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… A scandalous proposal. Christopher Argent lives in the shadows as the empire’s most elite assassin. Emotion is something he tossed away years ago, making him one of the most clear-eyed, cold-hearted, wealthiest, and … cold-hearted, wealthiest, and therefore untouchable men in London. But when his latest target turns out to be London’s own darling, Millicent LeCour, Christopher’s whole world is turned upside down. Overwhelmed by her stunning combination of seduction and innocence, Christopher cannot complete the mission. She has made him feel again. Now, he will do anything to save her life, so that he can claim her as his own…
A perilous passion…
When Millie learns what Christopher was hired to do, she is torn between the fear in her heart and the fire in her soul. Putting herself in this notorious hunter’s arms may be her only path to safety-even if doing so could be the deadliest mistake she’s ever made. But how can she resist him? As the heat between her and Christopher burns out of control, danger lurks in the shadows. Is their desire worth the risk? Only the enemy knows what fate has in store…
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Kerrigan Byrne delivers another great dark, suspenseful, angsty romance.
I had a hard time getting into the story after the prologue, which broke my heart. Christopher was born in prison, his mother killed in front of him and him further submitted to horrible abuse. He is detached and cold, the irredeemable anti-hero turned most ruthless assassin.
Millie is the light to Christopher’s darkness. She is attracted to his dark side and aims to help him heal. She is strong, beautiful and determined.
The storyline was particularly gorry and disturbing at times but I loved how unraveled Christopher became when he nearly lost Millie.
Christopher Argent is an assassin and his latest victim is Millicent Le Cour, the most popular actress in London. He doesn’t ask questions why in his job, he just does what needs to be done. When he first sets eyes on Millie he’s infatuated. When he touches her, he makes a bargain for her life, something he’s never done before. As Millie starts to break through his wall of ice, he begins to open his heart. He can’t let down his guard, another assassin has his sight set on Millie and her son. An upfront look at the dark side of Victorian London. A gripping love story.
Stunned!
I can’t get over how good this series is! I love finding new authors, and I bow down to all the people that recommended Kerrigan Byrne to me. They weren’t wrong, I love her writing! The Hunter is so emotional, sexy, exciting, and suspenseful, so much more than I was expecting. The narration is excellent and made for a very pleasurable experience!
One of my favorite series
The Hunter is a dark and gritty historical romance and one of the best I’ve ever read. Christopher Argent is a broken and haunted man. He suffered unspeakable atrocities as a child while in prison and it has shaped him into a lethal killer for hire. Ms. Byrne has totally captured the tortured soul of Argent and we understand his icy exterior–feel nothing is his constant mantra. Feel nothing and get the job done. He’s the best at what he does. That is, until he meets actress Millie LeCour. Holding the contract to kill her, Argent moves in for the kill, except, the unthinkable happens.
This book will keep you riveted until the final pages, the suspense and angst suffered by both Argent and Millie is spell-binding. These characters come alive on the pages and the reader gets to peak inside their minds throughout the story. Ms. Byrne is an exceptional talented writer and I look forward to reading more of her books. Highly Recommended.
I received a copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
After gaining his freedom from Newgate, the prison he was born into, Christopher Argent remained loyal to the group of boys he joined forces within prison. Now known as London’s top assassin, Christopher is infamous for his cold calculation and reliability. But his entire modus operandi is turned on its ear when his newest contract comes in against the popular and beautiful Millie LeCour and he finds himself unable to go through with killing her. The attraction between them is too powerful for even Christopher to ignore and sparks a primal sense of protectiveness in him. Rather than complete the assignment and kill Millie, Christopher brings her under his protection instead, even though it means putting his own life at risk.
Millie knows she should feel nothing but fear when it comes to the man who openly admits to murder and yet she can’t deny the fire she feels igniting between them. When it becomes apparent that giving in to her desire for Christopher may be the only way to keep herself and her son safe, she agrees to his scandalous bargain. Christopher and Millie soon find both of their lives threatened and must evaluate just what they’re willing to risk in order to be together, or if, perhaps, the real danger lies in them remaining apart.
I really enjoyed this book’s predecessor when I first read it years ago, but never got to this one. Now I’m going through this series on audio and Derek Perkins made it that much better. I’m a total sucker for tortured heroes and Christopher Argent certainly takes the cake in that department. Seeing him grapple with his emotions and eventually display tenderness was enough to melt my heart. Millie was just what he needed and she and her son greatly added to the story. The suspense in this one was just right and had me very much looking forward to listening. This one was a hit for me and I’m looking forward to revisiting the next book and then continuing on with the rest of the series.
Christopher Argent is an assassin for hire who also works for Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More. He’s well known for his effectiveness and also has the reputation of having ice running through his veins. When he receives an assignment through a solicitor to take the life of Millie LeCour, a well known theater actress, he doesn’t hesitate…until that moment arrives and she says something that gives him pause. From then on, Argent fights a connection to this woman that’s he’s never experienced before with anyone.
The prologue mesmerized me from the first sentence and gave me all the foundation I needed to understand Christopher Argent. Yes, he’s as cold as described but that’s the heart of the story…experiencing Millie’s slow dismantling of the walls enclosing his emotions. And, having him do the same to her in a different way. You just have to read the story to understand this more fully as it’s a really interesting situation.
There’s also a mystery element as someone placed the contract on Millie and is determined to ensure it’s satisfied whether the assassin is Argent or not. Christopher is a brutal man with his own honor code, a recurring theme in this series. I liked both these characters and found their histories as important an element in the story as the present circumstances. I’m enjoying this series and its challenge to the black and white of right and wrong. The gray is very much in play here and that sets this story and series apart from the many others in the genre. And, I’m so glad I opted for the audio version. Derek Perkins is just perfection in his narration. Still loving it! 4.5 stars
The Hunter is the 2nd book in the Victorian Rebels series by Kerrigan Byrne. After the first book The Highwayman, I was already so intrigued by the most dangerous assassin of the empire, Christopher Argent. I just knew his story was going to be amazing, dark, intense, thrilling, and I was curious to find out who could bring him to his knees and capture his heart . Little did I know, it was also highly emotional, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, full of pain and agony , yet beautiful and swoony . And steamy hot !
Christopher witnessed all sorts of brutality at a young age. He himself was also a subject to those, being born and growing up in Newgate prison where it had robbed him of his innocence, his childhood. The darkness is his world, it consumed his soul, he thought. He never believed he could have any feelings, until he met Millie LeCour, the beautiful actress, the gem of London stage, who happened to be his assigned target! He was the hunter, she was the prey, but the moment their eyes met, their instant connection and burning desire threw all his plans out the window! So they’d made a deal…
The contrasts between Christopher and Millie are so well described: from their houses, his is enormous yet cold and empty and hers small but warm and cozy, which truly reflect their natures, to their souls, their perspectives in life… To bring such opposite and complex characters together, to let them fall in love and make the readers believe and cheer for their happiness are no easy tasks. And Ms Byrne has done it so beautifully with an amazing character development. Her writing once again was phenomenal with the spot-on descriptions of their feelings and struggles, it made you feel all their pain and heartbreak. I was pretty much on an emotional rollercoaster ride the whole time! I bawled, swooned, smiled, was frustrated, was enthralled, was on the edge of seat, then the whole circle repeated !
I must admit this book has been sitting in my Kindle for over a couple months, just because I was scared of this emotional wreck . Not until my book buddy convinced me that she would hold my hand and buddy-read with me have I found my courage and taken the dive . And yes, I’ve come through it wholly and happy in tears . Okay, so I’m being a bit dramatic here, but my point is, it’s that fantastic! If you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for? Don’t be a coward like me ! The HEA will be worth all your tears .
/5
I liked this. Not as much as the first book, not even close. But I liked it. Wish there was an epilogue.
“And just because I didn’t kill you doesn’t mean I won’t destroy you,”–Christopher Argent
Christopher Argent, or Argent, as he prefers to be called is an assassin and a good one. He gets paid well for what he does and he’s never failed. That is until a hit was called out on actress, Millicent LeCour. He attends a performance that she is starring in and is captivated by her beauty. He accosts her at the cast party and had more than one chance to get the job done, but just couldn’t. He had more opportunities in the days that followed and something still stopped him.
Millie and her son, Jakub, are on a hit list. Even when Argent doesn’t follow through with his assassination, others will try. Argent found himself in the role of protector now, vowing to defend the two at any cost. What he isn’t counting on is losing himself in the process.
Millie is a warm, sweet person. Argent is cold, calculating, is unable to feel. He is a ruthless killer and he makes no bones about it. He was born to it and knows no better or different. The two shouldn’t work. They’re too different. As the book implies, she’s fire and he’s ice.
There were many times that I felt bad for Argent. He had a rough start in life and it never seemed to end. He was raped, tortured, and abused and saw the worst of humanity. It was no wonder he was like he was. It was no wonder he couldn’t feel for Millie like he knew he wanted to and like she deserved. He was a man of method. He didn’t live in one place too long and he never visited the same prostitute twice. He never made eye contact with anyone and he always had sex from behind so he wouldn’t have to look at his partner. There was another reason he did it, too, but you’ll have to read the book to find out what that is.
Argent is probably one of the most complicated characters I’ve ever read. He’s not an easy man and being with Millie flipped him upside-down.
He’s also “friends” with Dorian Blackwell from The Highwayman, and Dorian makes a few appearances in this book. I do recommend that you read The Highwayman first. Dorian is an enigma, too, but Argent has him beat.
This is a moving story that made me laugh, cry, and even cheer. I wish I could give it ten stars.
*I attained this book from my local library
I enjoyed the audio so much, I ordered the paperback so I can read it too. A. new author to me that I’m excited about.
I really liked it. Not as much as the first one but it was still really good. Loved both the hero and heroine. The sex was hot. The action was good. Wish it would have had an epilogue.
Where to begin? I absolutely LOVED this book! I did not think Kerrigan Byrne could top The Highwayman, but dang it, she did w/The Hunter!
Christopher Argent was born and raised in prison, and has known nothing but pain and death his entire life. The prologue will gut you; trust me! I’m still crying :'( Argent becomes a killer for hire, and he has never failed in his jobs, until the night his contract is to kill one Millie LeCour, who begs for the life of her child, and Argent’s world is changed.
I love broken heros, and Argent is truely a lost soul that Millie tries to mend with her body as well as her heart. Even if you are not a fan of historical romances, I would recommend this story! It is a beautiful romance, and I did not want the story to end. I look forward to more of this series!
Fav quotes:
I think love can make you a stranger, even to yourself. Maybe even a monster. It can be a wild creature just waiting to be unbound. A beast. A feral and selfish thing that will turn you against the world, against nature or reason…and everytime I’m tempted to allow myself to fall, I wonder is it worth the risk.
I’ve been able to cast my burdens on no one’s shoulders but my own. Carrying them makes me strong, and I’ve needed that strength to survive.
Christopher Argent was her fallen, avenging angel.
No one has a charted course. Winds shift, tides change, and even if he’s fighting against all of that, a man can choose where his journey ends.