D. A. Horncastle

Kate Francis and her father​ are waylaid by ​a​ notorious highwayman​, and Kate ​is the only survivor of the attack. Harry Collins, the Earl of Brideswell​ is deeply concerned about the perilous condition of the Brideswell estate​. Together, the unlikely pair work together ​to catch the criminal and avoid the lure of easy money of South Seas stock.

This was an entertaining Georgian adventure. Kate is a plucky heroine who does everything she can to keep her independence. Harry is an earl who felt more at home in the navy than a titled man. While their relationship does become one of romance, I thought they worked better as unlikely friends.

At times, the detailed writing did get a little distracting. One such instance was Harry being nervous and uncomfortable. The author describes how the bead of sweat runs between his shoulder blades, down his back and parts in his buttocks. It was difficult to take such a description seriously.

Readers who are looking for a historical adventure with some romance thrown into the mix will no doubt enjoy this one. I received a free copy through the LibraryThing Early Review program.… (altro)

This is a jolly and engaging romp through C18th London during the time of the South Seas Bubble. It ties together many of the true occurrences of the times into a fast paced novel which I enjoyed. However the text was full of typos and occasionally had missing words which detracted from the flow. If you enjoyed watching the TV series Harlots then this book is for you, although it is rather less bawdy. Overall an enjoyable read. I have also put this revue on Amazon as requested by the Early Reviewer’s scheme.… (altro)