The Highwayman (Victoria Rebels #1) by Kerrigan Byrne-a review

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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?　

REVIEW

5 out of 5 for this reader folks!

WOW .. that was one fantastic book! Everything I love in a historical romance was present and in truth totally exceeded my expectations. I love it when that happens!

The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne is the first book in her Victorian Rebels series. The story opens with two young orphans who form a strong bond, look out for the other and end up handfasting as young kids to prove their commitment to the other. When something happens that inevitably tears then apart, we are left wondering why fate has been so cruel … fast forward seventeen years and we begin to get answers to questions we had no idea to ask.

Farah Mackenzie is the young orphan girl that made that commitment so many years ago. She is living with the status of widow and working for Scotland Yard. When she is invited into an interrogation room, she has yet to realize that her entire life is about to be tipped upside down.

Dorian Blackwell is a scarred (literally) man with unbelievable black demons in his closet. He is known as Dorian the blackheart and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. Coming from nothing, he is now wealthy and certainly not someone to cross. Dorian decides to kidnap Farah away from her life and spill a few secrets along the way.

Farah now is faced with big decisions. Dorian knows her past and has revealed his plans for both of them to get revenge. All Farah has to do is marry him. Farah, strangely attracted to this professed monster lays her terms on the table … she wants a child.

Off we go on an incredible dark journey that holds secrets, suspense, angst, freedom, capture, past/present failures, enemies/friends and scars so deep, one can never heal completely. It also leaves us questioning the possibility of rebirth and survival on love alone. Is it enough??

OH ME OH MY .. where do I start? Careful not to give away any spoilers (there are many things to spoil in this story) let me start with what I cherish the most in my reads … emotions. YUP, CHECK .. lots there. I felt anger, happiness, hope, swoon, annoyed, mystified, relieved … and a whole lot more …! Now add a story that can back up these emotions and keep me so riveted that I consumed this novel in one sitting (hey it was rainy and this is a really good book ..lol) .. YUP I’m sold.

These characters are amazing. So incredibly complex and the storyline had me from the first page. Dorian is not by any means a gentlemen and thank goodness for that .. he has just enough dirty to shock those that are not use to it in the historical romance and to feed those of us that like a bit of smut. His mouth had me blushing … LOL Farah is just enough woman to take it and give it right back naturally.

I really want to give you so much more because the story alone is beautiful. If you love historical romance, please check this amazing book out. I cannot wait for the next one and have to admit that I am adding more of Kerrigan’s books on my TBR pile!

HAPPY READING! 🙂

Reviewed by Rachel T

Copy supplied by Netgalley