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    The Duke
    The Duke
    The Duke
    Audiobook11 hours

    The Duke

    Written by Kerrigan Byrne

    Narrated by Derek Perkins

    4/5

    ()

    About this audiobook

    Strong as a Viking. Handsome as Adonis. Rich as Midas. Collin "Cole" Talmage, Duke of Trewyth, is the stuff that legends are made of. He's the English Empire's golden son-until fate has its way with him. Cole's family is killed and his closest comrade betrays him on the battlefield, leaving him gravely injured. But Cole is not one to dwell on misfortune. He is a man of duty, honor, and desire. And now he's ready for the fight of his lifetime . . .

    Imogen Pritchard is a beautiful lass who works in a hospital by day and as a serving maid at night. Years ago, when she was young and penniless, she ended up spending a scandalous night with Cole, whose tormented soul was matched only by his earth-shattering passion. Imogen entered a marriage of convenience-one that left her a wealthy widow-but she never forgot Cole. Now that her long-lost lover has turned up in her hospital, injured and with no memory of her, Imogen is torn: Is it a blessing or a curse that their past remains a secret to Cole, even as his new passion for her leaves him wanting to protect and possess her at all costs?

    Contains mature themes.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateFeb 7, 2017
    ISBN9781515982937
    The Duke
    Author

    Kerrigan Byrne

    Kerrigan Byrne has done many things to pay the bills, from law enforcement to belly dance instructor. Now she's finally able to have the career she'd decided upon at thirteen when she announced to her very skeptical family that she was going to "grow up to be a romance novelist." Whether she's writing about Celtic Druids, Victorian bad boys, or brash Irish FBI Agents, Kerrigan uses her borderline-obsessive passion for history, her extensive Celtic ancestry, and her love of Shakespeare in almost every story. Kerrigan lives with her husband on the coast of Washington State's Olympic Peninsula in a Victorian-era town almost frozen in time. When she's not writing, you might find her on the beach with her dogs, lounging at a local vineyard or brewery, or buying things she doesn't need at antique stores. Her novels with St. Martin's Press include the Victorian Rebels series (starting with The Highwayman) and Devil You Know series (which begins with How To Love A Duke in Ten Days).

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    Reviews for The Duke

    4/5

    114 ratings16 reviews

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    • 3/5
      The Duke was a real noble. Arrogant and proud, stand offish, rude and insensitive. Cole ruined Imogen's life in more ways than one and he remained a stupid brute for most of the book, believing himself superior just because he was born to nobility. Imogen was a very strong and lovable character. The book could have been much better especially the ending. The end seemed rushed and anti-climatic. It was quite tiresome to read but small glimpses of Blackwell, Farrah, Christopher etc helped a bit. I was surprised at the villain at the end which was hood thus the rating of 3, otherwise this book was quite disappointing to me compared to the first 3 in the series
    • 4/5
      Imogen once knew and truly cared for Collin Talmage, and even though she had little choice when she was innocent, he showed her tenderness and passion. She never though she would see him again, but Collin came back to England damaged, and as a nurse she aided in his recovery. But circumstances forced her to make a new life for herself, where she married a man who was sickly but a good friend to her and offered her a stable future and a chance to make a difference. Now Imogen is a widow, but goes out of her way to help those in need whether they be starved children, or abused prostitutes or injured veterans or even thieves who want a different kind of life. But her new neighbor isn’t pleased with her at all. Imogen knows exactly who Collin is but he has no clue that she is the one girl he has been searching for years for, the one woman he gave his heart to. Collin and Imogen have sparks that fly between them, but Imogen wonders if she can tell this dangerous man the truth of their past or is it too late for them to have a future?Plot and Story LineKerrigan Byrne just keeps surprising me with this series, with each installment I keep falling into the world she has created and what a world of danger and passion and the depth of true humanity that is divulged in these books. In The Duke, her most recent release we have a story of lost love and discovery. Imogen and Collin have a past with each other and there are some secrets too but its quite complicated so its not so black and white as it might appear to be. Imogen has a heart of gold, and she gave her innocence and her heart to Collin. But Collin has lived through a hell of his own. Returned to England, created his own fake hand for the one he lost in order to escape alive out of the hellhole he was in. Now when these two meet up again they are next door neighbors but Collin is quite hostile at first. He doesn’t realize that Imogen and the woman he knew as “Ginny” are one and the same. Tempers fly and these two go at it like cats and dogs….or some weird mating ritual because they also have powerful chemistry. I loved the bantering these two have with each other. Its quite lively and highly entertaining. Such a delight to partake of this author once again. She is unique and simply talented. She writes stories that are captivating and not what most HR authors writes now and that is what I love most about her. Its fresh and fun with dark edges that keep you coming back for more. I can’t wait to see what is up next.The CoverWhat a drop dead gorgeous cover…I swear they just keep getting better and better. I love her white flowy dress, and the way he holds her from behind.Overall ViewThe Duke is evidence of the pure and unique talent that is Kerrigan Byrne. A story of love that isn’t easy and a romance that packs a punch to your heart!! INCREDIBLE!!
    • 4/5
      Interesting plot twists with great steamy encounters and some unexpected turns. Great narration!
    • 2/5
      TW - R Word, questionable consent


      It's a tale as old as time. Duke meets Girl in a bawdy tavern, unwittingly purchases her virginity, goes off to war, obsesses about her, gets captured and tortured, cuts off his own hand to escape, returns to England only to be saved by Bawdy House Girl who is actually a nurse who realises he has sepsis and not typhus, doesn't recognise her, has her fired, searches for her for two years even though she's living next door -- okay, look, he r-words her. When he figures out Imogen is Ginny, the woman he's been OBSESSING over for two years, he R WORDS HER about it. AND SHE'S LIKE "I'm into it" AND NEVER TAKES HIM TO TASK OVER IT. The thing is, the way he reacts to the news goes against the character development he undergoes. Her lack of reaction goes against her character, too. It doesn't make any damn sense. This series has had its share of questionable consent scenes, but this one takes the whole damn bakery, never mind the cake.
      I'm mad about it. Will it stop me from listening to the rest of the series? Not yet... I like so much about Byrne's writing: she makes so many good historical reference, and the politics in the book seem to skew left, which is nice for books about rich people fucking. But man...I can only excuse so much. I'm trying to escape reality, not be reminded that men are the colonisers of our bodies.
    • 4/5
      The Duke
      4 Stars

      The second chances romance between Imogen Pritchard and Cole Talmage is particularly appealing mainly due to the fact that the hero and heroine are atypical fare for historical romance. As a barmaid and a nurse, Imogen is as far from an aristocratic debutante as it is possible to be, and Cole, despite being an illustrious duke, is suffering from both a physical disability and severe PTSD (which goes a long way toward explaining his irascibility and general "asshatness").

      Imogen and Cole have incredible chemistry and their arguments (think liberal Democrat versus moderate Republican) are some of the most sizzling and entertaining in the genre.

      As always, Byrne does not shy away from the harsher realities of Victorian England whether it be the plight of prostitutes and abused women or the suffering of soldiers returning from war with both physical and mental wounds.

      The minor suspense plot is the weakest element of the book as it is quite underdeveloped and somewhat rushed at the end. Nevertheless, the climax and resolution are intense and exciting.

      All in all, a lovely read and I look forward to Gavin St. James's book next.
    • 3/5
      I found the hero to be a bit of an ass just a little too often for me to like him all the way. So I didn't enjoy the book as much as I hoped. But there were lots of good parts.

      2nd read- I really tried to cut the hero a lot of slack reading this again, and felt that I was having some success with it, gaining a little deeper understanding of why he was being a cad, holding some empathy for his plight, but somehow I had entirely forgotten their last row until I came to it, and 90% of my new understanding for him was tossed out the window. (In a bit more detail-) I had decided that his character had been a snob before his trauma, but that his rudeness was then exacerbated by a combination of things. His disappointment thinking he had found her and then waking up to realize he hadn't, an unwanted attraction to a new woman when he didn't want to find anyone else appealing, and bursts of anger from his PTSD. None of it excuses his awful behavior, but it does make it more understandable. Their final conflict though, hoo boy, he should be beyond pleased to discover "both" of his loves are indeed found AND love him back! Instead he arguably physically assaults her, uses her, doesn't take precaution when they don't have any sort of understanding yet, and then verbally attacks her! What an absolute ass! I'm all for a flawed hero, but unfortunately this one's flaw is being a spoiled brat, which really just isn't appealing at all. Beyond the hero, the heroine's drunken ridiculousness was kind of absurd. Maybe if she had been on laudanum or something and didn't realize the alcohol would interact so poorly with it it could be more buyable, but as it was, it played out pretty weakly. I really enjoyed the couples from the previous books though, and the villain was above average interesting. And if I break up the story into pieces, the parts in between the hero being an ass were engaging and enjoyable.
    • 4/5
      Do we ever read about a man who chooses doe-eyed innocence in the face of terrible adversity? We didn't here either, but, of course, the heroine did!

      Don't get me wrong, Imogen was amazing...I didn't even mind Cole entirely. But I read this for her. I would read it and enjoy it for her again. I enjoyed their quieter moments, and when Cole is tender and sweet he really is. I just didn't really think he had a right to his anger in the end there, I guess this is a problematic pattern with KB books for me. The hero always acts the fool at the end in the face of his steadfast love interest, and usually has no reason to do so....also just a weird preference here but I do wish when she was being nursed back to health, we could've seen his temper/angst/declaration other than through her hazy dream-like drug-induced state.

      I will likely take a bit of a breather now, for a day or two at least. I'm not sure what I expect to find on the other side of it.
    • 3/5
      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.

      Collin "Cole" Talmage is now the Duke of Trenwyth after the death of his mother, father, and older brother. The crown still has need of him and his spy capabilities but for one night at a brothel, he's going to forget it all in the arms of a raven haired woman.
      Imogen spends her days as a nurse and nights as "Ginny”, a barkeep in a brothel. When Cole and his soldiers walk in, he instantly captures her attention. Their one night together will never be forgotten but the next two years will shake up both their worlds.
      Cole and Imogen now live next door to one another but will pain and pride keep them miles apart?
       
      The man had been scoundrel and saint. Heathen and hero. A dangerous man and a deferential lover.
       
      Fourth in the Victorian Rebels series, The Duke, could be read as a standalone. The couples from the previous books all make extended appearances but while readers of the series will enjoy getting glimpses of favorites, newcomers will enjoy how they help to fill out the world the author has created; you might wonder how some relationships were formed but you won't be lost here. The author's talent of creating strong characters with dark pasts continues but I felt this one was a little slower paced. The sometimes leaning toward purple prose and tendency to wax poetic stood out a bit more in fault because of the slowness. The repetitive comparing of the hero to a beast also became redundant and left me wanting more emotional and interaction scenes instead of lines of telling me what the hero looked like.
       
      "You haven't any idea the strength it takes to be a woman."
       
      I really enjoyed the premise of the story, Cole and Imogene sharing one night, circumstances keep them apart, hidden identities, danger, and then coming together. This is somewhat of an enemies-to-lovers trope story, however, Cole doesn't recognize Imogene but she knows who he is the whole time. Cole's story of being captured, tortured, and then shutting himself off from the world isn't anything new to the romance genre. Yet, he's a little different because we don't usually see our heroes be on the snobby side of classism, which he is. He never crosses an unredeemable line, and is in fact probably more historically accurate, but you might want to throw your sherry in his face a time or two. Imogen also follows some trope lines but again, feels slightly different. She has to work in a brothel to work off money her father owed, deals with a sexist doctor as a nurse, and becomes a bit of a Cinderella by marrying a patient. Anstruther is Imogen's elderly patient, an earl, and ends up marrying her to save her. The glimpses we get of him here have me wanting a novella of him and his former wife Sarah; he was so kind and funny.
       
      She was a woman of desire, of spirit and determination.
       
      Cole and Imogen have fire and emotion but after their initial meeting, it takes a while to get there. Cole is an extremely bitter person after his capture and torture with the Ottomans and persists on being fairly rude to Imogene for more than half of the story. I think having him discover her as his "Ginny" earlier on, would have given me more of the loving time I craved between the two. I really enjoyed Imogen as a character from her strength to her compassion but I feel like we missed some parts of her by never really seeing her family. It felt extremely odd to show her working in a brothel for her mother and sister and never getting to meet them (we briefly glimpse the sister). The family dynamic would have added more emotional dimension to her character.
       
      The ending felt extremely rushed with the reveal and wrap-up of the villain almost giving me whiplash. I really enjoy this author's writing but the execution felt a little off here with too much focus on overwriting Cole's physical stature, a meandering middle, and not enough love between our couple. However, even when this author uses tropes, she still manages to put a spin that have them feeling new and intriguing. Plus, if you're missing all your favorite couples from previous books, their appearances here will have you smiling. I'll still be anticipating books from this series, especially a certain Inspector as he seems to have some secrets to tell.
    • 4/5
      This was a fun historical romance. Not too thought provoking but entertaining and well written.
    • 4/5
      4 "Appearances Can Be Deceiving" Stars for the Story and 4.5 Stars for the Narration.The Duke is the fourth book in Kerrigan Byrne's Victorian Rebel's Series. I've enjoyed each of these books, though my favorite still remains the first. I've also admired and become a bigger fan of Derek Perkin's narrations as this series has wore on. In particular, I feel like Mr. Perkin's female characterizations have greatly improved with each new installment. Interestingly whereas each one of the prior heroes featured a rebel in some way, The Duke seems to have the least of this characteristic. Instead in this novel we have a Duke, Collin Talmage the Duke of Trenwyth, who although he obtains that title unexpectedly after his brother the expected heir dies, continues with his military/espionage activities and pays dearly for his service when he is captured and brutally tortured. It's clear that this experience changes him into a bitter and less forgiving character particularly to the one woman, Imogene Pritchard, a woman he believed to be a prostitute, but who he actually paid to unknowingly take her virtue (she was a barmaid indentured to a brothel to pay off her father's debt and made it clear that's all she would do, but at the astonishing rate of 20 pounds the owner gave her no choice). As luck would have it neither has forgotten the other. Indeed they've longed to find the other and have each used the memory of the other to get them through tough times. So it is quite to Imogen's surprise that when Collin awakens in the hospital where she works as a nurse (her real job), he doesn't recognize her. Moreover he is incredibly hostile to her even though she's the one that pleads his cause and determines his true ailment saving his life in the process; only earning her a quick dismissal in the process. Could there possibly be a HEA under the circumstances?Derek Perkins does a great job of narrating The Duke. One aspect which I always look for in a good narration is distinguishable characters. Mr. Perkins not only does this for the male characters but he also does this for Imogen and the other female characters and manages to create genuine sounding female characters in the process. Mr. Perkins also infuses his reading with appropriate emotion and allows the listener to feel the mood of the scene through just his intonation, pacing and rendition. All in all I enjoyed the Duke, though not as much as prior installments. In particular I liked the patient/nurse spin of the story. However I felt that it had a very busy plot overall. In fact what I describe above is only about half of the story as Ms. Byrne uses some convenient coincidences to create what seems almost like a second story two years after the hospital scene I described above. It was just hard to believe that fate had their paths cross three separate times (first at the brothel, then the hospital, and two year later as neighbors). Nonetheless, I'm glad I listened to this story and will definitely be looking forward to listening to more of Byrne's works in the future. Source: Review copy provided for review purposes. 
    • 5/5
      After reading all four books in Victorian Rebels series, I can safely say that 'The Duke' is my favorite so far. Don't get me wrong! The other books are great as well, after all I gave all but The Highwayman' the highest marks, but for some reason this one touched me on so many levels and I truly enjoyed it.

      I find that this author is brilliant when constructing emotional depth of her characters and it is that that keeps me coming to her stories, regardless of the predictability of the plots. She is also very descriptive and not just the scenery. She excels in taking you deep within the heart of the characters, including the sensuality she portrays.

      Reading this story, I marveled at the emotions I went through as the story progressed. I was sad as the story opens and our couple meets for the first time and then I got angry at the hero for his stupidity. I marveled as our heroine's survival instincts prevail and cheered her on as she triumphs. And I laughed out loud at the heroes description of his "neighbor" and at his conundrum.

      Seriously, this is one book you must read this year. It is without a doubt, one of the best stories out there today.

      Melanie for b2b

      Complimentary copy provided by the publisher
    • 5/5
      The Duke by Kerrigan Byrne is a 2017 St. Martin’s Press publication. The Victorian Rebels series is my favorite series in the historical romance category right now. I eagerly anticipate each new installment, but then hoard it because I want to have something to look forward to and I know once I finish it, I’ll have to wait for what seems like an eternity for the next book in the series. I couldn’t hold out any longer, but I did manage to read the book very slowly, drawing it out and lapping up every delicious morsel one chapter at a time, trying to make it last as long as I could. Kerrigan Bryne can create a dark and troubled hero better than anyone out there right now. Collin ‘Cole’ Talmage, the Duke of Trewyth, is tortured, but is slightly different from the heroes featured in past installments. He’s a privileged Duke who spends one night with the sweet and innocent Ginny, leaving him with a memory he can not shake. In fact, it’s his memory of her that sustains him on the battlefield, where he is severely injured. She haunts him always, as his seemingly futile search for her stretches out over the years. Imogen Pritchard, is a nurse by day, a maid by night, but after a dangerous encounter she is saved by a marriage of convenience. Now widowed, Imogen suddenly finds herself face to face with the one man she could never forget. But, little does he know, Imogen, the wealthy widow next door, is the woman he has been longing for. Should Imogen remind him of their shared past or keep it secret from him? As a big fan of romantic suspense, I loved the element of suspense in this chapter, which was like the cherry on top! The way the lovers seemed like two ships passing in the night also adds an element of tension to the story and of course a little frustration, too. Cole, of course, is heartbroken and sad, but also, bitter and angry. He doesn’t know what to make of Imogen and his attraction to her, which leaves him conflicted about his feelings for Ginny, while Imogen is afraid to tell him the truth, which creates inner angst and turmoil, but makes for some seriously sharp dialogue as the pair play a delightful and slightly dangerous lovers game. The only downside to the story is that the ending was tidied up a bit too abruptly, combining the threads a little too hurriedly, but it was still dramatic and despite the dark tones, the book ended on a humorous note, allowing Cole to steal the show and Imogen’s heart once and for all. This is another terrific effort by this author. I love her style, her risk -taking plot lines, and how her stories are ever evolving and changing guaranteeing they stay fresh and original! 4.5 stars
    • 4/5
      I absolutely love this series. The men are not perfect and the women are not shrinking violets worried about their next ballroom gown. These characters are damaged and real and ready to kick whatever ass is in need of kicking. Cole and Imogene may not have been perfect, but they were definitely perfect for each other. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.
    • 5/5
      The Victorian Rebels series continues to slay me!'these young wolves, were on the hunt for trouble, only waiting—straining—to be unleashed by one affirmative gesture from their alpha. As dangerous as they might prove to be, she knew at once that the young soldiers, now fanning into an arc, hadn’t been the source of her internal alarm. Their leader had.'A coldly dangerous, heart-stopping, opening! Enough to make this reader realize that so much more was to come.By night Imogene Pritchard has been working off her dead father's debts at the notorious club The Bare Kitten as a server. By day she is a nurse in a London hospital.Only this night 'Ginny' as she is known finds herself I way over her head waters, charting unknown territory that would influence the rest of her life.When Collin "Cole" Talmage, Duke of Trewyth claims her for his own that claiming goes both ways.Cole, a crown assassin and spy, holds onto his dream of that night spent with the kitten 'Ginny' as a talisman against the most difficult of times. He continues to search for her.Imogene runs from that night and yet never forgets the Duke.When they both meet again, Cole is angered by his helplessness and attraction to this woman who is not his 'Ginny.' However another problem arises, women are being murdered-and the women all resemble Imogene. What a woman Imogene is. Fearless, strong, compassionate--and in love with a man who does not know her.This return to Byrne's world of dangerous men and women is another winner.A NetGalley ARC
    • 5/5
      The Duke by Kerrigan BryneThe Victorian Rebels #5 Stars…all the way…wish I could find book one of the series but where I live…probably won’t happen. So…with books 2-4 now read I want…book 5…and any other books that will appear in the future.Okay…I saw a review that made me question why I rate this series so highly and the star points the reviewer gave made me rethink BUT come away believing this author gives more than an easy read to those that find her work. Will she give you romance? YesWill she give you hearts and flowers? Not in this book but perhaps in others…perhaps.Will she make you think and question and feel? DefinitelyWill you come away feeling you have read something worth reading?I did – hope you will, too. So…this book…There is a woman trying to provide for her sister and mother after her father gambles away whatever they might have had if he had not been so feckless. She works to pay back his debt - as a nurse by day and a serving wench in a brothel at night. One night a Duke walks in and her life changes…for the better? Maybe but … perhaps not. Can she question or refuse? More than likely…not The fact that the man who deflowers her is gentle and kind lingers in her mind and a year later when he appears in her patient lineup she saves him but it does not save her…it is another of her patients that changes her life…a perhaps once young and swainish type that helps her overcome her horrors and leave her better off than she was before…except…there is a murderer on the loose and her neighbor is someone she remembers warmly but…he is no longer that man…and she is not the woman he remembers…This is a book that intrigued me, caught me and kept me to the end. I liked the characters, the plot and a lot more. Was the hero perfect? NOWas the heroine perfect? NODid they grow? YesDid they suit one another? YESThank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC. This is my honest review.NOTE: I can hardly wait to find book one in the series and am looking forward to book #5…as I ponder WHO will star in it when it appears ;)
    • 5/5
      Colin Talmage, is now the Duke of Trenwyth after losing his family in a tragic accident. When on leave from his service for the crown, he visits the Bare Kitten Gin and Dance club to distract his sad heart by taken his pleasure with a woman. There he meets Ginny, a bar maid who intrigues him. The owner states Ginny is not for sale, but Colin convinces him to sell Ginny for just one night. Ginny is working at the Bare Kitten as a bar maid at night to pay her dead father's gambling debt and her real name is Imogen, she is a nurse, a virgin and had no intention of giving her body to a stranger until she she had no choice for fear of losing her job.Years later, Colin has been through hell, captured, tortured and he lost a hand, his only solace in his prison was his memory of Ginny, but he's back now and looking for her.This is a wonderful story. We wait and wait for Colin to find his Ginny and for him to fall in love with Imogen. There's danger abound with a serial killer on the loose and Imogen becomes a target. Great writing and consequently Colin and Imogen's friendship and relationship develop beautifully. And a great ending. I loved it!