Review: A Dark and Stormy Knight

I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: A Dark and Stormy KnightA Dark and Stormy Knight (Victorian Rebels, #7) by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels #7
Published by Gnarly Wool Publishing on June 2, 2020
Genres: Historical
Pages: 266
Goodreads
five-stars

 

FINAL DECISION: A great payoff for those who have followed the Victorian Rebels series from the beginning. Loved, loved the dark and tormented Carlton with his hidden past and Pru who is going to take something for herself before being forced into marriage.

THE STORY: Sir Carlton Morley lives a double life. The stiff-lipped respected Chief Investigator of Scotland Yard is also the vigilante by night who assures that justice is done. His night investigations take him to a pleasure garden where he encounters Prudence Goode who has come to take her pleasure before being married off to a man who has betrayed her.

OPINION: I have been waiting for this book since the first in the series. It was always clear that there were depths to Carlton’s characters. The upright investigator is haunted by his past and the lack of justice he can see in his job. I loved how it is clear that he is beloved by his men who see his thirst for justice and doing right.

Pru is a woman who believed she had the perfect engagement until she finds out the truth. That is the beginning of Pru leaving the expectations of a woman of her time and taking her life into her own hands.

After the first encounter between Carlton and Pru, they next meet when Pru becomes a suspect that Carlton must investigate. The combination of the personal relationship with Carlton’s suspicions of Pru made this book very interesting to me. I enjoyed the back and forth and difficulties these two have in finding a happy ending.

What elevates this book is the appearances of characters from the Victorian Rebels series. I loved seeing them again and having them play a role in Carlton’s romance after his interference in theirs. The interaction between the men was especially humorous.

I’m glad that Carlton had his story told at last.

WORTH MENTIONING: The book introduces characters who will appear in the Byrne’s next series.

CONNECTED BOOKS: A DARK AND STORMY KNIGHT is the seventh book in the Victorian Rebels series. The romance here is self-contained, but some of the best part of this story is the development of Morley’s character through the series so I recommend reading from the beginning.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book via Netgalley. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

 

five-stars

Review: The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo

I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: The Duke with the Dragon TattooThe Duke with the Dragon Tattoo (Victorian Rebels, #6) by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels #6
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on August 28, 2018
Genres: Historical
Pages: 336
Goodreads
five-stars

 

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

FINAL DECISION: My favorite book since the first two in the series, this book took my breath away and I fell in love with the main characters. Passionate and dramatic with humor and underlying sweetness, the story fulfilled all the promises that began in the first book of the series.

THE STORY: The notorious pirate is known only as the Rook. A man without a past, without a name. Twenty years ago, he awoke in a mass grave and was pulled from death by Lorelei Weatherstoke. The Rook was once given the name of Ash by Lorelei who nursed the young man back to health and began to dream of a future with him. Until the moment that they were betrayed in an act which separated them for two decades. Now the Rook has returned for his revenge and to claim the woman who he has never forgotten. Lorelei, however, finds that the young man she once loved has now become someone that she should fear and flea at all costs.

OPINION: The first romance book I ever read was A Pirate’s Love by Johanna Lindsey in the 1980s. Since that first taste, I’ve always had a soft spot for pirate heroes and I have read a lot in the intervening years. But many of those pirate hero books are problematic bodice rippers. The book (whether intentional or not) is a re-imagining of the old trope.

Here, the Rook is a notorious, dangerous and murderous villain on the high seas. He has done horrible things, but we also get to see the events which sent him on the path he is on. Significantly, however, this is not excuse but understanding. Like the other heroes in this series, the Rook has been damaged by his past. Poverty, desperation, physical and mental torture, rape and constant violence has created a man with only one weakness — the sweet and innocent woman who cared for him and brought him back from the dead.

And this is why the power dynamic is so different in this story. The Rook can abduct Lorelei and keep her captive on a ship where his word alone rules, but he cannot impose his will upon her. Both because Lorelei is stronger than one might expect (after having survived her own trials) and the Rook cannot possess the woman he wants if he crushes everything about her that he desires. Lorelei, however, will also not be placed on a pedestal for the Rook to admire from afar. She is a woman who wants to make her own stand by the man she loves.

There were so many good moments in this book that had humor, drama, mystery, murder, betrayal and a deep and abiding romantic love between the main characters. There are significant appearances by characters from prior books. Although I had figured out some of the Rook’s secrets, the reveal was so well done that I had a great sense of relief in that something from the beginning of the series was finally fulfilled. (I have to add that I love that long time readers of the series get closure on some issues without impeding new readers enjoyment).

This book reminds me of how amazing the first two books in this series was. Indeed, although the last three books were good, this book feels like the completion of a trilogy that began with the first two books.

This book goes immediately on my keeper shelf.

WORTH MENTIONING:Sometimes I read these books with great despair because almost every book introduces characters for whom I would love to read their story, but as the author turns to a new series, I fear that some of these stories might go untold. .

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE DUKE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is the sixth book in the Victorian Rebels series. This book can be read as a standalone, but is much more satisfying after reading the entire series. This book pays off stories that began in the first book in the series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to help in preparing this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

 

five-stars

Review: The Scot Beds His Wife

I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: The Scot Beds His WifeThe Scot Beds His Wife (Victorian Rebels, #5) by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels #5
Published by St. Martin's Press on October 3rd 2017
Genres: Historical
Pages: 394
Goodreads
four-half-stars

“He was no barbarian. And certainly no gentleman. He had to be a Celtic god.”

FINAL DECISION: Kerrigan Byrne, who is a master at depicting broken and flawed people gives an unflinching story of two people who think themselves too broken for love but who find that the broken jagged parts of each fit together.

THE STORY: The Highlander Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, has a plan. He intends to buy the Ross cattle ranch and finally separate himself from the Mackenzies who have never brought anything but pain to him and his mother. The son of the evil and depraved former Laird of the Mackenzies, Gavin will do anything to get control of the Ross property even if it means engaging with the most difficult woman he has ever met. Samantha Masters has come to the Scotland running from her past filled with dangerous secrets. The passionate arguments between Gavin and Samantha turn into another kind of passion and when her past threatens her once again, Sam agrees to marry. But the secrets she is keeping might destroy everything she is building.

OPINION: This book is a good example to me of why I should stay away from spoilers. I happened to read one of the central secrets in this book and really wish I hadn’t. It happens to be one of my least favorite tropes in romance novels and it made me delay reading this book because I love this series so much and I didn’t want to hate this book.

Despite this fact, I ended up loving this book and I think I might have enjoyed it even more if I didn’t create a negative expectation for myself. (As a review style point, that is why I try so hard not to give away secrets in books without really good reasons and certainly not without warnings).

Throughout this series, Kerrigan Bryne has taken characters with painful destructive pasts and given them their happy endings. Characters that in less skillful hands would be irredeemable and unsympathetic become understandable and shown to be worthy of their own redemption through love. The beauty of this book is that the jagged lives of Sam and Gavin manage to make them fit together in a way that completes each of them and soothes their wounded souls.

Gavin is a man who, like his brothers, is haunted by the monstrous actions of his father. Rather than the physical violence which follows his brother Liam (hero of THE HIGHLANDER), Gavin has been been tilted towards the sexual excesses (certainly not the rape and sexual violence of his father). A charming “ladies man” Gavin is known for seducing his own brother’s wife and plenty of other women. Gavin’s charming handsome facade hides the same darkness that follows the other men in his family. (Readers of the series will recall that he is not only Liam’s younger half brother but also the half brother of Dorian). I especially enjoyed how his softer qualities do not negate his darker ones. The balance works here.

Samantha is brash and bold and foul mouthed and insecure. An American from the west, she is a survivor. Used to taking care of herself, she does what is necessary to get through the next crisis on her life on her own terms. Even worse, she has trusted unwisely before and thus is gun shy for trying again. She challenges Gavin and doesn’t back down from him.

The combination of the richly combative exchanges and the sweet understanding between Samantha and Gavin made this a gentler story than I expected in some ways. There are quite a few secrets and deceptions and violence and darkness in this story, but as is true with every book in this series there is also hope and redemption. For readers who have read the prior books in this series, this book is not as dark as the prior book, but for me, the heroine’s actions were more difficult to understand. But understand I did.

There is a lot going on in this book. Various characters and motives are interwoven in the story. Some side romance, some ongoing stories, some appearances by prior characters. This book covers a lot of territory.

One of my favorite things about this book is that it makes me look at and question my own assumptions and prejudices. Irredeemable people and actions might be understandable and capable of being forgiven.

Now that I’ve read it and enjoyed it, I look forward to reading it again without my preconceived fears and prejudices. It will give me something to do until the next book in the series.

WORTH MENTIONING: The Rook.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE SCOT BEDS HIS WIFE is the fifth book in the Victorian Rebels series. While the romance in this book is self-contained, there are complicated relationships that only make sense within the context of the whole series. If you want to start here to try out the series, go ahead, but you will want to go back and start from the beginning.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

four-half-stars

Review: The Duke

I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: The DukeThe Duke (Victorian Rebels, #4) by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels #4
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on February 7th 2017
Genres: Historical
Pages: 384
Goodreads
four-half-stars

“Life, with all its perils and torments, still belongs to the living. We have a responsibility to live it. You should not waste it by giving over to bleak despair.”

FINAL DECISION:  Once again a wonderful exploration of the darkness that lies in men’s souls and the possibility of love and hope to heal.  A battle between two strong characters make this a worthy addition to the Victorian Rebels series.

THE STORY:  Three years ago, the life of Collin “Cole” Talmage, Duke of Talmage, seemed charmed until his family was killed and he ended up betrayed by one he trusted and imprisoned for a year in a Ottoman cell. What kept him sane during that year was his memory of his encounter with “Ginny” a sweet prostitute with whom he spent his last night in England.  When he is returned to England, emaciated, recovering from torture, and missing hand, he almost dies until an impertinent nurse Imogen Pritchard risks her position to get him the treatment he needed.  Now two years later, Cole has learned to live with his missing hand but his spirits reside in darkness.  He has been searching unsuccessfully for Ginny. He has also been watching the widow next door, Lady Anstruther, who managed to convince an elderly man to marry her with him dying soon after.  Ironically, Lady Anstruther is the nurse who saved his life. What Cole doesn’t know is that Imogen is also the “Ginny” for whom he has been searching.

OPINION:  Another fabulous entry in the amazing Victorian Rebels series, Byrne continues her exploration of the darkness in the human soul and how that darkness can be softened with the power of love and hope.

“I’ve spent so long searching for her, and yet I fear that I’d pass her in the street and not recognize her.”

As the book opens, Cole has just begun to take the hits to his golden boy status.  He inherits the title because of the death of his family.  When he meets and beds Ginny, he doesn’t recognize her as the frightened and desperate woman she is, but he does find something peaceful and comforting with her.  Enough such that a year of torture and hellish conditions made her his touchstone. He has never forgotten her and is determined to find and rescue her.   Perhaps because the memory of Ginny was what helped Cole keep his sanity.  The year in prison changed Cole.  And he is still suffering from the emotional after effects of his horrendous experiences.

“He didn’t need the help of the devil. Case in point, these fits of wrath and unreasonable terror that made Cole want to do unspeakable things. These moments when what he feared the very most was himself…He was barely keeping himself together. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt peace or pity. No, that wasn’t true. He could remember. It has been precisely three years ago. With Ginny.”

Although people see the physical results of Cole’s time as a prisoner, it is the emotional damage that is the most significant. He has been keeping himself together by way of “regulation, convention, and order.”  It is ironically Imogen who threatens to break Cole’s will.  She challenges him by shaking his control. Cole first attacks her because he believes her a villain for marrying a sick and elderly man. She is a woman who should not be living next door to him at all. She seems to be flaunting the very rules that Cole wants to rely upon. While she shakes his control, she also is giving him purpose and a sense of hope even as they argue and engage in combat.

“But the countess Anstruther met his dark look with a mulish one of her own. God, it had been a long time since he’d felt so frustrated, so infuriated. It was…rather glorious.”

I loved Cole. He is a good man who was drawn far into the darkness. He has struggled to survive and doesn’t know how to begin to live again. Although he has relied upon order to control his anger and pain, he really is an unconventional soul who responds to Imogen’s own unconventional nature.  What he really needs is for Imogen to gather him into her arms and comfort him…he just doesn’t know it.

I usually love the heroes most in a romance, but in this book, I think Imogen was my favorite character. She begins the story by allowing herself to be a victim, but gains strength and purpose as the events of her life spiral out of control. By the time she and Cole meet again, Imogen has found a purpose in her life. She is determined to do all she can to help those who need a hand up — especially vulnerable women and children. Acutely recognizing her own savior in her deceased husband, she will use everything she gained as a result of her marriage to help others.  But, that comes with a cost.  She must keep secret from Cole her beginnings as Ginny because she fears that the revelation of her secret will destroy all her good works. Because she must keep her secrets, there is no chance for her and Cole to have a relationship, no matter how much she wants one.

Imogen has managed to keep hold of her hope and lightness despite the pain and travails of her life. It is her kindness and gentleness that calls to the pain in Cole and it is his pain that calls to her to comfort him. From their first meeting, she feels his pain (which only increases due to his capture and torture). Her spirit is called to him to heal and protect. But I also loved that Imogen is no pushover.  She is determined to do her charity work (even if it costs her Cole). She is stubborn and artistic and fierce. She will do what she must to protect those she loves.

“if she believed in everything, it was that everyone deserved a second chance.”

The journey that Cole and Imogen take involves chance.  The chance to reveal their true damaged selves to one another. The chance to move from darkness into light and hope.  These two need three chances to actually find their happy ending, but by the time it comes, the two have earned their peace and happiness.

This was a beautiful romance and a great addition to a series that I have loved. I was also gratified to see all the couples from the previous books make appearances here. There is a real community of people developing and I hope that this trend continues in future books.

WORTH MENTIONING:  For fans of Inspector Morley, there are indications that his story is turning in new directions.

CONNECTED BOOKS:  THE DUKE is the fourth book in the Victorian Rebels series.  This romance is self contained although there are overlapping characters.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE:  I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review.  I was not required to write a positive review.  All opinions contained herein are my own.

four-half-stars

Review: The Highlander

I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: The HighlanderThe Highlander (Victorian Rebels, #3) by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels #3
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on August 2nd 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 368
Goodreads
four-half-stars

“What a tragedy they both were. Bruised and beaten by those who were supposed to have loved and protected them. Tossed upon a sea of cruelty, and seeking refuge in this unforgiving world.  Seeking sanctuary, but hoping for redemption.”

FINAL DECISION:  The story of two people haunted by violence, Liam and Mena are incredibly sweet in their romance even with all the dark secrets that seem to be against them.

THE STORY:  Laird Liam Mackenzie, Marquess Ravencroft is known as the Demon Highlander from his career in the army.  Returning to his home in Scotland to care for his children, he is in need of a governess and writes to the wife of his half brother who happens to be the king of London’s underworld, the Blackheart of Ben More. Farah sends Liam Miss Philomena Lockhart, to care for his children.  Philomena has secrets.  The most important is that she is being sent to Scotland to hide from her abusive Viscount husband who had her sent to an asylum for going against his family.  Pretending to be an unmarried spinster governess, Mena never expected to be attracted to the dangerous laird.

OPINION:  Can two people haunted by violence find a sweet love together?  What I loved about this book is its relentless determination in showing that everyone deserves love and can find it.

“A good man with a frightening past. A violent man with a wish for peace.”

Liam is a man haunted by the violence that has dominated his life since he was a child. Growing up the heir of an evil and sadistic man, Liam has had violence ingrained in him. Years of being useful to the British Army because of his brutality has only confirmed his belief that he is unworthy of peace and happiness or even forgiveness.

“‘Do ye believe, Miss Lockhart, that we may be forgiven our sins? That the past can ever be left behind us?’  She shook her head. ‘We may try to leave the past, but I don’t think the past ever truly leaves us.  It is part of us; it shapes us into who we are.  don’t think any of us escapes that fate, my laird.'”

Mena is the last woman who should have any feelings for a man of violence. Abused by her husband, sent to an asylum because of her honesty, Mena is now in hiding.  I loved that she discovers a woman who can stand up for herself against a man that she should rationally be frightened of.  For a woman who has had such a difficult life (abused by her husband, dominated by her husband’s family, barren), Mena still has such a good heart. Her capacity for love, understanding and forgiveness was amazing. As she finds confidence in herself, she develops into a very special woman.

In fact, the generousness of Mena’s spirit is what makes their relationship even possible. I love how two people who should never work find their scars and fractures bring healing to the other. Mena gets a strong man to protect her and value her and allow her to be strong.  Liam needs to use his strength to protect rather than hurt and to find someone who accepts him and his past.  I love how these two find compassion, forgiveness and love in one another.

“‘The devil is in all of us, I think.  That’s what makes us human rather than divine. I believe there is a tenuous balance between redemption and damnation. You cannot have one without testing the limits of the other. No light, without first conquering darkness. No courage, without battling your fear. No mercy, unless you experience suffering.’ She turned to gaze at the golden cross gleaming on the altar, her mouth pressing into a line. ‘No forgiveness without someone having wronged you.'”

Byrne is the queen of darkness and angst giving us characters which are tortured and in pain. Yet, there is always a way to happiness and joy for these people.  I have a great fondness for stories where the characters are mired in darkness as the book starts.  Having damaged characters find happiness affirms that everyone deserves love.  The best part of Byrne’s tortured characters, however, is that she never slips into her stories being sad and depressing.  No matter how dark the past of her characters, there is a light at the end of their journey.

The book contains one of the most painfully emotional scenes I have ever read. Sent to an asylum by her husband and her family, Mena is subject to abuse there as well.  Knowing that real women in history suffered the same kind of confinement and abuse merely because they were impertinent and inconvenient for those with power over them, devastated me and I found I could only read those scenes in small doses.  Yet there was nothing gratuitous in those scenes, the truth was painful enough.

I also wanted to mention something I noticed in both THE HUNTER and this book which is Bryne’s incredibly deft way she deals with children who are not related by blood with one of the main characters. Here Liam has two children who are nearly grown. Mena has to develop her own relationship with these children and Liam, himself, having been absent for most of their lives has to find out how to relate to who his children actually are. I enjoyed seeing these secondary relationships develop and am also happy that Bryne didn’t magically “cure” Mena’s infertility but instead gave her a family built on love rather than merely biology.

Finally, I love the appearance of characters from the series who make significant additions to the story.  I prefer when characters intertwine throughout the stories. Here, there is a very nice balance. Readers who haven’t read the other books in the series will not miss anything, but readers who follow the series get to see favorites again.

WORTH MENTIONING:  Kerrigan Byrne is very naughty for giving a preview of the next book in the epilogue. Three intriguing words “rather scandalous duchess.”

CONNECTED BOOKS:  THE HIGHLANDER is the third book in the Victorian Rebels series.  While there are overlapping characters, this book can be read as a standalone.

STAR RATING:  I give this book 4.5 stars.

four-half-stars

Review: The Hunter

Review: The HunterThe Hunter (Victorian Rebels, #2) by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels #2
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on February 2nd 2016
Genres: Historical
Pages: 432
Goodreads
five-stars

I Loved This Better Than the First in the Series

“Christopher Argent was a creature born of nightmares, a man who looked evil in the face and challenged it to a duel. Millie acknowledged that in this instance, she didn’t need a white knight, but a shadow that could traverse the darkness with the cunning and speed of that lethal viper.”

FINAL DECISION:

THE STORY: Christopher Argent is a hunter, a hired killer and assasin. Born and raised in Newgate Prison, Christopher is the “coldest, deadliest man in all London.” He is hired to kill Millie LeCour, an actress and mother and supposedly a whore and thief. When he arrives at the theater to kill her, he finds himself entranced by Millie and unable to bring himself to kill for the first time. Instead, Christopher offers Millie a bargain — a night in her bed in exchange for his protection. Millie will do anything to protect her son and her attraction to Christopher makes their bargain palatable and perhaps even desirable.

OPINION: Oh, I am a sucker for these dark, dangerous and damaged heroes. Christopher is a man who has lost so much that he desires nothing. He survived a monstrous childhood by shutting out all emotions and being a cold killer. When he sees Millie, her vivacity changes him. Even as he finds himself fascinated, he doesn’t understand what is happening to him. This book chronicles his journey from cold killer to a man who can love. The ability to make a man who kills without remorse a hero is a difficult task, but Byrne does a marvelous job of allowing readers such insight into Christopher that his transformation is believable.

Millie is a heroine to admire. Practical, accomplished, ambitious, professional, loving and willing to risk everything for Christopher and her son. She is a professional actress and this book depicts that life in a way that feels organic and real. I especially enjoyed how Millie is not waiting for a man to rescue her. In both this book and in THE HIGHWAYMAN, Byrne depicts women who are making their own way through life by way of their own work and efforts.

Dark, romantic and complex, the romance between Christopher and Millie is not for readers looking for a light and humorous read. But for those of us who love our heroes on the edge of being the villain with must angst and drama, this book is for you.

WORTH MENTIONING: There are significant appearances by the hero and heroine from the first book in the series, THE HIGHWAYMAN. I was pleased to see how their marriage was going.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE HUNTER is the second book in the Victorian Rebels series. It can be read as a standalone but is better read after the first book in the series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

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five-stars

Review: The Highwayman

Review: The HighwaymanThe Highwayman (Victorian Rebels, #1) by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels #1
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on September 1st 2015
Genres: Historical
Pages: 384
Goodreads
four-half-stars

The Story of Love and Secrets

“Her husband. A thief, a highwayman, a criminal. A coldhearted killer.”

FINAL DECISION: I loved this book because of the timeless nature of the love between the hero and heroine. It feels like they were always fated to find one another.

THE STORY: Farah Leigh Mackenzie is an innocent widow who is working as a clerk in Scotland Yard. As a child she loved a boy with whom she was in a orphanage. She was devastated when he died in prison. Now seventeen years later, she meets Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben Mar who is a criminal mastermind who worked his way into being one of the wealthiest and influential men in England. Dorian offers Farah the opportunity to avenge her lost love (with whom Dorian was in prison) and deal with a secret that Farah herself has. All she has to do is marry him.

OPINION: This story is built on a sad story of Farah’s lost love. When she meets Dorian, she begins to find that this scarred and hardened man is more complex than she imagined. His friendship with her childhood loves convinces her to trust him and ultimately to marry him. Dorian has emerged from his childhood and young adulthood, scarred both on the outside but also on the inside. His life has compelled him to do bad things, but he is vulnerable to the sweet innocent Farah.

I thought the setup for this book was wonderful. The angst, the drama, the conflict was so good. The weakness of the story is that too many extremely painful parts of Farah and Dorian’s lives are too quickly resolved. What saved the book for me was that the two acknowledged that there will be days of darkness to come.

This book also has interesting secondary characters, some of whom will be the subject of later books.

WORTH MENTIONING: I am a fan of historical books that don’t take place in society ballrooms.

CONNECTED BOOKS: THE HIGHWAYMAN is the first book in the Victorian Rebel series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

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four-half-stars