The Duke (Victorian Rebels) Paperback – February 7, 2017

"Life, with all its perils and torments, still belongs to the living. We have a responsibility to live it. You should not waste it by giving over to bleak despair."FINAL DECISION: Once again a wonderful exploration of the darkness that lies in men's souls and the possibility of love and hope to heal. A battle between two strong characters make this a worthy addition to the Victorian Rebels series.THE STORY: Three years ago, the life of Collin "Cole" Talmage, Duke of Talmage, seemed charmed until his family was killed and he ended up betrayed by one he trusted and imprisoned for a year in a Ottoman cell. What kept him sane during that year was his memory of his encounter with "Ginny" a sweet prostitute with whom he spent his last night in England. When he is returned to England, emaciated, recovering from torture, and missing hand, he almost dies until an impertinent nurse Imogen Pritchard risks her position to get him the treatment he needed. Now two years later, Cole has learned to live with his missing hand but his spirits reside in darkness. He has been searching unsuccessfully for Ginny. He has also been watching the widow next door, Lady Anstruther, who managed to convince an elderly man to marry her with him dying soon after. Ironically, Lady Anstruther is the nurse who saved his life. What Cole doesn't know is that Imogen is also the "Ginny" for whom he has been searching.OPINION: Another fabulous entry in the amazing Victorian Rebels series, Byrne continues her exploration of the darkness in the human soul and how that darkness can be softened with the power of love and hope."I've spent so long searching for her, and yet I fear that I'd pass her in the street and not recognize her."As the book opens, Cole has just begun to take the hits to his golden boy status. He inherits the title because of the death of his family. When he meets and beds Ginny, he doesn't recognize her as the frightened and desperate woman she is, but he does find something peaceful and comforting with her. Enough such that a year of torture and hellish conditions made her his touchstone. He has never forgotten her and is determined to find and rescue her. Perhaps because the memory of Ginny was what helped Cole keep his sanity. The year in prison changed Cole. And he is still suffering from the emotional after effects of his horrendous experiences."He didn't need the help of the devil. Case in point, these fits of wrath and unreasonable terror that made Cole want to do unspeakable things. These moments when what he feared the very most was himself...He was barely keeping himself together. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt peace or pity. No, that wasn't true. He could remember. It has been precisely three years ago. With Ginny."Although people see the physical results of Cole's time as a prisoner, it is the emotional damage that is the most significant. He has been keeping himself together by way of "regulation, convention, and order." It is ironically Imogen who threatens to break Cole's will. She challenges him by shaking his control. Cole first attacks her because he believes her a villain for marrying a sick and elderly man. She is a woman who should not be living next door to him at all. She seems to be flaunting the very rules that Cole wants to rely upon. While she shakes his control, she also is giving him purpose and a sense of hope even as they argue and engage in combat."But the countess Anstruther met his dark look with a mulish one of her own. God, it had been a long time since he'd felt so frustrated, so infuriated. It was...rather glorious."I loved Cole. He is a good man who was drawn far into the darkness. He has struggled to survive and doesn't know how to begin to live again. Although he has relied upon order to control his anger and pain, he really is an unconventional soul who responds to Imogen's own unconventional nature. What he really needs is for Imogen to gather him into her arms and comfort him...he just doesn't know it.I usually love the heroes most in a romance, but in this book, I think Imogen was my favorite character. She begins the story by allowing herself to be a victim, but gains strength and purpose as the events of her life spiral out of control. By the time she and Cole meet again, Imogen has found a purpose in her life. She is determined to do all she can to help those who need a hand up -- especially vulnerable women and children. Acutely recognizing her own savior in her deceased husband, she will use everything she gained as a result of her marriage to help others. But, that comes with a cost. She must keep secret from Cole her beginnings as Ginny because she fears that the revelation of her secret will destroy all her good works. Because she must keep her secrets, there is no chance for her and Cole to have a relationship, no matter how much she wants one.Imogen has managed to keep hold of her hope and lightness despite the pain and travails of her life. It is her kindness and gentleness that calls to the pain in Cole and it is his pain that calls to her to comfort him. From their first meeting, she feels his pain (which only increases due to his capture and torture). Her spirit is called to him to heal and protect. But I also loved that Imogen is no pushover. She is determined to do her charity work (even if it costs her Cole). She is stubborn and artistic and fierce. She will do what she must to protect those she loves."if she believed in everything, it was that everyone deserved a second chance."The journey that Cole and Imogen take involves chance. The chance to reveal their true damaged selves to one another. The chance to move from darkness into light and hope. These two need three chances to actually find their happy ending, but by the time it comes, the two have earned their peace and happiness.This was a beautiful romance and a great addition to a series that I have loved. I was also gratified to see all the couples from the previous books make appearances here. There is a real community of people developing and I hope that this trend continues in future books.WORTH MENTIONING: For fans of Inspector Morley, there are indications that his story is turning in new directions.CONNECTED BOOKS: THE DUKE is the fourth book in the Victorian Rebels series. This romance is self contained although there are overlapping characters.STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to provide a review. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

3.5 stars for the first third of the book. Cole, Duke of Trenwyth is written so well, so strong, so understatedly sensual and kind, that I had no issues whatsoever with the premise that Imogen or anyone would lose their virginity to him. It was THAT GOOD. I was literally in awe and swept-away by him and her. Just for this, it's a good read. But then, it unraveled.Mild Spoilers Ahead -The major issue was that, well, just, I feel like the author and, thus, the readers missed out by sticking with the hare-brained premise that once Cole is back in Imogen's life that she must keep her identity secret (as the woman Ginny he bedded in the beginning). It just didn't ring true. She knows he has suffered frightfully in his spying duties and as a POW (lost a hand, no less), searched for her for TWO years, overhears a conversation where he openly pines for Ginny - and she thinks, oh, he'll hate me if he knew I was "Ginny". WHAT?! COME ON. It's a stupid plot contrivance or Imogen is stupid. Pick one.She could have kept her secret for a wee bit and then, have him find out and then we could have had another 40% on them falling in love. But, I'm beginning to wonder if KB can actually write central love stories - without murders and filler with past characters.Also, I was truly puzzled that after waiting until the 89% mark for them to consummate their lust - it was because he found out who she was and his reaction (!) was to forcibly take her on a trunk and then call her a two-bit whore. The woman he'd been searching and saving himself for, by the way. I don't hate the character for this. I think the author used him dreadfully to contrive conflict. Oh, and the next scene with them together (alert and oriented x 4 and all that) he tells her he loves her.The serial killer was not explained very well and wrapped up pretty tidily. But then, I was relieved because I was tired by then of reading everything but the LOVE story. Also, the bit on the private duty nurse having a harder job than a floor nurse...please don't KB. Just, please...A few other things I'd like to note based on reading 3 of the 6 books:1. These Victorian Rebel heroes need bigger pants because they are always complaining about the trousers becoming too tight with their erections. All.of.them. Admittedly, I haven't read the books wherein the heroes might be wearing kilts - so I'll let you know if, er, their members are so large that even a skirt is uncomfortable.2. The heroines are always, er, damp and twingy almost at first sight of the hero. And their all virgins, by the way, so it's not like they can conjure up any kind of picture of what might happen.3. Her sex scenes are generally good but it seems like the heroes lust hard, HARD, from 0-80% without much like, and then, suddenly, with maybe 1 scene of introspection, they like for about 5% and then, boom, love.4. The heroines get turned-on (physically) by their man defending them w/killing. In front of them. Admittedly, I've never had a man kill for me, so maybe a gal who has should speak up on her experiences...but, I'd think that the positive responses would be relief and gratitude, but not...arousal? I mean, I've seen a lot of trauma and death in my profession and it's pretty awful. Witnessing death changes you. I can see a love scene after something like this, a sort of, OMG, life is short, I need connection, etc. But these heroines, whilst examining their feelings about the killings, actually get feels in the secret parts.5. Sooo much filler (mostly exposition) with the past characters as I read further into the series. It almost feels like a super-hero movie. Let's get Batman and Superman and Aquaman and Wolverine and Spiderman together with the women who love them at the dinner table. Let's describe them allllll over again. Let's have a meeting with alllll of them, where we discuss battling evil. And then, of course, we have to have the requisite initiation of the new girl into the fold by the other wives. "you're part of us now." "it takes a special woman to love our men." And, yes, the men, who are still in the lust phase have to be knocked up side the head by their previously tamed brothers with sensitive entreaties to the current hero's lack of awareness of his feelings for the heroine. I'm wondering if by book 6 if half the book will be filled with this nonsense. I WANT A LOVE STORY not a super-hero movie. Thankyouverymuch.6. About the wives. They're a little Stepford. They have little identity apart from their man and if they did have one before them, it is not shown. Just the heroes and how big and strong they all are. And how they all are uniquely that. We got the smartest, the coolest, the largest and the tallest. What's next? I digress - the women are just basically wives and the sort of creepily bring the heroine in ala Stepford.7. The first time I read the description "bathing her womb" in Book 1 was interesting. But no more. No more. And fun fact, wombs "spasm". Who knew?OK, so I've given Lisa Kleypas and Elizabeth Hoyt poor reviews before but, you know, at least there's a bit more repartee in them. A bit more love.On to book 5...

The Duke is the fourth book in the Victorian Rebels series, and while it may not be my favourite book in that particular series, it is still an extremely satisfying romance that holds its own amongst most other examples in the genre.The Duke centres around Imogen and Collin, The Duke of Trewyth. Although both Cole and Imogen are put through the ringer a bit at the start of the book, it definitely doesn't have the same dark, tragic prologue that we've seen in the first three novels. In fact, up until around halfway through the book you could be forgiven for forgetting we're even in a Victorian Rebels novel.Still, the romance between Imogen and Cole is still gripping and full of twists (Ms Byrne does enjoy a hidden identity!) and I loved the way the novel explores the societal differences in Victorian England and the different viewpoints people had back then.Once we reach the halfway point, with the introduction of a serial killer as well as some familiar faces such as my persona favourite team of Avengers; Dorian, Argent, Liam and Morley , we are 100% back in peak Kerrigan Byrne territory.I loved how the romance weaved around the murder mystery plot. As always, Byrne's characters are multi-dimensional and guide the audience through a range of emotions. Imogen is a wonderful advocate for women's rights and support throughout the novel, while also showing the fears and obstacles women faced in the 19th century. Cole ranges from the smooth, confident hero at the start of the book, to the sour, damaged character who returns after the war, clearly suffering from some form of PTSD from his experiences there.I am a great lover of all Kerrigan Byrne's work and The Duke is certainly no exception to that. In fact, it's probably the one I'd recommend the most if you're a little wary of the darker subject material of the previous novels.

3 Mixed FeelingsI really liked the main character Imogen (aka Ginny), despite her obsession with the ass of a Duke - Cole, she is a strong woman who has done what needs to be done to survive and truly live, without obliterating her soul and compassion.This is the first book by the author where I have finished the book overall not caring for the hero, man oh man, at times he is a BIG ASS and IDIOT – his words frequently unjustly scathing and harsh, when it comes to the heroine. I know he has endured a lot, but he never truly apologies or acknowledges his epic jerkiness in a manner that is contrite. His treatment of the heroine throughout the book was more than a little disappointing. And I found myself wincing more than once.3 stars and not less simply because of the heroine!Potential Triggers: Attempted rape and murder occur and torture and being a POW is referred to.£1.82 on Amazon 21st September 2019

I liked the slant on this story - two people, who meet when they are both vulnerable and scared, share a night together which leaves an indelible mark on their respective souls. When they meet again, both with a lot more life experience, for better and worse, they hope and expect to find the same person they knew years ago and of course it doesn't happen. Imogen [Ginny] recognises Cole, the Duke in this story, immediately, but he doesn't recognise her, despite being attracted to her for reasons which he cannot understand - because he is searching for the exact same person he remembers from their previous encounter, without knowing that it is in fact 'Ginny'. Eventually, they understand that the fundamental feelings haven't altered, but the people that they have turned into, have, nor are they ever likely to return to the people they were before.Where it went a bit awry for me was Imogen's fixation that if the Duke recognised her, he had it within his power to destroy her - but that presupposes that not one single person from her former existence would know of her path from brothel to nurse to countess. By the same token, she seemed to give him several opportunities to see through to her real persona, when she demonstrably wanted to hide from him. I spotted the villain early on in the story but there was no hint of why he was the way he was - it was unexplained and therefore made little sense at the end of the book.I enjoyed meeting again the three couples from the previous books, and their interractions, but whereas I felt the menace and the very genuine reasons why the three men had turned out so violent and vicious, except with their wives and families, I didn't really feel it about Cole, the Duke. Except that this author tells a good story, this was almost a rather bland repeat of several stories of this type in this genre. I would, however, like to see Morley in his own story.

Another great addition to this dark series. Although I found Cole took longer for me to warm too than the much darker heroes of the previous books in the series. He comes through in the end, but Imogen is relentless in her love and devotion and there are points when you despair that Cole will ever pull his head out his arse and realise what’s right in front of him! Great story, engaging as always

Great story.An early carnal encounter between the heroine Imogen Pritchard is followed by years of separation when r e she is the beacon of light that help o s him survive.After a marriage of convenience her circumstances change dramatically and they meet again but he does not recognise her. She loves him and how they find their way back to each other is set against a serial killer backdrop. Very enjoyable!