Hard to believe that the, Goode Girls series, is at it's end. I never saw the ending coming. It completely took me by surprise. I really enjoyed reading, Tempting Fate.

I really loved this one! Felicity and Gabriel's story has been building especially from the last book. Loved the touch of Beauty and the Beast trope. This one didn't disappoint. It had action, and mystery and I just loved the lengths Gabriel (Gareth) would do to protect Felicity. So good. Now the start of the 2nd half of the Goode siblings will round out the series. I can't wait to see what's next.

I received this book at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Finally! Gabriel and Felicity get their love story. If you’ve read the previous three books in the Goode Girls series, you’ve already met these love birds and are aware that Gabriel is one of the Sauvageau brothers and is severely disfigured. After the events of the previous book, while his brother and new bride left the city, Gabriel stayed behind to undergo several surgeries on his face. His plan was to meet up with Raphael later, under a new name, and leave their life of crime behind.

But he just can’t seem to forget Felicity Goode.

Felicity believes Gabriel to be dead because that is what she has been told. So when she meets a scarred and intimidating man hanging around her house she assumes he is there to answer an advertisement she put out looking to hire a man for protection. Gabriel, who is now going by his new name Gareth, is swept into the house and into her employ and once he hears of why she is hiring protection, can’t say no. Even though he knows this is a very bad idea. But Felicity doesn’t seem to recognize him so he’ll stay until he finds the person threatening her and make her safe again.

Gabriel and Felicity are lovely together. This is the beauty and the beast trope featuring a tortured, scarred hero and a caring, underestimated heroine. He’s physically strong but emotionally broken and she’s vulnerable but has a full and open heart. Their differences complement each other and I truly enjoyed their emotional connection, chemistry, and ultimately their HEA.

As this is book four of a series, there is a lot of backstory and world-building that have already been laid out. I wouldn’t start here but would recommend going back to the beginning and reading the first book, A Dark and Stormy Knight, featuring Sir Carlton Morley and Prudence Goode. This has been an enjoyable series and I look forward to getting to know the newfound Goode siblings in the upcoming releases.

This is the 4th book in the Goode Girls series, and even if you haven't read the previous books in the series (like me), you'll still really enjoy this one and not feel like you missed out (although I fully intend to go back and read the first 3 books in this series!).

Felicity is a shy, sweet introvert who has anxiety over the thought of socializing. After she inherits her father's estate, she realizes she needs to marry and with several attempts made on her life, she decides to hire a bodyguard to help her through the process. Enter Gabriel. this tough, scarred man with a huge heart. Felicity hires him on the spot, not realizing she's already met the man who saved her life once before.

Really enjoyed this story - I loved Gabriel's protectiveness and Felicity's kindness and charm, and the slow-burn between them made me excited to see what happened next. The dialogue between the characters is fun, witty and sweet, and the action is fast-paced. I ended up gobbling this book up in one sitting, which for me is always a sign of a good story. Definitely excited to read the earlier books and see what happens next in the series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I have been eagerly awaiting this book because I love beauty and the beast tropes, and this book didn't disappoint!

The previous book left off with Mercy Goode running away with Raphael Sauvageau. The book begins with his brother, Gabriel Sauvageau, getting a new face and picks up a year later after the other characters have moved on and Felicity, Mercy's twin, is heiress to the Goode family fortune. Threats to her safety force her to hire protection, and she mistakes Gabriel, now called Gareth Severand, as an applicant.

Gabriel is recovering from the violence of his previous life as a gangster, and Felicity is shy, introverted, and struggling to find a husband so she can fulfill the terms of her father's will. I loved that each character had a sensitive personality. I loved that Felicity was introverted and struggled in social situations. Her delicate nature was a balm to Gabriel's tortured soul. Anyone who has struggled in social settings will identify with Felicity's anxiety.

Overall, this story was really sweet. Readers who love virgin heroes will love this story. There was plenty of steam as Gabriel and Felicity had their mutual sexual awakenings. The only real plot hole was the villain. It wrapped up so quickly; I would have loved to see more of the family's dynamic after. Also, it wasn't clear why Gabriel's former men would attack Felicity.

Otherwise, so good. I read it in one sitting and could not put it down!

Very easy and pleasurable to read with the delightful contrast between the scarred, brutish hero and the soft, angel-like heroine. Through Gabriel and Felicity we are shown a world where starkness and loveliness coexist.
The hero in “Tempting Fate”, by Kerrigan Byrne, is a fiercely protective alpha, completely devoted and smitten with the heroine.
And then there’s the paradox about Gabriel: the “rough and violent” man of “barbaric dimensions” is the same gentle, tender giant who is capable of the most candid admission of love.
I liked the intense love story with roots in the past, and loved them as characters – Felicity and her plant world, and Gabriel with the compelling face and “uncommon bulk” and all that hidden violence. The yearning and longing were great, too.
I felt I needed to know more about their backstories (perhaps reading the previous books) and Gabriel’s surgeries.

I devoured this book. It was an absolute delight of a read. I had been waiting for this one for TWO BOOKS and honestly it didn't disappoint. Felicity is a sweetie sunshine heroine who deserves only good things and Gabriel is a brute of a man who deserves kindness that he has never had. There are great references to the beauty of romance as a genre, and how you are underestimated if you are kind.

Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Steam: 🔥🔥🔥
Tropes: bodyguard, interclass romance, gangster with a heart of gold, grumpy/ sunshine, sweetie/ bookish heroine, my one person, no chill hero, secret/ mistaken identity
For Fans Of: fast paced body guard romance
Subgenre: historic romance/ Victorian
CW/ TW: violence, mentions of parental abuse, threat of rape/ violence (to heroine but not by hero)

3.5 of 5 stars

Gabriel Sauvageau has endured a year of pain and surgery for a new face after he and his brother faked their death to leave a vicious smuggling operation behind. From the moment he met Felicity Goode a year ago, he has loved the fragile Goode sister. When she needs protection, she hires Gabriel not knowing he is the former crime lord because he's sporting a new face and using a new name. Gabriel must ferret out who wants to hurt Felicity and fast because the attacks against her are becoming more vicious and the next one may be fatal.

I enjoyed this story with a few criticisms. I wanted more information about why Felicity suffered "spells of terror" as she calls them and why was her father so abusive to her especially since he had 3 other daughters. Without all the background information it was hard to see Felicity as anything other than a vulnerable and terrified young woman. That she would be drawn to Gabriel who was a hulk of a guy with little personality and a scarred body was a bit of a stretch for me. I understand that she felt safe with him, but I wished their attraction was more of a slow burn romance instead of so much time spent on the violence Gabriel does protecting her. There were a few good twists and turns, but not enough to earn 5 stars in my humble opinion. While this wasn't my favorite story in the series, I love Ms. Byrne's books and look forward to the next one.

5 stars

An excellent story. At the end of Book 3 we meet Gabriel and his brother Raphael. Raphael escapes with Felicity's twin. Felicity is quet but was fascinated by Gabriel. Her brother in law, Titius tells her Gabriel has died of wounds sustained at the end of Book 3 and she mourns him. Things aren't as straight forward as they seem and Felicity, needing protection hires Gareth to do just that. You don't have to have read book 3 but I think it helps to see the build up of the romance between Felicity and Gabriel, and why wouldn't you want to read it as it's a delightful read. Both protagonists, in this episode, need each other and I was rooting for their HEA. I'm now eager to read the others in this series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Tempting Fate is book 4 in the Goode Girls series and is the romance between Felicity Goode and Gabriel Sauvageau. Felicity and her twin sister Mercy are the youngest of the 4 Goode daughters that this series has been following and Gabriel we met in the previous book. Gabriel is the is the older brother of Raphael (who ended up with Felicity’s twin Mercy in the 3rd book) and the Sauvageau brothers were trying to leave behind the crime underworld they were raised in when we met them in book 3. Gabriel is scarred and horribly disfigured from being raised as a child fighter in fighting pits and even wore a mask the rare times he did go out in public. He has lived his 34-years of life without the touch of a woman but became instantly drawn to Felicity, the shy and spectacle-wearing Goode girl.

This book starts up right where the previous book left off, the prologue jumps into what was going down in the last book and how Gabriel & his brother Raphael had plans to leave behind the criminal underworld by faking a death and taking on new identities. Chapter 1 starts a year after Gabriel has undergone multiple surgeries and taken on a new identity/name. This is when his path crosses again with Felicity right as she is in need of personal protection. After inheriting her father’s shipping company & investments, Felicity has found her life is in danger with being followed and finding threatening messages. She ends up hiring Gabriel on the spot not knowing who he really is/that she already met him in the past.

As always with this series I wish they were a little longer. There is a lot of insta-attraction and danger-suspense with villains happening that I do wish we had more time for the relationship. But besides that I did enjoy this one, I love a bodyguard romance and that trope mixed with a scarred, virgin hero really worked. I enjoyed Felicity’s character too, she is sweet and I love a glasses-wearing heroine. The suspense bit at the end did all come together really quickly but I am glad we got a glimpse into possible characters for the future books because I had been wondering who they were going to be about. As always I read everything Kerrigan Byrne puts out and will continue to do so because the writing is always so great and we get interesting characters & romances.

Thank you to the publisher for an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts & review. Tempting Fate is out May 11, 2021.

This book is adorable. Felicity is precious. Gabriel is everything I ever knew he would be. I adore the big, hulking beast. Felicity is every thing. She is gentle, loving, patient, and just so aptly named. Felicity and Gabriel go together like peanut butter and jelly. She has anxiety attacks, he keeps her safe. They are perfect for each other.


The story is so sweet and precious. Prepare to swoon. Prepare to also scream "TELL HER!!!!!" like at least 12 times. It is all good. It works out. The book is not long, but a lot happens. I was absolutely glued to the story. Dinner might have been a few hours later than usual yesterday, but everyone lived.


I highly recommend this story. Indeed, this whole series. These Goode Girls are amazing. I can't wait for the rest of the series!

Best one of the series... Gabriel and Felicity were so good together. I loved watching Gabriel finally give into his feelings for Felicity. Felicity kindness was exactly what he needed.

Wow! What a delight to read once again such an accomplished author.

Gabriel/Gareth is a broken man who has a savage background and does not trust his emotions for Felicity Goode. Felicity has what in modern times we would call an anxiety disorder. She is often troubled by terrors and panic attacks but feels safe with Gareth who she hires to protect her from outside murderous threats not realizing he is the man who saved her life in the past.

I enjoyed this book. It is always my delight to read a Kerrigan Byrne book. She brings to life the darker elements of Victorian times as well as the romantic natures of her protagonists. Here we have two lost souls who are meant for each other but finding there way to a Happy-Ever-After is fraught with pitfalls. This is the fourth book in the series and I had no trouble understanding what went before in previous books, however I do think this book can be enjoyed even more if the previous books are read first.

Well this was absolutely adorable and everything I wanted in a historical romance! I mean it's like this author KNEW how much I love the protective alpha trope and she wrote this for me!

Our main character, Felicity has such a tender, kind heart. Her life was being threatened and she decided to hire a bodyguard to protect her while she trys to find herself a husband. Enter: one dreamy, broken, protective alpha hero, Gabriel! He stole my heart! He's been watching her for a while now and just wanted to keep her safe. I just couldn't get enough of these two. It was like they were giving my heart a big ol' hug!!!

I haven't read any of the other books in this series and while I think it's probably best if you, since technically you meet these characters in the previous books. The author did a great job of recapping so you weren't lost and could read it as a standalone.

This was such a sweet story! It had great build up and a couple heated scenes that had me clutching my pearls. While the main character may be sweet and innocent, she isn't afraid to try new things. *wink, wink* Highly recommend this wonderful story especially if you love a good protector, bodyguard trope!

I wanted to read this story since Gabriel was first introduced earlier in the series. I was so intrigued by the quiet, protective man, as well as Felicity, the reserved Goode sister who captured his heart. And I have to say – it was my favorite in the series! I loved the characters and intrigue, and the love story was delightfully romantic!

Felicity is the introvert of the family and is a bit more reserved than her three sisters. She also struggles with anxiety and panic attacks. With men only interested in her inheritance, and someone violently targeting her, Felicities life is in upheaval, so it’s not surprising that her anxiety is exacerbated. I thought her anxiety was represented really well, and I could totally relate to her feelings. Felicity often finds peace and solace in her greenhouse, and Gabriel helps her with breathing exercises to help control her panic attacks.

Felicity is also sensitive and kind, and she has such a giving heart, yet she struggles with self-worth. It’s wonderful to see her confidence grow throughout the story, and I think much of her growth stems from the strength and support she receives from Gabriel. Gabriel, however, feels unworthy of her love and affection. His criminal past and violent tendencies make him feel like a poor match for the innocent and lovely Felicity. However, Felicity sees the good in him that even he doesn’t see.

The romance between Felicity and Gabriel is swoon-tastically wonderful! You could tell from their first meeting earlier in the series that Gabriel was taken with Felicity, and he has loved her from afar for a long time. Their relationship is slow-building and riddled with angst and sexual tension, which is fantastic!! And the way Gabriel thinks about and feels about Felicity is absolutely swoon-worthy! Take a look at his reaction when she smiles:

"A smile from her was akin to a kiss from the sun or God’s very own forgiveness, And tonight, she was every inch a goddess."

So beautiful – the poignancy and depth of his feelings are lovely!! Felicity and Gabriel seem like two people who don’t fit, but for some reason, they do. They are very different from one another in so many ways. She is delicate and gentle, whereas he is hard and fierce. Violence is his closest friend, and she can’t stomach the sight of blood. Yet they both have strong relationships with their siblings, and they both love deeply and are protective of those they care about. Gabriel’s determination to keep Felicity safe at all costs puts him in perilous danger more than once, and their care and concern for each other make for a magical romance. I also love how easily they understand each other. Felicity and Gabriel are both wounded souls, albeit for different reasons, who have an innate understanding of each other’s needs. They bring out the best in each other, and their chemistry is wonderful.

The intrigue is also gripping, and I was shocked at the surprising twists in the story. Between someone trying to kill Felicity, nefarious criminals from Gabriel’s past still at large, and greedy men trying to gain Felicity’s inheritance, it’s unclear who is targeting her. Many shocking secrets and revelations, as well as several suspense-filled scenes, add mystery and danger to the plot and make for an immersive read.

I also like that the Goode sisters are reunited in the book. It’s fabulous to see the sisters together with their significant others. Though their lives have changed, they still share the bond on sisterhood, and their love for each other, regardless of where their lives take them, remains.

I’m so thankful to NetGalley, Gnarly Wool Publishing, and Kerrigan Byrne for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review, and I think readers who like historical romances with great characters and a bit of intrigue will adore the book!

Felicity Goode has very much lived up to her name (being the only "good" daughter in the family). After being left everything after the death of her father Felicity receives a threatening note. She decides to hire a man to protect her. Enter Gareth Severand (aka the presumed dead Gabriel Sauvageau). When the danger and mystery get closer and closer to Felicity, she doesn't just fight for her life, but also fights her attraction to the mysterious Gareth. But what will happen if he can't protect her or if she finds out who he really is?

This is the fourth book in the Goode Girls Romance series. I really enjoyed this book. It was smart with just the right amount of heat between the hero and heroine. The mystery added to my enjoyment of the the book as well, and I finished it in one day.

*I was provided an ARC by Netgalley and the publisher for my honest feedback

Oh my gosh!!! This is by far my most favorite book of the year! This has everything I love in any genre of romance.

Gabriel was a hero that was damaged and broken with outward scars that most looked upon with revulsion. He has never been with a woman but from the moment he laid eyes on Felicity he was taken by her. The way he originally hid in the shadows to watch her checked boxes I didn’t even know I had, making me giddy with excitement. Fiercely protective over her, Gabriel would do anything to keep her safe even as he imagined what he would do to those men who would court her for her hand in marriage. I absolutely loved him and his all consuming adoration of the heroine.

Felicity was the type of heroine some might not appreciate but which I love to read about. She was so sweet, innocent, the one Goode sister that the rest of the family was protective over. Essentially, she was everything good that one could imagine and yet she suffered from panic attacks and was fearful of so many things in life. What could such a heroine need except a big, burly, rumbly hero with a scarred face and the ability to easily kill with his hands?

This was a fast paced story with lots of danger and action. While the chemistry is evident between Gabriel and Felicity, this is a very slow burn but perfect for the relationship they were developing. When they do yield to one another, holy heck, the pages ignited with an inferno of heat. The fact that Gabriel didn’t magically know how to make love was refreshing as was the way that this couple worked it all out in what felt a real and believable way.

The ending was amazing as it reveals something I never expected. No cliffhanger but so much potential for more…? Highly recommend this one to those who love a historical romance that follows a bit more traditional lines but manages to make it feel fresh and new.

I received a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
After reading Mercy's story I could wait to get my hands on this book. I enjoyed Mercy's book but Gabriel was the one who intrigued me.
Felicity has panic attacks and what appears to an anxiety disorder and now someone is trying to hurt and maybe even kill her. She hires Gabriel to protect her.
What she doesn't know is that Gabriel has been in love with her since he first saw her. He was disfigured and now the world things him dead but he is determined to protect Felicity.
I loved Gabriel, he was strong and kind, brave and vulnerable.
He really made this book great.

Tempting Fate by Kerrigan Byrne - Gabriel Sauvageau was certainly built with the perfection and precision of the most ingenious of machinery. He rippled with strength, and radiated masculinity. In the days when size and strength was revered over birth and breeding, Gabriel would have been a king. Yet, he was seen as a monster. And Felicity was the broken one. Her fretting would drive him mad, if her snoring didn’t first. She had fits, spasms of helpless terror that make no sense and reduce her to nothing without warning. But together, they would be perfect. Kerrigan weaves together a heartwarming tale of complicated strength and precarious innocence that will lead you to a most fulfilling happily ever after. In true Kerrigan style you will be delighted with pages and pages of fanciful prose chock full of delightful vocabulary.

Just like our heroine, Felicity Goode, "Tempting Fate" starts quietly and the story picks up pace as Felicity's circumstances and confidence grows.

The last of the four Goode girls to be married, and left at home only with the staff to help her, Felicity has to be on guard for not only unscrupulous men only interested in the significant inheritance left by her father, but she also has to stay alive, as someone is trying to kill her!

Who is mysterious Gareth? And who is trying to kill her?

Kerrigan Byrne does it again, with a fantastic twists and turns, taking us on Felicity's "journey" into discovery of herself worth and that she is stronger than she thinks and, at the same time, discovering the joy of loving and being loved.

Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours and Netgalley for this e-ARC.