Rainbow Reviews

BOOK BLURB:
It's 1706, the time of good Queen Anne. Mistress Rebeccah Dutton never dreamed that several encounters with the notorious highwayman Blue-Eyed Nick on the deserted heaths around London would turn her respectable world upside down. When she discovers the highwayman is actually a woman named Kate, her curiosity about the thief turns to fascination. Kate has to deal with a thieftaker snapping at her heels and secrets from her past before Rebeccah can become better acquainted with this intriguing highwaywoman. Will Kate avoid the shadow of Tyburn long enough for Rebeccah to explore this twist of fate?

BOOK REVIEW:
From the first pages of this story, the reader learns that Kate Milledge makes her living as Blue-Eyed Nick, a dashing rogue who robs from the wealthy who travel England's darkened heaths late at night. One evening, she stops the carriage of Rebeccah Dutton and is immediately smitten by the gentlewoman. Their meeting stirs unusual feelings in young Rebeccah, who keeps them a secret from her traveling companions (her mother, sister, and their maid).

As the story progresses, neither woman can forget the other. Rebeccah is sure she's falling for a less than desirable man whom her breeding would never allow her to marry, while Kate's infatuation makes her realize that the relationship she's in currently with her landlady isn't what she wants out of life. A series of events conspire to bring Kate and Rebeccah together again, and infatuation turns to love.

Kate is a great character, full of zest and heart. Despite her occupation, she doesn't keep much of the money she steals, instead giving it to family members whom she alone supports. Larger hauls are divvied up among prisoners at a debtor's prison. She knows her lifestyle will one day force her to hang for her crimes, but her brand of "highway robbery" is in marked contrast to others who kill or rape their victims. Kate takes their valuables only, and even comes to the defense of those targeted by baser criminals.

The story is quick-paced, a fast read that would translate well into an epic period piece on the big screen. The historical details are rich, bringing the story to life before the reader's eyes. I found myself easily engrossed in the plot, turning pages quickly in my haste to find out how Kate escapes the noose and whether or not Rebeccah gets her "highwayman" in the end. The intimate moments between the characters are sweet, and even the more lustful trysts Kate is involved in fade to black, allowing the reader's imagination to kick in.

If you love unconventional historical romances spiced with suspense and adventure, this book is a fun read that will have you looking forward to more from this talented author.

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