The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter (Five Star Expressions) (Five Star Expressions) [Hardcover]

Mary Ellen Dennis (Author)

Book Description

Series: Five Star Expressions | Publication Date: August 15, 2007

"This wonderful retelling of Alfred Noyes's The Highwayman, is quite simply, remarkable."
-Booklist starred review

And the highwayman came riding, riding, riding...

Elizabeth Wyndham is a rarity-a young lady who writes novels-bestsellers in fact. But with her sharp tongue and quick temper, she's nothing like her vapid, charming heroines.

Rand Remington is an ex-soldier disillusioned with England's less-than-honorable nobility. By day a gentleman, by night he robs the rich to try to make life better for the poor.

Rand and Elizabeth are drawn inexorably together, until the fateful night when the men trying to capture Rand use Elizabeth as living bait...Based on the beloved poem about two timeless lovers who would die for each other...

"A swift and bawdy tale...and manages a happy ending as well."
-Mary Jo Putney, New York Times bestselling author of Never Less Than a Lady

"A fast pace, fluid writing, and an exceptionally well-crafted plot..."
-Library Journal

"An exhilarating romp throughout 18th century England, with adventure at every turn and spine-tingling suspense."
-Midwest Book Review

(20110222)

--This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This imaginative but bumpy historical romance debut, set in Georgian England, features highwayman Rand and authoress Elizabeth, who are struck by déjà vu from the moment they meet in London. Although Rand cannot offer Elizabeth a safe or easy life, he senses their destinies are entwined and that their connection goes back to a 13th-century past life. Free-thinking spinster Elizabeth, meanwhile, is haunted by the hero of her latest novel, a combination of Rand and a historical knight killed in a bloody battle five hundred years earlier. As Rand goes about the bandit business, Elizabeth tries to write and wards off the advances of Lord Walter Stafford. But when Rand and Elizabeth finally get together, a humiliated Stafford makes it his mission to hunt down Rand and see him hanged. The couple lands in Newgate prison, where it takes all their wits to avoid the hangman's noose. Historical romance purists may have a hard time swallowing Elizabeth's character (she refers to her career and writer's block), and the bumper crop of action scenes begin to feel like filler. The past-lives angle is interesting, but it may not be enough to hold readers' attention over 400 pages. (Aug.)
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From Booklist

*Starred Review* Elizabeth Wyndham is "more likely to be attacked by an army of frogs" than find a husband. Fortunately, she is the star author of Minerva Press, a dubious occupation for a lady in 1787, but it pays her bills, as well as her father's debts. Unfortunately, Elizabeth doesn't want to finish her latest book because she'll have to finish off her hero, too, a man who has dominated her dreams. Rand Remington has returned from the war in the colonies wounded in body and soul. His innocent niece has been hung in his absence, and Rand's revenge against the injustices of the wickedly cavalier upper class is to relieve them of their worldly goods and spread the wealth among the poor. Exhausted from his latest heist, Rand opts to relax by reading a gothic novel by B. B.Wyndham he's stolen from his latest victim. Much to his surprise, the plot and characters evoke an overwhelming sense of déjà vu, and he's driven to meet the author. Star-crossed lovers in a former life, Elizabeth and her highwayman face insurmountable odds. Dennis' wonderful retelling of Alfred Noyes' The Highwayman is, quite simply, remarkable. Mosley, Shelley

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 419 pages
• Publisher: Five Star (August 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159414575X
• ISBN-13: 978-1594145759
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,482,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When Mary Ellen Dennis was very young, she developed a love for Alfred Noyes's poem "The Highwayman" and the Angélique series by Sergeanne Golon. Mary Ellen's fifth grade teacher was gobsmacked to hear her rambunctious student state that someday she'd write novels inspired by her favorite poem and favorite series. It has taken years to achieve her goal, but Mary Ellen says, "If you drop a dream, it breaks" (a saying coined by author Denise Dietz). Mary Ellen lives on Vancouver Island with her chocolate Labrador retriever, Magic.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow! What a Story!, August 5, 2011

By 

Linda Banche "Regency Romance Author" (New England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter (Mass Market Paperback)

THE LANDLORD'S BLACK-EYED DAUGHTER by Mary Ellen Dennis is a riveting, fast-paced story of a man battling for justice in an unjust era and a woman struggling for her independence in a male-dominated society.

In this intense, brooding retelling of Alfred Noyes's The Highwayman, past lives, reincarnation, dark emotions and forbidden love collide in the story of Elizabeth and Rand, two misfits in Georgian England. Elizabeth, an independent woman who earns her own way as an author, is a menace to the oppressive status quo, symbolized by the evil magistrate, Walter, whose desire for her conflicts with his need to destroy her. Soldier turned highwayman Rand, disgusted with the platitude-spouting hypocrisy of the powerful that crush anyone who defies them, strikes back as a Georgian Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. Sparks fly when these two kindred souls meet. Increasing their blazing attraction for each are glimpses of unfinished business from the past, when they were also lovers.

Ms. Dennis plunges you deep into Elizabeth and Rand's time right from page one. Rich in historical detail, THE LANDLORD'S BLACK-EYED DAUGHTER sweeps you along on waves of atmosphere and passion as a desperate Elizabeth and Rand seek a haven in a world determined to subjugate them. Rand is another version of my favorite kind of hero, a decent man. And Elizabeth is smart and tenacious, a fighter in a repressive age that demolished most women's resistance.

I couldn't put THE LANDLORD'S BLACK-EYED DAUGHTER down. Am I glad I read it.

ARC provided by Sourcebooks

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Rollicking Tale, But a Bit Too Much Going On..., February 29, 2008

By 

A. Lee (L.A., CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter (Five Star Expressions) (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

Set in 1787 in England, Elizabeth Wyndham is a beautiful successful author of Gothic Romances, an inn-keeper's daughter, being courted by Lord Stafford, but attracted to a mysterious highwayman. John Randolph "Rand" Remington steals from the rich and gives to the poor. He's had dark moods since he'd seen men die for little purpose as a soldier in the American Revolutionary War, during which his young relative was accused unjustly of a crime and hanged back in England--something for which he has sworn vengeance.

Rand also seems very like the Knight, Ralf Darkstarre, in Elizabeth's Gothic Medieval Romance trilogy, CASTLES OF DOOM... Doing a bit of research, both Elizabeth and Rand discover that there was an actual historical figure named Ranulf Navarre who resembles the character in her books. Meanwhile, both Rand and Elizabeth have strange dreams showing flashes of a time back in the middle ages. Elizabeth and Rand have to deal with Rand and his partner evading authorities, Lord Stafford's unwelcome attentions to Elizabeth, Elizabeth's father's gambling, a loose-mouthed maid, a mean mother-in-law, discovering what the dreams of the past mean, and lots of suspense and action.

I thought all the elements were somewhat overwhelming and didn't quite mesh well together, distracting from the characters and the main romantic plot-line. Alfred Noyes' poem THE HIGHWAYMAN is incredibly romantic, but because of all the things going on in this story, it almost seems an after-thought, definitely a minor theme, even though the story is built upon its elements--and it is stated on the back flap about the author that she intends to changing the ending. It also strained my credulity a bit that an innkeeper's daughter would be a famous writer, attending an elegant party in her honor in London, and having her hand sought in marriage by a Lord. There were some period details, but Elizabeth's actions and attitude and speech were all very modern: she's intent on earning her own living and remaining single and free to do what she wants. Because of these problems and other things, I found that I couldn't enjoy the story or love the characters as much as I wished.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read!, August 16, 2007

By 

E. Mundo (Colorado) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter (Five Star Expressions) (Five Star Expressions) (Hardcover)

I don't agree with the publishers weekly review. I think the book is captivating and definitely held my interest for the full 400 pages. It is a book that takes you out of every day life and into Elizabeth's world. I enjoyed reading about a strong but feminine woman whether she lives in past or present day. I strongly recommend this book if you are a historical romance fan. You won't regret it!