{Steamy Victorian Rebels Review} The Duke by @Kerrigan_Byrne

The Duke (Victorian Rebels, #4) by Kerrigan Byrne
Series: Victorian Rebels #4
Published by St. Martin's Paperbacks on February 7th 2017
Pages: 384
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He is noble, notorious, and takes no prisoners...

They say that now His Grace, Collin Talmage, Duke of Trenwyth has only one hand, he might finally be a mere mortal, but no one seems willing to test the theory. Rich as Midas, big as a Viking, beautiful as Adonis, and lethal as a feral wolf, he is the English Empire’s golden son. But now he’s lost everything. Most of his family died in a terrible accident, his protégé and closest friend betrayed him on the battlefield, and his left hand was cut off while he was a prisoner of war. The only thing that’s kept him going until now is the memory of a night spent in the arms of a mysterious raven-haired woman almost a year ago…

Imogen Pritchard is a nurse by day, but a fallen woman—and a spy—by night. Seduced on the job years ago by a Duke who mourned for the loss of his family, Imogen has never shaken the memory of the man’s despair—or the fathomless depths of pleasure he brought to her. But as the threat of betrayals, blackmail, and secrets abound, Imogen and Collin are thrown back together in a dizzying swirl of dangerous games and earthshattering desire. But can their love overcome the everything that threatens to tear them apart?

I received The Duke (Victorian Rebels, #4) for free. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Also in this series: The Scot Beds His Wife (Victorian Rebels, #5), The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo (Victorian Rebels, #6)

Byrne is back with another fiery tale of Victorian Rebels in The Duke. The three couples featured in the previous novels are back as well to help the wayward Duke and the nurse who vexes him.

This was my first read by Byrne, but it will not be my last. I was transported by her writing style, vivid imagery, and her development of complex characters. The ultimate highs and the tremendous lows each experienced were intrinsic to the story and so well crafted, I can’t see any historical romance lover shying away from hours in this world.

To begin with our heroine, Imogen Pritchard. Her story is one of the sacrifices a woman of the 1870’s had to make to survive. Imogen worked as a nurse by day to support her mother and younger sister. By night, she was forced to work serving drinks at the Bare Kitten, a whore house, due to her late father’s debts to the proprietor. Enter the newly appointed Duke of Trenwyth, Collin “Cole” Talmage. With an offer of twenty pounds, the proprietor goes back on his word and makes Imogen give up her virginity to the duke. Their night was sweet, explosive, and passionate. A night she would never forget. A feeling that would hold him together in the darkest hours of his life. Soon after, Cole was taken prisoner and spent months in jail. When he returns to England, he becomes a patient of Imogen. She goes against orders and ends up saving his life only to have him wake and not remember her.

This is where I can’t go much further with the story for fear of giving away any of the good bits. Let me say that the two get to know each other after they both go through tremendous transformations. Even with the number of tears I shed on behalf of this story, there was more than enough passion to make up for it.

I’m looking forward to reading the first three novels and the fifth installment, The Scot Beds His Wife, scheduled for release in October 2017.

The Highwayman – Book 1

The Hunter – Book 2

The Highlander – Book 3