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, in the stunning debut historical romance The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne. STEALING BEAUTY Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More, is a ruthless villain. Scarred and hard-hearted, Dorian is one of Victorian London’s … hard-hearted, Dorian is one of Victorian 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 DESIRE
But 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?
Read the Victorian Rebels
- The Highwayman
- The Hunter
- The Highlander
- The Duke
- The Scot Beds His Wife
- The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo
- A Dark and Stormy Knight
more
Kerrigan Byrne writes Historical Romance that’s outside the box. You’ll sit up and take notice! I loved it.
I’m not normally a historical fan, but this book has me addicted to the series! It’s twisty and clever with a strong heroine and a fantastically tormented hero…and some hot hot hot scenes! Rich, gorgeous language, and if you’re an audio fan, the audiobook is one of the best I’ve ever heard!
A broad, sweeping romance that harkens back to the epics of the 80s and 90s. Hero and heroine were childhood sweethearts before he had to escape the orphanage where they lived. He’s back, trying to win her under a different name.
One of the best first book-in-a-series Historical romances in one of my favorite romance series! Dark, emotional, sexy, it’s a book you’ll long remember!
It is a dark read but incredibly emotional.
Love. Love. Love. I’m seriously becoming obsessed with this author’s writing.
‘He put his arm around his very own fairy, reveling in the fact that he finally had something good that no one could take away from him.’
Among the many quotes I marked this one made me comfortable and sad for what tragedies the H and h are going to suffer even though I had no idea what’s about to come.
My first book by Kerrigan Byrne book inspired by Saint Monique’s review was wonderful. Thank you so much, lady! A beautiful, innocent love story which began in an orphanage then separated by cruel prospectors.
Farah Leigh and Dougan Mackenzie (then 8 and 11-years-old) were two children played cruelly by fate. Farah had a background of propriety and Dougan was one of the many bastards of his lord father. In the orphanage he was mistreated until Farah came with her kindness and persistant company. Their friendship was beyond and at that tender age they decide to marry vowing to be with each other forever.
17-years later Farah is a widow and Dougan was dead while serving 10-years in prison. She lives as Dougan’s widow and works at the Scotland Yard (a police station), there she meets Dorian Blackwell who tells her about the time where he and Dougal were as brothers when in prison. Dorian is a thief, a liar, and a criminal who also controlled, dominated, and manipulated people. There is a threat to Farah and Dorian insists they marry so he could keep her safe and honour his dead brothers Fairy (Farah).
Dorian is one of my favourite historical hero. He went through a lot in prison, being abused and raped he has become cold and bitter. But sweet Farah is always supportive and loves this damaged man. The sexual tension and sex was panty wetting.
There are few issues in the book which I’m ready to overlook fairly because I got so much enjoyment from this book. I highly recommend this book if you need a dark-tortured-scarred hero.
They met as children in an orphanage and pledged themselves to each other, but were cruelly separated. Years later they meet again. I loved this story!! It hit all my buttons!! And found a new author!
Kerrigan Byrne, you goddess, where have you been all my life??? I’ve heard your name dropped among lovers of dark, juicy HR reads, and had you on my TBR list and kept saying ‘I’ll get to her, I’ll get to her’. Well … I finally got to you via The Highwayman and Jesus-Mary-and-Joseph, and Beyonce-Kelly-and-Michelle for good measure!!! This book was everything! I cried, I wanted to scream, I got HOT under the collar. I love dark, tortured heroes, so I knew this one would be right up my alley. Little did I know that it would capture my mind and heart so completely. I’ve already plowed through book 2 and purchased book 3. With this series, Ms. Byrne has just earned a fan for life (though I’m sure she already has plenty of those). I cannot recommend this book or its sequel (The Hunter) enough!
This is the first book in the Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne . I read the last book in her series “The Duke with a Dragon tattoo” and absolutely loved it. So I wanted go back and read the rest of the books. This was not a disappointment at all.
The story starts off with a childhood romance between Farah and Dougan Mackenzie. Who swears that they will always be together and with childhood innocence exchange vows with each other. The two are tragically separated and Dougan is sent to a Newgate Prison were he is later on killed.
Devastated, Farah brandishes herself as “ Farah Mackenzie. She works at Scotland Yard alongside the handsome detective Morley. Her life changes when notorious criminal Dorian Blackwell is arrested and later on kidnaps her. Dorian makes Farah a scandalous proposition: marry him for protection in exchange for using her secret to help him exact revenge on his enemies. Farrah accepts not realizing that there is a deeper connection between her and Dorian then she realizes.
This story was Amazing!!!! I was immediately drawn in this world. I was afraid that this book would not be as good as the other one I had read. My fears were unfounded. I loved this book. I only read two books by Kerrigan Byrne so far. And I’m already proclaiming her a new favorite author of mine.
I thought all the characters were written very well. I like how each character has a darker aspect to them and don’t always follow social rules, but Byrne has a way of making you see the humanity in them. I loved the pairing of Farah and Dorian. I thought the chem between these two was off the chain. You could feel from their first seen together. And despite all the obstacles in their way they managed to find their way back to each other.
I also liked how Farah didn’t try to change Dorian. I take that back, on some things she did. But when all was said and done he was still the same notorious outlaw that he has been.
Overall, great book. I highly recommend this.
This is an entertaining, well-written, steamy, historical romance with a likable, strong female protagonist and a dark, damaged male protagonist. It has intrigue, drama, a heart warming romance and the most wonderful, touching vow! I am looking forward to reading the next entry in Ms. Byrne’s Victorian Rebels series with great anticipation.
A moody, dark, sensually-charged Victorian romance. I loved all the gothic elements, the tortured hero, and the rich world-building. My first Kerrigan Byrne book, but definitely not my last!
Wow! This book lived up to all of the wonderful things I’d heard about it!
I want to read it again!
It was an extraordinary story of an all-encompassing love. It was passionate and emotional and humorous, it was all the things! Every thing I love in a story was in this book!
This book made me cry, but in the best way. It’s a beautifully crafted romance that uses all the best tropes, but the characters are real, raw, and honest. I am a Kerrigan fangirl for life. If you haven’t read her, you should.
This was a phenomenal read! Passionate, heartbreaking, amusing, and droll, Dorian and Farrah took my breath away!
So many feels!! Loved this book! Could not put it down!!
No words can I write will do this book justice in a review. I fell in luv with Dougan and his Fairy from page one, and got just as attached to Dorian and Farah. Can’t recommend this book enough!
Fav quote:
“I’d never leave you, Fairy.”
“Truly? Not even to be a pirate?”
“I promise. I might be a highwayman though.”
“Will you try to love me, too?”
“I’ll try Fairy, but I havena done it before.”
“I’ll teach you.”
As an avid historical romance fan, it’s often challenging for me to find books that surprise me. As much as I love reading historical romance, when we’re talking about hundreds of books read and a relatively narrow period in history/setting, similarities are inevitable. The Highwayman succeeded in striking the balance between providing the hallmarks historical romance readers love and introducing a new level of grit and nuance that made it stand out in a crowded market. (The rest of the series which I binged immediately upon finishing The Highwayman is equally impressive).
Byrne moves away from the nobility in this first installment of the Victorian Rebels series and focuses on the seedier side of London. It felt like I was learning about a new side of the city that I love and know so well but was previously removed from my grasp. Her writing is an unflinching portrayal of the darker side of London and is, admittedly, an often-times difficult read, but acknowledging such horrors and helping her characters overcome them results in complex, well-crafted characters.
The romance between the hero and heroine is splendid and heartwarming. The chemistry is intense; the passion between them burns up the pages. This is definitely a steamy read and all the better for it. With the perfect balance of humor and heart, this book is a deep, emotional read.
Fans of Elizabeth Hoyt’s equally excellent Maiden Lane series will love Byrne’s masterful writing and authentic world-building.
/5 /5
TW: Explicit sexual content, crude language, explicit violence.
This was absolutely adorable. This was my first historical romance ever. After doing a lot of research everywhere, the Highwayman was recommended to me more than once as the perfect Historical Romance for first timers. They were not wrong.
This tale was so beautifully and delicately told. The right amount of humor, spice, romance and she also used the right amount of feminism to freshen up the story, even though it was being told during old times.
Kerrigan’s writing is superb, she engrosses you right away, makes you laugh out loud and swoon and cheer for her characters. Blackwell was very very close to being one of my favorite heroes but at the end he got a little bit too preachy, annoying and stubborn. That is the only reason I gave this book four stars, lol! He gives all the Kaz Brekker vibes and I loved almost everything about him.
He is the King of dirty talk to be honest, all of his lines were incredible. I love having the POV from both characters, even if it is in third person. Our heroine has the best personality as well, she was so likeable and relatable.
This book was incredibly original, funny, light-hearted, romantic, sensual and very well written. It was also surprisingly easy to read. I totally recommend this book if you are into historical romances and you haven’t read this yet. Perfectly crafted with a very cute HEA.
I was wrapped up in The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne from the first chapter. There are so many wonderful quotes, steamy scenes and heartwrenching moments, I could not put this book down.
Dougan and Farah loved each other as kids, but they are tragically ripped apart. Seventeen years later, Farah is content working as a clerk at Scotland Yard when Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More, highwayman, scoundrel, and gorgeous as sin is brought into the station. They have an instant connection and when he discovers Farah is who he has been looking for, he kidnaps her to a his castle in Scotland. Once there secrets are revealed, bargains are made, sexy times happen and of course they fall in love, even if they don’t know it yet.
When Dorian barrels into Farah’s regimented life, he changes it for the better, in my opinion. She was living this half life, maybe settling for Morley but Dorian forces her to face her past and claim it. His offer of protection comes with the demand to marry him “I informed you that you’ll marry me and marry me you will”. Damn a hot alpha moment!
There are so many things that I liked about the Highwayman. Their love story for one. Kerrigan Byrne built Dorian and Farah’s relationship from enemies to lovers so well. The animosity they felt towards one another that became a deep love was beautifully written. The robust characters. Dorian was complicated, scarred, tormented by the past, bent on revenge but so tender in helping his friends and Farah. Farah’s deep, unending love for Dougan and then Dorian was inspiring. The side characters- Murdoch, Morley, Argent, Walters-added a layer of levity and depth to not only the hero and heroine but the story as a whole.
The beginning with Dougan and Farah as children, escaping abuse, finding each other and their marriage ceremony was so utterly lovely. When Farah said “Love is quite like reading, I expect. Once you know how, you can’t ever imagine not doing it.” And cue the tears.
Kerrigan Byrne has written an amazing introduction to these scoundrels that I can not wait read them all.
4.25/5
My third from Byrne, and she hasn’t disappointed so far.
Farah and Dougan grew up in an orphanage together as best friends and pledged their futures to each other. After defending her thru murder he is thrown in jail for 7 years and dies. Farah becomes a strong, independent woman who meets Dorian, an underworld kingpin/Robin Hood figure and marries him for protection and aid in regaining her birthright and seeking revenge for Dougan.
This one’s very dark, with a tortured, controlling hero. The sex scenes were explicit and a bit darker than most HR books, but they go along with the essence of the story. Wrapped up a bit neatly/abruptly with Dorian’s epiphany, but there’s a sweet HEA which I loved.