Book Review-The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne

The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne
Also in this series: The Hunter, The Highlander, The Duke, The Scot Beds His Wife, The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo, The Highwayman
Series: Victorian Rebels #1
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on September 1st 2015
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 384
Format: Paperback
Source: Library
ISBN: 1250076056

They’re rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the women who love them, a hint of danger only makes the heart beat faster…
STEALING BEAUTYDorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More, is a ruthless villain. Scarred and hard-hearted, Dorian is one of London’s wealthiest, most influential men who will stop at nothing to wreak vengeance on those who’ve wronged him…and will fight to the death to seize what he wants. The lovely, still innocent widow Farah Leigh Mackenzie is no exception—and soon Dorian whisks the beautiful lass away to his sanctuary in the wild Highlands…
COURTING DESIREBut Farah is no one’s puppet. She possesses a powerful secret—one that threatens her very life. When being held captive by Dorian proves to be the only way to keep Farah safe from those who would see her dead, Dorian makes Farah a scandalous proposition: marry him for protection in exchange for using her secret to help him exact revenge on his enemies. But what the Blackheart of Ben More never could have imagined is that Farah has terms of her own, igniting a tempestuous desire that consumes them both. Could it be that the woman he captured is the only one who can touch the black heart he’d long thought dead?　

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Summary

Dorian Blackwell, is a villain, and rose up from the alleyways of the worst slums in London, to become the powerful man he is today. He does what needs to be done to survive and the horrors of his past made him into what he is today. Farah Leigh Mackenzie, hasn’t had an easy time in her life. When she was young, she got married and for a short while they were happy. Until he was taken away from her, and now she is a widow and for years she hasn’t even thought about another man, until she meets the dark and dangerous Dorian. Then Dorian kidnaps her and takes her up to Scotland, because her life is in grave danger and only by marrying Dorian will Farah be protected. Soon Dorian and Farah’s lives are intertwined and they discover a hidden passion and an abiding love that will surprise them both. Will the terrors of their pasts haunt their futures, or will embracing their new founded love be the healing balm they need?

The Hero

Dorian Blackwell, had a rough childhood and even a tougher adulthood. He spent most of his youth in prison, and befriended a few other that have his back. The only people in the world that he has ever trusted. Dorian is deadly and dangerous and no one dares cross him. Dorian has learned how to survive in the worst of places in London, and worked his way up the ladder to be the most feared and powerful man in England. He has power and wealth and no one can touch him. He has no weakness, until he comes across miss Farah Leigh and he is lost in what she offers him.

“My sweet Fairy.” He exhaled on a painful breath. “You can’t imagine darkness. You are the only light I’ve ever known.”

Dorian is one sexy alpha male you could never get enough of. He is the type of character you crave to read in historical romance. I just wanted more and more of him as the story progressed. I love his dangerous allure, his sensuality and all that emotional tortured feel his character gives off. Potent to the core!!

The Heroine

Farah Leigh has been hidden away most of her life. She lost her closest friend and her husband, a man she committed herself to when she was just too young but much in love. Farah is strong and sweet and kind. She works for Scotland Yard as a secretary, and loves her work. She lives to uphold the law and she still yearns for what she once had a lost years previous. Farah isn’t weak or naive, and she takes Dorian in full stride. I love that she stands up to him when no one else does; even though she fears him she doesn’t back down when she truly believes in what is right. I love how her character develops and the way she treats Dorian. She handles him in just the right way, stands up to him but she also compromises with him so they both stand on even ground. She is solid both emotionally and physically. Even though she has suffered a low blow in life, she doesn’t let that weaken her…it makes her even stronger.

Plot and Story Line

The Highwayman is one of the best romances I have read this year!! My goodness, I have found a new love in this author and she writes historical romance the way it should be written. Full of depth, complexities and true romance at its core. I just couldn’t get enough of this author. I just want more and more, thankfully, the second book will be coming out in a few months in Feb (CHEERS!!).

So what made this story so fantastic??? Well I will tell ya all. Everything about it made it simply wonderful. First off I want to set up the story a little. It starts off with Farah and Dugan as children. They are thick as thieves, both understand each other in different ways, then slowly as they get older, they decide to handfast to each other.

“Of course I’ll love you, Dougan Mackenzie,” she said easily. “Who else is going to?”
“Nobody,” he said earnestly.
“Will you try to love me, too?” she asked in a small voice.
He considered it. “I’ll try, Fairy, but I havena done it before.”

But when Farah is about to get molested, Dugan protects her and ends up killing the man responsible. He goes to prison, and Farah leaves him food and letters but then he is killed. This really sets up the story on an emotional angle in a vivid way that reaches out to the reader. Then it skips ahead to when Farah is full grown, in her late twenties (we are the same age yay—so I felt it easy to relate with her) and when she gets kidnapped, she meets Dugan’s closest friends. What are the odds right? Well in this book there are no such things as coincidences. We see her strike friendship with Dorian’s friends, who treat her like a sister. It was quite amusing that if Dorian went overboard—he was in the dog house with his buddies because they look at Farah as family.

Then we see the romance blossom between Dorian and Farrah in quite a poignant and powerful way. Dorian is bitter and cynical, and Farrah is sweet and good natured. Patient with him, and I love how she handles him in such a positive way. Firm but kind. It takes a turn when the truth comes out, and a secret is revealed. Now this secret is slowly built up through the story, so it didn’t come to a complete surprise because the author leads up to it, but the author slowly teases us until the truth is really revealed. I really couldn’t get enough of these two, seeing them form a strong bond to each other, meanwhile dealing with the danger to Farrah, and the friendships that she forms with Dorian’s friends. I am over the moon with this one, and its the type of story I could see myself re-reading in a couple of years. This is a story that touched me in every way. The emotion and the feelings that are poured into it are all consuming.  So if you love a sexy romance full of passion, danger and mystery….pick this one up right NOW!!

“I make ye my heart
At the rising of the moon.
To love and honor,
Through all our lives.
May we be reborn,
May our souls meet and know.
And love again.
And remember.”

The Cover

Is there a better cover?? I mean really. One I love yellow on covers, especially this golden warm yellow. I love the sexy pose, almost kiss, her beautiful gown, and man his hair. I just want to run my fingers through it.

Overall View

The Highwayman is a stimulating ride that takes you all over the British Aisles. Its a story to cry over, to laugh in those silly moments, and to flip those pages as fast as you can read them.A sweeping romance that will take your breath away.  A WILD SEXY ROMP!!

About Kerrigan Byrne

If you're anything like me, the best night is one spent with a brawny highlander, a mysterious werewolf, a conflicted vampire, or a hot-headed Irishman. My stories span the spectrum of romantic fiction from historical, to paranormal, to romantic suspense. But I can always promise my readers one thing: memorable and sexy Celtic heroes who are guaranteed to heat your blood before they steal your heart. Lose yourself in the enchanted Celtic Isles, you never know who, or what, will find you...

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