Customer Reviews

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

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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

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.

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!

The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter by Mary Ellen Dennis
Historical Romance -Aug. 1st, 2011
3 stars

Rand 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

When I encountered this book I was excited to read it. I had read the poem when I was 12 or 13 and memorized it then and remember much of it to this day. The idea of telling the whole story of those ill-fated lovers is pure genius. The execution of that genius was less than great. The story just did not flow and some parts were too unbelievable.

The Landlord's Black-Eyed Daughter is a powerful historical romance with captivating storytelling that gallops across country to a thrilling conclusion.
The curtain opens on a dispirited and corrupt late 18th century England, where redcoat Rand Remington has returned from the American war with wounds on his body and soul. Saddened at the poverty that has spread across the nation, he has taken up a career of crime, robbing the rich and giving to the poor as a highwayman. Into his life at one "stand and deliver" moment coachside comes Elizabeth Wyndham, a bold and fiery woman of thirty, using her pen to try to regain her family's ancestral home through her successful Gothic fiction similar to the popular Ann Radcliffe's.
Both Rand and Elizabeth sense an uneasy but compelling connection that binds them in a mutual destiny. Rand has flashbacks to a battle five hundred years before. For Elizabeth, he seems to be the reincarnation of the "raven-haired knight," a brooding Byronic figure who troubles her books as he reinvents himself in plot after plot. Far from an ideal pair, the dark man has cheated on his mate, and she has betrayed him. But the details are lost in the mists of time.
Elizabeth is pursued by an enamored nobleman with a police background, and greed and lust embroil her and her highwayman in deaths and misadventure as they try to escape capture and realize their dream of a life far away from the poverty and corruption of England.
Dennis invests her characters with a rich, full-blooded stock. Rand is no superhero, but a complex human being who must pause for rest and entertain the occasional self-doubt. His "Bonnie Bess" may have the heart of a racehorse, but she too has normal fears and foibles. Even the villains arouse pity as they are led by human frailty and often pardonable motives.
The chapters are steeped in fascinating period lore. Quirky details like the unethical arts of horse trading keep the pages turning. Quaint country dialect (sheep = woolbirds) adds to the realism. Authentic depictions of places like Newgate Prison contain powerful descriptions and a fine eye for architecture. Whether riding across the evocative moors or powdering a wig, the scenes are set with care. The madness of King George hangs over the political scene like a pall, and even the Prince of Wales makes an appearance in a very funny episode.
Anyone familiar with Noyes' poem "The Highwayman" will spot the analogy and worry about the fateful ending. But Dennis, once again aided by her meticulous research, pulls off an artful coup at the end. This clever book follows in the grand tradition of classics like Forever Amber. Maureen O'Hara would have made a perfect Bess. As for Rand, only Errol Flynn would do.

In 1787 "Knights of the Road" highwayman John Randolph "Rand" Remington and gothic romance writer Elizabeth Wyndham meet in London for what both believes is the first time, but each swears they met before, but not know where or when. Rand wonders if somehow they are fated for another, but fears he offers Elizabeth nothing but heartache even as he begins to think the when is in a previous lifetime back in the thirteenth century.

Elizabeth realizes that before she met Rand, the hero of her latest romance is a morphed version of him who was a genuine thirteenth century knight who died in combat. She has problems understanding how either came to her let alone how they consolidated.. Meanwhile, Lord Walter Stafford demands Elizabeth accept his suit; instead she picks Rand. Outraged by the affront an abashed Stafford insures the pair end up in Newgate awaiting the hanging of Rand to the humiliation of Elizabeth.

This entertaining Georgian romance stars a post American Revolution Robin Hood with an author who seems as if she time traveled from the twenty-first century, which she did not. Still the story line is fast-paced and filled with an interesting seemingly reincarnation twist that freshens up the tale. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this delightful tale as history appears ready to repeat itself for this star-crossed couple unless she writes the most passionate pleading words of her life to persuade King George to pardon her Rand.

Harriet Klausner