I received a copy of this title from the publisher for an honest review. The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo can be read as a standalone, but I would recommend reading the first of the Victorian Rebel's title, The Highwayman featuring Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More.

The story begins in prison where a young man is getting a tattoo of a map that is supposed to lead to treasure; several men storm the cell and begin to beat him until he blacks out. Lorelai Weatherstoke is riding home in a carriage with her indifferent father and cruel brother when she spots what appears to be a body at the side of the road. After convincing her brother, Mortimer, and father to stop the carriage, they discover a naked and badly injured young man. They take him back to their house where a local doctor and Lorelai nurse him back to health. The young man doesn't remember his name or anything before he awakened so Lorelai names him Ash.

Lorelai's brother is cruel and enjoys nothing more than torturing her. Ash quickly falls for Lorelai and feels helpless to protect Lorelai from her brother. Lorelai and Ash are falling in love, but because she is only 15, Ash doesn't feel it appropriate to declare his feelings. Mortimer takes Ash to a nearby town to get a suit to wear for an apprenticeship arranged by Lorelai's father when Ash disappears. Mortimer reports Ash remembered who is was and went back to his previous life leaving Lorelai to spend the next 10 years suffering under her brother's cruelty.

10 years later and on day of her wedding forced on her by her brother, the notorious pirate The Rook comes and frees her from her brother and fiance as well as kidnapping her and her sister-in-law. A captive aboard a pirate ship, Lorelai eventually realizes that Rook is her beloved Ash. While Lorelai struggles to reconcile the man in front of her to her childhood love, Ash struggles to realize that his feelings are more than just a possession but instead a reflection of love he believes himself in capable of.

There is the mystery of the treasure and Ash's true background that keep the reader racing through the pages to see how it will end. Fans of Byrne's books will love the pirate hero of this book. Damaged by events no one should have to experience, Rook struggles to understand what it means to feel and be loved.

This book was incredible. I am going to be book hungover for a while. A long while.

There is no one who writes tortured heroes as effectively as Kerrigan Byrne. I have almost no words. I don't know what think or how to exist anymore. Let me enumerate my feelings.

I'm SO HAPPY Dorian is found. The Rook gets his book! I could honestly go on forever about how ecstatic I was to get my hands on this story. Poor Dorian! He has been with us from book one, just lurking. lost. FOR FIVE BOOKS! It's about damn time! I am happy to say that this book was all that I'd hoped for and more.

Dammit Morley! I KNEW there was more to ole' Dead Eye than meets the eye. I needed that glimpse into his past, and now I need his future. I won't say anything more because spoilers. But I want to! AH!

Lorelei is amazing. She is everything I didn't know he needed. It takes a strong human to forgive habitual cruelty. Especially when it is delivered by someone who should protect you. Lorelei is strength and grace personified. Rather than become bitter as so many would, she helps other broken things. I found myself loving her for it.

I have more, but I am going to stop gushing now. Suffice it to say, readers of the series will already know they NEED this book. Everyone else should definitely start at the beginning and read the whole thing. It is vital. No reader can be complete without experiencing the gut wrenching emotion delivered by Kerrigan Byrne.

Ok, there's no doubt that Kerrigan Byrne is an outstanding writer. And I'm happy that my break from historical romance has come to an end with one of her novels, a pirates one no less...and as always, the moment I finish one of her stories I have an overwhelming need to read the next one, which she masterfully anticipates in the last lines of all her romances (and honestly, Veronica and Sebastian - I think, I hope - CAN'T WAIT!).

But, there is a but. I found <i>The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo</i>, at times, way too sugary, way too dramatic (all considered of course), and possibly a bit too fast-paced.
One of the things that I loved the most in all her previous stories is indeed that I found them perfectly timed, all fell exactly into the right place, and most of all, the relationship between the protagonists felt so real. And although I will still consider this one a great story, I think in some instances it lacked that.

I really loved this book. This series is great historical romance with interesting antiheroes and strong heroines. I loved learning The Rook’s story and how he fits with the other characters in this series.

There was everything in this book that makes it a good romance. A hero who has dark secrets, a heroine with a heart of gold, a treasure hunt, murder and mayhem.
Ash and Lorraine are two souls meant to be together. Twenty years after they parted ways, they come together and over the course of the book, are able to heal each other's souls. It is not your average romance that is girl meets boy and falls in love. Kerrigan Byrne manages to sneak in a treasure hunt, a troubled past, abuse, and lots of love into this story. An absolute feel-good tale.

OMG!! Why can't I give this 6 stars? The Duke With The Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne is a must read for historical romance junkies. Ms. Byrne has provided us with an action-packed, well-written, amazing book. She then went a step further and loaded the book with phenomenal characters. Lorelai nurses a young man, found beaten and burned along the roadside, and nurses him back to health. She gives him the name Ash because he has no memories and doesn't know who he is. Ash and Lorelai's story twists and turns through time. Heartbreak, fear and violence are their companions. There's plenty of drama, action, humor, sizzle and suspense that will keep readers glued to this book from cover to cover. The Duke With The Dragon Tattoo is book 6 of the Victorian Rebels Series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

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

If you like your regencies with a bit of darkness and intrigue this one's for you.
A pair of broken souls, meant for each other, find their way through their own private hells to each other and finally...to their eternal joy...a marriage always meant to be. The characters with all the virtues and flaws are complex and people you'd love to have in your inner circle.
Ms. Byrne is a talented who portrays the injustice and the hopelessness for some in this period piece...but finishes it with a lovely ending.
I received a NetGalley ARC gratis for my honest opinion.

I have been left speechless. I have no idea what to say about this book other than that it was amazing. Kerrigan Byrne takes romance to a whole other level. She is able to take these damaged and broken characters and make them whole. The second chance romance is usually my least favorite of tropes but Ash and Lorelei were perfect. They were meant to be. I loved how everything fell into place with the characters revealing their pasts. I could have done without the little cliffhanger at the end but otherwise this book was perfection.
Thank you to the publisher for an advanced review copy of this book.

I was given a copy of this book for an honest review. Dorian, Ash, the Rook....what a life he suffered through. Lorelei too, has suffered at the hands of an abusive brother. Fate brings them together, evil tears them apart. I loved the flow of this story, loved the supporting cast too. I felt Ash' s pain at the horror he encountered and caused. I won't spoil the story, but this new story in a wonderful series is terrific.

The book starts out as a solid 4 star read. But the further I read the more I was pulled into the story. With a despicable home life how does she say sweet? Mortimer was truly awful! And daddy was such a wimp. Lorelei sees redeeming qualities in one of the most ruthless men on earth. I thought the story was compelling and kept me reading to see what happened. There are pirates, treasures, love and drama. What more can we ask in a book?
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher I got to enjoy this story.

The Rook is the most feared pirate to ever sail the oceans. He cannot remember his name nor his life prior to Lorelei Weatherstoke saving him. After twenty years of separation, the Rook braves capture to fulfill his promise to her. Lorelei is everything he remembers and more. In an attempt to salvage his humanity, the Rook claims Lorelei as his wife. He encounters the missing parts of his lost past when he resumes his search for the fabled Claudius Cache. Will Lorelei’s love be the Rook’s salvation? Or is he doomed to remain the monster everyone perceives him to be?
Lorelei Weatherstoke is the crippled daughter of the Earl of Southbourne. She spends the majority of her life doctoring and championing wounded animals. Lorelei prays for the day she can escape her older brother’s cruel bullying. A dark, avenging angel swoops in to save her from an unwanted marriage. The Rook wears the face of Lorelei’s beloved Ash, yet he is no longer the boy she remembers. Can Lorelei accept the Rook’s dark and dangerous side? Or will his past deeds stand in the way of their future happiness?
I have always been curious about the obvious ties between the Rook and the Blackheart of Ben More since book five, THE SCOT BEDS HIS WIFE. The author threaded the right amount of dark mystery around him to create ample anticipation, for example - his ability to escape authorities’ custody. I adore the fact that he kept his promise about returning to Lorelei, despite the odds stacked against him. But, what I love the most about him is how the Rook used Lorelei’s memory to tether him to his deteriorating humanity. No matter the abuse or the cruelty he faced, Lorelei gave him the reason to endure and survive.
Lorelei is no stranger to the harsh whims of another’s cruelty. She never once allowed the ugliness of her brother’s malice to taint her or dim her compassionate nature. I admire that about her. I like how Lorelei tries to help any weaker and less fortunate than her. Animal or man, it makes no difference to her. But, what I like the most about Lorelei is how she becomes the Rook’s beacon of light in his dark, dreary existence.
THE DUKE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is book six in Kerrigan Byrne’s exceptional historical romance series, VICTORIAN REBELS. I love how Dorian Blackwell, the hero from book one, THE HIGHWAYMAN, plays a pivotal role in the second half of the story. I always enjoy reacquainting with couples from prior books.
THE DUKE WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO is a bittersweet tale of two wounded, kindred souls overcoming their tortured pasts to find love and happiness together. Kerrigan Byrne is a master at writing unforgettable tortured characters. I hope the author plans to write Sebastian Moncrieff’s book next.

I’ve read almost all of the books in this series. Some I absolutely love and others, not so much. This book falls into the latter category. It starts off so strong, I couldn’t put it down. Things quickly go down hill from there. The first thing I had an issue with was the timing. Twenty years? Really? It may just be a personal thing but I thought that a bit too much. And I didn’t care for how her brother was handled. Just one sentence and he’s dealt with. I wanted more. And to add on the entire book happens in less than a week. Come on. I want more than that! I did enjoy how she tied up the ending and we understand so much more about Ash. It’s an okay read if you enjoy the series but it will definitely not be a re-read for me.

Each new addition to the Victorian Rebels series has left me feeling as though I've received a rare and precious gift. The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo, firmly re-established that belief!

Byrne crafts her characters from faulty molds, fills them with bone and blood, and makes them beautiful in their imperfections. No cookie cutter, heroes or heroines allowed. But it's the hearts and tattered souls that she infuses them with that make them truly unforgettable.

Ash and Lorelei's story is impossible to put down and the way it is woven within the rich tapestry of the entire series, as much as you adore the ending, the idea of waiting for the Rebel's story to continue is a joyous kind of torture.

I loved this book so much. The intrigue from the beginning really drew me in and the connection between the two main characters even as children. This was the first book I’ve read by Kerrigan Byrne and even though there were 5 books previous to this one, there wasn’t anything that I didn’t understand and am so keen to read the ones before this.
My favourite thing about this book is the way that the author really makes you feel the emotions the characters feel. I’m so looking forward to more from her, I have high hopes that Veronica’s second husband is who I want it to be! 5 stars!

Lorelei saves an 18 year old young man who lost his memory from deadly injuries. He falls in love with her but before he can make a proposition her mean brother makes him disappear, and it takes him 20 years to come back to her, meanwhile morphed into a cold-hearted pirate.
Will she be able to crack him and find the sweet boy again she lost 20 years ago?

While I did overall enjoy it, the beginning was a little too assault-like for me. I think the book would have done better if the first few encounters hadn't been that way.

This was a different tale than what I was expecting. Some aspects were graphic, emotional and I finished it in hours. It is my first time reading this author and am intrigued to read more. Thank you Netgalley.

Holy crap what an awesome story! You might want to keep a fire extinguisher handy in case of combustion! This book is so hot! The tension and desire between these characters is so intense! Thanks Kerrigan!

This book was not what I was expecting but a good read nonetheless. A story with many strands to be untangled, some of which were with surprising results. Would recommend this

Lorelei will never forget the night she rescued the broken dark angel in the woods, a devilishly handsome man who haunts her dreams to this day. Crippled as a child, she devoted herself to healing the poor tortured man. And when he left, he took a piece of her heart with him. Now, after all these years, The Rook has returned. Like a phantom, he sweeps back into her life and avenges those who wronged her. When I started reading I couldn't put it down.Kerrigan Byrne is magnifysent writer.I cannot wait to read more of there books.Keep up the great work.You should definitely read this book.