Mercy Goode strides boldly through life and is no stranger to the occasional tight scrape but getting herself arrested at a murder scene with notorious gangster Raphael Sauvageau is a bit much even for her. She’s initially suspicious of the ruthless smuggler but there is clear evidence he’s not responsible for this particular murder at least.

Raphael is in the middle of putting in motion an elaborate plan to extract himself and his brother from the dangerous life they lead, though it is likely to result in his own death. He can’t afford a distraction, but Mercy continues to pop up in his path, infuriatingly playing the role of would-be detective. The more galling she is, the more charmed he is, and the chemistry between them is so strong they can barely keep their hands off each other any time they’re together. Raphael knows he has no future and yet Mercy makes him feel alive for the first time in his recent memory and she may just be the key to his redemption.

This was a lovely, fast-paced story with an antihero I could really get behind. Raphael just wanted out of a life of darkness he never chose for himself, but he was willing to lose all for his brother. I found that so endearing and revelatory, especially paired with his protectiveness of Mercy, that Raphael had to be a hit for me as a hero. Mercy had to grow on me more, mostly due to her rather caustic personality and tendency to be argumentative just for the sake of contrariness, rather than with any real goal in mind. Her modern feminist views were a bit heavy-handed and overly repeated, but they did fit in with the Victorian age’s leaps toward progress. Her fire was perfect for Raphael and their chemistry and sexual tension was sizzling, yet their steamy scenes managed to be very sweet (the hand holding especially.) I loved that Raphael wasn’t really a bad guy, but just trying to survive the only way he knew how in a position he’d been forced into. I also loved that he accepted Mercy for who she was and in fact loved her for the traits that others found off-putting.

I do wish we’d had time for a little more relationship development and communication between Mercy and Raphael, but this was a short book and their instant connection, especially the way it changed everything for Raphael, was still lovely and worked here with the drama and gravity of the book’s events. I really enjoyed the scene with Carlton Morley late in the book and would’ve loved to see more of his interactions with Raphael just as a tie into them both finding redemption after dark pasts. More affection and affirmation from Mercy during this scene would’ve also been welcome given how Raphael laid his soul bare for her. Either way, I still loved that scene.

I’m excited for how this series is shaping up and I’m hoping for more coverage of Morley’s handling of these gang wars and loving the gritty Victorian setting. Gabriel was a heart-wrenching character and I’m looking forward to getting his full story and super excited for Byrne to write another inexperienced hero.

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

Kerrigan Byrne has created another unforgettable antihero! Raphael Sauvageau is flawed and has a dark side, who's fallen for someone feisty and good.

Mercy Goode, an amateur sleuth is drawn to this man with dubious moral compass but came to realise ultimately that he has noble intentions.

Byrne doesn't write wishy-washy central characters. She creates a beguiling heroine and an intriguing hero. Raphael and Mercy fit each other perfectly. They are interesting and entrancing. Their narrative is compelling. This is a five star read.

I voluntarily read an eGalley copy from NetGalley. This is my honest and impartial review.

This was a quick and easy read. Not as heavy, or long, as her Victorian Rebels or Devil You Know series.

Mercy is a delight. She reminded me of Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher, with her keen eye for observation and having to deal with misogyny and sexism. I loved how she handled herself in a fight. (I've read contemporary stories where the woman is supposed to be a baddass, but she acts weak and helpless in a crisis.) The fact that Byrne kept Mercy's character throughout the story consistent was gratifying to read.

Raphael is the perfect foil for Mercy. A sensitive soul forced into a life of crime, I admired what he wanted to do for his brother at the same time I wanted to throttle him for his self-sacrificing.

My only issue is that I found the ending a bit abrupt. The epilogue does help a bit, but it doesn't quite answer as many questions as I'd hoped.

Still, all in all this was a delightful read. The pacing, characters, dialogue are all marvelous and I'm really looking forward to Felicity's story next!

I received an ARC of this book to read through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. Dancing with Danger by Kerrigan Byrne is the third book in her A Goode Girls Romance series. I think this book should be read in order as part of the series in order to understand the family relationships and characters. The story opens with the murder of a woman that Mercy Goode had been planning to rescue. A confrontation with the police officer assigned to the case leads to her arrest along with notorious crime lord Raphael Savageau. Mercy is everything I could wish in a heroine, feisty, smart and not afraid to ask for what she wants. While not quite as angst filled as some of Kerrigan Byrnes previous books this one provides enough mystery, danger and steam to keep you up reading long past your bedtime. I enjoyed the book and do recommend reading the series. Steam Level: Medium. Publishing Date: February 9, 2021. #DancingWithDanger #KerriganByrne #HistoricalRomance #HistoricalRomanceSeries #OliverHeberBooks #bookstagram #bookstagrammer

This is another fabulous entry in the 'Goode Girls' series that follows the paths of four sisters. While it is part of a series, it can certainly stand on it's own.

The book is a fast read - there's action on almost every page, making it exciting and hard to put down. The main characters are perfect foils who bring out the best and worst of each other. This leads to some pretty steamy exchanges, so be prepared for insane chemistry.

Definitely a must read if you enjoy atypical heroes & heroines who find their happily ever after together.

This is the 3rd book in the Goode Girls Series, featuring Mercy Goode, an adventurous, high-spirited younger sister of Prudence and Honoria, with the leader of the notorious criminal gang The Fauves, Raphael Sauvageau.

Mercy loves detective work, enjoys solving puzzles, and always speaks her mind. When investigating the murder of a friend, she meets Raphael once again, after their first intense encounter from the previous book. Knowing he’s the lord of the underworld, Mercy knows she should not get involved with him, but their sparks and attraction are undeniable!

Raphael was born into the criminal world, where he had no choice but to go on with it. He has a plan in motion to finish it all, until Mercy barges into his life and gives him hopes and a possible brighter future...

While this book is quite steamy 🔥, I found myself wanting more development in their romantic relationship, perhaps because of the short length of the book that doesn’t give enough depths to the main characters, especially when they didn’t have history before. I also had a little bit of pacing issue, where the beginning was quite slow, then it rushed with actions towards the end. If you’re looking for a short read, packed with steam and surprised twists and turns, I’d recommend this book! You can’t go wrong with Kerrigan Byrne and her magic words!

Now I can’t wait for Felicity’s story. It gives me a major Beauty and the Beast vibe, and I’m a total sucker for fairy tale retellings 😂! Also, perhaps virgin hero trope?!?! 🤔

4⭐️ read for me!

*Special thanks to Oliver Heber Books for gifting me this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.*

I really liked Dancing with Danger. I thought it short and sweet, which is also kind of my problem with it. By that I mean that I wanted more: I wish it had been longer and the author had been able to develop things a bit further and with more depth. But I had fun reading it, which is the most important thing. Highly recommend for a quick and fun afternoon reading session.

3.5 I love Kerrigan's historical romance so much! This was a blast and felt really different from a lot of HR I've read. There was a murder mystery aspect added in and a lot of steam between the characters. I also liked that this book was shorter, it really packed a punch for only being 200 something pages! I'm excited to continue on with the series.

Kerrigan Byrne is a masterful storyteller and this book is no exception. The series is well written and as usual her stories are HEA BUT they have heroes that are not your usual run of the mill.. They are often flawed and broken and her stories are often taken down a different path. But broken heroes are often the best kind. When they love they do it with their whole heart. I would buy this again and will definitely be on my re-read list

Mercy Goode is determined to find the murderer of a friend. When detectives do not believe her, she sets out to prove them wrong. Raphael Sauvagear can not convince Mercy to stay out of it and let him find the murderer. Mercy will not stand aside and let him do it alone. Passionate kisses lead them on a path that neither one can stop. When Raphael's life is threatened, Mercy must decide on the most important decision of her life. A fast paced who done it in Victorian England with a scoundrel who wants to change his life. Well played!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.

This ARC was given by Oliver Heber Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you are a fan of Evie Dunmore or A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Murder I HIGHLY recommend that you read this book!

This was hands down one of the best books I have read this book and maybe ever! The beginning of the book caught my attention so fast I felt like I had whiplash. The story starts very quick paced but it did not throw me off for one minute and actually helped keep me tied up in the book. I honestly could not put this book down and I read this book in about 2 or 3 sittings. From the moment we meet Raphael I was intrigued but a little put off due to his rakish ways but soon enough I was head over heels for this man and the romance was WOW! Mercy is one of the most likeable heroines I have ever read and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Kerrigan bring her to life in these pages. Following on this note I do have to say that I loved how very woman forward this book was. Mercy laid down the rules and Raphael was only too happy to follow them.

I will not lie and have to fully admit I did not let myself connect to Raphael right away due to the fact he alluded to his previous lover and I was like 'Um, sir TOO soon'. But, alas he won me over and I cannot say I regret it one bit.

One of my favorite things about this book was how Kerrigan Byrne mentioned World Events that would have been happening at the same time as this book. It kin of threw me off in the sense that most romance authors, but ESPECIALLY historical romance authors do not usually mention or allude to any historical events occurring at that time due to its 'sensitive' or 'controversial' content. Most of the time I do not really care because I can understand the need to keep the stories light or neutral because its a romance novel, not a history book. BUT when an author takes the time and effort to do some research and slip in the event AND allude to the fact that the UK did some very horrible things in the past I notice and I love it. I will not say this was a perfect example of this but the author made the effort where many do not.

Kerrigan Byrne hit just about every note for me with this book and I have just placed my order for a paperback copy and hope you do too!

This book is actually the third book in this series but I honestly did not realize until I decided to see of the older sisters mentioned had gotten their own books. Kerrigan Byrne did a wonderful job in making sure the reader did not feel as though they were missing important information in order to pick this book up. I will say that I will probably go and read the previous books in order to have the full picture and to see the original meeting between Raphael and Mercy. I can NOT wait to see when the next books comes out because I am definitely going to request it and purchase a copy.

Publication Post coming 2/9/2021 on my book Instagram @/bookbaddieb

This book starts with a twist. Mercy Goode is not your typical historical heroine, acting more like Sherlock Holmes than a dainty lady and because of that she has given up hope of ever finding a man. While investing the death of her friend she meets up again with Raphael Sauvageau, the king of the Fauves, a street ruffian with whom she met several months earlier during her sister’s troubles. Raphael is not intimidated by Mercy’s intelligence (he actually like it a lot), but he has other plans than being with her and he doesn’t want to give them up. Until they make a deal, one night together, but what happens when one night is not enough? There is great chemistry and tension between Mercy and Raphael right from the start and both are strong characters ( no wish-washy historical leads in this book). They are both motivated by the love of their families and you get to see a lot of familiar faces. Their relationship seems a little fast if you don’t realize that they have met before and I recommend reading Nora’s story to learn more about their beginning, but they are both so likable that you can’t help wishing their relationship was even faster. The murder mystery twist will also keep you reading, rushing to find out who did it. This is a must read historical romance with a bit of a modern flair and I can’t wait for the final Goode sister’s story. 5 stars. I received an arc copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review.

I’m all about the hero of the story, but Ms. Byrne writes heroines that are so unique they are as exciting to meet as her heroes. Mercy is proof this is the case. She was self confident in her abilities, even if they did not meld with society’s expectations. And although she was aware of her inability to attract a suitor, she didn’t let it sway who she was at heart. I absolutely adored everything about her and loved watching her relationship with Raphael develop.

”She’d come to terms with the fact that she was a thorn in the collective side of the world at large.

Forever too much or not enough.”

Raphael was pretty unique on his own. With a French accent, a dubious background, and a streak of protectiveness for those he loves, I read his actions and decisions with bated breath, uncertain what the ultimate outcome would be. Watching him with Mercy was heat inducing as he was forthright and pretty bold with her. With each page I fell harder and harder into love with him.

”No. He was not mysterious, this man. He wore his darkness. Advertised his sins. Pinned his emotions to his suit like a badge of honor.”

This is filled with drama, mystery and action that kept me on my toes. Whatever secret Raphael was keeping had me turning pages as quickly as possible only to slow them way down once the steam factor came into play. After all, when you’ve got the chemistry and heat that resided between Mercy and Raphael on the page in front of you, it’s a biological response.

This was a good addition to the series. I loved Mercy , i just wished she had done more detecting to find the killer. Raphael is very intriguing. I liked that the author didn't try to redeem him but had Mercy accept him as is

Absolutely loved this book! The plot and romance were amazing. I love Mercy’s determination in solving her friend’s murder and her bravery and boldness. Raphael treats Mercy like she is the light in his dark world. He respects her and I love them together so much. Their first time together was so intimate. They really craved each other and wanted to savor the time. Great twists. I love the brotherly love between Raphael and Gabriel. Brothers that can depend on each other until the end. The ending was wonderful. I’m so pumped for Felicity and Gabriel’s story!

*Received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Dancing with Danger is the latest installment of the Goode Girls series and it’s hard to be objective with Kerrigan Byrne novels at this point, because I would literally read her grocery list and give it 5 stars. But if you haven’t read her before, I promise that this one is so much fun!

Mercy is not some meek girl. Within the first few pages you see the kind of backbone and spirit she possesses and it’s easy to see why Raphael is so enchanted. As a lady in the pursuit of a mystery and determined to not let anyone get in her way, I loved that Raphael wasn’t in any attempt to change her.

There is a curiosity and respect between the two of them and it transcends into some very very hot moments together. In fact, as soon as they are in proximity to each other you can almost feel the tension. I know that sounds silly but as I was reading the banter back and forth between them I would find myself going re-reading certain moments and just basking in their attraction to one another, even when Mercy was trying so very hard to not give in to it. I love when I get so caught up in how to characters interact with each other that I simply enjoy taking my time and going over favorite moments, dialogue, etc. And this one I kept going back and reading quotes I highlighted because they just made me feel ALL the things.

I am equally excited for Felicity and Gabrielle’s book in the upcoming Tempting Fate that is out in May. This book really help set up some intrigue for how those two are going to be together and I cannot wait.

4.5 stars

Featured on my Rake Finder feature on the blog- https://ladylovesbookreviews.com/meet-raphael-sauvageau/

A new Kerrigan Byrne always gets me excited. This continues the story set up from Courting Trouble. It was obvious from the moment that met at the end of that book that there was a serious spark between Raphael and Mercy Goode and this book did not disappoint. The issue though is I think this book needed a couple more pages to develop the character and their story line. Everything felt quite rushed except scenes between the brothers which I really enjoyed. I also liked seeing Morley and Titus.

I am so looking forward to Gabriel and Felicity! These babies deserve all the love.

Thanks to NetGalley and Gnarly Wool Publishing for the ARC

In German, the word Fernweh, translates roughly to homesickness for a place you've never been. In this book, I feel like both Mercy and Rafael feel that concept very strongly. Mercy is a young beautiful debutante who absolutely does not fit in to her world. She is smart and completely uninterested in all the things she is supposed to be. She doesn't want to marry anyone and would have made an excellent detective (if that was a profession open to her). Rafael is a gangster - who is very good at running his crew - the Fauves. He was born into the life and can't escape it. He and his brother are extremely close - they really trust no one else or truly care for anyone else. He's made plans to get his brother medical help and to have them both disappear (in death or apparent death).

When Mercy and Rafael first met their instant attraction was clear - but two people could not be from more different walks of life. That being said, they are both so similar. Adventurous, strong, passionate, and bold. As Mercy says at one point, they've known each other for all of five minutes, but with their level of passion is it any doubt that they fall head over heals for each other so quickly?

This book happens over a very very short period of time and you can really feel the intensity of the events and the feelings. Kerrigan Byrne remains the true mistress of anti-heroes and heroines who don't just break the mold - they smash it to smithereens. This book is absolutely no exception to that.

I have adored every story in this series - and highly recommend this one. I am DYING to read Gabriel and Felicity's book. It cannot come soon enough.

I was extremely lucky to receive this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own.

Kerrigan Byrne is one of my favorite authors! I have enjoyed many of her series over the years, and was very excited for this spinoff from one of her other series. I was looking forward to Dancing with Danger so much after reading the previous book in the series and meeting the Sauvageau brothers.

Although overall I enjoyed this book, the characters and the plot, I felt that the book was a bit short and that the plot moved too quickly to make the book as enjoyable as it could have been. From their initial meeting at the murder scene to meeting at the zoo and then planning their rendezvous, it just moved very fast in my opinion.

The resolution at the end of the book also just seemed to fall into place rather quickly and efficiently and I think the book would have benefited from having a bit more conflict and a slower build up.

I realize that perhaps the plan for this series is to have generally shorter books than some of Kerrigan's others, but it didn't bother me in the previous book in the series as much as it did in this one. I just think it needed a bit more. Still really enjoyed it though! I hope the next one has more of a build up!

I love the way that Kerrigan Byrne writes. Her characters have so much depth and development. She tugs on your emotions and draws you in so well into the story.

"She'd never understood why Eve bit into the apple. Not until this very moment. Not until this man with shining hazel eyes and a voice made of velvet and vice tempted her beyond reason."

Raphael and Mercy have the BEST banter and chemistry. It was the perfect enemies to lovers but add in alota passion. Mercy Goode is strong-willed, intelligent, perceptive, and outspoken. When one of their friends, Mathilde, was murdered, she is determined to find the murderer. She was the historical version of Nancy Drew! As she works to solve the murder of Mathilde, she crosses paths with the dangerous Raphael Sauvageau. Raphael is the PERFECT anti-hero. He is everything alpha, brooding, dangerous, and lives in a state of grey. He had a damaged past and scars. I loved his relationship with his brother Gabriel. I loved this story, but it set up Gabriel and Felicity's story so well. I am so excited for the next book in the Goode Girl series.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review