Rebeccah and the Highwayman [Kindle Edition]

In 1706, traveling on an English highway at night was a blatant invitation to be robbed. Mistress Rebeccah Dutton, her sister Anne and their mother have that lesson reinforced for them when their carriage is stopped by the famous highwayman Blue-eyed Nick. Though they should have been terrified, Rebeccah finds herself more intrigued by the thief who goes out of his way not to hurt anyone and even shows her some chivalrous behavior. This evening spawns several sightings between the two where their mutual attraction grows, culminating with a night when Rebeccah's life and virtue are saved by Nick killing three ruffians who intend worse than robbery. Nick is seriously wounded in the fight and Rebeccah thinks nothing of taking him back to her house to treat him, which is when she makes the starting revelation that "he" is a "she."

Kate Milledge knows what most ordinary people in Queen Anne's England have accepted. She has family to provide for and robbing rich people of their valuables makes that possible. When she makes a particularly good haul she tries to share what she has with people who are less fortunate, but Blue-eyed Nick has no doubt that her life will one day lead her to the end of a rope at a Tyburn hanging. When Rebeccah asks for help to save her sister Anne from a kidnapper, there is no hesitation on Kate's part. Kate is captured and sentenced to death causing Rebeccah and her mother to try to save her life. As time gets short and the appointment with the noose gets closer, Kate can only wonder if this is truly how it will all end and, if not, what will she then do with her life? Rebeccah however has more than one surprise waiting for Blue-eyed Nick.

Rebeccah and the Highwayman is a good, old-fashioned romp. Those who like period pieces will find the setting of early 18th century England perfect with its laces, manners and sword fighting. Readers who like a story with a historic background will appreciate the little details sprinkled through this book that give it authenticity. The result of this is a feeling for the reader of being in the time of the book. It also makes what could have been a routine romance a little more exotic. How often does a heroine rush into a scene on horseback firing flintlock pistols and brandishing a rapier? This is a well crafted book with adventure, suspense, tension and a little romance thrown in. If tales set in history are not what a reader normally looks for, this one still has enough selling points to make it worth trying.

Nice period piece by Barbara Davies.

The scene is London, 1706. Rebeccah, daughter from a well-off family, at 23 well on her way to being an old maid, meets highwayman Blue-Eyed Nick when he violently stops the carriage she and her family are in and robs them. Fate has them meet again, Rebeccah is fascinated by the highwayman, something that doesn't stop when she finds out that Nick is actually a woman named Kate.

This book gives a nice view into life in the early 1700s, though I cannot really say whether it is a realistic portrayal. That period never much interested me. It feels like it though (the author does seem to have a fascination with chamber pots, which doesn't go here or there, just something that I noticed).

The characters are interesting, the setting is fascinating and definitely different. The plot is believable and picks up in pace when Kate is captured and sentenced for her thieving ways. I like that she is not portrayed as Robin Hood, while she does take from the rich she uses the money to support herself and her family. She is always in danger and always around some form of violence. That of course clashes harshly with Rebeccah's protected life, but the attraction between the two is believable.

So if you're looking for a few hours of fun escapist reading that really takes you to a different world you I'd say you can't go wrong with this one.

I'm not an expert on period dramas or romance, but I like a good story and a strong female lead (or two) and this satisfies on both counts. Plenty of swash and buckle with enough authentic muck and dirt that it's believable. Basically, if you enjoyed 'Plunkett and Maclean', but prefer your leads and the romance to be female, you'll definitely like this.