The Highwayman

Reviewed by Kay Derwydd © 2006

Wild Child Publishing.com © 2006

Title: The Highwayman
Author: Emily Veinglory
Genre: Gay erotic romance
Length: Novella
Publisher: Cobblestone Press
ISBN: 1-60088-046-0
Release date: September 2006
Author's website: Emily Veinglory

What lengths will a man go to for family?

Reynard risks everything for his sister Emilia, taking to the roads to support her. Donned in cape, hat, and scarf, he relieves travelers of their purses and jewels. And he does it well. One evening, however, changes everything.

Having forgotten to remove his father's ring, Reynard robs a man of his purse. The next day, he finds that the man was not a traveler—but his new neighbor, Geoffrey Larkin. The attraction between them is immediate, but Reynard is much more hesitant. Geoffrey, however, is nothing if not determined. His kiss is drugging and before long, Reynard finds himself giving into his neighbor's advances.

When Emilia comes calling with her new fiance, Geoffrey entreaties Reynard to let him help. Having no choice with such short notice, Reynard agrees.

Can these two very different men hold onto each other? Or will outside forces tear them apart forever?

The Highwayman had me from page one. Okay, so I have thing for rogues. From the first page to the last, I was enthralled—by the characters, by the action, by the intrigue, and certainly by the love scenes! Ms. Veinglory excels in pulling the reader into the world she's created, no matter the genre. The Highwayman is no exception.

Reynard is a man caught in a bind. Duty leaves him with no alternative but to take to thievery to help support himself and his sister Emilia. He is a gentleman rogue, and every nuance of his personality reflects that. Even when cornered by his amorous neighbor, he manages to maintain his dignity.

Geoffrey, Reynard's neighbor, is devastatingly sexy—from his manner of dress, to his manner of speech. Yet there's more to him than sex and the pursuit of a certain highwayman, and Geoffrey's past is understandable in its shaping of his character.

The sex scenes between Reynard and Geoffrey left me breathless and absolutely squirming in my seat. Done in her trademark style of not-overly-explicit but highly erotic, Ms. Veinglory succeeds in ratcheting up the room temperature with her beautifully written love scenes.

If you enjoy historicals, then you'll absolutely love The Highwayman. I've read the majority of Ms. Veinglory's books, and to date, I think this is her best by far. Well done, Em!

I give The Highwayman 5 Cats!

Rating: 5 cats.

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To find out more about how to purchase The Highwayman visit Emily's website.