I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to love this story because I really enjoyed the others in the series but this one was just okay. The Duke was an okay hero kind of blind to the world around him but he finally changed. I just did not love the story.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Right from the start I felt weird. As the story progressed, I was quite tense, but I never had that clear "Awww," moment. This never had that romance feel to it.

I didn't like the duke at all. He had his good protective moments, but overall, he just ticked me off. And a few times, I was downright pissed and disgusted. Definitely not my favorite hero.

While it made me feel, I should give it 4 stars. But it doesn't come close to what I feel about the others in the series, and those were 4/5 stars.

I have very mixed feelings about this book. Right from the start I felt weird. As the story progressed, I was quite tense, but I never had that clear "Awww," moment. This never had that romance feel to it.

I didn't like the duke at all. He had his good protective moments, but overall, he just ticked me off. And a few times, I was downright pissed and disgusted. Definitely not my favorite hero.

While it made me feel, I will give it 4 stars. But it doesn't come close to what I feel about the others.

This book was great overall. I enjoyed all of the humor and snarkiness that centered around the couple. I was laughing aloud as I read it in many different places. This is one I would definitely recommend to others.

The Duke is another intense addition to the Victorian Rebels series. Imogene is the sweet, innocent nurse working by day in a hospital to support her mother and sister and by night in the Bare Kitten, a whore house. She serves only drinks to the customers to pay off her father’s extensive gambling debt to the owner of the house. Imogene disguises herself in a dark wig to protect her reputation.

She is successful at the ruse until the night the Duke of Trewyth, Cole, enters the Bare Kitten. Cole negotiates with the owner to have Imogene, or Ginny as the house people know her by, for the night. He pays such a huge amount that will pay off a good portion of her father’s debt. And, it is only one night. The only time she ever ‘sells’ herself. The two of them made an unexpected connection with Cole making sure she was pleasured, too. The Duke was drunk enough he had no idea he had taken her virginity until he went back to find her and the owner share that bit of information. Cole never forgot her. He looked for her because of the peace she brought to him. He had just become the duke due to the loss of his parents and older brother, the heir, in an accident. It was a difficult and unique night for him as he was leaving to go on assignment anyway.

A year later, Cole is brought into the hospital near death. Imogene is instrumental in saving his life even if he did not want to live. She is let go due circumstances connected to the duke. Following several tragic events Imogene marries another patient at the hospital and ends of living next door to Cole. She has changed so much he does not recognize her. He, in fact, does not want her living next door to him due to her charitable giving of her home to share with those less fortunate than herself. He believed she took advantage of the earl she married thinking her marriage a sham just to get the earl’s properties and wealth.

Beginning the first night Imogene was fired from the hospital staff; numerous deaths seem to surround her.
That same night she was attacked by a Bare Kitten patron. Imogene thought she had killed the man since he disappeared and was not seen again. She blames herself for the death of one of the prostitutes with whom she worked, the first death. It was a while before Imogene learned of the number of deaths and the possible connection to her.

The passion in this addition to the series keeps you from laying it down. Ms. Byrne brings together the couples from the previous books, The Highwayman, The Hunter and The Highlander, together to assist in solving the mystery of the murders. You begin to feel as if you have stepped into the book with old friends as you get to read about the prior heroes and heroines as their lives progress. Although The Duke certainly can be read as a stand-alone, reading it in the series adds to the intrigue and enjoyment. Thank you Net Galley for sharing this book in exchange for an honest review.

I could not put this book down after starting it! It draws you in immediately and doesn't let you go. Kerrigan Byrne does dark and angsty stories exceedingly well, and this is no exception.

As with the prior books in this series, it starts with a bang and sets the tone for the seedy underside of Victorian London. Here, the focus is on Imogen Pritchard, who works by day as a nurse and at night as a serving girl at a local brothel to pay off her late father's debts and keep her family fed and housed. After Collin Talmage, the Duke of Trenwyth, mistakes her for one of the prostitutes working at the brothel and pays for her company one night before he leaves on a spy mission, they both are changed. However, upon the duke's rescue from a Turkish prison and return to England a year later, he is not the same man he once was and fails to recognize the nurse who saves his life as the same woman whose memory kept him alive throughout his imprisonment. A chain reaction of events follows which threatens to unravel Imogen's carefully constructed life and forces her to reinvent herself yet again. When Trenwyth and Imogen meet again two years later as changed people, Imogen must tread carefully to maintain the new life and identity she fought hard to achieve while trying to find some vestiges of the man she previously knew and loved in the new darkness of Trenwyth's soul. All of this is complicated by the appearance of dead bodies throughout London who bear a striking resemblance of Imogen . . .

I loved Imogen's character. She was relentless in her insistence to find goodness and color around her even in the bleakest of surroundings, or, failing that, creating her own pocket of brightness. Despite her optimistic personality, she had no tolerance for Trenwyth's occasional BS and told him off quite effectively when he was being a jerk. Though I loved Trenwyth's broody nature, I was cheering for Imogen when she put him in his place for crossing a line. Overall, the tension between the two of them was scorching and well sustained throughout the story.

I'm eagerly awaiting the next book in this series. I love getting to see the characters from previous stories showing up for cameos and adding the new characters to their ranks.

Thank you so much to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for providing an e-ARC for review!!!

Well, darn you, Kerrigan Byrne - I got a review copy of THE DUKE and was up past 4am reading it -- couldn't stop -- just finished it! Why the 'darn you'? I'm done the book......and have to wait until October for the next one.....! Gotta say - THE DUKE lived up to everything I expected and wanted in this one -- sexy as hell, emotional as hell, dark-and-tormented-hero, a love story that changes/redeems him BUT DOES NOT MAKE HIM A WIMP, great writing style and story. BRAVA!! Readers, friends - pre-order this book and clear your calendar...!

Best historical fiction i’ve read so far this year… This book is kinda dark so if you have issues with torture, please don’t read this.. However, this book has it all- romance, mystery, suspense - a classic case of who dunnit! ( the butler did it!)

So going back to the story, Imogen Pritchard is working 2 jobs to support her family who fell into hard times when her deceased father gambled away their money. Working as a nurse during the day and working as Ginny in a brothel called the Bare Kitten. Then we have Collin Talmage, forced to be the Duke of Trenwyth when he lost his parents and elder brother in an accident and also works for the Crown as a soldier/spy..

The two meet at the brothel the night before Collin is suppose to leave for an undisclosed mission for the Crown. There is instant attraction between the two and when the night is over, Collin pays 20 pounds to spend the night with Ginny. Collin doesn’t know the real name of Imogen nor what she truly looks like as Ginny wears a disguise ( wig and all). But come the dawn, Imogen reluctantly leaves a sleeping Collin to go work in the hospital- not knowing if she will ever see him again.. Holy smokes, the passion between this two once they get together! You actually feel the heat poring out of the pages..

Anyways, the story will take off a year after their initial meeting and this time circumstances have changed- both of them have changed actually.. Damaged Collin returns to England after being held prisoner and tortured for a year by the Ottomans and Imogen is forced to marry one of her patients and becomes a Countess.. What this couple have to go through just to be together is unbelievable!

Okay enough said.. Read the book.. You will not be disappointed.. Love the story, love the characters, love the writing- i just love everything about it! To the list of faves this will definitely go!



I would like to thank NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Ms Kerrigan Byrne for providing me with this ARC.

Such as fun read. I loved their courtship and he was so oblivious to what was under his nose the whole time. Everyone deserves a second chance.

I’m wringing my hands here, folks. Just not sure how to describe this book without giving away too much. Frankly, it seems impossible not to, because I think many of you avid romantic at heart readers, like myself, are going to take issue at times with the behavior of this particular hero. He’s certainly going to test your limits of acceptability. What I do know is this author has proven once again she doesn’t write your average tea sipping, nothing bad really happens romantic tale. No, she usually takes us down a path that follows a darker side than I usually expect. The Duke was no exception, but at least there always seems to be goodness and light and even a rainbow at the very end.

Speaking of which, this Duke at times could definitely be called some other words that begin with the letter “D”. Hint: one of them rhymes with the word stick. We first are introduced to him shortly after a tragic loss that has obviously just begun to fill his soul with darkness and despair. The circumstances which they first meet and have their first (coughing into my hand) brief encounter are far from ideal. I felt she was left physically used, emotionally abused despite the insinuation she enjoyed it, and irrevocably changed/thrown into even more dire circumstances from having known him. Color me crazy but I sort of always expect the hero to ride to the rescue, not push the damsel in further distress. Yet, we are somehow supposed to see it as a romantic second chance at romance prelude. Simply put, I call my male romantic leads a hero for a reason. I just can’t warm up to the idea he supposedly felt such a connection to her but had no qualms of just up and leaving and not trying to help her out of that particular situation.

His cruelty/hateful words when their paths crossed again didn’t quite make sense. For someone who supposedly kept such a vivid, happy memory of her voice/face, you would think some spark of immediate recognition would have been inevitable. For him to be obsessed with such an impoverished, physically emaciated young woman, that was inexplicably beneath his station when he clearly had strong views on upper classes not mingling with lower classes to the point he tried to belittle Imogen’s selfless efforts to help the most vulnerable, neglected members of the society (abused women and children), made it difficult for me to buy his story of what his plans were if he ever came across his beloved Ginny again.

Imogen was selfless, resilient, and determined to make others lives better by using the unexpected, life-changing gift she was handed. I loved that clever plot twist that sealed her fate, future, and fortune. She truly was the highlight of the story. Goodness, she put up with so much animosity from Collin that when she FINALLY unleashed her own frustration/anger and gave him a piece of her mind and set him straight on what was what I could not help but mentally high five her and do a victory dance of “You go, girl!” Unfortunately, it came a little too late. The abusive smexy scene that transpired right before it just didn’t sit well with me. I guess the intent was to bring home just how out of control, broken, and beastly Collin had become. I can’t help but think many will find it overly abusive, as well.

With a serial killer backdrop that draws in cameo appearances of main couples from the previous books, I did love seeing this whole gang of cast and characters reunited again. The writing was engaging, flowed, but Collin sure kept me so frustrated I wanted to show him another way to put that prosthetic hand to good use. By pulling it off and whacking him upside the head to hopefully knock some sense into him. Yeah, I’m still shaking my head thinking he didn’t deserve such a perfect heroine. At least he does realize the error of his ways and surely will spend the rest of his literary life making it up to her.

I’m not sure who the next book will be based on, my fellow romance book-loving friends. An interesting character referred to as The Rook keeps getting mentioned. I think it is inevitable we will be given the ultimate good guy Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector’s HEA someday though. Want I do know is Ms. Byrne keeps me coming back for more, even though she takes me out of my comfort zone at times. I must say this time around the strong heroine definitely deserves the title of true hero more so than Collin.

Rating: Heroine - 5 stars, Hero - 2 stars, Writing - 4 stars

Title: The Duke, Series: The Victorian Rebels (Book 4), Author: Kerrigan Byrne, Pages: 384, stand-alone but part of a series, alpha dark hearted/tortured hero with a missing hand, sweet/selfless/resilient heroine who deserved better, dark theme, rapist/serial killer on the loose, some graphic violence, strange second chance at love plot, heroine was beaten/almost raped, OW were raped/murdered, not a big fan of this hero, groveling hero.

Book 1 - The Highwayman (Dorian & Farah), 9/1/15, Pages: 384
Book 2 - The Hunter (Christopher & Millie), 2/2/16, Pages: 432
Book 3 - The Highlander (Liam & Philomena), 8/2/16, Pages: 358
Book 4 - The Duke (Imogen & Collin), 2/7/17, Pages: 384
Book 5 - The Scot Beds His Wife - 10/3/17, not released yet

(This review is based on advanced reader copy provided via NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased, fair review. No compensation was provided to this reviewer, nor is there any affiliation between the reviewer and author/publisher/NetGalley. It will be posted on Amazon, Goodreads, NetGalley, and Barnes & Noble.)

(Goodreads and later Amazon)
I loved this book and I don’t often love historical romances. This one is pure melodrama but so well delivered that I didn’t mind suspending disbelief more than I usually would. I loved the tortured wounded hero, his hotness and broodiness. If Kerrigan Byrne continues to write like this, I’m sold!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley/the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Duke is the fourth book in Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian Rebels series. I have not read any of the other books in this series, nor have I read any of Byrne’s other books. That’s okay, I’m always optimistic about new authors, and Regency/Victorian books are my favorite genre of historical romance- so I went into this book with high hopes.

Imogen and Cole are thrown together by chance. She stands out in his eyes because she is the only one to offer him condolences for the loss of his family rather than congratulating him for his elevation to duke as a result of the aforementioned loss. They spend one amazing night together, but then they have to part ways because Cole has a top secret Big Mission.

When Imogen and Cole encounter each other again, several years have elapsed. Cole has returned to England alive, but broken. He was captured, tortured, and he even lost one of his hands. He doesn’t recognize Imogen as the young woman who he spent the night with, and why would he? Her circumstances have changed, as has her appearance. Needless to say, things are rather acrimonious between Imogen and Cole, but the more time they spend in each other’s company, the harder it is for them to deny their mutual attraction. But Imogen’s life may be danger, and Cole just might be the only one who can protect her.

Byrne is hardly the first to feature a tortured hero with a dark past who must overcome his Issues, but she does a wonderful job with fleshing out Cole’s motivations. He has experienced devastating loss and betrayal, so it is only natural that he is going to be guarded and suspicious. Likewise, Imogen finds herself in a completely different station in life, and everything that she has built hinges upon her reputation. If anyone were to discover her past, she would be ruined.

I would absolutely recommend The Duke. I am accustomed to lighter historicals, but Byrne tackles serious material with ease. There was so much tension as Cole struggled to uncover the past, and Imogen desperately tried to conceal the past. It certainly made for an interesting combination! I am pleased to have discovered Kerrigan Byrne; I am looking forward to reading more of her books, especially since the heroes of the other books in this series are minor characters in this book!

4.5 Stars!

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Byrne is back with another fiery tale of Victorian Rebels in The Duke. The three couples featured in the previous novels are back as well to help the wayward Duke and the nurse who vexes him.

This was my first read by Byrne, but it will not be my last. I was transported by her writing style, vivid imagery, and her development of complex characters. The ultimate highs and the tremendous lows each experienced were intrinsic to the story and so well crafted, I can’t see any historical romance lover shying away from hours in this world.

To begin with our heroine, Imogen Pritchard. Her story is one of the sacrifices a woman of the 1870’s had to make to survive. Imogen worked as a nurse by day to support her mother and younger sister. By night, she was forced to work serving drinks at the Bare Kitten, a whore house, due to her late father’s debts to the proprietor. Enter the newly appointed Duke of Trenwyth, Collin “Cole” Talmage. With an offer of twenty pounds, the proprietor goes back on his word and makes Imogen give up her virginity to the duke. Their night was sweet, explosive, and passionate. A night she would never forget. A feeling that would hold him together in the darkest hours of his life. Soon after, Cole was taken prisoner and spent months in jail. When he returns to England, he becomes a patient of Imogen. She goes against orders and ends up saving his life only to have him wake and not remember her.

This is where I can’t go much further with the story for fear of giving away any of the good bits. Let me say that the two get to know each other after they both go through tremendous transformations. Even with the number of tears I shed on behalf of this story, there was more than enough passion to make up for it.

I’m looking forward to reading the first three novels and the fifth installment, The Rogue Takes a Wife, scheduled for release in October 2017.

When it comes to Historical Romance, Kerrigan Byrne is right up at the top of the list of best of the best. This, her fourth novel in the Victorian Rebels Series, is as mesmerizing and filled with heart pounding action as the other gems in this series. We are treated to characters we cheer for, villains that make us hold our breath and love scenes that are filled with sizzling passion. In this book we also have the mystery of a serial killer who seems to be fixated on our heroine, Imogen. The Duke, Collen Talmage, is a shadow of the man Imogen once knew. He has suffered extreme torture but is bent on fighting back to his former strength. All of the other “Rebels” from the previous books in the series play important roles in this book. This is a standalone book but I feel you will enjoy it even more if you read the previous books in the series. This is what is now referred to as a “dark historical romance”; filled with violence and characters that are not always moral or even polite. There are scenes of sex that border on violence and I mention this since some may find this difficult to read. That said, this is a well written book filled with description that will have you underlining passages. You will not be able to put this book down until you reach the last page.
The Victorian Rebels Series:
1. The Highwayman (Dorian and Farah)
2. The Highlander (Liam and Mena)
3. The Hunter (Christopher and Millie)
4. The Duke (Collin [Cole] and Imogen)

**Mild spoilers**

I really enjoyed this book. It wasn't quite as good as the last two but I still really liked it.

Imogen Pritchard is tasked with taking care of her family. She is also working off her fathers gambling debts. So during the day she is Nurse Imogen Pritchard but at night she is Ginny, barmaid at the Bare Kitten and that's where she meets the newly Duke of Trenwyth, Collin (Cole) Talmage. He comes in the Bare Kitten after his whole family was buried. So he's in need of some goodness and that's what he sees in Ginny. He pays a ridiculous amount of money for a night with Ginny. They share an intimate night where they have a connection. But then Cole is taken prisoner for a year and the only thing that helps him is the thought of Ginny and her 'brightness/goodness'. When he is back he is sent to the hospital that Imogen works at. She saves his life and he doesn't recognize her as Ginny. Two years go by and Cole has been searching for his Ginny the whole time at the same time hating his neighbor, Imogen.

Okay so I'll start with the bad. I hated that Imogen knew that Cole was looking for Ginny and she never said a word to him. I mean I understand her fears. Cole was a broken man and he threaten to ruin her so I get it. But at the same come on!! Cole didn't find out she was Ginny until literally the very end. The other thing I really didn't like was Imogen.. I felt like she was just so fake. I understand that she wasn't but she just annoyed me with all of her goodness. And the last thing that bothered me was the end of the book. Since I have already given away a lot of spoilers I won't say what happened but I mean really Cole? Keep it in your pants until she has recovered.

The good: I LOVED that the other couples were part of this one. The women were all friends and the men were also "friends" as much as a bunch of broken men can be friends. So fun to have them all interact with each other. I did like Cole and Imogen's interactions. Yes most of them were them fighting but I liked that. It made for a different story. I liked that Cole was kind of a beast. I liked that Imogen calmed the beast in him.

So there were good and bad things. This wasn't my favorite of the series that's for sure but I still enjoyed it and I can't wait for the next one!!

As always, this is an honest review in return for reading an ARC. Rivers of distance between them. Innocence lost to be replaced with fear and self-loathing. And yet, hope draws these souls back.

The Ottoman atrocities leave so many destroyed. London in the 1800s does much the same. There are differences but both take their toll.

The depth of emotion that is in this story speaks to me more of a lifetime put to paper as more of a catharsis than a simple book.

The characters, ALL of them, are so complicated. Not only to this tale but with respect to their own stories. I am in awe of Kerrigan Byrne.

While classed as a romance novel, that seems to be akin to comparing Niagara Falls to Mackenzie Falls. They are as different, complicated and not near what you expect them to be.

I have a few authors that I purchase everything they write. Kerrigan Byrne has been added to those select few.

Kerrigan Byrne is officially my favorite historical romance author! In each of her novels I have fallen in love with the emotionally scarred men and their compassionate women. The Duke does not disappoint! From the first page I was pulled in to the lives of Imogene and Cole, and was glued the very end! The only part I hated about the book was that it had to end! I would LOVE to see novels of each couple in their married lives! I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I am hooked!

Loved it. ☆☆☆☆☆ rating. Highly recommended it.

Outstanding continuation of the series - the author gets better and better with each offering - a highly emotional, touching, well written plot and characters. Recommend!

Wow that was a whole lot of arrogant, broody, Sexy hotness in a book. Enough said . So far Kerrigan's books keep getting better and better!