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Victorian Rebels #2
The Hunter
They're rebels, scoundrels, and blackguards—dark, dashing men on the wrong side of the law. But for the proper Victorian-era ladies who love them, a hint of danger only makes their hearts beat faster...
A scandalous proposal.
As one of London't most elite hunters, Christopher Argent never misses his mark and always gets his man. But when his latest target turns out to be a woman—the popular, and stunningly beautiful, actress Millie LeCour—it turns his whole world upside-down. Overwhelmed by the heat that simmers between them, Christopher can't complete his mission. On the contrary, he'll do anything to save Millie's life—even if it means risking his own...
A dangerous passion...
When she learns what Christopher was hired to do, Millie is torn between the fear in her heart and the fire in her soul. Putting herself in this dangerous man's arms may be her only path to safety—but giving in to her desire may be the deadliest mistake she's ever made. With both of their lives in jeopardy, Millie and Christopher must learn to trust the real feelings they're hiding—to find the true love they're looking for...
A scandalous proposal.
As one of London't most elite hunters, Christopher Argent never misses his mark and always gets his man. But when his latest target turns out to be a woman—the popular, and stunningly beautiful, actress Millie LeCour—it turns his whole world upside-down. Overwhelmed by the heat that simmers between them, Christopher can't complete his mission. On the contrary, he'll do anything to save Millie's life—even if it means risking his own...
A dangerous passion...
When she learns what Christopher was hired to do, Millie is torn between the fear in her heart and the fire in her soul. Putting herself in this dangerous man's arms may be her only path to safety—but giving in to her desire may be the deadliest mistake she's ever made. With both of their lives in jeopardy, Millie and Christopher must learn to trust the real feelings they're hiding—to find the true love they're looking for...
412 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published February 2, 2016
545 people are currently reading
5315 people want to read
About the author
Kerrigan Byrne
72 books5,033 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 1,290 reviews
September 10, 2017
I am feeling lazy and don't wanna write a big review so..... I really liked it. Not as much as the first one but it was still really good. Loved both the hero and heroine. The sex was hot. The action was kick ass. Wish it would have had an epilogue.
October 2, 2020
kind of disappointing, ngl
it took me over a month to finish this book ON AUDIO which i think says a lot. the set up for this book was interesting enough, and definitely has that typical kerrigan byrne formula (i.e. LOTS of trauma in the intro) but the conflict and relationship in this story didn't really do it for me.
which is a shame because the characters were perfectly lovely. i just think too much of this story was spent on the whodunit and not enough time was spent developing the relationship. i'm pretty sure the span of the book was over just a couple of weeks and beyond some "i'll pay you for sex" moments there wasn't a whole lot of intimacy. definitely not enough to justify wanting to marry each other. and again, that sucks! i liked milly a lot and respected her decisions a ton. and i also thought christopher was a complex hero with a dark past. but ultimately... i just didn't care much about what happened.
definitely not a terrible book, but not one i am likely to revisit.
it took me over a month to finish this book ON AUDIO which i think says a lot. the set up for this book was interesting enough, and definitely has that typical kerrigan byrne formula (i.e. LOTS of trauma in the intro) but the conflict and relationship in this story didn't really do it for me.
which is a shame because the characters were perfectly lovely. i just think too much of this story was spent on the whodunit and not enough time was spent developing the relationship. i'm pretty sure the span of the book was over just a couple of weeks and beyond some "i'll pay you for sex" moments there wasn't a whole lot of intimacy. definitely not enough to justify wanting to marry each other. and again, that sucks! i liked milly a lot and respected her decisions a ton. and i also thought christopher was a complex hero with a dark past. but ultimately... i just didn't care much about what happened.
definitely not a terrible book, but not one i am likely to revisit.
December 14, 2023
DNF 15%
This book really went out of its way to include many racist depictions of East Asian people. Multiple instances in just the first 15%!
And yes I KNOW "It's a different era" "You can't judge by modern standards" "everyone was racist back then" FINE. I GET IT. Doesn't mean I have to enjoy reading that. And the author is a modern person so I'm going to judge the heck out of her anyway.
Why is a modern author going out of their way to include racist commentary from white characters, and characters who are problematic stereotypes (including the "wise old Chinese kung fu master")? And particularly against AAPI? WHY? This is a story about two white people falling in love... and then randomly a bunch of racist caricatures peppered in around the sidelines. I ask again, WHY? TO WHAT END??? Super offputting.
Also the hero's traumatic past was SO over the top and angsty I just could not take that shit seriously.
This book really went out of its way to include many racist depictions of East Asian people. Multiple instances in just the first 15%!
And yes I KNOW "It's a different era" "You can't judge by modern standards" "everyone was racist back then" FINE. I GET IT. Doesn't mean I have to enjoy reading that. And the author is a modern person so I'm going to judge the heck out of her anyway.
Why is a modern author going out of their way to include racist commentary from white characters, and characters who are problematic stereotypes (including the "wise old Chinese kung fu master")? And particularly against AAPI? WHY? This is a story about two white people falling in love... and then randomly a bunch of racist caricatures peppered in around the sidelines. I ask again, WHY? TO WHAT END??? Super offputting.
Also the hero's traumatic past was SO over the top and angsty I just could not take that shit seriously.
March 16, 2017
"If I have to listen to those fucking people for one more moment, I'll spill their entrails on the floor in front of everyone."
I know the feeling, Mr. Stone Cold Assassin! And, let me tell YOU that if I have to read one more page of your whining, "poor me. I'm not good enough for her. I'll ruin her. I'm so dark and cold and evil..".. blah blah blah... I might just spill YOUR entrails all over the floor.
And, another thing. Mr. Stone Cold Ass, if you are so cold and heartless, how do you insta-love so much? Are you trying to tell me that out of all the women you have killed, you never found one attractive before? You never used seduction to get her alone to kill her? She's never smiled at you? Cuz, either you're lying, or you're lying.
So, obviously, this book got on my nerves. I liked the basic story. It was exciting and had great characters. I also like the idea of bad boys falling in love, etc.. But, it's the endless pages and pages of the characters thoughts that drove me to drink. (It's not a long trip, granted, but still!) I think it would have been a short story if all of the angsty brooding was taken out. And, hey, I can handle some angst and some brooding. But, when it's the same thoughts over and over again and it takes 5 pages to read them over and over again... urgh!!
We get it, okay?
You're a bad bad man.
I know the feeling, Mr. Stone Cold Assassin! And, let me tell YOU that if I have to read one more page of your whining, "poor me. I'm not good enough for her. I'll ruin her. I'm so dark and cold and evil..".. blah blah blah... I might just spill YOUR entrails all over the floor.
And, another thing. Mr. Stone Cold Ass, if you are so cold and heartless, how do you insta-love so much? Are you trying to tell me that out of all the women you have killed, you never found one attractive before? You never used seduction to get her alone to kill her? She's never smiled at you? Cuz, either you're lying, or you're lying.
So, obviously, this book got on my nerves. I liked the basic story. It was exciting and had great characters. I also like the idea of bad boys falling in love, etc.. But, it's the endless pages and pages of the characters thoughts that drove me to drink. (It's not a long trip, granted, but still!) I think it would have been a short story if all of the angsty brooding was taken out. And, hey, I can handle some angst and some brooding. But, when it's the same thoughts over and over again and it takes 5 pages to read them over and over again... urgh!!
We get it, okay?
You're a bad bad man.
August 14, 2016
*An ARC was given in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the writer and the publisher for the opportunity to read this.*
My conscience and I had a little debate earlier. Apparently, that loyal motherfucker felt bad for giving this a rating of 3.5 stars (and because I downgrade, I ended up giving it 3 stars).
And that's how I ended up reading the book for the second time.
You see, my conscience and I have an agreement: she lets me rant and rage about fictional assholes, and I give her veto rights on things she cares deeply about. And boy, does she care deeply about Kerrigan Byrne's novels. She's the ultimate fangirl, with her "I love Dorian" panties and "Argent's Angel" t-shirt.
I rarely upgrade or change my ratings; I don't like second-guessing myself. But holy hell, my conscience was right. After the re-read, I realised I did love The Hunter. In fact, I really, really loved it.
First things first, though. I want to make it clear that this wasn't perfect. I feel like the writer struggled with executing the whole "flawed-man-falls-in-love-and-transforms-for-the-better" trope. She made Christopher Argent too flawed, for one. Personally, I wasn't comfortable with the idea of him killing women. The mere idea of violence against women leaves a bad taste in my mouth; however, I do understand that the writer had to establish him this way in order for the whole plot to work.
But there were other imperfections, and all of them piled up into this overwhelming mountain of issues that threatened to drown me. At one point I wondered: "How the hell is she going to transform a man like Christopher Argent?"
Which brings me to my next problem: the insta-lust. This was the writer's answer to my question.What instigated Christopher's entire process of transformation was his mysterious, magical and inexplainable attraction to Millie. From the get-go he was enthralled and captivated by her. And this led him to make mistakes and botch his several attempts to kill her.
I have to say, I didn't appreciate how fast he changed his mind about killing Millie. At one moment, he was saying that he never reneged on his agreements, and that he always, always did what he was hired to do; and then the next, he was telling Millie he'd protect her and her son .
You know what? All the time I was reading the story, I was asking myself, "What if Millie was less beautiful? What if Christopher was not attracted to her by the get-go? What would have happened then?"
Given the way Christopher was established at the beginning, I knew the answer was this: she'd be dead. So yes, the insta-lust made everything too convenient, too contrived . The success of the entire story solely depended on it. That's why the plot and the romance failed to convince me.
I'm sure the question on your mind now is, "So why the hell did you upgrade this to 4 stars?" Well, that's because there's no denying the fact that The Hunter was an impactful and gripping read. It affected me in ways few books ever had. The Prologue alone left me extremely emotional and hell, even slightly nauseous. It takes guts to write something so beautifully devastating, I tell you. Guts. And I'll be damned if I won't applaud the writer for that.
Moreover, Christopher and Millie turned out to be likeable characters, once you get past the whole insta-lust issue. I admit I think I let that bit overshadow everything else in the book, so I wasn't able to give the other elements justice.
I found Christopher's fierce protectiveness adorable. Also, the writer did manage to succeed in humanising him, changing him from the unfeeling killer into the vulnerable man. It wasn't a perfect and smooth transformation, but it didn't need to be in order to succeed.
Millie, on the other hand, was patient and understanding—things that our hero so desperately needed. I felt she was too careless for her own good at times, and her secret——was rather ridiculous for me.
Strangely enough, by the end of the book, Millie and Christopher seemed to complement each other. It was a rocky road to that point, but I was satisfied. I actually prefer the sex scenes here compared to Book 1 (I hated how the sex scenes between Dorian and Farah were so angsty and weird).
Overall, I loved this book, and I highly recommend it. Just a fair warning to you guys, though. The insta-lust is strong in this one, and if that bothers you, you might want to think twice before starting this. Also, you peeps who can't handle violence against women and shit, steer clear of this.
My conscience and I had a little debate earlier. Apparently, that loyal motherfucker felt bad for giving this a rating of 3.5 stars (and because I downgrade, I ended up giving it 3 stars).
Conscience: Daniella, you get your ass back there and read that book again. That 3.5 rating feels wrong.
Me: Er, what the hell are you talking about? I've already rated—
Conscience: Read the book.
Me: Look, unlike you, I actually have a function. I have a job to do, several social commitments to—
Conscience: Read the goddamn book. Or so help me God I will pester you so much, you won't be able to write a rant on Goodreads ever again. Do you want that? Do you want that, huh, Daniella?
And that's how I ended up reading the book for the second time.
You see, my conscience and I have an agreement: she lets me rant and rage about fictional assholes, and I give her veto rights on things she cares deeply about. And boy, does she care deeply about Kerrigan Byrne's novels. She's the ultimate fangirl, with her "I love Dorian" panties and "Argent's Angel" t-shirt.
I rarely upgrade or change my ratings; I don't like second-guessing myself. But holy hell, my conscience was right. After the re-read, I realised I did love The Hunter. In fact, I really, really loved it.
First things first, though. I want to make it clear that this wasn't perfect. I feel like the writer struggled with executing the whole "flawed-man-falls-in-love-and-transforms-for-the-better" trope. She made Christopher Argent too flawed, for one. Personally, I wasn't comfortable with the idea of him killing women. The mere idea of violence against women leaves a bad taste in my mouth; however, I do understand that the writer had to establish him this way in order for the whole plot to work.
But there were other imperfections, and all of them piled up into this overwhelming mountain of issues that threatened to drown me. At one point I wondered: "How the hell is she going to transform a man like Christopher Argent?"
Which brings me to my next problem: the insta-lust. This was the writer's answer to my question.What instigated Christopher's entire process of transformation was his mysterious, magical and inexplainable attraction to Millie. From the get-go he was enthralled and captivated by her. And this led him to make mistakes and botch his several attempts to kill her.
I have to say, I didn't appreciate how fast he changed his mind about killing Millie. At one moment, he was saying that he never reneged on his agreements, and that he always, always did what he was hired to do; and then the next, he was telling Millie he'd protect her and her son .
You know what? All the time I was reading the story, I was asking myself, "What if Millie was less beautiful? What if Christopher was not attracted to her by the get-go? What would have happened then?"
Given the way Christopher was established at the beginning, I knew the answer was this: she'd be dead. So yes, the insta-lust made everything too convenient, too contrived . The success of the entire story solely depended on it. That's why the plot and the romance failed to convince me.
I'm sure the question on your mind now is, "So why the hell did you upgrade this to 4 stars?" Well, that's because there's no denying the fact that The Hunter was an impactful and gripping read. It affected me in ways few books ever had. The Prologue alone left me extremely emotional and hell, even slightly nauseous. It takes guts to write something so beautifully devastating, I tell you. Guts. And I'll be damned if I won't applaud the writer for that.
Moreover, Christopher and Millie turned out to be likeable characters, once you get past the whole insta-lust issue. I admit I think I let that bit overshadow everything else in the book, so I wasn't able to give the other elements justice.
I found Christopher's fierce protectiveness adorable. Also, the writer did manage to succeed in humanising him, changing him from the unfeeling killer into the vulnerable man. It wasn't a perfect and smooth transformation, but it didn't need to be in order to succeed.
Millie, on the other hand, was patient and understanding—things that our hero so desperately needed. I felt she was too careless for her own good at times, and her secret——was rather ridiculous for me.
Strangely enough, by the end of the book, Millie and Christopher seemed to complement each other. It was a rocky road to that point, but I was satisfied. I actually prefer the sex scenes here compared to Book 1 (I hated how the sex scenes between Dorian and Farah were so angsty and weird).
Overall, I loved this book, and I highly recommend it. Just a fair warning to you guys, though. The insta-lust is strong in this one, and if that bothers you, you might want to think twice before starting this. Also, you peeps who can't handle violence against women and shit, steer clear of this.
July 25, 2020
The second time was better...
I absolutely LOVED my re-read/listen of The Hunter. I've actually bumped up my rating from 4 to 5 stars. It definitely has to do with Derek Perkins' narration but I think it also had a lot to do with understanding these characters better the second time. Maybe I shouldn't have adjusted my ratings considering I know Millie and Sargent better because of my love for the Victorian Rebels. But, my heart was pounding, emotions were involved, and I was sucked in as if this was the first time reading/listening to The Hunter. So, that's got to be reason enough to adjust my rating.
I am so excited that I'm getting to experience the audio versions of the Victorian Rebels. Each instalment, so far, is like I'm meeting the characters for the first time. I'm giddy from start to finish and I'm sure that I'm wearing a goofy grin...even though these are quite dark stories.
Kerrigan Byrne you are a LEGEND! Thank you for this series.
************************************************
The hunter falls for his prey...
Kids these days have it SO good. Just today I asked my son three times to get out of his pyjamas and unpack the dishwasher, with a *yeah, yeah, Mum, soon* response. When I walked away with his iPad telling him he could MAYBE have it back if he did what I asked, the indignation on his face was PRICELESS. How dare I ask him to do his chores and make him stop having fun for 5 minutes…10 minutes tops? Back in my day, we didn’t have a choice and I wouldn’t have DREAMED of disobeying my parents.
The Hunter reminded me that we all take for granted our freedom and choices. Newgate Prison is a sad start to anyone’s life. Christopher Argent was born in Newgate Prison to his prostitute mother. It’s pretty obvious that the prison system was very corrupt. His mother’s death is horrific and we see through Christopher’s eyes what she endured. This and his subsequent years at Newgate made Christopher into the man he became. Argent is a cold and emotionless Hunter.
Millie LeCour is a very beautiful and famous actress. Men love her and women want to be her. Her flirting and art in gaining attention from the lords of the ton, make her seem like a seductress, but the truth is that she’s just a really REALLY good actress. Her love and devotion is and will always be for the one male in her life, her son, Jakub. Her work and decision-making are based solely on making Jakub happy and content. In the spotlight she is beauty and grace, at home she’s just Mama who pretends to know nothing when Jakub is doing his homework so he has to explain it to her. In other words, she’s just a normal Mum. Unfortunately, Millie has secrets and one of them has put them in danger. A very big and scary man is out to get them.
Argent takes his job of Hunter very, very seriously. He does not show emotions and he does not feel emotions. When Argent takes on the job of killing Millie, he goes to great lengths to know his prey. All his plans get completely derailed when he sees her. For some strange reason, he starts to feel something for her. He can’t make himself do the job and ends up becoming her protector instead of The Hunter and the killer he was hired to be.
I really enjoyed The Hunter. This was a historical romance with suspense, murder, friendship, and love. The steamy scenes were HOT!! The suspense kept me riveted and I was excited that I had guessed right at who was the mastermind in the end. The murders were a little grotesque and the villain in the story made my skin crawl.
I loved that we get to catch up with a few friends from The Highwayman including Dorian, Farrah, Gemma, Dorian’s gang and Morley.
I am now a confirmed Kerrigan Byrne fan. Her storylines are riveting and the characters we meet are interesting and original. I wait with bated breath for The Highlander.
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 my re-read/listen of The Hunter. I've actually bumped up my rating from 4 to 5 stars. It definitely has to do with Derek Perkins' narration but I think it also had a lot to do with understanding these characters better the second time. Maybe I shouldn't have adjusted my ratings considering I know Millie and Sargent better because of my love for the Victorian Rebels. But, my heart was pounding, emotions were involved, and I was sucked in as if this was the first time reading/listening to The Hunter. So, that's got to be reason enough to adjust my rating.
I am so excited that I'm getting to experience the audio versions of the Victorian Rebels. Each instalment, so far, is like I'm meeting the characters for the first time. I'm giddy from start to finish and I'm sure that I'm wearing a goofy grin...even though these are quite dark stories.
Kerrigan Byrne you are a LEGEND! Thank you for this series.
************************************************
The hunter falls for his prey...
Kids these days have it SO good. Just today I asked my son three times to get out of his pyjamas and unpack the dishwasher, with a *yeah, yeah, Mum, soon* response. When I walked away with his iPad telling him he could MAYBE have it back if he did what I asked, the indignation on his face was PRICELESS. How dare I ask him to do his chores and make him stop having fun for 5 minutes…10 minutes tops? Back in my day, we didn’t have a choice and I wouldn’t have DREAMED of disobeying my parents.
The Hunter reminded me that we all take for granted our freedom and choices. Newgate Prison is a sad start to anyone’s life. Christopher Argent was born in Newgate Prison to his prostitute mother. It’s pretty obvious that the prison system was very corrupt. His mother’s death is horrific and we see through Christopher’s eyes what she endured. This and his subsequent years at Newgate made Christopher into the man he became. Argent is a cold and emotionless Hunter.
Millie LeCour is a very beautiful and famous actress. Men love her and women want to be her. Her flirting and art in gaining attention from the lords of the ton, make her seem like a seductress, but the truth is that she’s just a really REALLY good actress. Her love and devotion is and will always be for the one male in her life, her son, Jakub. Her work and decision-making are based solely on making Jakub happy and content. In the spotlight she is beauty and grace, at home she’s just Mama who pretends to know nothing when Jakub is doing his homework so he has to explain it to her. In other words, she’s just a normal Mum. Unfortunately, Millie has secrets and one of them has put them in danger. A very big and scary man is out to get them.
Argent takes his job of Hunter very, very seriously. He does not show emotions and he does not feel emotions. When Argent takes on the job of killing Millie, he goes to great lengths to know his prey. All his plans get completely derailed when he sees her. For some strange reason, he starts to feel something for her. He can’t make himself do the job and ends up becoming her protector instead of The Hunter and the killer he was hired to be.
I really enjoyed The Hunter. This was a historical romance with suspense, murder, friendship, and love. The steamy scenes were HOT!! The suspense kept me riveted and I was excited that I had guessed right at who was the mastermind in the end. The murders were a little grotesque and the villain in the story made my skin crawl.
I loved that we get to catch up with a few friends from The Highwayman including Dorian, Farrah, Gemma, Dorian’s gang and Morley.
I am now a confirmed Kerrigan Byrne fan. Her storylines are riveting and the characters we meet are interesting and original. I wait with bated breath for The Highlander.
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.
December 14, 2023
This book was ridiculous, but I think I was supposed to be dark?
Not quite as ridiculous as the first book,
The Highwayman , but that’s mainly because it followed the same exact formula and hit the same main notes throughout. As I’d just finished listening to that audiobook, this one was just tiresome for me. It mostly consisted of angsty inner monologues, lots of sexual jonesing on the part of the mains, overly descriptive prose (anything that could be described, was described- in detail), over-the-top melodrama and instalust, with the teeny tiniest bit of plot and dialogue. Seriously, 90% of the words in this books could have been edited out and left the integrity of the plot unchanged. The prose went on and on and on and on and on. And on and on and on. And on.
If I didn’t read about how powerfully attractive and dark and menacing the hero was less than 100 times, I’d be very surprised. And the heroine was the same mealy-mouthed Mary Sue type as Farrah was in the previous book. Just spare me this perfect beautiful woman who is so wonderful and sweet that the worst killer in England can’t even bring himself to end her life. 🙄 ugh. As to the suspense parts: It’s a totally bland, completely obvious mystery when you know whodunit at the 30% point.
I’m not even sure I want to get into the veiled racism that was prolific throughout this book, but suffice it to say, every single POC side character existed as a stereotype solely for the purpose of bulking up one of the main characters. Either by authenticating the hero’s badassery: Wu Ping the Chinese kung fu master (yes it’s as bad as it reads) or to show what a kind hearted, not like other girls Pollyanna, the heroine was: saying everyone was made the same underneath their skin and befriending everyone under the sun like she was the chair of the it’s a small world committee.
Good grief this book was a lot. A LOT. And for being the best, most sought after assassin in all of England, the entire police force, including the commissioner, seemed extremely aware of him and his going’s ons. Not keeping it on the DL real well, are we Chris? 🙄
You guys, Kerrigan Byrne just isn’t for me. I just can’t take her utterly ridiculous rambling flowery nonsense. It’s all tell and no show. I found myself laughing or cringing at what I think were supposed to be the exciting parts. I’m gonna have to pass on the rest of this series. It’s just not my jam and is filled with everything I dislike in historical romance.
To those of you who love and enjoy her work, I wish you the very best and don’t begrudge you any of it. It’s just not the kind of historical romance I’m interested in.
Props to the narrator though, Derrick Perkins did another amazing job. Very talented guy.
Content warnings for rape, gang rape, assault, acts of violence on page, necrophilia, cannibalism, murder, gore, dismemberment, child abuse and melodramatic cheese.
Not quite as ridiculous as the first book,
The Highwayman , but that’s mainly because it followed the same exact formula and hit the same main notes throughout. As I’d just finished listening to that audiobook, this one was just tiresome for me. It mostly consisted of angsty inner monologues, lots of sexual jonesing on the part of the mains, overly descriptive prose (anything that could be described, was described- in detail), over-the-top melodrama and instalust, with the teeny tiniest bit of plot and dialogue. Seriously, 90% of the words in this books could have been edited out and left the integrity of the plot unchanged. The prose went on and on and on and on and on. And on and on and on. And on.
If I didn’t read about how powerfully attractive and dark and menacing the hero was less than 100 times, I’d be very surprised. And the heroine was the same mealy-mouthed Mary Sue type as Farrah was in the previous book. Just spare me this perfect beautiful woman who is so wonderful and sweet that the worst killer in England can’t even bring himself to end her life. 🙄 ugh. As to the suspense parts: It’s a totally bland, completely obvious mystery when you know whodunit at the 30% point.
I’m not even sure I want to get into the veiled racism that was prolific throughout this book, but suffice it to say, every single POC side character existed as a stereotype solely for the purpose of bulking up one of the main characters. Either by authenticating the hero’s badassery: Wu Ping the Chinese kung fu master (yes it’s as bad as it reads) or to show what a kind hearted, not like other girls Pollyanna, the heroine was: saying everyone was made the same underneath their skin and befriending everyone under the sun like she was the chair of the it’s a small world committee.
Good grief this book was a lot. A LOT. And for being the best, most sought after assassin in all of England, the entire police force, including the commissioner, seemed extremely aware of him and his going’s ons. Not keeping it on the DL real well, are we Chris? 🙄
You guys, Kerrigan Byrne just isn’t for me. I just can’t take her utterly ridiculous rambling flowery nonsense. It’s all tell and no show. I found myself laughing or cringing at what I think were supposed to be the exciting parts. I’m gonna have to pass on the rest of this series. It’s just not my jam and is filled with everything I dislike in historical romance.
To those of you who love and enjoy her work, I wish you the very best and don’t begrudge you any of it. It’s just not the kind of historical romance I’m interested in.
Props to the narrator though, Derrick Perkins did another amazing job. Very talented guy.
Content warnings for rape, gang rape, assault, acts of violence on page, necrophilia, cannibalism, murder, gore, dismemberment, child abuse and melodramatic cheese.
July 6, 2022
2.5 stars
Uh.
Ok, well this is one of those romances that is targeted toward a very specific reader. It's got some very consensually rapey scenes that a lot of readers just aren't going to like. At all.
What the hell am I talking about, right? Because we all know that there's no such thing as consensual rape.
This is a fantasy setting wherein he thinks he's forcing her to have sex with him - not physically forcing her, but forcing her due to a bargain that will save her life and the life of her son.
Sex for protection.
Of course, because this is a romance...she's hot for him.
Even though he's attempted to kill her a few times.
Now. I will say that he does eventually come around and realize what he did was wrong.
So, the gist is that this dude was born and raised in prison because his mother was incarcarated. She was killed there and he had to survive his childhood by doing whatever to whomever, losing his conscience along the way. <--your typical tortured hero thing
She's a famous actress with a small son and a bounty on her head from an unknown nemesis. He's the best assassin money can buy and has been hired to take her out.
But naturally, he can't do it because...reasons.
The rest of the story is a very twisty tale mixed with a lot of angsty sex. I felt the ending was a bit drawn out, but other than that? It was interesting.
However, depending on what kind of romance reader you are, your mileage is really going to vary with this one, and I feel like you should know what you're getting into beforehand.
Uh.
Ok, well this is one of those romances that is targeted toward a very specific reader. It's got some very consensually rapey scenes that a lot of readers just aren't going to like. At all.
What the hell am I talking about, right? Because we all know that there's no such thing as consensual rape.
This is a fantasy setting wherein he thinks he's forcing her to have sex with him - not physically forcing her, but forcing her due to a bargain that will save her life and the life of her son.
Sex for protection.
Of course, because this is a romance...she's hot for him.
Even though he's attempted to kill her a few times.
Now. I will say that he does eventually come around and realize what he did was wrong.
So, the gist is that this dude was born and raised in prison because his mother was incarcarated. She was killed there and he had to survive his childhood by doing whatever to whomever, losing his conscience along the way. <--your typical tortured hero thing
She's a famous actress with a small son and a bounty on her head from an unknown nemesis. He's the best assassin money can buy and has been hired to take her out.
But naturally, he can't do it because...reasons.
The rest of the story is a very twisty tale mixed with a lot of angsty sex. I felt the ending was a bit drawn out, but other than that? It was interesting.
However, depending on what kind of romance reader you are, your mileage is really going to vary with this one, and I feel like you should know what you're getting into beforehand.
November 18, 2020
#1 The Highwayman — 4 Stars
#2 The Hunter — 3 Stars
#3 The Highlander — 3.5 Stars
This was rather James Bond-ish. Unless Idk what I’m talking about since I’ve only ever watched like . . . one Bond movie.
I think what I’m saying is this book is an insult to assassin/hitman films. Though this is also probably not a fair assessment either considering this is romance based and the other not so much.
In any case, how did we go from Christopher Argent this,
to this,
so flippin’ quick.
He was supposed to kill our lady Millie but was so p*ssy struck he failed. Then he tried again TWICE, and still couldn’t go through with it. Imagine being so beautiful that even the mightiest assassin is blindsided by it. Well, good for Millie.
I should not fail to mention that in all those three little attempts, he was also being kinda creepy stalkerish circa Edward Cullen style. I suppose being a stalker is inevitably part of the job description. One of the scenes was him watching Millie (naked) in a bath inside some kind of a sauna.
Argent was one of those stone cold, quiet, stoic, emotionless assassins. It showed in the way he spoke and carried himself. For some reason, the image of him watching Millie sneakily and hungrily with a poker face while fighting a hard on was just ridiculous.
Anyway, Argent thought it would be best to change tactics, so he tried to strike up a bargain instead.
Millie obviously accepted cause like what’s one night when your life is at stake? Now, I liked Millie and adored her son Jakub. I also liked the whodunit plot. However, since the whole book happened in the span of one or two weeks, the romance felt undercooked.
Argent was being all whiney, dark, and emo “I’m so bad, I don’t deserve you” one moment,
to—
emotional and desperate “I’m so in love with you, I’ll give up my ways. Let’s marry and be happy” the next. And I’m just . . . “Aww that’s sweet,” but also like SMH.
(Read as an Audiobook)
#2 The Hunter — 3 Stars
#3 The Highlander — 3.5 Stars
This was rather James Bond-ish. Unless Idk what I’m talking about since I’ve only ever watched like . . . one Bond movie.
I think what I’m saying is this book is an insult to assassin/hitman films. Though this is also probably not a fair assessment either considering this is romance based and the other not so much.
In any case, how did we go from Christopher Argent this,
Last student of the Wing Chun Kung Fu master Wu Ping. The weapon of the Blackheart Brothers of Newgate Prison. The youngest, highest-earning pit fighter of the previous decade. The Blackheart of Ben More’s master assassin. The coldest, deadliest man in all London.
to this,
“I will protect you and your son from those who want you dead, in exchange for a night with you.”
so flippin’ quick.
He was supposed to kill our lady Millie but was so p*ssy struck he failed. Then he tried again TWICE, and still couldn’t go through with it. Imagine being so beautiful that even the mightiest assassin is blindsided by it. Well, good for Millie.
I should not fail to mention that in all those three little attempts, he was also being kinda creepy stalkerish circa Edward Cullen style. I suppose being a stalker is inevitably part of the job description. One of the scenes was him watching Millie (naked) in a bath inside some kind of a sauna.
Argent was one of those stone cold, quiet, stoic, emotionless assassins. It showed in the way he spoke and carried himself. For some reason, the image of him watching Millie sneakily and hungrily with a poker face while fighting a hard on was just ridiculous.
“I don’t want protection from a man like you.”
“You won’t survive without a man like me.”
Anyway, Argent thought it would be best to change tactics, so he tried to strike up a bargain instead.
“One night,” he repeated. “One night in your bed and I’ll keep you and your son alive until the threat has passed. Is that such a high price to pay?”
Millie obviously accepted cause like what’s one night when your life is at stake? Now, I liked Millie and adored her son Jakub. I also liked the whodunit plot. However, since the whole book happened in the span of one or two weeks, the romance felt undercooked.
Argent was being all whiney, dark, and emo “I’m so bad, I don’t deserve you” one moment,
to—
emotional and desperate “I’m so in love with you, I’ll give up my ways. Let’s marry and be happy” the next. And I’m just . . . “Aww that’s sweet,” but also like SMH.
(Read as an Audiobook)
July 31, 2020
This series is so good, but it's also very dark. We start off learning that our main character, Christopher, was born and raised in a jail cell and had to see his mother endure horrible things. Today, he's an assassin and he finds himself entranced with his latest hit.
I really loved Millie and her son and how fiercely protective Millie was over her son. She put him first, but she couldn't ignore the attraction she felt for the dangerous man who kept on trying to kill her. Christopher and Millie had such immediate and intense chemistry and it was fun to watch Christopher become confused and frustrated with his attraction towards someone. He's used to not having a heart and not having feelings for anyone, so he spends a lot of this book pushing Millie away.
What I love about Kerrigan Byrne novels is that they have brooding heroes who are dangerous men. The women in the series oftentimes soften the hearts of these mean and that's what Millie did in this one. There were some dangerous, heart-pumping moments and I couldn't put this book down! I do think the romance and story developed a bit slowly in the beginning, so I didn't love this as much as the other books in this series, but I still can't recommend the series enough!
I really loved Millie and her son and how fiercely protective Millie was over her son. She put him first, but she couldn't ignore the attraction she felt for the dangerous man who kept on trying to kill her. Christopher and Millie had such immediate and intense chemistry and it was fun to watch Christopher become confused and frustrated with his attraction towards someone. He's used to not having a heart and not having feelings for anyone, so he spends a lot of this book pushing Millie away.
What I love about Kerrigan Byrne novels is that they have brooding heroes who are dangerous men. The women in the series oftentimes soften the hearts of these mean and that's what Millie did in this one. There were some dangerous, heart-pumping moments and I couldn't put this book down! I do think the romance and story developed a bit slowly in the beginning, so I didn't love this as much as the other books in this series, but I still can't recommend the series enough!
January 8, 2018
He didn't fear death. Didn't appreciate life. He was fond of nothing and therefore didn't fear pain or loss.
Holy WOW! I'm obsessed with this series. I loved this book even more than the first and I freaking LURVED the first. If tortured anti-heroes are your thing, it just doesn't get much better than Christopher Argent. A ruthless and cold blooded killer; his reputation is one of legend. But what happens when a killer for hire falls for his mark?
Millie LeCour is a talented London theatre actress. When she see Argent in the audience of her performance, she's drawn to him like a magnet. Little does she know why he's really there.
This story was utterly delicious. I loved watching the ice that is Argent's heart slowly melt for the sweet and sassy Millie. Millie was such a wonderful heroine; full of spunk and courage. She was able to bring one of London's most feared men to his knees.
I read The Hunter in one gritty, action packed and delicious sitting. If you're a fan of sizzling Historical Romance, this series is simply a must read.
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February 11, 2016
Beautiful...
The prologue was a punch so strong it was! I was horrified!
The hero, Christopher reminded me of Sicarius from The Emperor's Edge. He is cold, seemingly heartless assissin.
But, since you know what happened to him in the prologue, you understand him and don't judge. At least I didn't... :)
I loved his blunt and honest opinions and how he spoke with the heroine, Millie. He was always brutally honest and I loved that he sometimes make her uncofortable!
I also Like Millie. She's a true friend and the secret she kept was a heavy one, but she never vacillated. She's attracted to Christopher since the very beginning, and she deosn't understand why since it's clear to her that he's not a knight in shining armour - all the contrary. But she feels that there's more to him than what is evident. I appreciated her willingness to try and discover him without rejecting him outright.
Their story is almost one of love on first sight, but both of them fight their attraction for very obvious reasons.
Their passion is also off-charts: beautiful and almost crude (because of Christopher's bluntness), but very true.
I loved also the role Dorian and Farah (main characters fromt he previous book) had here and how very true their friendship is!
I loved also Jakub, Millies son. He's such a dear, shy boy. I was fascinated with his relationship with Christopher and how such a young boy could cope with him!
A wonderful story! Now I'm looking forward to the next one! :)
The prologue was a punch so strong it was! I was horrified!
The hero, Christopher reminded me of Sicarius from The Emperor's Edge. He is cold, seemingly heartless assissin.
But, since you know what happened to him in the prologue, you understand him and don't judge. At least I didn't... :)
I loved his blunt and honest opinions and how he spoke with the heroine, Millie. He was always brutally honest and I loved that he sometimes make her uncofortable!
I also Like Millie. She's a true friend and the secret she kept was a heavy one, but she never vacillated. She's attracted to Christopher since the very beginning, and she deosn't understand why since it's clear to her that he's not a knight in shining armour - all the contrary. But she feels that there's more to him than what is evident. I appreciated her willingness to try and discover him without rejecting him outright.
Their story is almost one of love on first sight, but both of them fight their attraction for very obvious reasons.
Their passion is also off-charts: beautiful and almost crude (because of Christopher's bluntness), but very true.
I loved also the role Dorian and Farah (main characters fromt he previous book) had here and how very true their friendship is!
I loved also Jakub, Millies son. He's such a dear, shy boy. I was fascinated with his relationship with Christopher and how such a young boy could cope with him!
A wonderful story! Now I'm looking forward to the next one! :)
March 11, 2016
“I have killed so many,” he murmured. “Don’t you know that it’s too late for me? Don’t you realize that if there is anything but oblivion after this life, I am well and truly damned?”
This book starts off with a heartbreaking and horrific prologue of when Christopher was young. Christopher Ardent was born in Newgate Prison. His mother, Christine, was a prostitute who let the prison guards use her body in order to procure food and firewood for her little son. She loved him very much, and it was so devastating to read how appalling she was treated.
After what happened to his mother, Christopher became an unfeeling killer. The best there is. He doesn’t fear anything or anyone. And never misses a mark. Until Millie LeCour enters his world after being assigned to kill her. And suddenly he’s being affected by her nearness, by thoughts of her. For a man who doesn’t feel or understand emotion, he’s baffled by his reactions to her, unsure on how to proceed. So he strikes a bargain with her: he’ll protect her son and her against whoever wants her dead, for one night of being his.
Millie LeCour is a famous actress, and a mother who would do anything to keep her son safe. She has kept a terrible secret for years, one that can ruin and endanger both her and her son. And now suddenly her life is in danger, and the only man who can protect her is the man assigned to kill her. But she can’t help being attracted to Christopher, wondering if there is more to him than just his profession.
He tensed and made a sound she couldn’t identify. Encouragement or censure, she couldn’t tell until he spoke. “Don’t be kind to me,” he ordered roughly, and tore her nightgown down the front. “I don’t know what to do when you’re kind.”
I don’t think I’ve read about a more broken hero than Christopher. My heart broke for him. For all the brutal torture he had to endure while in prison. All the awful acts you can think of, were done to him. And it changed him in ways that I was afraid he would never be able to love anyone. This is a very damaged man. One who makes a living as an assassin. He doesn’t allow himself to feel any kind of emotion despite the most basic ones, and he has no idea how to handle kindness or feelings. It takes quite a while for him to realise that he is more than the man he thought he was, and that it’s possible to gain deliverance from all he has done.
Millie was a wonderful character and I loved her. She was passionate and strong-willed, and not at all reserved or afraid of her sensuality. I was so glad that she saw more to Christopher than what he portrayed, more to the man who came across as cold and heartless. She was a wonderful mother to her son, Jakub, and I loved how protective she was over him. There is nothing more powerful than a mother’s love.
“If you’re not on this forsaken planet, it might as well stop spinning until we all fly off into the void. Because that’s all there is without you. Emptiness.”
This was not your typical historical romance. It was dark and intense and deeply emotional. Christopher was more of an anti-hero, and I loved him. The first time Christopher and Millie became intimate was quite sad and upsetting, because I wanted him to realise his mistake and the cruel irony in his methods of coercing her into his bed, but that was unrealistic of me. A broken man like Christopher cannot be fixed overnight. And once he realised what he had done, it was awful and saddening seeing his self-loathing. He has so many issues with sex after what happened to his mother and being witness to it, that I was so very happy that Millie made him overcome these problems. Despite the darkness of their circumstances, or most probably because of it, this was a truly beautiful romance.
The plot was very suspenseful with Millie and her son being in danger, and Christopher trying to figure out who was hiring the assassins to kill her. Also there was added intrigue because of a recent spate of murders of mothers, where their sons have been stolen. And the assassin responsible for these deaths was a disgusting monster, a true villain.
‘I hope that real love and truth are stronger in the end than any evil or misfortune in this world.’
I loved the previous book, and I didn’t think that any book by this author would be able to top that. And in a way I was right, but this book was just as wonderful as the first one. Kerrigan Byrne has proven herself to be a master romance writer. Her historical romances are not the typical light and sweet romances that we’ve come to expect from this genre. It’s dark, intense and wonderfully romantic and passionate. With this book and this series she has made me a fan for life.
I HIGHLY recommend this book and this series.
June 10, 2019
Do you ever read a book or series that everyone loves, and just not get it? At all?
I read the first book in this series and it wasn't my jam. I had bought the first 4 books all at once expecting to love the series but I sure dang jumped the gun on that one. I listened to about 70% on audio and then switched to the paperback because it was too slow for me.
Overall, I don't like any of the characters, and the story does nothing for me. I enjoy historical a lot, but I think my tastes are just more specific.
Lots of people love this series, so if you are reading my review and are on the fence, I encourage you to pick it up and make your own opinion about it.
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I read the first book in this series and it wasn't my jam. I had bought the first 4 books all at once expecting to love the series but I sure dang jumped the gun on that one. I listened to about 70% on audio and then switched to the paperback because it was too slow for me.
Overall, I don't like any of the characters, and the story does nothing for me. I enjoy historical a lot, but I think my tastes are just more specific.
Lots of people love this series, so if you are reading my review and are on the fence, I encourage you to pick it up and make your own opinion about it.
Follow me on ♥ Facebook ♥ Blog ♥ Instagram ♥ Twitter ♥
January 31, 2016
On one hand you have this normally indiscriminate killer falling in insta love with his mark and in a way it's all romantic. He fights it but pretty much is done for Millie. On the other hand ... This dude is willing to kill anything but kids if the price is right. It seems to me that having gone through a heartbreaking experience with his mother, he shouldn't be able to do that to women so readily, but nope. He doesn't give a fig. Unless it's a kid. That's the biggest hurdle to get over for me. The story itself was good. It was written well. Pace and imagery on point.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
ARC received in exchange for an honest review.
January 14, 2016
3.5 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.
Christopher Argent is a name that is only whispered. He is London's underworld premier assassin and born in Newgate, he has no mercy in his soul. It is when he has his hands around Millie LeCour's neck that the first crack of emotion starts to reveal the man underneath the darkness that has encased him all his life. Born in Whitechaple, Millie has become an actress only wanting her name to be shouted about and feel important. When her bestfriend is murdered, she takes on the responsibility of the friend's now motherless son. This seemingly innocuous act will however, put her into the sights of London's most dangerous men and hopefully, into the heart of the deadliest.
There was no denying that he was beautiful. Beautiful in that way that a lightning storm was beautiful, or a tidal wave. Awe-inspiring and utterly dangerous.
Second in the Victorian Rebels series, Byrne takes us on another journey into the lives of London's more on the fringe of society citizens. Introduced in the first book, we get Argent's full story here and what a beginning it was. Argent's mother was imprisoned for various charges and laws being what they were then, Argent ends up being born and growing up in Newgate. The prologue was powerful with its look into the events that shaped and molded Argent, it's dark but there is also such a prevalent thread of sheer human survival that you'll grit your teeth with anger and hopefulness. As with the first book, I was impressed with how well the author could write the scenery in such a way that I could easily visualize everything. Whether it was Newgate, the fighting pits, or the bath house, her descriptions took me there; her ability and talent to do this is one of my favorite aspects of her writing and my favorite part of this story.
"You make me…want."
Argent was the dominant force and at times this felt more like his story rather than Millie and his. His story and demeanor reminded me a lot of the character Bane from Batman. The whole "You think darkness is your ally. You merely adopted the dark. I was born into. I didn't see the light until I was a man." Argent had going on, is how I drew the similarities (or I'm just obsessed with Bane). Millie becomes his light with how she brings out feelings in him. I wouldn't call it insta-lust or insta-love but insta-attraction, it felt more real without the usual eye-rolling verbiage or actions typically associated with the first two. Millie was a good character but the heroine keeping secrets for more suspense tripped her up at times. As with the couple from the first two books, I liked the humor (a bit more stark and sparse in this one) and lightness that shone through from our couple's interactions. It adds a layer to their relationship and helps to make them feel more real.
What I missed in this book that I loved from the first, was secondary characters. Jakob, Millie's son, was the most prominent and had great scenes with Argent but I missed a fuller cast. The hero and heroine from book one make a solid appearance, with Argent's friendship with Dorian adding a great layer to them both but the main villain and the lesser villains weren't quite rounded out or maybe I felt their motives and revealing were a bit rushed towards the end; the pace of the story was uneven. The middle of the story became a bit self-indulgent with Argent's misery and not being able to love; it became repetitive and slowed everything way down. The ending also became too cliché with the easy out of Millie being in danger and Argent realizing he now wants to act on his feelings.
I liked this story with its walled off hero learning not only to love but how and its bold and brash heroine but it seemed to get lost in its own emotional turmoil. There are a couple heroes hinted at who seem to be waiting in the wings and I'm a fan of Byrne's writing style, so I'm definitely staying with the series and hoping for a return of the magic that featured in the first book.
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.
Christopher Argent is a name that is only whispered. He is London's underworld premier assassin and born in Newgate, he has no mercy in his soul. It is when he has his hands around Millie LeCour's neck that the first crack of emotion starts to reveal the man underneath the darkness that has encased him all his life. Born in Whitechaple, Millie has become an actress only wanting her name to be shouted about and feel important. When her bestfriend is murdered, she takes on the responsibility of the friend's now motherless son. This seemingly innocuous act will however, put her into the sights of London's most dangerous men and hopefully, into the heart of the deadliest.
There was no denying that he was beautiful. Beautiful in that way that a lightning storm was beautiful, or a tidal wave. Awe-inspiring and utterly dangerous.
Second in the Victorian Rebels series, Byrne takes us on another journey into the lives of London's more on the fringe of society citizens. Introduced in the first book, we get Argent's full story here and what a beginning it was. Argent's mother was imprisoned for various charges and laws being what they were then, Argent ends up being born and growing up in Newgate. The prologue was powerful with its look into the events that shaped and molded Argent, it's dark but there is also such a prevalent thread of sheer human survival that you'll grit your teeth with anger and hopefulness. As with the first book, I was impressed with how well the author could write the scenery in such a way that I could easily visualize everything. Whether it was Newgate, the fighting pits, or the bath house, her descriptions took me there; her ability and talent to do this is one of my favorite aspects of her writing and my favorite part of this story.
"You make me…want."
Argent was the dominant force and at times this felt more like his story rather than Millie and his. His story and demeanor reminded me a lot of the character Bane from Batman. The whole "You think darkness is your ally. You merely adopted the dark. I was born into. I didn't see the light until I was a man." Argent had going on, is how I drew the similarities (or I'm just obsessed with Bane). Millie becomes his light with how she brings out feelings in him. I wouldn't call it insta-lust or insta-love but insta-attraction, it felt more real without the usual eye-rolling verbiage or actions typically associated with the first two. Millie was a good character but the heroine keeping secrets for more suspense tripped her up at times. As with the couple from the first two books, I liked the humor (a bit more stark and sparse in this one) and lightness that shone through from our couple's interactions. It adds a layer to their relationship and helps to make them feel more real.
What I missed in this book that I loved from the first, was secondary characters. Jakob, Millie's son, was the most prominent and had great scenes with Argent but I missed a fuller cast. The hero and heroine from book one make a solid appearance, with Argent's friendship with Dorian adding a great layer to them both but the main villain and the lesser villains weren't quite rounded out or maybe I felt their motives and revealing were a bit rushed towards the end; the pace of the story was uneven. The middle of the story became a bit self-indulgent with Argent's misery and not being able to love; it became repetitive and slowed everything way down. The ending also became too cliché with the easy out of Millie being in danger and Argent realizing he now wants to act on his feelings.
I liked this story with its walled off hero learning not only to love but how and its bold and brash heroine but it seemed to get lost in its own emotional turmoil. There are a couple heroes hinted at who seem to be waiting in the wings and I'm a fan of Byrne's writing style, so I'm definitely staying with the series and hoping for a return of the magic that featured in the first book.
November 15, 2024
2.5
When a talented author writes a book you don’t like (and from the looks of other reviews, I’m not an outlier), what do you do?
This book had a solid start, a fairly unique premise and I loved that neither of our leads were royal… one was as downtrodden as it gets in Victorian England and the other an accomplished but slightly tarnished actress (because weren’t they all then?).
Odd snatches of real action (trending a bit more violent and darker than I usually like in an HF romance, but understandable given our tortured hero’s childhood and profession) but wayyyyyyyyy too much inner turmoil and overly wrought descriptions of what our two characters thought about each other and their own actions. Fairly torturous for this reader who wants escapism not analysis with her romance!
Despite all that, Ms Kerrigan is a really strong writer and certainly creative in the character (and villain) department. So, I’m going to read the next one and hope she does more showing than telling next time.
When a talented author writes a book you don’t like (and from the looks of other reviews, I’m not an outlier), what do you do?
This book had a solid start, a fairly unique premise and I loved that neither of our leads were royal… one was as downtrodden as it gets in Victorian England and the other an accomplished but slightly tarnished actress (because weren’t they all then?).
Odd snatches of real action (trending a bit more violent and darker than I usually like in an HF romance, but understandable given our tortured hero’s childhood and profession) but wayyyyyyyyy too much inner turmoil and overly wrought descriptions of what our two characters thought about each other and their own actions. Fairly torturous for this reader who wants escapism not analysis with her romance!
Despite all that, Ms Kerrigan is a really strong writer and certainly creative in the character (and villain) department. So, I’m going to read the next one and hope she does more showing than telling next time.
October 20, 2017
I hate that I am so late writing this review. It's in no way a reflection on this book, because I loved it. Christopher Argent is the real deal. He is in every way a lethal assassin. Yes he really does almost kill Millie. But he can't do it. Something about her, he just can't. They form a bond that is terribly inconvenient to Christopher, he's a damaged soul who has vowed not to love anyone or anything since he lost his mother in such a horrible way. He is rich beyond calculation, has a fearsome reputation, is at the top of his game as an assassin, but inside he's a prisoner. He is truly a tortured hero in every way. I love tortured heroes. I love dangerous heroes. I love assassins. And he's a redhead. Bingo! It's Christmas.
Millie is a great heroine. She's strong and intelligent and loving and determined. She's able to work past her fears or rejection and rightfully fear of being with a cold, ruthless man like Christopher, to try to reach his heart. He's the man for her and she knows it very quickly. The question is how to conquer his arctic heart and soul.
Kerrigan Byrne knows how to write a spicy romance that will burn the pages up. She doesn't disappoint in this book. However, because Christopher is so damaged, it takes a while for them to get intimate and even longer before it's truly satisfying. I liked how she shows the ice melting around his heart, and how it's a painful process, much like when one has frostbite and hypothermia and must be warmed slowly. Millie is so good about giving Christopher space, but not giving up on him. She also has some wounds of the soul, but in contrast, she has gotten healing for her wounds. And she has her adorable son who anchors her and gives her a reason for being.
The action is very good and the villains are very evil. There are some quite violent moments. Nothing gory, but it's done in a way that cements the authenticity of the dangerous world that Argent lives in, and the seriousness of the thread that Millie is facing. I loved seeing Farah and Dorian from The Highwayman, and we get to meet the heroine for the next book The Highlander. I confess I read that one first, so I'm excited to look back and see where Mena came from. Her story is very sad. I'm glad she gets her happy ending in the next book.
If you're a historical romance fan and you're not reading this series, you need to rectify that immediately. This is a great series. I've loved every book I've read. Dangerous heroes and strong, intelligence, loving heroines in an authentic historical setting with plenty of action and intrigue. Oh and some hot loving. What more can you ask for?
Millie is a great heroine. She's strong and intelligent and loving and determined. She's able to work past her fears or rejection and rightfully fear of being with a cold, ruthless man like Christopher, to try to reach his heart. He's the man for her and she knows it very quickly. The question is how to conquer his arctic heart and soul.
Kerrigan Byrne knows how to write a spicy romance that will burn the pages up. She doesn't disappoint in this book. However, because Christopher is so damaged, it takes a while for them to get intimate and even longer before it's truly satisfying. I liked how she shows the ice melting around his heart, and how it's a painful process, much like when one has frostbite and hypothermia and must be warmed slowly. Millie is so good about giving Christopher space, but not giving up on him. She also has some wounds of the soul, but in contrast, she has gotten healing for her wounds. And she has her adorable son who anchors her and gives her a reason for being.
The action is very good and the villains are very evil. There are some quite violent moments. Nothing gory, but it's done in a way that cements the authenticity of the dangerous world that Argent lives in, and the seriousness of the thread that Millie is facing. I loved seeing Farah and Dorian from The Highwayman, and we get to meet the heroine for the next book The Highlander. I confess I read that one first, so I'm excited to look back and see where Mena came from. Her story is very sad. I'm glad she gets her happy ending in the next book.
If you're a historical romance fan and you're not reading this series, you need to rectify that immediately. This is a great series. I've loved every book I've read. Dangerous heroes and strong, intelligence, loving heroines in an authentic historical setting with plenty of action and intrigue. Oh and some hot loving. What more can you ask for?
January 25, 2016
5 stars!
***Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kerrigan Byrne and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity of reading this book for a honest review.***
Let's start by saying...WOW.
So I fell in love with Kerrigan Byrne's writing with The Highwayman and it only improved with The Hunter!
Meet my Christopher Argent:
Meet my Millie LeCour:
Like, Dorian Blackwell, we have Christopher Argent who is broken, no, ruined beyond repair and he has nothing to live for. He's an assassin for hire but he no longer needs the money since he's killed so many people he has so much money that he doesn't know what to do with it.
He is hired to kill the famous actor, Millicent LeCour and was about to murder her...when he couldn't...He felt this inexplicable urge to be around her. And Argent started feeling emotions that he had no name for because he was so closed off from the world with his feelings. He's only ever felt hatred in a cruel world so imagine his confusion when desire and just the "want" and the need of being in someone's company made itself known to him.
Millie was a wonderful woman who fought for Christopher's redemption. She fought to break herself into his heart and into his very soul. I loved her strength and her love for her son, Jakub.
I also loved seeing the relationship between Jakub and Christopher.
This story was wonderful on so many levels. I loved everything about it! The pacing was wonderful as well as the character development. Christopher's development between the lacking of a soul to a man with many faults but having a redeeming love was believable.
Thanks again to Netgalley for giving me The Hunter review!
I need the third one...NOW.... I really like Mena!
***Thank you so much to Netgalley, Kerrigan Byrne and the publishers for allowing me the opportunity of reading this book for a honest review.***
Let's start by saying...WOW.
So I fell in love with Kerrigan Byrne's writing with The Highwayman and it only improved with The Hunter!
Meet my Christopher Argent:
Meet my Millie LeCour:
Like, Dorian Blackwell, we have Christopher Argent who is broken, no, ruined beyond repair and he has nothing to live for. He's an assassin for hire but he no longer needs the money since he's killed so many people he has so much money that he doesn't know what to do with it.
He is hired to kill the famous actor, Millicent LeCour and was about to murder her...when he couldn't...He felt this inexplicable urge to be around her. And Argent started feeling emotions that he had no name for because he was so closed off from the world with his feelings. He's only ever felt hatred in a cruel world so imagine his confusion when desire and just the "want" and the need of being in someone's company made itself known to him.
Millie was a wonderful woman who fought for Christopher's redemption. She fought to break herself into his heart and into his very soul. I loved her strength and her love for her son, Jakub.
I also loved seeing the relationship between Jakub and Christopher.
This story was wonderful on so many levels. I loved everything about it! The pacing was wonderful as well as the character development. Christopher's development between the lacking of a soul to a man with many faults but having a redeeming love was believable.
Thanks again to Netgalley for giving me The Hunter review!
I need the third one...NOW.... I really like Mena!
February 7, 2016
This review was originally posted on Addicted To Romance
Summary
Christopher Argent, is one of England's most elite hunters and assassins. He has learned over the years to not care about anything but himself as means of protection. He is cold and he is ruthless and nothing and no one can stand in his way. He has never let a target go unmarked and killed. His latest target, is the beautiful actress Millie LeCour. Their first meeting in a ballroom, where they dance and share a searing kiss changed everything for Christopher. He has three days to kill Millie, but each time he attempts---he fails. He can't resist her taste, or seeing the life flee from her brilliant and passionate eyes. He soon realizes that instead of killing her, he decides he will be her and her son Jakub's protector. Soon Christopher and Millie realize the searing desire they would uncover together, but also a powerful love. But can Christopher protect Millie from their enemies and get to the source of why they seek her demise.
The Hero
Christopher Argent, had a rough upbringing. He was born and raised in prison where his mother was kept prisoner, forced to be raped and beaten just so he could have food and safe shelter. But when she is killed right in front of him, when he was just a boy, he seeked training for retribution from a chinese master who taught him how to be like the water...fluid and powerful and unstoppable. Over the years he has honed his skills, and has become ruthless and has a well known reputation. Christopher is one powerful alpha male personality and whew...he just about blew me away (but in a good way). I haven't read a hero like him in HR in such a long time, and he definitely had a powerful aura while reading him. He hasn't allowed himself to feel emotion since his mother was killed. Where an innocent boy had to become ruthless and cold to survive. Christopher is overwhelmed by the power of emotion that Millie and her son bring out in him. For the first time in many years, he is feeling genuine affection and love. It was quite an adventure to see him work through his issues and come to terms with who he is becoming.
The Heroine
Millie LeCour, along with her best friend born in Whitechaple, became stars in the acting world of London. Millie wanted to become famous and to share her talent. But then her best friend was killed, and her son became her own. Millie is such a wonderful human being, and a mother too. I love how protective and caring she is with Jakub. She treats him as her own and she will die for him if necessary. Millie has worked hard to build her acting career, but she also has a sweet and gentle spirit. Despite how fearful she is of Christopher, she also sees a man worthy of love and affection. She sees something deeper in him, that no one but those closest to him know. I grew to love Millie as the heroine, because we see how she accepts Christopher as he is and doesn't let her fear of him waste what they have together. She has spunk and is spirited, but also understands her place in society as well. I loved the balance we see in her character.
Plot and Story Line
The Hunter Is such a brilliantly written romance and I just want to applaud Kerrigan Byrne for writing yet another spectacular romance and honestly, she is ranking up my list to my favorite romance authors, and most especially when it comes to historical romance. This is a author I recently discovered early last year, and what great talent she has. What I also love about this book, is how she has made historical romance come alive with vivid emotion and detail and historical accuracy. It is obvious she has done her homework on the time period. There is a tone of grit in this book, just like in her previous book, but I soaked every delicious moment. I couldn't put this one down, it was so dang good. If you love Lisa Kleypas or Julie Garwood ---this is a must read for sure!!
It starts off with a emotional prologue (that is a must----PLEASE do not skip this or you will miss out on important detail on Christopher's character and what shapes him). I just about burst into tears reading it, this little boy that we get introduced to is reared into a world of hardship but also love too. Then we skip ahead to when he is an adult and has become quite popular for his reputation. Now techinically this could be a enemies to lovers trope, but it didn't have that full angsty feeling to it that I was expecting. Nope, this author blew me away with events that unfold and expectations that I had and she changed gears on me and brought me into a story that was full of shocks and delights, sensuality and a heartwarming story of the changing power of love.
I can't express enough of amazing this story is, and I want to shout to the rooftops how necessary this book is to every romance lover out there!!
The Cover
What a cover we have here. I don't like it as much as the first book's cover. However I love the purple, and what graceful flow it seems to have...almost has if they are in the middle of a dance.
Overall View
The Hunter is stunning in detail, brilliant in showing the reader true redemption and the healing power of love in a world of no emotion. TRULY A TREASURE!!!
[foogallery id="18974"]
Summary
Christopher Argent, is one of England's most elite hunters and assassins. He has learned over the years to not care about anything but himself as means of protection. He is cold and he is ruthless and nothing and no one can stand in his way. He has never let a target go unmarked and killed. His latest target, is the beautiful actress Millie LeCour. Their first meeting in a ballroom, where they dance and share a searing kiss changed everything for Christopher. He has three days to kill Millie, but each time he attempts---he fails. He can't resist her taste, or seeing the life flee from her brilliant and passionate eyes. He soon realizes that instead of killing her, he decides he will be her and her son Jakub's protector. Soon Christopher and Millie realize the searing desire they would uncover together, but also a powerful love. But can Christopher protect Millie from their enemies and get to the source of why they seek her demise.
The Hero
Christopher Argent, had a rough upbringing. He was born and raised in prison where his mother was kept prisoner, forced to be raped and beaten just so he could have food and safe shelter. But when she is killed right in front of him, when he was just a boy, he seeked training for retribution from a chinese master who taught him how to be like the water...fluid and powerful and unstoppable. Over the years he has honed his skills, and has become ruthless and has a well known reputation. Christopher is one powerful alpha male personality and whew...he just about blew me away (but in a good way). I haven't read a hero like him in HR in such a long time, and he definitely had a powerful aura while reading him. He hasn't allowed himself to feel emotion since his mother was killed. Where an innocent boy had to become ruthless and cold to survive. Christopher is overwhelmed by the power of emotion that Millie and her son bring out in him. For the first time in many years, he is feeling genuine affection and love. It was quite an adventure to see him work through his issues and come to terms with who he is becoming.
The Heroine
Millie LeCour, along with her best friend born in Whitechaple, became stars in the acting world of London. Millie wanted to become famous and to share her talent. But then her best friend was killed, and her son became her own. Millie is such a wonderful human being, and a mother too. I love how protective and caring she is with Jakub. She treats him as her own and she will die for him if necessary. Millie has worked hard to build her acting career, but she also has a sweet and gentle spirit. Despite how fearful she is of Christopher, she also sees a man worthy of love and affection. She sees something deeper in him, that no one but those closest to him know. I grew to love Millie as the heroine, because we see how she accepts Christopher as he is and doesn't let her fear of him waste what they have together. She has spunk and is spirited, but also understands her place in society as well. I loved the balance we see in her character.
Plot and Story Line
The Hunter Is such a brilliantly written romance and I just want to applaud Kerrigan Byrne for writing yet another spectacular romance and honestly, she is ranking up my list to my favorite romance authors, and most especially when it comes to historical romance. This is a author I recently discovered early last year, and what great talent she has. What I also love about this book, is how she has made historical romance come alive with vivid emotion and detail and historical accuracy. It is obvious she has done her homework on the time period. There is a tone of grit in this book, just like in her previous book, but I soaked every delicious moment. I couldn't put this one down, it was so dang good. If you love Lisa Kleypas or Julie Garwood ---this is a must read for sure!!
It starts off with a emotional prologue (that is a must----PLEASE do not skip this or you will miss out on important detail on Christopher's character and what shapes him). I just about burst into tears reading it, this little boy that we get introduced to is reared into a world of hardship but also love too. Then we skip ahead to when he is an adult and has become quite popular for his reputation. Now techinically this could be a enemies to lovers trope, but it didn't have that full angsty feeling to it that I was expecting. Nope, this author blew me away with events that unfold and expectations that I had and she changed gears on me and brought me into a story that was full of shocks and delights, sensuality and a heartwarming story of the changing power of love.
"It's why I had to make this bargain, I expect. Why I must have you. Because you make me want to---" he paused, eyes moving in their sockets as though searching for a word. "You make me...want."
I can't express enough of amazing this story is, and I want to shout to the rooftops how necessary this book is to every romance lover out there!!
The Cover
What a cover we have here. I don't like it as much as the first book's cover. However I love the purple, and what graceful flow it seems to have...almost has if they are in the middle of a dance.
Overall View
The Hunter is stunning in detail, brilliant in showing the reader true redemption and the healing power of love in a world of no emotion. TRULY A TREASURE!!!
[foogallery id="18974"]
February 2, 2022
1/07/18
I’m in a major book funk and have been for awhile so I’ve been rereading some old favorites and decided to revisit Christopher and Millie. I love their story, I highly recommend even if your not a huge historical romance fan (like myself) this series is FAB-U-LAS!!
Audio book review:
5 Deadly Hero Stars!!
Christopher Argent is stone cold and seemingly heartless. The way he grew up and the things he was exposed to and endured in his childhood makes you feel for him…you find yourself giving him a pass for his heartlessness and coldness…..even understanding his coldness, my heart actually hurt for him.
Now he's a notorious killer, an assassin and his latest target is popular London stage actress Millicent “Millie” LaCour. However, when Christopher is about to make his move by drawing her to him, he starts to feel something he hasn’t felt for a very long time…not since he was a young boy imprisoned with his beloved mother. And when he finds she has a young son (Jakub) and is willing to die to protect him, you actually feel his heart crack open just a teeny tiny little bit for Millie, the fact that she’s willing to die to save her son stirs something deep down in him.
Christopher decides he will do whatever necessary to save Millie and her son when another assassin is dispatched to do what Christopher couldn’t, but, there is more going on, several women who have sons are being murdered and sons are disappearing. Christopher want's something in return for his protection...one night with Millie. Naturally one night turns into something more complicated for the both of them, their relationship is passionate, beautiful, intense, and yet somewhat crude because of Christopher’s view on relationships.
I have to say I loved Millie’s son Jakub, he was a sweet loving boy, who naturally and slowly worms his way into Christopher’s heart. Millie has fallen in love with Christopher despite him being a heartless killer and just when things seem to be settled, and Millie is hopeful that she will have a future with Christopher..... Christopher walks away unknowing that Millie and Jakub’s lives are still in danger.
I absolutely loved this book!! I loved that we get more of Dorian and Farah from The Highwayman and we’re also introduced to Mena who is the heroine in the next Victorian Rebels book The Highlander. This book can be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend that you read the books in order to get the full effect of all the character’s relationships.
*Audio book review: Fantastic narration by the very talented Derek Perkins
I’m in a major book funk and have been for awhile so I’ve been rereading some old favorites and decided to revisit Christopher and Millie. I love their story, I highly recommend even if your not a huge historical romance fan (like myself) this series is FAB-U-LAS!!
Audio book review:
5 Deadly Hero Stars!!
Christopher Argent is stone cold and seemingly heartless. The way he grew up and the things he was exposed to and endured in his childhood makes you feel for him…you find yourself giving him a pass for his heartlessness and coldness…..even understanding his coldness, my heart actually hurt for him.
He was born in a cage, taught little but cruelty and survival. He was Thrust into this world and had to make his own way, falling upon the only skills he’d ever mastered. Violence and death.
Now he's a notorious killer, an assassin and his latest target is popular London stage actress Millicent “Millie” LaCour. However, when Christopher is about to make his move by drawing her to him, he starts to feel something he hasn’t felt for a very long time…not since he was a young boy imprisoned with his beloved mother. And when he finds she has a young son (Jakub) and is willing to die to protect him, you actually feel his heart crack open just a teeny tiny little bit for Millie, the fact that she’s willing to die to save her son stirs something deep down in him.
Christopher decides he will do whatever necessary to save Millie and her son when another assassin is dispatched to do what Christopher couldn’t, but, there is more going on, several women who have sons are being murdered and sons are disappearing. Christopher want's something in return for his protection...one night with Millie. Naturally one night turns into something more complicated for the both of them, their relationship is passionate, beautiful, intense, and yet somewhat crude because of Christopher’s view on relationships.
I have to say I loved Millie’s son Jakub, he was a sweet loving boy, who naturally and slowly worms his way into Christopher’s heart. Millie has fallen in love with Christopher despite him being a heartless killer and just when things seem to be settled, and Millie is hopeful that she will have a future with Christopher..... Christopher walks away unknowing that Millie and Jakub’s lives are still in danger.
Men like you and me, we don’t love like other men do. With patience, poetry, and gentle deference. Our sort of love is possessive, obsessive even, passionate, and consuming, and…..well, fucking terrifying sometimes. ~ Dorian to Christopher
I absolutely loved this book!! I loved that we get more of Dorian and Farah from The Highwayman and we’re also introduced to Mena who is the heroine in the next Victorian Rebels book The Highlander. This book can be read as a standalone but I would highly recommend that you read the books in order to get the full effect of all the character’s relationships.
*Audio book review: Fantastic narration by the very talented Derek Perkins
May 3, 2017
I just finished reading the first four books in this series. Of the first four, this is my least favorite... I should probably give it a 4 star rating, yet I can't help compare it to the other four books so this one gets a 3. #BadPenny
As with all of Kerrigan Byrne's books in this series, the writing is wonderful and the hero is unapologetically flawed. My issue with this novel was the heroine. She was... too perfect. She literally had no faults. As such, I had a hard time connecting with her as the book went on and grew disinterested in her story.
That said, all of the books in this series are worth a read!
As with all of Kerrigan Byrne's books in this series, the writing is wonderful and the hero is unapologetically flawed. My issue with this novel was the heroine. She was... too perfect. She literally had no faults. As such, I had a hard time connecting with her as the book went on and grew disinterested in her story.
That said, all of the books in this series are worth a read!
November 18, 2018
Audio - 3.75 stars
Story - 3.5 stars
I'm annoyed. After all that angst, not only wasn't there an epilogue, the end left much to be desired.
Story - 3.5 stars
I'm annoyed. After all that angst, not only wasn't there an epilogue, the end left much to be desired.
December 23, 2019
Christopher Argent is an assassin for hire who also works for Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More. He’s well known for his effectiveness and also has the reputation of having ice running through his veins. When he receives an assignment through a solicitor to take the life of Millie LeCour, a well known theater actress, he doesn’t hesitate...until that moment arrives and she says something that gives him pause. From then on, Argent fights a connection to this woman that’s he’s never experienced before with anyone.
The prologue mesmerized me from the first sentence and gave me all the foundation I needed to understand Christopher Argent. Yes, he’s as cold as described but that’s the heart of the story...experiencing Millie’s slow dismantling of the walls enclosing his emotions. And, having him do the same to her in a different way. You just have to read the story to understand this more fully as it’s a really interesting situation.
There’s also a mystery element as someone placed the contract on Millie and is determined to ensure it’s satisfied whether the assassin is Argent or not. Christopher is a brutal man with his own honor code, a recurring theme in this series. I liked both these characters and found their histories as important an element in the story as the present circumstances. I’m enjoying this series and its challenge to the black and white of right and wrong. The gray is very much in play here and that sets this story and series apart from the many others in the genre. And, I’m so glad I opted for the audio version. Derek Perkins is just perfection in his narration. Still loving it! 4.5 stars
The prologue mesmerized me from the first sentence and gave me all the foundation I needed to understand Christopher Argent. Yes, he’s as cold as described but that’s the heart of the story...experiencing Millie’s slow dismantling of the walls enclosing his emotions. And, having him do the same to her in a different way. You just have to read the story to understand this more fully as it’s a really interesting situation.
There’s also a mystery element as someone placed the contract on Millie and is determined to ensure it’s satisfied whether the assassin is Argent or not. Christopher is a brutal man with his own honor code, a recurring theme in this series. I liked both these characters and found their histories as important an element in the story as the present circumstances. I’m enjoying this series and its challenge to the black and white of right and wrong. The gray is very much in play here and that sets this story and series apart from the many others in the genre. And, I’m so glad I opted for the audio version. Derek Perkins is just perfection in his narration. Still loving it! 4.5 stars
August 9, 2016
3.5 Let Me Fix You Stars
Christopher Argent is another beautifully broken bastard. He has a cruel and brutal origin story and I really wanted to sit down and cry and eat an entire box of chocolates after the prologue.
Born to a prostitute in prison he has been chain born all of his life and knows nothing else. His mother does the best by him that she can and so she lets the guards do unmentionable things to her in order to have extra food and wood. She is the best mother she can be to Argent in an absolutely horrible situation. After her death he is forever changed and goes on to join with Dorian Blackwell’s crew while still in prison learning to become a deadly assassin.
It is amazing how well Kerrigan Byrne captures how victims of atrocities and abuse as children can grow up to pervert the kind of abuse they were shown in a different why. While Agent would never force a woman into bed he has some severe emotional and sexual hang ups that come from his childhood trauma. KB doesn’t sugar coat that too much. While you understand why Argent is behaving the way he is…it doesn’t necessarily make it easier to read. Especially, his first sexual encounter with the heroine. That scene epitomizes everything that is wrong with him on a personal level.
Good thing Milli isn’t one to balk from a challenge. There were a few hints to Milli’s backstory but I like Argent got it wrong and I will say I was very surprised by her history and how she came to have a son. I do love how fierce she was in defending her son and the lengths she has taken to keep him safe up until now.
The love/lust story of Argent and Milli….well I will admit that it was a little love at first sight. But this is one of those genres that I’m totally fine when that happens and almost expect it. Plus I like the idea of an assassin being sent to kill someone and then not being able to go through with it and instead deciding to help and protect them.
I loved seeing Dorian and Farah again and getting a little bit of time with them. I still like their story just a little better but Agrent’s isn’t anything to sneeze at either. It was great to see the two broody and slightly emotionally bankrupt men bond during the story as Argent tries to explain his feelings for Milli.
Broken Anti-Heroes I love them and will definitely continue on with the series.
Christopher Argent is another beautifully broken bastard. He has a cruel and brutal origin story and I really wanted to sit down and cry and eat an entire box of chocolates after the prologue.
Born to a prostitute in prison he has been chain born all of his life and knows nothing else. His mother does the best by him that she can and so she lets the guards do unmentionable things to her in order to have extra food and wood. She is the best mother she can be to Argent in an absolutely horrible situation. After her death he is forever changed and goes on to join with Dorian Blackwell’s crew while still in prison learning to become a deadly assassin.
It is amazing how well Kerrigan Byrne captures how victims of atrocities and abuse as children can grow up to pervert the kind of abuse they were shown in a different why. While Agent would never force a woman into bed he has some severe emotional and sexual hang ups that come from his childhood trauma. KB doesn’t sugar coat that too much. While you understand why Argent is behaving the way he is…it doesn’t necessarily make it easier to read. Especially, his first sexual encounter with the heroine. That scene epitomizes everything that is wrong with him on a personal level.
Burying his head in his hands, he emitted a low sound that echoed accusingly back at him in his empty room of terrors. Of all the men he’d learned to hate, he never felt such loathing as he did for himself.
Good thing Milli isn’t one to balk from a challenge. There were a few hints to Milli’s backstory but I like Argent got it wrong and I will say I was very surprised by her history and how she came to have a son. I do love how fierce she was in defending her son and the lengths she has taken to keep him safe up until now.
The love/lust story of Argent and Milli….well I will admit that it was a little love at first sight. But this is one of those genres that I’m totally fine when that happens and almost expect it. Plus I like the idea of an assassin being sent to kill someone and then not being able to go through with it and instead deciding to help and protect them.
I loved seeing Dorian and Farah again and getting a little bit of time with them. I still like their story just a little better but Agrent’s isn’t anything to sneeze at either. It was great to see the two broody and slightly emotionally bankrupt men bond during the story as Argent tries to explain his feelings for Milli.
“Do you …love her?”
Argent’s glacial gaze flicked about the wall behind where Dorian sat, as though he could find the answer in the expensive volumes lined on the shelves there. “I can’t kill her.”
Dorian let out a mirthless bark of laughter. “I suppose that’s more than some can say.”
Broken Anti-Heroes I love them and will definitely continue on with the series.
February 4, 2019
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Millions of stars!
Infinite stars!
Oh this book was amazing. Absolutely loved it. I loved it more than the Highwayman. I seriously don’t think there was any part about it I didn’t like, except now it’s over and I’m sad.
Ripped my heart out and barely pieced it together at the end. Made me cry multiple times. So many great parts of this book, quotes that are so deep and full of feeling.
This book is dark. It has plenty of murder and death, explicit details about abuse, torture. Guess I’m blood thirsty because I loved it.
I would have loved an epilogue!
Millions of stars!
Infinite stars!
Oh this book was amazing. Absolutely loved it. I loved it more than the Highwayman. I seriously don’t think there was any part about it I didn’t like, except now it’s over and I’m sad.
Ripped my heart out and barely pieced it together at the end. Made me cry multiple times. So many great parts of this book, quotes that are so deep and full of feeling.
This book is dark. It has plenty of murder and death, explicit details about abuse, torture. Guess I’m blood thirsty because I loved it.
I would have loved an epilogue!
February 15, 2017
After reading The Highwayman, the first book in Kerrigan Byrne’s Victorian Rebels series last year, I knew I had found an author who was willing to push the established boundaries of historical romance with her dark, gritty, compelling stories and dangerous, tormented anti-heroes. The Hunter certainly didn’t disappoint.
We were introduced to the mysterious Christopher Argent in The Highwayman. He is Dorian Blackwell’s business associate; a cold, ruthless assassin who kills for money without either emotion or remorse. Christopher has accumulated so much wealth that he has no need to accept any more contracts, but killing is all he knows and he’s an expert at what he does. His latest target is Millicent (Millie) LeCour, a popular actress, but when he sees her on stage he is affected in a way he has never experienced before.
It happened again. That curious little jolt in the cavern of his ribs. It was the same when she’d smiled at him from the stage. A startle of sensation. A current of awareness that singed along the nerves beneath his skin with warmth and maybe a touch of pleasure.
Christopher is still determined to fulfil the contract, but ultimately he cannot bring himself to take Millie’s life. Instead, he offers her a bargain – he will protect Millie and her son, Jakub, for one night in her bed. It is a bargain that is to change his life irrevocably.
Millie is a beautiful, talented and popular actress who thrives on the adoration of her audience but she has secrets which force her to keep everyone, other than her son, at arm’s length. Thoughts of marriage or even taking a lover are out the question because her secrets could endanger both her own and her son’s life. Jakub is the most important person in her life and she will do anything to protect him, even make a pact with the devil himself…no matter that the devil comes in the form of a man who has made a number of attempts on her life. She has no reason to trust Christopher Argent and every reason to fear him but…
Millie acknowledged that, in the instance, she didn’t need a white knight, but a shadow that could traverse the darkness with cunning and speed of that lethal viper.
I went into this book with doubts that Ms Byrne could make me sympathetic towards a stone-hearted killer like Christopher Argent but, from the moment I’d finished reading the powerful and gut-wrenching Prologue, my heart ached for the young Christopher. No-one could endure everything he did and retain any shred of humanity.
It (killing) was all he knew. All he was good at. And never in his life had he questioned his place, never looked back into the abyss of the past. Never thought of that pathetic, powerless boy he’d once been.
Or of that night he’d lost his soul.
Meeting Millie has him confused and unable to understand what’s happening to him because, until now, he has cut himself off from all human emotions. Watching him struggle with his newly discovered feelings is so compelling and one of my favourite scenes is where Dorian describes to him what love feels like. I love how we see small glimpses that Christopher still has a shred of humanity in him; his overwhelming need to protect Millie and her son and how gentle he is with Jakub. The scene where Christopher sings the same lullaby to Jakub that his mother used to sing to him was so poignant.
I love Millie’s warmth, strength, intelligence, courage and her overwhelming love for her son. Her life hasn’t been easy but she had the determination and passion to achieve her ambition of becoming an actress. This makes her a worthy match for Christopher. She may fear him but that doesn’t stop her threatening him, as she does when he tries to wake her at what she considers to be an ungodly hour.
“And if you wake me before nine in the morning again, I’ll pâté your liver and have it with my breakfast. Now get out.”
Millie feels compassion for Christopher when she discovers everything he suffered as a young boy; it helps her understand him more and what horrors made him into the heartless killer he became. She also realises that he must break the chains of the past before he can tread a different path in life. I like how Ms Byrne doesn’t try to redeem Christopher because nothing can ever erase his past deeds. Intrinsically, she doesn’t change who he is but offers him in the words of Inspector Morley…
“A different life. A better path. The chance to be a force for good. To be a better man.”
The love scenes are steamy, intense and often explicit but I think they perfectly reflect Christopher’s changing emotional state. I especially love the scene where Christopher believes he is making love to Millie in a dream…a dream that always turns into a nightmare but this time it doesn’t. It is such an emotional scene revealing Christopher’s fears and vulnerability when it comes to Millie.
I loved Jakub, Millie’s son, who is such an intelligent and inquisitive child. There are some delightful scenes between Jakub and Christopher including this one when Jakub announces…
“I like you, Mr. Argent,” he announced. “I like that you don’t lie to me because I’m not yet a man. You can go on kissing my mother if you want, so long as you don’t ruin her.”
Dorian and Farah (The Highwayman) play an important role in the story and I enjoyed seeing how much they are still very much in love. I also enjoyed the scenes between Dorian and Christopher which provide some light-hearted moments. It is wonderful to see a genuine friendship forming between these two.
I found the mystery plot engrossing but there are some realistically brutal and violent parts which may not to everyone’s taste. One of the villain's crimes is particularly heinous and there are some twists and turns before the identity of the person who wants Millie killed and the fate of the missing boys are revealed.
Although there is no Epilogue (but perhaps we will see more of Christopher and Millie in the next book), I did love the ending with some heart-felt, romantic words from Christopher and a little drollery from Millie and Welton, the butler.
MY VERDICT: If you are in the mood for something compelling and intense with a suspenseful plot, fascinating characters and a darkly emotional romance, I can definitely recommend The Hunter.
Victorian Rebels series so far (click on the link below for more details):
https://www.goodreads.com/series/1427...
**I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in return for a honest review.”
This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
We were introduced to the mysterious Christopher Argent in The Highwayman. He is Dorian Blackwell’s business associate; a cold, ruthless assassin who kills for money without either emotion or remorse. Christopher has accumulated so much wealth that he has no need to accept any more contracts, but killing is all he knows and he’s an expert at what he does. His latest target is Millicent (Millie) LeCour, a popular actress, but when he sees her on stage he is affected in a way he has never experienced before.
It happened again. That curious little jolt in the cavern of his ribs. It was the same when she’d smiled at him from the stage. A startle of sensation. A current of awareness that singed along the nerves beneath his skin with warmth and maybe a touch of pleasure.
Christopher is still determined to fulfil the contract, but ultimately he cannot bring himself to take Millie’s life. Instead, he offers her a bargain – he will protect Millie and her son, Jakub, for one night in her bed. It is a bargain that is to change his life irrevocably.
Millie is a beautiful, talented and popular actress who thrives on the adoration of her audience but she has secrets which force her to keep everyone, other than her son, at arm’s length. Thoughts of marriage or even taking a lover are out the question because her secrets could endanger both her own and her son’s life. Jakub is the most important person in her life and she will do anything to protect him, even make a pact with the devil himself…no matter that the devil comes in the form of a man who has made a number of attempts on her life. She has no reason to trust Christopher Argent and every reason to fear him but…
Millie acknowledged that, in the instance, she didn’t need a white knight, but a shadow that could traverse the darkness with cunning and speed of that lethal viper.
I went into this book with doubts that Ms Byrne could make me sympathetic towards a stone-hearted killer like Christopher Argent but, from the moment I’d finished reading the powerful and gut-wrenching Prologue, my heart ached for the young Christopher. No-one could endure everything he did and retain any shred of humanity.
It (killing) was all he knew. All he was good at. And never in his life had he questioned his place, never looked back into the abyss of the past. Never thought of that pathetic, powerless boy he’d once been.
Or of that night he’d lost his soul.
Meeting Millie has him confused and unable to understand what’s happening to him because, until now, he has cut himself off from all human emotions. Watching him struggle with his newly discovered feelings is so compelling and one of my favourite scenes is where Dorian describes to him what love feels like. I love how we see small glimpses that Christopher still has a shred of humanity in him; his overwhelming need to protect Millie and her son and how gentle he is with Jakub. The scene where Christopher sings the same lullaby to Jakub that his mother used to sing to him was so poignant.
I love Millie’s warmth, strength, intelligence, courage and her overwhelming love for her son. Her life hasn’t been easy but she had the determination and passion to achieve her ambition of becoming an actress. This makes her a worthy match for Christopher. She may fear him but that doesn’t stop her threatening him, as she does when he tries to wake her at what she considers to be an ungodly hour.
“And if you wake me before nine in the morning again, I’ll pâté your liver and have it with my breakfast. Now get out.”
Millie feels compassion for Christopher when she discovers everything he suffered as a young boy; it helps her understand him more and what horrors made him into the heartless killer he became. She also realises that he must break the chains of the past before he can tread a different path in life. I like how Ms Byrne doesn’t try to redeem Christopher because nothing can ever erase his past deeds. Intrinsically, she doesn’t change who he is but offers him in the words of Inspector Morley…
“A different life. A better path. The chance to be a force for good. To be a better man.”
The love scenes are steamy, intense and often explicit but I think they perfectly reflect Christopher’s changing emotional state. I especially love the scene where Christopher believes he is making love to Millie in a dream…a dream that always turns into a nightmare but this time it doesn’t. It is such an emotional scene revealing Christopher’s fears and vulnerability when it comes to Millie.
I loved Jakub, Millie’s son, who is such an intelligent and inquisitive child. There are some delightful scenes between Jakub and Christopher including this one when Jakub announces…
“I like you, Mr. Argent,” he announced. “I like that you don’t lie to me because I’m not yet a man. You can go on kissing my mother if you want, so long as you don’t ruin her.”
Dorian and Farah (The Highwayman) play an important role in the story and I enjoyed seeing how much they are still very much in love. I also enjoyed the scenes between Dorian and Christopher which provide some light-hearted moments. It is wonderful to see a genuine friendship forming between these two.
I found the mystery plot engrossing but there are some realistically brutal and violent parts which may not to everyone’s taste. One of the villain's crimes is particularly heinous and there are some twists and turns before the identity of the person who wants Millie killed and the fate of the missing boys are revealed.
Although there is no Epilogue (but perhaps we will see more of Christopher and Millie in the next book), I did love the ending with some heart-felt, romantic words from Christopher and a little drollery from Millie and Welton, the butler.
MY VERDICT: If you are in the mood for something compelling and intense with a suspenseful plot, fascinating characters and a darkly emotional romance, I can definitely recommend The Hunter.
Victorian Rebels series so far (click on the link below for more details):
https://www.goodreads.com/series/1427...
**I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in return for a honest review.”
This review is also posted on my Rakes and Rascals Blog:
https://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com...
September 15, 2019
Loved the amazing HEA couple 💕Christopher and Millie so much. Loved the interactions between an assassin Christopher and Millie's son Jakup, especially when he sang him a lullaby. But my favorite scene had to be when Millie turned into a fierce lioness fighting to get back to her cub. She saved herself against a vicious sadistic hired serial killer! My heroine 🙇🏽♀️
September 17, 2016
I've given this a B at AAR.
Kerrigan Byrne certainly knows how to open a book with a bang! The prologue to The Hunter (second book in her Victorian Rebels series) is one of the most gripping and emotionally draining things I’ve read in some time. In it, we are introduced to the hero of the novel, Christopher Argent, as a young boy living in Newgate Prison with his mother, a prostitute and thief. Born behind bars, Argent has never been outside the prison walls; but as we are later to learn, his is the sort of imprisonment that never ends – an imprisonment of the mind.
Readers of the previous book in the series, The Highwayman, will recall that Argent is a close associate of Dorian Blackwell, and that the two had become part of a close knit gang in Newgate, looking out for each other and eventually – through intimidation and violence - becoming the rulers of their kingdom behind bars. Since their release, Argent has been at Blackwell’s side, instrumental in the establishment of the Black Heart of Ben More’s criminal empire, his ruthlessly efficient methods of dispatching their enemies quickly earning him a reputation as one of England’s most deadly assassins.
Over the years, Argent has killed so many people that he has amassed a fortune he doesn’t know what to do with – but killing is all he knows. Like Blackwell in the previous book, he has suffered incarceration, privation, hardship and abuse; he watched his mother die in horrific circumstances and learned to use his rage to hone his skill, studying ancient martial arts with a master who taught him how to focus his considerable energies and to dispense with the unwanted complication of emotion. Now, he’s an empty shell of a man, a frighteningly proficient killer for whom his latest contract – to kill an actress named Millie LeCour – is just another day at the office.
Millie is the most celebrated actress in London, performing to sell-out houses and receiving wild acclaim for her performance as Desdemona at London’s Covent Garden Theatre. Beautiful, clever and talented, she holds audiences spellbound night after night, unaware that there is a man lurking in the shadows who is there to do more than simply enjoy the play.
Calling himself Bentley Drummle (an alias I was surprised a member of the acting fraternity didn’t immediately spot as coming from Great Expectations), Argent gains access to an after-show-party and proceeds to flirt with Millie, charming her and very quickly managing to separate her from the crowd. But for the first time ever, he can’t bring himself to do the job he has been paid to do. He is confused and disturbed by Millie’s effect on him; she makes him feel many things he doesn’t recognise – and one he does. Desire. He wants her badly, but that cannot be allowed to interfere with his purpose, and he makes another two unsuccessful attempts to kill her, frustrated, and angry at himself because he doesn’t understand why he is unable to carry out his instructions.
Coming to realise that there is something suspicious about the contract on Millie’s life, Argent in effect switches sides, vowing to protect her and her nine-year-old son, Jakub, from those who are out to harm her. But his motives are far from altruistic. He makes a deal with her – he will keep her and Jakub safe if she will spend one night with him, a proposal to which she agrees for reasons which do not just relate to her need for protection from her enemies.
From the moment she first sees him, a large figure in the dimness of the theatre, Millie is fascinated by Argent. His auburn hair and icy blue eyes are striking and his large, muscled body is surprisingly graceful – but more than the strong physical attraction she feels for him, she senses the darkness inside him and is compelled to find out what makes this puzzling, seemingly unknowable man tick.
There is much to enjoy in the novel which is superbly written and in which the author’s descriptions of the various London locations is so evocative as to put the reader right there, within the walls of Newgate, backstage at Covent Garden or amid the grime of the London backstreets and fighting pits. Like its predecessor, the story is high on emotion and angst, perhaps sometimes a little TOO high, but it is nonetheless a gripping tale, and a worthy successor to the earlier book. However, I can’t deny that I had an issue with the fact that the plot basically hinges on the insta-lust between Argent and Millie, which is the root cause of his failing – for the first time ever – to kill his intended victim. In fact, much is made of the fact that he has never before merely attempted an assassination or reneged on a contract; and the way he goes from being a conscienceless killer (whose past victims have included women, although never children) to wondering why someone wants Millie dead doesn’t quite fit, given he has never worried about it before. That said, the author does a very good job of humanising him as the story progresses, showing him to be a man struggling to define the things he is beginning to feel for Millie, and with his own feelings of disgust and inadequacy when it comes to deserving the regard she obviously has for him.
Millie is a strong, likeable heroine, who refuses to accept Argent at face value, believing that somewhere deep inside is a man worthy of love and kindness. I enjoyed the relationship established between Argent and Jakub as well; it possesses a strong element of realism because Christopher is awkward and unused to communicating with children, even though it’s clear that the boy’s situation – being brought up by his mother, alone – resonates with him.
There’s also an intriguing sub-plot concerning a crazed serial-killer who dismembers women and steals their children; we are given a glimpse of the happily married life of Dorian and Farah from book one, and we also get to reacquaint ourselves with Chief Inspector Morley of Scotland Yard (I’m now rather hoping he’s going to get a book of his own at some point).
I struggled a little with the grading for The Hunter, because while I enjoyed it, I at times thought that perhaps Argent was just too broken for there to be a real chance at redemption. Even so, I appreciated the fact that Ms Byrne doesn’t taken the easy way out and turn him into a man completely transformed by the love of a good woman. What she does do is show us that there’s hope for him and that he’s on the way to becoming something more than he was.
Also, there are problems with the pacing around the middle of the story in which there’s a bit too much navel-gazing on Argent’s part about his being a monster unworthy of love – and the ending, which has not just one, but two “Millie-in-Peril” set pieces, is perhaps just a little too stretched out.
Taking those issues and the insta-lust into account, and balancing them against the terrific writing, beautiful descriptive prose and strong characterisation, I’m giving the novel a B grade overall. Ideally, I need a grade between a B and a B+, because that’s where I feel the book belongs; not quite the same standard as The Highwayman (to which I gave a B+), but still a cut above many of the other historical romances currently on the market. Overall, though, I’m sure fans of the previous book will enjoy this one, and to anyone looking for something a bit darker and grittier than the norm in historical romance, I’d say The Hunter is definitely something you might want to check out.
Kerrigan Byrne certainly knows how to open a book with a bang! The prologue to The Hunter (second book in her Victorian Rebels series) is one of the most gripping and emotionally draining things I’ve read in some time. In it, we are introduced to the hero of the novel, Christopher Argent, as a young boy living in Newgate Prison with his mother, a prostitute and thief. Born behind bars, Argent has never been outside the prison walls; but as we are later to learn, his is the sort of imprisonment that never ends – an imprisonment of the mind.
Readers of the previous book in the series, The Highwayman, will recall that Argent is a close associate of Dorian Blackwell, and that the two had become part of a close knit gang in Newgate, looking out for each other and eventually – through intimidation and violence - becoming the rulers of their kingdom behind bars. Since their release, Argent has been at Blackwell’s side, instrumental in the establishment of the Black Heart of Ben More’s criminal empire, his ruthlessly efficient methods of dispatching their enemies quickly earning him a reputation as one of England’s most deadly assassins.
Over the years, Argent has killed so many people that he has amassed a fortune he doesn’t know what to do with – but killing is all he knows. Like Blackwell in the previous book, he has suffered incarceration, privation, hardship and abuse; he watched his mother die in horrific circumstances and learned to use his rage to hone his skill, studying ancient martial arts with a master who taught him how to focus his considerable energies and to dispense with the unwanted complication of emotion. Now, he’s an empty shell of a man, a frighteningly proficient killer for whom his latest contract – to kill an actress named Millie LeCour – is just another day at the office.
Millie is the most celebrated actress in London, performing to sell-out houses and receiving wild acclaim for her performance as Desdemona at London’s Covent Garden Theatre. Beautiful, clever and talented, she holds audiences spellbound night after night, unaware that there is a man lurking in the shadows who is there to do more than simply enjoy the play.
Calling himself Bentley Drummle (an alias I was surprised a member of the acting fraternity didn’t immediately spot as coming from Great Expectations), Argent gains access to an after-show-party and proceeds to flirt with Millie, charming her and very quickly managing to separate her from the crowd. But for the first time ever, he can’t bring himself to do the job he has been paid to do. He is confused and disturbed by Millie’s effect on him; she makes him feel many things he doesn’t recognise – and one he does. Desire. He wants her badly, but that cannot be allowed to interfere with his purpose, and he makes another two unsuccessful attempts to kill her, frustrated, and angry at himself because he doesn’t understand why he is unable to carry out his instructions.
Coming to realise that there is something suspicious about the contract on Millie’s life, Argent in effect switches sides, vowing to protect her and her nine-year-old son, Jakub, from those who are out to harm her. But his motives are far from altruistic. He makes a deal with her – he will keep her and Jakub safe if she will spend one night with him, a proposal to which she agrees for reasons which do not just relate to her need for protection from her enemies.
From the moment she first sees him, a large figure in the dimness of the theatre, Millie is fascinated by Argent. His auburn hair and icy blue eyes are striking and his large, muscled body is surprisingly graceful – but more than the strong physical attraction she feels for him, she senses the darkness inside him and is compelled to find out what makes this puzzling, seemingly unknowable man tick.
There is much to enjoy in the novel which is superbly written and in which the author’s descriptions of the various London locations is so evocative as to put the reader right there, within the walls of Newgate, backstage at Covent Garden or amid the grime of the London backstreets and fighting pits. Like its predecessor, the story is high on emotion and angst, perhaps sometimes a little TOO high, but it is nonetheless a gripping tale, and a worthy successor to the earlier book. However, I can’t deny that I had an issue with the fact that the plot basically hinges on the insta-lust between Argent and Millie, which is the root cause of his failing – for the first time ever – to kill his intended victim. In fact, much is made of the fact that he has never before merely attempted an assassination or reneged on a contract; and the way he goes from being a conscienceless killer (whose past victims have included women, although never children) to wondering why someone wants Millie dead doesn’t quite fit, given he has never worried about it before. That said, the author does a very good job of humanising him as the story progresses, showing him to be a man struggling to define the things he is beginning to feel for Millie, and with his own feelings of disgust and inadequacy when it comes to deserving the regard she obviously has for him.
Millie is a strong, likeable heroine, who refuses to accept Argent at face value, believing that somewhere deep inside is a man worthy of love and kindness. I enjoyed the relationship established between Argent and Jakub as well; it possesses a strong element of realism because Christopher is awkward and unused to communicating with children, even though it’s clear that the boy’s situation – being brought up by his mother, alone – resonates with him.
There’s also an intriguing sub-plot concerning a crazed serial-killer who dismembers women and steals their children; we are given a glimpse of the happily married life of Dorian and Farah from book one, and we also get to reacquaint ourselves with Chief Inspector Morley of Scotland Yard (I’m now rather hoping he’s going to get a book of his own at some point).
I struggled a little with the grading for The Hunter, because while I enjoyed it, I at times thought that perhaps Argent was just too broken for there to be a real chance at redemption. Even so, I appreciated the fact that Ms Byrne doesn’t taken the easy way out and turn him into a man completely transformed by the love of a good woman. What she does do is show us that there’s hope for him and that he’s on the way to becoming something more than he was.
Also, there are problems with the pacing around the middle of the story in which there’s a bit too much navel-gazing on Argent’s part about his being a monster unworthy of love – and the ending, which has not just one, but two “Millie-in-Peril” set pieces, is perhaps just a little too stretched out.
Taking those issues and the insta-lust into account, and balancing them against the terrific writing, beautiful descriptive prose and strong characterisation, I’m giving the novel a B grade overall. Ideally, I need a grade between a B and a B+, because that’s where I feel the book belongs; not quite the same standard as The Highwayman (to which I gave a B+), but still a cut above many of the other historical romances currently on the market. Overall, though, I’m sure fans of the previous book will enjoy this one, and to anyone looking for something a bit darker and grittier than the norm in historical romance, I’d say The Hunter is definitely something you might want to check out.
March 23, 2017
*** 3.65 ***
A buddy read with the Hysterical Romantic Saps at the MacHalos:):):)
This author obviously likes to start with prologues that break your heart, break the main character, and then spends the rest of the book trying to put both of them together... It is a very cruel strategy, although it obviously makes for a compelling read.
Just as in book one, we are in London of the late 1800's and another boy who grew up in the Newgate Prison as a kid, having lived through unspeakable horrors, has grown up and is one very broken, barely surviving life adult. This time Christopher Argent is an assassin, the most expensive and elite one, who is certain that his heart and feelings have been extinguished for ever when he was 9 years old. Since then an empty hole has been taking the space where his soul should have been. He is on his way to fulfill his newest contract - killing the young and beautiful actress, Millie LeCour. But just looking at her and watching her on the stage as Desdemona, his empty space starts filling in and where his heart should have been, a warmth spreads...
Millie LeCour, the toast of the London stage, is enigmatic and stunningly attractive. She loves her profession, she appreciates the money she makes and the applause, but nothing matters more to her than her son, the 7 year old Jakub. In order to keep him safe, she has been keeping a secret which might endanger both of them. But one night, at a post-show party, she meets a big, dangerous, and very attractive man who sweeps her off her feet with a waltz. After a passionate kiss he lets her go only to invade her household that same night and attempt to kill her. But when her son interrupts, the man steals another kiss and disappears.
"...“It is an easy thing to commit a sin and say that ‘the devil made me do it,’ and then cast that sin on him. But this life has taught me that we make ourselves into the monsters that we are. That the blood we spill is on our own hands.”..."
Christopher Argent cannot go through with the contract - the actress brings on to many feelings for him, and he wants her safe and for himself... Now, this is where you have to really suspend disbelief, which is true for most of those more angsty and dark romances, in order to accept that this hard, cold-hearted assassin, who has admittedly killed numerous men and women, many of them attractive, sees this young and enigmatic actress and at ones chooses to not go on with his assassination, but wants to f@#k and protect her... It is very difficult to swallow. Then, you have to really, really suspend disbelief when after his intended victim figures out that the hot dude she was kissing was actually here to kill her, after some very understandable panic and terror, decides that she is going to not only give herself to him as a payment for protection, but eventually falls in love with him.... It is not an easy leap to make, but it is fun to watch the author make a human out of this very cold man who has lost all or most of his humanity back in prison... So, Argent is another dubious "gray" character with many broken layers, whom we hope will see the light eventually. I loved Millie and Jakub and I loved the way motherly love is portrayed. I also loved to hate the villains, who are just as sleazy and despicable as the author could possibly make them - she loves deprived, horrible and monstrous bad guys whom we could freely hate:)
Overall, this was a dark Historical Romance with some violence and sex, with a main male lead whose internal dialogue is very angsty... I did want to smack him on several occasions. But, if drama is your thing, this is a good and entertaining read:)
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in the pages of a good book!!!
A buddy read with the Hysterical Romantic Saps at the MacHalos:):):)
This author obviously likes to start with prologues that break your heart, break the main character, and then spends the rest of the book trying to put both of them together... It is a very cruel strategy, although it obviously makes for a compelling read.
Just as in book one, we are in London of the late 1800's and another boy who grew up in the Newgate Prison as a kid, having lived through unspeakable horrors, has grown up and is one very broken, barely surviving life adult. This time Christopher Argent is an assassin, the most expensive and elite one, who is certain that his heart and feelings have been extinguished for ever when he was 9 years old. Since then an empty hole has been taking the space where his soul should have been. He is on his way to fulfill his newest contract - killing the young and beautiful actress, Millie LeCour. But just looking at her and watching her on the stage as Desdemona, his empty space starts filling in and where his heart should have been, a warmth spreads...
Millie LeCour, the toast of the London stage, is enigmatic and stunningly attractive. She loves her profession, she appreciates the money she makes and the applause, but nothing matters more to her than her son, the 7 year old Jakub. In order to keep him safe, she has been keeping a secret which might endanger both of them. But one night, at a post-show party, she meets a big, dangerous, and very attractive man who sweeps her off her feet with a waltz. After a passionate kiss he lets her go only to invade her household that same night and attempt to kill her. But when her son interrupts, the man steals another kiss and disappears.
"...“It is an easy thing to commit a sin and say that ‘the devil made me do it,’ and then cast that sin on him. But this life has taught me that we make ourselves into the monsters that we are. That the blood we spill is on our own hands.”..."
Christopher Argent cannot go through with the contract - the actress brings on to many feelings for him, and he wants her safe and for himself... Now, this is where you have to really suspend disbelief, which is true for most of those more angsty and dark romances, in order to accept that this hard, cold-hearted assassin, who has admittedly killed numerous men and women, many of them attractive, sees this young and enigmatic actress and at ones chooses to not go on with his assassination, but wants to f@#k and protect her... It is very difficult to swallow. Then, you have to really, really suspend disbelief when after his intended victim figures out that the hot dude she was kissing was actually here to kill her, after some very understandable panic and terror, decides that she is going to not only give herself to him as a payment for protection, but eventually falls in love with him.... It is not an easy leap to make, but it is fun to watch the author make a human out of this very cold man who has lost all or most of his humanity back in prison... So, Argent is another dubious "gray" character with many broken layers, whom we hope will see the light eventually. I loved Millie and Jakub and I loved the way motherly love is portrayed. I also loved to hate the villains, who are just as sleazy and despicable as the author could possibly make them - she loves deprived, horrible and monstrous bad guys whom we could freely hate:)
Overall, this was a dark Historical Romance with some violence and sex, with a main male lead whose internal dialogue is very angsty... I did want to smack him on several occasions. But, if drama is your thing, this is a good and entertaining read:)
Now I wish you all Happy Reading and may you always find what you need in the pages of a good book!!!
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