3.5 stars. I enjoyed this novel about shy and anxiety-prone Felicity and her brooding bodyguard Gabriel. Gabriel's back story was heartbreaking, but I liked the way he was able to slowly put it behind him by placing his focus on Felicity instead. Felicity was a unique historical heroine in that she very clearly dealt with anxiety attacks. I appreciated the fact that this didn't turn into something that needed to be fixed of cured. Instead, it was just a part of who she was, and the only thing that changed was that Gabriel was there to help her get through them by supporting her and offering her comfort.
The progression of their relationship was well paced and entertaining. Gabriel's pining was so tangible at times, and it was nice to see when he was finally able to get out of his own way and pursue her.

I would have liked to have seen the conflict play out on page a bit more though. I think it fell a bit to the background towards the middle before making a big return in the end for the climax. It was like the puzzle pieces we got in the beginning had been hastily put together in the end. It made me feel like I missed some clues that I would have gotten had I read the previous novels. It didn't take away from my enjoyment of the romance though, so I'm rounding up and giving Gabriel and Felicity 4 stars!

I wanted this story 2 books ago, and was very happy to get my hands on this. Gabriel had an insta crush on sweet Felicity Goode. Though dealing with some self esteem issues, he would never act on those feelings.

Now an opportunity lands in his lap, literally. He still believes he's no good for her, but just the thought of someone trying to hurt Felicity has Gabriel going bonkers. Thus lots of close proximity, dangerous situations, and temptation is here.

I did love the mystery element, and you are kept guessing 'till the end. Though it also did all feel a bit rushed. For a shy, introvert, Felicity is quickly taken with her impressive bodyguard. I liked it, and I liked the writing, kind of just wished it was a bit longer and more fleshed out.

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Be still my heart. One of my very favorite storylines of the wounded, scarred hero, finding he can be loved and redeemed with the right woman.. In this case, the one who totally captured his heart the first time he saw her.

Having been head of a ruthless gang with his brother Raphael, they had faked their deaths to get out of that life and make a new one. His brother had married Mercy, our heroine, Felicity.'s twin. Having been scarred terribly, he has gone through many surgeries but still feels vulnerable.

Felicity if the last sister who has always been shy and timid, the exact opposite of her twin Mercy (which we know all about in her story!) She tries to build up her courage, but when she finds her life threatened, she hires Gabriel to guard her.

Danger, a mystery and a wonderful love brings this story full circle and only leaves you with a hugh sigh and a smile. Loved, loved this book! If you have not read this series, start at the beginning and you will find a wonderful, strong connection.

This is the 4th book in the series and my first one that I have read in it. While I was a little lost in some parts of the back story I still fully enjoyed this book. I will definitely be going back and reading the whole series, and I recommend for full enjoyment you do the same.

In some ways this a like a beauty and the beast retelling with some spins/ secrets that they both have throughout the book. Gabriel is a beast/ tough guy that really is a cinnamon roll who just wanted to check on the woman he is pining for but ends up her bodyguard. You know it and you love it... bodyguard romance for the win. The epilogue blew me out of the water, and fully made me fall in love even more with Gabriel.

What an amazing book!! I loved Gabriel and Felicity My heart broke for Gabriel's story but Felicita is the perfect match for him.

Beauty and the Beast, sort of...

I'm thoroughly enjoying the Goode Girls books. After a major misstep with the Devil You Know series (Book 1 had a hideous duke as the "hero") Kerrigan Byrne redeems herself with the Goode Girls. I found I quite liked the total opposites of Gabriel and Felicity.

Gabriel is fascinated by the vulnerable and shy Felicity. She's everything he is not. Soft, dainty, and shy.
Gabriel is rough and a fighter hired to be her bodyguard. Well, he certainly wants to guard her body.
Somewhere in the middle these two opposites meet, because in many ways, they are alike.

Recommend.

4.5/5

I have become a die-hard fan of Ms. Byrne since discovering her recently. This is the 4th in the Goode Sisters series and the third that I have read (I need to go back and read the first).

This one features the youngest sister, Felicity, who is the more shy and socially awkward of the sisters. Felicity will inherit her neglectful father's shipping business as well as his fortune if she marries a peer, however, she is not looking forward to choosing a husband. Out-of-the-blue she is accosted on the street one day (she doesn't see his face) and told that what's hers will be his, one way or another. Frightened, she hires a body guard. Gabriel, a wealthy former gang leader who was horrifically disfigured as a teenager, has been secretly in love with Felicity from their first of only two meetings (he saved her life at the second one). Felicity's brother-in-law performs reconstructive surgery and Gabriel becomes Gareth to stay safe from his former enemies. When he discovers Felicity has been assaulted, he becomes her body guard even though he knows it will be difficult to be near her and not profess his love.

Felicity is a sweetheart with a big heart, and Gabriel is a giant of a man who has only known violence in his life. Logically, they don't make sense together, but Felicity feels safe with Gabriel and sees beyond his gruff exterior to the good man underneath. Gabriel falls deeper in love as he gets to know Felicity as a woman who is open, honest and accepting of him as he is. These two are so wonderful as a couple. And the bedroom scenes are sweet AND spicy, which I have found to be hallmarks of Ms. Byrne's writing.

Recommended.

Many thanks to #NetGalley and #OliverHeberBooks for providing me the free early ARC for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

Tempting Fate by Kerrigan Byrne is a historical romance following Felicity Goode, a naive young woman who has been sheltered from the evil of the world until she is an tragic accident and gallantly saved by Gabriel. Gabriel is involved in a terrifying gang and his disfigured body adds to the myth of his misdeeds. However when Felicity tries to contact Gabriel to thank him for saving her life, she learns he dies due to injury, cementing him as her hero. After her parents death, Felicity returns to the marriage circuit as her father's will requires she marries a nobleman but there are others who want her estate that they are willing to kill for it. Soon after, Felicity hires a brooding bodyguard to protect her that reminds her of someone from her past.

Felicity is not the typical heroine that I root for but the author was able to make Felicity a lovable character. I also appreciated that we saw development in Felicity and how she acknowledges when she has been naive. I loved being able to read what Felicity thought of Gabriel and how she was the only one that saw the true, kind man that he really was. However Gabriel is the character that stole the show! His inner dialogue was sweet and gentle, yet raw at the same time. It was palpable how he felt about Felicity yet he was so restrained even if it pained him. Although he had a hard exterior, he was absolute putty in Felicity's arms which I adored! Nothing makes me swoon more than a man that is prickly with everyone but the heroine.

Although I enjoyed the inner monologues I think a bit more dialogue between Felicity and Gabriel would have strengthened their relationship on the page even more. I also think some of the dialogue with Felicity's sister and husband was a bit rushed and I would have like them to interact with Gabriel more so they would understand his heart as well as Felicity did. However I did not read the previous books so I think that may have helped me understand the dynamic a bit better so I think that may have contributed. Regardless, this was a lovely romance and I am adding backlist books from the author to my TBR! I can't wait to see what the author writes next because she writes thorny cinnamon rolls so well!

Many thanks to the publisher Oliver Heber Books and Netgalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.

This is the last book in the Goode sisters series. This is the story of the youngest daughter, Felicity.
This was a very sweet story of two people who need each other, who balance each other out. She needs his fierceness and he needs her tenderness and love.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I'd like to thank Netgalley for the chance to review this book.

This was such an incredibly emotional romance. Such tragedy experienced by the main characters, particularly Gabriel. The way they each found solace in each other was so achingly sweet and the depth of his feelings for her were devastating. The words of his ultimate declaration melted me into a puddle of goo and I'm still trying to piece myself together again. This was a truly beautiful story. #netgalley #temptingfate

Tempting Fate (A Goode Girls Romance Book 4) by Kerrigan Byrne is quite entertaining. I really enjoyed this 4th book in the series. Good characters and a solid couple.

This is the first in this series I have read, but I have already purchased one of the earlier novels based on the strength of this romance. Felicity is the shy Goode sister, while Gabriel has been raised with violence, horribly disfigured from it, and still shows scarring evidence after multiple surgeries. When Felicity needs a bodyguard, Gabriel stands ready, and thus begins a version of Beauty and the Beast. Highly recommended.

Tempting Fate by Kerrigan Byrne
Release: 11th of May 2021
Series: Goode Girls
Book: 4


Tempting Fate gave me exactly what I needed- a beast of a man turned soft hearted for his love. I will always be a sucker for bears of men who turn into sweet creatures for the one woman gentle enough to soothe them.

Tempting Fate is book 4 of the Goode Girls series and this was by far my favourite of the series. I adored both characters with such vehemence and when I saw the scene where the men of the family stood between Gabriel and Felicity Goode my heart stopped. How could anyone look at the very clear devotion Gabriel offered Felicity and think that he could in any way harm her.

There was a moment when Gabriel looked at Felicity and thought that she was the only person in the world who could hurt him - his heart. And my whole body ached for them.

I adore a man who wants more than anything to see that the woman he loves is safe and happy. And in all honesty, the monologue that Gabriel delivers at the end rivals even the moment between Mr Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett in terms of declaration for love for me. (Which is high praise indeed as I will always return to that scene from Pride and Prejudice)

I will always love a woman who is able to be soft in the face of the world and who is aware of her own flaws and allows us to watch her strengthen and flourish with the support of those around her.

Felicity loves with her whole heart, and the balance that Gabriel and Felicity strike together is remarkable and so well balanced between them. They complement each other so wholesomely that my whole body and soul reacted to them when they came together.

Was I happy with the amount of steam in the books? Yes. The balance between romance and smut was entirely as I needed it.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Xpresso Book Tours and Gnarly Wool Publishing for letting me read this eARC.

I loved this book! Great characters, riveting story, danger and mystery. I received an arc of this book.

Thank you Oliver Heber and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Felicity, the last unwed Goode sister, is the shy and quiet one, prone to anxiety attacks. Gabriel Sauvageau, the leader of a criminal organization with a hideously disfigured face, saved her life and died as a result. Or so Felicity thinks. Actually, he had facial reconstructive surgery, making him unrecognizable to Felicity. Obsessed with making sure Felicity is okay, Gabriel lurks around and accidentally gets hired as her bodyguard, which means he has to stay by her side all the time and sleep next door... I think we all know where this is heading! 😂

This book, consistent with the other Goode sister books, is a reliably fun and action packed read that is on the shorter side. The set up with Gabriel getting a new face so Felicity doesn’t recognize him is an inspired move. And the bodyguard element delivers on all front — the protectiveness, the tenderness and the action. What I always like in Kerrigan Bryne’s writing is how she injects unexpected moments of humor in stories that are otherwise pretty dark, and this one is no exception!

Sometimes you know right from the start that a book is going to be great. It was like that right from the beginning with this book. With secrets all around, I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Felicity and Gabriel are two people who believe themselves to be damaged realize but come to realize that they can be accepted as they are, especially when they bring out the best (or in some cases, the worst) in each other.

3.5 stars rounded up. This was a bit different tonally from the other novellas in the series. Given Gabriel's background, I was expecting something darker and grittier, but it ended up being more about him not feeling worthy of Felicity's affections. Perhaps because I was expecting something different, this felt slower paced than usual for Kerrigan Byrne's books. That said, I did enjoy getting to finally see Felicity and Gabriel have the spotlight and see their romance develop. They were well matched despite their very different backgrounds and temperaments. It was also nice to briefly see the other Goode sisters and their husbands (and children!) to round out the series. The introduction of even more Goode siblings was surprising, but since I will gladly read anything Byrne writes I am looking forward to seeing how this new chapter in the series plays out.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing an ARC for review!

Like most of Byrne's books, Tempting Fate bring readers a sweet romance with a hint of mystery. The last unattached Goode Sister, Felicity is the sole heiress of her parent's estate. After a stranger threatens her in broad daylight she quickly puts out an ad requesting interviewees for a bodyguard. Felicity runs into Gabriel, literally, and hires his looming hulky self to guard her.

Throughout the series, Felicity has been characterized as fragile with a sweet, timid heart. Easily frightened, Felicity essentially in a permanent state of anxiety. With her POV, we see it is more of an anxiety disorder and a tendency to swoon at the sight of blood. Her family's coddling and over protective antics certainly aren't helping her. Her panic attacks could be triggering so please read with care. I thoroughly enjoyed her love of gardening and the practical applications of salves for her brother-in-law's hospital (Titus). A sweet, withdrawn heroine like her paired with a tormented, gruff male is the perfect combo.

Gabriel is a man described as the personification of violence. Tightly controlled violence wrapped up in a scarred, muscular package. Gabriel is brutal, enjoys a bit of violence, but also is a straight up cinnamon roll for Felicity. It was adorable to see him a bit flustered around her. I have been fascinated with Gabriel since Nora's book and was surprised with the direction his character took when it was his turn to shine. It's not often that I read about a virgin hero so that was a nice surprise! I wouldn't label this book as particularly steamy, but it does have some enjoyable chemistry between the characters.

While I enjoyed the characters, this romance fell a little short of the mark for me. Maybe I hyped Felicity's book up too much before reading it? I found myself wanting more of... something while I was reading it. The pace was very quick and only seemed to speed up with each page. I love a good build up in tension paired with exchanges in the couple that really illustrate who they are; when the tendre develops from a flutter to full on love. We enter the story with Gabriel already head over heels, but Felicity's admiration was a bit lacking in the swoon department. I wanted to see them interact more and enjoy more of those sweet moments from both sides. I didn't care for the family suddenly bursting onto the scene. I know we needed to reveal Gabriel's true name at some point but this particular scene didn't work for me.

While I have misgivings about the pacing of the romance, I adored the ending and the epilogue, and I did enjoy Gabriel and Felicity together but I wanted more time with them.

Final note that no one asked for: Titus's position in my heart is secure. Gabriel had potential but I needed more time with him.

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

Love how this series came together. You’d think it would end now that Felicity, the youngest daughter, has her story but stick around til the end and the possibility of a longer series is evident. Felicity and Gabriel are truly a dynamic couple, complete opposites in every way but have much in common. It’s been a bumpy ride for the girls since their parents died and the men in their lives have decided to do everything to protect them. This is probably my favorite book in the series, I received an early copy through Netgalley and have written my review voluntarily.

Felicity is indeed Good!

I do like the Beauty and the Beast trope. You know, where the damaged bad guy, with big heart, falls in love with fragile miss who turns out to be not so fragile. Over protected? Yes! A few quirks? Yes, but never helpless!
Felicity Goode is a lovely heroine, innocent and yet determined, kind and able to see to the heart of people, carrying her own set of burdens. Misunderstood and frequently misjudged. Shy, determined not to marry. The burden of being an heiress means she’s sort after by those desiring a wealthy bride and those with more nefarious ideas in mind. Threats against her has Felicity considering a body guard. Misunderstanding has Felicity employing a scarred hulking man she runs into as she navigated her way from the greenhouse to the house.
Gabriel Sauvageau had previously rescued Felicity from a masquerade for figures of the underbelly of London. A gathering that that had gone terribly wrong. Felicity had never seen his face. Eschewing his life as a leading underground figure, Gabriel had taken the opportunity to disappear, but watching over Felicity draws him back.
Unexpectedly finding himself employed by her, they both find that closeness a thing of substance.
Watching them both struggle with their particular challenges, and scramble around the electricity between them is both delightful and fraught.
Felicity is the Goode girl I adore. Gabriel is the damaged hero, gentled by acceptance, changed and challenged, that brings the fairy tale to life.

An Xpresso Book Tours ARC via NetGalley
(Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)