper Pru is expected to live a life of drudgery, but before she succumbs to her fate, she craves just one night of desire. On the night she searches for it, she stumbles upon a man made of shadows, muscle and wrath… And decides he is the one.
When their firestorm of passion burns out of control, Morley discovers, too late, that he was right. The tempting woman has become his weakness.
A weakness his enemies can use against him.
MY THOUGHTS:
Pru has had her chance to make a good marriage match, and despite the opportunities that were presented to her on more than one occasion, it just never happened. Determined to have at least one night she can remember, she gives into the temptation presented to her in the arms of a complete stranger. Later, due to her actions, Pru’s life hangs by a thread. Morley steps in and makes her an unbelievable offer, a marriage of convenience that he could make happen due to his position.
Having seen bits of Morley throughs the series, and loving each and every one in Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian Rebels story, I was more than pleased to read his story. Settling for a loveless marriage did not seem his due, but no doubt this excellent story gives both Morley and Pru what they need. One thing I love about the pair is how imperfect and also how heartbroken they are and how they fight whatever it is that seems determined to remove emotion from their bond.
While this connected story had a few of the characters from previous stories, there wasn’t the full sense of family I have grown used to. Nonetheless, I loved Morley and Pru together, especially when that moment of their intense chemistry reignited. I have just binge read this series over the course of a few days, so with an undetermined release date, I am more than eager to continue the series with The Earl on the Train, which is Sebastian Montcrieff’s book. Readers might remember him from the sixth book in the series, The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo.
Many thanks to Gnarly Wool Publishing and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
She lives in a little Victorian coast town on the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State with her wonderful husband. When she’s not writing you can find her sailing, beach combing, kayaking, visiting wineries, breweries, and restaurants with friends, and hiking…okay…wandering aimlessly clenching bear spray in the mountains.
