THE HUNTER is Book 2 in Kerrigan Byrne's Victorian Rebels series. After being seduced by Kerrigan Byrne's dark and erotic world in the previous Victorian Rebels book, I was extremely eager to get my hands on THE HUNTER. THE HUNTER totally exceeds my expectations. The prologue is not for the squeamish because it details a part of Christopher Argent's painful past. Argent is very much a tortured hero who experiences an awakening of his soul after meeting the heroine.

The accomplished actress and the equally accomplished assassin make an unlikely pair, but the fiery attraction they share makes this one of the best love stories I've read. Their story has an inauspicious beginning with Argent being paid to kill Millie LeCour. Kerrigan Byrne superbly captures the zing and magic of a mystical and unstoppable attraction. One of the truly sublime things in THE HUNTER is the process of Argent's heart thawing by degrees and his attempt to decipher his feelings. Having THE HUNTER told partially from Argent's perspective gives the reader a greater appreciation for his inner struggle and the delicacy of his relationship with Millie.

Millie is just as fascinating a character as Argent. This is a heroine who makes a living as an actress supporting herself and her son; she's a woman of experience and intelligence as well as a woman with secrets. Millie is the perfect match for Argent because she sees him as more than the Grim Reaper and boogeyman being a hired killer has made him. Murder and mystery swirl through THE HUNTER and add an extra layer of excitement without distracting from the romance. Kerrigan Byrne packs enough pockets of eroticism and moments of intimacy, in which Millie and Argent get to know each other amid the danger, to satisfy any romance fan.

THE HUNTER is a story with dastardly villains, delicious anti-heroes, and a romance for the ages. This is a must- read for historical romance fans. The scenes involving Millie's son are very charming and moving without being overly sweet. I love the connection Argent develops with Millie's son and the protective impulses the boy inspires. I can't wait for the next Victorian Rebels book by Kerrigan Byrne to devour.