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Victorian Rebels #3
The Highlander
Can the fiercest master of battle conquer a woman’s heart?
They call him the Demon Highlander. The fearsome Lieutenant Colonel Liam MacKenzie is known for his superhuman strength, towering presence, and fiery passion in the heat of battle. As Laird to the MacKenzie clan, the undefeated Marquess has vanquished his foes with all rage and wrath of his barbaric Highland ancestors. But when an English governess arrives to care for his children, the master of war finds himself up against his greatest opponent... in the game of love.
Defying all expectations, Miss Philomena is no plain-faced spinster but a ravishing beauty with voluptuous curves and haughty full lips that rattle the Laird to his core. Unintimidated by her master’s raw masculinity and savage ways, the headstrong lass manages to tame not only his wild children but the beast in his soul. With each passing day, Liam grows fonder of Miss Mena—and more suspicious. What secret is she hiding behind those emerald eyes? What darkness brought her to his keep? And how can he conquer this magnificent woman’s heart... without surrendering his own?
They call him the Demon Highlander. The fearsome Lieutenant Colonel Liam MacKenzie is known for his superhuman strength, towering presence, and fiery passion in the heat of battle. As Laird to the MacKenzie clan, the undefeated Marquess has vanquished his foes with all rage and wrath of his barbaric Highland ancestors. But when an English governess arrives to care for his children, the master of war finds himself up against his greatest opponent... in the game of love.
Defying all expectations, Miss Philomena is no plain-faced spinster but a ravishing beauty with voluptuous curves and haughty full lips that rattle the Laird to his core. Unintimidated by her master’s raw masculinity and savage ways, the headstrong lass manages to tame not only his wild children but the beast in his soul. With each passing day, Liam grows fonder of Miss Mena—and more suspicious. What secret is she hiding behind those emerald eyes? What darkness brought her to his keep? And how can he conquer this magnificent woman’s heart... without surrendering his own?
364 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 2, 2016
About the author
Kerrigan Byrne
69 books4,833 followersIf you're anything like me, the best night is one spent with a brawny highlander, a mysterious werewolf, a conflicted vampire, or a hot-headed Irishman. My stories span the spectrum of romantic fiction from historical, to paranormal, to romantic suspense. But I can always promise my readers one thing: memorable and sexy Celtic heroes who are guaranteed to heat your blood before they steal your heart. Lose yourself in the enchanted Celtic Isles, you never know who, or what, will find you...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,050 reviews
September 12, 2017
3.5 stars
This one was a pretty good read. I loved Mena. She was brave, and sweet. The hero Liam was okay for me. I would like him one minute and want to beat the crap out of him the next. He would do stupid shit that I couldn't stand oh like accusing the heroine of sleeping with his 13 year old son, and his brother, or the hero going off to a hooker to try and forget about Mena. I know he didn't sleep with her and that all he did was kiss and touch her but it still pissed me off. Still even with the stupid acts of the hero it was an enjoyable read.
This one was a pretty good read. I loved Mena. She was brave, and sweet. The hero Liam was okay for me. I would like him one minute and want to beat the crap out of him the next. He would do stupid shit that I couldn't stand oh like accusing the heroine of sleeping with his 13 year old son, and his brother, or the hero going off to a hooker to try and forget about Mena. I know he didn't sleep with her and that all he did was kiss and touch her but it still pissed me off. Still even with the stupid acts of the hero it was an enjoyable read.
October 17, 2022
Another tortured hero in the Victorian Rebels series.
I like Byrne's writing but these stories are so fucking dark. Dark, dark, dark. And that's just sooo not my cuppa, but the characters really are quite interesting & complex. <--you know, for a romance.
So. I keep coming back.
Our hero, The Demon Highlander, is all dark and broody. Afraid he's evil because his father was evil and made him participate in some pretty evil shit when he was still a kid. Then he joined the Army and did all this crazy stuff that made everyone think he was some sort of invincible monster on the battlefield. Now he runs around his castle all, NO ONE WILL EVER LOVE MEEEEE!
Shhhh. Women love a badass. Isn't that right, Chuck?
And the heroine (who we met in the last book) is on the run from her vile husband and his family. Mena's got a good heart but she's toting A LOT of horrifying baggage from her rapey/abusive husband and then from the rapey/abusive looney bin that he eventually tossed her in. <--because she helped save the heroine of the last book from Mena's evil in-laws.
Also, she's a big girl. Like physically big. She's tall and sturdy with massive tits that mesmerize poor Liam from the get-go.
As massive tits do.
Anyway. Liam's sister-in-law sets her up as the governess to his 2 obnoxious teenage children, which kills 2 unruly adolescent birds with 1 witness protection stone.
And then crazy story things happen for a lot of pages, and eventually, it ends with everyone living happily ever after.
This is a romance, people. I'm not sure what else you expect.
It's full of angst, wacky misunderstandings, murder, kidnappings, and boss-level porn shenanigans that are accompanied by mewling noises and magic jizz that squirts its way into your heart.
Point is, all's well that end's well.
If you don't mind dark themes, this might be the romance series for you.
I like Byrne's writing but these stories are so fucking dark. Dark, dark, dark. And that's just sooo not my cuppa, but the characters really are quite interesting & complex. <--you know, for a romance.
So. I keep coming back.
Our hero, The Demon Highlander, is all dark and broody. Afraid he's evil because his father was evil and made him participate in some pretty evil shit when he was still a kid. Then he joined the Army and did all this crazy stuff that made everyone think he was some sort of invincible monster on the battlefield. Now he runs around his castle all, NO ONE WILL EVER LOVE MEEEEE!
Shhhh. Women love a badass. Isn't that right, Chuck?
And the heroine (who we met in the last book) is on the run from her vile husband and his family. Mena's got a good heart but she's toting A LOT of horrifying baggage from her rapey/abusive husband and then from the rapey/abusive looney bin that he eventually tossed her in. <--because she helped save the heroine of the last book from Mena's evil in-laws.
Also, she's a big girl. Like physically big. She's tall and sturdy with massive tits that mesmerize poor Liam from the get-go.
As massive tits do.
Anyway. Liam's sister-in-law sets her up as the governess to his 2 obnoxious teenage children, which kills 2 unruly adolescent birds with 1 witness protection stone.
And then crazy story things happen for a lot of pages, and eventually, it ends with everyone living happily ever after.
This is a romance, people. I'm not sure what else you expect.
It's full of angst, wacky misunderstandings, murder, kidnappings, and boss-level porn shenanigans that are accompanied by mewling noises and magic jizz that squirts its way into your heart.
Point is, all's well that end's well.
If you don't mind dark themes, this might be the romance series for you.
November 18, 2020
#1 The Highwayman — 4 Stars
#2 The Hunter — 3 Stars
#3 The Highlander — 3.5 Stars
Men in kiltsss, yes or yesss?!?!? I canna resist them lads.
This was fun and exciting until it wasn’t. I was really into it. How could I not when it literally started in an ASYLUM full of creepy disgusting perverted old male doctors? Not to mention, the prologue was quite intriguing too. From the beginning, we were made aware of the characters’ pasts.
The problem is that they didn’t. So, basically the whole time we were just waiting for the h to confide to the H while he was trying to woo her into trusting him (and not doing a very good job of it). Let me tell you why, it was LUST at first sight. And as it often the case, boys are daft when they think with their d*cks.
Liam did stupid sh*t in the first half but was more *soft* in the second. Their romance could be a good slow burn, but honestly I just thought it dragged for longer than necessary. There wasn’t enough action to the plot to keep things interesting, except for the first and last 10%.
*Sex related spoilers*
Liam and Mena never had sex (that included penetration 👀) in the bedroom. Their first time (80%) was in the woods or a cliff or something IN THE DARK. Apart from me fighting drowsiness, all I could think was . . . Won’t there be any bugs?! What if there’s a snake?! They were doing it standing against a rocky stony wall, and I imagined it must be hella uncomfortable.
One of the things I loved from the first book was the writing. It was beautiful and still was in this one. However, there was just too much inner monologue which made the book tedious. Especially, since there was nothing new or shocking to anticipate so it lacked any sort of tension or plot twist.
It’s not to say that there’s nothing I loved about the book: (1) It had a bit of gothic vibes; (2) The setting was alluring and the side characters lovely and charming; (3) Derek Perkins is a gift for the audiobook-ing world cause his voice . . . his narration IS divine. So even if the story kinda sucked, at least the performance was out of this world.
(Read as an Audiobook)
Contemporary romance with similar storyline:
↠ Safe Haven
↠ Come Closer
#2 The Hunter — 3 Stars
#3 The Highlander — 3.5 Stars
Men in kiltsss, yes or yesss?!?!? I canna resist them lads.
[insert an image of Kit Harington looking all smokin’ hot in a kilt for us lassies to objectify]
This was fun and exciting until it wasn’t. I was really into it. How could I not when it literally started in an ASYLUM full of creepy disgusting perverted old male doctors? Not to mention, the prologue was quite intriguing too. From the beginning, we were made aware of the characters’ pasts.
“It was written in those stars that we meet. We are bound in some inescapable way, thee and me. I’ve known it since I first laid eyes on ye in that dress.”
The problem is that they didn’t. So, basically the whole time we were just waiting for the h to confide to the H while he was trying to woo her into trusting him (and not doing a very good job of it). Let me tell you why, it was LUST at first sight. And as it often the case, boys are daft when they think with their d*cks.
“Try as ye will to resist me, I’m after ye, Mena, and I willna claim ye until ye yield. But I’ll not stop until every last one of yer defenses are in ashes at my feet.”
Liam did stupid sh*t in the first half but was more *soft* in the second. Their romance could be a good slow burn, but honestly I just thought it dragged for longer than necessary. There wasn’t enough action to the plot to keep things interesting, except for the first and last 10%.
“Ye make me yearn to be a good man. Let me show you how redemption can be found, even in the darkness, lass. Doona let tomorrow dawn, with all its dangerous unknowns without having let me love ye. For it canna be a sin beneath such friendly stars.”
*Sex related spoilers*
Liam and Mena never had sex (that included penetration 👀) in the bedroom. Their first time (80%) was in the woods or a cliff or something IN THE DARK. Apart from me fighting drowsiness, all I could think was . . . Won’t there be any bugs?! What if there’s a snake?! They were doing it standing against a rocky stony wall, and I imagined it must be hella uncomfortable.
“Ye are my blanket of stars, Mena, my reason to look to the heavens. My map when I am lost and my point of light when all is dark.”
One of the things I loved from the first book was the writing. It was beautiful and still was in this one. However, there was just too much inner monologue which made the book tedious. Especially, since there was nothing new or shocking to anticipate so it lacked any sort of tension or plot twist.
“The sun will rise in the west before I stop loving ye, Mena mine.”
It’s not to say that there’s nothing I loved about the book: (1) It had a bit of gothic vibes; (2) The setting was alluring and the side characters lovely and charming; (3) Derek Perkins is a gift for the audiobook-ing world cause his voice . . . his narration IS divine. So even if the story kinda sucked, at least the performance was out of this world.
(Read as an Audiobook)
Contemporary romance with similar storyline:
↠ Safe Haven
↠ Come Closer
March 18, 2017
For St Patrick's Day, I read about a Scottish dude and an English girl. Close enough. (Although my VERY English husband would disagree strongly. He would also disagree with my love of a long-haired, kilt-wearing, sexy Scotsman, but what he doesn't know won't hurt him. )
Honey, I'm only admiring the fabric. I swear!
So, we have Liam, the Scottish laird who is known as The Demon Highlander for his strength and brutality during the war; and Mena, an English married viscountess who is on the run from her abusive husband who had her committed to an asylum. She helped save the life of the heroine from the last book and paid dearly for it, so Millie and Farah placed her in Liam's house in Scotland as a governess as their own type of Witness Protection Program.
Cuz they be crazy in that looney bin!
The beginning of the book is a little hard to read because of the horrors of the sadistic bastards at the insane asylum. Basically, if you weren't really crazy coming in, you would quickly become so after their "tender" mercies. All you want to do is paint the world red with the blood of the doctor and nurses there.
so tasty
The romance in this one had a nice slow build-up. I liked that because Mena had been through hell. Also, I liked that Liam never looked down on her for being a governess and never thought of just having a diddle-with-the-help type of thing. He's a lousy aristocrat.
Liam missed that day in aristocrat training camp
Oh, but don't worry. He does kick in her door and find her naked at one point. He's not crazy or anything. (But, really, how much time do we spend walking around naked in our rooms? It's not like she just got out of the shower. And, he was walking all around before he did this. Did she really not hear his giant feet trudging down the hall? Why was she naked at that exact time? Now that I think about it, I'm not actually naked very often at all. It would take some amazing timing for someone to catch me naked. Just, you know, got me thinking.)
goal achieved! I don't even want to see me naked.
The only time I wanted to tear my hair out was when she actually traveled with them back to London without telling him her true identity first. It was a seriously stupid move. Otherwise, it was a pretty good story.
Honey, I'm only admiring the fabric. I swear!
So, we have Liam, the Scottish laird who is known as The Demon Highlander for his strength and brutality during the war; and Mena, an English married viscountess who is on the run from her abusive husband who had her committed to an asylum. She helped save the life of the heroine from the last book and paid dearly for it, so Millie and Farah placed her in Liam's house in Scotland as a governess as their own type of Witness Protection Program.
Cuz they be crazy in that looney bin!
The beginning of the book is a little hard to read because of the horrors of the sadistic bastards at the insane asylum. Basically, if you weren't really crazy coming in, you would quickly become so after their "tender" mercies. All you want to do is paint the world red with the blood of the doctor and nurses there.
so tasty
The romance in this one had a nice slow build-up. I liked that because Mena had been through hell. Also, I liked that Liam never looked down on her for being a governess and never thought of just having a diddle-with-the-help type of thing. He's a lousy aristocrat.
Liam missed that day in aristocrat training camp
Oh, but don't worry. He does kick in her door and find her naked at one point. He's not crazy or anything. (But, really, how much time do we spend walking around naked in our rooms? It's not like she just got out of the shower. And, he was walking all around before he did this. Did she really not hear his giant feet trudging down the hall? Why was she naked at that exact time? Now that I think about it, I'm not actually naked very often at all. It would take some amazing timing for someone to catch me naked. Just, you know, got me thinking.)
goal achieved! I don't even want to see me naked.
The only time I wanted to tear my hair out was when she actually traveled with them back to London without telling him her true identity first. It was a seriously stupid move. Otherwise, it was a pretty good story.
June 22, 2022
This narration enhanced my love...
I absolutely LOVED listening to The Highlander. Derek Perkins took an excellent story and made it exceptional. Mr Perkins was The Demon Highlander and he did it vera vera well.
My below review is really long, so if you can't be bothered reading, just know this... IT'S BLOODY GOOD! Also, it's a bit dark.
I'm going to kick myself for listening to thIs series ones straight after the other and finishing them so quickly but I can't help myself. THEY'RE SO BLOODY GOOD!
Not changing my rating but wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
*************************************
Facing your Demon…and falling in love
To be honest, I read and loved The Highlander and I just don’t know if I can do this story justice. I couldn’t read this story fast enough. When I had to put my kindle down to watch my son play footy today, I was not a happy camper. My resentment wasn’t helped by a one-eyed ref, dirty opposition and my son coming home with a shiner. We got home and I handed him an ice pack and left him in his father's very capable hands. Well, sports is their world...not mine, I'm just the cheer squad. Dad's the trainer, sports manager and physical therapist so it falls in his jurisdiction and parental contract (just kidding...not kidding). When I got back to my story a few hours later, I hardly moved until it was finished. I really needed a cone of silence today. My family were chatting…very loudly…and having fun…very loudly. Couldn’t they tell I needed quiet? So inconsiderate…
I never thought I’d fall in love with a murderer…let alone three of them. The Victorian Rebels series has opened my eyes to the benefits of standing at the side of a violent man. Obviously, it is only a benefit if you are on his good side. I’m pretty sure if you fall into the category of enemy you’d want to be far, far away and definitely not within reach of these violent men.
We’ve met and watched Blackheart, the king of London Underworld fall in love with Farrah, in the first story. Then there was Hunter, London’s most elite killer who never misses his mark, until the mark turned into the love of his life, Millie. Now we are meeting Demon and watching his love story play out with Mena. All of these men have lived violent lives with murder on their minds and blood on their hands. I never once question how they could do the stuff they do or have done. It was plain to see that their upbringing damaged them. The size and strength of these men made them the perfect weapons of mass destruction…even under the banner of serving Her Majesty’s service.
The Demon Highlander, Laird of clan Mackenzie, Marquess Ravenscroft and Lt Col. William Mackenzie holds many titles. Liam is most famously known as the Demon. Liam decides at a young age to enlist in the army to get away from his evil father and get the violence he feels pumping through his veins out. Unfortunately, Liam is now living with the guilt of all those slain by his hand. He has two children, Rhianna aged 17 and Andrew age 12. He has not played a large part in their lives up till now, but with his final commission served, it’s time to return home. His little angels aren’t so angelic and definitely in need of a firm hand and some good teaching. Liam needs to find the perfect Governess to make a fine lady of his daughter and an upstanding gentleman of his son. He calls on his friend (and secret brother) Dorian Blackwell, and Dorian’s wife Farrah, to help him find the perfect one.
We meet Philomena at her worst. This poor woman has spent the last 5 years in hell. The first scene when we meet her brought tears to my eyes and broke my heart. It makes me shudder to think of the innocent people who were locked up in prison or asylums at the whim of the aristocracy. When Mena manages to escape her hell, she has two couples who help her gain her freedom and hide her from the evil she escaped. Her hiding place is with the Demon helping him make his mini demons become angels.
The Highlander was brilliant. I fell in love with the characters, the storyline was riveting and the passion that ignited between the couple was electric. The heroine, Mena, is a busty and tall woman and it was an absolute highlight for me that she found comfort in the highlands because her size didn’t stand out. She had been belittled and laughed at in London, but here she was admired. The Scottish men are big and brawny and they like to have a woman who can stand up to their size and strength.
There are some scenes of torture, violence and attempted rape. While these scenes were uncomfortable to read and broke my heart, I was able to compartmentalise and deal with them. There was one scene where the hero does something stupid that made me grit my teeth, but luckily he is steered in the right direction by an unlikely source.
If you are a fan of historical romance and don’t mind a little darkness in your reads, I strongly suggest giving Kerrigan Byrne a try. If you have never read a historical romance and are thinking of trying one, I would definitely give this series a try. I can’t wait for The Duke.
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.
I absolutely LOVED listening to The Highlander. Derek Perkins took an excellent story and made it exceptional. Mr Perkins was The Demon Highlander and he did it vera vera well.
My below review is really long, so if you can't be bothered reading, just know this... IT'S BLOODY GOOD! Also, it's a bit dark.
I'm going to kick myself for listening to thIs series ones straight after the other and finishing them so quickly but I can't help myself. THEY'RE SO BLOODY GOOD!
Not changing my rating but wish I could give it more than 5 stars.
*************************************
Facing your Demon…and falling in love
To be honest, I read and loved The Highlander and I just don’t know if I can do this story justice. I couldn’t read this story fast enough. When I had to put my kindle down to watch my son play footy today, I was not a happy camper. My resentment wasn’t helped by a one-eyed ref, dirty opposition and my son coming home with a shiner. We got home and I handed him an ice pack and left him in his father's very capable hands. Well, sports is their world...not mine, I'm just the cheer squad. Dad's the trainer, sports manager and physical therapist so it falls in his jurisdiction and parental contract (just kidding...not kidding). When I got back to my story a few hours later, I hardly moved until it was finished. I really needed a cone of silence today. My family were chatting…very loudly…and having fun…very loudly. Couldn’t they tell I needed quiet? So inconsiderate…
I never thought I’d fall in love with a murderer…let alone three of them. The Victorian Rebels series has opened my eyes to the benefits of standing at the side of a violent man. Obviously, it is only a benefit if you are on his good side. I’m pretty sure if you fall into the category of enemy you’d want to be far, far away and definitely not within reach of these violent men.
We’ve met and watched Blackheart, the king of London Underworld fall in love with Farrah, in the first story. Then there was Hunter, London’s most elite killer who never misses his mark, until the mark turned into the love of his life, Millie. Now we are meeting Demon and watching his love story play out with Mena. All of these men have lived violent lives with murder on their minds and blood on their hands. I never once question how they could do the stuff they do or have done. It was plain to see that their upbringing damaged them. The size and strength of these men made them the perfect weapons of mass destruction…even under the banner of serving Her Majesty’s service.
The Demon Highlander, Laird of clan Mackenzie, Marquess Ravenscroft and Lt Col. William Mackenzie holds many titles. Liam is most famously known as the Demon. Liam decides at a young age to enlist in the army to get away from his evil father and get the violence he feels pumping through his veins out. Unfortunately, Liam is now living with the guilt of all those slain by his hand. He has two children, Rhianna aged 17 and Andrew age 12. He has not played a large part in their lives up till now, but with his final commission served, it’s time to return home. His little angels aren’t so angelic and definitely in need of a firm hand and some good teaching. Liam needs to find the perfect Governess to make a fine lady of his daughter and an upstanding gentleman of his son. He calls on his friend (and secret brother) Dorian Blackwell, and Dorian’s wife Farrah, to help him find the perfect one.
We meet Philomena at her worst. This poor woman has spent the last 5 years in hell. The first scene when we meet her brought tears to my eyes and broke my heart. It makes me shudder to think of the innocent people who were locked up in prison or asylums at the whim of the aristocracy. When Mena manages to escape her hell, she has two couples who help her gain her freedom and hide her from the evil she escaped. Her hiding place is with the Demon helping him make his mini demons become angels.
The Highlander was brilliant. I fell in love with the characters, the storyline was riveting and the passion that ignited between the couple was electric. The heroine, Mena, is a busty and tall woman and it was an absolute highlight for me that she found comfort in the highlands because her size didn’t stand out. She had been belittled and laughed at in London, but here she was admired. The Scottish men are big and brawny and they like to have a woman who can stand up to their size and strength.
There are some scenes of torture, violence and attempted rape. While these scenes were uncomfortable to read and broke my heart, I was able to compartmentalise and deal with them. There was one scene where the hero does something stupid that made me grit my teeth, but luckily he is steered in the right direction by an unlikely source.
If you are a fan of historical romance and don’t mind a little darkness in your reads, I strongly suggest giving Kerrigan Byrne a try. If you have never read a historical romance and are thinking of trying one, I would definitely give this series a try. I can’t wait for The Duke.
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.
March 26, 2017
4.5 stars
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Escaping from an asylum that her abusive husband put her away in, Philomena has traded the title of Viscountess for governess. Seeking escape with The Demon Highlander however, might prove the most fatal decision yet.
Liam's father taught him and his brothers physical and mental torture from an early age and a lifetime of war has engrained the darkness into his soul. When his new governess Mena arrives, her bravery in speaking to him and the glimpse of a safe haven in her eyes has him wanting things he doesn't deserve.
After years of living in torment, can Mena and Liam help each other shed their chains?
Third in the Victorian Rebels series, we have The Demon Highlander (Dorian's half brother, The Highwayman) and Viscountess Benchley's (first introduced in The Hunter) story. It's not absolutely imperative that you read the previous two books in the series first, but it would certainly enhance the reading of this one as it would add to the characters' background. Also, those first two books are really good, so worth your time. Changing it up a bit, the author focuses more on the heroine this time, and while I'm usually a more hero-centric reader, I loved it.
It had started gradually, her hell within the St. Vincent household. And before long, when Gordon had thought her broken, when his jibes and torments no longer seemed to affect her, her husband became violent. Acts that would land a man in prison should he enact them out on the streets were all perfectly legal if he perpetrated them on his wife.
Philomena, who likes to go by Mena, has a heartbreaking story, made more devastating by the fact that you know it's the true story of many a powerless woman. She married young to a handsome Viscount who wanted her money and abused his power over her. After Mena testifies against his sister (The Hunter), he puts her away into an asylum where she is tortured with their "tests" and "treatments". As in the author's fashion, the beginning of the story immediately places the reader into a dark scene; Mena is trying to mentally and physically fight her "doctors". I found it to be more emotionally brutal than visually (there is a threat of rape) and all the more shattering because of this.
Through this scene and as she travels to the Highlands, the author gives us a poignant look into Mena that encompasses her inner strength, vulnerability, pain, fear, and will. This follows throughout the book as Mena interacts with Liam. We have a wrenching scene where Mena is scared that the bath they prepared for her will be full of ice water (asylum treatments) and then her fearful bravery as she speaks her mind to Liam but flinches from him. Does she seem to gain the ability to stand up to Liam a little quickly? Yes, this is only a 300pgs book after all, but I was still with her every heart squeezing step of the way.
She made him hard, so fucking hard that he couldn't think. But she made him soft, too. In those spaces he'd built walls and fortresses, around those places where memories, sins, and pain lay scattered about like shards of glass in a dark room, waiting for an unsuspecting victim to venture forth. And therein lay the danger.
Our hero has his own devastating story; his father was a sadist that actively worked to make his children in his image. He lives with knowledge of how he survived those years and then what he did as a Lt. Colonel. The things he did in the name of the crown, I thought could have been fleshed out more, the dichotomy of for King and Country with the emotional toll of trying to destroy a culture and people. This author has a tendency to add too much; it detracts and keeps her from being able to go deeper with one of her ideas. The relationship and connotations with his valet, an Indian boy whose village and family he helped wipe out, definitely could have been fleshed out more. This author has amazing story plots and threads but I'd like to see more with less.
Liam was a tiny bit overshadowed by Mena, she was so well drawn I don't think it could be helped, but towards the last half of the book, he really shined with some make you melt lines. At first though, he came off a little too immature with his possessiveness and anger. His huffiness and fury was too extravagant; I worry for the amount of blood vessels the guy must pop. Once we got past the need to puff him up to show how much Mena calmed and settled him, I liked him a lot more.
"It's impossible to deny it, lass." He smiled down at her, and Mena suddenly knew that one could feel the warm rays of the sun even in the dark of night. "Try as ye will to resist me, I'm after ye, Mena, and I willna claim ye until ye yield. But I'll not stop until every last one of yer defenses are in ashes at my feet."
I told you Liam says some pretty make you melt lines, if that quote doesn't get to you, nothing will. I loved how when Liam saw how Mena was scared of him, it diffused his anger and how he became careful but still pushed her. This couple had chemistry and emotion in spades but for the first half, there was a lot of blood rushing causing boners. Can our heroes not always get a hard-on when they glimpse the heroine? I know people generally get physically attracted first but I would love to see more emotion than lust. A witty or sassy comment that turns a head and gives a spark to the eye, would, for me, go much further than britches getting snug. The first half was a bit weak on this, while the second half was much better.
While there was one too many painful pasts, one too many villains, and a secret held much too long, this author is still ahead of the game. The pacing (a little rushed of an ending), tone, and flow was the best yet out of the series, while the emotional depth held true. The secondary characters only want me to know their stories and I've rarely read a more deft hand at writing scenes that create such visually stunning pictures in my mind (Liam first riding out of the mists and the Samhain celebration scenes were 5 stars on their own). Liam and Mena were two wounded souls that found solace in each other, it doesn't get much more romantic than that.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Escaping from an asylum that her abusive husband put her away in, Philomena has traded the title of Viscountess for governess. Seeking escape with The Demon Highlander however, might prove the most fatal decision yet.
Liam's father taught him and his brothers physical and mental torture from an early age and a lifetime of war has engrained the darkness into his soul. When his new governess Mena arrives, her bravery in speaking to him and the glimpse of a safe haven in her eyes has him wanting things he doesn't deserve.
After years of living in torment, can Mena and Liam help each other shed their chains?
Third in the Victorian Rebels series, we have The Demon Highlander (Dorian's half brother, The Highwayman) and Viscountess Benchley's (first introduced in The Hunter) story. It's not absolutely imperative that you read the previous two books in the series first, but it would certainly enhance the reading of this one as it would add to the characters' background. Also, those first two books are really good, so worth your time. Changing it up a bit, the author focuses more on the heroine this time, and while I'm usually a more hero-centric reader, I loved it.
It had started gradually, her hell within the St. Vincent household. And before long, when Gordon had thought her broken, when his jibes and torments no longer seemed to affect her, her husband became violent. Acts that would land a man in prison should he enact them out on the streets were all perfectly legal if he perpetrated them on his wife.
Philomena, who likes to go by Mena, has a heartbreaking story, made more devastating by the fact that you know it's the true story of many a powerless woman. She married young to a handsome Viscount who wanted her money and abused his power over her. After Mena testifies against his sister (The Hunter), he puts her away into an asylum where she is tortured with their "tests" and "treatments". As in the author's fashion, the beginning of the story immediately places the reader into a dark scene; Mena is trying to mentally and physically fight her "doctors". I found it to be more emotionally brutal than visually (there is a threat of rape) and all the more shattering because of this.
Through this scene and as she travels to the Highlands, the author gives us a poignant look into Mena that encompasses her inner strength, vulnerability, pain, fear, and will. This follows throughout the book as Mena interacts with Liam. We have a wrenching scene where Mena is scared that the bath they prepared for her will be full of ice water (asylum treatments) and then her fearful bravery as she speaks her mind to Liam but flinches from him. Does she seem to gain the ability to stand up to Liam a little quickly? Yes, this is only a 300pgs book after all, but I was still with her every heart squeezing step of the way.
She made him hard, so fucking hard that he couldn't think. But she made him soft, too. In those spaces he'd built walls and fortresses, around those places where memories, sins, and pain lay scattered about like shards of glass in a dark room, waiting for an unsuspecting victim to venture forth. And therein lay the danger.
Our hero has his own devastating story; his father was a sadist that actively worked to make his children in his image. He lives with knowledge of how he survived those years and then what he did as a Lt. Colonel. The things he did in the name of the crown, I thought could have been fleshed out more, the dichotomy of for King and Country with the emotional toll of trying to destroy a culture and people. This author has a tendency to add too much; it detracts and keeps her from being able to go deeper with one of her ideas. The relationship and connotations with his valet, an Indian boy whose village and family he helped wipe out, definitely could have been fleshed out more. This author has amazing story plots and threads but I'd like to see more with less.
Liam was a tiny bit overshadowed by Mena, she was so well drawn I don't think it could be helped, but towards the last half of the book, he really shined with some make you melt lines. At first though, he came off a little too immature with his possessiveness and anger. His huffiness and fury was too extravagant; I worry for the amount of blood vessels the guy must pop. Once we got past the need to puff him up to show how much Mena calmed and settled him, I liked him a lot more.
"It's impossible to deny it, lass." He smiled down at her, and Mena suddenly knew that one could feel the warm rays of the sun even in the dark of night. "Try as ye will to resist me, I'm after ye, Mena, and I willna claim ye until ye yield. But I'll not stop until every last one of yer defenses are in ashes at my feet."
I told you Liam says some pretty make you melt lines, if that quote doesn't get to you, nothing will. I loved how when Liam saw how Mena was scared of him, it diffused his anger and how he became careful but still pushed her. This couple had chemistry and emotion in spades but for the first half, there was a lot of blood rushing causing boners. Can our heroes not always get a hard-on when they glimpse the heroine? I know people generally get physically attracted first but I would love to see more emotion than lust. A witty or sassy comment that turns a head and gives a spark to the eye, would, for me, go much further than britches getting snug. The first half was a bit weak on this, while the second half was much better.
While there was one too many painful pasts, one too many villains, and a secret held much too long, this author is still ahead of the game. The pacing (a little rushed of an ending), tone, and flow was the best yet out of the series, while the emotional depth held true. The secondary characters only want me to know their stories and I've rarely read a more deft hand at writing scenes that create such visually stunning pictures in my mind (Liam first riding out of the mists and the Samhain celebration scenes were 5 stars on their own). Liam and Mena were two wounded souls that found solace in each other, it doesn't get much more romantic than that.
May 10, 2020
4 stars
During this strange time, I’ve come to a few realizations and experienced some weird unexplainable phenomenon;
•My calendar lacks Tuesdays! Not knowing what today is seems to be the new normal, but to miss every Tuesday without knowing where did they go is weird! I mean, every week I ask what today is thinking that it’s probably Sunday or Monday, then it appears that it’s Wednesday. It seems like I sleep on Monday and I wake up on Wednesday. This is always happening, I swear I panic every time. I don’t know where my Tuesdays go!!!
•I decided to rearrange my wardrobe. To hang my summary clothes and stash my jackets and winter clothes away, but then I found myself standing and staring at my wardrobe and I was like, “but who knows when is the next time we’ll be out of our houses, maybe It will just be winter again.” So I left it as it is. That’s just miserable. I know!
•I’m scared that by the time I’m done with this series, I’ll forget what’s it like living in the 21th century. I mean, I’ve already started calling my mother “your Grace”
I really enjoyed this one, even though the beginning of this book was so hard to read and it terrified me. We’ve got a heroine who has been through some horrific terrifying things who had to run away from London and her abusive husband who had her committed to an asylum. Going to Scotland, she pretends to be a governess for Liam’s children. Liam Mackenzie is the definition of an anti hero with a tortured soul who I couldn’t decide whether I like him or want to kill him.
This book was really enjoyable to read. It has some sweet moments, Moments that were so hard to read, lovely moments, frustrating moments, and some action packed moments.
During this strange time, I’ve come to a few realizations and experienced some weird unexplainable phenomenon;
•My calendar lacks Tuesdays! Not knowing what today is seems to be the new normal, but to miss every Tuesday without knowing where did they go is weird! I mean, every week I ask what today is thinking that it’s probably Sunday or Monday, then it appears that it’s Wednesday. It seems like I sleep on Monday and I wake up on Wednesday. This is always happening, I swear I panic every time. I don’t know where my Tuesdays go!!!
•I decided to rearrange my wardrobe. To hang my summary clothes and stash my jackets and winter clothes away, but then I found myself standing and staring at my wardrobe and I was like, “but who knows when is the next time we’ll be out of our houses, maybe It will just be winter again.” So I left it as it is. That’s just miserable. I know!
•I’m scared that by the time I’m done with this series, I’ll forget what’s it like living in the 21th century. I mean, I’ve already started calling my mother “your Grace”
I really enjoyed this one, even though the beginning of this book was so hard to read and it terrified me. We’ve got a heroine who has been through some horrific terrifying things who had to run away from London and her abusive husband who had her committed to an asylum. Going to Scotland, she pretends to be a governess for Liam’s children. Liam Mackenzie is the definition of an anti hero with a tortured soul who I couldn’t decide whether I like him or want to kill him.
This book was really enjoyable to read. It has some sweet moments, Moments that were so hard to read, lovely moments, frustrating moments, and some action packed moments.
September 5, 2016
The Highlander by Kerrigan Bryne is a 2016 St. Martin’s Press publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This third installment in the Victorian Rebels series snapped me to attention with the prologue and it never lost momentum.
Mena escapes a fate worse than death, is provided with a new name, and sent to Scotland with a position as a governess for the ‘Demon Highlander’, Laird Liam MacKenzie.
Did she trade one bad place for another?
This author has quickly climbed to the top of my list of favorite historical romance writers. I have become so picky about my historical romances, burned out on Regency, sick of weak, tepid story lines, that lacked any kind of backbone. It was all so sugary sweet, filled with historical discrepancies, and mostly just disappointing.
Then along came Kerrigan Byrnre…
Now here is a story I could sink my teeth into, giving me something to chew on, and a plot I won’t forget five minutes after I finished reading it.
Liam’s life has been very hard and it is not just the horror and ravishes of war that haunts him. He’s committed real atrocities in his life and lives with the guilt of his crimes every day. He’s brash, ill tempered, jealous, quick to draw assumptions, and may breathe fire. He is a huge brute of a man, and ignites fear in everyone but his children, who are in need of a little polishing before they embark on their duties as adults.
Mena and Liam get off to a comical, but rocky start, but things get even more complicated when Liam finds himself fighting long buried emotions, throwing a temper tantrum one minute ,then turning to mush the next, while Mena finds her voice, standing firm against the formidable Marquess, all while falling hopelessly in love with him.
This story delves into the abuse women were prey to by their husbands, who could do with them whatever they pleased. Hit them, send them to an asylum, and lock them away for as long as them pleased, subjecting them to atrocities we can not even begin to fathom.
If the wife of a Viscount could find herself in such a position, think how poorly a prostitute might fare, which is something Liam knows first hand, as he is subjected to mental, emotional, and psychological abuse by his father.
While these are dark themes, the best part is seeing two very troubled souls overcome great adversity, gain peace, experience redemption, and know the healing power of love. This type of journey is so much more rewarding cause the characters must overcome so many obstacles, tackle meaty issues, but walk out of the darkest places of their minds, hearts and souls, and into the light, to a place where life has a different meaning for them now, each knowing how fortunate they are to have each other, and a life they can cherish together. This is what makes a love story epic.
Don’t get me wrong, the story is not overly heavy, it is a very sweet story, and has twists, suspense, and adventure, and sexy time, too, but at the heart of it all, is the progress the characters make, which is uplifting and will leave you smiling from ear to ear!!
5 stars
This third installment in the Victorian Rebels series snapped me to attention with the prologue and it never lost momentum.
Mena escapes a fate worse than death, is provided with a new name, and sent to Scotland with a position as a governess for the ‘Demon Highlander’, Laird Liam MacKenzie.
Did she trade one bad place for another?
This author has quickly climbed to the top of my list of favorite historical romance writers. I have become so picky about my historical romances, burned out on Regency, sick of weak, tepid story lines, that lacked any kind of backbone. It was all so sugary sweet, filled with historical discrepancies, and mostly just disappointing.
Then along came Kerrigan Byrnre…
Now here is a story I could sink my teeth into, giving me something to chew on, and a plot I won’t forget five minutes after I finished reading it.
Liam’s life has been very hard and it is not just the horror and ravishes of war that haunts him. He’s committed real atrocities in his life and lives with the guilt of his crimes every day. He’s brash, ill tempered, jealous, quick to draw assumptions, and may breathe fire. He is a huge brute of a man, and ignites fear in everyone but his children, who are in need of a little polishing before they embark on their duties as adults.
Mena and Liam get off to a comical, but rocky start, but things get even more complicated when Liam finds himself fighting long buried emotions, throwing a temper tantrum one minute ,then turning to mush the next, while Mena finds her voice, standing firm against the formidable Marquess, all while falling hopelessly in love with him.
This story delves into the abuse women were prey to by their husbands, who could do with them whatever they pleased. Hit them, send them to an asylum, and lock them away for as long as them pleased, subjecting them to atrocities we can not even begin to fathom.
If the wife of a Viscount could find herself in such a position, think how poorly a prostitute might fare, which is something Liam knows first hand, as he is subjected to mental, emotional, and psychological abuse by his father.
While these are dark themes, the best part is seeing two very troubled souls overcome great adversity, gain peace, experience redemption, and know the healing power of love. This type of journey is so much more rewarding cause the characters must overcome so many obstacles, tackle meaty issues, but walk out of the darkest places of their minds, hearts and souls, and into the light, to a place where life has a different meaning for them now, each knowing how fortunate they are to have each other, and a life they can cherish together. This is what makes a love story epic.
Don’t get me wrong, the story is not overly heavy, it is a very sweet story, and has twists, suspense, and adventure, and sexy time, too, but at the heart of it all, is the progress the characters make, which is uplifting and will leave you smiling from ear to ear!!
5 stars
May 3, 2017
I'd been having a hard time (for a while... for a long, long while) finding a historical romance where I could suspend disbelief enough to enjoy the story.
I get it.
Writing historical fiction through the lens of 2017 is difficult.
How do you write a male character who is admirable but who is also realistic for the time period? Very few men in 1800's England were feminists. In fact, very few women were feminists. Not even Queen Victoria was a feminist.
So this leaves the historical romance market flooded with (unrealistically) enlightened male heroes and plucky heroines. But I'm tired of reading about (unrealistically) enlightened male heroes and plucky heroines. They don't have flaws. And I *NEED* my characters to have flaws or else I can't connect with them. Furthermore, I *NEED* my historical romance characters to have time-period appropriate flaws.
I don't want to read about a 21st century hero in the 19th century. No, thank you. #HardPass
Which leads me to THE HIGHLANDER!!!
The hero is definitely not enlightened, and thank God for that! That's not to say he isn't a great hero. In fact, I adored him because of his flaws.
And the heroine is not plucky! WOOT!! She is wonderful. Smart. Strong. And she also has flaws.
So, basically, if you're tired of reading regency with flat characters and 21st century motivations, or if you're feeling like you can't connect to most regency novels these days, I STRONGLY encourage you to pick up this series and-- in specific-- this book.
I get it.
Writing historical fiction through the lens of 2017 is difficult.
How do you write a male character who is admirable but who is also realistic for the time period? Very few men in 1800's England were feminists. In fact, very few women were feminists. Not even Queen Victoria was a feminist.
So this leaves the historical romance market flooded with (unrealistically) enlightened male heroes and plucky heroines. But I'm tired of reading about (unrealistically) enlightened male heroes and plucky heroines. They don't have flaws. And I *NEED* my characters to have flaws or else I can't connect with them. Furthermore, I *NEED* my historical romance characters to have time-period appropriate flaws.
I don't want to read about a 21st century hero in the 19th century. No, thank you. #HardPass
Which leads me to THE HIGHLANDER!!!
The hero is definitely not enlightened, and thank God for that! That's not to say he isn't a great hero. In fact, I adored him because of his flaws.
And the heroine is not plucky! WOOT!! She is wonderful. Smart. Strong. And she also has flaws.
So, basically, if you're tired of reading regency with flat characters and 21st century motivations, or if you're feeling like you can't connect to most regency novels these days, I STRONGLY encourage you to pick up this series and-- in specific-- this book.
August 2, 2016
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
'The Highlander' by Kerrigan Byrne is book three in the "Victorian Rebels" series. It is the story of Lieutenant Colonel Liam MacKenzie and Philomena. I have read all books in the series so far, but you can read this one as a standalone book. I have been waiting what seems like forever for this book. I have been so in love with the other two that as soon as I could I read this book!
Philomena is placed in a Asylum after her husband of 5 years was done with her because she couldn't have children. Her husband and his family took her money and he cheated on her and treated her very badly. But Philomena has friends that come to save her from the Asylum. They get her away from London under a different name and send her to Liam place in the Highland. Liam doesn't know her past and thinks she was being sent to him after he requested help in finding a governess to his old children. But Liam has issue of his own tragic past that bother him. So in a way Philomena is a calming affect on him...but Liam knows that she is hiding something.
This was another great book by Ms. Bryne!!
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March 10, 2020
**Warning: this text may contain spoilers** This book like the first two has a somewhat dark tone, the fearsome warrior Lieutenant Colonel Liam McKenzie, now the Laird of the MacKenzie clan and a widower, endured a dark, abusive childhood, as his vicious father tried to make Liam (his heir) and Liam’s brothers (legitimate and illegitimate) into monsters.
Then there is Philomena, brought up by a loving farther that adored her, and ensured she was happy and as well educated as any man, she found herself trapped in the iron shackles of an abusive marriage, wicked in-laws, and then an insane asylum containing vindictive and cruel nurses, as well as revolting and abusive doctors and orderlies. But as luck will have it, she is rescued by retired assassin Christopher Argent, and then gains aid from Millicent (heroine from book 2) and Farah (heroine from book 1) in building a new life outside the grasp of those who wish her harm.
I loved both main characters in this, individually and together they were a delight. Some of the interactions between the two had me smiling in pleasure, and the heat between them sizzled off the page. Despite all she has suffered and the fear she continues to feel, Philomena does not cower in a corner, she holds firm and pushes through her fear – and so is the first person in years to stand up to the Demon Highlander.
Book 3 in the series has made sure that Kerrigan Bryne is now an HR author I will be keep a sharp eye on, and I know I’ll be re-reading this.
Triggers: Child abuse is referenced (both physical and emotional), sexual violence/abuse is eluded to and depicted briefly. Rape is also indicated as is domestic abuse. In turn, Philomena is almost raped by a doctor and orderly. Suicide and mental illness are also mentioned.
Then there is Philomena, brought up by a loving farther that adored her, and ensured she was happy and as well educated as any man, she found herself trapped in the iron shackles of an abusive marriage, wicked in-laws, and then an insane asylum containing vindictive and cruel nurses, as well as revolting and abusive doctors and orderlies. But as luck will have it, she is rescued by retired assassin Christopher Argent, and then gains aid from Millicent (heroine from book 2) and Farah (heroine from book 1) in building a new life outside the grasp of those who wish her harm.
I loved both main characters in this, individually and together they were a delight. Some of the interactions between the two had me smiling in pleasure, and the heat between them sizzled off the page. Despite all she has suffered and the fear she continues to feel, Philomena does not cower in a corner, she holds firm and pushes through her fear – and so is the first person in years to stand up to the Demon Highlander.
Book 3 in the series has made sure that Kerrigan Bryne is now an HR author I will be keep a sharp eye on, and I know I’ll be re-reading this.
Triggers: Child abuse is referenced (both physical and emotional), sexual violence/abuse is eluded to and depicted briefly. Rape is also indicated as is domestic abuse. In turn, Philomena is almost raped by a doctor and orderly. Suicide and mental illness are also mentioned.
July 13, 2016
"Can the fiercest master of battle conquer a woman’s heart?"
Oh my God. This was an emotional rollercoaster! The story began with a very dark introduction of our leading lady Mena. I immediately connected with her and just wanted her to be happy. She’s such a beautiful character. Flawed, yet strong. Tortured by her past, yet ready to take a step towards the future. I really, really liked her. Here enters the Demon Highlander. Laird Liam. The Devil with an exquisite charm that will sweep you off your feet, ladies. I loved getting to know Liam more and more throughout this novel and the final result was impeccable.
I loved the supporting characters and Liam’s children as well. I enjoyed reading their interactions with Mena, and loved how they developed as characters. This was a very interesting, action and romance-packed story which will make you crave for your very own Highlander.
*E-copy provided by the author/publisher in exchange for an honest review via Netgalley.*
You can read this review on BookishFever.
July 3, 2016
I was verra much enamored with this book. A great match between the very tortured hero and heroine. I like my Highlanders brawny and intense, and Liam definitely fits the bill. I have found another historical romance series to follow!
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0 stars.
Reviewed for Affaire de Coeur Magazine. http://affairedecoeur.com.
February 28, 2017
An absolute favorite of the series so far, and an all time fave book as well! Dark, introspective, sexy, sensual, with enough action for excitement. What a freaking fantastic historical. No formula here. Just unique, original, outside of the box. Woohoo!!
August 14, 2024
I cannot even begin to articulate how much I loved this book. Our two characters were so beautifully written, their stories weaving through such dark topics with grace and delicacy, and I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of this story!
January 8, 2018
4.5 STARS
Another amazing installment in what's become my recent addiction of a series! Ever since Mena was first introduced in The Hunter, I've been eager for her story. After all the abuse she'd suffered at the hands of her vicious husband and cruel family, I was yearning for her to know love. Who knew she'd find it at the hands of the one they call The Demon Highlander? Yum!
This was a delicious slow burn of a romance. I loved watching the battle-scarred war hero fall harder and harder for Mena, as she tried harder and harder to stay away from him due to her secrets.
There was plenty of action to be had, with fantastic secondary characters, and a romance that will make you swoon. Another winner from my new favorite historical romance series!
Find me on:
He wanted all of it. All of her. He wanted to uncover her, body and soul. To lay her bare and wide and make a conquest of her. He wanted to own her. To claim her. To brand her skin with his mark.
Another amazing installment in what's become my recent addiction of a series! Ever since Mena was first introduced in The Hunter, I've been eager for her story. After all the abuse she'd suffered at the hands of her vicious husband and cruel family, I was yearning for her to know love. Who knew she'd find it at the hands of the one they call The Demon Highlander? Yum!
This was a delicious slow burn of a romance. I loved watching the battle-scarred war hero fall harder and harder for Mena, as she tried harder and harder to stay away from him due to her secrets.
There was plenty of action to be had, with fantastic secondary characters, and a romance that will make you swoon. Another winner from my new favorite historical romance series!
Find me on:
April 29, 2019
4 STARS
I really enjoyed this one, even more so than the last. It took me a while to get through it, but I certainly cannot blame the story for that. Poor Mena went through so much. I was happy to see her come out of her shell and reap a little happiness. And I'll admit I was a little disappointed that she . I'm really anxious to read on in the series. Byrne does a great tortured hero.
Sometimes . . . the safest place to be is at the side of a violent man.
I really enjoyed this one, even more so than the last. It took me a while to get through it, but I certainly cannot blame the story for that. Poor Mena went through so much. I was happy to see her come out of her shell and reap a little happiness. And I'll admit I was a little disappointed that she . I'm really anxious to read on in the series. Byrne does a great tortured hero.
“My name is William Grant Ruaridh Mackenzie, I am the Demon Highlander, Laird of the Mackenzie clan of Wester Ross, and ninth Marquess of Ravencroft. When we meet in hell, ye’ll know what to call me. I made a vow to my woman that if I ever got my hands on ye, I’d put my dirk through yer eye.”
August 24, 2016
While the first two books of this series have very broken heroes this takes a bit of a departure from that and gives us a broken heroine. Philomena helped Millie and Argent in The Hunter but it came at a terrible cost to her.
She has been beaten down by the man she married and after the events of The Hunter she is in great peril. Millie and Farah have a plan to help her though and it involves sending her to be a governess for Dorian’s Lordly brother.
I enjoyed a lot of this book, Philomena especially and anytime there is a Scottish love interest I’m pretty well entertained. However the first two books had decidedly broken men in them and I will say that I enjoyed that just a little more. Liam was hit and miss for me in this. One minute I’d really like him and then the next he’d do something I absolutely hated and I’d be angry with him. I never really got extremely attached to Liam.
There is the insta lust when Liam and Philomena meet and even though I was happy for her to have someone clearly think she was beautiful and want to be kind to her I wanted just a smidge more build up to the lusting after each other. Although it did take quite a while to get to the actual deed the attraction between them was clear from the beginning.
Overall this is an okay historical romance but I enjoyed the first two books of this series a lot more. I had most of the story figured out early on and I think that took some enjoyment away.
Definitely read the first two books of this series if you like broken heroes. But this one was a take it or leave it kind of HR for me. I do look forward to the next book though because The Duke of Trenwyth seems like a man who could be beautifully broken.
She has been beaten down by the man she married and after the events of The Hunter she is in great peril. Millie and Farah have a plan to help her though and it involves sending her to be a governess for Dorian’s Lordly brother.
“Mena knew men like the Laird of Ravencroft Keep rarely existed, and when they did, history made gods of them.
Or demons.”
I enjoyed a lot of this book, Philomena especially and anytime there is a Scottish love interest I’m pretty well entertained. However the first two books had decidedly broken men in them and I will say that I enjoyed that just a little more. Liam was hit and miss for me in this. One minute I’d really like him and then the next he’d do something I absolutely hated and I’d be angry with him. I never really got extremely attached to Liam.
There is the insta lust when Liam and Philomena meet and even though I was happy for her to have someone clearly think she was beautiful and want to be kind to her I wanted just a smidge more build up to the lusting after each other. Although it did take quite a while to get to the actual deed the attraction between them was clear from the beginning.
“Tell me you doona want this. Tell me that ye didna feel this storm brewing between us since the very first day we met. That a part of ye didna know that this was an inevitability. I knew from the first time I saw ye that it was my destiny to claim ye here in the mists. And ye must take me, Mena... all of me. Make demands of yer own. Lay claim to the pleasure I'm willing to offer ye.”
Overall this is an okay historical romance but I enjoyed the first two books of this series a lot more. I had most of the story figured out early on and I think that took some enjoyment away.
Definitely read the first two books of this series if you like broken heroes. But this one was a take it or leave it kind of HR for me. I do look forward to the next book though because The Duke of Trenwyth seems like a man who could be beautifully broken.
July 23, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Miss Philiomenia is in hiding from a abusive husband, she is in hiding with a new identity and finding sanctuary and security in the highlands, working for the "Demon highlander" Laird Liam Mackenzie as his children's governess. From the moment of their first meeting, Liam and Mena, felt a sizzle of chemistry that sparked between them. Liam has had a rough life, sacrificing himself for his brothers, doing what needed to be done in the battles in India for Britain but now he has come home, wanting to be a father to his children who have never really known him and being the leader for his clan. He doesn't believe himself worthy of Mena, who is beautiful, smart and sassy. She is the first woman to stand up to him, which only intrigues him even more. Mena is on the run, hiding from a husband that treated her in some of the worst ways. She is slowly rebuilding her confidence but despite her growing feelings for Liam, she knows that there is a line she can't cross....despite how much she is falling in love with her Demon Highlander. But the truth will come out, which will test both Liam and Mena and the love they have for each other.
Plot and Story Line
The Highlander is the most latest story in the Victorian Rebels series. Now this author has really impressed me, quite a bit. This author has a refreshing style of writing for historical romance that has blown me away!! So I was so excited to pick up The Highlander and I wasn't disappointed at all. From the start I was instantly drawn into this story. And boy does this author captivate the reader with some intensity from the very beginning. We see at the start, where both characters are coming from and hints onto certain traumatic events that have effected both of them. I thought the way Byrne handled this book, was pretty well handled and she pulls in the reader with depth of character. Now the chemistry between Liam and Mena is SUPERB!!! I love the way Byrne handled their connection, probably better than the first two books (which I loved) but there was something uniquely different about this pair. I can't quite put my finger on what made this romance different, but it had more complexity to it that intrigued me. We see how at first Liam and Mena resist the attraction that they feel for each other, but Liam has a turn around realizing how his feelings for Mena outweigh secrets or trauma of the past. And man when Liam decides he wants Mena for good....nothing and no one can stand in his way.
Now another aspect I really liked was seeing Mena's relationship with Liam's children. Both are older, in their teens but Mena really adds some positive influence on them. I love how well she connects with these kids, and boy they were quite fun. They added a more lighhearted twist to a more serious toned story. What a beautifully written story this author has created here. Its dramatic, emotionally centered and an engaging plot that keeps you fascinated. I can't say enough good things about this book or this author. If you have yet to pick her up---get the first book NOW!!!
The Cover
What a beautiful cover we have here right??? I love the hues of blues and greens we have here!!! The pose is sexy, but sweet and romantic. Love the sunset backdrop!!!
Overall View
The Highwayman is a vibrant, and powerfully provoking story of redemption, love and the depth of human nature!!! EXCELLENT
Click On Cover For Buy Link---The Highwayman Is on sale for 2.99 on Amazon!!!
[foogallery id="18974"]
Summary
Miss Philiomenia is in hiding from a abusive husband, she is in hiding with a new identity and finding sanctuary and security in the highlands, working for the "Demon highlander" Laird Liam Mackenzie as his children's governess. From the moment of their first meeting, Liam and Mena, felt a sizzle of chemistry that sparked between them. Liam has had a rough life, sacrificing himself for his brothers, doing what needed to be done in the battles in India for Britain but now he has come home, wanting to be a father to his children who have never really known him and being the leader for his clan. He doesn't believe himself worthy of Mena, who is beautiful, smart and sassy. She is the first woman to stand up to him, which only intrigues him even more. Mena is on the run, hiding from a husband that treated her in some of the worst ways. She is slowly rebuilding her confidence but despite her growing feelings for Liam, she knows that there is a line she can't cross....despite how much she is falling in love with her Demon Highlander. But the truth will come out, which will test both Liam and Mena and the love they have for each other.
Plot and Story Line
The Highlander is the most latest story in the Victorian Rebels series. Now this author has really impressed me, quite a bit. This author has a refreshing style of writing for historical romance that has blown me away!! So I was so excited to pick up The Highlander and I wasn't disappointed at all. From the start I was instantly drawn into this story. And boy does this author captivate the reader with some intensity from the very beginning. We see at the start, where both characters are coming from and hints onto certain traumatic events that have effected both of them. I thought the way Byrne handled this book, was pretty well handled and she pulls in the reader with depth of character. Now the chemistry between Liam and Mena is SUPERB!!! I love the way Byrne handled their connection, probably better than the first two books (which I loved) but there was something uniquely different about this pair. I can't quite put my finger on what made this romance different, but it had more complexity to it that intrigued me. We see how at first Liam and Mena resist the attraction that they feel for each other, but Liam has a turn around realizing how his feelings for Mena outweigh secrets or trauma of the past. And man when Liam decides he wants Mena for good....nothing and no one can stand in his way.
I found myself seeking ye out because somehow I knew that I couldna be apart from ye. It was the first happiness I ever knew to look into yer eyes. Ye taught me the meanings to words other than forgiveness and redemption. Desire. Yearning. And love. Ye are my blanket of stars, Mena, my reason to look to the heavens. My map when I am lost and my point of light when all is dark.
Now another aspect I really liked was seeing Mena's relationship with Liam's children. Both are older, in their teens but Mena really adds some positive influence on them. I love how well she connects with these kids, and boy they were quite fun. They added a more lighhearted twist to a more serious toned story. What a beautifully written story this author has created here. Its dramatic, emotionally centered and an engaging plot that keeps you fascinated. I can't say enough good things about this book or this author. If you have yet to pick her up---get the first book NOW!!!
The Cover
What a beautiful cover we have here right??? I love the hues of blues and greens we have here!!! The pose is sexy, but sweet and romantic. Love the sunset backdrop!!!
Overall View
The Highwayman is a vibrant, and powerfully provoking story of redemption, love and the depth of human nature!!! EXCELLENT
Click On Cover For Buy Link---The Highwayman Is on sale for 2.99 on Amazon!!!
[foogallery id="18974"]
February 2, 2022
5 Demon Highlander Stars!!
The Highlander is the third book in the Victorian Rebels series and it was just as fantastic as the first two books in the series!! MacKenzie is known as the “Demon Highlander” he earned his reputation because of his deadly fighting skills and imposing appearance who suddenly finds his life is changed forever when his children's new governess arrives.
"Sometimes......when in a predicament like yours, the safest place to be is at the side of a violent man."
Philomena “Mena” St. Vincent is on the run from her horrid abusive husband, the things he subjected her to broke my heart. Mena escaped her prison with a little help from an unexpected friend. Now in hiding, she is desperate to stay in hiding so she leaves London for the Scottish Highlands to take on a position as Governess to Laird MacKenzie's children. She certainly does not expect to find herself attracted to the Laird of the MacKenzie clan and is terrified of what will happen when all her secrets are revealed.
“Nothing else need be said between them. No words or platitudes uttered. No fears or sins confessed. He saw absolution in her eyes. Understanding. Acceptance. And still he gave her a moment. A warning. A chance to escape. Because once he got his hands on her, there would be no stopping him.”
Liam’s life has been very hard and it is not just the horror and ravishes of war that haunts him but also his past, his father was an abusive tyrant and he himself committed atrocities during wartime and lives with the guilt of his crimes. He’s ill tempered, jealous, and quick to draw assumptions and he doesn’t trust women due to his deceased wife’s deceptions. He is a huge brute of a man, he ignites fear in everyone but his children, who are in need of a little polishing before they reach adulthood, thus he hires a governess to install proper manners into his beloved daughter and son.
Mena and Liam had a comical introduction and a bit of a rocky start, but things get even more complicated when Liam finds himself fighting long buried emotions, throwing temper tantrums one minute, then turning soft & mushy the next. Meanwhile Mena finds her voice, becomes stronger and starts to stand up for herself, while standing firm against the formidable Highlander all while falling hopelessly in love with him. As her troubles catch up to Mena, Liam must make a decision….trust his heart or lose Mena forever.
“Liam somehow knew that seeing her blood would turn him into the monster he’d spent forty years trying not to become".
Great addition to this wonderful series, my only complaint is that the ending seemed a bit rushed, but it didn’t stop me from thoroughly enjoying this book. I’m definitely looking forward to more Victorian Rebels!!
*Audio book review: The Highlander was narrated by the very talented Derek Perkins who does a fantastic job!!
July 18, 2018
While I did like this more than I did the first time, I kinda feel like most of my points are still valid. But I just wasn't as annoyed by them? Maybe I read this faster? Didn't notice the flowery stuff? Hard to say. While it's still my least favourite of the series (so far), I wasn't frustrated by the pacing or the plot but whereas before the woe is me aspect to Liam's situation grated, I actually felt his temper and rage to be more unappealing than anything, even with the Berserker-background as reasoning. But Mena is still amazing, her opening chapter still broke my heart even though she is still strong and kickass and wonderful, and the scene with Liam's son and the puppy? Yeaaaah that got me a wee bit misty.
This story is one that is definitely bolstered by the supporting cast moreso than relying on the hero to carry his share but hey, whatever. I'm going to round up anyway.
This story is one that is definitely bolstered by the supporting cast moreso than relying on the hero to carry his share but hey, whatever. I'm going to round up anyway.
July 4, 2016
I received an eARC, from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review.
REVIEW ADDED
I loved it!!!
The hero, Liam MacKenzie, known as the Demon Highlander, is a very tortured man. First by his sadistic father, who did every imaginable, and some not much so, things to all his children being them legitimate or not, starting with physical abuse on themselves, to forcing them to abuse others under threat of death.
Philomena, Mena, St. Vincent, the Viscountess Benchley is a woman abused by her husband then committed by him and his family in a horrid asylum where she’s tortured inhumanly.
It was not easy to read about neither their pasts. It was awful!!! I wanted to scream or to hide under the bed!!!
When Mena is rescued (and not a minute too soon, because the animals that her doctor and an aid are, were at the point of raping her!!!) by the heroes of the previous books, she a wreck and I didn’t blame her!
Still being her husband her lord and master (!!!???) she must be hidden from him and where better to hide her than in Demon Highlander’s keep in Scotland!
So, she end there under a false name to work as a governess of his two children.
She’s terrified by the rumors surrounding him. It was quite natural seeing what she suffered at the hand of her husband.
Liam, on his part is instantly attracted by her, first by her statuesque body, but he’s also confounded by the fear he reads in her eyes, since it is not fear of him as a hated monster, but of some gestures, words and tone of voice.
After some time, Mena begins to relax, starts to get attached to the children and they to her, and also to their father, since he’s not such an ogre she was expecting. She sees the love he has for his children and that she clueless of what to do and to show it to them.
The love story between them is credible: it starts with fear, but grows as they begin to exchange confidences about their pasts and find out that both have suffered, but reacted in opposite ways, until they just cannot resist anymore and all the scorching tension explodes.
It was masterfully described: full of tender moments, but also hot, hot, hot!!
I also liked her approach to his children and their reaction to her.
Great book and great writing! I’m looking forward to the next one!
REVIEW ADDED
I loved it!!!
The hero, Liam MacKenzie, known as the Demon Highlander, is a very tortured man. First by his sadistic father, who did every imaginable, and some not much so, things to all his children being them legitimate or not, starting with physical abuse on themselves, to forcing them to abuse others under threat of death.
Philomena, Mena, St. Vincent, the Viscountess Benchley is a woman abused by her husband then committed by him and his family in a horrid asylum where she’s tortured inhumanly.
It was not easy to read about neither their pasts. It was awful!!! I wanted to scream or to hide under the bed!!!
When Mena is rescued (and not a minute too soon, because the animals that her doctor and an aid are, were at the point of raping her!!!) by the heroes of the previous books, she a wreck and I didn’t blame her!
Still being her husband her lord and master (!!!???) she must be hidden from him and where better to hide her than in Demon Highlander’s keep in Scotland!
So, she end there under a false name to work as a governess of his two children.
She’s terrified by the rumors surrounding him. It was quite natural seeing what she suffered at the hand of her husband.
Liam, on his part is instantly attracted by her, first by her statuesque body, but he’s also confounded by the fear he reads in her eyes, since it is not fear of him as a hated monster, but of some gestures, words and tone of voice.
After some time, Mena begins to relax, starts to get attached to the children and they to her, and also to their father, since he’s not such an ogre she was expecting. She sees the love he has for his children and that she clueless of what to do and to show it to them.
The love story between them is credible: it starts with fear, but grows as they begin to exchange confidences about their pasts and find out that both have suffered, but reacted in opposite ways, until they just cannot resist anymore and all the scorching tension explodes.
It was masterfully described: full of tender moments, but also hot, hot, hot!!
I also liked her approach to his children and their reaction to her.
Great book and great writing! I’m looking forward to the next one!
January 27, 2020
Philomena (Mena) St. Vincent was punished by her husband for her role in exposing his sister and brother-in-law in the last book. He had her declared insane and institutionalized in an asylum. Just as things were beginning to get even bleaker, she’s rescued by her benefactor who then helps to hide her. She’s disguised as a governess and sent to care for the children of the widowed Liam Mackenzie, renowned as The Demon Highlander. Liam has earned that moniker as he’s imposing and fierce but gets completely dismantled by the unassuming yet courageous Mena Lockhart. It’s a sometimes battle of wills and always an interesting challenge of wits when these two interact.
I didn’t know what to expect when Liam was mentioned in the earlier books and was unprepared for the force that is the Laird Mackenzie! I loved everything about him, including his jealous, irrational nature and quick temper. He’s neither good or evil, just an extremely flawed man with great intentions and leadership skills. He doesn’t suffer fools and was brought to heel by Mena who, despite her terror of him, took him on toe to toe. Their developing relationship was so natural as this kind of passion had nowhere to go but down a romantic path. For once, a romance that didn’t feel forced or take too long to materialize...all natural.
The conflict in the story came from some sinister issues arising from Liam’s past and, of course, the big secret Mena was harboring about her true identity. The tension and excitement arising from those situations came at a perfect time in the story, leading to a compelling finale that was so fitting for these characters. Derek Perkins was excellent again in his narration. His performance brought these wonderfully crafted characters to life outside the pages. I can’t imagine continuing the series without the audio versions and I’m loving every story.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
I didn’t know what to expect when Liam was mentioned in the earlier books and was unprepared for the force that is the Laird Mackenzie! I loved everything about him, including his jealous, irrational nature and quick temper. He’s neither good or evil, just an extremely flawed man with great intentions and leadership skills. He doesn’t suffer fools and was brought to heel by Mena who, despite her terror of him, took him on toe to toe. Their developing relationship was so natural as this kind of passion had nowhere to go but down a romantic path. For once, a romance that didn’t feel forced or take too long to materialize...all natural.
The conflict in the story came from some sinister issues arising from Liam’s past and, of course, the big secret Mena was harboring about her true identity. The tension and excitement arising from those situations came at a perfect time in the story, leading to a compelling finale that was so fitting for these characters. Derek Perkins was excellent again in his narration. His performance brought these wonderfully crafted characters to life outside the pages. I can’t imagine continuing the series without the audio versions and I’m loving every story.
Posted on Blue Mood Café
August 12, 2018
I wouldn't call this series the best certainly. Though I haven't finished, I'm fairly certain that for me one of those is The Brothers Sinister
I would call this entertaining, fun to read, and at times: Beautiful. And really, most days that's enough. Kerrigan Byrne does a good job showcasing both characters strengths and vulnerabilities, and this book was certainly no exception. I have to binge these a bit--as I received an ARC--and that's not my preferred mode of consumption, but I'm not struggling with it here.
This book felt a bit different in that Liam is slightly less of an anti-hero. Tortured, sure. But he doesn't slot in the anti-hero mold for me. I absolutely adored him despite this. His little flare of temper while remaining basically controlled were just fine with me. His form of retribution was just fine with me...his appreciation of Mena, also completely fine. His angst? Totally fine. He also has some swoony moments, between his children and his declarations. He's not perfect (rush to judgement, trouble trusting, bad temper) and that is PERFECT for me.
Mena didn't suffer in his shadow, however, and her patience and persistence is showcased wonderfully as she pretends to be (or acts as? ) a governess for Liam's children. As her sweet manner consistently does, she wins over the children both at once in in parts. She's a perfect example of through fear, people have courage, and I just loved watching her come into her own. When she makes sure Liam and others don't assume what she doesn't know by putting them in their place, it's fun to see how smart and confident she is.
In contrast to the prior, The Hunter, this felt more relationshipy. I appreciated that,because it's pretty much why I read romance. Still, this hero doesn't quite hold the allure compared to the fascinating and cold Argent (or Blackwell's calculating power) it doesn't take away from him being one of those very fine romance heroes. It's just put them in a room together (wait, she did!) and I can't decide who to climb first. It's fair to say I enjoyed that little power struggle.
If I have one issue with the outcome (well, there are a couple), but if I have one, it's that Liam isn't sure of Mena on his own in the end. I find this a little irrational, given that Mena has faced a very dark past with men, yet knows she's able to trust Liam. His faith in her was shaken too easily despite the fact she had secrets being quite open. And if there's anyone who wouldn't trust a peer, I think it'd be Liam. If it was momentary, ok, but the fact remains that Dorian declared Liam would have to hear it from the source--I'm a little befuddled by that and I find the characterization annoying and a bit inconsistent.
The final declarations are delightful and wonderful, and overall I really gobbled up this book with no problems.
I would call this entertaining, fun to read, and at times: Beautiful. And really, most days that's enough. Kerrigan Byrne does a good job showcasing both characters strengths and vulnerabilities, and this book was certainly no exception. I have to binge these a bit--as I received an ARC--and that's not my preferred mode of consumption, but I'm not struggling with it here.
This book felt a bit different in that Liam is slightly less of an anti-hero. Tortured, sure. But he doesn't slot in the anti-hero mold for me. I absolutely adored him despite this. His little flare of temper while remaining basically controlled were just fine with me. His form of retribution was just fine with me...his appreciation of Mena, also completely fine. His angst? Totally fine. He also has some swoony moments, between his children and his declarations. He's not perfect (rush to judgement, trouble trusting, bad temper) and that is PERFECT for me.
Mena didn't suffer in his shadow, however, and her patience and persistence is showcased wonderfully as she pretends to be (or acts as? ) a governess for Liam's children. As her sweet manner consistently does, she wins over the children both at once in in parts. She's a perfect example of through fear, people have courage, and I just loved watching her come into her own. When she makes sure Liam and others don't assume what she doesn't know by putting them in their place, it's fun to see how smart and confident she is.
In contrast to the prior, The Hunter, this felt more relationshipy. I appreciated that,because it's pretty much why I read romance. Still, this hero doesn't quite hold the allure compared to the fascinating and cold Argent (or Blackwell's calculating power) it doesn't take away from him being one of those very fine romance heroes. It's just put them in a room together (wait, she did!) and I can't decide who to climb first. It's fair to say I enjoyed that little power struggle.
If I have one issue with the outcome (well, there are a couple), but if I have one, it's that Liam isn't sure of Mena on his own in the end. I find this a little irrational, given that Mena has faced a very dark past with men, yet knows she's able to trust Liam. His faith in her was shaken too easily despite the fact she had secrets being quite open. And if there's anyone who wouldn't trust a peer, I think it'd be Liam. If it was momentary, ok, but the fact remains that Dorian declared Liam would have to hear it from the source--I'm a little befuddled by that and I find the characterization annoying and a bit inconsistent.
The final declarations are delightful and wonderful, and overall I really gobbled up this book with no problems.
June 8, 2020
Once again, I was completely immersed in the dark, intense and compelling world of Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian Rebels and the passionate love story between Liam and Mena.
The story opens with a powerful Prologue that had me totally riveted to the pages. Ms. Byrne does not shy away from depicting the harrowing events of Liam’s youth and how his violent, abusive, sadistic father tried to shape Liam in his own image. It isn’t easy reading but it gave me a real understanding of Liam’s character; his fear that the same tainted blood runs through his veins and that he would one day become a monster just like his father; the decision he is forced to make to protect his brothers; his belief that by becoming a soldier he could expunge his violent tendencies on the battlefield, but all the violence and bloodshed only serves to confirm his belief that he is unworthy of peace or happiness.
The scars he carried upon his soul were horrid and deep as those on his back. Some of the wounds remained open and bleeding, poisoning his chances at happiness or peace.
Mena’s life has been hellish too. Mentally and physically abused by her husband for the past five years, he has now had her committed to an asylum (the reason forms part of the plot of the previous book, The Hunter, and, for those who haven’t yet read that book, I am avoiding spoilers). Once again, Ms. Byrne conveys the chilling reality of Mena’s suffering and abuse in graphic realism and it is not for the faint hearted. These scenes are a powerful indictment of Victorian society, where those without a voice could be committed to such a terrible fate without redress.
I love the scene where Mena is on her way to Ravencroft Keep, Liam’s home, and the carriage wheel fractures. The driver sets off to the keep to get help and, in the meantime, a group of dirty, bedraggled highlanders appear. Liam demands she open the door but Mena refuses point blank, not believing for one minute that he is the marquess. Their exchanges are so funny but, more than anything, I love how Mena has the courage to refuse to do as Liam says, particularly as he shows every sign of exploding at any moment!
“Do you happen to have any proof of your lordship or nobility?” she suggested, blinking pleased, expectant eyes at him as though she’d offered some sort of foolproof plan. “A signet ring, perhaps, or a seal of—”
“The fact that I havena torn this carriage apart with my bare hands is proof enough of my nobility,” he growled through lips drawn tight over his teeth. “Now open the bloody door.”
“I’m sorry, but no.” She shut the window.
It’s obvious that Liam loves his children and has done everything he could to protect them but, after such a long absence, he doesn’t know how to relate to his grown-up son and daughter. I love the scenes between Mena and Liam’s children, especially the one where she has a rather clever way of persuading Andrew to read the three classics. I also enjoyed seeing the loving relationship flourishing between Liam and his children.
I like how Ms. Byrne builds the romance slowly. Yes, there is lots of sizzling sexual tension, desire and passion…
The moment they’d met had been like the whisper of a storm kissing a hot, humid day with a blessed chill. The promise of something dark and exciting gathered on the horizon, and Mena had watched that storm rumble closer with every instant they’d spent together. Every time she’d banked the fires that blazed in his eyes. Every time he’d ignited heat into her cold heart.
but they also get to know each other and share their tragic pasts. I love how two such mismatched people are so perfect for each other. Mena finds a man she can trust who will protect and cherish her and allow her to be strong, while Liam finds a woman who accepts him for who he is and offers him the chance to protect rather than hurt and finally find peace.
I liked the secondary characters especially Jani, Liam’s Indian valet, Liam’s children and Liam’s brother, Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, whose story will be told in THE SCOT BEDS HIS WIFE (October 3rd 2017). I was also intrigued by the references to the Duke of Trewyth and look forward to reading his story in THE DUKE.
While the main focus of the story is the romance, there is an element of drama in the form of a malevolent force within the keep and Mena’s husband’s attempt to institutionalize Mena again. Dorian Blackwell (The Highwayman) and Christopher Argent (The Hunter) prove their worth as allies for Liam and this fearsome trio show no mercy when exacting revenge on those who have harmed Mena.
MY VERDICT: Another superb addition to this darkly compelling series. Highly recommended.
Victorian Rebels series to date (click on the link for more details):
https://www.goodreads.com/series/1427...
This review is als posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
The story opens with a powerful Prologue that had me totally riveted to the pages. Ms. Byrne does not shy away from depicting the harrowing events of Liam’s youth and how his violent, abusive, sadistic father tried to shape Liam in his own image. It isn’t easy reading but it gave me a real understanding of Liam’s character; his fear that the same tainted blood runs through his veins and that he would one day become a monster just like his father; the decision he is forced to make to protect his brothers; his belief that by becoming a soldier he could expunge his violent tendencies on the battlefield, but all the violence and bloodshed only serves to confirm his belief that he is unworthy of peace or happiness.
The scars he carried upon his soul were horrid and deep as those on his back. Some of the wounds remained open and bleeding, poisoning his chances at happiness or peace.
Mena’s life has been hellish too. Mentally and physically abused by her husband for the past five years, he has now had her committed to an asylum (the reason forms part of the plot of the previous book, The Hunter, and, for those who haven’t yet read that book, I am avoiding spoilers). Once again, Ms. Byrne conveys the chilling reality of Mena’s suffering and abuse in graphic realism and it is not for the faint hearted. These scenes are a powerful indictment of Victorian society, where those without a voice could be committed to such a terrible fate without redress.
I love the scene where Mena is on her way to Ravencroft Keep, Liam’s home, and the carriage wheel fractures. The driver sets off to the keep to get help and, in the meantime, a group of dirty, bedraggled highlanders appear. Liam demands she open the door but Mena refuses point blank, not believing for one minute that he is the marquess. Their exchanges are so funny but, more than anything, I love how Mena has the courage to refuse to do as Liam says, particularly as he shows every sign of exploding at any moment!
“Do you happen to have any proof of your lordship or nobility?” she suggested, blinking pleased, expectant eyes at him as though she’d offered some sort of foolproof plan. “A signet ring, perhaps, or a seal of—”
“The fact that I havena torn this carriage apart with my bare hands is proof enough of my nobility,” he growled through lips drawn tight over his teeth. “Now open the bloody door.”
“I’m sorry, but no.” She shut the window.
It’s obvious that Liam loves his children and has done everything he could to protect them but, after such a long absence, he doesn’t know how to relate to his grown-up son and daughter. I love the scenes between Mena and Liam’s children, especially the one where she has a rather clever way of persuading Andrew to read the three classics. I also enjoyed seeing the loving relationship flourishing between Liam and his children.
I like how Ms. Byrne builds the romance slowly. Yes, there is lots of sizzling sexual tension, desire and passion…
The moment they’d met had been like the whisper of a storm kissing a hot, humid day with a blessed chill. The promise of something dark and exciting gathered on the horizon, and Mena had watched that storm rumble closer with every instant they’d spent together. Every time she’d banked the fires that blazed in his eyes. Every time he’d ignited heat into her cold heart.
but they also get to know each other and share their tragic pasts. I love how two such mismatched people are so perfect for each other. Mena finds a man she can trust who will protect and cherish her and allow her to be strong, while Liam finds a woman who accepts him for who he is and offers him the chance to protect rather than hurt and finally find peace.
I liked the secondary characters especially Jani, Liam’s Indian valet, Liam’s children and Liam’s brother, Gavin St. James, Earl of Thorne, whose story will be told in THE SCOT BEDS HIS WIFE (October 3rd 2017). I was also intrigued by the references to the Duke of Trewyth and look forward to reading his story in THE DUKE.
While the main focus of the story is the romance, there is an element of drama in the form of a malevolent force within the keep and Mena’s husband’s attempt to institutionalize Mena again. Dorian Blackwell (The Highwayman) and Christopher Argent (The Hunter) prove their worth as allies for Liam and this fearsome trio show no mercy when exacting revenge on those who have harmed Mena.
MY VERDICT: Another superb addition to this darkly compelling series. Highly recommended.
Victorian Rebels series to date (click on the link for more details):
https://www.goodreads.com/series/1427...
This review is als posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
August 10, 2016
I didn’t know,”she whispered. “I didn’t know there was someone like you in this world of cruel and callous men. I thought … I thought my future was a dark and barren corridor with a bolted door at the end of it.”
No one writes broken heroes like Kerrigan Byrne does. And with this book we got a broken heroine too.
Lady Philomena St. Vincent has been through so much, the abuse she suffered at the hands of her monstrous husband, and the people at the asylum he sent her to, was horrible. But Mena isn’t as weak as she thinks she is. When she’s saved from the asylum by Dorian Blackwell and Christopher Ardent, she is given the opportunity to hide from her husband in the Highlands, acting as a governess under another name. What she didn’t expect was to have the courage to stand up to the Demon Highlander, and to fall in love.
Because, lass, there are such sins heaped onto my shoulders, it would kill me to turn and face them.”
Liam Mackenzie is known as the Demon Highlander. His father had tried to make his heir a monster, but Liam decided to become a demon instead. But he’s so tired of being feared. And then he meets the new governess of his children, and suddenly all he wants to be is a protector, her protector.
But how can they have a future if Liam doesn’t know the truth about Mena, and when Mena is a married woman?
”Ye are my blanket of stars, Mena, my reason to look to the heavens. My map when I am lost and my point of light when all is dark.”
I absolutely loved Mena. Most people would not have survived what she had been through, but Mena has a lot of backbone, a lot of fire, and I loved that Liam brought that forward in her.
I liked Liam. He was quite an enigma, at first he came across as a bit of a bully, but the more time he spent with Mena the softer she made him.
The sun will rise in the west before I stop loving ye, Mena mine.
I really liked the romance, the intensity of the feelings between Liam and Mena. How much he wanted to protect her, how much he craved her, and how much she wanted him. Unfortunately there was one moment in this book that really didn’t work for me, and the romance just wasn’t the same after it.
While the romance fell a bit apart for me, I still loved how this author writes and the chemistry between Liam and Mena. I love her dark HR romances, and her broken heroes. This is one of my favorite HR series’ and I would recommend it to all romance readers.
September 16, 2022
⭐⭐⭐⭐
4 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Interesting main characters and interesting plot.
The heroine was brave and caring.
Tall and sturdy heroine.
Interesting side characters.
Good chemistry.
➖ What I disliked:
The hero was excessive and unduly in his jealousy.
And that the hero went to a prostitute (even if nothing really happened and he did not have sex with her.)
That the model on the cover is not similar in size to the heroine in the book.
4 stars.
➕ What I liked :
Interesting main characters and interesting plot.
The heroine was brave and caring.
Tall and sturdy heroine.
Interesting side characters.
Good chemistry.
➖ What I disliked:
The hero was excessive and unduly in his jealousy.
And that the hero went to a prostitute (even if nothing really happened and he did not have sex with her.)
That the model on the cover is not similar in size to the heroine in the book.
February 8, 2021
In The Highlander Kerrigan Byrne doesn’t only rip out your heart in the prologue it continues into chapter one where she fully eviscerates every emotion you have ever had. The question becomes, do I love that level of self inflicted misery because no one is forcing me to read these books? Why yes I do.
Philomena needs to leave London after escaping a bad marriage and an insane asylum (yes, a demented asylum run by creepy rapists), where better to go than the Highlands to live under the protection of the Demon Highlander? Liam Mackenzie maybe scary, strong and sexy AF but he also has a soft spot for his kids, his clan and Mena.
We met Mena in book two as the browbeaten wife of St. Vincent. I loved her strong but gentle nature. When she merely says “No, Thank You “ standing up to Liam or teaching his kids etiquette or helping Andrew keep his puppy, she possess a ladylike steel spine. Liam as a character had such dimension; the Demon Highlander, the sexy clan leader, the caring father and the protective man. His level of jealousy over Mena meeting Lord Thorne and when he strips the thorns off the roses for her, were just wonderful caring moments.
There were a few parts of The Highlander that really stood out to me. When Mena says “We may try to leave the past, but I don’t think the past every truly leaves us. It is a part of us; it shapes us into who we are. I don’t think any of us escape that fate.” That is just so telling, Liam can’t change the way his father abused him or his brothers, he can’t change the lives he took in the army or the madness of his first wife, those things all created the man he is today. Then when Liam says “Tomorrow is tomorrow, yesterday is yesterday. But tonight. Tonight is for us.” I just wanted to wrap his tortured, broken heart in a big warm hug.
While The Highlander is more of a slow burn than I expected it to be once they got together, it was on- in the woods, on a train! I appreciated the descriptions of hot Scot Liam working out and his affection for curvy Mena’s body!
I loved seeing Christopher (my book husband) helping Mena to escape the prison - “No, Chief Inspector Morley, I — found him like this.” The scenes with the couples from the past books provided levity and a feeling of family bonding that I appreciated to balance out the heaviness of Liam and Mena’s story.
Philomena needs to leave London after escaping a bad marriage and an insane asylum (yes, a demented asylum run by creepy rapists), where better to go than the Highlands to live under the protection of the Demon Highlander? Liam Mackenzie maybe scary, strong and sexy AF but he also has a soft spot for his kids, his clan and Mena.
We met Mena in book two as the browbeaten wife of St. Vincent. I loved her strong but gentle nature. When she merely says “No, Thank You “ standing up to Liam or teaching his kids etiquette or helping Andrew keep his puppy, she possess a ladylike steel spine. Liam as a character had such dimension; the Demon Highlander, the sexy clan leader, the caring father and the protective man. His level of jealousy over Mena meeting Lord Thorne and when he strips the thorns off the roses for her, were just wonderful caring moments.
There were a few parts of The Highlander that really stood out to me. When Mena says “We may try to leave the past, but I don’t think the past every truly leaves us. It is a part of us; it shapes us into who we are. I don’t think any of us escape that fate.” That is just so telling, Liam can’t change the way his father abused him or his brothers, he can’t change the lives he took in the army or the madness of his first wife, those things all created the man he is today. Then when Liam says “Tomorrow is tomorrow, yesterday is yesterday. But tonight. Tonight is for us.” I just wanted to wrap his tortured, broken heart in a big warm hug.
While The Highlander is more of a slow burn than I expected it to be once they got together, it was on- in the woods, on a train! I appreciated the descriptions of hot Scot Liam working out and his affection for curvy Mena’s body!
I loved seeing Christopher (my book husband) helping Mena to escape the prison - “No, Chief Inspector Morley, I — found him like this.” The scenes with the couples from the past books provided levity and a feeling of family bonding that I appreciated to balance out the heaviness of Liam and Mena’s story.
August 31, 2023
Read: 8/28/23
3.5 stars!
3.5 stars!
July 26, 2016
I don't read a lot of historical romance but last year a friend recommended this author so I was happy to see this up on Netgalley. This is the third book in this series but I felt the story worked very well as a standalone.
Right from the start we are plunged into a horrifying Victorian world were women are treated appallingly and as our heroine Philomena is introduced we find her in the most dire circumstances . Luckily she has made very good friends and they find a way to rescue her but their idea of where she will be safest isn't quite what Mena was expecting. Soon she finds herself in the wilds of Scotland and at the tender mercies of the man they call the Demon Highlander! Laird Liam McKenzie struggles with his past and the situations he found himself in but wasn't quite prepared for the challenging Mena. So can Mena play the part of a governess convincingly or will her secrets come to light?
I really liked the way the author chose to start this story as it lets the reader see that both these characters have gone through harrowing experiences . Liam fully acknowledges his quick temper and fierce ways but he wants to be a better man for his children. Mena on the other hand had an almost idyllic childhood ( unlike Liam) and it's the last five years that has seen her life become unbearable .
There are interesting supporting characters and boy are these Mckenzie men coming thick and fast out of the woodwork because yes you guessed it there's a rather jovial one here with a broken heart introduced who I'd really like to see more of. It would be remiss not to mention the interactions between Mena and the two children as it was heartwarming and I loved seeing the relationships grow based on trust . Exciting chemistry between the couple initially but it seemed to settle down as subplots came to light although admittedly when the couple finally gave in to passion it was very well written .
Do I have a gripe? Well yes frankly I didn't care for the Mr Rochester parallel . Don't misunderstand Liam is a widower so there's no one in the attic so to speak but yes the similarities are there. . It's a small thing but it did slightly niggle at me.
So a sweet heroine who is surprisingly well educated and not afraid to stand up for what she thinks. A violent hero who has survived an abusuve childhood and yet is so protective . Yes I liked this couple and if you enjoy historical romance then I suggest this author should be on your wish list too.
I was gifted a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Four and a half from me
Right from the start we are plunged into a horrifying Victorian world were women are treated appallingly and as our heroine Philomena is introduced we find her in the most dire circumstances . Luckily she has made very good friends and they find a way to rescue her but their idea of where she will be safest isn't quite what Mena was expecting. Soon she finds herself in the wilds of Scotland and at the tender mercies of the man they call the Demon Highlander! Laird Liam McKenzie struggles with his past and the situations he found himself in but wasn't quite prepared for the challenging Mena. So can Mena play the part of a governess convincingly or will her secrets come to light?
I really liked the way the author chose to start this story as it lets the reader see that both these characters have gone through harrowing experiences . Liam fully acknowledges his quick temper and fierce ways but he wants to be a better man for his children. Mena on the other hand had an almost idyllic childhood ( unlike Liam) and it's the last five years that has seen her life become unbearable .
There are interesting supporting characters and boy are these Mckenzie men coming thick and fast out of the woodwork because yes you guessed it there's a rather jovial one here with a broken heart introduced who I'd really like to see more of. It would be remiss not to mention the interactions between Mena and the two children as it was heartwarming and I loved seeing the relationships grow based on trust . Exciting chemistry between the couple initially but it seemed to settle down as subplots came to light although admittedly when the couple finally gave in to passion it was very well written .
Do I have a gripe? Well yes frankly I didn't care for the Mr Rochester parallel . Don't misunderstand Liam is a widower so there's no one in the attic so to speak but yes the similarities are there. . It's a small thing but it did slightly niggle at me.
So a sweet heroine who is surprisingly well educated and not afraid to stand up for what she thinks. A violent hero who has survived an abusuve childhood and yet is so protective . Yes I liked this couple and if you enjoy historical romance then I suggest this author should be on your wish list too.
I was gifted a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Four and a half from me
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