I like the black and gold contrast with the barely to see flowers and ranks the cover shows. Is in stark contrast to the romantic cover, the English edition has. Which is titled "The Highwayman". I still don´t know why I hit the request button – but this novel came with so many surprises, that I stopped asking myself that question. And be warned. There are some very hot scenes in it. And with hot I mean HOT.
Victorian Rebel-Mein Schwarzes Herz*
by Kerrigan ByrneVictorian Rebels Series #1
Translation Inka Marter
Original Title The Highwayman
Publisher LYX on May 25, 2018
Genre Novel
Pages 406
Format Paperback
Source Publisher
Goodreads
✶✶✶✶
When a love goes through the deepest darkness ... Farah Mackenzie never wants to tie herself to a man again. Too painful is the memory of her first love, Dougan. However, when she encounters the notorious criminal Dorian Blackwell, her life gets out of hand again. Blackwell, who worries her, but also touches something deeply in her heart, kidnaps Farah to Scotland - allegedly for her protection. But every moment she spends with the seemingly ice-cold man leads her to a truth that threatens to break her heart again ... (personal translation ©Vi at Inkvotary)
Story
Farah is a little girl when she meets for the very first time Dougan and knows instinctively that he is the one. They give each other comfort and ease the loneliness and cruelty they experience in the orphanage. But life gets even worse when Dougan tries to protect her from a priest and gets hit. From that moment on, Farah´s life changes dramatically.
Style
Unlike the title, this is everything but a kitschy romance novel. Romance yes, all the other things you might expect you won´t find. I was positively surprised while reading this novel and it was very entertaining. Kerrigan Byrne has a wonderful to read and very divisive writing-style. She describes a time where women need the protection of a man. Life is hard if you don´t have any money or a title. And society is not nice to all those who aren´t born into a life of light and money. And the Highlands are a wild place. London too. Though in a different way. The author shows how Farah made her way at Scotland Yard. How she lives and what she does to protect others. You wouldn´t believe that she is not what she seems to be and that she is hiding a huge secret. The moment she meets Dorian in a cell to do her work, she knows that something is changing. She can´t tell precisely what it is, but somehow, he seems familiar. In combination with the hilarious dialogues, the wit and humor some figures show, and the backstory you will find out that you can barely let this book down.
Characters
Farah is a great woman. She has a heart, trusts her instincts, and does what she wants, when she wants and how she wants it. And everything with style and grace. She wants to help those who can´t help themselves, wants to make a difference. She is fearless, enjoys the freedom she has as a widow, and is certain that she can go on with her life the way it is. Her smart head is one thing that makes her special. The other thing is, she listens. She doesn´t judge. And when she loves, she does it with her entire heart.
Dorian is a man who has suffered a lot. And his revenge is as cold and bloody as his heart is passionate about the woman he loves. He is torn apart when he meets Farah and realizes who she is and that he wants her. But she wants to touch him, and he can´t bear it.
Conclusion
This novel is great! Passion, heart, adventure, and an intriguing plot give you wonderful reading time. And the scenes between Farah and Dorian are hilarious. Witty dialogues, some intrigues, and two main figures who know how to catch each other´s eyes. Read!
Happy reading
*This book was kindly provided to me by LYX/ Lesejury in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Thank you. Therefore, the cover of the German edition is shown first in this review.
*This title was published in the English language The Highwayman by St. Martin´s Press on September 1, 2015.
Kerrigan Byrne
Kerrigan Byrne has done many things to pay the bills, from law enforcement to belly dance instructor. Now she's finally able to have the career she'd decided upon at thirteen when she announced to her very skeptical family that she was going to "grow up to be a romance novelist." Whether she's writing about Celtic Druids, Victorian bad boys, or brash Irish FBI Agents, Kerrigan uses her borderline-obsessive passion for history, her extensive Celtic ancestry, and her love of Shakespeare in almost every story. She lives at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her handsome husband and three lovely teenage girls but dreams of settling on the Pacific Coast.
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Great review! How old are the characters in this book?
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