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Wicked Men of Rockland #2

His Wicked Celtic Kiss

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It took just one teasing wink and a sexy Irish lilt from bad boy Lorcan Byrne to turn Julie Denison’s world upside down. The problem is, he’s only in town for six months, and happily ever after isn’t in this world traveler’s vocabulary.

Julie’s worked hard to get her life in a good place—dropping substantial weight and getting a great job at her friend’s bakery. But this handsome charmer is just as tempting as any of the decadent pastries she sells, and she can’t resist his advances for long. Julie fully expects Lorcan to break her heart—but she’s planning to enjoy every second she can of their explosive chemistry.

After years of danger as a soldier and a spy, Lorcan fled to tiny Rockland, Maryland for some boring downtime. He didn’t count on meeting someone who could ignite his libido and soothe his damaged heart, and their passion soon leads to deeper feelings. But can Julie convince Lorcan he has more to offer her than just his wicked Celtic kiss?

Sensuality Level: Sensual

206 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 20, 2014

69 people want to read

About the author

Karyn Gerrard

51 books598 followers

I no longer come to Goodreads, so there will be no updates by me on this profile.

For further information on my books, check out my site here: http://karyngerrard.com/


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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
Profile Image for Lover of Romance.
3,723 reviews1,128 followers
February 7, 2015
A Wicked Celtic Kiss, this was a wonderful romance. And definitely had me hooked from the beginning. It was so hard having to put this down, but sometimes you need to make a living right? Well this story had me captivated, and I had no idea what this author would be like for me and how this story would turn out. Well I was delightfully surprised with this one and it stunned me with the unique traits of the story that spellbound me. This story involves a man who has a difficult past and doesn’t let anyone get too close, not even family. The heroine of the story has her own history of struggling with weight and self-image and confidence. This is a story of working out the kinks and seeing two people needing love more than anything else. They both are driven, and self-contained, but as the story progresses you see how much they need each other. They definitely have a sexual attraction, and some of the scenes in this story are scorching hot!! And the who “Celtic kiss” I totally didn’t see that coming but it was hot!! This is a poignant and emotionally driven contemporary romance that blends desire and human emotion into a touching romance!! A keeper.
Profile Image for Angie.
1,301 reviews22 followers
February 2, 2015
~I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads Review Team~
It took me forever to get through this book. It seemed like it was all about Julie and her past weight issues and Lorcan only wanting to hook up and nothing more. I just couldn’t get into this book, I found myself skimming pages because it was the same stuff over and over and over. There was a little drama from some secondary characters that I honestly wish we saw more of, it was the best part of the book. When both characters finally got their act together the book was done.
Characters: The characters weren’t working for me
Sex: yes
Religious: no
Would I recommend to others: yes
More than one book in the series: yes
Genre: Romance
Would I read more by this author: yes
~Wicked Reads Review Team~

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Ruthie Taylor.
3,723 reviews40 followers
February 11, 2015
"I received a free copy of this book to read and review for Wicked Reads"

I enjoyed this story, finding it sweet and cute, with some passion thrown in for good measure. I felt that some of the weight issues were dealt with really well, but at times I found it a bit too much. I guess similarly with the PTSD, although there was some development on that issue. The isolation which they forced upon themselves, did work to reinforce their insecurities. I am looking forward to the next in the series and seeing them develop (please Ms Gerrard).

Wicked Reads Review Team
Profile Image for Cody Marie Phoenix.
1,090 reviews7 followers
August 31, 2021
Ah, those Irishmen will get you every time! A great slowburn romance with plenty of drama to go along with it. For the Irish, family is everything, but sometimes you have to spread your wings and choose family as well.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.2k reviews8 followers
September 4, 2021
The second book in the Wicked Men of Rockland City series a story that held my interest until the end. I enjoyed reading Lorcan Byrne and Julie Barnes’s story. I want to read the next book. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
766 reviews4 followers
September 6, 2021
Enjoyed the slow burn romance between the characters. Kept me interested and wondered what was going to happen next.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Miriam.
737 reviews39 followers
September 18, 2015
Lorcan. He's not really damaged. He's just...lost. He hasn't been home to his native Ireland in a long time and has a desire to go. But he suffers nightmares from his years as a soldier and believes he doesn't have a heart left to give to anyone because of his former jobs. Truth though, he had a heart. It showed up every time he thought of or was with Julie. His brain did most of the talking when it came to what he shared with her, convincing him that he had nothing to give her except a good time in and out of bed. But his heart knew better. It wasn't that he didn't have a heart to give; he needed to meet a woman who was worth giving it to.

That would be Julie. Her "fat girl" insecurities were...relative. Having been there before, I understood those moments of doubt, the second guessing, the need for reassurance. She was warm, caring, giving, and compassionate. She possessed a heart of gold despite the doubts she wore on her sleeve, so her heart was never an issue here. It was her brain. Mind over matter kind of thing, you know? Lorcan was key to changing her mentality about herself. He saw her as beautiful, didn't see her as beneath him. The simplicity of her beauty was more appealing to him than the women he'd known in his entire adulthood. Convincing her of that fact required skill that had nothing to do with bringing her to orgasm.

This is where the title of the book comes in. It has nothing to do with kissing in the traditional sense and everything to do with kissing in the...non-traditional sense, lol. The term was coined by one of Lorcan's one-night stands. Combine the phrase with his sexy-as-hell accent and smoking good looks, it was easy to see why his "kiss" could very well have been the best thing to happen to some woman he bestowed it on. Of course, Julie was more than some woman. She was the woman.

Lorcan's job as a driver for a mobster family was actually a good thing. I didn't think it was smart move on his part at first but it grew on me. It wasn't really the people he drove but their lives, particularly that of the son. It was funny, to me at least, how closely his love life resembled Lorcan's. They each had the affection of a good woman. While the son chose to run around on his lady love, Lorcan chose to put his own at arm's length. In the end, one suffered tragedy that helped the other put his life and heart in perspective.

I wasn't sure if I'd like this story. Lorcan came across as an arrogant ass who turned on the charm when he wanted something, knowing that the woman he charmed would give him whatever it was he was after. The charm was just a facade though, so liking him took time and eventually I did. I was glad for their happy ending, especially for Lorcan who woke up and realized everything he needed and wanted was with and in Julie.

The book isn't long but it lacks for nothing. The characters are well developed and the story moves at an even pace except for the ending. It seemed a little rushed given the easy going flow of the story, but that's probably just me. It doesn't at all take away from my overall enjoyment of this story. I wonder who Ms. Gerrard will write about next. Ronan? Or Sully?

I'm hoping it's Sully.

(Received from Tasty Book Tours for an honest review)
Profile Image for Lynn Cheryl.
725 reviews34 followers
February 14, 2015
This is a sizzlingly hot story set in a small town in Maryland.

Lorcan Byrne takes up an offer from his friend to work temporarily in the US. After many years of flitting around the world as part of the work he was involved with, he views six months in this small American town as a place to kickback for a while, especially if he gets an opportunity to demonstrate his wicked Celtic kiss!

Julie Denison has struggled with her weight and self-esteem most of her life, only managing to shed the excess pounds in recent years. However her confidence is far from recovered and she still has a daily battle to keep her sweet tooth cravings under control. When a gorgeous Irish man appears, she is instantly taken with him, but just can't see herself as possibly being attractive to any man.

The interaction between Lorcan and Julie is awkward to begin with. You can feel Julie's anxieties as she struggles to accept that this man finds her attractive. However, when he manages to break down her inhibitions you can feel the heat building between them. At times I wanted to knock their heads together in frustration especially as Julie's actions left me exasperated. I really began to think that Julie wasn't very bright because her actions seemed unrealistic for someone her age - to be so naïve in all aspects of her life, not just in relationships. In response to Julie, Lorcan tended to talk down to her like an adult to a child. The overall effect is two people who fall in love with each other, who are pussy-footing around in an attempt to deflect attention away from their mutual feelings.

I would have liked to have seen the storyline more developed to include more of Lorcan's life away from Julie – what exactly did he do to earn his salary and Mercedes? Overall a well written,fun read with good character development.

3½ Stars

***arc received from Publisher in exchange for an honest review***
Profile Image for Cathy.
788 reviews
February 10, 2015
3.5 STARS

"His Wicked Celtic Kiss" by Karyn Gerrard. First, I'd like to note that this is Book 2 of a series, which I did not know before hand and it made no difference - works well as a standalone. Now, to the book. Lorcan is Irish - love me an Irish boy! He's sexy and kind and gentle yet tough too. I liked that he went after Julie although she was hesitant at first.
At first, Julie comes off a bit cold to me. She is working hard to build up her self esteem after being overweight most of her life which explains a lot. She is amazed he wants her and is resistant at first due to these insecurities. As the book progressed, I grew to like her more and more and turned to being a bit frustrated with Lorcan. He was insistent that he would go back to Ireland and was denying, not only his feelings, but Julie's as well. While I get that Lorcan had some serious issues and nightmares to deal with, it seemed a bit immature to stomp off whenever Julie touched a nerve. That bothered me a bit. For me, there wasn't enough time dedicated to Julie and Lorcan's growing relationship. There was a bit of time focused on Liam which took away from our Hero/heroine's story. I'm guessing this might be leading to an upcoming book but it seemed to take a bit away from the story being told. Overall, I did enjoy this story but just wanted a bit more. Even though both Julie and Lorcan had a few annoying characteristics, this only made them more realistic. After all, no one is perfect. I look forward to reading book one of the series - "The Wicked Bad" to learn of Veronica and Nick's story. I liked them in this book. Hopefully, Ms. Gerrard will bring us Sully's story in the future. (Received copy for honest review)
Profile Image for Gaele.
4,076 reviews85 followers
February 13, 2015
3.5 stars – rounded up
The second in her Wicked Men of Rockland Series, Karyn Gerrard brings a story that stands alone without issue, and leaves readers smiling. This fast-paced and fun novella focuses on Julie and Lorcan as their story continues.

Lorcan is Irish, and in the tiny Maryland town for just six months. He’s not into ‘fixing’ himself or his females, and happy ever after just isn’t something he’s considered. A bit edgy, a former soldier with his own issues, he’s got that ‘bad boy’ vibe down pat.

Julie is a different case: loaded with insecurities about her size and weight, and her psyche hasn’t quite caught up with her actual physical reality. Personally, Julie was so needy and so obsessed with her own self-image that it didn’t seem to me that Lorcan would EVER come to trust in her as his potential match. Her insecurities, while understandable, were so omnipresent in her own thoughts and point of view that it soon dissolved into white noise, and Lorcan’s attempts to deal with her and the approaches he took were far more interesting.

Karyn Gerrard does give you characters that will frustrate and annoy you, to her credit they also have you needing to know more and see just where things will go. And go they do! Highlighting personal inconsistencies as they both will accept behavior and attitude from one another that they find abhorrent in themselves, while in my head I was screaming “BUT YOU” and “DON’T You SEE where” frequently. But I couldn’t put this book down as I needed to see just what would happen. And you will too!

I received an eBook copy from the publisher for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review: all conclusions are my own responsibility.
Profile Image for Colleen.
177 reviews13 followers
November 10, 2014
I read this entire book this morning. I just couldn't put it down.

Lorcan was a really deep character. It was painful to read how devastatingly broken his heart was after events he experienced in the Irish military. I can't the feeling of trying to completely turn off your heart to connections and love... but to have deep feelings of grief and loss and guilt. He was really a tormented man. It made me think of all of our troops that return from overseas... and to wonder what horrors their living with... even if they were part of peace keeping missions.

I also felt such a connection with Julie. Her feelings that there was no possible way the gorgeous Lorcan could be physically attracted to this plain Jane, previously "fat girl" was something I was familiar with while dating. The chubby girl feelings and image remain in your head even if she's long gone. It takes a lot to quiet her in your head. It was amazing to me that Julie could push those thoughts away when Lorcan was honest with the fact he would be gone in 6 months.

I was glad that their were blow ups and fights during their relationship. It wouldn't have made any sense to me if Julie DIDN'T feel moments of anxiety and uncertainty over what was happening between then. It also wouldn't have made sense if Lorcan was able to immediately put his torment behind him. The story felt much more real to me because of the battles to repair the brokenness.
Profile Image for Autumn.
908 reviews10 followers
February 24, 2015
Loran Byrne is hiding so much pain underneath a very handsome façade. The terrors that he witnessed as a soldier haunt him every night and he is convinced that they have destroyed everything good inside of him.

There is something about the quiet girl in bakery that calls to him. Julie’s luscious curves and shy honesty are far more alluring than he ever thought possible and what began as a casual dinner for two soon grows into a passion that is impossible to control.

Julie Denison will always be the overweight girl in her head. Even though she shed the extra pounds years ago, the rejection is still written all over her heart. When the beautiful and dangerous Lorcan starts to take notice of her, she’s positive that it’s not what it seems.

The more time that she spends in his company, the more she falls in love with the passionate man he really is – not just the roving bad boy. But will that love be enough to settle his wandering ways or will Julie be left alone to pick up the pieces of her broken heart?

His Wicked Celtic Kiss is the perfect afternoon read - complete with one molten hot Irishman and a heroine that every woman can relate to! The story moved at just the right pace with a delicious combination of tension and heat. I loved that it can be read as a standalone but that it also revisits with characters from the first book in the series – The Wicked Bad. Certainly Karyn at her wicked best…
Profile Image for Victoria Rainey.
512 reviews8 followers
November 3, 2014
Hearts on Fire Review

Original Review Published here: http://heartsonfirereviews.com/?p=30060


Lorcan Byrne is an Irish man who has traveled the world working for the Ireland Government in various aspects. Lorcan seems to have trouble staying in one place for long and while he loves his family seems to be looking for home. Julie attracts him like no other woman has before.

Julie Denison never went to college but in the years since high school has finally managed to get to a good place in her life. She lost a lot of weight since high school. Now Julie has found a great job that she enjoys. Julie is still working on her self-image issues.

The connection between Julie and Lorcan is powerful. They are attracted to each other at first sight. However, Julie’s self-image issues prevent Julie from embracing Lorcan at first. The sex scenes are scorching. They do make a great pair as they get to know each other.

I found this book well written with an interesting plot. The main characters and the secondary characters were enchanting. While the ending of the book is a bit predictable it’s the journey that Lorcan and Julie undertake while together that makes this book so interesting. Overall, this was a wonderful book.
Profile Image for Amber.
489 reviews63 followers
November 14, 2014
I didn't know going into this one that this was book 2 in a series. But this can be read as a stand-alone with no problems. It refers back to some stuff in book 1 but not enough that I felt I was missing the story. That being said I totally plan on going back and reading it. I would love to get the beginning of Lorcan and Julie's story.

This was a very captivating and heartbreaking at times story. I was enthralled in it and read it in one sitting.

Julie is very relatable. She has a lot of insecurities but shes trying to fight past them. I love her humor too.

Lorcan is just devastating. I was intrigued by him from the start and with every piece of his past that was revealed I just fell for him more. He's an extremely sweet guy. He was very closed off but you can't help but be drawn to him. At times he could be overly cocky and he definitely has a lot of demons from his past. But he has all these layers to break through to get to the real him.

I do hope to read more from this author in the future. I really felt for her characters and was drawn in to the story. I didn't want it to end.
Profile Image for Monica **can't read fast enough**.
1,033 reviews372 followers
February 14, 2015
A WICKED CELTIC KISS is a page turner of a romance. With a hero with an Irish brogue and a heroine determined to grab a bit of happiness within her grasp, Gerrard creates a story of two slightly dented people coming together in an unexpected way. Although this is book two in the Wicked Men of Rockland series, I read it as a stand alone story with no problems. Julie's body image issues and shaky self confidence combined with Lorcan's issues stemming from serving in the military they both have plenty of hurdles to their happily ever after. Neither seemed to want to face and conquer their problems at first and it takes them a bit to really come together. The story is straight forward and engaging with enough steaminess to keep things interesting! I definitely want to go back and read book 1 and I look forward to what comes next in the series.

**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
Profile Image for Dakota Storm.
Author 3 books38 followers
November 15, 2014
Lorcan one hot as hell Irishman (I have one of those myself without the lilt though!) love Lorcan he's sexy, confident and outgoing or so he shows the works but he'd guarded, has nightmares and feels he's broken. Love Julie although she has major hangups from when she was over weight, I love her feistyness and her shyness but I love how much she loves Lorcan. The story was well written and intriguing, I loved Nick and Ronnie the secondary characters, they are awesome friends to Lorcan and Julie. This story has intrigue and mystery, sexy as hell and love. 4 stars review by Nanee at upallnightreadallday.blogspot.com
Profile Image for N. Kuhn.
Author 66 books410 followers
November 14, 2014
It was really hard for me to get into this book. I felt that there was too much focus from Julie on her past weight. Sure, we all struggle with weight issues, but for me, it toook up too much of the story. Lorcan was hot. Erm, really hot! I liked his bad ass attitude with the softer side for Julie. This really is a decent read once you get past what drags it down (again, the weight issue.) I feel like mentioning it a few times would have been enough, not making it the full story line. There's action, romance and some fun in this book. Definitely worth a read !
Profile Image for Helen Simpson.
1,222 reviews40 followers
November 16, 2014
I REALLY LOVED THIS BOOK. SEXY IRISH MAN WITH THE CONFIDENCE AND SWAGGER AND THE SHY WOMAN WITH INSECURITIES. BOTH NEED EACH OTHER TO GET PASS THEM. WELL WRITTEN GREAT SEXY SCENES.
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