This Knight of the Crown is driven by a painful past and a patient fury… and his entire life is a lie.
Sir Carlton Morley is famously possessed of extraordinary will, singular focus, and a merciless sense of justice. As a man, he secured his fortune and his preeminence as Scotland Yard’s ruthless Chief Inspector. As a decorated soldier, he was legend for his unflinching trigger finger, his … trigger finger, his precision in battle, and his imperturbable strength. But as a boy, he was someone else. A twin, a thief, and a murderer, until tragedy reshaped him.
Now he stalks the night, in search of redemption and retribution, vowing to never give into temptation, as it’s just another form of weakness.
Until temptation lands—quite literally—in his lap, taking the form of Prudence Goode.
Prim and proper Pru is expected to live a life of drudgery, but before she succumbs to her fate, she craves just one night of desire. On the night she searches for it, she stumbles upon a man made of shadows, muscle and wrath… And decides he is the one.
When their firestorm of passion burns out of control, Morley discovers, too late, that he was right. The tempting woman has become his weakness.
A weakness his enemies can use against him.
“I loved everything about this book!” — Curlyhairlass
“5-Star read for me!” — M.nguyen
“This book had me hooked from page one and every page after just had me falling more and more in love with my already favorite character of the series.” — Allison Smith
“If you’re a Victorian Rebels fan, you’ll be thrilled with Morley’s spellbinding story of passion, betrayal, intrigue, and adventure. And if you’re new to this author or series, you are in for the ride of your life.” — Love at 1st read
“This is a book you need to own and savor and spend time with again and again.” — BDay
“A Dark and Stormy Knight is PERFECTION in its masterful writing!!! — GI’s Spot Reviews
Please Note: This book was originally published as A Dark and Stormy Knight
Read the Goode Girls in Order
- Book 1: Seducing a Stranger
- Book 2: Courting Trouble
- Book 3: Dancing With Danger
- Book 4: Tempting Fate
more
Prudence Goode wants one night of freedom before she’s forced into a loveless marriage. Her dowry will support her husband but it won’t bring her happiness. She’s frustrated and angry. She’s going to find one night of pleasure with a man of her choosing. Is it Fate that had Pru unknowingly choosing Chief Inspector Carlton Morley? I found that Pru and Morley made an amazing couple. They seemed to be opposites but their connection was immediate and passionate. This was a special night that neither would forget. Who knew that the murder of Prudence’s fiancée would reunite them? Unfortunately she’s found standing over the body with the murder weapon in her hand and he’s there to arrest her for murder. Will the Inspector save the woman he loves? Morley is a dark, brooding character. His heart is cold. Only this woman can reach him. I was touched. I wanted Morley to admit his feelings, but he’s such a stubborn person. I wanted these two to find peace and happiness together as well as find the real killer. I wasn’t sure that was possible. Kerrigan Byrne pulled me into this intoxicating story. I couldn’t stop reading A Dark and Stormy Knight.
Prudence is on the verge of marring a man she admires that is at until she over hears he’s a womanizer and he already fathered bastard children. Pru decides to take matters into her own hands when she hears of a house of pleasure called the Stags of St. James decides to lose her virginity on her terms. Sir Carlton Morley is famously possessed of extraordinary will and skills of catching criminals, but one night while he doing so surveillance in the shadows of the Stags of St; James looking for a murder he is approached by a beautiful young woman for a night of pleasure. Carlton can’t seem to resist Pru, and then he can’t forgot their one night of unbridled passion. Their paths cross again when Pru is accused of murder. I love the chemistry between Morley and Pru as the story takes you into many different twist and turns in directions both emotional and romantic. I have voluntarily read and reviewed this amazing story.
Oh my gosh, can you say plot twists? What a delicious book. Friends helping friends, unsavory characters, passion, and a resolution that is spot on!
If you’ve read any of the previous Victorian Rebels series, in my opinion, this book is one of the best. I was totally invested in the book and the characters by Chapter 2! It can be read as a standalone, but read the rest of the series, they’re too good to miss.
So much I’d like to say, but then, there might be spoilers. Read it…it’s just that good!
Sigh…..”Christ, sometimes I have to just stand in the hall and stare at the door you sleep behind because I cannot believe my luck, my undeserved good fortune. You are here. You are real.”
We met Carlton Morley waaaaay back in The Highwayman and we have gotten to know him through the series but there was always a mystery surrounding him. His story had me captivated from beginning to end. He was everything I wanted him to be and more. I loved Prudence and her heart. She goes through so much in such a brief period of time and she never lost her ability to love and forgive. She’s just lovely. There are visits from previous characters that were perfect and some little plot bunnies that (I hope) will lead to more stories.
Historical romance is my heart and soul. Kerrigan Byrne has been a super star for me since The Highwayman. Her voice and her stories make me excited for the future of historical romance. I am a forever fan and she continues to be at the top of my auto buy list.
This maybe my favorite series.
A boy from the streets of Whitechapel grows up to be Chief Inspector Carlton Morley. A man of principle with little trust, he’s secretly known as the Knight of Shadows. A chance encounter late one night with Prudence Goode at Miss Henrietta’s school for Cultured Young Ladies, sets off a series of events that lead to Prudence accused of murder. A gripping who done it romance with a young lady in love with the man who has sworn to protect her, even if he doesn’t trust her. Put this Knight on my list of swoon-worthy heroes.
I voluntarily read and reviewed a free copy of this book.
As reviewed at Roses Are Blue: https://wp.me/p3QRh4-1eI
Prudence Goode has waited a long time to agree to marry, but finally accepted the Earl of Sutherland’s proposal. As her wedding draws closer, she learns that her betrothed doesn’t love her, is marrying her for her dowry, and is notorious for his numerous affairs. Pru begs her parents to allow her to end the engagement, but they are adamant that she go through with the marriage. Now resigned to a bleak future, Pru decides to take one final action before she takes her vows. She’ll give her innocence to a man of her choosing, and hopefully experience the passion she’s only heard about. She sneaks off to a brothel where men provide pleasure for money, and literally falls over her lover for the night.
Sir Carlton Morley, Chief Inspector, is living a double life. During the day, he’s a by-the-book officer, but at night he dons a mask and acts as a vigilante, one whom the press has dubbed as the “Knight of Shadows.” His current investigation of a murder has led him to the brothel, when a beautiful woman knocks him off his feet. It’s obvious that she believes him to be one of the male prostitutes, and that she’s chosen him as her temporary companion. At first contact, fireworks happened between Pru and Morley, something even the straitlaced Inspector couldn’t deny. The intense passion they share is everything Pru wished for, as Morley fulfills her every desire. Pru is about to reveal her identity to him, only to find that he has disappeared.
It seems that there is a connection between Pru and Morley, as her father is Morley’s superior, thus requiring that Morley attend the wedding of his daughter. He reluctantly arrives at the church, still not realizing that the bride is his mysterious lover, only to find the service disrupted by a bloody crime scene. A murder has occurred, and Pru is the main suspect. Morley now is tasked with investigating the murder, with his superior strongly suggesting that his daughter is innocent, while the evidence clearly shows that Pru is the most likely to be guilty.
Morley is a complex man, one who has devoted his life to his vocation. He’s foregone relationships, instead focusing on battling crime and stopping murderers by whatever means necessary. His tryst with Pru was totally out of character for him, and he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Now fate has placed her in his custody. Though he treats her with every courtesy, Morley still battles his attraction for Pru, who steadfastly declares her innocence. Pru knows she didn’t commit this murder. As she and Morley become more intimate and their passion grows stronger, she begins to hope for a genuine future with him, only to become heartbroken at his lack of trust.
A DARK AND STORMY KNIGHT is yet another stellar entry into the Victorian Rebels series, though it can easily be read as a standalone. If you’ve read the previous books, you’ll be happy with the glimpses of couples from previous stories, as well as finally having a happy ever after for Inspector Morley. Amid the uncertainty, the distrust, and the doubts, Pru and Morley are falling deeply in love. It’s a swoonworthy moment when Morley decides that it doesn’t matter to him whether Pru is guilty or not – he’ll do whatever it takes to keep her from prison, and to make her his own. The romance and steam between this couple is breathtaking, and I loved them for the people they are. There are a few twists to the story – I had my suspicions about the murderer, but the motive was a surprise. A DARK AND STORMY KNIGHT is one of those books I read straight through without stopping. All of the elements – the wonderful writing, the mystery, but most of all, the romance held me captive, and left me wanting to go back and revisit the previous books. Kerrigan Byrne has a magical quality to her writing, and I highly recommend this latest installment in the Victorian Rebels series to all historical romance lovers.
The course of true love never did run smooth for poor Morley. Yes, I really did just do that. And Shakespeare can come and hunt me down like the unrepentant person I am. And because I can’t swear in a review on Goodreads, I will say “Holy $hit”. The prologue of this book shook me. Yes, we all knew Caroline had died when she was but a child, but to have stiff-upper-lip Morley feeling the pain of her discovery, well that one set the tone for the entire story for me.
At 22%, I was cheering Prudence and Carlton on, while being amused at the mistaken identity. At 40% I was amazed that Carlton was going down so fast, and with no life preserver. At 65%, I wanted the book to never end. And the rest of the book? I loved reading it.
Carlton Morley was always the “different” one of the bunch. I’d read the other books in the series – from The Highwayman all the way through to How to Love a Duke in Ten Days. Through it all Carlton Morley was not the same as all the rest. The rest had been born into lives of crime, and Morley had also, but he’d chosen to grab the pendulum as it swung one way, while the others chose the opposite. And despite Morley’s incomplete trust in his friends, he knows what they’re made of. The problem? Carlton Morley doesn’t know what HE’S made of … yet.
The book is different than the first seven books because Carlton is different. He wasn’t a pirate, or a Blackheart. He was instead, a police inspector who had decided long ago that the courts couldn’t be complete in the handing out of justice. He is conflicted because of the two hats he wears – one as Chief Inspector and one as the Knight of Shadows. When Prudence arrives in his life, it becomes obvious that Carlton is going down – hard, fast, and forever. I love it when an alpha finally gets his … and yes, I mean that in more ways than one.
I went into this book with an open mind, knowing that Carlton Morley’s story HAD to be different. It had to be handle a different way. He had never married, and from the sounds of it, had remained celibate for a long time. When Prudence approaches him, he thinks that it is his alter-ego responding to her, when in fact, it is all poor Morley, being hooked, quite well, on a fishing line not of his making.
I can understand why some readers may think this has less passion than Byrne’s other books in this series. I can also understand why some readers may feel that there is less action. This book is more internal than the other’s were. The scenes that we read as we go through the book are fashioned for personalities that are unlike the previous characters we’ve met. I adored the two of them together. Poor Morley not having a clue what hit him, and Prudence, firmly convinced that not only did he not like her, he believed her guilty (and he did, for a while – because Carlton is way too smart not to see the truth).
If there is a complaint it is that the ending was not drawn out enough to satisfy my craving for more Carlton and Prudence. I celebrated that they were having twins, but then it ended. If this was to be the last book, I would have hoped that there was a “cocktail hour” with all of them present. But that thought is selfish, because I’m not the one writing the book.
I loved that we saw Dorian and Ash again, as well as Farah (my favorite of the women), and a glimpse of Millie with Argent, of course. I’m saddened by the fact that I believe Ms. Byrne has run out of characters in this series. I’ve found this series her most compelling, but I’ll continue to read her, hoping upon hope she finds another group of friends, Alphas all, that will get her fingers to twitching on those keys. Kerrigan Byrne writes heat and emotion like she has a Bunsen Burner under the keyboard. The emotion is raw, the heat is flaming and steamy, just the way I like it. Here’s looking forward to the next!
I stayed up for days reading this !
Kerrigan Byrne is such a wonderful author. Her style draws you in . A dark , fragile heart beckons you in … a mystery within a mystery . You as a reader crave the completion of the story you have found yourself drawn into .
This is book seven of Victorian Rebels. While i think you could wing it as a stand alone , you will value it more as read in the series. You won’t regret starting from book one.
In the past …
Cutter Morley is a orphan . A street rat begging for scraps , running the game with his best friend Dorian Blackwell , stealing , pickpockets you name it . Caroline is Cutter’s twin . She has turned to the female arts of selling her body to make it , at such a young age.
Caroline is found dead the next morning , bound and tied up , floating in the river . A waste of such a young life. This event starts the change in Cutter , he will never be the same.
Chief Inspector Carlton Morley has pulled him self up from the gutter. He is a responsible police man . Always in control , nerves of steel . At night he’s pulled out a alter ego . The Knight Of Shadows . Sometimes you have to remember how to be the criminal to catch one.
Prudence Goode is a young woman excited to become married . Until she finds out her fiancé has been cheating on her with everyone in london . To have HER time she hired a make escort . Carlton just happens to be in the right place sneaking around as the knight of shadows. The heat between Prudence And Carlton is immense. A hot one night stand, with consequences.
Prudence now stands accused of her soon to be finances murder . Can Carlton help her ? Does he even believe her? Can he let her thru his tough facade?
Such a wonderful read . I have to say … this book made me appreciate Carlton in a way i never did before. I hated his character from book one . This really shows that Kerrigan Byrne played the long game here .
4 stars. This was a really good book! A Dark and Stormy Knight is the seventh book in the Victorian Rebels series and is Sir Carlton Morley’s book. Morley has been a character in the other books in the series and is a chief police inspector who also does vigilante justice in his spare time. He has a tragic past and is a lonely man, but his world changes one night when he meets Prudence Goode. Prudence is engaged to a philandering man and sees an unhappy, loveless marriage in her future. She seeks out one night of passion before she marries and, in an error of communication, spends the night with Carlton. They don’t think they will ever meet again, but fate has other plans when Pru’s fiance is murdered on her wedding day, with her as the prime suspect. I don’t want to give too much of the story away so I can’t say much more about the plot. But Pru and Carlton have quite a bit to work through before they eventually get their HEA.
A Dark and Stormy Knight is a darkish historical romance with some of my favorite tropes- marriage of convenience and surprise pregnancy, with a dash of murder mystery. The story was very good. I liked Prudence and Morley. They were good together. It did take Morley a bit long to open up to Pru, but he did come around. Prudence was very sweet and brave, despite her difficult circumstances. She was just the breath of fresh air Carlton needed in his life. I enjoyed the couple’s relationship progression and was happy that they both got the HEA they deserved. There were some really sweet and sexy moments with a dash of suspense too.
Overall, this was an entertaining, very enjoyable book. I am a big fan of this series and can’t wait to see what Ms. Byrne comes up with next!
A Dark and Stormy Knight by Kerrigan Byrne
Victorian Rebels #7
The prologue tells of the horrors of a child living on the streets in 1855 London. So much hunger, pain and loss are experienced by Cutter and yet all of it will lay the groundwork for him to become the man he later becomes. Though dark, gritty, and sad tis part of the story did provide insight necessary to make this story all that it was.
Twenty-five years later we meet Prudence Goode. She is the second daughter in a family of four daughters and feels second in all things from birth order to beauty to just about everything else. When she overhears gossip related to her fiancé, she soon makes a decision that will set in motion a future unlike the one she had expected.
Carlton and Prudence’s meeting made a huge impact on both of them…knowing they would meet again at some point had me eagerly reading to find out how and when and then…well, the story picked up pace and kept me reading without stop till I finished the last page
What I liked:
* That I felt I was there and could relate to everything that happened
* Carlton: an honorable man with secrets that became all that he was meant to be. He became whole when he and Prudence finally managed to connect fully
* Prudence: a strong, warm-hearted, caring woman that was perfect for Carlton…once he wised up.
* Seeing Argent, Dorian and Ash – and some of their wives. Their stories were told in previous books and remembering was a treat
* The fact that Prudence and Carlton had to work for their happiness…it made the story more complex and deeper because it was not all smooth sailing
* The slow growing romance between Carlton and Prudence – there was chemistry from the beginning, but they needed time to truly know one another
* The real feel of the story
* All of it really except…
What I did not like:
* The bad guy…so glad he was caught
* Knowing that even today the lives of some children in the world are as bad as those described in the prologue of this book
* Having to say goodbye to the characters when the story ended
Did I enjoy this book? Definitely!
Would I read more in this series? As soon as the book is written!
Thank you to NetGalley and Gnarly Wool Publishing for the ARC – This is my honest review.
5 Stars
So excited to finally get Morley’s story. He is so dark and light at the same time. Breaking the law at night and he is the law in daylight! And Pru is such an amazing woman! Kerrigan does not disappoint. I could not put this book down from start to finish!
Inspector Morley finally got his HEA and what a doozie! Prudence was the last person I could picture for him, but once I got to know her, she was a perfect fit and just what Morley needed in his lonely life. I also enjoyed seeing the rest of the Rebels crew being their nosy selves and helping things along for Morley-hilarity and obvious love and respect for a character with a rough introduction in the series-swoon worthy
Kerrigan Byrne’s words paint masterpieces! There are no words to describe the images and emotions evoked by the words she puts on a page! I was immersed in the world she described and felt every emotion along with the characters. Both of these characters are conflicted and somehow find healing and love in their union. I cannot do justice to the story or author with this review.
Sir Carlton Morley is a man of many faces. By day people know him as Scotland Yard’s Chief Inspector. By night he’s the Knight of Shadows, a vigilante seeking to mete out justice that escapes the law. In his heart he knows it’s all a lie, he’s a murderer and a thief that grew up in the gutter. Such a complex and bedeviled man. When he accidentally finds Pru late one night he’s haunted by her.
Miss Prudence Goode is the second eldest of four girls in the lower rungs of society. She’s not found a husband yet after her oldest sister Honoria married William Mosby, Viscount Woodhaven. William’s best friend is George Hamby, the Earl of Sutherland and she find herself uncomfortably betrothed to him. When she overhears her best friend Amanda, and Honoria discussing George’s lack of sexual proficiency and his bastard children, Pru determines to have at least one night of pleasure to remember. She seeks it at a pleasure garden for aristocratic ladies. She accidentally stumbles on Morley disguised as The Knight of Shadows and magic happens. Neither know who the other is. Three months later while awaiting her father to walk her down the aisle, she’s still bedeviled by that night and the glorious man. When the door opens it’s not her father but George, with a knife in his neck! This is how Pru and Carlton meet once again, him as the Chief Inspector come to arrest her for murder. What a tangled web these individuals have to deal with and so many strong emotions. Plus we have the help of other couples from the previous books in this series. This book is a masterpiece!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Rated 4.5 Stars
A Dark and Stormy Knight was great. There’s action, suspense, twists and turns. I loved that the hero was grumpy yet also thoughtful and how flabbergasted he was by the heroine. I also loved the heroine, Pru and the way she totally disarmed him as well as her quiet strength. I simply adored this book and definitely recommend it.
Copy provided by author
Really good story that tugs at the emotions. I received an ARC of this book.
Well I’m very pleased that the author decided to revisit Chief Inspector Morley because I had previously felt sorry for him when he didn’t get the lady he thought he loved. In this book he not only gets to star but also we learn of his backstory which greatly added to my enjoyment. Whilst investigating Morley meets Prudence a very proper young lady intending to do a very improper act ! Morley cannot resist her charms and they share a brief moment of madness. Fast forward a few months and Morley is called to a murder scene and the chief suspect is Pru . You would find that fact extraordinary enough but finding out he left Pru with child makes Morley up and marry her !
So much happened at the beginning and then not a lot really happened which leaves me a bit dissatisfied. There’s no real action as such and the solution to the murder was very obvious and felt like an afterthought. I do enjoy this series but this has to be my least favourite which is such a shame but I will continue to read her books because usually they are outstanding.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
A Dark and Stormy Knight
book 7
Victorian Rebels series
by Kerrigan Byrne
Wowza! What a book! I can’t believe I just read Morley’s story which means that I now have to wait for the next instalment from the truly talented Kerrigan Byrne! I really didn’t want this to end as I sadly found myself on the last page.
Sir Carlton Morley “Cutter” to his closest friends has clawed and scraped to get to where he’s at. But his life hasn’t been a bed of roses, he has a dark side that he keeps very well hidden from everyone. He doesn’t believe he’s worth being loved his only purpose is to bring justice to those that need it, (his way for avenging the twin he couldn’t safe) bringing to life the Knight of Shadows. On one of his nightly activities the most intriguing woman literally fell in his lap giving him a night that haunted him not only in his sleep but every minute of the last three months. Until he comes face to face with her moments before she was to marry. Instead of attending a wedding he’s now investigating a murder scene and she’s the prime suspect!
Prudence Goode is on a mission to experience life before she becomes a married woman to a man she despises, what she didn’t count on was being set on fire by a man she never even got his name. Until her fate changes on the day of her wedding. She’s the prime suspect to her fiancé’s murder! Before disaster and ruin befalls her she’s married to the same man that had made her burn with passion……at least she thinks he is! Now she not only has to adjust to being married to a man she thinks doesn’t want her, she has a secret that will change her life forever and a murder to solve. Time isn’t really on her side she needs to prove her innocence before it’s too late. Will she ever gain the trust of the man she’s given her heart!
A fast paced read with outstanding characters, sizzling chemistry, villains and betrayals make this a keeper! Kerrigan Byrne can we please, please have a happy ever after for Honoria and Titus? Just thought I’d throw it out there lol!
Recieved a complimentary copy from Oliver Heber Books and the author. This review is voluntary and freely given. I highly recommend this book and author!
Any time I have to review a book by Kerrigan Byrne, I regret that I have ever given a five-star review to another book as it leaves my review of her book inadequate. She belongs in a different category. Kerrigan Byrne is one of my top five favorite writers in any genre. Her writing is simply brilliant from the words she chooses to the characters she creates to the adventure she sends them on. A Dark and Stormy Knight has been a long time in the making and it shows as the culmination of years of investment in the story and character.
I have waited for the story of Carlton Morley since I first read The Highwayman years ago. I can’t believe it took this long. First, let me say, if you aren’t familiar with the series, you could read this without the others because it’s impossible to not like this book, but you would be doing yourself a disservice. You should at least read The Highwayman and The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo to fully appreciate Morley and where he has come from before this book.
Nothing about the story is like I ever imagined it would be. Given Morley’s past, Prudence Goode is the opposite of who I would have imagined for him. And yet, that is exactly why they worked so well together. I didn’t foresee that he was, in fact, the darkest of the dark souls in the series and needed the brightest light. Seeing him struggle to accept where he came from and who he became and how that fit with his new relationship was an intense journey that sucked me in from the very first pages of the story. As always, Kerrigan Byrne’s character development is intricately detailed and beautifully woven so that every action reflects who they are and who they are struggling to become. It’s truly a marvel.
I received an electronic ARC of this in exchange for an honest review, but I am already anxious for the paperback to arrive in the mail so I can reread it and sigh over all of the best parts all over again. Kerrigan Byrne’s books are among the few on my shelf that I read repeatedly, and this will be no different. I know I will discover new depths to the characters each time.
I must reiterate that this is a book you need to own and savor and spend time with again and again. This isn’t something to check out from the library. Buy this. Buy all of her books. You’ll thank me.
I’m always left wanting more…
I absolutely love reading historical romance and Kerrigan Byrne has written some of my very favourites. A Dark and Stormy Knight did not disappoint and gave me a happy buzz from reading a fantastic story. I could see the characters and settings, feel their emotions, and I was drawn into their world filled with murder, intrigue, and passion. The only problem with reading a great story like this one, I’m always left wanting more.
I’ve known Morley for years and in that time, held a soft spot for the very firm, strict and sexy man. I realised that Chief Inspector Carlton Morley knew the streets better than just as a lawman, and now knowing why he takes his job so seriously, I understand why he became the Knight of Shadows. Morley would need someone special to distract him from his very serious job of bringing justice to the streets. That special woman would have to catch his attention to have a chance at holding his heart while also accepting that his job is a part of him. Imagine my surprise when his special woman only wants him for a night…in the shadows.
When I first met Prudence Goode, I couldn’t believe she would settle for a loveless marriage. Yes, I knew that in those days, it was expected to marry to get ahead, but I also knew she deserved better. I hated her family for what they expected her to put up with and thought her sister an absolute cow. When she came up with the mad-capped scheme of finding happiness once before she marries, I actually didn’t begrudge her. Imagine my surprise when her happiness started by falling in the lap of a man in the shadows.
With a start like Morley’s and Prudence’s, I was gobsmacked when the next time I saw them together, Prudence is about to become Morley’s next case. Things definitely went a little crazy from there and Morley is going to have to use all his skills to keep this special woman safe and his. Prudence hopes that this will be the start of something good while Morley is convinced she’s about to become his biggest weakness. Together, they will have to learn to trust each other and hope that their initial attraction would grow into a happy ever after.
While A Dark and Stormy Knight was a very easy story to read, I have to admit that I was left a little unsatisfied. There were a few things that seemed unfinished and the ending was a bit abrupt. I was also a little disappointed that I didn’t get more time with the Victorian Rebels. Mena was in town and I didn’t even get to catch up with her or her sexy, brutish Highlander. The Duke came visiting numerous times but Lorelei was left at home. Yes, I did get to see Millie and Argent for a while, and Farah and Dorian were around, but I needed to see and catch up with them all. This can’t be the end…I NEED MORE!!
OK, I admit, I really did enjoy A Dark and Stormy Knight and I’m being a bit of a brat with my above complaints. I just felt that it went too quickly. I wanted to see Morley and Prudence together for longer. I wanted the Victorian Rebels and their women to be together, hanging out, having a drink or two. I also wanted to know what happened to Prudence’s family. Oooh…maybe Ms Byrne has ideas for the Goode girls???
If you’re looking for a historical romance that’s a little rough around the edges, has characters that are passionate, original and determined, with a storyline that will keep you enthralled, I highly recommend giving A Dark and Stormy Knight a try.
Stacey is Sassy, received an advanced copy of this story. The copy provided is not the final copy and may be subject to edits and changes.
Book: A DARK AND STORMY KNIGHT
By Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels, Book #7
Reviewed by: Barb Massabrook (of)
1)Tartan Book Reviews
2)Purple Tulip Book Reviews
3)Celtic Barb’s Tartan Book Review Blog
Heat Rating:
Rating: 5/5 Stars/Kilts
Congratulations Kerrigan Byrne, my multi talented and extraordinary author of the century! A book I definitely know with be a #1 best seller! Of this I have no doubt!
Wishing you nothing but success and oodles of book sales! ~ Tartan Book Reviews
London, 1855
Cutter “ Dead-Eye” Morley and his sister Caroline were two orphans with no papers working the streets of London. He stole, picked pockets, gambled, killed and his sister even sold a pound of flesh, though she was no whore! They did this to sleep under a roof in hopefully a clean pallet or for a few morsels in their empty bellies. That was until the most horrific nightmare became a reality in his young life….
25 years later…London, 1880
Now twenty-five years later Sir Carlton Worley, previously known as Cutter “Dead-Eye” Worley, is now working on the other side of the law as the respected Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard. He had been a war hero and he seems to have two personalities now, one as the respected Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard by day and the Knight of Shadows in the evenings. This is where he trails his clues and finds his man. Sometimes with vigilante justice, for the laws of the street, where he can become a shadow and find his villains and find justice in the worst and most dangerous areas of London, where the legal system has failed. He was on a case and looking killers of male prostitutes or at least clues at “Miss Henrietta’s School for Cultured Young Ladies”. This was actually a high class brothel for mostly titled wealthy ladies of the ton. He is dressed in a mask to keep hidden and in disguise as was required by all the male prostitutes. Luckily he had a mask from a ton formal he had previously attended and learned a password to enter.
Now Lady Prudence Goode had always thought she would marry a love match, an honorable, faithful, husband to become a loving wife and mother to. She finds out her fiancé George Hamby-Forsyth, the sixth Earl of Sutherland, she had thought was marrying her for love, only wants to marry her for her rich dowry to pay his debts, support his mistresses and brood of illegitimate children. Now she is so hurt and feels betrayed by her parents, the two people she trusted most in the world! They explain this is the way their world, of most men in her social standing live, they have mistresses and are unfaithful and won’t even allow her to break her engagement! After all the man is an Earl and she had to accept this in her life. So she decides she is going to have an affair of her own after she finds out about “Miss Henrietta’s School for Cultured Young Ladies.” For Pru it is a last night of freedom, making her own decision, giving her virginity away to someone else other than her scoundrel unfaithful husband to be! Plus her non caring husband will be ordering her around for a lifetime.
Except the male prostitute she picks is Sir Carlton Worley unknown to her. He who was on the job, but breaks all the rules as he sees Prudence as something pure, angelic and good in this place of ugliness and darkness. So he becomes her lover of the night without exchanging names. Even though he knew this was so wrong on so many levels he couldn’t refuse, of course he didn’t take her money.
The problem after there sordid night Morley couldn’t stop thinking or looking for her ever since. She explained to Morley this was something she did for herself, though once she was married she would not be unfaithful. Although it was totally acceptable for her husband to have mistresses and bastard children, in this world unfair to married women. Morley told her not to marry him but she unfortunately had no choice. Life was not fair to women, so it was her night to lose her virginity on her own terms! Three months before her father sold her to the highest bidder with the loftiest title!
Morley had been obsessed looking for her with no success. Of course they never shared names so it was most difficult. Yet he does locate her three months later with her dead fiancé at her feet! Also pregnant with Morley’s child! He was not going to abandon this women or this child. He could finally be the father his father was not! Yet he does not trust Prudence Goode in the least, as Morley trusts no one. However he also sees this woman as his weakness! Now Morley has a job of proving her innocence and protecting his child plus her father is the bloody Commissioner with his own secrets to hide!
Something he never expected plus can Morley ever open his heart with so much heartache and misfortune in his past? He would protect Prudence no matter if she is guilty or innocent. As Chief Inspector of Scotland Yard he has many resources, as the Knight of Shadows he has even more! Yet he must keep his emotional distance, as his enemies would use and harm her, seeing Prudence as his weakness. Do Carlton and Prudence have a future? Can a man who has never opened his shattered heart since that horrific day twenty-five years ago, will he ever learn to open it again? There is much more to this phenomenal story that I won’t spoil it for other readers. This novel is an absolute masterpiece and one you definitely don’t want to miss!
I have been waiting for Morley’s story for a long time and OMG Kerrigan Byrne is brilliant. I personally find Ms. Byrne one of my most favorite authors. Every book this special author has written has blown me away. I started reading her with her independent Scottish Highland historical series. My first books were Unspoken, Unwilling and Unwanted, which is revamped with a new book titles and the series is now called Highland Magic. It’s a nine book series that I so highly recommend!
As for “A Dark and Stormy Knight,” this regency suspense is absolutely awe- inspiring I was absolutely so blown away! A book readers won’t be able to put down. I can’t recommend it enough. A book I know I will be rereading again and again. Also for readers of the Victorian Rebels series some of your favorite heroes will make appearances in this book – after all they are Morley’s mates! You can read as a stand alone but I highly recommend reading each book in the series. Especially if you want to fall in love with some bad boys! This is a riveting fast paced, page turning, romantic, regency adventure. It is filled with suspense, mystery, murder, mayhem, suffering, treachery, mistrust, sorrow, faith, love and so much more.
Ms. Byrne makes her multi dimensional characters feel so real-it is so easy to get swept into this marvelous storylines and never letting go. A definite nail biter with so many twists and turns and so many plots it’s hard to keep up. I kept finding myself holding my breath with anticipation never knowing what was coming next! A define heartstring puller so have a box of tissues nearby, I was sobbing right after the prologue in the beginning. So I did find this book emotional at times, which only make me give this novel the highest rating allowed. As this book is truly a masterpiece one of my favorite reads of 2020 and definitely my favorite pandemic read!
Victorian Rebel Series
by Kerrigan Byrne
1.The Highwayman
2. The Hunter
3. The Highlander
4. The Duke
5. The Scot Beds His Wife
6. The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo
7. A Dark and Stormy Knight
I received this book from the publisher for a fair and honest review. I voluntarily agreed to read, review, blog and promote through netgalley. All words, ideas and thoughts are my own.
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