The Landlord’s Black-Eyes Daughter by Mary Ellen DennisHistorical Romance –Aug. 1st, 20113 starsRand Remmington has turned into a highwayman. He steals from the poor and gives to those in need. After a disheartening and haunting life as a soldier, he feels that the wealthy and privileged have no humanity. He realizes he will probably die for his crimes. One night he steals money and a curious Gothic book, and he can’t stop reading the book. He feels a connection to the author and the story’s villain. So he crashes a party for the popular author and meets the surprisingly beautifully and bold woman. Her name is Elizabeth Wyndham.Elizabeth is close to thirty and is constantly reminded that should get married before her looks decline. But Elizabeth has independence as a successful writer and wants no man to control her life. When she spies a mysterious man at her party, she is drawn to him and feels that she knows him but he has deep seated troubles that drag him. Elizabeth feels she can save him and wants to be at his side. However his criminal past will haunt them both. Can they find happiness?This book is nearly five hundred pages. It started out very promising for the first part. I loved the plucky heroine and the well-meaning hero. I felt their instant attraction to each other and I enjoyed how the author cleverly introduced the possibility of a reincarnated love with a second chance. But after the promising beginning, the author pulls in some very unlikable secondary characters which dragged the plot and made it feel unnecessarily long, depressing and convoluted. While I admire the author’s originality and interesting storyline, at some point I really wanted to two main characters to call it quits and quickly leave evil England and find a new life. (Instead of letting the rest of the cast continuously take advantage of them.) So for the first section of the book, I gave it 4 ½ stars and the rest around a 3. This first section of the story seemed to have a different personality than the later section. This made it feel like it was two separate books. Two main characters with a lot of potential make this an interesting historical romance.Reviewed by Steph from the Bookaholics Romance Book Club
Loreena McKennitt's haunting musical version of "The Highwayman" by poet Alfred Noyes is what drew me immediately to this book. I have always loved that poem and then Ms. McKennitt's lovely voice brought life to the words for me. It is one of my favorite CDs and gets plenty of play at our house.So, on to the book by Mary Ellen Dennis. I had high hopes that the story would basically be a fleshed out version of the original. While the poem did provide a slight backbone for the book, it was more of a suggestion than a foundation. I do realize that trying to create an entire full fledged tale out of a poem of 1000 or so words would be tough, but I really did expect a bit more resemblance to the original.That being said, I did enjoy the story. Elizabeth is a fun heroine. She is strong and opinionated and her "profession" of a writer drew me to her. I loved that she wrote Gothic Romance novels. The fact that her book is what finally connects her and Rand is a lovely touch.Rand is a perfect "Robin Hood" character. He is suave and swashbuckling while still having what counts - a heart. He and his "Bess" really do make a great couple and drive the story. The supporting cast weren't especially helpful and I didn't care for most of them.While I did say I'd have liked it to follow the poem a bit more, I really am glad that the ending for The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter is more upbeat than the tragic ending of the original Highwayman and his Bess.Elements of adventure, romance, historical fiction and a bit of paranormal activity make for a fun read.
I too have always loved Alfred Noyes' poem "The Highwayman." Back in the dark ages when I was about 12, I saw a black and white movie made from the poem. It was very true to the poem, even the sad ending. I have been a fan ever since and looked forward to this book very much. I must admit I liked the story, loved the heroine, who is an independent woman who is writing gothic novels. The Highwayman, Rand is also a likeable hero, and how the two meet in clever. as they fight injustice, and Elizabeth's nemesis, an evil man who will do anything to marry her. I liked that it had a happier ending than the poem, but it was not much like it otherwish.
—Anne
I was so anxious to read this book because it is based on Alfred Noyes' poem, "The Highwayman." The title is a direct reference to the poem, and drew me in immediately. It is, however, very loosely based on the poem. In a way, I understand, because it's difficult to turn a short poem into a 400 page book, but I guess a piece of me was still disappointed.I enjoyed this book far more than the last book I read by the author- "The Greatest Love on Earth." Dennis has greatly improved her writing in the ten year span between writing the books. I do still feel that she excels at writing the other parts of the story besides the actual romance though.My favorite part of the book was the dark, foreboding Gothic setting. It seems like every scene takes place on a dark, menacing night.I felt like Rand was an old fashioned male chauvinist much of the time. When he stole Elizabeth's money and then 'repaid' her in stolen jewels that she wouldn't be able to sell because, well, they're stolen, I did not think he was something I would fall in love with. I also took offense that whenever Elizabeth would ask 'when' he would do something, he would respond with 'in my own time.' This is so reminiscent of the old style of historical romance when emotionally controlling men were seen as desirable, so it wasn't really my cup of tea.The story is intriguing, with a nice Gothic setting, but the romance is too old fashioned for me. ARC sent by publisher in exchange for honest reviewreviewed for http://inthehammockblog.blogspot.com
—Angelc
I found this an excellent read, I finished it in a weekend and did not want to put it down.The story is a little different, with a different sort of hero.Elizabeth (Bess) Wyndham is an innkeeper's daughter and a successful authoress of Gothic romances. Rand Remington is a Highwayman and on one of his robberies he steals her latest novel and reads it and finds some familiar in the story, he decides to meet Bess. She thinks she has met him before.Having survived the American Wars, Rand cannot come to terms with the hypocrisy if 18th century England, that is why he is a Highwayman.Together, Rand and Bess share a series of adventures, including a cell in Newgate Prison.I also like that it has a happy ending, though there were some twists and turns getting there.
—Bronwyn Rykiert
