Customer Reviews

The Last Highwayman

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This novel illicited so much emotion from me that I actually threw it aross the room, deciding (in frustration) that I would never finish it!!! (This is the only book I have ever done that with- so you know it's good!) Two days later I found it- having not been able to get it out of my mind- and finished it in one sitting. I love this novel. I have read it many times, will read it many times, and have purchased it many times (because I've passed my copy on to friends). It is a beautiful story- realistic in that the characters are real; the herione is no simpering virgin in a corset, but she does have fragility. The hero is no gentleman, he is a rake, rugged, fearsome- but also sweet, sensitive and loving. *sigh* The two are worthy of each other, they match in wits and spirit. The story is not very real, but it is a wonderful tale of adventure, love, passion and vengence that takes place in many wonderful nooks- thunding, gothic mansions, hide-outs in the lush forest, the theatre..... it captures my heart and imagination every time I read it!!! I would love to see a movie from this novel- I once imagined Catherine Zeta Jones in the heroine role. Ms. O'Neal is very talented and I am a loyal and avid fan.

Katherine O'Neal is a great writer, and this book shows that again. With steamy love scenes, a great and mostly believable plot, it's a great book. By the time you're done, you hate Christina's parents and the Prince Albert, feel for Christina, and fall in love with the Highwayman. And no, I'm not just saying that cause the author's my cousin!

I loved this book. It was hot!. One of the sexiest books ever! My brother - who had always laughed at my choice of literature -read this book when he broke his leg and said "Now I understand why you like these books! Do you have another one?"

I honestly don't know where to begin, this book had everything you could want in an Historical Romance. Adventure, betrayal, humor, steamy sex and most importantly a love that will last a lifetime and beyond. Christina the Duchess of Wynterbrooke is bored with her life when she meets Richard the Brighton Bandit when he robs her and some friends returning home from a night on the town. Unbeknownst to all this is the start of a wild exhilarating ride to a love that will transform 2 broken individuals and make them whole. Katherine O'Neal took a typical HR theme of the a Highwayman falling in love with one of his titled victims to new heights. Nothing about this book was typical, you have one of the strongest female leads I have read about in a long time paired with a daring rogue to match her boldness and depth of character. There are some very dark and revealing moments as well as some lite witty banter supplied mostly by Oscar Wilde. Oscar's character was the perfect foil for Christina and Richard's darker moments. If you are looking for a sweet and gentle romance this is not the book for you. The H/h have suffered heartache and betrayal in their past by the ones that should have loved them the most. Their escapades on the road were a breath of fresh air from the standard ballroom scenes so prominent in HR lately. The only reason I gave this book a 4 instead of 5 stars is because not all parties that I thought should have been punished for their dirty deeds were. I highly recommend The Last Highwayman if you are tired of same old plots that you find in HR today.

I must say, this novel had me on the edge of my seat the entire read. I absolutely loved it. LOVED IT! It was sensual, even erotic... and the plot was well-developed, deep, intense, dramatic, exciting, adventurous.... it was a REAL story, not just a romance!! It's rare to find such a creative and well-written novel in the historical romance aisle. I'm an avid collector of this genre and I must say this is one of the best I've read.

Duchess Christina Wentworth-Gibbons is a real spitfire on the surface (sassy, intelligent, adventurous, sexual, reckless) but underneath she is just another romantic girl that wants to be loved. When she is kidnapped by the highwayman Richard Wycliffe (aka "the Brighton Bandit") the fun begins. Richard is just like Christina and they identify with each other- they are two lost souls, both needing escape and adventure, both having suffered terrible betrayals, both understood by none... both reckless renegades. The passion and adventure they find between them is AMAZING and hot!!

The plot is well-detailed, no doubt, and will leave you breathless as these two take London by storm. Their escapades are legendary and will feel that way as you read them. There are certainly some extremes taken within this novel (Oscar Wilde and the Prince of Wales take side stage as co-characters in this one) and you will find the passionate scenes take some extremely unusual directions. For the over-sensitive types, there will be parts that might be too gut-wrenching.

FANTASTIC!