The Highwayman by Kerrigan Byrne (Victorian Rebels #1)
Released: September 1, 2015
Historical Romance
St. Martin’s

Reviewed by May

“I was thinking,” he said some time later as she paused for a drowsy yawn. “Since ye doona have any family to love anymore, ye could love me…” Instead of meeting her gaze, he studied the way the pristine white of her petticoat bandage made his hand look that much grubbier. “That is, if ye wanted.”

Farah buried her face in his neck and sighed, her lashes brushing against his tender skin with every blink. “Of course I’ll love you, Dougan Mackenzie,” she said easily. “Who else is going to?”

“Nobody,” he said earnestly.

“Will you try to love me, too?” she asked in a small voice.

He considered it. “I’ll try, Fairy, but I havena done it before.”

For two years Dougan and his fairy (Farah) lived at an orphanage, not even teenagers yet but totally bonded from their first meeting. The pair was inseparable, going so far as to marry each other in the chapel. Ah, but fate was to separate them soon after when Dougan defends his wee fairy and kills a priest.

Seventeen years later, and Farah L. Mackenzie is living in London as a widow and working at Scotland Yard. She has remained true to her husband Dougan, and has no idea that on this day as she enters the office she’s about to meet a man that is truly the darkest, hardest criminal of all… and someone who once knew and in fact was good friends with her beloved while he was in prison (before his death).

The Highwayman is the story of Farah and Dorian Blackwell, the Blackheart of Ben More a criminal lord that practically owns the town and is legendary for his ruthless ways.

…starting above the brow, and ending at the bridge of a bladed nose, was a jagged, angry scar, interrupted by an eye leached of every pigment but blue by whatever had caused the wound. And, indeed, he stared at her like a predator recognizing his preferred meal, and lying in wait to pounce until she haplessly wandered into his vicinity.

What really worked for me about this story, was absolutely every detail. I mean it! The balance of information given with history revealed throughout wove a tale of new beginnings and the chance to build a happy life where neither Dorian or Farah had previously been able to. Of course, our black hearted criminal insists on a marriage of convenience since she is to inherit a great deal. Her only stipulation is that he also provide her with children. He says no, at first, until she says she’ll take a lover.

“I would kill any man who dared touch you,” he informed her coldly.

Oh, Dorian.

“I will force you to watch as I dismember whatever part of his body he dared to touch you with, and feed it to him,” he declared tightly.

“Then it has to be you,” she insisted.

As Farah gets to know this black hearted Dorian, she also gets to know his staff including the fantastic Murdoch who acts as a kindly confidant and friend to her. Murdoch often asks questions of her past that Dorian can’t seem to bring himself to question. Murdoch and the other supporting characters do a fine job of enhancing this tale, and providing depth to a beautifully moving story of love and new beginnings.

The very best part about the Highwayman is how the story is artfully told, which is why I’m having difficulty reviewing it with any real story detail. I don’t want to ruin any of the best moments for you, so I’ll leave you with this…

If you’re looking for a deeply romantic, touching, and smexy historical romance between a very sweet and bright young woman and a very dark and tortured criminal this is for you. The story is very focused on them without a lot of fuss or running around which was so very appreciated by this reader. I really loved how a tale that could have been so very depressing and dark was instead uplifting and focused on the possibility of love, the hope for a bright future, and healing past pain. I enjoyed this one so much that I went back and re-read it already. And loved it even more the second time around.

Grade: A

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