There are some interesting variations here on Gothic tropes, but ultimately I found the book more frustrating than satisfying.

This book is exciting, moving and entertaining and you're hooked since the beginning.
I really loved the characters and the setting.
Recommended!
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for this ARC

Lorelei Weatherstoke is a young girl who's empathy and caring spirit for all things injured is commendable. Crippled as a child, she feels compelled to help care for those injured and helpless. I loved the beginning of this book when they find Ash and she nurses him back to health. Their tentative and sweet interactions set the stage for a love that endures all, but I have to say that I was not much of a fan for the rest of the book. What happens to Ash in the intervening years before he's reunited with Lorelei is a tragic story and changes Ash forever.

I guess it's the title that threw me. I thought I would be reading a totally different story, not one full of violence and obsession to the extreme. While lots of fan of Ms. Byrne's series will love this book, this one is not one of my favorites. I will be interested to see who the next hero will be.

Disclaimer: I received an e-ARC from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Due to content, this is not recommended for school age children (duh). First book I have read by Byrne - A well-written historical paranormal book with some adult scenes.

This story is a perfect addition to the Victorian Rebels collection. You don't have to have read the previous books but once you meet some of the characters from them you'll want to go back and check them out as well.
My one complaint about this book is the title. To call the main character a Duke is pushing it a bit. He's a prisoner and a pirate and eventually an Earl but the Dukedom is a title bought with violence.
The two main characters are about as opposite as they could get yet there is something that draws them together and holds them even after a 20 year separation. His violent lifestyle is no match for her gentle caring.
The pain and suffering they go through only help to make the Happily Ever After that much happier.
I received an advanced copy of this book.

#TheDukeWithTheDragonTattoo #NetGalley Interesting story. I enjoyed the overall story of the duke but I found the found the hints of rape/rough sex hard to digest.

First of all, thanks to NetGalley for the review copy.
Let's be honest, a book with this title is just too ridiculous not to read.

So I was feeling for romance so I picked this up. I saw when adding it on goodreads that this is part of a series, I haven't read the other books in Victorian Rebels but that didn't hinder my enjoyment.
I mean, this is a pretty tropy romance set in the 1800's with pirates and sexy time. The hate to love and bad guy gone good among others. Yet I had such a hard time to put this down.
It's just all I needed in a romance. It's easy to read, a good pace and yet kind of predictable. Which in my case, like write, was just what I wanted.
Even though this is part of a series I felt like I was reading a standalone so I would say you can read this as one.
If you want a romance as a pallet cleanser or just a beach read, this is so right. Or if you like me think the title The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo is just to good to pass up, read it.
Fast, fun and sexy.

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35817296-the-duke-with-the-dragon-tattoo" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px"><img border="0" alt="The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo (Victorian Rebels, #6)" src="https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1519364413m/35817296.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35817296-the-duke-with-the-dragon-tattoo">The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5808498.Kerrigan_Byrne">Kerrigan Byrne</a><br/>
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2408194825">2 of 5 stars</a><br /><br />
ARC KINDLY PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY!!<br /><br />I am heartfelt sorry that I have to give The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo a Thumbs Down 2 star review. I know some readers don't mind abuse's committed on children but I don't like it. This is a personal opinion as you can see from all the 4 and 5 star reviews this story has gotten. I whole heartily disagree with those reviews and can't in good conscience recommend this story.<br /><br />Lorelai crippled by her brother because she stepped on his wooden sword when she was just a little girl. The Hero Imprisoned and brutally tortured and sexually abused. Not to mention that Ash/Rook hero disappears out of the heroine 14 year old Lorelai's life for 20 years is absolutely ridiculous. This length of time is way to long for the H/H to be separated. Lorelai is now 34 on the shelf with the door closed. This goes way past spinsterhood which I am sick of as a storyline. <br /><br />The other problem I have is the author not knowing that Sir Robert Weatherstoke Earl of Southbourn has the title mixed up. It should read Lord Robert Earl of Southbourn with the Sir as the lower title. A Sir is the lowest of titles bestowed on a Peer. A Earl is 100% times more prestigious then a mere Sir!! <br /><br />The Highest Title of the Aristocracy goes like this Starting with Dukes as #1 the Highest Title:<br />1. Duke<br />2. Marquis<br />3. Earl<br />4. Viscount <br />5. Baron<br />6. Sir<br />I just took this book off my pre order list. I have liked or loved all Kerrigan Byrne's Victorian Rebel books. This one has everything I hate to read in Historical Romance. It left me feeling bereft. Hopefully this story will get edit and fixed before its releases.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6255709-edwina-i-lovebooks-deb">View all my reviews</a>

Danger, suspense, romance and hot sex make for a book that you can't put down. This story also shows that there's someone out there for everyone if you take the time to look and work for it.

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne is a fun filled historical adventure. A young man goes after a bad man. This leads him to life in prison and where he meets his friends. A group of other men in jail for lesser crimes banding together like brothers. Ash ends up being beaten to death due to switching a cell with a friend. That friend still lives thanks to Ash for that day. Ash is then found by a young woman. She nurses him back to health. They become best of friends...and their attraction grows. Ash has to keep reminding himself to wait...that his friend is too young for where his heart and thoughts take him. Her deceitful older brother ends up taking Ash to a life of misery and hell. Ash fights his way through it all by thinking of his lady friend. Until one day he does find her again...only to find she's about to marry an old man. Ash's anger gets the best of him. He kidnaps her and her lady friend. Taking them both to his ship. Ash forces her to marry him. Only his plans keep falling apart...Ash will have to fight again to save his lady. But he must also find a way to gain back her trust. Only then, can he have her heart...

This novel was funny, heartbreaking, and romantic. The intensity of the attraction from both Ash and his lady is engaging to follow. It's full of sweet and innocence. Two injured and bullied people coming together to form a long lasting relationship. Only it gets taken from them, and as the years grow, they lose each other. The characters were believable. I loved them. Ash had so much hell to go through, I was surprised he lived as long as he did. Overall, I would highly recommend this pirate historical romance to all.

I received an advanced reader’s copy of this story.

This story takes you on an emotional ride. The pacing is excellent and there is always something happening to keep one turning the pages.

The hero known as The Rook has been through a great deal and his transformation is intense. Lorelai, the heroine, has to reconcile the man he’s become with the man she knew when he returns into her life after many years.

The hero and heroine have well developed backstories. The secondary characters are interesting and have interesting pasts as well.

Gahh!! Kerrigan Byrne's stories always give me life!! I loveeeed Lorelai and The Rook and their passionate lovestory. This story was heartwarming, angsty, sexy and emotional. A lovestory that spanned twenty years. There were parts where my heart was in my throat. All in all this was fantastic and I look forward to more from this author in the future. Bravo! 4 stars!

I would like to thank Netgalley and SMP Romance for an advanced copy of this book for an honest review.

Another perfect book by Kerrigan Byrne. I was completely hooked from the very beginning and easily read this is one day. There is so much emotion between The Rook and Lorelai. I loved how different they were, but complimented each other so well. Their connection as children carried on into their adult lives and their reunion was so unexpected, but extremely satisfying. These are two very strong characters who just grew in strength together. I also love how all of these stories weave together and we get to see characters from the earlier books. This is such an emotionally driven read and it gave me all the feels. I can't wait for more!

An intense ride with the Rook and Lorelei that takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions. I love these angst-filled heroes and heroines. The storytelling is great, the characters are unbelievably written, and the love story is out of this world fantastic. Can the Rook and Lorelei actually find an HEA? In reading their story it is hard to find a way around the Rook’s demons and you are just not sure. But I love how Lorelei helps him overcome his demons and loves him for who he is, not some fantasy hero. A love to last a lifetime. I could have read more of their story (even though this is a full length book) just because I loved how the Rook and Lorelei interacted.

I knew there was something with Carlton Morley…read it and find out. Moncreiff? Veronica?

Oh my what a read kept me so encaged from page one to the last. I couldn’t put it down. The characters where so well written you felt like you where there. The story of love found the lost then 20 years later they are brought back together. The path to there ever after takes you on a journey you won’t wat to miss.

I swear, every one of Kerrigan Byrne's books makes me laugh, cry, and swoon. The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo is no different. Lorelei is a strong-willed heroine and Ash is a tortured, damaged, hero that made me fall in love with him from the first scene. I highly recommend not only this book but the entire series!

Ye gads. Well, uh. I'm not sure what happened but I think this is my least favourite of the <i>Victorian Rebels</i> series. Being a fan of skipping blurbs, I didn't know what I was going into beyond what had been set up in the last few books. And the opening chapters of THE DUKE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO and the premise for the where and why of Rook's beginning (well, a certain beginning) was probably the best part. It wasn't perfect, and certainly isn't my favourite of the 'met as youngsters and later reunite as adults' trope (hello book one, you win that prize), but it was a sweet and sad and honest beginning for these two discarded souls. But after we survive the separation and reunite in a very explosive (not literally but hey stranger things have happened) way, a scene that had a serious 'holy shit!' reaction from me, after that point.. I kinda felt like we lost the plot. Because suddenly there wasn't really any.

The big wind-up to the reveal of the Rook's identity wasn't really all that shocking as I had guessed who he was already (but, yay, confirmed!) and then we have a treasure to hunt and people to reunite. And, other than the opening chapters, I was a fan of only one reunion in particular -- mostly because we finally got confirmation of some backstory. I won't reveal who but.. it's kinda sad when your favourite moments are to do with someone who <b>isn't</b> one of the main characters. There was another supporting character who I thought I could love, too, a delightful new addition to this world of Byrne's, and then he later shot it all to hell, so even that didn't save the pirate plotline. Also if he gets his own book, which it kinda feels like he might, I don't even know how to feel about that.

As for Lorelai, I liked her in theory; rescuing and saving creatures who didn't have a chance of surviving on their own, nursing them back to health to fulfill that part of her that had been so poorly neglected.. but honestly she didn't have much of a personality. She didn't stand out. She was too all over the place, never settling into one behaviour or another, but ultimately I guess that suited the Rook because dude was as changeable as yesterday's weather (hot, cold, hail, sunny).

This book felt the least fleshed out of all of them, more like a bridging novella for the series (as it also didn't feel that long despite some of the more dragging scenes), and had it been meant as that.. I might be okay with it. As it was I'm honestly not sure I can award anything higher than a two star. It feels completely contrary to how much I love this series, and this author, but I'm honestly just so disappointed by this one. I expected a lot more.

I kinda hope Inspector Morley's book is coming down the pipeline sooner rather than later (though I suspect it isn't, infact, going to be the next one after that epilogue) because while I think we might have already seen the best this series has to offer (cough THE HUNTER cough but fine okay the first three are top tier), I'm still holding out for a m/m HEA for Carlton. Please, Byrne, make my dreams come true?

2.5 stars

I am completely in love with this book. Like everyone else, I thought the original Dorian had been beaten to death. In a way he was. Now we are faced with the zombie Rook, sustained by memories like Dougan had for his Fairy. Lorelai stopped Rook from dying and he has always loved her. I will re-read this book.

Known only as the Rook, he came out of a mass grave, with no name, no memories—no past—and only a dragoon tattoo on his forearm, which provided the only key to who he is and his past. Lorelei, a beautiful but crippled woman, had rescued another handsome man she cannot forget years before—and now, again, has rescued the same one. Crippled when her brother shattered her leg while still a child, Lorelei, years ago, devoted herself to healing him (Ash), until he left her, taking a big part of her heart with him. For his part, Ash also loved Lorelei, even though he left her. Now, after all those years, the Rook (Ash) has come back, but can Lorelei ever begin to trust him after what he did? Ash has led a life that, for most, has been a notorious one, even involving killing a man, with his love for Lorelei keeping him going the entire time. Now that they finally have gotten back together, can they manage to make things work for them after all that has happened? Their reconnection began, though there were difficulties to overcome, like the fact that Ash had trouble discussing the twenty years he was gone as well as his disappearance. Both had to work to overcome what had occurred in the past and what was still very much a part of them to make things work for them.

A true romance for all romance lovers! The story of Lorelei and Ash is captivating, especially if you have read the other books in the series. Ash was no longer the Ash Lorelei had once known but was instead a fearsome pirate. Still, I loved the way Lorelei saw the Ash she had known and nurtured back to health while falling in love with him, in this “new” man. As I read I was fascinated by the author’s depiction of their haunting emotional pasts and how they were intertwined in their lives alone and together. This is a good book for anyone who enjoys a good romance, regardless whether he/she enjoys the timeframe (I personally do not, but still loved this one.). In fact, the whole series is really good, and, if you enjoyed this one, I recommend the rest. I received this from NetGalley to read and review.

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo is the sixth book in Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne. I started reading this series backwards and only read this book so far (silly me!) but I still thoroughly enjoyed this historical romance and will definitely go back to reading the series from the beginning. I loved Lorelei and Ash's second chance love story. The first part of the book where Lorelei and Ash met and fell in love as teenagers was my favorite; it was sweet and tender. The second part of the book takes place twenty years later when they are finally reunited but their relationship is more turbulent and they have to find a way to trust and love each other again. Second chance romance trope is my jam and so I was cheering for the Rook and Lorelei from the first page. We also meet other interesting characters, who already had or will have their stories told in other books. I can't wait to continue with the series and get to know all the Rebels and brave women who love them.