***ARC received for an honest review***

That ole Kerrigan Byrne Magic - back in action. Dannnnnnnnng, y’all. Here we go with a rambling feely-feels review that doesn’t talk much about the plot - bc spoilers.

<b>”Don’t go, she’d murmured. Stay here. With me. And so, he had. He’d lived only because she bade him to.”</b>

Basically - have you read the rest of this series? Did you love it? Did you really really really love the first one? That whole vibe with Fairy and Dougan and their lost childhood love? Do you like heroes who are super bad dudes with hearts of gold while remaining a bit psychotic?

I could quote at least 30% of the book in this review. So much swooning. So many meaningful sighs were I set down the kindle just to soak in the majesty of the Rook and his bomb-ass angsty pick-up lines. Is there anything better than a bad bad bad boy out there killin and wreaking havoc and then layin his soul bare for his lady love?

<b>”’She...is...my...peace.’”</b>

So yeah. Read the book. Read the series. Kerrigan Byrne is a favorite. And I’m off to waller in my book-hangover.

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I skimmed through the beginning of the book. About 20 percent, I thought it could have been written as a prologue easily and we would have been given the same amount of info.
Other than that I enjoyed, The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo. I had the same problem as Lorelai, I kept thinking of him as Ash. I had a hard time with The Rook. He was not the man that Lorelai needed. Every once and a while Ash would come out and I would think of the love that they shared.

Kerrigan's newest book in her VICTORIAN REBELS series is a hit! I couldn't wait to find out the truth about The ROOK and his story was worth waiting for! Dark and tormented, but heroic in his own way, The Rook has little memories about his own identity but he loves the girl who saved his life years ago. Now, he is there when she needs him - whether she likes it or not! - and it was wonderful watching their love being revealed. Sexy-steamy love scenes add to the tension and the relationship in this one. I loved this book!

(My only complaint - not about the story -- is the title! This book should be (and will be to Kerrigan's readers - and me -) The Rook. The existing title is contrived, repetitive and has little if any significance to the story!)

Kerrigan is a great writer. The story she crafted is interesting and doesn’t follow a cut and paste plot line. Lorelei is an interesting female lead and her relationship with Ash is as tender as her heart and the broken animals she rescues. Ash is a tortured soul. His journey back to her, literally spanning decades and continents, has wrecked him emotionally. I did find him to be a little “too” much at times. Too dark, too broken, too extreme in some of his characteristics.
I read these books for the romance, not the sex, so I can’t comment on those scenes as I generally skip over them. There weren’t so many that it got in the way of the story. There were a lot more F*bombs than I care for, even with such villainous heroes, and it didn’t quite blend with the rest of the language.

This is a strong intense story filled with emotion. The female lead is strong and beautiful but broken in heart and ankle. The Male is a survivor and the devil but he too is broken but in mind and soul. The story takes you on a journey that spans 20 years leave you exhilarated and fulfilled. Enjoyed all the secondary characters as well. The plot is captivating and will keep you in your toes. Cant wait for more.

“Lorelai. There are only two indisputable facts in this world: The sun will set in the west, and I’ll come for you. Always.”

I received an ARC of Kerrigan Byrne’s upcoming novel, The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo and it is 5 bright, shining stars!!!! This is the 6th book in her Victorian Rebels series and Oh. My. God! SO good! Lorelai is possibly one of the strongest heroines that I have ever read. And oh, the Rook! I have cried so many times while reading this.

Kerrigan, I bow to you. Queen of angst and beautifully broken characters who finally heal through love! Everyone needs to read this!

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I have been looking forward to this book for so long and it did not disappoint. I love Kerrigan Byrne's writing. She makes me feel so invested in the story and the characters. She makes me want to know what made someone the way they are. And The Rook is definitely one of those characters that I wanted to know more about. In this book we get to see the back story for him and begin to understand why he is seen as so cold and heartless. And even though I wasn't his biggest fan in the beginning, I felt so bad for his terrible circumstances I started to really root for him to find some happiness.
And Lorelei is my kind of heroine. She has been through the wringer all through her life, but she never let the world make her hard. She continues to show her strength in her kindness and the way she cares for everything around her. She has a beautiful heart and I am so glad she got her happiness too.
I may not be the best at reviews, but I will say I absolutely loved this book and I highly recommend it. It is a wonderful addition to one of my favorite series.

Oh, Ms. Byrne, you have outdone yourself. I had to wait a few days to calm myself before writing this. The author really out-did herself with the description of the hero’s physical form. Her descriptions would make anyone’s mouth water. The male physique is a magnificent thing to behold and her appreciation is evident.
Also, there is a real story of endurance and lasting love here. Many of the heroes in this book series seem beyond hope until they are offered a lifeline through love and that is the enduring hope that we all wish for. Especially, those of us at a certain age.

The dangerous nature of the hero’s character was a particular treat for me because I love pirates. I don’t know why, but I do. The hero being a Duke and a Pirate hit all the right fantasy notes and that made this a true success. I can’t wait for Derek Perkin’s performance on this audiobook. I am sure he will do another fantastic job as with the other books.

If there was one thing I missed, it was that the author’s trademark humor was not in full force as it was in the other books. My biggest laugh came at the end of the epilogue and it was spot on and funny as ever.

*3.5 stars.

I've been a big fan of this series from the beginning. Kerrigan Byrne can write smoking forbidden tension like nobody's business, and it keeps me coming back for more. While The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo wasn't my favorite in the series, it delivers pirates, mayhem, and lusty sensual tension that sizzles.

I'm going to say it again and again. Can the tension get any better than this? I seriously put the book down and shouted, "Oh my god, this is intense. I need to take a breath. I'M TAKING A BREATH." I did that for most of the first half, actually.

The Rook's story is one I have wanted told for a long time. The opening had me giddy because, THAT is who Rook is?? So exciting! Lorelei was an epic heroine. She grew up in such a bad environment, but despite it all, she still has so much optimism and hope. She stole the show for me.

About halfway the plot slowed down a bit and I lost a little bit of that intensity that kept me reading early on. However, Lorelei more than made up for it. As well as a big plot twist later on and seeing some old favorite characters.

A great journey! Don't miss it!

Holy smokes! What a superb book!! These Victorian Rebels just keep getting better and better. Rook/Ash was so lost and broken, thinking he was heartless. Lorelei was a nuturer and the keeper of his heart. What he went through to get back to her was brutal. And I’m so glad her brother got what he deserved. I love how the former stories are all woven together. I can not wait for the next one!!!

I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to other romance lovers. I hope there will be another book in the series.

I received a free ARC for Netgalley.

This is a gritty, f-bomb filled historical romance with few sweet moments. Both of the
main characters have been physically abused and aren't strangers to sexual assault. Their attraction is obsessive. The plot was eye raising enough for me to finis, yet I winced along the way.
This makes me interested in the author, yet cautious if all her work has such mature thematic elements. Not what I reach for when I want historical romance.

Adult content, biblical profanity, rape, oral sex

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
By Kerrigan Byrne

I have to preface my review with, this was a phenomenal book. I find it quite difficult to review an author this tuned to the lives shared by her characters. I know this was a strong sometimes horrific read.

When Lorelai finds Ashe beaten almost to death on the road she takes him in their home and cares for him. After months he is fully recuperated. He has no memory of his past of his true name but knows that although Lorelai is above his station he loves her.

Her brother is supposed to see him to an apprenticeship but instead drugs him and sells him into slavery. It is twenty years before Lorelai and Ash meet again. I found myself delighted when he returned to save her from and undesirable marriage and killed her brother.

Being only midway into the book our author has prepared so many twists and turn and revelations your head will spin.Ms Byrne is a gritty writer and I enjoy her style very much.
I am a fan girl when it comes to her books. This is a must read.

This is the first book I've read by Kerrigan Byrne, and I was not disappointed! The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo was well written, original, and moved along swiftly. Lorelei and Ash were heartfelt characters that had overcome so much adversity. It was a wonderful love story!

""A lot can happen between now and never." Kerrigan Byrne is a master wordsmith - and has a superpower oh epic proportions. She can redeem even the worst character, make him/her loveable, and make the reader fall in love. She took the Rook from one scary dude - to a vulnerable, sweet, funny, and loveable character in 20 chapters.

This book is fast paced and is best read by those who have read others in the series. It is intimately connected - in particular to "The Highwayman." Overall - I really enjoyed this addition to the series.

My only complaint - the title. This title - along with the last one - really needed to be reconsidered. I think, very honestly, that the series was so much better with the single word. This one was even ready made - "The Rook" would have been so much better than the rather silly - the Duke with the Dragon Tattoo.

"But through all that. through everything that's been done to me, I've only ever believed in one thing." "What's that?" she whispered. "That the sun would set in the west, and that I would come for you."

I love every book Kerrigan Byrne has written, but they aren’t for everyone. The heroes are always difficult, hard, violent men. None are simply rakes or rogues, but actual villains from her prior works, except the first, The Highwayman. I had read a marvelous review of that book, but delayed reading the book precisely because I’m not a fan of such extraordinarily difficult men. I was wrong, I have, overall, come to crave her men! When I see a new Book by her, I cannot wait to read it.
This book is the story of The Rook, a pirate wanted throughout the world , and he has come for our h, Lorelei, an over thirty spinster, crippled Lady, interfering in her we’ and kidnapping her and her sil, after murdering her evil brother. They have a history, as she assisted in his rescue after he was beaten and left for dead in a pit of corpses 20 years earlier. During his recovery they fell in Love , though he had no knowledge of who he was or what his past was.
The twenty years have taken its toll on his soul, and she fears him, though she still feels the younger man is somewhere inside him, despite his denial. The story is written beautifully, and the relationship develops sensually and as realistically as one of these stories can.
There is great passion, a bit of danger, and a lot to enjoy in this story. Plus, a hint of what the next story will be!
As I said, this may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it greatly. I received a free arc in exchange for an honest review.

I thought that the title was slightly misleading and only barely worked into the story line. The beginning was quite excellent and peaked my interest but somewhere after that I felt it jumped the tracks and did not live up to it's full potential. It was dark and heavy and slow going but finally reached it's ending.

I have rated this book 3 stars.

I received an ARC from Netgalley for my unbiased review.

I absolutely adored the story!

Lorelei finds a man near death and nurses him back to health. During his recovery she falls in love with him. When he leaves, he promises to come back for her. 20 yrs later, he has kept his promise, but the man that returns is not the man that left 20 yrs ago. He is now, The Rook.

Having lost his memory all those years ago, The Rook, must struggle to survive. He has done some terrible things and knows that Lorelei is better off without him. He has been satisfied with just watching over her until she is to be forced into a marriage by her brother.

She finally has the man of her dreams back, but the man she remembers is no longer there. Can seh find her way back to the man she fell in love with all those year ago.

Byrne does it again with this book. I just couldn't put it down. This whole series has kept me riveted and this addition was no different. With such deep and dark characters, it's hard to not fall in love with them!! It looks like there is at least one more book in this series and I can't wait to read it!!

This is my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. Action, adventure, and Romance. I will be adding more of this series to my tbr list. Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoyed their story quite a bit.  The two characters reminded me a bit of the Pirate captain and his lady love in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Deadmen Walking (without the paranormal aspect).  He is a scary and powerful pirate king who is infamous and known to be cold and cruel.  She is a sweet and innocent woman who fears him at first but sees beneath the surface as the story progresses, though it does take a good portion of the book to see a softer side of him.  They met when she was 14 and he was 17 when she spots him lying in a mass grave badly beaten, lye burns on portions of his body, and almost dead.  She nurses him back to life and it is her voice that pulls him from the brink of death.  She has a very cruel older brother and once Ash is healed he tricks him and sells him into slavery on a ship.  It takes him 20 years to make his way back and by the time he does, Ash is dead and the Rook has taken his place.  He comes back to claim her as his, kill her brother, and kidnap her.  She is definitely distraught by his reappearance and the dramatic change.  Lorelei has always loved Ash and she can’t except his assertion that Ash is dead and gone, for he is the one she loves.  It takes her a good amount of time to come to terms with his harsher persona, but she refuses to give up on him and their love.  She sees glimpses, though very brief, of who he was 20 ago and she fights to keep a hold of him now that he is back in her life.  A great twist in the plot is the fact that because of the massive beating he took caused him to lose his memory, so he doesn’t know his past or who he really is.  Along the way, during their adventure in seeking treasure and a new relationship within the parameters he sets, they come across two men who knew him before the accident and they help him piece together his lost memories.  I really enjoyed the two main characters; they are strong, dynamic, and complex.  He jumps off the page and the reader truly feels for her in her struggle to earn his love, not just his claim that she is his.  It had a strong plot, diverse conflict, was an easy read, and was a great story.