Tempting Fate
5 Stars

Now, this is more like it! The single plotline focusing on Gabriel and Felicity's romance makes the shorter format less irksome.

The emotion and intimacy sorely lacking from Mercy and Raphael's book are here in spades with Felicity and Gabriel. To begin with, their relationship is slow-burn rather than insta-lust, and this enables the intensity of their connection and the strength of their chemistry to build to an explosive climax (pun intended!).

The character development is also significantly improved as more details on Gabriel's traumatic past and the suffering he endured from his injuries are provided. Moreover, I appreciated the fact that Byrne did not completely alter his physical appearance, but rather maintained a realistic portrayal of the complexity of the surgeries and remaining scarring. Likewise, Felicity's personality and nature are more fully developed.

Despite the improved romance and characterization, there are still a couple of problematic issues. First, the minor suspense plot revolving around the attacks on Felicity is sparse and the villain, once again, comes out of nowhere. Moreover, there are still editing errors as well as a number of instances in which the author confuses Gabriel and his alias, Gareth.

Overall, this is a significant improvement on the previous installments and the introduction of another set of Goode siblings is intriguing. I am willing to give these new books a chance, but I do hope that Byrne engages a good editor in the future. ( )

Finished Reading May 14, 2021

3.5 Stars

May 11, 2021 Amz ( )

I adore tormented heroes, even if I prefer storylines to center on healing the heroine rather than the hero. But there was a nice dash of that as well, with the heroine suffering from panic attacks. I probably would have liked this more if I’d read the series, it doesn’t quite work as a standalone. ( )

An incredibly easy 5 stars. Never at any point in the book did I even start thinking 'I don't know, maybe this will end up being 4 stars'. lol. I have really enjoyed almost all of the books in Byrne's Victorian Rebels and Goode Girls series, so I requested an advance copy to review the second I saw it on NetGalley (also thanks to Oliver Heber books for granting my request). And this probably joins The Highwayman and The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo as my all-time favorites of hers (and I've read very nearly everything she's had published).

The hero is a semi-broken ex-criminal-kingpin, bent on keeping her safe whatever the cost, (what's not to love really??) =D and the heroine is about as opposite of that as you can get, she's anxiety prone and a bit fragile (though not in a way that annoyed me as some weakling heroines do) and is genuinely a sweetheart who is easy to care about. I love them for each other. Definite notes of Beauty and the Beast, and Hades and Persephone (she's even a novel lover (B&B) and gardens (H&P) =D).

The first couple chapters pick up very soon after the climax of the last book, (about his brother and her sister), so it would probably add something to have read it first, but this fills you in on everything you need to know, so I don't think it would hurt this story too much if it were the first one you'd read. (Though there are of course spoilers for some of the previous books, so bare that in mind).

Gritty, steamy, swoony (he just loves her SO much! lol). I read it nearly non-stop all the way through and was genuinely just delighted throughout. It won't be for everyone of course, but if you like any of her other historical romances, definitely try this one.


2nd read- I read this only four months ago, but I just enjoyed it so much I wanted to go through it all again anyway. *Side note, I'm usually kind of picky, and rarely 'gush' about things. But, This. Couple. =D My heart overflows for them. Their story still held my full attention (even though this time I knew everything that was going to happen beforehand, =P), and it has great feels, and steam, and character growth. The couple could hardly be more opposite, but they're so good together, and for each other. I find them very relatable and easy to root for, and feel invested in. Their behavior feels honest to their characters, and events are described in a way that makes them easy to visualize. It feels very romantic to me without being too sugary or sappy. Overall it just brings me a lot of joy. =D I've read nearly 200 historical romances so far this year, and I think this one is my favorite. ( )

Tempting Fate by Kerrigan Byrne
A Goode Girls Romance #4

Sweet story of a love that shouldn’t work but is actually perfect. Not really “Beauty and the Beast” but definitely a close relation. The scarred man who was love-smitten at first sight and willing to do anything to protect the younger, beautiful, shy, caring, tongue-tied, woman that stars in his dreams finds himself in the right place and time to be there for his dream woman – actually a flesh and blood woman more normal than he thought. Will they get their HEA? Of course :)

What I liked:
* Gabriel/Gareth: older brother, protective, damaged, scarred, ruthless, intelligent, devoted, lethal, gentle giant (with some), intriguing.
* Felicity: wealthy, twin, beautiful, shy, suffers anxiety attacks, gardener, likes to dance, responsible, protected, faints at the sight of blood, needs glasses, seeks security.
* The development of the relationship between Gabriel and Felicity
* Gabriel’s ability to defend and protect those he cares about.
* That both male and female lead characters seemed opposites but were actually were well matched and able to learn and grow together
* The underlying threat and finding out who was behind it
* The twist that might lead to a new series
* Getting to see the three other sisters from previous books and find out how they were doing
* What Felicity and Gabriel ended up doing once together.
* Wondering about where the twins would eventually settle down.

What I didn’t like:
* The people I was meant not to like…and there were more than a few.

Did I like this book? Yes
Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the ARC – This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars ( )