The Lady and the Highwayman
Sarah M. Eden
(Author)
Description
Elizabeth Black is the headmistress of a girls' school and a well-respected author of "silver-fork" novels, stories written both for and about the upper-class ladies of Victorian society. But by night, she writes very different kinds of stories--the Penny Dreadfuls that are all the rage among the working-class men. Under the pseudonym Mr. King, Elizabeth has written about dashing heroes fighting supernatural threats and dangerous outlaws romancing helpless women. They contain all the adventure and mystery that her real life lacks. Fletcher Walker began life as a street urchin, but is now the most successful author in the Penny Dreadful market, that is until Mr. King started taking all of his readers--and his profits. No one knows who King is, including Fletcher's fellow members of the Dread Penny Society, a fraternity of authors dedicated to secretly fighting for the rights of the less-fortunate. Determined to find the elusive Mr. King, Fletcher approaches Miss Black. As a fellow-author, she is well-known among the high-class writers; perhaps she could be persuaded to make some inquiries as to Mr. King's whereabouts? Elizabeth agrees to help Fletcher, if only to insure her secret identity is never discovered. For the first time, Elizabeth experiences the thrill of a cat-and-mouse adventure reminiscent of one of her own novels as she tries to throw Fletcher off her scent. But the more time they spend together, the more she loses her heart. Its upper-class against working-class, author against author where readers, reputations, and romance are all on the line.Product Details
Price
$15.99
$14.87
Publisher
Shadow Mountain
Publish Date
September 03, 2019
Pages
352
Dimensions
5.5 X 1.0 X 8.4 inches | 0.75 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781629726052
BISAC Categories:
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About the Author
Sarah M. Eden is the author of several critically acclaimed historical romances and award-winning Proper Romance series novels. Combining her passion for history and an affinity for gentle love stories, Sarah loves crafting witty characters and heartfelt romances. She happily spends hours perusing the reference shelves of her local library and dreams of one day traveling to all the places she reads about.
Reviews
"Delightful Victorian romance...The novel pairs savvy Elizabeth with former urchin-cum-writer Fletcher. When Fletcher learns that Mr. King--Elizabeth's pseudonym--is cornering the penny dreadful market, he tries to unmask him. Meanwhile, Elizabeth is intrigued by the Dread Penny Society that Fletcher and his peers joined to save the vulnerable from London's underbelly and that fuels rumors among the literati.
Despite their differences, the talented leads share a passion for social justice. Their romance is restrained and comes out through playful dialogue. Elizabeth's game outlook and willingness to help others make her a winsome schoolmarm who subverts convention. Fletcher straddles lines, displaying both the sharp instincts that he honed in his youth and his recent middle class leanings, and the combination is heartening.
For Elizabeth, art also imitates life and life brings about unexpected change. When her role as Mr. King is made clear, it's a gratifying moment that proves her mettle and makes the thrilling twists and moody escapism of the penny dreadful worthwhile. A novel highlighting hidden lives and how love is emboldening, The Lady and the Highwayman's like-minded couple helps others find freedom."-- (09/01/2019)
"Sweet, lighthearted historical pits a pair of popular writers against Victorian London's dark underbelly ... Their slowly building, chaste, period-appropriate romance delivers congenial interludes. Chapters of their respective serials are interspersed throughout, providing a subtle view into the authors' emotional lives. Dedicated readers of historical romance will enjoy many nods to the origins and attractions of their genre."
-- (07/01/2019)
"Chaste yet exciting romance as Fletcher and Elizabeth grow closer together despite their different class backgrounds. Thoroughly enjoyable chapters of their penny dreadfuls are interspersed throughout the book. Eden does not shy away from the hardships faced by the Victorian poor, but the daring escapades of the Dread Penny Society and the attraction between the two authors keep the novel from turning grim. Readers will hope for future appearances of Eden's irresistible characters."--Booklist
"Charming romance...The heat level stays quite proper, with some scenes of intense hand-holding. This is a relaxing read, but with enough danger to keep the plot rolling. While fisticuffs occur and abusive situations are discussed, clever banter is what wins the day more often than not. I highly recommend this read with a hot cup of tea."--Historical Novel Society
"Eden's latest entry in the Victorian series (after Ashes on the Moor) is a joy to read, filled with adventure, suspense, two characters longing for love
but protective of their secrets. Two original penny dreadfuls interspersed throughout make this story even more impressive."-- (09/01/2019)
Despite their differences, the talented leads share a passion for social justice. Their romance is restrained and comes out through playful dialogue. Elizabeth's game outlook and willingness to help others make her a winsome schoolmarm who subverts convention. Fletcher straddles lines, displaying both the sharp instincts that he honed in his youth and his recent middle class leanings, and the combination is heartening.
For Elizabeth, art also imitates life and life brings about unexpected change. When her role as Mr. King is made clear, it's a gratifying moment that proves her mettle and makes the thrilling twists and moody escapism of the penny dreadful worthwhile. A novel highlighting hidden lives and how love is emboldening, The Lady and the Highwayman's like-minded couple helps others find freedom."-- (09/01/2019)
"Sweet, lighthearted historical pits a pair of popular writers against Victorian London's dark underbelly ... Their slowly building, chaste, period-appropriate romance delivers congenial interludes. Chapters of their respective serials are interspersed throughout, providing a subtle view into the authors' emotional lives. Dedicated readers of historical romance will enjoy many nods to the origins and attractions of their genre."
-- (07/01/2019)
"Chaste yet exciting romance as Fletcher and Elizabeth grow closer together despite their different class backgrounds. Thoroughly enjoyable chapters of their penny dreadfuls are interspersed throughout the book. Eden does not shy away from the hardships faced by the Victorian poor, but the daring escapades of the Dread Penny Society and the attraction between the two authors keep the novel from turning grim. Readers will hope for future appearances of Eden's irresistible characters."--Booklist
"Charming romance...The heat level stays quite proper, with some scenes of intense hand-holding. This is a relaxing read, but with enough danger to keep the plot rolling. While fisticuffs occur and abusive situations are discussed, clever banter is what wins the day more often than not. I highly recommend this read with a hot cup of tea."--Historical Novel Society
"Eden's latest entry in the Victorian series (after Ashes on the Moor) is a joy to read, filled with adventure, suspense, two characters longing for love
but protective of their secrets. Two original penny dreadfuls interspersed throughout make this story even more impressive."-- (09/01/2019)
