Melodrama and romance combined - what more could I ask for?! Loved this sexy drama about lust and romance.

Get ready to fist pump by reading The Duke for just one key scene - the most epic shut down of a mansplaining duke ever. Imogen, you go, gurl.

Kerrigan Byrne is the reason I started reading historicals again. She deftly weaves morally bankrupt heroes with strong heroines, high drama, deep emotions, and a healthy dash of slow burn sexual tension in a way that refuses to be formulaic or silly. The Duke delivers all of these, in addition to the gorgeous moment when Imogen puts Collin squarely on his aristocratic ass.

Imogen and Collin shared one night years ago when she was moonlighting as a bar maid named Ginny and he was off the next day on a mission for the Crown. Imogen is shocked to be reunited with a deathly ill Collin, now a patient at the hospital where she is a nurse. Collin, who has dreamed about the waif prostitute Ginny during his captivity, doesn't recognize capable Nurse Imogen and has her thrown out for saving his life by correcting his misdiagnosis.

When they meet again, Collin is a bitter, feral shell of a man who is only living enough to search the world for his Ginny, never realizing that she's the widowed countess next door. In addition to keeping him from recognizing Ginny, Collin's rage and "beastly" nature keep him from living life fully. While Imogen went on to create a full life for herself and others, Collin is still caged by his own demons.

But Imogen, having endured poverty, harassment, attempted rape, and society scorn, is no Mary Sue. Even while fully in love with Collin and desperate to save him from himself, Imogen returns fire for fire. I clapped and cheered when she threw his misguided thinking right back in his face and shocked him to his mansplaining core.

Despite my love for that key scene, I felt the ending was far too rushed and abrupt. It was as though "THE END" credits flashed on the screen as soon as Collin got a clue. It was lovely revisiting old friends from the previous Highland Rebels series and I hope to see more of them (and get more answers about what happens to Imogen and Collin) in the next one.

This book was another super fantastic entry to the Victorian Rebels series. Kerrigan Byrne delivered an entertaining story that had my attention from the first page.

This story had a darker edge than I had expected, which didn't bother me at all, and only made it even more interesting to read. Cole was the absolute best anti-hero. He seriously needed to unpack all that baggage he was carrying around and quit taking his spirefulness out on poor Imogene. These two had played an important part of each others lives and had never forgotten their one and only night together. Imogen grew stronger and more confident, whereas Cole became more bitter and tortured. He kept searching for a woman from his past and acting despicable to Imogen all the while. Yet, interestingly, he couldn't seem to recognize Imogen as the Ginny from his memory. They tenaciously went after one another and not always in a good way. He tried to deny their strong connection as hard as he could but then the minute that Imogen was in danger Cole rushed to her defense and his protective instincts were triggered. He learned a lot about her as the more time they spent together and stolen kisses kept leading to more possessive feelings. I loved how he couldn't help himself and had to set aside all of his preconceptions about Imogen. In the end Cole was able to redeem himself to Imogen and to this reader as well.

Cole and Imogen made the perfect anguished couple. They had a lot to overcome with lies, secrets and pride being the most foremost in my opinion. Then there was also suspense, a mystery and a serial killer thrown into the mix. The writing was superb as Kerrigan Byrne beautifully revealed how they had both changed physically, emotionally and socially, and then reunite at just the right times to help each other. That was the romantic part for me.

THE HERO is historical romance at it's best. I loved this one and can't wait to read the next book.

This review will be posted at Night Owl Reviews.

Wow! That’s about it, but wow in a good way!!! This is my second book by Kerrigan Byrne, and I can tell you that it won’t be the last. My first book was the “The Highlander”, which I also highly recommend to read. Ms. Byrne has a beautiful way of telling her characters story in a very intense and honest way. She does not shy away from discovering the rough, ugly side of their background as well as current situations. She has a way of capturing your emotions and making you feel the raw moments. It is a gift to find in an author and a book.

In this story we find Imogen Pritchard, a nurse during the day, and a tavern server during the night. She works as a server to pay off a debt that her father left after his death. She is trying to support her mother and younger sister and is having a very rough time at it. Our hero, "Cole" Talmage, Duke of Trewyth, happens to visit the tavern on the evening, mourning the death of his parents and older sibling. Overnight he becomes the new Duke of Trewyth and he is having a hard time dealing with it. He spends the night with Imogen, paying a hefty sum for her virginity, which he did not know about at that time. They walk away from this night, separate ways, not to come together again two years later at a hospital that Imogen works in. He is near death, suffering from Typhoid and Imogen nurses him to recovery.

He does not recognize Imogen, but instead of being grateful for saving his life he makes matters worse for her and she ends up loosing her job as a nurse and subsequently also runs into trouble at the tavern.

You really want to hate Cole. You just want to, but our author has such a good way of showing you why Cole is the way he is. Invites you to witness and see the horrors that he has faced and overcome. You can’t hate, you just want to breath more strength into our heroine and hope that these two find their happily ever after.

I love Imogen. She is such a strong woman, not necessarily feisty, but strong and willing to fight for those in need. Having her intermingle with the privileged “Lords and Ladies” is certainly a new world for her, but she is very good at wanting them to see just how much a little bit of their help can be to those that are at the end of their ropes.

This certainly is not a book about glittering ballrooms and beautiful gowns, but one that takes you into the life of different worlds, lives with people with privilege and those that are struggling to make ends meet.

Beautifully written and enjoyable love story!

I absolutely love this book and I can't wait for more books from Kerrigan Byrne. I love her writing style from her first book of this series. This book is about Collin Talmage, The Duke of Trenwyth and he only has one hand. But now he has lost everything. Almost all of his family died in a terrible accident, also his closest friend betrayed him on the battlefield. Imogen Pritchard is a nurse and a fallen woman and also a spy. I am not going to give any big spoilers.

Loved this story! Love the H, love the h. Previously read "The Highwayman " , by the same author and so adored that story, was exciting to get the chance to read the ARC I was provided for an honest review! The story involves a Duke, leaving for a dangerous last military assignment (spy), and a young woman, struggling to support her family and pay off her fathers debts as a nurse by day and serving girl in a bar/whore house. She is not a prostitute, but does end up being bedded by him. A year later he is returned from a secret mission, mentally and physically changed, and she is assigned to care for him in the hospital. She saves his life, still caring for him. He pines for her, but doesn't realize they are the same woman. Further tragedy occurs, it's quite an involved story. All the heroes from Byrnes prior books are here, there is a serial killer and the sexual tension builds between the couple. A wonderful, passionate couple and story!

I have really enjoyed all the books in the Victorian Rebels series, and this book was no exception. I like that each book has a unique element that differentiates it from most historical romance novels. In "The Duke" we meet Collin Talmage, Duke of Trenwyth, whose path crosses with "Ginny" a bar maid the night before going on a secret mission. Trenwyth then undergoes captivity and torture during his service to the crown, and the memory of "Ginny" helps him survive, his life is then saved by Imogen Pritchard, his nurse. What he doesn't know is that "Ginny" and Imogen are the same women, but to have a future the two will have to overcome the secrets of the past and present, which include the fact that Imogen is being haunted by a killer targeting women who look like her. I liked that we got to meet both Imogen and the Duke before his captivity and after so we can see how their characters change and evolve. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

I received an advance reader copy in exchange for a fair review.

Imogen is a barkeep in a brothel to work off her dead father's debts. She isn't "for sale" until a wealthy Duke offers an extraordinary sum for one night with her before he goes off to fight in a major war.
Of course they share the best night of passion EVER, and he leaves her to her sad little life. She wore a wig and heavy eye makeup during their encounter, so when he returns years later on his deathbed after being a prisoner of war, he does not recognize the women tasked to nurse him back to health and treats her like garbage. He's kind of a jerk.
Besides being mistreated by her one time lover, Imogen also accidentally murders a man, and is offered a marriage of convenience to one of her elderly patients, which turns her suddenly into a titled lady and the next door neighbor of the Duke.
Cole (the Duke) only made it through his time as a prisoner due to his dreams of the woman from the brothel and is trying to find her. He still doesn't realize his new neighbor is the woman who haunts his dreams. In fact, he finds his neighbor irritating and tries to fight her wish to turn her home into a safe haven for women/children.

Interesting premise that I found a bit unbelievable, but well written and an enjoyable read. Characters from previous books by Byrne make an appearance, but you do not have to read them to enjoy this story.

Nonstop, emotional, tear drenched, laughter, heartbroken, outraged, suspenseful, heartwarming story. Kerrigan Byrne puts you though an emotional rollercoaster. Her books have just gotten better and better.

i want to read it all over again.

Imogen is a nurse who works at a hospital by day and then by night works as a serving girl at the Bare Kitten trying to pay off the debts that her father left when he died. She’s just a serving girl and worked out with the owner that she would never be required to prostitute herself out as he had plenty of girls for that.

On a night that Imogen in working she services a group of soldiers. When one gets a bit rowdy she’s saved by the new Duke of Trenwyth. After a long night of him drinking and her sitting on his lap he pays the proprietor 10 pounds to spend the night with “Ginny” as she’s known there. As it will wipe out about a 1/3 of her debt she agrees. She’s intrigued by and attracted to the new duke whose family had just died in a train crash. She wants to comfort him and they share a beautiful night together.

One year later Imogen is working when she’s told that the missing Duke of Trenwyth is in the hospital with typhus. Since she had it at one point she was immune so was assigned to him. She takes care of him and soon figures out that he doesn’t have typhus and correctly diagnoses him. When he awakens, however he doesn’t recognize her as she had worn a black wig when she was Ginny but really has blonde hair. After a series of events where Imogen is let go from the hospital and then attacked the same night she is desperate and almost ends up a thief but for a kind patient who offers his help.

Fast forward to two years later and Cole, the Duke of Trenwyth has recovered and is still looking for Ginny. He can’t forget her but can’t find her anywhere. On top of his frustrations is the woman next door who seems to be opening her home to criminals and prostitutes that she is attempting to reform but according to him it’s bringing down the whole neighborhood. He also believes that since she is young and her deceased husband was quite old that she took advantage of him. Despite his annoyance with Lady Anstruther, his neighbor, he finds himself attracted to her and unable to do anything about it.

I’ve really liked the Kerrigan Byrne books I’ve read so far. They seem to have interesting premise’s and intriguing characters – The Duke was one that had both. First Imogen’s circumstances when the book first opens. Not so unusual to see a woman working off her father’s debts but I liked how the author kept her relatively innocent until the duke came along. Imogen ended up being an incredibly strong character who could give as well as she got – especially with Cole – and I admired her and the work she was doing to help the less fortunate. She knew what it was like to be in a desperate place and she wanted to help those that found themselves in like circumstances.

Cole was a hard man to like. He had serious anger issues after his capture and captivity and they manifested in strange ways at strange times. I liked his possessiveness of Imogen but not so much his condescension toward her. Imogen never let him get away with it and that I was happy about. He was so set on finding Ginny that he couldn’t see what was right in front of his face. Because he had changed so much Imogen didn’t feel that he was the same person he was before so kept her identity to herself. It was a good push and pull romance, that’s for sure.

Now, that being said I did think that the book, at times, tilted toward the side of melodramatic and that was something I didn’t care for at all. There was a lot going on in the book and there was a lot of introspection as well. With all of that the drama got to be too much at times and I admit I found myself rolling my eyes a bit.

Overall it was a good read, and a good romance that I just had a few issues with.

Rating: 3.75 out of 5

This will post as a guest review on The Book Binge.
http://bookbinge.com/

4 Stars!

Kerrigan Byrne is an author that I discovered in 2016 and is proof that each new year has the opportunity to present you with a new favorite author. Her writing is flawless and she is solely responsible for re-igniting my passion for historical romance.

The Victorian Rebel series is a dark and somber look at the atrocities of war and the darkness of humanity. These are somber and heavy books filled with tragedy and horrific circumstance. However, the love stories are so memorable, poignant, and hopeful that they balance out the darkness.

The Duke is the fourth book in the Victorian Rebel series and lives up to the high standard set by the previous books. It could technically be read as a stand-alone, although all these books are must-reads.

Collin and Imogen spend one night together after Collin sees her working as a barmaid at the local tavern and offers a large sum of money for her company. Imogen is NOT a prostitute and dons a disguise and a false name (Ginny) when she works as a barmaid. In actuality, she is a nurse who is desperate to pay off her father’s gambling debts.

The night that Collin and Imogen spend together is one that impacts them both greatly. Collin learns in the course of the evening that Imogen is a virgin and that brings many unanswered questions to light. When Collin wakes in the morning, Imogen is gone and Collin will spend the rest of the book searching for her.

The reason I gave this book 4 stars and not 5 is that Collin and Imogen come into contact with one again later and Collin doesn’t recognize her as “Ginny”. It was torture for me as a reader to know that Collin had finally found her and DIDN’T REALIZE IT!!

Despite this unfortunate fact, I enjoyed my time reading this story! Imogen’s character is truly inspirational. She works hard, never gives up despite her circumstance, and is exactly what Collin needs to emerge from the veil of anger and demons that surround him.

Highly Recommended!

Collin Talmage, Duke of Trenwyth is a man who has been tortured and has come to the brink of death, the only thing that kept him going was the memories of an encounter with a mysterious woman. He is desperate to find her, and make her his wife, even though she is not of his rank, nor does she have a sterling reputation. Imogen Pritchard life keeps throwing her into his path, but he does not realize that she is the woman he seeks all along. Through his snobbery and lack of compassion, he nearly destroys her life, even though she saves his. Even once he pulls his head out of his ass, there is still a dangerous enemy that wants to keep them apart. Passion and suspense filled, this is a historical romance you want to check out.

This is a must read immediately series for me, I was lucky enough to get an ARC through Netgalley, in exchange for leaving an honest review. I do also order paperbacks for my own collection, I just hate to wait to read them....

Finally - a Regency romance with depth and multidimensional characters. I really enjoyed the fully developed hero and heroine (who are certainly not perfect people). While the supporting cast made things a bit busy (and at time unnecessarily complicated), I wouldn't hesitate to read other books by this author (and am off to check out the rest of the series). With some absolutely beautiful language, this novel is definitely recommended!

Could not feel any empathy for neither Collin nor Imogen. Thrown into their fates and life's troubles, the author weaves a story of mystery and romance fairly well. Nevertheless, just felt the basic thrust of the entanglements just beyond belief even for a work of fiction.

This was my first time reading Kerrigan Byrne, but it will not be my last. I really, really liked this book. This book was full of surprises and I didn't know what was going to happen next. The mystery murderer was a very nice touch and had me guessing until the end. I have to admit, though, I was not to happy with our hero--he was such a jerk. But he was redeemed by the end of the book. I just loved Imogen, our heroine, she was so strong and resilient without being waspish. She brings them together in a beautiful way, although I do wish that Trenwyth had done a little more groveling from being so rude to Imogen. I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Byrne.

This was my favorite in the series so far! It was the kind of book that made me watch the percentage left and dread it coming to an end.

Hello to my very first disappointing read in 2017! I thought it was quite unfortunate that I finished reading this disappointment this morning!

I mean, am I reading the wrong book? Isn't Imogen supposed to be a SPY?! I feel so betrayed! I also thought the timeline to be off. They met 1 year ago, the Duke is now injured, he had to heal, he went to America, and other places and the entire thing took 3 years from the start of their meeting! This was 1876 mind you, and I don't think that the physicians, no matter how "advanced" they are could have the Duke up and running in a few weeks! I mean, he just lost A HAND and almost died of septicemia, for heaven's sake. Now I'm not sure how potent the antibiotics of that time were, but I'm pretty sure it would have taken months for him to be cured. Much less go traipsing about America and going to different countries looking for Ginny and mountain climbing on his prosthetic hand? Travel back then took weeks, if not months! To say I am upset doesn't cover it. I absolutely LOVED The Hunter and I thought The Highwayman and The Highlander were okay, but this one left me speechless. In a bad way.

The other thing that infuriated me about The Duke, was in fact, THE DUKE! He was pretty much unlikeable, in my opinion. If you know me, I absolutely adore alpha heroes with a lot of baggage but Collin just did not endear me to him at all. Not to mention that scene in the library which was pretty horrible, if you as me.

I understand his motives. He was tortured for almost a year and his only source of escape were thoughts of Ginny and their one night stand. It is understandable to say that he wanted to find her which became his obsession, but when he actually found her, well, I didn't agree with what he did immediately after.

I must admit it's difficult for me to accept that The Duke lacks the undoubtedly magnificence of the previous three.


I've stated numerously time that this is by far the best HR series written in the recent years (yes, there are others I love as much, but the Victorian Rebels has a depth that I've hardly found in others).

So let's be very clear here. THIS IS A GREAT ROMANCE. This cannot be contested as far as I'm concerned. But at this point I'm accustumed to, pretty much, perfection when it comes to Kerrigan Byrne...which means that everything even just a tad below that is very noticeable. However still very beautiful.


Coll and Imogen's first encounter was marvellous. I loved everything about it. First, it was surprising, I had shaped an idea of the hero that ended up being completely and unexpectedly wrong. What we see of him in the first pages is the sweetest and most caring side.

Secondly, the reality of the situation; the author, as for the other novels, shows the darkness of the conditions many were experiencing in Victorian times. A prostitute is a prostitute and she is paid for sex, also if she's the heroine of the story. Of course there's romance in it, otherwise we would read something else, however what I know, is that in pretty much all the other HRs, the protagonists first approach, although with the same premises, would have proceeded in a well different way. And I won't say more, spoilers are not my mission.

Thirdly, oh my Lord, the passion. It was explosive. Like for the other love scenes to be honest. Those are certainly not lacking.


But the hero is not only what we see in the beginning. After he has come back from several struggles, years later, we see that he is also a snob, arrogant and rude duke. I loved the dichotomy. I love that Byrne's heroes are very flawed.

Imogen on the other hand is spectacular. I could see her becoming a mature, independent and self-confident woman, page after page.


My enthusiasm, however, relented a bit, in the bulk of the novel, where I found from time to time, some static...probably given by too many inner monologues on aspects which were yes, pertinent obviously, but not so strictly related to the development of the plot itself. There were moments where I thought that a quicker pace could have just been the thing.

The protagonists reactions and actions are somewhat weaker than what I've seen in the previous three novels. I mean, you know they love each other, that's pretty obvious, and the yearning that Collin feels towards Ginny, the girl who has showed him peace in the most unconventional of places, is everything and more, like I'm melting right now. And then there is this hate-love relationship with Imogen, a lady he doesn't entirely respect, not at the beginning at least, but who he is VERY attracted to. And then there are the contrasting feelings for the two women, the idea he's betraying Ginny when he feels attraction for Imogen. I love all this. Love struggles are my secret crave. But this does not mean that, although the beginning and the last chapters are beautiful, there are some parts that I have found a bit subdued. I don't like to say this but I must.


You read this novel though. It's certainly something you cannot miss.


Gavin? Are you the next? Please say yes. Or maybe the pirate.

I love these Victorian Rebels! I adore that the fact that Ms. Byrne does not attempt to change these men into cookie cutter reformed heroes once they fall in love! They are the same men at the end of the book that they are at the beginning - dark, deadly and devastating!

This book is the story of Collin Talmage, Duke of Trenwyth aka Cole and Imogen Prichard aka Ginny.

Cole meets "Ginny" right after he loses his parents and older brother in an accident, an accident that makes him the new duke and the night before he is leaving for his last "mission" for the crown. Imogen is working at the brothel as a server to pay off the debt her father left when he died. This night however, Cole offers the owner of the club an obscene amount of money to spend the night with "Ginny" and Imogen has no choice but to comply. They spend a passionate night together that neither will ever forget and then Imogen leaves in the morning before Cole wakes. Imogen is the sole provider for her mother and younger sister and while she works nights at the "Bare Kitten" by day she is a nurse.

Fast forward a year, Cole has been brought the to the hospital that Imogen works at and is on deaths door. Imogen soon realizes that Cole has been misdiagnosed and will certainly die if he is not treated right away. While nursing him back to health, Cole recognizes her voice as Ginny and begs her not to leave him. However when he finally wakes, he does not recognize Imogen and is directly responsible for her termination.

Imogen leaves the hospital and goes to the club, where she is attacked by a patron and fights back. Convinced that she has killed the man, she is desperate and goes back to the hospital. Once at the hospital, things only get worse for her and she makes a final desperate attempt to save her family. When she is caught, it turns out to be the best thing that has ever happened to her.

Two years later, Cole is back in London and looking for Ginny, but he is distracted by his bothersome neighbor, Lady Anstruther, the Countess of Anstruther. He believes that she is an upstart that bamboozled an old dying man into marriage. He hates that she is running a charity for whores, misfits and unwed mothers out of her house and has decided to make her life hell.

I will agree with other reviewers, Cole is not easy to like and at times he is a total d-bag. I understand he suffered, he lost his family, he was a prisoner for almost a year and he lost his hand, but even all that doesn't excuse his nastiness to Imogen. For her part, Imogen tries to find the sad, yet gentle man she met 3 years ago, but he seems to be long lost to her. She is torn, she wants him to recognize her and be that man she fell in love with, but at the same time she cannot let this awful, angry arrogant duke find out her past and destroy everything she has worked to accomplish.

Cole and Imogen are thrown together several times and as much as he professes to hate her, Cole can't seem to keep his lips off her and begins to feel possessive of her. Imogen is in danger, it becomes evident when one of the guests of a charity event she hosted winds up dead in her garden. Inspector Morley sees similarities to other unsolved murders and makes the connection that Imogen resembles the other dead women.

Imogen feels her past catching up with her and even as she begins to form a bond with Cole, she fears revealing too much to him. Cole is confused, he longs for Ginny, but he can't deny that he is drawn to Imogen. When he finally decides that Ginny is gone and Imogen is his future, the truth comes out and Cole is beyond angry at Imogen for her "lies". I loved this part! Imogen gives Cole quite the set down - she acknowledges his anger and unleashes hers right back at him - YOU GO GIRL! Cole leaves and it seems like there will be no HEA for these two. But as Cole reflects on her words, he sees the truth in her accusations, he decides to return to her and see if they can salvage their budding relationship. But unbeknownst to him, the murderer has already made his move and Imogen's life is in the balance.

Sigh - I loved this book, it was well written, has steamy love scenes, cameos from all the former couples, as well as Inspector Morley, plenty of action and nail biting moments and a very satisfying ending. This book is the fourth book in the Victorian Rebels series, but it could easily be read as a stand alone. However, I would highly recommend reading the series in order, as that will give you a lot more insight into the type heroes these men are and the women they love.